Chapter 382: Artillery fire scouring the ground, the Ten Thousand Sword Killing Array, the reappearance of mountain collapse, the can

A civil war within the Jade Cauldron, lasting twenty years.

Rising and falling, countless battles, after several twists and turns, it finally converged on this battlefield: the Nine Thunder Mountains.

Regarding this civil war, Luo Chen understood a great deal.

He even specifically dispatched the intelligence department of the Luo Tian Society to collect all sorts of information.

Whether it was true or hearsay, he had never stopped trying to understand it.

He had even surveyed the overall situation many times, combing through the trends and developments, attempting to deduce when the war would end.

It could be said that Luo Chen believed that, aside from the high-level Jin Dan elders of each sect and those two Nascent Soul True Persons who were as elusive as dragons, his level of understanding was far above that of most sect disciples, vassals, and rogue cultivators.

The more he understood, the more confused Luo Chen became.

Because!

War is not fought like this!

In his understanding, if one side is strong and the other weak, then it should be a blitzkrieg, a war of annihilation.

With the force of a thunderbolt, achieving victory in a single strike!

Just like the Luo Tian Society did against the Fu family and the Duan family.

It is definitely not dragging on, stretching for twenty years.

If it is a situation of two strong sides, there are two possibilities.

Either sit down and talk it out properly, or it is a long, drawn-out war of attrition.

The former is impossible; since it involves the fourth-tier spiritual lands required for Nascent Soul True Persons to cultivate, it is certainly impossible to reach an agreement.

Then, it must be the last possibility—a war of attrition!

Looking at the current situation, it seems to fit the common understanding.

However, it is wrong!

A true war of attrition should at least have corresponding important targets as the focus of the attack.

The fourth-tier mineral vein, the Nine Thunder Mountains, seems to fit this requirement.

But the contention for such a resource site could be conducted in a much more "civilized" manner.

Small-scale sword duels between true disciples, and the more daring cultivators fighting with magic.

If that really doesn't work, a simple sparring session between the two Nascent Soul True Persons could also resolve it.

It is completely unnecessary to go to such great lengths!

It can be said that for Nascent Soul True Persons, the Nine Thunder Mountains are completely unworthy of mention!

If the Falling Cloud Sect really wanted a fourth-tier spiritual land, they should have focused the war on attacking the hinterland of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

Even if they were to dispatch allied forces to consume the Sword Sect's vital strength, it should be targeted at the Sword Sect's hinterland, not an exclave ten thousand miles away.

Fighting like this now is completely meaningless!

Aside from wearing down the Green Elixir Valley, Mount Ailao, the Ice Fortress, the Flame Alliance, and the many vassals under the Sword Sect that have reached the level of first-rate forces, it serves no purpose.

Oh, and among those consuming the most are also countless rogue cultivators.

And they are the elite among the rogue cultivators at that.

The problem!

Lies in the word "aside from."

Looking at it now, perhaps the significance of this long war of attrition really does lie in wearing down all the forces in the Jade Cauldron Domain, except for the two major sects!

The Green Elixir Valley has the greatest influence and the largest number of cultivators, but their combat power is mediocre.

On the battlefield, when facing existences of the same rank, except for geniuses like Tao Wan, the rest of their sect members are no match for disciples of other sects in one-on-one combat.

The Ice Fortress has too few vassals, and after their cannon fodder was mostly worn down, their own disciples have already begun to fight in person.

The main force of Mount Ailao is tied up on the Black Water Swamp battlefield, and they have suffered heavy losses.

Even a Jin Dan master has already fallen.

This is on the side of the four-sect alliance.

And on the side of the Sword Sect alliance, as far as Luo Chen knows, three of the Sword Sect's first-rate vassals have already been beaten into decline.

Among them is the Heavenly Blade Sect, which has risen to fame in recent years; aside from the Sect Master, most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect have been injured.

On the Flame Alliance side, the situation is not much better.

The Black Water Swamp delayed them for too long, and they also lost a Jin Dan master there.

On the Nine Thunder Mountains battlefield, they dispatched heavy troops, and their vassals suffered too many losses, now gradually reaching the point of having to fight in person.

