From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 264 The battlefield is perilous, and life and death are unpredictable.

Xiang Zhiye didn't expect his men to have the morale and loyalty to fight to the death; he only hoped they wouldn't falter at crucial moments or even betray him.

He led his men to their destination.

Half a day later, the Yuanli County Immortal Army he led joined forces with the Huangting County Immortal Army led by Wuma Boxuan.

The two sides have roughly the same number of people and similar overall strength.

Xiang Zhiye and Wuma Boxuan had already discussed their plan. Given the strength of their army, getting too close to the third-tier demon beast would definitely alert it.

The third-tier spiritual land is still dozens of miles away. The two of them will go there first, and the rest will follow.

Xiang Zhiye and Wu Maboxuan transformed into two streaks of light and vanished from everyone's sight in an instant.

As the deputy commander-in-chief, Xiang Chunying led the group: "Everyone, speed up, fly at full speed!"

brush--

Numerous cultivators followed in the direction of the two Golden Core cultivators.

A moment later, everyone noticed that the concentration of spiritual energy around them had suddenly increased, indicating that they were approaching a spiritual land.

Just then, a towering battle surge erupted in the distance.

The rumbling sound, like thunder rolling in the sky, came from more than ten miles away.

The closer they got, the more they felt the terrifying aura of the Golden Core cultivator and the third-tier demon beast.

"When you see any monsters, immediately cast ranged spells to kill them all, leaving no one alive."

As Xiang Chunying spoke, she led everyone closer.

Before the crowd could even see the third-tier demon beast and the Golden Core cultivator making their move, they first saw peach petals fluttering in the air ahead.

Considering Xiang Zhiye's reputation as "Peach Blossom Immortal," this was clearly the commotion he caused.

A second-tier demonic bear escaped from the front and ran headlong into the celestial army.

This demonic bear was three zhang tall, with a robust and broad body. It moved quite quickly, and its aura was equivalent to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Upon seeing the large number of human cultivators, it paused for a moment, then reacted and changed direction without a word, fleeing. It wasn't stupid; it knew it couldn't possibly fight off so many human cultivators.

However, Xiang Chunying had no intention of letting it go.

"kill!"

As the sound rang out, Xiang Chunying unleashed a wooden spike spell, sending a large number of wooden spikes flying towards the demon bear.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators behind her all made their move.

Spirit swords, wooden spikes, water arrows, fireballs, meteorites—the five elements of magic were everywhere.

These techniques are merely the most basic Five Elements spells, not even worthy of being called moves, much less their signature moves.

But there were just too many of them.

The combined number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in their two counties' celestial armies is as high as a thousand. Even if each of them were to casually cast a small spell, it would be enough to overwhelm that second-tier demonic bear.

The demonic bear was overwhelmed by the overwhelming magic, leaving not even a corpse behind, turning into ashes and vanishing into nothingness.

This is the terror of legion warfare.

No matter how strong the demon bear is individually, even if it is invincible in the Foundation Establishment realm, it will be instantly killed when facing a thousand enemies of the same Foundation Establishment realm.

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.

Everyone continued to move forward.

Snap, clang, boom!
The sounds gradually became clearer.

They saw the real battleground.

On one side were Xiang Zhiye and Wuma Boxuan.

On the other side was a third-tier demonic python.

The monstrous python was thirty zhang long, its body thicker than a hundred-year-old tree, with horns on its head, scarlet eyes, and four sharp teeth in its mouth. Its body was covered with indestructible scales.

As Xiang Zhiye made his gestures, peach petals kept falling from the sky.

These peach blossom petals fluttered and swirled within a radius of several miles.

To these people, the peach blossom petals seemed powerless, like petals drifting in the wind during peach blossom season.

However, for the demonic python, these peach blossoms concealed a hidden danger. The inconspicuous petals that fell upon it turned into deadly charms, exploding upon contact, or transforming into spiritual poison that corroded its body.

The petals fluttering in the air also had a disorienting effect, making it difficult for the demonic python to discern directions.

A kilometer away, Xu Zhongxu was secretly shocked as he watched this scene.

He possesses the spiritual roots of wood and earth, and his cultivation of the Immortal Farmer's Foundation Building Technique primarily utilizes wood-based magic in combat.

Xiang Zhiye is clearly also skilled in wood-type magic.

"What an amazing method..."

Xu Zhongxu knew this was a rare opportunity to gain enlightenment, as he would never normally see a Golden Core cultivator skilled in wood fighting in front of him.

He carefully pondered its profound mysteries.

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.

咻咻咻~~
Wu Ma Boxuan's fighting style is using flying swords.

Around the serpent, streaks of golden light arced through the air, attacking it from various angles.

