"The struggle between the awakened demons and us has not been a matter of just a day or two," Core Disciple Xuan stated calmly to the female cultivator. "Since Wang Zhanqi has not appeared today, you all know exactly what that implies."

The female cultivator's expression shifted rapidly before she let out a few cold sneers. She looked toward Ye Daoling. "Senior Brother Ye, you just said you wanted to persuade these two old friends to return to the righteous path. But as it stands, their sins are heavy and they are beyond redemption."

"Patience, patience." Ye Daoling soothed with a smile. He turned his attention back to Fang Chen. "Fellow Daoist from the Enlightenment God Palace, do they know what is happening in the Taicang Realm? If you've been deceived by the Wandao Immortal Sect without knowing the truth, I fear you are straying into the wrong path. We are willing to spare your life provided you pass on a message for me: I hope the Fangcun Realm does not interfere in the affairs of the Taicang Realm."

"You must be joking. I am only a core disciple. How can I possibly represent the entire Fangcun Realm? No one would listen to a word I say," replied Fang Chen with a shake of his head and a chuckle. "On the contrary, I hope you all realise your mistakes. Becoming a demon is no small matter, but as long as there is remorse and repentance in your hearts, we can still sit down and talk."

Hearing Fang Chen's words, a flash of unmistakable contempt crossed Ye Daoling's eyes.

"This person does not know the truth. He is not awakened. Drive them away and occupy Lone Light Star. That will suffice," Ye Daoling's voice resonated in the ears of his allies via transmission.

The female cultivator was reluctant. "And what of avenging Junior Brother Wang?"

"You all know the speed of these formations," Ye Daoling frowned. "Though they are few and lack deep foundations, if they choose to run, we won't catch them for a hundred years. How much immortal essence would we waste in the process? We cannot afford the cost."

The female cultivator finally nodded her head, albeit unwillingly, but she agreed with Ye Daoling's assessment.

"Since we've arrived, the three of you must leave Lone Light Star. We are taking over this territory," announced Ye Daoling gleefully. "Wang Zhanqi's death at your hands is not a disgrace and we do not intend to pursue the matter. Depart quickly."

"We can go?" muttered Chen Dongdong, a wave of relief washing over him.

He looked urgently toward Fang Chen and Core Disciple Xuan.

Core Disciple Xuan internally let out a breath of relief and looked at Fang Chen. "Core Disciple Wang, let us withdraw from Lone Light Star for now. Once we regroup with my sect's Tenth Senior Brother, we can fight our way back. We've mined a vast amount of immortal crystals over the years and there isn't much left for them anyway. This isn't a loss."

"There is no need to retreat. We might have a chance. If we can crush them here, Lone Light Star will enjoy peace for hundreds of years," Fang Chen's voice transmitted to the two of them.

The two of them were stunned.

Three formations up against over thirty formations? How could that ever end well for them?

Seeing that the three showed no intention of retreating, Ye Daoling's brow furrowed slightly in annoyance. "Are the three of you unwilling to leave?"

"It's not that we are unwilling to go, but we have reinforcements. If we fight, we won't necessarily lose. I suggest you all retreat first and think it over before fighting," analysed Fang Chen.

"Reinforcements? Are you referring to Old Tenth? He won't be able to make it here anytime soon," dismissed Ye Daoling.

"What!?"

Both Core Xuan and Chen Dongdong were shocked.

Ye Daoling smiled and continued, "Our purpose in coming here is not to take Lone Light Star and then give you a chance to seize it back. The hardest person to deal with on this front is Old Tenth. I knew he was rushing toward Lone Light Star, so I sent some Daoists from the Blood Demon Hall to bypass this area and intercept him. He won't be able to come for at least a hundred years. By then, this place will be garrisoned by tens of millions of troops and you won't be able to take it back again."

Pausing for a moment, Ye Daoling let out a soft sigh. "You have already lost. Looking at the current situation in the Taicang Realm, even if the Fangcun Realm and the Shenwang Realm step in to help you, the situation is beyond saving."

The expressions of Chen Dongdong and the others turned grim. If what the opponent said was true, then Lone Light Star really could not be reclaimed. If those who had fallen to the demonic path obtained this place as a logistical supply base, it would be very difficult for the allied forces led by the Wandao Immortal Sect to fight back from this front. This was because, within the vast Qingming void, there was only this one star that stood like a lone lamp.

"I do not wish to harm you two. After all, we have all cultivated in the Wandao Immortal Sect for many years and share the bond of fellow disciples," mumbled Ye Daoling. "But if you are willing to stay and fight to the death alongside this Daoist from the Enlightenment God Palace, I will not hold back either."

As he spoke, the seven-colored rainbow light in front of Ye Daoling suddenly rippled. A black handprint appeared upon it.

In the next moment, a shadow appeared beside Ye Daoling.

Ghost Immortal?

This shadow was precisely the Ghost Immortal sent by the Motian Division to protect Ye Daoling. After sensing the aura of the Ghost Infant, Fang Chen asked in surprise, "You also have a Ghost Immortal protector? Is it a Ghost Immortal from the Enlightenment Underworld?"

Ye Daoling smiled coyly.

Fang Chen sighed. Ye Daoling was still under the protection of the formation. The fact that the Ghost Infant couldn't break through immediately indicated that the formation Ye Daoling controlled was at least of the eighth transformation. This was likely why the surrounding formations acknowledged him as their leader.

"Why not a Ghost Immortal from the Wandao Immortal Sect?" Fang Chen asked curiously.

"Senior Brother Wang... the Wandao Underworld has been breached," explained Chen Dongdong in a low voice, his smile bitter.

Core Disciple Xuan's expression turned strange as she sent a transmission. "That actually happened four hundred years ago. First breach the Underworld, then sweep the Taicang Realm. The demon race member who made this decision must be extremely bellicose..."

Fang Chen suddenly felt that there was likely another reason why the Fangcun Realm and the Shenwang Realm were interfering here.

"Shao Guangyin's repeated attempts to strike at the Enlightenment God Palace in the past might have been to test waters. Had he succeeded, the Fangcun Realm might have immediately faced the same situation as the Taicang Realm. The Shenwang Realm must have sensed this as well, which is why they intervened so decisively—the two realms joining forces to descend upon Taicang Realm..."

"Call your Ghost Immortal back. It cannot break through my formation. If the core disciples controlling these formations were that easy to assassinate, they would be worthless in this world."

Ye Daoling looked at the small handprints appearing periodically and shook his head with a light chuckle.

In the next instant, the expression of a core disciple near him changed violently. The Ghost Immortal protecting him let out a miserable shriek and vanished into a wisp of green smoke. The core disciple was simultaneously reduced to ashes.

The formation he controlled instantly disintegrated and turned back into scattered immortal boats...

Where there was one, there was a second. Another core disciple met the same fate.

Seeing this, Ye Daoling made an executive decision. "Get back!"

Everyone instantly retreated into their formations and a frantic surge of majestic immortal essence that formed barrier after barrier were followed by.

However, two of the immortal boat formations could no longer be reformed. The cultivators of the expedition teams within them looked on in daze as they could not comprehend how the core disciples they followed could perish so abruptly.

Ye Daoling's expression became incredibly solemn. "The one protecting you is an eighth-transformation Ghost Immortal? Other than an eighth transformation, even a seventh transformation wouldn't be able to break through their formations."

"Old Kong, it's time to strike," ordered Fang Chen.

As his voice fell, over a dozen immortal boat formations belonging to the Spirit God Sect emerged from the void. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Having first lost two formations and now seeing the opponent gain over a dozen more in reinforcements, the faces of Ye Daoling and his companions turned quite unsightly.