Outside the Yunzhong Valley, disciples from the eighteen sects formed numerous four-person teams, scattered among the mountains surrounding the valley, encircling it tightly. They awaited the command from their own sect elders to rush into the Yunzhong Valley and reclaim the vast wealth within.
Meanwhile, representatives from the eighteen sects gathered in a temporary hall further away to discuss how to distribute the benefits after breaking into the Yunzhong Valley.
Each of them appeared calm and composed, showing no joy or sorrow for external matters, all wearing the demeanor of true immortals, which was convincing to behold.
Normally, the distribution of benefits should have been settled long ago. However, as the time to attack the Yunzhong Valley approached, some people started to become suspicious and paranoid, pondering whether they were being used as pawns or if there were hidden secrets unknown to them.
The closer they got to the battle, the more uneasy they became. The lives of the sect disciples were not important, but if they were dragged down in the end, everything would be lost.
Ling Xuan, the Sect Master of the Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peak, who initiated this operation, keenly sensed the cautious thoughts of the others prompted by the hint from Shanhuan, the representative of the Good Huan Sect.
Ling Xuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “These self-proclaimed clever individuals are actually extremely foolish, like a bunch of mud. If these complicated thoughts spread, before the battle even begins, we’ll collapse! This joint expedition of the eighteen sects against the Yunzhong Valley will become a complete joke!”
So, he gathered everyone once again to clarify the situation!
Glancing at the dozen or so major figures present with a gentle smile, Ling Xuan said, “The purpose of summoning all of you here is simple: to reiterate that my Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peaks only wants one hundred thousand pieces of spiritual energy stones from the Yunzhong Valley, and nothing more! If there aren’t enough spiritual energy stones, then my Sane Peaks will accept that.
As for you all, I, Ling Xuan of the Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peaks, hereby declare again that after breaking through the mountain gate, according to the previous agreement, everyone takes what they need. If it doesn’t belong to you, don’t reach out for it!
If anyone breaks the rules, the other seventeen sects will not agree. The outcome of the Yunzhong Valley will be their best result!
As for the surplus, the sect that enters the mountain gate first and reaches the highest peak will take three layers. The remaining seven layers, if you trust me, Ling Xuan of the Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peaks, will be distributed by me!”
With that said, Ling Xuan scanned the room once more. These people all had the appearance of enlightened immortals, but they were all plotting in their hearts, which Ling Xuan found despicable.
He continued, “I hope everyone understands that the arrow is already on the string and must be released. If we take a step back, we’ll become a joke in the entire cultivation world! How can our sect hold its head up in the future? You may not care about your reputation, but my Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peaks cannot afford to lose face!”
After Ling Xuan finished speaking, the expressions of the people present couldn’t maintain their appearance of enlightened immortals any longer. For a while, their faces were all different, and their hearts were filled with curses against Ling Xuan: “Ling Xuan is shameless to the extreme. Doesn’t he have any shame at all? I’ve never seen such a shameless person!”
Ling Xuan ignored the strange looks from the crowd.
He looked down on these people in the audience. In his heart, Ling Xuan held the universe. How could these people, who only knew how to calculate trivial matters all day long, understand?
Furthermore, when he talked about losing face, it was about the weakness and indecision of losing face, which had nothing to do with his actions and style.
At this moment, someone smiled faintly. It was Shi Jian, the Elder of the Triple Phoenix Pavilion. He said in a strange tone, “Ling Xuan of the Elemental Constellation Sanhe Peaks, I trust you, but I don’t trust certain dirty individuals under your command.”
Immediately, someone didn’t like him and stood up abruptly, saying, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying that everyone under the Triple Phoenix Pavilion is clean? Do we need the seventeen sects to personally go and see?”
Someone echoed, “What a clever proposal!”
Shi Jian snorted coldly and stopped talking.
However, the crowd began to argue fiercely about this topic.
This gave Ling Xuan a headache, and he kept shaking his head inwardly, “Not enough to get things done, not enough to get things done…”
However, his initial goal had been achieved. At least they wouldn’t disband directly because of suspicion. Regardless, as long as they took down the Yunzhong Valley and retrieved his spiritual energy stones, nothing else mattered.
Just as everyone was arguing fiercely, a voice suddenly interjected, “Have you all thought about how to attack the mountain?”
The scene quickly quieted down, and all eyes turned to the speaker, who was none other than Shan Huan from the Liuxing Huajin Gate, a man with a high ponytail and a long face.