And what about the two Nascent Soul major sects?

Falling Cloud Sect cultivators mostly use puppets to fight the enemy.

Even if they are outmatched, at worst they just abandon the puppets and preserve their lives.

On the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect side, the number of true disciples sent out is even fewer.

He and Chu Kui hunted for two days and only luckily killed one late-stage Foundation Establishment Sword Sect true disciple.

From this, it can be seen that both major sects are consciously preserving their respective vital strength.

"The current situation is actually very similar to another war I experienced, a war without smoke!"

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen recalled when he led the Luo Tian Society to migrate the entire sect to Tianlan Immortal City.

In order to open up the elixir market.

The Luo Tian Society and the Zheng family of Rolling Dragon Ridge engaged in a competition for the elixir business.

In that business competition, the two families fought with sparks flying; the best result was a win-win, and both families made a fortune!

So who lost?

The Elixir Origin Sect lost, the Li family of the Qinhua River lost, the Hu family of Tan Mountain lost...

The big boss and the second boss fought, and the third boss died.

Isn't the current situation just the two major sects in a civil war, while the ones who lose the most are everyone else in the Jade Cauldron Domain?

Luo Chen vaguely remembered.

When he was participating in the Dao Seed Struggle and first arrived at the Green Elixir Valley, Tao Yisheng was incredibly enthusiastic as he introduced to him how strong the Green Elixir Valley was and how vast the number of its cultivators was.

Tens of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators, over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, and fifteen Jin Dan masters!

And that was just the Green Elixir Valley; what about the Ice Fortress? The Flame Alliance? Mount Ailao and the Flame Alliance?

Except for the Hundred Flower Palace, which had few sect members and only three Jin Dan masters, the number of cultivators in the other four sects was simply too, too large.

Coupled with the fact that the Jade Cauldron Domain is close to the Million Great Mountains and is rich in resources.

This resulted in a constant stream of Foundation Establishment true cultivators among the rogue cultivators, and countless third-rate and second-rate forces gathered where the ten great immortal cities were located.

Over the years, even first-rate forces possessing Jin Dan masters had been born in quite a few numbers.

Can the power of one domain support so many cultivators?

Yes!

But after supporting so many cultivators, it is completely unable to support the two Nascent Soul major sects!

It can even be said that even the original hegemon, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, would feel that resources were completely insufficient if it wanted to expand.

But if, through this war, most of the forces were weakened, suppressed, and destroyed, wouldn't the space for development be broadened?

After figuring all this out, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle.

"The vast Jade Cauldron Domain cannot accommodate seven major sects. However, it can accommodate two Nascent Soul major sects!"

"As long as the other five sects decline significantly and the rogue cultivator world exists in name only, the power of one domain will be enough to support the two major sects!"

"In the end, whether it is the Sword Sect or the Falling Cloud Sect, neither is a major sect with thousands of years of heritage, and each only has one Nascent Soul cultivator in the sect. Their current needs are actually not as great as the major sects in other domains."

After some analysis.

From his perspective, Luo Chen gradually clarified everything.

However, there were still many doubts in this.

The simplest point is that he does not believe that everyone in the other four sects is a fool.

Since he transmigrated, the high-level cultivators he has come into contact with are almost all not stupid.

The advantage of a transmigrator's vision that is ahead of the era is simply nothing in the long river of history of the Shanhai World, which spans tens of thousands of years.

Within the four sects, there must be existences smarter than him!

The intelligence information mastered by the four sects must certainly be far more comprehensive than what the Luo Tian Society collected!

Could it be that they can't see through this point?

Or is it that they saw through it, but for some reason, they were still forced to embark on this path?

Interests? Grudges?

Or, just like how the Luo Tian Society was initially coerced by the Heartless Fairy, are they also forced to participate in the war under the lewd power of Nascent Soul True Persons?

This is one of the doubts.

There is another point that puzzles Luo Chen.

That is, even according to the vision of the two major sects, after weakening or even destroying the strength of each sect, the Jade Cauldron Domain still only has one fourth-tier spiritual land!

Jade Emperor Mountain!

