Time flowed, and for cultivators in their practice, three months passed in the blink of an eye. Three days before the agreed-upon battle, figures soared into the sky from various peaks of the Panlong Mountain Range. Their immense magical power spread out, causing fierce winds and a pervasive fighting spirit that stretched for a thousand miles.
Ling Xiu arrived, treading on air, and gazed at the figures hovering in the sky, their postures upright, their gazes resolute.
"Brothers, this battle concerns the life and death of our Sixth Prince's Estate and will determine the future landscape of the Wu Shan Star Domain."
"If we win, we will be immortalized and leave an indelible mark on the history of the Wu Shan Star Domain, remembered by generations of cultivators even after our demise."
"If we lose, the Sixth Prince's Estate, which has stood for hundreds of thousands of years in the Wu Shan Star Domain, will vanish, becoming a stepping stone for others to reach the pinnacle."
"Therefore, we have no retreat."
"Fight... Fight... Fight..."
Roars of defiance echoed throughout the Panlong Mountain Range, continuously spreading outwards.
The Sixth Prince's Estate was primarily composed of body-refining cultivators, most of them warlike and full of mettle. Although many believed their chances of victory were slim, they would never passively await death. They would fight to the last drop of blood, making the enemy pay a heavy price.
"Elder Zhang Fan, did you gain anything from this cultivation period?" Ling Xiu asked, arriving before Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan nodded, observing the high morale of the Sixth Prince's Estate cultivators and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, noting how unique the Sixth Prince's Estate truly was.
Despite having fewer cultivators than other major powers, they were more united, possessed stronger cohesion, and were more spirited.
"Depart!"
With Ling Xiu's command, Ling Xiu and Zhang Fan led the way, a group of over twenty people heading towards the Luo Xian Mountain Range.
All cultivators from the Sixth Prince's Estate participating in this battle were at least above the Sixth Tribulation Realm. Lin Haotian, Wuchen Sword Immortal, and Tianhua Heavenly Lord, though only at the Sixth Tribulation Realm, had been together for a long time and cooperated seamlessly. Under the command of Tianhua Heavenly Lord, their battle formation allowed them to fight with combat power comparable to the Seventh Tribulation Realm, hence they were brought along.
In addition to Zhang Fan, Liu Mu, Blood Demon Flood Dragon, and Lin Haotian, five individuals and one beast, the Sixth Prince's Estate had nearly twenty other cultivators participating. Among the Six Princes, only the third-ranked Jade King remained to guard the Panlong Mountain Range, while the other five accompanied the expedition.
As for the three reclusive Half-step God Transformation cultivators mentioned by Ling Xiu, Zhang Fan did not inquire further. However, with his current divine soul power, he could vaguely sense three extremely subtle yet powerful auras hidden nearby.
Watching the departing figures, the Jade King and the many cultivators remaining behind shouted in unison, "We wish all our brothers victory and a swift return!"
Only after Zhang Fan and the others disappeared beyond the Panlong Mountain Range did their voices gradually subside. At that moment, they realized their eyes seemed to have gotten sand in them, feeling a bit damp.
...
On this day, besides the Sixth Prince's Estate, many cultivators from the Canghai Palace and the True Fire Grotto-Heaven also set out from their respective sects towards the Luo Xian Mountain Range, eager to witness this battle that would reshape the future of the Realm Heart Continent.
Even the Teng Snake Clan, residing in remote regions, secretly dispatched powerful individuals to observe. They needed to know the battle situation immediately to formulate their strategies.
If Zhang Fan lost and perished in the Luo Xian Mountain Range, it would be the best outcome for the Teng Snake Clan, as they would eliminate a major enemy.
However, if Zhang Fan emerged victorious, after dealing with the Flying Immortal Mansion, Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, and Sun Shadow Grotto-Heaven, then given Zhang Fan's methods, the Teng Snake Clan would likely be the next to be annihilated.
Although this possibility was minuscule, it concerned the fate of their entire clan, and they dared not take the risk.
With the Luo Xian Mountain Range as the center, cultivators from all over the Realm Heart Continent began to arrive, unwilling to miss this earth-shattering battle.
The Luo Xian Mountain Range was located at the junction of the northern Barbarian Domain and the southern Western Pole Imperial Domain. It was the location of the Flying Immortal Mansion sect.
This place gathered spiritual energy from all directions and controlled the flow of spiritual veins, making it a rare blessed land on the Realm Heart Continent. It was precisely for this reason that the Flying Immortal Mansion established its sect on the Luo Xian Mountain Range.
The Luo Xian Mountain Range stretched for millions of miles, spanning north and south, dotted with strange peaks and crisscrossed by spiritual springs. Legend had it that it was named after a God Transformation True Immortal who perished here. Among them, the most famous was Luo Xian Valley.
Luo Xian Valley was surrounded by treacherous peaks, with a vast valley in the center. Legend claimed this valley was the place where the God Transformation True Immortal met their end. The valley floor, originally made of mountain peaks, was eroded by the True Immortal's blood, eventually transforming into its current state.
...
A flood dragon hundreds of feet long flew freely within the Luo Xian Mountain Range, its powerful aura unrestrained. The pressure emanating from its bloodline forced the demonic beasts in the mountain range to cower and tremble.
On the flood dragon's back stood over twenty human cultivators, the entourage of Zhang Fan and the Sixth Prince's Estate.
"They didn't waste their efforts in setting up offensive formations, but choosing Luo Xian Valley as the battlefield is indeed quite cautious," Zhang Fan said, standing on the massive head of the Blood Demon Flood Dragon. He sensed the auras of Fu Beichen and others from afar, a knowing smile on his face.
"After the Flying Immortal Mansion established its sect here, Luo Xian Valley became the Flying Immortal Mansion's tribulation-transcending dojo. It was covered by formations that, while not having offensive capabilities, could block attacks from the outside once activated. Could it be that the Flying Immortal Mansion fears interference from external cultivators?" Ling Xiu's expression was solemn, his eyes filled with barely concealed fighting spirit. After being suppressed for so long, today, regardless of the outcome, he could finally unleash himself and fight without fear of death.
As the Blood Demon Flood Dragon flew at high speed, they saw many cultivators arriving from other directions along the way.
"Is that a flood dragon? What a terrifying aura! If I could have such a mount, I could roam freely across this vast Realm Heart Continent!" a cultivator exclaimed, looking up at the Blood Demon Flood Dragon's massive body with envy in his eyes.
Demonic beasts were already rare on the Realm Heart Continent, and only the Teng Snake Clan truly gathered into a substantial population. Therefore, it was rare to see cultivators traveling with mounts. As for mounts like flood dragons, they were a rarity even in ten thousand years.
"The Canghai Palace and the True Fire Grotto-Heaven have also sent people. It seems they are very curious about this battle," Ling Xiu remarked, recognizing many familiar faces.
Within dozens of breaths, the Blood Demon Flood Dragon had flown tens of thousands of miles over the Luo Xian Mountain Range. The group finally saw Luo Xian Valley in the distance.
"Things are not looking good!" the Blood Demon Flood Dragon said in human speech. Above Luo Xian Valley, over a hundred cultivators were gathered, each possessing an aura as powerful as that of a Seventh Tribulation Realm expert.
"What do you know? This is precisely what makes it challenging." Contrary to the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, Zhang Fan's face involuntarily showed a pleased smile upon seeing that the three major forces had gathered over a hundred cultivators at or above the Seventh Tribulation Realm.