Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 585 Encountering an Old Merchant in Fire Scale Valley, A Desperate Attack on Chongming in Red Valley

—Jingnan Prefecture, Baisha County
The morning mist in one corner of Firescale Valley had not yet dissipated. A pale blue miasma, mixed with the stench of decaying leaves and spiritual herbs, permeated the valley. The pebbles on the rocky beach were chilled by the night dew, but the silence was suddenly shattered by a series of chaotic footsteps.

A line of over three hundred figures in black robes stretched out sparsely, their robes mostly worn and faded to a pale white from being washed by cleansing talismans.

Some wealthy individuals had haphazardly pasted protective items such as breastplates and Vajra talismans on certain vital areas of their robes, making them particularly conspicuous in the morning light.

Anyone with discerning eyes can easily tell that this is a laughable act by an amateur. The added items do not add anything to the robes and instead hinder the operation of the spiritual barrier. It is not even worth mentioning as "better than nothing" and may even cost the person their life.

Aside from their robes, the various magical artifacts in the hands of the cultivators in the queue were also in poor condition, which was quite embarrassing. Some even picked up a few fragments of magical artifacts to refine and control, which was somewhat better than being empty-handed.

In contrast, there was a team sent by the Chongming Alliance.

Although the various robes in the formation were indistinguishable and the cultivators with "righteous followers" jade pendants on their waists looked exhausted, all the magical weapons and equipment were still complete.

The sharp-eyed warrior, wielding a knife, axe, and wooden club, had a resolute look in his eyes. His armor was not exactly intact, yet he still dared to charge into the enemy ranks amidst the fierce shouts of the junior officer holding the flag, unafraid of death.
The cultivators selected from the rear were physically strong, with shoulders so broad they seemed capable of running horses.

They drew their bows and nocked their arrows in one fluid motion. Even when the arrows were fired in rapid succession, blood and flesh splattered from their palms, and the exposed finger bones vibrated from the bowstrings, which were filled with spiritual light. The intense pain was enough to make even the toughest men grit their teeth, yet they still did not stop.

The ordinary rogue cultivators recruited by the Liangyi Sect with a single edict on the opposite side were just a group of defeated soldiers gathered together. The Liangyi Sect disciple with the missing ear and downcast eyebrows who led the group had no discipline. After enduring a hail of arrows while suppressing his fear, he ignored the voices of the cultivators behind him asking to retreat and continued to urge them forward with his sword.

But when the flag-bearing junior officer on the opposite side recognized the flag and activated it, and all sorts of restrictions lit up, enveloping the group of righteous men.

The rain of arrows falling from the sky grew heavier and heavier. Despite his constant fear, the man with the missing ear could not bring himself to utter the word "retreat."

He gritted his teeth and struggled, but it was no use. In the end, a scantily clad, glamorous female cultivator beside him took advantage of his unpreparedness, quickly squeezed into his chest, and stabbed him, instantly killing the man with the missing ear.

"We've lost! Run! That woman is ruthless. She only crawled out of that scoundrel's tent this morning, and a few hours later she's already done something so cruel!"

"Grandpas of the Chongming Alliance, please raise your knives higher,"

"I am of meager means, please..."

"Uh-huh,"

Zheng Yuntong took the flag from his back and swiftly thrust it, instantly killing the kneeling, glamorous female cultivator who had offered her head. His movements were remarkably skillful; with a slight flick of his wrist, the red blood at the tip of the flag gushed away.

With another surge of swords, axes, and wooden clubs, the hundred-person formation of the Liangyi Sect, which had been united together, scattered like birds and beasts in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Stay on!"

Zheng Yuntong shouted loudly, and as the spirit pattern on the flag that had been raised vibrated and lit up, Zheng Yuntong's shout immediately drowned out the shouts of killing throughout the arena.

The newly trained bandits, whose eyes were still bloodshot, were jolted by the shout, which brought back the pain of the whip marks on their backs. They paused, sheathed their weapons, and let the remaining enemy retreat back into their ranks.

The veteran cultivators who were chosen by Zheng Yuntong as his deputies looked at him with admiration, thinking to themselves that he truly deserved to be one of the most prominent figures in the inner sect of Chongming Sect.

It is said that the Grand Master of Chongming Sect was also very generous. Not only did he include two illegitimate sons with average aptitude in the team, but he was also willing to send out disciples with single spiritual roots like Zheng Yuntong, whose future was uncertain.

In ordinary households, such disciples might be guarded even more carefully than third-tier magic treasures.

Zheng Yuntong easily defeated a group of remnants of the army, but showed no sign of pride on his face.