Ling Xuan secretly praised, “Shan Huan is insightful. This is the demeanor that we joint cultivators should have.”
Shan Huan looked down at his own hand, then extended it and opened it palm-up, speaking calmly, “In attacking the mountain, the priority is to attack the mind. When the disciples of the Yunzhong Valley lose their will to win, it will be easy to capture the valley.”
Someone asked, “What are your plans, Shan Huan?”
Shan Huan replied, “We, the eighteen sects, have already assigned attack directions. Whoever attacks the mountain gate first will depend on their own abilities. However, to minimize losses for our eighteen sects, it’s best to disrupt their preset formation before formally attacking the mountain!”
Shan Huan curled his fingers into claws, staring at his own fingertips as he said, “My hand represents the Yunzhong Valley, and the five fingers represent the mountain-defense formation. If I attack only the thumb while ignoring the other four fingers, how would the thumb feel?”
Ling Xuan immediately responded, “It would definitely feel unfair and incline to retreat!”
Shan Huan continued, “If the other four fingers remain indifferent, it’s just as I wish. We will continue to attack one spot until we find the formation’s weak point and destroy it. However, this possibility is unlikely.”
Someone asked, “What if the other four fingers provide support?”
Shan Huan smiled, “Then the defense in other areas will inevitably weaken. You can directly launch a full-scale attack to swiftly end the battle.”
Another person asked, “Who will lead the vanguard to attack the thumb? How do we determine the timing for the full-scale attack?”
Shan Huan replied, “Among those who came with the eighteen sects, there are more than ten other sects. It’s best to make promises of sharing the benefits with each of them individually and let them lead the attack first.
Of course, my Liuxing Huajin Gate will also participate in attacking the thumb to prevent the Yunzhong Valley from seeing through our intentions. And rest assured, if my Liuxing Huajin Gate lead the attack on the mountain gate, we will voluntarily give up more than thirty percent of the benefits to you all.
As for determining the timing, it’s simple. I have a technique that can rise like the sun, illuminating a hundred miles. When you see the sun rising, it’s time for the full-scale attack.”
The crowd exchanged glances and all accepted this proposal. They all wanted to attack. If someone else attracted hatred in advance, it would be advantageous to them without any harm. Why oppose it?
Shan Huan’s expression remained unchanged, but there was a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. With a smile, he slowly explained the subsequent attack methods and finally confirmed the attack plan.
Ling Xuan applauded with both hands, “Shan Huan’s plan is excellent! Let’s decide like this!”
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On a mountain peak to the southwest of the Yunzhong Valley, more than two thousand cultivators gathered, flying around the mountain peak in mid-air, densely packed like a swarm of hornets, restless and ready to move, just like a nest of hornets leaving their hive.
This group of cultivators was composed of disciples from the Liuxing Huajin Gate and more than ten affiliated sects.
There were over a thousand Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, nearly a thousand Golden Core stage cultivators, and close to a hundred Nascent Soul stage cultivators, divided into over five hundred small teams.
They served as the vanguard, launching the first attack towards one side of the Yunzhong Valley.
Shan Huan stood atop the peak, gazing into the distant mist-covered Yunzhong Valley, and said calmly, “Is everything arranged?”
A gray-robed Nascent Soul stage cultivator behind Shan Huan nodded and said, “Yes, everything has been arranged, Master.”
Shan Huan said directly, “In that case, let’s attack the mountain!”
The gray-robed Nascent Soul stage cultivator nodded and withdrew.
After a moment, a melodious sound came from behind.
“Woo~ woo~ woo——”
The dense crowd of cultivators stirred, flying towards the distant mist in unison, with a majestic momentum, the whistling wind blowing, giving off an unstoppable feeling.
However, these cultivators were all in the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages, while Nascent Soul stage cultivators were still observing from afar, not easily joining the fray.
After a moment, more than two thousand cultivators disappeared into the mist like raindrops falling into clouds.
Looking at the impressive momentum, but in front of the vast mist formation, the four thousand cultivators couldn’t stir up even a single ripple!
The real fierce battle was happening within the mist.
…
“They’re here!”
Su Hao became alert, his spiritual sense faintly sensing that a large number of cultivators had entered the mist formation, but not from their direction.
Su Hao murmured, “Hmm, isn’t that the direction where Yashan is defending?”
Not long after, Su Hao received a message from Yashan: “Damn it! Wei Boss, things are not looking good! The enemy is coming in waves, one after another, and we can’t hold on anymore!”
Su Hao: “…”
