Chapter 246: The Arrogant Medicine Clan!
After a moment of contemplation and piecing things together, Lu Bu suddenly realized it was exactly the strategy he had been thinking of!
First, lure the enemy out of hiding. Then, strike at the center. Next, trap them like dogs in a closed space, isolating them from their Soul Realm reinforcements. After that, launch a combination of encirclement and counter encirclement, use poison to limit their mobility, weaken their fighting capacity, and avoid killing them outright finally finishing it all with a siege to crush any reinforcements that came.
This chain of operations would undoubtedly reap a huge harvest of Soul Clan heads. Honestly, it was a brilliant plan. Lu Bu couldn't help but shake his head Xiao Xun'er's tactics seemed overly simplistic… ahem, well, maybe that part didn't need to be said aloud.
At present, the Black Armored Army had already been trapped like dogs in a cage. The next steps were likely to involve reducing their ability to resist through poison or picking them off one by one until they were utterly destroyed.
Lu Bu's eyes gleamed as a realization hit him. Poison wasn't just a tactic it was a critical step to reduce the fighting capacity of the trapped enemy. There was no point in surrounding an energetic and spirited enemy, after all. That would be nothing more than inviting disaster, leaving the encirclement open to reversal at any moment.
Which meant… that Soul Clan member's so called "self destruction," where he dissolved into a strange gaseous form, might have been the method of poisoning.
A flurry of thoughts coursed through Lu Bu's mind. His soul power turned inward to inspect his body, but after a thorough scan… he found nothing abnormal.
Lu Bu's heart sank. Nothing abnormal that was the most suspicious thing of all!
The Soul Clan wouldn't waste their lives on meaningless gestures. There had to be more to this.
"What do we do now?" Yang Hao asked the group, swallowing hard as he broke the silence.
The Black Armored Army owed their dominance across the Dou Qi Continent to the overwhelming strength and reputation of the Gu Clan. Without the backing of the Gu Clan, they were little more than a group of decent fighters with good cultivation speeds.
On a continent teeming with countless powerful factions, there were plenty of forces capable of defeating and killing them.
In short, without the Gu Clan, the Black Armored Army was nothing.
As this thought settled in, the faces of the commanders and soldiers turned pale. A sense of foreboding and heaviness settled over the group.
"What are you all so nervous about?" Lu Bu frowned, puzzled. "The spatial tunnel was destroyed, sure. But it can be rebuilt. Lin Lao, Guan Lao, and the other three Dou Zongs are here, plus the Commander in Chief and Gu Yao. This isn't a big problem, is it?"
Lu Bu remembered from the original novel that Yao Chen had constructed a spatial tunnel connecting Starfall Pavilion to the Northwest Continent, and he had only been at the Half Saint level at the time. Dou Zong level powerhouses could also construct spatial tunnels, as evidenced by the one leading to the Tianqing Mountain Range, built by the Luo Clan's ancestor.
While Dou Zong cultivators could manipulate spatial energy, only Dou Zong and above had the capability to create such tunnels hence why Dou Zong powerhouses were responsible for constructing and maintaining them.
"It's not that simple…" Yang Hao shook his head with a heavy expression. "This is the Medicine Clan's territory. Building a spatial tunnel requires their approval."
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. Even something like this needs the Medicine Clan's permission?
Couldn't a Dou Sheng powerhouse destroy a spatial tunnel with just a thought? Why bother with these formalities?
"Good that you know your place at least you realize this is Medicine Clan territory!"
As Lu Bu was still processing this, a cold, mocking voice suddenly rang out from above.
Xiao Xun'er, Gu Yao, and the others' faces all darkened, but they took a deep breath to suppress their displeasure before slowly raising their heads to look in the direction of the voice.
In the void above, space rippled and distorted as a team of soldiers clad in black iron armor and wielding long spears stepped out of the rift. At the forefront stood an elder and a young man.
Both bore the mark of a medicinal gourd between their brows. However, while the elder looked down at the Black Armored Army with an aloof gaze, sweeping over Lu Bu and the others as if they were beneath notice, the young man's expression was full of disdain.
The younger man glanced at Lu Bu with a mocking smirk. "Heh… You people from the Gu Clan are getting more and more disrespectful."
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes. This kid probably didn't know that his clan would be wiped out in the near future.
"Elder Yao Ming, Young Master Yao Yi," Guan Lao stepped forward and stood protectively in front of Lu Bu. Bowing slightly, he greeted the two Medicine Clan members.
"Heh, Guan Xuan," the young man called Yao Yi said with a faint, condescending smile. "You've caused quite a commotion. The spatial disturbance you created has disrupted the growth of our clan's precious medicinal herbs."
