66: Patrol of Falling Cloud Valley

When Lin Feng was purchasing Alchemy Materials in the market, he vaguely sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.

Several shops were crowded with people. The prices of Medicinal Pills for healing and restoring Qi, which were previously abundant, had quietly risen by ten percent, and defensive Talismans at the Talisman stalls were also in high demand. Even the pace of the passing Disciples seemed more urgent than usual.

He calmly purchased the required medicinal ingredients, already having some guesses about the situation in his heart.

After returning to Baoyue Peak, Lin Feng chose the "core condensation pill," which he had refined during the Sect Grand Competition, as his starting point. He had already memorized this Pill Formula. The core condensation pill's medicinal properties were gentle, making it suitable for Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators to stabilize their cultivation.

He activated the Earth Fire, warming the Pill Furnace, his movements neither fast nor slow. Spiritual Plants were thrown into the furnace one by one, and his Divine Sense spread out, perceiving every subtle change in the medicinal liquid inside the furnace.

The heat rose and fell. Several hours later, the medicinal fragrance in the Pill Room gradually intensified, and the furnace fire was perfect.

When the timing was right, Lin Feng changed his Hand Seals, the furnace lid opened slightly, and a core condensation pill bearing Pill Patterns appeared at the bottom of the furnace, enveloped in warm medicinal vapor.

He picked it up and examined it closely. Its color was pure, its medicinal power condensed, and it was flawless.

Lin Feng's lips curled slightly. After placing the Medicinal Pill into the prepared jade bottle, he put it away and cleaned the Pill Furnace, already considering how to slightly adjust the heat for the next batch to further improve the quality and efficiency of the finished pills.

Just as he finished tidying the Pill Room and was preparing for another attempt, a slight fluctuation came from the Formation outside his Immortal Cave. A Message Talisman hovered outside. Lin Feng waved his hand, drew it into his grasp, and swept it with his Divine Sense. It was a Sect mission transfer order sent by Shang Gong Hall.

"New Foundation Establishment Disciple Lin Feng, report immediately to the Luoyun Valley Outpost Main Camp. No delay allowed."

Lin Feng put away the Message Talisman, his expression calm. What should come had finally arrived; these few days of brief Secluded Cultivation were already rare.

He was not too surprised. The friction between the Sect and the Chiyan Sect had clearly escalated, and mobilizing newly promoted Disciples to the border for rotation duty was a perfectly normal arrangement.

The Sect order had been issued, allowing no delay. Before setting off, Lin Feng remembered something. He made a detour to Tianshu Peak to retrieve the newly refined azure flood dragon banner, and also took the opportunity to ask for advice on the essentials of refining Flying Magic Treasures. Only then did he transform into a streak of light and head straight for the Luoyun Valley Frontline Main Camp to report.

On the periphery of Luoyun Valley, mountain winds swept sand and stones across the desolate ridge. Lin Feng followed at the end of the Patrol Team. The group of five walked silently along the steep ridge line.

The leader was Senior Brother Qian Ming, who had achieved Foundation Establishment many years ago but had yet to Break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. The other three also possessed Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

Deep within the valley, the scene was completely different from the desolation of the periphery. An area shrouded in a hazy Formation was faintly visible, and within it, a unique pool of water could be vaguely seen. Half of the pool was covered in thin ice, emitting wisps of cold air, while the other half was churning with tiny bubbles, steaming with white mist.

This was the "Ice Fire Pool" fiercely contested by the two Sects. This pool was favored by the creation of Heaven and Earth, gathering extremely cold Earth Veins and blazing Yang Fire here. Where Yin and Yang intersect, creation manifests, allowing the ice fire lotus, which matures once every ten years, to be nurtured.

This lotus contains pure Origin power of both Ice and Fire attributes, making it the main ingredient for refining the precious Medicinal Pill of the Foundation Establishment Stage, the "ice fire pill." The ice fire pill can harmonize the Yin and Yang within a Cultivator's body, greatly increasing the chances of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator Breaking through minor Bottlenecks. For any Sect, it is a strategic resource for cultivating and stabilizing middle-tier strength, directly impacting the Sect's prosperity and power over the next century.

Precisely because of this, the Ice Fire Pool has become an unavoidable bloody line between the Tianxuan Sect and the Chiyan Sect.

The path of Immortal Cultivation is inherently a Heaven-Defying struggle for destiny. Resources are limited, and Immortality is distant. Taking one step ahead may lead to being ahead in every step; taking one step slow may lead to the severance of the Dao path.

