Chapter 102: Have I become an SSS-rank item?
The heavy sound of war drums suddenly came from the depths of the sandstorm, overpowering the howling wind and drowning out the wolf howls!
A surge of scorching blood energy swept over, greatly dispelling the surrounding cold and malevolent aura!
"Ji family lads! Follow me to break through the formation!" Ji Kuangshi's thunderous roar resounded across the battlefield.
Amidst the swirling sand and wind, his imposing figure charged forward alone, wielding a massive battle axe that swung down with a devastating "mountain-splitting" strike!
Before the axe blade even arrived, the fierce wind had already plowed a deep trench in the ground!
Click!
A tearing sound rang out. A wolf rider who was lunging towards the carriage was cleaved in two at the waist by the giant axe's gust of wind! Blood and entrails splattered everywhere!
Wuya Mingzhu stood atop the chariot, the "Prayer for War Drum" playing a stirring rhythm, and faint red halos spread out, making the people of Tianyan Sect feel refreshed and their fatigue lessened.
On the flank, fifty heavy cavalrymen, led by Ji Bailie, formed a "wedge formation" and launched a charge.
Spears fell like a forest, horses' hooves thundered as they pounded the earth, the entire cavalry formation was as one, and they plunged fiercely into the chaotic wolf riders!
"Pfft! Pfft!"
The armor-piercing spearhead easily tore through the wolf skin and the crude iron armor, sending limbs and severed parts flying everywhere.
In the distance, Ji Hongying rode on the back of an exceptionally magnificent giant wolf, her massive crossbow in her hand as steady as a rock.
Whoosh—smack!
A crossbow bolt pierced the eye socket of a wolf rider who was about to launch a sneak attack on Tiepan from the side and rear, exiting from the back of his head with a spray of blood.
Her expression was stern as she quickly and skillfully wound the winder again.
The arrival of Ji family's new forces instantly turned the tide of the battle!
As the pressure on Shen Yunzhou eased, his sword light became even sharper and faster, specifically seeking out gaps and openings to deliver a fatal blow to the wolf riders whose formation had been broken up by the cavalry and who were in a panic.
Ji Qianqiu laughed wildly, his fists becoming even more ferocious, joining forces with his father, who seemed like a war god descended to earth. The father and son, one with fists and the other with axe, complemented each other, like tigers among sheep, invincible.
Xie Chen let out a long sigh of relief, finally able to catch his breath. He changed his hand seals, turning the array inside the carriage into a small-scale "spirit gathering array." Although the effect was weak, it was enough to help everyone slowly recover a trace of spiritual energy.
The Black Wolf Riders suffered heavy casualties. The remaining riders let out unwilling and fearful howls, no longer able to organize an attack. They fled in disarray into the deep sandstorm, escaping in panic.
It came suddenly and left quickly.
In a short while, the wolf riders scattered and vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the lingering smell of blood and a chaotic battlefield.
Ji Qianqiu wiped the warm blood splattered on her face and rushed over excitedly: "Father! Mother! Little Sister! Second Uncle! You came just in time!"
Ji Kuangshi sheathed his giant axe, let out a loud laugh, and patted his son's incredibly strong shoulder heavily: "Good lad! You didn't disgrace your old man! It's just that this punch lacked a bit of ferocity!"
Wuya Mingzhu nimbly leaped down from the chariot carrying the "Prayer War Drum". Her eyes were sharp as an eagle's. She quickly scanned the entire scene to make sure that none of the Ji family's sons had suffered serious injuries. Then she walked quickly to Ji Qianqiu, grabbed his arm, and deftly examined the few faint white marks on his arm with her fingers.
"She's tough and won't die!" she said crisply, with the characteristic disdain of a mother, yet also genuine reassurance.
Immediately afterwards, her gaze passed over her son and landed on Fang Li, who was being helped down from the damaged carriage by Ling Shuang.
Seeing that Fang Li's face was slightly pale due to the depletion of spiritual energy and the erosion of evil energy, and that her clothes were also covered in dust, Wu Yamingzhu immediately frowned and took a few steps forward to naturally grasp Fang Li's hand.
"Good child, are you alright?" Her tone instantly softened, completely different from before. "The evil energy of the Western Wilderness and Northern Frontier is most likely to erode the soul of cultivators. You just used your spiritual power, so you must be feeling quite uncomfortable. Don't move, let your mother take a look."
Her palms were warm and dry, and a wisp of her vital energy flowed into Fang Li's body through the magical artifact, effectively dispelling the biting cold and helping her calm her mind. At the same time, she turned her head and called out, "Hongying! Fetch a pot of my stored 'Warm Jade Elixir'! Use it to calm the children!"
Fang Li finally relaxed and whispered, "Thank you, Aunt Ji. I'm fine."
Wuya Mingzhu gently patted the back of her hand, her smile hearty: "Why are you being so polite with your mother! You feel right at home in this Western Wilderness! When we get to the city, your mother will give you a good rest and nourishment!"
