Chapter 446: Ji Zhenshi Dies

"Are Nascent Soul formation insights really that valuable?" Chen Mobai was greatly surprised after overhearing the conversation between the two Core Formation grand ancestors.

In the Immortal Sect, if he wished, he could download a hundred different academic papers on this very subject. The library at Wuqi Dao Academy even housed several specialized treatises dedicated to it.

Unfortunately, the subject matter was too profound for him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He had once attempted to read it but found it completely incomprehensible, so he had put it back. Reflecting on it now, he wondered if he had been a bit too dismissive of those works.

This thought made Chen Mobai lament once more the scarcity and isolation of knowledge within the Tianhe Realm.

While he considered these Nascent Soul formation insights worthless, Chen Mobai wouldn't offer them to Ji Zhenshi in exchange. After all, Ji Zhenshi was a remarkable talent, and what if he truly gained some profound understanding from them? Even though Ji Zhenshi was over three hundred years old, with extremely slim chances of forming a Nascent Soul, if he succeeded, the Divine Wood Sect would be doomed. The two sects were already mortal enemies; no opportunities could be afforded to him.

So, with a cold sneer, Zhou Shengqing immediately activated the Jia Mu Dao Soldier and sent a punch hurtling towards Ji Zhenshi.

"Master Yu of Xuanxiao Dao Palace personally established my sect's Tier 4 grand formation. Even if you suppress the flow of the earth's meridians, it can still withstand your assault for a full year," Ji Zhenshi declared. "I can easily escape the Eastern Wilds through a teleportation array before you breach it. With me lurking as a hidden adversary, your Divine Wood Sect's disciples outside will forever be on edge." He continued, "If you agree to a trade, I will not only hand over the spirit vein of Hanshan Peak but also all the thousand-year spiritual herbs cultivated by my sect, along with various body-tempering cultivation techniques and inheritances, all perfectly intact. I could trade these to Xuanxiao Dao Palace for their direct assistance." "The only reason I'm still adhering to the rules of the Eastern Wilds and haven't called in external forces is to make this deal with you. Consider it carefully; I won't wait long."

After Ji Zhenshi used the formation's power to block the Jia Mu Dao Soldier, he left those words and vanished into thin air.

Zhou Shengqing's expression grew grim upon hearing this. Chen Mobai, too, couldn't help but frown slightly. Teleportation arrays were indeed problematic. It was only because the Tianhe Realm was so rich in resources that Void Stones were still readily available. In the Immortal Sect, all Void Stones had long been depleted; each one used now meant one less available, and even Nascent Soul Grandmasters had to apply for permission to use them for research. Consequently, Chen Mobai had never heard of such a thing as a teleportation array existing in the Immortal Sect. Perhaps the technology was there, but not the resources to implement it.

After Ji Zhenshi departed, Zhou Shengqing and the two other Core Formation cultivators gathered to deliberate. Before long, they seemed to have made a firm decision. They beckoned to Chen Mobai; as the Foundation Establishment cultivator second only to the three, he was entitled to be informed.

"Originally, we intended to proceed slowly, but now, I fear we must deploy the Pulse-Shattering Pearl." Chen Mobai's heart sank at these words. Even if they seized the peak using this method, not only would the Tier 4 spirit vein be ruined, but all the spiritual herbs cultivated there would likely wither. Such a victory, if Hanshan Peak were taken, would come at an exorbitant cost.

However, since the three grand ancestors had made their decision, he, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, could change nothing. He could only nod, his expression grim.

"Ji Zhenshi himself is an honored guest of the Xuanxiao Great Merchant Association, and considering the appearance of a successor from Xuanxiao Dao Palace on the battlefield earlier, it's highly probable he has already conspired with that major Eastern Yi sect." Zhou Shengqing explained. "To prevent delays and stop Xuanxiao Dao Palace from intervening, we cannot prolong this fight. We must achieve a swift victory." He added, "Once the Pulse-Shattering Pearl is activated, the earth's spiritual meridians will be polluted and altered, rendering the teleportation array unusable. Ji Zhenshi certainly won't anticipate us paying such a high price merely to eliminate him."

As the foremost Core Formation cultivator in the Eastern Wilds, a ruthless figure who had led the Divine Wood Sect and Golden Light Cliff to break away from the Five Elements Sect, Zhou Shengqing's judgment at this critical juncture was exceptionally clear. As long as Ji Zhenshi was eliminated, even without the Tier 4 spirit vein of Hanshan Peak, the combined spirit stone mines and other assets from Yan Country and Xiao Country would still ensure massive gains for the Divine Wood Sect. Deploying the Pulse-Shattering Pearl would mean sacrificing the largest Tier 4 spirit vein, a significant prize, but killing Ji Zhenshi would guarantee peace of mind for a considerable period. This would allow Zhou Shengqing to calmly prepare for his Nascent Soul formation. If he succeeded, he would be confident enough to resist even the pressure from Xuanxiao Dao Palace. From a strategic perspective, this temporary setback was absolutely necessary.

