Chapter 176: Meeting the Enemy

Wang Changsheng was filled with doubt. Had something changed?

Wang Yaozong shook his head. "I don't know. The Four Great Sects sent people to inform us to bring our accompanying clansmen and prepare for battle. It's going to be a real fight."

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Wang Changsheng and Wang Yaozong led their clansmen to a huge bluestone plaza. Five or six hundred cultivators were gathered there, most of whom were at the Qi Refining stage.

Wang Changsheng carefully observed that most of these cultivators came from immortal cultivation families. Some families only had Qi Refining cultivators, while others had one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Four Great Sects were clearly desperate. They had conscripted so many immortal cultivation families, leaving their rear areas vulnerable. If the Five Sects of Wei sent people to cause trouble in the back, it would be problematic.

"Yaozong, Changsheng."

Zhao Yuhui walked over, her face full of joy, upon seeing Wang Changsheng and Wang Yaozong.

"Aunt-grandmother, why are you here?" Wang Changsheng asked, surprised.

Wang Changsheng was a bit surprised. Zhao Ningxiang had already joined Medicine King Valley, yet the Zhao family was still conscripted.

After Zhao Yutang's death, Zhao Yuhui was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator left in the Zhao family.

"The Four Great Sects issued a conscription order, so there was no way not to come," Zhao Yuhui sighed softly, her face full of worry. "Fortunately, Ningxiang joined Medicine King Valley, so I only brought ten clansmen. Still, with no one guarding the family home, I can't help but feel uneasy."

They chatted for a few moments, and then a heavy bell suddenly rang.

A purple light flew from a distance, flashing once before appearing above the plaza. It was Zhao Yunxiao.

Feeling the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from Zhao Yunxiao, the cultivators in the plaza immediately stopped talking.

"I am Zhao Yunxiao of the Purple Clouds Sect," Zhao Yunxiao's voice boomed. "The Five Sects of Wei have already invaded, pillaging and slaughtering. Song is *our* Song, not Wei's Song! The Five Sects of Wei have been fighting us for months and have suffered heavy casualties. Their reinforcements won't arrive anytime soon. We must seize this opportunity to fight a splendid battle and show the cultivators of Wei our might."

"Immortal cultivation families or individuals who perform exceptionally in repelling the Five Sects of Wei will be rewarded with an Ascension Token. Additionally, killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Five Sects of Wei will earn you a thousand points, and killing a Qi Refining cultivator will earn twenty points. You can redeem points with their identity tokens; Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators have different tokens. Points can be exchanged for anything: spiritual artifacts, talismans, Foundation Establishment Pills, or even nascent magic treasures. One Foundation Establishment Pill is worth ten thousand contribution points. For specific exchange details, inquire at the Miscellaneous Hall. Points can be redeemed on the spot, with no delays."

To exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill, one would need to kill ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Contribution points were quite difficult to acquire, and the key was to retrieve the identity tokens from the corpses, otherwise, it would all be for naught.

Upon hearing Zhao Yunxiao's speech, the cultivators present stirred, their expressions varying.

Most of them were not here voluntarily. Although the Four Sects of Great Song promised rewards, the situation for the Four Sects was clearly not good; otherwise, Wei wouldn't have conquered two states so quickly.

Zhao Yunxiao knew that most of these people were unwilling to participate in the war, but at this point, they had no choice. In a battlefield skirmish, a single misstep could cost them their lives.

"Form teams by immortal cultivation family, one family per team. Advance!"

With Zhao Yunxiao's command, hundreds of cultivators, led by disciples of the Four Great Sects, successively departed from Immortal Fate City.

About a cup of tea later, they appeared on a vast plain. The Five Sects of Wei had also sent out a contingent to meet them, though their numbers were fewer, just over a hundred.

Leading the Song side was Chen Tianming, the senior disciple of the Purple Clouds Sect. He specialized in Five Elements spells and had a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Layer Nine.

