Chapter 308: Break the Pulse Pearl

"You're courting death!"

Ji Dingjin had been hot-tempered in his youth, but in his old age, he had reined himself in considerably. However, when faced with Chu Zuoxu's continuous provocations, he naturally couldn't tolerate it. From the two iron spheres in his right palm, brilliant sparks burst forth, and in an instant, a flash of lightning-like fire darted out, striking Chu Zuoxu on the head.

As the next sect master of the Divine Wood Sect, Chu Zuoxu was also renowned as a cultivator with the potential to form a Golden Core. Without rushing, he reached up and adjusted the jade crown on his head. A clear spiritual light shot forth, transforming into a verdant green leaf with clearly defined veins. This was precisely the Divine Wood Sect's signature "Spirit Leaf Art." The lightning bolt from the iron sphere struck the leaf, merely causing a ripple before vanishing without a trace.

"Hmph!" But Ji Dingjin, as the oldest Foundation Establishment Completion cultivator in the Eastern Desolation, had cultivated for so long that he had lost count of his encounters with cultivators from the Divine Wood Sect. He had long ago devised a method to counter the Spirit Leaf Art. After a cold snort, he directly hurled one of the iron spheres in his hand. It whistled like wind and thunder, trailing sparks and lightning in its wake.

As expected. As the iron sphere descended, the previously clear Spirit Leaf began to blur, finally dissipating with a "peng" sound.

Chu Zuoxu recognized it as a Metal-element magic artifact that countered his own cultivation technique. His brow furrowed, and he took out a crimson talisman, activating it. In an instant, the flames transformed into a dragon-snake, but at that moment, Ji Dingjin reached out and recalled his iron sphere, causing Chu Zuoxu's powerful talisman to strike nothing.

But Chu Zuoxu was not one to suffer a loss. He directly commanded the fiery dragon-snake to rush towards the Shaking Mountain Peak cultivator standing beside Ji Dingjin on the opposite side. The latter cursed angrily but could only act to block the talisman. Foundation Establishment Completion was already at the Pseudo-Core stage. If Ji Dingjin had not intervened, even if the people around him managed to block it, they would have suffered severe vital energy damage.

Chu Zuoxu looked at the two iron spheres in Ji Dingjin's hand, glowing red from the fiery dragon-snake's scorching. He stroked his walrus mustache and said with a smile, "Your magic artifact is quite good. I originally thought that with your age, you were just dabbling in such things out of idleness. I didn't expect it to be specifically designed to counter me."

"Stop flattering yourself," Ji Dingjin retorted. "It seems you're itching for a beating and want to be thrashed first."

By this point, Ji Dingjin was also enraged. He put the two iron spheres back into his storage bag, then donned a pair of black armguards and gauntlets. His vital energy suddenly erupted, and his already tall physique instantly swelled by a full circle, resembling a giant.

"Form the array!"

Seeing this, Chu Zuoxu immediately roared and took out an octagonal silver array disk. Chen Mobai and the other seven had been waiting for his command. In an instant, they set up their array flags, then changed their footwork, forming the Eight Gates Azure Light Array, which they had long practiced, around Chu Zuoxu. The void began to shift as wisps of mist appeared and expanded, transforming into eight gateways. Within them, hundreds of azure lights faintly shimmered.

As Chu Zuoxu manipulated the array disk in his hand, hundreds of azure lights, like flying swords, streaked across the sky, overwhelmingly piercing towards the Shaking Mountain Peak cultivators on the opposite side. Amidst buzzing sounds, Ji Dingjin, having lost the initiative, roared in anger. He pulled out a man-high brass shield, blocking at the very front, and simultaneously shouted to his fellow cultivators behind him, "Form the array!"

All were cultivators experienced in battle. Seeing the five Shaking Mountain Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with Gong Wanshan and Zheng Wulu, and Ji Dingjin holding the shield, a total of eight Foundation Establishment cultivators also set up the "Thousand Crags, Ten Thousand Peaks Array." The spiritual energy of heaven and earth, guided by the array and controlled by the Foundation Establishment cultivators' divine senses, transformed into a colossal illusory rolling stone. Like a meteor, it crashed towards the misty Eight Gates on the opposite side.

However, as the Eight Gates shifted, the azure lights, like flying swords, continuously shot forth. While resisting the rolling stone's impact, Chu Zuoxu also manipulated another misty gate to open, sending azure lights flying from the side to pierce the Shaking Mountain Peak cultivators. However, the "Thousand Crags, Ten Thousand Peaks Array" was also integrated for both offense and defense. Yellow sand rolled across the sky, and the azure lights that entered it were immediately congealed and dissolved by the Earth spiritual energy.

"Lian Chenghai, act now!" Seeing both sides locked in a stalemate in mid-air, Chu Zuoxu immediately shouted towards Rolling Thunder Mountain.

This spirit stone mine, with the combined power of the Divine Wood Sect and the six major cultivation families, also had a Tier 3 grand array set up. Unlike the Eight Gates Azure Light Array, this grand array was connected to the ley line spiritual energy, and its power far surpassed the other.

