Chapter 292: Battle of Thousand Stone Forest

"Does anyone have any further questions?"

Hearing this, the crowd shook their heads and then cupped their hands in unison, declaring, "We will follow the Upper Sect's arrangements!"

"Good. Next is the arrangement for those who achieve military merit.

For instance, if you kill an early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator, our Heavenly Azure Sect will ask the Heavenly Plume Sect to tailor a low-grade offensive or defensive magic treasure for you.

Killing a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator or three early-stage ones will earn you one tailored mid-grade offensive magic treasure.

Killing a late-stage Golden Core cultivator or nine early-stage ones will earn you a tailored high-grade offensive magic treasure.

Foundation Establishment cultivators will also be rewarded for killing enemies. The prizes include divine ability cultivation methods, cultivation pills, spirit medicines, materials, top-grade magical artifacts, and more."

Many people's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

It was no easy feat to commission the Heavenly Plume Sect to forge a magic treasure.

"Everyone, that is all. Please take this seriously. Our Heavenly Azure Sect will not mistreat any of your families.

Now, go back and make your respective arrangements.

We will depart in three days. As for where each force's team will assemble, you may discuss that among yourselves."

"Understood."

The crowd dispersed.

Ximen Xue approached Xu Chuan and asked, "True Lord Withered Glory, shall we meet outside the eastern gate of Horn Constellation City in three days at the hour of chen?"

Although Xu Chuan was only at the early-stage of the Golden Core, his major success divine ability meant that even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator like Ximen Xue had to treat him with careful respect.

"Daoist Friend Ximen is too polite. We will do as you suggest," Xu Chuan replied gently.

Ximen Xue nodded slightly.

It was his first time meeting Xu Chuan, and after just a few words, he found this True Lord Withered Glory to be quite easygoing.

Taking his leave, he went to find the Golden Core Perfected Persons from Corner Constellation City and Heart Constellation City.

Toward them, however, Ximen Xue maintained an aloof demeanor.

Returning to Cloudstream Town.

Xu Chuan had Wu Zhuqi summon the town's Foundation Establishment families.

There were not many, only a dozen or so in total.

When he told them about the impending war, every one of them turned pale with shock.

"None of the forces in Heavenly Azure Prefecture can escape this. If the demonic cultivators of Greedy Wolf Prefecture are truly allowed to inflict abuse across our lands, every faction will suffer from plunder for a very long time.

Weaker families might even face extermination.

Even our Golden Core aristocratic families must send people, and the same goes for all of you.

However, if you earn military merit, you will receive rewards from the Heavenly Azure Sect. For your Foundation Establishment families, this is also an opportunity."

"We will follow the Xu Family's arrangements."

Xu Chuan gave a faint nod. "Assemble in three days at the hour of yin. You will follow the members of my Xu Family to Horn Constellation City to meet up with the other forces."

"Yes, sir."

After instructing the Foundation Establishment families of Cloudstream Town, Xu Chuan summoned Xu Mingxian, Ye Fan, and Xu Deyue from their secluded cultivation to discuss the matter.

Ye Fan and Xu Deyue exchanged a glance before Ye Fan spoke. "Honored Master, Deyue and I shall go to this battle. Compared to my father-in-law, the two of us are more suited for combat.

As for my father-in-law, he can stay behind to guard the Xu Family."

"Mingxian, what are your thoughts?" Xu Chuan looked at his fifth son.

Xu Mingxian sighed softly. "I understand. I will remain at the clan territory."

His battle array was an absolute killing move in an arena setting if set up in advance, and it was highly effective against small groups.

But in a massive war between immortal cultivators, with his current mastery of battle arrays, doing so would only make him the enemy's primary target.

If dozens or hundreds of Foundation Establishment attacks rained down, his low-grade Tier 2 battle array would be blasted to pieces in an instant, leaving him with nowhere to run.

"Alright. I will also have Deling return to guard the clan," Xu Chuan nodded with a faint smile.

Xu Mingxian warned them, "Father, Ye Fan, Deyue, you all must be careful."

Saying so, he handed over his Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array and several other top-tier Tier 2 array tools to Ye Fan and Xu Deyue.

As for Xu Chuan, he already carried a set of the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array and a set of the Six Harmonies Absolute Sealing Formation.

