Chapter 45

Jiang Yu runs fast, but her speed cannot match a Golden Core cultivator's.

She didn't notice at all; everything that just happened was seen by the patrolling Elder Dao Xu.

The Grand Void Sect values the practical martial competition of its Qi Refining disciples even more than outsiders imagine.

At this moment, the sect's three Nascent Soul cultivators gathered together to await the result.

"If Senior Brother would like to check the little disciples' battle strength, I'll accompany you to Ershan for a walk?" Furu Zhenjun spoke unhurriedly, slowly brewing tea.

"How could I trouble you; I'll accompany the Senior Uncle forward."

"I suppose those dozen or so candidates for the Guard Zhai Marquis who are competing at the same time should have done well."

"This batch of disciples recruited from the Tiannan Mountain Range really does have some ability." Sect Master Linquan is the youngest; in front of the two Senior Uncles who watched him grow up, late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, he has always been obedient.

Sui Lv Zhenjun stopped tapping the table with his forefinger: "There are five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding Ershan, plus a dozen or so Golden Core cultivators hidden and patrolling in the dark; if we go too, it would only cause panic."

"This time, I advocate letting the disciples have a grand practical competition, and also because I've discovered that the number of demonic beasts in Ershan over the past few years has become excessive."

Linquan Sect Master self-criticized: "It's my fault for not noticing in time; actually quite a few demonic beasts have migrated to Ershan."

According to investigation, it is indeed because while we were busy with the Dao-Demon war, the Yao Court in the southeast took advantage of Guiyuan Sect's vital energy being greatly weakened and led a batch of demonic beasts to migrate to Guicang Mountain.

"Afterwards, they made several detours, sending the beasts in batches to our Ershan and to the vicinity of the Guiyue Mountain Range of the Luoyue Sect."

Although a large southeastern coastal area of the cultivation world is Yao Race territory, who would complain that their own territory is too small?

The Yao Court sends demonic beasts everywhere, probably intending to use the demonic beasts near each sect to restrain human forces when launching a great beast tide.

"Demonic beasts aren't scary; just issue missions letting disciples and rogue cultivators go into the mountains for more training."

What's scary are people; those petty scoundrels near the sect should also be cleared out at this opportunity.

"Don't think that as long as you don't cause trouble in the market you can live carefree. Cough cough..." Furu Zhenjun suffers from a heart meridian injury; even after several years of nurturing, it hasn't healed.

"Has there been any news of the ninth-grade Earth Core Lotus yet?" Sui Lv Zhenjun also worries for her; the medicinal pill that could completely cure her injury is lacking only one spiritual herb.

"No, none of the major sects, including the black market, have it."

"I've already thought of a way to seek medicine from overseas immortal sects." Before Linquan Zhenjun's words had finished, a flying sword transmitting a message flew in.

He turned on the speaker; it was a message from a Golden Core cultivator patrolling Ershan: "Someone has been spotted scattering demon-attracting powder everywhere within the territories occupied by numerous third-rank beasts."

The person has been caught, but he only says he accepted the task at the black market and doesn't know who the employer is.

"How outrageous!" Linquan Sect Master slammed the table and rose, issuing an order to thoroughly investigate who did this.

Additionally, the transmission reminded the disciples entering the mountains that if they encounter a minor beast tide, they should consider forming teams.

What kind of person wants to harm his sect's foundation? In the past few years they recruited over three thousand disciples in total, and this time they sent out over five thousand, all of them lucky ones among the new and old disciples.

Don't talk about Qi Refining cultivators being as numerous as cow hairs and worthless; Foundation Establishment is the core strength, that's what the four great sects say.

Our Grand Void Sect doesn't have large numbers of Qi Refining cultivators advancing, so where would Foundation Establishment come from?

Because of this incident, Jiang Yu, shortly after sustaining minor injuries from encountering a batch of fourth-rank flying beasts, received a transmission talisman allowing team formation.

"No wonder the demonic beasts have suddenly been moving in batches; it turns out someone is up to mischief."

"Should we look for people to form a team?" After half a day deep into Ershan, Jiang Tu still said that today's demonic beasts seemed abnormal; demon-attracting powder and such had almost no effect on them.

Unless high-grade demon-attracting grass matures, it cannot arouse their innate demonic nature.

The flying demonic beasts in the sky have surged; Jiang Yu has now completely abandoned using the flying boat, carefully running through the mountains and forests: "If we don't team up, we'll reach Flowing Light Pond right away; returning later to form a team would just be wasting time."

