Chapter 578 - 314: Ling Shuangqin

「Shunzhou.」

The celestial vault had turned a heart-pounding dark crimson. One after another, giant meteors of fire, each a hundred zhang in diameter, rained down from the heavens like a torrential squall.

Layers of incredibly condensed sword auras, each over a thousand zhang long, blanketed the sky. Crimson lightning bolts as thick as Ancient Demon Dragons poured down, followed by hurricanes, icebergs, magnetic firestorms, and more.

After dozens of days and nights of relentless siege, the thick curtain of light from the Protective Array below had been continuously worn down to only about one percent of its full strength. Its complete collapse was now just a matter of moments.

Inside the Grand Array, the faces of thousands upon thousands of Demon Cultivators were ashen. They could only watch helplessly as the assault outside grew more and more frantic.

The Shenluo Celestial Palace, the Taiqing Divine Dynasty, the Beichen Family, the Da Xia Divine Dynasty, and many other factions had joined forces to launch an all-out offensive against the Primordial Demon Palace.

The area protected by this Grand Array was Broken Soul Ridge, an important branch of the Primordial Demon Palace on its vast territory. Not only was it garrisoned by a large number of elite Demon Cultivators year-round, but it had recently been reinforced with numerous legions of the Outer Heaven Exotic clan.

At such a delicate time, the Primordial Demon Palace’s large-scale troop reinforcement could not be hidden from others.

As this location was not too far from the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s sphere of influence, the threatened high command of the Divine Dynasty would naturally not sit by and do nothing. Empress Xia Qingying immediately ordered a massive force to besiege it, striking first to gain the upper hand and ensuring this thorn in their side was completely removed.

Thus, the current scene unfolded.

At the same time, many other major powers on other important fronts had also launched their attacks, joining forces to besiege the various important establishments on the Primordial Demon Palace’s territory, destroying their industries and strongholds, and slaughtering their forces in large numbers.

The Primordial Demon Palace’s intentions were now practically an open secret: they sought to single-handedly trigger an Immortal Dao Heavy Tribulation, luring the Outer Heaven Exotic clan to annihilate all other cultivator factions in this world and achieve their ambition of dominating the realm.

The current situation was not exactly favorable for the Primordial Demon Palace, but the one in charge, Supreme Master Qianhuan Daoist Monarch of the Primordial Demon Palace, was still calmly biding his time.

For the past two years, he had been constantly dispatching large numbers of Outer Heaven Exotic clan legions to attack on all fronts, waging a war of attrition with the surrounding major powers by trading pieces as if in a game of chess.

After all, the members of the Outer Heaven Exotic clan were simply too numerous. As long as he could make them obey, even temporarily, it was enough to inflict heavy losses on the powers large and small around Shunzhou.

Once the other factions and the Outer Heaven Exotic clan legions had bled each other nearly dry, it would be time for the Primordial Demon Palace’s own elite forces to enter the field and reap the fruits of victory.

Of course, Daoist Monarch Qianhuan’s scheme could not deceive everyone. That was why the various major powers in the vicinity decided to set aside their past grievances and join forces to thwart the Primordial Demon Palace’s ambitions.

In terms of its own strength and foundation, the Primordial Demon Palace was certainly no match for so many major powers combined. But with the massive legions of the Outer Heaven Exotic clan serving as vanguards and cannon fodder, the pressure on the surrounding powers naturally increased a great deal.

The great war had raged on to this point. Although the Primordial Demon Palace had suffered grievous casualties and lost more than half of its Outer Heaven Exotic clan legions, the immense losses of the surrounding powers could not be ignored either.

Moreover, as long as the passage to the Outer Heaven remained open, more of the Outer Heaven Exotic clan would continue to pour into this world, constantly replenishing the Primordial Demon Palace’s losses.

High in the celestial vault, tens of thousands of magnificent and majestic Celestial Boats were gathered, each over three hundred zhang long. They formed a complex and tight Grand Array, balanced for both offense and defense.

This was the Central Army Camp of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s expeditionary force, overseen by numerous Royal Elders and guarded by a massive number of elite cultivators. It was truly impregnable.

"...How much longer until we can breach this place?"

Deep within the thousand-zhang-long, resplendent flagship was a grand and solemn inner palace hall.

At this moment, Goddess Empress Xia Qingying was seated on her throne. Dressed in elaborate and exquisite ice-blue imperial robes, her elegant spine was perfectly straight, and her phoenix-like eyes held a murderous glint as she asked in a heavy voice.

A beautiful woman in red, with an arrogant expression and sharp eyes, reported in a low voice:

"Your Majesty need not worry. The Protective Array at Broken Soul Ridge is already showing signs of weakening. The Elders are intensifying their efforts to sever the surrounding earth veins. In two days at most, our great work will be done!"

Broken Soul Ridge was indeed a tough nut to crack, but with the Goddess Empress personally leading the expedition, its fall was only a matter of time.

Hearing this, Xia Qingying’s expression softened slightly. She said,

"That’s good. Shenluo Celestial Palace, Taiqing Divine Dynasty, the Beichen Family, the Primordial Divine Hall, and the Buddhist Pure Land have all made their move and gained much. We cannot fall behind."

The leaders of the various factions had already agreed: when the great tribulation concludes, the Primordial Demon Palace and all its Demon Path vassal forces must become history. Not even the lowest-ranking Attendant Disciple would be allowed to live.

Once this behemoth was completely destroyed, the vast and extremely resource-rich Shunzhou, along with its neighboring regions, would become ownerless land.

This prize was large enough that even if all the surrounding major powers came to carve it up, there would be enough for every one of them to have a feast.

Therefore, in this great war, whoever conquered a territory would naturally own it, and the other powers could not object.

