Chapter 114: The Engagement Begins

After the Ice Ancestor’s harsh words were spoken, everyone present was struck with shock and their faces drained of color. Inwardly, they begrudged Dijun, pleading anxiously, “Senior, please calm your anger. This junior is not aligned with Dijun. We will leave at once, immediately!”

“Dijun’s thoughts do not represent me; I shall not trouble you further, esteemed elder.”

“This offense is truly grievous; I will return to my sect to repent for a thousand years.”

...

Many Taiyi True Immortals and Da Luo Golden Immortals grovelled in low tones, begging for mercy. It was hardly surprising they lacked backbone—over four hundred Frost Giants stood around, their eyes fierce and unyielding!

By now, few present remained unaware of the Frost Giants’ terrifying power. Each possessed half the strength of an early-stage Quasi-Saint, with an ability to ignore natural laws, and could only be destroyed by extreme Yang energy. Especially since their force was derived from yin-yang energy, how could mere Taiyi True Immortals or Da Luo Golden Immortals dare resist?

In truth, it was not just the many Taiyi True Immortals and Da Luo Golden Immortals who were hesitant; more than half of the twenty or so Quasi-Saints also considered withdrawing. While they might slay one or two Frost Giants, the sheer number—over four hundred—and the Ice Ancestor’s boast of three thousand was enough to sow doubt.

A single combined strike from over four hundred Frost Giants would most likely decimate more than half of the Quasi-Saints, leaving the rest gravely wounded.

“Enough! I shall spare you all once more. Leave now before I change my mind. There will be no third chance.” The Ice Ancestor’s commanding shout rang out, his mind silently praying these people would flee in fear, for the situation was grave indeed.

“Y-Yes, we will leave immediately!”

“This junior will not disturb the elder further. Farewell!”

“Thank you for your mercy, senior!”

...

As if criminals granted last-minute clemency, eight or nine out of ten present were moved to tears of gratitude, eager to depart.

Just as the turmoil seemed about to subside, Dijun, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, suddenly spoke to halt them: “Hold, everyone. I have something to say.”

Hearing Dijun’s words, those intending to leave stopped in their tracks, all eyes fixed coldly upon him. Previously, Dijun’s provocation of the Ice Ancestor had terrified them, fearing they might be implicated. Now, having received the Ice Ancestor’s “forgiveness,” they were immensely relieved. Yet Dijun’s sudden reappearance stirred resentment deep within them.

Ignoring their hostile gazes, Dijun continued on his own: “Fellow cultivators, the Godslaying Spear lies within reach. Missing this chance would be an eternal regret! Consider this—would those with overwhelming power truly compromise with us? I, Dijun, despite my shortcomings, know much of ancient secrets. The Frost Dynasty has long vanished, the Frost Giants extinct. Where could there still be three thousand of them? Even the four hundred present may be counterfeit. If these are fakes, would we not be foolish to surrender such an opportunity? And even if all were genuine, with our combined strength, surely we could escape unscathed!”

Appealing to reason and emotion, emphasizing the stakes, Dijun’s sole aim was clear: to rally everyone to unite against the Frost Giants and seize the Godslaying Spear.

Dijun and his brother Taiyi were born of the sun’s celestial essence, having awakened intelligence in the ancient age. Though they had not witnessed the Frost Dynasty firsthand, they had uncovered much of its history, including the widely accepted fact that all three thousand Frost Giants had perished—a consensus among primordial gods and demons alike. The Ice Ancestor’s claim of three thousand was a slap in the face to these ancient truths, arousing Dijun’s suspicion. Yet he dared not investigate alone and thus sought to drag others into his scheme. If false, they could seize the spear; if true, they would have sufficient numbers to escape.

One could not deny Dijun’s cunning, his plans unfurling with boldness and meticulous care—a man both brave and shrewd.

“Demon Emperor Dijun? He must not be underestimated!” Qingxu thought to himself. Now controlling a Frost Giant, he understood their limits. As a half-step Da Luo Golden Immortal, he could strike only twice before the divine king soul within the Frost Giant would be destroyed, inflicting heavy injury upon himself. Even Da Luo Golden Immortals at their peak could only attack three times.

With such limitations, no wonder the Ice Ancestor had to relent—he lacked certainty.

“Master Jukun, when battle commences, have our brothers open hundreds of passages. Those people will surely descend to restrain the old fellow, giving us a chance to flee. This opportunity comes but once; we must not fail at the critical moment! As for the divine soul controlling the Frost Giant, let it go!” Qingxu instructed, following their prior plan.

“Rest assured! Apart from a few cowards, everyone else is ready. Once combat begins, half the plan is already won.” Jukun was visibly excited. Freedom—the long-desired freedom—was within reach. After endless years without a future, that life’s end was near. At this moment, it all felt like a dream, unreal.

