All of It

To be an oriole, the most important thing was to time one's positioning well.

When it was time to enter the stage, one had to appear on the battlefield on time;

When it was time to hide, one had to accurately avoid the enemy's watchful eyes.

Wang Jixuan looked at the Terrain Map before him. After deep consideration, thorough planning, and decisive... delegation, he handed the task of devising tactics to Ling Tong and Deep Sea.

He was not good at that, so it was better to let professionals handle professional work.

The Daoist found a corner to meditate in and took stock of his combat reserves.

Without realizing it, his talismans had reached the intermediate grade. He also had dozens of pills for healing injuries, restoring vitality, strengthening foundations, and nourishing souls in his pockets, three to five magical artifacts, two or three weapons, and a batch of rare minerals he carried with him.

He could be considered to have accumulated a modest fortune.

Wang Jixuan pondered methods of restraining demonic energy.

To restrain demonic energy, Buddhist teachings were the first choice.

Wang Jixuan had previously only organized some Buddhist teachings and passed them on to Wu Man and the others. He had not studied them deeply himself. The Buddhist Cultivation Method was vast and profound; it was not limited to mind control techniques.

He carefully searched his memories.

There really were several Buddhist techniques that could be used directly.

For example, the Dragon Subduing Demon Scripture, along with the matching Tiger Subduing True Words.

Buddhism also excelled in body cultivation techniques, such as the Kasaya Golden Body Technique and the Great Vajra Scripture.

Unfortunately, Daoist Wang had already entered the Core Formation Realm, completed Foundation Establishment, and gained some magical power. He had absolutely no interest in these body cultivation techniques.

If he could cast spells, why would he engage in hand-to-hand combat?

Previously, his magical power had been too weak, forcing him to fight in close combat with weapons. That allowed him to borrow the weapons' sharpness while conserving magical power. He had practically wanted to split every bit of magical power into three portions.

Now, he had the Dao Realm and combat puppets.

—Though mainly the combat puppets.

After repeatedly considering the matter, Wang Jixuan devised a set of Buddhist methods for expelling demons. He called the Buddha Hall Squad over and taught them two new passages of scripture.

Wu Man, Ji Xiao, and the others chanted in unison, faint golden light appearing around their bodies.

"You can recite this scripture silently," Wang Jixuan said. "Memorize it as quickly as possible. If we need to enter an area filled with demonic energy later, simply reciting it will protect you from its invasion."

They each acknowledged the order and went to a nearby corner, sitting in a circle as their leader, Wu Man, led them in repeated review.

Wang Jixuan took out dozens of King-Class Blade Beast bones he had brought with him, specially selected reinforced bones from near the Blade Beast Crystal Cores. Taking out a magical artifact carving knife, he began engraving them.

The Daoist had only been busy for a few minutes...

Rumble.

The ground suddenly trembled slightly, and a muffled sound came from deep underground.

"They've started fighting!"

Zheng Shiduo shouted excitedly.

Wang Jixuan glanced at Ling Tong and Deep Sea, who were still discussing matters over there.

Since they had not called for him, the Daoist was in no rush. He continued with his own work.

The muffled sounds came one after another.

It was as though some enormous creature was continuously crashing about in the depths underground.

Wang Jixuan had never really played the role of an oriole before. He was actually a little unaccustomed to it, and he was curious about the situation over there.

He picked up the simple magical artifacts he had just made, took a deep breath, and exhaled primordial energy over them. The artifacts immediately lit up with faint golden radiance, and one swastika after another appeared on them.

Buddhist artifacts are pretty easy to refine.

A cultivator whose basic pill refinement often ended in explosions had regained a little confidence in the field of artifact refinement.

Daoist Wang rose and walked toward the holographic map.

"Sir!" Peony immediately said. "The King-Class Blade Beast horde has encountered powerful psionic sniper fire! Six or seven unfamiliar S-Class Psionic Reactions have been detected underground. Preliminary judgment identifies them as Awakened Psionicists!"

