680: A century-long pact, a harbinger of the final battle

The smoke of the Dark Star had not yet faded from memory when Li Fan and the three others, accompanied by reinforcements from the Green Wood Realm, embarked on their return journey. In the cross-world channel, multicolored spiritual light intertwined with emerald Vitality, reflecting every face filled with the joy of victory—slaying the commander of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures and preventing the completion of the evil god pill. These two achievements spread through the Grandmist and Green Wood Realm like a thunderclap, giving all living beings hope in resisting the Outer Domain. After several days of spatial travel, when the familiar multicolored haze appeared at the end of their vision, the outline of the Hongmeng Ultimate Realm was already clear. The cheers of tens of thousands of Cultivators on the Dao Platform plaza resounded through the heavens and earth, causing ripples in the spatial channel.

"The Alliance Leader returns in triumph!"

"Slay the Evil Lord, destroy the evil pill, we shall surely prevail!"

The moment Li Fan and the three others led the Green Wood Realm reinforcements out of the channel, deafening shouts erupted on the plaza. The banners of the Seven Realms and the emerald totems of the Green Wood Realm fluttered in the wind. Tens of thousands of Cultivators bowed in unison, their eyes filled with fanatical reverence. Guardian stood at the top of the Dao Platform, with the Wood Emperor following closely behind. The Auras of the two Soul Transformation Middle Stage powerhouses intertwined, adding supreme glory to this triumphant return. Zhao Hu's body burned with Soul Transformation Middle Stage Battle Qi, his newly broken-through Aura as blazing as a scorching sun. He couldn't help but laugh heartily, throwing a punch into the void that made the Battle Qi roar. Su Miao's spiritual plant Spiritual Qi was as gentle as the sea, with Soul Transformation spirit plant phantoms swaying around her, their purifying spiritual light making the surrounding Spiritual Qi even purer. Huang Ming's golden-armored war immortal spiritual light was pure and his sword intent vast, the evil-breaking Aura surrounding him giving the air a chilling sharpness—the three of them had utilized the residual Spiritual Qi and insights from the final battle during the return journey to break through to the Soul Transformation Middle Stage. Standing side by side with Li Fan, they became the four strongest pillars of the Alliance.

Li Fan did not immerse himself in the cheers; the energy from the half-finished evil god pill in his body had not yet been fully refined. He stepped directly onto the Hongmeng Dao Platform and sat cross-legged. His spirit transformation godhead spun frantically as he operated the "Outer Domain Energy Conversion Technique" to completely purify and fuse the remaining pure Outer Domain energy. As the last wisp of energy flowed into his war immortal nascent soul, Li Fan's Aura suddenly surged. The Bottleneck of the Soul Transformation Early Stage Peak shattered like thin paper, and a majestic pressure far exceeding before erupted. The runes of the Dao Platform lit up instantly, and the seven realms spirit web resonated with the Vitality Spiritual Veins of the Green Wood Realm. Multicolored and emerald spiritual lights intertwined into a pillar of light that pierced the heavens and earth, enveloping the entire Dao Platform!

"Boom—!"

With a thunderous sound that shook the Grandmist, Li Fan's cultivation level actually broke through to the Soul Transformation Middle Stage! The war immortal nascent soul stood tall within the Dantian, three zhang high, wearing Soul Transformation battle armor woven with Seven Realms patterns and Green Wood Vitality. The four seals on its forehead perfectly merged with the Outer Domain runes, and the Void Wings on its back shimmered with intertwined multicolored and emerald spiritual light. It could simultaneously draw Spiritual Qi from the Ten Realms (the Grandmist Seven Realms + Green Wood Realm + Transcendence Realm Spiritual Veins + purified Outer Domain energy). The multicolored hongmeng sword in its hand gained a layer of emerald sharpness that could break evil with Vitality. A single sword strike could trigger the resonance of Ten Realms Spiritual Qi, its power comparable to the full-force strike of a Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator!

Most importantly, his Seven Realms War Immortal Divine Ability had completely upgraded to the Ten Realms War Immortal Divine Ability, allowing him to simultaneously mobilize Ten Realms Spiritual Qi for composite attacks. Ten types of power—fierce Battle Qi, gentle Vitality, heavy dragon veins, and purified holy spirits—intertwined, providing both offense and defense. He could also use the power of the ten realms spirit net to form an indestructible Guardian barrier, the ultimate trump card for the Alliance's final battle!