A single Spirit Medicine that can help a person Break through a Bottleneck is enough to drive countless Cultivators stuck at a Realm threshold mad. This is even more true between Sects. Whoever controls more resources can cultivate more experts, possess greater influence, occupy more vast Spiritual Mountains and Blessed Lands, forming a virtuous cycle. Conversely, they may gradually decline, or even be annexed and divided.

The quantity of ice fire lotus produced by the Ice Fire Pool every ten years is limited, far from enough to satisfy the needs of the two Sects' massive number of Foundation Establishment Disciples. Unequal distribution is the root of the disaster. What cannot be resolved at the negotiating table can only be settled through Flying Swords and Spells.

Every time the lotus ripens marks the start of the tacit yet brutal struggle between the two Sects. Disciples from both sides fight here, bathing in blood and using their lives to pave the way, just to seize one more Spirit Medicine for their Sect and win a sliver more hope for their Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers to Break through.

Lin Feng scanned the rock walls on both sides, which were densely covered with sword marks and Spell scorch marks of varying depths. Under several piles of collapsed boulders, broken fragments of Magical Artifacts were faintly visible, as well as... patches of dark, congealed blood that had blackened and almost merged with the soil.

His steps paused slightly, then returned to normal, and he sighed silently in his heart. Was this the cost of fighting for resources? Before this sentiment dissipated, he caught an extremely unnatural fluctuation of Spiritual Qi.

"Enemy attack! Right rear!" Lin Feng immediately gave a sharp warning the moment he sensed it. His voice was not loud but exceptionally clear. At the same time, he darted toward the front-left without hesitation.

After stabilizing his figure, he turned around and saw several fireballs coming toward them, aimed directly at Song Meng and Sun Yiyi on the team's flank. Had Lin Feng not warned them and moved position beforehand, this sneak attack would have been far more lethal.

Simultaneously, figures flashed from behind the scattered rocks on both sides. Eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators wearing Chiyan Sect robes appeared. Their movements were swift, and they each summoned their Magic Treasures.

The leader held a Crimson Feather Fan wreathed in fierce flames. He violently fanned it toward Qian Ming, who had just stabilized his footing, and a scorching Fire Python roared out, striking directly at Qian Ming's face.

Qian Ming was experienced; though startled, he remained composed. He roared in anger, instantly summoning a heavy, Earthy-Yellow Great Seal to meet the Fire Python. A deafening crash erupted, and Qi waves surged. His body swayed slightly, indicating that his opponent's cultivation was clearly not inferior to his own.

Several companions were engaged by Chiyan Sect Cultivators. Lin Feng was about to observe the situation when suddenly, a Chiyan Sect Cultivator approached him for close confrontation. This person's cultivation was also in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, but his aura was condensed, his eyes sharp, and he clearly possessed extremely rich Combat experience.

Two agile Crimson Flame Shields circled around him. He held an Inferno Serpent Longsword burning with unquenchable flames, its blade flickering erratically.

Suddenly, he flicked his wrist. The Inferno Serpent Longsword let out a hiss, and a Fiery Sword Aura stabbed straight toward Lin Feng's face. The angle was tricky, sealing off Lin Feng's space to dodge left or right.

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. Daring not to be slow, he immediately summoned the Azure Wood Shield. The emerald-green shield instantly enlarged, Spiritual Light flowing around it, blocking his front.

"Boom!"

The Fiery Sword Aura violently struck the Azure Wood Shield, creating a huge sound. The Spiritual Light on the shield surface flickered intensely. Although it blocked the blow, scorch marks appeared on its surface. Clearly, the opponent's attack power was extremely strong, and the Azure Wood Shield would struggle to maintain defense.

The Chiyan Sect Cultivator sneered, and his sword momentum changed again. Instead of aiming for an instant kill, it transformed into an endless Net of Fierce Flame Swords. The offensive was extremely cunning, attempting to exhaust Lin Feng's Spiritual Qi or find a flaw through sustained pressure.

Lin Feng rapidly executed the Willow Catkin Following Wind Step, his figure retreating evasively.

"Crack!"

However, a crisp shattering sound echoed. The Spiritual Light of the Azure Wood Shield in front of him completely scattered, having been forcibly sliced apart by the continuous sword momentum.

The sharp sword edge did not stop, stabbing straight toward his heart.