Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 742 - 315: Watching from the Sidelines (2)

Several moments passed before Ning Qi realized that this force represented the mightiest group he had come across after stepping into the War Realm.

Moreover, the savage creatures trapped and under siege by them within the Sea of Realms exuded an utterly horrifying aura.

Altogether, five distinct clans made up the assault: tigers, leopards, wolves, lions, and eagles!

Far from clashing separately, a quick scan revealed to Ning Qi that these savage beasts operated in perfect harmony, much like a disciplined military force, with remarkable precision.

A doubt crept into Ning Qi's mind: was it possible for beasts originating from the Sea of Realms to actually collaborate among themselves?

The Bee Demon Queen Feng Baihua, whom he had tamed, directed a hive of fellow bee demons, and their innate social instincts naturally fostered such unity.

Yet here, the tigers, leopards, wolves, lions, and eagles—five entirely separate breeds—were working together seamlessly, an occurrence that was truly uncommon.

Not one among these five breeds could be called commonplace; some reached the size of oxen, while others sprawled across multiple zhang in length.

Ning Qi scrutinized these savage beasts with keen attention; leading each clan stood a mighty demon king.

Every one of these demon kings displayed tremendous ferocity, their animal gazes brimming with boundless savagery!

As they struck, these kings even directed their beast packs to assault the members of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect.

Both Ning Qi and the Profound Truth Realm forces trailing him felt a hidden shock at the unfolding spectacle.

Through their ongoing observation, the conflict divided into three primary fronts, where heavy losses had already mounted.

Lower-realm cultivators belonging to the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect dropped like flies, one by one.

As natives of the Sea of Realms, these tigers, leopards, wolves, lions, and eagles proved far more resilient than typical demon beasts such as Niu Dingtian from the Mountain and Sea Realm, frequently overpowering foes in the Primordial Spirit Realm and Void Path Realm during clashes.

However, once reaching the Integration Realm, human cultivators—having fused the principles of heaven and earth into their forms—could compete evenly with demon beasts in raw bodily power, flipping the momentum in their favor.

Integration Realm experts from the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect had now encircled the Integration Realm chiefs from the five major demon beast clans.

Humans possessed a wide array of skills and supernatural abilities, plus tactical formations. Although the demon beasts managed cooperation, they fell short of the flawless synergy shown by human fighters.

Still, the five major demon beast packs raged with greater intensity and without fear, their primal senses making them dreadful, and their fighting prowess unmatched.

Any single clan among them held the potential to rule over a whole territory.

"Kill!"

The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect's cultivator forces at last cried out together.

They loosed a torrent of strikes, featuring sweeping Blade Qi, invincible Sword Qi, and Vermilion Bird Divine Shadows, alongside blazing fireballs, licking flames, and fiery lances.

Binding them all was the fearsome Fire Rule, defined by its core traits of incineration and searing heat.

The whole void appeared overrun by the Fire Rule, as ambient Spiritual Qi fueled the abrupt surge of thick fiery essence, causing the spiritual fog to dissipate slowly amid dancing flames.

In retaliation, the chiefs of the five mighty savage beasts unleashed their utmost might.

The Divine Eagle let out a piercing cry from above, while the growls of the four ground beasts echoed without pause.

These sounds blended into a unified chorus, unleashing a barrage of divine technique illusions at once.

For an instant, the heart of the node evoked a return to an ancient, untamed wild age, as myriad beast illusions materialized, shaking the lands and peaks!

The entire void quaked violently while the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect's onslaughts clashed against the roaring sound waves and beast illusions.

Rumble!

The realm flared with blinding light as enormous black voids tore open in the impact area.

From afar, the sight evoked the unfolding of a grand earth-fire golden lotus.

This fierce upheaval heightened the tension among the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect members somewhat.

They scanned their surroundings and extended their Spiritual Sense to its limits, checking for any drawn foes.

Though Ning Qi's Profound Truth Realm force escaped their notice, they did pick up on the partially concealed Fuyao Realm army lurking roughly eighty li distant.

Ning Qi spotted a handful of individuals in the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect group twisting their heads to peer toward the edges.

"Not good, someone has already stepped into this area!"

"We have fierce beasts in front and an enemy army approaching from behind. What should we do now?"

Having sensed Qi Keqing’s army, Qi Keqing herself had naturally become aware of their predicament as well.

