Chapter 316: Solemn Statement

Soon, the squad's roster was finalized.

Besides Chen Mobai and Weng Chuanyou, the squad also included Liao Shiying from the Hall of Punishment and Xi Yisheng from the Sword Cultivation Department. All of them were cultivators in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Among them, Xi Yisheng was the grandfather of Chen Mobai's friend, Xi Jinghuo. However, Xi Jinghuo and other friends did not come this time; they were led by other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the sect to the borders near the Snow Kingdom and Wind Kingdom, to prevent surprise attacks from Mount Liujia and the Blowing Snow Palace.

After greeting the other three squad members, they returned to prepare. They agreed that tomorrow, when Chu Zuoshu led the Divine Wood Sect army to attack Ji Dingjin's forces, they would take a detour to enter the Rock Kingdom.

After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly, and with enough time, a small group could easily infiltrate.

In the Student Union's villa, Hua Zijing was leading Zhuang Jialan in processing various documents. Compared to Hua Zijing's effortless efficiency, Zhuang Jialan appeared much more flustered. However, this was due to her lack of experience; making mistakes was part of the learning process.

Ring! Ring!

Just then, the phone on the desk rang. They were still using old-fashioned landlines for inter-office communication.

Hua Zijing casually picked up the phone and, hearing Chen Mobai's voice, her face filled with surprise.

“A rare guest indeed. I haven't seen you in two or three months.”

Three minutes later, she went upstairs and knocked on the President's office door. Seeing Chen Mobai sitting in the executive chair, petting a white cat with squinted eyes and a reluctant expression, she clicked her tongue.

“Well, here I am. By the way, Senior Brother Jing Zuyin, can you contact him? I want to buy an unused Minor Teleportation Talisman.”

“Yes, I can. Is that all you came for?”

Hua Zijing nodded, frowning slightly with a hint of dissatisfaction. She crossed her arms across her chest, her tone annoyed, accentuating her ample curves, which made Chen Mobai feel a bit awkward looking at her leaning against the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Mobai didn't understand the meaning behind Hua Zijing's expression. He lowered his head, continued petting the cat, and asked directly.

“Didn’t Director Che tell you? At the end of the year, you’re supposed to lead a team to Jumang Daoist Academy.”

“What for... Ah, don't tell me it's a sparring exchange among the Daoist Academies and Martial Palaces. We already have the Minor Scarlet Heaven, why waste manpower and resources on an in-person event?” Chen Mobai realized halfway through speaking, saying it with a hint of confusion.

“Hmph, it’s all because you’ve been running rampant in the Minor Scarlet Heaven. Those late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators can’t even get matched with you, and some hate you too much. They want to suppress our Wuqi Daoist Academy's scores in the Minor Scarlet Heaven, so with the Pure Yang Academy's push, most agreed to hold this in-person exchange.” When Hua Zijing spoke of this, her face was filled with indignation. She deeply disdained the other Daoist Academies and Martial Palaces for resorting to direct physical sparring offline because they couldn't defeat Wuqi Academy head-on in the Minor Scarlet Heaven.

“For a sparring exchange among Daoist Academies and Martial Palaces, shouldn't Xiahou Weihuan and Sima Xingyu, who have long since graduated, be unable to participate?” Chen Mobai’s expression was also a little shocked upon hearing this. He immediately asked about his two biggest enemies in the Immortal Sect.

He could dominate in the early and mid-stages of Foundation Establishment, but he wasn’t confident against those two former chief disciples of Pure Yang Academy, who had also cultivated the God Transformation Grand Art.

In-person sparring was different from the Minor Scarlet Heaven. Without an advantage in magical artifacts or cultivation stage, Chen Mobai estimated he would struggle even against the chief disciples of the other three Daoist Academies.

“According to past rules, they shouldn't be able to participate. However, since they hate you so much, they will definitely find a way to get in. Only by defeating you can their mental states be perfected, allowing them to advance to higher realms.” Hua Zijing shrugged, and the undulating curves of her movement made Chen Mobai, who had just looked up, lower his head to pet the cat again.

“However, you’ve earned such great glory for the Academy in the Minor Scarlet Heaven. Even if you fail in the in-person sparring, the Academy's teachers and students will understand.” Chen Mobai listened to Hua Zijing's seemingly comforting words, but his eyes showed a hint of defiance.

Although his chances of winning against the chief disciples of the other three Daoist Academies were slim, the fact that they presumed he would lose before he even fought made Chen Mobai, who had never tasted defeat in battles within the same cultivation stage since his debut, extremely indignant.

“Believe it or not, by the end of the year, this President will use my perfected Foundation Establishment cultivation to make sure no chief disciple from any Daoist Academy or Martial Palace can raise their head.”

“Oh, right, I heard you have a girlfriend at Jumang Daoist Academy. It might be a bit embarrassing if you lose in front of her. Do you want to find a way to get her away beforehand?” At this moment, Hua Zijing said something that left Chen Mobai bewildered.

