Chapter 22: The beginning of a new Era
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A short distance away, a pair of figures can be seen rushing towards the battle from a short distance away. One of them male, the other female. It's none other than Trice Reckless Mad Saber and Skylark.
Trice Reckless Mad Saber and Skylark dash towards the location of the Limitless Demon Sect at full speed, their hearts beating with excitement and anticipation. After asking me through the group chat, I sent the coordinates to Trice Reckless. He and Skylark, who was next to him at that time, immediately began seeking death by rushing towards our location.
As they approach the site of the battle, they see a sight that leaves them utterly shocked and awestruck. The entire Heavenly Court, with all its might and power, has descended upon the Limitless Demon Sect, ready to attack at any second.
Trice Reckless Mad Saber and Skylark can hardly believe what they're seeing before them. The Heavenly Court, an ancient and legendary sect that was supposed to have been destroyed long ago, is standing before them in full force. Trice Reckless Mad Saber is taken aback, having never seen anything like it in his life.
"Is that really the Heavenly Court?" Trice Reckless whispers in disbelief, his eyes wide with wonder.
Skylark nods, having seen them in ancient times, she is sure it's them. Her mind racing with questions. How could the Heavenly Court still exist after all these years? And why are they attacking the Limitless Demon Sect?
As they stand there, trying to make sense of the situation, they realize they need to act quickly. Trice Reckless takes out his phone and snaps a picture, eager to capture this moment in history. They then quickly open the Nine Provinces (1) Group chat, hoping that someone might have some insight into what's going on.
"Hey guys, have any of you heard about the Heavenly Court still existing?" Trice Reckless types out urgently, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "They're attacking the Limitless Demon Sect right now and we have no idea why."
The Nine Provinces (1) Group explodes with activity as Trice Reckless Mad Saber and Skylark share the shocking news of the Heavenly Court's unexpected appearance. Members frantically begin to message each other, trying to make sense of the situation.
"What the hell is going on? I thought the Heavenly Court was destroyed ages ago!" Su Clans Seven exclaims.
"Is this some kind of trap or illusion?" Northern River's Loose Cultivator chimes in.
True Monarch Yellow Mountain adds, "I've never heard of the Heavenly Court still existing from anyone before. This is unprecedented!"
As the group tries to piece together what's happening, some members start digging through ancient texts and scrolls to see if there are any clues or records of the Heavenly Court's current state. Others speculate on the reason for the attack.
"But why would the Heavenly Court come out of hiding after all these years?" Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue asks.
"Maybe they're trying to re-establish their dominance in the cultivation world," Seven Lives' Talisman speculates.
Despite the flurry of messages and theories, the group is no closer to understanding the full picture. The appearance of the Heavenly Court raises more questions than answers, leaving the members of the Nine Provinces (1) Group on edge and unsure of what to expect next.
As the messages continue to pour in, many members of the Nine Provinces (1) Group express their confusion and disbelief at the sudden appearance of the Heavenly Court.
"Is this some kind of joke?" asks a member named Scholar Drunken Moon. "The Heavenly Court was destroyed centuries ago. How can they still be here?" Naturally, no one read this message and ignored it.
"I don't know, but we need to figure out what's going on," replies another member named Northern River's Loose Cultivator. "If they're attacking the Limitless Demon Sect, there must be a reason for it."
"But what could that reason be?" asks Fairy Lychee. "And why are they attacking now, after all this time?"
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Back at the Battlefield
As the battle rages on, I use my powerful abilities to scan the entire battlefield, searching for the perfect target to aid me in my ultimate goal. My eyes flicker back and forth, analyzing each and every opponent with ease, until finally, I find what I'm looking for, a peak stage Venerable.
With a smirk, I teleport directly to him, my movements so swift and precise that none of my opponents even notice. I grab him by the collar and pull him close to me, a wicked grin spreading across my face as he struggles futilely against my grasp.
"What do you want from me?" he gasps, fear and confusion etched across his face.
"I want your tribulation," I reply coolly. "You see, I have plans that go far beyond this battle. And I need someone with your expertise to help me achieve them."
The Venerable's eyes widen in terror as he realizes the gravity of the situation. "I won't help you," he hisses, trying once more to break free.
But I'm too strong for him, and with a flick of my wrist, I send him hurtling through space, whisking him away to a secret location where he will be forced to 'gift' his tribulation to Soft Feather, enabling her to become the Thousand Years' First Sage. As I watch him disappear into the void, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. For with this one simple act, I have gained all I needed.
Having captured the Venerable, I declare, "That's enough," and watch as the projections vanish into thin air. "We've done what we came here to do. Soft Feather, let's go."
With a flick of my wrist, I open a Space Gate, stepping through it with Soft Feather at my side. As we disappear into the void, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. Another mission successfully completed by me, Zenith Heaven Emperor, the most powerful cultivator in All Heavens and Myriad Realms.
Now, however, the truly difficult part begins, letting Soft Feather transcend the tribulation to become a Sage.
The aftermath of the battle is catastrophic for the Limitless Demon Sect. The once-mighty sect is now counting their casualties, and the number is much higher than they had anticipated. The weaker cultivators are lying on the ground, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. The stronger cultivators who died are waiting to revive again, but the process is still painful and time-consuming. The sect leaders are panicking, trying to find a way to save their followers.
As the chaos ensues, the disappearance of a single Venerable doesn't seem to catch anyone's eye. The sect members are too focused on the damage that has been inflicted upon them. The loss of a powerful cultivator is just another problem for them to deal with.
However, the most problematic issue in the aftermath of the battle is the fact that the sect needs to relocate their headquarters. Their once-secret location has been exposed, and now they are vulnerable to attacks from other powerful forces. The laws in the surrounding areas have also been changed, making it impossible for demonic cultivators to use artifacts.
Although they lost badly on this day, this doesn't shake the Limitless Demon Sects foundation. Having not completely lost any high-end combat power, they are still the most fearsome demonic sect, and as for the lower ranking fodder, they can be easily replaced. It won't be long before the Limitless Demon Sect once again rises up, with their instincts sharpened through this battle, they will soon even surpass their previous limit.
As the news of the battle spreads throughout All Heavens and Myriad Realms, the impact is nothing short of monumental. Since the ancient times, the Heavenly Court had been a mythical entity, a legend whispered among cultivators in hushed tones. But now, they have emerged from the shadows, their power and might on full display for all to see.
The realization that the Heavenly Court still exists reverberates through the cultivation world like a shockwave. Many had assumed that they had fallen, destroyed in some ancient conflict or fading away into obscurity. But now, they have returned with a vengeance, their power and influence spreading far and wide.
For many cultivators, this battle marks the beginning of an unprecedented era. The balance of power has shifted, and the Heavenly Court's reemergence throws everything into chaos. No longer can anyone claim to be the undisputed ruler of the cultivation world. The Heavenly Court has returned, and they are here to stay.
Some fear the Heavenly Court's resurgence, while others see it as an opportunity. Regardless, All Heaven and Myriad Realms will never be the same again. A new era of the Heavenly Court has dawned, and with it comes a new age of power struggles, alliances, and betrayals.
However, to those belonging to the Heavenly Court, they are nothing but puzzled at this revelation. Thoughts like "The Heavenly Court has re-established itself, why do I know nothing about this" go through the minds of all those that were once a member of it.