roccoschili Chapter 708 708: The Northern Domain, Mysterious Descent_1
Chapter 708 708: The Northern Domain, Mysterious Descent_1
"Fellows, have any of you noticed anything amiss?" Zhaoshen Ancestor asked, his expression grave. He had keenly sensed that some upheaval was occurring in the Northern Territory.Throwing Elephant Ancestor also nodded. "I was intending to enter secluded cultivation today, but I suddenly had a premonition, a truly heart-pounding sense of trepidation."
The ancestors from the other sects also wore varying expressions. It was precisely due to this shared sense of unease that they had all gathered to discuss what might be happening.
"Something is amiss. Could it be related to a major event concerning our Northern Territory?" Zhaoshen Ancestor suddenly voiced.
All those present were Immortal Emperor Realm cultivators. If only one person had experienced such a sensation, it might have been dismissed as an illusion. But with everyone now feeling it, it undoubtedly signified that a major event was unfolding.
"Could it be related to the Ghost Corpse incident from before?" Throwing Elephant Ancestor immediately recalled the affair involving the Photo God Sect, his expression tinged with fear. "If the Ten Thousand Nether Sect were to spread that poison throughout our Northern Territory, I'm afraid..."
If not for their swift action back then, that toxin might have already developed to the point where it could defile Immortal Emperor Realm cultivators. It's crucial to understand that even cultivators at the Immortal Emperor Realm would find it difficult to effectively resist this poison.
This was, after all, the handiwork of an Immortal Honored Realm Cultivator; it was simply beyond the capabilities of Immortal Emperor Realm cultivators like themselves to resist.
"This... is possible. If so, we would need to visit the Supreme Sword Sect again and request the aid of another predecessor from the Immortal Honored Realm to counter this threat," Zhaoshen Ancestor said, his reluctance visibly painful.
Inviting such an expert was easy, but sending them away proved difficult. That predecessor had stayed for over a month and nearly bled their sects dry. It was only thanks to finally managing to send him off that they weren't all destitute and fleeing by now.
Had this proposal been made before, everyone would have agreed without hesitation. Now, however, each of them was wavering.
No matter how one looked at it, this would deplete their reserves. The deficits from the previous occasion had yet to be recouped. Inviting another expert wasn't out of the question, but the problem was their lack of sufficient resources for payment.
Although that Immortal Honored Realm cultivator likely wouldn't be excessively demanding, he would ultimately have them sign treaties, compelling them to sell or mortgage their sect's resources as compensation. This was hardly an appealing prospect.
"Why not migrate out of the Northern Territory?" Throwing Elephant Ancestor suddenly proposed.
"Huh?" Everyone was taken aback. To abandon the territories they had painstakingly built over so long and move to another domain offered no guarantee of an easier path.
"If we all merge our sects into one great sect and then migrate to another domain, not only could we evade this calamity, but with mutual support, we could also rebuild our sects." Throwing Elephant Ancestor's true intention was for everyone to form an alliance and flee.
However, his suggestion was met with opposition from everyone.
"That's not feasible. Moving a sect is one thing, but suitable tribute locations in the lower realms are difficult to secure."
"In the Green Nether Fairyland, such tribute locations are fixed in number. If we were to make a move for them, it would likely provoke a united attack from other domains," Zhaoshen Ancestor also objected.
They could band together and enter another domain, but that would inevitably arouse the vigilance of the existing powers there. In that situation, how could they, a group of 'river-crossing dragons,' possibly contend with the 'local snakes'? The latter would possess geographical advantages, popular support, and perhaps even opportune timing. Even if they managed to successfully establish themselves, life would be arduous.
It would be better to stay in the Northern Territory and gamble.
After a flurry of arguments, Throwing Elephant Ancestor's idea of fleeing was quickly rejected.
Throwing Elephant Ancestor didn't press further. If he were to leave alone, without the Elephant Casting Sect and with no intention of establishing a new one, he could survive anywhere. With his Immortal Emperor Realm cultivation, even joining the Supreme Sword Sect, the leading Righteous Path sect in the Central Territory, wouldn't be an issue, though his treatment might be significantly worse.
"Since we have no leads on this matter, we should observe the situation and bide our time. When the moment comes, we can strike from a position of advantage and handle things properly," Zhaoshen Ancestor suggested.
He phrased it diplomatically, but the underlying meaning was clear: none of them knew what was happening, nor did they have any idea what this supposed calamity entailed. Without a single clue, further discussion was pointless. It was better to wait until they had gathered some intelligence before deciding on a course of action; it wouldn't be too late to act then.
As for whether it might be too late by then—well, that was a matter for 'later'.
