Yang Hong had indeed come up with a good idea. He would cultivate immortal fruits, herbs, and medicines, while Duan Yujing would be responsible for alchemy. Yin Caiwei would inscribe formations to gather the energy of heaven and earth to serve as flames for the alchemy furnace, and Lu Shaoshi would handle the furnace itself.
With the four of them clearly divided in their tasks, the forests for thousands of miles around the ruins of Xuanyin City grew at a rapid pace.
Of course, the four of them didn't work every day. They would usually chat together, discuss the path of cultivation, and research rules.
Yang Hong might have had it tougher, as he also had to cultivate with the three female immortals.
Cultivating without the intent to drain each other was quite tiring. Although it was incredibly pleasurable, it was still challenging to face three at once.
Fortunately, after experiencing it so many times, Yang Hong no longer resisted dual cultivation.
More importantly, his cultivation had almost stagnated after reaching the third level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. He had spent ten years in seclusion and had only improved his cultivation slightly. In terms of equivalent cultivation, it would take him at least thirty thousand years to break through to the fourth level.
"Thirty thousand years? Yang Hong, your talent is truly exceptional. It would take me at least fifty thousand years to break through to the next level."
Hearing Yang Hong's own estimation of the time, Yin Caiwei was filled with envy, and even jealousy.
"It seems that the time of immortals is truly worthless," Yang Hong mused. However, a strange sense of boredom suddenly arose within him.
With so much time ahead, there seemed to be nothing to do.
It was no wonder many immortals indulged in mortal pastimes; they were simply too bored.
"Yang Hong, let's dual cultivate. One session with you is equivalent to a year of my own secluded cultivation. This is the most effective dual cultivation I have ever seen."
"Heh ~ Let's modify the floating island then. Let's transform the floating island into a flying one, and we can travel everywhere. That way, we won't go crazy from boredom."
"Alright."
Yang Hong now had a new endeavor: learning formations.
He had always been interested in formations. Back in the lower realm, he was a master of formations. After ascending to the immortal realm, he had never had the opportunity to study them until now, when he finally had the time to formally learn.
Then, the immortals outside the Xuanyin Forest began to suffer.
Thirty years ago, after Xuanyin Immortal Venerable broke through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal and went on a killing spree, all the immortals within a million miles fled, fearing they would be killed by Xuanyin Immortal Venerable, who acted without restraint.
However, ten years later, the immortals began to gather again. They had all discovered that the immortal energy near Xuanyin City was much denser than in other places.
When they approached, they were astonished to find that in just ten years, a forest that should have taken thousands of years to grow had sprung up.
Herbivorous immortal beasts and delicious carnivorous immortal beasts could enter this forest. However, other immortals and immortal beasts were repelled by the forest's inherent defensive shield once they got close, making it impossible for even Grand Unity Profound Immortals to enter.
All the immortals who had gathered back consciously resided and cultivated three hundred miles away from the forest, only approaching occasionally to collect immortal herbs.
Since Yang Hong began studying formations, not only three hundred miles, but even areas within three thousand miles were used by him to deploy formations.
There were all sorts of formations: defensive, offensive, illusionary, and trapping.
Many immortals found themselves trapped in Yang Hong's formations unintentionally, and in severe cases, they were directly killed by the formations.
This situation continued for another three hundred years, until a Grand Unity Golden Immortal descended.
"Immortal Venerable Yan Zhou, your esteemed presence is unexpected, and we are honored!"
Yin Caiwei, who had been absent for over three hundred years, flew into the air to greet the Grand Unity Golden Immortal before he even approached the forest. The newcomer's cultivation was only at the second level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but his background was powerful.
"Haha ~ I am here to congratulate Immortal Venerable Xuanyin on your successful breakthrough. Immortal Venerable Xuanyin, at your age of less than a million years, to have reached Grand Unity Golden Immortal and achieved immortality, your future prospects of becoming an Immortal Emperor are within reach!"