The former was useful for concealment, while the latter could seal off the energy signatures of combat.

The rest would be of little use to Xu Chuan.

When Xu Deling heard the news, she rushed back to the Xu Family and clamored to go along, but Xu Chuan managed to dissuade her.

"First, finish refining the large magic skiff. Besides, standing guard over the clan territory is equally crucial.

As for the battle, if my guess is correct, this is merely a probing attack by the Greedy Wolf Sect.

The true war might not break out for another few years.

You should comprehend your divine ability to major success as soon as possible, and then refine that ancient Fire Phoenix True Plume.

If you turn it into your natal magic treasure, its assistance will be no less than a high-grade magic treasure, and it can grow alongside you.

I expect that once you reach the late-stage of the Golden Core, it will be able to unleash the power of a top-tier magic treasure."

Xu Deling sighed softly. "I can never out-argue Grandfather. Deling understands. I will definitely watch over the clan territory and complete the tasks you assigned.

In terms of divine abilities, I can't match Grandfather's monstrous cultivation speed, but within another year or two, the Fire Phoenix True Plume will fully become my natal plume."

Xu Chuan nodded approvingly.

Three days later.

Xu Chuan, Ye Fan, and Xu Deyue led the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Cloudstream Town's various families to Horn Constellation City.

They were the last to arrive.

Ximen Xue glanced at the Xu Family members and the crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators trailing behind them. He cupped his fists toward Xu Chuan. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, since everyone is here, let us depart."

"Naturally."

Ximen Xue summoned a large magic skiff. The group boarded the vessel and rushed toward the Thousand Stone Forest, a journey of roughly two or three days.

Meanwhile.

The Lei Family and the Mo Family also led their respective forces toward Grand Harmony Lake and Heavenly Gate Pass.

The Thousand Stone Forest.

A bizarre landscape of stone pillars stretching for dozens of kilometers.

"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, up ahead is the Thousand Stone Forest. This should be your first time here," Ximen Xue said, stroking his beard.

"It hasn't been long since I formed my core, so I haven't dared to travel freely," Xu Chuan replied calmly, his gaze fixed on the distance fifty kilometers away.

In his line of sight, thousands upon thousands of stone pillars jutted out from the earth. The tallest exceeded three hundred meters, piercing the sky like sharp swords.

The shortest were only a few feet tall, resembling fierce beasts lying in wait.

The pillars were all cyan-gray, their surfaces covered in wind-eroded grooves and patterns. Some looked like coiled dragons, while others resembled tigers descending a mountain. Their diverse shapes were completely naturally formed.

There was not a single blade of grass or tree in the forest, only scattered fallen rocks of varying sizes.

Aside from that, an earth-yellow light screen stretched across the center of the Thousand Stone Forest, endlessly expanding toward both sides.

Just then.

A Golden Core Perfected Person sped toward them from the front, instantly arriving in the airspace above the magic skiff. "Xu Clan Head, Daoist Friend Ximen, you have finally arrived."

Ximen Xue and Xu Chuan cupped their hands in greeting. "Daoist Friend Yuyang."

The newcomer was none other than Cang Yuyang.

He said, "You two, along with the other Daoist Friends, please come with me to see True Lord Green Wood first. As for the stationing of the various families, I will have someone arrange it."

"Alright."

The group of Golden Core cultivators followed Cang Yuyang to the top of a massive stone pillar.

The pillar covered several acres and had simple tents erected on it. This was the gathering place for the Golden Core Perfected Persons.

Seeing Ximen Xue, Xu Chuan, and the others arrive, the several Golden Core cultivators inside were overjoyed.

"Everyone has traveled from afar. Please have a seat first," True Lord Green Wood said. "I will skip the pleasantries and first explain the situation on the enemy's side."

"Please speak, True Lord," Ximen Xue urged.

"The opposition is led by True Lord Canglang of the Greedy Wolf Sect. They have three late-stage Golden Core cultivators and a total of twelve Golden Core Stage cultivators.

With the arrival of you Daoist friends, our Golden Core numbers are now exactly matched.

Furthermore, Daoist Friend Withered Glory can be considered a late-stage Golden Core combatant, so our peak combat strength isn't lacking either. It will all depend on which side breaks the balance first.

