Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 574 The Mind Array Surpasses the Mysterious Yellow

As the sun set and the warm glow of the sunset fell upon Yangmingshan, it felt less somber than in the days before.

The bloody stench of the spirit soil, which had not yet regained its original color, became even stronger than it had been a few days ago. Under normal circumstances, many demonic beasts would have come to explore and seek sustenance.

However, Yangmingshan has now become a battlefield of carnage. Not to mention ordinary small beasts, even third-tier demons passing by would be extremely wary.

This period of rest is truly precious; no one knows when Master Huang Mijia and his Yunze Witchcraft Palace will be able to heal their wounds and make a comeback.

Therefore, Duan Yunzhou and his newly recruited followers naturally seized every minute to hone their skills. Among them, many lamented that their future of wealth and honor was not as easily attainable as they had imagined.

Even so, there is no reason to be perfunctory or spare any effort, after all, at this moment, we are fighting for our lives.

You should know that even if you are a fake alchemist, you may not be able to protect yourself in this battlefield of ten thousand people.

Didn't you see that the swordsman who drew eyebrows was clearly no less skilled than Yuan Buwen, yet after being injured and trapped in the formation, he was killed by Kang Rongquan and his troops? It's truly a pity.

Even a fake alchemist like myself is like this, let alone an ordinary cultivator? Mastering the formation is a matter of life and death, how can one be careless?!

The deputy generals of the Red Jade Guard were equally serious. They knew that many of the volunteers were newly recruited and had not even taken many lives, but they still showed no sympathy whatsoever.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the whip with its runes and barbs only injures flesh and blood. If an ordinary cultivator were to be struck naked by the whip, even their soul would tremble. This would be enough to teach some lazy and dull-witted people a lesson.

In Kang Dabao's view, the training methods of the Imperial Guards, passed down from Patriarch Zhang Yuandao, could be described as "cruel and ruthless." Unless absolutely necessary, the usually benevolent and lenient Headmaster Kang would not resort to such methods.

The array masters all crowded together. Wei Gu left no secrets in his notes. Even though many second-tier array masters, including this fake alchemist, were not as skilled as him, it was not difficult for them to restore the great array to half of its original power by following the instructions.

The alchemists were even busier than the array masters. Qi Ke, Gun Fangmu, and Chen Zihang hadn't had a moment's rest and were always covered in dust and dirt, showing no trace of their otherworldly appearance.

While the Ming Merchant Alliance had painstakingly transported and acquired a considerable amount of spiritual herbs, it was still insufficient to meet the needs of the wounded soldiers scattered across the mountain. For these young alchemists, figuring out how to manage their resources wisely was a matter of considerable concern.
Apart from these two important matters, the other cultivators still rarely get a break.

The ritual implements need repair, the puppets need replacement, and the talismans need to be drawn. There are plenty of things to do on Yangming Mountain, and the whole mountain is bustling with activity.

Only in the clinic are there some leisurely people.

There is a limit to the number of miraculous medicines available, and life itself has its limits. This principle may be crude and straightforward, but it is an indisputable fact.

Knowing which people cannot be left unsaved, which people can be saved or not, and which people should not be saved at all, is a lesson that these emerging young alchemists in the Chongming Sect should learn.

Even if the medicinal herbs were in short supply, they wouldn't be so scarce as to be needed by Yuan Buwen, the head of the Yuan family in Xuanlin.

This seasoned alchemist is currently lying on a second-tier ice jade bed, with a foot-thick wound on his leg that runs from his ankle to the root of his thigh.

The newly formed flesh was constantly being torn apart by the residual ferocity from the wound, a truly horrifying sight. Only after Qi Keqin applied the medicine did Yuan Buwen's grim expression soften slightly.

Despite Yuan Buwen's advanced age of nearly three hundred, since he began his cultivation, he has only experienced a few bloody battles like the one between the Chongming Alliance and the Yunze Witch Lord Palace at Yangming Mountain, back when Shen Lingfeng recruited righteous followers and the Imperial Guard to fight against the mountain barbarian army in Yunjiao Prefecture.

He is now considered one of the most outstanding figures below the Golden Core stage, yet there have been many times when his life hung by a thread. Even the injury on his thigh is unknown, as no one knows which opponent left it, which shows how dangerous this situation was.

This was extremely rare in Yuan Buwen's previous experiences. Even though several days had passed, he was still terrified when he recalled it.

The casualty register of the Xuanlin Yuan family had long been recorded by the younger members of the clan and placed on Yuan Buwen's desk. But although the old man was heartbroken, he had no intention of reading it.

After all, the Yuan family has no way to turn back now. Even if all the Yuan family members that Yuan Buwen brought to Yangmingshan have died, he still needs to write home on his deathbed to continue recruiting members of the clan to fill the vacancies.

These past few days have been a rare opportunity for him to be alone. After Qi Ke, who administered the medicine, left the tent, Yuan Buwen, who was left alone inside, closed his eyes and began to meditate.

During the years that the Yuan family changed from the Jingnan Yuan family to the Xuanlin Yuan family, the head of the Kang sect, who was somewhat related to Yuan Feng's death, also became friends with Yuan Buwen and formed an alliance.

