Along the border between Deston Prefecture and Shadowfell Prefecture, a million Wu tribe heads were mounted on spikes overnight, extending almost across the entire frontline.
The severed heads separated the two prefectures.
Both the Wu tribe and the Human race had constantly been invading and slaughtering each other across the border. However, upon witnessing this inhumane scene, both sides fell into silence on this day, not daring to advance an inch.
At the border between the two realms.
Cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm from both sides gathered, exchanging accusations and furious curses.
Mostly, it was the Wu tribe furiously cursing the dynasty's people for their cruel methods, arguing that while war was war, humiliating corpses to provoke the Wu tribe was far too despicable.
Subsequently, a massive battle broke out among the experts, resulting in casualties among the strong.
That battle caused endless thunder to roar across the battlefield, mountains to collapse, and the earth to split apart; even Body Integration realm experts exchanged blows.
After the battle, the Wu tribe ordered their people to imitate the human race, mounting human heads on spikes. The two sides confronted each other, and the war escalated.
"It's them... they have come."
Lei Dong and Luo Xing exchanged a glance. Both were old rivals who had fought a massive battle against Azure Cloud many years ago.
Hundreds of years had passed, yet they still could not forget the experience of battling the Li Clan at the border of the Azure Cloud Region back then.
At the border of the Azure Cloud Region in the past, Wu tribe heads had similarly been mounted on spikes.
The Western Border had been fought over for hundreds of years.
The human cultivators and the Wu tribe went back and forth, but they lacked one crucial thing: madness.
They had lived too long and always considered things from multiple angles before acting.
The people of Azure Cloud were different; they were like a group of barefoot madmen, there was nothing they didn't dare to do!
"It will be fine."
Luo Xing's mouth twitched.
"The people of Azure Cloud have developed quite well over the years under the leadership of the Li Clan.
But even if the human race's cultivation speed is a bit faster, Azure Cloud will at most produce a few more Divinity Transformation and Void Refinement experts.
The ones who truly dominate the battlefield are the mighty figures of the Body Integration realm. At most, they are just... shit-stirrers."
Luo Xing looked back into the distance at the Nirvana Sage Elder, who was standing amidst the magma in the valley, utilizing the Spiritual power of heaven and earth to search for so-called "opportunities."
A trace of doubt crept into his heart.
After the incident at the Shadowfell Prefecture Border Pass a few years ago, the Nirvana Sage Elder paid no mind to the Li Clan, and the same was true even now.
But Luo Xing knew that those madmen from the former Azure Cloud Region would absolutely not let the matter drop.
"I heard the Li Clan has produced a few Void Refinement experts. If it were in the past..."
Lei Dong took a deep breath.
"They would try to bite the Sage Elder to death like mad dogs. Rumors in the Azure Dynasty say Li Dalong is dead, but I don't believe it. And now, Li Dalong hasn't shown up."
"Hundreds of years have passed; they have grown."
Luo Xing smiled bitterly.
"They are still completely mad, but they are no longer mad dogs. The wolves have arrived."
.......
Sunfall City.
Holding a horsetail Brush, a man with the bearing of a transcendent immortal stood in the noisy government office.
This was where the City Lord of Sunfall City handled city affairs.
"Having been away for two years, I wonder if Fairy Hongxiu is lonely without me.
They say a century passes in the blink of an eye for immortals. What a joke. After two years apart, it feels like an ant nest is crawling in my heart."
The hall was filled with noisy voices. Li Yunlin stood at the edge, muttering to himself.
He paid no mind to the numerous cultivators gathered in the hall.
All of them were people who had come to fight the mighty figures of the Wu tribe because of the "mounting Wu tribe heads on spikes" incident.
Most of them were covered in injuries from this battle.
Even the Spear Saint, Gu Fenghua, who sat in the seat of honor, looked pale.
"Forty-two people; quite a few experts."
Li Yunlin looked around and saw over thirty Divinity Transformation cultivators, six Void Refinement experts, and the Spear Saint sitting in his seat.
These were only the council members of Sunfall City; the resident council members of the other two cities were likely about the same.
Furthermore, cultivators from all over the Azure Dynasty had come to various parts of Deston Prefecture.
It was a mixed bag, and the number of unofficial experts and cultivators was no less than those in the three major cities.
It had only been three days since the "mounting heads on spikes" battle at the border, yet it had drawn out quite a few hidden experts.
Li Yunlin had also participated in the battle, so he had a pretty good idea of the strength of all parties.
"Second Brother still handles things the most reliably. With just a small trick, he brought the forces of all parties into plain sight."
Li Yunlin had cultivated for many years, spending most of his time at the "Repentance Cliff," the Skyveil Hall, or in the "Confinement Room."
It was no wonder Li Yunbing often said, "Eldest Brother is not good with words."
Li Yunlin's daily demeanor was unique, completely different from the cultivators discussing among themselves in the great hall.
The youthful-looking old Daoist muttered to himself, then cast a glance at every single person in the hall.
"Divinity Transformation realm... cannot withstand a single blow."
"Early-stage Void Refinement, but merely possessing ordinary Divinity Transformation strength.
No need for the Skyveil Hall; once Senior Ming Daozi's Daoist Spiritual technique is unleashed, this person will definitely be defeated."
"Peak Void Refinement realm. This person held back during the battle at the border. Old Cat, if we go all out, does he have the strength to escape from under you and me?"
"The Spear Saint. I am not his match for even a single exchange."
"..."
During the one-hour council meeting, Li Yunlin had already conducted Daoist Spiritual deductions, beating ninety percent of the people in the hall to death several times over through hundreds of different methods.