The cultivators from both nations were separated by over a mile. Some drew out spiritual artifacts and magic treasures, while others prepared talismans. Everyone's expression was tense.

Dozens of sect disciples, led by Chen Tianming, chanted incantations and cast spells.

Soon, a large number of red light spots appeared above their heads, rapidly transforming into a massive crimson fire dragon that exuded terrifying heat.

A deafening dragon roar echoed as the crimson fire dragon bared its fangs and claws, lunging towards the opposing side.

The disciples of the Five Sects of Wei were not idle either. They chanted incantations and cast spells, causing a large number of blue light spots to appear out of thin air, forming a colossal ice python that confronted the crimson fire dragon.

Simultaneously, both sides summoned spiritual artifacts, magic treasures, and talismans to attack each other.

"Activate spiritual talismans! Fire-attribute spiritual talismans first, fire-attribute spells are also fine!"

Following Chen Tianming's command, the cultivators either activated fire-attribute spiritual talismans or cast fire-attribute spells.

Fireballs, fire snakes, fire spears, fire blades, and other fire-attribute spells rained down overwhelmingly on the opposing side, creating a terrifying momentum.

By this time, the crimson fire dragon and the ice python had nullified each other.

Just then, a red-robed youth with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes flew out from the crowd.

Judging by the red-robed youth's attire, he was a disciple of the Hundred Spirits Sect, at Foundation Establishment Layer Eight.

He opened his mouth, and a red light shot out, transforming into a ten-foot-long red blade. The hilt was carved with a lifelike bird's head.

Gripping the red blade with both hands, he slashed at the empty space opposite him. A flash of red light and a sharp whooshing sound later, hundreds of red blade energies, over ten feet long, flew out from it, striking towards the opposing side.

A series of huge explosions erupted as the red blade energies shattered most of the fire-attribute spells and then cleaved towards the cultivators of Song.

Chen Tianming quickly opened his mouth and spat out a shimmering green command flag. A green eagle was embroidered on the flag's surface, glowing with spiritual light.

He gripped the green command flag with both hands and shook it fiercely. The flag's size rapidly expanded, and a sudden gust of strong wind erupted. The incoming red blade energies, upon contact with the gale, were all sent flying backward. Wherever the strong wind passed, it stirred up large amounts of flying sand and stones, creating an alarming spectacle.

Wang Changsheng witnessed this scene with great envy. Having a Natal Magic Treasure in hand provided an additional layer of security when facing an enemy.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion echoed, and a large wave of air swept outwards.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators, follow me! Leave this area to the Qi Refining cultivators!"

Chen Tianming shouted, and the boots on his feet glowed brightly with green light. He soared into the air and flew into the distance, with the other Foundation Establishment cultivators following closely behind.

The attacks of Foundation Establishment cultivators were much stronger than those of Qi Refining cultivators. The cultivators of both nations had a tacit understanding: Foundation Establishment cultivators fought against Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Qi Refining cultivators fought against Qi Refining cultivators. Of course, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators from the sects would stay behind, partly to prevent trickery from the Five Sects of Wei, and partly to oversee the battle.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Yaozong had initially intended to protect their clansmen, but circumstances had changed, leaving them with no choice but to instruct their clansmen to be extra careful.

Song had over forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, while Wei had just over twenty, indicating a significant disparity in strength.

The sixty-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally did not gather together; instead, they dispersed and fought individually.

Wang Changsheng's opponent was a colorfully dressed middle-aged man at Foundation Establishment Layer Two.

The middle-aged man's clothing bore a bird-beast pattern, the symbol of Wei's Spirit Control Sect.

The middle-aged man sneered and released a yellow giant bear over ten feet tall and a three-legged fire crow about ten feet in size.

Both the yellow giant bear and the three-legged fire crow were second-tier low-grade spiritual beasts, equivalent to two Foundation Establishment cultivators.