The three factions formed a triangular formation, each supporting the others, functioning as a unified whole. Now that the Nine Abyss Holy Land had already fallen, if the True Martial Holy Land fell as well, the Eternal Holy Land would be completely stripped of its defensive buffer and mutual support. It would become like a solitary city, with defensive pressure skyrocketing in an instant.
If none of the three had fallen and they could still coordinate with one another, they would at least have room to maneuver.
The thought gave Zi Che Min a splitting headache. He had only recently been elevated from a supreme elder directly to the level of an ancestor, and his prestige within the holy land simply hadn't had time to solidify.
Now, more than ever, was the moment that would truly test him.
In spite of himself, Zi Che Min found himself desperately missing Jiang Chen. If Jiang Chen were here, the situation would never have deteriorated this badly. He would certainly have been prepared for the demon race's moves long ago.
Just as he sat there at his wits' end, an urgent message arrived. Word came through the Holy Land's transmission array — a communication originating from the distant Huichun Island Domain. It appeared to be a message from Young Master Chen Shao.
At the news, Zi Che Min took three steps for every two and hurried over to the transmission array.
Within the array, a hazy image from the other end gradually materialized, growing clearer and clearer as Jiang Chen continuously fed spiritual energy into the connection, sharpening the transmission signal.
"Chen Shao?" Zi Che Min was beside himself with excitement.
"Elder Zi Che… oh, no — Ancestor Zi Che." Jiang Chen still wore his trademark smile. No matter how dire the circumstances, nothing could ever wipe that grin off his face.
Zi Che Min sighed. "Chen Shao, please stop calling me that. This position of ancestor was only granted thanks to your guidance. The situation is grim, and I was just thinking about you. Never in a million years did I expect you to reach out to the Holy Land at a time like this. It's been over ten years — the Myriad Realms Divine Lock Formation in the Human Domain should have already been activated, correct?"
"The formation is already active, but the demon calamity has erupted as well. Ancestor Zi Che, the fact that you're still standing before the formation means the Eternal Holy Land is still safe for now, doesn't it?"
Zi Che Min smiled bitterly. "We're safe at the moment. But how long we can hold on — that's anyone's guess."
He proceeded to brief Jiang Chen on the surrounding situation in full, describing the fall of the Nine Abyss Holy Land in particular detail.
Jiang Chen's expression darkened considerably after hearing it all.
Just as he'd predicted — the Wood Demon lineage was running rampant.
"Chen Shao, is the demon race really that terrifying? In such a short time, they've already seized nearly half of Myriad Abyss Island's territory."
"The demon race is indeed terrifying. If it weren't, the name alone wouldn't strike terror across all the myriad worlds."
Jiang Chen didn't belittle the demon race. Instead, he gave them the highest appraisal.
"However, the evidence has shown that the demon race is not invincible. Over these past ten-plus years, we've clashed with them on multiple occasions. We've slain five or six demon race ancestors — a truly staggering haul."
Zi Che Min's eyes widened in shock.
Demon race ancestors — those were Divine Path ancestors. Slaying five or six of them was an absolutely astonishing feat. On Myriad Abyss Island, they'd be hard-pressed to eliminate even half of one.
After all, the main forces of the Ten Great Holy Lands were still deployed on the extraterritorial battlefield.
"Chen Shao, the situation in the Human Domain has stabilized, but Myriad Abyss Island is in complete chaos. If it wouldn't be too much trouble… could you perhaps…" Zi Che Min trailed off, hemming and hawing.