Chapter 184: Family Under Attack

The war on the front lines was escalating, forcing the four major sects to reassign personnel to the rear. Cultivation families were repeatedly conscripted, leaving most of their clans populated by women, children, and the elderly, resulting in weak defenses.

Originally, the four major sects had also stationed patrol envoys to prevent petty criminals from causing trouble and to supervise military efforts. As the war grew increasingly fierce, these patrol envoys were gradually transferred to the front lines, leaving the rear largely undefended.

Sun Ping was originally a rogue cultivator who made a living by hunting demonic beasts. Due to his extensive experience, he was chosen as a leader by his companions. At the age of fifty, Sun Ping acquired two bottles of True Fiend Qi, successfully advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage. He then gathered over ten cultivators under his command.

With the Wei and Song states at war and the rear undefended, Sun Ping saw an opportunity to get rich. As a native of Ning Province, Sun Ping set his sights on the Wang family of Green Lotus. Sun Ping held a personal grudge against members of the Wang family. Previously, he had been forced to tolerate them due to their influence, but now, with an opportunity for revenge, Sun Ping naturally wouldn't let it pass.

Given that the Wang family had been established for many years, there was no guarantee they wouldn't have hidden trump cards. Sun Ping dispatched ten of his subordinates to pillage and loot the market town, while he himself waited on the road between Green Lotus Mountain and the market town. His plan was to ambush any reinforcements from the Wang family, and he would retreat if they had a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At noon, Sun Ping's subordinates launched their coordinated attack, pillaging and looting the market town operated by the Wang, Huang, and Chen families. They attacked the shops, either activating spiritual talismans or wielding flying swords. The sudden attack caused heavy losses for the three families, who quickly sent transmission talismans to their respective clans for help.

Soon after, a large white cloud emerged from Green Lotus Mountain, flying towards the market town. In no time, the white cloud arrived above the mountain where Sun Ping and his group were. Sun Ping swept his spiritual sense, found no aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and was immediately overjoyed, shouting, "Attack!" He activated two yellow flying daggers, about a foot long, sending them towards the Wang family members on the white cloud. The five Qi Condensation cultivators either unleashed spirit artifacts or spiritual talismans, attacking the Wang family members on the white cloud.

Wang Mingzhan, who led the reinforcement team, saw the two yellow flying daggers emitting astonishing spiritual energy. His expression changed drastically, and without a word, he quickly unleashed a second-tier raven puppet. The raven puppet opened its mouth and spewed out over a dozen crimson fire blades to meet the two yellow flying daggers. Another clan member also unleashed a second-tier raven puppet beast to defend against the magical artifact's attacks. Simultaneously, a clan member immediately sent a transmission talisman to their clan.

"Second-tier puppet beasts! We're rich!" Sun Ping's eyes lit up, and he controlled his magical artifacts to strike at Wang Mingzhan and the others.

Although Wang Mingzhan had second-tier puppet beasts, he couldn't withstand the magical artifact's attacks. He quickly crushed a second-tier spiritual talisman, which transformed into a dense azure light barrier, covering everyone. The two yellow flying daggers struck the azure light barrier, causing it to sway slightly. Sun Ping commanded his subordinates to continuously attack the azure light barrier. Its glow grew dimmer, appearing as if it could dissipate at any moment.

"Who dares to harm my Wang family members!" A cold male voice echoed from the distant horizon.

As soon as the voice faded, a golden light appeared on the horizon: it was the Golden-Beaked Eagle, with Wang Mingjiang riding on its back.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator! Damn it, how does the Wang family still have one?" Sun Ping's expression changed drastically, and he cursed under his breath. Before acting, he had thoroughly researched the situation. He knew that this time, the four sects of the Song state had heavily conscripted forces, and all Foundation Establishment cultivators from every cultivation family had been called away. He never expected the Wang family to still have one; clearly, this was a hidden asset. If he had known this, he wouldn't have attacked the Wang family.

He hastily recalled his magical artifacts, but at that moment, two second-tier puppet beasts swooped down and pounced on him. A whooshing sound pierced the air as dozens of crimson fire blades and azure light swords flew towards him. Sun Ping quickly activated a yellow circular shield, placing it in front of him. A loud explosion rang out. Sun Ping remained unharmed, but his subordinates were not so lucky; their bodies were pierced by the crimson fire blades and azure light swords.

A series of tearing sounds filled the air as densely packed blue short rulers flew in, striking the yellow shield and causing tiny cracks to appear on its surface. A sharp cry rang out as the Golden-Beaked Eagle swooped down from high above. Simultaneously, three second-tier flying puppet beasts also dived down from the sky.

"Boom!" A tremendous explosion reverberated. The yellow shield was shattered by the dense crimson fire blades and azure light swords, and Sun Ping himself was pierced by numerous blue short rulers. His eyes were wide open, a look of disbelief on his face. If he had known this, he wouldn't have attacked the Wang family, but there was no medicine for regret in this world.

Wang Mingjiang landed beside Sun Ping's corpse, examining it closely. Frowning, he murmured, "So it was him. I didn't expect him to have advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Twenty-first brother, do you know him?"

"Yes," Wang Mingjiang replied. "Years ago, I had a conflict with this person over a kill while hunting demonic beasts. He managed to escape back then. I never expected him to successfully establish his foundation and now come back to cause trouble for our Wang family. By the way, Sixth Brother, you should return to Green Lotus Mountain to guard against the enemy's 'lure the tiger away from the mountain' scheme. I'll just go to the market town to wipe out those petty criminals."

Wang Mingjiang collected the valuables from Sun Ping and his group, then mounted the Golden-Beaked Eagle and flew towards the market town. Meanwhile, Wang Mingzhan led his clan members back to Green Lotus Mountain. Protected by a second-tier formation, Green Lotus Mountain could not be easily captured by Foundation Establishment cultivators in a short amount of time.

In a continuous azure mountain range, a white light quickly streaked across the sky. After more than a dozen breaths, the white light stopped above a crescent-shaped valley. The valley was barren and appeared somewhat desolate. The white light was, in fact, a huge white scroll, with Wang Changsheng and others seated upon it.

Li Hongyuan took out a transmission talisman, whispered a few words into it, and threw it into the valley below. Soon after, a yellow light flew out from the valley and flashed, revealing Zhao Ningxiang. After not seeing her for a few years, Zhao Ningxiang was already at the third layer of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Junior Sister Zhao," said Li Hongyuan, "I am Li Hongyuan of White Deer Academy. We are here by the order of Senior Zhao of Purple Cloud Sect to garrison this area." Li Hongyuan cupped his hands respectfully to Zhao Ningxiang and spoke politely.

"Where are Senior Brother Ye and the others?" Zhao Ningxiang's face was full of doubt.

"Fellow Daoist Ye and the others are indisposed and not able to come," Li Hongyuan explained. "We are here to take their place. This is the transfer order." He raised his hand, and a gleaming white token flew out, with the character "Medicine" inscribed on it.

Zhao Ningxiang took out a palm-sized white jade plate, placed the token on it, and a white light flashed, revealing intricate runes on the jade plate's surface. "The transfer order is valid," she confirmed. "Please come in!"

Zhao Ningxiang took out a yellow command flag, threw it downwards, and it transformed into a yellow light that vanished into the valley. The yellow light flashed, and several buildings appeared out of thin air. In the open space, several large furnaces were set up, and large piles of ore lay on the ground. Li Hongyuan controlled the white scroll, slowly descending. Besides Zhao Ningxiang, there were three other Foundation Establishment cultivators. The one with the highest cultivation was a refined-looking middle-aged scholar at the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment.