Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

The battlefield where the Xuan Yang Sect and the Chi Xiao Sect fought was called the Broken Cloud Mountains.

This place lies between two territories, stretching for tens of thousands of miles.

The mountain is shrouded in spiritual mist year-round, and a Crimson Spiritual Vein lies hidden underground, capable of producing Crimson Spiritual Iron and nurturing fire-type spiritual herbs.

For ordinary minor sects, this is a precious place to establish a sect.

For the Xuan Yang Sect and the Chi Xiao Sect, it is a treasure trove that can reliably provide resources.

Whoever occupies this place will have an additional stable spirit ore production line.

Therefore, once the two sects went to war, the Broken Cloud Mountains became the first meat grinder.

The camps stretched out at the foot of the mountain, while the mountaintop was covered with battle flags.

The once pristine mountain range is now filled with peaks blasted down by magical artifacts and dense forests scorched by talismanic fire.

Since the start of the war, the two factions have clashed in this mountain range more than a hundred times.

More than ten Golden Core cultivators, nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and countless Qi Refining disciples perished.

It is clear that the two sides have really gotten into a fight, and have also developed a blood feud.

On this day, on the eastern side of the Duanyun Mountains.

A Golden Core cultivator from the Crimson Cloud Sect was hidden in the clouds.

His name is Han Chili, and he is in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

He did not cultivate methods of direct combat, but rather a secret technique of the Crimson Sky Sect called "Blood Shadow Sky-Gazing Technique".

This technique allows one to transform their own vital energy into a blood mist, enabling them to spy on enemy camps from thousands of miles away.

Even ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivators might not be able to detect him.

He was ordered to come out today to find out where the second batch of reinforcements from the Xuan Yang Sect had arrived.

As soon as he released his divine sense, his eyelids twitched suddenly.

In the distance, on the horizon, the clouds were torn apart.

Ten massive black iron warships were pressing down from above the sea of ​​clouds.

The largest ship in the very center is pitch black, with array patterns like scales, and its flowing spiritual light makes it resemble a giant beast traversing the void.

Nine warships flanked the two sides, while thousands of Qi Refining disciples stood in formation.

Hundreds of Foundation Establishment level deputies patrolled the area, while ten Golden Core elders stood at the bow of the ship.

At the very front, an elderly man in a grey-white robe stood with his hands behind his back.

The wind from the sea of ​​clouds ruffled his sleeves.

He simply stood there, and the clouds and sea of ​​heaven and earth seemed to droop three points.

Han Chili's pupils contracted sharply.

"Gu Changjin?"

"That newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator from the Xuan Yang Sect?"

His heart skipped a beat.

This information must be sent back.

The Xuan Yang Sect did not only send a second batch of cultivators to reinforce them.

They even sent this newly appointed emperor to the front lines!

Han Chili immediately withdrew his divine sense, his figure sinking into the mist, preparing to escape at once.

But at that very moment...

Ten warships have arrived above the Xuan Yang Sect's front-line camp.

Inside the main camp, Yue Mingchuan, the frontline coordinator of the Xuan Yang Sect, was leading a group of Golden Core cultivators to greet them.

Yue Mingchuan is in the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

He has been coordinating the war effort in the Duanyun Mountains for many years; he is experienced and has a strong leadership style.

But now, facing the arrival of the Nascent Soul Supreme, he dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"We pay our respects to His Majesty Gu!"

More than ten Golden Elixir cultivators bowed simultaneously.

Tens of thousands of cultivators in the camp also bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The sound had barely faded when...

Gu Changjin suddenly raised his eyes and looked in the southwest direction.

He smiled.

"Who dares to spy on my Xuan Yang Sect's camp?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Mingchuan and the others' expressions changed slightly.

Is someone spying on us?

How come they didn't notice?

The next instant, a blood-red figure suddenly shot up from behind a cliff shrouded in deep mist a thousand miles away.

Han Chili knew he had been exposed.

He dared not stop.

He transformed into a streak of crimson light and fled madly toward the Crimson Cloud Sect's main camp.

As he fled, he burned away his lifespan.

The blood shadow's light surged.

Its speed was so fast that even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator would have difficulty catching up.

Yue Mingchuan's face immediately darkened.

"It's Han Chili!"

A Golden Core cultivator from the Xuan Yang Sect nearby exclaimed in surprise, "This person is in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, yet he possesses the Blood Shadow Sky-Gazing Technique and the Life-Burning Blood Escape Technique. He excels at stealth and reconnaissance. If he's focused on escaping, even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator might not be able to stop him!"

Another person frowned and said, "We can't let him go back! He must have already seen that Emperor Taishang has personally come to the front line."

Even so, they all knew the truth in their hearts.

This distance, this speed of blood escape.

It was too late for them.

Han Chili was clearly aware of this as well.

He fled while overjoyed.

So what if it's a Nascent Soul?

As long as I'm not stunned on the spot, as long as I create distance, and as long as my Blood Escape is ignited, I still have a chance to live!

Moreover, with his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, he managed to escape from a Nascent Soul cultivator; he'll probably become famous throughout the entire Western Wilderness tomorrow.

The next moment.

Gu Changjin chuckled softly.

"Still trying to run?"

He did not activate any secret techniques, nor did he summon his natal spirit sword.

