Three days later, sunlight spilled over Shouyang Mountain. A Human Race guard on watch suddenly shouted excitedly, "They're here! The people from Qingyan Valley are here!" Hu Shu and the others immediately rose and hurried toward the mountain gate. A group clad in azure robes was making its way slowly up the mountain path, led by several elders with steady auras whose formidable strength was obvious at a glance. Hu Shu felt both anticipation and anxiety, unsure whether the upcoming discussions on cooperation would proceed smoothly.
When the Qingyan Valley group approached, Hu Shu was the first to cup his hands in greeting. "We are deeply grateful that you have come from so far away." A white-haired elder at the front returned the salute with a smile. "You are too polite, young friend Hu. Now that we have formed an alliance, we should naturally face these hardships together." With a wave of his hand, the disciples behind him carried forward several large chests. When opened, they revealed cultivation resources and magical treasures glowing with spiritual light.
Delight flashed through Hu Shu's eyes. These resources were undoubtedly timely aid for the Human Race. He quickly said, "The Human Race will remember such generous gifts." The elder waved a hand. "They are but a few resources, not worth mentioning. The urgent matter is to discuss how we will deal with the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe."
Afterward, everyone entered the Human Race council hall. The Human Race's wise men had long been waiting inside. Once Hu Shu introduced both sides, he went straight to the point.
"According to intelligence from our Human Race scouts, the Chan Sect places great importance on magical treasures and Supernatural Abilities. Most of its disciples excel at long-range attacks and are highly skilled at setting formations. The Witch Tribe, on the other hand, is known for its powerful bodies and strange witchcraft, making them exceptionally formidable in close combat," a Human Race sage said first.
An elder from Qingyan Valley nodded. "That is indeed the case. Qingyan Valley has received similar intelligence. The Chan Sect's weakness is that most of its disciples rely heavily on magical treasures. If we can destroy their treasures, their strength will be greatly diminished. Although the Witch Tribe possesses powerful bodies, their witchcraft requires a certain amount of time to cast and consumes enormous amounts of Spiritual Power."
Everyone sat in a circle, each offering their own thoughts, gradually working out a strategy. After pondering for a moment, Hu Shu said, "We can make use of Shouyang Mountain's terrain to set up a Defensive Formation. Against the Chan Sect, we will lay traps designed to destroy magical treasures. Against the Witch Tribe, we will incorporate runes that counter witchcraft into the formation."
The elder from Qingyan Valley stroked his beard in praise. "An excellent plan. However, we must also strengthen the formation's supply of Spiritual Power. Qingyan Valley possesses a Spirit Gathering Method that can greatly increase the formation's power."
Next, the two sides discussed specific divisions of labor. Qingyan Valley disciples skilled in Stealth and Tracking would be responsible for scouting the enemy's movements, while agile Human Race members would disrupt the enemy's formation during battle.
After finalizing the battle plan, everyone began exchanging cultivation insights. Shouyang Mountain immediately became lively. Qingyan Valley's disciples demonstrated their unique methods of circulating Spiritual Power, leaving the Human Race members deep in thought.
A Human Race youth asked curiously, "Why does your Spiritual Power circulate so smoothly, without the slightest obstruction?" A senior sister from Qingyan Valley explained with a smile, "Because we focus on the compatibility between Spiritual Power and our own meridians. Before every cultivation session, we use a special Meditation Method to clear and organize our meridians."
The Human Race members hurriedly tried it themselves and indeed found that their Spiritual Power circulated far more smoothly than before. Some Human Race warriors skilled in close combat also shared their fighting techniques with the people of Qingyan Valley—how to seize an enemy's openings amid the ever-changing battlefield and deliver a fatal strike.
Hu Shu moved through the crowd, watching both sides exchange knowledge so eagerly, and felt somewhat relieved. Yet he also knew that time was pressing. The Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe could launch an attack at any moment.
At that moment, sunlight broke through the clouds and illuminated the mountain-like piles of cultivation resources on Shouyang Mountain, making them gleam brilliantly. Hu Shu watched the busy crowd and silently clenched his fist.
However, although preparations for the cooperation were proceeding intensely, the threats posed by the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe hung over everyone like dark clouds. Could the Human Race and the Minor Factions make sufficient preparations in such a short time and gain the upper hand in the coming great battle?
Before you continue