Cultivation: Being Immortal-Chapter 468:

Yun State, Zhonghang Sect

The main gate of Zhonghang Sect is connected to Yunzhong City by a teleportation array. Upon receiving a message from Cao Ying, Lin Jiang and Lin Ying used the teleportation array to arrive at the main gate of Zhonghang Sect.

"Little Ying"

"Big Sister Lin Ying, you’re here! Please wait for me."

Cao Ying was still busy, so she apologized when she saw the two of them. Lin Jiang and Lin Ying didn’t disturb her for long before Ancestor Shi Yuntang arrived.

"Ancestor Shi, how is the situation in Cloud Sword Sect? I observed the battle lines over there today and it seemed chaotic."

"It’s all because of the past events. Cloud Sword Sect split into three factions, and now those three factions have gathered in Cloud Sword Sect. Can it be peaceful? It’s like they are at war, or else they would have started fighting among themselves already."

"Find a chance to talk to them. If they still refuse to cooperate at this critical moment, it means they are not thinking about the bigger picture. Don’t wait until after the war, we can deal with them now."

Lin Jiang said. The three sects are really disappointing. If only they had been more determined, they wouldn’t have lost their position as the rulers of Yun State.

"Okay, I will talk to them later."

Shi Yuntang nodded. He knew that Lin Jiang and Cao Ying had discussed controlling the pace of the war in Yun State. He also agreed with this very much. Whether or not Zhong State survives has nothing to do with him. He only wants to protect Yun State and the Five Elements Sect, it’s as simple as that.

The three of them chatted for a while, then Cao Ying finished her work and went into a quiet room to discuss.

"This is the current situation of the war in Yun State since it started. About sixty thousand soldiers from Yun State’s major sects have died, the number of injured is unclear. The estimated death toll of independent cultivators is over two hundred thousand. The resources consumed, converted into spirit stones, are over fifty billion. The total losses are immeasurable."

"Is everything still manageable?"

"At the current level, it is completely manageable. The Yao Clan has left the Wilderness, weakening significantly."

Cao Ying explained that the Yao Clan had the advantage in the Wilderness. Many Yao beasts could launch strong attacks by taking advantage of the complex environment. Their fighting power was very strong. Once they were in a siege situation, their weakness would be greatly exposed.

According to the current situation, the war in Yun State is completely under control, they have everything in hand.

"In that case, let’s keep dragging it out until the end of the war, then we can take away these demons in one fell swoop, and also plunder the Wilderness. Our powerful group won’t lose out on anything."

Lin Jiang said that war is a very cruel thing for ordinary people. In the world of non-energetic ordinary people, when war breaks out, politicians gain power, businessmen gain money, and only the poor lose their sons.

It’s similar in the cultivation world. No matter how the war goes, as long as you’re not taken away in one fell swoop, the lower class always loses out, while the upper class always stays safe.

I didn’t call you here to talk about that, it’s about the situation in the cultivation world. I’ve received news that Bing State has already been defeated in the war, Pure Jade Sect lost a Tao Achieving member, and they have sealed off the mountain.

The Demon Emperor of the demons left some troops to besiege the Pure Jade Sect’s mountain gate. The rest of the army split into two, with the Demon Emperor leading the main force to Zhong State. It is still unknown whether they will attack the Shenmu Sect or head north to directly target the Danxia Sect.

Meanwhile, they turned southwest and are heading towards Qing State. By the time I got the news, the vanguard of the demons had already broken through a medium-sized sect called Wangxian Sect, and they are now less than three thousand miles away from Qing State, while the sects of Qing State are still····"

Cao Ying explained the current situation to Lin Jiang. Lin Jiang couldn’t help but sigh upon hearing that Wangxian Sect had been breached. It had been a while since he last heard from Wangxian Sect.

"Bro, what’s wrong with you?"

Lin Ying noticed that Lin Jiang looked upset and asked him quietly. Lin Jiang shook his head. He hadn’t told them about the Wangxian Sect. Lin Ying and the others only knew that Lin Jiang had a group of people with him outside.

"Ancestor Cao, what do you mean?"

"Ancestor Shi, even though I am in charge of Yun State now, I am not a bossy person. I am not good at managing the sect or making strategies. I want to hear your opinions."

Cao Ying replied humbly. Her modesty was due to her life experiences. Cao Ying had never been in charge before. She had always been a talented disciple and a chief fighter. So, she didn’t dare to make decisions lightly.