Chen Mobai put himself in Zhou Shengqing's shoes and realized their perspectives were entirely aligned.

"However, even if the Pulse-Shattering Pearl is activated, Hanshan Peak could still sever the grand formation's connection to the spirit vein and rely on spirit stones for power," Chen Mobai suggested. This possibility had been discussed by Chu Zuoshu and others back at Rolling Thunder Mountain, who had also devised this counter-strategy in anticipation of Hanshan Peak potentially using a Pulse-Shattering Pearl.

"The Pulse-Shattering Pearl is solely to disable Hanshan Peak's external teleportation array," Zhou Shengqing clarified. "Without the continuous spiritual energy supply from the Tier 4 spirit vein, the Tier 4 grand formation, relying only on spirit stones, could at most last for a month." He continued, "Moreover, the Pulse-Shattering Pearl we are employing is a peak Tier 3 artifact. Its impact on the spirit vein will be considerably smaller, and it's possible that some rare spiritual herbs and medicines might even survive."

When he had branched off from the Five Elements Sect, Zhou Shengqing had copied all the cultivation techniques, but the other three factions had prevented him from taking forbidden items like the Pulse-Shattering Pearl. This particular peak Tier 3 Pulse-Shattering Pearl was something Zhou Shengqing had acquired in recent years by trading Void Stone mines outside the Eastern Wilds.

Chen Mobai breathed a small sigh of relief. Perhaps due to his origins in the Immortal Sect, he was quite environmentally minded and found the severe repercussions of a Pulse-Shattering Pearl somewhat unacceptable. Hearing that the impact would be considerably less, he couldn't help but nod in approval.

"Let's proceed," Fu Zongjue said from the side. "Ji Zhenshi will never expect us to be this decisive, but once the Pulse-Shattering Pearl is unleashed, he'll realize he has no escape and will undoubtedly fight us to the bitter end." Chen Mobai recognized Fu Zongjue as a puppet body, though he wasn't sure if it was a Purple Sun Puppet.

"Lead the disciples and ensure they remain within the protective spiritual light of the Tree Seed," Zhou Shengqing instructed Chen Mobai, having revealed the plan to use the Pulse-Shattering Pearl only to him. "The Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation is capable of resisting the toxic fumes from the Pulse-Shattering Pearl. Later, when we disrupt the spirit vein, lead the disciples in shifting the battle formation into a defensive posture."

"Senior Brother is about to prepare for Nascent Soul formation; it's better to avoid actions that incur too much karma. Allow me to activate this Pulse-Shattering Pearl with my puppet body," Fu Zongjue offered. Zhou Shengqing nodded in response, then withdrew a fist-sized, dark greenish-black jade pearl from his storage bag. Fu Zongjue took it and immediately ascended into the sky.

Chen Mobai immediately retrieved his communication device and directed everyone to gather around the Tree Seed, initiating the defensive transformation of the Divine Wood Sect's battle formation. Apart from the three Core Formation grand ancestors, he was the only one present who had been apprised of this specific plan. The other Qi Cultivators, witnessing Fu Zongjue's puppet body ascend, presumed the grand ancestor was preparing to unleash some world-shattering array-breaking technique in concert with Zhou Shengqing. Then, they saw a dark greenish-black ray of light descending from above.

Hanshan Peak's Tier 4 formation instantly activated in response, but the moment the Pulse-Shattering Pearl made contact with the dark light, it plunged into the earth's meridians through the formation. A fluctuation that sent shivers down everyone's spines rippled forth, and the ground began to shake violently. Then, amidst an earth-shattering roar, cracks appeared across the land, from which plumes of black gas began to emerge. Chen Mobai surveyed the scene; beyond the area enveloped by the spiritual light of their Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation, everything was saturated with this noxious, defiling gas, intermingled with spiritual energy. If an ordinary Qi Cultivator inadvertently inhaled it, at best they would suffer from depleted Qi and blood like Liu Wenbai, and at worst, their vital essence would be severely damaged, leading to immediate death.

"Everyone, do not stray beyond the Tree Seed's protective spiritual light..." Chen Mobai reiterated through his communication device, simultaneously instructing them to prepare for the imminent assault on Hanshan Peak.

By this time, the Pulse-Shattering Pearl's power had fully erupted. Hanshan Peak's Tier 4 formation, previously brimming with spiritual light, suddenly became significantly dim. Although it hadn't entirely dissipated, its power had diminished by at least sixty to seventy percent.

