The moment those words were spoken, everyone present paled.
Even Fenghua Fairy and Pavilion Master Li, who had anticipated this to some degree, could not help crying out in shock.
"Vile beasts! How could they be so despicable?"
"No wonder urgent distress talismans kept flooding in from the sect!"
"Our Wan Jian Pavilion is in grave peril!"
"Castellan Lingtian, I urge you to dispatch troops at once to reinforce our rear!"
Voices rose in agitated clamor, one after another.
Amidst the mounting noise, Castellan Lingtian let out a low shout.
"Silence!"
The magic power fluctuations of a Great Cultivator swept through the hall, and his Nascent Soul domain enveloped the entire chamber, pressing down until everyone shuddered.
Seeing that all had fallen quiet, Castellan Lingtian slowly withdrew his magic power.
"Demonic beasts are savage, but they are not mindless—especially after advancing to Tier 4. At that stage, there is no difference between them and us. There is no need for words like 'despicable.' After all, we once launched a surprise raid on the Severed Spirit Domain in the past; they are merely giving us a taste of our own medicine.
"Dispatching troops to reinforce the rear is impossible. Put that entirely out of your minds!
"Lingtian Pass is paramount. Once this barrier falls, the demon race's vanguard of hundreds of millions will pour through like an uncontainable tide. Every sect will be laid bare before that torrential flood of beasts. Who among you could stop them? Tell me, which of your sects could stand alone against that?
"The nine of you are already the strongest fighting force in the stronghold aside from myself, Tianduzi, and Perfected Shenyuan. Only by deploying you as reinforcements to coordinate with the experts in the rear will there be any hope of driving off those three demon emperor forces."
Castellan Lingtian laid out his judgment and decisions swiftly and clearly, having plainly thought everything through before arriving.
As his words sank in, the flustered cultivators gradually regained their composure.
None of them were fools; they understood full well that if the lips perish, the teeth freeze. Their earlier panic had merely stemmed from concern for their own sects.
Seeing that everyone had calmed down, Castellan Lingtian began issuing commands.
"The exact number of demon emperors led by those three commanders is unknown, but they should be comparable to their former contingents—roughly twenty in total.
"This is a tremendous force. Under the command of three Great Commanders comparable to Great Cultivators, hardly any sect can resist them outside of peak upper sects like the Dongyang Sect, Tiandu Sect, and Void Sovereign Sect.
"You can imagine that wherever they tread, nothing will be left but ruins!
"Next, the nine of you will divide into three routes to pursue them. I have already used the Mingyuan Sect's communication channels to alert the major sects in the rear, ordering their peak experts to mobilize in full force.
"Sovereign Jiuling, Daoist Tieguan, Pavilion Master Li—you will head in the direction of the Wan Jian Domain!
"Shouyang Shanren, Celestial Master Hua, Perfected Taiyue—you will head toward the White Crane Domain! When passing through the Hundred Beasts Domain, check on the situation there; there is a strong possibility that the demonic beasts of the Hundred Beasts Sect will be subverted by those demon emperors, turning around to ravage the living beings of that domain.
"Fenghua Fairy, Jinling... Perfected Demon Slayer!"
When he came to Perfected Demon Slayer, Castellan Lingtian turned his gaze to Luo Chen, his face bearing clear approval.
Among the nine gathered here, Luo Chen was the only one who appeared on the surface to be merely at the third level of the Nascent Soul realm.
Yet after battle upon battle, his strength had earned everyone's recognition, proving himself in no way inferior to a mid-Nascent Soul expert.
That was why he had been selected today.
Others such as Lingfengzi, Shenhuo, and Master Yao were not even in Castellan Lingtian's considerations.
Even a veteran Nascent Soul cultivator like Old Fu of the Divine Talisman Sect was inferior to Luo Chen in his eyes.
"You three shall head toward the Fenghua Domain. If Fenghua Palace has already been destroyed, remember not to linger. Continue along the path in pursuit and track down those demon emperors!"
Hearing this, Fenghua Fairy's face drained of color.
