Translator: CinderTL
The confident expressions on the faces of Xiao Chan and Fayan vanished instantly as Tong Hua suddenly appeared.
The Nine Palaces Sect only had four Nascent Soul cultivators, and both Tai He and Xi Ling were severely injured. Yet, the remaining two, Hao Kong and Tong Hua, had simultaneously appeared at Jie Mountain.
The Nine Palaces Sect was sparing no effort to protect the massive Spirit Stone Mine at Jie Mountain.
Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for Mixed Yuan Temple to forcefully capture Jie Mountain.
Xiao Chan and Fayan exchanged glances, both showing signs of doubt.
"Venerable, what should we do?" Xiao Chan asked.
Fayan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Instruct the monks to begin setting up the Wrathful Buddha Demon Subduing Formation. This formation has continuous offensive power and immense strength. The Mountain Protection Array of Jie Mountain will eventually be destroyed under its relentless assault."
Xiao Chan frowned slightly, "Although the Wrathful Buddha Demon Subduing Formation is excellent for killing, setting it up requires a considerable amount of time. I fear that if we take too long, other unforeseen events might occur."
Fayan replied, "Tai He and Xi Ling are severely injured and cannot come to their aid. We have enough time to slowly wear down the Mountain Protection Array of Jie Mountain. There will be no unexpected events."
"Very well, we shall proceed as you suggest," Xiao Chan said.
Following Xiao Chan's orders, the monks of Mixed Yuan Temple descended around Jie Mountain, clearing vegetation and leveling rocks, preparing to inscribe a formation that would encircle the entire mountain.
Watching the busy monks, Xiao Chan said, "Venerable, it will take at least two or three days to successfully set up the Wrathful Buddha Demon Subduing Formation. Why don't one of us go to Harmony Mountain to take a look? Perhaps the Corpse Demon Sect has not made any preparations there, and we might be able to capture it in one fell swoop."
Fayan said, "Why don't we both go?"
"Both of us?" Xiao Chan looked at Fayan in surprise, "If we both leave, there will be no Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee this place. Wouldn't these disciples be in danger?"
Fayan's gaze pierced through the formation barrier, fixed on Hao Kong and Tong Hua at the summit of Jie Mountain, a hint of disdain curling his lips.
"Even if we leave right in front of them, they wouldn't dare to step out of Jie Mountain."
After a moment of surprise, Xiao Chan understood and a smile appeared on his face.
"Venerable, you truly see things clearly."
After praising, Xiao Chan asked, "Venerable, shall we go to Harmony Mountain now?"
Fayan nodded, "The sooner, the better. If the news of our attack on Jie Mountain reaches Harmony Mountain, they will surely strengthen their defenses."
Having agreed on their strategy, they did not hesitate any longer. Without giving any instructions to the monks setting up the formation below, they soared into the distance.
Standing at the summit of Jie Mountain, Tong Hua was astonished to see Fayan and Xiao Chan leave simultaneously.
"Those two bald monks just left like that? They don't care about the lives of their disciples?"
"Hmph!" Hao Kong snorted coldly, "If they were truly retreating, wouldn't they take the rest of Mixed Yuan Temple with them? This is just a 'lure the snake out of its hole' tactic. Fayan and Xiao Chan must not have gone far, hoping to draw us out of the Mountain Protection Array to ambush us. It's better for us to stay and defend Jie Mountain."
Tong Hua nodded, agreeing with Hao Kong's reasoning.
They had considered sending a few subordinates to test the waters. However, outside, Mixed Yuan Temple had ten Golden Core cultivators and ninety Foundation Establishment cultivators, far outnumbering the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed at Jie Mountain.
Therefore, sending subordinates to confront them would only result in unnecessary losses and would not help determine whether Fayan and Xiao Chan had truly left.
...
Hidden three hundred miles away from Jie Mountain, Song Wen, upon seeing Fayan and Xiao Chan depart, shared the same thoughts as Hao Kong.
