“Counterattack against the Immortal Cultivation World, huh…”
Sima Changkong squinted slightly, as if recalling something.
After a moment, he slowly spoke: “Mentioning this now, most cultivators refer to it as a farce. But in reality, the coalition of the small worlds was far more than just a trivial spectacle.”
“Otherwise, why would the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association, which have always been adversaries, be forced to join forces?”
A faint gleam flashed in Li Fan’s eyes. Moving closer, he asked in an uncertain tone, “Alliance? You mean they united just to deal with the coalition of the small worlds?”
“Sima, could it be that you’re mistaken? Wasn’t it said that the people of these small worlds are mere exiled mortals?”
“Why would we cultivators struggle so much against this bunch of ants? Besides, we have the Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign overseeing everything. Could they really have defeated us?”
Sima Changkong was unperturbed by Li Fan’s disbelief.
Instead, he smiled faintly and flicked his finger, sending a drop of blood between them.
On this blood canvas, scene after scene of thrilling battles appeared.
One side of the battle seemed to be the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm.
But the other side, capable of flight and other supernatural feats, clearly wasn’t mortal either.
Their fighting techniques varied, yet they could go toe-to-toe with the cultivators.
Some relied purely on physical strength, enduring attacks from flying swords and spells with their bodies. They would approach swiftly, tearing cultivators apart with their bare hands.
Others stayed in the distance, manipulating strange energy from afar, striking down from the heavens, targeting cultivators with pinpoint accuracy.
Most disturbingly, some were not even humanoid, appearing as transparent, white, human-like skins. They drifted through the battlefield, and whenever they encountered a severely wounded cultivator, they attached themselves to them.
To the amazement of all, those who had been near death would spring back to life as soon as these white skins adhered to them.
Even those missing limbs would experience regeneration and recover their combat strength once possessed.
Li Fan stared intently at the constantly shifting scenes in the blood screen, his expression growing graver.
“Where are our higher-ranking cultivators from the Xuanhuang Realm? Did the Dao Integration and Longevity Immortal stage experts just sit back and watch this slaughter unfold?” Li Fan asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Sima Changkong shook his head slightly. “Not at all. Naturally, they had their own adversaries.”
“Although our ancestors couldn’t witness the battles of the stronger cultivators firsthand due to their limited cultivation level, it’s said that we in the Xuanhuang Realm suffered devastating losses as well.”
With a sigh, Sima Changkong continued, “For nearly 500 years, neither side has been willing to reignite the conflict. They both chose to focus on recuperation.”
Li Fan was astonished. “Were they really that strong? Were these people truly from the small worlds?”
“Yes, and no.” Sima Changkong summoned a fish-like spirit beast, poured another drink for the two of them, and continued.
“They were nothing more than pawns under someone else’s control.”
“The true mastermind behind them lies elsewhere.”
Li Fan perked up, intrigued. “What do you mean by that?”
“It seems their origins trace back to the time just after the ancient calamity descended. The details are sparse, even in the records of our ancestors.”
“However, from scattered post-war accounts, we know that they appeared to be a group of those who had ‘left and returned.’”
Sima Changkong looked puzzled as he spoke slowly.
“Not only did the Dao Integration cultivators of our Xuanhuang Realm refer to them as traitors, but even cultivators who didn’t know their identities would feel a deep-seated hatred at the sight of them.”
“During the battles, bolts of lightning would even descend from the heavens, striking these people directly.”
“It’s as if the entire Xuanhuang Realm despised them.”
“Left and returned…traitors…” Li Fan murmured, sinking into contemplation.
Sima Changkong’s descriptions, combined with his previous experiences in Senior Sister Zhao’s illusion, stirred some guesses within him.
In the past, when various calamities like the incompatibility of different cultivation methods and the immortal-mortal miasma descended, the ten great sects initially planned to unite and face these crises together.
But as the situation deteriorated too quickly, each sect had to fend for itself, let alone assist each other.
When disaster loomed, each sect made its own choice.
Some vanished completely in the annals of history due to internal strife.
Others sealed themselves off, hiding from the world, clinging to life.
But some, like the Nanming Demon Beast Mountain and the Heavenly Sword Sect, chose to flee from the Xuanhuang Realm altogether.
“As Emperer One once said, within any group, individuals will make their own choices. Without an absolute leader, it’s impossible to act with a unified will.”
“Each cultivator chose differently, which is only natural.”
“When they left, they may have taken something with them. Perhaps that’s why even the Xuanhuang Realm itself holds a grudge against them.”
“It’s uncertain why they returned, but for them to return unharmed despite the immense pull of the ‘Immortal Ruins,’ they must be extremely powerful.”
Li Fan’s mind gradually settled as he turned to Sima Changkong with even greater admiration.
As expected of the Xuanhuang Realm’s historian.
Over the past millennium, countless forgotten or hidden stories could be traced back to Sima Changkong.
Ever since Li Fan returned from the Tianling Prefecture, he had come to Sima Changkong’s underwater crystal residence to avoid the war’s impact.
Thanks to his previous interactions with Sima’s projection, coupled with his extensive knowledge of obscure facts, he quickly earned Sima’s favor.
The two enjoyed daily banquets, freely discussing the Xuanhuang Realm’s history, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.
To prevent outside disturbances and gather more information, Li Fan even volunteered to help set up stealth and protective formations for Sima Changkong’s crystal abode.
Impressed by Li Fan’s enthusiasm, Sima felt he’d found a kindred spirit, and their bond deepened.
“Peace is temporary, while war is the eternal theme of history.” After a long silence, Sima Changkong sighed, setting down his raised cup, his enthusiasm waning.
“Why do you say that…” Li Fan trailed off in sudden realization.
“Has the war between the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association begun?”
Sima Changkong nodded heavily. “Who knows how many cultivators will perish on the battlefield.”
“This is the way of the heavens; we are not the Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereigns. How could we resist? Drink, let’s drink!” Li Fan poured another drink for Sima, consoling him.
“You’re right.” Sima Changkong drained his cup, swallowing both the fine wine and his sorrow.
Li Fan then smoothly shifted the topic elsewhere.
…
Time flew by, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.
The war between the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association had reached a fever pitch, and Li Fan had fully settled in Sima Changkong’s residence, not leaving once in the entire year.