Chapter 439: Xuanqiao

At the border of the Thunder Kingdom, the two major factions, Divine Wood Sect and Mountain Shaker Peak, had already arrayed their battle formations. Green giants, tens of meters tall, wielded wind and thunder, slamming down upon a loess-colored mountain.

Boom! Amidst rumbling tremors that shook the ground and mountains, within the Mountain Shaker Peak's formation, Ji Dingjin stood respectfully by the side of a man and a woman in front of a central stone house.

"The Jia Wood Dao Soldiers truly live up to their reputation. In the past, Patriarch Hunyuan led the Five Elements Dao Soldiers across the Three Realms, listed among the 'Seven Wonders Beyond the Dao,' and held great renown in the Eastern Lands. It's a pity he sought his own demise by challenging the Gate of Hell." The male cultivator, with a heroic face and tall stature, wore golden robes. As he spoke, he pointed towards the green giants of the Mountain Stabilizing Formation, which were currently attacking their side.

"The Five Elements Sect has already split, and the seamless integration of the Five Elements Dao Soldiers that Patriarch Hunyuan once commanded will never reappear." Another female cultivator in golden robes, with a cold demeanor and beautiful face, also spoke. Her eyes were a peculiar sky-blue, as pure and radiant as jade.

"This is also thanks to the ingenious calculations and strategic prowess of True Monarch Zhao of your esteemed palace. If he hadn't ventured alone into the Eastern Wilderness sixty years ago and divided the Five Elements Sect's five branches after Patriarch Hunyuan's death, this region would likely still be under the Five Elements Sect's dominion." Ji Dingjin said respectfully. Sixty years ago, even after Patriarch Hunyuan's death, the sheer number of Core Formation cultivators in the Five Elements Sect still overwhelmingly surpassed that of any other sect in the Eastern Wilderness.

Had the Five Elements Sect not split, the Rejuvenation Valley would likely still be subservient to them, serving as their alchemy sub-sect, and Mountain Shaker Peak would remain their mining laborers. If the power of the Eastern Wilderness had been unified, Zhou Shengqing might have already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage.

To prevent another Nascent Soul cultivator from emerging from the Five Elements Sect after Hunyuan's death, and also to plunge the Eastern Wilderness back into war, a major sect from the Eastern Yi territory dispatched a Core Formation cultivator named Zhao to the Eastern Wilderness. He engaged in strategic alliances, secretly uniting the Rejuvenation Valley, Mountain Shaker Peak, Blowing Snow Palace, and Six Armors Mountain —sects that had been suppressed by the Five Elements Sect for centuries—to prepare for a rebellion.

While instigating the rebellion, cultivator Zhao also placed pawns within the Five Elements Sect to sow discord. Under pressure from both internal strife and external threats, not long after Patriarch Hunyuan's death, Zhou Shengqing and Mo Douguang split off from the Five Elements Sect.

The Five Elements Sect's five branches divided into two factions and began a fierce conflict. Coupled with the instigation from other sects in the Eastern Wilderness, this war lasted a full twenty years. Although a truce was eventually declared, the Five Elements Sect, once the largest sect in the Eastern Wilderness, declined and no longer possessed the absolute power to suppress the entire region.

"Martial Uncle Zhao wasn't ruthless enough. After the Five Elements Sect's five branches ceased fighting, if he had led your four sects to attack the Divine Wood Sect and Golden Light Cliff again, perhaps the Five Elements Sect would no longer exist in the Eastern Wilderness today." The male cultivator in golden robes remarked blandly, his words causing Ji Dingjin's mouth to twitch, as he watched the Jia Wood Dao Soldiers continuously assaulting Mountain Shaker Peak's formation.

After the Five Elements Sect, Divine Wood Sect, and Golden Light Cliff ended their conflict, cultivator Zhao indeed suggested that the four allied sects should combine their forces to attack the weakened Five Elements Sect's five branches. However, their four sects together only had a few Core Formation patriarchs. Leaving aside the chances of victory, even if they had won, it was estimated that two or three of their sects would have been utterly annihilated by the Five Elements Sect's counterattack.

Therefore, after careful consideration, they all rejected the proposal. The main reason was that with the Five Elements Sect's split, there was no longer an absolute superpower, and the situation in the Eastern Wilderness had achieved a balance that satisfied all four major sects.

Everyone was recruiting disciples and developing within their own territories; resources were sufficient, so there was no need for a life-and-death struggle.

"In the past, our patriarch also wished to do so and even persuaded True Monarch Nan of Six Armors Mountain. Unfortunately, the two Core Formation cultivators from Rejuvenation Valley and Blowing Snow Palace were too conservative. But it's not too late now; as long as your esteemed palace waves its banner, our Mountain Shaker Peak will undoubtedly answer all of your calls, Young Master, and eradicate the Five Elements Sect's five branches." Ji Dingjin's words to the male cultivator in golden robes carried a hint of flattery, suggesting that he was a person of very high status.

