Chapter 186: Border War
Gu Sanqian’s aura surged. With a wave of his hand, a majestic and cold-looking exotic beast of purplish-blue hues appeared on the battlefield.
Its head resembled a vicious toad with menacing horns, its body was like a bull, yet it possessed a scorpion’s tail, as if it were a convergence of poisonous creatures.
As soon as the Five-Poison Beast appeared, it directly opened its bloody maw, swallowing the True Intents of the Yin Soul Silver Toad, Six-Winged True Silkworm, Bone Jade Celestial Spider, Steel Poison Fiend Scorpion, and Earth Fire Yang Snake into its belly.
The contracted beast and True Intent merged, its form transforming, truly becoming Gu Sanqian’s Five-Poison Dharma Aspect.
His body merged with it, the Five-Poison physique fully revealed. His entire body was black, with golden patterns, like a malevolent god from hell.
His imposing aura was extraordinary, but how could Yao Lixuan and Lan Caifeng opposite him be any less?
The Dharma Aspect was fully revealed, without any concealment whatsoever.
The White Bones Netherworld Sword Dharma Aspect manifested a thousand meters long, a great sword traversing the sky, subtly as if a divine being wielded it, merging with the Myriad Bones Sword.
Lan Caifeng’s skin turned dark green, her wrinkles disappearing in an instant, making her appear like a girl of sixteen, but in the next moment, she was covered in tattoos, like a ghostly Rakshasa.
Her form transformed, sprouting eight slender arms with sharp claws. Behind her, a Mountain Ghost Shaman Dharma Aspect appeared, as tall as a mountain, her eyes indifferent.
The three of them fought fiercely, the battle far more perilous than before.
The earth veins were completely stained by malevolent energy, stretching for a hundred miles, causing grass and trees to wither, and feral beasts to scatter and die…
Countless strands of malevolent energy, like the arms of a thousand malevolent ghosts, attempted to trap Gu Sanqian to death in this place.
After fighting for about a hundred rounds, Gu Sanqian, the veteran Dharma Aspect True Person, stirred up a monstrous poisonous formation, taking the central position and forcing the other two into a purely defensive stance.
Suddenly, the sky and earth changed color. Two balls of blue-purple flame shot out fiercely from behind, and a ravenous ghostly beast with a distorted face attacked, heading straight for Gu Sanqian’s back.
The attack was sudden. His Dharma Aspect’s imposing aura was fully released, enveloping Gu Sanqian.
A powerful spiritual assault swept over. With just one glance, Gu Sanqian felt an extremely strong malevolent intent and contagiousness from the True Intents of these two vicious beasts.
“Three Flames Divine Palace!”
He raised his hand, unleashing the Hundred Poisons Ruler to block the attack. With a muffled sound, he obstructed the vicious beasts’ True Intents.
An old man in white robes, riding an old donkey, crossed the broken pass of Sword Hanging Peak. He covered a thousand meters in a single stride, arriving in the midst of the battlefield.
The Greed Beast and Anger Beast returned to his sides, emitting boundless malevolent intent.
The Three Flames Divine Palace was founded on the Samadhi Fires of Greed, Anger, and Ignorance, condensing vicious beasts as True Intents.
The person before them was the genius head seat of the Three Flames Divine Palace for the past three hundred years, Du Wuxiang.
The three of them surrounded Gu Sanqian, sealing off all escape routes.
Yao Lixuan panted, his breath slightly unsteady: “Du Wuxiang, you’re late.”
Sword Hanging Peak was a trap, a setup to prevent the Hundred Peaks Barrier from expanding westward.
Given the current level of malevolent energy condensation, the Fourth-order Spiritual Vein had nurtured this Fourth-order Spirit Tool, the Myriad Bones Sword, and then converted most of it into malevolent energy and malice, turning it into a perilous place.
In the future, this place would be rife with malevolent spirits and fierce entities, making it difficult for even Spirit Nurturing Realm Martial Artists to resist. Only True Intent Martial Artists and above would have a chance to defeat the souls and fierce entities here with their True Intent.
With this terrain, the westward expansion of the Hundred Peaks would be at least curbed for several decades.
