Among the three arrays defending Cloudhill, the monitoring array had the greatest coverage, with a radius spanning over a hundred li. The range of the mind confusion array was slightly smaller, spanning around one hundred li. The range of the killing array was the most limited. However, it was still able to cover the entire Cloudhill City once activated.
Three individuals. Hm? They’ve stopped? Thanks to the passive effect of the monitoring array, Wu Yuan was made aware of the Heavenly Rankers the moment they drew close. They stood high in the sky, just over a hundred li from Cloudhill.
I should head to the array core.
Whoosh! In a blur of motion, Wu Yuan vanished, the surrounding light distorting in his wake. The soldiers stationed in the vicinity did not notice him even as he made his way past them.
Wu Yuan’s formidable physique propelled him through the air at a speed exceeding 1000 meters per second, a pace that could rival numerous Heavenly Rankers. In less than two breaths, he made his way through Cloudhill and entered the cave. A split second later, he arrived at the jade chamber, which was lit up as bright as daytime. The resplendent golden sphere levitated at its center.
At this very moment, the sphere was projecting a number of scenes from the world outside into the air. The most eye-catching of which showed the scene in the sky around 100 li away.
“Wu Yuan has arrived,” Huan Jian announced.
“Wu Yuan,” Bu Yu turned her head.
“Greetings, Hierarchs.” Wu Yuan smiled faintly as he strode to the sphere.
His gaze landed on Fang Xia, who was seated on a jade platform. The jade chamber, serving as the core of the array, was rather spacious. Furthermore, the density of spiritual qi in the jade chamber far surpassed that of the world outside. As a result, Bu Yu and Huan Jian typically cultivated in alcoves hollowed out from the walls of the jade chamber.
Currently, Fang Xia had carved out twenty small alcoves into the walls of the jade chamber. This was in line with his future plans. These alcoves had the capacity to accommodate more than twenty qi refiners cultivating in seclusion simultaneously. Additionally, two newly dug tunnels extended further from either end of the jade chamber.
According to Fang Xia, once he gathered enough materials, he would channel the power of the spirit veins to nurture two Earthfire wellsprings, thus creating the foundation for a pill chamber and an equipment hall. At that point, the sect would begin to take the shape of a fledgling immortal sect.
“Wu Yuan has arrived?” Fang Xia’s eyes flickered open. Sitting in the lotus position on the jade platform, he exuded the air of a lofty sect ancestor.
“Yesterday, news arrived from the Pleiades Guild, stating that the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin have joined forces, inviting factions from far and wide to witness the upcoming battle. Today, they aim to annihilate our Cloudstride Sect.” Fang Xia spoke slowly.
“What? Inviting factions to watch the battle?” Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian’s expressions turned grave.
Over the past few days, the three of them had primarily been immersed in secluded cultivation, leaving Fang Xia to handle the miscellaneous affairs of the Cloudstride Sect. Hence, they were unaware of this development.
“Great Jin is greedy indeed.” Huan Jian said softly. “They believe they can devour our Cloudstride Sect in one go just because the three holy sanctuaries have banded together. What an insatiable appetite.”
“The Yuanxia Palace and Starsea Pavilion are staunch allies of the Jin royal family. This joint attack is proof of their determination.” Bu Yu expressed her concern.
For the past three decades, she had steered the course of the Cloudstride Sect. Through her interactions with various factions across the world, she gained a deep understanding of the strength of the Great Jin Empire.
She was all too aware that the Cloudstride Sect survived the collapse of Chu-Jiang not solely due to the sect’s own strength. Rather, it was mostly thanks to the Wu Sect, Starcom Consortium, and several other influential factions that had exerted pressure on Great Jin, preventing them from advancing further eastward.
But this time, even if the Starcom Consortium didn’t seek vengeance, they were unlikely to lift a finger to assist them.
“Haha,” Fang Xia chuckled. “Do not underestimate your ancestor. Rest assured, I am confident.”
“We dare not,” Huan Jian and Bu Yu quickly replied in unison.
In the past few days, Fang Xia had provided them with much cultivation guidance, imparting Eldritch Codex to them. Ordinary cultivation methods like the Five Elements Cycle had long faded into the recesses of their minds. They both knew that Fang Xia was powerful beyond their imagination.
Fang Xia revealed, “The qi refiners that have approached our territory thus far do not hail from the Great Jin Empire. However, we must remain vigilant. Wu Yuan, both you and this clone will oversee the arrays.”
“Clone?” Wu Yuan exclaimed, taken aback.
“The ancestor’s main body departed at the first sign of the qi refiners,” The Rain Hierarch smiled, gesturing towards a projection from the golden sphere. “Wu Yuan, have a look.”
Wu Yuan directed his gaze toward the display. In the sky, a figure clothed in white robes was already standing outside Cloudhill. It was Fang Xia.
Clone Gus are seriously incredible. Wu Yuan sincerely admitted.
