Chapter 307: Eight Gates Azure Light Formation

They are old adversaries, and we know them thoroughly. Speed is of the essence. I will lead the Hall of Merit personnel first. You can then gather all the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation cultivators in the sect and advance towards the Thunder Nation's border. We might even have to push into the Rock Nation and engage in a fierce battle with Mount Quake.

Chu Zuoshu, however, smiled confidently, then prepared to return to the Hall of Merit with Yue Zutao and Chen Mobai.

“I had originally intended for you to cultivate in peace, to temper your sharpness until it could gleam brilliantly across the entire Eastern Barren Lands upon unsheathing.”

Just as Chen Mobai was about to depart, Sect Master Meng Hong's voice transmission, tinged with a slight sigh, suddenly reached his ears.

Perfect timing!

Chen Mobai, however, replied to Meng Hong with a smile, then turned and left the Divine Wood Hall.

“As expected of a sword cultivator's nature!”

Cang Qi, standing by, remarked with emotion. He seemed to be able to hear their voice transmissions.

“Issue my highest-level order: Conscript all sect cultivators!”

Meng Hong watched the trio from the Hall of Merit leave, then spoke to Lu Yi of the Transmission Hall, enunciating each word.

“Understood!”

Soon after, the Divine Wood Hall issued the Sect Master's decree. All cultivators who were not in death seclusion were summoned. In merely the time it takes an incense stick to burn, dozens of spiritual lights descended from the sky, answering the summons.

Half a day later, all three halls and twelve departments began a full mobilization.

After three days of preparations, Xie Yuntian, head of the Sword Cultivation Department, first led a thousand Qi Cultivation disciples, commanding twelve large magic boats as they majestically headed towards the Thunder Nation.

The Divine Wood Sect's actions naturally could not escape the notice of the other major sects in the Eastern Barren Lands. Before long, many communication talismans were dispatched from Gigantic Tree Ridge through various methods.

Mount Quake, one of the seven major sects of the Eastern Barren Lands, despite its thousand-year legacy, was merely an ordinary first-rate sect a long time ago. Before Ji Zhenshi achieved Core Formation, Mount Quake's most prosperous period saw only four Foundation Establishment cultivators in total. Within the Rock Nation, there were also immortal cultivation families and sects whose influence was no less than Mount Quake's; the Ji family was one such entity.

The turning point came three hundred years ago. The Ji family discovered an empty-nether stone mine. Its location was at the border between their family's territory and Mount Quake. The Ji family's Foundation Establishment patriarch at the time was a man of foresight. Knowing that this matter could not possibly be hidden from Mount Quake, he personally visited and spoke with Mount Quake's four Foundation Establishment cultivators, honestly disclosing the discovery. Subsequently, the entire Ji family merged into Mount Quake.

Ji Zhenshi was the most talented genius with the best spiritual roots in the Ji family at that time. He became a disciple of Mount Quake's Sect Master. With the help of sect and family resources, he successfully established his foundation and gradually began to distinguish himself. Over the next century, he cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment and used the excavated empty-nether stone mine to exchange for Core Formation spiritual items from regions beyond the Eastern Barren Lands. Ji Zhenshi was also a person of extraordinary talent, successfully forming his core on his first attempt.

After that, he gradually expanded and strengthened Mount Quake, subduing and incorporating other immortal cultivation families and minor sects throughout the Rock Nation, and turning it into a major sect of the Eastern Barren Lands. Fifty years ago, during the internal strife and splintering of the Five Elements Sect, he even seized Xiao Nation, which bordered the Rock Nation and was previously within the Five Elements Sect's sphere of influence.

“Ji Zhenshi, who used his family to absorb Mount Quake, is undeniably a powerful and ambitious figure. However, this vast influence now relies entirely on him. Should he die, everything will fall apart.”

Aboard the magic boat, Chen Mobai consulted Yue Zutao about the Mount Quake sect. After consuming the Longevity Tree Fruit, Yue Zutao's cultivation was restricted. Aside from various miscellaneous studies, he had also spent time thoroughly researching the other major sects of the Eastern Barren Lands, and he spoke fluently about Mount Quake and Ji Zhenshi's rise to power.

On this magic boat, there were a total of eight Foundation Establishment cultivators. All of them were from their Hall of Merit. Besides Chu Zuoshu, the Hall Master of the Hall of Merit, there was also Fu Huakun, an inspector. The remaining six were their inspection envoys. One of them was Chen Mobai's acquaintance, Shan Hongyi. He and Yue Zutao were the only two at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Before Chu Zuoshu departed, he also took many good items from the Hall of Merit's treasury. He instructed Luo Xue’er, the Vice Hall Master, to handle the paperwork. Among them was a set of Eight Gates Azure Light Formation, a third-tier mid-grade formation. It required eight Foundation Establishment cultivators to operate collectively and contained three layers of transformations. When fully unleashed with its formation flags and array disk, it could even temporarily contend against Core Formation cultivators.

If the formation flags of this array were combined with tree seeds, their power would be even greater. As the Hall Master of the Hall of Merit, in charge of the sect's treasury, Chu Zuoshu took the formation and naturally did not forget the tree seeds. He not only took a third-tier Golden Sun Tree Seed for himself but also distributed a second-tier Azure Sun Tree Seed to each of the seven Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying him.