She had clearly envisioned the cruelty that such a scene would entail.
Luo Chen was also concerned about the few Luotian Sect cultivators temporarily residing in Baili Qingchuan, so he raised no objection to Castellan Lingtian's arrangement.
However, he still spoke up to ask a question.
"If so many experts are pulled from the city at once, how will the remaining forces withstand the hundreds of millions of demonic beasts outside Lingtian Pass led by the four Great Commanders?"
Tianduzi's projection, which had remained silent until now, took up the thread without hesitation.
"No matter. I shall take action!"
Such a promise from a Grandmaster of Formations was worth thousands of soldiers and horses!
Luo Chen felt his heart settle at once.
Yet Tianduzi was visibly far from calm. Looking toward Luo Chen's group of three, he said with earnest sincerity, "Head due west through the Fenghua Domain, across the Dieyun, Qidong, and Tianji Domains, and you will reach the mountain gate of my Tiandu Sect. Three of my junior brothers preside over the sect. Even if a Great Demon Emperor arrives in person, relying on the mountain-protecting grand formation will allow them to hold out for a considerable time. If you can make it in time, I ask that you lend the Tiandu Sect a helping hand!"
Luo Chen answered decisively, "It is our duty. Fellow Daoist, do not worry."
Fenghua Fairy nodded, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere. It was obvious that if matters reached that point, Fenghua Palace would have been destroyed first.
Jinling said nothing. To his Five Elements Divine Sect, this matter did not carry much weight.
Over the past ten years of war at Lingtian Pass, homeless stragglers like the Five Elements Divine Sect and the Misty Sect had seen most of their disciples conscripted to Lingtian Pass.
Hardly any disciples remained in the Fenghua Domain, so they were unlikely to draw the notice of any demon emperor.
The same was true of the Luotian Sect. Over the past decade, including Luo Chen and Wang Yuan, over two hundred sect members had entered Lingtian Pass to fight in succession.
Those left behind in Baili Qingchuan numbered barely a hundred.
If the objective of the three demon commanders was to devastate the rear territories, they would not waste time on such minor forces.
"Everyone, depart!" Castellan Lingtian said.
Tianduzi suddenly cut in. "Castellan Lingtian, before all our fellow Daoists, can you give this old man a straight answer?"
Castellan Lingtian frowned slightly. "What answer?"
"Quite simple. Aside from Mount Cangwu, eight of the demon race's nine Great Commanders have taken the field. The gravity of the situation needs no further explanation. Under such circumstances, does the Mingyuan Sacred Ground still intend to sit by without moving?"
At this, Castellan Lingtian's brow relaxed, and he gave a nonchalant smile.
"Rest assured. I have already notified the sect. In this battle, the Mingyuan Sect will mobilize many of its experts as well."
Then, his gaze swept over the cultivators about to set out.
"This mission aims to repel the demon emperors ravaging the rear. But if an opportunity presents itself, it would be all the better to leave them behind forever!"
Leave them behind forever?
Luo Chen and the others exchanged glances. Saying nothing more, they simply nodded.
...
Nine streaks of escape-light surged skyward from the Castellan's Estate.
Wheeling once through the heavens, the voice of Shouyang Shanren echoed from among them.
"The demon emperors are cunning and aggressive. This campaign will be no easy feat. While our mission is paramount, none of you must forget to preserve your own lives. I hope that upon our return, we can still share wine and joy atop Mount Shouyang!"
A brief silence fell before someone responded.
"The Shanren speaks truly. Everyone, act according to your limits!"
Luo Chen echoed the sentiment, his gaze falling upon Sovereign Jiuling.
The latter nodded slightly. "Take care!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly and performed a Daoist salute. "Take care!"
Not only Sovereign Jiuling, but Pavilion Master Li and Deng Taiyue also sent sound transmissions to Luo Chen, urging him to stay safe.
These were the connections Luo Chen had accumulated over recent years.
After exchanging parting regards, the cultivators hesitated no longer and streaked away in three different directions.
...
Atop a towering mountain stamped with five massive handprints, an elderly man in azure robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance.