He does not believe that True Person Jade Cauldron is willing to share that fourth-tier spiritual land with Old Ancestor Han Zhan.

So when the two True Persons met, what conditions were reached that could allow...

"Wrong!"

Luo Chen's heart jumped, and a sect stronghold with rolling green mountains and extremely abundant spiritual energy gradually emerged in his mind.

"The Jade Cauldron Domain has more than one fourth-tier spiritual land; there is also a potential fourth-tier spiritual land!"

"Green Elixir Valley!"

In his vision, he seemed to see the geographical pattern of five peaks covering the valley, naturally condensing veins.

In his ears, Tao Yisheng's proud and hopeful words seemed to ring out.

"Four hundred years ago, during the opening war, our Green Elixir Valley predecessors conquered this place."

"Using secret techniques to link the trends of mountains and earth veins, moving mountains and filling seas, they forged the pattern of five peaks covering the valley."

"Now, hundreds of years later, the Elixir Valley has already reached the second-tier high-grade level. Given time, a thousand years from now, this Elixir Valley will inevitably become a fourth-tier spiritual land!"

"By then, if our Green Elixir Valley gives birth to a Nascent Soul True Person, we won't even need to look for another fourth-tier spiritual land to cultivate."

With the power of the group of Jin Dan cultivators in the Green Elixir Valley, it would take a thousand years.

But what if it were the means of a Nascent Soul True Person?

A thousand years?

Luo Chen slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, forcing himself to wake up from that boundless train of thought.

These things are all too far, too high, and not something he can touch right now.

What he can do is seize this opportunity, scrape together as many merit points as possible, and take a solid step toward achieving the Jin Dan stage.

"No matter how the two major sects calculate, if I achieve the Jin Dan stage, relying on my alchemy, I can completely become an honored guest of one of the two sects!"

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen took out a medium-grade spirit stone again.

He closed his eyes and absorbed the pure spiritual energy within it.

This rest lasted for a full day and night.

When Luo Chen stepped out of the crude cave dwelling, what he saw when he looked up were streaks of escaping light rushing toward the front line of the war.

Among them, there were quite a few who looked down at their location, their expressions either envious, disdainful, or mocking...

"To what extent has the war progressed?"

Xu Huanzhen and Duan Feng had already gathered around.

The former immediately replied, "The Sword Sect alliance is not giving an inch, having assembled a large number of cultivators to garrison the Eighth Mountain, seemingly wanting to fight us to the death."

The latter, however, was full of confidence, "The new puppets on the Falling Cloud Sect side have extremely strong power. A few rounds of concentrated fire can destroy a defensive position. Now, under the leadership of the Falling Cloud Sect, the three sects are constantly reinforcing the Eighth Mountain. I feel that it won't take more than three days to capture it!"

"Three days? I don't think so." Chu Kui walked over from the back, holding a gourd and pouring wine into his mouth as he walked.

The rich spiritual energy could be clearly sensed even from a few steps away.

This was his preparation for this war, and it was also a type of spirit wine from Taibai Market that could quickly restore spiritual power.

Walking to his side, he said with high spirits, "If a Jin Dan master takes action personally, breaking the array will be as easy as turning over one's hand! Next, it will be time for us Foundation Establishment cultivators to show our skills."

When he said this, Xu and Duan couldn't help but nod secretly.

They had all seen Jin Dan masters take action.

In the special geographical environment of the Nine Thunder Mountains, ordinary third-tier defensive arrays, even if their power is fully activated, cannot withstand the full bombardment of several Jin Dan masters.

Just as the three were talking enthusiastically.

Gradually, they noticed that Luo Chen had not been participating.

Chu Kui looked at Luo Chen in confusion, "What are you thinking about?"

Luo Chen's expression was calm.

"Nothing, just thinking that we should set off. How is your recovery?"

Chu Kui patted his chest, "Not a big problem, how about you?"

"Then let's go!"

As the two set off, Xu Huanzhen and Duan Feng were hesitant to speak.

In the end, they could only silently watch the two leave.

In the interval of rushing to the Eighth Mountain battlefield, Chu Kui said with regret, "If only Min Longyu were here."

Luo Chen gave a hum.

