Chapter 173: Summons

Baiyun Ridge, in Yunzhou.

In a dense forest, Wang Yaohuan and his group were besieging a gigantic azure tiger, two *zhang* long and half a *zhang* tall. The azure tiger, a first-grade top-tier demonic beast, was covered in wounds and bleeding profusely.

Wang Changsheng stood by, observing the battle without making a move.

They had been in Baiyun Ridge for over two months. Wang Yaohuan and his group had already killed several first-grade top-tier demonic beasts, and their coordination was becoming increasingly skilled.

With Wang Changsheng overseeing them, none of the clan members were in life-threatening danger. Two clan members, however, had been poisoned and had to return to the market city to recuperate.

Wang Yaohuan and his group's coordination grew even more proficient. They used puppet beasts to entangle the demonic beasts, barraging them with spells and spirit artifacts.

“Roar!” Realizing its predicament, the azure tiger roared and unleashed a wave of azure sound that surged outwards.

The azure sound wave collided with the spells, resulting in a tremendous explosion, and a large blast of air swept outwards.

Before the azure tiger could get far, two azure seeds shot through the air and landed on the ground. Two azure vines, as thick as an adult's arm, quickly emerged from the earth, coiling like lightning around the tiger's legs.

A whooshing sound pierced the air, as a massive wind blade, two *zhang* long, shot forth, slicing viciously into the azure tiger's head.

With a pained shriek, the azure tiger's head was severed by the giant wind blade.

“Clean up,” Wang Changsheng ordered. “We’ll return to the market city, rest for a few days, and then head back into the mountains.” Following Wang Changsheng's command, Wang Yaohuan and his group dismembered the azure tiger's corpse and placed it into their storage bags.

Wang Changsheng summoned his Blue Lotus Boat and transported his clan members, flying towards the market city.

Upon returning to the market city, Wang Changsheng noticed that more than half of the cultivators on the streets were gone, and many shops were closed.

Back at the Spirit Puppet Pavilion, Wang Changsheng received astonishing news: the Five Sects of Wei had invaded Great Song, seizing control of two prefectures. The Four Sects of Great Song had issued a conscription order, summoning cultivation families to join the war. Those who distinguished themselves would be rewarded with Ascension Tokens and Foundation Establishment Pills.

The Wang clan had also received a conscription order. It required two Foundation Establishment cultivators and thirty Qi Refining cultivators. If one Foundation Establishment cultivator was missing, an additional fifty Qi Refining cultivators would be required. Qi Refining cultivators must be at or above the third level of Qi Refining, with no age or gender restrictions. Those who defied the order would be treated as traitors, leading to the extermination of their entire clan.

If Wang Changsheng didn't go, Wang Yaozong would have to lead eighty clan members to war. Wang Changsheng thus had no choice but to participate.

After hearing Wang Mingcai's report, Wang Changsheng raised an eyebrow, questioning, “Didn't the Four Sects establish the Purple Moon Market City on the border? How could it have fallen to the Five Sects of Wei so quickly?”

“The specifics are unclear, but the die is cast, there's no turning back,” came the reply. “Changsheng, your second uncle must go with you. If we lack one Foundation Establishment cultivator, fifty Qi Refining cultivators will be dispatched. With a Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing them, it's fine, but without one, the Qi Refining cultivators sent to battle are just cannon fodder and laborers. Three cultivation families without Foundation Establishment cultivators overseeing them tried to evacuate overnight with their people. They were discovered by the disciples of the Four Sects, and their entire clans were annihilated, with their assets confiscated.”

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply, pondering for a long moment. He sighed and said, “I had hoped to avoid this, but it seems there's no escaping this war. I'll first notify twenty-first uncle and have him return to Qinglian Mountain with me. The clan cannot be without a Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing it, to prevent petty troublemakers.”

“No, that won't do,” came the reply. “Second Elder said that two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Zixiao Gate are already in Qinglian Mountain. If twenty-first brother returns now and they discover him, he might also be conscripted. Let's have him return a little later. What do you think?”

“Zixiao Gate again, and the Lin clan's meddling again, using others to do their dirty work,” Wang Changsheng muttered.

Wang Changsheng's expression darkened, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.