Suddenly, a streak of light rushed over and landed before him.
Dropping to his knees, he spoke: "Master!"
The azure-robed elder cast a glance at him. "Why so disheveled?"
Demon Emperor Wuji's expression turned sheepish. "Reporting to Master, I encountered Perfected Demon Slayer."
"Demon Slayer?" The azure-robed elder's lips curled slightly, his gaze resting upon the five lifelike, colossal finger imprints on the cliffside beneath his feet. "The Alchemist Grandmaster Luo Chen?"
"Yes!"
"You were actually no match for him? That exceeds this seat's expectations somewhat."
Flushing crimson, Demon Emperor Wuji bit his lip hard and said, "I underestimated the enemy. Furthermore, this man differs from the rumors—he also commands a sword formation. Although he clearly mastered it not long ago, its might is immense. In addition..."
"A sword formation?" The azure-robed elder keenly seized upon the key phrase.
Demon Emperor Wuji took a deep breath. "Yes. That sword formation channels the power of the five elements and is driven by sword pellets. It is exceedingly similar to the Two Instruments Five Elements Sword Formation spoken of in wolf clan legends. I suspect Luo Chen is connected to Han Zhan, who took part in besieging and slaying Ao Xiao back then."
The azure-robed elder's eyes narrowed, as if deep in thought.
Not daring to interrupt, Demon Emperor Wuji remained respectfully on his knees, devoid of any demon emperor's dignity.
Had unfamiliar human cultivators witnessed this scene, they would have found it utterly incongruous.
Even though the azure-robed elder was of a higher realm, both ultimately occupied the same major cultivation tier; there was no reason to be so subservient.
Yet the nearby wolf clan experts showed expressions of long-standing familiarity with the sight.
This was because, unlike ordinary demon emperors, Demon Emperor Wuji was originally a companion beast born upon the azure-robed elder's body, raised alongside him since childhood.
Only after embarking upon the Great Dao did he take human form and separate.
Rumors also held that the elder's rise to the position of Wolf Clan Overlord owed much to Demon Emperor Wuji's efforts along the way.
After a long silence, the azure-robed elder murmured to himself, "Back then, this seat ascended Mount Cangwu intending to demand Han Zhan and the others from Qingshuang to avenge Ao Xiao, only to be refused. I even crossed hands with Qingshuang, which only elevated her immense reputation among the demon race.
"Though I failed to obtain the culprits, I learned by chance from those birds on Mount Cangwu that a human cultivator had been concocting pills for them.
"I heard he was also surnamed Luo!"
These words carried deliberate weight.
Hearing this secret for the first time, Demon Emperor Wuji was momentarily stunned before realizing the implication.
"Could it be that he obtained Han Zhan's legacy on Mount Cangwu..."
The azure-robed elder raised a hand slightly, cutting off the speculation, for a demonic wind was already surging in from ahead.
The billowing demonic mist abruptly pulled back, revealing a woman with snow-white hair.
The moment she landed, she bowed respectfully to the azure-robed elder.
"Commander Ao Kuang, there has been a shift at Lingtian Pass. Three Perfected Persons from the western city have broken through the encirclement, heading toward the Fenghua Domain in the rear."
The azure-robed elder was none other than the Overlord of the Eastern Desolation's wolf clan, Ao Kuang!
Upon hearing this report, he gave a soft laugh.
"Their reaction was fairly swift. But of course—these human cultivators excel in the hundred arts of cultivation, and their means of communication are endlessly varied. That they could receive news of Bi Zheng and the others' raid so quickly is only natural."
The white-haired woman asked tentatively, "Should we dispatch someone to intercept them?"
"Intercept them?"
Ao Kuang's lips twitched, his gaze drifting darkly across the vast flood of beasts surging toward Lingtian Pass across mountains and plains.
"This battle has dragged on far, far too long!
"Rather than continuing this tug-of-war, we might as well decide everything in a single stroke!
"It may appear that we are attacking Lingtian Pass to buy time and space for Bi Zheng and Juan Kuang to ravage the humans' rear territories, but in truth, they are the bait—creating the conditions for us to capture Lingtian Pass."