Ji Hongying deftly tossed over an exquisite leather wine pouch, smiling as she said, "Sister Fang Li, here! This is a treasured possession of my mother's; it's incredibly effective at warming the heart and stomach!"
Beside him, Ji Qianqiu scratched his head and grinned foolishly. Shen Yunzhou silently sheathed his sword, his gaze sweeping over them. Xie Chen's hand, which was waving a folding fan, paused slightly. They all took in this scene full of contrasts.
Ji Kuangshi had finished inspecting the battlefield. His expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "The Black Wolf Tribe has been acting strangely lately. Their malevolent energy has spread to the Western Wilderness, and the area around the Holy Mountain is even more filled with malevolent energy. It's too dangerous outside. This is not the place to talk. Let's go home first!"
Everyone agreed. Soon, under the tight protection of the Ji family army, the convoy set off again, heading towards Westwind City.
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The heavy stone gate of Ji Family Fort slowly closed behind them, shutting out the harsh winds and sandstorms of the wasteland and the invisible malevolent energy.
The fortress was brightly lit, and the flickering firelight reflected off the rugged stone walls, bringing a long-lost warmth and sense of security.
Wuya Mingzhu acted swiftly and decisively, having already made all the necessary arrangements. Hot water, clean bandages, and medicine for treating internal and external injuries were quickly delivered to everyone.
She personally watched as everyone took the pills to dispel the evil energy, and then ordered the kitchen to cook hot meat soup and warming medicinal dishes.
"Don't just stand there, quickly adjust your breathing and recover. The evil energy in this Western Wilderness has already seeped into everything, and if you linger too long, it will damage your foundation." Her voice was crisp, and her gaze swept over the slightly tired crowd. When it finally landed on Fang Li, her tone softened unconsciously. "Fang girl, I specially added an extra slice of old ginseng to this bowl of ginseng and deer antler soup for you. Drink it quickly and warm yourself up."
Her care for Fangli was obvious; it was warm and thoughtful, making it hard to refuse.
In the center of the hall, a bonfire was burning brightly.
Ji Kuangshi sat with Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, Mo Yun, and others, speaking with a solemn expression about his experiences in the Northern Frontier.
“The Black Wolf Tribe has gone completely mad in the last few years.” Ji Kuangshi’s voice was deep and somber. “The sacrificial activities are becoming increasingly bizarre. The Holy Mountain is shrouded in black mist day and night, and you can hear strange noises coming from it from a great distance. They don’t sound like human voices, nor do they sound like wolf howls.”
He took a swig of strong liquor and continued, "You've all seen their wolf riders. They're bloodthirsty and ferocious, utterly unafraid of death, and even more ruthless when wounded. This isn't just ordinary battle frenzy; it's more like... their minds have been completely devoured by something, turning them into puppets who only know how to kill."
Xie Chen pondered for a moment and asked, "Uncle Ji, what is the current situation within the Black Wolf Tribe?"
“The division is severe.” Ji Kuangshi sighed. “Some of the elders still uphold the ancient oath, believing that the Holy Mountain is sacred and inviolable. They call themselves the traditionalists, but now they are weak and suffocating under the pressure. The other faction is the Soul Devouring Sect, which has joined the Demonic Sect. Its power has grown greatly, and it is becoming more and more unscrupulous.”
He lowered his voice: "According to several traditionalist warriors who fought their way out, the entrance to the Holy Mountain Secret Realm is very likely in 'Black Wind Valley'."
Mo Yun immediately took out the leather map, spread it out, and pointed his finger at the valley marked with a red cross in cinnabar. The location matched perfectly.
"But the place is now heavily guarded by the Soul Devouring Sect, and it is said that there are also strange monsters they have created wandering around. Moreover, it has an ancient and powerful restriction, making it extremely difficult to get close."
At this moment, Wuya Mingzhu came over and distributed strings of wolf tooth amulets strung together with leather cords to the members of the Tianyan Sect.
Each wolf tooth is engraved with unique ancient runes and feels warm to the touch.
“Wear this,” she said. “It has the blessing of our Ji family’s war sacrifice on it. It can resist the erosion of ordinary evil energy. Low-level demons and wolf packs generally don’t dare to approach it. It’s a little gadget, but it’s somewhat useful.”
Fang Li took the amulet and felt a warm feeling in her heart as she sensed its gentle aura.
"Mom Ji is so powerful yet so heartwarming! Tongzi, look at Ji Hanhan standing there, chest puffed out and head held high, doesn't he look like a golden retriever waiting for praise?"
System: [“Host! Be confident! Remove the image! This amulet from Aunt Ji is a limited edition ‘Mother-in-law's Care’! Wear it, and the demons of the Northern Frontier will shun.”]
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Ji Qianqiu unconsciously straightened his back and grinned foolishly. Shen Yunzhou and Xie Chen's gazes also shifted almost imperceptibly. Even inside the Forgotten Dust Palace, a certain Immortal Venerable let out a soft snort.
