"Judging from this appearance, it's not something that could be achieved in a day... It has indeed been lying low for a long time before suddenly launching an attack."
Ding Chengyu's eyes lit up with golden light as he carefully examined the array flags in all eight directions of the county city, saying this as he looked.
Chen Shuangbai stood beside him, also observing the place with her Spirit-Appraising Pupil. She saw that the array was arranged very well, and it did not seem to have been set up hastily at all. Moreover, setting up such a large-scale array would require a huge amount of spiritual materials, which could not have been accomplished overnight.
"Where 'Cheng Yin? Get out here!"
Exalted Cultivator Li stood atop the Flowing Light Cloud Boat, holding a jade-green spirit sword. His voice, like thunder, boomed into the formation, carrying undisguised anger.
Several figures slowly emerged from the billowing demonic energy.
Without exception, they were all members of the Cheng Lineage family's pro-war faction.
The person in the lead was none other than Cheng Yin, the head of the Cheng Lineage family.
Cheng Yin had a slender face, white hair, and flowing sleeves, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance. If it weren't for the surging demonic energy surrounding him, ordinary mortals would probably respectfully call him a celestial being.
He raised his head, his gaze meeting Exalted Cultivator Li's murderous eyes without wavering, and sneered, "What? Even now, you still want to lecture me Cheng Yin, and the East Mountain Cheng Lineage?"
Looking at his appearance, Exalted Cultivator Li spat and replied coldly, "I'm here today to quell the rebellion; why should I waste my breath on you?"
"Heh, then why are you acting all high and mighty?"
"Did you still think you could persuade me to turn back from the wrong path...? Too late!"
Cheng Yin's originally calm face was now somewhat distorted, and he roared, "..."
" Li Changfeng! Stop pretending to be benevolent here! My Cheng Lineage has served the Jade Spring Sect like cattle and horses for hundreds of years, guarding this place for your family for hundreds of years... and what have we gained in the end?"
"It's nothing but scraps! Nothing but cattle and horses manipulated by your Jade Spring Sect!"
Exalted Cultivator Li coldly watched his madness, his killing intent growing stronger, and the spirit sword in his hand eager to strike, as if it would be used to kill at any moment.
Stubborn to the end!
"I originally intended to ask you, in the name of Junior Brother Cheng, whether you were forced by villains. But now it seems... there's no need to waste any more words. Bring out the people from the Transformation Sect behind you, and my Jade Spring Sect will quell the rebellion today!"
Sword cultivators are inherently guided by their own hearts. Exalted Cultivator Li is also a sword cultivator, and a sword cultivator who has cultivated Sword Essence, a great sword cultivator who has the potential to obtain the Golden Core... He wanted to ask about it earlier out of consideration for fellow disciples, but now... all that remains is a heart full of killing intent.
Faced with the aggressive Exalted Cultivator Li and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Cheng Yin, though still somewhat delirious, knew that he was powerless to do anything about it with his own cultivation level.
Behind him, amidst the billowing demonic energy, the Transformation Sect, shrouded in a black robe, slowly appeared. His eerie green eyes coldly surveyed the Jade Spring Sect members, and he spoke in a strange tone.
"Oh dear, don't get so angry..."
"Fellow Daoists of the Jade Spring Sect, you are guests from afar, why the need for such shouting and killing? Patriarch Cheng merely wants to lead his Lineage to a better future. People strive for higher positions, water flows downhill, this is the natural order, why force it?"
His tone was casual, as if he were chatting, but the cold, obscure yet vast spiritual pressure emanating from him spread like a tide, subtly resonating with the entire demonic array.
All the disciples of the Jade Spring Sect felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, and even their breathing became somewhat difficult.
Golden Core!
Exalted Cultivator Li's pupils contracted slightly. At that moment, the entire formation of the flying boat alliance creaked and groaned, clearly being crushed by the spiritual pressure of the opponent's Golden Core True Person level.
But at that very moment, snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky, and a faint fragrance wafted in from who-knows-where.
The cultivators looked up at the sky.
A figure stood above, with long, black hair reaching her waist, a simple jade hairpin tucked into her hair. Her expression was aloof, but her powerful and radiant Divine Ability abilities shone brightly in the sky.
True Person Mei!
Chen Shuangbai originally thought that True Person Bo would make a move during this trip, but she never expected... it would be True Person Mei made the move?!
The envoy from the Transformation Sect narrowed his eyes, looking at the suddenly appearing True Person Mei. He showed no surprise, but slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Mei's reputation, even though my Transformation Sect has long been present in the Xu Kingdom, is still..."
Amidst the faint fragrance, a touch of pale pink light flickered, like a branch of a celestial plum tree reaching down to the ground, crashing down and slicing a corner of the entire grand formation.
In an instant, the accumulated demonic energy surged forth, and the once perfectly harmonious formation collapsed in a corner.
Within the formation, the buildings collapsed with a deafening roar, crushing countless members of the Cheng Lineage clan to death.
A sense of gravity slowly rose in the envoy's heart, because that sword strike just now... was faster than he could react.
True Person Mei held no sword, only a sprig of winter plum blossom.
Amidst the biting wind and snow, the plum blossoms were in full bloom, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air. Chen Shuangbai recognized them—they were no ordinary winter plum blossoms, but were clearly formed from condensed Sword Essence.
"Fine, fine! So you really want to break ties with my Transformation Sect, huh!"
The envoy of the Transformation Sect suddenly flew into a rage, but True Person Mei merely looked at him with a distant and indifferent expression, as if he were looking at a corpse.
She merely glanced indifferently at the man in black robes, her clear, cold voice like icy spring water dripping onto a jade plate, reaching everyone's ears clearly. "If you want to fight, then come and fight! My Jade Spring Sect will accompany you to the end!"
"As for the East Mountain Cheng Lineage... wipe them out."
The appearance of True Person Mei prevented the Transformation Sect from focusing on dealing with the disciples of the Jade Spring Sect below the Golden Core stage. However, he had anticipated this, and said sternly, "If the Jade Spring Sect truly intends to destroy the East Mountain Cheng Lineage, then you can forget about East Mountain Commandery!"
Something suddenly appeared in his hand.
It was a strange stone sphere, grayish-white in color, no bigger than a fist, and shaped like a heart.
The surface of the stone sphere was covered with fine, intricate, dark red patterns that resembled blood vessels, beating rhythmically like a heart, exuding an eerie aura.
"That's... Earth Vein Demonic Seed?!"
Li Changfeng was horrified, and the others who knew its value also changed their expressions drastically.
The reason why Xu Kingdom 'Transformation Sect is still safe and sound is twofold: first, because the Nascent Soul sect leader is wary of his junior brother, the Heart-Eroding Stronghold Dock, who possesses something that can restrain him; and second, because of this Earth Vein Demonic Seed.
To put it bluntly, this thing is extracted from the earth's deep Sha Qi and dead energy, and refined using special demonic methods. Once it self-destructs, depending on the cultivation level of the person who refined it, it will at least pollute the surrounding area for several miles, and at worst pollute the earth's spiritual energy for hundreds or even thousands of miles, turning it into a desolate place where crops cannot survive and no humans or animals can survive.