Tomorrow, they will definitely come to attack our formations again.

Daoist Friend Ximen, Daoist Friend Withered Glory, tomorrow I will handle True Lord Canglang. The two of you will each take on one of their late-stage Golden Core cultivators. Do you have any objections?"

"We will follow True Lord Green Wood's arrangements," Ximen Xue and Xu Chuan both replied, cupping their fists.

"Mm. Then it is settled."

The next day.

At the hour of chen.

The eastern sky turned bright white as the golden sun began its ascent.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Warning bells rang out through the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's encampment.

The tranquility of the Thousand Stone Forest was completely shattered by the commotion in the distance.

Inside the tents where the Heavenly Azure Prefecture cultivators were stationed, almost everyone snapped their eyes open from their silent meditation.

Qi Refining disciples showed flashes of alarm, Foundation Establishment cultivators furrowed their brows, and Golden Core cultivators like True Lord Green Wood, Ximen Xue, and Xu Chuan flickered, rushing out of the tents first.

In an instant, figures blurred rapidly across the camp area.

The multitude of cultivators quickly assembled.

They looked up to see that above the stone forest on the other side of the light screen, the Greedy Wolf Prefecture cultivators had formed a dense, overwhelming formation numbering well over a thousand.

These cultivators possessed solid auras; the lowest among them were at the Foundation Establishment stage. As spirit power circulated around them, they exuded a fierce, ruthless vibe honed through countless slaughters.

At the front of the formation, twelve figures stood suspended in the air, each radiating the unique spiritual pressure of a Golden Core cultivator.

Some wore dark armor, while others wielded magic treasures. Their gazes were locked onto the inside of the light screen like falcons. The man in the absolute center was True Lord Canglang of the Greedy Wolf Sect.

"Rats of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, are you going to keep cowering behind the light screen today?"

Among the twelve Golden Core cultivators, True Lord Canglang took a step forward. His voice boomed like a giant bell, echoing across the entire Thousand Stone Forest.

"Though, this formation light screen won't be able to hold us back for much longer!"

He then turned to the thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him. "Remember, everyone! Once we enter the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, hold nothing back! You may plunder to your heart's content, and whatever you seize belongs entirely to you!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Before his words could fade, the thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture roared in unison. The deafening sound waves caused the stone pillars in the forest to tremble violently.

The light of greed ignited in their eyes. Their grips tightened on their dharma tools, their gazes burning fiercely as they stared at the light screen.

The next moment.

True Lord Canglang spotted Xu Chuan among the crowd of Heavenly Azure Prefecture cultivators. Fury instantly flared in his eyes. "True Lord Withered Glory! I didn't expect to see you here. We really are fated.

Do you dare to fight me fairly today?"

Xu Chuan flashed a wide grin. "If you seal your cultivation down to the second layer of the Golden Core, I will gladly fight you fairly."

"Coward!"

"Daoist Friend Canglang, your opponent is me!" True Lord Green Wood shouted. "Fellow Daoist friends, follow me to slay the enemy! Anyone who gains military merit will be heavily rewarded by my Heavenly Azure Sect!"

"Daoist Friend Ximen, Daoist Friend Withered Glory, let's go!"

Ximen Xue and Xu Chuan immediately followed True Lord Green Wood, charging out of the formation's light screen. Behind them, over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators surged forward in pursuit.

"Kill!"

True Lord Canglang swung his sleeve robe and charged straight toward Xu Chuan.

However, he was intercepted by True Lord Green Wood. "I told you, your opponent is me!"

True Lord Canglang did not dare to be careless. A mid-grade cone-shaped magic treasure appeared in his hand. With a surge of mana, he fired it toward True Lord Green Wood.

A flying sword materialized in True Lord Green Wood's grasp, and he controlled it to meet the attack head-on.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In the blink of an eye, the two treasures collided dozens, then hundreds of times, sending countless sparks flying.

Both wielded mid-grade magic treasures possessing terrifying might. Within several kilometers of their clash, no one dared to approach for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

In addition to their natal magic treasures, they also continuously cast magical arts and divine abilities.

Although True Lord Green Wood was a minor realm higher than True Lord Canglang, easily defeating his opponent was no simple task.

The key to the battle lay in which side's Golden Core cultivators would suffer casualties first.

