Cultivating To Immortality

The main battlefield, Yue Long Bay.

Wu Yun simultaneously wielded three Spiritual Artifacts, relentlessly attacking an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Realm enemy general who was trapped by a Spell.

With powerful enemies eyeing him, and his Spiritual Qi almost depleted, the enemy general quickly lost his fighting spirit and Battle Intent. Wu Yun found an opening and severely wounded him with a single strike.

However, Wu Yun stopped his attack at this moment.

Wei Zhi assisted from the side. Seeing the Opportunity was ripe, Wu Caidie continuously cast hand seals, unleashing a purple blade that struck violently, decapitating the enemy general.

The head flew high, and before it could land, it, along with the body, transformed into ten streaks of crimson Spiritual Qi, slowly flowing into Wu Caidie’s ancient talisman.

...

Wu Yun adjusted her breathing slightly and retrieved her Spiritual Artifacts.

"Big Sister, it’s been half a year. If we keep going like this, when will it end?"

Half a year’s time, for a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, was not very long; perhaps a casual closed-door cultivation session would pass it by.

But they were in a Secret Realm.

According to their original plan, at most a month, regardless of whether they had any gains, they would be able to leave here and return to Zhao Country.

Not to mention, so far, they hadn’t seen any Heaven And Earth Treasure or Opportunities.

Aside from this ancient talisman, whose purpose was unknown, they saw nothing useful.

For Cultivators, Lifespan could be said to be the most precious thing.

Many Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Realm Cultivators who failed to Break through and died were due to insufficient Lifespan.

Wasting time here was indeed somewhat unbearable.

Coupled with Wu Yun’s naturally impatient personality, his complaints at this moment were normal.

This time, even Wei Zhi didn’t scold him.

"This battle is endless. How long do we have to wait?!"

Wu Caidie also fell into silence. She looked at the ancient talisman in her hand.

She also had no idea what to do.

Buzz—

Everyone suddenly felt something and looked up, only to see a black and white Sword Qi flying through the clouds.

The three below could sense his Aura, and he naturally could sense them.

However, the Sword Qi had no intention of stopping and continued to fly into the distance.

"Song Yesheng..."

Wu Yun frowned: "Big Sister, what’s so great about him that we need to be so wary?"

Wu Caidie didn’t answer his question, only softly saying: "Let’s go back first."

Wei Zhi looked at her thoughtfully and replied: "Alright."

In the clouds.

Song Yan glanced briefly in the direction of the three and then flew past.

He didn’t pay much attention to these three.

It had been almost half a year since the Qin Army and Yan Army started fighting.

Although these foreign Cultivators were few in number, they were basically all Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, and their combat power was decent.

Thus, they were formed into a separate small team, considered a surprise force, and Song Yan was promoted to a Deputy General to lead them.

To be honest, it wasn’t until this real war began that Song Yan truly understood the terror of an immortal dynasty’s war.

From some of Luo Zheng’s words, it could be inferred that perhaps most immortal dynasties in ancient times had stable methods for cultivating Core Condensation Realm martial artists, which are Golden Core Realm Cultivators.

This point was actually quite normal; many large Sects in the Central Region with Legacies of tens of thousands of years should also have such methods.

But when great wars broke out between immortal dynasties, many Golden Cores also fell.

In the outside world, the Demon Ruins had invaded for several years, and in his impression, after the Dragon Pool Mountain gathering, it seemed no Golden Cores had fallen.

But here, after only half a year of fighting, two or three Golden Cores that Song Yan had seen or heard of had already died.

Fortunately, these people basically did not participate in frontal battles.

Most of the time, they engaged in small skirmishes, such as raiding enemy supplies.

On this battlefield, he completely followed the deployment and command. What he didn’t understand, he treated as some kind of military strategy, as he didn’t understand warfare anyway.

Song Yan only wanted to avoid the combat power of Golden Core and False Core Cultivators, kill more Foundation Establishment Realm enemy generals, and honestly accumulate those one thousand merits.

After entering this relic, he hadn’t seen any Heaven And Earth Treasure or ancient battlefield treasures.

After finally seeing the sword in Du You Post, Song Yan was determined to get it.

He showed no mercy when killing Yan State enemy generals.

About a month ago, he heard that Sui Country had also participated in this war.

However, to this day, Song Yan had not seen any foreign Cultivators other than his own group.

Gou Sheng, Yang Wenxuan, Zhou Mengdie, Qin Zhan.

There was no news of them at all; they hadn’t been seen.

Although Song Yan was working very hard to kill enemy soldiers, the accumulation of crimson Spiritual Qi in this golden-red ancient talisman was still very slow.

So far, with the more than 120 streaks from the False Core Cultivator, he only had 375 streaks.

One thousand was still a long way off.

In fact, Song Yan knew that perhaps the fastest way was to wait until the battle was almost over and seize the ancient talismans from others.

However, he couldn’t yet determine if this would count as his own merit.

With a major war ongoing, Song Yan didn’t dare to directly attack his comrades.

