Chapter 214: Lu Aotian

Unable to settle their dispute, the two ultimately decided to launch a joint attack.

Wang Ming, after a moment of strategic hesitation, asked, "Uncle Twenty-one, Changsheng, if we breach the Tang family stronghold, what should we do with the low-ranking Tang family members?"

As a long-established immortal cultivation family, the Tang clan undoubtedly had women, children, and the elderly within its ranks.

Wang Mingjiang spoke with a somber, murderous tone, explaining that feminine compassion would only sow seeds of trouble for the Wang family. He stated that Senior Li had announced the command publicly, making it impossible to seal off the news. Sparing the Tang clan members would create a major disaster once they matured, as vengeance for their clan's destruction could not be easily forgotten. His final word was to show no mercy.

Wang Changsheng expressed his agreement, acknowledging that the Tang clan members would never forget the destruction of their family.

After their discussion concluded, Wang Changsheng released the Blue Lotus Boat and was the first to leap aboard, with Wang Mingjiang and the others following closely.

Before long, the Blue Lotus Boat arrived above Mount Huayang. A vast expanse of dense purple mist obscured the mountain from the mid-slope upwards.

Wang Changsheng initiated the attack. He was the first to act, simultaneously deploying three low-grade second-tier Crow Puppet Beasts and the Vajra Brick.

For safety, Wang Changsheng did not approach Mount Huayang too closely, nor did he descend.

Cultivators from the Shu Kingdom were adept at raising venomous insects and using poisons. Attacking from the ground carried the significant risk of falling into an ambush.

The three Crow Puppet Beasts simultaneously opened their mouths, each spewing dozens of crimson fire blades. These blades instantly vanished into the dense purple mist, like mud dissolving into the ocean, without making a sound.

The Vajra Brick rapidly expanded to the size of a small hill and hurtled downwards.

Just then, several shimmering purple orbs flew out from within the purple mist.

Judging by the spiritual energy fluctuations they emitted, they were clearly magic artifacts.

With several loud bangs, the purple orbs exploded, spraying a large expanse of purple liquid. When the Vajra Brick came into contact with this liquid, it immediately emitted white smoke, its spiritual glow rapidly dimmed, and it swayed in mid-air, appearing to have lost much of its spiritual essence. The areas touched by the purple liquid became pitted and uneven.

More than a dozen strangely shaped magic artifacts flew out from the purple mist and struck the Vajra Brick.

A thunderous crash ensued.

The Vajra Brick, having lost its spiritual essence, was shattered by the more than a dozen artifacts. These artifacts then spun around and sped directly towards Wang Changsheng and his group.

Simultaneously, a clear flute sound resonated, and thousands of black venomous bees flew out from the purple mist, swarming directly towards Wang Changsheng and his party.

Wang Changsheng instantly realized something was wrong, sensing an ambush.

Wang Changsheng's heart sank. The Tang family must have been prepared; otherwise, the Vajra Brick wouldn't have been destroyed so quickly in their initial encounter.

With more than a dozen magic artifacts involved, the opposing side had at least three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Without hesitation, he quickly performed a hand seal, causing the Blue Lotus Boat to glow brightly and fly back the way they came, with the three second-tier puppet beasts covering their retreat.

Because Wang Changsheng reacted swiftly enough, the dozen-plus artifacts missed their target. When they struck the three second-tier puppet beasts, they only left faint white marks.

The purple mist churned, and a purple light shot out from it. The light revealed a purple disk, approximately ten feet in diameter. Two men and one woman stood upon it; their attire clearly indicated they were disciples of the Poison Gu Sect.

The highest-cultivated individual was a black-clad young man with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and slightly dark skin. He possessed a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Layer Six and was Lu Aotian, an elite disciple of the Poison Gu Sect.

The Three Sects of Shu had long anticipated this move from the Wei Kingdom and had reinforced multiple strongholds. The Tang family had a close relationship with the Poison Gu Sect, which had dispatched four Foundation Establishment cultivators in one go. Along with the Tang family's two Foundation Establishment cultivators, this made a total of six. Furthermore, with a high-grade second-tier formation, even ten Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking the Tang family would not be able to conquer it in a short period.

