Chapter 268 I'm Back!

Ji An now has a clear understanding of the key to breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage. As long as his cultivation reaches the Foundation Establishment stage and he takes the Peiyuan Pill, with his understanding of the cultivation method, using the Bing Fire of the Sun as a catalyst to ignite the Yuanming Fire should be a natural outcome.

Uncle-Master Jia Yu had once revealed this information, so he was confident that he could break through to the Chaoyuan stage.

His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like thunder to Liu Yu and Ge Luoying.

Liu Yu couldn't help but recall the scene when the two first met. The light of the universe shifted, and the cultivator who had just successfully opened his meridians was now confident of breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage.

Ge Luoying's gaze turned serious. The tone of his junior brother's voice just now was strikingly similar to the composed manner in which his junior brother Li Haoran had spoken: "Once I break through to the Chaoyuan stage, I'll have a proper battle with Master!"

Li Haoran raised an eyebrow slightly, revealing a look of keen interest:

"I've remembered what you said, junior brother."

In the three-way competition that year, he was the first in the late Foundation Establishment group, with a perfect record of 20 wins.

In the Western Continent, cultivators of the same realm have no equal.

The day the sect refines the Nourishing Essence Pill will be the day he breaks through to the Chaoyuan stage.

At that time, as a 'newcomer' in the Chaoyuan period, he will have more motivation to challenge himself.

Li Haoran sighed inwardly, 'Looks like I'm going to be disappointed.'

He believed that the other party's words were just an excuse to shirk responsibility, and that if the two sides were to fight now, he might gain some experience.

Future battles would likely be dull and tedious crushing defeats, as it's not difficult for cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage to find one with comprehensive magical abilities.

On the path of cultivation, if one is slow at one step, one will be slow at every step, and the gap between him and the other can only widen.

'Perhaps only by going to a more prosperous cultivation region can I climb to the peak more quickly.'

Li Haoran looked up slightly, and the sky was filled with stars like a sea.

'When I am invincible in the Chaoyuan era, that will be the time for me to journey to the Central Continent!'

Wei Songnian regained consciousness from the teleportation array, followed the instructions to walk out of the main hall, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

He hurriedly lowered his head, facing the wall with his back to everyone, and quickly wiped away the tears of relief he had just survived.

Of the more than sixty members of the Wei clan in Xiancheng, only five remain.

He was an uncle who was too old to fight, and a nephew who was too weak and only responsible for transporting the wounded.

There were also two disciples with superior aptitude who were in the late stage of Qi Refining. At the beginning of the war, they were nominated by the family as core disciples.

The sect promised to do its best to protect them, so they were not conscripted into battle.

Other families are in similar situations.

"Songnian, is this the gate of the Golden Spirit Sect?"

The spiritual energy here is so abundant, it's many times stronger than that of Xiaozhushan!

Tears welled in Wei Qingbai's cloudy eyes, and his tone was ambiguous.

Xiaozhushan has suffered a severe blow and it is unknown how many years it will take to recover.

Powerful sects retain more elite disciples, and thus become even more prosperous in the future.

He felt wronged!

This battle dealt a heavy blow to the power of the families in Xizhou.

“Yes,” Wei Songnian quickly glanced around; the scenery here was unfamiliar to him.

"Is the spiritual energy in your cave also this rich?"

Wei Songnian grinned and said with a wry smile:

"Sixth Uncle, you're joking. Within the mountain gate, there are third-order spiritual vein nodes, and second-order spiritual vein nodes are everywhere. The density of spiritual energy is beyond question."

My cave dwelling is merely a first-tier top-grade node; how can it be compared to this!

"A first-tier top-grade node is also good, just like the cultivation place of the clan leader and elders in Xiaozhu Mountain."

Wei Qingbai sighed inwardly, for the sect possessed a high-level spiritual vein, something that a family could not compare to.

He paused, then lowered his voice and asked:

"What arrangements will the Golden Spirit Sect make for us?"

Previously, entering a sect's territory required registration and was subject to strict time restrictions.

Wei Songnian shook his head slightly:

"I don't know either. Judging from what the uncle in charge of the formation said, the ancestor will be teleported back last. Let's wait patiently."

You lot, don't wander around aimlessly.

The spiritual energy here is extremely dense, even stronger than that of Crimson Flame Peak, so it must be a core area of ​​the sect.

The three Qi Refining stage disciples nodded in unison, "Fourteenth Uncle, we've got it."

A white light flashed across the teleportation array, and True Person Zhengyang, True Person Yuxiao, and several rogue cultivators appeared.

Master Zhengyang opened his eyes and said:

"Huaige, dismantle the magic array immediately."

The teleportation array between Yingri Peak and Mingfeng Mountain is bidirectional. Now that all the surviving cultivators have been teleported back, the array here can no longer be preserved.

"Yes, sir," Chu Huaige, a formation master at the Chaoyuan stage, replied and immediately began to dismantle the formation.

As the two immortals walked out of the main hall, the discussions in the square quickly ceased.

