270: Chapter 268 Changes in Various Regions

"So that's how it is..." Elder Hei Yan's throat bobbed, his voice dry and heavy. "What we repelled today was merely the vanguard remnant of the Wuhen Martial World. If we provoke them and draw the attention of Immortal Emperor Wuhen, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Zhao Miao's brows were knitted tight, her face full of worry. "That is exactly the point. Immortal Emperor Wuhen is extremely protective of his own, especially when it comes to his own Origin Realm. We may have forced back the Cultivators of the Wuhen Martial World today, seemingly stabilizing the situation, but they will inevitably return. With Immortal Emperor Wuhen helping them from the shadows, then we..."

Everyone's gaze instantly converged on Yuan Chen, who stood silently, looking completely unconcerned.

The entire crowd was panicked and fearful, but Yuan Chen remained calm and composed. His deep eyes were like an ancient well, without a single ripple, showing not a shred of fear.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the vast world. His tone was indifferent yet carried the arrogance and confidence of one who looks down upon the heavens. Each word was sonorous, resounding in all directions. "Immortal Emperor Wuhen? A great power of the Immortal Realm? Can he descend to the Lower Realm?"

"He can, but the higher the Realm, the more dangerous it is to descend. His Realm will also be suppressed. He shouldn't come down."

"Then that's fine."

These four short words, spoken lightly, contained boundless confidence, instantly suppressing the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the venue.

Yuan Chen shrugged. "Even if they have an Immortal Emperor backing them, even if they can call for 'parents,' as long as they descend to the Lower Realm, their cultivation will be suppressed. As long as I am in the Lower Realm, I am invincible. What can he do to me?"

This was the benefit of delaying his Ascension.

"So what if he is an Immortal Emperor? If he truly dares to descend to this world, I will suppress him as well and completely crush the root of the trouble."

Zhao Miao looked at his disdainful posture, and the worry in her heart dissipated slightly, yet she still couldn't help but advise, "Yuan Chen, do not underestimate the enemy. The foundation of an Immortal Emperor is terrifyingly deep. You must not be careless. What if he arranges for tens of thousands of Golden Immortals to descend?"

Yuan Chen glanced sideways, smiling faintly. The smile was cold and domineering. "Then I'll just kill them!"

"Since they dare to invade the Canglan Domain territory and covet our land and living beings, then we shall act accordingly. Rather than passively defending and waiting for the enemy to come knocking, it is better to take the initiative, launch a cross-Realm crusade, wage war to sustain war, and uphold the Righteous Path through slaughter."

As his voice fell, Yuan Chen stopped lingering. He turned and stepped into the void, his black robes fluttering in the wind. His tone was firm and majestic. "The war here is over. Follow me back to the palace. We will integrate the combat power of the entire Realm, reorganize the frontier defenses, and redefine the strategy for the heavens."

"Yes!" Elder Hei Yan, Fortune Spirit, and Zhao Miao responded in unison. They followed closely behind Yuan Chen, transforming into streams of light and speeding towards the center of the Imperial City.

In the Canglan Domain Imperial City, the Purple Gold Hall was solemn and majestic, filled with an imposing atmosphere.

Experts from all the Dragon Clan tribes stood in the hall, their expressions solemn as they awaited orders.

News of the invasion by extraterrestrial forces had long spread throughout the Imperial City, and everyone was waiting for Yuan Chen to make the final decision.

Yuan Chen sat on the Supreme Dragon Throne, overlooking the ministers below. His gaze was sharp as a blade, and his voice was steady and vast, echoing throughout the hall. "Today, we faced a sudden invasion from two Realms. The Wuhen Martial World and the Soul Domain, two extraterrestrial forces, have attacked simultaneously, intending to seize our Canglan Cultivation World."

"In the past, our Canglan Domain borders were closed, and we developed on our own, which was fine. But today's events have proven that among the myriad heavens, the law of the jungle prevails. To stubbornly defend is to wait for death, and to seek comfort is to regress!"