If he could find an enemy Cultivator, he could try to seize one first.

Song Yan had no good feelings for Wu Caidie and that Li Yan.

When Chen Li attacked him, they watched from the side, probably wanting a share, but they didn’t expect Chen Li to die so quickly.

Speaking of which, why didn’t General Bai, as a military commander, participate in the battle?

The soldiers of the other two countries also seemed to have no combat power exceeding the Golden Core Realm.

Although he was puzzled, this was also a good thing. Otherwise, if immortals fought, Song Yan might not be able to survive safely.

The mission here was basically over, and Song Yan was currently returning to the army as a surprise attack team leader to report back.

Soon, he returned to his own camp.

After his waist token was verified, he stepped into the military tent.

More than a dozen Deputy Generals, clad in black armor or cloth robes, stood solemnly on both sides. In front of the sand table, Deputy General Luo Zheng and another Golden Core Realm Deputy General were discussing military affairs, with a scholar-like individual, who was the military advisor, beside them.

Song Yan stepped into the tent, and seeing this situation, he said nothing more and temporarily stood among the Deputy Generals.

"The Yan Army has deployed another force on the left flank." The other Deputy General slammed his fist on the edge of the sand table: "Damn it, this is too contemptuous."

"No, I’ll lead troops to overturn them tonight!"

"Don’t rush." The military advisor listened to their argument and slowly shook his head: "A frontal assault would incur too many casualties, and the main battlefield would face pressure."

"But don’t forget, Sui Country’s intervention in this battle has not yet revealed much of its military strength."

"Generals, please look, the real crux is here."

On the sand table, there was a perilous pass flanked by two mountains.

"Da Ming Gate is the connection point where the Yan Army’s detached forces merge with their main force. If it’s under our control, without support, how can they contend against our Great Qin?"

Everyone in the tent exchanged glances.

Da Ming Gate’s terrain was extremely treacherous; it was rumored that even birds found it difficult to cross, not to mention a large Formation on the pass that restricted flight and created 裂风 (wind-rending), making it difficult to enter.

The three of them discussed tactics, one after another.

But Song Yan wasn’t listening at all.

He wasn’t interested in the gibberish about military strategy, and it was all Greek to him.

He simply focused his mind and nurtured his Sword Qi.

In any case, whatever needed to be done, he would just await orders.

"If Sui Country watches from the side, and we exhaust our forces against the Yan Army on the main battlefield, even if we defeat Yan Country, it will only result in a military defeat."

"Therefore, taking Da Ming Gate must be quick."

Song Yan raised an eyebrow, the more he listened, the more something felt off.

It sounded like this task was going to fall on his head.

"Deploy the elite of the outer camp of this unit." Luo Zheng finished listening, then turned his head: "Deputy General Song!"

Indeed.

"Here."

...Sui Army, Outer Camp.

"The Yan Army leader guarding Da Ming Gate is just a close attendant Deputy General named He Yiming, a Cultivator in the Late Stage Foundation Establishment Realm."

"The other two are his adopted daughter He Ying and adopted son He Shan, both in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment Realm."

Five or six people gathered together, discussing something.

"If they only have this much defensive strength, a few of us should be enough."

"General Yang said that Yan State is currently locked in battle with Qin State, and the main battlefield is in a stalemate, so they can’t spare any Core Condensation Realm martial artists."

"If we can take this place, we only need to hold out for an hour, and then the soldiers from the army will come to take over."

Sheng Nian sat far away from them, holding an ancient talisman in his hand.

However, the color on this ancient talisman was bright red, seemingly not yet affected by the crimson Spiritual Qi.

After the speaker finished, he suddenly glanced at Sheng Nian in the corner with his peripheral vision.

Then he gave a look to the red-robed Cultivator next to him.

The man immediately understood and walked over to Sheng Nian.

"Fellow Daoist Sheng," the red-robed Cultivator spoke in a gentle tone: "For this operation, we need to work together with one heart to have a chance to break the situation."

He paused: "I observe that Fellow Daoist’s Aura is steady and your spiritual power is pure, so your strength must also be extraordinary."

"How about a small test of your skills, taking the lead in this assault? If you can manage to break through the Wind and Thunder Restriction and capture Da Ming Gate, it will be a remarkable achievement."

"The five of us will support you from the rear, tying up the defenders Within the Pass and ensuring your safety, how does that sound?"

These words were spoken grandly, tempting with benefits and appealing to emotions.

"Yes, Brother Sheng!" A thin, monkey-like Cultivator beside him immediately chimed in.

"You haven’t made a move or exerted any effort before."

"Seeing your cultivation at such a young age, you must be a favored child of heaven; there’s no need to hide your abilities like this!"

The crowd spoke one after another, seemingly making this young man a bit carried away.

Sheng Nian looked up, his tone slightly green, even with a hint of shyness.

"Seniors, you flatter me. I am but a newcomer, still ignorant of my own depth, but this time’s assault on the pass is so crucial, and with all you Seniors supporting and covering me from the rear... I am willing to try."

