Those Skilled in Attack Strike from the Highest Heavens

Whoosh... A gust of wind swept through the towering mountains, and the stench of blood permeating the world seemed to fade slightly. Yet upon the earth, an appalling trench stretched out, striking terror into the hearts of any who beheld it. Beneath the watchful eyes of myriad demons, Qi Xi walked up to a massive boulder. Plunged into the rock was a saber—a broken, golden greatblade with only half its length remaining. It was this very blade that had carved that terrifying chasm spanning hundreds of li, vanishing past the horizon as if splitting the earth in two. "As expected of Badao!" "A final deathbed counterattack unleashed such shocking might, taking tens of thousands of our tribe's experts with him." *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Several figures plummeted from the sky like falling stars. Each radiated towering demonic qi—every one of them a fourth-tier Demon Emperor! "Commander Qi Xi, Badao is dead!" Commander Qi Xi cast a sideways glance at them, his tone displeased. "You took far too long." The Demon Emperors looked somewhat embarrassed. They had never imagined Badao would prove so difficult to deal with. Even combining the might of four Demon Emperors, they had fought several grueling battles without managing to bring him down. The man possessed a fierce and unyielding nature. In every clash, he fought with complete disregard for his own life, desperate to drag his foes down with him, leaving the Demon Emperors at a loss for how to proceed without sustaining fatal blows. Fortunately, Commander Qi Xi had dispatched reinforcements. A slender, white-robed man drifted down gracefully before the broken golden saber and licked his lips. "A human expert's Nascent Soul truly is the most delicious delicacy in the world—especially one from a top-tier expert!" Qi Xi frowned. "Gao Chang, our lord explicitly stated you were not to act in person. Why were you so reckless just now?" The white-robed man named Gao Chang gave a derisive sneer. "Who told these four to be so useless? I grew impatient, so naturally I went hunting myself. Stop nagging me and focus on preparing to assault Lingtian Pass!" As he spoke, he leaned down and gripped the hilt of the broken saber. With its master dead, this blade would make a fine trophy. The instant his fingers closed around the hilt, however, he suddenly whipped his head around! Without his body moving an inch, his head twisted a full one hundred and eighty degrees, staring directly behind him. "The scent of food!" Commander Qi Xi reacted an instant later, sweeping his divine sense outward in pursuit of the wildly retreating consciousness. Yet the observer withdrew with astonishing speed, vanishing into thin air without the slightest hesitation or entanglement. Its direction: Lingtian Pass! Commander Qi Xi furrowed his brow. "The divine sense of a human Nascent Soul cultivator... roughly at the mid-Nascent Soul stage." "We've been spotted!" Gao Chang remarked playfully. Having just gorged himself, even though he caught the scent of fresh sustenance, he lacked his earlier ravenous impulse. Only after this exchange did the other four Demon Emperors finally register what had happened. "Was someone spying on us just now?" "Could it be that Lingfengzi?" "Impossible. Fast as his escape arts may be, he is merely an early Nascent Soul cultivator. There is no way he could spy on us so silently without any of us noticing." "The two lords are indeed sharp, uncovering the peeper in an instant." Commander Qi Xi offered no response to the four Demon Emperors' chatter. He cast a subtle glance at Gao Chang. It had been Gao Chang who noticed first! Measured against the human cultivation world, Qi Xi's cultivation was at least equivalent to the late Nascent Soul stage. For him to detect the spy later than Gao Chang—what realm did Gao Chang truly possess? "A sharp, clever fellow," Gao Chang chuckled softly. "His Nascent Soul is bound to be exceptionally fresh and lively. If you ever run into him in the future, remember to notify me." Without any discernible movement, Gao Chang dissolved into a plume of white smoke and vanished on the spot. After he departed, Commander Qi Xi let out a cold snort. "Always showing off those ghost-like escape tricks." He had the standing to criticize Gao Chang, but the other four did not. Amid the silence, one of them asked, "Commander Qi Xi, what should we do next? Shall we assist An Ming and the others in retaking Fire Ridge?" Commander Qi Xi waved his hand. "No need. Fire Ridge poses no threat—just a bunch of cowards hiding in holes. An Ming and the rest will take it down sooner or later." His gaze swept across the tens of thousands of li of land, watching grotesque, savage demon beasts roam across the scarred wilderness. *In the end, they are merely unevolved demon beasts of low intelligence!