"Extraterrestrial Realms are eyeing us covetously, all wanting to devour Canglan Domain and carve up our territory. Since they dare to cross borders to invade, then we, Canglan Domain, will also take the initiative to step beyond our boundaries, crusade against the heavens, and invade other Realms!"

The Dragon Clan members in the hall were instantly in an uproar upon hearing this.

"Are there treasures!" one Dragon Clan expert said, rubbing his hands together. "With the Dragon Emperor sitting in command, what do we have to fear? If they dare to rob us, then we'll rob them blind!"

The rest of the crowd also echoed this sentiment.

Yuan Chen's gaze swept over the crowd indifferently. "In the chaotic heavens, only bloody battles can rapidly improve cultivation, and only conquest can quickly accumulate foundation. Building a carriage behind closed doors and guarding one corner will never allow us to break through shackles or transcend the myriad worlds. I want Canglan Domain to be more than just a small Realm hiding in a corner; I want it to dominate the heavens and shock the myriad Domains!"

"Not just me, but all my subordinates, all my clansmen, and all my descendants must enter the battlefield, experience bloody battles, and undergo life-and-death trials! One cannot raise peerless experts in a greenhouse, nor can one become a hegemon of the heavens in a place of comfort. My children must experience slaughter from a young age, quickly temper their combat power, break through their Realms, and hone their Dao Heart in life-and-death struggles!"

"Pass on my decree: prepare for war across the entire Realm, integrate all combat power, and reorganize military equipment and Formations. When the time is ripe, we will launch a cross-Realm crusade! The younger generation of the Dragon Clan, the Young Lords of each tribe, and the geniuses within the clan are all to be drafted into the battle units. No shirking, no avoiding battle!"

The decree fell, sonorous and powerful, spreading throughout the Imperial City.

"That is exactly as it should be!"

"The Dragon Emperor is mighty."

Clan Leader Ao Yi was also spirited. Under Yuan Chen's leadership, the Dragon Clan might truly be about to resound throughout the myriad heavens.

After quickly handling the court and military affairs and integrating the combat deployment of the entire Realm, Yuan Chen dismissed the court and returned directly to the royal inner palace residence.

Yuan Chen's several wives had already heard of his decision to have his own children join the army, and they had gathered in the courtyard, all with knitted brows and faces full of worry, their hearts filled with anxiety and unease.

Upon seeing Yuan Chen return, the wives hurriedly stepped forward, their expressions anxious.

The gentle and dignified Yue Ying spoke first, her voice carrying undisguised worry. "Husband, we have already heard about today's events. The Wuhen Martial World has superior combat power. The children are still young; isn't it too dangerous to send them out now?"

Ye Lingling stepped forward and gently persuaded, "But the children are still young and have never experienced extraterrestrial bloody battles or life-and-death slaughter. They usually only practice and cultivate in the palace. Their Heart-Nature is immature, and their combat power is not yet stable. Now that the extraterrestrial regions are filled with top experts and strange forces, the battlefield is unpredictable and life-and-death is uncertain. If they were to participate in the war rashly and something were to go wrong, how could we bear it?"

"That's right!" a woman beside her quickly chimed in, her face full of worry. "The children are the flesh and blood of our hearts. It would not be too late to let them participate in the war after their cultivation reaches Perfection and their Dao Heart is stable!"

They spoke one after another, every sentence filled with concern, every word filled with worry. The anxiety and fear in their eyes were undisguised.

As mothers, they did not ask for their children to dominate the heavens or make a name for themselves in the myriad Domains; they only asked for them to be safe, to cultivate steadily, and to live their lives without worry.

On the other side of the courtyard, several young boys and girls heard this conversation, but their expressions were completely different.

Yuan Chen's descendants were all gifted with extraordinary talent and natural pride. Since childhood, they possessed top-tier Bloodlines and enjoyed unique conditions for cultivation. Their Heart-Nature far exceeded that of Cultivators of the same age, and they had long grown tired of the unchanging, safe cultivation in the palace. Hearing that there were extraterrestrial battlefields to explore, strong enemies to fight, and opportunities to crusade across Realms and rapidly improve their combat power, their eyes blazed with light, their blood boiled, and their faces were filled with excitement and anticipation.

