203: The Northern War: Slay the enemy in Tianyu!

"With the Immortal Path as the skin, and the Demonic Path as the bones."

Chen Xu's fingers moved like a brush, swiftly sketching in the void.

One after another, golden Immortal Path runes were struck into the earth, connecting with the earth veins. Immediately after, he imprinted pitch-black demonic patterns onto the foreheads of those Netherworld Iron Guards.

"Formation, rise — Nine Heavens Ten Lands Divine Demon Seal!"

With Chen Xu's low shout, three thousand Netherworld Iron Guards simultaneously opened their eyes.

Within their originally empty eyes, flames of gold and black now intertwined and burned.

In an instant, a massive, semi-transparent light curtain enveloped the entire Tianxuan City.

This light curtain was no longer a single color but manifested a chaotic gray, with faint illusory silhouettes of gods and demons roaming and roaring upon it.

Standing watching from within the inner city, Ba Dao felt his scalp go numb.

He could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within that light curtain.

If anyone dared to force their way through, they would likely not only be counterattacked by the Formation but also instantly torn to shreds by those three thousand iron guards.

But this wasn't the end.

Chen Xu's figure flashed, appearing at the core Formation eye of the array.

He took out that purple-gold token of Ge Yunsong from his bosom and also retrieved several top-grade demonic artifacts he had selected from the spoils of war.

He directly melted them into liquid and poured it onto the Formation eye.

"From death to life, endlessly regenerating."

Chen Xu crushed the dozens of 'Spirit Gathering Pills' he had refined earlier in the Cave Heaven of Ages, transforming them into pure medicinal energy to merge into the Formation.

The originally lifeless Formation actually emitted a dull sound akin to a heartbeat.

Thump!

Thump!

The Spiritual Qi concentration of the entire Tianxuan City began to skyrocket at this moment.

Spiritual Qi from the outside world, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, was forcibly plundered by this massive Formation.

If viewed from high altitude at this time, Tianxuan City seemed to have become a giant black hole.

Spiritual clouds within a thousand-mile radius were all converging towards this place.

"Success."

Chen Xu landed atop the city wall, looking at the perfect masterpiece before him, and nodded in satisfaction.

This grand Formation was both offensive and defensive.

Normally, it would continuously gather Spiritual Qi to nourish the Cultivators within the city; once enemies were encountered, the three thousand iron guards would become the sharpest fangs, and combined with the Formation's power, even if a Mahayana Stage Old Ancestor of Ge Yunsong's level arrived in person, they would have to lose a few teeth.

More importantly, this Formation could also grow stronger as the iron guards evolved... The moment the grand Formation was completed, the entire Chen Family boiled over with excitement.

Even the most dull-witted Utility Disciple could feel the Spiritual Qi in the air, almost condensing into liquid. Taking a single breath was equivalent to meditating for half a day in the past.

"Stop standing there dazed!"

Ba Dao's raspy voice rang out on the training ground: "The Family Head has built us a grand stage. If anyone still can't perform well on this stage, I'll be the first to kick them out of the Chen Family!"

Behind him were piles of Medicinal Pills as tall as mountains.

Following Chen Xu's instructions, Chen Daoxuan no longer acted as stingily as before.

"Outer Sect Disciples, three Foundation Consolidation Pills and one Marrow Cleansing Pill per person per month!"

"Inner Sect Disciples, ten Purple Mansion Pills per person per month!"

"Core Disciples, resources are unlimited! As long as you can digest them, even if you eat pills like rice, the Family can afford it!"

This was simply madness.

Looking across the entire Northern Domain, even the former Flowing Cloud Sect wouldn't dare to squander resources so extravagantly. But in Chen Xu's view, resources that couldn't be converted into combat power were just a pile of useless dirt.

Stimulated by this insane policy, the Chen Family's strength began to erupt in a blowout fashion.

Almost every day, someone made a Breakthrough.

Above the training ground, Spiritual Qi vortices triggered by Breakthroughs appeared one after another. Sometimes, several people even broke through simultaneously, their Spiritual Qi vortices colliding, creating a scene spectacularly terrifying.

"Hah!"

A youth merely fifteen years old, his face flushed red, swallowed a foundation establishment pill.

The violent medicinal power rampaged through his body. In the past, he would have had to guide it carefully. But now, circulating his spiritual power according to the newly recorded top-tier Central Continent Cultivation Technique 'Azure Dragon Force' from the Scripture Pavilion, a faint layer of illusory dragon scales actually appeared on the surface of his body.