However, he sent a Shadow Gu in the direction where Fayan and Xiao Chan had gone, hoping to track them.
The Shadow Gu searched for a long time but found no trace of them.
Song Wen gazed in the direction where Fayan and Xiao Chan had left, which was toward Harmony Mountain, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Could it be that they've set up an 'empty fort strategy'?"
After pondering for a moment, Song Wen quietly retreated. Only when he was far enough from Jie Mountain did he take to the air and fly toward Harmony Mountain.
...
Harmony Mountain was located at the edge of the Yishi Ridge.
A few hundred miles to the northeast, the towering peaks gradually disappeared, and the terrain became relatively flat, marking the boundary of the Yishi Ridge and entering the territory of the Nine Palaces Sect.
Fayan and Xiao Chan stood in the air above Harmony Mountain, their expressions grim.
They had thought that after being thwarted at Jie Mountain, turning their attention to Harmony Mountain would yield some results.
However, although Harmony Mountain had no Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there, it was guarded by four early-stage fourth-tier Corpse Puppets.
These four Corpse Puppets stood at the four cardinal directions of Harmony Mountain, forming the "Four Directions Undying Formation," whose defensive power was not much weaker than that of Jie Mountain.
The Corpse Demon Sect, as a major demonic sect, had only Gou Jun as its Nascent Soul cultivator, but its foundation was far more robust than that of ordinary sects.
"Hehehe... the bald monks of Mixed Yuan Temple actually dared to set their sights on our Harmony Mountain. Fortunately, Patriarch Gou Jun was wise and prepared in advance."
At the summit of Harmony Mountain, a gaunt old man stood proudly, his words filled with disdain.
Though he was only at the peak of the Golden Core realm, his audacity to speak so boldly to two Nascent Soul cultivators seemed somewhat arrogant.
Xiao Chan's face was as dark as storm clouds, and he coldly said, "Ku Yan, you're courting death!"
The old man, known as Ku Yan, smiled faintly. "Want to kill me? First, break the 'Four Directions Undying Formation.'"
Xiao Chan turned to Fayan and asked, "Venerable One, do you have a way to break the formation?"
Fayan examined the formation and replied, "This formation is rooted in the energy of corpse miasma. If we can cleanse this miasma, the formation will collapse on its own. If we both use 'Buddha's Light Illuminates All,' we can break the formation in just a few hours."
Xiao Chan nodded, "The Venerable One is right. However, I'm concerned that if we're away for too long, something might happen at Jie Mountain."
Fayan said, "This place is only about four or five thousand miles from Jie Mountain. With our speed, we can make the round trip in the time it takes to burn an incense stick. You can return every half hour to check. As long as you appear from time to time, Hao Kong and Tong Hua won't dare to make any moves."
Xiao Chan nodded again, then pointed at Ku Yan within the formation and said in an icy tone, "After we break the formation, leave this man to me. I will use the True Fire of Buddhism to slowly refine the corpse energy within him and guide him back to the righteous path."
"Refining him with the True Fire of Buddhism? That's indeed a good method to convert a demonic cultivator," Fayan said with a sinister smile.
The two of them took positions on the east and west sides of Harmony Mountain, sitting suspended in the air.
As the Brahmaic Sound chants from Fayan and Xiao Chan echoed, a halo of light gradually formed behind them.
The halo, a hundred feet tall, resembled a miniature sun, emitting a blinding white light.
The white light was like the first rays of dawn, carrying an indescribable sense of compassion and solemnity, as if it could purify all the filth in the world.
"Buddha's Light Illuminates All, all evil shall retreat!"
The two light wheels suddenly erupted with intense radiance, transforming into two massive pillars of light.
The pillars of light cascaded down like heavenly waterfalls, crashing into the Four Directions Undying Formation below.
On the barrier of the Four Directions Undying Formation, corpse energy billowed like black flames burning fiercely.
Under the impact of the light pillars, the corpse miasma on the barrier was gradually purified, turning into wisps of green smoke that dissipated into nothingness.
(End of the Chapter)
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