Once a gap was torn open, the advantage would rapidly snowball.

On the other side.

The Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture and the Greedy Wolf Prefecture had all paired off.

The same went for the Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"So you are the True Lord Withered Glory who has made quite a name for himself in the Heavenly Azure Prefecture?"

The pupils of the blood-robed youth opposite Xu Chuan slightly constricted.

"And which Daoist friend of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture might you be?" Xu Chuan asked.

"The Blood-Robed Ancestor."

Before his words finished echoing, three streaks of bloody light shot from the blood-robed youth's sleeves. They transformed into three blood serpents that instantly lunged at Xu Chuan's chest.

Xu Chuan was naturally prepared. With a flick of his sleeve, an ink-black heavy seal flew out. It instantly projected a pale yellow light screen that blocked the three blood serpents.

However, this was different from the Blood Demon Dao cultivation methods Xu Chuan had encountered before.

After crashing into the defensive screen, the blood serpents did not vanish. Instead, they melted into streaks of gore that continuously corroded the barrier.

Xu Chuan furrowed his brows and activated the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Bursts of black light erupted, instantly evaporating all the blood corroding the screen.

"True Lord Withered Glory, is that all you've got?!"

Seeing his blood serpents broken, the Blood-Robed Ancestor sneered. He waved his sleeve again, firing a bloody beam. It was a sharp spike wreathed in thick blood mist, piercing toward Xu Chuan's face with an ear-piercing shriek.

At the same time, a blood-colored crystalline lotus flew out. Its crimson petals unfolded layer by layer as it hovered above his own head.

"Go!"

Xu Chuan formed a hand seal. The Heaven-Overturning Seal transformed into a black streak and slammed into the dark red spike.

"Clang!"

The bloody glow and the black light clashed, generating terrifying sonic waves that rippled out in all directions.

Simultaneously.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor abruptly vanished from his spot.

Xu Chuan flipped his right hand, and an exquisite pill furnace materialized. The lid popped open, and pale golden flames poured out, forming a fire phoenix that shielded his surroundings.

Suddenly.

A bloody shadow appeared behind him. A pale hand completely ignored the scorching pale golden flames, thrusting right through to strike directly at the center of Xu Chuan's back.

Xu Chuan had turned around at some unknown point, meeting the strike with his Withered Silence Seal.

The pale golden flames detonated. Under the shockwave, both men were sent flying backwards for dozens of meters.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor stabilized his body and looked down at his palm. Then, his pupils shrank violently. He ruthlessly tore off his own arm and tossed it aside.

A burst of blood-red fire completely incinerated the severed limb into nothingness.

He then aimed his left hand at a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator who also practiced the Blood Demon Dao, tearing the man's right arm completely off from afar.

The stolen arm flew to the Blood-Robed Ancestor's bleeding stump. Writhing bloody threads shot out, knitting the flesh, blood, and nerves of the severed arm into his body.

In mere moments, with a flash of bloody light, his arm was fully restored to perfect condition.

As for the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator who had abruptly lost his arm, he was naturally cut down by the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's cultivators who seized the opening.

"The Withered Glory divine ability... because it is exceedingly difficult to comprehend, rumors say it has long gone extinct. Withering and Thriving—what you used just now was the 'Withering' aspect, wasn't it?

Even I couldn't halt its decay. It's even more bizarre and sinister than the magical arts and divine abilities of my Blood Demon Dao."

"Daoist Friend Blood-Robed is quite decisive. Seeing those practiced movements, I assume this isn't the first time you've done this," Xu Chuan remarked.

"Hahaha~" The Blood-Robed Ancestor chuckled. "So what if it is? The weak are meat for the strong to eat. Offering their bodies to me is their supreme honor.

Rumor has it that your divine ability has reached major success, True Lord Withered Glory. Let this ancestor witness it for himself!"

"Blood-Colored Lotus!"

The Blood-Robed Ancestor formed hand seals. The blood mist churning around his body astonishingly gathered into the shape of a lotus flower.

The blood mist lotus gradually shrank until it condensed into a singular lotus of bloody flame, hovering perfectly over his palm.

From that bloody flame lotus, Xu Chuan felt a substantial sense of danger. He immediately unleashed the Flourishing Glory Seal.

