Chapter 618: Battle the Yang Spirit

"Healer, Archer, Warrior, Assassin… the squad composition is well-rounded."

"Moreover, each of them possesses Foundation Establishment combat power; together, they can easily hunt down ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, even hold their own against late-stage Foundation Establishment…"

"Huh? That's not right?"

Fang Xing, inhabiting the Jade Beetle, looked again at these Kill-Life Sect vanguard squads and immediately spotted the issue:

"Though they're still at Qi Gathering stage, they all seem to have secondary professions… no wonder each one has Foundation Establishment combat power despite being only Qi Gathering…"

Fang Xing couldn't help thinking of himself.

When he was at Qi Gathering Ninth Layer, also a Level 9 Druid, he too dared to fight Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"If we call all ancient sect cultivators—Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Yin Soul, Yang Spirit—Old Method cultivators, then these multi-professionals are 'New Method'? Could it be that in the Zhou Shenchao, the New Method is the mainstream?"

"No, there's also a strange aura of magical artifacts on them?"

"Even against Yin Soul true experts, they might stall for a moment and transmit information before dying…"

Such a high-spec squad is perfect for infiltrating enemy territory to carry out ambushes, decapitation strikes, reconnaissance, and other tactical operations.

"There are several such squads near Qingmu Ridge… the fleeing cultivators were almost all within their interception range."

"This proves one thing: run while you still can! Delay and it's a death sentence…"

Fang Xing didn't linger, ordering the Jade Beetle to return to Qingmu Ridge's territory.

He was now fully prepared—he had to face the Kill-Life Sect's main force eventually.

If it were another cultivator army, knowing that most Qingmu Ridge cultivators had fled with their loot, leaving only the weak, elderly, and sick to operate the formation, poor and defiant, a hard bone with little loot, they might choose to besiege without attacking—or offer surrender terms.

But the Kill-Life Sect are all fanatics; what they'll do is impossible to predict.

…

Fang Xing's wait wasn't long.

Several days later.

A squad arrived outside Qingmu Ridge.

"Kill-Life Sect?"

Beyond the ridge, a giant tree trembled; countless leaves fluttered away as a human face emerged on its trunk: "You should know that Elder Qingmu has fled. We remaining cultivators are willing to submit—just let us stay in Qingmu Ridge…"

The squad's leader was a black-armored soldier, one eye gone, wearing a black eye patch; upon hearing this, he sneered: "You ancient sect cultivators truly have absurd fantasies… Our Master teaches us: no mercy, no pity for enemies. Your only fate is annihilation!"

Shhh!

No sooner had he spoken than he drew his longsword and slashed lightly.

A crescent-shaped blade light swept across the ancient tree, cleaving it cleanly in two.

…

Upon the ridge.

Fang Xing was startled: "They don't even bother pretending to accept surrender before killing?"

"Attack!"

Even as he was stunned, the squad leader had already launched a probing assault.

Puff! Puff!

Dozens of black arrows shot forth, striking the natural barrier and sparking in a cascade of flashes.

"Oh?"

Fang Xing raised a hand; a vine seized an arrow and brought it to him: "Anti-magic metal? Even Foundation Establishment cultivators could be killed by a volley?"

"Since you came, don't leave."

Snap!

He snapped his fingers.

Hummm!

Outside, the sky had suddenly filled with two patches of 'insect clouds'.

Countless frost-white ants and jade beetles.

"Insects are poisonous!"

"Defensive formation!"

As the black-robed chaplains chanted, an odd barrier unfolded.

But it was useless!

Jade beetles swarmed the barrier, chewing through it in a few bites.

Barrier-breaking and stealth!

This was the jade beetle's innate ability!

Hssst!

Frost-white ants flew into the formation, spewing freezing air.

In an instant, countless ice statues appeared.

"Impossible!"

The black-eyed squad leader swung his sword, his aura flaring like fire; seeing the overwhelming swarm, he sank into despair: "Why? We fled, yet you left behind such overwhelming power?"

At that moment, a chilling force surged up the sword hilt.

He turned his neck stiffly—his own sword was now crawling with frost-white ants, the entire blade turned into a column of ice.

Worse still!

The ice spread along his arms, creeping to his torso, limbs…

In an instant, the squad leader became an ice statue, his eyeballs barely able to turn.

Soon after, a group emerged from Qingmu Ridge's formation, led by Fei Yong.

"Carefully carry these ice statues back. Don't damage them."

Fei Yong's voice trembled as he spoke.

One reason was witnessing his elder's power; another was that he never expected Fang Xing to be this reckless.

He'd directly attacked the Kill-Life Sect!

Though these ice statues might not be dead, capturing them all was still a grave matter. Too bad—he could only obey orders.

Soon, the ice statue wearing the black eye patch was brought before Fang Xing.

Fang Xing smiled, raised a hand.

The surrounding temperature rose abruptly; the ice melted.