Ling Quan's brow twitched with anger, but before he could speak, Gu Luan tugged at his sleeve, giving him a warning look. Ling Quan clenched his jaw and swallowed his words.
"Apologies, Yao Yi. That was our mistake," Gu Yao said calmly, his icy expression unchanging. "The spatial tunnel was destroyed. We need to construct a new one. Please grant us permission. We cannot afford any delays."
"Tch… That's not up to me," Yao Yi sneered. "Elder Yao Wangui is in charge of such matters. Without his approval, no one is allowed to act within Medicine Clan airspace."
Yao Wangui? Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. Wasn't Yao Wangui responsible for punishment and discipline? When did he start overseeing air traffic as well?
Gu Yao and the other Gu Clan elders' expressions turned sour. If it were the Ling or Shi Clans, they could simply offer some treasures and ask for a favor. But this was the Medicine Clan.
The Medicine Clan, known as the wealthiest faction on the Dou Qi Continent, claimed second place in wealth only out of humility no one dared claim first. Not even the Gu Clan.
Both Yao Yi and Elder Yao Ming were high ranking alchemists a peak seventh tier and an eighth tier, respectively. Bribing them was a futile endeavor.
"Please, Yao Yi. Help us. Being stranded out here is far from ideal," Gu Yao said, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"Elder Yao Wangui is a busy man. You'll just have to wait," Yao Yi said dismissively, waving his hand. "I came here to tell you one thing: keep it down. The elders are unhappy with your antics."
With that, Yao Ming waved his sleeve, causing the spatial ripples to envelop the Medicine Clan forces. In an instant, they vanished from sight.
The Black Armored Army's faces darkened, their bodies trembling with rage. The Medicine Clan's arrogance was truly infuriating.
Lu Bu smirked faintly. "A hollow shell of former glory…"
A small nation without humility, weak yet unafraid of strength, disrespectful to its powerful neighbors, greedy and unskilled at diplomacy such traits would inevitably lead to its downfall.
The Medicine Clan's destruction was well deserved.
Still, Lu Bu had no intention of getting involved in the tension between the Gu Clan and the Medicine Clan. His boldness in challenging members of the Gu Clan came from Xiao Xun'er's presence among the younger generation, such conflicts were just sparring, as long as no one died.
He dared to kill Soul Clan members because the Soul Clan's thousand year plans were at a critical stage. Dou Sheng level powerhouses wouldn't intervene in conflicts between the younger generation.
However, Lu Bu absolutely didn't dare to provoke the Medicine Clan. These people weren't just unreasonable they were also blatantly arrogant. If you punched one of their people, they might run home crying, only to return with a Dou Sheng, or worse, a high ranking Dou Sheng.
Judging from the Medicine Clan's recent behavior, such a situation was entirely possible!
"Let's head back to camp and discuss our next steps," Xiao Xun'er said, her gaze sinking. Her veiled face was faint and indistinct, making it hard to read her emotions.
Central Plains, the Central Region also known as the Pill Domain.
The famed Alchemist Tower, the sacred ground for alchemists across the continent, was located in the heart of the Central Plains.
In the depths of a mountain range near the border between the Pill Domain and the western region of the Central Plains, two figures strode into a large hall. They stopped at the center, their faces revealed to be none other than Old Ghost Zhai Xing and Elder Mu Gu.
"Greetings to the Second Heavenly Venerate," the two said, bowing toward the elder seated in the main position.
"Rise… Mu Gu, how are you feeling?" asked Gu You, the Second Heavenly Venerate, his tone calm. Gu You was an eight star alchemist and one of the few such figures within the Soul Palace, making him a rare and precious asset.
"Thank you for your concern, Second Heavenly Venerate. Aside from my drop in strength, I am otherwise fine," Mu Gu replied respectfully. Without Gu You's help, he would have had no chance of regaining a physical body, no matter how many years passed.
"And you, Zhai Xing?" Gu You asked, turning to Old Ghost Zhai Xing.
"I have fully recovered, my lord. Thank you for your concern," Zhai Xing replied respectfully. Despite his title of Heavenly Venerate, his status was worlds apart from Gu You's. Gu You was a Half Saint powerhouse someone who could crush him with just a finger.
"In that case, recount everything that happened in the Northwest Continent. Don't leave out a single detail," Gu You commanded. "The jade slip you sent was vague. This time, I want a full account. Don't worry I have plenty of time, so take as long as you need."
Seated beside Gu You, the Ninth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates opened their eyes and turned their attention to Zhai Xing and Mu Gu. They too were interested in what had transpired in the Northwest Continent.