The bloody flame lotus and the jade-green palm print collided in mid-air.

The sky instantly split into two colors: on the left, an ocean of blood dyed the firmament; on the right, boundless emerald radiance illuminated the heavens.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor furrowed his brows.

Though his divine ability had not reached major success, it was only a hair's breadth of enlightenment away.

Coupled with the fact that he was a cultivator at the peak of the seventh layer of the Golden Core, the fact that he didn't gain the upper hand in this clash added a few layers of vigilance to his heart.

Xu Chuan naturally had hidden trump cards, but he was certain that an old monster like the Blood-Robed Ancestor—who had lived for centuries and crawled his way up through countless massacres—absolutely held terrifying backups of his own.

'That blood lotus magic treasure seems to be primarily for defense. The Blood Demon Dao already possesses bizarre arts and excels at escaping; it's extremely rare for someone to forge their natal magic treasure as a defensive item.

This is going to be somewhat troublesome,' Xu Chuan thought.

Looking at the Blood-Robed Ancestor across from him, Xu Chuan's eyes flickered slightly.

If they were fighting to the death in an enclosed space, Xu Chuan had a sixty to seventy percent chance of killing him.

But out here on an open battlefield, if danger arose, the Blood-Robed Ancestor could simply flee. Securing a kill would be exceedingly difficult.

'Forget it, I'll just slack off a bit.'

Elsewhere.

On the Foundation Establishment battlefield.

Unlike Xu Chuan, Ye Fan and Xu Deyue were slaughtering everything in their path.

Although their opponents were not exclusively from the younger generation, even among the older generation, very few could comprehend a beginner divine ability past the seventy percent mark.

Streaks of sword light, condensed like moonlight, slashed horizontally and vertically. Anyone who tried to block them was blasted away without exception.

Even top-grade defensive magical artifacts were left with clear, deep gouges.

Aside from sword light, Xu Deyue would occasionally manifest the Cold Heaven Seal. Every time it landed on a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, they were instantly frozen solid and obliterated.

Sword light forced them back, cold seals wiped them out.

In barely an hour, over a dozen demonic cultivators had died by Xu Deyue's hands.

Among them were even veteran disciples of the Greedy Wolf Sect.

Ye Fan's situation was even more overwhelming.

Relying on a physique comparable to a Tier 2 peak demonic beast, combined with martial dao combat techniques, his True Yang Divine Ability, and the Brahma Sacred Fist, he was like a god of war, growing fiercer with every blow.

His kill count was already over twenty.

This naturally attracted the heavy focus of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture's demonic cultivators.

Of course, he didn't just blindly plunge into absolute peril.

Whenever facing a simultaneous siege from over a dozen enemies, he would deploy his two-pattern defensive dharma tools.

Taking his combat style into account, Xu Deling had specially forged seven or eight of these disposable two-pattern defensive dharma tools specifically for him to burn through.

"Crack!"

The dharma tool shielding Ye Fan finally couldn't withstand the continuous barrage from multiple enemies and shattered into pieces.

Yet, he didn't dodge. Instead, transforming into a streak of crimson light, he closed the distance to a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator like lightning, obliterating the man into a mist of blood with a single punch.

The Brahma Sacred Fist was undoubtedly Ye Fan's greatest trump card at this stage.

Having perfected the second stance, its power rivaled that of a cultivator who had comprehended a beginner divine ability to ninety percent. Paired with his monstrous flesh, he was virtually invincible within the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, comprehending the third stance was incredibly arduous, and he still hadn't managed to cross the threshold.

"Everyone, kill him!"

The remaining eight enemies struck simultaneously once again, mobilizing their dharma tools to attack.

But from Ye Fan's storage pouch, a black light soared out. It was a dharma tool replica of the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of metallic crashes erupted. The replica seal was knocked flying, but not a single scratch marred its surface.

In terms of defense, it was even superior to the shield he used earlier.

The demonic cultivators' faces turned livid.

Taking advantage of the gap, Ye Fan killed yet another person.

Even while distracted with controlling the replica Heaven-Overturning Seal, Ye Fan's movements suffered not a hint of sluggishness.

"Monster!"

"Freak!"

The Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture all felt fear grip their hearts upon witnessing this.

Meanwhile, morale soared on the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's side.

