Chapter 1698: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Path

The Crimson Flame Mountain Range is located in the southeastern part of the Heavenly Lan Realm. It derives its name from several Crimson Flame Ore Veins, which are third-tier refining materials used in crafting fire-attribute magic treasures. After the Heavenly Lan Sect unified the Heavenly Lan Realm, these ore veins were completely mined out. However, the area is rich in fire spiritual energy, making it suitable for cultivating fire-attribute spiritual herbs. Consequently, the Heavenly Lan Sect maintains a large spiritual herb garden here.

After cultivators from the East Hedge Realm invaded the Heavenly Lan Realm, the Heavenly Lan Sect relocated all spiritual herbs over five hundred years old, leaving only a dozen or so cultivators to guard the area. Their leader was Daoist Jin Guang, who was at the fifth layer of the Core Formation stage.

Due to its remote location, this branch had remained peaceful.

Daoist Jin Guang was cultivating in his cave dwelling when a voice transmission talisman flew in and stopped before him. He opened his eyes, crushed the talisman, and a respectful male voice immediately spoke: “Uncle Liu, due to the disturbances caused by the East Hedge Realm cultivators, Uncle Chen has been ordered to come and support us and strengthen our defenses.”

Daoist Jin Guang was not surprised. In recent years, the Heavenly Lan Sect had intensified its efforts to apprehend East Hedge Realm cultivators, so sending reinforcements was perfectly reasonable. He himself had also previously requested assistance from higher-ups.

He got up and walked out. Soon after, he arrived at a spacious and brightly lit council hall, where two men and one woman had been waiting for a long time. The one leading them was Chen Jiang, while the other two were Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, disguised and altered in appearance. Their cultivation auras were only at the first layer of the Core Formation stage.

“Brother Liu, we are here to support you under the orders of Uncle Zhao. The East Hedge Realm cultivators are causing too much disturbance; several branch strongholds have already been breached,” Chen Jiang said, his expression solemn.

Daoist Jin Guang nodded solemnly and said, “I heard that Ancestor Shangguan has personally taken action. The East Hedge Realm cultivators won’t be able to cause trouble for much longer.”

The speaker had no intention, but the listeners paid close attention. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan’s hearts tensed: "Ancestor Shangguan!" Someone referred to as an "Ancestor" by Core Formation cultivators would naturally be a Deity Transformation cultivator. In the entire Heavenly Lan Realm, the only Deity Transformation cultivator with the surname Shangguan was Shangguan Tianhong.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded, and a burly young man in a golden robe entered.

“Oh, Brother Zhao, what brings you here?” Daoist Jin Guang asked, somewhat surprised.

“We’ve discovered traces of East Hedge Realm cultivators and are short-handed, so we plan to transfer you. Who are these three?” the young man in golden robes said simply, his gaze falling on Chen Jiang and the other two. There were tens of thousands of Core Formation cultivators in the Heavenly Lan Sect, and he only recognized a small fraction of them.

“This is Junior Brother Chen, and they have just arrived, assigned to reinforce our branch,” Daoist Jin Guang explained.

“Perfect then. Come with me to support Seventh Ancestor. Time is short; I’ll explain on the way!” the young man in golden robes urged, his tone urgent. He shook his sleeve, and a light golden flying boat shot out, hovering in mid-air.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were slightly taken aback. They had originally intended to find a quiet place for secluded cultivation, but they hadn't even settled down before being called to hunt down East Hedge Realm cultivators.

They did not decline, agreeing to go. It was possible that the cultivators from the Heavenly Lan Sect were targeting members of the Wang family. Regardless of who it was, they would assist against any East Hedge Realm cultivator they encountered.

The young man in golden robes performed a hand seal, and the golden flying boat glowed with dazzling golden light, transforming into a golden rainbow that soared into the sky.

An endless expanse of green grassland stretched out. Dozens of cultivators were engaged in fierce combat, with continuous roars and rumbling sounds. The ground was uneven, marked by numerous massive craters from which raging flames billowed.

