Chapter 348

Abyss Clan?

Yunhe and Ji Li Yun sat down in the lakeside pavilion of Yunhe's lake. Upon hearing this news, Yunhe's expression also became somewhat solemn.

Although we had long known that the Abyss Clan and Sea Clan, these alien races, were eyeing us hungrily, who wouldn't wish for this to happen as late as possible?

But things went against our wishes.

Some things are often not as one wishes.

When did this happen?

Yunhe was not at all surprised that Ji Li Yun could find him.

After all, when he first left Baihua Valley he did not conceal his tracks, even having the Cold Chant Flood Dragon pull his carriage all the way; with the information-gathering ability of the Hundred Dawn Pavilion, if one were inclined, finding him would not be difficult.

Just three days ago, a vast expanse of Black Abyss Mist spread forth from the Black Abyss, covering an area of a thousand li.

Ji Li Yun sighed and continued, "I had thought this Black Abyss Mist would, like before, last only a day or two before receding, but I never expected"

Abyss Beasts and even the Abyss Clan have left the range of the Black Abyss Mist!

Generally, the Black Abyss Mist lasts between one and three days; the Abyss Clan uses this as a ruse, indeed catching many cultivators off guard.

So, Fellow Daoist Ji, have you come to ask Yunhe to join the battle?" Yunhe rose and poured Ji Li Yun a cup of tea as he asked.

Alas. This war is not what we human cultivators wish for, but the alien races are unwilling to accept the status quo, so we must fight. Ji Li Yun has indeed come seeking Yunhe's aid.

Ji Li Yun spoke earnestly.

Regarding this, Yunhe did not answer immediately; he held the jade teacup without drinking, merely rubbing its rim lightly.

The Abyss Clan has made its move; if nothing unexpected occurs, the Sea Clan within the Endless Sea of the Wu and Yuan states should be doing the same.

Compared to facing the Abyss Clan, he would actually prefer to confront the Sea Clan, for he has already gained some understanding of them through pearls and Qi Zhou Changkong, and has made certain preparations regarding the abilities of Sea Clan cultivators.

He did not say he wished to avoid this campaign.

Leaving aside that he has not yet obtained the Thousand Gu Myriad Insects Technique, he cannot for now leave the Eastern Border; even if he were to obtain the technique's continuation, he presently has no intention of departing.

War represents danger and destruction, but correspondingly it is always accompanied by great opportunity.

At his level of strength, to improve his Cultivation Base, either he slowly grinds it out with time, or he relies on opportunity and immortal fate.

Moreover, he also has considerable interest in the Abyss clan and the "Black Soul Crystals" on the Abyss beasts.

Even stepping back ten thousand steps, given his current Cultivation Base, he believes that even if he can't win in a fight, running should still be no problem.

Since safety is assured and there is an opportunity to obtain fate, for him it wouldn't be considered an adventure.

Perhaps, in the eyes of those truly top-tier human cultivators, it is the same.

Nowadays, resources are scarce in the Eastern Border cultivation world; it is highly likely that vast quantities of spiritual treasures lie hidden in the endless sea depths where the Sea clan hides, and beneath the Black Abyss where the Abyss clan lurks—otherwise, how could these two tribes have developed to this point?

At the end of the day, the wars between the foreign tribes and humanity are fought over nothing but one thing—resources!

After pondering, Yunhe slowly said:

"I wonder how those mighty ones of our human race plan?"

As for this matter, Ji Liuyun also did not conceal it.

Among human cultivators in the Eastern Border cultivation world, a Yuan Ying Cultivator is already considered a top-tier high-level figure.

"My Bai Xiao Tower has already informed all the major sects; the Tai Xuan Zhengyi Sect, Wu Xiang Sword Sect, and even the Black River Valley, among many others, have been notified. However, this matter is urgent, so we can only have nearby Yuan Ying Cultivators temporarily hold back the Abyss clan's advance; once the situation stabilizes somewhat, I believe it will be the time for our human cultivators to launch a full-scale counterattack."

Yunhe nodded.

Understood.

The first step for both sides is mutual probing; the offensive will not be too severe.

After all, the Abyss clan isn't stupid either; even if they exposed too much at once, they couldn't possibly swallow the entire Eastern Border cultivation world in one gulp.

