61: Chapter 61: The Foundation of a Top-Tier Sect

A thousand miles outside the Ghost Soul Swamp, deep within a naturally formed grotto.

The White Bone Scholar set up several layers of concealment Formations and scattered medicinal powder to isolate their aura before sitting cross-legged; his aura was already incredibly withered.

The price of burning essence blood was far beyond imagination.

Even with his Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, he was currently so weak that he only had the combat power of the Peak Golden Core stage.

He would need at least ten days of meditation to recover seventy percent of his strength.

Poison Lady, Yin Jiuyou, and Blood Slaughterer were also each injured. Although not fatal, they were unfit to fight again in the short term.

Only Xiao Ran, relying on the Guixu Demonic Light's efficient devouring and transformation of chaotic energy, and the fact that he hadn't directly engaged in a head-on clash with the Nascent Soul old monsters, was in better shape.

Thus, his injuries were the lightest, and he still retained eighty percent of his combat power.

“This place is safe for now.”

The White Bone Scholar swallowed a blood-colored Medicinal Pill, and his complexion improved slightly.

“After those three old things were suppressed by the tokens, their pursuit speed dropped significantly, and they don't dare to leave the Ghost Soul Swamp too far.”

“Beyond fifty miles, the token's suppression weakens, but the backlash from the Ancient Battlefield's age Restriction will also increase.”

After saying this, he looked toward Xiao Ran: “Junior Brother Xiao, what is the status of the tokens?”

Hearing this, Xiao Ran took out the three complete fallen immortal tokens.

The dark red tokens hovered in his palm, connected by faint beams of light, vaguely forming a triangular Formation.

“The resonance of the three tokens is stable, with a suppression range of about one mile. If those three old monsters enter this range, their strength will be suppressed by twenty to thirty percent,” Xiao Ran said after sensing carefully.

“Furthermore, the tokens can clearly perceive the locations and progress of the remaining six.”

He raised his hand and used demonic essence to outline a phantom map of the Ancient Battlefield in the air.

Six points of light flickered in different regions. Three of them were extremely bright, clearly nearing completion.

“The fourth is in the Storm Mountains, three thousand miles from here. Forty-eight fragments have gathered, only two short of completion.”

“The fifth is in the Withered Bone Woodlands, four thousand miles away, with forty-five fragments.”

“The sixth is in the Poison Dragon Pool, the furthest at about six thousand miles, but its progress is the fastest. It already has forty-nine fragments and could be completed at any time.”

“The remaining three are still missing many fragments and are scattered across the Shadow-Ghost Hills, Thunderclap Canyon, and the Lake of Oblivion.”

The White Bone Scholar stared at the map and pondered.

“The Storm Mountains are the traditional sphere of influence for the Heavenly Sword Sect; Jian Wuchen will surely fight for it with all his might.”

“The Withered Bone Woodlands has extremely heavy Yin Qi; Fairy Youyue of the Xuan Yin Cult holds the geographical advantage there.”

“Poison Dragon Pool... that is an area where the Hundred Beasts Villa and the Hehuan Sect frequently operate.”

“As for the Shadow-Ghost Hills, Thunderclap Canyon, and the Lake of Oblivion, they have no specific ownership, but they are too far away and fragments are scarce, so they won't be completed in the short term.”

Poison Lady meditated for a moment before interjecting.

“Given our current situation, it is not advisable to participate in the struggle again.”

“Although the three old monsters have been temporarily repelled, they will never give up. If we expose our tracks during a struggle, we will surely be intercepted and killed by them.”

Yin Jiuyou nodded in agreement, his voice cold.

“We need to lie low and heal. We will wait until the suppression power of the three tokens returns to its Peak before making further plans.”

Although Blood Slaughterer was unwilling, he also knew that the situation was stronger than the person, so he said gruffly.

“Then let those hypocrites and vixen fight to the death first!”

“We will enter the field at the very end to harvest everything.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ran finally nodded.

“I agree.”

“I'll take this Opportunity to research the other mysteries of these three tokens.”

Having said that, he looked at the tokens in his palm.

He could feel that besides the spatial coordinates and the power of suppression, there were deeper things hidden within the tokens... perhaps related to the truth of the Immortal-Demon Burial Ground.

His strength was originally the weakest; if he could decipher the secrets within, he might just have a place in the final decisive battle.

With that, the five reached a consensus.

They chose to temporarily lie low, heal and recover, while simultaneously researching the mysteries of the tokens.

At this moment, across various parts of the Ancient Battlefield, because the Eternal Night Demon Sect five-man group had temporarily exited the stage, the pattern of the struggle changed abruptly!

...

In the Storm Mountains, the astral winds were like knives.

Violent winds howled here year-round, containing Geng-Gold Evil Qi that could easily tear through the protective spiritual light of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator.

At this moment, atop the main Peak of the mountain range, Jian Wuchen stood with his hands behind his back, his white robes fluttering.

Behind him, six sword-seeds of the Heavenly Sword Sect had formed the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation, their Sword Intent soaring into the clouds.

The power of the sword Formation was astonishing, even repelling the astral winds within a ten-mile radius.

In the center of the Peak.

A dark red token suspended in mid-air, surrounded by forty-eight fragments, only missing the final two.