His presence in this mountain valley was of little importance; the Liangyi Sect had only sent some weak soldiers to test the waters. If they were truly going to exert their strength, they wouldn't be so stingy as to not even send a single true cultivator.

He knew very well that this battlefield, personally commanded by a Nascent Soul cultivator, would not allow him, a mere Qi cultivator, to slack off for even a moment. Zheng Yuntong had no time to care about other people's expressions at this moment. He simply urged his accompanying deputy to count the broken weapons, the decapitations, and the spoils. After writing it down hastily in a few strokes, he immediately sent a message to the rear camp.

If it were an ordinary household, they might have to worry about not being able to get supplies.

However, Zheng Yuntong knew that since his sect leader emerged from seclusion, he had been using his silver tongue to please Senior Han, who was temporarily in charge of the rear camp.

Therefore, even if the war is not going well and supplies are tight, the rear camp will generally not be short of the needs of the cultivators of the Chongming Alliance.

However, after about half a day, the Fei family's group still hadn't arrived, but Zheng Yuntong met an acquaintance.

"What brings you here, peddler?"

After graduating from Yulin Hall, Zheng Yuntong obtained several well-paid jobs near Jiachou Military Camp, and thus met the peddler who usually did business in more than 400 households in Hanya Mountain a few times.

Seeing an old friend again at this time is quite heartwarming.

The peddler surnamed Shui was surprised to see Zheng Yuntong, a rising star among Chongming's disciples, present. However, his already amiable face softened further, and he responded cheerfully:

"In response to the order of Steward Zhou in the tower, I came to the battlefield to deliver urgently needed items to all the fellow Daoists, which can be considered as my small contribution to this war."

The peddler surnamed Shui was carrying nothing on his back at this time. His goods were always very valuable, and the simple cargo rack with the character "勤" (diligence) added to the lower right corner was now on the carriage behind him.

Accompanying them were twenty or thirty ruthless characters with a palpable aura of menace. At this moment, they could hardly be considered respectable, as their robes bore the marks of battle. It was likely that even if the caravan bore the Six-Leaf Azure Lotus Dao Seal of the Chongming Sect, it would be of no use in intimidating those arrogant individuals who had lost all reason.

After all, living a life-or-death situation for an extended period is no joke, and it's perfectly normal for some people to take risks.

As for what the peddler surnamed Shui said, Zheng Yuntong was quite clear about it. The former was simply taking risks to do some buying high and selling low on the front lines. The so-called "sent over" was just something to be heard but not believed.

Zheng Yuntong pointed his finger at the spot where the spoils had just been collected and said, "There are some rather unremarkable items here. Perhaps the peddler would do me the honor of taking a look?"

The peddler surnamed Shui knew perfectly well that Zheng Yuntong was being modest, and bowed deeply, saying, "That is indeed my wish."

Zheng Yuntong was originally completely ignorant of these administrative matters, but after spending a long time on the battlefield, he had learned some tricks of the trade.

With this inner disciple of the Chongming Sect by his side, the peddler surnamed Shui could not set prices arbitrarily like in other places. Zheng Yuntong was satisfied with the price and then picked out the items from the cart to pay the difference.

After the deal was done, the two started chatting about trivial matters.

"Among the more than four hundred families in Hanya Mountain and the families practicing cultivation in thirteen counties, there are many who have returned to their hometowns to report their merits and righteousness. There are countless people who have acquired land and property, those who have made progress in their cultivation, and those who have taken in other wives."

This has caused the price of land in Dezhou to rise by more than one cent, and now it is even more difficult to find young women of marriageable age with any beauty in the counties. Even many middle-aged women who are past their prime have benefited from this and become sought after. It is truly unreasonable.

However, this was also a good thing. Any reclusive cultivator in the state with even a little wealth and ambition would be tempted by this scene. The sight of cultivators crowding at the foot of Xiaohuan Mountain vying for the position was truly spectacular. Even in Chongming City, a residence for an ordinary person now cost one spirit stone for ten days.

"Uncle He has been practicing diligently in the Weaponry Hall, and his skills in weapon crafting have clearly improved. It seems that our sect leader is inclined to respond to the government's call and send him to serve under Master Gu Rong in Shanbei Road, hoping to secure his future."

"Elder Jiang's emergence from seclusion and subsequent slaying of three Pill Masters to consecrate his sword drew out Mo Hegu, a Golden Core cultivator from the Two Elements Sect. However, he was surrounded and attacked by three third-tier spirit puppets driven by a group of Pill Masters from the alliance. He was stabbed twice and forced to flee in serious condition?"

