Chapter 3529: Great Army Sets Out

More than five hundred years had passed in the blink of an eye.

The Xuanyang Mountain Range, situated in the central region of the Qianling Continent, stretched for hundreds of millions of li and was rich in spiritual energy. It contained eighth-tier spirit veins and a spatial node leading to the Guangyun Realm, where the Stone Cocoon Clan had stationed Mahayana cultivators.

In a manor filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, Shi Pan, Shi Yi, a plump young woman in a purple dress, and a burly old man in a red robe were seated in a stone pavilion, enjoying tea and conversation.

"By my reckoning, they should be here by now!" the young woman in the purple dress remarked.

Yunyan, who was at the Mid-Mahayana stage.

"It's about time! A time-based immortal artifact and Creation Jade Dew – the Ling Clan's fortune is immense. If these were to fall into our Stone Cocoon Clan's hands, we could have even more of our people ascend to the Immortal Realm." The old man in the red robe's eyes gleamed with fervor.

Shi Yan, a Mid-Mahayana cultivator and an eighth-tier alchemist.

Ye Xuanfeng had already revealed to them that the Ling Clan possessed the Qiankun Bottle, a low-grade immortal artifact imbued with the law of time. This explained how they had managed to cultivate seven Mahayana cultivators, master alchemists, and Profound Heaven Treasures within just ten millennia. The Ye family had initially intended to keep this a secret, but the high-ranking members of the Stone Cocoon Clan were not easily fooled. After persistent interrogation, Ye Xuanfeng had no choice but to confess. The Medicine Clan had allied with multiple major powers, and the Ye family wouldn't be able to contend with them without the Stone Cocoon Clan's assistance.

This matter couldn't be kept secret for long. Even if the Ye family remained silent, the Medicine Clan or the Ling Clan might not keep it confidential. Especially the Ling Clan, as only a small number of their members had escaped, and they would undoubtedly disseminate the information.

"The Qiankun Bottle is simply too problematic," Shi Pan stated gravely. "If we actually obtain it, other major clans won't leave us alone. It would be good enough to acquire just some Creation Jade Dew."

According to Ye Xuanfeng, Creation Jade Dew could accelerate the maturation of spirit herbs and also be used to cultivate Profound Heaven Treasures. Profound Heaven-grade items, upon absorbing large quantities of Creation Jade Dew, could even transform into genuine Profound Heaven Treasures. The Qiankun Bottle's capabilities were truly heaven-defying; even if the Stone Cocoon Clan were to obtain it, other major powers would undoubtedly cast covetous eyes upon it. Whoever possessed the Qiankun Bottle could cultivate several more Profound Heaven Treasures, along with high-grade spirit wood, rare spirit herbs, and powerful eighth-tier spirit beasts.

It was fortunate they discovered it early. If the Ling Clan were to produce late-Mahayana cultivators and acquire a few more Profound Heaven Treasures, even the Medicine Clan's Mahayana cultivators wouldn't be able to match them.

"You can't say that," Yunyan countered. "As long as the information doesn't leak, there won't be a problem. However, with so many forces eyeing it, acquiring the Qiankun Bottle won't be easy."

Just as Shi Pan was about to speak, he looked up at the sky and announced, "They've arrived."

A white light appeared on the distant horizon. Not long after, it halted directly above the manor, revealing itself to be a massive white ship, hundreds of zhang long, with the words "Beihan" emblazoned on its sails.

Wang Qingshan, Ye Xuanfeng, True Monarch Qian Jin, Chen Yueying, Xuan Qingzi, and Sword Venerable Tianhe stood on the deck, their expressions solemn. The Beihan was a newly refined spirit treasure ship of the Ye family, far superior to the Xuanqing. While traveling in the Qianling Continent, Sword Venerable Tianhe encountered the Beihan. Upon learning the full story of the situation, he boarded the ship to join the battle. Ye Xuanfeng informed Wang Qingshan and the other five that the Ling Clan had acquired a low-grade immortal artifact, the Qiankun Bottle, which had subsequently been seized by the Medicine Clan. This matter, he emphasized, could no longer be kept secret.

