246: Chapter 246 The Mars Banner

"Three hundred miles south of Yinghuo City, there is an ancient battlefield ruin called the 'Desolate Bone Plain.' According to Wanbao Pavilion's intelligence, it is filled with Evil Qi year-round, and Ancient War Spirits occasionally appear there. If we let the Loose Cultivators create the illusion of a 'War Spirit Riot' at the Desolate Bone Plain, Star Lord Yinghuo will be forced to take it seriously. The Desolate Bone Plain is too close to Yinghuo City; if the War Spirits truly go out of control, his territory will be the first to suffer."

Gu Yue's eyes lit up. "This plan is feasible. The Evil Qi of the Desolate Bone Plain is inherently strange, and ordinary Cultivators dare not approach it. If we tamper with it to create the phenomenon of an 'Awakening War Spirit,' Star Lord Yinghuo will surely go to investigate personally. At that time, the 'yinghuo war banner' in his hand will also come in handy."

"yinghuo war banner?" Ling Hao looked at Gu Yue.

"Star Lord Yinghuo's supreme treasure," Gu Yue explained. "Rumor has it that this flag can mobilize the Evil Qi of heaven and earth and boost battlefield morale. If a War Spirit Riot truly occurs in the Desolate Bone Plain, it would be perfectly reasonable for Star Lord Yinghuo to bring the yinghuo war banner to suppress it. He won't suspect a setup. We can then set up a Formation near the Desolate Bone Plain to prevent Star Lord Yinghuo from leaving for a while."

Ling Hao nodded, noting this detail.

"What about Chenxing Palace?" Ling Xiao asked. "With Star Lord Yinghuo tied down, Tianque City is far away, leaving Lord Chenxing isolated and without aid. But Lord Chenxing is, after all, at the Peak of Void Refining and has the geographical advantage of the sea. You, alone..."

"I won't be alone," Ling Hao interrupted him. "Cousin, you're coming too."

Ling Xiao was startled. "I'm going too?"

"You are already at the Early Stage of Void Refining; with the thunder gods war hammer, you can fight someone at the Late Stage of Void Refining," Ling Hao said. "Lord Chenxing has two Void Refinement Deacons under him. You handle one, and I'll handle the other as well as Lord Chenxing himself. Leave them to me."

Ling Xiao pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. "Alright."

"In addition, Mr. Gu will accompany us." Ling Hao looked at Gu Yue. "The sea area near Chenxing Palace has ancient Restrictions. I'll need your help to break them."

Gu Yue cupped his fists. "I shall naturally do my best."

"I'll have to trouble the Jiang Family Head with Tianhuo City. With the great guardian Formation in place, the Heavenly Dao Palace should temporarily have no intention of attacking Tianhuo City."

"I will certainly do my utmost to guard Tianhuo City," Jiang Wanshan said, cupping his fists.

Ling Hao nodded, put away the token, and walked to the window.

The night was deep, and the lights of Tianhuo City illuminated the northern part of the city. On the distant training grounds, the newly recruited Loose Cultivators were practicing battle Formations, their shouts faintly drifting over. This city was transforming from a small border town into the Ling Family's strategic pivot in the Central Region.

And he would continue westward to take the fourth token.

The lord chenxings token.

The morning of the third day, at Xiao Yi's special training camp.

When Ling Hao entered the drill grounds, Xiao Yi was leading five hundred Loose Cultivators in practicing battle Formations. Unlike the Jiang Family's guards, most of these Loose Cultivators came from humble backgrounds; their Moves were ruthless, and they excelled in small-scale raids rather than frontal combat. Tailoring to their characteristics, Xiao Yi had modified a 'Flowing Cloud Battle Formation,' focusing on guerrilla warfare and harassment, with frontal assaults as a secondary measure.

"Young Master Ling." Xiao Yi sheathed his blade and came forward to greet him.

"Is everything ready at the Desolate Bone Plain?" Ling Hao asked.

