Translator: CinderTL
"Attack the Star Gate?"
Li Chunjun was taken aback by the news, but not overly surprised.
Everyone, including the Nascent Soul True Lords within the Blue Star Minor Realm, shared a common understanding: the Divine Race would never stand idly by while the Human Race constructed the Star Gate.
Once completed, the Star Gate would make it incredibly convenient for the Human Race to deploy troops into this sector of space.
With the Star Gate as their base, the Human Race would swiftly consolidate their dominance over the region.
Within a few decades or centuries, by reclaiming Lesser Worlds originally controlled by the Divine Race, the forces in this area could establish a new Realm Region centered around the Star Gate.
The Nine Immortal Sects, nine Immortal Alliance-level powers, had all established Branch Sects on Blue Star precisely because of its strategic location. It held the potential to become the main star of the Azure Sea Domain.
While whether it could truly reach that level remained uncertain, even as a mere transit hub, the Lesser World's annual profits could reach several thousand, even tens of thousands of Spirit Crystals.
But with profit comes risk.
The crucial question was whether the Star Gate could be completed successfully and whether the Nine Immortal Sects' forces within the Blue Star Minor Realm could withstand the Divine Race's counterattack.
For this reason, the Nine Immortal Sects had been locked in conflict within Blue Star for thirty years, yet they had always stopped short of all-out war.
The intensity of conflicts was kept within the Core Formation Realm, rarely escalating to Nascent Soul-level life-or-death struggles.
Now, it seemed the moment of greatest trial for the Nine Immortal Sects had finally arrived.
"Something's not right," Zuo Cheng frowned. "Why would those Divine Race members, who have been lurking in the shadows, suddenly choose to strike now? Blue Star is currently stronger than ever before. With Commander Yu Jin's Primordial Spirit True Monarchs and our own numbers, we have over a hundred. Wouldn't the Divine Race be courting their own destruction by attacking now?"
True Monarch Huang Tian quickly glanced at Li Chunjun. "Do you mean...?"
"It's possible!" Su Fang nodded solemnly, then turned to Li Chunjun. "Sword Prodigy Li, please don't act rashly. Leave this to the Nine Immortal Sects and the Primordial Spirit True Monarchs stationed at the Star Gate."
But Ouyang Lian couldn't remain seated. He immediately interjected, "The Star Gate is of utmost importance. In the event of an attack on such a critical facility, theoretically, anyone has a duty to assist the Starry Sky Group in defending it..."
There were dozens, even hundreds, of Primordial Spirit True Monarchs present.
If they could mobilize these Primordial Spirit True Monarchs to the Star Gate, wouldn't they be able to crush the Divine Race threat with overwhelming force?
"As you said, it's a duty," True Monarch Huang Tian replied. "And this duty doesn't violate the Thirteen Great Laws of Humanity."
True Monarch Huang Tian said, "But..."
Ouyang Lian was about to continue when another Primordial Spirit True Monarch, his eyes flickering, interrupted. "While others may shirk their duties, Sword Prodigy Li, as a Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Taixu Sword Sect, must fulfill this obligation!"
He spoke with conviction. "After all, we signed an agreement. If the Star Gate is attacked, any Cultivator at the Core Formation Realm or above from the Nine Immortal Sects' branch sects in the Blue Star Minor Realm must do their utmost to protect the Star Gate's safety!"
"Who are you?" Zuo Cheng's gaze fell on him.
While he couldn't claim to know every True Monarch in the Azure Sea Domain, he knew most of them. This True Monarch, with the strength of Three Tribulations, wasn't a newly ascended one, yet he didn't appear in Zuo Cheng's memory.
Li Chunjun, however, paused his gaze on the True Monarch, as if recalling something.
"Thirty-two years ago, a Primordial Spirit True Monarch stood high in the heavens, allowing the nations of Blue Star to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads at him. Yet, all thousand missiles were intercepted, failing to harm him in the slightest..."
Li Chunjun looked at him. "That Primordial Spirit True Monarch was you, wasn't it? From the Wu Ji Sect, True Lord Wu Ji."
"Sword Prodigy Li has sharp eyes," the Primordial Spirit True Monarch nodded slightly.
"As a member of the Taixu Sword Sect, Sword Prodigy Li must shoulder the responsibility of guarding the Star Gate. You can't deny this, can you?"
The True Monarch turned his gaze to the Wu Ji Sect behind him. "Furthermore, the members of my Wu Ji Sect will also adhere to the agreement and travel to the Star Gate to jointly combat the destruction brought by the Divine Race. In this battle, every member of the Wu Ji Sect will fight for humanity, for the Star Gate of the Starry Sky Group. Surely, Sword Prodigy Li wouldn't try to stop us?"
As these words were spoken, Zuo Cheng, True Monarch Huang Tian, Su Fang, and others' expressions subtly shifted.
Because...
True Lord Wu Ji's words were perfectly reasonable.
Just like any Core Formation cultivator who hadn't committed an unforgivable crime, if they chose to enlist in the battlefield, all pending judgments against them would be postponed.
Guarding the Star Gate held nearly the same authority as entering the battlefield.
After all, the Star Gate connected the entire Human Race territory. Each one was crucial, representing humanity's control over that region.
Losing a Star Gate would, in a sense, be considered losing control of that star region.
Even with Void Warships, traveling between Lesser Worlds could take one to two days. Journeys between Realm Regions often took years, even decades or centuries.
"So, the Wu Ji Sect can clear its charges of crimes against humanity through a process similar to the battlefield?" Li Chunjun asked.
