Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Celestial Ghost Ridge was not a well-known location.

Its only claim to fame was the massive population of Celestial Ghost Bats living in its mountains. Beyond that, this mountain range was also the Primordial Sect's final defensive line against the outside world, a place of absolute strategic importance.

Beyond it lay vast plains and rivers, offering no natural barriers for defense.

If this place were to fall,

the Star-Picking Sect could use it as a foothold to strike directly into the heartland of the Primordial Sect.

"Is it just my Jinyun Valley?"

Chen Che tapped his fingers, his gaze lowered.

Instantly, Cui Zhen felt a heavy pressure settle over him, making his chest tighten and his breath catch, like the oppressive air before a summer thunderstorm.

"It also includes the Meng Family. The order encompasses all of Yunzhou and Chi State..."

Forcibly suppressing the terror in his heart, Cui Zhen braced himself and explained:

"The Primordial Sect's other passes also need to be defended, so we can't spare too many people. Besides me, the other Chief Stewards have gone to notify the various Golden Core Cultivators. The Golden Core Cultivators stationed at Celestial Ghost Ridge will also follow your orders, Valley Master."

"Of course, if Valley Master Chen feels he doesn't have enough manpower, you can also freely reassign other Golden Core Cultivators to the defense."

'He's being this considerate?'

Chen Che raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

Based on his past few dealings with Duobao, the man was greedy and vicious. If not for his own formidable strength, any other Golden Core Cultivator would have long since been schemed against to the point of death by Duobao.

But this time,

the man had adopted a humble posture. Not only would Celestial Ghost Ridge be under his command, but he could also freely reassign Golden Core Cultivators to garrison it.

Was it because they were facing a great enemy, setting aside their differences to face a common foe? Or were these just empty words, a ploy to push him out to take the brunt of the attack? For now, it was impossible to know.

Seeing Chen Che's silence, Cui Zhen couldn't tell what he was thinking and could only bow his waist cautiously, awaiting his reply.

"Very well. In that case, I'll make the trip!"

Chen Che rose to his full height.

He had spent over a month in secluded, arduous cultivation, and his Divine Sense had achieved a breakthrough. At the same time, with Yu Qian's help, he had successfully finished refining the Thunder Jade Gourd. His strength was several times greater than it had been during the trip to Faqian City; he had long been itching for some action after his period of stillness.

Besides, how could he easily refuse this summons from Duobao, delivered with such a humble attitude?

"Really?"

Cui Zhen couldn't believe his ears. Fearing that Chen Che was just placating him and would push the departure back a month or two, he asked, "May I ask when?"

"In half a day."

Chen Che stood up. "I still have some matters In the Valley to attend to..."

Hearing this, Cui Zhen didn't dare say more.

After all, the man wasn't a lone wolf; he was the master of a valley. His every move had widespread consequences.

...

Following that, a mobilization order was issued from Jinyun Valley. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were already prepared and waiting, immediately set out from their respective clans and converged on Jinyun Valley. After all, the list of names had been decided long ago.

In addition, Chen Che issued several more decrees.

First: All territories under Jinyun Valley's jurisdiction were to enter a state of high alert to guard against infiltration by Star-Picking Sect cultivators. Vice Valley Master Hu Yao was to remain and defend Jinyun Valley. In times of necessity, all subordinate factions must obey his commands. Violators would have their entire clan implicated and executed.

Second: He formally appointed Wang Chen, who was still in seclusion, as the Vice Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall. Until he returned to the valley, Wang Chen would have the authority to execute first and report later. This was a measure to deter any potential unrest among the subordinate factions while he and the other high-ranking members were away.

When a cultivator possesses a sharp weapon, killing intent naturally arises. If the war outside were to spiral out of control, it would also affect Jinyun Valley.

This was the principle of using harsh measures in chaotic times.

After these decrees were issued, an atmosphere of intense paranoia and tension immediately spread throughout the territories.

Third: Recruit Loose Cultivators from all corners.

After all, to confront the Star-Picking Sect this time, the strength of one valley alone was far from enough, so the assistance of Loose Cultivators was also needed.

Of course, Jinyun Valley would not force anyone. Those willing to join must arrive at Jinyun Valley within five days. They could rely on Jinyun Valley for the entire duration, and all their gains could be kept for themselves without needing to be handed over.

However, the minimum realm requirement was at least the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Those with insufficient strength would only be cannon fodder even if they went. This world was not like Earth Element Star; to reach this realm, one had to have experienced countless life-or-death battles.

As soon as this news spread, numerous cultivators in the territories were ecstatic.

As the saying goes, great waves sift the sand. Whenever the world falls into chaos, although it brings widespread devastation, it also allows heroes to rise on the winds of change. With the war between the two sects at hand, cultivators who were unwilling to remain mediocre would naturally try to seize the opportunity.

...

...

The night was dark, the wind high.

In the desolate wilderness, no stars were visible. A fierce wind swept through, making the leaves rustle loudly. Illuminated by a firelight, they looked like dancing ghostly figures. The firelight itself was coming from a Mountain God Temple.

