Chapter 595: Chapter 595

A few dozen miles outside of Chongxuan Mountain, sword light and void traveling tower ships hovered silently, confronting the mountain’s sternly assembled defenders from a distance.

Soon, five to six hundred cultivators, clad in robes of various colors, flew out from the void traveling tower ships, sword lights flashing around them.

The ability to fly with swords indicated that these cultivators were at least Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Among them, twenty to thirty individuals exhibited auras surpassing that of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, marking them as high-tier Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators.

Five to six hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and twenty to thirty Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators; this formidable force was further bolstered by three other warriors with sharp sword lights alongside the four Golden Core Stage Cultivators controlling the void traveling tower ships, creating a total of seven Golden Core, dozens of Purple Mansion, and hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

And what was the overt strength of Chongxuan Mountain?

Merely two Golden Core Cultivators and ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

"Qingyun Wanderer, out of respect for Elder Master Jade Dragon, if you abandon your defense of Chongxuan Mountain now, we can let you leave safely. Otherwise, once the battle begins, swords and knives know no mercy; don’t blame us for being ruthless!"

A thunderous shout erupted from the distant cultivator army.

The voice seemed somewhat familiar to the cultivators on Chongxuan Mountain. Unfortunately, the distance was too great, and even if Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators used the "Celestial Eye Technique" on themselves, they could not clearly see the speaker. They could only quietly ask their Foundation Establishment Stage senior brothers and sisters next to them.

Soon, they saw those senior brothers and sisters revealing strange expressions and stated a name.

Upon hearing this name, the registered disciples, who were initially anxious, inexplicably found their hearts calming down.

The name was Li Boyang, a figure often mocked in private by the disciples of Chongxuan Mountain, one of the few Golden Core Stage Cultivators they dared to ridicule.

Sure enough, these disciples soon heard their Master’s hearty and boundless laughter.

"Hahaha, if these words came from someone else, I might consider carefully. But if they come from a defeated opponent like you, Li Boyang, wouldn’t it make me a joke to hesitate?"

On Chongxuan Mountain, Zhouyang laughed heartily, his voice resounding like a great bell as he boldly declared: "Cease your prattle! As long as I am here, Chongxuan Mountain is not a place you can set foot upon. If you wish to enter Chongxuan Mountain, you’ll have to step over my body!"

"Good, good, good! So you’re choosing the hard way over the easy one, are you? Do you really think that just because you have some connection with Elder Master Jade Dragon, we don’t dare to kill you?"

Outside Chongxuan Mountain, Li Boyang’s face turned red with anger from Zhouyang’s words, and he shouted with a face full of shame and rage, "Since you wish to hold your ground at Chongxuan Mountain, let us fulfill your wish—prepare to die!"

Not to mention that "Qingyun Wanderer" was merely an unpublicized grandson of Yuqing Daoist Sect’s Master Jade Dragon, even if he were a legitimate Nascent Soul Stage cultivator’s offspring, in the war, if killed, could only blame his own incompetence. Death would be meaningless.

Of course, unless absolutely necessary, encountering such well-connected cultivators on the battlefield, most enemies would avoid employing deadly force.

After all, killing might feel satisfactory in the moment, but to be eternally resented by a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator afterward is not worth the risk.

This is why Li Boyang and the others said those words before starting the fight.

But now that Zhouyang, under the alias "Qingyun Wanderer," declared his intention to defend Chongxuan Mountain to the death, if they were to kill Zhouyang on the battlefield, they would have a moral standing, and the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators of the "Six Paths Alliance" would certainly defend them upon learning this.

Li Boyang glanced at the three Golden Core Stage cultivators from the Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect wearing white robes.

Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect, a major sect with several Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, could protect its cultivators on the battlefield even after killing a descendant of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator like "Qingyun Wanderer," so they need not fear reprisals.

"Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured. At the time of killing this Qingyun Wanderer, we will personally take action to ensure Cyan Cloud Valley isn’t put in a difficult position!"

As if knowing Li Boyang’s thoughts, a Golden Core Stage cultivator from the Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect smilingly reassured him just as his gaze covertly turned toward them.

