Chapter 317: Three Great Golden Elixirs

I had initially thought that setting up the teleportation array would be a dangerous task, but to my surprise, it was completed with such ease.

However, Chen Mobai and his three companions could not return immediately. They needed to remain here and guard the area until the Divine Wood Sect's main army could be fully transferred. Since it was a small teleportation array, it could only transport a maximum of ten people at a time. However, most of the spirit stone mine's defensive forces had been deployed to the front lines, meaning the Divine Wood Sect's entire army didn't need to be teleported here.

Weng Chuanyou, through some secret technique or artifact, confirmed that only two Foundation Establishment cultivators and thirty Qi Cultivation cultivators were operating the defensive array. Chen Mobai used his Spirit Eye of Insight to observe the situation. Although he could barely penetrate the defensive array outside the spirit stone mine, he couldn't discern the true conditions within. It just goes to show that for the Divine Wood Sect to be considered a major power in the Eastern Wilds, its foundations are indeed profound.

What followed was a relatively simple affair. For seven days, Chu Zuoshu led the Divine Wood Sect's army in besieging Ji Dingjin's large unit. Their strategy evolved from initial direct confrontation to merely surrounding the enemy without attacking, giving the appearance of engagement. Ji Dingjin mistakenly believed that his desperate, high-risk strategy had caused significant losses to the Divine Wood Sect. In reality, four Foundation Establishment cultivators and one hundred elite Qi Cultivation cultivators had secretly been withdrawn from the front lines to avoid raising his suspicions.

Once Chen Mobai and his three companions rendezvoused with the Divine Wood Sect forces that had arrived via the teleportation array, they were immediately led by Weng Chuanyou, a third-tier array master, to swiftly dismantle the defensive array of the small spirit stone mine. Though the cultivators of Shaking Mountain Peak resisted with all their might, the numerical disparity was simply too vast. Even with the protection of the array, a breach was blasted open by the Divine Wood Light within half a day.

As soon as the array was breached, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Shaking Mountain Peak acted decisively, ordering all cultivators to take their storage bags and scatter in various directions to escape. To prevent the raw spirit stones from being carried away from the mine, Chen Mobai and the others had no choice but to divide their forces and pursue each individual. Fortunately, they had anticipated this possibility, and the number of personnel they had teleported was sufficient for the task.

However, nothing ever goes entirely according to plan. Two Qi Cultivation cultivators from Shaking Mountain Peak displayed formidable strength, managing to escape even when encircled by six or seven Divine Wood Sect cultivators. According to reports from the surviving Divine Wood Sect cultivators, both Shaking Mountain Peak cultivators had mastered the first stage of the Nine-Ren Dharma Body, possessing formidable physical strength that made them difficult to contend with. Nevertheless, these unexpected incidents did not undermine the Divine Wood Sect's overall strategic success.

Chen Mobai and the other seven Foundation Establishment cultivators personally intervened, slaying the two escaped Shaking Mountain Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators. From their storage bags, they recovered raw ore valued at over 200,000 spirit stones. This haul alone represented the spirit stone mine's monthly output. Moreover, the combined contents of the Qi Cultivation disciples' storage bags amounted to an additional 50,000 to 60,000 spirit stones. In total, this stealth operation yielded nearly 300,000 spirit stones in gains.

“It truly lives up to its reputation as a small spirit stone mine,” Weng Chuanyou remarked. “With just a bit of processing and cutting, the raw ore found here becomes mid-grade spirit stones.” Weng Chuanyou held a fist-sized piece of raw ore in his palm. A yellowish glow emanated from his palm, and after a moment of appraisal, a smile spread across his face.