With the strength of the two of them, under prior planning, they could indeed avoid top-tier powerhouses and calmly hunt ordinary Foundation Establishment true cultivators.

But if they encountered existences at the eighth or ninth level of Foundation Establishment, or a slightly larger scale, they would still have to retreat three times.

It wasn't that they couldn't win, they just didn't want to waste too much time.

But if there were a formation master like Min Longyu, with the three of them joining forces, they would dare to challenge anyone.

"How many merit points do we have now?" Chu Kui asked.

"Six thousand one," Luo Chen replied.

Hearing this number, Chu Kui became high-spirited again.

Ten thousand is not far off!

If they are lucky these few days and catch a few late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who are alone, they might be able to save up enough very quickly.

Compared to his optimism, Luo Chen was not so optimistic.

The two of them relied on each other, and although their cooperation became more and more tacit, it was a fact that their respective states were constantly declining.

On the first day, they still dared to break into camps and destroy sects, intercepting and killing nine Foundation Establishment cultivators.

On the second day, they could only roam within the range of the ten thousand miles of yellow sand, hunting relatively weaker ordinary Foundation Establishment true cultivators.

By today, neither of them was at eighty percent of their peak state.

When choosing opponents later, they would have to be a bit more careful.

By the time they arrived at the front line.

The battle between the two sides had already completely broken out.

Just like last time, it was still the Jin Dan masters taking action personally to break the array.

However, what was different from before was that it had changed from the initial seven Jin Dan masters taking action to ten!

On the Eighth Mountain, there were also six or seven Jin Dan masters taking action to resist.

Among them were those with majestic sword energy, fighting three enemies alone!

That was a Jin Dan stage sword cultivator, who must have come from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect!

However, sword cultivators are strong in attack but weak in defense, and after multiple interceptions, the defensive array of the Eighth Mountain was still broken.

Even on the Falling Cloud Sect side, someone deliberately induced a thunderstorm to completely destroy the foundation of the array, cutting off the Sword Sect's thought of subsequently repairing the defensive array.

After the formation was destroyed, the remaining process was the same as before.

The Falling Cloud Sect's puppet army moved out collectively.

Preparing for artillery fire to scour the ground!

It is imaginable that after a few rounds of artillery scouring, the Eighth Mountain's defensive formation would inevitably be disrupted, and then it would be the same situation of one-on-one fighting as before.

However!

When the Falling Cloud Sect's puppet army appeared, stars suddenly rose on the Eighth Mountain.

To be precise, those were not stars!

But sword pills!

As hundreds of sword pills converged, they actually outlined a seemingly real formation map in the void.

The moment he saw that formation map, Elder Linghu on the Falling Cloud Sect side changed color drastically.

"Ten Thousand Sword Map!"

In shock, he slammed out a palm, wanting to prevent the sword formation from taking shape.

However, before the palm print arrived, a streak of sword light shot into the sky.

Chi!

The huge palm print instantly collapsed.

A clear, handsome, and elegant young Daoist priest flew out from the Eighth Mountain.

"Fellow Daoist Linghu, let the juniors fight among themselves. If you take action, it would be rather unseemly."

Seeing this person, Linghu Jie's expression sank.

"Kaiyang!"

True Person Kaiyang smiled slightly, "Now, shall we have a bout, or shall we just watch the changes?"

Linghu Jie fell silent.

Just as the two were talking, the attacks from both sides had already taken shape.

The Falling Cloud Sect's puppet army released fierce artillery fire, bombarding the gathering places of the crowd on the Eighth Mountain indiscriminately.

At the same time, the Ten Thousand Sword Map constructed by the Sword Sect also erupted with fierce light, emitting thousands of sword energies, falling like rain.

The four-sect alliance army, which was about to take advantage of the situation to cover and kill, suffered heavy losses instantly.

By this time, both sides were riding a tiger and could not get off.

But unexpectedly, above the nine heavens, thunder clouds gathered, and the wind howled miserably.

Boundless silver snakes flickered.

Seeing this scene, Linghu Jie breathed a sigh of relief.

With heavenly thunder gathering, the Ten Thousand Sword Map would inevitably be unable to last long.