The white-haired woman looked puzzled. "Are we to launch a general offensive?"
Ao Kuang inquired, "In the direction of the western city, what are the cultivation realms of the three who broke out?"
"They should be around the mid-Nascent Soul stage, with impressive foundations." The white-haired woman seemed to grasp something, yet remained slightly uncertain, hesitating before adding, "But only three departed."
"Three?" Ao Kuang waved a broad hand. "More than enough!"
If three went in one direction, the other two directions would surely see no fewer.
Lingtian Pass had fewer than thirty Nascent Soul cultivators in total; thirty percent had departed in one fell swoop, and they were the very strongest among them.
As for the remaining peak experts, aside from the three Great Cultivators, they were no longer a serious threat.
And on their side, it was far from just the four Great Commanders.
"Pass down the order: all Tier 4 demon emperors under my command are to stand on alert, ready to attack Lingtian Pass upon my command!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
Demon Emperor Wuji and the white-haired woman answered in booming unison.
More than that, Ao Kuang retrieved a rhinoceros horn. Under the stimulation of magic power, the horn slowly began to glow.
"Qi Xi, several years have passed. How goes your recovery?"
Hearing this from the side, the lingering fear Demon Emperor Wuji had felt from Luo Chen's display was replaced by mounting excitement.
Ao Kuang, Huang Man, Ox Demon, Centipede—even Commander Qi Xi, who had been nursing his injuries, was going to take the field.
Five Great Commanders, twenty demon emperors, and hundreds of millions of low-tier demonic beasts!
Before such an overwhelming force, how could a mere Lingtian Pass hold?
He seemed already to see the exhilarating spectacle of countless human cultivators wailing and begging for mercy under the drooling jaws of demonic beasts once the city fell.
...
Lingtian Pass bordered the Fenghua Domain—or rather, a portion of Lingtian Pass's territory had originally belonged to the Fenghua Domain.
After breaking through the city's perimeter, Luo Chen and the other two flew without pausing toward Fenghua Palace.
Flying with all their might, the three Perfected Persons moved at astonishing speed, able to cross an entire domain in virtually no time.
Back in the day, when Pang Renxiong, a Golden Core cultivator, set out from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect to cross a domain and reach Dahe Mill, it had taken him about a month.
Though the distances differed, a rough comparison illustrated the vast gulf in flight speed between a Nascent Soul cultivator and a Golden Core cultivator.
Passing over a basin, Perfected Jinling paused for a brief moment.
Sweeping his divine sense across the area, he said indifferently, "Let us continue to Fenghua Palace!"
Luo Chen likewise extended his divine sense to scan the area, and upon seeing the result, he felt a wave of relief.
The remaining disciples of the Five Elements Divine Sect had been settled within this basin, and his sweep confirmed they were unharmed.
Luo Chen's relief did not stem from the survival of the Five Elements Divine Sect's cultivators, but from the fact that if the demon emperors had not bothered targeting these low-tier disciples, they naturally would not have targeted the Luotian Sect either.
Fenghua Fairy, on the other hand, could no longer conceal the urgency on her face.
If even the surviving disciples of Nascent Soul upper sects were beneath their notice, the demon emperors' target was clearly unified: they were gunning straight for the veteran Nascent Soul upper sects in the rear!
Fenghua Palace bore the brunt of it!
Using the Art of Ninety Thousand Li, Luo Chen followed behind the two, occasionally catching a glimpse of Fenghua Fairy's anxious expression.
Yet he could hardly offer words of comfort.
Information always suffered from delay. Given the mobility of a massive force of demon emperors, by the time the news had reached them, many sects were bound to have already met with disaster.
To comfort her now would be nothing short of self-deception.
No wonder the number of low-tier demonic beasts assaulting Lingtian Pass has grown greater and greater in recent days. I previously thought the Million Mountains had accumulated an absurdly vast horde, but now it seems those hundreds of millions of beasts simply represent the full strength of the Million Mountains. It's just that the three Great Commanders handed command of these low-tier beasts over to the four led by Ao Kuang and Huang Man.
