Within the Cave Heaven, the stars in the sky shone incomparably bright, each star casting down beams of light.
The light corresponded precisely to the pavilion above the Spirit Lake.
The Star Spirit Clam then transmitted countless strands of lunar star essence onto Lin Shiming, who sat within the pavilion.
At this mont, his entire body was thoroughly enveloped in starlight, and the star chart on his skin beca fully apparent.
Beside him, a stick of incense burned out as Elder Mu softly spoke.
"Master!"
"Master!"
Lin Shiming awakened from his cultivation, and the starlight imdiately dissipated.
He checked inside his body and found that he had only filled three Cave Heavens, yet he still shook his head.
Even with lunar star essence, he had managed to fill only three physical Cave Heavens for now, which was still a long way from the Golden Core Late Stage.
However, for Lin Shiming, to have made such progress in a month was not inconsiderable.
"Master, the ti has co," the Wood Demon beside him reminded him again.
This was sothing Lin Shiming had instructed it to do.
Otherwise, by the ti the battle was over, being held accountable by other True Monarchs would be a small matter; the loss of the Southern Sea would be catastrophic.
After all, most of the Lin Family’s current fortunes were tied to the Southern Sea. If it were lost, half of the Lin Family’s Nascent Soul foundation would be gone.
"How has your cultivation been lately?" Lin Shiming asked.
"Replying to Master, progress has been smooth overall, but reaching the Purple Mansion Middle Stage will still take so ti," the Wood Demon replied.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming could only sigh.
Among his Spirit Beasts, the Wood Demon, or Elder Mu, was a slower cultivator—but it couldn’t be helped. After all, it was just an ordinary Dao-Enlightened tea tree.
Even though it had once blossod on an old tree, rebirthed from Heavenly Thunder, it could not escape the inherent weaknesses of a Spirit Plant.
All Lin Shiming could do was hope that it might glean so insights from observing the Transforming Nascent Fruit Tree.
After looking over the Wood Demon, Lin Shiming turned toward the other side of the Cave Heaven, where waves of crimson Sword Qi clashed, scattering even the starry light.
A highly concentrated Sword Intent faintly surged in this direction, and only by Lin Shiming activating the Sword Storing Book Spiritual Treasure was he able to block it out.
Otherwise, he himself would have been affected by the Sword Intent.
"Senior Qiu Xue should be succeeding soon," Lin Shiming murmured, gazing toward the distant Blood Sword Lake and the nearly-ford sword tip.
In the end, he could only sigh again.
Now, there was only one day left until the agreed date.
Lin Shiming stepped out of the Cave Heaven, only to discover that the Lin Family courtyard currently held quite a few people waiting.
By the door to his room, there were nurous Jade Slips left behind.
Lin Shiming pushed open the door and stepped out.
In the courtyard, besides Lin Shijie and other Lin Family mbers, stood Profound chanism True Person from Qian Ji Island, the sisters Zhao Fuling and Zhao Yulin from Tianliu Island, and the island masters of two other subsidiary islands.
Seeing all this, Lin Shiming was taken aback.
After all, given that the current face of the Coral Alliance was Xue Shan True Monarch, it was odd for all these individuals to co seeking him out.
Especially the Zhao Family of Tianliu Island, who had complicated ties with the Zhao Family of the Coral Alliance.
"We’re all here to secure a path forward for our clans. My Qian Ji Island is willing to offer a Golden Core puppet, and Fairy Zhao is prepared to contribute a Fifth Rank Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid," Profound chanism True Person said bluntly.
The remaining two island masters also laid out their offers.
At this mont, there was no room for concealnt; everyone knew a great war was approaching, and ti was running out.
"Isn’t the path offered by the Coral Alliance leader better?" Lin Shiming tested cautiously.
"Daoist Lin, the Coral Alliance leader’s path isn’t suitable for us. They’re heading to the Northern Plains, where our mortals might not even survive," Profound chanism True Person responded.
Only then did Lin Shiming understand. It seed the Coral Alliance leader had taken others with them but was unwilling to bring these individuals along.
This was evident from the way these island factions now leaned toward the Lin Family. Seeing this, Lin Shiming wasted no ti—after all, there really was none to spare:
"Arrange for each of you to send a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat to Shuangmu Island and await further instructions there," Lin Shiming ordered.
He then assigned Lin Shijie to handle the arrangents.
"Shimo, you and the others prepare yourselves as well; this battle involves our strategy," Lin Shiming said, looking at Lin Shimo.
Aside from a few Nascent Soul True Monarchs, no one else knew that this was the decisive battle. Each faction would rely receive word of the part they were to play in the deploynt.
Once everything was ready, Lin Shiming also made his way toward Nanxian Hall.
The gathering point remained Nanxian Hall.
At this mont, the hall’s entrance was even more heavily guarded. Standing outside the hall were not just Purple Mansion cultivators but also over a dozen Golden Core True Persons. Upon seeing Lin Shiming, they all saluted him.
As the only individual qualified to enter the hall for discussions, he naturally commanded their respect.
Inside the hall, it remained no different from a month ago.
The only changes were the seats and the cultivators present.
The seat in the upper left corner no longer belonged to Xue Shan True Monarch but to a female True Monarch wearing a blood-red coral mask, with only one eye exposed. Within that eye dwelled a profound, indescribable weariness.
In Lin Shiming’s mind, a na surfaced involuntarily.
"Coral True Monarch!"
The founder of the Coral Alliance.
Lin Shiming offered a slight bow as a gesture of respect and found a seat toward the far left corner.
Among those gathered in the hall, several faces were unfamiliar to him. The ones he found most recognizable were Jin Chanzi and the Rakshasa Demon Child.
One was a monk in golden robes, while the other was a boy adorned with demonic patterns. Yet both carried unmistakable Nascent Soul auras.
Their breakthroughs seed recent, but the pressure they exerted on Lin Shiming was equally significant.
Jin Chanzi spoke continuously with the Golden Light True Buddha, while the Rakshasa Demon Child had little interaction with the Xue Sha Demon Lord.
Eyes closed slightly, the Rakshasa Demon Child, like everyone else, knew that the upcoming confrontation was pivotal for the Southern Sea. There was no room for failure.
Other figures continued to enter the grand hall. For instance, behind Granny Qingyu followed a Daoist with a human-like stone skull, while Heavenly Sun True Monarch was accompanied by a figure carrying a crimson Broad Sword.
When Chi Lan True Monarch arrived, they led a figure dressed in a verdant Taoist robe. With this, the assembly was complete.
"Everyone, the Taiqian Mist is nearing our planned location. At midnight, the Transport Spirit Formation will activate. Apart from the designated cultivators, all others must remain on Yunyue Immortal Island, holding the line and stalling as many Demon Emperors as possible!"
"Additionally, as per usual, they will send out their Demon Emperors first. This ti, we will also deploy three Demon Emperors. We must ensure that we slay at least two of theirs when they appear!"
"Only then can we guarantee success this ti!"
"Of course, as long as their physical bodies are destroyed and they cannot recover their Nascent Soul strength in the short term, it will count," Xue Shan True Monarch added.
Even with Coral True Monarch present, the one issuing orders now was still Xue Shan True Monarch.
Everyone understood why—Nascent Soul cultivators were notoriously difficult to kill because their Nascent Souls could escape all constraints and flee.
Their current goal was simply to neutralize the Taiqian Shark Emperor’s combat effectiveness and thereby turn the tide of the battle.
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