387: Chapter 381 A terrifying place where Nascent Soul cultivators roam freely.

Chen Zhiwen stood with his hands behind his back, watching everything with a cold gaze.

He hailed from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, a top-tier Sect in the Central Continent—a terrifying place where geniuses were as common as dogs and Nascent Souls walked everywhere. At a bone age of less than five hundred years, he had reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage and was hailed as a sword dao Genius rarely seen in a thousand years within the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

But so what?

In the eyes of true great powers of heaven and earth like the Soul Transformation Stage Old Ancestors, those at the Late Nascent Soul Stage were merely slightly stronger ants. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect was filled with factions and constant infighting. To fight for that slim, illusory Opportunity to Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, he had resolutely left the Central Continent and come to this godforsaken Southern Desolation sea region to take over this long-declined branch of the Chen family.

He wanted to establish his own absolute power here. He would turn all the resources and all the living beings of this sea region into stepping stones for his climb to the Peak of the immortal path.

That Nascent Soul force that was about to invade?

A cruel smirk curled at the corner of Chen Zhiwen's mouth.

They were nothing more than local tycoons from a backwater place like the Southern Desolation. They had no idea what true Foundation was, or what true power looked like.

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

Several sounds of breaking through the air came from the foot of the mountain.

Three streaks of light landed several yards behind Chen Zhiwen. As the light faded, three figures were revealed.

They were the current pillars of the Heavenly Sword Sect: Chen Zhengchu at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, Li Shuang at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, and Yu Yuanliu, who held a long spear and was covered in Evil Qi.

"Greetings, Grand Elder!" The three of them knelt on one knee in unison, their expressions filled with utmost respect.

"Rise," Chen Zhiwen said without turning around. "Zhengchu, how is the control over the situation in the city?"

Chen Zhengchu took a step forward and reported in a deep voice, "Reporting to the Grand Elder, the city gates have been completely sealed. The Internal Affairs Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall have worked together to complete the initial screening of all Cultivators in the city. A total of 2,351 Loose Cultivators and foreign Cultivators above the seventh level of Qi Refining have been forcibly conscripted. Among them, 126 have reached the ninth level of Qi Refining Perfection."

"Oh?" Chen Zhiwen raised an eyebrow. "That's a few more than I imagined. How is their mood right now?"

"Their resentment is soaring," Li Shuang, who had been silent, interjected coldly. A faint scent of blood still lingered on her fingertips; clearly, she had killed many during the suppression process. "However, after executing over thirty troublemakers in a row, they've all become obedient now. They are being held in the drill grounds in the east of the city, guarded by Junior Brother Yu and his men."

Yu Yuanliu tightened his grip on his long spear and said in a muffled voice, "Rest assured, Grand Elder. With me there, that rabble won't be able to stir up any trouble. If anyone dares to revolt, I'll run them through with my spear!"

Chen Zhiwen turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

These three were the confidants he could currently trust absolutely. Chen Zhengchu was steady, Li Shuang was ruthless, and Yu Yuanliu was valiant. But their cultivation levels were still too low. Facing the upcoming Nascent Soul battle, Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were barely even qualified to be cannon fodder.

"Zhengchu, those two thousand-plus Loose Cultivators cannot just be kept locked up; that's a waste of food," Chen Zhiwen said calmly. "Divide them into ten camps. From our Chen family's direct descendants, pick the ten most ruthless ones to serve as Camp Commanders. Tell them I don't want discipline or loyalty; I only want them to dare to kill."

"Distribute all those piles of defective Magical Artifacts and Low Grade Talismans from the treasury. Tell this rabble of Loose Cultivators that for every enemy of the same rank they kill on the battlefield, they will be rewarded with ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Kill one a rank higher, and the reward is a hundred. If anyone can kill a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator while being at a lower rank, I will personally bestow upon them a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men. This Gu-style training method was extremely cruel, but it could stimulate the maximum combat power of this group of desperadoes in the shortest amount of time.

"Yes!" Chen Zhengchu felt a chill in his heart and quickly complied. He knew that behind this casual sentence would be countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Li Shuang." Chen Zhiwen's gaze fell upon the woman in black.

"Your subordinate is here," Li Shuang said, bowing her head slightly.

"That wooden box." Chen Zhiwen pulled a black wooden box emitting resentment from his sleeve—one he had scavenged from a Storage Pouch—and flicked his finger. The box turned into a streak of black light and landed steadily in Li Shuang's hands.

The moment Li Shuang caught the box, her expression changed slightly. That yin-cold qi instantly drilled into her Meridians along her arm, causing the circulation of spiritual power in her body to freeze for a moment.

"This... this is?" She looked up in surprise.

