Chapter 2696: Sparring

In Golden Rainbow Valley, Wang Yuanwei was reporting to Wang Lihe. "The Five Saints Sect's poison techniques are indeed formidable," she began. "Chuanle and others unfortunately perished, but we successfully eliminated the invading enemies, slaying thirty-two Soul Transformation cultivators and destroying the physical bodies of five. We lost five Soul Transformation clan members, and two fifth-tier puppet beasts were rendered useless." Wang Yuanwei reported truthfully.

Wang Lihe showed a look of approval, nodding. "Well done. You've worked hard. When we return to the clan, I will recommend you for commendation."

This stronghold in Golden Rainbow Valley yielded the greatest results. The Five Saints Sect deployed a large number of forces but were unable to recapture it, suffering heavy casualties. As for the other strongholds, they repeatedly changed hands, with casualties on both sides.

As long as the enemies couldn't quickly break through the defenses of Wang Yuanwei and her group, they would eventually fall into illusions.

Some clan members carried complete sets of Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures, while others carried fifth-tier formations, specifically responsible for defense, ensuring Wang Yuanwei and the others had enough time to cast their spells.

The Five Saints Sect's poison techniques were quite potent. Previously, Wang Yuanwei and her group had hunted fifth-tier demon beasts, but they had few life-and-death battles against Soul Transformation cultivators, and even fewer encounters with poison cultivators, so it was inevitable they would suffer some losses.

The Wang family's scripture pavilion contained autobiographies of their predecessors, including combat experience. However, knowledge from books was static; in real life-or-death battles, enemies would be more frantic and unscrupulous. There were many instances where cultivators, upon their physical bodies being destroyed, would self-detonate their nascent souls to perish with the enemy.

After more than half a year of fighting, the Wang family suffered many casualties among their members, but also tempered a group of seasoned cultivators.

Wang family cultivators had all brought puppet beasts, coming well-prepared, which resulted in even greater losses for the enemy.

"This isn't my accomplishment alone; it's everyone's hard work," Wang Yuanwei said modestly.

Just as Wang Lihe was about to speak, Wang Yuanjiang entered and solemnly announced, "Ancestor Lihe, the Five Saints Sect has arrived, led by five Void Refinement cultivators."

"Let's go, we'll meet them," Wang Lihe said, standing up and flying out of Golden Rainbow Valley.

A thousand-zhang-wide purple cloud floated high in the sky. Hundreds of cultivators stood upon it, led by a plump woman in a purple dress.

The woman in the purple dress had picturesque features and an icy expression.

She was Wu Yao, the Enforcement Elder of the Five Saints Sect, a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator.

The Five Saints Sect did have late-stage Void Refinement cultivators, but they were relatively weak after recently undergoing major heavenly tribulations.

Qian Ruyue and Qian Rufeng stood beside Wu Yao, their expressions grim.

The Qian family's fifth-tier ore veins and medium-sized spirit stone mines had all been occupied by the Wang family. Fortunately, their secret realm was preserved. If the Five Saints Sect hadn't intervened, the Qian family would likely have been annihilated.

The Qian family's survival hinged on their Void Refinement cultivators; as long as they were alive, the family had a future.

The Wang family clearly intended to occupy those ore veins and medium-sized spirit stone mines. Wang Chuanfeng's death was merely an excuse, as the Qian family had indeed killed a Wang family disciple, though it was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

If the Qian family were to produce a Mahayana cultivator and wished to settle scores later, that would be acceptable, provided the Qian family actually produced a Mahayana cultivator.

Wang Lihe, Wang Gonghu, Wang Liangyan, and two other Void Refinement cultivators flew out of Golden Rainbow Valley, their expressions solemn.

"I am Wu Yao, the Enforcement Elder of the Five Saints Sect. I am here to negotiate peace with Fellow Daoist Wang on behalf of the Five Saints Sect," Wu Yao stated, neither humble nor arrogant.

"I am Wang Lihe," he responded. "The Qian family killed a member of our Wang family. This debt cannot simply be overlooked."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, it is better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Golden Rainbow Valley can be yours, but strongholds like the Gold-Melting Mountains must be returned to the Qian family," Wu Yao said with a cold expression.

