Chapter 674: Guangling's Determination, Song Qingming Returns (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Guyang Mountain, in the Xiaoyao Hall.

More than a dozen Xiaoyao Sect Jin Dan elders had already gathered together, each with a solemn face, talking to each other about the news of the demonic beasts moving south not long ago.

Even True Person Guangling, who had white hair and had not participated in sect discussions in recent years, had rarely come to the Xiaoyao Hall this time to discuss with everyone how to deal with the demonic beast unrest.

After Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan arrived here and had just greeted everyone, Supreme Elder Li Mufeng, who had been in seclusion for a long time and had not appeared, appeared outside the great hall at the same time.

Nascent Soul stage cultivators, going into seclusion to cultivate, would easily take ten or twenty years. Therefore, Li Mufeng, this sect Supreme Elder, spent most of his time in seclusion in his cave dwelling and rarely appeared in front of people.

The sect's various affairs were basically all handed over to Sect Master Bai Yuxian and the many Jin Dan elders in the sect to handle together.

After so many years of seclusion, Li Mufeng's cultivation had also made progress in recent years. Twenty years ago, not long after Song Qingming left the Floating Yunshan Range, Li Mufeng had successfully broken through his cultivation and advanced to the fourth layer of Nascent Soul.

The Floating Yunshan Range cultivation world belonged to a place where cultivation resources were relatively scarce. Cultivators who could cultivate to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul were considered to have reached the peak. For nearly ten thousand years, very few people had been able to break through to the late stage of Nascent Soul.

Li Mufeng, as the only Nascent Soul cultivator of the Xiaoyao Sect, broke through to the fourth layer of Nascent Soul before the age of nine hundred. His cultivation talent was already relatively outstanding among the many Nascent Soul cultivators in the Floating Yunshan Range cultivation world.

"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"

Seeing Li Mufeng's figure, everyone in the great hall hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully to Li Mufeng.

After sweeping a slight gaze over everyone in the hall, Li Mufeng nodded slightly with a smile before walking slowly to the seat at the head of the center of the great hall and sitting down.

"Senior Uncle Li, Junior Brother Song has gone out for training and has not yet returned. Junior Brother Chen is in seclusion breaking through his cultivation. The other sect elders have all arrived!" Just as Li Mufeng sat down, Bai Yuxian, who was standing to the side, hurriedly reported to him.

"Hmm! Everyone, sit down first."

After everyone in the hall sat down, Li Mufeng said softly: "Some time ago, the sect received news from the front line in the north that the Northern Frontier demonic beasts have moved south on a large scale.

Before today, you should have also heard some rumors about Golden Feather Mountain.

Now I can officially tell everyone that the Golden Feather Demon Emperor left the Floating Yunshan Range a few years ago and his whereabouts are unknown. Golden Feather Mountain indeed has already changed owners. Therefore, the agreement between the sect and the demon race regarding the beast tide has also ceased to exist from now on.

Up to now, we have not heard too much news, only knowing that the new Demon Emperor is named the Molong Demon Emperor, and his cultivation strength should also not be below mine.

However, you don't need to worry too much about the Molong Demon Emperor. In this battle, I will make a move to fully contain him and will not give him a chance to make a move against you. You all just need to deal with the demon kings under Golden Feather Mountain with peace of mind.

This beast tide is not like the past. Although the sect has made sufficient preparations in all aspects, the other side has also gathered a large army of demonic beasts under its command.

Besides the demonic beasts originally near Golden Feather Mountain, there are also many demonic beasts that followed the Molong Demon Emperor from the Northern Frontier. I estimate that the power of the demonic beasts moving south this time should be even more powerful than the last time.

I am telling you all these things because I want to remind everyone that this battle is probably not like the past, and you all also need to be psychologically prepared to fight a hard battle."

In recent years, Song Qingyu and the others had also long since heard about the changes that occurred on Golden Feather Mountain in the north, it was just that they were not sure if these were true.

Now hearing Li Mufeng personally confirm that Golden Feather Mountain had already changed owners and the battlefield agreement between the two sides had also expired, the faces of everyone present also revealed complex expressions.

In these hundred-plus years, although the Xiaoyao Sect had added five Jin Dan elders—Xu Cheng Ziyan, Hu Tianren, Song Qingyu, Huang Siyuan, and Fang Baixuan—it had also lost many high-tier cultivators.