In the Heavenly River Realm, spirit stone mines are categorized into four distinct grades: miniature, small, medium, and large. Among these, the Rolling Thunder Mountain mine is a miniature spirit stone mine, capable of producing only low-grade spirit stones with an estimated total yield in the millions. Small spirit stone mines, on the other hand, feature core veins that yield mid-grade raw spirit stones. These mines typically produce millions of spirit stones annually, with total reserves often reaching tens of millions. Medium-sized mines are exceptionally valuable, as their core veins produce high-grade spirit stones. Only four such mines have ever been discovered across the entire Eastern Wilds. Of these, the Five Elements Sect possesses two, the Blowing Snow Palace one, and the Divine Wood Sect one. The Divine Wood Sect's mine, in particular, was forcibly taken from the Five Elements Sect during a past schism, in a joint effort with Golden Light Cliff. Consequently, half of its annual spirit stone production must still be shared with Golden Light Cliff. While Shaking Mountain Peak possesses no medium-sized spirit stone mines, it does control two small-sized and three miniature-sized mines.

The Divine Wood Sect's capture of this location effectively cut off nearly half of Shaking Mountain Peak's spirit stone supply. Thus, upon hearing the news brought back by the two escaped disciples, Ji Dingjin's eyes immediately turned bloodshot with rage. He promptly led all his surviving cultivators, preparing to abandon the miniature spirit stone mine they currently held and retake the small spirit stone mine that Chen Mobai and his group had seized. However, Chu Zuoshu, having already anticipated this move, immediately led his main army to intercept them. Though Ji Dingjin was consumed by rage, he had not completely lost his rationality. After two failed attempts to break through the blockade, he ultimately had no choice but to retreat back into the miniature spirit stone mine, prioritizing the broader strategic situation. From his position, there was simply nothing more he could do. His only hope now rested with the sect's venerable ancestor.

The Shaking Mountain Peak sect's stronghold was situated in a canyon nestled between two towering mountain ranges. Legend has it that the sect's founder, with a single punch, shook the mountains and cleaved this canyon, leading to the establishment of their base and the naming of their sect after this feat. To the left of Shaking Mountain Peak, atop the mountain range, stood a magnificent Golden Sun Spirit Tree. Its branches and verdant leaves spread like a vast cloud canopy, soaring into the heavens and casting a shadow over more than half of the canyon. This was precisely the domain manifested by Ancestor Zhou of the Divine Wood Sect, powered by his Evergreen Immortality Scripture. On the opposing mountain range to the right, a massive black spear was plunged into the peak. Beside it, a golden-robed young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed coldly on Zhou Shengqing. This individual was, of course, Ji Zhensheng, the Core Formation True Monarch of Shaking Mountain Peak.

A month prior, Zhou Shengqing had arrived to blockade the sect's entrance. Ji Zhensheng, naturally unable to tolerate such an affront, promptly emerged fully armed and engaged Zhou Shengqing in combat. However, it was futile; the Evergreen Immortality Scripture excelled at prolonged attrition. Combined with Zhou Shengqing's slightly higher cultivation level, Ji Zhensheng, despite his formidable physical strength and durable natal magical artifact, could only barely hold his ground. He remained confined within the sect for an entire month. Zhou Shengqing permitted other Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation disciples from Shaking Mountain Peak to pass freely, but Ji Zhensheng himself was absolutely barred from leaving the premises. Nevertheless, even if Ji Zhensheng had been able to depart, with Zhou Shengqing blockading the main entrance, he would have never dared to step even half a pace away from Shaking Mountain Peak. The two thus settled into a stalemate.

Reports from the border skirmishes constantly reached Ji Zhensheng. Initially, the Shaking Mountain Peak ancestor could grudgingly accept the situation. After all, having lived for centuries, he had witnessed countless separations and deaths; the nine peak masters alone had changed hands no fewer than three or four times. Today, however, upon learning that their small spirit stone mine had been captured by the Divine Wood Sect, Ji Zhensheng finally lost his composure.

“Zhou Shengqing, are you attempting to wage an all-out war against my Shaking Mountain Peak?!” Ji Zhensheng gripped the black spear at his side, and a terrifying aura of vital energy erupted from him, causing the void to twist. The two mountain ranges bordering the Shaking Mountain Peak canyon began to tremble incessantly, as if on the verge of an earthquake.

“It was your Shaking Mountain Peak that initiated hostilities, wasn't it?” Zhou Shengqing's expression remained calm. With a nonchalant wave of his sleeve, the Golden Sun Spirit Tree beside him burst forth with spiritual light, instantly suppressing the trembling mountains beneath his feet.