Because of its indestructible scales, all the flying swords that struck it were deflected after leaving behind a spray of sparks.

However, this flying sword posed a greater threat to the demonic python than those peach petals with unpredictable effects.

The serpent had to constantly dodge, avoiding its eyes, mouth, nose, and other vital areas to prevent being hit by the flying swords.

However, there were too many flying swords, their trajectories were unpredictable, and their speed was extremely fast.

……

Wu Ma Boxuan's methods deeply shocked Xu Xiaohou and Xu Likun.

Both of them used flying swords as their fighting method.

Xu Xiaohou's current skill level is limited to controlling two magical flying swords simultaneously. In fact, he has long been proficient in controlling two flying swords and is capable of attempting to control three.

However, when he tried to control the three flying swords, he found that the power of each sword was greatly reduced and he could not control them precisely.

The power of controlling three flying swords is not as great as controlling two flying swords.

Xu Lijing's situation is similar to Xu Xiaohou's. He has been studying the art of flying swords for a shorter time than Xu Xiaohou, and he can currently only skillfully control two flying swords.

At this moment, Wuma Boxuan, who was fighting against a third-tier demonic beast, was controlling so many flying swords that Xu Xiaohou and Xu Lijing could not see them clearly.

Xu Xiaohou kept his eyes glued to the flying swords, wanting only to keep up with their speed and count how many there were.

After a moment, he counted them all: thirteen flying swords in total!
The thirteen flying swords each have a different trajectory, but they work together to form a special pattern.

The speed and power of each flying sword far exceeded Xu Xiaohou's abilities.

Based on Xu Xiaohou's visual judgment, the flying sword was a "magic weapon" used by a Golden Core cultivator, and its quality was far superior to the "spiritual artifacts" used by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

That flying sword was enough to instantly kill any Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Wuma Boxuan controlled a total of thirteen such magical flying swords.

"That serpent is about to be defeated!"

Xu Xiaohou discovered that under Xiang Zhiye's control, Wuma Boxuan's flying swords were becoming increasingly tricky, making it impossible for the demon python to defend against them.

Several of its weak points have been breached, especially its abdomen, where scales have fallen off and demon blood has been spilled.

The flying sword focused its attack on the injured area, and it looked like it was about to severely injure the demonic python.

"You beast, prepare to die!"

Wuma Boxuan shouted and pressed his advantage, seemingly about to kill the third-tier demon python.

"Damn humans~~"

The serpent mimicked a human voice, producing a mocking and unpleasant sound, like grit rubbing against its throat.

It suddenly opened its python mouth towards Shino, its tongue flicking in and out.

Given its size, the enormous open mouth of that python could easily swallow five or six people in one gulp.

hiss--!
A strange, sucking force erupted. "Buzz~~"

Xiang Zhiye's sea of ​​consciousness trembled and buzzed, and his soul seemed to be on the verge of leaving his body.

Not only his soul, but even his golden core in his lower abdomen had the illusion that it was about to leave his body.

He was terrified and quickly backed away.

The serpent's divine power was so strange and domineering that he dared not face its sharp edge.

Xiang Zhiye and Wu Maboxuan were originally positioned on either side to prevent the demon python from escaping.

At this moment, Xiang Zhiye dodged, leaving an opening for the demon python to escape.

Knowing that he would be no match for the two if he delayed any longer, the python turned around and fled desperately after forcing Xiang Zhiye back.

The direction it fled in was precisely where the Yuanli County immortal soldiers who were watching were.

It had no better option, because on the other side was the immortal army of Huangting County.

They were surrounded from four directions by two Golden Core cultivators and two teams of immortal legions.

"Stop it!"

Xiang Zhiye dared not step forward for a moment and ordered his men to use magic to stop him.

Relying on their numbers, the people of Yuanli County disregarded the fact that their opponent was a powerful third-tier demonic beast and began casting spells just as they had done with the second-tier demonic beasts they had killed earlier.

A deluge of spells rushed towards the demonic python.

But this time, their human wave tactic failed.

Human emotions surfaced in the serpent's crimson eyes: "disdain" and "mockery".

Although there were many of them, they were all ants that could not penetrate its defenses.

Those weak and ineffective spells, when they landed on it, could not break through its indestructible, fire- and water-resistant scales.

"Sigh~~"

It was enraged by the human cultivators who had fought over its territory for over a hundred years, and all of its second-tier demon beasts had been killed or wounded. It wanted to kill some human cultivators to vent its resentment.

It opened its mouth, using the same move it had used against Xiang Zhiye earlier.

That move was almost too much for Xiang Zhiye to handle; he only escaped unharmed because he dodged in time.