Mu Gu and Zhai Xing exchanged a glance before beginning to recount their experiences, step by step, paying special attention to the battle that had almost cost Mu Gu his life.
In this world, many things could be fabricated. However, the battle techniques used and the strength displayed in combat were undeniable truths. Even the two drops of blood Zhai Xing and Mu Gu had retrieved from the ruins of the branch hall were viewed with suspicion.
But suspicion was all they had what was real and what was fake was impossible to discern.
As Zhai Xing and Mu Gu detailed the events, the Second Heavenly Venerate, Gu You, furrowed his brow deeper and deeper. "A golden puppet capable of matching a Dou Zun… Tian Yao Phoenix Wings… Three Thousand Lightning Movement… and that peculiar invisible flame…"
"Do you have any leads on the golden puppet?" Gu You asked, glancing at the Ninth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates as well as Mu Gu.
The reason Gu You was only now investigating this clue was that it was too vague compared to the Tian Yao Phoenix Wings, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and Mu Gu's other observations. However, now that all the other leads had hit dead ends, this one had to be pursued.
The room fell into silence. None of them had heard of such a thing before, and the puppet itself was no longer around. The golden puppet head Zhai Xing had brought back was confirmed to be the severed head of Xiu Tuo, the branch hall master.
Though Zhai Xing and Mu Gu had once harbored ambitions of claiming the puppet technique for themselves, the matter had already reached the Heavenly Venerate's attention. At this stage, there was no room for them to keep anything hidden.
"Spread the word: search the entire continent for anyone who uses puppets in combat," Gu You ordered coldly. "And investigate anyone using invisible flames, especially within the Alchemist Tower. Focus your efforts on the main tower and its branches."
"Understood!" The Ninth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates' eyes lit up as they received their orders. Having a clear direction was a relief. What they feared most was having no leads and no targets.
The frustration of being unable to act was unbearable. When they finally caught the culprit, they vowed to torment him thoroughly and uncover his methods for deceiving them so completely.
Without another word, the Ninth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates disappeared from the hall.
Zhai Xing's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't even sensed the spatial fluctuations caused by their departure. As expected of the Ninth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates their strength was terrifying.
Northwest Continent, Eastern Region, bordering the Northern Plains of the Central Continent.
In a dense forest, the sky was obscured by dark clouds, with thunder rumbling incessantly. Silver lightning danced wildly, and bolts of thunder crashed down from the heavens.
Within the forest, Yao Lao's translucent soul body flickered weakly, like a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any moment.
"Teacher!" Xiao Yan's eyes filled with concern. He hurriedly removed the lid of a nearby cauldron and called to Yao Lao.
Without hesitation, Yao Lao leaped into the cauldron, which contained the Soul Nourishing Elixir Xiao Yan had prepared.
Xiao Yan stepped forward, his sleeve sweeping through the air as he reached into the Black Demon Cauldron to retrieve a white pill. In the sky above, the enraged thunderclouds slowly began to dissipate.
Exhaling a long breath of relief, Xiao Yan inspected the Snow Spirit Pill in his hand. With this, advancing to the Dou Huang realm would be much faster. However, the Snow Spirit Pill wasn't the only reward from this ordeal.
Xiao Yan looked up as a silver figure descended from the sky. The brilliance of its silver body was dazzling, and its right hand was now faintly coated in gold.
"Teacher, Lu Bu wasn't lying!" Xiao Yan exclaimed excitedly. "This thing really can be upgraded!"
"I can feel it," Yao Lao replied weakly. The challenge of refining a seventh tier pill had taken a heavy toll on his spirit form.
Xiao Yan's joy quickly gave way to determination. His teacher had nearly dissipated several times for the sake of this puppet. This can't go on I have to reach the Dou Zong realm as soon as possible and become a seventh tier alchemist!
Southwest Region of the Central Plains, in a dark forest.
"Xiao Yan… you said Xiao Yan?"
The speaker was a man seated in the main position, his long black hair flowing behind him and his jade like face glowing faintly. His presence seemed to brighten the dim forest.
"Yes. Before he died, Soul Li shouted the name 'Xiao Yan,'" Soul Po replied. Though her face was grim, the wound inflicted by Gu Yao's spear had already disappeared.
"Interesting… Could it really be that fallen Xiao Clan?" The man's lips curved into an amused smile.
"The plan continues. Let's wear them down bit by bit. The Gu Clan will send reinforcements sooner or later. I wasn't interested in the Black Armored Army before, but now… let's go have a look!"
(Chapter End)
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