Chapter 190: Song Nation Defeated

That night, at midnight, when all was quiet.

Seven streaks of light flew out from the golden pagoda and headed towards Xianyuan City.

This sight was immediately noticed by the cultivators on duty in Xianyuan City, who then sounded the alarm.

Chen Hongtian immediately flew out of Xianyuan City, his expression grim. "Fellow cultivators, what is the meaning of this? Are you planning a night raid?"

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you now have two choices before you: either withdraw from Song Country, or we fight to the death."

Li Haifeng and the others had already decided that if Chen Hongtian and his group resisted to the end, they would have no choice but to kill them. Prolonging the war was disadvantageous for them; they needed a swift victory.

Relying on Xianyuan City's city-protecting formation, even with seven Core Formation cultivators attacking and five Core Formation cultivators defending using the formation, it could not be breached quickly. However, with Zhao Ningxiang's intelligence and the Sky Star Sect's formation-breaking talismans, the chances of breaking the formation greatly increased.

This move by Wei and Shu caught Chen Hongtian off guard. He had originally thought that by relying on the city-protecting formation, he could stall until Chu Country's reinforcements arrived, but Li Haifeng and the others had clearly lost patience.

It was five against seven, and Li Haifeng possessed a cultivation of Core Formation Level Nine. If a real fight ensued, Song Country had little chance of winning.

At this moment, Wang Huashan and the other four also arrived on the city wall, their faces filled with vigilance.

Chen Hongtian frowned and asked, "Fight to the death? How would we fight to the death?"

"One-on-one, a best of five matches. Winning three matches means victory. If we win, you withdraw from Song Country, and we will allow you to take the Level Three spirit veins. If we lose, you cede four prefectures to us, and we will immediately withdraw our troops."

Wei and Shu did not dare to completely annihilate Song Country's Four Sects. Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone cultivators.

"Hmph, if you play tricks and deceive us into leaving Xianyuan City, and then swarm us, wouldn't we be at a disadvantage? Who knows if there are other Core Formation cultivators nearby?"

Li Shixian sneered, recalling how Li Haifeng had suddenly ambushed them last time, killing Li Yang, which led to Ziyue Market being captured by Wei Country's Five Sects.

"Exactly," someone added, "whether we win or lose, you gain an advantage. How can there be such a good deal?"

Li Haifeng's eyes turned cold, and he said frostily, "Then there's nothing more to discuss. Let's make our move."

He summoned a golden giant sword, which transformed into a golden rainbow several zhang long, and slashed towards Xianyuan City.

Guang Dongren and the others also summoned their magic treasures one after another, attacking Xianyuan City.

Chen Hongtian reacted quickly, retreating back into Xianyuan City and summoning his magic treasure to resist.

"Chu Country's reinforcements will be here soon, everyone hold on," he urged. "With the Level Four formation protecting us, they won't be able to breach Xianyuan City in a short time."

Wang Huashan and the other four deeply agreed. Five Core Formation cultivators, relying on a Level Four formation to resist seven Core Formation cultivators, would certainly be fine.

For a time, various magic treasures collided, spirit light glittered, and explosions echoed continuously. Hearing the explosions, Wang Mingzhong and others rushed out of their dwellings. Seeing the magic treasures clashing above Xianyuan City, their faces all showed expressions of worry.

If the city fell, the fate of these low-level cultivators would be the direst.

The seven attackers dispersed, with Feng Yue staying with Li Haifeng.

Under Li Haifeng's cover, Feng Yue summoned a Level Four formation-breaking talisman, which transformed into a flash of golden light that swiftly struck a certain point on the formation. A gap of about a zhang appeared on the surface of the city-protecting formation.

"Attack!"

Li Haifeng and the seven either summoned their magic treasures or used spiritual techniques to attack the gap.

This point was the formation's weakest spot. With seven Core Formation cultivators attacking together, Chen Hongtian and the other five were caught off guard.

With an earth-shattering roar, the city-protecting formation shattered. Li Haifeng and the seven attackers controlled their magic treasures and encircled Chen Hongtian.

