Chapter 506: Goodbye Fu Zongjue

"You, you've formed a Golden Core!?"

Iron Qingshan knew he was no match for Chen Mobai; after all, Ji Dingjin had died by this man's sword. But he hadn't expected that even before he made a move, his diligently cultivated technique would be shattered by his opponent's aura. This level of cultivation completely surpassed the Foundation Establishment stage. In his understanding, only Core Formation cultivators possessed such power.

As soon as he spoke, everyone around looked at Chen Mobai with shocked expressions, but the latter merely smiled faintly, offering no direct reply.

"I'm not an unreasonable person. I'll give you a chance: take your Iron Clan cultivators to Beiyuan City in Yan Country. Once the Nanxuan Sect is destroyed, this matter will be settled." Chen Mobai disliked indiscriminate killing. Moreover, Iron Qingshan had indeed fought under his command, so he gave him a way out.

"I will make arrangements here and immediately take my clan members to Yan Country." At this point, Iron Qingshan had no thought of resistance. He lowered his head and respectfully addressed Chen Mobai, who was suspected of being a Core Formation cultivator.

"The teleportation array in the market city is usable, right?" Chen Mobai asked again. Iron Qingshan nodded, explaining that while there was an issue with his clan's connection to this specific array, teleportation to other places was still normal.

"You'll come with me. We'll head to Yan Country first." Chen Mobai made the arrangements. Since the Iron Clan was suspected of colluding with the Nanxuan Sect, taking Iron Qingshan, a key figure, directly with him would eliminate any possibility of the Iron Clan defecting or escaping.

Iron Qingshan hesitated upon hearing this, but recalling how easily he had been overwhelmed moments before, he gritted his teeth and nodded. He then called over Tie Qishan and briefly explained some matters.

"You, gather the sect's belongings here, then take the sect disciples and come with us." Chen Mobai called out to Zhou Bingyan, who, without any hesitation, immediately began instructing the Divine Wood Sect disciples to pack spirit stones and other items into storage bags.

The teleportation array quickly activated. After several transfers, Chen Mobai, Iron Qingshan, Zhou Bingyan, and their group finally arrived within Yan Country. Unfortunately, the teleportation array in Beiyuan City was sealed, preventing direct entry.

Chen Mobai didn't send Zhou Bingyan ahead. Instead, he took out the long-unused Tongtian Scroll communicator and dialed Yue Zutao's number. A short while later, two streaks of spiritual light descended upon the hillside where Chen Mobai and his group were located.

"Oh!" To his surprise, not only Yue Zutao arrived, but also Fu Zongjue—though not his true body, but a puppet avatar.

"You... you've formed a Golden Core!?" Fu Zongjue asked, surprised and doubtful, after seeing Chen Mobai and sensing his aura. He could feel that Chen Mobai's divine sense and physical body had surpassed the Foundation Establishment stage, yet his spiritual energy seemed a bit scarce, not meeting the minimum requirements for a Core Formation cultivator.

"I didn't disappoint, Senior Brother Fu!" Chen Mobai smiled faintly, using the agreed-upon address for Fu Zongjue. Then, he activated the Reversion Secret Art. The pure Yang spiritual energy stored within his Myriad Law Body returned, and his aura surged dramatically, instantly surpassing the limits of Foundation Establishment.

Rumble! At that moment, dark clouds gathered in the sky again, and faint thunder rumbled. After displaying his cultivation realm, Chen Mobai once more returned the spiritual energy to his Myriad Law Body. The thunder in the sky dispersed, and a light drizzle began to fall.

Amidst the falling rain, Fu Zongjue's hearty laughter rang out especially loudly. "Good, good, good, Junior Brother Chen... Hahaha..." Fu Zongjue's puppet avatar walked over and couldn't help but pat Chen Mobai's shoulder, while Yue Zutao and Zhou Bingyan, standing nearby, also showed excited expressions.

This was the Divine Wood Sect's third Core Formation Ancestor! It was important to remember that even the Five Elements Sect, the largest sect in the Eastern Desolate, only had three Core Formation cultivators. If their Divine Wood Sect were to include their allies from Golden Light Cliff, they could truly be called the undisputed strongest force in the Eastern Desolate.

Iron Qingshan was also present. After confirming that Chen Mobai had truly formed a Golden Core, he became even more uneasy. He had originally not been optimistic about the Divine Wood Sect in the war against the Nanxuan Sect, and had secretly sent his clan elders to contact the Nanxuan Sect's people in Xiao Country. He had actually received advance warning about the rogue cultivators entering the market city to besiege the Divine Wood Sect, but he pretended not to know. Now, thinking back, he was fortunate the Iron Clan hadn't made a move; otherwise, their entire clan would surely have been razed by now. He wondered if Tie Qishan would understand his hint and properly handle the aftermath of the Iron Clan's collusion with the Nanxuan Sect.

