"At this point, I don't have many options left," Elder Yang said gravely.
"The best I can do is have Yang Yuanhe mobilize Foundation Establishment cultivators from Ling County and deploy reinforcements to assist you."
"Here's the plan: I will do my best to hold off the four Purple Mansion-level beasts outside Yuyang Market. Meanwhile, those of you from Feng County should return and join forces with Yuanhe to support Fengyang Market and see if you can stop the Violet-Striped Wolf King."
After Elder Yang finished, many people looked distressed.
For the cultivators of Yu County, losing five Foundation Establishment cultivators and one Purple Mansion elder would make the upcoming battles much harder.
For the Feng County cultivators, even if Xu Daoyuan returned, they were not confident he could withstand the Violet-Striped Wolf King, a late-stage Purple Mansion beast leading tens of thousands of low-level demonic beasts.
This Wolf King had once teamed up with several mid-stage Purple Mansion beasts and even managed to contend with Jiang Linglong, a testament to its immense power. Additionally, it commanded two early-stage Purple Mansion-level beasts.
While everyone was at a loss, Elian exchanged a glance with the elder and finally spoke.
"Elders, if we first defeat the four Purple Mansion beasts outside the city, then concentrate our forces to support Feng County, we might be able to resolve the current crisis."
"Defeat the Purple Mansion beasts outside the city?"
Xu Daoyuan's face lit up with hope, but he quickly frowned and shook his head.
"If we were confident in defeating them, I wouldn't be so troubled."
Elian exchanged another look with the patriarch, who stepped forward and said,
"Elder, if I join forces with my nephew, we have some confidence in handling one early-stage Purple Mansion beast."
"Furthermore, we have a treasure ship at our disposal."
Elian then produced the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Boat.
"This boat…" Elder Yang's eyes lit up with surprise.
"I didn't expect the Thunder Roc to have fallen at your hands."
He stroked his beard, nodding approvingly.
"Judging by the formation inscriptions on this boat, it should be engraved with the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Sword Formation."
"This formation was created by Elder Jiang. I've witnessed its power firsthand. When activated, it's equivalent to a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator unleashing their full strength.
"If used at the right moment, it could be a decisive weapon."
Elder Yang's gaze brightened as he looked at Elian.
"If the two of you can truly contend with one Purple Mansion beast, and with this treasure boat in play, we might actually break the stalemate."
Growing excited, he stroked his beard and declared, "With such a trump card, we can indeed give this a try."
"Excellent!" Xu Daoyuan was equally thrilled.
"If this battle succeeds, your Chen family will have rendered a great service."
With the decision made to go on the offensive, everyone quickly formulated their plans.
To maximize their chances, all major families in Yu County mobilized additional forces, pulling every available Foundation Establishment cultivator to Yuyang Market.
Within just three days, seven or eight more Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived at Yuyang Market. The Chen family also sent Chen Xianling from Black Iron Mountain and Chen Nianchuan from Qingyuan Mountain as reinforcements.
With these reinforcements, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yuyang Market reached thirty-three.
At dawn that day, the cultivators of Yuyang Market prepared for an offensive. Foundation Establishment cultivators distributed formation flags to the Qi Refining cultivators.
These formation flags, once allocated by Jiang Linglong, had proven invaluable in past battles like the one at Demon Wolf Mountain, where Elian had previously used them.
On another front, Elian stood ready with the patriarch, Chen Xianling, Chen Nianchuan, and eight other Foundation Establishment cultivators.
These cultivators boarded the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Boat, which was equipped with protective formations that would allow them to attack the enemy without hesitation. At critical moments, they would also activate the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Sword Formation.
Additionally, eighteen Chen family Qi Refining cultivators at the ninth level brought along the Fiery Sun Divine Flame Formation. When fully activated, this formation could match the power of two or three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, making it a peak-level combat asset.
After waiting for another half hour, Elder Yang surveyed the gathered forces, nodded, and said,
"Now that everything is ready, let's begin."
...
At Elder Yang's command, the cultivators of Yuyang Market activated their formation flags and surged out to confront the demonic beasts.
The Thunder Roc sneered as it saw the human forces advancing and immediately drove the lower-level beasts to engage them.
Without the protection of the Demon-Slaying Sword Formation, the demonic beasts outnumbered the humans, both in Purple Mansion cultivators and Qi Refining cultivators, making them unafraid to fight.
The battle erupted, leading to an all-out confrontation between the two sides.
Elder Yang led the charge, single-handedly holding off the Thunder Roc and the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly without showing any signs of weakness.
Xu Daoyuan followed closely behind, summoning his life-bound magical treasure, the Void Refining Earth Cauldron, to block the Green Flame Fox.
The Ice Python, trying to flank Xu Daoyuan, was intercepted by the patriarch. Soaring into the air, he unleashed his life-bound magical weapon, the Crimson Flame Spiritual Blade.
The patriarch spiritual energy was eighty percent stronger than that of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, almost reaching half the level of a Purple Mansion cultivator.
With such robust spiritual energy fueling the Crimson Flame Spiritual Blade, it unleashed a blade aura over ten meters long, enough to threaten a Purple Mansion-level beast.
Although the Ice Python was at the second stage of the Purple Mansion level, it wasn't foolish enough to take the blow head-on. Its eyes flashed coldly as it roared, unleashing a blast of icy breath.
The icy breath swept across the battlefield, dimming the light of the Crimson Flame Spiritual Blade and even surging toward the patriarch.
"Even a basic spell has such power. These Purple Mansion beasts are truly formidable," the elder muttered, his pupils narrowing slightly.
Not daring to be careless, he immediately raised the Crimson-Gold Three-Treasure Flag. The treasure flag enveloped the space, unleashing searing flames that evaporated the icy breath in an instant.
Seeing its spell blocked, the Ice Python's gaze turned cold. It spat out seven white sword lights that flew toward its opponent.
Elian, observing this, noticed that the sword lights were made of thousand-year-old profound ice, forming the Ice Spirit Swords, high-grade second-tier magical weapons.
Although these swords were not third-tier treasures, with the Ice Python's second-stage Purple Mansion cultivation, their power was terrifying—enough to kill seven Foundation Establishment cultivators in one strike.
At the critical moment, Elian activated the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Boat, bringing his group forward. He raised the Fiery Void Sword and struck.
The Fiery Void Sword, Elian's life-bound treasure, unleashed its full power, sending out a thirty-meter-long sword aura that deflected all seven Ice Spirit Swords, successfully blocking the attack.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D