Chapter 2894: Tasking Personnel

The Heavenly Net Grassland stretched boundlessly. In its center lay a massive city, shimmering with golden light. Above its gate hung a lacquered golden plaque bearing three large silver characters: "Tianluo City."

Inside the city, numerous human cultivators were active, particularly within a resplendent golden palace.

Five Integration-stage cultivators – Lin Tianlong, Layman Feixue, Huang Yilong, Lin Youxin, and Song Yuchan – were gathered. Lin Tianlong sat in the main seat, serving as the person in charge of this outpost. His role was to command the human cultivators here in their fight against the Golden Crow Clan.

The Golden Crow Clan, possessing the bloodline of the Golden Crow, could unleash demonic flames capable of melting metal and calcifying stone. They had prepared several powerful treasures for their assault on the Golden Crow Clan's stronghold. However, cultivators from the Ice Silkworm Clan emerged, catching them off guard. Two Integration-stage cultivators sustained minor injuries, nine Void Refinement-stage cultivators were killed, and a hundred Soul Transformation-stage cultivators died in battle.

"Considering the time, Fellow Daoist Chen and the others should have reached their respective outposts by now. Fellow Daoists from other outposts should also be arriving soon!" Song Yuchan said with a frown, noting that the alliance between the Ice Silkworm Clan and the Golden Crow Clan made their efforts more challenging.

"They're here," Lin Tianlong said, looking towards the palace entrance. Xie Ying and Guo Yulin flew in.

"Lady Xie, Fellow Daoist Guo, it's been a while," Lin Tianlong greeted casually. "How is the situation with the Violet Sable Clan?"

"We have already taken the Violet Sable Mountain Range. The Violet Sable Clan was routed, with five Integration-stage cultivators killed in battle. Unfortunately, Fellow Daoist Fang also perished," Xie Ying reported concisely.

Upon learning that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had slain four Integration-stage cultivators, Lin Tianlong and the others exchanged incredulous glances. Lin Tianlong knew Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were powerful. He wouldn't doubt them if they had killed four early Integration-stage cultivators, but two mid-Integration-stage cultivators had also fallen by their hands.

Layman Feixue's brows furrowed slightly. From a strategic perspective, it was a good thing that the Qinglian Immortal Couple had slain four Integration-stage foreign cultivators. However, from the perspective of individuals and sects, the Qinglian Immortal Couple's formidable strength might affect the Cold Flame Sect's interests overseas in the future.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Lady Wang, what remarkable skill! Facing three enemies with just two of you, you eliminated two powerful foes before reinforcements even arrived. I'd say, even if Fellow Daoist Gongsun had been a moment later, you still would have vanquished the last enemy," Huang Yilong remarked with a smile.

Xie Ying nodded, "Indeed! They are currently recovering from injuries and won't be able to fight again for a short while."

"Lady Xie, Fellow Daoist Guo, you have worked hard. Please settle in first. Our losses have been considerable, and we need some time to recuperate," Lin Tianlong said kindly.

Xie Ying and Guo Yulin nodded in agreement.

***

In a secluded manor in Moon Rhinoceros Valley, Wang Chuanming sat in a blue stone pavilion. A tall, slender young man in a golden robe was reporting to him. Wang Chuanming's face was slightly pale. He had only escaped with the help of a sixth-rank puppet beast and Ai Feng, sustaining minor injuries. He hadn't confronted Su Qingheng or Long Tianheng. In such matters, both sides often had valid points, so he intended to seek revenge for Wang Zhongru and the others in his own way. If Su Qingheng had stayed just a moment longer, Wang Chuanming could have escaped, and Wang Zhongru and the others might not have died in battle.

"Keep our clan members in check. Do not get into conflicts with disciples of the Cold Flame Sect. As the saying goes, 'As long as the green hills are there, there's no need to worry about firewood.' A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. We are no gentlemen; we can wait as long as it takes," Wang Chuanming ordered, his face stern.

"Yes, Hall Master," the golden-robed youth readily replied. He then took out a pale golden Dharma plate, cast a spell, and his face brightened with joy. "Hall Master, the Old Ancestors have arrived at the front lines! They've slain four Integration-stage cultivators and secured some territory!"

"What? Where are the Old Ancestors?" Wang Chuanming asked, overjoyed.

"The Heavenly Ox Mountain Range."

"Let's go. Gather the clan members. We're heading to the Heavenly Ox Mountain Range," Wang Chuanming commanded. With Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan protecting them, they would be much safer and wouldn't have to worry about being betrayed.