A feint on the front line while ravaging the rear, shaking the confidence of Lingtian Pass's defenders. Once news spreads that massive numbers of sects in the rear have been destroyed, no matter how tall the walls or deep the moats of Lingtian Pass, it will hardly escape crumbling from within.
No matter how hard a reef may be, it cannot withstand the ceaseless scouring of a torrent. This move by the demon race appears to be a surprise raid, but it is in truth an open, undeniable scheme... Wait, if we depart, will those four Great Commanders sit idly by, watching an emptied Lingtian Pass without being tempted?
As Luo Chen pondered, his composed expression turned grave.
He had an ominous premonition.
If the demon leadership learned of the nine experts' departure and attacked Lingtian Pass at all costs, could the remaining cultivators truly hold the line?
Whether in the scale of low-tier cultivators or the tally of high-tier powerhouses, Lingtian Pass was at an absolute disadvantage.
The only thing they could pin their hopes on was perhaps the Black Tortoise Four Directions Formation under Tianduzi's full command.
As Luo Chen's thoughts churned, time slipped swiftly by.
Night fell, casting starlight across the earth.
Fenghua Palace was at hand!
Before they even arrived, the wailing sound of wind reached their ears.
Listening closely, it was not the wind wailing at all, but the weeping of numerous women.
Boom!
Fenghua Fairy, already flying at the very front, erupted with magic power and crashed like a meteorite into a cluster of palaces nestled among the rugged peaks.
This was Luo Chen's first time at Fenghua Palace.
Even though he had stayed in the Fenghua Domain for three full years, this was indeed his first visit.
As far as the eye could see, peaks had collapsed and rubble lay strewn everywhere.
The palaces were shattered, the jade staircases broken.
Wails filled the wilderness; devastation met the eye on every side!
Suddenly, an agonizingly shrill shriek pierced the night sky, echoing endlessly.
It was Fenghua Fairy's fury!
Standing in midair, Luo Chen pressed his lips tight in pity, his face hardening.
Perfected Jinling, who had maintained an aloof demeanor throughout, was visibly moved as well.
"Sigh..."
A soft sigh escaped him, born of shared sorrow, as if the destruction of the Five Elements Divine Sect's mountain gate had been equally tragic.
A streak of light flew up unsteadily from below.
Luo Chen released a strand of magic power to draw it toward them.
It was Feng Yue, an old acquaintance.
The woman's face was pale, her hair disheveled. Cupping her hands in salute, she said, "Two Perfected Persons, Master requests an audience below."
Perfected Jinling nodded and flew straight down.
Luo Chen looked at Feng Yue, retrieved two jade bottles, and nudged them before her with magic power.
"Healing medicines I refined myself. They should be suited to your current injuries."
With that, Luo Chen flew down as well.
Clutching the two jade bottles, Feng Yue whispered words of gratitude as soft as a mosquito's hum. Gazing down at the once-flourishing Fenghua Palace, she was entirely lost in a daze.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Jinling and Luo Chen entered a half-collapsed palace hall one after the other.
Looking closely, they saw Fenghua Fairy cradling a blood-drenched corpse, magic power fluctuations venting uncontrollably from her body, laying bare the fury in her heart.
With a single glance, Luo Chen recognized the owner of the corpse.
It was Fenghua Palace's Second Palace Master. Back when she had guarded the western sector of the city, he had been on fairly good terms with her. Later, because First Palace Master Fenghua Fairy went to Lingtian Pass, she had returned to the relatively safe rear to oversee the sect.
Yet now, the fragrant flower had withered and the jade was broken, meeting a tragic end.
In her chest and abdomen was a gaping hole, and even the garments covering it had collapsed inward.
"First Palace Master, my condolences!" Jinling consoled her with a sigh.
"First Palace Master..." Luo Chen intended to offer some comfort as well, but the moment he opened his mouth, he realized something was amiss. "Where is the Nascent Soul? Where is the Second Palace Master's Nascent Soul?"
Chapter 835