Pan Boyuan ultimately left only one Foundation Establishment cultivator behind, bringing the remaining six with him aboard the Chen family's treasure boat.
Elian steered the treasure boat toward Feng County, where they rendezvoused with the Xu family cultivators.
The Xu family decided to go all out in this battle, with both of their Purple Mansion elders participating and mobilizing sixteen Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After picking up the Xu family, the group took two days to fly to Ling County and joined forces with the Yang family.
"Will Elder Yang be able to fight?" Xu Qianyang asked upon arriving at the Yang family estate.
Yang Yuanhe shook his head with a pained expression.
"My granduncle still has the strength for one last battle, but it would worsen his injuries significantly."
"It will take another twenty years of recuperation before he's seventy or eighty percent recovered. After that, fighting again will not be a problem."
Hearing this, the group couldn't help but feel a sense of somber reflection.
In the path of cultivation, battles inevitably lead to injuries and deaths. Many have lost their lives in the blink of an eye.
Not everyone could wield such decisive means as Elian. His combat talent and mastery of techniques made him almost unparalleled among cultivators of his level in Chu Kingdom.
Most cultivators were like Yang Zhengyuan—surviving a Golden Core demon king's attack was already considered a monumental blessing.
With Yang Yuanhe's response, Xu Daoyuan's expression turned complicated, a mix of sympathy and satisfaction. He then said, "If Elder Yang cannot join us, then at least lend us the Purple Gold Celestial Net."
"With the defensive formation at Cangkong Mountain, this treasure would significantly enhance our safety."
At this point, Elian noticed that Xu Daoyuan and Yang Yuanhe didn't seem to get along.
He recalled a rumor that when Xu Daoyuan had just broken through to the Purple Mansion stage, he had sought to trade for the Fire Element Divine Thunder technique from the Yang family.
At the time, Xu Daoyuan was only slightly over a hundred years old—a rare prodigy among Purple Mansion cultivators in Chu Kingdom.
However, Yang Yuanhe, envious of Xu Daoyuan's talent, had flatly refused, thus sowing the seeds of enmity.
Seeing Xu Daoyuan's expression, Yang Yuanhe's face grew cold. The Purple Gold Celestial Net could only be used effectively by a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator.
While Xu Qianyang already possessed the Flaming Goldfire Dragon Shears, the most suitable person to wield the net was Xu Daoyuan. Given their strained relationship, Yang Yuanhe was reluctant to lend it, especially as it might reveal its vulnerabilities if scrutinized closely.
As he hesitated, a streak of light shot out and landed in Elian's hand—it was none other than the Purple Gold Celestial Net, a high-grade third-rank magical treasure.
Before Elian could speak, a voice rang out.
"I've observed that Daoist Elian's mana is pure and abundant. He should have no problem wielding the Purple Gold Celestial Net."
"I am lending it to Daoist Elian on behalf of the Yang family. Please use it well in this endeavor," said Yang Zhengyuan.
Hearing this, Elian nodded and said, "With this treasure in hand, our safety is greatly assured."
With the treasure in their possession, the group wasted no time, departing under the cover of night and heading straight for Cangkong Mountain.
This time, the coalition brought six Purple Mansion cultivators and forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, a force that represented their full strength.
Cangkong Mountain lay just over ten thousand miles from the Yang family estate. After flying overnight, the group reached the outskirts of the Green-Blue Mountains by early morning.
They rested for an hour, consuming pills to restore their mana, before launching a surprise attack on Cangkong Mountain.
Li Heyuan, the guardian of Cangkong Mountain, was shocked to see six Purple Mansion cultivators arriving. His face paled, and he immediately activated the mountain's protective formation.
A mid-grade third-rank Earth Seal Treasure projected a four-sided illusory seal that enveloped Cangkong Mountain in a protective barrier.
As soon as he activated the formation, the attackers reached the mountain and began bombarding the barrier with magical treasures. However, the defensive barrier held firm, resisting their strikes.
"Quickly, we must end this!" Xu Qianyang shouted as the Earth Seal Formation came to life.
Without hesitation, he unleashed the high-grade third-rank Breaking Restriction Talisman. The talisman transformed into a streak of light and shot into the formation, disrupting its intricate runes.
The defensive barrier dimmed by fifty percent. What had been a barrier capable of holding off late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators for days now trembled violently under the coalition's onslaught.
The Breaking Restriction Talisman could only disrupt the formation for an hour, so everyone understood the urgency. They unleashed their magical treasures and spells with all their might, attacking relentlessly.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the formation on the brink of collapse, Li Heyuan's expression shifted repeatedly. He gritted his teeth and activated another formation device—a pale yellow treasure flag. The flag emitted dazzling light and unleashed a bolt of divine thunder.
"It's the Earth Element Divine Thunder!"
Upon seeing the thunder, Elian raised the Purple Gold Celestial Net, forming a protective golden smoke barrier that absorbed the blow.
The treasure flag was none other than the Earth Element Divine Thunder Flag, inscribed with the Earth Element Divine Thunder spell. When used with the formation at full power, it could unleash six strikes, each equivalent to a full-force attack from a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator.
This ability was what had made Cangkong Mountain nearly impregnable to all but the most powerful attackers.
However, with the formation weakened by fifty percent, the thunder's power had dropped to the level of a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator.
Although Elian could only utilize seventy percent of the Purple Gold Celestial Net's power, it was more than sufficient to withstand the attacks from the Earth Element Divine Thunder Flag.
Boom!
Seeing his first strike fail, Li Heyuan launched three more thunderbolts in rapid succession.
Even under the continuous bombardment, the Purple Gold Celestial Net lived up to its reputation, holding firm and neutralizing the strikes.
By this point, Li Heyuan was beginning to panic. His expression turned desperate as he shouted, "Xu Qianyang! Elian! Why are you attacking the Qingyang Sect?"
"This is treason! Aren't you afraid of retribution from Elder Xu?"
Xu Qianyang sneered, unleashing the Flaming Goldfire Dragon Shears against the formation.
"Elder Xu betrayed his peers to seize power. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"The clans of Bianzhou Region have always been independent. We owe the Qingyang Sect no allegiance, so how can this be treason?"
"We've risked everything to defend Bianzhou Region from the demon beasts, while your sect enjoys the greatest vein in the region. This is a grave injustice. Today, we'll drive the Qingyang Sect out of Bianzhou Region once and for all."
Every word Xu Qianyang spoke struck like a dagger, causing Li Heyuan's expression to shift repeatedly.
...
65+ chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D