"Could this be... the Pulse-Shattering Pearl!" exclaimed some knowledgeable individuals within the Divine Wood Sect's army, their faces etched with shock at the sight. In contrast, the local cultivators from Yan Country who had defected were even more invigorated. They knew that even if they gained control of the market, they would never feel secure as long as Ji Zhenshi and Hanshan Peak remained. Thus, they were all itching to immediately storm Hanshan Peak and utterly destroy this formidable Eastern Wilds sect.

"Attack!" Zhou Shengqing's sharp command echoed. Chen Mobai and the others immediately directed the battle formation to transform into the Jia Mu Dao Soldier, channeling their collective power skyward. The colossal greenish-gold giant once again stood between heaven and earth, appearing even more magnificent and formidable than before. This hundred-meter-tall Jia Mu Dao Soldier pressed its palms together, and immense, boundless spiritual energy continuously condensed and converged within its grasp. It formed a swirling, deep green current, subtly distorting the surrounding void like dark lightning.

Zhou Shengqing cast a jade-green leaf into the palm of the Jia Mu Dao Soldier above. In an instant, spiritual energy surged, as if a sea of spiritual power had been grasped and compressed. The sheer immensity of the energy contained within caused Chen Mobai's Void-Penetrating Spiritual Eye to sting with just a fleeting glance. That vibrant green leaf was a Tier 4 talisman, likely crafted from the leaves of a Longevity Wood using a unique method. He had no idea what kind of talisman Zhou Shengqing had inscribed upon it to imbue it with such boundless spiritual energy.

Once the vibrant green talisman was activated, the deep green current in the Jia Mu Dao Soldier's palm unexpectedly became light and ethereal, like a gentle breeze. It descended from the sky and swept over Hanshan Peak's now dimmed formation.

"Zhou Shengqing, you are going too far..." Ji Zhenshi's furious roar reverberated from within the formation. He was already clad in Tier 3 armor, holding a black spear in one hand and a large formation flag in the other, seemingly forcefully empowering the Tier 4 formation with spirit stones.

However, Zhou Shengqing had prepared for this for a long time, and now that he was making his move, even using the Pulse-Shattering Pearl, he naturally wouldn't afford Ji Zhenshi any hope of escape. He was already at the peak of Core Formation, and now, by leveraging the power of the Jia Mu Dao Soldier, condensing Longevity True Qi, and unleashing a Tier 4 talisman, his strike was equivalent to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even if Ji Zhenshi exerted his full strength, sparing no high-grade spirit stones to boost the formation's power, the Pulse-Shattering Pearl's impact was simply too immense. After a series of earth-shaking tremors, Hanshan Peak's grand formation's protective light barrier shattered with a resounding crash.

Nevertheless, Ji Zhenshi's desperate resistance wasn't entirely futile; he at least managed to block Zhou Shengqing's devastating strike. Yet, without the protection of the grand formation, Hanshan Peak's remaining forces stood no chance against the overwhelming might of the Divine Wood Sect's army.

"Today marks your demise!" Zhou Shengqing sneered, then, along with Fu Zongjue and Mo Douguang, encircled Ji Zhenshi.

"Fellow disciples, unleash the Heavenly Wood Divine Light and bombard Hanshan Peak!" Chen Mobai took command. Since the external spiritual energy had been contaminated by the Pulse-Shattering Pearl, cultivators were unable to absorb spiritual energy during this period. However, the Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation possessed the ability to purify some of the toxic fumes from the earth's meridians. Furthermore, every surviving cultivator had, to some extent, gained wealth during this war, and at this crucial moment, they all brought out spirit stones to absorb and replenish the spiritual energy that Zhou Shengqing had just channeled to cast the Tier 4 talisman. Chen Mobai directed half of the cultivators to meditate and restore their spiritual energy, while the other half gritted their teeth and continued to supply spiritual energy, fueling the offensive transformations of the Heavenly Wood Divine Light Formation. All the Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed around the Tree Seed found it even more impossible to rest now. The dawn of victory was at hand, and under the watchful eyes of the three Core Formation grand ancestors, they had to perform exceptionally, even if it meant pushing themselves to the point of spitting blood.

Beams of Heavenly Wood Divine Light converged and surged towards the various building clusters on Hanshan Peak, now that its protective formation had been breached. However, when Chen Mobai directed the bombardment, he first used his Void-Penetrating Spiritual Eye to survey the area, specifically instructing the Foundation Establishment cultivators controlling the Heavenly Wood Divine Light to bypass extensive areas like spirit fields and medicinal gardens. Their focus, instead, was on striking densely populated areas. Occasionally, though, their aim would falter, sending a beam towards the four Core Formation grand ancestors fiercely engaged in combat overhead, startling the Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible into a cold sweat.