"I am about to form my Core, but my master says my mental state is not yet detached and indifferent enough, and I might be susceptible to inner demons during the process. Since Ji Zhenshi came looking for me, I might as well come to the Eastern Wilderness and cause a river of blood, forging my supreme Dao heart." The male cultivator in golden robes spoke with an apathetic and cold tone, as if no cultivator in the Eastern Wilderness mattered to him; his words treated the Eastern Wilderness as insignificant.

"All cultivators of my Mountain Shaker Peak are willing to obey your command, Young Master." Upon hearing this, Ji Dingjin's eyes revealed unconcealed joy. Without hesitation, he handed over the two thousand cultivators under his command to the golden-robed male cultivator before him.

"The three hundred Dao Palace disciples have deployed the Golden Bridge Battle Formation and are ready to act." At this moment, the golden-robed female cultivator, with her cold demeanor, spoke. In front of her, precisely three hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators, wearing golden masks and golden armor, held golden spears and knelt in neat square formations before the golden-robed male cultivator.

"After about ten rounds of bombardment, the Jia Wood Dao Soldiers will cease their attack for approximately the duration of an incense stick. This is because among the three thousand cultivators of the opposing Divine Wood Sect, only a thousand are actual disciples of the sect. If the bombardment continues, these disciples will suffer excessive spiritual energy depletion."

"Later, you will use that opportune moment to release the Mountain Stabilizing Formation. The enemy will surely think you are counterattacking. However, the Divine Wood Sect's commander, relying on their superior numbers, will not be afraid and will certainly engage in battle."

"When you have fought halfway, I will then lead the three hundred Dao Palace disciples to form a battle formation and charge out. More than half of the Divine Wood Sect's cultivator army are disorganized rabble. As long as we slay over three hundred, which is one-tenth, the enemy will undoubtedly collapse."

"At that point, the Divine Wood Sect's disciples should still barely be able to maintain their formation. When that happens, you and I need not concern ourselves with them; we only need to follow my battle formation and fully pursue and kill the routing rogue cultivators and aristocratic family disciples."

"After this charge, even if the Divine Wood Sect's commander manages to rally his forces, their numbers will at most be half of what they are now. In this way, our cultivator numbers will actually exceed theirs, and the tides of offense and defense will turn. My Golden Bridge Battle Formation is specifically designed to break the Jia Wood Dao Soldiers!"

As he spoke, the golden-robed male cultivator's eyes gleamed with cruelty. He seemed to envision himself utterly crushing and annihilating the Divine Wood Sect's cultivator army before him.

If he could achieve such a feat, his iron-blooded Dao heart would surely reach completion. In the future, upon returning to the Dao Palace, he would successfully form his Core and even contend for the position of Dao Child.

"It is our Mountain Shaker Peak's honor to follow Young Master Xuanqiao." After hearing Xuanqiao's strategic plan, Ji Dingjin was also boiling with excitement. He personally went to the Foundation Establishment elders guarding the key nodes of the Mountain Stabilizing Formation and explained the upcoming tactics for counterattack, breaking through, and pursuit to everyone.

Although he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, this round of running around had still taken nearly half an hour. The main goal was to ensure that everyone truly understood the upcoming tactics, to prevent anyone from lagging behind at this crucial moment and missing the chance to secure the greatest victory.

"Now!" After relaying the orders, Ji Dingjin remained by Xuanqiao's side. The female cultivator with sky-blue eyes seemed to possess a spiritual eye technique. When the Jia Wood Dao Soldiers began to quiet down and the spiritual energy in the Divine Wood Sect's formation slightly waned, she accurately seized this crucial moment.

"Stabilizing Mountain transforms into Shaking Mountain! Begin the counterattack!" Ji Dingjin, without hesitation, immediately began to shout loudly. As a Body Cultivator, his roar was heard by virtually everyone.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators of Mountain Shaker Peak, who had already received his orders, immediately began leading their Qi Cultivation cultivators to change the operation of the battle formation, transforming it from the previous "Mountain Guarding" posture to "Mountain Shaking."

After an extremely dull roar, the loess-colored mountain that had originally enveloped their entire encampment suddenly rose into the air. Then, like an entire mountain plummeting from the sky, it crashed heavily onto the Divine Wood Sect's battle formation from above.

However, the Divine Wood Sect also had defensive battle formation changes. Ten green giants raised their hands, and a massive transparent green leaf appeared out of thin air in the void above their heads.

As the loess-colored mountain crashed down, it collided with the transparent green leaf, unleashing terrifying fluctuations of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy. Rings of white energy waves, like ripples in the void, swept outwards from the point where the two great formations directly clashed. Wherever they passed, strong winds raged, uprooting trees and sending stones flying.

Amidst the rumbling roar, the thousands of Qi Cultivation cultivators, who formed the foundation and source of spiritual energy for the battle formation, all turned pale.

In such a direct clash of battle formations, if the impact were not blocked, everyone would be annihilated. Therefore, even the rogue cultivators opened their dantian and Qi Sea, allowing the two sects' formations to absorb their spiritual energy.

"Strange, how dare this old tortoise come out and fight?" Inside the Divine Wood Sect's camp, Xie Yuntian and Zhou Wangshen exchanged glances, both expressing doubt. However, this was also a good thing for them.