During the last expedition to the Ghost Abyss, it was the Lin clan's interference that indirectly led to the deaths of Wang Minghao and others in battle. Now, with the war between Wei and Song, the Lin clan was again causing trouble for the Wang clan. Their tactics were indeed ruthless, killing without a trace.

He hastily summoned his clan members, briefly explained the situation, and led them away from Baiyun Ridge.

Qinglian Mountain, in the assembly hall.

Wang Yaozong, with a fawning smile, was chatting and sipping tea with a man and a woman.

The man was dignified in appearance, dressed as a scholar, and at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. The woman was fair-faced and also at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, it's been over two months, and your Wang clan still hasn't departed? Are you trying to defy the order?” the man said coldly.

“Please don't misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Li,” Wang Yaozong said, forcing a smile and suppressing his anger. “Changsheng is handling some private matters in Yunzhou. I've already sent someone to inform him, and he'll be back soon. Please be understanding, both of you.”

“We'll wait one more day. If Wang Changsheng doesn't return by then, you must immediately take eighty Qi Refining cultivators to the front lines. The war is urgent and cannot be delayed,” the woman stated with a grim expression.

The Lin clan had given each of them three thousand spirit stones, instructing them to make things as difficult as possible for the Wang clan.

Lin Yuxin was a quasi Core Formation cultivator, and with the added benefits, they naturally wouldn't refuse. The conscription of cultivation families was originally a decision by the Four Sects, and the number of people to be conscripted was stipulated by their superiors. They weren't fabricating anything, just pressing the matter more insistently.

“Please be accommodating, Fellow Daoists,” Wang Yaozong said somewhat ingratiatingly. “Our Wang clan is just a small family, and it takes a lot of time to mobilize personnel.” He then took out ten mid-grade spirit stones, giving five to each of them.

After accepting the spirit stones, their expressions finally softened.

“Very well! We'll wait five more days. That is the final deadline. You absolutely must send people to the front lines. This is Martial Uncle Zhao's order, and no one can defy it.”

Having no other choice, Wang Yaozong could only agree with a forced smile.

Just then, a man's voice came from outside: “Second Elder, I'm back.”

As his voice faded, Wang Changsheng entered, his face showing a hint of fatigue.

Wang Changsheng was worried that the disciples of the Zixiao Gate would fabricate charges against the Wang clan and use them to target them. He had traveled day and night, using a second-tier puppet beast to continue his journey whenever his spiritual power was nearly depleted. After more than half a month, he finally rushed back.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, your timing is excellent. The war on the front lines is critical. By order of Martial Uncle Zhao, your Wang clan is conscripted to send two Foundation Establishment cultivators and thirty Qi Refining cultivators to support the front lines. You must depart for Xianyuan City tomorrow. Latecomers will be severely punished; those who fail to arrive will face the extermination of their clan. We will remain in Ningzhou as inspection envoys, guarding against petty disturbances.”

The Four Sects assigned people to stay behind, partly to guard against petty disturbances, and partly to warn the cultivators of various cultivation families that if they dared to flee midway, their clan members back home would certainly face a terrible fate. This way, the cultivators from the cultivation families had no choice but to fight desperately.

Wang Changsheng frowned, saying, “Depart tomorrow? Fellow Daoists, could we perhaps leave a little later?”

“As you wish. In any case, you must reach Xianyuan City within two months. That is the final deadline; there will be no waiting beyond it,” came the stern reply. “You should be aware of the consequences, Fellow Daoist Wang. Of course, if you fight bravely, there will be rewards. There will be people overseeing things from the rear, so Fellow Daoist Wang, you can rest assured and fight on the front lines.”

Having no choice, Wang Changsheng could only nod in agreement.

He and Wang Yaozong, working together, should be able to eliminate the two. However, with over a hundred cultivators in the entire clan, they couldn't possibly escape far. Currently, every prefecture and county had inspection envoys who were, in reality, army supervisors. Anyone who defied orders at this time would surely be dealt with as an example, to warn others. The three annihilated small families were the best examples of this.

“Fellow Daoists, do you intend to be permanently stationed at our Wang clan?”

“You overestimate your Wang clan too much,” the man retorted. “I will accompany you to Xianyuan City. As for the defenses in the rear, there will be special personnel in charge. You may talk now! We will return to rest.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief. If the two had insisted on staying, he truly would have been helpless.

Now, with disciples from the Four Sects in every prefecture and county, there was no escaping far even if they wanted to.