A small old man flew in slowly from the horizon, smiling. He clasped his hands in greeting while observing the forest below, which was covered in a chaotic mess of formations.
"Immortal Venerable Yan Zhou is too kind. My breakthrough was merely an accident, all due to luck."
"Heh heh, your luck is truly heaven-defying! The 1669 Grand Unity Profound Immortal tribulations couldn't kill you, and the 81 Immortal Lord lightning tribulations couldn't kill you either. Truly heaven-defying luck!"
This old man spoke without any politeness, directly issuing curses?
Yin Caiwei merely frowned. Although she was angry, she dared not do anything to the old man and instead changed the subject: "Friend Yan Zhou, why are you not cultivating peacefully by the side of the West Ding Immortal Emperor, but instead visiting the remote Xuanyin Immortal Domain? Do you have any instructions?"
"Heh heh ~ Instructions are not the right word. Immortal Emperor West Ding merely sent me to inform Immortal Friend Xuanyin that the war between the demon race and the human race has already begun. You now have two choices: either abandon Xuanyin Immortal Domain and retreat to the Central Immortal Domain to serve as a captain in battle; or, hold firm to Xuanyin Immortal Domain, as this area is predicted to be the front line of the demon race's attack."
"..."
Yin Caiwei's brow furrowed, and she fell into deep thought.
The great war between the demon race and the human race had been brewing for millennia. Both humans and demons had been preparing. Now, they had both finished their preparations and the war had truly begun. It was unexpected that the desolate realm, the outer region of the immortal realm, had also been drawn into the conflict. She herself had fled to the desolate realm to cultivate to escape the war.
As if sensing her concern, Immortal Venerable Yan Zhou added, "Immortal Friend Xuanyin need not worry too much. According to the calculations of the Immortal Emperors, there will be no demon race at the Immortal Lord level appearing in the desolate realm, so there is a certain guarantee of safety."
"Very well, I will defend Xuanyin Immortal Domain. However, all my subordinates have fled, and I will not recruit any new ones. I will certainly not take back those who ran away. I will ask Friend Yan Zhou to assign those people to others."
Yan Zhou had long anticipated Yin Caiwei's request and nodded directly.
"Heh heh ~ I understand, I understand. I will handle those people and ensure they do not disturb Immortal Friend Xuanyin. As for your defensive area, it will be centered around Xuanyin Immortal City, extending one hundred million li to the north and south, and three million li to the east and west."
"Agreed!"
Upon hearing the defensive area, Yin Caiwei immediately agreed.
Upon reaching the first level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, one could generally extend their divine sense thirty million li. At the third level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, extending it to ninety million li was not an issue. This area was something that even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal at the third level, who was not skilled in divine sense cultivation, could easily cover.
"Haha ~ Immortal Friend Xuanyin, your straightforwardness has saved me a lot of talk. These are defensive supplies bestowed by the Immortal Emperor. Additionally, if you have any needs, you can contact me through this communication jade talisman."
Yan Zhou chuckled and handed a ring and a jade talisman to Yin Caiwei. They were both decisive people, and their dealings were equally efficient. After a few more pleasantries, Yan Zhou took his leave, as he had many other tasks to assign and no time to linger.
"The great war has truly arrived," Yang Hong said as he approached Yin Caiwei, who was deep in thought, and sighed leisurely. Ever since he stepped into the cultivation world, he had known of the impending war between immortals and demons. Once he gained some strength, he knew that demons were naturally enemies of all races in the world. When he became the leader of a cultivation faction, he knew that the human race and the demon race had begun preparations for a major war. Now, nearly two thousand years had passed, and the war had finally begun.
"Yes! The war has come. Whether you or I wish it or not, we must fight, or we will simply become food for the demons."
"Mm ~ Let's prepare for war. Also, while the Immortal-Demon War is ongoing and the Immortal Emperor has presented us with terms, could you do me a favor?"