“Can you not see through these tactics of incitement?” Ji Zhensheng, who had once single-handedly absorbed the entirety of Shaking Mountain Peak and subsequently developed it into one of the Eastern Wilds' current seven great powers, had employed almost every conceivable scheme and stratagem in his rise. The current conflict between the Divine Wood Sect and Shaking Mountain Peak was clearly instigated by an outside party, and he refused to believe Zhou Shengqing was unaware of this. Typically, in such matters, the lower-ranking disciples would exchange a few verbal jabs, perhaps engage in a minor skirmish, and then the matter would be resolved to save face for all involved. If this truly escalated into a full-scale war between the two sects, the entire Eastern Wilds would likely be engulfed, leading to widespread suffering and a century of unrest.

“Naturally, I can see through it,” Zhou Shengqing replied. “However, your actions last year, killing my internal affairs elder who was dispatched to the Eastern Yi region and seizing nearly a million spirit stones' worth of Void Stone, were indeed excessive.”

At Zhou Shengqing's words, Ji Zhensheng's pupils constricted sharply. He stared wide-eyed, disbelievingly at the youthful-faced, white-haired elder across from him. “He was one of yours?”

“Heh, did you truly not realize he was my subordinate?” Zhou Shengqing scoffed and countered with a cold smile. The previous year, in order to assist Zhou Wangshen in cultivating the Longevity Dao Body, he had sent one of his disciples with freshly mined Void Stone into the Eastern Yi territory to exchange for another Core Formation spiritual material. To his dismay, no sooner had the disciple completed the transaction with a major dispensary and stepped out of the city gates than he was ambushed and slain by Ji Zhensheng. It was also unfortunate that the internal affairs elder chose to exchange the Core Formation spiritual material at the main headquarters of the Profound Pride Grand Merchant Association, a place where Ji Zhensheng happened to wield considerable influence. Such is the nature of the cultivation world in the Heavenly River Realm; even a disciple from a major sect like the Divine Wood Sect can, if careless, fall victim to local strongmen or powerful transient figures. For Zhou Shengqing, the loss of spirit stones was a minor concern. However, delaying Meng Hong's Core Formation and the subsequent exposure of the Void Stone mine were grave matters.

“Your Divine Wood Sect discovered the Void Stone mine but chose not to share it with Golden Light Cliff. In that case, you cannot blame us for harboring greed and wanting a share of the spoils.” After Zhou Shengqing's revelation, Ji Zhensheng's expression settled. He drew the black spear from before him, and the immense, surging vital energy within his body suddenly surged past its previous limits, transforming into a vast river of crimson qi that colored half the sky.

“Oh, you’ve actually broken through to the late Core Formation stage?” This revelation somewhat exceeded Zhou Shengqing's expectations, causing him to subtly frown.

“Heh, there’s still much more you haven’t anticipated.” A cold scoff echoed through the void as a faceless figure, clad in black robes and with a white cloth covering his features, materialized beside Ji Zhensheng.

“Nan Shidao!” Zhou Shengqing's brows furrowed even deeper upon seeing this Core Formation ancestor from Mount Liujia. He had, surprisingly, allied with Shaking Mountain Peak without any hesitation.

“Where is Fu Zongjue? I can smell that decaying wood scent from miles away. Aren't you just hiding and waiting for me?” Nan Shidao's lips quivered beneath the white cloth as he uttered a mocking, cold laugh.

“I’m afraid I must disappoint you,” Zhou Shengqing replied. “Junior Brother Fu is still suppressing demonic beasts at Fengyu Dock and has not come here.”

Despite facing two opponents, Zhou Shengqing's expression remained unperturbed, maintaining his calm demeanor and self-assurance. “If he does not come, then today, you alone will likely perish at our hands.” Nan Shidao extended a hand, and from his palm, a blade-only sword burst forth. Its edge glowed with a faint blue hue, and the instant it materialized, the surrounding air instantly dropped several degrees.

“I possess considerable confidence in my defensive capabilities,” Zhou Shengqing stated calmly. “I doubt the two of you alone could truly kill me.” Zhou Shengqing spoke these words with an air of profound composure.

