I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Qin Yuan waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "My path of cultivation has its own reliance. These are more useful to you."

He was telling the truth. The system and the "Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique" and "Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique" were his foundation. The low-grade earth-rank magic treasures and fifth-grade pills were of limited help to his current cultivation level and vision.

A glint of admiration flashed in Wen Ruohai's eyes, and his evaluation of Qin Yuan rose even higher. Not greedy for worldly possessions, with a clear mind, and so considerate of his fellow disciples, this young man's character and temperament far surpass those of his peers.

The three disciples of the Book and Sword Sect were also slightly moved. Their gazes towards Qin Yuan became less scrutinizing and more admiring. Such magnanimity in so readily sharing precious resources with a fellow disciple was rare in the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation.

Seeing that Qin Yuan's attitude was firm and that what he said was true, Chu Wuyue and Yun Qingyao stopped refusing and solemnly accepted the jade box, thanking Wen Ruohai and Qin Yuan respectively.

Wen Ruohai stroked his beard and smiled, "Lord Qin's affection for his fellow disciples is truly admirable. To be honest, besides expressing my gratitude, I have another matter to discuss with you today."

"Please speak, senior."

"Although the Crimson Flame Sect's attempt to seize Qing Shi City was thwarted, their influence in this region is deeply entrenched, and they will certainly not let this go easily." Wen Ruohai's expression turned solemn. "According to our sect's intelligence, the 'Lava City,' controlled by the Crimson Flame Sect, is only five hundred miles from Qing Shi City. It is their stronghold in this region, where they have amassed a large number of troops and resources. Although Yan Lie, Chi Rong, and Elder Liu are dead, their sect still has many experts. If they recover, they will surely retaliate."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Qin Yuan: "Instead of waiting for the enemy to attack, let's take the initiative! My Shujian Sect is willing to form an alliance with City Lord Qin, combining our strength to counterattack Lava City! If we can capture it, we will split the city's resources equally, and the ownership of Lava City can also be negotiated. What does City Lord Qin think?"

Form an alliance and launch a counterattack on the Crimson Flame Sect's stronghold?

Chu Wuyue and Yun Qingyao's breathing quickened slightly. This was no small matter! Attacking the enemy's core city meant launching a full-scale war against the Crimson Flame Sect, a risk of immense proportions. But if successful, the rewards would be equally astonishing! As a powerful sect ranked twenty-seventh among the hundred sects, the Crimson Flame Sect's accumulated resources in its stronghold would undoubtedly far surpass those of Qing Shi City.

Qin Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on the back of the chair, lost in thought. Wen Ruohai's suggestion, while aiming to win him over, share the risks, and fight the enemy together, also pointed out a key issue: passive defense was not a long-term solution.

If Xuan Yuan Sect wants to truly gain a foothold in the Hundred Sects Battlefield, and even acquire more resources, a single Qing Shi City is not enough. Since the Chi Yan Sect is already a mortal enemy, taking advantage of their recent defeat and potential internal turmoil to launch a preemptive strike is indeed an opportunity.

"The Xuan Yuan Sect also needs a more stable base of operations." Qin Yuan weighed the pros and cons and quickly made a decision. "Lava City is strategically located and rich in resources. If we can capture it, it will be crucial for the Xuan Yuan Sect's future development on this battlefield."

He looked up, meeting Wen Ruohai's gaze, his voice steady: "An alliance can be formed. However, the specifics of how to proceed require detailed planning."

A glint flashed in Wen Ruohai's eyes, and he clapped his hands, saying, "Excellent! City Lord Qin is a man of few words! We can discuss the specific plan later. Three days later, our two families' elite forces will launch a surprise attack on Lava City, catching them completely off guard!"

Over the next three days, both sides secretly mobilized their forces to refine formation-breaking talismans, prepare healing pills, and send out cultivators skilled in stealth to repeatedly scout the area around Lava City.

Qin Yuan temporarily entrusted the defense of Qing Shi City to Yun Qingyao, Tuoba Shan and others, while he himself, along with Chu Wuyue, three true disciples of the Shujian Sect, and twenty mid-stage Nascent Soul experts personally selected by Wen Ruohai, formed the main force for the raid.

On the fourth night, it was dark and windy.

Qin Yuan and Wen Ruohai led a group of over thirty elite soldiers, who silently left Qing Shi City and, under the cover of night, sped towards Lava City. They concealed their auras and moved with incredible speed, closing the 500-mile distance in less than two hours.

Lava City stands on a dark red wasteland. Its walls are taller than those of Bluestone City, their color a deep crimson, as if cast from cooled lava, radiating a scorching heat. Array patterns flicker on the walls, and the figures of patrolling cultivators are faintly visible, indicating a heavily guarded defense.

Qin Yuan and Wen Ruohai concealed themselves behind an earthen mound, observing from a distance. Wen Ruohai whispered, "The city's defensive formation is the 'Earth Fire Melting Gold Formation,' based on the earth's fiery energy, making it difficult to attack by force. According to the plan, one of my disciples, skilled in formations, will secretly destroy an auxiliary formation eye in the southeast corner to create chaos. Then we will take the opportunity to launch a strong attack from the main gate, coordinating from within and without."

Qin Yuan nodded, but his gaze swept over the city wall, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. It was too quiet. Although it seemed heavily guarded, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered in his heart.

The Nascent Soul stage disciple from the Book and Sword Sect, skilled in formations, darted out like a ghost, stealthily making his way towards the predetermined southeast corner. However, just as he was about to approach the hundred-zhang radius of the city wall—

"Buzz—!!!"

Suddenly, a blinding crimson light blazed above Lava City! The seemingly normal city wall formation instantly transformed, a solid, blazing light shield enveloping the entire city! At the same time, countless torches lit up the city walls, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day!

The city gates burst open with a roar to everyone's astonishment!

Squads of Crimson Flame Sect cultivators, clad in gleaming armor and exuding a murderous aura, filed out of the city gates and quickly formed ranks before the city. The four at the head of the group rose into the air, hovering before the formation, unleashing their immense pressure without restraint—all of them were clearly at the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage!

One of them, with red hair and a thick beard, and a fierce face, was none other than Chi Fentian, the true leader of the Crimson Flame Sect in this area and the Lord of Lava City! To his left was a bewitching woman wielding a long, flaming whip; to his right was a silent, burly man carrying a crimson greatsword; and the last one was an old man in a black robe with a sinister face. His aura was not that of the Crimson Flame Sect, but rather carried a chilling, ghostly energy.

Chi Fentian's gaze, sharp as lightning, pierced the night, landing precisely on the earthen mound where Qin Yuan and the others were hiding. He roared with laughter, his voice echoing across the surrounding area: "Wen Ruohai! And those little bastards from the Xuan Yuan Sect! I've been waiting for you for a long time! I didn't expect you would actually dare to come and die!"

Wen Ruohai's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "How is this possible?! They were prepared! And there were four Nascent Soul Peak cultivators?! Who was that black-robed old man?!"

Qin Yuan's eyes turned icy. There was definitely a trap. Not only were they prepared, but they had clearly gone to great lengths to bring in at least one Nascent Soul Peak expert as an ally!

The faces of the three true disciples and all the other disciples of the Book and Sword Sect instantly turned pale. Four peak Nascent Soul cultivators! Their side only had Wen Ruohai at the early stage of the Divine Transformation realm, Qin Yuan at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, plus the three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators… the difference in strength was enormous!