What Are You Worth?

Wei Yuan unrolled the map, tapped three spots in quick succession, and said, "The Shamans are advancing in three separate columns this time. The northwestern force is the strongest, likely numbering tens of thousands. The western column has roughly twenty to thirty thousand. The southwestern column is the weakest, perhaps under twenty thousand." Wei Yuan had sensed the shifting qi of heaven and earth with the aid of Qingming's power. His estimates of their troop counts were deductions rather than exact numbers, but their relative positions were quite accurate. Among the three Shaman columns, the closest was less than two hundred li away, while the farthest was still beyond three hundred li, and several hundred li separated each column from the others. With everyone from the Palace of Grand Beginning present alongside Yun Feifei and Xu Wan'er, Wei Yuan said, "I plan to strike the southern column first. The Shamans will never expect us to leave our domain and launch an offensive. We can catch them completely off guard." Turning to Bao Yun, he added, "Senior Sister, I must trouble you to scout all three columns. If nothing is amiss, rendezvous with us afterward." Bao Yun nodded, and her figure vanished. As before, Wei Yuan left Xiaoyu behind to guard their home base, took Zhang Sheng along as reinforcement, and assembled all the elite cultivators. After Ji Liuli cast a feng shui formation to bless them with fortune, they departed the domain and sped southwest. This time, Wei Yuan had practically mobilized in full force, leaving only a dozen or so wounded cultivators to guard the domain. An hour later, Bao Yun reunited with the force, bearing the latest intelligence. The northwest column was the Shamans' main force, numbering fully fifty thousand. They carried massive stores of supplies and baggage, appearing poised to establish a fortified camp along the domain's border for a protracted campaign. The western column had fifteen thousand and also transported considerable supplies, so neither of these two columns moved swiftly. The southwestern column numbered merely nine thousand, yet carried proportionately the most baggage. Rather than marching to war, they seemed more like they had come to settle down. In none of the three armies had Bao Yun detected any trace of a concealed Great Shaman. Upon hearing Bao Yun's report, Wei Yuan judged that the Great Shamans had most likely sensed the so-called immortal-grade methods in his possession. Had they not, forces of this size would certainly have been overseen by a Great Shaman in person. The complete absence of any trace suggested the opposite: every Great Shaman was lying low, intending to draw out his immortal trump card before showing themselves. Calculating silently based on the coordinates Bao Yun provided, Wei Yuan pointed toward a hill dozens of li away. "We lay our ambush there." Two hours later, a massive host of Shaman warriors finally appeared within sight. They marched in two columns: one advanced in standard military formation, while the other followed along a stream. The stream was dotted with flat-bottomed boats piled high with supplies, towed by Shaman warriors on either bank. These boats possessed slick hulls coated in a special layer of oil, allowing them to glide across muddy bogs. In a pinch, so long as there was mud on the ground, they could be pushed along—far more practical in the Western Regions than human wagons and carts. Seeing the Shaman army enter the ambush zone, Wei Yuan immediately issued his deployments: Ji Liuli was to suppress the center army, where the Shaman Scholar nobility was concentrated and the strongest foes gathered. Bao Yun would strike first to suppress the vanguard, followed by Cui Yu leading the guards in an assault. Yun Feifei and Xu Wan'er would lead the Western Regions cultivators to attack the transport units along the river. Lastly was Wei Yuan himself, who would lead all the young masters and young ladies in a charge against the Shaman rearguard. Among this entire host, the Shaman rearguard looked the most imposing and majestic, numbering fully two thousand! The young masters and ladies exchanged uneasy glances, falling entirely silent. Counting Wei Yuan, there were only seventeen of them all told—claiming they were outnumbered a hundred to one was no exaggeration. Though every single one of them was in the Dao Foundation realm, the Shaman rearguard boasted no small number of Dao Foundation warriors and scholars either. The youth with the sharpest eyes peered into the distance, his face turning somewhat pale. "Twenty-one Dao Foundations: four at the middle stage, one at the late stage." *A capable one!