"Jin Tanglu, son of the garrison commander, has been ordered by the elders to return to Xiaohuan Mountain for secluded cultivation to build a foundation, due to his bravery on the battlefield and Jiang Tangpei, a disciple of the steward, for his diligence and meritorious service. There are also 28 other people on the list, who will return in turn as soon as Elder Ye sets the rules."

After inspecting the goods and settling the payment with spirit stones, the two talked for a long time before parting ways. In fact, these major matters were still too far removed from the lives of these minor Qi Refining cultivators.

Only after the Shui family peddler's caravan gradually disappeared from sight did Zheng Yuntong turn his gaze away.

All of the above, though seemingly chaotic, actually convey the same meaning: the storm has arrived, and who will emerge victorious? This is all too clear.

He composed himself, waiting for his newly acquired and joyful cultivators to rest for a while before he could organize his thoughts. But then he saw another message flying over from the horizon. He glanced at it casually, but was stunned by the few words it contained, his eyes widening like copper bells.

"On the main battlefront, the Fei family's Ying Shan army is actually no match for the Liangyi Sect disciples' formation?!?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Damn it, where did this mere Liangyi Sect get so many Foundation Establishment cultivators? Could it be that that old codger Pu Honggu has obtained some kind of spiritual treasure?! How did a remote sect like his accumulate so much resources?! When I, the patriarch, destroy his lineage, I will definitely find out the truth!!" Fei Tianqin's sharp beak was full of dissatisfaction. Seeing another vassal formation being broken up by the Liangyi Sect, and the battalion of Chongming Sect's Chizhang Guards that blocked the way also collapsing, he became even angrier.

Fortunately, it still retained some rationality and did not rush straight into the Two Elements Sect's formation to become a sitting duck. Instead, it sought out the opponent's Golden Core to vent its anger, as usual.

However, by this time, the cultivators from Pu Honggu on the Liangyi Sect side had all learned their lesson. Even though Fei Tianqin could wipe out the lives of a hundred-man Liangyi Sect army with a single flap of his wings, no one dared to confront his sharp edge.

Pu Honggu, who had just returned from Zhaixing Tower, was even more aura of death, causing even his fellow disciples, including Qiu Yunsheng and Li Yun, to give him a few steps back.

After a long while, Wei Guze, who succeeded Li Yun as the sect leader, looked at the blood-soaked battlefield again and finally could not hold back: "Senior Brother, if we continue to push him like this, all our hard work over the years will be in vain."

The cultivators in the hall all knew what Wei Guze meant. Originally, the matter of the Blood Foundation Pill was relatively secret, but as the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect sprang up like mushrooms after rain, even if Pu Honggu and Li Yun wanted to cover it up, it would be extremely difficult.

When others found out, they were naturally terrified, but Pu Honggu had already made a grave mistake.

Moreover, if the news were to spread, even Bai Canhong of Zhaixing Tower would not be able to sit idly by and would have to take action personally to clear himself of any connection with the evil deeds committed by Liangyi Sect.

The other Golden Core cultivators of the Liangyi Sect, who were stuck on the wrong side of the law, had no choice but to help Pu Honggu plant restrictions and erase the memories of each disciple who had advanced to true cultivation through the Blood Foundation Pill and Yi Yin's secret technique, in order to preserve the lineage to this day.

However, after returning from Zhaixing Tower, Pu Honggu gave up the idea of ​​concealing his intentions. Even though he knew that the knowledgeable old bird on the other side had become suspicious, he still paid the full amount.

Wei Guze's advice did not change Pu Honggu's mind. The Grand Elder of Liangyi Sect merely raised his eyelids slightly, his cloudy eyes like mixed jade. With a slight sweep of his cold gaze, he made Wei Guze, a late-stage cultivator, shrink back and dare not speak again.

Pu Honggu didn't mention to his fellow disciples that the visit of the True Man Qingxuan of Taiyi Temple to Zhaixing Tower had greatly excited Bai Canhong. Instead, he asked in a cold voice, "Has Kang Dabao gone into battle yet?"

Li Yun stepped forward and replied, "I haven't seen it yet."

"Order the sect's Daoist troops to abandon the Fei family's Yingshan army, and further order all families within their jurisdiction not to retreat, but to entangle these sect's lackeys! The Daoist troops will change their attack direction and break the Chongming Alliance first!!"

Pu Honggu's words fell into the hall like a piece of ice being smashed into boiling water, causing the expressions of Wei Guze, Li Yun, and other Golden Core cultivators to change drastically.

