A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 296 - 256: Storm Approaching

Zhuang Qing felt both shocked and angry, not expecting to still make an error in judgment, one move short, unexpectedly getting blocked by Han Wen at this location.

He and Hong Fei led a hundred elites to attack Fucang Mountain, while at their mountain stronghold, Golden Dawn Peak, only Yinn Hongbo remained with seventy to eighty disciples defending it.

Han Wen’s words made his own disciples think about the imminent danger at the mountain stronghold, causing panic. Zhuang Qing shouted loudly, "There’s no need to panic! Golden Dawn Peak has the Sect Leader guarding it, and the Mountain Protection Grand Array can resist. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Shahe Gang cannot conquer it! Let’s charge forward, defeat Han Wen, and relieve the siege on the mountain stronghold!"

Han Wen, however, laughed heartily, "Two Foundation Establishments, indeed, but don’t forget, one of them is a Foundation Establishment Array Cultivator I’ve hired for a high salary! Furthermore, you were dazzled by the treasures of Shouzhuo Sect and delayed too long, I estimate your Sect Leader is already dead and the stronghold has been broken!"

Zhuang Qing’s vision darkened, he stumbled, and shouted in his heart.

Not good, Hui’er is in danger!

The surrounding disciples were even more demoralized. Zhuang Qing gritted his teeth and shouted as if to comfort himself, "Don’t listen to his nonsense! If the enemy’s forces were formidable, the Sect Leader would surely seek help from Bichao Mountain’s Yunshan Sect, and Yunshan Sect’s reinforcements would have arrived a long time ago! Let’s charge forward!"

As he spoke, the Dao Patterns trembled, and talismans were effortlessly created, wind, fire, and thunderbolts surging and rolling in the air. Hong Fei also took action, leaping into the air, striking towards Han Wen.

Han Wen snorted. The only uncertainty in his heart was the reinforcements coming from Bichao Mountain. It’s known that they have a non-aggression treaty with Yunshan Sect. As long as Yunshan Sect cultivators come to help defend Golden Dawn Peak, Shahe Gang disciples would be constrained and unable to attack. However, he had already sent an envoy to Bichao Mountain. Even if it meant giving away half of Spirit Talisman Sect’s territory, he would persuade Lu Qian not to intervene!

One side was filled with shock and anger, determined to return and rescue the stronghold, while the other gritted their teeth, exerting all efforts to block. The two factions clashed at one place, multicolored spiritual power lights flickered in the sky, accompanied by rumbling explosions and intermittent screams.

No one expected that when Yinn Hongbo’s envoy and Han Wen’s persuasive envoy both arrived at Bichao Mountain, they would see nothing but a desolate wasteland, an extinction of life with a foul odor!

The Yunshan Sect, originally residing there, was entirely missing.

The Spirit Talisman Sect’s envoy collapsed to the ground, hope for reinforcements was cut short.

Another day passed, and two explosive news spread throughout Chongming County.

One was Spirit Talisman Sect’s blitz against Shouzhuo Sect, breaking Fucang Mountain, looting Shouzhuo Sect’s wealth. In critical moments, Shouzhuo Sect’s Sect Leader’s Disciple, Qin Zhiyi, at Qi Cultivation Perfection, announced taking over the Sect Leader position, ultimately leading the remaining dozens of disciples to escape and being accommodated by former allies at Kong Family Castle.

Meanwhile, Spirit Talisman Sect’s plan was detected by Shahe Gang. Grand Elder Zhuang Qing was intercepted on his way home by Shahe Gang’s Han Wen, and Golden Dawn Peak was captured by Shahe Gang’s two Foundation Establishments leading a large force!

Spirit Talisman Sect’s Sect Leader Yinn Hongbo led a small group of disciples to break through, got seriously injured, and was rescued by Zhuang Qing and others who repelled Han Wen’s forces, and retreated into Fucang Mountain to hold the fort. Shahe Gang successfully occupied Golden Dawn Peak, expanded territory by hundreds of miles, and set up numerous outposts between Fucang Mountain and Golden Dawn Peak, becoming the temporary victor.