Even because Kang Dabao obtained the mid-grade Golden Core, Yuan Buwen quickly abandoned his senior status and became a subordinate.

This might seem like a loss of face to some muddle-headed people, but Yuan Buwen found it quite enjoyable.

Even disregarding the connection with Yuan Xiyue, the Yuan family of Xuanlin has been living much better since they moved north than they did in Jingnan Prefecture.

Kang, the sect leader, was a generous man. Not only was he open to preaching and expounding the Dharma to the Yuan family members, but he was also happy to share the spoils with the sects under his jurisdiction when opportunities arose.

In border regions like the Yuan family, a distinguished clan with a rich heritage, once they obtain the true Dharma, the cultivation of their descendants progresses rapidly. Even disciples who break through to the Foundation Establishment stage without using spiritual objects are emerging, truly a scene of flourishing prosperity.

The Yuan family members, who had been cultivating their foundations for years, were still uneasy. However, after listening to several lectures, they became somewhat eager to try forming a false elixir. Yuan Buwen, a sentimental head of the family, was naturally overjoyed by this.

Compared to the good relationship with He Chongmingzong, the Yuan family, despite operating under the Liangyi Sect for so many years, also met a difficult end.

In fact, Yuan Buwen was not the only one who felt this way.

The Yue family patriarch, Yue Lin, was forced to abandon his promising future of forming the True Elixir with Yuan Buwen because of the control exerted by the Liangyi Sect, and thus became at the beck and call of the Liangyi Sect.

Despite their formidable reputations among the two alchemists below the Golden Core stage, the bitterness they endured was something outsiders could never comprehend.

However, unlike Yue Lin, who chose the wrong person, Yuan Xiyue, the eldest daughter of the clan who was not valued by Yuan Buwen in the past, had some connections with the headmaster Kang. Therefore, in Yuan Buwen's own view, it would only take some time for the Yuan family to regain its glory.

Thinking of this, Yuan Buwen flicked his finger, and the curtain opened by itself without wind, landing on Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao, who were running around assisting a group of alchemists.

To be honest, this place is indeed a good training ground. Although Kang Changzhao and Kang Changyan may not have taken many lives on the battlefield, their air of being spoiled young masters has faded considerably.

Seeing this, Yuan Buwen was genuinely pleased, as improved character was certainly a good thing for cultivators of average talent like the two boys. Otherwise, even with the resources to prepare for Foundation Establishment, it would be nothing but a mirage. However, whether Sect Leader Kang truly possessed the ability to confidently ensure the safety of the two illegitimate sons, or genuinely didn't care much about Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao, was something Yuan Buwen, as the head of the family, should seriously consider.

Outsiders often say that those who sit on the throne in the Xuanqiong Palace are all heartless and ruthless people. If emperors are like this, then those who become kings and nobles may very well be the same.

In Yuan Buwen's view, the presence or absence of Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao might not be very important to Kang Dabao, but it was not so important to his Xuanlin Yuan family.

Therefore, even if the two of them achieve little in their cultivation in the future, they may find it difficult to live the "stable and wealthy" life envisioned by Master Kang.

With the current wealth accumulated by the Yuan family of Xuanlin, as long as Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao are not afraid of the dangers of Foundation Establishment, it would not be difficult for Yuan Buwen to produce one or two true cultivators.

If this money can be used to ensure the wealth and prosperity of the Yuan family for another sixty years, it would be worthwhile.

Kang Changzhao was unaware that Yuan Buwen was thinking of his brothers. He was squatting in the corner of the alchemy room, pounding medicine, with the fragments of Qingling grass in the stone mortar splattering all over his face.

He raised his hand and wiped it, the grass juice on his fingertips drawing a few green streaks on his cheeks. Having inherited his birth mother's face, he now had less makeup, but looked more vibrant than when he was adorned with gold and jade.

Kang Changyan, standing nearby, held a medicine sieve. Small pieces of pills fell through the sieve, a few rolling to his feet, which he hurriedly picked up. These were the Rejuvenation Pills that had been ruined this morning. Senior Sister Qi Ke said that although they couldn't save lives, they could relieve pain, and at this time they were more valuable than spirit stones, so not a single one could be wasted.

"Please hurry, senior brothers," Chen Zihang urged from outside the alchemy room. "More than a dozen patients in the medical clinic are falling ill, all afflicted by the bone-corroding voodoo!"

Kang Changzhao was in a hurry and stood up abruptly. His knee slammed into the hard stone mortar, which was as hard as refined steel. The bone, which had not been tempered by body training, made a crisp sound. Although he was in pain and grimaced, he still endured it without showing it.

He grabbed a handful of charred medicinal dregs and poured them into the bottom of the alchemy furnace: "Third Brother, hand over that jar of first-grade yellow tiger bones."

Kang Changyan handed it over, and when his fingertips touched the back of his younger brother's hand, he found that his hand was covered with scabs, completely losing its previous slender and handsome appearance.