Although the Fei family's Yingshan army suffered several defeats, they still had Fei Tianqin, a top demon officer, to lead the charge. Moreover, the cultivators under their command were well-armored and coordinated, which made the battle extremely costly.
To abandon them now and turn to attack the Chongming Alliance would be tantamount to deliberately running into another tough opponent. Everyone knows that although the Chongming Alliance has a shallow foundation, it has rising stars like Kang Dabao who can kill Huang Mijiashi in battle.

Moreover, the Chizhang Guard and Qingjue Guard are both elite troops who have experienced many battles, and even their loyal followers are of one mind and one heart. They are the most troublesome force in the Fei family's formation besides the Yingshan Army. Even if we want to attack the weak points in the enemy's formation, it should not fall on the Chongming Alliance.

"Senior Brother, this is probably not a good strategy!" Li Yun hurriedly stepped forward, his tone urgent. "If the Daoist soldiers rashly turn to attack, they will likely suffer heavy losses!"

Pu Honggu ignored him, his eyes growing even more deathly. He tapped the array diagram on the table lightly with his fingertips, his voice as cold as ice: "No one below Master Fei Tianqin can rival him. It is already remarkable that he can keep the disciples of all families entangled with him. Now that it is in the array, the Yingshan Army will find it difficult to break through."
While Kang Dabao certainly has some skills, compared to that old bird, he's like a grain of rice. Furthermore, the Chongming Alliance's rear camp lacks a high-level cultivator; breaking through it would cripple the Fei family. You only need to listen to my words; there's no need to ask any further questions.”

Having said that, the cultivators in the hall had no room for rebuttal.

Qiu Yunsheng took one last look at the almost lifeless senior brother in front of him, said nothing, and led his junior brothers to bow and accept the order before turning around and leaving quickly.

For a moment, only Pu Honggu remained in the tent. He stared at the location of the Chongming Alliance on the array diagram, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Few knew that his desperate gamble was driven by a sliver of hope for achieving Nascent Soul status. He still remembered the letter before Master Huang Mijia.

The order for the Liangyi Sect's troops to switch to attack spread like wildfire across the battlefield. Countless Liangyi Sect disciples abandoned their entanglement with Fei Jiayingshan's army and pressed towards the Chongming Alliance's defensive line.

The wind in the valley suddenly picked up, and the pale blue miasma was stirred up by the dust kicked up by the procession. Amidst the surging waves of black robes, the cold glint of broken swords and axes and the faint glow of spirit crystal fragments intertwined, revealing a ruthless ferocity that spared no expense.

The Chongming Alliance's defenses were already weakened by days of fierce fighting, and now, facing a surprise attack from the main force of the Liangyi Sect, they were instantly plunged into a bitter battle.

The Crimson Guard cultivators at the front line formed a spear formation, crimson baleful energy condensing at the spear tips, but they were forced back repeatedly by the swarming Dao soldiers. Some cultivators were struck by several swords and axes at the same time, the sound of armor shattering and bones breaking mixed together, and blood flowed down the spear shafts, forming thin streams on the ground;

The Azure Lotus Platforms of the Azure Guards in the back row broke and grew back, broke and grew back again. The corpses in front of them piled up to almost as tall as themselves, but the Dao soldiers charged forward by stepping on the corpses of their comrades. Soaked in blood, they quickly lost their spiritual power and slumped to the ground.

Duan Anle stood on the high platform, waving his command flag until it was almost blurred, his voice hoarse as he shouted out the dispatch instructions:

"Hold the left wing! Jue Zhangshi has captured the opposing Dan Master. Huo Lin Valley has encountered the old Shang in its first battle. Pu Hong Valley is making a desperate gamble to attack Chongming! Qing Jue and Chi Zhang guards, move forward. Song Feng Yi Cong and Ta Xiao Qi are ready to fight."

But all that answered him were the increasingly close sounds of fighting and screams.

The dozen or so pseudo-core cultivators from the Liangyi Sect pierced the defensive line like sharp knives. The spiritual energy slashes unleashed by second-tier spiritual weapons and third-tier magic treasures easily tore through the robes of the Chongming Alliance cultivators. Many of the followers didn't even have time to react before falling into pools of blood.

At this moment, in the rear camp of the Chongming Alliance, Kang Dabao had just received Duan Anle's plea for help. The spiritual power at his fingertips had not yet dissipated when he heard a deafening roar from ahead.

He suddenly stood up, the Jade Palace Halberd humming in his palm, and his spiritual power surged instantly.

When he rushed out of the tent, the scene before him made his pupils shrink: the Chongming Alliance's defenses had been torn open in several places, and the Dao soldiers of the Liangyi Sect poured in like a tide. Black figures were mixed with the various robes of the Chongming Alliance, and there was fighting and fleeing everywhere.