Those Foundation Establishment cultivators, however, were not so lucky.

They had no chance of resisting the supernatural power of the third-tier demonic python.

"Dad, get out of the way!"

Xu Zhongxu had noticed something was wrong just now. The moment he sensed danger, he grabbed Xu Likun, the weakest person next to him, and shouted to warn Xu Xiaohou, before flying away to the side.

"Hide!"

Everyone realized what was happening.

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Yiqing covered for each other.

Xu Xiaoniu wanted to stand in front of Xu Yiqing, while Xu Yiqing wanted to shield Xu Xiaoniu behind him. Their thoughts were identical: to protect each other immediately.

Fortunately, the Xu family members were not at the front; their cultivation levels were generally lower, and they were positioned to the side or rear of the group.

At the forefront of their army were cultivators in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

These late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were the primary targets of the demonic python's supernatural powers.

"Om~~"

One by one, souls left their bodies and were swallowed into the belly of the demonic python.

Before their deaths, those late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators saw their bodies fall downwards, while their souls uncontrollably flew into the mouth of the demonic python.

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.

The third-tier demonic python killed more than a dozen late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators with a single move.

They didn't even have a chance to struggle.

The serpent swallowed over a dozen souls, its eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of "enjoying a feast." Unfortunately, its supernatural powers couldn't be unleashed indefinitely; each use required a period of recovery.

This supernatural technique could even harm a Golden Core cultivator if they were not careful.

Once your soul is sucked out by it, you will surely die.

The serpent had just used its supernatural power on Shino, and then used it a second time, but this time the power was much weaker.

If it were to use this technique a third time, its power would only be weaker, and it would instead deplete its own strength.

It showed no reluctance and continued to flee.

"Don't let it escape, kill it!"

Xiang Chunying was still shaken. Fortunately, she was in the role of supervisor and stayed at the rear of the team. Otherwise, even she, who had just reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, would not have been able to withstand the supernatural attacks of a third-tier demon beast.

More than a dozen late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators have died; we can't let it escape again.

This time, Xiang Chunying held nothing back, unleashing her strongest killing move. Dozens of branches resembling willow branches, each a hundred feet long, flew out from her body towards the demonic python, seemingly intending to entangle and bind it.

The others were still in shock, but in this critical moment, they had no choice but to unleash their full power.

Just now, when they dealt with the second-tier demonic beast, they simply released the most basic spells.

At this moment, they all used their ultimate moves.

With a flick of his wrist, Xu Xiaohou sent two invisible flying swords flying to the left and right.

Xu Yiqing unleashed ice arrows; five ice arrows, shrouded in chilling icy mist, flew towards the demonic python.

Xu Zhongxu used a move similar to Xiang Chunying's, a clump of vines flying towards the demonic python like a tentacle monster.

……

The combined power of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators' ultimate techniques is indeed remarkable.

Even if a single person's move couldn't break through the demonic python's defenses, the combination of so many moves was enough to cause it trouble.

Of course, it's unlikely that these people can kill a third-tier demonic python with their skills.

Their plan was not to kill the demonic python, but to prevent it from escaping and buy time for Xiang Zhiye and Wuma Boxuan.

From the moment the demonic python devoured the souls of more than a dozen late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to the moment the crowd retaliated, only a brief instant had passed.

In the few moments that they were held back, the two caught up.

Especially Wuma Boxuan, whose flying sword posed the greatest threat to the demon python.

More than a dozen flying swords transformed into streaks of light, all striking the already injured weak points of the demonic python.

Several of the flying swords pierced through his body and disappeared inside.

……

A moment later, the serpent finally gave out, its life force rapidly fading as it plummeted downwards.

Boom!

A gigantic serpent, thirty feet long, fell from the sky, causing the earth to shake violently.

"Hu~~"

Xiang Zhiye breathed a sigh of relief. This battle was a bit dangerous, but fortunately he had been on high alert and escaped unscathed.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit, let alone when the opponent is not a rabbit, but an enemy of equal strength.

When facing a monster of equal strength, he was always on guard against any desperate moves the opponent might have.

"More than a dozen late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators died. What a pity."

However, for him, it was only a slight regret.

With over a thousand men under his command, it was normal and acceptable for a dozen or so to die in a single battle.

He instructed everyone: "Collect the bodies of those dozen or so people, burn them to ashes using fire magic, put them in jars, and send them back to their homes. Also send their personal belongings, such as their storage bags, back home."

Yuanli County will provide them with compensation for their deaths in battle.

People who die cannot be brought back to life, but the living still exist. These things are done for the living to see, so as not to let them feel disheartened.

(End of this chapter)