The two were busy with their own things when Yuan Buwen's tent flap was lifted by the wind again, and this time he saw Kang Dabao.

The Marquis of Wuning was standing at the edge of the clinic, toying with a high-grade spirit stone that he had taken out of some storage bag, his gaze fixed on the Kang brothers, Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao.

Yuan Buwen could see clearly that at this moment, only a rare hint of approval appeared in the eyes of the Grand Master Kang.

"What do you think of these two lads, Senior Yuan?"

Yuan Buwen's spiritual sense was no match for Kang Dabao's. As soon as the latter sensed the movement, he went straight into the tent and leaned the Jade Palace Halberd against the tent pillar.

The magic weapon that Master Kang had just acquired must have taken countless lives. The murderous aura emanating from the tip of the halberd sent a chill down Yuan Buwen's spine, and the flesh and blood in his wounds began to writhe slowly.

The golden light in the former's eyes vanished in an instant, which he keenly noticed. He then changed the direction of the magic weapon before Yuan Buwen responded, "It's certainly more presentable than before, but..."

The old man paused for a moment, then asked, "Is Marquis Wu Ning really not afraid that something might happen to them?"

Kang Dabao smiled and took out a brocade box from his pocket. Inside were two jade pendants engraved with the characters "An" and "Ning". He said, "These are items that I obtained from one of the hall masters of the Yunze Witch Lord Hall. They are enough to withstand a blow from a fake elixir. Although it is hard to guarantee that they will be completely safe, they should at least see some storms."

He placed the jade pendant on Yuan Buwen's desk and pushed it aside, indicating that the latter should examine it. Then he said, "If the blood from Yangmingshan can wash away the impurities from their bodies, it is indeed more valuable than any spiritual object."

Looking at the two jade pendants, Yuan Buwen suddenly understood that Kang Dabao wasn't indifferent; he had hidden his concern behind the clash of swords. This wasn't ruthlessness, but rather a hope that future generations would have some ability to stand on their own two feet.

The sect leader, Kang, was busy with important matters and did not stay long. The fact that he took the time to explain things to Yuan Buwen showed that he had not forgotten his original intentions, which was enough to satisfy Yuan Buwen.

The rosy glow of the setting sun gradually slanted, and the fragrance of newly brewed medicine wafted from the alchemy room.

Qi Ke came out carrying a batch of pills, his face covered in ash, but he smiled brightly: "It's done! This batch might save twenty people!"

At the same time, the array masters cheered, the star map at the bottom of the lake lit up completely, and the light screen of the Xuanhuang Remnant Array rippled outside the mountain. Although it was not as powerful as it was at its peak, it still had three-tenths of its power.

The whips of the deputy commanders of the Red Jade Guard were finally put away for the time being. Although the spear formation of the righteous soldiers was still not very orderly, it had become more fierce, and the murderous aura of the spear tips seemed to add color to the sunset.

This scene reassured Yuan Buwen, and this time, without hesitation, he reached for the book beside his pillow.

He wrote a letter to the Yuan family, without mentioning any casualties or requesting aid. He only said: "Changzhao and Changyan have both made progress. Although Yangmingshan is dangerous, it is a place where true gold is refined."

After finishing writing, Yuan Buwen suddenly laughed, as if even his old bones had been warmed by the blood and fire of the mountain. Suddenly, he heard a long horn sound from the mountaintop, echoing in the blood-scented wind.

Yuan Buwen smiled again, thinking that tomorrow at sunset, the rosy glow of Yangmingshan would be filled with the cold glint of spear tips.
Outside the tent, Kang Dabao was gazing at the light screen of the Xuanhuang Remnant Array.

The clear light of the Jade Palace Halberd blended with the light curtain, casting a long shadow on the ground, seemingly lessening its menacing aura.

He knew that Huang Mijia's counterattack was not far off, but looking at the busy figures all over the mountain—the righteous soldiers practicing spears, the array masters repairing the array, the alchemists refining medicine, and the two illegitimate sons clumsily busy in the alchemy room, he suddenly felt that Yangming Mountain was no longer a mountain protected by arrays.

This statement is somewhat naive and laughable, but the concept of human nature is by no means useless.

At this moment, the Xuanhuang Ring Vein Formation on Yangming Mountain has not been restored, and there are very few spirit crossbows left. But those hands that have been tempered in blood, waists that have been hardened in pain, and eyes that have turned red before the Book of the Dead are more solid than any formation.

The last rays of sunlight fell on Kang Changzhao's mortar and pestle, and the yellow tiger bone fragments in the medicinal paste shimmered with tiny sparkles in the light, like a handful of stars scattered.

He straightened up, rubbed his sore arms, and happened to meet Kang Changyan's gaze. The two brothers suddenly smiled.

In the distance, the chanting of the warrior monks could be heard faintly, carrying a hint of resentment.

But in the winds of Yangmingshan, there were other sounds—the clash of spears and halberds, the boiling of alchemical furnaces, the fluttering of battle flags, and the breathing of the young men, no longer timid. These sounds, mingled together, were more like a protective barrier for the mountain than any formation.

(End of this chapter)