After all, they had more people, and in a head-on battle formation clash, they would undoubtedly be the ones to endure until the end. Without any hesitation, Zhou Wangshen quickly made a round, issuing orders for a full confrontation to all the sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"No, what's that!" Just as he finished relaying orders and returned to Xie Yuntian's side, the latter suddenly widened his eyes and cried out in alarm.

Zhou Wangshen looked up and couldn't help but show surprise on his face.

In the sky where the mountain and the green leaf collided, a dazzling golden long bridge, emanating a magnificent aura, extended from the top of the mountain and landed directly upon the Divine Wood Sect's battle formation.

The transparent green leaf, capable of blocking a plummeting mountain, was like a piece of cloth pierced by a needle before this golden long bridge, allowing it to penetrate effortlessly.

After the golden bridge pierced through the Divine Wood Sect's battle formation, three hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators in golden armor and wielding golden spears were like an incredibly sharp logging axe, instantly cutting down dozens of nearby Divine Wood Sect cultivators.

Subsequently, as if a flaw had appeared in a flawless defense, the cultivators from Mountain Shaker Peak also began to charge one by one through the golden bridge into the Divine Wood Sect's battle formation.

"Damn it, it's the Golden Bridge Battle Formation of Xuanxiao Dao Palace! These dogs finally entered the fray." Xie Yuntian cursed angrily upon seeing this, then immediately controlled his flying sword and led over a hundred elite disciples from the Sword Cultivation Department to charge forward.

The Sword Cultivation Department truly lived up to its reputation as the Divine Wood Sect's top-ranked combat unit. As soon as they entered the battle, they immediately withstood the slaughter inflicted by the three hundred disciples of Xuanxiao Dao Palace, and even began to counterattack, aiming to seal the breach created by the Golden Bridge.

"Though using you as my first enemy for slaughter in the Eastern Wilderness is somewhat beneath me, after observing your Divine Wood Sect's ranks, it seems you are still the strongest, so there's no other choice!" Just as Xie Yuntian controlled his flying sword and charged straight towards the breach in the battle formation, a golden light descended from the sky, suppressing his flying sword. Xuanqiao slowly stepped down from the Golden Bridge, his tone lonely and helpless.

He seemed disappointed at not finding an interesting opponent in the Eastern Wilderness.

"Who goes there!" Xie Yuntian, seeing Xuanqiao's golden Daoist robes, basically knew his origin but feigned ignorance and asked.

"A young master from Eastern Yi; you may call me Xuanqiao." As soon as he heard the name "Xuan," Xie Yuntian's heart sank, confirming his suspicions without a doubt.

"Are you intending to oppose my Divine Wood Sect?"

"Oppose? You've used the wrong word. A mere Divine Wood Sect is not qualified to be my opponent!" By this point, Xuanqiao had already descended to the very bottom of the Golden Bridge. He was like a golden-armored Celestial General descending from the heavens, treading upon the Golden Bridge, his tone disdainful and full of confidence.

"Hmph, don't be so arrogant. Today, I'll make sure you never return!" At this point, Xie Yuntian understood that further words were useless. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he then opened his mouth to unleash a stream of azure-green light, which shot directly towards Xuanqiao, who stood at the end of the Golden Bridge.

Bang, bang, bang! Golden orbs of light flew from Xuanqiao's palm, transforming into successive golden light barriers. However, under the azure-green stream of light, they were repeatedly shattered.

Yet, these golden orbs seemed endless. After Xie Yuntian desperately shattered twenty-three golden light barriers with his Azure Flame Sword Aura, he finally exhausted his power, and the aura transformed into a wisp of green smoke, dissipating three inches in front of Xuanqiao.

"Oh, a mere late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator actually refined a sword aura. I underestimated you!" Xuanqiao watched the Azure Flame Sword Aura dissipate into nothingness before him, raising an eyebrow in what seemed like surprise, but then his face showed regret.

"My Golden Orb Art has thirty light barriers in total. If you can shatter seven more, you will be able to touch me. As long as you can harm even a single strand of my hair, I will spare the people of your Divine Wood Sect today."

After Xuanqiao finished speaking, he flicked the five fingers of his right hand, and another shower of golden orbs scattered, forming a dazzling sea of golden light around him, as if stars were orbiting him.

"Don't look down on people!" Xie Yuntian's brows furrowed in anger upon hearing this, but secretly, he sent a telepathic message to Zhou Wangshen, instructing him to lead the thousand Divine Wood Sect disciples and aristocratic family disciples in a retreat, leaving the rogue cultivators behind as cannon fodder. The goal was to preserve most of their strength and fall back to the third-tier defensive formation within the Thunder Kingdom market.

This way, when the second wave of cultivators led by Chen Mobai arrived, they would still have the strength to fight Mountain Shaker Peak.

"Take care, Department Head Xie!" After listening, Zhou Wangshen hesitated for only a moment, understanding that this was the best strategy. He was a decisive person and, without another word, began issuing retreat orders to the Foundation Establishment elders on the battlefield.