"Greetings, Ancestor."

"Greetings, Master."

The people in the square were clearly divided into three groups: the largest number of sect cultivators, followed by cultivators from various families, and a group of independent cultivators.

These independent cultivators persisted until the very last moment, and were thus brought back by the sect.

Fiery clouds rose from beneath Zhengyang Zhenren's feet, lifting him into the air.

"Thank you all for your hard work in the Battle of Mingfeng Mountain! We did our best to defend Mingfeng Mountain, greatly depleted the forces of the demon beast clan, and achieved unprecedented results."

But the demonic calamity is not over yet; more battles await us.

Tomorrow, we will dispatch spirit boats to take you back to your clans or back to Qingyun Immortal City.

We also welcome any cultivators who wish to join our sect.

However, tonight, those who are not from this sect will have to make do here.

The main targets for recruitment are independent cultivators who have survived brutal battles; both strength and luck are indispensable.

The sect is currently in need of manpower, and the cultivators recruited can join the Enforcement Hall.

Once the demonic calamity ends and the innocence of these new disciples is verified, the sect will be willing to accept them.

"Thank you for your mercy, Master! We are willing to join!"

The rogue cultivators were overjoyed; this was truly a stroke of good fortune, like spirit stones falling from the sky!

Although I know that joining a sect will inevitably involve doing dirty and tiring work, even if it's tough, it's still more comfortable than being a rogue cultivator.

Wang Dachui was so excited he couldn't stop smiling, feeling that he had finally made it through.

After the speech, the disciples of the sect left one by one.

Those whose offspring join the sect and are family members of a Foundation Establishment cultivator can also leave together.

Li Haoran said softly:

"Everyone, until we meet again. I'm going to see my master."

"Senior sister, are you going over now?"

Growing laughed:

"Junior brother, go ahead, I'll be there soon."

Li Haoran nodded slightly, then leaped up with his sword and flew to Lin Qiubai's position in mid-air.

Looking at the other person's upright posture, Gloin said with a sigh of relief:

"Being with him is putting more and more pressure on me."

Her former junior brother was about to break through to the Chaoyuan stage, while she had not yet broken through to the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

The gap is widening, and it's uncertain whether the camaraderie among fellow disciples can be maintained in the future.

There was no point in responding to that; Ji An simply chuckled sheepishly.

Liu Yu cupped his hands and said:

"I've been quite exhausted these past few days. I'll go back to my cave and rest for a few days. Junior brother, I'll visit Crimson Flame Peak in three days."

Ji An smiled and said:

"I've prepared a warm welcome for you."

Glory blinked and smiled:

"May I come along too?"

She now fully acknowledges Ji An's abilities and is prepared to heed her great-aunt's advice and cultivate a closer relationship with him.

"Welcome!"

"See you in three days then," Groin said, riding away on his sword.

Ji An glanced around and strode toward Wei Songnian.

"Junior brother, are you going back to your cave? We can go together on the way."

He paused, then said:

"Junior brother, are you feeling any better now?"

"I piloted the flying boat and traveled with my senior brother."

Wei Songnian shook his head almost imperceptibly and transmitted his voice:

"I occasionally experience pain in my dantian, and these past few days I haven't been able to improve my cultivation at all. I'm afraid..."

Ji An frowned slightly and comforted him:

"Junior brother, don't be discouraged. If you rest and recuperate for a while longer, things may turn around."

"Senior brother, there's no need to comfort me. For me, being able to escape with my life is a stroke of luck."

Wei Songnian summoned the flying boat. He had figured it out. Reaching the Chaoyuan stage was a pipe dream. Even if his cultivation could not advance any further, he would still be content as long as he could maintain the Foundation Establishment stage.

In the future, instead of spending time and resources to improve their cultivation, they can achieve more in the family business.

"Senior brother, let me introduce you. This is my sixth uncle, Wei Qingbai, and these are my nephews, Wei."

"Sixth Uncle, this is my sect's best friend, Senior Brother Ji An."

After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Songnian piloted the flying boat away.

At the end of the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), the flying boat arrived at Green Bamboo Valley.

The outline of Crimson Flame Peak could already be vaguely seen, and Ji An felt as if he had been transported to another world.

He sighed inwardly, wondering how many fellow disciples had shed their blood on Mingfeng Mountain, and how many caves would never welcome back their former masters.

He cupped his hands slightly and said:

"Thank you for seeing me off, junior brother."

He then transmitted his voice:

"Try to find out in the next few days whether you can bring your relatives to the sect for a while."

The monsters continued westward, and the protective formations of many families were simply no match for their attack.

The disappearance of numerous family forces due to the demonic calamity is now inevitable.

"Senior brother, you're too kind."

Wei Songnian responded with a telepathic message:

"Thank you for reminding me, senior brother. That's exactly what I was thinking."

He planned to bring his Daoist partner over, and if possible, bring a few more promising family disciples to the sect, before leaving after the demonic calamity ended.

Such behavior would certainly not have been permitted in the past, but the current situation is special, and the sect should be lenient.