Yuan Guo stepped forward, his posture upright, his eyes burning. He bowed and requested, "Father! This child is willing to participate in the war! Secluded cultivation and practicing Dao behind closed doors day after day result in slow progress and hard-to-break shackles; there has been no improvement for a long time. Only through life-and-death bloody battles and extraterrestrial crusades can I rapidly break through, temper my true body, and stabilize my Dao Heart!"

A young girl followed closely behind, her brows arrogant and her Spiritual Qi imposing. Her tone was sonorous. "I am willing as well! We possess the Supreme Bloodline and were born to crusade against the heavens and sweep across the wilderness. How can we be trapped in the deep palace and waste our time? So what if there are strong enemies outside the Realm? So what if there is life-and-death bloody battle! Only by experiencing slaughter can we live up to this talent and live up to Father's cultivation!"

The other young disciples also stepped forward, all of them filled with Battle Intent and eager to try. They shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow the army on the expedition! We implore Father to grant us permission! We are willing to go to the extraterrestrial battlefield, fight strong enemies to the death, advance rapidly, and guard our Canglan Domain!"

For a time, the courtyard was clearly divided. The wives were anxious and worried, fearing their children would encounter danger and meet with misfortune; the children were hot-blooded and filled with Battle Intent, longing to rush to the battlefield, experience life-and-death, and grow rapidly.

These two completely different emotions clashed and intertwined, and the atmosphere became slightly tense for a moment.

"You damn child, what are you saying?"

"Get back here, you brat!"

"Itching for a beating, are you?"

Yuan Chen's wives berated their own children.

Yuan Chen stood quietly in place, watching the completely different expressions of his wife and children. A hint of gentleness flashed in his eyes, and then he spoke slowly. His voice was steady and gentle, yet carried a Supreme power that soothed people's hearts. "I understand your worries. However, it is fine. When the time comes, besides the Dragon Clan experts, I will find other Sects to protect them secretly."

"In the myriad heavens, there is never eternal peace. In the Great Dao of the world, if you do not advance, you retreat. Today we can protect them for a moment of peace, but we cannot protect them for a lifetime."

"A greenhouse cannot raise a pine or cypress with arrogant bones, and a place of comfort cannot create a hegemon of the heavens. With top-tier Bloodlines and peerless talent, without life-and-death tempering and battlefield refining, they will ultimately just be flower vases with a foundation but no substance, unable to withstand a single blow. Only by breaking through shackles in bloody battles, stabilizing their Dao Heart in life-and-death situations, and accumulating foundation in crusades can they truly grow into top experts capable of standing on their own."

A series of gentle yet firm words, analyzed layer by layer, each sentence reasonable, completely smoothed out the anxiety and unease in the women's hearts.

They looked at each other, seeing their children's glowing faces and high Battle Intent, and finally sighed softly. The worry in their eyes slowly faded, replaced by helplessness and expectation.

Matters had reached this point, and the trend was irreversible; the chaotic times had arrived, and there was no other choice.

"Since you have already made your decision, we will say no more." Ye Lingling nodded gently and said softly.

Yuan Chen nodded slightly. He turned to look at the group of children before him who were filled with Battle Intent and anticipation. His tone suddenly became solemn, majestic, and sonorous. "Listen to my order!"

The disciples instantly restrained their playful hearts, stood tall and solemn, and shouted in unison, "We are here, Father!"

"From today on, everyone must shed their desire for comfort and discard their lazy nature. Rectify your body and mind, polish your combat power, and prepare for the crusade!" Yuan Chen's gaze was sharp as he commanded in a low voice. "From now on, the extraterrestrial battlefield will be your cultivation dojo! Life-and-death bloody battles will be your Opportunity to comprehend the Dao! Temper yourselves in blood, break through your Realms, grow in crusade, and rise in slaughter!"

