Chapter 268 - 248: Rock Ancestor
The mountains are like a sea, the setting sun is like blood.
The sound of roaring fades into the distance, the explosions of spells and magical artifacts gradually subside.
The walls of Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City are stained with thick, blackened blood.
Beneath the walls, heaps of demon beast corpses and cultivators alike are piled up.
Some demon beasts, whose life force is tenacious, are still not completely dead, letting out low whimpers.
The air is filled with the smell of burning.
Under the command of the High-Tier Cultivators, the Lower-Tier Cultivators are split into two groups, one searching for survivors of the battle, while the other deals with the leftover demon beast corpses.
Some cultivators have had their limbs bitten off by demon beasts, some have their abdomen torn open, and some have been cut in half by spells like the Wind Blade Technique.
Cultivators with only external injuries can be nursed back to health with healing secret medicine and careful care, and after some days, they can continue to fight.
Lin Qiu Bai’s sharp eyes cannot hide exhaustion; he lets out a long sigh in his heart and instructs:
"You continue to clean the battlefield, I’ll report to the ancestors."
Today marks the tenth day of battle, and the attack intensity of the demon beasts far exceeds everyone’s original expectations.
The attack began as the sun rose and ended only when the sunset dimmed the sky.
The offensive was like a tidal wave, one wave not yet settled before the next arrived, with no moment of pause.
Within the beast horde, there were Chao Origin Stage demon beasts hidden, and occasionally the walls were breached by them.
Lin Qiu Bai was like a firefighter, constantly launching large-scale attacks to rescue the crisis on the city walls.
Other Chao Origin Stage cultivators, like him, were doing the same thing.
The sound of a sword’s whistle arose, and he became a ray of light, sweeping towards the peak of the Immortal City.
He stopped before a grotto mansion on the mountain top, and the door of the grotto opened slowly.
"Qiubai, come in."
A kind voice came out, with a special magnetism, making one feel like being bathed in spring breeze.
Lin Qiu Bai entered the grotto mansion with big strides, even though extremely tired, his steps remained precise as measured by a ruler.
Each step was two feet seven inches, no more, no less.
Like a rich merchant with a round face, the cultivator stretched out his hand, gesturing to the disciple to sit down, and said gently:
"The battle is over, what are your thoughts?"
The cultivator is none other than the Golden Core Cultivator, Master Yuxiao, of the Golden Spirit Sect.
"The intensity of the battle has almost reached the limit for Lower-Tier Cultivators, though there is a rotation system, but at this intensity of attack, it seems unlikely Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City can hold out for a few months.
Unless we mobilize more disciples to the Immortal City, which would relatively make the rear more vulnerable."
Lin Qiu Bai pondered, holding a pessimistic view on long-term defense of Mingfeng Mountain.
Today, his magical power was consumed by seventy percent, reaching a critical point.
If the magical power consumption continues to increase, relying solely on taking pills and a night’s meditation won’t replenish his magical power fully.
He is currently at the Fourth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage, stronger than most cultivators of the same stage, other cultivators surely face even more severe situations.
"If we increase the defense strength of the Mountain Protection Array, the situation will improve considerably.
If the attack intensity remains the same in the next few days, I will discuss with other Daoist friends."
Master Yuxiao said firmly, his eyes flashing with a hint of anger.
According to previous demon calamity procedures, Nascent Soul Cultivators would be sent from Central Continent, and Golden Core Cultivators from Western Continent could go to battle with more confidence.
Plus the Golden Core Cultivators accompanying us, and several hundred late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators here for training and combat, the situation wouldn’t be so passive.
Back then, when Golden Spirit Sect moved to Western Continent, several Major Sects made assurances.
Now that strong reinforcements have not arrived, Golden Core Cultivators dare not act rashly.
He heard Mingfeng Valley cultivators describe the previous demon calamity situation, facing large Immortal City targets, the demon beasts’ strategy was to besiege and consume first, and only launch an all-out attack after several months.
This time, the Immortal City faced a completely different situation, with almost no siege phase, going directly into an all-out attack.
He pondered the changes in this demon calamity, even less daring to act rashly.
...
The Spirit Ship passed through the Sunrise Peak array, hovering over the Treasure Pavilion on the mountainside.
A figure leapt down from the Flying Ship, casually releasing a Communication Golden Sword.
The Golden Sword soared into the sky, like a flying bird sweeping towards the mountain top.
Jia Yu heard the sound and walked out of the main hall.
"Junior Brother Qin, why have you returned?"
An ominous premonition arose in his heart, for the defensive mission at Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City should not see one returning to the sect for a year or half.
Qin Yan looked back with a bitter smile:
"Senior Brother, the battlefront is far more difficult than expected.
The demon beasts attack in waves, the Demon King has yet to appear, but the Mountain Protection Array is already fully activated, and several ancestors are stationed at the front lines."
The demon beasts frantically attacked, completely pinning down cultivators in Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City.
The medium-sized strongholds established around the Immortal City were breached one by one, with extensive casualties among sect cultivators and loose cultivators.
Except for a very few exceptionally strong individuals who could fight their way back to the Immortal City, other cultivators became meals for the demon beasts.
The planned defense line with the Immortal City as an anchor was mostly breached half a month after the full outbreak of the demon calamity.
Jia Yu was stunned:
"Are the Demon Kings crazy? Could their aim be to drive the Human Race cultivators out of the Western Continent?"
If this is truly the case, it means Nascent Soul Stage demon beasts must be involved in the background.