Settled in mind, Li Boyang’s face broke into a smile as he said, "With what Fellow Daoist Luo said, my mind is at ease. Let me order the attack!"

Upon concluding, he briefly conferred with the other three Golden Core Stage cultivators from An Country and then waved his hand grandly, commanding the gathered Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment Cultivators to form arrays and advance towards Chongxuan Mountain.

Once they approached within a dozen miles of Chongxuan Mountain, they each began casting spells and controlling magical artifacts to attack the Mountain Protection Array.

The "Five Elements Returning to Origin Array" did not form a common light barrier as defense but rather thick clusters of five-colored clouds, enveloping most of Chongxuan Mountain, making it difficult for outsiders to see internal events clearly.

At this moment, the attacks from the hundreds of cultivators outside the mountain hit the five-colored clouds, disappearing without much effect, as if throwing clay cows into the sea.

Seeing this, Li Boyang immediately suggested to the other Golden Core Stage cultivators: "Let us also take action. This ’Five Elements Returning to Origin Array’ is notoriously resilient. Relying solely on those middle-tier cultivators would never break this Mountain Protection Array, not even through exhaustive efforts!"

The Golden Core Stage cultivators nodded slightly, and they promptly unleashed artifacts and spells, joining in the attack formation.

The attacks of the Golden Core Stage cultivators were formidable, with each strike able to shatter a large portion of the five-colored clouds.

However, these clouds would dissipate and regenerate at will. As soon as one part outside was dispersed, the clouds inside would churn, quickly producing new clouds to fill the gaps.

This situation wasn’t unexpected for Li Boyang and the others. They continued their attacks with unwavering persistence, showing no signs of weariness.

"These guys seem a bit off. With their current offensive, it would take at least ten days to half a month to break the defense of the ’Five Elements Returning to Origin Array.’ By that time, our reinforcements would have surely arrived, making it even harder for them to break the array!"

On Chongxuan Mountain, Zhouyang observed Li Boyang and the others outside the mountain, showing a mild offensive approach, with a frown.

Experience told him that the ’Six Paths Alliance’ had been preparing for this war for so long, it couldn’t possibly be just a storm in a teacup.

Even if time was tight and they only managed to send Li Boyang and others as advance scouts for the attack, the offensive should not be this weak.

"Could it be, could it be that they intend to besiege and then strike the reinforcements? Deliberately using Chongxuan Mountain as bait to lure the Dao Alliance reinforcements from Chang Country, then annihilate the reinforcements and annex Chang Country in one fell swoop!"

"That must be it; that’s the only explanation that makes sense!"

"This is trouble now!"

Zhouyang’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and it felt like an invisible mountain pressed down on him, the pressure multiplying instantly.

He wasn’t worried for the reinforcements that might be ambushed but rather for himself.

In the wars of the Cultivation Realm, this strategy of "besieging and then striking reinforcements" doesn’t work so well because cultivators can travel fast and far. Unless trapped in some grand array, it’s easy to escape upon spotting a strong enemy from afar.

Moreover, Zhouyang believed that the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators stationed in Chang Country surely had means to monitor the battle situation at Chongxuan Mountain in real time. If he could deduce this from the attacking cultivators outside, wouldn’t the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators be aware too?

Thus, he need not worry about those reinforcements but should worry about himself.

Compared to an isolated place like Chongxuan Mountain, the entire Chang Country was evidently more significant. Now that the enemy’s true intentions were uncovered, could the reinforcements he hoped for really arrive in time?

If the reinforcements don’t arrive, Li Boyang and others outside Chongxuan Mountain just need to keep attacking. The ’Five Elements Returning to Origin Array’ will inevitably falter one day. Without reinforcements, Zhouyang and the few dozen people on Chongxuan Mountain would have to face seven Golden Core Stage cultivators, tens of Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, and hundreds of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators alone.

Even though Zhouyang’s strength far exceeded his peers, with the support of the Seven-Colored Peacock and the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle, two Tier Five spirit birds, this lineup was still daunting.

