The Verdant Sea
"Protector Mo, take fifty Foundation Establishment disciples and a hundred Qi Refining Stage disciples to reinforce the Verdant Sea. Damn it, those bastards from the Spirit Moon Sect suddenly sent another force over there, and we've suffered heavy casualties," an elder ordered.
"Yes, this disciple accepts the order." Though Mo Shang was unwilling to go to the battlefield, the assignment had fallen to him, and he could not avoid it.
After assembling his forces, Mo Shang summoned the black cloud and took the disciples straight to the front.
The black cloud might look sluggish, slower even than a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator's flying sword, but it was a genuine Law Treasure. Though damaged, its defensive power remained intact. It could hold out for several hours even under the full assault of a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator wielding a Law Treasure. It was one of the few good things Mo Shang possessed.
After about a day, Mo Shang and the disciples arrived at the Verdant Sea.
It was a bamboo forest that stretched as far as the eye could see. Whenever a breeze passed through, the bamboo rippled like waves, and the rustling gave it something of the charm of the sea.
Mo Shang, however, had no mind to admire the scenery. All he could think about was how to stay alive on the battlefield.
Although a Nascent Soul patriarch could not possibly take part in a battle of this level, he was only at the Early Golden Core Stage and had become a protector just a few years ago. He did not even have a decent Law Treasure on him. There were simply far too many people on this battlefield who could kill him.
As the black cloud descended, a woman in blood-red robes stood in the air to greet him. "Protector Mo, it's been a long time. I didn't expect the sect to send you here."
Mo Shang stepped out of the black cloud and bowed slightly. "Elder Li, it's been some time, and you've grown even prettier. Looks like you've had your way with plenty of people on the other side."
Everyone in the Devil Creek Sect knew that Elder Li, Li Xiao, loved pleasure. Sounds of debauchery often came from the cave abode where she lived, and many sect disciples who went in had never come out. She made no distinction between men and women, and in the disciples' eyes, her place had practically become a forbidden area of the sect.
It was said that she had defected from the Hehuan Sect. No one knew whether that was true, but judging by the way she conducted herself, it was certainly possible.
The female elder Li Xiao gave an enchanting smile and teased, "Protector Mo, would you like to come sit in my tent?"
Mo Shang showed no fear and walked over openly. "As it happens, I have something to discuss with you, Elder Li. Sorry for the trouble."
After all, there was little difference between their cultivation levels, so Mo Shang naturally had no reason to fear her.
"The sect master has given us a task this time. Let's see how we're going to carry it out."
Li Xiao's expression turned serious. "What task did that old fellow give us? Don't tell me he wants us to kill that fellow on the other side... Shangguan Ouyang?"
"That old fellow is at the Middle Golden Core Stage, and he has a flying sword Law Treasure. The two of us alone can't kill him."
Mo Shang gave a bitter smile and did not answer directly. "Come on, let's talk inside."
Once inside the main tent, Mo Shang spoke frankly. "The sect master wants us to keep Shangguan Ouyang occupied. He's at the Middle Golden Core Stage, and he has an azure-gold flying sword. His combat strength is formidable."
"To keep him from causing trouble for the plans that follow, we have to at least keep him occupied. Of course, it would be best if we could kill him. The sect master promised that if we kill him, everything he has will be ours, and we'll receive two additional Law Treasures as a reward, one defensive and one offensive."
Li Xiao's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she was visibly tempted. She paced back and forth for a while before saying, "Protector Mo, I'll leave you to keep an eye on the battlefield. I'm going to get some help. I refuse to believe I can't play one measly Middle Golden Core Stage cultivator to death!"
With that, Li Xiao did not wait for Mo Shang to refuse. She flashed away and flew off.
Looking around the otherwise empty tent, Mo Shang shook his head and issued an order. "All disciples, listen up. Pull back the defensive line and avoid battle for the next few days. Don't let the Spirit Moon Sect find an opening."
After setting up the camp, Mo Shang took out the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and placed it overhead. Every lingering yin soul on the battlefield that had yet to dissipate was drawn toward it.
Five days passed like this. Aside from a few small-scale clashes, both sides remained at peace.
During those days, Shen Ge ate, slept, woke up and ate again. His presence had already surged to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and he had developed several methods of attack.
One was Soul Scream, a divine soul attack.
Another was his claws, a physical attack.
The last was spitting yin fire, which involved setting the soul energy he had yet to fully digest alight and spitting it out.
He had not yet tested it in actual combat, so he did not know how powerful it was. Still, it could burn an ordinary yin soul to nothing in a few breaths, so its power was considerable.
By Shen Ge's reckoning, it should be able to hurt those Qi Refining Stage weaklings.
At the other end of the Verdant Sea, a woman descended on a flying sword and landed in the camp.
The moment she appeared, the whole camp grew livelier.
"Look, Senior Sister Liuyue is here! I didn't expect her to come."
"Looks like Senior Sister Liuyue made more progress during this secluded cultivation. I reckon it might not be long before she enters the Golden Core Stage."
"If I remember right, Senior Sister Liuyue joined the sect less than a hundred and fifty years ago. Surely she won't reach Golden Core that quickly?"
"Who knows? It depends on fortune. If fortune comes, Senior Sister Liuyue could break through tonight. If it doesn't, she might have to spend some time building her foundation."
Just then, a man went up to greet her. He wore white robes and a golden crown, and he looked as graceful as a jade tree in the wind. "Junior Sister Liuyue, you've come out of seclusion?"
Su Liuyue nodded lightly. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. But I've only just arrived and still have to report to Grand Martial Uncle Shangguan, so I won't stay to chat."
"Of course, of course. Go see Martial Uncle first, Junior Sister. We can talk next time."
The man was Qin Yu, the eldest senior brother of Azure Jade Peak. He was no weakling himself, being at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Though he could not match a personal disciple like Su Liuyue, he was not far behind.
She came to a large tent, where a graceful, distinguished-looking man sat. His hair, however, was white.
Su Liuyue bowed. "Disciple Su Liuyue pays her respects to Martial Uncle Shangguan."
"Oh, so it's Martial Niece Liuyue. Sit wherever you like."
Although Su Liuyue's master, Mo Qingyu, was his junior, her cultivation had now surpassed his, and Shangguan Ouyang no longer wanted to bring up being a generation above her.
After all, on the path of cultivation, those who had attained mastery had been regarded as teachers since ancient times. Being older could not mean you were in the right, could it? Seniority changed with strength.
"Martial Uncle Shangguan, I have a letter here from the sect master. He was worried that using a voice-transmission Law Treasure might not be secure, so he asked me to bring it to you on my way."
"Oh?" Shangguan Ouyang exclaimed softly, a little curious. "I wonder what they're plotting this time."
Taking the envelope, Shangguan Ouyang swept it with his divine sense. Only after confirming that the restriction was still intact did he open it and read.
But after just one glance, the smile vanished from his face, and his expression grew serious.
"Martial Niece, this is a war token. Act as you see fit, but don't go too deep, or you might fall into an ambush."