Boom!

A wave of Qi exploded outwards.

The youth opened his eyes, a brilliant light shining within them.

"Foundation Establishment... I've reached Foundation Establishment just like that?" He looked somewhat incredulously at his own hands. In the past, the Foundation Establishment Stage was the mainstay of the Family, something unimaginable before reaching thirty years old.

But now, he had used less than a month.

Scenes like this were playing out in every corner of the Chen Family.

Chen Daoxuan stood on the high platform, looking at the faces below filled with vitality and ambition, the account book in his hand slightly deformed from his grip.

Although the daily consumption of resources was astronomical, he had never felt as at ease as he did now.

He turned his head, looking towards his father standing not far away with his hands behind his back.

Chen Xu was still clad in a simple blue robe, appearing calm and unruffled. But Chen Daoxuan knew that it was this very figure that had forcefully dragged the Chen Family from a small Lower Realm Family to its current height, enough to make the entire world take notice.

"Dao Xuan."

Chen Xu's voice came faintly.

"Father." Chen Daoxuan hurriedly bowed.

"This is just the beginning." Chen Xu's gaze was profound, as if piercing through the clouds, looking towards the distant direction of the Central Continent. "Tell those brats not to think that breaking through to Foundation Establishment or Golden Core means they can get cocky."

"In front of truly powerful individuals, they are still just children who have just learned to walk."

"Raise the selection criteria another level. Three months from now, I will hold a grand competition within the Family. The top ten will receive special rewards from me."

Special rewards?

Chen Daoxuan's heart tightened. He knew his father's moves were always grand. This so-called special reward was likely another kind of earth-shattering Opportunity.

"Yes! Your son will see to it immediately!"

Watching his son's hurried departing figure, a faint smile touched the corner of Chen Xu's mouth.

He could feel the Luck Golden Dragon slumbering beneath Tianxuan City growing stronger at an unprecedented speed.

Previously, that golden dragon was only the size of a loach, but now it had begun to show its majestic form, with dragon horns already grown and dragon scales gradually filling out.

"Ten years..."

Chen Xu murmured softly, his hand gently stroking the hilt of the Myriad Ages Evergreen Sword.

"Perhaps, it won't even take ten years."

The wind rose, sweeping up fallen leaves everywhere.

But in the eyes of the Chen Family members, this wasn't the desolation of autumn wind. It was the prelude to the great roc soaring ninety thousand li in a single day with the wind.

This fierce tiger that had been sleeping on the northern border of the Northern Domain had finally opened its drowsy eyes, revealing fangs capable of tearing through the firmament.

The snowstorms in the Northern Domain seemed to stop later than in previous years.

Ever since that battle at Tianxuan City shook the four directions three months ago, the Chen Family's gates had been tightly shut for a full three months, like a giant bear hibernating deep into winter, not a single sound could be heard.

But this didn't represent peace. In fact, it could be said this was merely the oppressive low pressure before a storm.

Within Tianxuan City, Spiritual Qi had become so dense it formed a mist.

Over these three months, Chen Xu had almost used a force-feeding method, hammering that massive quantity of resources into the bodies of the Family's Disciples.

No Bottlenecks, no reservations. As long as you didn't die on the training ground, the Family dared to pile resources on you to make you strong. This near-insane investment was exchanged for the blowout eruption of the Chen Family's strength.

Until this day, a secret agent rushed into the city lord's mansion.

"Report—!"

Chen Xu set down the teacup in his hand, his gaze calm as he looked at the secret agent kneeling on the ground.

This person was an informant he had planted earlier at the edge of the Northern Domain, responsible for gathering intelligence on the movements of the major Sects.

"Speak."

Chen Xu uttered only one word.

"Family Head, they've started fighting! Everything's in Chaos!"

The secret agent spoke rapidly: "Just three days ago, the Ancient Demon Realm tore up the ceasefire pact and launched a massive counterattack against the Seven Sects of the Northern Domain! It's said it's because..."

He stole a glance at Ye Youluo sitting below Chen Xu, swallowed his saliva: "It's said it's because the Demon Emperor has gone missing. The Demon Race suspects the Seven Great Sects are behind it and want to use this to establish their might."

"Both sides engaged in a decisive battle at the Duanhun Ridge line. That battle was too brutal, heaven and earth shattered, rivers of blood flowed."