As they departed, Chen Mobai looked at the Azure Sun Tree Seed in his hand, filled with myriad emotions. He had originally been wondering how to acquire one from Yue Zutao in the future, but unexpectedly, it was now so easily obtained. Although this was officially combat material issued by the sect and would need to be returned to the sect's treasury once the war concluded, at least for now, it was theirs to use.

With the tree seeds in hand, those traveling with Chu Zuoshu were even more motivated. They were exceptionally enthusiastic during the practice of the Eight Gates Azure Light Formation. During their breaks from practicing the formation on the magic boat, the group stood in two circles.

“With the strength of Mount Quake alone, they certainly can't withstand our Divine Wood Sect. Is it possible that the other major sects in the Eastern Barren Lands might secretly, or even directly, assist Ji Zhenshi?”

Chen Mobai voiced his question. Yue Zutao nodded and explained the crucial point.

“In the past, when the Five Elements Sect dominated, Heavenly Valley, Mount Quake, Blowing Snow Palace, and Mount Liujia banded together for mutual support. The Core Formation patriarchs of these four sects had developed a bond of life-or-death friendship.”

“So, this means our Divine Wood Sect might have to face four major sects from the Eastern Barren Lands this time?”

“That's the worst-case scenario. However, Heavenly Valley has always been neutral, and with the Star Heaven Grand Mercantile Association backing them, they are solely focused on earning spirit stones and generally won't get involved in such matters. If it's just the three major sects, then with our alliance with Golden Light Cliff, we can certainly defend against them.”

In other words, the Divine Wood Sect was already mentally prepared for a major war with the other three sects. Hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but sigh with emotion about the Sky River Realm; it truly was accustomed to warfare. It seemed that cultivators here, from the very beginning of their Qi cultivation journey, were instilled with the idea that only by striving and contending could they advance further.

Between the Divine Wood Sect's territory and the Thunder Nation lay the Cloud Nation and the Snow Nation. The shortest distance would naturally be to cross the Snow Nation. However, that was Blowing Snow Palace's territory. Given the possibility of the three sects allying, Chu Zuoshu naturally wouldn't walk into a trap. He detoured through the Cloud Nation before heading to the Thunder Nation. Fortunately, they had the magic boat for the journey, and they also needed time to become proficient with the Eight Gates Azure Light Formation. Thus, it took them a full five days and five nights to fly to the Thunder Nation.

Their first stop in the Thunder Nation, and the front line of the battle with Mount Quake, was the location of that spirit stone mine: Fenglang Prefecture, Rolling Thunder Mountain. The Foundation Establishment patriarchs of the Thunder Nation's four major immortal cultivation families, leading over a hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators, respectfully welcomed the Divine Wood Sect's magic boat. Eight streaks of spiritual light descended from the sky, and Chu Zuoshu and the other seven had already landed on the open ground.

“Lian Chenghai greets Hall Master Chu. I never imagined you would come in person; Rolling Thunder Mountain is truly honored by your presence.”

A male cultivator with a dark reddish-purple complexion, broad face, large ears, and tall stature stepped forward. He seemed to know Chu Zuoshu and came forward with the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators to greet them.

“Our Divine Wood Sect's garrison commander was killed in your Thunder Nation, and two inspection personnel also went missing here. If you cannot provide me with a satisfactory explanation, I'm afraid the immortal cultivation families of the Thunder Nation will have to be replaced.”

Chu Zuoshu, however, calmly uttered words that caused all the Thunder Nation cultivators present to change their expressions drastically. No one doubted the truthfulness of his words, for the Divine Wood Sect was fully capable of accomplishing such a feat.

“Bring them up!”

Lian Chenghai immediately gestured to the family cultivators behind him, who then brought forth dozens of people who were being restrained.

“Upon receiving the news, we led our people to surround the Gong and Zheng families, hoping to rescue your sect's cultivators. However, Old Ghost Gong and Zheng Wulv had already left the Thunder Nation with a group of people via a teleportation array. Nevertheless, we intercepted thirty-six cultivators related by blood to the two families. And all the spirit stones and rare treasures they failed to take are also here.”

As he spoke, Lian Chenghai also took out a large storage bag and presented it to Chu Zuoshu. Chu Zuoshu nodded, and Yue Zutao, standing by, immediately stepped forward to receive it.

“These thirty-six people will be kept for mining for now. If we go to war with Mount Quake, they can atone for their crimes through meritorious service.”

Chu Zuoshu pronounced the fate of the Gong and Zheng families' members. He did not directly annihilate them but chose an even more cruel path.

“Yes, I will have our family members personally guard them.”

As Lian Chenghai spoke, he began to introduce the three Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him. They were the supreme patriarchs of the Thunder Nation's other three major families. However, these patriarchs, who in the past commanded awe and led their entire clans, now stood cautiously and apologetically before the eight members of the Divine Wood Sect, barely daring to breathe.

Chu Zuoshu: “How did Junior Brother Fu and Junior Brother Yuan go missing?”