Not to mention, the three sword cultivators from the Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect would be enough to hold him off. Once he’s held up, the remaining four Golden Core Stage cultivators, relying solely on two spirit birds and one completely inexperienced in magical combat Xiao Ying, simply couldn’t withstand them.

"I can’t place all my hopes on those so-called reinforcements. Now it seems the only way to defend Chongxuan Mountain is self-reliance."

"To rely on oneself, at least two enemy Golden Core Stage cultivators must be eliminated before the Mountain Protection Array breaks. Only then can a decisive battle be fought upon the array’s collapse!"

Zhouyang thought of this, his face darkening as he looked at the four Golden Core Stage cultivators outside attacking the Mountain Protection Array, a flicker of ferocity in his eyes.

Subsequently, Zhouyang’s concern seemed to turn into reality.

The reinforcements, originally expected to arrive within two days, showed no sign even after three days had passed.

On the fourth day, ’Immortal Spirit Jade Book,’ which he obtained from the Yuqing Daoist Sect but had never used, suddenly activated, revealing a page of text.

The situation was indeed as he had suspected. Upon discovering an ambush along the way, the reinforcements departing from Chang Country immediately retreated. Following this, an army of cultivators from the ’Six Paths Alliance,’ comprising over thirty Golden Core Stage, two hundred Purple Mansion Stage, and over seven thousand Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, decisively invaded Chang Country, surrounding several cultivation sects and clans within its borders.

In just a few days, a small sect and five major clans, each stationing Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, had already been annihilated within Chang Country.

With the domestic situation being so dire, it’s naturally impossible for Chang Country’s cultivators to aid Chongxuan Mountain.

Even if reinforcements came from other countries behind, they would first have to assist Chang Country and couldn’t bypass it to save Chongxuan Mountain.

Thus, the Yuqing Daoist Sect presented Zhouyang with two choices: break free and withdraw into a sect within Chang Country to collectively defend and await reinforcement, or remain on Chongxuan Mountain to delay the enemy forces outside.

The second option seemed rather laughable because it didn’t specify where the reinforcements would come from, implying exactly what Zhouyang understood it to mean.

The Yuqing Daoist Sect could no longer be relied upon, so Zhouyang had to place his hopes on the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and Master Cyan Yang.

Although he hadn’t received any message from Master Cyan Yang yet, he knew that no news was actually good news.

If they truly didn’t intend to support Chongxuan Mountain, Master Cyan Yang could have directly communicated, like the Yuqing Daoist Sect, to abandon Chongxuan Mountain and make a break, rather than leaving him without any message until now.

He had reason to believe that Master Cyan Yang was working hard to secure a favorable result for him in this matter.

Of course, while awaiting news, Zhouyang wasn’t idle watching the enemy assault the Mountain Protection Array.

Since he had a self-rescue plan, he naturally had to first understand the enemy’s details before he actually made a move to kill.

So, when Li Boyang and the others attacked the Mountain Protection Array, Zhouyang on the mountain also seized the opportunity multiple times to use magical artifacts and attack several people to test their depths.

But Zhouyang’s probing actions were not smooth. Every time he made a move, the three Sword Cultivators from the Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect intercepted with sword control, so it took him about ten attempts to truly force Li Boyang and the others to defend themselves once or twice.

Among the three Sword Cultivators from the Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect, one was Sixth-Layer Golden Core, one was Fifth-Layer Golden Core, and one was Third-Layer Golden Core. In terms of cultivation, they were not as strong as the four Golden Core Stage Cultivators from the smaller sects to which Li Boyang belonged.

However, cultivation is never equal to strength, and Zhouyang understood this point well.

Although Zhouyang did not use those powerful means in his probing attacks, the sharpness of their three flying swords still left a deep impression on him.

If he were to face these three outside the array, Zhouyang felt that unless he could take down one or two of them immediately, it would surely be a bitter battle.

This made his desire to save himself even stronger.

On the seventh day of the siege of Chongxuan Mountain, the long-awaited news for Zhouyang finally arrived.