Chen Daoxuan, listening nearby, felt his heart pound with fear and hurriedly pressed: "How was the battle? Who won?"

"A pyrrhic victory."

The secret agent panted, "Led by Tianyu Holy Land, the Seven Great Sects brought out several of their foundational, Sect-protecting treasures. Two reclusive old monsters even self-detonated their Nascent Souls. Only then did they barely manage to force the demon army back into the Demon Realm fissure.

But the Seven Sects also suffered heavy losses. Tianyu Holy Land's elite Disciples lost seventy percent.

More than a dozen Elders perished!"

A brief, deathly silence fell over the hall.

Everyone's gaze subconsciously turned towards Chen Xu.

"Good, very good."

Chen Xu gently set down his teacup.

He stood up and walked to the Northern Domain map hanging on the wall. His finger slowly traced along the lines on the map, passing over the marked red area, finally stopping on the golden marker representing Tianyu Holy Land.

"Tianyu Holy Land... Mo Yuan is dead, their elites are crippled, and now they've just fought the Demon Race to a mutually destructive standstill."

Chen Xu's voice was soft, yet clearly reached everyone's ears. "Isn't this the heavens preparing the meat and serving it to our mouths?"

Ba Dao was the first to jump up, his armor clanking: "Family Head, you mean... we're going to make our move?"

"Not just a move."

Chen Xu turned around, his gaze sharp. "It's settling accounts."

"How they trampled our Chen Family underfoot back then, that's exactly how we'll trample them back now. And we'll do it harder, more thoroughly, leaving them no chance to turn things around."

"Hear my order!"

As these three words left his mouth, an aura of killing intent instantly swept through the entire hall.

"Tianxuan City, full army assemble!"

"Leave a thousand men to guard the home. The rest, bring all the Flying Boats, all the Spirit Stone Cannons, follow me on the campaign!" Chen Xu waved his large hand, the wind from his sleeves sounding like war drums and thunder. "Target — Tianyu Holy Land!"

... At noon that day, the commoners of Tianxuan City witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

The originally clear sky suddenly darkened.

It wasn't dark clouds blocking the sun, but densely packed black warships.

Dozens of giant Flying Boats, modified and strengthened by Chen Xu, like a flock of steel behemoths, blotted out the sunlight.

On the gunwales of each Flying Boat stood rows of Chen Family Army soldiers clad in black armor and holding sharp blades.

They didn't utter any battle cries. Only those pairs of cold, resolute eyes revealed a discipline that inspired awe.

On the largest flagship, a war banner embroidered with a massive 'Chen' character flapped and snapped in the fierce gale.

"Set off."

Standing at the ship's bow, Chen Xu offered no extra words, merely pointed forward.

Rumble—

Dozens of flying vessels activated simultaneously, their tails spewing dazzling spiritual energy flames, propelling the massive hulls to tear through the air.

They roared towards the southeast.

The momentum was like black clouds pressing down on a city, unstoppable... The Tianyu Holy Land's jurisdiction was extremely vast, governing dozens of cities and countless subordinate small Sects.

Liuyun City was a strategically important town on the northwestern frontier of the Tianyu Holy Land.

It was also the only route leading to its core heartland.

Due to the great battle that had just ended on the front lines, the defensive forces within Liuyun City had been depleted by more than half, leaving behind only the old, weak, sick, and disabled, along with some newly enrolled Outer Sect Disciples.

The city lord was a middle-aged man at the early Void Refining stage, currently patrolling the city walls with a worried frown.

"These times are truly unbearable."

The city lord sighed, looking at the refugees displaced by war outside the city, his heart filled with helplessness: "The front lines are fighting like that, and the Holy Land is pressuring us for supplies again. Where am I supposed to conjure them from?"

A trusted aide beside him also wore a bitter expression: "My lord, I heard that although the Demon Race retreated, our side also won a pyrrhic victory. Now, several surrounding forces are getting restless. Our Liuyun City's position is critical. What if..."

"Shut your crow's beak!"

The city lord glared at him: "Even if the Tianyu Holy Land is in dire straits, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse! Who would dare provoke misfortune at this critical juncture? Are they tired of living?"

Before his words had fully faded, he suddenly felt the sky darken above him.

A terrifying oppressive force descended from the heavens.

Even the air seemed to become viscous.

"What's happening? Has the sky gone dark?"

The city lord instinctively looked up. Immediately, his pupils contracted sharply, his entire body froze in place, and he even forgot to breathe.