The squad leader shivered, about to demand something—when he saw two green sparks in Fang Xing's eyes.

He instantly grew dazed, his movements slowing.

"Your name? Rank?"

"Hei Yuan, Kill-Life Sect Expeditionary Squad Leader…"

Under the Mind-Control spell, Hei Yuan's gaze was vacant, answering every question.

Fang Xing asked a few more questions, then felt surprised: "The Kill-Life Sect really poured everything into this…"

Even Hei Yuan, merely a squad leader, knew the Kill-Life Sect was continuously reinforcing the Outer Lands.

No error in content at all!

They even deployed a divine artifact!

Fang Xing was also deeply interested in the Kill-Life Sect's "New Method."

He learned they too had "professions"—Hei Yuan, for instance, was a "Guardian of the Faith!"

In their army, there were chaplains, archers, sword-and-shield troops—all elite.

Because these profession levels stack atop Qi Gathering!

Moreover, Hei Yuan had a promoted profession besides "Guardian of the Faith"—"Destroyer Guardian!"

"The Kill-Life Sect's philosophy is extreme…"

Fang Xing stared into Hei Yuan's eyes: "Ultimate destruction means destroying others—and yourself."

"To advance to 'Destroyer Guardian,' one must undergo a cruel 'Rite of Annihilation,' sacrificing a body part to the Great Destroyer God. Hei Yuan chose to sacrifice one eye…"

"This is only the Chuji Rite of Annihilation. Higher rites require destroying one's five viscera, six bowels—even all life force…"

"After destroying all of oneself, one dies… then, through divine grace, is reborn from death—becoming a 'Corpse Liberation Immortal,' a semi-divine mortal…"

"Rumors say the Kill-Life Sect's leader, and even the top figures of the Zhou Shenchao, are semi-divine in power…"

"Semi-divine?"

Fang Xing murmured.

This realm seemed hard to achieve—it required special conditions.

As he pondered, his natural perception alerted him: a powerful enemy was approaching.

"Take these ice statues down and guard them well."

Fang Xing immediately called Fei Yong and gave the order.

In the coming battle, these cultivators would be useless—on either side.

Their only goal: don't die.

Fang Xing flew into the air above Qingmu Ridge and saw a white flash—a woman in white robes, graceful and ethereal, appeared.

Around her swirled a warm, yang-like aura, exerting pressure faintly reminiscent of Elder Qingmu.

"White Law King…"

Fang Xing spoke.

"An Yin Shen true cultivator dares to resist the Killing Life Sect's army?"

White Dharma King chuckled, yet his brow held no trace of joy—only an indescribable chill: "This ridge shall be burned to ashes!"

Fang Xing's expression likewise turned cold: "Those who destroy nature shall be punished by nature itself!"

These followers of the Killing Life Sect are truly despicable!

He had underestimated the concept of 'killing life'—perhaps in their eyes, the vibrant Greenwood Ridge was an irreplaceable offering ground.

If that's the case, there is nothing left to negotiate.

"Arrogant words."

White Dharma King formed a hand seal, and white lotus petals bloomed all around her.

From afar, she looked like a spirit emerging from a colossal white lotus.

Protected by these illusory, sacred lotus petals, White Dharma King entered the Greenwood Ridge without hesitation.

——Natural Barrier!

Her beautiful eyebrows lifted slightly as she felt the oppressive force of nature from the void.

"This... it's not the 'All Plants Are Soldiers' formation—yet its suppression is even stronger."

But before White Dharma King could speak again, an even more terrifying change occurred.

The white lotus petals swirling around her shattered instantly.

——Magic Suppression Field!

White Dharma King's face paled as she felt the oppressive force of the 'Sacred Grove'—more terrifying than any array she'd encountered in the Zhou Shenchao.

"Bad—too careless."

Her beautiful eyes flickered, locking onto Fang Xing.

She had carelessly entered the formation; now her power was suppressed and she was trapped—her only option was to instantly capture and kill the formation's master!

Fortunately, this master was weak—only Yin Shen realm!

"Go!"

She stepped forward, each footfall blooming a lotus, as if teleporting through space to appear beside Fang Xing.

A pale, jeweled wrist descended gently, like Guanyin lowering her arm, ready to seize Fang Xing.

But the next instant—

The place where Fang Xing had stood was now empty; the furs-wearing youth had vanished.

In his place loomed a white jade qiulong over fifteen feet long!

As the Druid leveled up, Fang Xing's qiulong body grew continuously.

Now, his qiulong form was as thick as a water barrel, its white jade scales offering astonishing defense, and endowed with dragon-strength!

Splash!

Mist rose around him; Fang Xing's qiulong form radiated dragon majesty, its tail rising high—then lashed down!

Crack!

White Dharma King screamed as the qiulong struck her with "Divine Dragon's Tail," hurling her straight from the sky into the earth.

Boom!

The ground roared.

Then several treants raised their feet, crushing down with terrifying force.

——War Trample!

(End of Chapter)