Master Cyan Yang sent him a message that two Golden Core Stage cultivators were on their way to Chongxuan Mountain and would definitely arrive within seven days.

This was the support that the Profound Sun Immortal Sect could give him now.

Although this support was not very large, the fact that they were able to dispatch two Golden Core Stage cultivators at such a time showed the attitude of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, proving that they would not treat Zhouyang as an easily discarded pawn.

For Zhouyang, this attitude was more satisfying and reassuring than the support of the two Golden Core Stage cultivators.

"Seven days? Given the current conditions of the Mountain Protection Array, it might be hard to hold on until then. It seems that my self-rescue plan needs to be initiated earlier!"

He murmured to himself, looking at the mountain-attacking cultivators outside who were launching relentless attacks, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Three more days passed, and under the continuous ten-day-and-night assault of the mountain-attacking cultivators outside Chongxuan Mountain, the five-colored clouds formed by the Five Elements Returning to Origin Array had now been reduced to less than forty percent of their original state, only covering the area from the mountainside to the mountaintop.

The areas not covered by these five-colored clouds were virtually undefended, and magic spells falling on them instantly caused tremendous damage to the mountain.

Acre after acre of spirit fields and medicinal gardens was easily burned by great fires, washed away by floods, or frozen to death by ice.

The disciples on the mountain, including Ye Yunshan, all showed expressions of heartache and hatred upon witnessing this scene.

They knew that those spirit fields and medicinal gardens were the fruits of their years of diligent cultivation, and now seeing these results of their efforts, imbued with their heart and power, being destroyed before their eyes, how could they not feel extreme heartache and anger.

Even the gentle-natured Xiao Ying was scolding with a fair face, "These people are truly wicked. Even if they finally take over Chongxuan Mountain, what they get will only be ruins, and who knows how long it will take to restore it to its current state!"

Zhouyang, on the other hand, became the calmest person, his gaze viewing the patches of spirit fields and medicinal gardens being destroyed below, speaking in a mocking tone, "After seizing Chongxuan Mountain, those who ultimately gain this Spirit Mountain may not be these people, so naturally, they don’t care how long it takes to rebuild it."

If something isn’t theirs, they don’t feel pain destroying it.

That was indeed what Li Boyang and the others thought.

Therefore, even though everyone saw this scene, no one said a word to stop it, and they continued their fierce assault as if nothing had happened.

On the morning of the eleventh day, the sun rose as usual.

Li Boyang, having meditated and recovered for most of the night, along with another Golden Core Stage cultivator, replaced the two Golden Core Stage cultivators who had attacked the Mountain Protection Array all night.

Since the third day of the siege, the mountain-attacking cultivators had begun a shift pattern, dividing the Golden Core Stage cultivators into two shifts and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators into three shifts, maintaining continuous attacks on Chongxuan Mountain.

This was already Li Boyang’s third shift change, and as he used his magical artifacts to attack the Mountain Protection Array, his eyes flashed with a bright light while looking at the five-colored clouds that had receded significantly. He silently calculated in his heart how many more shift changes it would take to break this Turtle Shell Mountain Protection Array.

"At most, two more times will be enough!"

Based on the dispersal speed of the five-colored clouds on the mountain, he quickly made his judgment and then showed a pleased expression with a beaming smile on his face.

Because of this Chongxuan Mountain, his reputation had been tarnished in recent years.

Now he personally led the army to attack this place, finally fulfilling the harsh words he had boasted earlier, and he would soon break through the Spirit Mountain, watching that hateful "Qingyun Wanderer" perish before his eyes.

Such pleasure, how could anyone else understand it.

"Though I cannot personally cut off your head, watching you die before my eyes also satisfies the hatred in my heart. After this, let’s see who dares to gossip and speak ill of me behind my back!"

Li Boyang murmured quietly, attacking with even more vigor.

After attacking for several hours, as the sun reached its zenith, the situation suddenly changed.

A flash of fire appeared on Chongxuan Mountain, and the "Qingyun Wanderer," who had been hiding within the Mountain Protection Array for days to launch sneak attacks, suddenly rode a Flame Flame Dragon and flew straight towards Li Boyang, who was attacking dozens of miles away.