First, Ma Hongshan led the Ma family of "Mount Tiexian Castle" to rebel against the sect and was jointly killed by the Xiaoyao Sect group. Subsequently, Lu Boyang died in the great battle against the "Heavenly Sea Alliance."

Added to that was the former Sect Master Yao Ganshu, who, because of being injured many times before, had his own lifespan affected. Now that his lifespan was nearing its end, he was bedridden and had little time left, unable to make a move to help deal with the demonic beast unrest.

True Person Guangling, a Jin Dan cultivator of the older generation who was about the same age as him, although he had always paid more attention to health preservation and was not as hardworking as Yao Ganshu, currently looked relatively healthy. However, his lifespan had also reached five hundred and seventy years, and he was only twenty or thirty years away from the limit of a Jin Dan cultivator.

At this age, the strength of Daoist Guangling is already greatly discounted compared to his peak state; he can at most exert the strength of an early-stage Jin Dan cultivator, and once injured, it would affect his longevity and lead to an early passing.

In the upcoming demonic beast unrest, it was estimated that it would also be very difficult for True Person Guangling to make a move; he could only help in the rear to allocate cultivator materials and guard the sect gate.

Overall, although the Xiaoyao Sect had a few more Jin Dan cultivators than a hundred years ago, in reality, the sect's overall strength had not increased much.

If Song Qingming could not catch up with this great battle next, the Xiaoyao Sect's strength in terms of high-tier cultivators would probably be even worse than a hundred years ago.

Knowing that this demonic beast unrest might be even more formidable than the last time, most people sitting there truly had no confidence in whether they could successfully repel the demonic beast army's invasion in this battle.

One must know that the last time the Xiaoyao Sect was able to hold onto several strongholds in the north and repel the demonic beasts' large-scale invasion.

Besides Sect Master Yao Ganshu forcibly enduring the injuries on his body to make a move against the enemy, there was another important reason, which was that they finally invited Li Xianyun, a Jin Dan late-stage expert, to help.

The Xiaoyao Sect therefore accumulated enough power and, through the battle of "Purple Star Market," directly reversed the unfavorable situation on the entire battlefield, ultimately driving the demonic beast army out of the Wei Kingdom's territory.

This time, with the demonic beast unrest, even if there was Li Mufeng who could contain the other side's Nascent Soul Demon Emperor, under similarly similar circumstances, wanting to successfully repel the even more ferocious demonic beast army's large-scale invasion would probably be even more difficult than a hundred years ago. Everyone sitting there naturally knew this in their hearts.

"Senior Uncle Li, every time there is demonic beast unrest, our human side suffers countless casualties. Now that Junior Brother Song has not returned, relying only on our existing power, it is probably somewhat difficult to hold onto the entire battle line.

Do you think you can consider letting go of the places near Mount Tuoyun first and concentrating power to guard Mount Tiexian Castle and Guiyun Market? In this way, our pressure will also be smaller.

After we survive the most difficult time, other countries around us can also draw out power to support us. Then we will think of ways to recover the lost territory."

After hearing Li Mufeng finish speaking, Zhao Menglian, who was somewhat worried about the sect's war, took the lead in speaking, wanting to suggest that the Xiaoyao Sect give up the relatively prominent stronghold of Mount Tuoyun and concentrate the sect's power to retreat and guard Mount Tiexian Castle and Guiyun Market, the two great northern gates of the Wei Kingdom.

The places near the Floating Yunshan Range in the north of the Wei Kingdom mainly had four relatively large market strongholds from west to east, which were "Mount Tiexian Castle," "Mount Tuoyun," "Guiyun Market," and "Golden Mountain Market."

Among them, "Mount Tiexian Castle" and "Guiyun Market" were the two most important gates guarding the north of the Wei Kingdom, and they were also the two places the Xiaoyao Sect had valued most since its founding.

Once these two places were lost in the unrest, the Northern Frontier demonic beasts could drive straight in, directly attacking the "Gao Yun County" in the north of the Wei Kingdom, threatening the core hinterland of the Xiaoyao Sect, Guyang County.