* Wei Yuan thought with admiration, clapping the young man on the shoulder. "Which one is at the late stage?" The youth pointed. Wei Yuan committed the target to memory, preparing to send him on his way first. With the plan set, Wei Yuan waved his hand, and the group split up, slipping toward their designated positions. Thanks to Bao Yun and Ji Liuli, the entire Shaman army remained completely oblivious to the ambush. Ten minutes later, heaven and earth abruptly roiled as a massive pagoda several yards high materialized out of thin air, pinning down more than half of the center army in one stroke! Though the Shamans had dozens of Dao Foundation scholars in the center army, they were now suppressed to the point of barely being able to move, forced to struggle just to endure. This time, Ji Liuli focused primarily on suppression and secondarily on slaughter, first freezing their movements and then grinding them down piece by piece. If the Shamans could not break free of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda's radius, they would all be crushed to death within an hour. Bao Yun conjured wind and sand as usual. This technique excelled in sustained pressure and vast coverage, carrying unique efficacy against the Shamans. As the sandstorm rose, the Shaman vanguard fell into disarray. While the warriors caught in the gale did not suffer grave wounds at first, the pain was excruciating, leaving them virtually unable to concentrate. The moment the sand whipped up, Cui Yu arrived at the head of the guards, seizing the exact right moment to cut into the chaotic Shaman ranks. Xu Wan'er, Yun Feifei, and the other Western Regions cultivators were intimately familiar with the terrain. Scattering like a pack of wolves, they struck from all sides. Those towing the supply boats were far from elite, quickly falling into panic; many abandoned the vessels and fled. Wei Yuan urged his steed forward, spear raised, charging toward the Shaman rearguard. Brandishing spears and broadswords, the young masters and ladies charged hard on Wei Yuan's heels, though quite a few were pale-faced and trembling. They had come to win glory and build renown, not to throw their lives away! Charging straight into an enemy outnumbering them a hundredfold, outside their own domain—what was this if not suicide? Several immediately considered slowing their horses to quietly fall behind, intending to turn and flee if things went poorly. Wei Yuan was no Cui Yu; frankly speaking, these youths were not yet convinced of Wei Yuan's authority. Going through life and death alongside Cui Yu was one thing, but with Wei Yuan, they were unwilling. Yet to their horror, no matter how they spurred their mounts, the warhorses beneath them would not slow in the slightest—they could not even change direction! In sheer panic, one young master yanked savagely on the reins, but even with the horse's neck pulled almost entirely backward, it continued barreling straight ahead! The Shaman rearguard had already spotted the charging cavalry and turned in unison, countless spears gleaming with chilling light, leveled straight toward them. The young masters and ladies hurtled toward that steel forest of spears. Several broke under the sheer terror and screamed aloud! Suddenly, an indescribable sensation descended from the heavens, blanketing several hundred yards around them. The young nobles found themselves abruptly brimming with power, feeling better than they ever had in their lives. Yet having strength was one thing; fear was another. Looking out, their vision was filled entirely with bizarrely adorned Shamans and countless weapons hacking down at them! Driven by pure survival instinct, they swung their weapons with all their might, clearing away the surrounding Shamans. Only now did they realize the advantage of long reach: sweeping them with savage force, whether slashing or hacking, felled entire swathes in a single blow. Someone soon discovered that the Shamans were not quite as formidable as imagined—at least noticeably weaker than the ambushers met on the road. Pushing down their panic, they focused on fighting. Others remained paralyzed by terror, screaming while hacking wildly. In moments like this, only frenzy could stave off dread. Time felt fleeting, yet agonizingly long. All at once, the space before the young nobles cleared—there were no enemies left. Looking around in a daze, they realized that they had unknowingly driven straight through the enemy lines, leaving only a trail of corpses in their wake. Ahead of them, Wei Yuan wheeled his horse around. A Jade Mountain thundered down from the sky ahead, scattering a cluster of Shamans attempting to rally. Immediately, Wei Yuan launched another charge, and the young nobles followed close behind, every one of them bearing an expression of utter resolve! During the previous charge, one sweet-looking girl had been so terrified that she emptied her dao energy in a single breath. Now her entire body felt limp and sore, unable even to lift her spear. When her warhorse carried her toward the enemy formation once more, she finally broke down, desperate to throw herself from the saddle. Yet an invisible force enveloped her, gluing her firmly to the horse's back so that she could not dismount at