Chapter 452: Various Factions (Monthly Ticket Request at the Start of the Month! )
Chapter 452: Various Factions (Monthly Ticket Request at the Start of the Month! )
Heavenly Guardian City.
ROAR! ROAR!
Accompanying an ancient, ear-piercing beast roar.
Hordes of demonic deer, with antlers black and larger than their bodies, charged like suicide squads, letting the cultivators' myriad spells batter their forms, yet still dashing swiftly, slamming fiercely into the city walls.
BANG! BANG!
The dark city walls, reinforced layer upon layer by formations and built with unknown materials, actually let out an unbearable wail under the impact of the deer's antlers.
“Haste! ”
Seeing this scene from atop the city wall, Hei Xuan Shangren's face was covered in dark patterns as he formed hand seals.
The demonic qi defenses of those large-antlered deer were utterly incapable of stopping it. Pierced through, they fell dead to the ground, blood instantly flowing like a river.
But suddenly, a faint green human figure flew out from within one of the fallen large-antlered deer, letting out a sky-shaking roar.
Ink-green demonic qi, like a flood dragon, viciously assaulted Hei Xuan Shangren!
A terrifying wave of spiritual power instantly spread far and wide!
“It’s a late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator! ”
Hei Xuan Shangren cried out in his heart, hastily sending out his life-bound spirit artifact, then frantically manipulating the Black Water Profound Sand, forming layers of defense.
ROAR! ROAR!
The flood dragon roared, crashing into the city wall. The dense array formations were instantly smashed, crumbling by more than half.
Meanwhile, remaining wisps of demonic qi, like arrows, emerged from the gaps in the formations, piercing densely.
Hei Xuan Shangren's face paled; he nearly spat out a mouthful of vital blood.
“Elder Zi, why bully a junior? ! ”
A loud shout came from within Heavenly Guardian City. A late-stage Nascent Soul aura rapidly approached, then transformed into the figure of a white-robed elder.
That sneaking demonic figure also landed within the demon race's formation, transforming into a purple Qilin-like demon beast. Two dark, branching horns on its head subtly drew in lightning, making it appear exceptionally magnificent and extraordinary. . .
At this moment, the purple Qilin spoke in human tongue: “Hand over ‘True Monarch Mu’, who killed a prodigy of my clan. . . This matter has already alarmed our clan’s Grand Elder. When the void passage can accommodate the Grand Elder’s crossing, you all will not regret it! ”
“Heh heh. . . Fellow Daoist Zi, are you perhaps mocking our human race for lacking Soul Transformation cultivators? If your esteemed clan’s Grand Elder dares to come, suppressed by the power of this realm, I wonder how much of their divine abilities will remain? ”
The white-robed elder chuckled: “As for handing over True Monarch Mu, that’s even more out of the question. . . True Monarch Mu rendered meritorious service to the human race by slaying demons. Now that our two sides are at war, if I were to ask for those few demon cultivators who have killed human Nascent Souls, would Fellow Daoist hand them over? ”
“Hmph! ”
The purple Qilin snorted coldly, then turned and departed, riding a cloud of purple mist.
“Many thanks for your rescue, Elder Sha! ”
Hei Xuan Shangren, his face pale, bowed to the white-robed elder in thanks.
“It’s fine. . . Over the past few decades, the demon race’s attacks have been somewhat unusual. . . It’s not as if Five Elements Lin Clan members haven’t perished before, but the demon race never reacted like this. It seems that the Five Elements Lin Clan member Fellow Daoist and True Monarch Mu killed back then had quite the background. . . ”
Elder Sha chuckled: “This old man almost thought it was a direct descendant of some Soul Transformation Demon Venerable. . . ”
Hei Xuan Shangren could only force a bitter smile.
He also felt that the Green Horned Lin Clan member had indeed been quite significant, though he hadn’t realized it at the time.
If not for the demon race’s subsequent frenzied attacks, which revealed certain things, they wouldn’t have harbored such a suspicion.
‘If True Monarch Mu were here, our situation right now would be truly hard to say. . . ’
‘But the key is. . . this old man truly doesn’t know where this person resides! ’
Hei Xuan Shangren was filled with inner bitterness, yet had no one to confide in. He could only let out a melancholic sigh. . .
