Chapter 2886

Previously, the Sable clan had to defend fifteen strongholds, which dispersed their forces and presented opportunities for the human race. Now, having captured these fifteen strongholds, the human race needs to station troops there, which has become a burden, effectively reversing the roles of offense and defense.

"Spirit stones can be used to set up formations. Since we've finally captured it, we must station troops to guard it."

Guo Yulin strongly agreed. After all their efforts, they were naturally unwilling to give up.

With a seventh-tier formation in place and Integration-stage cultivators stationed there, it would not be easy for the Sable clan to retake the spirit stone mine.

Xie Ying also concurred. That spirit stone mine represented a shared interest for their three families and thus required a garrison. As for the Five-Light Jade and Qianlei Crystal ore veins, those were specific interests of the Wang, Seven Stars, and Liao families.

"Here's a plan: Lady Xie and Fellow Daoist Guo will guard the spirit stone mine; Fairy Lin and Lady Liao will guard the Five-Light Jade ore vein; Fellow Daoist Wang and Lady Wang will guard the Qianlei Crystal ore vein. As for myself, Fairy Leng, and Fellow Daoist Liu, we will guard the Heavenly Ox Mountain Range. Regarding the other strongholds, you may decide. I do not recommend deploying too many people; it's best to abandon them. Once we conquer the Sable clan, everything will be ours."

Fairy Xuanyue stated calmly.

Although she was in charge of this stronghold, the significant interests of other factions were involved, and they would not easily defer to her. After all, their disciples had suffered many casualties to capture this one stronghold; no one would be willing to simply abandon it.

If she possessed the capability to capture the Sable Mountain Range in a single decisive strike, other factions would follow her lead. The issue, however, was that Fairy Xuanyue lacked this ability.

"Let's establish teleportation arrays at each stronghold. This will facilitate reinforcements if masters from the Sable clan attack. Also, Fairy Yang, could we borrow the Spirit-Breaking Mirror from the Divine Weapons Sect to shatter the Sable clan's protective formation, once and for all?"

Xie Ying spoke with eager anticipation. The Divine Weapons Sect possessed a Spirit-Breaking Mirror capable of weakening the power of seventh-tier formations.

Fairy Xuanyue promptly shook her head, stating, "The Spirit-Breaking Mirror is the Divine Weapons Sect's most cherished artifact and will not be lent to us. Nevertheless, our capture of fifteen Sable clan strongholds is a significant accomplishment. To conquer the Sable Mountain Range, we still require reinforcements. I will immediately contact the commanders of other strongholds to ascertain if they can spare one or two fellow Daoists to assist us. Until then, we simply need to hold our positions and not sally forth."

Wang Changsheng and the others had no objections.

Once the discussion concluded, they departed to mobilize their disciples and clansmen, who then hurried to the territories they had seized.

Moon Rhino Valley, one of the human race's eighteen strongholds on the front lines.

True Monarch Qingyuan was the leader here, responsible for commanding the human cultivators at this stronghold against the Bloodfrog clan.

The Bloodfrog clan excelled in poison techniques. When human cultivators engaged them, their artifacts were easily corrupted, significantly reducing their power and putting them at a disadvantage.

Similar to the Sable clan, the Bloodfrog clan had long abandoned most of their territory, adopting a scorched-earth policy and remaining entrenched. They would periodically dispatch forces to raid human-occupied strongholds, aiming to deplete the human race's active forces.

The Bloodfrog clan's stronghold was located in Bloodfrog Ridge. According to intelligence, the Bloodfrog clan possessed at least four Integration-stage cultivators, with an additional Integration-stage cultivator dispatched by the Lizard clan to oversee operations. There were nine outer strongholds forming a protective arc, making them easy to defend and difficult to assault.

Moon Rhino Valley originally housed eight human Integration-stage cultivators. True Monarch Qingyuan organized forces to attack the nine strongholds, but they only managed to capture two, incurring heavy losses.

In that battle, Guming, the Bloodfrog clan's patriarch, personally intervened, deploying their clan's treasured artifact, the Blood-Transforming Bottle, to corrupt the artifacts of several Integration-stage cultivators. He also poisoned and killed an Integration-stage cultivator from the Xuanqing Sect and severely wounded another. In turn, the human race severely wounded one of the Bloodfrog clan's Integration-stage cultivators and destroyed one of their clan's treasured artifacts.