In the northern sky, a fleet so vast it was suffocating was breaking through the clouds.

Those black warships gleamed with a cold metallic luster under the sunlight, their decks bristling with ferocious Spirit Stone Cannons.

They were slowly adjusting their angles, aiming directly at Liuyun City's defensive grand Formation.

"En... enemy attack!!!"

Before the roar could spread across the city walls, a deep, thunderous bellow descended from the flagship.

It shook the entire city, making it tremble.

"The Tianxuan Chen Clan is here! Those who surrender shall not be killed! Those who stubbornly resist shall perish with the city!"

Accompanying this furious roar, a burly figure leaped down from a height of a thousand zhang.

That was Ba Dao.

He didn't use any deceleration Spells; his entire body was wrapped in the screeching sound of a sonic boom.

He smashed fiercely towards Liuyun City's City Protection Grand Formation.

BOOM——!!!

A deafening blast loud enough to shatter eardrums.

The defensive light barrier, which the city lord had always regarded as impregnable, under Ba Dao's single strike,

was as fragile as an eggshell, instantly covered in cracks before shattering completely with a thunderous crash.

As the dust settled, Ba Dao stood proudly atop the ruins of the city gate, carrying his massive blade the size of a door panel.

The ground beneath his feet had completely collapsed, and the surrounding defenders were sent sprawling by the terrifying shockwave.

Some even directly foamed at the mouth and fainted.

"It just... shattered?"

The city lord's legs went weak, and he thumped to his knees on the ground.

He looked at that burly man, then at the sky-obscuring fleet in the sky.

Only one thought remained in his mind: It's over.

This time, the Tianyu Holy Land is likely going to change hands.

There was no suspense whatsoever.

Faced with such overwhelming, dimensionally superior force, Liuyun City held out for less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

The flags on the city walls were replaced with the Chen Family's Black Dragon Banner.

After entering the city, Chen Xu did not allow his troops to burn, kill, and plunder.

On the contrary, the Chen Family Army's discipline was so strict it left the citizens of Liuyun City incredulous.

The streets were swiftly taken over, all shops operated as usual, except now there were patrols of black-armored soldiers stationed at their entrances.

Those trusted aides of the city lord's mansion who used to throw their weight around were dragged out one by one and publicly tried.

"Listen up!"

A Chen Family steward stood on a high platform in the square, holding a freshly printed proclamation, reading aloud: "From today onwards, Liuyun City is under the control of the Tianxuan Chen Clan!"

"All exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous levies of the Tianyu Holy Land are abolished! All citizens under our Chen Clan's governance will have their taxes halved, and can even exchange labor for spirit rice and Medicinal Pills!"

As soon as this order was issued, the originally panicked citizens instantly erupted in excitement.

They didn't care who became the city lord; whoever could give them a better life was their dear father.

"This... this isn't banditry? This is practically a savior!"

One Cultivator was so moved he shed tears of joy.

For the small families and Loose Cultivators attached to the Tianyu Holy Land, this impact was even greater.

They watched the uniformly High Grade Magic Treasures in the hands of the Chen Family soldiers.

They watched the crates of supplies being moved into the city lord's mansion, their eyes red with envy, almost dripping blood.

"Just who are these Chen Clan deities? How are they so filthy rich?"

"I heard it's that remote Tianxuan City Chen Clan..."

"Impossible! How could that godforsaken place raise such a fierce and formidable army?"

Various speculations ran rampant.

But no matter how the outside world gossiped, the Chen Family's advance did not pause in the slightest.

Liuyun City was just the beginning.

After capturing this place, Chen Xu did not let the main army rest. He merely left behind two hundred men and three hundred Netherworld Iron Guards to garrison the city before setting off again.

Speed is the essence of warfare.

He aimed to cut off all the Tianyu Holy Land's peripheral wings before they could react, peeling that once lofty Holy Land bare like an onion.

The next half-month was nothing short of a nightmare for all the cities within the Tianyu Holy Land's jurisdiction.

That black fleet was like the sickle of the God of Death, striking wherever it pointed.

Heishui City, broken.

Luoxia City, surrendered.

Huiyang Sect, annihilated.

News seemed to grow wings and fly in all directions.

People were horrified to discover that this self-proclaimed "Chen Family" force wasn't really fighting a war; they were conducting a takeover.

Wherever they went, resistance was minimal. Some city lords, upon seeing that large "Chen" character banner, directly opened the city gates, holding their official seals and kneeling by the roadside to welcome them.