He simply raised his hand, and across thousands of miles of mountains and forests, his five fingers slowly clenched.

boom!

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth collapsed instantly.

The blood-red aura surrounding Han Chili froze instantly.

The ecstasy on his face froze, then turned into indescribable fear.

"No...no...it's impossible!"

He roared, and the power of his golden core erupted completely.

Blood-red light shot into the sky, and a crimson shadow emerged from his chest, attempting to forcefully resist the suppressing force.

He even gave up his lifespan, and half of his black hair turned white in an instant.

But it's no use.

The nascent soul's invisible hand descended.

Like pinching a flying insect.

Click.

Han Chili, along with his protective blood-red aura, was crushed in mid-air.

Immediately afterwards, his golden core was also crushed.

boom!

The golden core's spiritual power exploded.

The abundant spiritual energy returned to heaven and earth, condensing into a fine spiritual rain above the Broken Cloud Mountains.

Raindrops fell.

It hit the charred tree trunk.

It fell into the muddy valley.

It then slowly dispersed along with the mountain mist.

The Duanyun Mountains are already shrouded in fog.

At that moment, a spiritual rain fell, and white mist surged between the mountains, as if countless cloud snakes were emerging from the forest.

Outside the Xuan Yang Sect's main camp, all the Golden Core cultivators froze.

Just now they were judging that if Han Chili desperately used Blood Escape, he might still have a chance to escape from the Nascent Soul cultivator.

The next moment.

It popped.

Even the Golden Core cultivator exploded.

Yue Mingchuan's throat moved, and his voice was a little dry.

"This is the Nascent Soul..."

The Golden Core elder beside him whispered, "Indeed, those who haven't reached the Nascent Soul stage are nothing but ants... No matter how strong a Golden Core cultivator is, they can still be crushed with a single palm strike before a Nascent Soul cultivator."

No one refuted this; everyone remained silent.

Gu Changjin's move completely crushed the last bit of hope in the entire frontline camp.

They had previously wondered whether this Elder Gu, being a newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator, would still need to rely on them, the veteran Golden Core cultivators, for frontline affairs.

Now it seems, is it dependence?

Think more.

They don't need you to give them orders.

As long as you listen to me, that's fine.

Yue Mingchuan took a deep breath and immediately prepared to step forward to greet him again.

Before he could speak, Gu Changjin suddenly raised his hand and waved it gently.

Everyone stopped abruptly.

Gu Changjin stood on the main ship, watching the increasingly thick clouds and mist in the mountains after the spiritual rain fell, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Since you've arrived, fellow Daoist..."

"Why aren't you here?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Mingchuan and the others' expressions changed drastically.

Is anyone else there?

Moreover, he was addressed as a fellow Daoist by Grandmaster Gu.

Could it be a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Crimson Cloud Sect?

The wind suddenly stopped for a moment amidst the Broken Cloud Mountains.

Then, from a distant, solitary peak shrouded in mist, came a loud, aged laugh.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Gu Daoyou has excellent eyesight."

"I have already concealed my aura, but I still cannot hide it from you."

The clouds and mist slowly dispersed.

Only then did everyone notice that an old man in a red robe was sitting under an old pine tree halfway up the solitary peak.

There was a stone table in front of him.

There are two wine cups on the table.

It was as if they had been waiting there all along.

Yue Mingchuan's pupils contracted.

"Li Chenyuan!"

"A mid-stage Nascent Soul Grandmaster of the Crimson Cloud Sect!"

The expressions of all the Golden Core cultivators from the Xuan Yang Sect changed.

Just as Grandmaster Gu arrived at the front line, the Nascent Soul cultivators from the Crimson Cloud Sect arrived.

And it was Li Chenyuan who came.

This is no coincidence.

Is this a test, or a show of force?

Li Chenyuan looked at Gu Changjin through the layers of clouds and mist, his laughter low and deep.

"Fellow Daoist Gu has just arrived at Broken Cloud Mountain and has already crushed one of my Crimson Cloud Sect's Golden Core cultivators to death."

"This gift is quite generous."

Gu Changjin smiled faintly.

"Those who spy on my sect's main camp deserve to die."

Li Chenyuan's smile deepened.

"Well said."

"That's how it should be in the cultivation world; it's survival of the fittest."

"Since you're in such high spirits, why don't we meet in the mountains for a chat?"

"I have prepared wine."

"I've also prepared a piece of news that fellow Daoists will definitely be interested in."

Gu Changjin looked at the solitary peak.

The Golden Core cultivators of the Xuan Yang Sect behind him felt a tightness in their chests.

Yue Mingchuan couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, be careful, it might be a trap."

Gu Changjin simply smiled.

"It's more interesting when there's a trap."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward.

His figure disappeared directly from the main ship.

When it reappeared, it had landed in front of the old pine tree on that solitary peak.

The mountain rain has not stopped.

The clouds and mist flowed slowly between the two Nascent Soul cultivators.

Li Chenyuan raised his hand and pushed a wine cup over.

"Fellow Daoist Gu."

"Our two sects fought to the death down the mountain."

"But some things don't necessarily have to be this way."

Gu Changjin lowered his eyes to look at the glass of wine, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh?"

"How does Fellow Daoist Li intend to settle this?"