While Iron Qingshan was in turmoil, Chen Mobai and Fu Zongjue had already flown into the sky to converse. Fu Zongjue said, "This war is primarily the Nanxuan Sect's attempt to probe Senior Brother Zhou's progress in forming his Nascent Soul. Zhao Xuankang and Nanxuan Jing's goal is to provoke Senior Brother Zhou into action."

Chen Mobai asked, "How is Senior Brother Zhou's refining of the Earth Mother Stone progressing?" Fu Zongjue replied, "He's at a critical juncture. If you return to Giantwood Ridge, you'll see the spiritual energy of the ley lines surging towards the Longevity Tree where Senior Brother Zhou is. There are already signs of a Nascent Soul formation. That's precisely why the two from the Nanxuan Sect are getting restless."

After the destruction of Shaking Mountain Peak, Zhou Shengqing obtained the Earth Mother Stone. He spent three years purifying the poisonous Qi from the Vein-Shattering Pearl within it and then acquired the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture from Chen Mobai. With a clear understanding of the path ahead, he no longer hesitated and resolutely began his attempt to form a Nascent Soul. Later, Fu Zongjue arranged everything, from acquiring the Golden Liquid Jade Restoration Pill to Chen Mobai's departure for Core Formation. Now, fourteen more years had passed. Zhou Shengqing was originally at the perfected stage of Golden Core, and with the help of the top-grade spiritual energy within the Earth Mother Stone, he finally triggered the signs of Nascent Soul formation. Even though Zhao Xuankang and others knew that Zhou Shengqing's chances of forming a Nascent Soul were slim, they were unwilling to gamble. Therefore, they initiated the war between the Divine Wood Sect and the Nanxuan Sect. As long as they could force Zhou Shengqing to act, his Nascent Soul formation would fail, and their goal would be achieved.

Chen Mobai asked, "Hasn't Zhao Xuankang made a move? There seems to be only Nanxuan Jing's aura visible on the other side." In mid-air, Chen Mobai activated his Spirit-Piercing Eye, observing that among the Nanxuan Sect's formidable formation opposite them, only one Core Formation cultivator's aura was apparent.

Fu Zongjue replied, "He might be concealing himself. However, Senior Brother Mo can teleport here at any time. Even if he makes a move, we can resist, especially now that you've formed a Golden Core." Whenever the Divine Wood Sect needed him, Mo Douguang was always readily available; he and Zhou Shengqing were the closest of senior and junior brothers.

Chen Mobai asked, "Are the other major sects in the Eastern Desolate, who have Core Formation cultivators, making no moves?" Fu Zongjue said, "They're all observing from the sidelines. After all, the Xuanxiao Dao Palace is backing the Nanxuan Sect. For them not to intervene is already a sign that they understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'."

Chen Mobai said, "Only we know about my Golden Core formation. Can we use our numerical advantage to kill Nanxuan Jing?" At these words, Fu Zongjue fell silent.

Cultivators in the Sky River Realm, upon reaching the Core Formation stage, generally possess extensive combat experience, life-preserving secret arts, and a full array of magical artifacts and talismans. It's extremely difficult to kill someone at the same cultivation level. However, three against one would not be a problem. After all, Ji Zhenshi, a late-stage Core Formation body cultivator, had also been dismembered under their combined attack.

The key, however, was how to create such an environment. If Nanxuan Jing hid within a battle formation, even calling Zhou Shengqing over would be useless.

"We need to expose a weakness, giving the Nanxuan Sect the illusion that he and Zhao Xuankang can kill me." After a long silence, Fu Zongjue spoke. He then discussed with Chen Mobai, and after a lengthy conversation, they finally settled on a preliminary strategy.

Because Beiyuan City gathered cultivators from the six nations under the Divine Wood Sect, it was a place with many people and mixed allegiances; there were certainly informants planted by the Nanxuan Sect. Therefore, Chen Mobai did not return with Yue Zutao. Fu Zongjue directly left his puppet avatar here to continuously refine the strategy for hunting Nanxuan Jing with Chen Mobai.

In the Nanxuan Sect's encampment, besides Nanxuan Jing and Zhao Xuankang, there was another Core Formation cultivator. "Puppeteers never expose their true bodies to public view." This was none other than Ancestor Nanshidao of Mount Liujia, the sect with the greatest grudge against the Divine Wood Sect in the Eastern Desolate, second only to Shaking Mountain Peak.

He spoke eloquently to the two Core Formation cultivators from the Xuanxiao Dao Palace. Before Fu Zongjue formed his Golden Core, he was known as the Eastern Desolate's foremost puppeteer.

Of course, the grievances with the Divine Wood Sect weren't due to mere reputation; after all, cultivators at their level had long since grown indifferent to such trivialities. Before this, Mount Liujia, in addition to Nanshidao, had another Core Formation cultivator named Yan Fusheng, who was reputed to be the most likely person to form a Nascent Soul after Ancestor Hunyuan.