As long as those Yuan Ying Patriarchs among human cultivators do not perish, humanity cannot be wiped out.

This is destined to be an extremely protracted war of attrition; excessive exposure would bring them no benefit at all.

"I know that Fellow Daoist Yunhe is quite skilled in formation arts, so I have come to seek your assistance."

Using formations to block.

It indeed requires the least manpower, yet it is also the most effective method.

"I wonder, Fellow Daoist Guangchengzi," Yunhe said, his eyes flashing.

He remembered that Guangchengzi was also skilled in formation arts.

Ji Liuyun pressed his lips and said, "Senior Brother Guangchengzi was injured during the trip to the Floating Cloud Senior's cave dwelling, and he is still in seclusion."

This made Yunhe's heart involuntarily tighten.

It seems the strength of the Blood Sect's sect leader, Xue Wuchen, is considerably greater than he had imagined.

"Please, Fellow Daoist Ji, help me convey my condolences."

Yunhe exchanged a greeting, then asked:

"But surely it won't require me to go alone, right?"

"Fellow Daoist, you are thoughtful."

Ji Liuyun heard the implied relief in Yunhe's words, exhaled slightly, and laughed, "Of course not."

"On this journey, I, Ji, will also accompany you, Fellow Daoist, and there will also be Fellow Daoist Muyazi of the Wood Spirit Sect and Fellow Daoist Lianhua of Baihua Valley; I expect the two fellow daoists should arrive here shortly."

After a pause, he continued: "Moreover, to motivate our human cultivators, the Tai Xuan Zhengyi Sect, Wu Xiang Sword Sect, and other major sects have already agreed; I, Bai Xiao Tower, will take the treasures that various sects are willing to contribute as rewards, which can be exchanged for the contributions of many cultivators."

Only then did this sentence become the true 'finishing touch'.

Although Yunhe believes these sects will certainly not produce truly extremely valuable treasures, he also thinks they won't be ordinary treasures; they must have sufficient appeal.

Human cultivators value profit.

Everyone understands this clearly.

With this 'profit,' even those with ulterior motives will be willing to contribute.

"And we, as the pioneers, should claim the chief merit!"

Ji Liuyun also couldn't help but reveal a hint of excitement.

While speaking, Ji Liuyun handed over a Jade Slip that recorded part of the treasures each sect was willing to bring out.

Of course, this is only a part.

"Furthermore, we don't need to block all the abyssal beasts and abyssal race; we only need to take charge of this area."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a map appeared in midair, also marking the rest of their blocking positions.

As for the other directions, we believe other cultivators will also hold them off.

The Abyss lies within the Demon Realm, but its distance from the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range and the Gobi Shore is not too great; the place where Yunhe and the others are to garrison is west of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range, at the Listening Fragrance Waterside Pavilion of the Charm Sect's branch, the Listening Fragrance Pavilion.

"That far?"

Seeing this, Yunhe raised his eyebrows.

It's not that this place is far, but that the Abyss is far.

Between the Listening Fragrance Waterside Pavilion and the Abyss, there is at least a distance of ten thousand li.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this." Ji Liuyun explained: "Within the Abyssal Mist, whether it be the Abyssal Race or Abyssal Beasts, their strength is unfathomable; but once they leave the Abyssal Mist, whether Abyssal Beasts or Abyssal Race, their strength will surely plummet."

This point, Yunhe, who has clashed with Abyssal Beasts, also understands it clearly.

"In other words, we leave this ten-thousand-li stretch as the battlefield for both sides?" Yunhe said.

"Exactly."

"Heh, the demonic cultivators are indeed willing."

As he spoke, Yunhe suddenly realized.

It's not that the demonic cultivators are willing; rather, they had already expanded the Demon Realm hundreds of years ago, which led to the calamity of the Ten Domains and Nine Sects, and this is actually the result of mutual compromise between demonic and orthodox cultivators.

Yunhe simply glanced at the list inside the Jade Slip, stood up, bowed to Ji Liuyun, and with a solemn expression said:

"Since it is thus, Yunhe naturally will exert his strength for the human cultivators; it is his duty!"