* Even gathered into a demonic army, they still lacked strict discipline. Ahead of them stood the greatest stronghold of the Eastern Desolation since ancient times. Relying solely on these witless brutes, they could never breach it. Reason dictated that they should encamp here and wait for the other commanders from the rear to arrive before mounting a coordinated assault. Yet Qi Xi recalled Lord Ditian's proclamation: *"Whoever breaches Lingtian Pass shall claim the foremost merit!"* Even as cool-headed as he usually was, his ambition stirred. His gaze fell upon the four Demon Emperors before him, and he shook his head inwardly. *Relying on them won't be enough!* *I must contact a few friends and force open Lingtian Pass together. Otherwise, once Huang Man and the others arrive, this foremost merit will slip through my fingers.* *Bikong has fallen, Badao died a tragic death, and an unknown expert witnessed the aftermath. Even with Fire Ridge still holding out, Lingtian Pass is bound to heighten its vigilance.* *Therefore, I must act swiftly!* In the span of a single thought, Commander Qi Xi made his decision. "Encamp where you are and await my return!" *** Upon the battlements of Lingtian Pass. Patrols of cultivators moved back and forth. Usually lively and boisterous, they now kept as silent as cicadas in winter, barely daring to breathe aloud. Glance after glance drifted toward a white-robed figure who had appeared abruptly atop the wall. It was the Alchemy Grandmaster! For over two years, he had rarely set foot on the wall. Though rumor had it that a puppet of his presided over the gate tower in his stead, a puppet was still just a puppet. None of them had expected him to show up in the flesh. Luo Chen paid no heed to the curious gazes surrounding him. At this moment, lingering dread still gripped his heart. *What in the world was that white-clothed demon? Not only did it detect my divine sense instantly, but it also gave me the chill of facing a natural predator!* *Before him, even though my Nascent Soul was thousands of li away and protected by the barrier of my purple mansion, an unsettling dread still washed over me.* *It was as if that demon was born specifically to prey on Nascent Souls!* Amid his lingering shock, Luo Chen had also gleaned a vital piece of intelligence during that fleeting glimpse. Badao was dead! The Badao Region had completely fallen! Multiple Demon Emperors were gathered in the Badao Region, with countless low-tier demon beasts blanketing the mountains and plains. In other words, they were just one step away from Lingtian Pass. "Supreme Elder!" A respectful greeting sounded by his ear. Luo Chen turned his head to see Yang Pingdu leading a patrol squad. He nodded and moved to leave. Yet barely taking a step, he halted and cautioned, "The coming days may not be peaceful. Patrolling inside the city is fine, but if you lead a squad outside to sweep for demon beasts, you must be extremely careful. Keep those talismans ready at all times according to Jueqing's method—do not find them too cumbersome to carry." Yang Pingdu was somewhat surprised; rarely did he see the Supreme Elder be so "long-winded." Still, sensing the genuine concern in his elder's words, warmth filled his heart. "I shall obey your command, Elder, and inform the disciples under my watch." "Good. Take care in all things!" Luo Chen offered one more parting warning before hurriedly leaving the wall and heading straight for the Castellan's estate. *** Lingtian Pass was immense. Had the Castellan's estate not been situated in the rear sector alongside the area Luo Chen patrolled, getting there would have taken a substantial amount of time. Even so, it did not take long before he arrived at the estate. Unlike Gu Zuokai, who had been turned away at the door, Luo Chen was granted an audience with Castellan Lingtian almost immediately once he stated he had matters concerning the demon race to report. "Badao is dead?" Castellan Lingtian sighed with a look of profound regret over the man's demise. "I had even reserved a position for him here, and he agreed to lead his disciples to withdraw into Lingtian Pass if the situation turned sour. I never thought he wouldn't even get the chance to flee." Luo Chen was taken aback. He had previously assumed the people of the Badao Sect were