Lu Aotian scoffed, declaring that two mere Foundation Establishment cultivators daring to trespass deserved to be pursued and their heads taken.

Lu Aotian sneered, performed a hand seal, and the purple disk glowed brightly, speeding off in pursuit.

The Poison Gu Sect Master had long ago issued an order: for every head of a Wei Kingdom Foundation Establishment cultivator severed, a substantial amount of contribution points would be awarded. Lu Aotian had guarded the Tang family for several months, and seeing an opportunity to earn merit, he naturally wouldn't let it slip away.

He hadn't flown far when a sharp cry emanated from his pocket. Lu Aotian frowned, pulled out a palm-sized black jade disk, and struck it with a hand seal. An aged male voice warned him, advising against pursuing a desperate foe and to beware of ambushes.

Lu Aotian reassured him, stating that he wouldn't pursue too far and instructing them to guard Mount Huayang well, as he would return soon.

After speaking, Lu Aotian severed the connection and put away the black jade disk.

Lu Aotian muttered disdainfully that the saying, "The older one gets, the more timid one becomes," was absolutely true, implying that just two Foundation Establishment cultivators had scared them witless.

He was currently cultivating at a critical stage and urgently needed large amounts of resources. With an opportunity to earn merit right before him, he naturally wouldn't let it go.

Of course, his daring to pursue them was largely due to the Small Four Symbols Formation Talisman set he carried, which was a high-grade second-tier formation talisman with extremely strong defensive capabilities.

Lu Aotian had only obtained this set of formation talismans by achieving twenty-eighth place in the Poison Gu Sect's inner sect grand competition. Furthermore, he also carried several second-tier attack talismans.

Even if he were to be defeated, he could still retreat safely.

A delicate-faced woman in a blue dress kindly advised, suggesting they be cautious and not pursue too far to avoid falling into an ambush.

Lu Aotian replied that he knew what he was doing and urged them to catch up quickly, not letting them escape.

Lu Aotian performed a hand seal, and the purple disk immediately brightened, accelerating significantly.

At Mount Huayang, two men and one woman were conversing.

A white-haired old man in white robes, Tang Zhixian, the pillar of the Tang family and a Foundation Establishment Layer Six cultivator, spoke with concern. He told Fellow Daoist Li that Lu Aotian had cut off communication and asked him to contact Fellow Daoist Chen and Fellow Daoist Liu to call Lu Aotian back, warning them to beware of ambushes.

A thin middle-aged man shook his head, explaining that he was powerless in the matter. He stated that no one could dissuade Senior Brother Lu once he had made up his mind. He reassured Tang Zhixian, emphasizing Senior Brother Lu's high capabilities. He recounted that Lu had once single-handedly fought three Foundation Establishment cultivators, resulting in two deaths and one injury for the opponents. Furthermore, in the inner sect grand competition ten years prior, Lu had achieved twenty-eighth place. He concluded that with Senior Brother Lu, Senior Brother Chen, and Junior Sister Liu working together, they would be unmatched by even six Foundation Establishment cultivators, provided they weren't caught in a formation.

Hearing this, Tang Zhixian's expression softened, and he found nothing more to say.

Meanwhile, Wang Changsheng noticed Lu Aotian and his two companions pursuing them, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

One Foundation Establishment Layer Six and two Foundation Establishment Layer Three cultivators—three individuals dared to come after them, oblivious to their impending doom.

Lu Aotian patted his spirit beast bag, and two strange cries sounded. Two red centipedes, each approximately ten feet long with a pair of feathered wings on their backs, flew out, pouncing on Wang Changsheng's group from the left and right.

Before the red centipedes even got close, they each spewed out two giant fireballs the size of water vats, hurtling them towards the Blue Lotus Boat.

Wang Changsheng quickly performed a hand seal, and the Blue Lotus Boat glowed brightly, rapidly descending to evade the massive fireballs.

The two giant fireballs collided, erupting in a tremendous explosion, with flames billowing forth.