...
Southern Desolate, Yuan Kingdom.
Hunyuan Sect, Mountain Gate.
Black, white, red, gold, and green — five colors rotated, forming the high-grade, fourth-tier 'Five Qi Converging to the Origin Grand Array'. It rippled with light, seemingly flowing in an endless cycle, its defensive power incredibly formidable.
But at this moment, a dark, oppressive beast tide encroached. Among them were no lack of second and third-tier demon beasts, driven by transformed demon cultivators hidden behind the scenes, charging fearlessly into the grand array.
Such a disregard for cost had long since caused the local spiritual vein to near exhaustion.
After all, the beast tide had already persisted for decades, and the Hunyuan Sect's mountain gate had been besieged for over ten years!
Back then, Fang Xi, sensing danger, had not entered the Hunyuan Sect to plunder it extensively, allowing the sect to preserve a good deal of its vital energy.
Although True Monarch Lingfeng had perished, and the Hunyuan Sect hadn't had time to cultivate a new Nascent Soul True Monarch before the beast tide suddenly struck, relying on their high-grade, fourth-tier grand array, as long as they focused on retreating defensively, it wasn't a major issue.
Initially, there were even two fourth-tier transformed demon cultivators who, relying on their profound cultivation, infiltrated the Hunyuan Sect's mountain gate, intending to breach it in one fell swoop. However, they instead triggered a contingency left by the Hunyuan Old Ancestor – the 'Five Elements Ring' working in conjunction with the grand array to counterattack, directly leading to their demise!
Only then did the demon race realize that the 'Five Elements Ring' was the Hunyuan Sect's founder's life-bound spirit artifact back then. That late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator, being a 'Five Elements Body', had refined this treasure perfectly in conjunction with his physique, nurturing it early on to peak fourth-tier, even half a step into the fifth-tier!
After the Hunyuan Old Ancestor passed away, successive generations of Nascent Soul True Monarchs continued to cultivate it with their Nascent Soul qi, maintaining the artifact's grade.
Furthermore, when combined with the grand array, it could even barely manifest a spirit and take form, assisting in attacking powerful enemies who entered the array!
This had always been kept a secret by the Hunyuan Sect, serving as a profound foundation for the sect.
As a result, the demon race suffered a crushing defeat, with two major transformed demon races bearing the brunt of the 'Five Elements Ring's power, accumulated over many years, leaving no trace of their bodies.
However, the Hunyuan Sect's actions thoroughly enraged the demon race, turning their location into a place of relentless siege by the beast tide army.
Currently, within the Yuan Kingdom, the Green Leaf Merchant Guild had long gone bankrupt, and the Red Blood Cult had scattered like wind and clouds. Instead, the various Nascent Soul forces that had migrated from the Jiang Kingdom, seeing the Hunyuan Sect besieged, were rather gleeful, tacitly allowing the Hunyuan Sect to bear the brunt of the attacks and draw fire.
Thus, until today, the Hunyuan Sect's Five Qi Converging to the Origin Grand Array had also begun to falter, seemingly on the verge of collapse.
Within the Mountain Gate.
PFFT!
A flying sword snapped, and then Junior Brother Tie's head flew off.
Inside the Ancestral Hall, there was utter chaos. Traces of damaged magical artifacts were everywhere, and the ground was littered with severed limbs and remains, clearly indicating an extremely brutal battle.
“I said, those who betray the sect must die! ”
Wei Changsheng's face had lost its former scholarly elegance; even his hair had turned completely frosty white.
He retrieved his artifact and looked at the other Hunyuan Sect disciples: “Is there anyone else who shares Junior Brother Tie’s previous opinion? Hmm? ! ”
Although this person had once been soul-searched by Fang Xi, causing damage to his divine soul and making it impossible for him to form a Nascent Soul again, he was still at peak Core Formation cultivation, enough to suppress the entire sect.
The numerous Hunyuan Sect disciples bowed down one after another: “We humbly ask the Sect Master to preside. . . ”
The previous Sect Master was already lying on the ground. Now, Wei Changsheng was the rightful Sect Master of the Hunyuan Sect!