Inside the temple, three people were warming themselves by a fire.

One of them looked to be eighteen or nineteen, with a youthful face. A small, Shen Wu-looking bird perched on his shoulder. He was currently poking the fire with a branch, looking thoroughly bored.

Of the remaining two, one was dressed like a wandering martial artist, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying two polearms wrapped in black cloth on his back, which looked like a single spear. The other wore a cloak and a black half-mask, giving off an extremely cold and sinister aura.

These three were none other than Chen Che, Xiao Chan, and Chen Xi, who had received the order and were heading to the Celestial Ghost Ridge region to take command.

Guarding the ridge was no easy task. It wasn't just a matter of fending off a few Golden Core Cultivators. There was also the infiltration, sabotage, and plundering by other cultivators. Relying on just a few Golden Core Cultivators, they would work themselves to death and still be unable to stop everything.

That was why they needed a large number of troops, to avoid being constantly on the defensive.

However, those reinforcements were still being gathered and would arrive later on a Spiritual Boat. Therefore, the three of them had gone ahead, planning to reach Celestial Ghost Ridge early to scout it out. This was to avoid a situation where the ridge had already been taken by the Star-Picking Sect, and they would walk straight into an enemy encirclement.

Celestial Ghost Ridge was to the north of the Primordial Sect's territory, while Jinyun Valley was to the south. Spanning seven or eight large states, it took the three of them a full day of travel on foot just to cover most of the distance.

It wasn't that they were tired.

It was because large numbers of Evil Cultivators and Tribulation Cultivators had already appeared here. It wasn't just cultivator families that were suffering; many mortal settlements were as well. Some of the bolder ones had even used the entire population of a city to refine an Evil Artifact. It was no exaggeration to call it a scene of utter devastation.

Perhaps decades from now, the events that transpired here would only be a footnote in the history books:

"In a time of chaos, Demons ran rampant, leaving nine out of ten households empty."

But everyone knew: the fewer the words, the greater the tragedy.

The trio had slain about a dozen Evil Cultivators. The last one, a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, had fled desperately toward this very mountain. Finding this strange, the three of them had come here to investigate. But after searching a wide area, they found nothing except for this Mountain God Temple.

"We still have two states to cross. Aren't we going to keep moving?"

Chen Xi looked at the other two.

"A day earlier or a day later won't make much difference. This place isn't far from Celestial Ghost Ridge, so if something happens, we can rush over at any time." Chen Che poked the fire with his branch. Cultivators didn't need a fire for warmth, but spending the night without one just felt like something was missing.

"Let's clear out the nearby Evil Cultivators first. This area is a complete mess... Look at this Mountain God Temple, it's practically radiating evil."

Hearing this, Chen Xi couldn't help but nod.

To an ordinary person,

this Mountain God Temple might seem merely a bit gloomy. But in their eyes, it was like the very Ghost Gate, billowing with thick black fog. Even in broad daylight, it was doubtful any sunlight could penetrate it.

The trees growing all around were also of the Yin Attribute. The area was desolate for dozens of miles along the mountain. If an ordinary person were to wander in, they would likely freeze to death from the chilling air in less than an hour.

It wasn't particularly strange; the three of them had already discovered the reason during their search:

In a gorge, they had found a massive number of mortal corpses. From the looks of it, a mortal army must have been ambushed while passing through and was completely wiped out here. The Resentment Qi from their deaths lingered, blanketing the entire mountain range.

For three hundred miles, with this mountain as the center, there were no signs of human life. Not only was the area teeming with wolves, tigers, leopards, snakes, insects, and rats, but there were also many wandering ghosts drifting about.

It was no exaggeration to call it a Ghost Realm.

Xiao Chan couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

"With so many Evil Cultivators, how long will it take to wipe them all out?"

Hearing this, Chen Che also sighed.

These Evil Cultivators were like rats in a sewer. They usually hid in the dark, and once they shed their disguises, they looked no different from ordinary cultivators.

Now that the territories under the Primordial Sect were in chaos, all these rats hiding in the shadows had scurried out. The three of them alone could never kill them all.

Just then, the sound of several people's footsteps came from the foot of the mountain, growing closer and closer. The newcomers were clearly cultivators, moving at great speed, and they were heading straight for the Mountain God Temple. Being Golden Core Cultivators, the three were drawn by the commotion.

They stopped talking and looked up in unison.

They weren't worried that this group was coming for them. With Chen Che present, it would take at least twenty Golden Core Cultivators to pose a threat to the three of them.

In just a few breaths, the group had arrived in front of the Mountain God Temple. There were thirteen of them in total—men and women, old and young. They walked in small groups of two and three, seeming to travel together, yet not appearing familiar with one another.

The one thing they all had in common, however, was that they were all emanating a thick, evil aura. Several of them also carried the rich stench of blood, as if they had just come from a massacre.

Just as Chen Che was about to make a move, the old man leading the group stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

"To think fellow Daoists have already arrived!"

"Hm?"

Seeing this scene, the three of them were all taken aback.