Chapter 399 : A Sudden Change
Chapter 399: A Sudden Change
“Not a hallucination?”
Li Wan’er blinked her eyes in confusion, quickly regaining her senses.
The space here had long been sealed by a special restriction, and the Fourth-Tier Escape Realm Talisman could not be used.
Not only that, aside from escape talismans, the disposable Fourth-Tier Profound Treasure 【Descending True Jade】 she carried with her had also lost its power. It could no longer summon a Nascent Soul True Monarch Dharma Aspect to descend and provide protection, nor could it notify the sect to send reinforcements.
It was precisely because of this that when Li Wan’er saw Chen Beiwu arrive at the critical moment by breaking through space in a way that defied common sense, her first thought was that it was a hallucination before death.
‘Not good, junior brother, run!’
With a great enemy before them, there was no time to reminisce. Li Wan’er hurriedly sent a divine sense transmission.
The First Golden Core was still only a Golden Core, not a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Before three Red Sun Generals and three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers, even someone as powerful as junior brother would find it difficult to sweep through an army of thousands and kill the three peak Dao Generals among the numerous Dao soldiers.
Instead, he might fall into the Dao soldier formation, exhaust his mana, and be unable to break through the encirclement, ultimately being captured.
Of course, if junior brother could activate a secret spatial escape technique and lead them away from this place, allowing the precious treasures on her body to regain their power, then with the three of them joining forces, they might not be unable to attempt annihilating this Solar Radiance Army.
‘Junior brother, be careful of True Monarch Zhou!’
Yun Yishu reacted even faster.
Unlike Wan’er, she had personally witnessed junior brother looking down upon all others, publicly defeating the arrogant Daoist of the Eight Desolations Sect and displaying battle power far beyond the Golden Core Realm.
The Solar Radiance Army and the three Red Sun Generals were certainly troublesome, but they might not necessarily be able to stop a Golden Core great cultivator with battle power as extraordinary as junior brother’s.
At this moment, compared to external enemies, what junior brother needed to be wary of more was the traitor within the sect!
The reason was simple: the formation of Dan Star Market had been broken far too quickly!
Dan Star Market was one of the sect’s strategic locations. Although there was no Nascent Soul True Monarch stationed there, the defensive level of this market’s formation was comparable to one capable of resisting a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and it had consumed a massive amount of sect resources.
When the Dan Star Market formation had first been completed, a Nascent Soul True Monarch of the sect had personally descended to test it. It had taken half an hour before the formation could be broken.
No matter how fully prepared the Red Sun Sect cultivators were, without the assistance of an insider, they absolutely could not have broken through the Dan Star Market’s grand formation in merely a quarter of an hour.
It was precisely because of this concern that when Yun Yishu escaped, she was only willing to trust junior sister Wan’er and did not flee together with the strongest person in the market, True Monarch Zhou, whose cultivation had reached the late-stage Golden Core Realm.
Especially just now, when the two of them planned to self-detonate their Golden Cores, True Monarch Zhou had not taken the opportunity to escape. Instead, he had inexplicably acted to stop them, causing Yun Yishu to become even more suspicious of his motives.
‘No need to worry, they are merely a group of Golden Core cultivators.’
Hearing her junior brother’s divine sense transmission, Yun Yishu was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with surprise.
Merely Golden Core cultivators?
Could it be that after not seeing him for several decades, junior brother had already successfully crossed that threshold and attained the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm, allowing him to disregard Golden Core True Persons entirely?
‘Then I will leave it to junior brother.’
A sense of security that was difficult to describe instantly rose within Yun Yishu’s heart.
“Just in time.”
Seeing Chen Beiwu arrive, a young Red Sun General revealed a delighted expression, greed rising within his heart.
This operation had already been an excellent harvest if they could capture Cloud Grace Immortal and Immortal Yishu. It would be enough to record a great achievement.
But if they could capture the Mirror Moon Daoist and receive a heavy reward from the sect, then these Dao Generals trapped at the Golden Core Realm might not be unable to rebuild their foundations and obtain an opportunity to attain the True Monarch Realm.
The other two Red Sun Generals, however, revealed solemn expressions.
