138: Chapter 138 Heading to Tianxu Pass!

...

At the summit of Zixiao Peak, the waters of the Thunder Pool rippled.

Shi Jian lay prone on the stone platform within the Immortal Cave, his massive frame exuding a suffocating pressure.

Daoist Yun Du landed outside the Immortal Cave and cupped his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Shi, we haven't met for years. Your aura has grown increasingly profound."

Shi Jian opened his eyes, his purple-gold pupils sizing up Daoist Yun Du.

"You have injured your Origin."

Shi Jian spoke in a flat tone, exposing Daoist Yun Du's true condition.

"The Sea Yao are powerful; it was a blessing to escape with my life. Had I known it would be this perilous, I wouldn't have agreed to go with you, Fellow Daoist."

Daoist Yun Du gave a bitter smile and entered the Immortal Cave. "The Golden Sword Dispatch Order has been issued. The battle at Tianxu Pass is unavoidable for us."

"This seat understands."

Shi Jian stood up, his fifteen-meter-tall body casting a large shadow. "Since this concerns the foundation of White Cloud Temple, this seat will naturally take action to protect it."

Daoist Yun Du breathed a sigh of relief.

He was truly afraid that this Golden Core Yao General would quit at such a critical juncture.

With Shi Jian present, White Cloud Temple's chances of survival at Tianxu Pass would greatly increase, or at least things would be much better. His heart immediately settled.

The man and the bear briefly discussed the marching route and defense arrangements before Daoist Yun Du hurriedly left; he needed to make the most of his time to heal.

After Daoist Yun Du left, Shi Jian patted the stone platform.

Elder Rat emerged from the shadows in the corner.

"Pass down the order."

"For this expedition, we only need to bring three Foundation Establishment Great Yao..."

"Just Kuang Dou, you, and Shi Mo."

"All other lineages are to remain hidden in the Yunjian Mountain Range and Mushou Mountain. Without this seat's decree, no one is allowed to leave."

Elder Rat accepted the command and quickly sent out the messages.

Before long, three figures flashed into the Immortal Cave.

Shi Mo's entire body exuded a sharp Geng Metal Qi, and his dark gold eyes were filled with bloodthirsty excitement.

Kuang Dou's black fur stood on end, and his tail lashed restlessly, showing he was also extremely excited.

"Old Ancestor, is the war finally starting?"

"When we reach Tianxu Pass, restrain your Demonic Qi and shrink your bodies as much as possible. Do not draw too much attention."

"Your mission is not to fight to the death with the Demonic Cultivators of the Jin State."

"This is merely a show of stance and a pretext to secure more resources. Remember, prioritize your own safety above all else; do not be greedy for merit and act rashly."

"Shi Mo, look for isolated and heavily injured Cultivators on the battlefield. Regardless of whether they are righteous or demonic, if they have valuable Magic Treasures or Storage Pouches, strip them all."

"Kuang Dou, you will go with Shi Mo in this battle. Roam the various parts of the war, but do not take the initiative to engage in fierce combat with Demonic Cultivators..."

Shi Jian turned to look at Elder Rat.

"Elder Rat, mobilize the low-level rat yao under your command and head to the battlefield outside Tianxu Temple."

"Have them lie in wait underground."

"Once the fighting begins and corpses cover the ground, your mission is to scavenge the battlefield."

"Drag the corpses of Human Race Cultivators, scattered weapons and Magical Artifacts, and ownerless Storage Pouches into the underground tunnels and transport them back to Mushou Mountain."

"Materials of low value can be distributed as rewards to those obedient Yao Race."

"As for those of higher value, bring them back to the temple and distribute them to our core clansmen to strengthen each lineage and enhance our foundation."

"We want to turn this Tianxu Pass into a granary and treasury for our Yao Race."

Elder Rat nodded and kowtowed heavily. "This little one understands! I guarantee not even a scrap of cloth with Spiritual Qi will be left for them!"

Shi Mo and Kuang Dou also voiced their agreement in unison.

Shi Jian lay back down on the stone platform and closed his eyes.

Both the Righteous and Demonic Paths had declared war on the Wei State, attempting to carve up the Three Sects of the Wei State.

It seemed as though the Wei State was struggling to cope, but Shi Jian saw clearly that the reason Wei could occupy the best territory was that it certainly had the confidence to do so.

The reason the Wei State could occupy the best land on the entire continent...

...was never because of a three-way standoff or mutual checks and balances, but because the power of the Three Sects of the Wei State was the most formidable—formidable enough to withstand both the Righteous and Demonic Paths simultaneously. That was why they could hold this land.

