Chapter 2870: Army Preparation and War Readiness

“Madam Qin,” Wang Changsheng began, “I have been working on this matter for several centuries, expending significant manpower and resources. I nearly died at Chen Le’s hands. True Monarch Ice Toad, the guest elder of the Liao family, was one of the moles.”

Wang Changsheng frowned. He thought, 'Seriously, after all these years of hard work, they're just dismissing me so easily, not even willing to reward me with a single treasure.'

Chen Le was also responsible for contacting over a dozen moles, maintaining a single-line connection with them. Most of these moles were in the Void Refinement stage, with no Integration stage cultivators among them. They were hidden within various human forces. The intelligence provided by Wang Changsheng could expose these moles; otherwise, there’s no telling how much damage they might have caused.

If a war of extermination were to break out, the Wang family would not be able to stay out of it. They would certainly have to participate; their participation was merely delayed, and they would eventually have to go to the front lines.

“You’ve only proven that the Lizard race is extensively collecting the souls of Five-Yin Maidens; you haven’t fully uncovered their true objective,” Qin Yufeng said, her expression solemn. “However, your contribution is indeed significant. So, how about this: in addition to delaying your participation in the war, I’ll reward you with a mid-grade Spirit Treasure. Are you satisfied now?”

The Wang family was not an affiliated cultivation family of the Profound Azure Sect. Wang Changsheng had indeed not fully grasped the Lizard race’s true intentions; he had merely exposed one of their plots and, in the process, uncovered more than a dozen Void Refinement stage moles. This achievement was not considered exceptionally great. The reward of a mid-grade Spirit Treasure was given primarily because Wang Changsheng had handed over Chen Le’s Nascent Soul.

“Could I perhaps exchange it for a seventh-tier Wood Demon core? Or Dharma Idol materials?” Wang Changsheng asked courteously. He wasn’t lacking in ordinary mid-grade Spirit Treasures. As for special artifact refining materials, he doubted Qin Yufeng would give them to him, so it was better to exchange for something more useful.

Qin Yufeng nodded. “I’ll give you twenty portions of Dharma Idol materials then! We don’t have any extremely rare Dharma Idol materials, though.”

Wang Changsheng wanted to haggle further, but seeing Qin Yufeng’s stern face, he understood that this was her final concession.

“Alright then!” Wang Changsheng named the twenty portions of Dharma Idol materials. Qin Yufeng dispatched someone to the sect’s treasure vault to retrieve them and hand them over to Wang Changsheng.

Qin Yufeng gave a few more instructions, then dismissed Wang Changsheng, keeping Chen Le’s Nascent Soul. She called Sun Feng in and instructed, “You don’t need to go to the Wang family anymore. For now, there’s no need to conscript personnel from them.”

“Why?” Sun Feng was slightly taken aback, his face full of confusion.

“True Monarch Taihao discovered a Lizard race conspiracy and uncovered many moles,” Qin Yufeng explained. “Here’s the list. Take people to apprehend them. Remember, try to capture them alive if possible to see if they hold any important intelligence.”

Qin Yufeng took out a green jade slip, handed it to Sun Feng, and instructed him. Sun Feng acknowledged, accepted the order, and departed.

***

In the Yuxi Mountain Range, at an inland branch of the Zhenhai Palace, Chen Yueying, Xiao Wentian, Zhao Yunxiao, and Qin Tianxue were seated in a green stone pavilion in a secluded courtyard, enjoying tea and chatting.

“I’m preparing to enter seclusion for life-or-death cultivation to break through to the Mahayana stage,” Chen Yueying stated in a deep, solemn voice. “Don’t let anyone disturb me.”

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister Chen,” Xiao Wentian said with confidence. “With me here, there won’t be any problems.”

“We will continue to gather materials, collecting as many as possible to aid Master,” Zhao Yunxiao said solemnly.

Chen Yueying nodded, gave a few more instructions, then rose and walked into a secret chamber to begin her seclusion for the Mahayana breakthrough.

***

On Blue Lotus Island, in the Assembly Hall, Wang Moshan sat on the main seat, his expression solemn. Over a hundred elders were seated on either side, their faces grave. Multiple factions had received conscription orders, commanded to head to the front lines and battle the Lizard race. It was only a matter of time before the Wang family also received such an order.