The Mirror Moon Daoist had just resolved a Golden Core self-detonation they could not handle, proving that his strength was far beyond that of an ordinary perfected Golden Core great cultivator.
“Suppressing Golden Core cultivators with a flick of his finger, the Mirror Moon Daoist truly lives up to his reputation.”
One Red Sun General stepped forward and confidently said: “Perfect. Our sect’s Ancestor has always wanted to invite the Daoist to visit the Red Sun Sect as a guest. This occasion just happens to provide such an opportunity.”
“Annoying.”
Chen Beiwu turned his head. His gaze swept over the three hundred Dao soldiers arranged in formation before landing on the speaker.
“Merely commanding a group of Dao soldiers, yet you dare spout such nonsense before me.”
Sensing the Mirror Moon Daoist’s contempt, the three Red Sun Generals exchanged glances and silently smiled.
Indeed, Chen Ziang was right.
The First Golden Core of the Earth Evolution Realm was not merely a title in name. Even if they commanded three hundred Dao soldiers and fought regardless of casualties, they might be able to defeat Chen Ziang, but they might not necessarily be able to capture him.
However, they had come prepared this time and carried the sect’s Dao soldier treasure 【Heavenly Cycle Red Sun Banner】.
The Heavenly Cycle Red Sun Banner was a supreme Dao soldier treasure refined by the founding ancestor of the Red Sun Sect using the essence of the Red Sun. The banner was nine chi and nine cun tall, corresponding to the number of extreme Yang throughout the Heavenly Cycle. The pole was made from ten-thousand-year Red Wood, while the banner surface was woven from Golden Essence Fire Silk. Its might was limitless.
With this treasure and the three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers forming the Heavenly Cycle Red Sun Formation, even against a Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Mirror Moon Sect, they were confident they could fight while retreating and preserve their forces as they withdrew from the Mountain Burial Realm.
Not to mention dealing with Chen Ziang, a mere Golden Core True Person.
“Formation, rise!”
Without the slightest hesitation, the leading Red Sun General directly sacrificed the Heavenly Cycle Red Sun Banner.
The crimson banner expanded against the wind, instantly transforming into a massive military banner five zhang tall, radiating a majestic Red Sun aura.
“Form ranks!”
The three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers roared simultaneously, raising the long halberds in their hands. Their movements were perfectly synchronized as they formed an imposing military formation.
The instant the Dao soldier formation took shape, the auras, blood energy, souls, and mana of the three hundred Dao soldiers and the three Red Sun Generals merged together, condensing into a crimson blood-energy smoke that surged into the heavens and erupted with power far beyond Golden Core, comparable to a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
‘This level of power is comparable to a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s attack!’
Yun Yishu’s heart trembled as she looked at Chen Beiwu with worry.
‘Should we escape instead!’
Li Wan’er swallowed, subconsciously grabbing Chen Beiwu’s wrist.
It was too dangerous!
These Dao soldiers had already formed momentum. Unless junior brother possessed overwhelming power capable of instantly defeating the three Red Sun Generals and three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers, defeat was inevitable.
“Please rest assured, Senior Sisters.”
Chen Beiwu smiled calmly and took a step forward, speaking casually:
“Three hundred Dao soldiers borrowing external power, combined with three Red Sun Generals, merely touch the level of the early-stage Nascent Soul Realm.”
After speaking, Chen Beiwu slowly raised his right hand. His five fingers slightly curled as he formed a seal with one hand. An ancient and profound seal, containing the intent of tribulation fire refining reality, naturally condensed.
As the most murderous seal among the Primordial Five Tribulation Seals, the Jade Void Crimson Bright Seal was extraordinary. Its might was absolutely exceptional. It could lock onto the three treasures of a cultivator’s essence, energy, and spirit, collapse their Dao foundation, and annihilate their soul.
“Destroy!”
Chen Beiwu made no unnecessary movements. As the seal descended, Yun Yishu and Li Wan’er saw countless blood-colored fireworks explode before their eyes.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
With a series of muffled explosions, one Dao soldier after another stiffened before exploding and vanishing without warning.
By the time Chen Beiwu’s right hand fully descended, all three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers had been reduced to ashes, transforming into dust that scattered into the air.