A hundred years ago, during the last demonic beast unrest, because the Xiaoyao Sect fell into a disadvantage, some demonic beasts bypassed "Guiyun Market" and entered the northern "Gao Yun County" to cause trouble, causing the sect to lose millions of mortals all at once, almost affecting the foundation of the Xiaoyao Sect.

Fortunately, "Guiyun Market" was not lost at that time, and the Xiaoyao Sect was finally able to launch a counterattack relying on this important stronghold, driving the demonic beasts out of the Wei Kingdom's territory.

In comparison, the importance of "Golden Mountain Market" and "Mount Tuoyun" to the sect was much lower.

"Golden Mountain Market" was far in the northeast border of the Wei Kingdom, and there were no large spiritual veins nearby. Although every demonic beast unrest "Golden Mountain Market" would also suffer attacks from demonic beasts, this side had never been the main attack direction of the demonic beast army.

With two Jin Dan cultivators from the Song family, plus the cultivators of several counties in Jiangling County, guarding here should not be a big problem.

"Mount Tuoyun" was located northeast of Mount Tiexian Castle, and its position was relatively prominent, having already penetrated deep into the Floating Yunshan Range. Every demonic beast unrest, this place was also the first to bear the brunt.

Although the demonic beasts attacking "Mount Tuoyun" every year would not be too many, they were generally the old rivals of "Mount Tuoyun," the Cloud Crane Demon King. But relying only on Zhang Rong, a fake core cultivator of "Mount Tuoyun," wanting to hold this place was also very difficult, and it definitely still required support from the Xiaoyao Sect side.

But now that the demonic beast power had greatly increased, the Xiaoyao Sect wanting to hold onto other places was under great pressure, and it was truly somewhat difficult to take care of "Mount Tuoyun" here. Therefore, Zhao Menglian suggested that the sect take the initiative to give up "Mount Tuoyun" here and concentrate power to retreat to "Mount Tiexian Castle."

Hu Tianren, who had already taken charge of "Mount Tiexian Castle" to the side, also agreed upon hearing this: "Senior Sister Zhao's words are not bad! Mount Tuoyun is not the sect's territory, and we ourselves have no obligation to manage them. It would be better to notify them to evacuate first, so as not to waste too much of the sect's power to support them.

This time Golden Feather Mountain just happened to change to a Demon Emperor. Senior Uncle Li, do you think we can negotiate with it like before and re-establish an alliance agreement with Golden Feather Mountain? Perhaps they are also unwilling to fight us to the death."

Hearing Hu Tianren's suggestion, Li Mufeng shook his head without even thinking: "What you are thinking is also too naive. The demon race is inherently bloodthirsty and cruel, and they are the mortal enemies of our human cultivators for thousands of years. How could this new Molong Demon Emperor be so easy to talk to?

If we choose to negotiate rashly before the war even starts, not only will we not be able to achieve our goal, but it will also make the other side think we are afraid of them, and they will be even more unscrupulous in the subsequent battles.

Wanting to set an alliance agreement with the other side is not something that can be easily exchanged just by your mouth. If we don't prove that we have the strength to repel the demon race's invasion, why should others be willing to sit down and listen to you? Every hundred years of demonic beast unrest, the sect has to sacrifice many junior cultivators with excellent talent. How could I not want to avoid these things from happening?

It is just that our human side is weak now. Facing this hundred-year demonic beast unrest, we don't have much room to choose. The sect can only fight with all its might to protect the territory that belongs to us."

Just as Li Mufeng finished speaking, True Person Guangling, who was sitting to the side, stood up again.

"Senior Uncle Li's words are very true. Wanting to collude with the demon race is ultimately not a long-term plan. Even if we are willing to take a step back and give up some territory, these demonic beasts are not so easy to satisfy. I am afraid they will continue to encroach on our territory by inches.

This battle has not yet started, and the outcome is unpredictable. Whether it is Guiyun Market, Mount Tiexian Castle, or Mount Tuoyun, we cannot easily give them to the demonic beasts.

Thanks to the sect's careful cultivation for so many years, although I am old, I still have the heart to serve the sect. This time I am willing to take people to Mount Tuoyun first to help the Golden Cloud Pavilion and the others hold this spiritual mountain, sharing some pressure for the sect. I hope Senior Uncle Li can fulfill this wish of mine."

After True Person Guangling finished speaking, the many Jin Dan elders present, including Supreme Elder Li Mufeng, all revealed a few traces of surprise.