simply reluctant to abandon their ancestral home. Now it turned out they had wanted to leave, but couldn't! After lamenting for a moment, Castellan Lingtian inquired about the details. When Luo Chen described the powerful beings he had glimpsed, Castellan Lingtian fell into deep thought. After a long pause, he said slowly, "Those four demons are likely among the Ten Demon Emperors serving under Qi Xi. Their cultivation may not be exceedingly high, but since they were able to tie down Badao, they certainly possess formidable abilities." Luo Chen looked thoughtful. "So that man with the rhino horn on his forehead is indeed Demon Emperor Qi Xi, one of the rumored Nine Commanders?" "Most likely!" Castellan Lingtian nodded. He paced slowly through the grand hall, explaining in measured tones, "According to the intelligence gathered by our side, the Eastern Desolation's demon race has been forged into an unyielding monolith under the leadership of the Ancient Demon Ditian." "He personally appointed eight late Nascent Soul demon cultivators as commanders. Combined with Demon Emperor Qingshuang from Mount Cangwu, they form the Nine Commanders." "Each of these nine commanders possesses terrifying might on par with our human late Nascent Soul grand cultivators. Furthermore, each commands anywhere from five or six to as many as ten Demon Emperors." "Such immense power is unprecedented since ancient times!" Even though Luo Chen had already learned much of this through various intelligence reports, he still could not help swallowing hard. Nine Commanders, each comparable to a late Nascent Soul grand cultivator. Among them was even an invincible existence like Demon Emperor Qingshuang. No wonder Sovereign Jiuling had been so utterly pessimistic about the coming war. He now understood even better why Lingfengzi had gone out of his way to flatter him, desperately pleading for the Wind Acupoint Pill to bolster his strength. Under such an overwhelming tide, no one could remain untouched! Only by increasing one's own strength as much as possible could one hope for a slim chance of survival. What was worse, hanging over their heads was an Ancient Demon known by the Daoist title Lord Pingshan, whose true name was Ditian! Luo Chen could not help asking, "Will Ditian act in person during this war?" At this question, Castellan Lingtian smiled. "You need not worry about that. A long-standing pact exists between the human and demon races: Soul Formation cultivators are forbidden from taking part in war. Ditian is an Ancient Demon whose might rivals our human Soul Formation cultivators; naturally, he is bound by that pact as well." Luo Chen gave him an odd look. Soul Formation experts forbidden from taking part? Then what was the battle at Mount Cangwu all about? Castellan Lingtian seemed to realize the flaw in his statement and offered a brief explanation. "In this realm, Soul Formation represents the pinnacle of living beings. Every move they make sways the great momentum of heaven and earth. When they strike, they manipulate vast quantities of worldly origin qi. If they were to wage life-and-death battles without restraint, mountains and seas would overturn, and entire continents would sink." "With all living beings plunged into misery, the Heavenly Dao would be enraged, either sending down heavenly tribulations or drawing outer devils into the fray. In short, Soul Formation grand experts would suffer immensely as well." "Thus, throughout historical conflicts, Soul Formation cultivators rarely engage in direct combat. More often, they let the experts under their command clash to determine victory." With this explanation, Luo Chen felt somewhat relieved. Yet it was only a slight relief. Thinking of the demon race's Nine Commanders, he gave a self-deprecating smile. "I had thought humanity was flourishing, never imagining the demon race had accumulated such strength in silence." Castellan Lingtian sighed with deep emotion. Three thousand years of accumulation since antiquity, coupled with the naturally long lifespans of the demon race—it was only reasonable that the Million Mountains had birthed so many powerful beings. If one were to look closely, the human race of the Eastern Desolation was hardly inferior; it was simply that the true top-tier experts were all concentrated within the Mingyuan Sect. In his view, if they threw caution to the wind and the Mingyuan Sect mobilized in full force, their strength would certainly overpower the Eastern Desolation's demon race. It was just that things had not yet reached that desperate juncture. He looked toward Luo Chen. "I