As soon as the formation broke, the formation disks in the hands of Chen Hongtian and the other five also shattered. They immediately lost their will to fight.

"Fellow Daoist Li, wait!" Chen Hongtian called out. "We are willing to negotiate for peace and cede four prefectures to you."

Without the formation's protection, they were no match at all. While they could certainly escape, most of their elites had been captured in the battle of Ziyue Market. If the cultivators in Xianyuan City were also captured, they would no longer be able to muster any strength to resist the cultivators from Wei and Shu.

Li Haifeng sneered, "That was just moments ago. Kill them!"

As long as one or two Core Formation cultivators were killed and the cultivators in Xianyuan City were captured, Song Country's Four Sects would have almost completely lost their ability to resist.

Seeing that the situation was dire, Wang Huashan immediately fled with extreme speed.

As soon as Wang Huashan fled, Chen Hongtian and the other four also lost their will to resist. Each fled for their lives. Li Haifeng and the others clearly intended to kill them, so they naturally refused to be captured without a fight. With Core Formation cultivators intent on fleeing for their lives, Li Haifeng and the others did not pursue them.

He summoned a large golden bell, which spewed out a vast expanse of golden mist, covering the entire Xianyuan City.

"Those who surrender will not be killed," Li Haifeng proclaimed. "Those who resist will be annihilated."

Li Haifeng shouted loudly. With this batch of captives, in addition to the previous one, they would have the best bargaining chips. Song Country's Four Sects would have no choice but to yield. If they continued to resist, a batch of captives would be executed as a warning.

Most of the cultivators in Xianyuan City did not have time to escape. Only a small number managed to crush Level Two escape talismans and flee when the city fell.

Soon, news of the Four Sects' defeat quickly spread throughout Song Country.

For a time, panic spread. Some fled the Four Sects of Song Country, some engaged in burning, killing, and plundering, while others sought refuge. The cultivation world of Song Country descended into chaos.

Half a month later, an even more terrifying piece of news arrived: Qingyang Sect's mountain gate had been breached, and its disciples were either killed or wounded, with some fleeing and others hiding.

After Qingyang Sect was annihilated, Song Country's three remaining sects no longer had any will to resist. They sent envoys to negotiate with Li Haifeng and the others. Li Haifeng used over two thousand captives to force the three sects to withdraw from Song Country.

After some bargaining, Song Country's three sects withdrew from Song Country. They were allowed to take the Level Three spirit veins they had cultivated for many years, and besides their disciples, they could also take a small number of closely affiliated cultivation families. However, all of Song Country's spirit stone mines, metal mines, and spirit herb gardens would belong to Wei and Shu.

Great Song had nine prefectures. Shu Country took three, and the remaining six belonged to Wei Country.

Wei Country originally had eight prefectures. Now, with six more, it had fourteen. They sent people to post notices everywhere, informing of the Four Sects of Song Country's defeat, persuading local cultivators to stay put, sending people to maintain order, and encircling and suppressing rogue cultivators who engaged in burning, killing, and plundering.

From then on, there would be no Song Country, only Wei Country.

Ning Prefecture was located in a remote area. More than three months later, several disciples from the Hundred Spirits Sect arrived at Qinglian Mountain. Only then did Wang Changsheng and the others learn the news.

Wang Changsheng still couldn't believe it. Only a few months had passed, yet the situation had changed so drastically. He somewhat doubted the veracity of the news.

If Song Country had not been defeated, stepping forward at this time to champion the Hundred Spirits Sect would surely bring misfortune.

Fortunately, at this moment, Zhao Ningxiang arrived at his door. She personally told him the news of Song Country cultivators' defeat, and only then did Wang Changsheng believe it.

"Cousin Changsheng," Zhao Ningxiang proposed, "this is our opportunity. Our Zhao and Wang families should work together to retain the local cultivation families and incidentally annex other small families. What do you think?"

Zhao Ningxiang suggested, her tone calm.