"We will strictly follow Father's decree! We will not fail your expectations. We will fight the enemy in the extraterrestrial regions, strive to be the first, grow rapidly, guard our Canglan Domain, and crusade against the heavens!"

The youth's clear shout rang through the courtyard, piercing the clouds, filled with vigorous vitality and endless Battle Intent.

Yuan Chen's lips curled up slightly; it was actually quite convincing.

...

The battle where the Wuhen Martial World and Soul Domain tore through the barrier of heaven and earth on two fronts seemed to have drawn the curtain on a new act.

The plane barriers that had originally isolated the heavens and shielded the myriad Realms were now covered in fine, invisible cracks. The rules of heaven and earth were in chaotic flux, and the Aura of different planes from the heavens was constantly seeping in.

No one knew where the next rift would open, nor did anyone know what kind of extraterrestrial forces were about to strike.

Sects across the land also began to unite in secret to deal with the unknown situation in the future.

Fortune Spirit began to travel everywhere within the Daming Dynasty, searching for lurking enemies.

Elder Hei Yan personally led the elite of the Dragon Clan, patrolling the four borders in shifts day and night.

A chain reaction followed, and spatial rifts became more and more frequent, intensifying with time.

In the first month, in the thousand-mile snow plains of the North, where the gale winds were bitter and the cold was overwhelming, the spatial barrier had been eroded by extreme cold for years, making it slightly weaker than other territories.

Under the general trend of the collapse of the heaven and earth barriers, a cold abyss rift silently tore open deep within the northern snow plains.

Unlike the grand spectacle of the previous Soul Domain and Wuhen Martial World, this rift was dark and dead silent. There was no roaring vibration, no overwhelming pressure, only wisps of grayish-white cold mist slowly overflowing, silently shrouding the hundred-mile snow plains.

Behind the rift was a low-temperature plane specializing in the Dao of Dead Silence and Frost, which birthed countless Frost Abyss Cold Yao Beasts.

These extraterrestrial beings had no wisdom or thought and did not fear death. They were born with the instinct to devour the vitality of living beings and freeze the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. They were most adept at Domain-style freezing erosion, killing silently and destroying objects without leaving a trace.

The Northern Sect, Wanxue Sect, considered itself the master of the world's cold Dao, but when facing these Yao Beasts, their Spiritual Qi froze and their Dao techniques failed.

They couldn't even hold on for a few breaths before turning into ice sculptures and shattering to the ground.

In just three hours, the cold mist spread for a hundred miles. Seventeen villages affiliated with the North fell into deathly silence, and tens of thousands of Mortal commoners were not spared.

Following closely behind, a massive number of Frost Abyss Cold Yao Beasts surged out from the rift, covering the sky and earth, swarming forward to crush the mountain gate of the Wanxue Sect.

The Sect Master of the Wanxue Sect fought in a panic, exhausting the Sect's mountain-protecting Formation and all ice-type Dao techniques to resist, but their own ice-type Spiritual Qi was like an ant trying to shake a tree in the face of the extraterrestrial Frost Dao.

This catastrophe lasted for two full days.

Within two days, all three thousand-plus Cultivators of the Wanxue Sect died in battle. The Sect Master, Elders, and Core Disciples all perished. The Sect's heritage, which had been passed down for tens of thousands of years, was completely severed, and the mountain halls were completely sealed by ice, turning into a dead, icy Domain.

The thousand-mile territory of the North completely turned into an uninhabited dead zone; any living being that entered would have their vitality instantly frozen.

It wasn't until the night of the second day that the cold abyss rift lost its support and slowly contracted, closing on its own.

The remaining Frost Yao Beasts dispersed and scurried towards other Sect forces in the North.

"The Wanxue Sect has been rooted in the North for tens of thousands of years with decent foundations, yet they had no power to resist. Which Cultivation World is this from?"

The other, lesser Sect forces in the North were already beginning to panic.

The Eastern Wasteland Imperial Palace.