His words were full of sincerity and responsibility, truly a foolish young man whose head was hot with passion.

"Good!"

The red-robed Cultivator clapped his hands and laughed: "Fellow Daoist Sheng, don’t worry, just go ahead and do it. With the five of us brothers behind you, we will definitely ensure your safety!"

"Thank you, Brother Sheng!"

The others also put on "enthusiastic" smiles and echoed him.

Young people are really simple and easy to deceive.

Sheng Nian immediately stood up and walked out of the big camp, with an Aura of ’who else but me’.

"I’ll go scout the situation first; Seniors can take your time."

"Good, we await your good news!"

Sheng Nian walked briskly out of the big camp. Only after he left the five people’s sight did his steps gradually slow down.

The smile on his face also slowly disappeared.

"Antics of ants, clumsy and uninteresting."

The voice within his heart rose faintly.

"These people are really interesting. I haven’t even earned a single merit, yet they’re still fixated on me."

Sheng Nian sneered, his eyes cold.

"They don’t even know what this ancient talisman is for, yet they’re setting their sights on me."

"Greed knows no bounds; a snake trying to swallow an elephant."

"Well, it’s better to kill them sooner."

"Mm."

Outside the camp, the Corpse Puppet A Yuan appeared from the shadows at some point. His bamboo hat was pulled very low, and he quickly followed behind Sheng Nian.

The two walked slowly, disappearing outside the Sui Army’s main camp... The next morning, the sky was overcast.

Yang Wenxuan appeared with a group of people at the entrance of the Wind and Thunder Path outside Da Ming Gate.

Qin Zhan and Zhou Mengdie were also present.

"Halt."

Guarding here were several Yan Army soldiers in standard black armor. The leader had a rugged demeanor and sharp eyes, clearly an experienced veteran in the Late Stage Qi Refining Realm.

Yang Wenxuan’s expression was calm, and he unhurriedly took something from his sleeve.

It was a palm-sized token, neither gold nor jade, entirely black, slightly heavy in hand, with a coiled, ferocious Dragon intricately carved on the front.

The character "Yan" was engraved on it.

"Outer camp’s Yang Wenxuan, here by order to assist in the defense of Da Ming Gate."

The leading guard took the token, carefully inspected it, and then said to the other guards behind him: "It’s correct."

Then he looked at Yang Wenxuan: "Please wait a moment, envoy."

"Mm."

Only then did everyone have time to carefully survey Da Ming Gate.

It was majestic and treacherous, ancient and 肅殺 (solemn and deadly).

The entire pass was enveloped within a large Formation.

On the pass walls, countless Formation runes flickered in and out of existence, dispersing and re-condensing, seemingly without pattern, yet interconnected.

Gale-force winds howled incessantly, mixed with fragmented golden lightning.

This grand Formation was no ordinary one; it was originally a Medium Grade Tier 2 Formation, the Sky-Restricting Wind-Rending Great Formation.

It was both offensive and defensive, capable of resisting the attacks of hundreds of Foundation Establishment Realm combatants for at least four or five days.

And the pass guard who had set up this Formation long ago had profound insights into the Dao of Formations.

He utilized the characteristic of Da Ming Gate’s terrain, which accumulated clouds and thunder year-round, to slightly adjust this Formation.

By leveraging the natural forces, he gathered the surrounding wind and thunder, forming the Wind and Thunder Great Formation, further enhancing its offensive and defensive capabilities.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators or flying Spiritual Artifacts would be instantly swept away by the gales and heavenly lightning if they tried to force their way in.

The guard leader took out a circular Formation Plate engraved with complex Formation diagrams from his 懷 (chest). With a streak of spiritual light from his fingertip, he swiftly pressed and drew on the Formation Plate, his movements skilled.

The Formation Plate slowly lit up, and a thin beam of light shot towards the pass.

In an instant, everyone saw the distant scenery behind the Wind and Thunder Path slowly change, the chaotic gales dissipated, and the dense lightning arcs also lifted upwards.

"Please enter the pass, sir!"

Yang Wenxuan nodded slightly, put the token back into his sleeve, and was the first to walk into the pass.

Before long, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

However, before he could examine it closely, a group of people hurried over from the direction of the mountain training ground in the distance.

The leader was burly, dressed in Yan Army armor.

A heart-protecting treasure mirror was embedded in his chest, and a long, ancient, broad saber hung at his waist.

His entire body exuded a restrained Aura, yet it gave people an indestructible sense of oppression.

It was He Yiming.

Behind him followed two people, a man and a woman, both younger, and also dressed in Yan Army attire.

He Yiming saluted, his movements clean and sharp.

"Envoy Yang, you’ve worked hard. Due to busy pass affairs, I couldn’t go far to greet you. You’ve come a long way to provide aid, and I, He, am immensely grateful."

"Please follow me to the office to rest for a while, and then we can discuss the defensive deployment in detail."