“Senior Brother, we are still missing two fragments. Both are within a hundred-mile range, currently being fought over by the people of the Tyrant Blade and the Jin Yang Sect.”

One of the sword-seeds reported.

Jian Wuchen's gaze was indifferent: “Go and fetch them.”

“Yes!”

Four sword-seeds departed on their swords.

In less than half an hour, intense combat fluctuations came from a distance, but they soon subsided.

The four sword-seeds returned, bringing back two fragments.

This was the confidence of a top-tier Sect.

Any Disciple capable of entering the ruins was a Genius rarely seen in a hundred years.

Jian Wuchen took the fragments and, with a flick of his finger, sent them flying into the vicinity of the token.

“Buzz!”

The fourth complete fallen immortal token was born!

Red-gold light shot into the sky, and a storm of Sword Qi swept out, its momentum even grander than the first three!

Jian Wuchen raised his hand to grasp the token, and a sharp Sword Intent poured into it.

In an instant, he learned the sealing technique and completed the Seal.

Sensing the information coming from the token, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

“The fifth is in the Withered Bone Woodlands... the Xuan Yin Cult?”

“Order everyone to head to the Withered Bone Woodlands.”

“Senior Brother, are we no longer cooperating with the Supreme Dao Palace?”

A sword-seed asked.

Jian Wuchen sneered: “Ling Jianxin thinks too highly of himself and disdains joining forces with us. In that case, everyone will rely on their own abilities.”

The people of the Heavenly Sword Sect turned into seven sword rainbows and streaked away through the air.

...

The Withered Bone Woodlands was eerie and deathly silent.

White bones were everywhere, some human-shaped and some beast-shaped, piled layer upon layer, accumulated over countless tens of thousands of years.

Amidst the piles of bones, Fairy Youyue sat cross-legged atop a Profound Yin Ice Lotus.

The cold air around her froze the bones within a ten-foot radius into ice sculptures.

Before her, forty-five fragments were slowly aggregating.

“Fairy, the people from the Heavenly Sword Sect are coming this way.”

A female Cultivator from the Xuan Yin Cult reported.

Fairy Youyue opened her eyes, a chill flashing through her dark pupils.

“Jian Wuchen... he comes at just the right time.”

“The Yin Qi here is dense; my Profound Yin Ice Soul Great Art can exert one hundred and twenty percent of its power.”

She stood up and waved her jade-like hand lightly: “Set up the Nine Nether Mystic Yin Formation and wait for them to enter the trap.”

“Yes!”

Nine female Cultivators of the Xuan Yin Cult took their positions, and the Profound Yin cold air spread, enveloping the entire Withered Bone Woodlands in an icy mist.

After a long while, sword light broke through the air.

Jian Wuchen arrived leading the seven from the Heavenly Sword Sect, their Sword Qi clashing with the cold air and making a sizzling sound.

“Fairy Youyue, hand over the fragments and a battle can be avoided.”

Jian Wuchen's voice was cold.

Fairy Youyue chuckled: “Jian Wuchen, your Heavenly Sword Sect has already obtained one token, and you want to seize another? Your appetite is a bit too large.”

“Opportunities in the Ancient Battlefield are obtained by the strong.”

“Since you refuse, then... fight!”

Jian Wuchen made a sword gesture, and a hundred-foot Sword Qi tore through the icy mist.

Heavenly Sword Seven-Sword Formation vs. Nine Nether Mystic Yin Formation!

Sword Qi crisscrossed, cold air rampaged, as the two top-tier Sects engaged in a fierce battle in the Withered Bone Woodlands.

Although Jian Wuchen's Heavenly Sword Spiritual Body was suppressed by the Yin Qi here, his sword dao cultivation had already reached the Heart Sword Realm, and every strike contained the will to sever all things.

Fairy Youyue's Profound Yin Body was like a fish in water; the Profound Yin cold air was inexhaustible, freezing the sword light and solidifying the Sword Qi.

The two sides fought for three hundred rounds, neither able to claim victory.

But at that moment.

From deep within the Withered Bone Woodlands, a shrill ghostly howl suddenly rang out!

Countless white bones combined, transforming into nine White Bone Giant Demons ten feet tall, with ghostly green flames flickering in their eye sockets as they lunged toward the battlefield!

“The ghost souls of this place have awakened!”

Fairy Youyue's expression changed slightly.

Jian Wuchen also frowned.

Each of the White Bone Giant Demons had the combat power of the Nascent Soul Stage; nine appearing at once was enough to change the course of the battle.

“Stop for now, deal with these ghost creatures first!”

Fairy Youyue made a prompt decision.

Jian Wuchen pondered for a moment and nodded: “Agreed.”

The geniuses of the righteous and demonic paths were actually joining forces for the first time in the Ancient Battlefield!

Sword Qi and cold air intertwined, slashing toward the White Bone Giant Demons.

And taking advantage of this chaos.

A pink streak of light arrived quietly, sweeping across the center of the battlefield in an instant and snatching away three fragments that had yet to aggregate!

“You vixen of the Hehuan Sect!”

Jian Wuchen roared and struck out with a sword.

But that light was mysterious and vanished after a few flickers.