"Inside should be a Legacy token of the Youming Sect, or perhaps a Demonic Path exotic treasure," Chen Zhiwen's tone was flat. "The Glacial Water Art you Cultivate is naturally inclined toward yin-cold. This thing is a great fortune for you, but it could also be a death warrant. Whether you dare to take it is for you to decide."

A flash of madness and struggle appeared in Li Shuang's eyes. She was a woman who would use any means necessary for power. Without any hesitation, she clutched the wooden box tightly to her chest and gritted her teeth. "Your subordinate is willing to risk her life for this! Thank you, Grand Elder, for the treasure!"

"Very well. Go into seclusion in the back mountain. If you cannot Breakthrough to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment before the war starts, or if you turn into a lunatic from Devilish Qi backlash, I will personally clean up the house."

"Yes!" Li Shuang turned and vanished into the night as a streak of light.

Only Chen Zhengchu and Yu Yuanliu remained at the scene.

"Yu Yuanliu, how is the drilling of those Body Cultivators under you progressing?" Chen Zhiwen asked.

"Reporting to the Grand Elder, the three hundred Body Cultivators have all completed their final 'medicinal bath' for Body Tempering. Their Physical Body strength is now sufficient to withstand a full-strength strike from a Low Grade Magical Artifact. As long as they are equipped with heavy Magical Artifacts, they will definitely be a spearhead that tears through enemy lines on the battlefield!" Yu Yuanliu's eyes were full of fanatical Battle Intent.

"Still not enough." Chen Zhiwen shook his head and took a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, tossing it to Yu Yuanliu. "These are Mad Blood Pills, three hundred in total. Have them take these when the battle begins. For the duration of one incense stick, they will be immune to pain and their strength will triple. However, once the medicinal effect passes, they will be weak for half a month, and there is even a risk of damaging their Foundation."

Yu Yuanliu's hand shook as he caught the jade bottle. But without the slightest hesitation, he roared loudly, "Understood! It is their honor to die for the Sect!"

Chen Zhiwen waved his hand, signaling the two of them to withdraw.

Watching their departing backs, Chen Zhiwen tilted his head back, looking at the crescent moon in the night sky that was half-obscured by dark clouds.

His fingers gently stroked his Storage Ring.

"All the chess pieces are in place. That old dog Huang Wanfu should be hopelessly immersed in the trap of the Mystic Water True Scripture by now."

At this very moment.

Inside a secluded bamboo building deep within Crescent Moon Valley.

Huang Wanfu was sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat. His face was flushed, and wisps of white steam rose from the top of his head. His hands formed complex hand seals one after another, and the Spiritual Qi around him was surging into his body at a frantic speed.

A Mystic Grade Cultivation Technique!

It really is a Mystic Grade Cultivation Technique!

Huang Wanfu's heart was roaring, screaming, and exulting in wild joy!

From the moment he received that Jade Slip and began to comprehend the Mystic Water True Scripture, it was as if he had opened a door to a new world. The Spiritual Qi circulation routes recorded in that technique were simply inconceivable and exquisite to the extreme.

He had been stuck at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection for thirty whole years! For thirty years, his cultivation had not advanced an inch; no matter how many Spirit Pills or medicines he swallowed, it was like a clay ox entering the sea.

But now, after cultivating the Mystic Water True Scripture for only six hours, he felt that the solid Bottleneck that had troubled him for thirty years was actually showing signs of loosening!

"Soon! It's almost time! As long as I'm given another ten days to half a month, I will definitely be able to Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!"

Huang Wanfu's eyes snapped open, a terrifying light bursting from them. It was an extreme thirst for power and a frantic obsession with longevity.

He felt the deep blue water-attribute True Essence coursing through his body like a surging river. That unprecedented feeling of power made him nearly lose himself.

"Chen Zhiwen... Chen Zhiwen, oh Chen Zhiwen!" Huang Wanfu muttered the name through gritted teeth, but a bizarre cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"You are too conceited! Do you think you can keep me tethered like a dog forever with just a partial Mystic Grade Cultivation Technique? You simply don't understand what kind of potential a Cultivator stuck at a Bottleneck for thirty years will explode with when they see hope!"

"As long as I form my Golden Core... as long as I form my Golden Core! In this Southern Desolation, who else would I, Huang Wanfu, fear besides you, a Nascent Soul Old Monster? At that time, the Huang Family will not just be your vassal; I will make your Chen family look at me in a whole new light!"

However, just as Huang Wanfu was immersed in his beautiful fantasy of breaking through,

He did not notice that at the deepest part of his Dantian, at the bottom of that deep blue lake of True Essence, a trace of extremely faint yet exceptionally stubborn black cold qi was quietly lurking.