“What do you mean ‘a’ girlfriend? It sounds like I have many! Are you talking about Qing Nü? She and I are just friends.” Chen Mobai naturally knew about the false rumors circulating online that he was a scoundrel. He never expected that Hua Zijing, his usually calm and wise secretary, would be influenced by them. He felt it was necessary to clarify.

“Let me state this formally: I am single, dedicated to cultivating the Pure Yang Dharma Body, and I am a pure and sincere sword cultivator focused on the Way of the Sword. Before achieving the Grand Dao, I will absolutely not be distracted by romantic relationships.” After he finished speaking, Hua Zijing pursed her lips, indicating she understood.

But looking at her expression, Chen Mobai knew she definitely didn't believe him.

At that moment, his heart turned cold. The feeling of being unable to explain himself, even with a mouth, made Chen Mobai disheartened as he continued petting the cat.

Fortunately, Jing Zuyin arrived at that moment.

Chen Mobai transferred 250,000 Merit Points to the senior student, which was the market price for a Minor Teleportation Talisman. However, Jing Zuyin didn't accept the points, instead wishing to exchange them for an equivalent value of Tier 2 talismans and talisman ink.

Jing Zuyin had heard that Chen Mobai owned a talisman factory and that the quality of his talismans and ink was quite good. Coincidentally, Jing Zuyin was also an ascetic who preferred to stay indoors at the Myriad Treasures Cave. After acquiring a top-grade Tier 2 inkstone at the end of last year, he became even more reluctant to go out.

However, as talismans and ink were consumables that he had to buy, he decided to take this opportunity to stock up.

Chen Mobai was naturally willing to oblige.

He opened a drawer—or rather, took out the talismans and ink from his storage bag—and even gave Jing Zuyin some extras as a gift.

With both parties satisfied, Hua Zijing, who had acted as the intermediary, also smiled.

After obtaining the Minor Teleportation Talisman, Chen Mobai quickly slipped away before she could react.

When Hua Zijing returned to the third floor with Zhuang Jialan and a stack of documents, intending to have Chen Mobai sign them, she found the President's office empty. She was so angry that she snapped the pen in her hand.

Chen Mobai also felt a little sorry towards Hua Zijing for this.

However, he was currently in a battle zone, and the situation was far more urgent than at the Academy.

Upon returning, Chen Mobai was about to set the Minor Teleportation Talisman's destination to Rolling Thunder Mountain, but then he considered that if he actually had to use it, his sudden appearance would be impossible to explain to Chu Zuoshu and the others.

He didn't want to expose any traces of the Immortal Sect.

After some thought, Chen Mobai went down the mountain once and set the teleportation point for the Minor Teleportation Talisman in an desolate mountain a few kilometers away from Rolling Thunder Mountain.

For concealment, the teleportation point was a cave he had excavated inside the desolate mountain using his flying sword.

The next day.

Chen Mobai watched as the Qi Cultivation stage cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect stepped onto the thirty-six massive airships floating in mid-air. He waved to his two disciples beside him, signaling for them to follow.

“Disciples will surely not bring shame upon our master,” the two disciples said with resolute expressions before leaving, but Chen Mobai once again instructed them to prioritize safety.

Witnessing the magnificent Qi Cultivation army of the Divine Wood Sect and the spectacular fleet of airships floating in mid-air, many rogue cultivators from the Thunder Kingdom, who had originally intended to sell their spoils and leave, felt greed arise. Gritting their teeth, they surprisingly boarded the airships again.

Chu Zuoshu was pleased with this development. However, to prevent the rogue cultivators' chaotic discipline from affecting the main force, he had Lian Chenghai and two others lead the Thunder Kingdom cultivators to board two empty airships that had just finished transporting supplies.

“Let’s depart as well.” Watching the thirty-eight airships disappear from their sight, Weng Chuanyou said to Chen Mobai and the other three beside him.

This expedition, naturally, was led by him, the Deputy Head of the Spiritual Vein Department and a Tier 3 formation master.

Whether in terms of status, qualifications, or cultivation, Weng Chuanyou was the undisputed leader.

He took out a leaf, blew on it, and it transformed into a small flying magical artifact.

After the four boarded, they concealed their forms and flew towards the Rock Kingdom's territory.

On the main battlefield.

Ji Dingjin stood within the Tier 3 grand formation, looking across the protective shield at Chu Zuoshu in the air outside. Their gazes met, and it seemed as if sparks erupted in the void.

In an instant, hundreds of spells, combined with battle formations, descended.

Thick, clear, and dazzling beams of light, like divine swords reaching the heavens, illuminated from the airships, sweeping up spiritual energy across the sky. Like an immortal wielding a sword, they struck down towards the earthy-yellow cloud protective shield that enveloped the entire Tier 3 spiritual land.

The thirty-six airships perfectly unleashed the full power of the Divine Wood Sect's signature technique, the Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation.

The attacks from the Immortal Longevity Scripture were generally average, but the "Heavenly Wood Divine Light" was an exception.

After just one round of attacks by twelve Heavenly Wood Divine Lights, a breach had been created in the Tier 3 Yellow Earth Sand Dance Formation.