"Fellow Daoist, your righteousness!"

Ji Liuyun offered a flattering remark.

What each thinks in their hearts is known only to themselves.

At the same time.

Two streaks of rainbow light swiftly approached from afar and arrived outside the formation of Yunhe's layered mountains.

They came.

Naturally, they were the Lotus Elder of Baihua Valley and the Wood Tooth Child of the Wood Spirit Sect.

Yunhe had seen the Lotus Elder before, but this was his first time seeing the Wood Tooth Child.

He was a cultivator with white hair and a youthful face, wearing a dark robe; although vibrant life force was visibly surging from his body, Yunhe and the other Yuan Ying Cultivators could see that beneath this vigorous life force lurked a faint aura of death, indicating that his lifespan was not long.

However, this Wood Tooth Child was famed for his longevity, said to have lived for fifteen hundred years.

Nowadays, the mighty figures who dominate the cultivation world, if we were to rank by seniority, would all be his juniors.

Although seniority matters in the cultivation world, strength matters more; this person has no intention of leaning on his age to boast, and he has a clear understanding of himself.

Fifteen hundred years is too long even for a Yuan Ying Cultivator.

This Wood Tooth Child likely hopes to gain a sliver of survival in this "crisis", and thus, despite not having left the Wood Spirit Sect for hundreds of years, he has been invited by Ji Liuyun this time.

After a few people greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries, having briefly understood the situation, they set off toward their destination.

Four Yuan Ying Cultivators, even if they were merely at the early Yuan Ying stage, constituted a formidable force.

According to Ji Liuyun's plan, further Core Formation and even Foundation Establishment cultivators will come to reinforce them, but as the main force they need to go ahead first.

The Demon Realm.

Within the territory of the Listening Fragrance Pavilion, in a pavilion built on flat terrain against the mountain and beside the water, a beautiful woman in her late twenties, wearing sheer black gauze that faintly revealed her figure, paced back and forth atop an exquisitely carved pavilion.

On her originally charming face now appeared a hint of anxiety that could not be concealed.

After a while.

She leapt from the pavilion, arrived at its roof, and gazed into the distance.

One could see that, at the farthest horizon where earth meets sky, a black mist lingered without dispersing.

Suddenly.

The beautiful woman's expression shifted; she raised her hand and drew a talisman wrapped in flowing light, lightly pinched it, and the talisman ignited, ultimately turning into a message.

Upon seeing the content, the beautiful woman let out a long sigh, slowly descended from the air, and shouted:

"Someone, prepare the spiritual wine and tea, await the arrival of the esteemed guest!"

"Yes."

A chorus of feminine shouts came.

The Listening Fragrance Pavilion is, in the eastern cultivation realm, renowned as a "Red Pavilion".

Of course.

That is merely an escape route for some disciples with no prospects in cultivation.

Like Baihua Valley and the Ice Immortal Pavilion, although female disciples are predominant, it does not mean there are no male disciples.

However, the Listening Fragrance Pavilion truly has no male disciples at all; it is a demonic sect consisting solely of female disciples.

However, this does not mean there are no men; these men are mostly either furnaces for cultivation or miscellaneous laborers.

Not long after.

While the cultivators of the Listening Fragrance Pavilion were still preparing, four streaks of rainbow light shot from afar at great speed and finally hovered outside the grand protective formation of the Listening Waterside Pavilion.

"Three fellow Daoists, please wait a moment; I will inform Fellow Daoist Feng right away."

Ji Liuyun said, sending out a message talisman.

Soon.

The grand protective formation of Listening Fragrance Pavilion slowly opened a gap, accompanied by a strange, hidden fragrance; the pavilion mistress, the beautiful lady Feng Qingdan, then led a group of disciples forward to greet.

Seeing that formation made Yunhe's brow jump, his expression strange.

Those who knew thought they had come to lend aid.

Those who didn't know thought they were just strolling through the red-light district.

At first glance, it really was more revealed than covered.

A expanse of white, making one think they'd entered the Spider Silk Cave.

"I, representing Listening Fragrance Pavilion, thank the four fellow Daoists for coming to lend great aid!" Feng Qingdan gave a graceful bow to Yunhe and his three companions.

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(End of chapter)