In the Empyrean Sea, on the Sacred Island, as Pang Zhen, Long Bai, and the sect master appeared, they immediately realized this place was no longer the Nine Provinces because the entire world's ambience felt completely different from the Nine Provinces.

This was a completely strange world atmosphere.

Not only different but the moment they appeared, endless malevolence suddenly descended, making them shiver, as if invisible eyes in the unknown were watching them with intense malice.

On the Sacred Island, the weather changed abruptly, and the skies were filled with gathering Black Clouds, within the clouds, Thunderbolt lurked, and lightning flickered continually as if ready to strike at any moment.

The three were startled, none understanding what had happened.

But then, the sensation of being watched suddenly disappeared, above the Black Clouds in the sky, the rumbling of thunder ebbed and flowed, and a subtle perception emerged; though there was no spirit force fluctuation, it felt as if two mystical presences were clashing in the Nine Heavens.

"It's Heavenly Punishment." A dry voice suddenly reached the ears of the three.

They quickly looked over to see an elderly, hunched woman with a face full of wrinkles, looking as if on the brink of death.

This elderly woman, in a crowd, would probably attract no extra attention, but with the information Lu Ye had provided earlier, how could the three not know that this woman was one of the top human race's masters, an existence no one could underestimate?

With a thought, they roughly discerned her identity.

The three promptly approached, bowing in unison, and Pang Zhen said, "Are you Granny Jiew?"

Granny Jiew smiled kindly, "Indeed, it is I."

The top experts of the Righteous Blood Sacred Land were currently engaged in repelling the encircling Blood Race army, and Granny Jiew remained here to receive the reinforcements from the Nine Provinces and relay some information to them.

She was a healing cultivator, suitable for this task.

Although they had speculated, when confirmed by her own words, Pang Zhen and the others still straightened their expressions; before them stood the second generation Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, one of the greatest healing cultivators in the history of the Nine Provinces.

Regardless of their strength or status, they were among the top in the Nine Provinces, but still fell short in front of her.

Long Bai humbly inquired, "Does the Blood Refinement World also possess Heavenly Punishment?"

The Nine Provinces have Heavenly Punishment; for example, if someone breaks a Heaven's Augury vow, a punishment is enforced, known as Heavenly Punishment.

If so, doesn't the Blood Refinement World also have something similar to the Nine Provinces Heaven's Augury? That would not be good news.

"The Blood Refinement World has its own Heaven and Earth's Will, so naturally, there's Heavenly Punishment. Your coming here has prompted the punishment due to the invasion by foreign beings," Granny Jiew explained, "The last time young Lu Ye came, he was targeted by Heavenly Punishment as well, but he had a unique way to mitigate it, thus he was unharmed."

"So, the current situation is..."

When they arrived, they did sense the malevolence of Heaven and Earth, as if a massive crisis might descend at any moment, but now that feeling seemed gone.

"The Nine Provinces Heaven's Augury is contending with this world's Heaven and Earth's Will."

The three finally understood what was happening because the Nine Provinces Heaven's Augury was opposing the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will. Hence, the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will had no spare energy to unleash Heavenly Punishment; otherwise, under such punishment, the Nine Provinces cultivators would suffer grave casualties, beyond human resistance.

While they talked, large groups of cultivators kept appearing near the Heaven's Augury Pillar, not only here but also at the Heaven's Augury Pillar set up on the other side of the Sacred Island. Although newly arrived and unclear of the situation, with no orders yet conveyed, the cultivators temporarily gathered together without acting rashly.

Meanwhile, the sound of engagements between the Sacred Island's defense system and the encircling Blood Race army were perceptible from all directions.

"Valley Master Jiew, since we are new here, if there's anything we can do, please instruct us," Pang Zhen spoke.

Granny Jiew nodded, "Regarding the situation here in the Sacred Land, Lu Ye must have already briefed you. He brought several Heaven's Augury Pillars, besides the two placed on the Sacred Island, many are set around the Empyrean Sea. As you are on the Sacred Island now, I believe other positions with Heaven's Augury Pillars have Nine Provinces cultivators present. The Sacred Master previously instructed that after receiving you all, you are to immediately send messages to the Nine Provinces cultivators around the Empyrean Sea, allowing them to encircle from the outside. At the opportune time, they can coordinate with the forces here on the Sacred Island, catching the Blood Race off guard!"

Pang Zhen comprehended and nodded, "That sounds good, please wait a moment, Valley Master Jiew."

As they spoke, the three quickly sent out messages, with many questions posed.

Previously, the Nine Provinces cultivators in the Blood Refinement World couldn't communicate so freely, but currently, with many Heaven's Augury Pillars erected, each serving as a relay for information transfer, it's as convenient to convey messages here as in the Nine Provinces.