Over the years, the Wang family had been accumulating strength and stockpiling strategic resources such as talismans, puppet beasts, and elixirs. Their storerooms were piled high with these materials.

“Pass down the order: strengthen vigilance,” Wang Moshan instructed. “Assign more personnel to various markets in the interior to transport supplies. A large quantity of materials must be brought back.” With a race war breaking out, the Wang family could not remain uninvolved. By preparing more resources, they hoped to reduce casualties among their clansmen.

“Yes, family head,” the elders agreed.

“Will the Old Ancestor also be participating in this war?” an elder asked.

Wang Moshan was about to reply when a loud male voice rang out: “For now, there’s no need to participate in the war.”

As soon as the voice faded, Wang Changsheng walked in, his expression solemn. Wang Moshan and the others all stood up, saying in unison, “Greetings, Old Ancestor.”

Wang Moshan yielded his seat, inviting Wang Changsheng to sit.

“Our Wang family doesn’t need to participate in the war for now, so you don’t need to worry,” Wang Changsheng said, his expression solemn. “However, we will eventually be on the front lines. Collect more resources, and have more clansmen challenge the Li Fire Demon Refining Tower to improve their combat experience.”

“What? No need to participate for now?”

“Isn’t a race war breaking out? Why don’t we need to participate?”

“The Old Ancestor certainly wouldn’t lie to us. It’s great that we don’t have to fight for now.”

The clansmen discussed animatedly, their faces showing joy.

“Don’t rejoice too soon; this is only temporary,” Wang Changsheng exhorted. “Perhaps in a few decades, we’ll have to join the war. In any case, cultivate diligently and improve your strength as much as possible.” The war was unavoidable, and after this conflict ended, it was unknown how many clansmen would perish. Being adequately prepared would reduce casualties.

“Yes, Old Ancestor,” the elders agreed.

Wang Changsheng gave a few more instructions, handed the twenty portions of Dharma Idol materials to Wang Moshan, then left the assembly hall and returned to Blue Lotus Peak.

In the short term, Wang Changsheng’s cultivation could not advance further. Thus, to improve his strength, he either needed to condense a Dharma Idol or refine treasures. He no longer had River Styx Water, so he could only refine a few more treasures.

Wang Changsheng released his mirage dragon and wood demons, allowing them to move freely. Entering a secret chamber, Wang Changsheng took out the Azure Lotus Spirit Refining Cauldron and his artifact refining materials, then began refining.

***

In the Ice Flame Mountain Range, at the Cold Flame Sect headquarters, Deng Tianqi and Deng Xueyi sat in a white stone pavilion within a sprawling estate with green bricks and white tiles, their expressions solemn.

“What? A race war has broken out, and you’re going to the front lines?” Deng Tianqi asked with some surprise.

“Yes, the sect has dispatched many experts,” Deng Xueyi said solemnly, her face showing a look of longing. “This is a great opportunity to achieve merits and make a name for myself.”

“Great-grandfather, will you participate in the war?” Deng Xueyi asked. “This race war is on a massive scale; it could very well be a war of extermination.”

Deng Tianqi was somewhat moved. He had been cultivating diligently for years, but with little effect, remaining in the early Void Refinement stage.

“Will the Wang family also participate?” Deng Tianqi asked, his gaze dark. The Wang family now had two Integration stage cultivators, and he wanted to avoid them at all costs.

“They probably will!” Deng Xueyi said. “But our Cold Flame Sect is developing well now, so I doubt the Wang family would openly target you, Great-grandfather.” Deng Xueyi nodded. Deng Tianqi had always instilled in her that the Wang family was responsible for annihilating the Deng family, so she despised the Wang family from the bottom of her heart.

“Alright!” Deng Tianqi said solemnly. “I’ll go with you then! I hope I can achieve some merits.” If he wanted to advance further, relying solely on arduous cultivation wouldn’t suffice. Apart from anything else, he needed to participate in the war to prepare for his next great Heavenly Tribulation.

Many major human forces had received conscription orders and dispatched personnel to the front lines for battle.