The cultivator with the deepest cultivation, Master Zhang, spoke decisively, and the others naturally made up their minds as well.
Jiang Linglong glanced at Daoist Taicang and asked, "What about Yan Kingdom? What is their stance?"
The group turned their attention to Daoist Taicang. His journey had not only brought him to Chu Kingdom seeking aid but also to the cultivation world of Yan Kingdom, which bordered Blackhawk Ridge. Although the threat there was not as severe as in Chu Kingdom, the two shared a common enemy.
Daoist Taicang shook his head with a hint of frustration.
"The Deng family is currently at odds with the Yan Kingdom Cultivators' Alliance. Over the past few years, they've fought three battles over control of a fourth-grade water vein."
"When I arrived, they were still embroiled in conflict. They are unwilling to redirect their efforts toward restraining Blackhawk Ridge."
Elian frowned slightly. The Blackhawk Demon King had long reigned supreme over the Azuregreen Mountains, largely due to its extraordinary speed—a rarity in the world.
Despite being only at the mid-Golden Core stage, its unparalleled swiftness and formidable combat prowess made it a daunting foe. Even late-stage Golden Core cultivators found it nearly impossible to subdue.
Coupled with the complex terrain of the Azuregreen Mountains, the Blackhawk Demon King remained an elusive threat.
"This cultivation world of Yan Kingdom…" Master Zhang sighed.
"At such a critical moment, they're still fighting tooth and nail over mere resources."
He understood the underlying reason. Yan Kingdom, located deep in the heart of Ji Continent, had been untouched by beast tides for over two millennia.
With a True Monarch of the Ji clan presiding over the region, even catastrophic losses in Chu Kingdom would have little impact on them.
To the Deng family and other cultivator clans of Yan Kingdom, the Blackhawk Demon King was merely a minor nuisance compared to the occasional disturbances caused by rogue beasts in Yan Lake.
From the perspective of the Deng family, there was no benefit to taking risks against demonic cultivators and beast threats that didn't directly affect them. Preserving their strength for future imperial decrees from the Ji clan was far more prudent.
Elder Lin of the Celestial Sky Sword Sect frowned and suggested, "If Yan Kingdom won't intervene, then we must leave at least two Golden Core cultivators behind to guard against potential threats."
Master Zhang agreed, nodding.
"Elder Lin, you and Daoist Taiwu will handle Blackhawk Ridge."
"Leave it to me," Elder Lin replied, acknowledging the responsibility. Daoist Taiwu, the Grand Elder of the Azuregreen Immortal Sect, was at the third level of the Golden Core stage.
With his middle-grade Golden Core, he could fight across small realms, capable of holding his own against a fourth-level Golden Core cultivator. Together, they would be sufficient to keep Blackhawk Ridge in check.
With Elder Lin off to Azuregreen Immortal Sect to join forces with Daoist Taiwu, the remaining Golden Core cultivators included Master Zhang, Daoist Taicang, Daoist Taiqing, Fairy Lingji, and Jiang Linglong.
With over 130 Purple Mansion cultivators, their combined strength was still formidable, offering a reasonable chance of success against the Demon Lair.
"With the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators assembled, shall we act now?" Daoist Taiqing asked, gazing at the Demon Lair.
"Not yet," Jiang Linglong said, her expression serious.
"The Demon Lair is shrouded in immense demonic energy. The Nether Spring Fiendish Barrier at the entrance alone is strong enough to withstand even late-stage Golden Core cultivators."
"To avoid depleting too much of our strength before the main battle, it's best to mobilize a large number of low-level cultivators to weaken the Nether Spring Fiendish Barrier first."
"Daoist Jiang has a point," Daoist Taicang agreed.
"I've brought the Azure Green Disk and the Heavenfire Demon-Suppressing Formation. Together, they can not only break through the Nether Spring Fiendish Barrier but also seal off the Demon Lair's exit."
"However, this place lacks spirit veins, so we'll need a large number of cultivators to provide spiritual energy to power the formation."
"That's manageable," Master Zhang said, nodding to Jiang Linglong.
"Lend me the Ethereal Vessel, and I'll summon some low-level cultivators from the Celestial Sky Sword Sect."
At times like this, the value of a warship became evident. Normally, mobilizing tens of thousands of cultivators would take a year or two.
However, with Jiang Linglong's warship, Master Zhang transported tens of thousands of cultivators from nearby Celestial Sky Sword Sect territories in just a month.
Once the reinforcements arrived, Daoist Taicang set up the Azure Green Disk and activated the Heavenfire Demon-Suppressing Formation. Powered by tens of thousands of Qi Refinement cultivators, the formation began burning away the Nether Spring Fiendish Barrier with purifying flames.
The endless waves of demon-suppressing fire clashed with the vast demonic energy at the entrance to the Demon Lair, gradually wearing down the barrier's strength.
The Demon Lair lived up to its reputation as a stronghold of evil. Despite the relentless assault by tens of thousands of cultivators over three months, the fiendish barrier's power was only half-diminished.
Finally, sensing the right moment, the group decided to strike.
Jiang Linglong activated the Ethereal Vessel, unleashing three consecutive slashes of Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Sword Qi. Like the final straw breaking a camel's back, the sword qi shattered the entrance to the Demon Lair.
"Foundation Establishment and above, follow me inside!" Master Zhang commanded, leading the charge as he soared into the lair.
Behind him, the other Golden Core cultivators and Purple Mansion ancestors followed closely, preparing for an intense battle.
Before entering, Elian addressed the Tianxu Alliance cultivators, including Xu Qianyang and Elder Fang, saying gravely, "We must stick together to watch each other's backs."
"Understood," the twenty or so Purple Mansion cultivators from the Tianxu Alliance replied, their expressions solemn.
Elian then turned to his family members. The Chen family had nearly mobilized all their strength for this endeavor. With Chen Xianling and Chen Qingwan left behind to guard the family, Chen Nianchuan, Chen Qinghao, and Chen Xianye had all come to join the battle.
Meeting the gaze of the patriarch, Elian instructed, "Stay close to me and the patriarch. If you encounter any late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators or higher, do not act recklessly."
With that, the group charged into the Demon Lair together.
The moment they entered, Elian's sword struck down several Qi Refinement demonic cultivators, but he couldn't help frowning.
"What a powerful suppression."
The patriarch exchanged a glance with him, his expression turning serious. Inside the Demon Lair, all cultivators, regardless of level, faced suppression from the pervasive demonic energy, limiting their strength to seventy percent.
Fortunately, Elian and the patriarch cultivated the "Solar True Aura," a Pure Yang technique that countered demonic forces and malevolent energy, leaving their strength relatively unaffected.
However, the others looked visibly shaken. Even the Golden Core cultivators wore grave expressions. Only Jiang Linglong, with her Supreme Golden Core, remained entirely unimpeded, capable of unleashing her full power.
...
100+ chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D