Ling Tong quickly explained, "By studying the movements of these mysterious Psionicists, we can identify the location of their source. It basically matches the region where Fifth Spiritual Practitioner marked the spire of Fourth Spiritual Practitioner."

Deep Sea was equally energized. "They've started tearing into each other! Reinforcements from the Psionic Capital are accelerating here at all costs!"

"The Six Elders just called the Commander-in-Chief," Ling Tong said, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Taisheng Steel of the Six Elders said that we must remain restrained and avoid creating additional complications. This is a battle concerning the survival of Human Civilization."

Wang Jixuan asked, "They didn't say it outright?"

"No, but we can deduce that they already know Old Sophie is hiding deep underground beneath the snow mountain."

Ling Tong glanced at the milky-white Stone Slab Wall floating nearby.

Wang Jixuan nodded.

It was perfectly reasonable for Number Five to share intelligence that Old Sophie was about to be attacked by Blade Beasts.

To a certain extent, the six of them were bound by life and death together.

If the Twelve Pillars-level Blade Beasts awakened ahead of time, it would spell disaster for the Human World and for these Spiritual Practitioners.

And if the Twelve Pillars awaken later, it won't be a disaster?

Daoist Wang teased inwardly.

Ling Tong brought up a holographic map and gave a concise introduction.

"From their movements, we can see that these seven S-Class Psionicists launched a deliberate ambush.

"The two King-Class Blade Beast hordes had slowed their advance and converged underground. They were likely planning to open the Pseudo Starry Sky Gate when they were suddenly ambushed.

"We still cannot determine whether Old Sophie's spirit slaves seized the Pseudo Starry Sky Gate."

The Daoist stroked his chin and suddenly asked, "Where's Dragonfly Aunt?"

"She's near Snow Mountain Base," Peony hurriedly replied. "I called for her to return several times, but she insisted on going over to install some sensors. That's why we have such a clear grasp of the situation there. She hasn't approached the demonic energy and is currently remotely monitoring Meng Jin and the others."

"How are Meng Jin's people reacting?"

"They're waiting too. They haven't acted in a hurry, and their emotional readings are stable."

Peony curled her lips slightly.

"They obviously want to be orioles too."

"We're not in a hurry. Let's compete with them in patience. Even if we don't act, we won't lose anything. Keeping this fortress safe counts as a small victory."

Wang Jixuan handed the Buddhist magical artifacts he had just made to Ling Tong and had her distribute them among the Half-Human Mechs.

The Daoist instructed, "We're still a hundred miles away from them, so we need even more precise control over when we enter. Don't let Meng Jin and his people take all the benefits... Meng Jin is also one of the enemies we need to eliminate first."

"Yes!" Deep Sea and Peony answered in unison.

Ah, another Pseudo Stargate had appeared.

Wang Jixuan's Dao heart stirred slightly.

Seizing a gate and fleeing was quite a wonderful thing.

Once the ambush battle between the underground spirit slaves and Blade Beasts began, information from the battlefield rapidly accumulated.

The battle underground was extremely fierce.

Less than ten minutes into the fight, the signals of one Blade Beast and two awakened old spirit slaves disappeared simultaneously. It seemed they had perished together. The remaining five awakened old spirit slaves, together with more than ten spirit slaves who had just arrived as reinforcements, began surrounding the remaining King-Class Blade Beast.

The underground battle had already caused slight cave-ins in localized surface areas.

Avalanches continuously occurred across the snow mountain.

Every faction on the human side was watching from the sidelines.

Just as Peony predicted that the other King-Class Blade Beast would be unable to hold out alone and was about to be surrounded and killed by Old Sophie's spirit slaves, a powerful Energy Reaction suddenly appeared underground.

Spatial teleportation!

The Pseudo Starry Sky Gate unfolded inside the body of the King-Class Blade Beast that had been surrounded and killed earlier!