At the moment of Breakthrough, a dazzling ten-colored Jade Slip condensed from the light pillar and fell heavily onto the center of the Dao Platform with a "clack." The Jade Slip was surrounded by the majestic Aura of multi-Realm war preparation; it was the "Multi-Realm War Preparation Result Technique" (Top-tier Low Grade Cultivation Technique)! This technique could convert the Alliance's preparation results into a collective combat power boost, integrating resources like Spiritual Veins, spirit plants, Battle Qi, and immortal methods from multiple Realms to form a scale effect, raising the average combat power of Cultivators by another level. Li Fan scanned it with his Divine Thought and understood it instantly, transmitting the Profound Truth of the technique into the Sea of Consciousness of all core Alliance members on the spot.

With the popularization of the technique, the results of the Hong Meng Guardian Alliance's century of war preparation completely exploded. During this century, the Alliance had integrated the Spiritual Veins of the Seven Realms and the Green Wood Realm. The spiritual crystals and Ores mined were enough to support the cultivation of a million Cultivators for a thousand years. The Pill Workshop worked day and night, refining Soul Transformation Stage Pills, Nascent Soul Pills, and Healing Pills that piled up like mountains, allowing Cultivators to quickly recover their combat strength during the great war. The Weapon Workshop forged countless Divine Rank battle weapons, defensive armor, and evil-breaking Talismans, equipping every main combat squad. More importantly, the seven realms spirit web and the Vitality Spiritual Veins of the Green Wood Realm were completely connected, allowing Spiritual Qi to flow freely. The average cultivation of Alliance Cultivators had risen by a full thirty percent. Soul Transformation powerhouses had increased from the original four to over thirty, Nascent Soul Cultivators numbered in the tens of thousands, and Golden Core Cultivators had surpassed the hundred thousand mark. Their combat power had surged more than tenfold compared to a century ago!

With this collective combat power boost, Zhao Hu's Soul Transformation Middle Stage Realm was completely stabilized. The Battle Qi Group he led had mastered the Ten Realms Battle Array. When a million battle Cultivators formed the array, their Battle Qi condensed into a ten-thousand-foot-tall war immortal phantom, capable of crushing small Outer Domain evil formations with a single punch. Su Miao's Spirit Plant Purification Group had constructed a cross-world spirit plant network. The Soul Transformation spirit plants of the Hongmeng Seven Realms and the Green Wood Realm were linked together, forming an endless Spirit Plant Purification Belt that could automatically purify Outer Domain evil qi and quickly heal the wounded, serving as the logistics and defense core of the Alliance. Huang Ming's Immortal Spell Group had laid down a Ten Realms Warning Grand Array, which could monitor every inch of movement in the Outer Domain, allowing them to know before the battle began and launch long-range evil-breaking attacks to precisely strike Outer Domain strongholds.

Inside the Council Hall at the top of the Dao Platform, the Alliance's core members gathered—Li Fan, Zhao Hu, Su Miao, and Huang Ming, the four Soul Transformation Middle Stage powerhouses; Guardian and the Wood Emperor, the two Soul Transformation Middle Stage Peak Guardians; and Lu Chen, Lu Shaoyou, and Huang Xiaolong, the descendants of the three Guardians (all Soul Transformation Middle Stage). On the Water Mirror in the center of the hall, the movements of the Outer Domain were clearly reflected: the main force of the Outer Domain in the Savage Domain had completed its assembly. Black-red evil mist blotted out the sky, and countless evil armies were ready to go. A majestic pressure far exceeding before came from the Savage Domain, signaling that the century covenant had arrived and the ultimate final battle was about to begin.

"The main force of the Outer Domain has finished assembling. Although their commander is dead, the new commander is at the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak, with hundreds of Soul Transformation powerhouses under his command. Their army of a million is incredibly strong and will invade in force within three months!" Guardian's expression was solemn, his voice as loud as a bell. "We have made full preparations. The ten realms spirit net is linked, the Nine-Layer Grand Array is deployed layer by layer, and the Spirit Plant Purification Belt provides full coverage. We only wait for the evil creatures to attack!"