Sure enough, a moment later, those many sword pills flew back.

Under the bombardment of heavenly thunder, things like sword pills that are refined with heart and spirit cannot withstand any destruction.

In this way, both sides returned to the same starting line.

"Kill!"

"Everyone, kill!"

Following the orders of the two Jin Dan masters, the two torrents of cultivators rolled and collided together.

In a corner.

Luo Chen and Chu Kui looked up, gazing with awe at the sword formation that was slowly dispersing.

A hundred people forming a formation, unparalleled in killing power.

Even a Jin Dan master would have to retreat three times.

Fortunately, the timing and geographical advantages were on their side.

Watching the battle that erupted instantly, Chu Kui's heart trembled even more.

"It's a good thing I joined the Luo Tian Society and can act freely with you. Otherwise, in a battle of this scale, the so-called name of Tian Kuizi would just be a joke."

Luo Chen squeezed out a smile with a stiff expression.

The heritage of a major sect is not something they can imagine.

He originally thought the puppet army was invincible.

He didn't expect there to be a means of sword cultivators forming a formation.

However, in the special geographical environment of the Nine Thunder Mountains, the Ten Thousand Sword Map could not be maintained for too long, and now it had returned to the battle scenario they were most familiar with.

After the initial engagement, the torrent of cultivators began to constantly divide into battle groups.

Before long, there were tens of thousands of scattered small battle groups.

Thus, it became the situation of fishing in troubled waters that the Tianlan Duo liked the most.

"At the beginning of the battle, the spiritual energy fluctuations were too violent, and I couldn't condense the Water Mirror Technique."

Chu Kui was also very clear about the current environment, "Then, shall we follow the original plan?"

"Yes, go to the edge of the battlefield and wait for an opportunity!"

After reaching an agreement, the two restrained their figures and quietly flew toward the periphery of the Eighth Mountain.

According to their experience, the battle groups were constantly dividing, and the battlefield range was constantly expanding.

In the relatively outer areas, by waiting for the rabbit, there would inevitably be prey actively entering the net.

Three hours later.

"Which one is this?" Luo Chen asked in a low voice.

Chu Kui's expression was solemn, and he held up three fingers.

"The third one, an early-stage Foundation Establishment, seems to be an inner sect disciple of the Flame Alliance."

Luo Chen frowned, "They are huddling together more and more, and our opportunities seem to be getting fewer and fewer."

Huddling together is not just on the Sword Sect side.

The same is true on the four-sect alliance side.

Chu Kui was helpless, "No way, in order to obtain merit points, quite a few people are taking risks and doing the same thing as us. Whether it's the Sword Sect or the four sects. As far as I know, the Nether Duo and the Four Old Men of Liancang are all doing this kind of business."

The Nether Duo and the Four Old Men of Liancang are all outstanding figures among rogue cultivators, just like Chu Kui.

They are very famous in the one-acre-three-fen land of the immortal cities where they have lived for a long time.

During the Green Elixir Valley Dao Seed Struggle, Luo Chen had seen that man and woman of the Nether Duo.

They were invited by Shangguan Yan, and even fighting alone, they still achieved a good third-place result for Shangguan Yan in the first round.

You must know that even the second-place He Yuanqing, who dispatched Chu Kui and experts from his clan, only barely achieved second place.

As for the Four Old Men of Liancang, they were even bigger figures from a hundred years ago.

The four brothers joined forces and were extremely powerful a hundred years ago.

Now that all four have advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, it is rumored that they can even contend with Jin Dan masters when they join forces.

These existences are also doing this kind of hunting just like Luo Chen and the others, and their efficiency must not be low.

"Then what about us now?" Chu Kui asked hesitantly.

Without the guidance of Luo Chen's Water Mirror Technique, their range of activity is a vast confusion.

"Let's change places!"

"Yes."

A familiar scene appeared again, and the two slightly left the battlefield range, searching for a new ambush location along the edge.

When passing by a canyon, Luo Chen's figure paused.

Chu Kui looked down at the battle scene below, "Do you want to chew on this hard bone?"

It was indeed a hard bone; the Foundation Establishment true cultivators involved below numbered more than ten.