The three leading Red Sun Generals, however, spat out blood. Their faces became pale as snow, their backs hunched, their legs kneeling on the ground, and their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
The might of a single strike was truly terrifying!
The three hundred Solar Radiance Army soldiers had been completely annihilated in both body and spirit, erased from this world without leaving behind the slightest trace of existence.
Only the incomparably thick smell of blood in the air and the three Red Sun Generals kneeling on the ground proved that the terrifying scene just now was not an illusion, but an unbelievable reality.
“This… this, junior brother, you are at the mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm!”
Seeing Chen Beiwu standing motionless, his white robes purer than snow, carrying the indifferent expression of someone casually brushing away dust, Yun Yishu froze in place, her eyes filled with confusion.
She knew junior brother was extremely powerful, powerful beyond imagination. Otherwise, he would not have remained so calm.
But she had never imagined that after attaining the True Monarch Realm, the difference in strength between them would become so enormous that even an organized Dao soldier army could be annihilated with overwhelming ease.
“Mid-stage Nascent Soul? Senior Sister, you misunderstood. I am still not a Nascent Soul True Monarch.”
Chen Beiwu shook his head slightly and denied it.
Before reaching perfected Golden Core, he already had confidence in defeating an early-stage Southern Wilderness Nascent Soul True Monarch with a single seal. Now that his cultivation had reached the limit of the Golden Core Realm, this was even more so.
A mere early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch could be destroyed with a flick of his finger.
‘Not Nascent Soul?’
Hearing this absurd reply, Yun Yishu was dumbfounded. She felt her understanding of the world being overturned and refreshed.
If he was not Nascent Soul yet and could already possess such battle power, then what grade of Golden Core was the Primordial Golden Core created by junior brother using the Supreme Unity Casting Core Method as its foundation?
“Junior brother, you are amazing!”
Li Wan’er’s beautiful eyes shone brightly. She opened her arms and tightly hugged Chen Beiwu’s right arm, looking exactly like a child.
Feeling the softness against his arm, Chen Beiwu did not mind. He looked toward Senior Sister Wan’er.
He had no interest in being a lolicon. He preferred beautiful women with fair skin, long legs, and graceful figures. Even if Senior Sister Wan’er was a legally recognized loli, it was the same.
“Senior Sister, no, junior sister, we need to correct the way you address me. I am now the sect’s Daoist. You should call me senior brother.”
Chen Beiwu deliberately teased her.
Li Wan’er blinked, then lightly snorted:
“No. Once a senior sister, always a senior sister. Junior brother, you should understand this principle.”
Listening to his senior sister’s fabricated reasoning, Chen Beiwu helplessly smiled and did not correct her.
He did not care much about titles, especially among close fellow disciples.
Since Senior Sister Wan’er liked it, there was no harm in letting her address him this way in private.
In formal situations, Senior Sister Wan’er naturally understood the rules and would not violate etiquette.
“How is this possible? How could we lose so miserably!”
At the same time, looking at the Heavenly Cycle Red Sun Banner that had fallen half-damaged to the ground and lost most of its spirituality, one Red Sun General’s soul trembled as he continuously muttered.
“Damn it, the Mirror Moon Daoist would not appear in Dan Star Market without reason. The sect’s intelligence was wrong. We fell into a trap!”
Another Red Sun General’s conviction collapsed, and his heart filled with thoughts of death.
“Speak. How did you bypass the Mountain Burial Realm’s border defenses and appear here?”
Chen Beiwu looked toward the two remaining Red Sun Generals and questioned them:
“Who is the insider within the Mirror Moon Sect that colluded with the Red Sun Sect?”
If he had not deliberately held back to leave survivors for questioning, no Golden Core Dao General would have survived after that single seal.
“Who else could it be besides True Monarch Zhou Yushu?”
The Red Sun General raised his head and looked toward True Monarch Zhou not far away, revealing a mocking expression.
“This is slander! Knowing they will certainly die, these Red Sun Sect cultivators are deliberately throwing dirt to confuse everyone!”
Sensing that his aura had been locked onto by the Daoist’s divine sense, True Monarch Zhou shouted angrily.
“It does not matter. Whether it is slander or not, searching the soul and refining the spirit will reveal the truth.”