Even sects would probably not want to see a large number of families completely destroyed in the demon calamity.

"Farewell. If you have any free time, junior brother, come to Crimson Flame Peak to have a drink with me."

Ji An patted the spirit beast pouch, mounted the golden-feathered eagle, and left.

The flying boat slowly descended into the valley, and Wei Qingbai whispered:

"Songnian, was the cultivator we just saw the one who supplied the family with spiritual wine and talismans?"

"Yes."

"Yes, we need to build a good relationship with this person."

Need I say more?!

Wei Songnian nodded slightly, smiling without saying a word. Befriending Senior Brother Ji was the wisest decision he had ever made in his life.

Ji An made a hand seal, opening the mountain-protecting array, and the golden-feathered eagle flew into it.

Seeing the various second-tier spiritual plants shimmering with spiritual light, he opened his arms, looked up at the sky, and declared in his heart:

'I'm back!'

His physical and mental exhaustion vanished considerably at that moment. He roused himself, patted the golden eagle's back, and laughed:

"Let's land in the cold pool first, and then we'll cast a spell on the second-grade mid-level spirit field together."

The medium-grade spirit fields total only fifty acres, divided into six sections, and will be completed soon.

The golden eagle let out a joyful cry and swooped down.

Beside the cold pool, several top-grade Tianyuan pear trees were all laden with fruit.

Ji An smiled and muttered to himself:

"Another bumper harvest!"

With these spiritual fruits in supply, the growth rate of the Azure Water Turtle will increase slightly.

Ji An activated the Bi Mu Hua Sheng Gong (a technique to transform green wood into life), and the pool water reflected a verdant radiance that fell like rain.

Not only are there spots of light, but also various other unusual phenomena such as green leaves and red flowers, making it a beautiful sight.

Since he mastered the Rejuvenation Technique to perfection, he has had a different experience in both cultivating his skills and casting wood-element spells.

The budding and growing power spread outwards, the spirit tree shimmered with light, and the fruit's color became even brighter.

The rustling of the leaves seemed like joyful applause.

Ji An's hand seals changed, releasing the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique. White mist rolled and spiritual rain poured down, spreading a moistening aura.

The raindrops pattered on the leaves, playing a crisp symphony of life.

He listened quietly to the rain falling, and his mind gradually became calm and peaceful.

After a long while, Ji An came to his senses.

"We must break through to the Chaoyuan stage as soon as possible."

Once you break through to a higher level, you can learn new spells. The spiritual energy you've absorbed from the stone turtle is already incredibly potent!

As the sun rose, the monsters launched their attack once more, sweeping towards Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City like a surging wave.

The bull demon stood at the back, gazing into the distance, and muttered:

"Strange, what are these human cultivators up to?"

In the past, when an attack was launched, the city walls were already filled with cultivators. Today, only the mountain-protecting formation was activated, and no cultivators were seen defending it.

It wondered to itself, 'Don't the humans worry about their spiritual veins dropping in grade?'

The other demon kings were also surprised and began to discuss among themselves.

The Golden-feathered Eagle Demon King took to the air and flew to a high place to observe carefully.

After a while, it let out a hiss:

"There wasn't a single person in the city."

The wild boar demon king, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly jumped up, exclaiming in astonishment:

"Did they all run away? How did they run away?"

Everything was normal yesterday, and there were demons patrolling at night. There was no sign that the enemy had left.

The bull demon said in a deep voice:

"I've heard that human cultivators have a kind of magic array called a teleportation array, which can instantly teleport them to a place tens of thousands of miles away. Could it be that there's a teleportation array inside?"

It had heard the Azure Dragon mention this kind of formation before, but hadn't paid it any attention.

The Black Wind Wolf Demon King was dumbfounded. If all the human cultivators had fled, they would have no choice but to attack the human heartland.

The battle lines are stretched too thin, which is not a good thing. The monsters have expended too much energy at Mingfeng Mountain.

The demon kings rode the black wind towards the immortal city, only to find it completely deserted, like a dead city.

The Golden-feathered Eagle Demon King flew into a rage, completely unable to sense the magical aura emanating from the cultivator who had slaughtered its descendants.

The demon kings stirred up demonic winds and pressed down on the magic array.

On the ground, low-level monsters also arrived at the foot of the city walls and began their attack.

Half an hour later, the spiritual light of the mountain-protecting array suddenly dimmed, and the array plates buried at each node of the array shattered with a crash.

Monsters surged into the immortal city like a tidal wave, and the demon kings ordered a thorough search, but they did not land.

Before long, the fastest monster had already run to the top of the mountain.

"boom!"

A tremendous roar followed, and the mountaintop was engulfed in flames.

The explosion was powerful enough to harm the demon kings.

Those monsters that made it to the top of the mountain were blown to pieces before they could even scream.

The demon kings' eyes all twitched. The Black Wolf Demon King twitched his lips and bared his teeth, saying:

"These human cultivators are truly despicable!"

(End of this chapter)