Chapter 498: Immortal Summit of Spiral Stair
“We host this summit on the Space Monster World’s request, to let them openly and clearly determine their allegiance,” the Heaven Immortal intoned. “I believe, Overlords, that the truth is clear as day. The Black Hole Church doesn’t even dare to appear in our presence. All they can do is hide—a conduct unbefitting of their space monster leader. It would be foolish to ally with them.”
“Different armies have different advantages,” the Arch Priestess replied. “The Old Gods will soon arrive to fight by our side. Eleven extreme Archons. During the First Crusade, ninety-nine Immortals led the entire cultivation world against them and still lost. Now, only thirty-three Immortals remain, and the cultivator world is divided. Their power is inferior to what it used to be. They are bound to fail.”
“Senseless drivel,” the Heaven Immortal declared. “We would not launch the Second Crusade without extreme confidence. After all, we had no reason to hurry. We are prepared, we are strong, and we possess more A-Grade cultivators than ever before. Before us, the Church is nothing but fleeting mice. Even the Old Gods will be powerless to reverse the situation—we naturally have ways to deal with them.”
“There is no way to deal with them,” the Arch Priestess said. “They’re bluffing to secure your alliance, Overlords. They cannot do it alone.”
“They do not seek our alliance,” the humanoid space monster Overlord corrected, his words cutting her sharply. He took on a slightly more formal tone. “The Immortals have requested only that we abstain from this war. Given everything I’ve seen, I want to agree. The Old Gods are mighty, but their intentions are unknown. The Immortals are clearly the stronger party. Besides, Arch Priestess, I do not appreciate how you retreated your armies to this galaxy in particular, endangering the Space Monster World to force our hand in assisting you.”
“Force your hand?” The Arch Priestess chuckled. “It was the Immortals who forced your hand when they created the System. Even if you don’t fight them, do you think they will leave the Space Monster World alone? As soon as the System reaches you, they will use it to cut you off from the Dao of the Universe, either starving you until all powerful monsters die, or outright breaking the entry seal and invading you.”
“We are aware of the Immortals’ desire to conquer. However, they have promised to stay away from this galaxy for one billion years,” the humanoid Overlord said. “That is a lot of time. Our children can live and grow. When the future comes, the space monsters of that time ought to be ready, or they deserve to be annihilated.”
“The First Crusade was a billion years ago, and you knew there would be a second. You had a billion years to prepare. Tell me, Overlord, are you ready, or do you deserve to be annihilated?”
Jack saw fury spark in the eyes of the humanoid Overlord. He did not reply immediately. “I will not rob my world of a billion years of freedom for a lost cause,” he finally said. “You are forced to fight, Arch Priestess. I am not.”