As the Beihan passed through Qinglin Valley, a group of human cultivators, including Wang Chuanming, Wang Zongyun, Wang Jizha, Wang Mengshan, Granny Tianxue, and Liu Yao, boarded the ship to participate in the battle. Both Wang Chuanming and Murong Yushuang were at the late Integration stage, while Wang Mengshan, Granny Tianxue, and Liu Yao were all at the mid Integration stage. If Wang Chuanming hadn't obtained the Xian Yuan Fruit in the Immortal Realm fragment, he wouldn't have been able to catch up and surpass others. This highlights the crucial importance of fortuitous encounters. While the impending great war was indeed perilous, it also presented a significant opportunity. Success hinged on whether they could seize it.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, you've finally arrived," Shi Pan said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, are you ready?" Ye Xuanfeng asked.

"We are ready," Shi Pan replied. "Eight Mahayana cultivators, three hundred Integration cultivators, and ten thousand Void Refinement cultivators." Shi Pan's voice was strong and resonant, his face beaming with pride. The Stone Cocoon Clan currently possessed thirteen Mahayana cultivators, though they publicly claimed only eleven. The Stone Cocoon Clan dispatched four of their own Mahayana cultivators and drew four more from their affiliated races. Additionally, three hundred Integration cultivators and ten thousand Void Refinement cultivators, mostly from these allied races, were assembled. This demonstrated the true depth of a major clan's foundation. To put it bluntly, even if this entire force were annihilated, the Stone Cocoon Clan could still deploy more experts. Unless they were crippled in one decisive blow, given sufficient time, the Stone Cocoon Clan would undoubtedly recover its strength.

"That's good," Ye Xuanfeng urged. "Gather them, and let's depart as soon as possible! Any prolonged delay would only benefit the Medicine Clan."

Shi Pan nodded, then took out a yellow-glowing spell plate. He infused it with a magic art and instructed, "Shi Yin, notify Fellow Daoist Zhong and the others to gather quickly at the square in front of the Xuanyang Hall."

"Yes, Elder Shi," came a respectful male voice from the yellow spell plate.

Ye Xuanfeng and the other five flew down from the Beihan, landing in the manor, and began to chat idly.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, your divine sense cultivation is quite remarkable; it's almost catching up to mine," Yunyan said with a smile, her gaze resting on Wang Qingshan.

At her words, all the Mahayana cultivators present showed some surprise and turned their gazes towards Wang Qingshan.

"Madam Yun, you flatter me," Wang Qingshan humbly replied. "My divine sense is indeed somewhat stronger than that of cultivators in the early Mahayana stage, but it's still far from comparable to yours." Wang Qingshan spoke humbly, though inwardly, he was astonished that Yunyan could discern the strength of his divine sense. Yunyan simply smiled, saying nothing. She was a spirit body cultivator, though her specific type was rather marginal. Her innate divine ability allowed her to perceive the strength of other living beings' divine senses.

In less than half an hour, they left the manor and arrived at a vast bluestone plaza. On the plaza stood a golden palace over ten zhang tall, its plaque bearing the words "Xuanyang." More than ten thousand cultivators were already standing in neat formation.

Shi Pan flicked his sleeve, and a yellow light shot out, revealing a yellow-glowing dragon boat. The words "Stone Cocoon" were written on its sails. The boat featured a 108-story tall yellow pavilion, easily capable of accommodating fifty thousand cultivators. The Stone Cocoon was a cross-realm treasure ship, a realm-breaking artifact even more advanced than a realm-breaking disk.

After Wang Qingshan and the others boarded, Yunyan formed a hand seal. The Stone Cocoon lit up with dazzling yellow light, and its dragon head spat out a thick yellow beam that struck a section of the void. The void vibrated and warped, revealing a massive black hole. The yellow dragon boat's spiritual light surged as it flew into the black hole, which then sealed itself.

In the Canghai Realm, on Canghai Island.

Liu Hongxue and Bai Yuqi stood atop a high peak, their expressions solemn as they gazed at the distant thunderclouds. Wang Yingjie was attempting to break through to the Mahayana stage, having already overcome his inner demon trial. A deafening roar of thunder echoed, as thick silver lightning bolts descended one after another.

After more than half a quarter-hour, the thunderclouds violently churned, giving rise to arcs of seven distinct colors.

"Seven-Colored Divine Lightning!"

Both Liu Hongxue and Bai Yuqi simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Yingjie stood within a silver light barrier, his face pale, holding a silver formation disk. Several fine cracks marred the disk's surface.