Suddenly, an announcement came from outside the fortress.
A moment later, the hall door opened, and a travel-worn yet still elegant figure stepped in.
Although Chu Yunfan's white robes were stained with dust, his expression remained gentle and composed. He bowed to the crowd.
"I have come to offer my assistance on the orders of my master." His gaze swept across the room, lingering on Fang Li for a moment with a hint of concern. "I heard that you have ventured deep into the Northern Frontier. My master was worried about the fierce evil energy, so he specially ordered me to bring you the 'Heart-Cleansing and Evil-Dispelling Pill,' a secret recipe of the Qingxu Sect. It has a remarkable effect on stabilizing the mind and dispelling evil poison."
He took out several jade bottles and handed them to everyone one by one.
Shen Yunzhou accepted it expressionlessly, Xie Chen smiled and thanked him, but his eyes seemed to deepen slightly, while Ji Qianqiu scratched his head, casually accepted it, and thanked him.
Chu Yunfan walked up to Fang Li and said in a gentle tone, "Junior Sister Fang, you must be tired from your journey. Your master is very concerned about you."
Just as Fang Li was about to answer, a clear and melodious crane cry suddenly came from the sky!
A streak of light pierced straight through the simple protective array of the Ji Family Fortress with an overwhelming force, without triggering any fluctuations.
Before anyone could react, Master Qingxuan's boisterous voice echoed throughout the courtyard: "My dear disciple! My precious disciple! I've missed you so much! Oh dear, this north wind is making my face sting!"
He rode his crane directly to the center of the courtyard, jumped down, and looked around anxiously: "Where's my disciple? Is he alright? Is he alright?"
Everyone was startled and quickly came out of the hall to greet them.
When Master Qingxuan saw that Fang Li was unharmed, he first breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression turned serious. He pulled her, Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, and Ji Qianqiu aside, lowered his voice, and his expression was more solemn than ever before.
"This is a serious matter!" His voice deepened. "I went back and thoroughly searched through ancient texts, and interrogated a few old fogies until I got to the bottom of things! The Soul Devouring Cult's target is probably not just the simple Holy Mountain Secret Realm!"
He looked sharply at Fang Li: "They most likely want to use your 'Chaotic Dao Foundation' as a key, or even as a sacrifice, to completely corrupt or even control the core of the Holy Mountain Secret Realm!"
"The power of chaos can encompass all things and is most easily resonated with. If it is used as a catalyst and supplemented with an evil formation, it is very likely to forcibly shake the foundation of the secret realm, and the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"The higher-ups of the Demonic Sect are likely already aware of your special abilities! My disciple, your journey has been far more perilous than anticipated!"
Without waiting for a reply, he shoved a thick stack of purplish-gold talismans, imbued with spiritual light, into Fang Li's hands: "These are my improved 'Chaotic Thunder Talismans'! Use your chaotic spiritual power to activate them, and their power will double! Use them sparingly, the materials are incredibly expensive!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence, as if the air itself had frozen.
Fang Li exclaimed, "Holy crap! A key? A sacrifice? A system! I've become an SSS-rank quest item?!"
System: [“Host! Calm down! (Screaming chicken) We are a Chaos Dao Foundation, who will corrupt whom is still uncertain! Immortal Venerable, save me—!”]
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunzhou couldn't help but slam his hand onto the hilt of his sword. His knuckles turned white from the force, and although he didn't release any sword energy, it made anyone who got close feel a stinging pain on their skin. His eyes were terrifyingly sharp.
Xie Chen's hand, which was waving a fan, came to a complete stop. The warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving only a cold glint and rapidly working deductions.
Ji Qianqiu roared, his blood boiling: "How dare they touch my junior sister! I'll smash their dog heads in!"
Chu Yunfan's gentle demeanor turned serious, his brows furrowing: "So vicious..."
Ji Kuangshi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his voice booming like thunder: "You little devil, how dare you run wild in the Northern Frontier!"
Wuya Mingzhu stepped forward and shielded Fang Li to her side, her eyes sharp as knives.
Ten thousand miles away, in the Forgotten Dust Palace.
When Ye Wuyang heard "Great Immortal, save me!", the chill around him subsided slightly, but then he suddenly opened his eyes. The desolate sword intent, as cold as ten thousand years of ice, swept out of control in the hall, freezing the entire void!
“...You’re courting death.” His thin lips parted slightly, his voice icy and chilling, containing a terrifying killing intent that seemed to pierce through the void!
At this tense moment, where deathly silence and murderous intent intertwined!
The hairpin in Fang Li's hair, named "Thinking of Home," suddenly heated up, making her scalp tingle! The tip of the hairpin began to tremble violently on its own, pointing sharply in a certain direction outside the hall window!
Fang Li looked up abruptly, a chill running down her spine, her hair standing on end, and she cried out in alarm, "Master! Master! Something... is spying on us! It's very strong! It's very close!"
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