The Wood Emperor nodded in agreement, emerald spiritual light flowing around him. "The Green Wood Realm has connected all Vitality Spiritual Veins with the Hongmeng spirit web. The Soul Transformation spirit plant network can provide a continuous stream of Vitality support for the Alliance. Three Soul Transformation powerhouses from my Realm have already led a hundred thousand spirit plant Cultivators to station at the first line of defense. We will surely hold the gateway!"

Li Fan stood up and walked to the Water Mirror, his gaze as firm as iron, and the pressure of his Soul Transformation Middle Stage cultivation erupted. "A century of preparation, we have been waiting with our weapons as pillows; Ten Realms linked, we are united in purpose! If the Outer Domain Evil Creatures dare to invade, we will make sure they never return! Pass down the order: the entire army is to enter the highest state of combat readiness. Each defense line will perform its duties—the Battle Qi Group will hold the front, the spirit plant group will secure the logistics, and the Immortal Spell Group will manage intelligence. Three days from now, the Loyalist Army will assemble at the Dao Platform to follow me in striking the main force of the Outer Domain!"

"By your command!" everyone responded in unison, their voices powerful and resonant, echoing in the Council Hall and condensing into an indestructible, majestic Aura.

Three days later, on the Dao Platform plaza of the Hongmeng Ultimate Realm, a million-strong Alliance Grand Army assembled, a dark mass of people stretching beyond the horizon. The battle Cultivators of the Hongmeng Seven Realms wore golden armor and held battle weapons, their Battle Qi soaring to the sky. The spirit plant Cultivators of the Green Wood Realm wore green robes and held Spirit Plant Staffs, brimming with Vitality. The immortal spell Cultivators formed hand seals, their spiritual lights intertwining and Immortal Qi swirling. Under the guidance of the spirit net, Ten Realms Spiritual Qi gathered, forming a massive multicolored and emerald light curtain that enveloped the entire army. The fire of Battle Intent burned in the eyes of every Cultivator, without a trace of fear.

Li Fan wore Soul Transformation battle armor woven with Ten Realms patterns, held the multicolored hongmeng sword, and his war immortal nascent soul hovered above his head. As the Void Wings on his back flapped, Ten Realms spiritual light flowed. He stepped onto the top of the Dao Platform one step at a time. His gaze swept over the million soldiers below, his voice carrying the pressure of his spirit transformation godhead and the resonance of Ten Realms Spiritual Qi as it clearly reached every corner:

"Soldiers! A century ago, the Outer Domain Evil Creatures invaded, causing suffering to all living beings and shattering our homes. For a century, we have formed Alliances, gathered our strength, trained our troops, and built our defenses together! Today, the century covenant has arrived. The main force of the Outer Domain is pressing upon our borders, attempting to trample the Grandmist and enslave our people!"

He raised the multicolored hongmeng sword in his hand, and a dazzling Ten Realms spiritual light erupted from the blade, pointing straight at the sky. "Behind us are the homes of the Seven Realms, our allies in the Green Wood Realm, and the hopes of billions of living beings! There is no retreat, only a fight to the death! Today, I, Li Fan, swear here to fight side by side with all of you, to protect our mountains and rivers with our flesh and blood, and to slay all evil creatures with the soul of the war immortal! Outer Domain Evil Creatures, you shall never return!"

"They shall never return! They shall never return!"

A million soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and earth. Battle Qi, spirit plant Spiritual Qi, and immortal spell spiritual light intertwined into a majestic torrent that shot into the clouds. The banners of the Seven Realms and the totems of the Green Wood Realm fluttered in the wind, resonating with the runes of the Dao Platform to form a protective field of united will.

Above the sky, thick black-red evil mist had already begun to rise from the direction of the Outer Domain. A heart-palpitating, violent pressure slowly approached, signaling that the ultimate final battle concerning the life and death of the Ten Realms inside and outside the Grandmist had, under the watchful eyes of all, begun its most magnificent prologue. Li Fan stood at the top of the Dao Platform, his war immortal nascent soul holding the hongmeng sword high, his eyes flashing with the conviction of certain victory as he awaited the final confrontation with the Outer Domain Evil Creatures.