The reason was none other than this: the Chen Family offered far too much.

Not only did they spare those who surrendered, but they also gave out Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, and opportunities for advancement.

Under this dual offensive of sweet enticements and absolute military might, the territory the Tianyu Holy Land had painstakingly managed for thousands of years,

was like a piece of ice placed under the sun, melting at a visible rate... Aboard the flying vessel flagship, Chen Xu stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the vast land below.

This was a place he could only look up to in the past.

Back then, the Chen Family had just ascended from the Lower Realm. And now, this land was already planted with Chen Family banners.

"Family Head."

Lan Shuyao walked up behind him, handing over a freshly compiled battle report, her voice unable to conceal her excitement: "As of today, we have taken control of eighteen cities, large and small, seized over thirty Spirit Stone mines, and two herb gardens."

"Not only has our force not diminished, but thanks to recruiting many Loose Cultivators along the way, it has expanded to thirty thousand men."

"Has there been any movement from the Tianyu Holy Land side?"

Chen Xu didn't even glance at the battle report, asking indifferently.

"There has."

Lan Shuyao's expression grew slightly more serious: "According to reports from forward scouts, the Tianyu Holy Land has withdrawn all its forces and activated its protective Sect grand Formation, the Ten Thousand Feathers Veiling the Sky Formation. They seem intent on digging in and holding out, waiting for reinforcements from other major Sects."

"Digging in?"

Chen Xu laughed, a somewhat contemptuous laugh.

"They think hiding in their turtle shell makes them safe? That's because they haven't seen a real hammer yet."

He turned, looking at Chen Daoxuan, Ba Dao, and Ye Youluo behind him.

"Order the entire army to advance at full speed."

Chen Xu's gaze turned towards the faintly visible mist-shrouded immortal mountain in the distance, a flash of icy killing intent in his eyes.

"Tonight, I will dine in the main hall of the Tianyu Holy Land's central peak."

"Anyone who falls behind can roll back to Tianxuan City and farm the fields!"

"Yes!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The massive fleet of flying vessels accelerated once more, their tail flames spewing blinding light, like meteors chasing the moon.

They charged fiercely towards that once arrogant and domineering Holy Land.

And behind them lay the Northern Region with its order completely disrupted, and countless pairs of eyes watching secretly from the shadows.

Eyes filled with both shock and fear.

This was not merely an act of revenge.

This was a fierce dragon crossing the river, announcing its arrival to the entire Spirit Realm.

And the Tianyu Holy Land was destined to become the first stepping stone crushed beneath this dragon's feet.

The Tianyu Holy Land's mountain gate was situated atop a range of undulating Spiritual Veins. In the past, it was wreathed in clouds and mist, with cranes crying in the high skies—a first-class blessed land for immortals.

But today, this tranquility was utterly shattered.

When dozens of enormous black warships hovered above the mountain gate like oppressive dark clouds,

the suffocating sense of oppression made every Disciple inside the protective Sect grand Formation tremble from the depths of their Souls.

The sunlight was completely blocked out, the immense shadow cast plunging the entire Tianyu Holy Land into gloom.

"Hummm——"

The flagship emitted a low, deep hum before gradually coming to a halt.

Immediately after, all the flying vessels simultaneously extinguished their propulsion flames.

An eerie, deathly silence fell upon the world.

Only the flapping of flags in the wind and the straining, sizzling sound of the protective grand Formation below could be heard.

In front of the main hall of the Tianyu Holy Land's central peak, tens of thousands of Disciples were densely gathered.

They looked up, faces pale, palms sweaty as they gripped their Magic Treasures.

At the forefront of the grand Formation, a middle-aged man in white feather daoist robes stood in the air.

This person was none other than the Vice Holy Master of the Tianyu Holy Land, Gu Qingfeng.

After Mo Yuan's death, he was the sole person in charge here.

But he never imagined the Chen Family's retaliation would come so swiftly, so fiercely, without even giving them a chance to catch their breath.

"Chen Xu!"

Gu Qingfeng took a deep breath, mustering his spiritual energy, trying to make his voice sound full of vigor.

But even after passing through the grand Formation, his voice still seemed somewhat shaky: "Our two families are both in the Northern Region. We bore no grudges in the past, nor have recent conflicts arisen. Today, you lead a great army to press upon our borders, destroying our subordinate cities without cause. What exactly is your intention?"

"Aren't you afraid of provoking the public outrage of the entire Northern Region?"