Having served as a sect Jin Dan elder for so many years, True Person Guangling had always acted cautiously and rarely went out to take risks to seek opportunities.

Almost everyone did not expect that he, an older generation Jin Dan cultivator who was already old and enjoying his later years, would actually stand up at this critical moment when the demonic beasts were moving south, wanting to go to the dangerous front line of Mount Tuoyun to share worries for the sect.

Seeing True Person Guangling cupping his hands and looking expectantly at Li Mufeng sitting at the head, Bai Yuxian, who had just taken over as Sect Master not long ago, hurriedly opened her mouth to persuade:

"Senior Brother Guangling, the sect will naturally have arrangements for Mount Tuoyun. You are now advanced in years and must not make a move against others rashly. Going to Mount Tuoyun is too dangerous. It would be better to stay in the sect to sit in command and allocate cultivator materials for us."

"I accept Junior Sister Bai's good intentions. Old man, I have spent my whole life hiding in the sect doing some trivial things and have never made any great merit for the sect. In this regard, I have always been inferior to other senior and junior brothers, and I have always felt somewhat regretful in my heart.

Now I am a person whose oil is exhausted and lamp is dry, and there is nothing to worry about. Being able to have a chance to make merit for the sect again, even if I die on the battlefield, it can be considered a great joy in life. I hope Senior Uncle Li can fulfill this last wish of mine."

From True Person Guangling's words, it could be seen that his determination had already been made. After Li Mufeng sat for a long time, he still nodded calmly to him and agreed to his request.

"Since you have this heart, then Mount Tuoyun will be entrusted to you first. Yuxian, you dispatch a large flying boat tomorrow and hand it to Guangling, then select a batch of cultivators to go with him."

"If the situation on Mount Tuoyun is unfavorable, you must inform us in time. The sect will think of ways to send people to support you."

"Thank you, Senior Uncle Li, for fulfilling this. I will go back and prepare a little, and set off for Mount Tuoyun tomorrow!"

After True Person Guangling bowed heavily to Li Mufeng, he turned and cupped his hands to all the sect Jin Dan elders present before leaving the Xiaoyao Hall with a smile.

Looking at the back of True Person Guangling, who had white hair, slowly leaving, Li Mufeng also had mixed feelings under his calm face.

This parting might be the last time the two of them would ever see each other.

The many Xiaoyao Sect elders present, seeing the scene just now, were also somewhat secretly excited in their hearts.

Even True Person Guangling, who already had reason to stay out of it and retire to the background to enjoy his later years, still had the heart to serve the sect and was willing to take risks to sit in command at "Mount Tuoyun." What else did they have to say?

After True Person Guangling left, Li Mufeng stood up and said earnestly to everyone: "Now the situation of the demonic beast army is not clear enough. No matter what, we must try our best to hold the position first.

Don't worry, this hundred-year beast tide is not just the Xiaoyao Sect's business; it is something that all human cultivators in the Floating Yunshan Range need to deal with together.

If we really reach an unfavorable situation, the sect will also think of ways to seek help elsewhere."

"Please rest assured, Senior Uncle Li, we will definitely fight to the death to serve the sect!" The many cultivators sitting below, hearing Li Mufeng's words, hurriedly expressed their loyalty to the sect in unison.

Seeing this, Li Mufeng also nodded with some gratification and started to make detailed arrangements for everyone.

With True Person Guangling on Mount Tuoyun, there shouldn't be any problems in the short term. Golden Mountain Market would not be the focus of the demonic beasts' attack, and with Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan there, the power was almost enough.

For these two places, Li Mufeng only asked the sect to transport some "Flying Cloud Crossbows" to assist in the defense as soon as possible, and did not make too many adjustments.

For "Mount Tiexian Castle," Li Mufeng first arranged for Zhao Menglian to go and help sit in command. With her, a Jin Dan sixth-layer cultivator, plus the assistance of Hu Qingyun, a fake core cultivator, they could also deal with the attacks of three to four demon kings relying on the mountain-protecting array.

As for "Guiyun Market," which was the focus of the demonic beast army's attack, it was also the most important place that the Xiaoyao Sect could not afford to lose. Li Mufeng placed the sect's main power here.