"Follow Prodigy Ye! Kill these demonic brats from the Greedy Wolf Prefecture!"

More and more allied cultivators rallied around Xu Deyue and Ye Fan.

But even Xu Deyue and Ye Fan began to feel the mounting pressure. The two met up and started coordinating their attacks.

With a flip of her wrist and a graceful, agile twirl, Xu Deyue unleashed bone-chilling sword light in all directions to fend off the encircling crowd, while Ye Fan simultaneously charged right into the thick of the demonic cultivators.

One punch repelled an enemy.

Anyone without a defensive magic treasure suffered grievous injuries on the spot.

Those sent flying instantly became priority targets for the rest of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's cultivators, picked off one after another.

As time passed, the scales of advantage on the Foundation Establishment battlefield steadily tipped in favor of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Many Golden Core cultivators on the Heavenly Azure side breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

Conversely, the Greedy Wolf Prefecture's Golden Core cultivators all wore dark expressions. Several muttered curses under their breath: 'A bunch of useless trash!'

Some even considered launching sneak attacks to assassinate Xu Deyue and Ye Fan.

But how could the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Golden Core cultivators simply watch their hard-won advantage be reversed? Naturally, they intercepted with all their might.

Seeing this, True Lord Canglang immediately sent a voice transmission to the Blood-Robed Ancestor. "Blood-Robed! I know you must have brought your Tier 3 blood corpses. Go kill Ye Fan and Xu Deyue.

Once those two die, the situation in the Foundation Establishment battlefield will instantly swing back to our Greedy Wolf Prefecture!

We can also use this to disrupt the minds of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Golden Core cultivators."

"True Lord Canglang, Tier 3 blood corpses are incomparably precious! I only have three in total, and they are my greatest trump card. If they suffer any damage..."

"If there is any damage, my Greedy Wolf Sect will compensate you!" True Lord Canglang replied through gritted teeth.

Late-stage Golden Core old monsters like the Blood-Robed Ancestor were all cunning old foxes. Without sufficient benefits, none of them would casually risk their lives.

The corners of his mouth curled into a slight smirk. His left hand brushed over a chilling, sinister-looking pouch at his waist.

This was a Yin Corpse Pouch, used to nourish corpse puppets. It was a rarity in the Heavenly South Cultivation World.

A thick beam of blood-light shot out from the pouch like an arrow.

It was a blood corpse clad in dark armor!

The moment it appeared, it let out a terrifying, ear-piercing shriek, while a foul, coppery stench permeated the surroundings.

Its dark armor was heavily rusted, with purplish-black blood scabs congealing between the plates, looking as if it had been soaked in the blood of countless living beings. The nauseating scent of blood swirling around it was sickeningly thick, spreading everywhere instantly.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The blood corpse threw its head back and unleashed another horrifying shriek. The sound waves shook the nearby stone pillars, causing dust and debris to drift down.

It was half a head taller than an ordinary cultivator, its muscles knotted like iron. The pale-as-paper skin on its exposed arms was abnormally tough, with veins bulging like coiled black snakes.

Its fingernails were a staggering six or seven inches long, gleaming a glossy black. The tips radiated a chilling, dark green glow, as if dipped in lethal poison. A mere flick of its claws sliced right through the air.

Its face was ghastly white without a drop of blood, its eye sockets deeply sunken, and its crimson pupils burned like ghost fire.

Two inch-long fangs protruded from the corners of its mouth. They were yellowed and blackish, with dark red bloodstains clinging between them.

The skin on its cheeks was pulled taut, faintly revealing writhing veins underneath. It seemed blood-fiend power surged violently within its body, puffing out tendrils of bloody mist with every breath. It was a truly hideous and horrifying sight.

The faces of numerous Heavenly Azure Prefecture Golden Core cultivators changed drastically.

The spiritual pressure radiating from this blood corpse rivaled that of a cultivator at the peak of the early-stage of the Golden Core!

The gray-robed demonic cultivator currently locked in a stalemate with Ximen Xue revealed a strange look. He murmured in mild surprise, "That fellow Blood-Robed is actually getting serious."

But to everyone's horror, the blood corpse did not charge toward Xu Chuan. Instead, it launched itself straight into the dense crowd of the Foundation Establishment battlefield.

