He didn't even dare guarantee his own safety.

...

After returning to the Sect, the moment Sword Demon stepped out of the Teleportation Array, he saw Wen Ping standing right outside.

"Sect Leader!"

Sword Demon bent slightly at the waist, then saw Huaikong, whose expression was grave as he stood behind Wen Ping, along with the other Immortal Sect Elders.

He didn't say much more and obediently stood behind Wen Ping.

Chen Xie stood to the side. Putting away the Sound Transmission Stone, he immediately said to Wen Ping, "Sect Leader, Shifeng has already led the Demon Race and is on the way back to Demon Emperor Lake."

"And those two—where are they?"

Chen Xie knew exactly who the Sect Leader meant. "Those two powerhouses from Sky-Covering Tower are currently in Vast City by Thousand Mechanism Lake. My people and the Black Shadow are keeping an eye on them."

"Mm." Wen Ping nodded. After turning back to give Qin Shan, Yu Mo, and the others a few instructions, he said to Huaikong and Sword Demon, "Huaikong, once you enter Thousand Mechanism Lake, take Sword Demon into the Demon Realm and open up the exit there. Then return via the Demon Realm to Demon Emperor Lake to support Shifeng. In this first battle, because of You Country fighting you to the death, Sky-Covering Tower may not gather too many people, but to the current Demon Race, their strength will still be overwhelming. What you need to do is prepare to lead the Demon Race, in the battles to come, to slaughter every invading enemy—and use the coming war to make yourselves and the Demon Race stronger. Remember, it may be an unequal war, but it's also your chance. Everything you've learned and gained will grow faster only through battle."

Wen Ping actually really wanted to wait. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He wanted more time, too.

But this cruel world was just like this.

Though this world had no Dark Forest law, your enemies would definitely destroy you while you were still weak.

They absolutely would not give you the chance to grow!

So there was no helping it. Wen Ping could only feed war with war.

If the Demon Race could survive this war, in the future they would definitely become a Race on this land no weaker than the Human Race.

Wen Ping continued, "Also, inform everyone in the Immortal Sect that anyone who wishes may enter Thousand Mechanism Lake via the Teleportation Array. A Cultivator who has never gone through the trials of life and death—no matter how powerful the Magic, Vein Technique, or magic he commands—can never stand at the peak."

As Wen Ping's words fell, all the Immortal Sect Elders shuddered inwardly.

They understood.

It was time to do something for the Sect.

They couldn't rely on the Sect Leader's protection forever. If they did, they would never become true powerhouses.

"Sect Leader, I'm already prepared to sacrifice myself for the Sect. If the people of Sky-Covering Tower want to set foot on the land of Heaven and Earth Lake, they'll have to step over my corpse first." Qin Shan was the first to speak in a low voice.

He had originally been just a servant of the Qin Family on East Lake Flying Fish Island.

To be favored by the Sect Leader and become an Elder of the Immortal Sect—

Of course he was willing to risk his life fighting for the Immortal Sect.

As Qin Shan spoke up, Wandering Sword Yu Mo, the former Demon Race Fourth Prince's Demon Servant Yu Jiang, and the others all shouted in succession.

Everyone's emotions were exceedingly fired up in that moment.

They all wore the attitude of being ready to die for the Immortal Sect.

Wen Ping was a bit speechless, then patted Yu Mo's shoulder beside him and said, "I am the Sect Leader. If anyone falls, I'll be the first to fall."

These people had all accompanied him from his lowest point, walking all the way here.

So Wen Ping had feelings for each and every one of them.

Wen Ping was willing to use his life to protect them, and to protect everyone in the Immortal Sect.

When Wen Ping finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

No one said a word.

But their eyes and hearts were filled with hot tears.

"Enough, it's not time for life-and-death farewells yet." Wen Ping smiled helplessly, then stepped into the Teleportation Array.

"Since we can't stop the people of Sky-Covering Tower from descending into Heaven and Earth Lake, then let's prepare a big gift for them." Wen Ping's first targets were the other two Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted powerhouses from Sky-Covering Tower.

They were excellent tool people as well.

Undead Hell didn't have many Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted Undead Creatures to be found, but Sky-Covering Tower would deliver them right to his door.

Immediately after, Huaikong, Chen Xie, and Sword Demon all stepped into the Teleportation Array.

The Teleportation Array activated with a boom!

Rumble—

A pillar of white light descended from the sky.

It landed outside Vast City by Thousand Mechanism Lake.

The sudden commotion startled the people outside Vast City.

Everyone turned their heads toward it, and when they saw the white robes on the few figures, their expressions all changed dramatically.

Like the face of the heavens.

It changed just like that!

"Immortal Sect!"

"They're from the Immortal Sect."

Everyone panicked and scattered.

They might not recognize Wen Ping and the others, but they recognized the Immortal Clear Wind Robe.

...