Those about to leave trembled at Dijun’s words, weighing gains and losses, their eyes flickering with uncertainty.

“Brother is right. We must not be deceived into wasting this chance!” Taiyi was the first to voice support.

“Dijun’s words ring true. Frost Giants no longer exist; these must be illusions.” Kunpeng, now allied with the Dijun brothers, also urged unity. His desire to obtain the Godslaying Spear was fierce. With it, his strength would skyrocket, allowing him to overturn defeat and rise as Demon Emperor, or at least stand equal to the Dijun brothers, truly free and unrestrained. How could he let such an opportunity slip by?

“Heh heh!” The River Ancestor chuckled darkly and pledged to join Dijun and his brothers without hesitation. With the Netherworld Blood Sea at his disposal, he was effectively immortal.

Zhen Yuzi and Hongyun Daoist exchanged glances and chose to stay as well.

Fuxi Daoist turned without expression, inscrutable as ever.

...

Those who had intended to leave now nearly all chose to stay. To reach their cultivation, they must have possessed great fortune, wisdom, perseverance, and destiny. Upon reflection, Dijun’s words seemed reasonable.

Among the crowd, only Qingxu acted opportunistically. The others had cultivated through countless aeons, witnessing the world’s vicissitudes and the coldness of human nature, losing almost all sentiment. Self-interest governed their actions, alliances were rife with scheming, and they understood that if the Ice Ancestor wanted them gone, it must be for his own benefit. Conversely, if they stayed to continue their plans, the benefits would return to them.

By both reason and sentiment, pressing on with the plot to seize the Godslaying Spear was the wisest choice.

“Strike down everyone present with full force!” Seeing the situation, the Ice Ancestor acted decisively, ordering Qingxu and the others to command the Frost Giants in a full assault. The saying went: better to strike first than suffer later!

“The old fellow must have expended great energy. Now we can only rely on ourselves.” Though some harbored rebellious thoughts, the timing was ill. Moreover, the Ice Ancestor had placed prohibitive spells on the Frost Giants. Betrayal would bring dire consequences. Yet Qingxu’s plan was ready. The Frost Giants’ power could open a path connecting the Northern Abyss to the Ice Soul Mine. Others could do the same, creating roughly four hundred passages to disperse and flee. The Ice Ancestor would be too occupied with Dijun and the others to intervene. Their chance to escape was high.

“All, advance!” Qingxu roared to the sky, signaling Dijun and the others. Over four hundred Frost Giants struck simultaneously. The timid among them followed the Ice Ancestor’s orders strictly, while Qingxu and his comrades exchanged glances, their focus sharp as they sought the perfect moment.

Boom!

The Chaotic Bell’s sonic wave repelled ten Frost Giants, while the roaring tide of flame laws surged like a sea...

The Hetu-Luoshu void transformed into the primordial Heliotian array, entrapping a dozen Frost Giants...

The Demon Master’s Palace battered and crushed, sending Frost Giants flying...

The melody of Fuxi’s qin rippled, clouding the minds of a Frost Giant...

The twin swords, Yuantu and Abī, dismembered Frost Giants, though their limbs reformed moments later...

The Earth Scripture...

The Ninety-Nine Red Cloud Soul-Scattering Gourd...

...

At the battle’s onset, one after another of the famed later-age treasures and spiritual weapons appeared before Qingxu’s eyes, their astonishing might opening his vision wide.

“How extravagant! The Quasi-Saints, Da Luo Golden Immortals, and Taiyi True Immortals all wield treasures of exceptional quality. Even if not innate, their later-formed spiritual treasures are of high rank!” Qingxu was amazed that he had yet to see a treasure below the twentieth-layer later-formed prohibition. Everywhere he looked, radiant mists and treasure auras soared to the heavens.

Countless strange treasures vied for supremacy!

Spectacular, terrifying power shook heaven and earth; the sun, moon, and stars trembled and threatened to fall; the Northern Abyss’s mysterious ice shattered; waters below the abyss surged and drained; chunks of varied-sized mysterious ice shot into the sky, potent enough to slay Earth Immortals.

The clash of two Quasi-Saints alone damaged the world—how much more with so many Quasi-Saints, half-Quasi-Saints, Da Luo, and Taiyi present...

A terrifying, unprecedented calamity befell the Northern Abyss!

Beings along the Northern Abyss’s edges and center suddenly felt overwhelming dread. The earth trembled, cracks spread and stretched, and chaotic hurricane-like spiritual energy surged and diffused. All who touched it without reaching the realm of Xuan Immortal were pulverized, their forms utterly destroyed. Even Xuan Immortals shattered, their souls extinguished. The sole mercy was that true spirits could flee.