This development clearly caught Old Sophie's side off guard as well.

The spirit slaves turned to attack the gate, but it was already too late. Dense Blade Beast Crystal Core reactions appeared underground as batches of high-level Blade Beasts, led by General-Class Blade Beasts and Sub-King Class Blade Beasts, rushed out through the gate.

Subtle cave-ins began appearing continuously across the surface.

Those spirit slaves were swallowed by the Blade Beast Tide like candles in the wind, easily scattered apart.

Daoist Wang was genuinely a little nervous now.

When a snipe and clam fought, the fisherman benefited. But for that to happen, the snipe and clam had to reach a certain balance, refusing to yield while continuously wearing each other down.

If Old Sophie was easily wiped out by the Blade Beasts, would this trip not have been for nothing?

The Human World would also be plunged into crisis because of it!

However, the Daoist's anxiety soon turned into concern for the Blade Beasts.

The latest satellite detection data showed that a black shadow had left the depths beneath the snow mountain and rushed toward the location of the Pseudo Stargate.

It was that S-Class Material, a clone with no name, only a serial number.

However, based on the current detection data, this demonic cultivator had an SS-Class Psionic Reaction.

The demonic cultivator reached the site of the slaughter at incredible speed, then... began harvesting the Remnant Souls of Blade Beasts that had died in the earlier battle.

The Spiritual Cultivation Civilization naturally possessed technology for controlling Blade Beast Crystal Cores.

In the past, Spiritual Practitioners had merely used Crystal Cores as Psionic Energy Batteries. But this time, what Fourth Spiritual Practitioner Old Sophie wanted were the Remnant Souls within the Blade Beasts.

The demonic cultivator refined and absorbed the remnant souls, and vast amounts of demonic energy were transmitted through the air to the spire.

Inside the spire, spirit slaves were continuously infected by demonic energy, awakened, rapidly recovered their strength through demonic energy, entered demonic states, and then charged toward the Blade Beast Tide.

The Blade Beast Tide was also restricted by the terrain underground.

They could only travel through passages bored out by King-Class Blade Beasts or Drill Worms.

The situation gradually developed in the direction Wang Jixuan had hoped for—

Both sides began fighting a war of attrition underground!

Dozens of newly opened Underground Passages were packed with Blade Beasts and an endless stream of spirit slaves rushing forward to hold them back.

The more Blade Beasts died, the more Remnant Souls of Blade Beasts that demonic cultivator collected. The more demonic energy he refined, the more Old Sophie within the spire could absorb from thin air.

During this process...

"Old Sophie's strength is continuously recovering, but his injuries are actually worsening."

Number Five transmitted those words to Wang Jixuan.

She was hiding in the Stone Slab Wall, preparing for the coming battle. If necessary, she would also act to prevent Old Sophie's Core Circuit from being destroyed by the Blade Beasts.

He has no way to dissolve demonic energy. He merely discovered some of its uses.

Wang Jixuan felt slightly tempted.

He simply lowered his head, sat in meditation, and silently recited the Heart Calming Incantation, keeping himself at his most rational and calm.

The number of spirit slaves in Old Sophie's spire was limited.

The Blade Beasts could definitely exhaust his spirit slaves to death.

According to what Number Five had said earlier, Old Sophie had used spatial teleportation to escape his subspace. The base of his spire needed a long time to recharge, or enough high-level Crystal Cores, before it could teleport again.

Old Sophie would not simply sit and wait for death.

He had only two paths now. Either he would use demonic energy to forcefully erupt, or he would temporarily withstand the Blade Beast Tide before using Crystal Cores looted by his spirit slaves to teleport away again.

Based on Wang Jixuan's assessment of Old Sophie's personality...

The former was far less likely than the latter.

Oh, right. Old Sophie had a third path as well.

Ask other Spiritual Practitioners for help.

Wang Jixuan's brow suddenly twitched lightly. He looked up toward the snow mountain and vaguely saw an enormous mass of black clouds appearing between heaven and earth.