Zhao Miao frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "This cold abyss plane's combat power is not top-tier, but it wins in being bizarre and unsolvable, suppressing all living beings. Ordinary Dao techniques and Spiritual Qi cultivation are all suppressed, so low-level Cultivators have no power to fight at all. However, it is useless against experts; it's just troublesome."

Yuan Chen tapped his fingers on the jade table, his expression calm without a ripple, and he said indifferently, "Overall, there aren't any strong forces in the North. If you have time, go over and take a look."

Anyway, they were free fighters; it would be a waste not to use them.

In the second month, new news arrived.

The Chaotic Star Sea is located in the center of Canglan Domain. It is filled with spatial turbulence and raging thunderous gale winds year-round, but it is also rich in Spiritual Qi and resources. Only the strong deserve to occupy it.

One day, the Chaotic Star Sea suddenly experienced surging tsunamis and inverted star rivers. The Void Realm of the entire sea area trembled violently, and a pitch-black rift spanning a thousand feet tore open the sea surface with a roar.

Unlike the silent erosion of the Northern Frost Yao Beasts, this rift was extremely violent. Endless pitch-black demonic flames gushed out, carrying a monstrous bloody stench and violent Devilish Qi, instantly covering the entire Chaotic Star Sea.

Behind the rift, countless vampires surged out.

They followed the Dao of Devouring and Plundering, were cruel by nature, greedy, and bloodthirsty. Their fighting style was extremely fierce, ignoring tactics and only knowing how to slaughter and plunder. They took devouring the essence and blood of living beings, refining the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and seizing resources as the foundation of their cultivation.

The moment the rift opened, they landed and began to slaughter and plunder everything that could be refined. They did not hold the rift or occupy territory; their only goal was rapid slaughter and sweeping plunder. They had extremely high mobility and killed very quickly.

The vampires swept across the offshore islands. Three small-to-medium-sized Sects and over a dozen small races were instantly wiped out. Countless Cultivators had their essence and blood devoured alive and their Divine Soul refined; the tragic scene was shocking.

The most bizarre ability of this group of Devil Cultivators was that they became stronger the more they fought and more prosperous the more they killed.

Every time they devoured a Cultivator's essence, blood, and Spiritual Qi, their own Devilish Qi grew stronger by a point, and their combat power stacked layer by layer. In just half a day, a large number of low-level Devil Cultivators broke through their Realm and became stronger, causing the battle situation to deteriorate rapidly.

Fortunately, there were many major forces in the Chaotic Star Sea, and coupled with prior preparation, they soon joined forces to suppress all the vampires.

However, no one could be happy, because this rift was just the vanguard. Since it had already opened, it meant that it would open here again next time, and they would eventually have to face this disgusting thing again.

"In just two months, two major regions have been hit by disasters. The frequency of the rifts opening is a bit too fast; such a situation has never appeared in history!"

In the Daming Dynasty, Dongfang Mu was deeply worried. He secretly glanced at Zhao Miao, and then glanced at Yuan Chen.

"Do you think it might be because your strength is too powerful and you have been delaying your Ascension, causing the Heavenly Dao barrier to be broken?"

Yuan Chen rubbed his chin: "Don't say that, you really shouldn't say that."

The disasters on the three fronts of the East, West, and North in the first two months had not yet completely subsided, and in the third month, the chaos completely spread to the entire Canglan Domain.

In the Western River and Southern Mountain regions of Canglan Domain, rift disasters broke out in both places at almost the same time.

"Husband."

A gentle and graceful figure walked slowly into the main hall.

Qiong Xiao wore a simple and elegant long dress with cloud sleeves. Her posture was beautiful and gentle, but between her brows lingered an inseparable faint worry and anxiety.

Her usual calm and indifferent expression had faded slightly. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her steps were hurried, obviously carrying concern in her heart, her mood unsettled.

Yuan Chen turned around, looking at Qiong Xiao, who was usually calm and peaceful, now having worried eyes and an unsettled mind. His tone was gentle and soothing: "What are you worried about? Take your time."