all. At the same time, power continually surged into her body, wringing out reservoirs of dao energy she had thought nonexistent. The girl watched in terror as her own hands brandished the spear, stabbing and thrusting enemies off their feet. The spear technique was so fierce, sharp, and ruthless that it far exceeded her own skill. There was nothing she could do except count the enemies falling beneath her strikes, one by one. It was the only thing she could still control about herself. In a stupor, the sweet-faced girl followed the charge straight through the enemy lines yet again, the count on her lips reaching seventeen. Wei Yuan reined in his horse and pointed toward the sky. This time, even before the Jade Mountain appeared, the Shaman rearguard broke completely, scattering in all directions. Wei Yuan had only pointed at the sky; no mountain actually descended. The enemy was now far too scattered, leaving his most devastating dao art with no proper target. *Clap, clap, clap!* A sudden burst of applause rang out. Within the Shaman rearguard, an ordinary soldier stood motionless, clapping rhythmically. Amid the fleeing Shaman nobility, this unremarkable foot soldier appeared entirely out of place. Looking at the soldier, Wei Yuan suddenly felt as though he were being eyed by an apex predator; every hair on his body stood on end! *A formidable enemy!* Ignoring his fleeing comrades, the ordinary soldier walked toward Wei Yuan step by step. Any Shaman warrior who drew within three feet of him automatically circled around, yet they seemed oblivious to their own detour, believing they were still running in a straight line. To their eyes, this soldier seemed entirely nonexistent. Wei Yuan drew a sharp breath. *This already carries the flavor of Dao attunement?* Seeing the soldier, the young masters and ladies also sensed something amiss. While they lacked battlefield experience, their discernment was keen; all of them could tell this soldier was extraordinary and that a true battle was at hand. Without holding back, the young nobles began pulling out their prized treasures. Some produced top-grade spiritual tools, others unfurled rare talismans, and one went so far as to draft a letter on the spot, waving his hand to send it streaking away as light. The letter was not meant to summon help—how could reinforcements arrive in time? He had clearly written out the enemy's identity so his clan could avenge him later. With a wave of Wei Yuan's hand, the warhorses automatically backed away, carrying the group of young nobles out of the path so they would not get in the way. Merely observing the soldier's stride across the ground—as effortless as treading flat plains—Wei Yuan felt a pressure he had experienced only when facing a Great Shaman's dharma idol. The soldier advanced until he was thirty paces away before halting. Had he taken one more step, Wei Yuan would not have been able to resist attacking. The soldier fixed his gaze on Wei Yuan and said, "To think the humans harbor someone of such grand bearing, carrying the resonance of heaven and earth in every gesture. A rare sight indeed! I heard upheavals had arisen in the east and reckoned an exceptional talent had emerged, so I hurried over to see for myself. It seems my trip was not in vain!" Wei Yuan dismounted. "You flatter me." The soldier said, "I am Tianyu Wuye. What is your name?" "Wei Yuan." "Good, Wei Yuan! Let me see if you are worthy of being an opponent to me, Tianyu!" The soldier tore away his armor, revealing a burly, muscular physique. His frame then expanded joint by joint, soaring in an instant to a height of twelve feet! Wei Yuan did not strike immediately. Instead, he observed his opponent carefully, then asked abruptly, "Are you famous?" "I am listed upon the Power Shaman Rankings. What do you think?" "The Power Shaman Rankings? What realm is required to make the list? Does it accept both dharma idols and Dao Foundations?" Tianyu shook his head. "The Power, Sorcery, Blood, and Dao Shaman Rankings evaluate only Shaman Scholars—or what you call Dao Foundations." *So he's just a Dao Foundation...* Wei Yuan maintained a solemn expression as he released a wisp of the aura of Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains. His momentum instantly skyrocketed, faintly carrying the vast desolation of heaven and earth, and he said, "Since you are willing to deem me an opponent, I shall not disappoint you! Only, I wish to know: is this a duel between the two of us, or a battle between our two races?" Tianyu paused. "What difference does it make?" "If it is a duel between us, then matters end with the two of us here. If it is a battle between our races, we might as well call out our masters and elders directly and settle it all at once." Tianyu said, "I came alone. What masters or elders would I have here? Naturally, it is a battle between you and me." "Very well. One last question." "Speak." Wei Yuan asked, "How much of a ransom would you fetch?"