451 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama
Chapter 451 – Arrival at the Liuli Sword Sect At this moment, the Liuli Sword Sect no longer held its former glory. The area was swarming with demons and members of the dark sects, alongside a few cultivators from other sects. Most of them were gathered in front of a tall building at the sect’s rear mountainside. Several tribulation-transcending cultivators were leading a group in a relentless assault on the building. Multicolored spells flew in all directions, brilliant and dazzling. Yet, the building stood unblemished and unyielding. A plaque on the tower read "Yunhai Tower." "Friend Shen, the defenses of this Yunhai Tower are impenetrable. We've been attacking for years with no success," remarked a tribulation-transcending fellow to a middle-aged man clad in Tianji Pavilion garb, holding a whisk. The middle-aged man had a fair complexion and an aura of otherworldly grace. He certainly exuded an air of immortal bearing. "Indeed, Friend Shen. The remaining dissenters of Liuli Sword Sect are holed up in Yunhai Tower, and we have no means to deal with them," two other tribulation-transcending cultivators agreed. “Hmph,” scoffed the Tianji Pavilion cultivator with contempt, “it’s mere survival on borrowed time. Our forefather has struck a deal with the demons. The sacrificial offering has reached its critical stage. In three days, after offering the final batch of cultivators, we can fully unleash the demons from their seal. Why fear a puny Liuli Sword Sect then?” "Our main duty now is to guard the people within Yunhai Tower, preventing them from making any desperate moves that could disrupt the sacrifice in three days," he added dismissively. “Yes, yes!” The three others nodded eagerly, their faces full of flattery. Inside Yunhai Tower, Ye Tianming, Ming Ye, Jiang Fengyao and his wife Hong Ye, Jin Yuanbao, Huang Bufan, and Shen Tianya were watching the scene on a water screen, their brows furrowed. Ye Tianming and Jiang Fengyao had already reached the tribulation-transcending stage, while Hong Ye and the others were at the peak of the soul-formation stage. Their rapid advancements were thanks to the cultivation resources and spiritual spring water left by Ye Linglong, along with Jiang Lingyun’s pills. Pills mixed with spiritual spring water had no side effects. The water screen displayed the entire scene outside Yunhai Tower, including their conversations. “Is Lingyun still in the Time Cultivation Chamber?” Ye Tianming asked. Hong Ye nodded, her face showing maturity, though it was lined with worry. The demon dragon lay on her shoulder, glowing eerily. “Yes, Big Brother is at the peak of the tribulation-transcending stage, trying to break through the last barrier, but…” She trailed off, aware of how difficult breaking through to the grand stage was in their sealed world. “You’ve all heard that the final sacrifice will occur in three days. If the demons emerge, Yunhai Tower may no longer shield us, and the entire lower realm could be devastated,” Ye Tianming said gravely, with a deep sigh. “We must make a desperate stand to destroy their last sacrifice.” The atmosphere was heavy. Hong Ye, teary-eyed, spoke with a tinge of wistfulness, “I miss Shijie.” Her words caused everyone’s expressions to shift. “I wonder how Shijie is doing. If she were here, she’d surely have a solution. Do you think Shijie will return? Is she in the Immortal Realm now?” Hong Ye, a die-hard admirer of Shijie, held her in continually high regard. Ye Tianming’s voice faltered as he was about to speak, but was interrupted by a firm voice. “She will return. Linglong promised to find me here!” The resolute voice turned their heads to Jiang Lingyun, who had appeared silently. His aura was thick and he was on the verge of breaking through, though hadn’t achieved it yet. “Big Brother!” “Lingyun!” They exclaimed. Jiang Lingyun nodded, his cultivation level the highest among them. “I overheard you. Our only option is an all-or-nothing fight. We cannot let the demons be unsealed!” Outside Yunhai Tower, after a routine attack, the tribulation-transcending cultivators ceased their assault, treating it as a mere formality, as the tower’s defenses remained unbreached. Just as they were about to step back, the gates of the usually unreactive Yunhai Tower suddenly opened. The cultivators were taken aback, having never seen the gates open before. Swiftly, several figures emerged and launched a surprise attack. The coordinated assault targeted the weakest of the tribulation-transcending cultivators. The one under attack belonged to a top-tier sect in the Tianqian Continent, the sole tribulation-transcending patriarch of the sect. Facing the barrage of attacks alone, panic-stricken, he cried out, “Help!” Deploying all his defensive artifacts and mustering his full power to resist. With a deafening explosion, he was flung back, severely wounded but alive. Four tribulation-transcending fighters quickly dwindled to three. Perfectly matched against the trio from Liuli Sword Sect. Ye Tianming, Jiang Fengyao, and Jiang Lingyun each took on a tribulation-transcending opponent, while Hong Ye and others confronted the rest. The battle commenced in full force as the demon and dark sect forces surged in. Despite their numbers, Hong Ye wielded a longsword and demon fire, creating a circle no one dared approach. A precarious balance formed between the sides. At that moment, a firework exploded in the sky: “Ye Tianming, I’ve signaled for reinforcements. You leaving Yunhai Tower was your grave mistake!” the Tianji Pavilion cultivator smirked confidently. Jiang Lingyun pointed a large pill cauldron at the foe, who dodged, unwilling to face it head on. “Hmph! I just need to stall. Once reinforcements arrive, you’ll be captured completely!” Ye Tianming and the others grimaced, knowing the truth in his words. The old fox was too cunning to engage directly. Yet suddenly, a cool, clear voice rang out. “Is that so? But it seems your reinforcements aren’t arriving as quickly as we did~”