Chapter 2900: Deep Behind Enemy Lines

In the Ox-Horn Mountain Range, Fairy Xuanyue stood at the entrance of a vast estate and sent out a sound transmission talisman. Soon after, the courtyard gate opened, and Wang Chan emerged, bowing respectfully. "Senior Yang, the master invites you in," he said. Wang Chan led Fairy Xuanyue to a quiet courtyard, where Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were seated in a blue stone pavilion. They had come out upon receiving Fairy Xuanyue's sound transmission talisman. Wang Changsheng had already refined the Nether River Water into his Dharma Idol, while Wang Ruyan had only used two boxes of Celestial Sound Sand. Had Fairy Xuanyue not arrived, she would have continued refining her Dharma Idol.

"Fairy Yang, what orders has Senior Lin given?" Wang Changsheng asked."Senior Lin plans to dispatch a group of high-level cultivators to conduct harassment operations deep within the Lizard Race's territory," Fairy Xuanyue relayed truthfully. "Cultivators who participate in this mission will not have to join battles for a hundred years after their return, and those who achieve great merit will even be rewarded with tribulation transcendence treasures."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were somewhat tempted. Infiltrating deep behind enemy lines for harassment offered significant operational flexibility and was much safer compared to the front lines. The prospect of not having to fight for a hundred years was incredibly enticing. It was unknown how much longer this war would last; the Wang family had delayed their participation, incurring minimal losses, while early participating forces had suffered considerable setbacks, with some families or sects already crippled. However, every advantage has a drawback, and operations deep behind enemy lines could easily lead to encirclement by the enemy.

"How many fellow cultivators are participating? Which strongholds are to be attacked?" Wang Ruyan pressed."I'm not aware of the situation at other strongholds," Fairy Xuanyue replied truthfully. "From our stronghold, Fairy Leng and Madam Liao both intend to participate. The cultivators participating in the mission will independently decide which stronghold to attack."

"If we participate in this mission, who will be the leader?" Wang Changsheng continued to ask, as a team naturally needs a leader."If you participate in this mission, you will be the leaders," Fairy Xuanyue advised. "You may select some clan members to join, but not too many. For deep infiltration and harassment behind enemy lines, a smaller number of people allows for greater flexibility."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "No problem, we'll participate in this mission.""Good. For the remaining matters, please contact Fairy Leng and Madam Liao. You have the autonomy to decide which stronghold to attack; you don't need to report back to me," Fairy Xuanyue instructed.After a brief chat, Fairy Xuanyue took her leave.

Wang Ruyan took out her communication disk and contacted her clan members, relaying the message and allowing the Void Refinement cultivators below her to decide whether to participate. Meanwhile, Wang Changsheng contacted Liao Zhongyan and Leng Yue, inviting them over to discuss the battle.

Not long after, Liao Zhongyan and Leng Yue arrived. Wang Changsheng took out a piece of blue beast hide, spread it open, and pointed to a specific location. "According to the intelligence we've gathered, these few locations have vast amounts of cultivation resources stockpiled," he said. "If we can capture one of them, our gains will surely be considerable."

"The defenses of these strongholds are not weak. Each has at least three or more Integration cultivators stationed, along with a seventh-rank formation," Leng Yue said, frowning. "A frontal assault would not take them down quickly, and if enemy reinforcements arrive, we'd be in trouble. I suggest we attack a large spiritual medicine garden instead; it would be less risky.""Large spiritual medicine gardens also have Integration cultivators stationed and seventh-rank formations," Wang Changsheng said with full confidence. "If they can't defend it, the enemy can simply destroy the spirit fruits and herbs, there's no need to give us a bargain. Since I dare to set my sights on these strongholds, I naturally have confidence." With the Five Poisons Soul Extinguishing Fan and the Golden Crow Lamp, ordinary seventh-rank formations wouldn't be able to hold them back for too long. "Either we don't do it, or we do something big."

"I trust Fellow Daoist Wang," Liao Zhongyan stated, showing her support. Since Wang Changsheng was the leader, Leng Yue found it difficult to argue further."Alright then! When shall we gather our forces and depart?" Leng Yue asked."Three days from now, we'll gather here," Wang Changsheng said deeply.Leng Yue agreed, and Liao Zhongyan also had no objections. After chatting for over half an hour, they returned to gather their personnel.

Three days later, over forty cultivators gathered at Wang Changsheng's residence. This expedition comprised four Integration cultivators and forty-four Void Refinement cultivators, including Wang Chuanming, Lan Fukong, Deng Xueyi, Lin Tianfeng, Wang Yingjie, Liu Hongxue, Su Qingyun, Wang Yuanjiang, Wang Zongque, Long Yufey, and Xu Bingbing. Twelve Void Refinement cultivators from the Cold Flame Sect participated, and the Wang family contributed seventeen Void Refinement cultivators: twelve were direct clan members, and five were from affiliated forces. Wang Qingfeng, Duan Tongtian, Wang Mengbin, Dong Xueli, and others were guarding the territories occupied by the Wang family, especially the Qianlei Mine. With Gongsun Yang stationed at that stronghold, there was no need to worry about the Wang family's territory being seized by others.

Wang Changsheng divided the Void Refinement cultivators into four teams, each with eleven cultivators. Xu Bingbing, Wang Yingjie, Liu Yuhan, and Wang Zongque each led a team. Liu Yuhan was Leng Yue's disciple and possessed a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivation."You should all be aware of the mission by now," Wang Changsheng stated in a deep voice. "I have only one requirement: obey orders. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy." Deep infiltration behind enemy lines was a very dangerous mission, requiring everyone to obey orders."Yes, Ancestor," Wang Yingjie and the other Void Refinement cultivators responded in unison. Wang Changsheng waved his hand, summoned the Azure Phoenix Boat, and took them away from the location.

***

Bo Sen, a member of the Lizard Race, had cultivated for over ten thousand years and was currently at the mid-stage of Void Refinement. He and seven other Void Refinement cultivators were stationed in the Xuanguang Mountain Range, an area containing a large Heavenly Moon Ice Crystal mine that had been exploited for over ten thousand years. The Xuanguang Mountain Range was far from the front lines and had always been peaceful. Due to the intensifying war on the front lines, four Void Refinement cultivators had been transferred away, leaving only four stationed there. Despite the war lasting so long, this place had never been attacked.

On this particular day, he was cultivating in his residence as usual. A deafening roar erupted, and the secret chamber he was in shook violently as alarms blared loudly. Bo Sen's expression tightened. He immediately ceased his cultivation and flew out of his residence.

Upon arriving outside, he was astonished to find over twenty Void Refinement cultivators attacking them. A pale white light barrier enveloped them, and dense attacks rained down upon it, causing the white light barrier to shake violently. Wang Yingjie and Wang Zongque were directing the other Void Refinement cultivators to attack the formation. They had been ordered to assault this stronghold, while Wang Chuanming and others were attacking another.

"Bu Yang, teleport to another stronghold and request reinforcements. The rest of you, follow me to meet the enemy," Bo Sen commanded. Several teleportation arrays were built here, allowing for immediate requests for support from other strongholds. Protected by a sixth-rank formation, the human cultivators wouldn't be able to break through it quickly.Wang Yingjie and ten other Wang family cultivators each took out a Qianlei Mirror and infused it with spiritual power. The Qianlei Mirrors flared with blinding golden light, each emitting a thick golden lightning bolt. These bolts converged, forming a massive golden lightning pillar that shot directly towards the formation.