Shi Jian Takes Command!

With the marriage arrangement largely settled, Shan Yue wasn't in a hurry to leave.

After Shi Xiao withdrew, only two Nascent Spirit Transformation remained on the summit, silently watching the vast world. The Shan Yue's gaze returned from the direction Shi Xiao had left and landed on Shi Jian, its expression darkening.

"Shi Jian, what's your opinion on the matter of the Spirit Race?"

Shi Jian leaned against a stone pillar in the Thunder Palace, not in a hurry to reply.

He naturally knew what the Shan Yue referred to. More than a hundred years ago, when the Li Yuan Giant Beast Clan was wiped out, the scene of that emerald green hand reaching out from the void to stir up trouble was still vivid in his mind.

The Fate-Wielding Dao Venerable is one of the most powerful Dao Venerable among the Myriad Spirits Imperial Clan of the Spirit Realm.

Although the Spirit Race did not participate in the battle directly, they intervened at the most crucial moment, almost allowing Yan Zhen to successfully attain enlightenment. If it weren't for him risking his life to drag Yan Zhen down from the Dao level, the ownership of the Treasured Earth Dao Fruit would probably have changed long ago.

"The Spirit Race has been coveting this Treasured Earth for quite some time," Shi Jian said calmly. " With Yan Zhen dead, the position is vacant, and they'll only become more anxious."

Shan Yue nodded, his smile fading.

"It's not just a matter of urgency; over the past century, the Spirit Race's influence in the Dao Realm has deepened considerably."

"The Bailu Lingyuan has broken through to the fourth level of the Perfected Spirit Transformation stage and cultivated four Treasured Earth Immortal Foundation. Its whereabouts are unknown."

"What's even more troublesome is that the Spirit Race has infiltrated the Dao Realm with no fewer than thirty Nascent Spirit Transformation, scattered throughout various places, occupying Spirit Vein and absorbing the essence of Treasured Earth; some have even colluded with the local Rogue Cultivator forces of the Dao Realm, secretly supporting proxies."

"What's the attitude of the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan?" Shi Jian asked.

"The Emperor is still in seclusion, comprehending the Immortal Foundation of the Treasured Earth Dao. He should not personally intervene again in the near future."

Shan Yue paused here, "But the Earth Virtue Dao Venerable issued a decree that the Spirit Race must not be allowed to gain a foothold in the Dao Realm before the Emperor breaks through his cultivation barrier and assumes the throne."

"A full-scale war at the Spirit Transformation level is not yet possible; it's even more impossible for Dao Venerable to personally intervene, as that would be tantamount to breaking off relations, Fate-Wielding Dao Venerable in the Spirit Realm would love to have that excuse."

"So..." Shi Jian had already discerned the implied meaning.

"Therefore, the Earth Virtue Dao Venerable's intention is to use the Nascent Spirit Transformation and Nascent Soul as the main force, divide the battlefields, and gradually eliminate the Spirit Race's strongholds in the Dao Realm."

The Shan Yue looked at him, "The intensity is limited, and the scale is controllable, but it must be effective; this is to suppress the momentum of the Spirit Race and slow down the cultivation speed of the Spirit Race's Treasured Earth Dao cultivators as much as possible, thereby buying time."

"Let the Spirit Race know that the Dao Realm is not a place they can simply reach for as they please."

Shi Jian remained silent for a moment.

"So, who will lead this time?"

A slight smile played at the corners of Shan Yue's lips.

"The Giant Bear Clan has recommended you."

Shi Jian raised an eyebrow slightly.

"The Ancestor Egu himself nodded in approval," Shan Yue added. "As for the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan, Earth Virtue Dao Venerable also had no objections."

Shi Jian thought to himself that this was not entirely unexpected.

In that battle a hundred years ago, he was put on the list before the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan; the Earth Virtue Dao Venerable personally bestowed blessings and made a promise to "protect him in attaining the Dao," and he would have to repay this favor sooner or later.

Commanding a war zone was just another insignificant promotion.

If he wins, it proves he's worth the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan's investment; if he loses, it doesn't matter, the stage was prepared for him anyway.

As long as it works and delays the Spirit Race's progress, then it will be considered a success, and the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan will record a meritorious service for him.

"Where is the war zone?" Shi Jian asked again.

The Shan Yue raised its hand, and a phantom map appeared in its palm.

"Southeast of the Dao Realm, in the Spirit Marsh Plains."