Lian Chenghai: “That day, the two esteemed immortal masters from your sect infiltrated the Gong family and discovered the missing Garrison Commander Luo. However, Old Ghost Gong discovered their tracks. After he decisively killed Garrison Commander Luo, he then, along with Zheng Wulv and other Foundation Establishment cultivators, pursued the two immortal masters, Fu and Yuan. Subsequently, our four families received your sect's message and began leading our family cultivators to surround the two families, but we were a step too late; the core cultivators of both families escaped via a teleportation array.”

As he spoke, Lian Chenghai looked greatly ashamed. However, had it not been for the actions of their four families, Fu Xingzhou and Yuan Chiye might not have escaped so easily. All things considered, they had done what was expected of them.

“One hundred li past Rolling Thunder Mountain, that's the territory of the Rock Nation, right?” Chu Zuoshu stood at the highest peak of Rolling Thunder Mountain, gazing out at the rugged hills in the distance, and spoke.

“That's correct. When the spirit stone mine was discovered here previously, Mount Quake also wanted to intervene, but they were repelled by your esteemed sect's Immortal Master Zhou.”

“What is the scale of this spirit stone mine?”

“Approximately one hundred pieces of low-grade spirit stone raw ore can be excavated daily. According to your sect's Spirit Vein Department's assessment, it should be able to be mined for about sixty years.”

Chen Mobai, standing nearby, silently calculated upon hearing this. Meaning this miniature spirit stone mine was worth two to three million spirit stones. In that case, it indeed had the potential to draw the covetous gaze of Mount Quake.

However, mining spirit stone mines was troublesome. After all, cultivators were limited in number, and having them mine would delay their cultivation. Typically, a team of cultivators would be stationed, and physically strong mortals would be employed for labor. This was what the local immortal cultivation families excelled at; they were essentially local tyrants who could gather thousands of mortals with a single command.

It was precisely for this reason that, although the Thunder Nation was the Divine Wood Sect's territory and they could have used force to monopolize the spirit stone mine, they still distributed sixty percent of the profits to the six local immortal cultivation families. After all, this spirit stone mine, when calculated, only yielded about thirty-six thousand low-grade spirit stones annually; it wasn't worth making a big fuss over such a small profit. However, for the local immortal cultivation families, over three thousand low-grade spirit stones a year was a substantial windfall. To them, mortals could be appeased with grain and copper coins, making it a virtually no-cost business.

However, there were also greedy individuals. The Gong and Zheng families were prime examples, especially Patriarch Gong Wanshan of the Gong family, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, hailed as the “Foremost Foundation Establishment of the Thunder Nation.” He always compared himself to Ji Zhenshi and also harbored ambitions of achieving Core Formation. The spirit stone mine was originally discovered by him. However, once such a mine is extensively excavated, the spiritual energy leakage would cause “spirit rain” phenomena, making it difficult to keep secret.

Lian Chenghai, also at mid-Foundation Establishment, discovered this matter. The six major families of the Thunder Nation first engaged in a fierce internal struggle, but no one was willing to concede a loss. Gong Wanshan, moreover, allied with his in-laws, the Zheng family, demanding half of the profits outright. No one would submit to another, and Lian Chenghai couldn't defeat Gong Wanshan, so in a fit of anger, he reported the matter to Luo Shupin. After the Divine Wood Sect entered the scene, Gong Wanshan still refused to give up, even going so far as to relay the matter to Mount Quake's garrison commander next door. Unfortunately, Zhou Wangshen's cultivation and methods were truly remarkable; neither he nor Mount Quake's garrison commander managed to gain any advantage. Ultimately, Mount Quake retreated, and the Gong family had no choice but to endure it.

However, the turn of events ultimately exceeded everyone's imagination. The Gong and Zheng families, holding a grudge against the Divine Wood Sect over this matter, completely defected to Mount Quake. It seemed Mount Quake was also unprepared for this.

Seven days after Chen Mobai and his group arrived at Rolling Thunder Mountain, only then did five or six Mount Quake cultivators in golden robes and two Foundation Establishment cultivators in brown brocade robes fly over from the Rock Nation's side.

“Chu Zuoshu, come out and see me!”

The leading Mount Quake cultivator had graying hair but a face full of stern authority and a prominent nose. He continuously rotated two dark iron balls in the palm of his right hand. Upon arriving, he stood mid-air, his words echoing like thunder, spreading across the entire mountaintop.

“Ji Dingjin, you're still alive, I see.”

Chu Zuoshu also led the seven Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Hall of Merit out of Rolling Thunder Mountain, directly confronting the group from Mount Quake.

“I am protecting the Gong and Zheng families. Hand over their family cultivators, and this matter will be settled. Mount Quake will also not contend with your Divine Wood Sect for this spirit stone mine.”

Ji Dingjin seemed disinclined to engage in a war of words with Chu Zuoshu. He pointed to the two Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him, who were presumably Gong Wanshan and Zheng Wulv.

Chu Zuoshu shook his head, reached up to stroke his prominent mustache, and with a smile, uttered words that made the opposing side roar in anger.

“What a coincidence, because I actually wish for your demise.”