"Not good!" The Heavenly Azure Prefecture Golden Core cultivators exclaimed in unison.

Yet, none of them could shake off the blockades of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture's Golden Core experts.

"True Lord Withered Glory, if you don't go save them, your Xu Family's prodigy is going to perish!"

Facing the Blood-Robed Ancestor's unrestrained laughter, Xu Chuan flipped his palm. The Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella appeared in his grasp. The canopy popped open, standing gracefully like a royal parasol.

"Swords, out," he commanded neutrally.

Even before his voice died away, three ribs of the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella let out a sharp hum.

Three flying sword magic treasures transformed into streaks of azure light, sweeping out and stabbing straight toward the blood corpse's back.

Possessing some level of intelligence, the blood corpse sensed the danger. It spun around, swiping its claws.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Thousands of sparks erupted from its razor-sharp black fingernails, and the sheer impact force of the flying swords blasted its massive frame backward.

"A high-grade magic treasure?!"

The Blood-Robed Ancestor's pupils shrank. His hands blurred into seals, condensing a massive bloody flood dragon over thirty meters long. It opened its gaping maw and lunged to devour Xu Chuan.

From the Bagua Alchemy Furnace in Xu Chuan's other hand, countless pale golden flames erupted, morphing into a twenty-odd-meter-long pale golden fire phoenix.

The two monstrosities collided. Endless sizzling sounds filled the air, accompanied by the pained roaring of the bloody flood dragon.

Meanwhile.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor's bloody spike finally lost its clash against Xu Chuan's Heaven-Overturning Seal, knocked away with its light noticeably dimmed.

The Heaven-Overturning Seal arrived directly above the Blood-Robed Ancestor. Xu Chuan immediately formed a seal.

A monumental crushing pressure descended, forcing the Ancestor's body to sink heavily.

Xu Chuan seized the opening, lunging forward and hurling three consecutive Withered Silence Seals down at the Blood-Robed Ancestor.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor remained composed. The blood lotus above his head exploded with bloody light, generating a pale red light screen that effortlessly deflected the three Withered Silence Seals.

But he instantly realized something was wrong. Where the Withered Silence Seals struck, the blood lotus light screen was rapidly dimming.

"Flourishing Glory Seal!"

Xu Chuan unleashed his follow-up, and the boundless might of a major success divine ability crashed into the exact same spot.

Crack, crack, crack...

Several fissures snaked across the blood lotus light screen.

Seeing this, the Blood-Robed Ancestor immediately transformed into a bloody shadow, fleeing dozens of meters away.

Xu Chuan originally planned to string two divine abilities together to shatter the blood lotus's defensive screen, but the Blood-Robed Ancestor was highly alert and refused to take the brunt of the attack.

"A pity," Xu Chuan muttered blandly.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor wore a grave expression, his eyes dyed completely red. "I thought your divine ability only rotted the physical body. It seems I was careless.

You nearly caught me slipping!"

While attacking the Blood-Robed Ancestor, Xu Chuan was also splitting his focus, expertly controlling the three flying sword magic treasures to endlessly harry the Tier 3 blood corpse.

If not for the blood corpse's incredibly sturdy physique, an ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivator besieged by three magic treasures would likely already be in a panic, thoroughly suppressed.

"It's been a long time since I fought with my full strength. True Lord Withered Glory, let me see what you're really capable of!"

The Blood-Robed Ancestor flicked his sleeve, and two more Tier 3 blood corpses materialized, once again flying straight toward the Foundation Establishment battlefield.

Xu Chuan gave the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella in his left hand a gentle spin, and six more flying swords shot out.

Just like before, sets of three flying swords locked down each blood corpse on three sides, ensuring they couldn't spare the slightest attention to attack the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"What incredible methods from True Lord Withered Glory!"

"Indeed! To think he can simultaneously control nine flying sword magic treasures with such flawless precision, as if moving his own arms!"

"If True Lord Withered Glory wasn't here, we really would have been in danger!"

Facing a single Tier 3 blood corpse would be enough to inflict devastating casualties on the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if it entered the Golden Core battlefield, it could assist one side in rapidly overpowering their opponent.

"What fearsome divine sense!"

Even the Blood-Robed Ancestor was forced to marvel, but at the same time, he formed hand seals to control the blood lotus. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of blood threads shot out, converging on Xu Chuan from all directions.