Qiong Xiao looked up at him, her eyes clear and frank, fully revealing the concern and worry in her heart. She said slowly, "I have already heard about the disaster of the cold abyss rift in the North. The entire Wanxue Sect has been wiped out, and the thousand-mile snow plains have turned into a dead, silent zone. Now, the hearts of the people in the North are scattered, living beings are displaced, and there are scenes of ruin and desolation everywhere."

"My Sect, the Piaomiao Sect, has been rooted in the North for generations, right next to the core area of this disaster. Although the rift is temporarily closed, the heaven and earth barrier is broken and dilapidated, and a crisis could break out again at any time."

"That is my homeland where I have lived for hundreds of years. It is the Sect that cultivated and raised me. The Elders taught me the Dao, and my fellow disciples accompanied me in cultivation. With hundreds of years of deep affection, I cannot watch my Sect perish and my homeland sink into ruin."

Qiong Xiao frowned slightly, her eyes full of expectation and trust, and continued: "I came here today, hoping you, Husband, will rush to the aid of the North and protect the Piaomiao Sect."

Yuan Chen raised his hand, gently stroking her slightly furrowed brows. His tone was firm and gentle, carrying a power that made people feel at ease: "Don't worry. Even if you didn't come to discuss this with me today, I had already decided to rush to the aid of the North."

"Can our Canglan Cultivation World really be bullied by outsiders?"

Hearing this, all the worry and anxiety in Qiong Xiao's heart vanished into thin air. Her brows instantly relaxed, a gentle and relieved smile rippled out, and she said softly, "With your words, I am completely at ease."

Yuan Chen did not delay any longer. He immediately restrained his gentle expression and gave an order in a low voice: "Pass on my decree, order Elder Hei Yan to enter the hall immediately to receive orders!"

The guard outside the hall bowed to receive the order, his figure flashed, and he went to deliver the decree at top speed.

In a moment, Elder Hei Yan, wearing black dragon armor, with an imposing posture and an awe-inspiring Aura, stepped quickly into the main hall.

Yuan Chen's gaze was sharp and his expression dignified. Every word was resonant and impactful as he clearly ordered: "I order you to immediately lead three thousand elite Dragon Clan warriors, combined with high-level combat units from the entire territory, and rush to the northern snow plains at full speed!"

"After arriving in the North, immediately proclaim to the entire territory with the Supreme decree of the Daming Dynasty, informing all Sects and Cultivator forces in the North! Now that the chaotic era has descended and the heavens are invading, all living beings in the territory share the same fate. From this day on, discard all petty barriers and personal prejudices. All forces in the North must unite on the front line and huddle together to defend against the enemy!"

"Have people strictly investigate the spatial flaws in the entire North and clear out the remaining Frost Yao Beast remnants!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Hei Yan's expression became even more solemn as he solemnly clasped his fists and accepted the order: "Understood!"

"Hmm." Yuan Chen nodded slightly and instructed in a low voice again, "After arriving in the North, widely accept forces. For those willing to work together to defend against the enemy and submit to the joint defense, give them benefits. If there are any who do not listen to orders, call Zhao Miao and let Zhao Miao kill them first! Prioritize protecting the Piaomiao Sect."

"No problem!" Elder Hei Yan grinned, accepted the order, and stood by.

Yuan Chen turned to look at Qiong Xiao beside him, his tone returning to gentleness as he softly comforted her: "Now you can rest assured, right? I can't guarantee anything else, but your Sect will be fine."

Looking at his calm, determined, and strategic demeanor, Qiong Xiao's eyes were full of tenderness and trust, and she nodded gently: "I trust you."

"Hmm, that's right!"

"It's been a long time since I've been intimate with my husband, how about..." Qiong Xiao gazed at him with deep affection, sat down next to Yuan Chen, and her hands and feet began to get restless.

"Oh my, you, you... then your husband will reluctantly comply with you this once."

With a wave of his hand, a barrier enveloped the top of the main hall.

Ye Lingling, who had just arrived at the entrance, looked at the barrier in the sky, curled her lips, and turned around to leave.