Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 286 Rescue
"What they want to deplete is our magical power."

Shao Zhen's face turned pale. "The drumbeats were just a deceptive tactic to make us take this attack seriously. In fact, after the zombies swarmed in, they attacked very infrequently, a stark contrast to before."

What is the purpose of doing this?

He Xuan still didn't understand, because there were more than just people present at the scene.

Behind the array pavilion, there were over a hundred disciples of the Green Cloud Cave and over fifty disciples of the Good Cloud Sect, among whom no fewer than twenty had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining.

Even if the seven cultivators are out of power, other cultivators can take turns to continue the defense.

Shao Zhen's forehead was covered in cold sweat: "I don't know. Perhaps the evil people of the Mang Sect have already found a way to break the formation, and they want to take the formation pavilion in one fell swoop!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present suddenly changed their expressions.

"impossible?"

Long Yang frowned: "This is a second-tier formation—the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he hesitated.

Even second-tier formations have varying levels of power. The Lesser Mysterious Yin Spirit Formation was clearly more powerful than the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation, yet it was still broken.

If that's the case, how could he be so sure that the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation was impregnable?

"I'm afraid we'll have to ask Master for help!"

At this moment, He Xuan said heavily.

Shao Zhen has always been quick-witted and can usually see things that others cannot. He often plays the role of "strategist" in Green Cloud Cave.

With a formidable enemy at hand, he believed Shao Zhen wouldn't joke around.

If the Mang Sect demons can indeed break the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation, then Green Cloud Cave will lose all its array barriers.

This is an outcome that Green Cloud Cave absolutely cannot accept.

At this critical juncture, we have no choice but to bring out the Green Cloud Fairy.

However, no one responded to him.

Of the seven people present, everyone except He Xuan knew perfectly well that the "Green Cloud Fairy" of Rongchun Residence was an imposter.

Even if the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation is truly broken, "Green Cloud Fairy" will not be able to intervene.

Zhang Min's gaze fell on He Xuan, and she felt a pang of regret.

It's all my fault for doubting my senior brother back then and not telling him the truth.

If time could be reversed, with He Xuan's prestige and influence, the disciples of Green Cloud Cave would be at his beck and call, and exposing the true face of "Green Cloud Fairy" and completely expelling Shan Yun Sect would be a piece of cake.

But upon closer reflection, Zhang Min couldn't help but sigh.

In addition to internal troubles, Green Cloud Cave also faces external threats.

The pressure facing Green Cloud Cave today will only increase after driving out the Good Cloud Gate.

This is also why Zhang Min has not yet revealed her true feelings to He Xuan.

Once she reveals the truth, He Xuan will surely be furious.

Before the Mang Sect can even break the formation, a bloody battle is about to break between Green Cloud Cave and Shanyun Gate.

Shanyun Sect only wants to be in charge, while Mang Sect will exterminate them.

For the sake of the bigger picture, she and Mao Jingze had no choice but to remain silent.

She knew, of course, that doing so would only embolden the Shan Yun Sect and intensify their ambition to annex the Green Cloud Cave, but she really didn't know what to do.

It seems that no matter what she does, it's wrong.

Upon hearing He Xuan's plan to bring up Fairy Green Cloud, Long Yang and Shao Zhen exchanged glances.

"Senior Brother He, you overestimate the Mang Sect demons. Senior Uncle Green Cloud is about to break through to the next realm; how could he have time to deal with these clowns?"

Long Yang said calmly, "But Senior Brother He, please rest assured, I have already asked my master to come out of seclusion, and the evil people of the Mang Sect will not be arrogant for long."

"Has Uncle Shanyun emerged from seclusion?"

He Xuan was overjoyed.

Since the two factions decided to join forces, Fairy Shanyun has been in seclusion cultivating and has not shown her face for a long time.

However, in any case, Fairy Shanyun is a master in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and her strength is comparable to that of Fairy Lüyun.

If she were willing to intervene, the current predicament of Green Cloud Cave would surely be resolved.

However, Zhang Min and Mao Jingze could not feel as happy as He Xuan.

The fact that Shanyun Sect dared to impersonate Fairy Green Cloud and seize the foundation of Green Cloud Cave must have been with Fairy Green Cloud's tacit approval, or even her own plan.

Her appearance will only accelerate the process of Shanyunmen annexing Lvyundong.

"Master, oh Master, where are you?"

Zhang Min was anxious but powerless, and could only pray silently.

However, her devout prayers did not receive a response from the Green Cloud Fairy.

Instead, they were met with an even fiercer offensive from the Mang Cult.
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"Everyone, I have received a message from the Dharma Protector. He will be back soon. Please be prepared."

