Chapter 928 - 695: Deep Into Enemy Territory
Killing is not the best solution.
But it is often the most effective solution.
Shen Xuan withdrew his thoughts and looked into the distance.
The thick smoke on the horizon had dispersed, and the forest fire that lasted for a month had finally extinguished.
This was not a natural occurrence, often indicating intervention by high-tier demon cultivators of the demon race.
It seemed like direct confrontations had already begun.
"Clan Leader."
A young, sharp-featured Foundation Establishment cultivator quickly stepped forward and reported in a low voice.
He was Liu Zhifei, skilled in controlling spirit beasts, responsible for communications for the Liu Family.
"The communication with the Xiao Family on the right has been completely severed. We can still sense the Ma Family on the left, they are approximately three hundred miles away from our unit."
Liu Zhifei’s tone was heavy.
On his shoulder stood a magnificent gray falcon, with eyes sharp as lightning, known for its speed as the Tier Two spiritual bird, Chase Wind Falcon.
The falcon’s talent "Ride the Wind" allowed it to fly faster than ordinary Tier Two flying ships when sprinting at full speed.
However, the communication jade pendants equipped by each family only had an effective range of three hundred miles in the Southern Wilderness.
Beyond this limit, the spiritual light of the jade pendant would dim, leaving no sound or news.
...
Over the past month, the Liu Family team had progressed quite smoothly.
Along the way, they only encountered some Tier One demon beasts.
A few days ago, traces of Tier Two demon beasts began to appear.
Liu Yiyun, Liu Zhijie, and Liu Zhicheng, the three newly promoted Golden Body Realm cultivators, proactively took on the role of vanguards.
Several Foundation Establishment stage clansmen assisted from the side, using numbers to easily deal with several Tier Two demon beasts.
The team’s morale was high.
At noon, the team chose a location to camp and take a temporary rest.
"Master, it’s roasted! Would you like to try some?"
Liu Yiyun came over with a smile, holding a large piece of deliciously roasted demon boar leg, offering it to Shen Xuan like a treasure.
Shen Xuan glanced at it, then made a slicing motion with his fingers, cutting off a thin slice to eat.
Immediately, he waved his hand to return the remaining half of the boar leg.
Liu Yiyun quickly caught it.
"Master, is that all you’re eating? This tusk-flowered boar’s meat is so fragrant!"
She spoke as she carefully nibbled, eating with joy in her eyes.
This tusk-flowered boar was a Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast, with tough skin and infinite strength.
It took the combined effort of several of them to hunt it down a few days ago.
Its meat was dense and rich in blood energy, extremely nourishing for body refining cultivators.
"Master, when do you think we’ll encounter a large group of demon beasts?"
Liu Yiyun chewed her meat, mumbling indistinctly.
"Just a handful is not enough to go around, barely makes for a feast."
Hearing this, Shen Xuan raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead.
"Deep in the Southern Wilderness, dangers lurk everywhere, with demon beasts rampant. Especially after nightfall, the risk greatly increases."
With a slightly heavy voice, his gaze swept over his disciple’s dismissive face towards the distant horizon where the mountain fire had extinguished.
"You, a mere early-stage Golden Body Realm, dare to boast about hunting beast hordes?"
"What’s there to fear?"
Liu Yiyun shrank her neck but remained defiant.
"Isn’t the clan leader and you, master, here?"
"What if we encounter a Tier Three Demon King?"
"We have so many people, forming an array in battle, even against a Tier Three Demon King, we can hold off for a while, right?"
A glimmer of eagerness flashed in Liu Yiyun’s eyes.
"Once True Master Wang Yue arrives with the main force, won’t the Demon King be at our mercy? Then we can take the demon core and exchange it for the Golden Transformation Pill for you, master!"
Shen Xuan turned his face expressionlessly to look at her.
His gaze was calm yet gradually froze the smile on Liu Yiyun’s face.
"Remember, if you encounter a Demon King, escape immediately."
His voice was low, the words brief yet conveying unquestionable authority.
Liu Yiyun was stunned, her chewing halted.
She looked into her master’s eyes, calm as a deep pool.
She opened her mouth but eventually swallowed all her rebuttals, and softly replied, "Mm."
Liu Yiyun knew that her master was looking out for her.
After lunch, the camp was packed up, and the Liu Family team set off again.
The team of over 120 people advanced through the dense forest.
Liu Zhicheng was at the forefront.
His stature was towering like a mountain, clad in heavy black iron armor, wielding giant axes like door panels with chilling gleam.
Just stepping forward brought a deep thudding sound, like a moving human tank.
On either side of him, two other Liu Family Golden Body Realm cultivators were also fully armored.
One held a thick black iron cudgel, and the other wielded a wolf tooth mace covered in menacing spikes, like two iron towers guarding the vanguard.
Liu Yiyun and Liu Zhijie wore lighter, more flexible soft armor, following closely behind the trio, vigilantly scanning the shadows among the trees.
The five armored Golden Body Realm body refining masters formed the sharpest spearhead of the Liu Family team.
They moved steadily, without any slow pace, ready for action.
This moment showcased the strength of the Liu Family cultivators.
Maintaining a reasonable distance between each other.
Everyone stepped leisurely.
With a simple gesture from Liu Zhicheng, the entire team stopped silently, as if guided by arm.
As the gesture lowered, they seamlessly continued marching.
This kind of unyielding obedience was far superior to a hastily assembled team of loose cultivators.
Indeed, this was the case.
In this expedition of 180,000 cultivators, besides a few individuals with extraordinary abilities, the vast majority of loose cultivators were assigned to the rear army to handle logistics, cooking, and other support tasks.
The true elites of the Bright Flame Sect were placed in the vanguard and central army.
The battle teams of various affiliated families were allocated to the left and right armies.
Clan leader Liu Minglin was positioned at the rear end of the Liu Family team.
Like the most experienced lead wolf in the pack, he moved at the back to oversee the situation and direct deployments.
Always prepared to respond to sudden occurrences from the rear or flanks.
And Shen Xuan’s position was behind Liu Yiyun.