A three-way standoff was the common perspective of the world.

But the reality was that while the Wei State side fought fiercely against both the Righteous and Demonic Paths, they could also strike the Sea Yao to the north. A single sect could rival an entire nation!

Of course.

The more brutal the Human Race fought, the more abundant the resources Shi Jian could consume.

The rules of the Xuanling Continent would ultimately be broken by strength; only those with the biggest fists had the right to set the rules.

At noon the next day.

Atop an unnamed peak outside White Cloud Temple.

For this battle, White Cloud Temple deployed sixteen Foundation Establishment Cultivator and five hundred and fifty elite inner and outer court Disciples. Under its jurisdiction, nine Foundation Establishment and four hundred and fifty Qi Refining Cultivators also went to war...

A total of twenty-five Foundation Establishment Cultivator gathered, and a thousand Qi Refining elites finished their Formation.

Sun Mao, Zhao Yanshan, Great Elder Yun Tianfan, and others were among them.

Every face bore an expression of solemnity and grim determination.

Daoist Yun Du had changed into a brand-new Daoist robe and, forcibly suppressing his injuries, stood on the high platform.

A roar echoed from the horizon.

A fifteen-meter-tall purple-gold giant bear stepped through the clouds and landed atop the mountain peak, its terrifying yao prestige sweeping across the field.

Every Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivator felt their breath hitch; they all lowered their heads, not daring to gaze upon the majesty of a Golden Core...

Behind Shi Jian followed a slightly smaller dark gold giant bear, and on its shoulder stood a hunched, red-furred rat.

Beside them was a giant black-furred hound, its Demonic Qi incredibly powerful.

These three yao were none other than Elder Rat, Shi Mo, and Kuang Dou.

"Greetings, Ancestor Shi!"

A thousand people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the clouds.

Shi Jian ignored the crowd's cheers and turned to look at Daoist Yun Du, who nodded to him before waving a large hand:

"Depart!"

With a command, a brand-new giant Flying Boat tore through the clouds and mist, gradually revealing itself. Its hull was extremely wide, like a seagoing vessel.

The Cultivators boarded the ship in an orderly fashion, each finding a cabin to rest in.

Half an hour later, the Flying Boat of the Qingguang Sect also approached from afar. Perfected Qing Shan stood at the prow, cupping his hands toward Shi Jian and Daoist Yun Du from a distance.

The two giant Flying Boats traveled side-by-side, turning into two streaks of light as they sped toward Tianxu Pass in the southeast.

As the scenery shifted, blood-colored Evil Qi gradually began to churn at the horizon's edge.

Shi Jian stood on the deck of the Flying Boat, looking down at the mountains and rivers passing below.

The feast of the chaotic era had finally begun.

...

In just over half a day, the Flying Boat arrived at Tianxu Pass, one of the seven great frontier passes.

Walls thousands of feet high stood among the mountains, stretching endlessly. Dozens of high towers stood upon the walls, all serving as nodes for the Formation that enveloped the entire Tianxu Temple within.

Inside the pass, tents stretched for dozens of miles.

Countless Cultivators bustled about, transporting supplies and repairing Magical Artifacts.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood, and a grim aura spread throughout the camp.

A Golden Core Middle Stage Elder from the Shangqing Sect was responsible for receiving them.

After checking the register, White Cloud Temple and Qingguang Sect were assigned to the left-wing defense zone of Tianxu Pass.

Shi Jian, Daoist Yun Du, and Perfected Qing Shan—two men and a bear—walked through the camp. The three of them already had some friendship and a basis for cooperation.

They shared a good deal of trust, and their conversation was far from distant:

"It seems our luck is actually quite good."

"Of the seven great passes of the southwest border, the four passes of Tianshu, Yaoguang, Kaiyang, and Yuheng are the frontmost four; those will surely be the main battlefields."

"Whereas the three passes of Tianquan, Tianxu, and Tianji are distributed on the far left and right, so the intensity of the war is generally lower."

"Especially our location at Tianxu, on the leftmost battlefield—that is, the due west direction. Counting Fellow Daoist Shi, Fellow Daoist Yun, and myself, plus three Golden Core Masters from the Shangqing Sect..."

"...this Tianxu Pass has six Golden Cores, as well as True Monarch Fang Yi of the Shangqing Sect."

"With the Fourth-Rank Grand Formation of Tianxu Pass, unless the enemy has three times our forces, breaking through this pass would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"I just wonder which great demonic sect will be the one attacking Tianxu Pass this time."

...