Campaign Against Demon Wolf Mountain

After she finished speaking, her tone softened. She considered her words briefly before saying, "You needn't worry so much either."

"Since Master has decided to act, she must have sufficient confidence in this battle."

"Moreover, Master has already declared that once this battle is over, merits will be rewarded accordingly. Those who die in battle will receive compensation, and those who distinguish themselves will be rewarded. If you make notable gains, even Foundation Establishment Pills may be granted as rewards."

Once she finished, Chen Nianzhi and the old clan chief exchanged a glance, their faces immediately lighting up with delight.

Patriarch Jiang had always been fair. Since she had said this, the two of them naturally began to harbor some thoughts of their own.

Launching a war against the Demon Race was not something that could be done overnight. Heavenly Ruins Mountain had prepared for a long time, and even after Chen Nianzhi and the others arrived there, they still waited another two months before setting out.

For this battle, Heavenly Ruins Mountain could be said to have mobilized everything. Of the seventeen disciples whom Patriarch Jiang had helped reach Foundation Establishment, fifteen had been dispatched. All Foundation Establishment cultivators within Heavenly Ruins Mountain's territory had also been conscripted.

Including outsiders such as Chen Nianzhi, there were as many as fifty-three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators alone. In addition, more than six thousand Qi Refining realm cultivators had been recruited.

To increase everyone's combat strength, Heavenly Ruins Mountain gathered these cultivators together, forming a unit for every hundred people, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator commanding the formation and a set of formation flags issued to them.

Chen Nianzhi was also given a set of formation flags and placed in command of more than a hundred Qi Refining realm cultivators. He discovered that when everyone joined forces to activate the flags, they could unleash Western Extreme True Fire with enough power to contend against a Foundation Establishment Late Stage demon beast.

"These Qi Refining cultivators vary greatly in cultivation, and their techniques and spiritual power are all different, yet they can actually join forces to activate such a formidable formation."

"They say Patriarch Jiang is versed in alchemy, formations, artifacts, and talismans alike. Now it seems her reputation is truly well deserved."

Chen Changxuan stood beside Chen Nianzhi, staring at the formation flags as he sighed in amazement. As a Tier 2 High-grade formation master, he knew full well that he was far inferior to Patriarch Jiang.

Demon Wolf Mountain lay seventy thousand li northwest of Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Thousands of cultivators marched onward, their momentum vast and mighty.

To prevent the Demon Race from discovering them too early, Patriarch Jiang also brought out a Tier 3 Mid-grade silk artifact, which conjured a ten-li fog to conceal their tracks.

Even traveling at such speed, it still took them over three months to reach the foot of Demon Wolf Mountain.

"So this is Demon Wolf Mountain?"

With the great battle imminent, Chen Nianzhi looked at the sprawling mountain range ahead and could not help feeling a trace of pressure.

As its name suggested, the Demon Race entrenched upon Demon Wolf Mountain was the Demon Wolf Clan. The clan was extremely powerful. Not only did it possess two Purple Mansion demon wolves, but its leader, the Purple-Spotted Wolf King, was an immensely powerful Purple Mansion Late Stage demon beast.

It could be said that the Demon Wolf Clan was one of the Heavenly Python Demon King's right-hand arms. If they were not eliminated, they would surely become Heavenly Ruins Mountain's greatest threat thirty years from now.

"The demon wolves have three Purple Mansion realm experts. Patriarch Jiang will have to face three alone—this will likely be a bitter battle." The old clan chief stood beside Chen Nianzhi, his expression grave. "When the battle begins, do not leave the formation, and do not stray too far from me."

"I understand." Chen Nianzhi nodded.

On the other side, as the battle was about to erupt, Patriarch Jiang finally emerged from the clouds and mist.

Chen Nianzhi looked over. At first glance, he was struck by her beauty; upon closer inspection, he found her peerlessly exquisite. After looking a few more times, he found it difficult to look away.

She wore a flowing white immortal robe with broad embroidered sleeves. She merely stood there in silence, faint, hazy sword light enveloping her, while an edge sharp enough to make others afraid to meet her gaze radiated from her.