In the illusory scene, a vast, eerie green swamp spread out, spanning tens of millions of miles with blurred boundaries; deep within the swamp, more than a dozen points of light flickered, marking the strongholds of the Spirit Race.

"The Spirit Marsh Plains is the core springboard for the Spirit Race to infiltrate the Dao Realm. This place is rich in Spirit Vein, mostly of the wood and water Spirit Vein it extremely suitable for the Spirit Race's cultivators of the Life Dao to take root."

Shan Yue pointed to the map, "The Spirit Race has been operating here for nearly two hundred years, with more than ten strongholds of varying sizes, and stationing three to five Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivators and dozens of Nascent Soul."

"Your mission is to lead your troops to sweep through these strongholds and drive the Spirit Race forces out of the Marsh Plains."

Shi Jian stared at the map for a long time.

The Spirit Marsh Plains have a complex terrain and are covered with swamps. For the Spirit Race, who are skilled in the Spirit Race of Life Dao, it is like a fish in water, while the Beast Realm cultivators are constrained by the terrain.

With three to five Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivators stationed there, plus dozens of Nascent Soul, this is not a tough nut to crack that can be easily cracked by just sending a few people.

How many men do you want me to have?

"Spirit Transformation, including yourself, eighty others at the Nascent Soul, and over a thousand Golden Core demons; among them, the Giant Bear Clan produced two Nascent Spirit Transformation, you and Cang Wuji."

"The other three Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation come from the Ape Emperor Clan, the Kui Lang Imperial Clan, and the Lightning Beast Imperial Clan, respectively, each producing one Early Spirit Transformation."

"Of the eighty Nascent Soul, thirty belong to the Giant Bear Clan, and the remaining fifty belong to various other clans; the manpower is not large, making it a small to medium-sized war."

Shi Jian quickly calculated in his mind.

Five Nascent Spirit Transformation against three to five Nascent Soul cultivators barely have the advantage in terms of troop strength, but the Spirit Race holds their home ground, and the Life Dao cultivators are best at attrition warfare.

If a war really breaks out, a swift victory is the only way out; the longer it drags on, the more passive we become.

"Cang Wuji is Late Spirit Transformation, one of the three basic cultivators, considered a main force," Shi Jian Dao of Darkness to himself. "The Ape King, Kui Lang, and Lightning Beast each sent one early-stage cultivator; their combat strength is limited, but they have the advantage in numbers."

"The key is whether the Spirit Race has any Late Spirit Transformation in charge."

He looked up at the Shan Yue.

Who is the strongest among the Spirit Race in the Spirit Marsh Plains?

The Shan Yue's expression darkened slightly.

"According to intelligence, the leader of the Spirit Race in the Spirit Marsh Plains is a Late Spirit Transformation named Bi Luo, Life Dao Immortal Foundation below the [Fate Wielding] level, and Three-Foundation Perfection."

Late Spirit Transformation, one still Fate-Wielding Dao Fruit.

A cold glint flashed in Shi Jian's eyes.

The Fate-Wielding Dao Fruit belongs to the highest level of the Life Dao. Below it, the Immortal Foundation can manipulate life force, distort flesh and blood, and even interfere with the life and death of cultivators to a certain extent.

This kind of opponent is far more troublesome than an ordinary Late Spirit Transformation.

"Below the Bi Luo, there are two other Middle Spirit Transformation, both Life Dao," Shan Yue continued. "As for the Nascent Soul level, the Spirit Race has never lacked manpower; I estimate there are around fifty or sixty of them."

Shi Jian absorbed the map into his Divine Sense and pondered for a long time.

When to move?

Three months later, the forces of various tribes assembled at the northern end of Li Bear Plains.

"At that time Earth Virtue Dao Venerable, the Ancestor Egu, the Conjoined Fire Kui Lang Emperor, the Ultimate Force Ape Emperor, and the Profound Lightning Beast Emperor will all lower their gazes and fix them on the Dao Venerable of the Spirit Race."

"This battle depends on how well you perform."

"Ideally, we could find out the whereabouts of Bailu Lingyuan; this person is exceptionally talented, and if he continues his cultivation, he might be the first to attain enlightenment."

"The reason for this attack is to destroy the Spirit Race 'Spirit Race stronghold and suppress their momentum; the core objective is to force out the whereabouts of Bailu Lingyuan, eliminate him in advance, and nip the danger in the bud."

"Even at the worst possible time, we must do everything we can to slow down the Spirit Race's pace."

"From the moment the Spirit Race intervened, the feud between the two races was forged, and it has long been an irreconcilable conflict."