“Oh, it seems you’re accustomed to arrogance. You haven’t directly faced the power of his late Core Formation Vacuum Dharma Body, have you?” Nan Shidao, who seemed to have personal experience with it, glanced at Ji Zhensheng beside him with a hint of apprehension in the two eyes behind his white cloth. It was precisely because he had witnessed Ji Zhensheng’s formidable strength, coupled with the involvement of *that individual*, that Nan Shidao decided to ally with Shaking Mountain Peak against the Divine Wood Sect.

“Then today is an opportune moment for me to experience it,” Zhou Shengqing calmly stated. Zhou Shengqing spoke with a calm tone, then flicked his finger. Two more tree seeds blossomed instantly. Three Golden Sun Spirit Trees, soaring into the clouds, formed a Three Talents formation, surrounding him at its center. Simultaneously, they suppressed a portion of Shaking Mountain Peak's ley line operation, causing the mountain-protecting array, which should have been directed at him, to slow its activation.

“Since I broke through to the late Core Formation stage, I have yet to encounter an opponent capable of directly impeding my advance,” Ji Zhensheng stated slowly. Ji Zhensheng slowly spoke, then pointed the black spear in his palm towards Zhou Shengqing. The void appeared to open into a vortex, drawing his spearhead into its depths.

Zhou Shengqing’s expression subtly shifted. He tilted his head just as the black spearhead materialized out of thin air before his eyes, leaving a crimson mark across his fair cheek.

“The Vacuum Dharma Body—truly deserving of its reputation as the Eastern Wilds’ foremost body-refining grand art,” Nan Shidao remarked, a hint of awe in his voice. Nan Shidao, who had been defeated by that very move himself, watched the scene unfold with a subtle sigh of emotion.

“Quite intriguing,” Zhou Shengqing mused. Yet, Zhou Shengqing, standing opposite, calmly reached up to touch the mark on his cheek. A flash of verdant light, and the wound instantly healed. Immediately after, a beam of Divine Wood Light erupted from his fingertip, splitting in two mid-air as it shot towards Nan Shidao and Ji Zhensheng.

Ji Zhensheng remained rooted to his spot. With a mere flick of the spear in his hand, he deflected the Divine Wood Light high into the air, sending it soaring like a brilliant green meteor, a truly dazzling sight. Nan Shidao extended his left hand, his five fingers reconfiguring like intricate wooden mechanisms to form a shield. While it blocked the Divine Wood Light, the impact still forced his entire body back over ten meters before he could barely nullify Zhou Shengqing’s spell.

“I’ll assist you,” Nan Shidao said, “Let’s eliminate him as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if Fu Zongjue and Mo Douguang arrive, things will become troublesome.” Nan Shidao reconfigured his left-hand shield back into five fingers. His lips, hidden beneath the white cloth, trembled as he spoke, simultaneously exerting psychological pressure on Zhou Shengqing.

“He’s not wrong about one thing,” Ji Zhensheng interjected. “The two of us might not necessarily be able to kill him.”

“I believe your Vacuum Dharma Body is capable of it,” Nan Shidao asserted, confident in Ji Zhensheng’s abilities.

“If I unleash my full power, it will be difficult for you to coordinate with me.” As Ji Zhensheng spoke, Zhou Shengqing remained still, seemingly waiting for his two opponents to finish their deliberation.

“So your intention is…” Nan Shidao prompted.

“Since I have already revealed my true cultivation level,” Ji Zhensheng declared, “I naturally wish to engage him in a proper fight. As you are already here, I ask that you undertake an arduous task: help me sweep clean the Divine Wood Sect cultivators within the borders of Rock Kingdom.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shengqing’s expression finally changed. Nan Shidao, however, burst into hearty laughter and promptly ascended into the sky, soaring towards the border between Rock Kingdom and Thunder Kingdom.

“Stop!” Just as Zhou Shengqing was about to ascend and intercept Nan Shidao’s departure, he was cut off by a spearhead that materialized abruptly before him.

“I intend for you to experience the same pain I felt days ago,” Ji Zhensheng stated, “the anguish of hearing about the deaths of my sect disciples and being utterly powerless to stop it.”