Chapter 185: Encountered Attack

"I am Liu Jieyuan. Welcome, fellow Daoists, to be stationed here," the middle-aged scholar said slowly, cupping his hands to Li Hongyuan and the others.

Nangong Chen hesitated slightly before asking, "Fellow Daoist Liu, I am Nangong Chen. Have you experienced any attacks from cultivators of the Wei Kingdom?"

"Not currently. Why do you ask, Fellow Daoist Nangong?"

Nangong Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He was already at the fourth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage, but he was quite timid. Even Chen Tianming had perished, so remaining in Xianyuan City meant he'd be in trouble if he were ever sent to the battlefield. This spiritual stone mine was located far behind the front lines, so the chance of being attacked was very low. Even if an attack occurred, they could escape and wouldn't need to fight to the death.

"Fellow Daoists, please settle in here first. In a month, spiritual stones will need to be transported to the front line, requiring five Daoists and twenty Qi Condensation stage disciples as escorts. At that time, please do not refuse. Of course, after one escort mission, you can rest for three months, working on a rotating schedule."

Liu Jieyuan's expression was somewhat solemn, and his tone was stern.

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly. He might be assigned to escort the spiritual stones then. Fortunately, one escort mission would grant three months of rest.

"Cousin Changsheng, come with me."

Zhao Ningxiang led Wang Changsheng into an azure pavilion. The interior was simply furnished, with over a dozen rooms. She led him into a guest room and quickly asked, "Cousin Changsheng, how are the battles going?"

Wang Changsheng hesitated briefly, then told her the truth.

When Zhao Ningxiang learned that Zhao Yuhui had died in battle, her eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up in her beautiful eyes. She said coldly, "Bitch, how dare you play me!"

"Cousin Ningxiang, what's wrong? Who played a trick on you?"

Zhao Ningxiang wiped her tears and said calmly, "Nothing. Cousin Changsheng, please get some good rest! I still have matters to attend to." With that, she quickly walked out.

Wang Changsheng was utterly confused, unable to understand the reason. He simply stopped thinking about it and sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, resuming his cultivation.

In another room, Nangong Chen was speaking with his wife, Song Yufeng.

"What? Junior Sister Zhao sought you out? She asked you to help not conscript the Zhao family's Foundation Establishment cultivators? Why didn't you tell me earlier? How could you agree to such a thing?" Nangong Chen frowned deeply, his tone displeased.

"How dare you speak to me like that! This isn't a big deal. I just forgot to tell you. Besides, I didn't promise her anything. I only said I'd try my best; whether it works out is another matter. She takes so much remuneration from the Nangong family every year; it's only right for her to give something back. Or are you still thinking of her? Can't let her go? If you couldn't let her go, why did you marry me? Do you think my Song family is easy to bully?" Song Yufeng said with a cold face, showing no respect for Nangong Chen.

Their marriage had been arranged by the heads of both families; the alliance benefited both sides. Song Yufeng was the daughter of the Song family head, who was already at the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage and had a certain chance of forming a Golden Core. Nangong Chen dared not offend Song Yufeng in the slightest.

He forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and said with an awkward smile, "My dear wife, you're joking. Your husband hasn't had any contact with her for a long time. But for such an important matter, you should have at least told me."

"Didn't I just say? I forgot. It's not a big deal anyway. Come here and rub my shoulders. I got so angry seeing that vixen today. Did you know she was here and intentionally arranged to be stationed here so you could meet her secretly?"

Nangong Chen explained with a forced smile, "My dear wife, you've misunderstood. I truly had no idea. I haven't seen her since our wedding. How would I know she's here? I really didn't know."

"Hmph, it's best if you don't know. Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave my sight. If I find out you're meeting secretly, you know the consequences."

Nangong Chen meekly agreed and dutifully massaged Song Yufeng's shoulders.

Half a month passed in a flash.

In a dense forest, more than a dozen cultivators were gathered, discussing something. Upon closer inspection, one could spot a young man in a blue shirt wearing the uniform of the Qingyang Sect.

"Chen Shan, are you sure it's here? Don't you dare lie to us, or you'll know the consequences," a burly middle-aged man with a scarred face said coldly. His clothes bore the pattern of a poisonous spider.

"Seniors, how dare I lie to you? My life is in your hands. That spiritual stone mine is indeed here, but it's protected by a formation and guarded by several Foundation Establishment cultivators. I'm not sure about the exact number of people," the blue-shirted young man said with a bitter smile. Some time ago, the Wei Kingdom attacked and killed a Song Kingdom spiritual stone escort team, capturing several Qi Condensation cultivators. Chen Shan was one of them. He lacked resolve; he confessed before any torture, willing to guide the Wei and Shu Kingdoms to attack and capture that spiritual stone mine.

"It's good you know. Proceed according to the plan. We must take this spiritual stone mine. Orders from above state that all spiritual stones obtained will be ours."

Led by Chen Shan, the cultivators arrived outside the valley where the spiritual stone mine was located. All the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been escorting the spiritual stones had died in battle, so coercing surrender was out of the question. They could only launch a direct assault.

"Attack!"

The burly middle-aged man took out a glittering green command flag. A lifelike centipede was embroidered on its surface. Five Foundation Establishment cultivators each summoned a glittering green command flag. Their flags were embroidered with patterns of a spider, centipede, scorpion, poisonous snake, and toad, respectively.

The five green command flags rapidly expanded, transforming into five streaks of green light that vanished in a flash from the ground near Doom Mountain Valley. The next moment, a large expanse of green poisonous mist appeared out of thin air, quickly condensing into a giant green python over ten zhang long, which lunged downwards.

The giant green python collided with a certain point in the void, immediately emitting a puff of green smoke. A massive yellow light barrier then appeared, enveloping the entire valley. Inside the valley, several pavilion buildings were clearly visible.

A series of urgent alarms rang out, and Wang Changsheng and the others rushed out of their residences. At this moment, five venomous creatures, formed from condensed poisonous mist, were striking the formation. The attacks of these venomous creatures were very straightforward, but being formed from poisonous mist, they possessed strong corrosive properties. As they struck the yellow light barrier, it continuously emitted green smoke, and its light gradually dimmed.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Follow me to engage them!" Liu Jieyuan shouted loudly while summoning a misty green plantain fan. With a forceful flick, a green hurricane immediately flew out, meeting the five venomous creatures.

Wang Changsheng and the others either cast spells or manipulated magical artifacts to deal with the five venomous creatures.

Nangong Chen's face was grim. He had never imagined that he would encounter an enemy attack so soon after his arrival.

The five venomous creatures were quickly destroyed, but a large amount of green poisonous mist reappeared, forming a massive green python. It struck the yellow light barrier, instantly emitting a puff of green smoke. The yellow light barrier's glow dimmed, and a palm-sized yellow seal flew in, rapidly expanding to the size of a small hill, then quickly smashed down towards the yellow light barrier below.

"Boom!" With a loud bang, the yellow light barrier twisted and deformed, spiritual light flashing wildly, appearing as though it could shatter at any moment.