No sooner had Chu Zuoxu's words fallen than he saw golden lights emerging from the mountain below, condensing into a colossal illusory golden blade above the mountaintop. Just as it was about to strike down upon the rolling yellow sand at the periphery of the Thousand Crags, Ten Thousand Peaks Array, Ji Dingjin actually led his people in a direct retreat.

"Chu Zuoxu, just you wait!" After leaving behind a fierce threat, the Shaking Mountain Peak cultivators, like a yellow cloud, endured the pursuit of the Eight Gates Azure Light Array's flying swords and retreated into the territory of Yan Nation without looking back.

Chu Zuoxu led Chen Mobai and the others in a relentless pursuit for a while, until they were almost at the border of Lei Nation. Only then did they stop and return victoriously.

"Hahahaha," Chu Zuoxu exclaimed, "That old fella Ji Dingjin used to rely on being slightly higher in cultivation than me to act high and mighty. To be able to make him flee like a cornered rat today truly feels good!" After returning to Rolling Thunder Mountain, Chu Zuoxu, who had been maintaining a serious expression, finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. With his laughter, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lei Nation, who had initially been worried, also felt relieved. At least, they no longer had to worry about the Divine Wood Sect's retribution.

"This battle with Shaking Mountain Peak is likely unavoidable," Chu Zuoxu said. "This is also an opportunity for your four great families to atone for your misdeeds and gain merit. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

"Yes, please rest assured, Hall Master Chu," Lian Chenghai said, representing the four families. "We, as subordinates of the Divine Wood Sect, have obeyed the sect's commands for decades. We will absolutely not shy away from battle."

"Hmm, arrange some rooms for us," Chu Zuoxu said. "Later, the four of you come over, and we'll discuss how to defend against Shaking Mountain Peak's attack." Lian Chenghai naturally followed Chu Zuoxu's instructions immediately.

Although the scenery of Rolling Thunder Mountain was ordinary, after the spirit stone mine was discovered, the spiritual energy accumulated underground for millions of years surged upwards. Within just a few years, it unexpectedly formed a spiritual vein of nearly Tier 4 scale. It should be noted that throughout the entire Lei Nation, the spiritual land with the highest-grade spiritual vein among the six major cultivation families was merely peak Tier 3. Precisely for this reason, after the spirit stone mine was discovered, these Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lei Nation all used the excuse of guarding the spirit stones to be stationed long-term on Rolling Thunder Mountain. These family ancestors naturally each had their own residences, but now all were given to the Divine Wood Sect's people. Lian Chenghai was the first to offer his own cave dwelling, which Chu Zuoxu accepted without ceremony.

However, with eight people from the Divine Wood Sect this time, there weren't enough rooms. But cultivators in the Heaven River Realm were accustomed to sleeping rough and paid no mind to this. They simply found a location with abundant spiritual energy, placed a meditation mat, and began to cultivate.

"Since the sect's forces are coming from the capital, they will definitely arrive later than Shaking Mountain Peak, which will deploy troops directly from Yan Nation," Chu Zuoxu, the commander, calmly analyzed the situation after their initial victory. "Therefore, before our Divine Wood Sect's main army arrives, we need to rely on the defensive advantages of Rolling Thunder Mountain's array to resist for a period."

Inside the room, besides the eight Divine Wood Sect members, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators from Lei Nation were also present.

"This Tier 3 array on Rolling Thunder Mountain is the Earth Metal Golden Blade Array," Lian Chenghai explained. "It was set up by your esteemed sect's Array Department. With both Earth and Metal attributes, it's already connected to the spiritual vein here. As long as Ji Zhenshi doesn't make a move, I believe it can hold them off for a while." Lian Chenghai immediately presented a square array disk, which was the core of Rolling Thunder Mountain's array. Chu Zuoxu nodded but had Fu Huakun, who was beside him, take it. He needed to control the Eight Gates Azure Light Array and might also have to occasionally intervene and fight Ji Dingjin; adding the Earth Metal Golden Blade Array would be too taxing.

"We need to consider the possibility that Shaking Mountain Peak has a Vein-Breaking Pearl," Fu Huakun brought up after taking the Earth Metal Golden Blade Array disk. Vein-Breaking Pearls are magic artifacts specifically used to destroy spiritual veins in the Heaven River Realm. They are formed by condensing ancient toxic and vile energy extracted from ley lines. Once activated, they can rapidly drill into the ley lines, following the array's connection, polluting and destroying the spiritual essence of the ley lines within a hundred-mile radius.

"Vein-Breaking Pearls are incredibly precious," Chu Zuoxu said. "When our Divine Wood Sect split from the Five Elements Sect, we only received three. I don't believe a mere Shaking Mountain Peak would possess one." Chu Zuoxu shook his head, though it was unclear if he was truly confident or merely trying to boost the confidence of Lei Nation's four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, as soon as he spoke, Lian Chenghai and the other four exchanged glances. They knew that the mountain-guarding grand arrays their families had spent centuries setting up were even more formidable than this Earth Metal Golden Blade Array and were their greatest reliance. But now, hearing that the Divine Wood Sect actually possessed three Vein-Breaking Pearls, they instantly felt uneasy. They felt as if their families were exposed and vulnerable before the Divine Wood Sect, like someone without clothes, feeling a chill. Consequently, their attitudes became even more respectful.