Hundred Sects Alliance main headquarters.

Ever since all three Golden Level Chiefs had died, the people of Sky-Covering Tower had taken their place and seized control of the entire Hundred Sects Alliance.

The position of Golden Level Chief had been abolished.

Now there was only one highest position—the Alliance Leader of the Hundred Sects Alliance—the first Alliance Leader being Di Ting!

Di Ting had been among the first powerhouses to help the Hundred Sects Alliance invade East Lake.

So Sky-Covering Tower had bestowed this position upon him.

After Di Ting took office, the positions of Silver Level Chief were kept, because Di Ting knew very well that if Sky-Covering Tower wanted to quickly and efficiently control the Hundred Sects Alliance, they couldn't rely solely on their own people.

"My lords, any news from above?" Last night, upon learning that Sky-Covering Tower's Celestial Unrestricted powerhouse would open a Curved Realm Passage, Di Ting had been preoccupied with this matter.

Because the time for revenge was finally approaching.

He'd been getting beaten down and humiliated in a tiny, barren dump like Heaven and Earth Lake for so long that he could no longer bear it.

This was one of the reasons he'd chosen to take over the Hundred Sects Alliance.

How could he leave before he finished his revenge?

Hei Zhao and Lan Feng were currently standing with hands clasped behind their backs on the high viewing platform at headquarters, mood lifted as they gazed out toward Vast City.

Hearing Di Ting's inquiry from behind them, Hei Zhao replied coolly, "We don't even need to ask. If not today, then tomorrow. Since the higher-ups have already designated East Lake and Demon Emperor Lake as war zones, they'll definitely move with thunderous speed."

"I really am curious—why would such a backward, barren Heaven and Earth Lake produce a Sect like the Immortal Sect? And also produce someone with a Rebirth Body. You have to know, the Rebirth Body was lost for over a thousand years, and only reappeared during the first generation Tower Master's era. After that, only each generation's Tower Master has been able to cultivate it."

Lan Feng sighed off to the side.

Hei Zhao turned around, a faint smile on his face. "Once the Curved Realm Passage is opened, everything will come to light. This trip, even though we lost Celestial Traveler, we unearthed so many different things that Heaven-Gazing Gorge doesn't have at all. This mission can't really be called a failure."

"We might even get a reward when we go back. Just that Vortex Divine Artisan Skill alone, which can add a Special Ability onto the Vortex Map, is worth a hefty reward. Not to mention everything else—and that person with the Rebirth Body."

Tianxing threw his head back and laughed.

Extremely pleased with himself.

Di Ting chimed in from the side, "My lord, I carefully combed through the records on the Immortal Sect and its previous Sect Leaders. For the current Immortal Sect Sect Leader to so quickly develop a fallen Starless Sect to this level, there must be an extraordinary expert behind Sect Leader Wen Ping—one who is about to burn out his last drop of oil."

If he weren't extraordinary, he couldn't have created so many new things.

If he weren't extraordinary, he couldn't have helped the Immortal Sect grow to this extent.

But he chose to flex his muscles here in Heaven and Earth Lake, which meant his strength was definitely less than a tenth of what it had been—a lamp running out of oil. Otherwise, wouldn't it be better to cultivate a force in Heaven-Gazing Gorge?

The resources in Heaven-Gazing Gorge were so abundant.

Compared to Heaven and Earth Lake, it was like heaven and earth.

Hei Zhao gave a soft hum of agreement. "If we could capture that person and make him serve us, it would be a tremendous boon for Sky-Covering Tower. If it weren't for Celestial Traveler's death giving me pause, I'd honestly want to go sit in East Lake myself, just to keep that guy from slipping away."

Lan Feng responded calmly, "He can't run. Once he reached Heaven and Earth Lake, he had no way out. Where else can he go?"

After that, the two of them made some bold conjectures and predictions about the person behind the Immortal Sect.

At the same time, they made a few guesses about Weisheng Xingyu, the one with the Rebirth Body.

But people as smart as them—

Every guess they made was wrong.

Though they were chatting quite happily.

Just as the conversation was getting good, they saw a pillar of white light fall from the sky.

Boom!

The two of them clearly saw the white pillar crash down outside Vast City.

They had already heard about this light pillar from Di Ting.

It belonged to the Immortal Sect.

The last time a pillar like this appeared, people from the Immortal Sect had walked out of it.

"People from the Immortal Sect are here!"

Hei Zhao's Perception immediately swept over, then he said in surprise, "One Upper Realm Demon God, and one Upper Realm Human Race powerhouse. Of the remaining two, I can't sense the Realm of one of them, while the other is only Earth Unrestricted Lower Realm."

"And they still dare come here? Let's go, capture them."

Lan Feng immediately soared into the air!

(Just spotted a 500-tip from an old reader, Brother Qilin… Thanks also for the straight guy's 100-tip.)