However, Chu Zuoshu was not in a hurry to send troops to attack. Instead, he signaled another twelve airships to absorb spirit stones and condense the Heavenly Wood Divine Light again, seemingly intending to completely break the grand formation before engaging the nearly one thousand Rock Kingdom cultivators below in a direct confrontation.

Rumble!

Watching the Heavenly Wood Divine Lights descend from the sky, causing the earth to shake, Ji Dingjin felt a tightening in his chest.

He had an ominous premonition.

But he thought it was because the Divine Wood Sect's massive army before them might cause their elite Rock Kingdom cultivators to suffer heavy losses once the formation was broken.

Ji Dingjin had already made up his mind: even if it meant sacrificing his own life, he would make the Divine Wood Sect pay a heavy price.

Even if he couldn't drag Chu Zuoshu to death with him, he would at least take down a few Foundation Establishment talents with potential to form a Golden Core.

His primary target was that young Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator who had mastered sword light.

Thinking of Chen Mobai, Ji Dingjin looked up at the sky. Every Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Divine Wood Sect controlled an airship to wield the Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation, so they were all standing clearly visible above their respective airships.

However, he couldn't find any trace of Chen Mobai among them.

Could it be that the Divine Wood Sect had more Foundation Establishment cultivators now, allowing him to rest?

Ji Dingjin thought this, but something felt off.

Before he could ponder further, the third round of twelve Heavenly Wood Divine Lights had already struck down.

Amidst the thunderous roar, the top-grade Tier 3 grand formation, renowned for its defensive power, was breached in seven or eight places. Furthermore, over a hundred Qi Cultivation stage cultivators inside the formation couldn't dodge in time and were instantly vaporized.

“Quick, quick! Earth masters and formation masters, come and replace those who are exhausted!” Ji Dingjin listened to a junior brother controlling the formation plate shouting loudly beside him. He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, already fully armored, and then was the first to fly out of the formation.

He, along with the six other peak masters from Mount Hanshan who had arrived as reinforcements yesterday, and several Foundation Establishment cultivators from Xiao Kingdom—a total of twenty-eight Foundation Establishment cultivators—charged like rocks erupting from the earth, heading towards the Divine Wood Sect's thirty-eight airships in the sky.

“Achieve great deeds; now is the time.” In mid-air, Chu Zuoshu saw this scene and spoke coldly. Then, he adjusted his jade crown, and two tree seeds manifested, charging first to meet Ji Dingjin, who was at the forefront.

Beside him, Xie Yuntian drew his sword without a word. Its sharp edge pierced the heavens, shattering the clouds and clearing the sky, his aura even more terrifying than Chu Zuoshu’s.

The remaining four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect—Quan Shanlin, Fu Huakun, and others—each found their own opponents.

The two armies, without formation protection, began their most direct conflict.

Chen Mobai, of course, was unaware of this.

His group had already taken a detour to enter the Rock Kingdom's territory. Twenty li away from their target spirit stone mine, Weng Chuanyou found an uninhabited Tier 1 spiritual vein and began setting up a teleportation formation.

“A Tier 2 spiritual vein would have been better, but conditions are limited, so we'll just have to spend more spirit stones,” Weng Chuanyou said, directing Chen Mobai and the other two to bury twelve fist-sized Void Stones in their respective positions.

He, meanwhile, solemnly placed a circular formation disk with a hollow center at the very heart of the setup, then took out various formation flags and drove them into different parts of the spiritual vein.

Streams of white, mist-like spiritual energy surged from the ground, echoing the Void Stones Chen Mobai and the others had placed. In an instant, a circular outline formed on the earth, and then intricate and precise dao patterns generated from the inner edge of the outline, extending continuously like spiritual snakes towards Weng Chuanyou at the center.

This process took a full three days and three nights.

Chen Mobai watched as Weng Chuanyou successively invested over a hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Finally, upon completion, he even took out a translucent spirit stone, shimmering with colorful flowing light, and placed it in the center of the formation disk.

This was a high-grade spirit stone.

Setting up this small-scale teleportation formation alone cost 20,000 spirit stones just for the spirit stones.

No wonder only the Seven Great Sects of the Eastern Barrens had the capability to set up such formations.

If the Divine Wood Sect hadn't coincidentally discovered a Void Stone mine, they probably wouldn't have even considered this plan.

After all, the price of these twelve Void Stones was equivalent to thirty to forty thousand spirit stones, and they were extremely rare on the market.

Precisely because of this, Mount Hanshan never expected the Divine Wood Sect to set up a teleportation formation within the Rock Kingdom's territory.

“Alright, let’s try it out first.” Weng Chuanyou wiped the sweat from his forehead, then activated the teleportation formation and threw in a pre-prepared rabbit.

Two breaths later, a disciple from the Spiritual Vein Department who had remained at Rolling Thunder Mountain was teleported before them amidst swirling spiritual light, holding the rabbit.

“It’s a success.” Seeing this, Chen Mobai felt a sense of relief mixed with ease.