He gathered his clan members and led them out of Moon Rhinoceros Valley. Ordinarily, cultivators below the Integration stage required a token to be deployed. Two clan members presented their identification tokens, and upon realizing they were from the Wang family, the guards dared not stop them, allowing them to pass willingly.

Almost simultaneously, news of the Qinglian Immortal Couple slaying four Integration-stage foreign cultivators spread across the front lines. The Qinglian Immortal Couple's reputation soared, and the Wang family's standing rose accordingly. The Wang family, Long family, Zhenhai Palace, and Myriad Spirit Sect automatically formed a community of interest, gaining greater influence.

The human race had suffered significant losses. Troops were mobilized from the rear, and large numbers of cultivators were conscripted to the front lines. A continuous stream of resources was also transported to the front. Following this battle, the human race temporarily halted its attacks, fortified its defenses, and transported the plundered resources to the rear.

Wang family disciples diligently mined metal ores, felled spirit wood, and harvested spirit herbs and fruits. Utilizing the human race's established transportation network, these resources were then shipped to Qinglian Island.

***

On Qinglian Island, within a secluded manor, Wang Yimei, Wang Yimiao, and Wang Yibing were sitting in a blue stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

"I hear the battles on the front lines are fierce, with many cultivators killed or wounded," Wang Yibing said, her face clouded with worry. "The Lizard Clan's territory is vast. It's unlikely we'll reach the Heavenly Lizard Mountain Range anytime soon, and there's no telling how long this war will last." The longer the war dragged on, the greater the losses, and they might even be sent to the battlefield themselves.

"Who cares!" Wang Yimei said dismissively. "If they need more people, they can conscript from allied forces. There's no need to send us to the front line; we've only been in the Void Refinement stage for less than three thousand years."

"That's not how it works. If the fighting gets too intense, we might indeed have to go to battle," Wang Yimiao said gravely.

"When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up," Wang Yimei retorted nonchalantly. "Even if the fighting is fierce, aren't Old Ancestor Qingshan and the others still there? It's not our turn to go to the front lines yet."

Just then, Wang Yibing took out a pale golden Dharma plate from her robe, cast a spell, and her expression immediately turned serious. "The Old Ancestors are calling for twenty Void Refinement-stage cultivators for the front lines, and we've been chosen," Wang Yibing stated gravely.

"What? Sending us to the front lines? Why aren't they conscripting from the allied forces instead?" Wang Yimei frowned, saying. She had experienced little hardship, having reached the Void Refinement stage mainly due to the accumulated merits of her parents. She had no desire to fight foreign races on the front lines, especially given her relatively low cultivation level.

"Allied forces have also been conscripted. This is the family head's order. The Old Ancestors slew four Integration-stage foreign cultivators, and our family has taken control of significant territory, which requires high-level cultivators to garrison," Wang Yibing explained.

Hearing this, Wang Yimei's expression relaxed, and she smiled. "So that's it! Excellent! This is our opportunity!" Garrisoning territory was relatively easier and offered many benefits.

Soon, the Wang family mobilized. Wang Qingcheng led the team, with Wang Qingcheng, Sun Yuejiao, Wang Gonghu, Wang Jiye, Wang Yong'an, Wang Yongqian, Wang Yuanwei, Wang Yuanjiang, Xin Yuyuan, Wang Yi'er, Long Yufei, Wang Yimei, Wang Yimiao, Wang Yibing, Wang Huayue, Wang Liangyan, Tao Hao, Wang Mianmian, Wang Youxin, and Chen Ruyi participating in the battle.

Wang Qingshan was in seclusion, cultivating. Wang Changsheng had specifically instructed that Wang Qingshan's cultivation should not be disturbed, allowing him to focus on reaching the Grand Completion stage of Void Refinement. Wang Yidao was also not required to participate in the fighting, remaining safely on Qinglian Island to cultivate.

The Wang family conscripted ten Void Refinement-stage cultivators and two hundred Soul Transformation-stage cultivators from their allied forces, who were then led by Wang Qingcheng to the front lines. This deployment meant that most of the Wang family's elite forces were dispatched, leaving the rear somewhat vulnerable. However, there were still many masters within the clan: Wang Qingshan, Wang Yidao, Wang Mousen, and Wang Qingxiao, as well as the Sea-Suppressing Ape and the Seven-Colored Sparrow, all of whom were at the sixth rank. Even if powerful enemies attacked, the clan's protective formation could withstand them for a period, allowing the clan members to teleport to the mainland to seek refuge.