With every circulation of his Cultivation Technique, this trace of cold qi was eroding his Golden Core Foundation in an extremely slow and hidden manner. It was like a time bomb, waiting for the day it would be detonated.

And the fuse for that detonation was held in Chen Zhiwen's hand.

The long night in Heavenly Sword City seemed exceptionally long.

Inside the secret chamber of the City Lord's Mansion, the lights were brightly lit.

The elderly Chen Baishan sat in a large grandmaster's chair, leaning on a dragon-head cane. Opposite him was the exhausted Internal Affairs Hall Elder, Chen Autumn and Winter.

The table was piled high with six-inch-thick account books and Jade Slips.

"Uncle Baishan, we're running out of food," Chen Autumn and Winter rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice full of bitterness. "With a million Mortals flooding into the city, although the housing situation has been barely resolved, the daily consumption is an astronomical figure. The grain reserves in the Sect's granaries can only last half a month at most."

Chen Baishan sighed heavily and tapped his cane on the floor. "Half a month... Since the Grand Elder has decided to defend to the death, this war definitely won't be over in half a month. Those Mortals must not be allowed to riot; they are the Foundation of Heavenly Sword City. Once the city runs out of food and a civil unrest occurs, the Formation will collapse on its own!"

"But where are we going to get food?" Chen Autumn and Winter slapped his thigh in frustration. "The sea routes are all sealed, so merchant ships can't get in. The spiritual fields on the surrounding islands have long been abandoned due to martial law."

A ruthless light suddenly flashed in Chen Baishan's cloudy eyes.

He lowered his voice and leaned forward, staring intently at Chen Autumn and Winter. " Autumn and Winter, desperate times call for desperate measures."

"You mean..." Chen Autumn and Winter shivered.

"Aren't Inedia Pills distributed daily to those conscripted Loose Cultivator camps?" Chen Baishan's voice was as cold as ice. "Starting tomorrow, halve the Inedia Pills for the Loose Cultivator camps. Take all the saved Spirit Medicines to the Alchemy Hall to be brewed into the lowest grade 'Spiritual Meat Porridge.' Mix it with chaff and bran and distribute it once a day. As long as those million Mortals don't starve to death, it will suffice."

"This... this will incite a mutiny!" Chen Autumn and Winter was aghast. "Those Loose Cultivators were forced into this in the first place. If we don't give them enough rations, how can they be willing to risk their lives?"

"They'll risk their lives whether they want to or not!" Chen Baishan stood up abruptly, killing intent clear in his eyes. "What is the Law Enforcement Team for? If anyone dares to make trouble, kill them! Kill one to warn a hundred, until they are too afraid to be hungry! Autumn and Winter, remember, what the Grand Elder wants is victory, not a bunch of well-fed corpses!"

The air in the secret chamber became heavy and bloody once again.

Just as the massive war machine of Heavenly Sword City began to operate frantically, accompanied by blood, intrigue, and oppression,

Deep in the ocean tens of thousands of miles away from Tianjian Island,

A black giant ship, as massive as a moving island, was breaking through terrifying waves thousands of feet high. Like a beast of the deep sea, it slowly approached the direction of Heavenly Sword City.

The deck of the giant ship was densely packed with Cultivators dressed in black robes and emitting eerie auras.

On a throne at the highest point of the giant ship, a figure completely shrouded in blood-colored mist was playing with a crystal-clear human skull.

"Heavenly Sword Sect... Chen Zhiwen..."

A hoarse and piercing voice echoed in the storm, sounding like a curse from the Nine Serenities of Hell.

"Back then, you ruined my plans and snatched my spiritual items... It's time to settle this account. You think you can turn the heavens upside down in the Southern Desolation with just this little bit of resources? This time, I will make sure you are beyond redemption!"

The blood-colored mist churned, and the giant ship's speed suddenly increased, like a black sword piercing straight toward the throat of Heavenly Sword City.

The wind grew stronger. Dark clouds as thick as ink weighed heavily over Heavenly Sword City, as if even the world itself could not bear the impending bloodshed.

"Rumble—"

A ghastly white bolt of lightning tore through the sky like a giant god's whip, viciously lashing the surging sea. In that brief, blinding glare, a black giant ship as massive as a mountain of steel crashed through hundred-foot-high black waves with an arrogant posture of crushing everything, drawing closer step by step.

Chen Zhiwen stood silently at the very front of the city walls.

He did not raise any Spiritual Qi shield. He allowed the gale, mixed with a strong salty smell and a bone-chilling cold, to frantically tear at his moon-white robe, making a fluttering sound like a battle flag.