Li Boyang’s complexion changed drastically, and his body instinctively reacted to retreat.

In the previous great battle outside Chongxuan Mountain, he had already witnessed the prowess of "Qingyun Wanderer."

Now that the opponent’s cultivation had advanced another level, reaching the Fifth-Layer Golden Core, and he himself was weary from prolonged battle, it was even less likely he could match him.

However, as soon as the thought of retreat emerged, it was dispelled by sensing the fierce sword intent emitted by three Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect sword cultivators behind him.

That’s right, Li Boyang could not defeat the "Qingyun Wanderer" alone, but today he was not fighting alone; there were several peers behind him!

"Qingyun Wanderer, you’re seeking your own demise!"

Li Boyang shouted in anger, charging forward instead of retreating, hastily unleashing a backup magical artifact towards the oncoming figure, while simultaneously activating his Protective Spiritual Artifact and Body-Protecting Divine Techniques to shield himself layer by layer, not seeking merit but avoiding fault.

He thought well, as long as he could hold off the "Qingyun Wanderer" for a while, the three Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect sword cultivators could soon teach him a lesson.

By then, even if the "Qingyun Wanderer" wanted to retreat back to Chongxuan Mountain, it would depend on whether they agreed or not.

Unfortunately, the idea was good, but reality was harsh.

Li Boyang severely underestimated Zhouyang’s strength and overestimated his own defense.

When the purple long spear, blazing like a flash of purple lightning, pierced through his defensive artifact, and when a cyan-golden dragon roared fiercely as it pounced in front of him, his life reached its end!

After an explosive sound, Li Boyang’s body was directly shattered by the cyan-golden dragon into a shower of blood raining down to the ground, with neither his primordial spirit nor his golden core able to escape.

Not far away, the three Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect sword cultivators witnessed this scene, and their faces changed drastically, turning pale with anger as they shouted furiously.

They realized that after Zhouyang emerged from Chongxuan Mountain, they had already sensed something amiss and initiated an interception, but their flying swords were blocked midway by Zhouyang’s manipulation of several magical artifacts.

Although they quickly slashed the intercepting artifacts to the clouds, this slight delay directly resulted in Li Boyang’s fall.

This scenario left the self-assured three sword cultivators both shocked and outraged. Dıscover more novels at NoveIꜰire.net

The highest-cultivation sword cultivator at the Sixth-Layer Golden Core shouted, pinching a sword technique with his hand, and his lifebound flying sword transformed into a wisp of golden sword silk piercing towards Zhouyang.

At the same time, a wisp of crimson sword silk and a wisp of cyan sword silk, controlled by the other two sword cultivators, tore through the sky, swiftly sealing off all of Zhouyang’s escape routes.

Zhouyang had yet to master the "Flying Sword Silk" technique, but the three Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect sword cultivators used it effortlessly.

Yet to the shock and anger of the three sword cultivators, facing the fierce sword silk attack, Zhouyang merely raised his hand to summon a crimson dragon scale shield to block in front of him and, without care, stomped his foot, driving the thirty-foot-long Flame Flame Dragon beneath him towards another Golden Core Stage cultivator from An Country.

The crisp ringing of metal echoed through the sky, and the newly unveiled [Flaming Dragon Shield] magical artifact did not disappoint Zhouyang, who had placed high hopes on it, easily blocking the three extremely sharp sword silks.

Witnessing this scene, the faces of the three Taiyi Immortal Sword Sect sword cultivators turned cold, feeling humiliated.

They were sword cultivators!

The sword cultivators with the strongest attack power!

"Hmph, thinking that relying on the advantage of artifacts allows you to act recklessly? Two junior brothers, deploy the [Three Talents Immortal Slaying Sword Array]!"

The leading Sixth-Layer Golden Core sword cultivator snorted coldly, calling out, and the red, golden, and cyan flying swords quickly converged in mid-air, transforming directly into a dazzling tri-colored sword light, fiercely attacking Zhouyang.