"Crimes Against Humanity are one of the Thirteen Unforgivable Crimes of the Human Race," Li Chunjun said. "But it was the Chiyang Sword Sect, not my Wu Ji Sect, that colluded with the Divine Race to frame Sword Prodigy Li. The Wu Ji Sect has no 'Crimes Against Humanity' hanging over its head. At most, it's a case of incitement, a crime that can be atoned for on the battlefield."
Wu Ji smiled faintly.
Li Chunjun stared at the Primordial Spirit True Monarch, the same figure he had first seen in the news years ago, a being who seemed as divine as a celestial god.
One person could suppress an entire realm.
Calling him a celestial god wouldn't be an exaggeration.
After a long moment, Li Chunjun replied, "You seem rather pleased with yourself?"
Su Fang, standing nearby, seemed to realize something. He quickly interjected, "Sword Prodigy Li, don't act rashly. I know a Three Tribulation True Monarch is nothing to you—you could kill one with a flick of your wrist. But killing a Primordial Spirit True Monarch guarding the Star Gate in this critical situation... the consequences would be far too severe. We must all abide by the rules, for they are the foundation of order."
He lowered his Divine Sense transmission: "I've studied the Star Gate's defenses. There are fourteen Primordial Spirit True Monarchs stationed there. Since the Divine Race intends to destroy the Star Gate, they'll likely send no fewer than ten Demigods. If Sword Prodigy Li is truly enraged, when the battle erupts and chaos reigns, you can..."
He didn't say it directly, only remarked, "With ten Demigods involved, it wouldn't be surprising if one or two of our Primordial Spirit True Monarchs perished in a desperate, all-or-nothing battle."
Li Chunjun turned his gaze away from Wu Ji.
Seeing this, Wu Ji exhaled a long sigh of relief.
Though confident that Li Chunjun's talent would never lead him to ruin his future for the sake of the insignificant Wu Ji Sect, a Three Tribulation True Monarch still faced immense pressure when confronting the Star Brilliance First Rank, whose combat strength was at least equivalent to the late-stage Primordial Spirit Realm.
If not for the fact that the former "Prodigy"-level genius, Sword Saint Yi, had once saved his life, and that Yi's potential to become a True Monarch in the future was beyond doubt, coupled with the main sect's intention to protect this branch as much as possible, he would never have dared to risk his life by speaking such words in front of Li Chunjun.
Fortunately...
Li Chunjun might be impulsive, but as Wu Ji had predicted, those around him would counsel him to remain calm.
With that, the Wu Ji Sect True Monarch turned, sending his Divine Sense directly to Sword Saint Yi and Mo Bai, who were awaiting news within the sect: "Gather our forces immediately and follow me to the Star Gate! Once the Star Gate is ready to activate, I'll have the Starry Sky Group open it for you immediately. Leave as quickly as possible and hide as far away as you can."
Upon receiving word from Wu Ji, Mo Bai, Sword Saint Yi, Xi Yan, and the others within the Wu Ji Sect, who had already learned of the Chiyang Sword Sect's destruction, all breathed a long sigh of relief.
They had survived.
They had survived the impending doom that had loomed over them.
They had preserved their lives.
As they exhaled, their gazes turned to Li Chunjun, their expressions a complex mix of emotions.
They had anticipated that once Li Chunjun matured, he would become a major threat to the Wu Ji Sect. However, they had never imagined this day would come so soon.
Moreover, the Chiyang Sword Sect, one of the Nine Immortal Sects like themselves, had been mercilessly annihilated by his own hand.
Zhan Chiyang and the others, whom they had known and been familiar with for over thirty years, had all become mere wisps of souls beneath his Sword Qi.
And they...
While they had survived, their futures would likely be drastically altered. They would probably be relegated to some forgotten corner of the sect, spending the rest of their days in obscurity.
This was only because the Wu Ji Sect was at odds with the Taixu Sword Sect, and their actions had been in the sect's best interest.
Otherwise, having provoked a future Void Refining cultivator ranked first on the Star Brilliance List, the sect would have long abandoned them to their fate.
The Chiyang Sword Sect served as a stark example.
For a moment, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Wu Ji Sect sighed inwardly.
If only they had disregarded the rules and acted decisively to kill him the moment he revealed his identity as the "Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy."
Oh, how I regret not acting sooner.
Just as the Wu Ji Sect disciples were preparing to leave for the Star Gate outside the Blue Star Minor Realm, Li Chunjun suddenly turned around, as if struck by a thought.
"Wu Ji, Ouyang Lian, your duties are to guard the Star Gate against Divine Race attacks and oversee its construction, ensuring it proceeds smoothly! Yet instead of staying at your posts, you've come to the Blue Star Minor Realm. Isn't this dereliction of duty?"
The moment these words left his lips, both Wu Ji and Ouyang Lian, the two Great True Monarchs who had been planning to leave with the Wu Ji Sect, froze in surprise.
Before they could even react, Li Chunjun's voice rang out again.
"Especially you, Wu Ji. The moment you abandoned your post guarding the Star Gate, the Divine Race launched an immediate attack. Coupled with the Wu Ji Sect's history of suspected collusion with the Divine Race, I have every reason to believe you orchestrated this attack! You've long since defected to the Divine Race, and your current actions are nothing more than a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Star Gate's completion..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Scarlet Sky Sword erupted from its sheath, its Sword Qi infused with terrifying Destruction Sword Intent soaring into the heavens. "Now, surrender and submit to investigation. If you clear yourselves of suspicion, I will let you return. But if you resist, you will be killed without mercy!"
(End of the Chapter)
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