Furthermore, Yao Lixuan and the others’ objective was not just Sword Hanging Peak, but to slay a Dharma Aspect True Person of the Beast King Sect.
They had originally intended to lure an ordinary Dharma Aspect True Person, but they hadn’t expected someone like Gu Sanqian, a head seat from a sect, to appear, thus putting them in such a predicament.
Lu Wuxiang glanced at Yao Lixuan. This youngster, after breaking through to the Dharma Aspect Realm, had indeed become arrogant. However, he did have some capital.
“Not late. Today, the Beast King Sect will lose a head seat.”
As his words fell, he reached out, and raging flames immediately engulfed Sword Hanging Peak, enclosing this entire perilous area.
The Samadhi Fires of Greed, Anger, and Ignorance of the Three Flames Divine Palace were the most potent, injuring the spirit upon contact, making them particularly terrifying.
As soon as Lu Wuxiang made his move, Yao Lixuan and Lan Caifeng also launched thunderous attacks towards Gu Sanqian.
A tiger’s roar shook the heavens. The Yin and Yang Twin Tigers tore through the sky, directly pouncing on Lu Wuxiang’s two True Intents, the Greed Beast and Anger Beast, pinning them to the ground.
The mountains and earth shook. A burly man with a square face and black robes strode forward, wielding a long sword. He raised his hand and unleashed a sword light of interwoven yin and yang.
Yao Lixuan’s Myriad Bones Sword summoned countless vengeful souls to resist, but upon seeing this sword light, they let out piercing screams as they were destroyed.
Hu Yangming laughed heartily, his gaze stern: “I’d like to see who will be the one to fall!”
—
The battle at Sword Hanging Peak lasted for a day and a night, transforming from Sword Hanging Peak into Falling Sword Valley.
The head seat of Hundred Tiger Peak, Jian Zhan, cleaved mountains, while the Yin and Yang Twin Tigers transformed into Dharma Aspects, blasting that area into a depression.
Yao Lixuan, Lu Wuxiang, and Lan Caifeng, three Dharma Aspects, besieged Hu Yangming and Gu Sanqian.
Relying on the advantage of the terrain, they could not suppress the combat power of these two head seats.
Ultimately, outmatched in sustained combat, they were forced to flee one after another, sustaining considerable injuries.
Gu Sanqian and Hu Yangming were unharmed, but after the battle, they had no intention of lingering and headed directly to other parts of the Hundred Peaks Barrier.
The Three Flames Divine Palace, Sacred Weapon Path, and Hundred Caves Witch Sect were acting in concert; their target was not just their Beast King Sect.
On the Cold Shadow Peak side, Su Yan annihilated the swarms of Yaksa Monsters and feral beasts. The ferocity of the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust spread throughout Feng City.
Under that cloud of blood mist, tens of thousands of feral beasts and thousands of Yaksa Monsters turned into pale white skeletons, one after another.
Compared to the bone-stripping gnawing of the Blood Bee, the erosion by this blood malevolent energy, where flesh and blood turned into blood mist and was absorbed by the Fiend Bee, then by the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust, was truly bizarre.
Su Yan did not kill all these feral beasts and Yaksa Monsters; he couldn’t possibly kill them all alone.
Even with the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust and Six-Winged Blood Centipede using all their might, and him releasing the Shadow Horn Spider as well, they could only kill one to two thousand.
The remaining credit went to the disciples of the Mountain Guard and the disciples on experience missions within the city.
Even so, rumors were already circulating that he could contend with Fourth Realm experts, and some had secretly given him a moniker: “Fierce Insect Young Master.”
The name was not pleasant, but the word “fierce” was most fitting.
In the main hall of the Main Peak, Su Yan was summoned by his Master to the hall.
Yuan Hong had sustained some injuries and had already been withdrawn to the sect, preparing to heal in the Pill Refining Pavilion.
At this Main Peak, only Long Qiushui was in charge.
“Master, is there any new news?”