"That is the legendary Sword Intent Protection. It is said that a Tier 4 Life-Bound Immortal Sword can unite sword and wielder as one, the Life-Bound Immortal Sword existing alongside the cultivator."

"Anyone who tries to attack such a sword cultivator will trigger the Life-Bound Immortal Sword within their body to automatically counterattack in an instant, slaying enemies from a thousand li away. It can attack and defend alike, with unparalleled battle prowess."

"But Patriarch Jiang is only at the peak of Purple Mansion realm. Who knows what method she used to break through the limits of a life-bound artifact and raise the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword to the Tier 4 Golden Core realm?"

As the old clan chief spoke, a trace of envy showed in his eyes. That was a Tier 4 Life-Bound Immortal Sword. Its power was enough to make even Golden Core True Persons treat it cautiously, yet its consumption was only thirty percent of an artifact of the same tier.

That was precisely why Jiang Daoist had such an enormous demand for Five Elements Essence. What ordinary Tier 3 Upper-grade life-bound artifact needed twenty thousand Spirit Stones' worth of Five Elements Essence every year for refinement?

And that was why Jiang Linglong could be called the foremost Purple Mansion cultivator of Chu Kingdom. Over the past two hundred years, she had slain more than ten Purple Mansion enemies. Humans, demons, and devils alike—she had cut through all three kinds of Purple Mansion opponents, carving out a fearsome reputation.

Other female Purple Mansion cultivators were addressed as Fairy or Senior, but Jiang Linglong was called Jiang Daoist or Patriarch Jiang. That title had been won with the very heads of her enemies.

Listening to this, Chen Nianzhi quickly suppressed the stir in his heart and could only mutter inwardly, Forget it. All love at first sight is nothing more than lust at the sight of beauty.

"Mm."

In the distant sky, Jiang Linglong's eyes shifted slightly. Her gaze fell upon Chen Nianzhi, and she paused for a moment.

Lin Qianshu followed her gaze, surprise flashing through her eyes as she said,

"He actually reached Foundation Establishment. His bone age is only a little over twenty, yet he has already achieved Self-Foundation Establishment. In the future, he will likely be one of our peers."

"Master truly has eyes like blazing torches. You spotted such a fine seedling at a glance."

"You misunderstand."

Jiang Linglong shook her head and said with a serious expression, "I simply think he is rather good-looking."

"Mm. His bearing is not bad either."

Lin Qianshu: "..."

With battle imminent, this was no time for jokes.

Retracting her gaze, Jiang Linglong made no elaborate battle mobilization. She merely announced simply,

"This battle must be concluded swiftly. If any of you dare to loaf on the job or play tricks, do not blame me for settling accounts after autumn."

"Begin."

Jiang Linglong was fair by nature, yet her character was also razor-sharp. Everyone both respected and feared her, so naturally none dared to slack off.

More than six thousand cultivators gathered together and launched a surprise attack upon Demon Wolf Mountain, quickly catching the Demon Wolf Clan completely off guard.

Only two hours after the battle began, the Demon Wolf Clan had been forced back step by step, encircled within the Tier 3 Upper-grade Spirit Vein atop Demon Wolf Mountain.

But by then, the Purple Mansion demon beasts on Demon Wolf Mountain had reacted and begun organizing the demon beasts to counterattack.

There were countless demon beasts in the Great Wilderness. Since the Beast Turmoil, the Demon Race around Demon Wolf Mountain had multiplied for nearly seventy years. The number of Tier 1 demon beasts they had accumulated was surely in the tens of thousands.

Facing the endless tide of demon beasts, everyone soon began to feel the pressure.

"Activate the formation flags together! No one is allowed to slack off!"

At the critical moment, Chen Nianzhi commanded the formation flags and shouted loudly.

More than a hundred cultivators joined forces to activate the formation flags, unleashing streams of Western Extreme True Fire that burned the demon beasts at the front into a retreat, forcing them back again and again.