"Let's skip the pleasantries," Wang Lihe proposed. "Let our deeds speak for themselves. Each side will send five Void Refinement cultivators to spar. If we win, seventy percent of the Qian family's territory will be ours. If you win, then so be it, and the war ends here."

"So, if we win, we gain nothing?" Qian Rufeng frowned.

"Does Fellow Daoist Wang take us for three-year-olds? If we win, strongholds like the Gold-Melting Mountains will be returned to the Qian family." Wu Yao haggled, noting that without some benefit, the Wang family would be unwilling to end the conflict.

"Ridiculous!" Wang Lihe scoffed. "These strongholds are in our hands. If you win, we have to hand them over? So, if you lose, you lose nothing, since the territories and strongholds aren't in your possession anyway." Wang Lihe naturally refused; they had paid a considerable price to seize these territories.

Both sides haggled and finally reached an agreement: each would send three Void Refinement cultivators to duel. If the Wang family won, three of the Five Saints Sect's strongholds would be handed over to the Wang family. If the Wang family lost, they would have to surrender strongholds like the Gold-Melting Mountains. Regardless of the outcome, Golden Rainbow Valley would remain the Wang family's, along with most of the Qian family's territory.

The Wang family dispatched Wang Lihe, Wang Gonghu, and Wang Zonglang. The Five Saints Sect sent Wu Yao, Qian Ruyue, and Venerable Blood Toad; both Qian Ruyue and Venerable Blood Toad were early-stage Void Refinement cultivators.

Wang Lihe would face Wu Yao, Qian Ruyue would face Wang Gonghu, and Venerable Blood Toad would face Wang Zonglang.

As the duel began, Wang Lihe flicked his sleeve. A golden, shimmering metallic sphere shot out. He cast a spell, and the sphere glowed with dazzling golden light, transforming into a colossal ape puppet beast over a thousand zhang tall, its entire body radiating golden light.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Gonghu and Wang Zonglang also summoned a sixth-tier puppet beast each.

The expressions of Wu Yao and the other two turned grim. This meant a three-versus-six battle. Was the Wang family so extravagant that even their Void Refinement cultivators possessed sixth-tier puppet beasts?

Sixth-tier puppet beasts were high-level strategic resources; only major forces like Zhenhai Palace and Xuanqing Sect could field a few.

The Five Saints Sect also had a sixth-tier demon beast, but only one, kept as a trump card for the sect, not easily deployed.

For the sake of a medium-sized spirit stone mine, the Wang family had brought out three sixth-tier puppet beasts, indicating they possessed many, perhaps even a seventh-tier puppet beast.

The cultivators of the Five Saints Sect and the Qian family disciples watched the sixth-tier puppet beasts with envy, jealousy, and even hatred.

Wang Lihe activated a spell, and the colossal ape puppet beast strode towards Wu Yao. With every step, the ground shook violently, leaving a deep footprint.

Wang Lihe flicked his sleeve, and four blue-glowing flying swords shot out. With a piercing sword cry, the four blue flying swords burst with light, transforming into four long blue rainbows, heading straight for Wu Yao.

Wu Yao dared not be careless. She summoned a purple shield while releasing an enormous giant scorpion, which had a grotesque human face on its back.

This was a Human-faced Scorpion, extremely venomous, ranked 235th on the Myriad Insect List.

This spirit insect had been passed down from her master; by her generation, it had been cultivated to the sixth-tier.

The Human-faced Scorpion emitted a sharp hiss, lightly flapped its wings, and spewed a stream of black venomous fire directly at the colossal ape puppet beast.

Wu Yao chanted a spell, and her body erupted with dazzling purple light. A massive scorpion phantom appeared high in the sky, spewing toxic mist from its mouth, appearing incredibly ferocious.

Most cultivators of the Five Saints Sect practiced poison techniques, and the Dharma Idols of their Void Refinement cultivators were mostly venomous beasts or insects.

As soon as the giant scorpion phantom appeared, it spewed an extremely foul-smelling purple miasma, confronting the four blue flying swords.