Outside the pavilion, Madam Zhen smiled and addressed the crowd.

"Since he can transmit his voice, it seems that Wu Hufa's condition has improved."

Yin Guangyang breathed a sigh of relief, his words tinged with a hint of joy.

A normal Faceless Man is the backbone of the Mang Cult, but a madman who has lost his mind and only knows how to kill is someone even the Mang Cult cannot withstand.

At this moment, Qu Xian hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked, "I've heard that there's a way to alleviate the illness of the Protectorless, and that's cannibalism. Is that true?"

Yin Guangyang glanced at him and replied indifferently, "Most rumors are just hearsay."

Even so, Yin Guangyang still couldn't help but shudder when he recalled the terrifying scene of the Faceless Man's attack.

He didn't know if eating people could alleviate his condition.

But he had personally witnessed the Faceless Man eating people.

"What are you muttering about? Yin Guangyang, take out your infant corpse."

Madam Zhen said unhappily.

Yin Guangyang dared not delay and immediately brought out the two infant corpses he had carefully prepared.

The Faceless Man eats people, causing them to die in the most terrifying way; Madam Zhen trains puppets, turning people into beings that are neither human nor ghost.

He was wary of both of their methods.

In comparison, digging up a few ancient tombs and stealing a few corpses is nothing compared to the bigger picture.

"Only two?"

Madam Zhen's voice came again.

Yin Guangyang's lips twitched. These infant corpses were called "Netherworld Children," which he had found in a ruin. They possessed the miraculous power of corrupting magic and were treasured by him.

It is important to know that magical power determines a cultivator's strength.

The Netherworld Child is particularly effective against magical power, making it crucial in magical duels.

Therefore, he has been trying to refine more Netherworld Children as his trump card.

However, this thing is extremely difficult to make.

Putting aside the materials, in order to achieve the effect of corrupting magic, one must select an extremely yin person who drowned while still an infant as the source of the corpse.

People with extremely Yin nature are already rare, let alone a drowned child who died young.

Anyway, he hasn't encountered a suitable source of corpses all these years.

Although he had mastered the art of crafting, these Netherworld Children were finitely rare, making them fundamentally different from other zombies.

Being able to spare two weapons to break the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation already made him feel incredibly distressed.

"let's start."

Having received Yin Guangyang's Netherworld Child, Madam Zhen waved her hand.

Qu Xian, in excellent condition, was the first to go on stage. He suddenly ripped open his clothes, and sparks flew from his skin, making him look like a man on fire.

Then, he drew a longbow, its bow gleaming brightly in the firelight.

"Boom!" With a loud bang, the rocket exploded above the array's protective shield, bursting into a dazzling display of fireworks.

Under the cover of firelight and smoke, the woodcutter beside Madam Zhen, carrying two Netherworld Children, approached the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation with lightning speed and without a sound.

"Stay in your positions and don't panic!"

He Xuan shouted, trying to calm the disciples who were constantly injecting magic power into the formation.

Just then, the Green Cloud Cave cultivator who was controlling the formation seemed to sense something and hurriedly shouted to He Xuan, "Senior Brother He, someone is coming!"

"It's that infant corpse!"

He Xuan's expression changed; he recognized the Netherworld Child in the woodcutter's arms at a glance.

Prior to this, the Mang Sect had also used infant corpses, but that was merely a probing attack. After being repelled by the combined efforts of the two sects, the Mang Sect became much more cautious, with its main objective being to deplete the magical power of the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation.

But now, they are clearly preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation.

The Mang Sect is not stupid; they would not deliberately send one or two people to their deaths. The woodcutter must have brought a method to break the formation.

"Don't let him get close! Follow me and attack!"

He Xuan's roar was like a war drum, inspiring everyone's fighting spirit.

He swayed and rushed out of the formation's protective range, his longsword transforming into a bolt of lightning as he slashed straight at the woodcutter.

The woodcutter's movements were thwarted, so he quickly drew his axe to counter. The two completely different magical powers collided fiercely in the air, unleashing a deafening roar.

"What a great person!"

As soon as they exchanged blows, He Xuan was secretly alarmed.

He, a dignified cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, couldn't gain the slightest advantage.

However, Long Yang, Shao Zhen, and others also made their moves.

In just a few moves, the woodcutter was firmly trapped to one side by the disciples of the two factions.

The two Netherworld Child figures in his arms were rendered useless.

Madam Zhen, who was watching from the sidelines, nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this scene.

Her slender fingers gently formed hand seals, and wisps of pale pink magical energy began to emanate from her body, like a thin mist in the morning light, beautiful and mysterious.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Yin Guangyang's expression turned suspicious. He seemed to have thought of something and hurriedly shouted, "Protector Zhen, stop!"