"Master!!" Duan Anle's voice came from the high platform. He was usually very calm and composed, but now his voice was trembling with sobs.

The disciple holding the flag beside him had been cut in two by a magical weapon, and he himself was covered in blood from his shoulder, yet he still stared intently at the front of the formation, trying to organize the remaining cultivators to counterattack.

Kang Dabao's eyes were bloodshot, and spiritual energy exploded beneath his feet as he charged towards the front of the formation like an arrow.

The Jade Palace Halberd unleashed a beam of clear light, cleaving two pseudo-core cultivators from the Two Elements Sect who were slaughtering the Righteous Army in two. The baleful aura on the halberd's tip surged instantly, forcing back the surrounding Dao soldiers.

But just as he rescued a few disciples, he heard a cold laugh coming from the void: "Sect Leader Kang, I've long admired your name!"

Pu Honggu's figure landed in front of Kang Dabao like a ghost, surrounded by deathly aura, his eyes cloudy yet revealing murderous intent.

Before he could even regain his footing, he summoned his natal magic treasure, the Taiyi Xuanji Barrier, in front of him. Seven shards of silver jade on the sunny side drew down star power, condensing into a pale silver light curtain in mid-air, protecting his entire body like a full moon;

Using the power of the earth's magnetic field, the magnetic mother stone on the shady side silently set up a primordial energy barrier under Kang Dabao's feet. Dark patterns faintly appeared on the ground, as if countless invisible chains were trying to bind the limbs of the person who came.

"We've only just met, and you're already trying to take my life!" Pu Honggu said expressionlessly, his left hand forming a hand seal. Another palm-sized jade map flew out from his sleeve; it was the Two Elements Sect's treasure, the "Two Elements Micro Dust Map."

The moment the jade diagram unfolded, countless tiny points of light scattered from it, condensing in the air into two illusory fish, "Yin" and "Yang." The fish's eyes glowed with a dark red spiritual light, drawing in the surrounding miasma and transforming it into two rotating columns of energy that pressed down on Kang Dabao's body.

Kang Dabao's pupils shrank suddenly, spiritual energy exploded beneath his feet, and he retreated rapidly, simultaneously holding the Jade Palace Destroyer Halberd horizontally in front of him.

He had long heard of the fame of Pu Honggu's two magical treasures, but only now had he been able to have them personally taken care of by the latter, so he was naturally nervous.

Kang Dabao's heart sank. He tried to retreat by unleashing spiritual energy beneath his feet, but found that his ankles were already bound by the Yuan Qi barrier, and his spiritual energy flow instantly became sluggish.

In his haste, he held the Jade Palace Shattering Halberd horizontally in front of him. The halberd's body shone with a burst of clear light, and he slashed at the pillar of energy on his left. With a crisp "clang," the clear light collided with the pillar of energy and was actually bounced back. The halberd's shaft made his hands go numb from the shock.

Meanwhile, the pillar of energy on the right side seized the opportunity to strike, grazing past his robe and tearing a large hole in the fabric. The spiritual patterns on the Heluo Xuan Armor instantly dimmed, as the Yin and Yang forces could actually dissolve the spiritual light on his defensive magic weapon!
Pu Honggu's face immediately showed some eagerness, and without saying anything more, he shouted again: "Die!"

But his eyes showed even more murderous intent, and he made a hand seal with his right hand to activate the Taiyi Xuanji Barrier.

The seven shattered silver jades on the light screen lit up simultaneously, and seven silver lines shot towards Kang Dabao like meteors. Each silver line was filled with pure star power and aimed directly at his dantian, the space between his eyebrows, and other vital points.

Kang Dabao hurriedly swung his halberd to block, but the silver lines were too fast. He only managed to block four of them, while the remaining three grazed his arm, leaving three deep wounds that exposed the bone. Blood instantly stained his black armor crimson.

"Surrender, and you might live!"

Pu Honggu uttered another mind-altering remark, but the next moment he felt a slight stinging pain in his sea of ​​consciousness. He subconsciously frowned for a moment. This was because the Great Master Kang's Divine Thrust had once again succeeded, causing the halberd in his hand to approach the old cultivator Pu Honggu's side. This halberd technique was truly remarkable, and immediately a patch of blood was drawn from the latter's body.

"Fine, fine, fine!!!" Pu Honggu laughed in anger, about to unleash another attack, but saw that Sect Leader Kang had no intention of fighting again. He was just rushing towards Fei Tianqin, who was being entangled by a group of cultivators, in order to avoid the dying old cultivator's imposing presence.

But Pu Honggu was unwilling to give up his own opportunity, and in a fit of rage, he roared, "Where do you think you're going?!"

(End of this chapter)