After a short while, the three of them all wore expressions of amazement.

Because they discovered that among the nine major legions of the Nine Provinces, except for the Bingzhou army battalion that appeared directly on the Sacred Island, the other battalions from the Eight Great Provincial States were scattered in eight directions around the Empyrean Sea.

It must be understood that each provincial state's battalion is composed of the elite from the provincial state's various minor sects and families, representing the most elite force of the Nine Provinces, and now they were all concentrated here at the Empyrean Sea.

This is obviously no coincidence but a deliberate act by Heaven's Augury.

Being transmitted from the Nine Provinces, they had no choice about their destination; where they ended up depended on which path was opened for them by Heaven's Augury.

This was quite interesting; they had previously been a bit worried about what tactics to arrange upon reaching the Blood Refinement World, and what to do if they couldn't appear near the Empyrean Sea for more effective traversal.

Now, those worries need not be considered at all. With Lu Ye's prior arrangements and coordination with Heaven's Augury, the tactical aspects were already well prepared in advance, leaving them only to focus on killing the enemy with all their might.

It could be said that the road was already paved, and all they had to do was follow it forward.

Is there anything more relaxing than this?

Immediately, Pang Zhen and the others communicated to the commanders of the other battalions, informing them of the detailed situation.

A moment later, the battalions, composed of elites from eight directions around the Empyrean Sea and Eight Great Provinces, made their move simultaneously, swooping towards the Empyrean Sea. In a flash, a flood of lights filled the sky, accompanied by a mix of treasure ships, and the momentum of the army was thundering. It would not take many days before they could reach the battlefield and encircle the Blood Race army attacking the Righteous Blood Sacred Land.

"Does the Sacred Land need assistance with the defense?" inquired the sect master.

Granny Jiew, understanding the implication, smiled and replied, "If you wish, you may participate a bit, but take care not to act too forcefully, lest we alert the enemy."

The three nodded in understanding, and the sect master promptly said, "I will go take a look." With those words, he swiftly moved outside.

Pang Zhen reacted quickly and hurried after him, "I'll also go investigate the enemy situation."

Long Bai was left glaring in frustration, "I also want to go see!" Having long heard from Lu Ye that there were many top experts here, each able to dominate an era on their own, and now with the Blood Race army besieging, the scene must be quite lively. Who wouldn't want to see it firsthand as soon as possible?

In the distance, Pang Zhen's voice came back, "Brother Long, stay behind to oversee, to prevent chaos within the battalion."

Long Bai was almost livid, "You two scoundrels!" He could only resent that his reaction was too slow, not even quick enough to catch the current action.

Reluctantly, he had to stay and oversee; it was an unavoidable situation. The Bingzhou army battalion here consisted of an amalgamation of elite forces from two great camps. Without anyone to oversee, who knows what trouble might occur?

The invasion by the numerous cultivators from the Nine Provinces triggered a massive response from the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will. This was externally manifested as a Black Cloud overcast, thunderstorms, and a stifling atmosphere pervading the entire domain.

The Blood Race powerhouse attacking the Righteous Blood Sacred Land were not blind; naturally, they perceived these changes, though none could understand precisely what had caused them.

This was the downside of an unclear and weak Heaven and Earth's Will—it couldn't convey precise information. The so-called Heavenly Punishment was merely the instinctive repulsion of the invading lifeforms by the Heaven and Earth's Will.

If the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will were clearer and stronger, though not necessarily to the extent of Number Nine, it might still give the Blood Race powerhouses some inspiration and guidance, helping them to understand what was happening with the Blood Refinement World currently. But the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will could not reach this level.

It can be said very few Heaven and Earth's Wills can achieve this.

Since the Blood Refinement World's Heaven and Earth's Will couldn't transmit accurate information to the Blood Race, they could not learn much. They continued their plan to besiege the Righteous Blood Sacred Land.

According to their original plans and assumptions, the power at the Righteous Blood Sacred Land could only hold out for one or two days at most, and then the defense forces would significantly weaken. At that moment, it would be the time for the Blood Race army to launch an all-out assault for a life-and-death struggle.

However, the reality frustrated all the Blood Race powerhouses: the human race's defense showed no sign of weakening from the beginning to the end, consistently maintaining a remarkably steady state.

This baffled the Blood Race since, despite the Righteous Blood Sacred Land's defense line being breached in one area, they seemed unable to maintain such endurance when there were no breaches before.

What they didn't realize was that this time, it wasn't just the original forces of the Righteous Blood Sacred Land participating in the battle; there was also the reinforcing Bingzhou army battalion!

Though a single Bingzhou army battalion, when cast into a battlefield like this, might not play a decisive role, it significantly aided the many veteran seniors as an auxiliary force, indeed making a substantial impact.