Li Chuping and Yu Zhengxing were anxious but didn't dare share their suspicions even with their own elders, the Masters.

They knew very well that with such a large operation, if any of these Masters perceived a problem, their conservative nature would lead them to withdraw the entire army from Blue Mountain Island immediately.

Four to five thousand human cultivators, all elite of the Southwest Cultivation World—if they were lost here, who could bear that responsibility?

If they did so, what would become of the Sect Hierarch? After arduously marching tens of thousands of miles to finally gather the Sea Clan here, ready for a decisive battle, would it all be for naught due to a mere unfounded suspicion?

The two were somewhat dissatisfied, thinking how troublesome it was to leave such worries to them while others were carefree within the Divine Mountain...

Amid their restless anxiety, the human cultivators approached the 300-mile radius zone. In their circling, each time they reached a designated map point, several dozen boats would descend, rapidly deploying thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and then swiftly taking off again, thus discreetly inserting human forces unnoticed.

Although the plan was rushed, they executed it beautifully, with clear goals and flawless coordination. Once the cultivators were deployed, they were ushered into nearby caverns by Blue Mountain natives, leaving no trace, while the fleet maintained its original formation, unbeknownst to all that they were now devoid of passengers.

The more flawlessly they executed it, the more anxious Old Li and Old Yu became, uncertain if it would be as easy to retrieve them as it was to deploy them.

"Should we wait a bit longer?" Yu Zhengxing felt overwhelmed by the pressure; it would be difficult for anyone to withstand such pressure, with nearly fifty thousand cultivators, the future of the Southwest Cultivation World, moving into danger unawares, and they entirely oblivious to it—a compelling predicament.

"How to wait?" Li Chuping gritted his teeth, "Once we speak up, the entire plan will halt! Tens of thousands of miles of effort wasted. From then on, we'll just be like those Daoists in the Southeast, slowly wearing away at the Sea Clan on the open sea, enduring the Sea Clan's endless harassment on the continental shelf. Never having to do anything, just drinking the Northwest wind at sea till the end of time?"

His gaze turned cold, reverting to the ruthless secret spy master he was at Sikong Mansion. Back then, when did he ever deliberate so extensively?

"Once a lie begins, it cannot be undone. Stopping it is like laying one's neck on a galloping cart's shaft. All we can do now, and what we must do, is to prove this isn't a lie, that it is in fact the truth!

We are just realizing this now, but that boy has known all along, pretending not to know, because he understands how important it is to turn a lie into truth!"

Yu Zhengxing murmured, "You're all crazy, every one of you!"

.........

Within the Heavenly Pit, the Sea Clan had been reinforcing for ten days, yet the thin film barrier remained unmoved. Even if many Sea Demons wanted to peek inside, the Sea Clan stationed inside paid no heed, or rather, that bamboo mantis completely ignored them, even disallowing any others within the barrier to open it.

Among this hundreds-strong Sea Clan, it wielded the greatest power, and none dared defy its will.

The Sea Demons referred to it as Lord Bamboo.

These days, Lord Bamboo's favorite pastime was sitting before the barrier, gazing upon the empty Heavenly Pit outside, a cruel smile tugging at its lips.

As if something lurked outside?

Its persistence could not be shaken even by the highest-ranked Great Demon of the Lizhi Sea; few Sea Clan members bothered disturbing it now.

Outside the Divine Mountain was utter chaos, akin to thousands of sea ducks endlessly squawking. The Sea Clan was preparing a battlefield, and for the undisciplined Sea Demons, it was a daunting task, with only the heavens knowing how far they'd succeed.

Yet, such commotion could be distinctly felt even inside the Heavenly Pit, and the Sea Demons within the barrier knew the final showdown was approaching fast.

They feared not death, wished to join the fight, but the barrier control resided with Lord Bamboo, and without its consent, none could exit.

This day, the outside clamor finally quieted, but the silence was that of a calm before a storm, the unmistakable intent to kill resonating even within the Heavenly Pit.

The human cultivator army had arrived.

Though numbering only slightly over five thousand, they were the essence of the Southwest. The Sea Clan, reputedly twenty thousand strong encircling the Divine Mountain, indeed numbered such—subtract the Foundation Establishment minor demons, leaving merely fifteen thousand Nascent Soul and Golden Core Great Demons.

On paper, the disparity existed, but considering the actual gap between humans and demons in cultivation prowess, alongside the rigorous organization of human cultivators, this gap seemed less daunting. The humans' unhesitant offensive mindset underscored their lack of doubt, suggesting they saw this as a rare opportunity for encirclement and extermination.

What were the minor demons doing? They weren't entirely useless. When tens of thousands of them conjured clouds and mists together, the entire space hundreds of miles around the Divine Mountain filled with looming storm clouds.

The same old tactics; these minor demons specialized in creating a water environment, crucial for the Sea Clan, enabling them to battle like fish in water with enhanced attack and recovery prowess.

Naturally, they wished most to fight humans at sea, but alas, the humans refused.

All these were external events; though unseen, the essence clash gave enough insight into them.

Lord Bamboo, leisurely composed, glanced at the expansive void beyond the barrier, slowly saying, "Such patience, ten days, on the brink of battle, yet maintaining composure. Clearly from the Upper Realm, resilient and enduring."

The nearby Sea Demons thought their lord was mad, speaking to the air, but Lord Bamboo was undisturbed,

"I too hail from the Upper Realm, so we are, in essence, the same kind of cultivation creatures. In the Universe, potential friends, but here, only adversaries—it works, having worthy opponents enhances life."

With its peculiar body structure, its smile was eerie, "I know you are out there, though I can't detect you, I know, you know that I know, and I know you know that I know...

Daoist Tianfeng of Shangqing? Fairy Hong Xiu of Zhouxian? Truly, if meeting across the Universe, your methods would leave me hard-pressed to cope, indeed marvelous beyond compare, but cultivation involves not just skills, but wisdom too."

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