Chen Beiwu’s divine sense moved, capturing the remnants of the three Red Sun Generals’ souls and forcibly extracting the hidden information deep within their memories.
However, to maintain secrecy, many cultivation sects would generally use special restrictions to seal the memories of Dao Generals and Dao soldiers, preventing the methods of refining and cultivating Dao soldiers from leaking.
“Alliance of Three Sects and Four Schools, the Demon Sect’s Divine Transformation True Venerable secretly plotting, the Eight Desolations Sect providing support behind the scenes, Mirror Moon Sect elders betraying the sect…”
While Chen Beiwu searched their souls, True Monarch Zhou, who had a guilty conscience, no longer dared hesitate. He activated his escaping light and fled.
His speed surpassed that of perfected Golden Core great cultivators. Clearly, he had used his trump card profound abilities and talismans.
“So it really was you!”
Yun Yishu’s eyes turned cold.
No wonder the latest batch of medicinal pills transported from Dan Star Market to the frontline had been attacked twice. It turned out True Monarch Zhou was behind it.
But why?
Dan Star Market was a large-scale market. As its master, True Monarch Zhou’s authority and status were only slightly below the Mirror Moon main lineage elders. Locally, he held enormous power as the highest authority figure. There was no reason for him to betray the sect while risking his entire clan’s destruction.
“Do you think you can escape?”
Chen Beiwu raised his head and looked at True Monarch Zhou, pointing out with one finger.
After knowing there was a problem with the other party, he naturally would not lower his guard.
True Monarch Zhou fleeing at this moment was no different from exposing himself. It just happened to save Chen Beiwu some effort.
While True Monarch Zhou was desperately activating his escaping light, his heart suddenly turned cold. He then felt the surrounding space become incomparably heavy, and his body froze in midair.
‘No, open for me!’
True Monarch Zhou burned his essence blood and Golden Core Dao resonance, erupting with all his strength, yet he still could not break free from the restraints of Primordial True Qi.
“Thud!”
Following a parabolic arc, True Monarch Zhou heavily crashed down before Chen Beiwu, kicking up a cloud of dust.
A single seal annihilated the Solar Radiance Army, and a single finger immobilized a Golden Core!
Before absolute strength, the Golden Core True Persons who were untouchable in the eyes of ordinary cultivators were nothing more than ants.
At this moment, Chen Beiwu’s eyes moved slightly as he looked upward.
“Clap!”
“Clap!”
“Clap!”
Three slow and clear sounds of applause suddenly rang out.
Hearing this sound, Chen Beiwu could still remain calm, but Senior Sister Yun and Senior Sister Wan’er both felt their hearts sink, their expressions becoming extremely ugly.
The reason was simple. Although the applause was not loud, it carried a special rhythm that could resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, producing an incredibly strange reaction that caused Golden Core True Persons to feel an indescribable threat of death.
The next moment, the moon wheel disappeared, the clouds parted, and a figure gradually condensed from illusion into reality.
A terrifying pressure as vast as the sea and as mighty as a dragon descended with a crash.
This pressure was not directed only at Chen Beiwu and the other two. Instead, it covered the entire heaven and earth, dominating all spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
‘Nascent Soul True Monarch!’
‘And an unfamiliar Nascent Soul True Monarch!’
Yun Yishu’s expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with shock.
For another sect’s Nascent Soul True Monarch to dare enter the Mountain Burial Realm, it meant one of two things. Either the frontline battlefield had suffered a defeat and they had retreated, or the Three Sects and Four Schools no longer wished to maintain their stalemate with the Five Great Schools of the Earth Evolution Realm and had sent Nascent Soul True Monarchs onto the battlefield, intending to determine victory through the number of True Monarchs.
Regardless of which possibility it was, it indicated that the great war between the three Southern Wilderness realms was already nearing the point of losing control, rather than the higher-ups of the various sects maintaining their tacit agreement and controlling the intensity of the conflict.
‘Damn it!’
Li Wan’er’s eyes narrowed. She said nothing, instead using her mana to tidy her robes and stubbornly stood beside Chen Beiwu.
So what if it was a Nascent Soul True Monarch!
She and junior brother stood together. She would not let junior brother face such a powerful enemy alone.