"Friend Lin, what are your thoughts?"

Ancestor Shi immediately turned to Lin Jiang. He understood that both Lin Ying and Cao Ying were not very good leaders. Asking for Lin Jiang’s opinion was more important.

"My opinion is to wait and see."

"Taoist Friend Lin, if Zhong State is destroyed, the human race will be in danger. We in Yun State may choose not to join the battle in Zhong State, but we must have our own plan to protect Yun State."

"Ancestor Shi, calm down a bit. I don’t think the human race will be destroyed so quickly. In Zhong State, seventy percent of the experts in the cultivation world are present. With so many major sects, none have suffered serious damage so far. Surprisingly, the demon race has split their forces. Taking over Zhong State is not a simple task."

Lin Jiang said that he didn’t know why the demon clan was dividing their forces, was it not satisfying to crush everything along the way? As long as they conquer Zhong State, destroy the sects’ gates and cities, then the demon clan would have already won half the battle.

"Taoist Friend Lin, although that’s true, Yun State still needs to have the strength to defend itself."

"Ancestor Shi, Yun State only has this little strength, how far can it defend itself? Now is a time where the choice is more important than effort. If one aligns with the wrong side, that will lead to self-destruction."

"Ancestor Shi, my brother is right. Even if all of us from Yun State go to the main battlefield, it won’t be enough. Now is the time to stay low-key, to continue engaging with the Wild Bear Demon Emperor, and to understand the situation before making a decision."

"I understand your point, but don’t blame me, Elder Shi, for asking this question. If the human race is defeated, what will you do then?"

Shi Yuntang asked, this is the worst-case scenario, and it is the situation they least want to see, but it is also very likely to happen. Because from the current perspective, the demon clan is stronger than the human race.

"I don’t know."

"I don’t know either."

Lin Ying and Cao Ying shook their heads. One was tied to their sect, the other to their family. They didn’t want to abandon their sect or family and run away alone. They feared that they could only take a few people with them if they left, or they would have to die in battle instead.

"I don’t know either."

Lin Jiang looked at Shi Yuntang and said, he had already made plans. If the human clan lost the war, he would take his loved ones to live in the underground caves in North State, or join Small Shadiao. His daughter is now the Demon Queen, so they still have some rights as humans.

"Forget it, forget it. Yun State belongs to you young people. You can do whatever you want. I won’t meddle anymore."

Shi Yuntang shook his head. He had limited strength and couldn’t handle such complicated matters. He was already doing well enough with what was in front of him.

·······

"Master"

Back in Yunzhong City, as soon as Lin Jiang entered the door, a figure appeared and bowed to him.

"Why are you here?"

"Master, at the stronghold in Zhong State, I received a message from the eldest senior sister. She wants to know where you are, so she came to find you to apologize."

"What happened to the Wangxian Sect?"

"It’s very tragic. Out of 100,000 disciples, most died in battle except for those who evacuated before the war. Master’s elder sister is left with fewer than a hundred people, and the whereabouts of the rest is unknown."

The man said he was one of Lin Jiang’s disciples who returned after breaking through Soul Changing. He had left Wangxian Sect during the final top 32 round, and no one in the sect knew their identities.

Li Qing and the others could only leave messages for them through Wangxian Sect’s intelligence outpost in Zhong State to find out about Lin Jiang’s whereabouts.

"They must be having a hard time to remember their master, hehe."

"Master…"

"Do you want to plead for them?"

"No, I want to ask the master to order the disciples to kill them. The elder sister and others not obeying the master’s orders is like betrayal and deserves death."

"Not needed. Reply to Li Qing and tell them to hide in Zhong State. They can use the sect’s intelligence outpost, and after the war, return to Bing State to restore the sect."

Lin Jiang shook his head and decided not to kill Li Qing and their group. However, he wouldn’t protect them anymore or provide extra resources in the future.

Lin Jiang planned to send them back to Bing State to continue running Wangxian Sect. He would keep an eye on them, and if they were still useful, he would continue using them. If not, he would find someone else.

"Yes, Master."

"Pass on a message to your Martial Uncle. If there are any unusual movements from the demon clan, they must inform me immediately."

Lin Jiang expressed his concern about the demon clan and urged Small Shadiao to be vigilant. He wanted to be informed immediately in case of any changes in their strategy, to prevent any missed opportunities to escape.