The black clouds began to swirl continuously.

This...

Was a great demon being born?

Daoist Wang's mouth twitched slightly. He continued to close his eyes and concentrate, meditating quietly without rushing to act.

Suddenly.

Shen Qionglin, who had been hiding in a corner and watching this group of battle maniacs bustle about, suddenly turned pale. She lowered her head and coughed twice, opening her mouth to call out, "Wang... Jixuan..."

Dozens of mysterious Tadpole Script markings appeared on her body, flickering continuously.

Wang Jixuan immediately flashed to her side, his Sword Finger rapidly tapping Shen Qionglin's forehead and neck.

A pale gray, mysterious symbol on Shen Qionglin's neck slowly dispersed. Two wisps of gray aura rose from the top of her head, flickered slightly, and transformed into Old Sophie's phantom.

However, the phantom's eyes were vacant at the moment, as though it had merely been activated by accident.

Shen Qionglin's condition quickly recovered.

Still shaken, she said, "Number Four secretly planted a mark on me."

"When you tormented him, he also left behind a contingency. It's better for it to suddenly surface now than for you to be attacked during battle."

Wang Jixuan asked in confusion.

"Why didn't he directly control you back then?"

Shen Qionglin stared at Old Sophie's phantom. "What he feared was not me, and I wasn't the one he wanted to control. You just never took the bait."

Everyone quickly gathered around.

Number Five emerged from the Stone Slab Wall, snapped her fingers, and made the slab vanish with a whoosh. She stared at Old Sophie's phantom with a complicated expression.

Number Five formed an orchid finger gesture and gently swayed it.

Old Sophie's phantom trembled a few times, then began twitching continuously.

The phantom and its main body began to synchronize.

Pain... It hurts... It hurts so much...

The phantom's voice sounded in everyone's minds, eerie and half-mad.

I want to go back... I want to go back... My planet... My slaves... Damn Blade Beasts, these damn Blade Beasts!

No, the most damnable one is that devil!

Power, this power, unprecedented power... It's devouring me... Hehehe, hahahaha! I've gained new power!

Revive! My spirit slaves! Kill them, kill them!

More, I want more power! Bring me the souls of Blade Beasts, bring me human souls, bring me every soul! Give them to me!

Snap.

Number Five snapped her fingers again, and Old Sophie's phantom burst like a bubble.

She frowned and urged, "Aren't we acting yet? Whether Old Sophie lives or dies doesn't matter, but his Core Circuit must be recovered!"

"Not yet," Wang Jixuan asked Ling Tong. "How much longer until support from Psionic Capital arrives?"

"Over an hour."

Peony suddenly reported, "Commander! Meng Jin and the others have moved! Dragonfly Aunt sent back photos—among them is a middle-aged man whose entire body is giving off a milky white glow. The demonic energy is avoiding that light. They've rushed into Rainbow Town's Underground Passage and are moving at high speed, closing in on Old Sophie's area!"

"Oh?"

Daoist Wang raised his brows, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

Finally.

"Let's go!"

Wang Jixuan's body crackled, and a surge of spiritual energy rippled outward like wind.

The long case beside him opened. A battle puppet wearing a Metal Mask and full-body armor stepped out, azure divine light bursting from its eyes.

Just as everyone assumed Wang Jixuan would order them to cut off Meng Jin and the others' retreat, Daoist Wang gave an order that caught them by surprise.

"Wu Man, Buddha Hall Squad, lock onto that demonized subject! Find a way to lure it to the surface! If you can encircle and kill it, do so. If not, hold it back! Professor Shen, you go there too!"

"Ling Tong, Deep Sea! Lead the Half-Human Mech forces into the air above the snowy mountains and seize air superiority. Be careful not to approach that patch of black clouds!"

"The rest of you, cover Number Five and me. Our target is that Pseudo Starry Sky Gate!"

This opportunity here—

He wanted it all!