Chen Mobai immediately retrieved his communication device and sharply chastised the individual responsible. Yet, this particular beam of Heavenly Wood Divine Light seemed to be the final straw for Ji Zhenshi. Accompanied by three more powerful spiritual light blasts, his renowned Tier 3 armor, famous throughout the Eastern Wilds, finally buckled. It disintegrated into thousands of dark iron fragments, scattering in every direction.

Zhou Shengqing once again channeled a surge of Longevity True Qi, deflecting the black spear that Ji Zhenshi desperately thrust at him, sending it soaring into the sky. Simultaneously, a misty gray sword qi slashed forth from the Longevity Sword in Mo Douguang's palm, striking Ji Zhenshi's peak Tier 3 physical body and leaving a sword mark so deep that bone was visible. Had Ji Zhenshi not used his Vacuum Dharma Body to shift his position at that crucial moment, the strike would likely have severed his head.

"Damn you, just you three wait, I'll be back..." Ji Zhenshi roared furiously, realizing the tide had turned. He didn't even spare a glance for the sect he had painstakingly cultivated for three hundred years below. Instead, he immediately activated the Void Shift ability of his Vacuum Dharma Body, stepping into a dark rift, intent on escaping!

"I've been anticipating that move," Zhou Shengqing chuckled lightly, pulling out another jade-green leaf from his storage bag. This one, however, bore silver talismanic runes. After his last encounter with Ji Zhenshi, during which he witnessed the peculiar nature of the Vacuum Dharma Body, he had already devised a countermeasure. This Anti-Flight Talisman was his trump card!

The talisman glowed with silver light, and not far off in the void, Ji Zhenshi stumbled out of a dark rift. The misty gray sword qi followed him like a shadow, piercing into Ji Zhenshi's heart from his back the instant he was ejected by the Anti-Flight Talisman. *Pfft!* Ji Zhenshi coughed up a large mouthful of blood, but still, he mustered all his strength to push the Longevity Sword, which had pierced his chest, out through his back. Then, he, too, pulled a talisman from his storage bag. This appeared to be another Tier 4 talisman, his last-resort life-saving technique.

However, just as he prepared to activate it, the misty gray sword qi flashed once more, severing Ji Zhenshi's right hand holding the talisman. At that very moment, Zhou Shengqing, with a faint smile, flew before Ji Zhenshi, lightly pointing a finger. His deep green Longevity True Qi instantly sealed Ji Zhenshi's Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness. Although Zhou Shengqing's cultivation technique prevented him from destroying Ji Zhenshi's Tier 3 physical body, he could certainly seal him and restrict his movements. And besides, wasn't the foremost sword cultivator of the Eastern Wilds, capable of piercing any defense, still present!

Mo Douguang flew over expressionlessly, raising the Longevity Sword in his hand. Under Ji Zhenshi's desperate gaze, he thrust it towards his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness!

"Xuanxiao has led me astray..." Ji Zhenshi howled to the heavens in his dying moments. Simultaneously, the Longevity Sword, imbued with the misty gray sword qi, pierced through Ji Zhenshi's skull. Although body-tempering cultivators possessed immense vitality, survival was utterly impossible with both their heart and brain pierced. Still, Zhou Shengqing remained somewhat uneasy. Only after Mo Douguang swung his sword again, dismembering Ji Zhenshi, did he finally nod in satisfaction.

Chen Mobai couldn't help but sigh with emotion as he witnessed Ji Zhenshi's demise. It was clear that one person could not contend against many.

Cultivating immortality was challenging, but cultivating connections was equally vital. Why had Ji Zhenshi perished? Was it not simply because the Divine Wood Sect boasted three Core Formation cultivators, while he stood alone? This thought piqued Chen Mobai's curiosity. Why hadn't Nan Shidao from Liujia Mountain arrived? Did he perhaps believe Hanshan Peak wouldn't fall so swiftly and was still busy deploying troops? And what exactly did Ji Zhenshi mean by his dying cry? Could it be that he truly had requested aid from Xuanxiao Dao Palace, but they had failed to appear?

Chen Mobai's mind was teeming with questions, but this was not the time to dwell on them. He directed the Divine Wood Sect cultivators, whose spiritual energy had been restored, to begin forming the Jia Mu Dao Soldier battle formation. Once certain they were shielded from the external toxic and defiling energy, they followed the three grand ancestors and stormed Hanshan Peak.

Following this battle, only six of the Eastern Wilds' seven great sects remained!