Inside a magnificent golden palace, True Monarch Qingyuan, Bai Ruohan, Li Yuqing, Long Tianheng, Venerable Tianji, and Ximen Sheng – six Integration-stage cultivators – were engaged in a discussion.

"I have already borrowed the Seven Marvelous Treasure Mirror from Fellow Daoist Huang of the Divine Weapons Sect; it specifically counters poison techniques. With that, along with Fellow Daoist Long's Qianlei Demon-Slaying Pagoda and Fellow Daoist Bai's Profound Cold Ruler, we are certain to capture Bloodvine Valley this time."

The Pinnacle of the Green Lotus

Bloodvine Valley was a crucial stronghold for the Bloodfrog clan, garrisoned by Integration-stage cultivators, rendering it formidable to attack and easy to defend.

"Reinforcements haven't arrived yet, and we are understaffed, particularly concerning Void Refinement and Spirit Transformation cultivators. Should we wait a little longer?"

Ximen Xing suggested, noting he had already advanced to the Integration stage.

"We cannot wait any longer. Senior Brother Xu and his team are under immense pressure. Only by swiftly defeating the Bloodfrog clan can we then provide them with support. A slight shortage of Void Refinement and Spirit Transformation cultivators is acceptable; success against the Bloodfrog clan depends on us, not on those juniors. Should we succeed in conquering the Bloodfrog clan, the rewards from our superiors will be substantial, and even artifacts for transcending tribulations will not be an issue."

True Monarch Qingyuan said dismissively. The Senior Brother Xu he mentioned was the leader of the Nine Sons of Xuanqing, a late Integration-stage cultivator tasked with leading the campaign against the Thunderfiend clan, who were highly proficient in lightning techniques and exceptionally troublesome.

The human, Yaksha, and Spiritfire clans were simultaneously attacking the Lizard clan. Success hinged on which faction could be the first to eliminate one of the Lizard clan's vassal races. Each additional vassal race destroyed would inflict a greater blow to the Lizard clan, potentially even triggering the surrender of their other vassal races.

At this stage of the war, whether the Lizard clan's Mahayana cultivator was alive had become less critical. Even if they were still alive, if they could not repel the Mahayana cultivators of the three allied clans, the Lizard clan would face annihilation.

The Lizard clan's territory was vast and rich in cultivation resources, making them incredibly prosperous. This was evident from the strength of their vassal races. The human, Yaksha, and Spiritfire clans all aimed to exterminate the Lizard clan to augment their own power.

Heavenly River Sword Sovereign had already declared that whoever could eliminate one of the Lizard clan's vassal races would receive substantial rewards, including the tribulation-crossing artifacts desperately needed by Integration-stage cultivators.

Bai Ruohan nodded, saying, "Indeed, at crucial junctures, it still falls to us. Let's take action!"

Long Tianheng and the others voiced no objections and agreed to the plan.

Within a secluded courtyard stood a two-story blue pavilion and a blue stone gazebo.

Wang Chuanming sat in the stone gazebo, and a young woman in a golden dress was reporting to him.

The young woman in the golden dress was named Wang Zhongru, a late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator.

They were responsible for gathering intelligence here and sending it back to the family for the elders' consideration.

A sound transmission talisman flew in, landing before them.

Wang Chuanming frowned, seized the sound transmission talisman, and crushed it. A cold, ruthless male voice resonated: "Fellow Daoist Wang, by Senior Li's command, your Wang family cultivators are conscripted to the front lines. Assemble at Moon Rhino Peak immediately. Violators will be severely punished."

"Conscription!"

Wang Chuanming furrowed his brow. They had been on the front lines for many years and had never been conscripted. Why were they suddenly being called upon now?

Whether it was good fortune or misfortune, it was unavoidable. Wang Chuanming pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Come, let's head to Moon Rhino Peak."

He gathered his clansmen and proceeded to Moon Rhino Peak, where he found thousands of cultivators assembled. Many were injured; even wounded cultivators had been summoned, indicating that a major operation was imminent.

True Monarch Qingyuan and the other Integration-stage cultivators briefly outlined the mission, then divided them into multiple teams to proceed separately.

Wang Chuanming and twenty of his clansmen were assigned to a team comprising twelve Void Refinement cultivators and one hundred Spirit Transformation cultivators. Su Qingheng was the team leader, and Long Yunxin, Lin Ziqilin, Lin Zilin, and Liu Chuanting were also members.

Su Qingheng led them out of Moon Rhino Valley to raid the Bloodfrog clan's stronghold.