Shangguan Wei sat on the back of a Nine Nether Sparrow, her expression indifferent. In her hand, she held a small, exquisite black bell. The black bell pulsed with spiritual energy, and its surface was engraved with a black peacock pattern, clearly indicating it was a Spirit Treasure.

Lei Yiming stood nearby, his face filled with killing intent, his body enveloped by countless silver electric arcs.

Dozens of cultivators were slaughtering each other, completely oblivious to Shangguan Wei and Lei Yiming.

A golden-robed old man with a youthful face and white hair was enveloped in a faint golden light. He wore a small, exquisite golden jade pendant on his chest. Judging by his aura, he was clearly a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. This was Zhao Hengjiang, from the Zhao family of Mount Qianling.

Standing beside Zhao Hengjiang was a plump man in a red robe. His aura indicated he was a cultivator at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. This was Zhao Junjing, Zhao Hengjiang's nephew.

“Wake up quickly! You've fallen under this demoness's illusion! Snap out of it!” Zhao Hengjiang shouted loudly, his voice powerful enough to cause the surrounding space to ripple and distort.

The dozens of cultivators remained unaffected; their expressions were frenzied, clearly abnormal.

“They’re trying to stop a chariot with a praying mantis’s arms. Send them on their way,” Shangguan Wei said with a cold expression.

Lei Yiming responded, and a deafening roar echoed from high above. Thunder boomed, and strong winds began to rage.

“Forget it. They don’t have any special treasures and can't defend against this demoness’s illusions. Just restrain them or capture them,” Zhao Hengjiang transmitted via spiritual sense. He flipped his right hand, and a glittering golden miniature pagoda appeared. The characters "Thousand Demon Pagoda" were carved on its body. This was one of the Zhao family's three major family-protecting treasures and also a Spirit Treasure.

He flicked his wrist, and a chorus of dragon roars and tiger cries filled the air. The Thousand Demon Pagoda rapidly expanded to over a hundred zhang in size, glittering with spiritual light and becoming exceptionally prominent. The base of the Thousand Demon Pagoda spewed out a vast expanse of golden spiritual light, enveloping the other cultivators.

“The East Hedge Realm cultivators are malicious. Fight them to the death; even self-detonate rather than be captured by them,” Shangguan Wei’s voice was filled with temptation as she gently shook the Black Sparrow Bell in her hand.

An astonishing scene unfolded: dozens of cultivators suddenly displayed crazed expressions, and their bodies rapidly swelled.

Boom!

Amidst a deafening roar, colorful spiritual light engulfed the figures of Zhao Hengjiang and Zhao Junjing, accompanied by thick, billowing smoke.

After three breaths, the spiritual light dispersed. Zhao Hengjiang and Zhao Junjing were unharmed, with a palm-sized golden bowl floating above their heads. A lifelike golden flood dragon was carved on the bowl's surface, moving as if alive, ceaselessly circling the bowl and emitting deafening dragon roars. A light golden barrier enveloped Zhao Hengjiang and Zhao Junjing. The golden bowl was the Golden Flood Dragon Bowl, one of the Zhao family’s three major family-protecting treasures, and also a Spirit Treasure.

“A defensive Spirit Treasure! Interesting. I’ll gladly accept it then,” Shangguan Wei said with a faint smile, appearing full of confidence.

“Sect Master, someone is approaching. It seems to be a few Core Formation cultivators,” Lei Yiming said, raising an eyebrow as he looked towards the distant sky.

A golden light appeared in the distant sky, rapidly flying towards their location.

“There are cultivators with deep backgrounds mixed in. The self-detonation of Nascent Soul cultivators should be more powerful,” Shangguan Wei sneered.

Soon after, the golden light stopped, revealing a glittering golden flying boat. Wang Changsheng and the other four stood on board.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan frowned tightly upon seeing Shangguan Wei and Lei Yiming. They hadn't expected to encounter them here in the Heavenly Lan Realm; truly a narrow path for adversaries.