They were all Immortal Emperor Realm cultivators. As long as they were willing to abandon their foundations, where in this vast world could they not go?
Hearing this, the others could only reluctantly agree with Zhaoshen Ancestor's proposal.
What else could they do? If anyone had other suggestions or ideas, they could voice them, but many had already been proposed, and none had proven reliable.
"In that case, let's disperse for now and wait until—" Zhaoshen Ancestor hadn't finished speaking when he abruptly stopped, a look of horror dawning on his face.
"The calamity... has arrived."
All present were Immortal Emperor Realm cultivators and needed no reminder from Zhaoshen Ancestor. In an instant, they all teleported outside.
They looked up to see an oppressive world, like a reflection, blanketing the entire sky, visible to everyone.
"Strange Domain..." Zhaoshen Ancestor muttered softly.
Upon seeing this bizarre reflection, those two words had abruptly surfaced in his mind.
"Flee quickly! Don't be mesmerized!" Throwing Elephant Ancestor roared, then transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the nearest Eastern Territory.
With his movement, everyone else snapped out of their daze and immediately followed suit, fleeing for their lives.
Sect, foundation—none of it mattered more than their own lives.
An existence capable of causing such a phenomenon across an entire territory had to be at the Ancestor Immortal Realm or the Ancient Immortal Realm. Cultivators of either realm were far beyond their ability to resist; thus, fleeing was undoubtedly the best option.
Moreover, such an eerie and somber reflection undoubtedly belonged to someone from the Demon Path. Had it been an expert from the Righteous Path, such a scene would never have occurred.
Zhaoshen Ancestor, however, did not move. He glanced at his left hand, where the faint tattoo revealed a hint of a ferocious outline.
It's too late. No one can escape.
As he focused his attention on the tattoo, a countdown appeared in his mind.
A quarter of an hour.
In just a quarter of an hour, this Strange Domain would completely envelop the Northern Territory, transforming it into an unknowable region.
As for escape, that was even more of a fantasy. Even if they managed to leave the Northern Territory now, once the time was up, the tattoos on their hands would drag them back into the Strange Domain, and their situation would become even more perilous.
Therefore, it's better not to flee. I should observe calmly and prepare to react as quickly as possible.
The others hadn't noticed, naturally, because their minds were consumed with escaping, their nerves taut, leaving them completely oblivious to this detail.
That Zhaoshen Ancestor had noticed could only be attributed to a fortunate coincidence.
"This Strange Domain... perhaps it is the work of an existence beyond the Ancestor Immortal Realm. I hope the Supreme Sword Sect has the means to break through this," Zhaoshen Ancestor murmured, watching the reflection in the sky descend upon the land.
The Northern Territory and the Strange Domain began to overlap. The interweaving of reality and illusion gave rise to all sorts of grotesque, distorted, and chaotic scenes, making him feel a profound sense of the unnatural.
During this process, the tattoo on his left hand became clearer: it was a white skull, fixed in a malevolent grin.
No sensation, not even a trace. This is undoubtedly the work of a great power. Despite his inner panic, Zhaoshen Ancestor remained outwardly calm.
He was, after all, the ancestor of a sect, and his mental fortitude was relatively sound. Of course, had he chosen to flee with the others, he likely wouldn't be this composed now.
"Have a bowl of wontons. Thin skins, generous fillings, fresh and hot."
Suddenly, a voice materialized beside his ear.
Zhaoshen Ancestor attacked without hesitation.
BOOM.
A disturbance rippled out from the source of the voice. It seemed his immortal technique had momentarily disrupted the convergence of the Strange Domain and the Northern Territory, but this chaotic ripple mended itself in an instant.
In the very next moment, an old man carrying a shoulder pole emerged from the lingering disturbance. His face was stiff and numb, utterly devoid of any sign of life.
Zhaoshen Ancestor was about to strike again without hesitation when a sudden, intense palpitation seized him.
Forced to stay his hand, he sensed something profoundly amiss. If he were to attack again, he would very likely die.
He dared not attack, dared not even speak. Instead, he turned and fled.
As he fled, a savory and delectable aroma assailed his nostrils. His body began to crave it, and he felt a pang of hunger he hadn't experienced in what seemed like an eternity.
This didn't make him stop; on the contrary, it spurred him to flee even faster.
The more this happened, the more his heart pounded with terror. To think that I, a dignified Immortal Emperor Realm cultivator, a figure of ancestral standing in the Northern Territory, could have my cravings stirred by a mere mortal!
It could only be said that the Strange Domain truly lived up to its 'strange' moniker. Right now, he wished for nothing more than to be as far away from that wonton seller as possible.