The second was Yunshan Sect’s Bichao Mountain being destroyed by poison! Yunshan Sect lost their Spirit Vein, now temporarily residing in Kongming Mountain.

The dynamics in Chongming County rapidly changed, with powers shifting overnight, and many Qi Cultivation Minor Sects trembling, all turning towards the new controller.

Only the Shuangye Alliance remained stable, with six Qi Cultivation Sects still looking up to Yunshan Sect. Even though Yunshan Sect lost Bichao Mountain, their power wasn’t waning. Alliance Leader Lu Qian had high prestige, with three Foundation Establishments leading forces, not a single disciple lost, still possessing absolute confidence in dominating the south of Chongming.

At this moment, six sects’ cultivators had gathered in Kongming Mountain, thirty at Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, eighty at Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, totaling one hundred and ten people. Plus, Yunshan Sect’s two at Qi Cultivation Perfection, twelve at Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, fifty at Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, totaling one hundred and seventy-four Qi Cultivation Elites.

The tension in Chongming County increased, affecting traveling cultivators and merchants, making business at Shuangye Square much quieter. Lu Qian made further arrangements, from today onwards, his own shops in Shuangye Square were instructed to conduct a full inventory check and clearing, setting priorities for dispersal and transportation of goods based on their value, and formulating emergency evacuation measures.

He also issued alert tasks to Foundation Establishment Guardian Honored Guests, Pan Qin and Duu Yeming. From today, one would oversee the marketplace, while the other would lead patrols outside and spread scouts widely. If a truly unstoppable enemy appeared, they must close the shops first, evacuate customers, transport spirit stones and valuables, and retreat towards Plum Blossom Marketplace.

Previously, following Lu Qian’s reminder, all six sects had gathered their valuable assets, without directly seeking places to store but unanimously brought them to Kongming Mountain. It seems they all regarded Yunshan Sect’s location as the safest place.

Lu Qian found it laughable yet helplessly gathered everyone’s wealth together, along with Yunshan Sect’s reserves, mobilized a Divine Ship, and sent everything to Plum Blossom Marketplace, setting up a storage room in Sea Abyss Pavilion, carefully preserving everything there.

Having eliminated worries, Shuangye Alliance’s one hundred and seventy-four elites were mixed and matched under various sect leaders as team leaders, starting training with four Floating Battleships. While preparing for war day and night, the intelligence team continually dispersed throughout the county, especially focusing on the north, constantly sending the latest information back to Kongming Mountain for Lu Qian’s reference.

Spirit Talisman Sect’s envoy arrived, tearfully requesting Yunshan Sect to lead troops and assist them in reclaiming Golden Dawn Peak, offering Fucang Mountain’s Spirit Vein to Yunshan Sect as compensation.

Shahe Gang’s envoy arrived too, emphasizing that Spirit Talisman Sect is now in decline, why not deploy and dismember them together with Shahe Gang? The northeast of Chongming County is vast, easily accommodating both Shahe Gang and Yunshan Sect.

Even envoys from Kong Family Castle and Shouzhuo Sect arrived, familiar faces Kong Pengfei and Qin Zhiyi. Kong Pengfei was the son of the original patriarch Kong Xingrong of Kong Family Castle; now his father was killed, and his uncle Kong Lingde assumed the patriarch position, making him mature overnight.

Qin Zhiyi’s transformation was even more significant. Originally, Shouzhuo Sect was a long-established sect in Chongming County, and his master Tang Gongcheng was respected for his virtue and prestige. Who would’ve thought overnight, his master and elders were killed, the sect suddenly lost its Foundation Establishment powers, before anyone could react, Spirit Talisman Sect had already attacked, directly breaking through the stronghold.

Had Spirit Talisman Sect not been busy looting wealth and wasted time pursuing them, it’s uncertain if Qin Zhiyi could’ve escaped with the remaining disciples.

Now this young man has taken over the Sect Leader position. Once he stood out among the heroes, winning the sect’s top honor in Shuangye Square’s Qi Cultivation Level tournament, how full of vigor and spirit he was, yet now he looks deeply weary, with many white hairs added to his temples, seemingly aged decades overnight.

Seeing his appearance, Lu Qian could relate emotionally, and couldn’t help but feel a trace of sympathy.