Broken Soul Ridge was one of the Primordial Demon Palace’s top-ranking strongholds. If they successfully took it, the surrounding region spanning hundreds of millions of li would fall under the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s control, bringing with it countless resources and people.

After some more discussion, the high-ranking Elders bowed and departed. Xia Qingying returned to her personal chambers. Just as she sat down, a trusted Palace Maid approached, holding an antique Phoenix Patterned Copper Mirror.

"Is there news?"

Xia Qingying’s expression flickered, and a hint of anticipation appeared in her beautiful, lustrous eyes.

"Your Majesty, it’s from our informant in the Shenluo Celestial Palace..." the trusted Palace Maid reported in a low voice.

Xia Qingying gestured, and the Copper Mirror floated lightly to a spot three feet in front of her, its surface, covered in magnificent patterns, glowing with a golden radiance.

After a few breaths, rows of abstruse and esoteric tiny characters, shining with golden light, emerged, flowing slowly like ripples on water.

The characters were a top-secret code used within the Da Xia Divine Dynasty Royal Family. Aside from a very small number of core Royal Family members, no one else could understand or decipher it.

’Hmm? The Sect Leader of Shenluo Celestial Palace has taken a Closed-door Disciple named Qi Yu? And she has an Innate Sword Spirit Body?

’And she suspects Lu Hua Palace in Yuzhou might have found the real Child of Destiny? So she’s arranged for Saintess Chen Chuyu to closely monitor the movements of this Female Cultivation Sect?

’I seem to recall that the Child of Destiny first appeared in Yuzhou. After all this time and effort, does this mean he never left?’

Xia Qingying was lost in thought, her long, slender jade-like fingers tapping gently on the armrest of her throne as she pondered in silence.

Several beautiful young women appeared silently by the Empress’s side. They were dressed in tight-fitting leather outfits adorned with ornate patterns, their figures alluringly curvaceous, their eyes as cold as ice. They stood without a word.

Xia Qingying raised her eyes slightly and commanded coolly, "Arrange for more capable personnel to keep a close watch on the Shenluo Celestial Palace in Yaozhou and the Lu Hua Palace in Yuzhou, those two female cultivation factions.

"If there is any unusual activity on their end, especially any news regarding the Child of Destiny, you are to report it to me immediately. Understood?"

"Yes."

The young women bowed and then silently vanished.

Xia Qingying smiled faintly and murmured to herself, ’Qinghao Continent, the core opportunity of the Ancient Hongmeng Divine Hall... you must have obtained it, right? It’s not as if this is the first time we’ve met, yet I always seem to miss you. You... are you really that hard to marry? Is my talent and beauty not comparable to those fox spirits around you? Why do you always hide from me? Hmph, I won’t let you get away this time! You are destined to be the biological father of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s next Divine Emperor!’

...

「Linsha Continent.」

In the Inner Garden Flower Hall, brilliantly colorful flowers bloomed, filling the air with a subtle fragrance.

"...Husband, look how much this girl looks like you!"

Dressed in a palace gown of purplish-blue embroidered with a hundred flowers and luan birds, the divinely beautiful Shangguan Qingying leaned against Ling Changqing, whispering softly. A blissful smile graced her snowy, jade-like face.

This time, Ling Changqing had gone to bring her here himself. After all, her safety couldn’t be guaranteed if she traveled alone, as the situation outside was far from peaceful.

In the distance, their eldest daughter, Ling Shuanghua, was playing happily with a six or seven-year-old little girl in a red dress, surrounded by a group of personal maids and female guards.

The little girl was Ling Changqing’s second daughter, Ling Shuangqin. Despite her youth, her features were as exquisite as a painting, and the first hints of a devastating, nation-toppling beauty were already apparent.

Furthermore, her aptitude, like her sister’s, was so good it was enviable. In any super-sect or top-tier major religion, she would be qualified to be nurtured as a core successor with all their resources.

Ling Changqing wrapped his arm around her smooth, firm waist and said warmly,

"I think she looks more like you... Now that you’re here, don’t leave for a while. I’ll have the Wanqing sisters look after things at the Zhao Family estate."

Shangguan Qingying’s beautiful face flushed red. She said with a touch of shyness, "I don’t have a problem with that, but I’m afraid those two will throw a fit!"

After all, when Zhao Wanyi and Zhao Wanqing were by Ling Changqing’s side, their cultivation progressed quickly and steadily. Now, they had to remain behind to guard the Zhao Family’s territory, which meant they wouldn’t be able to come and cultivate with Ling Changqing for several years.

"It’s fine. In three to five years at most, I’ll arrange for other sisters to go and replace them," Ling Changqing said with a smile, his hands naturally beginning to roam over her voluptuous and enchanting body.

"Then how long do you think it will take for our daughter to advance to Divinity Transformation? Or even the Void Refining Realm?"

"That’s hard to say, but one thing is certain: it won’t be much slower than you," Ling Changqing chuckled, his hands growing bolder.

Shangguan Qingying, flustered and annoyed, pressed down on the hand that was creeping into her collar. She chided,

"You, honestly! The girls are still here. As their father, could you please try to be a better example?"

At that moment, Ling Shuangqin and Ling Shuanghua both stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to stare directly at them, their two pairs of beautiful eyes unblinking.

"AHEM, AHEM..."

Even Ling Changqing, whose skin was usually as thick as a city wall, felt a rare wave of embarrassment. He gave a sheepish smile and withdrew his misbehaving hand.

"Shall we continue our talk in the bedroom?"

Ling Changqing said, sweeping her entirely into his arms and vanishing on the spot.

Shangguan Qingying’s lovely face flushed as red as a sunset cloud, but she didn’t refuse. After being apart for so long, she had truly missed Ling Changqing...