will relay the news you brought to the other Nascent Soul Daoists stationed across the pass. For now, please continue to guard the western defenses of Lingtian Pass." Luo Chen nodded, but before departing, he still asked with concern, "Relying solely on the few of us, can we truly hold Lingtian Pass?" "No, we cannot." Castellan Lingtian smiled faintly, clasping his hands behind his back with calm composure. "That is why it is time to summon the Nascent Soul experts scattered across the various regions." *** Ever since Luo Chen returned with the news of the Badao Region's fall, a palpable tension gripped the entirety of Lingtian Pass. The number of cultivator squads dispatched to patrol the surrounding perimeter increased nearly tenfold. Trade in magic treasures and talismans within the city grew increasingly frantic. Certain formidable treasures that had originally been kept as shop-defining heirlooms were snapped up by cultivators gritting their teeth and paying exorbitant prices. Everyone was sharpening their weapons and preparing their mounts, bracing for the coming battle. No one clung to foolish hopes, for the cultivators in Lingtian Pass had all fled here under duress from the east. They had fought demon beasts before; they knew all too well the fate awaiting anyone who fell into demonic clutches. With no retreat left behind them, their only path was to fight with their backs to the wall! Of course, even with their resolve to fight to the death, everyone still held out hope for reinforcements from the rear. The more people, the better, naturally! Yet reinforcements would take time to arrive; until then, no one dared let down their guard. Luo Chen was no exception. His first move was to visit Lingfengzi. The man had already refined the Wind Acupoint Pill and emerged from seclusion. If Luo Chen could learn more about the formidable Demon Emperors from him, he might handle the coming battles with a bit more composure. Yet Luo Chen was destined for disappointment. For several days in a row, he failed to catch Lingfengzi. According to disciples of the Misty Sect, their patriarch had left the pass on an assignment. "As expected, in a situation like this, one can only rely on oneself," Luo Chen murmured as he retrieved the scroll Wang Yuan had given him before departing. For a Nascent Soul cultivator, cultivating powerful techniques often took years. As for ordinary third-tier spells, even if Luo Chen could swiftly cultivate them to a level rivaling fourth-tier arts, they still fell slightly short. He could not advance to the mid-Nascent Soul stage in the short term. To boost his strength, he could only optimize what he already had. *Wind, Moon, Thunder, and Cloud Treading the Immortal Path* served as an excellent addition. He had already completely mastered Thunder Kick; it counted as a formidable lethal strike that had once shattered Feiyunzi's defensive art in a single blow. Wang Yuan had completed a technique called Moon Steps. This move did not focus on offense, but rather excelled in nimble maneuvering and dodging during combat. Swift, elusive, and endlessly unpredictable, when combined with a body cultivator's explosive speed, it could easily elude the tracking of a Nascent Soul cultivator's divine sense. Yet that description applied only to the Major Attainment stage. Moreover, cultivating this technique demanded exceptionally high physical requirements. Magic power flowed through meridians and acupoints, unable to suffuse into muscle and bone; thus, driving Moon Steps with magic power yielded poor results. It was best driven by astral qi! Luo Chen was unfamiliar with the transformations of blood qi. Let alone astral qi, he had not even mastered the four stages of force: obvious, hidden, neutralizing, and pellet force. However, he possessed source energy! *Source energy permeates every corner of my flesh. Driving Moon Steps with it should yield results no weaker than the astral qi of an orthodox body cultivator.