Su Yan asked first. Long Qiushui nodded slightly: “The Three Flames Divine Palace, Sacred Weapon Path, and Hundred Caves Witch Sect, the three major Demonic Sects of Lingnan, have taken the lead, gathering dozens of Demonic Path factions. At various strategic passes and vital routes of the Hundred Peaks Barrier, they have manipulated the earth veins and formations, constructing perilous areas and blocking the road into Southern Xinjiang.”
“What a grand undertaking. Such a plan would likely take tens or even hundreds of years to execute.”
Su Yan was surprised. This was not a sudden attack, but a covert construction of another “Great Wall.”
Long Qiushui’s expression was also grim. To achieve this level of accomplishment, it wasn’t just a grand undertaking; there were likely their hidden agents within the Righteous Path.
She cautioned: “Be careful in your actions from now on, and do not trust others lightly.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered, and he immediately understood her meaning.
“This disciple understands.”
“The Nine Peaks Sect, Sword One Sect, and we, the three major sects, have not lost a single peak. However, a total of seven Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists have died, one Dharma Aspect True Person lost an arm, and three other main peaks, including Cang Huo Valley and Niu Shan Fortress, have been breached. In the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, Demonic Path individuals can move in and out freely, and feral beasts can launch surprise attacks more easily. Lingnan Prefecture will be in chaos for quite some time.”
With the Hundred Peaks Barrier in place, it was not easy for feral beasts to move east or for Demonic Path individuals to cross.
Now that several passes had been breached, even if large armies could still not pass, small-scale surprise attacks and infiltration had become a certainty.
“Has Grandmaster not returned yet?”
Long Qiushui said: “Don’t worry about your Grandmaster. With Uncle Master Hu accompanying him, unless figures like the War Lord or Palace Lord personally intervene, even a head seat-level Dharma Aspect True Person would find it difficult to detain them. If the momentum of the demonized individuals is not checked, the three major sects of the Righteous Path would lose all face.”
In fact, along with Hu Yangming and Gu Sanqian, several head seats from the Nine Peaks Sect and Sword One Sect had also gone.
Entering the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains was not just for revenge, but also for deterrence.
With the Demonic Path individuals setting up such obstacles, the inevitable consequence would be Fourth-order Calamity Beast-level feral beasts driving their subordinates to attack various locations.
Behind the Hundred Peaks Barrier lay mines, spiritual veins, medicine mountains…
The industries of each family were countless. If the connections were even slightly disrupted, and control weakened, these places would naturally become breakthrough points.
The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains would descend into chaos, extreme chaos, with Demonic Path individuals, feral beast forces, and those Bandit Cultivators taking risks…
To pacify these matters would require an extremely long time.
Su Yan frowned slightly, feeling that something was still amiss.
Such a grand setup, even if it was to destroy the Righteous Path’s industries in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, this intensity seemed questionable.
Long Qiushui looked at her disciple and then said: “You have accumulated quite a few Contribution Points on this trip. Tomorrow, return to the sect first and cultivate diligently for a period, accumulating strength.”
Su Yan was slightly taken aback: “What about your situation here?”
Long Qiushui shook her head and said softly: “I am the one who needs to guard Cold Shadow Peak, not you. After Sword Hanging Peak became a perilous place, those demonized individuals are unlikely to come easily. Keeping you here offers no opportunity for experience, and you need to digest what you’ve comprehended during this time to advance further.”
Combat could lead to progress, but it wasn’t about endless fighting.
Comprehension, cultivation, and other aspects were all indispensable.
Su Yan had arrived at Cold Shadow Peak and dealt with matters such as suppressing Bai Shan Town, and then the battle at Sword Hanging Peak a few days ago.
The period lasted about two to three months. He not only witnessed the battles of Dharma Aspect True Persons but also personally experienced combat where he was ambushed by Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists.
So much combat naturally required digestion.
Furthermore, with Su Yan’s cultivation at only the Second Realm of True Intent, he couldn’t do much about the changes in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
“This disciple understands.”
Leaving Long Qiushui’s main hall, Su Yan sighed slightly: “Indeed, I’m still not strong enough. If I encountered a Dan Qiao Realm expert, even with all the fierce insects unleashed, it would be difficult to escape, let alone resist.”