It might also lead to an unforeseen minor beast tide.

"Alright, I'll release plenty of fifth-rank demonic aura to help suppress the fourth-rank beasts you encounter." Jiang Tu felt proud of himself.

Jiang Yu didn't show off; she let it lie on her shoulder to guard the Dharma.

When they were just a few li away from Flowing Light Pond, they were obstructed again.

Only see twenty or so fourth-rank beasts surrounding a few cultivators; as they slipped aside to move stealthily, one of those people shouted, exposing their hiding: "Jiang Yu, lend a hand and you'll die!"

"You're not afraid of death; I can help." Jiang Yu only stayed back because she saw Ye Lin there; when a lion-tiger beast came charging, she ran even faster.

"Junior Sister Jiang, lend a hand; we are disciples of the Tan family from Jinfeng Valley."

For the sake of Patriarch Tan, please at least rescue a wounded comrade.

We've been gathering herbs in the mountains for half a month; during our withdrawal we encountered a sixth-rank beast and then fell into a poisonous mire, exhausting our detox pills." Another cultivator, seeing her in sect robes, called out for aid.

On this side, Jiang Tu hadn't even finished asking whether to help when Jiang Yu had already turned back, using an extraordinarily strange movement technique to dodge the beast chasing her.

Boom boom boom, she unleashed a stack of fireball talismans, exploding behind the crowd of besieging demonic beasts.

The fourth-rank lion-tiger beasts were instantly blown over several; the few besieged people seized the moment to break out, and together with her switched from defense to offense.

Facing the horde of demons, Jiang Yu did not charge forward to fight shoulder‑to‑shoulder with her fellow disciples, but instead retreated at extreme speed.

And Jiang Tu instantly released a flying boat, leapt aboard to gain a relative high ground, then took her favorite crossbow and fired shot after shot.

At this point the crossbow was no longer the former low-grade magical implement, but a newly crafted high-grade one she had made using merit points.

Not only is its speed quite fast, but the arrows are separately forged into four types: metal, water, fire, and attribute‑less.

Jiang Yu now chose metal‑tipped arrows; each shot struck the lion‑tiger beast's head, and with tremendous penetrative power pierced straight through the entire head.

Moreover, a few fellow disciples fought back fiercely; the battle was quickly won in full, and the four or five that fled were allowed to escape.

Jiang Yu quickly landed, retrieving her arrowheads at the same time as collecting the demonic beasts she had slain.

The disciples of Jinfeng Valley had no objections, because she gave them top‑grade detox pills and also wanted the remaining demonic beasts given to her.

"But Ye Lin was unhappy: 'Isn't helping fellow disciples supposed to be a given?'"

"Moreover, he righteously confronted Jiang Yu: 'Why didn't you share the detox pills with me?'"

Jiang Yu ignored him completely, bade farewell to several senior brothers and sisters, but Ye Lin stepped forward, stretched out his hand to block her, and shouted: "Answer my question!"

Bang

Jiang Yu kicked him flying; while her fellow disciples were momentarily stunned, she whoosh whoosh away.

On this side, Ye Lin spat out a mouthful of blood, helped up by Ye Shiba; amid the disapproving gazes of the crowd, he still lowered his eyes and smirked.

But soon he couldn't laugh anymore; Jiang Yu, having changed into her sect robes, flew back swiftly and, without a word, launched an attack on him.

Bang bang bang, crack

Even Ye Shiba, who was fast, didn't have time to rescue, Ye Lin's bones were broken again.

「Junior Sister Jiang? 」

「Speak properly if you have something to say; it's too dangerous here. 」

The disciples of Golden Maple Valley knew Ye Lin's nature all too well; they not only didn't step forward to pull them apart, they even held Ye Shiba back from helping, only giving verbal advice.

In fact, they genuinely admired Ye Lin's talent for stirring up trouble; the sixth-rank demon beast was provoked by him, leaving everyone exhausted from fleeing.

Jiang Yu ruthlessly broke several of his bones, then raised her hand to send a transmission: "Fellow senior brothers and sisters, let's go ahead and set up formation to wait for the Foundation Establishment senior uncle to arrive."

"Junior Sister Jiang, what exactly is it that still requires having the senior uncles come running from the sect?" a female disciple asked on behalf of everyone; they didn't know the exam had been moved up.