Including Bai Yuxian, Li Wutong, Chu Fengping, Jin Ziyuan, and Fang Baixuan, all were arranged to go to "Guiyun Market" to sit in command, leaving only Chen Xuanxin, who was in seclusion, and Xu Cheng Ziyan, who managed the sect's mundane affairs, in the sect.

After everyone received the order, they immediately left the Xiaoyao Hall and started preparing to deal with the cruel demonic beast great battle that was about to follow.

"Guiyun Market" and "Guyang Mountain" were connected by a teleportation array. Not long after Li Mufeng's instruction was issued, the teleportation array on Guyang Mountain also immediately started operating, and many sect cultivators started to go to "Guiyun Market" through the teleportation array to wait for orders.

The few giant flying boats in the Xiaoyao Sect also started to transport some important materials needed for the battlefield to various front-line battlefields.

After getting the approval of Sect Master Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan also immediately went to the sect's Merit Pavilion, took out more than ten second-tier "Flying Cloud Crossbows" and some strategic materials like formations, and subsequently boarded the sect's large flying boat to set off and return to Mount Funiu together.

After leaving Guyang Mountain, Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan, standing on the flying boat, also had a few more traces of heaviness on their faces.

Through the news they obtained from Guyang Mountain, this demonic beast unrest was not like the past, and even Nascent Soul cultivators had to enter the battlefield to fight. They, these Jin Dan cultivators, had also become like duckweed, difficult to control their own destiny.

Just as the flying boat arrived near Mount Funiu, Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan instructed the cultivators on the flying boat to transport the materials directly to "Golden Mountain Market," then jumped off the flying boat, intending to return to Mount Funiu first.

Just as the two women arrived near the mountain gate, a streak of white escape light suddenly flew out from the mountain, and to their surprise, it came to their side.

"Siyuan, Qingyu, how have you been these years?"

"Seventh Brother... it really is you who returned." Seeing Song Qingming in cyan clothes in front of them, the two of them were stunned for a moment before revealing looks of surprise and approaching him.

Huang Siyuan, standing to the side, saw Song Qingming, who had left the family for more than twenty years, and couldn't help but have a few teardrops slide down the corners of her eyes in excitement.

In the years Song Qingming was not here, although Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan rarely mentioned Song Qingming's affairs, the longing for Song Qingming in each other's hearts could be felt.

Especially in recent years, the demonic beast unrest in the north was getting closer and closer, but Song Qingming, the backbone of the family, had not returned for a long time. The pressure on Song Qingyu and the others was also getting greater and greater, and they were fantasizing every moment that Song Qingming could return in time.

Now finally seeing Song Qingming's figure appear in front of her, Huang Siyuan also suddenly let go of all the worries accumulated in her heart, actively leaning on Song Qingming's shoulder, fearing that this was another dream.

"Husband, when did you return?"

"I just returned not long ago. I heard from Yuanfang that you went to Guyang Mountain to discuss matters. I originally wanted to set off to find you, but I didn't expect that before I had time to go out, I saw you return!" Song Qingming nodded to the two women with a smile upon hearing this.

"There has been no news of you for so many years. Qingyu and I were often worried for you. Now that we finally see you return safely, we can finally be at ease."

"Hmm! These years, you have worked hard."

"That... Seventh Brother, Sister-in-law, if we keep standing here, we might be seen by others in a while. Why don't we go back first, and you two can slowly continue your longing for each other?"

Seeing that Huang Siyuan and Song Qingming were already leaning together, Song Qingyu to the side looked around and couldn't help but remind them.

"Hmm!... You girl, what nonsense are you talking about? Why don't we go back first." Hearing Song Qingyu's reminder, Song Qingming, who had reacted, scolded Song Qingyu somewhat awkwardly before asking Huang Siyuan in his arms.

Hearing the conversation between the two, Huang Siyuan hurriedly left Song Qingming's shoulder and nodded in response with a trace of shyness. Subsequently, the three turned into escape light and returned to the "Meeting Immortals Pavilion" on Mount Funiu together.

"Qingyu, I heard from Yuanfang that the Northern Frontier demonic beasts have already started to move south. How is the sect dealing with this matter?" After the three sat down in the "Meeting Immortals Pavilion" and chatted for a few sentences, Song Qingming asked Song Qingyu to the side about the results of their trip to the sect to discuss matters. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 675 =====