According to their plan, it is best not to get involved in battles of this scale.

However, this time, Luo Chen sacrificed his magic treasure without hesitation.

"Let's do it, that kid is down there, I can't stand by and watch him die."

"Huh?" Chu Kui was stunned for a moment, his gaze falling on a disheveled young man, and he suddenly realized.

"Fine, that kid's mother is a high-level member of the Luo Tian Society, and I'm now considered a member of the Luo Tian Society, so I'll help him."

Muttering in a low voice, the Qitian Staff fell into his hand.

Inside the canyon.

A great melee was underway.

Observing their clothing badges, they were clearly Flame Alliance vassals and Falling Cloud Sect inner sect disciples.

"Killing this group of Falling Cloud Sect disciples is a great merit!"

"Don't hold back!"

"Kill!"

In the crowd, an old man with gray hair and beard had a violent look in his eyes as he issued orders.

He kept pinching spiritual formulas, and under his control, a flying sword crisscrossed in the crowd, and wails of pain came from time to time.

He was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

Although he had only just advanced not long ago, he could be considered an expert among the vassal forces.

Coupled with his close relationship with the Flame Alliance, these people would listen to his commands.

And on the opposite side.

That group of young inner sect disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect all had terrified looks in their eyes.

The senior brother leading the team had been ambushed and killed.

The puppet technique they were good at could not be fully displayed in the narrow environment of the canyon.

Tied up and restricted, they were instead being suppressed and beaten by a group of vassal forces that were not the sect's elite.

Someone went crazy under the heavy pressure!

"Let's all die together!"

That disciple at the third level of Foundation Establishment drove the puppet regardless of everything.

A brilliant beam of light sprayed out.

The enemies saw this and dodged one after another.

But in the melee, some people still couldn't dodge in time.

An enemy at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment was grazed, and most of his body was evaporated.

Seeing this scene, the disciple felt a joy in his heart.

But behind him came a miserable sound.

"Senior Brother Li, why did you kill Junior Brother Wu?"

Senior Brother Li was stunned, watching a puppet fall to the ground without anyone controlling it, its master right in the center of the beam's sweep.

Did I accidentally kill a fellow sect member?

Just as he was stunned, a flying sword flashed through his chest like lightning.

"Unable to distinguish friend from foe, weak combat experience. In the middle of a battle, you even dare to be distracted; how does such a temperament deserve to be in Foundation Establishment?"

Zheng Tianfang, with gray hair and beard, sneered.

He didn't care about that person and turned his gaze to the three remaining Falling Cloud Sect disciples.

Facing this cruel gaze, Qin Yuanjiang among the three trembled all over.

The senior brothers were all dead!

Among the three people left here, he, who had only just reached Foundation Establishment, actually became the leading senior brother.

"Senior Brother Qin, what should we do?"

"Our puppets are all damaged, we are going to die now."

Qin Yuanjiang listened to the panicked words of the two junior brothers and forced himself to calm down.

"What are you afraid of, take out your magic treasures to fight the enemy!"

"We Falling Cloud Sect disciples have no tradition of waiting to die."

"The flying sword technique that the elders usually let you learn can also kill the enemy!"

As he spoke, he took out a golden long sword.

The blade was cold, as if it had never been sharpened.

Facing this scene.

Zheng Tianfang sneered, "Just a desperate struggle, just wait to die obediently!"

The other Foundation Establishment true cultivators, seeing that the overall situation was settled, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just as they were preparing to end this battle in one fell swoop, Zheng Tianfang's expression suddenly changed drastically.

He looked up violently.

A Daoist in a red robe was high in the sky, his hands held in the void, as if pulling something.

The next moment!

He let out a low roar.

"Mountain Collapse!"

Boom! Boom!

Two loud noises came, and the mountain walls on both sides of the canyon collapsed and shattered.

The huge mountain walls exploded, and for a time, spiritual energy surged, and chaotic rocks pierced the air.

The draft is completely exhausted, this chapter is being written and posted at the same time, there are many typos and omissions, and it is being modified in real time.

If you see any errors, please forgive me.

(End of this chapter)