She promptly warned those following her, "Not good, we’ve been discovered!"

"What?"

One person inquired, "Have we been discovered, and what about the army led by Ning Qi from the Profound Truth Realm?"

Qi Keqing narrowed her eyes a bit, "You should sense for yourselves."

Now that exposure had occurred, the Fuyao Realm army ceased their concealment and projected their Spiritual Senses toward the core area.

Once they viewed it, astonishment gripped them.

"Senior Sister Qi, the Vast Realm cultivators at this large node are stronger than us!"

"What should we do now, fight or retreat?"

Cultivators on both sides weighed their options carefully.

The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect sent two Extreme Venerables racing swiftly toward the Fuyao Realm army.

While speeding along, they bellowed, "Who goes there? The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect is conducting business here, report your name quickly!"

Qi Keqing called back loudly, "Jade Light Immortal Sect of the Mountain and Sea Realm has arrived!"

...

Ning Qi and his companions had quietly closed in to within ten li of the central fray.

Concealed in the void, they observed the two Venerables soaring right by them, leaving many in a cold sweat.

Luckily, the Alliance Hierarch’s hiding formation proved exceptionally potent, sparing them detection by the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, in contrast to the Fuyao Realm army that stood revealed.

The Sword Ancestor, standing beside Ning Qi, whispered softly, "Heh, now that the Fuyao Realm army has been dragged into the mess, did you foresee this step, kid?"

Ning Qi answered steadily, "To be honest, I didn’t predict it, but I considered this possibility."

The Sword Ancestor remarked, "Don’t keep us in suspense, kid. Tell us, what should we do now?"

Ning Qi surveyed the three factions and at last declared boldly, "Let’s wait and see!"

Those behind him let faint smiles tug at their lips.

The Alliance Hierarch was sharpening his talent for lurking like a patient hunter!

Ahead, the Sea of Realms savage beasts pressed their assault against the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect.

To the rear, the Fuyao Realm army now clashed with the pair of Extreme Venerables dispatched by the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect.

Surprising Ning Qi, Qi Keqing acted with remarkable resolve.

The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, likely secure in their superior power, had first aimed to cow the intruders by deploying just two Extreme Venerables.

After all, they had gauged the Fuyao Realm army's capabilities, which paled in comparison to their own.

Thus, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect folks figured the rivals wouldn't dare challenge them.

But against expectations, Qi Keqing swiftly ordered her followers to strike as one, swiftly cutting down the two Extreme Venerables.

A wave of angry cries burst forth from below.

"How bold!"

"Dogs from the Mountain and Sea Realm, how dare you kill our Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect people!"

"Kill them first, then talk!"

In a flash, half the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect contingent broke away to rush the Fuyao Realm army.

Even with only half their numbers left and unable to fully pin down the Sea of Realms savage beasts as earlier, it sufficed to hold the line against them.

The Sea of Realms savage beasts, sharp-minded themselves, noticed the newcomers turning hostile toward the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect and splitting their ranks, which sparked them into a wild rampage, hammering the leftover foes with all they had.

All at once, the burden on the remaining Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect members surged dramatically!

Under Qi Keqing's lead, the Fuyao Realm army, fresh from dispatching the two enemy cultivators, found themselves with little recourse.

They plunged into combat against the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect's ranks.

The sole bright spot lay in the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect's overconfidence, committing just half their troops against them.

With the Sea of Realms savage beasts in play and the Profound Truth Realm army lurking unseen, Qi Keqing felt certain they wouldn't face defeat!

Beyond the savage beasts of the Sea of Realms, would Ning Qi truly stand idle while his Fuyao Realm army tangled solo with the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect?

Ning Qi took in the full panorama; he had originally planned to hold back even longer.

Yet with the three sides now forming two fronts, his Profound Truth Realm group stayed detached, positioning them to strike any side with a fatal blow whenever desired.

But right then, unrest stirred inside the Fuyao Realm army, as arguments broke out among them.

Ning Qi and his allies swiftly shifted focus to the disturbance.

Inside the Fuyao Realm army, a sizable band of cultivators abruptly pulled back at speed, falling to the rear lines.

A glint flashed in Ning Qi's eyes as he rapidly gauged the development.

These turned out to be members of the Cyan Profound Immortal Sect, opting to desert the Fuyao Realm army right at this pivotal juncture; their motives revealed a deeply sinister and betraying nature!