* Luo Chen pursed his lips, carefully studying the footwork patterns laid out across the scroll. He etched each one into his memory, ensuring he did not miss a single variation. Once he felt he had thoroughly grasped the fundamentals, he could not resist experimenting within the spacious confines of his immortal cave. At first, he stumbled unsteadily. Step by step, his movements took proper shape. Eventually, the cave echoed with thunderous booms and howling wind, causing the protective formation's light barrier to shudder violently. "The space is too cramped. I need to practice this elsewhere." With a thought, Luo Chen left his cave and headed straight for the open wilderness beyond the city walls. *** Day after day slipped by. More and more cultivators gathered within the city. Yet the demon army remained nowhere to be seen before the walls of Lingtian Pass, leading quite a few to question the accuracy of Luo Chen's warning. Luo Chen offered no defense. What he had seen during that fleeting glimpse when his divine sense was pushed to its limit was absolutely no illusion. In particular, the sense of mortal peril radiating from that white-clothed demon far surpassed even Commander Qi Xi! He had also privately asked Castellan Lingtian about it, but the Castellan could not say for sure, guessing only that it might be a newly emerged expert from the Million Mountains. Luo Chen had no choice but to let the matter drop. Then came a day when the weather turned foul. Heavy, dark clouds converged overhead, accompanied by roaring gales and crackling lightning, heralding an impending downpour. Several dozen li from Lingtian Pass, a solitary figure stood motionless for a long time, gazing up at the sky. "The moon waxes and wanes; weather brings unexpected storms. Worldly affairs are ever-changing, and the hearts of men are never still." "The so-called Moon Steps draws upon this very essence of unpredictability." "If I merely follow the diagrams blindly, imitating the steps Wang Yuan supplemented through his own experience, I would only end up painting a tiger that resembles a dog." "Wrong! It's all wrong!" Amid his cries of realization, Luo Chen let out a hearty laugh and leaped straight into the sky. As he took his steps, his figure grew ethereal and elusive. At times he swayed like a frail willow dancing in the wind. At times he struck like a bolt of lightning, swift as a crack of thunder. With an occasional heavy stomp against empty air, his silhouette would suddenly disperse, transforming into several afterimages darting in every direction. When he drifted lightly back to the earth, the afterimages merged back into one, revealing Luo Chen's face. He casually glanced at his system panel. [Moon Steps: Perfect (301/500)] In just over a month of tireless practice, he had pushed this martial art to the Perfect stage! It was only a single step away from the traditional Major Attainment stage. Even Wang Yuan, who had supplemented the technique, had likely not attained such a level! The reason Luo Chen had progressed so quickly lay not only in his diligent effort, but also in his inherent talent for body arts. More importantly, his physical constitution and the energy used to drive the art far exceeded anything Wang Yuan had conceived. Once he comprehended the core principle, reaching the Perfect stage was only a matter of moments. "With this, when I fight, I have Air Burst Steps for straight-line dashes, Moon Steps for elusive maneuvering, Thunder Kick for close-quarters bursts, and Ninety Thousand Miles for long-distance transit. In terms of movement arts, I have virtually no shortcomings left!" "I now have one more card to play in the coming war!" Luo Chen muttered to himself with a smile. His legs felt slightly sore—the result of intensely drilling this technique over recent days. A few days of rest would set them right. Still, for a physique as formidable as a desolate beast to feel sore proved that he needed to tone down the training intensity. "That will do for today!" Luo Chen glanced at the sky as large raindrops began to fall. He walked at an unhurried pace toward Lingtian Pass, his mind pondering when the demon beast army would finally commence its assault. *Perhaps I was overly tense before. Lingtian Pass has soaring walls and deep moats, housing ten million cultivators; it is a fortress of immense strength.* *Formidable though the demon army may be, their forces are scattered across various fronts, and the Badao Region only holds one detachment. So long as the leading Demon Emperor remains rational, he won't rashly provoke Lingtian Pass. He will surely wait until the other demonic forces assemble before launching an attack.* *If so, I can peacefully ride out the remaining half year of my patrol duty.* Luo Chen's calculations seemed sound. Yet just as he arrived outside the city gates, an abrupt change occurred! Luo Chen snapped his head upward, his profound eyes piercing through the torrential rain to gaze past the thick, rolling storm clouds. *Those skilled in attack strike from the highest reaches of the heavens!* *Rumble!* Amid a deafening roar of thunder, a colossal figure plummeted from above, carrying the devastating momentum of wind and lightning!