“My Hunyuan Sect can be defeated, but it will not be annihilated. ”
Looking at the remaining Core Formation elders, who were trembling with fear, Wei Changsheng's tone softened slightly: “Surrendering to the demon race is absolutely unacceptable. Within the sect, there is also an ancient teleportation array, left from antiquity, which was later inspected by the Hunyuan Ancestor and found to be safe. It should be able to directly teleport to the Jiang Kingdom. . . ”
“What? ! ”
The numerous Core Formation elders and Foundation Establishment disciples were visibly overjoyed. They hadn't expected the sect to possess such a deep foundation, having initially thought they would have to live and die with the sect.
“Now, the spiritual vein qi is insufficient, and spirit stones are nearing exhaustion. . . Pass on my order: destroy the mystic realm, then have the disciples prepare to escape in batches. . . ”
Wei Changsheng watched the numerous disciples leave, his eyes somewhat dark.
The true core disciples of the Hunyuan Sect had already been arranged to scatter across the Southern Desolate before the beast tide even began.
Those who remained within the sect now were, in fact, all those who had been abandoned.
Even he, who had no hope of forming a Nascent Soul, was in the same situation.
‘But the sect bestowed upon me the grace of imparting Dao and knowledge; I cannot fail to repay it. . . ’
Wei Changsheng's eyes burned like fire; he was resolved to die.
At this moment, he looked north and suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
If True Monarch Dragon Fish had not successfully formed a Nascent Soul back then, and the Hunyuan Sect had migrated north, would everything have turned out differently?
...
Seven days later.
A shocking piece of news spread throughout the Yuan Kingdom.
The Hunyuan Sect had been breached by the beast tide!
It was said that the acting Sect Master of the Hunyuan Sect was remarkably resolute, actually activating the formation's final resort, perishing together with numerous high-tier demon races!
Not only that, the Hunyuan Sect's greatest resource, that mystic realm, had also self-destructed, and the spirit artifact 'Five Elements Ring' had vanished without a trace, making the demon race furious to the point of stomping their feet, yet utterly helpless. . .
...
Myriad Beast Mountain Range.
“Die! ”
Accompanying a delicate shout, a sword qi as brilliant as a star flashed, severing the head of a frozen third-tier ape.
Gong Ling retracted her flying sword artifact and looked at Feng Bingxian beside her: “Sister Feng’s Ice Soul Chilling Light has grown even sharper. . . To think even this Mountain-Moving Ape of extraordinary bloodline couldn’t resist it, only allowing itself to be slaughtered. . . ”
“It’s merely through the power of an External Core. . . ”
Feng Bingxian showed little joy on her face.
Currently, that 'Ice Soul Chilling Light External Core' from the Profound Ice Palace was naturally still in her possession. It was equivalent to an extremely potent artifact, and when combined with her self-cultivated Ice Soul Chilling Light divine ability, it complemented her perfectly.
“This Myriad Beast Mountain Range truly lives up to its reputation. It’s said that most of the demon beasts have gone out to form the beast tide, yet it’s still so perilous within. This time, I’ll have to trouble you, younger sister. ” She looked at Gong Ling and suddenly spoke.
“Sigh. . . Since sister has accepted the Lishang Demon Palace’s order, not finding Senior Yun Jizi within the deadline would indeed be extremely troublesome. ”
Gong Ling sighed: “However, this junior sister is willing to accompany elder sister to the Three Kingdoms to scout it out. . . The beast tide in the Yuan Kingdom is growing increasingly fierce, to the point where even the Hunyuan Sect has been breached. We smaller sects are trembling with fear. It might genuinely come to relocating to the Three Kingdoms for refuge, but the dangers along that path are hard to predict. We must at least explore a safe passage first. . . ”
Feng Bingxian offered a faint smile.
As Core Formation cultivators, such a choice was very simple.
And seeing the Hunyuan Sect's tragic state, she was indeed badly frightened, contemplating relocating the Profound Ice Palace.
This trip to the Three Kingdoms cultivation world also had the intention of gathering information.
...
Not far away, on the rock face, a faint earthy yellow light suddenly flashed, revealing the significantly shrunken figure of the Earth Mountain Turtle.
“These two women, it seems my master gave instructions about them. . . ”
Gui Shan held a jade slip, compared it, and couldn't help but nod secretly. Just then, it looked at a certain spot behind the two women, and its expression subtly changed.
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