Unfortunately, that was during the Five Elements Sect's peak, and Mount Liujia was attacked by a mysterious cultivator while Yan Fusheng was attempting to form his Nascent Soul. Nanshidao was no match, and the sect's protective array couldn't stop the intruder, who easily breached Yan Fusheng's secluded cultivation spot. Yan Fusheng was forced to act, repelling the mysterious person. However, his Nascent Soul formation completely failed, and he suffered severe vital energy damage, passing away within a few years.

Mount Liujia considered this incident a great humiliation. At that time in the Eastern Desolate, the only one who could easily defeat Nanshidao and enter Mount Liujia's grand array as if entering an uninhabited land was Ancestor Hunyuan of the Five Elements Sect. Therefore, after Yan Fusheng's passing, Nanshidao attributed this grudge to the Five Elements Sect.

As the Eastern Desolate was vast, and the Five Elements Sect and Mount Liujia were separated by north and south, Nanshidao directed his hostile gaze towards the Divine Wood Sect and Golden Light Cliff, which were closer to him.

"You mean that the true body Fu Zongjue displayed in Beiyuan City isn't his real body, but merely a puppet, and his actual true body is hidden elsewhere?" After hearing Nanshidao's words, Zhao Xuankang had already grasped his meaning.

"Precisely. And to maintain overall control and maximize the puppet's power, Fu Zongjue's true body must be near the battlefield." Nanshidao nodded; he too was present as a puppet avatar.

"But that's just a possibility. Beiyuan City currently has five thousand Qi Refining cultivators. Under their combined battle formation, even the three of us wouldn't dare to trespass. Fu Zongjue's true body would be safest there." Zhao Xuankang shook his head and offered his opinion: if he were Fu Zongjue, his true body would definitely be amidst the main army.

"I was just explaining a few things about us puppeteers. What if Fu Zongjue, on a whim, decided to hide his true body outside Beiyuan City?" Nanshidao's words greatly tempted Zhao Xuankang and Nanxuan Jing.

If Fu Zongjue was without battle formation protection, their three could easily kill him. Once Fu Zongjue was dead, they could annihilate the five thousand Qi Refining cultivators in Beiyuan City and then lead their army to press towards Giantwood Ridge. Perhaps, besides interrupting Zhou Shengqing's Nascent Soul formation, they might even take down the Divine Wood Sect in one fell swoop.

"We can try to confirm it. What if Fu Zongjue had his head kicked by a donkey?" Nanxuan Jing said to Zhao Xuankang. The latter pondered for a moment, then also succumbed to the temptation and nodded.

Chen Mobai and Fu Zongjue were still contemplating how to expose a weakness on the main battlefield, feigning a rout, after which Fu Zongjue would abandon the Qi Refining army and flee alone, enticing Nanxuan Jing to pursue him. Unexpectedly, the very next day, the Nanxuan Sect truly mobilized its entire army.

They formed a Golden Light Battle Formation, transforming into colossal golden-armored heavenly soldiers, and charged towards Beiyuan City. Two battles would surely ensue. Fu Zongjue immediately commanded his cultivators to form a Wood-Element Dao Soldier formation.

According to the Five Elements, Metal overcomes Wood. Although the Divine Wood Sect had a numerical advantage, they were suppressed by the Nanxuan Sect. Usually, Fu Zongjue would have put up a fight at this point, but this time, he directly retreated defensively.

He commanded his army to continuously defend. After exhausting the opponent's spiritual energy, his own Wood-Element Dao Soldiers also dispersed. Then came the close-quarters engagement between cultivators and their respective armies.

The cultivators, whose spiritual energy had been partially drained by the battle formation, skillfully consumed pills to restore their spiritual power. Holding a spirit stone in one hand and wielding a magical artifact in the other, they began to clash with the enemy. The time it took to determine victory was extremely short; soon, countless sprays of blood erupted, and cultivators fell one after another under various magical artifacts and spells.

Streaks of spiritual light illuminated the sky, marking the duels between Foundation Establishment cultivators. It should have ended there.

But today, two vast and brilliant golden lights, like blazing suns, rose from the Nanxuan Sect's encampment. Two tall, indistinct figures, carrying magnificent and surging spiritual energy, charged towards Beiyuan City.

"Zhao Xuankang, Nanxuan Jing!" Fu Zongjue's voice emerged, and his true body along with a puppet avatar appeared in mid-air. At the same time, the teleportation array in Beiyuan City lit up, and Mo Douguang stepped out from it.

Soon, four Core Formation cultivators began a fierce duel in mid-air. Among them, Fu Zongjue's cultivation was the lowest, only at the early Core Formation stage. However, by controlling a third-tier Golden Sun Puppet and facing death without fear, he managed to block Zhao Xuankang.

Nanxuan Jing and Mo Douguang, both with similar cultivation levels—one a grand sect elder, the other the Eastern Desolate's foremost sword cultivator—fought a visually spectacular battle, with intertwining golden light and sword beams, dazzling beyond compare.

As the Qi Refining cultivators below watched in awe, two Foundation Establishment cultivators engaged in aerial combat accidentally strayed into the golden light and sword beams, and were instantly ground into scattered chunks of flesh and blood. "Is this the power of Core Formation!?"