If no one informed him, he would have been completely unaware that the Fang Xia before him was merely a clone. Having a Clone Gu as a lifebound gu proved remarkably useful in critical moments.
“Very well. Ancestor, let’s control the array together,” Wu Yuan swiftly settled onto a jade platform.
With a thought, his Soul Force entered the golden sphere. A deluge of information and images inundated Wu Yuan’s mind, and the projected images shifted according to his will. Every detail of the monitoring array was now unveiled within Wu Yuan’s consciousness.
Soulquake Art, cryptic patterns. Wu Yu began sensing and comprehending the intricate patterns within the radiant sphere, learning how to activate the Soulquake soul art.
With a thought, he activated several array bases. Soon, he felt his consciousness expand and the range of the killing array extended to nearly 100 li in radius, ready to strike at his will.
“Excellent.” A smile graced Fang Xia’s face as he observed Wu Yuan. With the young master controlling one function of the killing array, his mental strain was significantly reduced, allowing him to focus on operating the remaining arrays.
Activate. Fang Xia gave a mental order. In an instant, the area 100 li around Cloudhill was engulfed in layers of fog. Visibility plummeted swiftly.
Mind confusion array? Bu Yu and Huan Jian quietly watched the scene unfold before them.
…
The moment the defense arrays were activated over Cloudhill, confusion and curiosity spread among the inhabitants.
“What’s happening?”
“Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?”
“What dense fog.” Disciples of the Cloudstride Sect, as well as countless civilians, soldiers, and martial artists in Cloudhill City, all cast their gazes upwards. The fog was so thick that it obscured their vision, blanketing everything in a hazy white veil.
These abrupt and dramatic changes in the sky surpassed the comprehension of the common folk. Even many first-rate Adepts and Savant experts were left in confusion.
“I am Fang Xia!” Out of nowhere, a warm voice reverberated throughout Cloudhill, reaching even the farthest corners of Cloudhill City. It felt like the voice of a deity whispering into the ears of a million creatures.
“Great Jin encroaches upon our Cloudstride Sect, intending to assault the mountain! Fear not, the array created by the sect’s Heavenly Ranker will protect you. Remain calm and stay in your homes. Once Great Jin’s Heavenly Rankers have been eliminated, everything will return to normal.”
This booming voice ignited a fervor among the inhabitants of Cloudhill and Cloudhill Province.
“Ancestor Fang Xia!”
“Legend has it that the ancestor is the world’s number one expert.”
“Heavenly Ranker!”
“He will eliminate Great Jin’s Heavenly Rankers? Our ancestor is truly awe-inspiring.” Countless citizens and martial artists began discussing feverishly.
The Battle of Hillstride had sown the seeds of deep-seated enmity between the Cloudstride Sect and Great Jin. Three centuries of history bound the citizens of Cloudhill City irrevocably to the cause of the Cloudstride Sect, and they naturally rallied behind their faction.
Meanwhile, accompanying Fang Xia’s command, numerous troops and disciples began to restore order.
“Great Jin is the reigning power of the world.”
“Ancestor Fang Xia is strong, but can we win this battle?” Many disciples and citizens could not put down their worries.
…
Fang Xia’s voice wasn’t limited to the range of the arrays. It spanned several hundred li, leaving the newly arrived Heavenly Rankers startled.
“This Fang Xia…is truly domineering,” remarked a black-robed youth as he surveyed the area with a smile. “It appears we are the first to arrive.”
“Mm.” A man in green robes stood nearby, his gaze fixated on the shroud of white mist. He murmured softly, “Fang Xia is actually well-versed in arrays?”
“Meng Cai,” another figure, an elderly man in purple robes, spoke in a low voice, “You and Wu Jianzhong encountered no such array during your previous visit, did you?”
“No,” the man in green robes shook his head.
The trio were all seven-star elders of the Pleiades Guild.
“In just one month, they managed to construct such a powerful mind confusion array,” commented the elderly man in purple robes, his tone grave. “If the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin had acted sooner, perhaps they could have seen a glimmer of hope for victory. But now? Their chances of defeat have increased tenfold, if not more.”
Suddenly, a flying artifact resembling a curtain streaked over with astonishing velocity. It came to an abrupt halt roughly ten li away from the Pleiades Guild’s members. Three figures rode the artifact, their demeanor relaxed as they sipped their drinks leisurely.
Members of the Wu Sect. Meng Cai and the black-robed youth looked over, their expressions shifting subtly. Dong Pan actually decided to come?
“Daoist Meng Cai, your group sure is early,” boomed a figure clad in black armor as he emerged from the curtain artifact. Appearing to be in his 30s, with a bushy beard, he exuded a presence that commanded respect.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Daoist Dong Pan,” Meng Cai and the youth in black robes greeted respectfully, their demeanor courteous.
“Haha, no need for formalities,” laughed Dong Pan. “I am merely here to join in the fun. Don’t mind me, please carry on.”
Meng Cai and the others forced bitter smiles. Don’t mind him? Would anyone dare?