A look of determination flashed in his eyes. While he might not be comparable now, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t be in the future.
‘After the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust undergoes metamorphosis, it will be no less than a Second-order Perfected feral beast. Currently, I have over sixty to seventy thousand Contribution Points accumulated. I should be able to exchange for sufficient resources to help all the fierce insects undergo metamorphosis…’
He had killed many feral beasts, but either in group battles or while on missions, the materials from slain feral beasts were scarce. Therefore, he had accumulated mostly combat merits, with fewer contributions to exchange for points.
However, sixty to seventy thousand Contribution Points was still a substantial sum.
Su Yan packed his belongings and the next day, he went to find Bai Yun. Together, they rode the Six-Winged Blood Centipede back to the Beast King Sect.
As the Six-Winged Blood Centipede flew overhead, Su Yan observed the land below. He could faintly see people who had been mobilized and martial artists’ teams occasionally flying past.
Parts of the Hundred Peaks Barrier had fallen, and the invading Demonic Path individuals would only increase. At that time, Lingnan Prefecture would likely face many troubles.
Upon returning to the sect, Bai Yun bid farewell to Su Yan and returned to Hundred Tiger Peak.
Su Yan rested briefly, then without delay, headed directly to Beast King Peak and entered the main hall of the Sect Affairs Pavilion.
He found a disciple on duty in the hall, took out his identity token, and handed it over.
“Verify contributions.”
“Name and which lineage.”
“Guizang Valley, Su Yan.”
As soon as the words fell, a surprised exclamation came from behind the counter: “You, you are Su Yan?”
The disciple on duty was full of astonishment. Many disciples in the hall who were handling matters heard the name and immediately turned their heads.
It had only been a few days since the incident at the Hundred Peaks Barrier. The experience disciples who had gone through the battle at Feng City and the rampant Yaksa Monsters had also returned to the sect one after another.
Whenever they returned, they would mention Su Yan’s name, more or less.
Killing Ma Tianhong, the Family Head of the Ma Family, a Fourth Realm Divine Union Martial Artist of the True Intent Realm…
Killing Hu Yanpo, an Inner Disciple of the Sacred Weapon Path, a Great Perfection Third Realm Martial Artist of the True Intent Realm…
Beneath Cold Shadow Peak City, he summoned his contracted beasts, and the Blood Bee annihilated over a thousand feral beasts…
Each and every one of these feats spoke of this newly advanced disciple’s formidable strength, and that he had deliberately held back on the arena.
With his strength, let alone being ranked 200th, even if he fought another hundred places forward, or even more than a hundred, it would be no problem.
On the Inner Sect Tiger Ranking, how many Divine Union stage martial artists were there?
Su Yan raised his eyes slightly: “It is I. First, help me calculate my contributions.”
The disciple immediately nodded: “Your contributions from the front lines have already been relayed. The thorough investigation of the Bai Shan Town incident, the suppression of the Ma Family, and the defense of Cold Shadow Peak City… Although the recovered materials submitted were not many, the merits were immense. Your total Contribution Points are currently 76,000 points.”
After carefully verifying, the disciple returned the identity token to Su Yan.
“Thank you.”
Su Yan expressed his thanks and then strode towards the exchange storeroom of the Sect Affairs Pavilion.
As soon as he walked away, the crowd erupted.
“So young, does he really have such strength?”
“Reputation can be faked, but Contribution Points cannot, unless it’s a noble family…”
Some people, having not personally witnessed him fight, naturally harbored doubts. However, some had personally seen him slaughter feral beasts on the city wall.
“Hmph, those self-important individuals who think that just because they entered earlier, they can suppress the later disciples, are going to face trouble.”
“Wait, what do you know?”
“I don’t know anything specific. I only know that several disciples from the Qing Family on Azure Dragon Peak are planning to curb his arrogance, saying they want to avenge Qing Tianyi.”
“The Qing Family? They are known for their arrogance and belligerence, but they are merely a Dan Qiao Realm noble family…”
The disciple’s voice grew quieter. The Dan Qiao Realm was already an incredible realm…