"Each of your families must provide a hundred Qi Condensation cultivators," Chu Zuoxu began assigning tasks. "I don't care if these cultivators are hired from among rogue cultivators or if you apportion them from your affiliated families. Within three days, I want to see at least four hundred cultivators." When Lian Chenghai and the other four heard this, their expressions turned bitter, but they could only grit their teeth and agree.

It should be noted that while their four great families were virtually supreme rulers in Lei Nation, even the largest, the Lian family, with all its members, old and young, only had just over two hundred cultivators in total. The smallest, the Bao family, barely had over a hundred cultivators. And now Chu Zuoxu had directly assigned each family a hundred Qi Condensation cultivators, which would almost deplete half of their active forces. But at Chu Zuoxu's mercy, and recalling that the Divine Wood Sect possessed a formidable weapon like the Vein-Breaking Pearl, the four of them guaranteed that within three days, enough Qi Condensation cultivators to satisfy Chu Zuoxu would arrive at Rolling Thunder Mountain. After all, Chu Zuoxu's words just now had been very clear: he only cared about the number, not whether they were from their families. If they had known this earlier, the people from the Gong and Zheng families shouldn't have been handed over. Apportioning them among each family would have accounted for nine individuals.

"Senior Brother, why didn't I know the sect had three Vein-Breaking Pearls?" Fu Huakun asked with some confusion after Lian Chenghai and the other four left.

"If I hadn't said that," Chu Zuoxu explained to his own people, "how would those four have so easily agreed to dispatch cultivators from Lei Nation here?" The others nodded in admiration.

"We still need to consider the possibility that Shaking Mountain Peak has a Vein-Breaking Pearl," Fu Huakun said, still somewhat worried after understanding. "Before Ji Zhenshi formed his Golden Core, he exchanged many good things for Empty Nether Stones outside the Eastern Desolation. It's possible he obtained one."

"This spiritual vein on Rolling Thunder Mountain is nearly Tier 4," Chu Zuoxu countered. "This means Shaking Mountain Peak would need a Tier 4 Vein-Breaking Pearl to completely destroy the Earth Metal Golden Blade Array. The Five Elements Sect itself only has two of those. I don't believe Ji Zhenshi would waste resources to obtain such a thing." Chu Zuoxu shook his head. But as things stood, even if the other side truly possessed one, they could only let it be. After all, once this item was thrown into an array, it would automatically destroy and pollute the spiritual vein, making it almost unstoppable.

"Hall Master, we still need to consider this possibility," Yue Zutao, Chu Zuoxu's disciple, stepped forward and offered a piece of advice. "Once Rolling Thunder Mountain's spiritual vein is polluted, we can manually sever the array's connection to the ley line and use spirit stones as the array's power source instead. After all, the one thing we don't lack here is spirit stones." Chu Zuoxu was very open to advice; after thinking about it, he realized it made sense, so he instructed Fu Huakun to first practice the plan of severing the ley line connection using the Earth Metal Golden Blade Array's disk.

"If we truly run out of spirit stones and Shaking Mountain Peak breaks through Rolling Thunder Mountain," Yue Zutao added, "we must also be prepared to retreat." In these past years, his cultivation had been suppressed, giving him enough time to delve into various miscellaneous studies. Furthermore, he was originally groomed to be the next Hall Master of the Hall of Rewards, possessing excellent literary and military strategies.

"Hmm, once those Qi Condensation cultivators arrive," Chu Zuoxu acknowledged, "we can practice battle formations. If the situation turns unfavorable, we can also use these people as cannon fodder to cover our retreat." Chu Zuoxu nodded, and then everyone discussed how to respond to various scenarios.

Chen Mobai listened from the side, feeling both novelty and emotion in his heart. Finally, he was about to experience large-scale warfare among cultivators of the Heaven River Realm. He wondered how many would die this time.

Three days passed in a flash. Rolling Thunder Mountain was now filled with various simple camps. Over four hundred cultivators gathered noisily, even setting up a makeshift market. Chen Mobai inquired and learned that fewer than a hundred cultivators were from the four great families here; most were rogue cultivators or guest cultivators. However, as long as they were on Rolling Thunder Mountain, they could receive two spirit stones daily from the four great families. Those with higher cultivation, such as late Qi Condensation, received even more.

This scene reminded Chen Mobai of the monster attack on Cloud Dream Lake Island long ago, where he had also accepted the Divine Wood Sect's recruitment. He wondered how the senior brother and junior sister from that small sect, who were in his team back then, were doing now. He heard from E Yun that Azure Light Island had been rebuilt, but it was no longer Senior Brother Zheng Deming in charge. The latter had gone to Wind and Rain Dock with Old Ancestor Fu.

"They're here!" That day, Chen Mobai was practicing battle formations with Yue Zutao when Chu Zuoxu suddenly flew into the air and shouted to everyone, "They're here!"

On the opposite side, within Yan Nation's territory, airships, each carrying hundreds of cultivators, like yellow clouds, majestically flew towards Rolling Thunder Mountain.