The blood threads slammed into Xu Chuan's pale green light screen, but they only provoked minor ripples.

Xu Chuan had crossed paths with many practitioners of the Blood Demon Dao and knew intimately just how bizarre such methods could be. He instantly unleashed Tier 3 true flames.

The fire phoenix spread its wings and soared. With a single sweep of its flank, all the blood threads snapped and collapsed.

Meanwhile, Xu Chuan closed the distance to the Blood-Robed Ancestor at breakneck speed, firing off magical arts one after another. The Blood-Robed Ancestor released his bloody spike once more, violently knocking the Heaven-Overturning Seal away from above his head.

Clang, clang, clang...

The two magic treasures engaged in another fierce mid-air dogfight above them, the ringing clash of metal echoing endlessly.

The Blood-Robed Ancestor did not dare let Xu Chuan freely close in, constantly shifting and dodging.

After all, if his blood lotus's defense was breached, it would be extremely difficult to reform it in the short term, placing him at a strict disadvantage for the rest of the battle.

"Didn't Daoist Friend Blood-Robed wish to witness my divine ability? Why do you keep dodging?" Xu Chuan taunted.

"True Lord Withered Glory, provoking me is useless!"

Xu Chuan suddenly changed direction and flew toward an early-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Greedy Wolf Prefecture. The Blood-Robed Ancestor silently gathered a bloody palm print, aiming to smash it into the Foundation Establishment battlefield.

The corners of Xu Chuan's lips curled up. Forming a sword seal with his fingers, yet another flying sword magic treasure shot out, instantly piercing and shattering the bloody palm print. Meanwhile, Xu Chuan held a Flourishing Glory Seal at the ready, rocketing toward the Greedy Wolf Golden Core cultivator.

"Old Monster Blood-Robed! Manage your opponent!" the targeted cultivator shrieked.

The man frantically tried to dodge, but how could the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Golden Core cultivator miss such an opportunity? They immediately deployed another magic treasure to seal off his escape route.

Left with no other choice, the Greedy Wolf Golden Core cultivator pushed his magic treasure to the absolute limit to block Xu Chuan's Flourishing Glory Seal.

In just a single exchange, his magic treasure was blasted away.

The Flourishing Glory Seal's momentum remained undiminished as it slammed into him, shattering his mana barrier, sending him flying through the air, and forcing a massive mouthful of blood from his lips.

The Heavenly Azure Golden Core cultivator threw his head back in a hearty laugh, immediately closing in to beat the drowning dog.

A bloody shadow abruptly materialized behind Xu Chuan. It was the Blood-Robed Ancestor's blood lotus, slamming viciously into the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella.

Bang!

Roar!

A massive azure dragon phantom manifested. Innumerable streaks of void lightning crackled violently at the point of impact.

But in the next instant, the blood lotus was forcibly repelled.

For a mid-grade magic treasure to try and shatter the defense of a high-grade defensive magic treasure was undoubtedly idiotic nonsense, unless there were five or six mid-grade magic treasures launching a frenzied assault simultaneously.

The blood lotus flew back into the Blood-Robed Ancestor's palm.

"What an absolute nuisance!"

The Blood-Robed Ancestor cursed endlessly in his heart. Aside from his life-saving escape trump cards, he had practically exhausted all his means. Conversely, Xu Chuan still wore a thoroughly relaxed expression.

"True Lord Canglang, he has a high-grade defensive magic treasure. Even if my divine ability was at major success, I still couldn't do anything to him," the Blood-Robed Ancestor transmitted to True Lord Canglang.

"Blood-Robed, hold on! Xu Chuan is controlling so many magic treasures; his mana consumption is far beyond what a normal Golden Core cultivator can sustain. Even if he formed his core through a divine ability and possesses vastly superior mana, he won't last long.

Of course, if you want to swap opponents with me, I would be more than happy to oblige."

Hearing this, the Blood-Robed Ancestor felt a strong urge to roll his eyes.

If he fought against a ninth-layer Golden Core cultivator with a major success divine ability, it wouldn't take more than four or five exchanges before he'd be running for his life.

Wait, it doesn't seem to make much difference!

Isn't that exactly the situation he was in right now?