But how could Madam Zhen possibly obey Yin Guangyang's orders?
A nonchalant smile played on her lips as she continued chanting the incantation.

As the last syllable faded, the woodcutter, far away on the battlefield, began to release the same pale pink smoke as Lady Zhen.

Immediately afterwards, the magic power within the woodcutter began to run rampant out of control, like a powder keg that had been lit, ready to explode at any moment.

"No, run away!"

He Xuan's face turned pale; he never expected the woodcutter to choose to self-destruct.

The full power of a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator was released, or rather, exploded, in an instant.

Its power is so great that it can destroy the heavens and the earth.

Despite everyone's eagerness to get ahead, the shockwave from the explosion swept around like a tsunami, engulfing everything in its path.

"puff!"

He Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood and fell into the battle pavilion.

He was lucky to escape unscathed, but he doesn't know how his other junior brothers and sisters fared.

Just then, Long Yang and Shao Zhen stumbled in.

The others were nowhere to be found.

"Min'er!"

Shao Zhen, his face filled with panic, shouted.

But all outside was filled with firelight and smoke, and no one responded to Shao Zhen's cries.

"Senior Sister Zhang!"

The disciples from both factions located behind the formation pavilion also noticed the terrifying explosion and rushed over, with Yin Feng shouting the loudest.

Looking at the crowd before him and then at the tragic scene outside, He Xuan felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

Thus, the two true disciples of Green Cloud Cave perished.

How can he explain all this to his master?
Long Yang's expression was equally grim; two cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining from the Shan Yun Sect had also failed to return.

The woodcutter's self-destruction not only weakened the power of the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation, but also nearly wiped out the high-ranking members of both factions.

"He Xuan, is this how you take care of your junior brothers and sisters?"

At this moment, a cold voice sounded.

He Xuan was taken aback and before he could answer, Long Yang beside him had already knelt down: "Disciple respectfully welcomes Master's arrival."

"Master?"

He Xuan realized his mistake and immediately bowed, saying, "This junior knows he was wrong. Please, Uncle-Master, help me."

"Humph."

As the voice faded, a female cultivator dressed in a light blue robe appeared before everyone; it was none other than Fairy Shanyun.

Fairy Shanyun folded up her sleeves, revealing several people lying beneath her, including Zhang Min and Mao Jingze.

But what's even more eye-catching is the female nun she's holding in her arms.

"Senior Sister Zhao?"

Long Yang was taken aback and rushed forward: "Master, what happened? Senior Sister Zhao, she..."

At this time, Zhao Yue was seriously injured and unconscious, no longer resembling the Green Cloud Fairy.

"I got into a fight and was injured by a talisman."

Fairy Shanyun said it briefly, but she couldn't explain it in detail.

Because she didn't know who Zhao Yue's opponent was.

Upon receiving the message from Shanyun Sect, she immediately emerged from seclusion, intending to deal with the current troubles at Green Cloud Cave.

However, as soon as she came out, she heard the booming sound of the palm thunder.

There aren't many people who can force Zhao Yue to use her palm lightning technique. Out of curiosity, Fairy Shanyun decided to go and see Zhao Yue first.

But by the time she arrived, the battle was over. The underground riverbed had completely collapsed, making many areas impassable.

This was naturally no challenge for Fairy Shanyun.

She waved her sleeves and carved out a path.

Then I saw Zhao Yue in the raging flames.

Zhao Yue was in a terrible state during the battle; not only were her injuries severe, but she had also lost consciousness. Had Fairy Shanyun arrived even a moment later, she might have perished in the flames.

After rescuing Zhao Yue, Fairy Shanyun hesitated for a moment, but decided to go to the Flying Fish Nine Cauldrons Formation first to defend Green Cloud Cave. Unexpectedly, the battle here was also extremely fierce.

The true disciples of both schools were almost completely wiped out.

Fairy Shanyun carried Zhao Yue into the array pavilion and instructed Long Yang to take good care of her.

He then glanced at the restless Mang Sect disciples, a hint of anger flashing across his face.

Zhao Yue was able to impersonate Fairy Green Cloud by using methods from the Misty Rain Sect.

But after this injury, he was in dire need of care, and staying at Rongchun Residence became a distant dream.

This created a huge loophole in her foolproof plan.

Although it is unknown who Zhao Yue was fighting when she was injured, it was nothing more than a bug attracted by the Enlightenment Spring.

The Mangjiao sect is also a bedbug, and a large one at that.

Fairy Shanyun's face showed disgust. She raised two fingers and blew gently, instantly creating a strong wind that dispersed the smoke and dust, revealing Madam Zhen's terrified face.

(End of this chapter)