"People were sent there three days ago." Xiao Yi lowered his voice. "Twenty brothers skilled in stealth, carrying the 'Evil Qi Inducer' prepared by Mr. Gu, have buried thirty-six Formation bases deep within the Desolate Bone Plain. At a single command, they can trigger the Evil Qi and create the illusion of a War Spirit Riot. Even if Star Lord Yinghuo investigates personally, he won't find any flaws, because that Evil Qi and those War Spirits are real—they've just been 'awakened' by us."

"Good. When can it be activated?"

"Estimated in another two or three days," Xiao Yi said. "But Mr. Gu said the effectiveness of the Evil Qi Inducer can only last for three days. After three days, the Formation bases will self-destruct, and all traces will vanish. Therefore, we must complete our actions in the east within three days."

"Three days is enough." Ling Hao nodded. "Have them prepare first. I will notify them when to initiate the Desolate Bone Plain plan."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yi took his orders and left.

Ling Hao did not leave the drill grounds; instead, he walked before the Loose Cultivators who were training in Formations.

The five hundred people stopped their movements, their gazes snapping toward him in unison.

Ling Hao gave no speech; he simply raised his hand, and three tokens flew out from his sleeve, hovering in mid-air. Tri-colored brilliance silently unfolded, enveloping the entire drill grounds.

The Loose Cultivators only felt the circulation of spiritual energy within their bodies become sluggish, as if suppressed by some invisible force. But they did not panic, for Ling Hao's voice had already reached everyone's ears.

"This is the Three Talents Suppressing Domain. Within this domain, the strength of Heavenly Dao Palace Cultivators will be greatly diminished. But you are my allies; you will not be affected."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every face.

"In five days, we will march east to Chenxing Palace. This battle is not a feint, nor is it a diversion. It is a genuine assault to seize their strongholds. Are you afraid?"

The five hundred Loose Cultivators roared in unison, "We are not afraid!"

The sound waves shook the sky.

Ling Hao nodded and put away the tokens.

He said nothing more. These Loose Cultivators came from all over the area surrounding Tianhuo City; some had been oppressed by the Heavenly Dao Palace, and others had struggled to survive in the cracks. Now, following him was not for wealth or status, but to fight for their dignity.

He could not fail them.

That night, Ling Hao had already taken Ling Xiao, Gu Yue, Shadow Seven, and five hundred elite Loose Cultivators to quietly Move east.

The void heaven-escaping shuttle traveled through the night, its silver-white hull blending with the clouds. From the ground, it appeared as only a fleeting flash of light.

Ling Hao stood by the porthole, looking at the mountains and rivers rapidly passing below.

The fourth token, the lord chenxings token.

Whether it could be obtained depended on this mission.

The void heaven-escaping shuttle traveled through the night, its silver-white hull blending with the clouds.

Ling Hao sat alone in a quiet room, the three star lord tokens hovering before him. Silver, gold, and earthy yellow brilliance intertwined into the Three Talents Suppressing Domain, enveloping the entire room. He closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, the Primordial Chaos Force within him rising and falling like tides. Each breath caused the surrounding space-time to warp slightly.

The Peak of the Early Integration Stage.

Since the battle at Zhenxing Palace, he had faintly felt the Bottleneck of his cultivation loosening. It wasn't that his spiritual energy had reached its limit, but rather a deeper understanding of the rules was about to break through.

But a Breakthrough required an opportunity.

"Ding."

The System's notification sounded in his Sea of Consciousness.

[Detected that the host's cultivation has reached the Peak of the Early Integration Stage, only a hair's breadth away from the Middle Stage of Body Integration]

[Breakthrough conditions: Requires the absorption of a large amount of high-level Origin power, or a deeper level of insight into the rules]

[Suggestion: Refining the rule imprints within the remaining two star lord tokens can greatly increase affinity with the Stellar Rules, laying the foundation for a Breakthrough]

[Warning: Refining two tokens simultaneously may trigger a rule conflict; it must be performed in a stable environment and requires at least three days]

Ling Hao opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the three tokens.

Refining the rule imprints required at least three days. He was currently on his way to the east, and Lord Chenxing could discover their tracks at any time; he simply did not have three days for secluded cultivation.

"I'll refine them all together once I've taken the lord chenxings token." He made his decision and put away the tokens.