Qin Yan took a deep breath, "Who knows, although we’ve broken through to the Chao Origin Stage, in such a great war, we can barely protect ourselves."
A sense of powerlessness surged in his heart, and he unconsciously clenched his fists.
While they were speaking, a Communication Golden Sword flew down from the mountain top.
Qin Yan took it and probed it with his Divine Sense, quickly reading its contents.
"Senior Brother, the ancestor has summoned me, pardon my leave."
"Go quickly, Junior Brother."
Jia Yu watched him depart, shaking his head gently after a while:
"A turbulent time, the situation is becoming unstable."
He turned back to the main hall, leaving a faint sigh.
Outside the hall, leaves rustled, with a few yellowing leaves spiraling down.
...
Inside the grotto mansion, Daoist Master Zhengyang listened calmly to the report of his disciple and said indifferently:
"It is better to rely on oneself than others. If others don’t help us, we become very passive.
The future of the sect and the Western Continent ultimately depends on you."
The biggest issue in the Western Continent was the absence of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, otherwise, the situation in Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City wouldn’t have fallen into such a passive state.
If there was a Nascent Soul Cultivator to hold the line, Golden Core Cultivators would dare to engage the enemy outside the city.
"What arrangements have been made on the front line, and how should we cooperate?"
Qin Yan said softly:
"The elders have discussed, and each sect will dispatch a Golden Core Stage combatant and several High-Tier Cultivators to stabilize the front line."
As he spoke, he took out a jade slip containing information personally recorded by Master Yuxiao.
Daoist Master Zhengyang picked up the jade slip, unlocked it with the code agreed upon by the two Golden Core Daoist Masters, and then placed it against his forehead.
His expression wavered, and finally, he sighed deeply:
"To use such reserves so early, so be it, please follow me."
Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City consumed a great deal of resources and effort from the Three Sects and must be defended long enough to fulfill its mission.
As long as the Immortal City stands, it remains an insurmountable barrier for the demon beasts, and the demon kings wouldn’t dare to easily attack the heartland of the human cultivators.
According to the initial plan, the Three Sects intended to hold off the enemies outside the radiation range of each sect.
The delayed support from the Central Continent rendered much of their efforts void.
Now, they could only hope that the Immortal City could hold out long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
In this way, although small groups of demon beasts might infiltrate the heartland and harass, the main foundation could still be preserved.
...
A cloud of fiery colors like a sunset emerged under Daoist Master Zhengyang’s feet, lifting him and Qin Yan to the Treasure Pavilion halfway up the mountain.
Jia Yu immediately bowed and said:
"Ancestor, your grand presence was not greeted sooner, my apologies."
Zhengyang nodded slightly, speaking in a grave tone:
"Nephew, open the Secret Vault."
Startled, Jia Yu was momentarily stunned, then stepped aside:
"Ancestor, Junior Brother Qin, please!"
He turned and walked forward decisively, performing a spell to open the restriction.
A section of the wall retreated slowly to both sides, revealing a gray stone wall polished like a mirror.
As brilliance flashed by, the stone wall disappeared, revealing a doorway about one zhang high and four feet wide.
Qin Yan followed at the end, entering inside, pondering what in the sect’s Secret Vault could possess Golden Core Stage combat power.
Magical Treasures?
Even if there were treasures, using one might drain the magical power of a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator.
Due to the characteristics of magical treasures, multiple cultivators can’t possibly control one together.
Moreover, it seems the sect’s two ancestors each have only one magical treasure, so the sect can’t have spare treasures to utilize.
The Secret Vault’s ceiling rose high enough for five zhàng, with huge cylindrical light screens standing in the middle.
The dazzling lights of the restrictions were blinding, making it hard to see inside or discern any labels.
"Do not touch the light screens of the restriction, or it will trigger the array’s attack."
Jia Yu turned back to remind them, performed a spell, and the light columns moved either up or down, merging into the rock wall, leaving the vault empty.
While Qin Yan was puzzled, yellow light flashed on the ground stones, and surging demonic power echoed in the vault, spreading the oppressive presence of Golden Core Stage.
Under the impact of the powerful aura, his breath caught momentarily.
A demon beast over three zhang tall, resembling a giant pangolin, appeared.
The difference was that a white horn like a rhinoceros grew from the beast’s nose.
Qin Yan’s heart pounded crazily. Before, he had wondered if the vault had only Senior Brother Jia, and sometimes the elder would leave. Was it too careless to rely solely on the array defense?
Now it seemed, it was his own thoughts that were too careless!
A Great Demon at the Golden Core Realm was guarding here, making Senior Brother Jia just an ornament!
Daoist Master Zhengyang gave a respectful bow, speaking in a solemn tone:
"Rock Ancestor, for the sake of the sect, we must ask for your assistance."
His attitude was very respectful because centuries before he had attained the Golden Core, this Mountain Guardian Spirit Beast raised by the sect had already broken through to the Golden Core Realm.
This was a secret that was quietly passed down, a heritage left by the predecessors and ancestors for the sect.
He transmitted the details about the situation in Mingfeng Mountain through a sound thread.
He explained meticulously, while the spirit beast blinked its lantern-sized eyes, able to understand.
"I do not understand your arrangements, nor do I care to guess.
I am only willing to go and help guard.
However, if the situation becomes extremely critical, I will abandon everything and run!"
The Earth Dragon Beast spoke in human language, indicating that Mingfeng Mountain was not the ancestral home of the sect and it wouldn’t truly put its life on the line.