Chapter 3532: Mahāyāna Strikes

Besides Xuantian Treasures, the Mie clan is skilled in insect and beast control techniques, and their guardian spirit beast is said to be an eighth-tier spirit beast.

"Don't worry, I brought a Qiankun Spirit-Breaking Talisman. If necessary, I can use it to weaken the Mie clan's protective formation," Ye Xuanfeng said confidently. The Qiankun Spirit-Breaking Talisman is an eighth-tier talisman unique to the Ye family. It can weaken the power of eighth-tier formations. It is a single-use item and difficult to craft.

With six Mahayana cultivators infiltrating the Tianming Mountain Range—three of whom have just begun to master their spiritual domains, and one of whom has achieved minor mastery—along with Xuantian Treasures and the Qiankun Spirit-Breaking Talisman, there should be no major issues.

"Judging by the time, those juniors should be making their move soon; they should be able to attract the attention of the Mie clan's high-ranking members. It would be great if they could divert one or two Mahayana cultivators," Yun Yan said in a deep voice. Integration and Void Refinement cultivators are just cannon fodder; it would be best if they could draw away one or two Mahayana cultivators, but it's not a problem if they can't.

Ye Xuanfeng nodded and said, "All we have to do now is wait."

The young woman in the golden skirt listened to their conversation, seemingly oblivious. She had already been controlled by Shi Yan using a Puppet Spirit Pill. The Puppet Spirit Pill is a seventh-tier elixir that turns the user into a puppet for one month. It is undetectable by treasures and far more potent than a Seven-Star Spirit Control Talisman. The heritage of major clans is naturally incomparable to that of minor forces.

In the southwestern corner of the Tianming Mountain Range, there was a secluded manor. It featured vines, green bamboo, rockeries, and gardens. Two men and one woman sat in a blue stone pavilion, discussing something.

"Judging by the time, they have likely already reached Tianming Continent. Shi Pan's presence in the Tianyuan Realm was merely a ruse to lull us into a false sense of security. It's understandable that minor forces couldn't pass through, but with the long heritage of the Stone Cocoon clan and the Ye family, they must possess other spatial nodes leading to the Biyun Realm. Perhaps their landing point isn't on Tianmie Continent, but somewhere else," analyzed a slender old man in a blue robe, wearing a blue spirit beast bracelet on his right hand. This was Chi Feng, an early Mahayana cultivator.

"It's hard to say. Perhaps they are already on Tianmie Continent, or even in the Tianmie Mountain Range. In any case, we have already relocated most of our clan members, so even if they do manage to break in, we won't fear them. If they dare to come, we'll make sure they regret it," a stunning young woman in a white dress said coldly, her face filled with killing intent. This was Leng Mei, a mid-Mahayana cultivator.

The Mie clan's Grand Elder was a late Mahayana cultivator, but he died during the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Currently, the highest cultivation level within the clan is mid-Mahayana.

"Madam Bai has already opened one Aperture, and her magical power already surpasses that of ordinary late Mahayana cultivators. Furthermore, she has consumed the True Toad Elixir, a unique secret medicine of the Medicine clan, allowing her divine sense to rival late Mahayana cultivators. With her spiritual domain also at minor mastery, even ordinary late Mahayana cultivators might not be Madam Bai's match," a pot-bellied old man in a red robe said with a chuckle. This was Zha Shuo, a mid-Mahayana cultivator.

"If Fellow Daoist Chi hadn't died during the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, our Mie clan would be even stronger. Fellow Daoist Chi had also opened one Aperture," Leng Mei said with a regretful tone.

The Mie clan possesses a secret technique for opening Apertures, allowing for two Apertures to be opened. In the past 200,000 years, only one clan member has managed to open two Apertures. Most clan members are fortunate to open even one, mainly because the materials needed for opening Apertures are hard to find.

"Unfortunately, we can't contact our clan members in the immortal realm, so we haven't been able to pass down higher-tier Aperture-opening secret techniques. I heard from Fellow Daoist Xun that even their Medicine clan's True Immortals in the immortal realm have only opened three Apertures, which is far more powerful than ordinary True Immortals," Chi Feng said, his face filled with envy.

Aperture-opening secret techniques vary. Just like high-tier elixir recipes, elixirs with the same effects can be crafted from vastly different materials. Some major forces possess secret Aperture-opening techniques, but the methods for assisting Aperture-opening differ significantly, and the required auxiliary materials are also different.

"Indeed! I heard from Fellow Daoist Cao of the Azurewood Realm that Mahayana cultivators can open a maximum of three Apertures, and True Immortals can open a maximum of five. Aperture-opening secret techniques are very valuable in the immortal realm. Most True Immortals who can open two Apertures are already considered good, opening three Apertures makes one an elite, and five Apertures signifies a top-tier True Immortal. A high-tier Aperture-opening secret technique can cause Immortals to fight fiercely over it," Zha Shuo said, his face filled with envy. Though both were major clans, the Cao family of the Azurewood Realm had strong backing in the immortal realm. The Cao family's Mahayana cultivators had a deeper understanding of Aperture-opening secret techniques and were more aware of the situation in the immortal realm.

"Indeed! Our Mie clan's Supreme Grand Elder managed to open two Apertures, and he had few rivals in nearby realms. Unfortunately, his soul lamp in the lower realm extinguished more than 20,000 years after he ascended to the immortal realm," Chi Feng sighed.

Just as Leng Mei was about to say something, she took out a white, glowing magic disk from her embrace. After imbuing it with a spell, a panicked male voice rang out: "This is terrible, Elder Leng! A group of Integration cultivators suddenly appeared and attacked several of our important strongholds. Our clan members recognized disciples of the Ye family and cultivators from the Stone Cocoon clan."

"Send Integration cultivators to deal with them. Immediately shut down most of the external teleportation arrays. From now on, heighten vigilance: movement out is permitted, but no one is allowed in," Leng Mei commanded.

"Yes, Elder Leng," the man responded. Leng Mei put away the white magic disk, her gaze grim, and said, "They've made their move. They will likely attack the Tianmie Mountain Range very soon. Mahayana cultivators might have already infiltrated."

"Then we shall meet them. I'd like to see how powerful they truly are," Chi Feng said coldly. He had opened one Aperture, and his magical power rivaled that of late Mahayana cultivators.

The Mie clan currently has eleven Mahayana cultivators. Two of them have gone to the Cangyuan Realm, three are traveling abroad, and six are on Tianmie Continent. Additionally, the Mie clan has conscripted five Mahayana cultivators from their subordinate races, making a total of eleven Mahayana cultivators stationed in the Tianmie Mountain Range.

Major clans all have multiple subordinate races from which they can conscript Mahayana cultivators to participate in battle. This is part of the deep heritage of a major clan.

All eleven Mahayana cultivators have their own descendants. The auxiliary materials for opening Apertures collected by their descendants are generally handed over to their own ancestors. It's not that higher cultivation necessarily allows one to open Apertures; it depends on whose descendants can gather the auxiliary materials.

Zha Shuo is a mid-Mahayana cultivator. His descendants have not gathered enough materials, so he cannot open an Aperture yet. However, his spiritual domain has reached initial mastery. Only a few Mahayana cultivators of the Mie clan can open Apertures.

A series of booming explosions echoed. A massive crimson fireball shot into the sky, and alarms blared loudly. "They've indeed made their move," Zha Shuo said, his expression turning cold.

"Inform Fellow Daoist Hao and the others to strike first. We will hold the formation. Be careful and vigilant; Mahayana cultivators might have already infiltrated," Leng Mei suggested.

Zha Shuo took out a glowing red magic disk, infused it with a spell, and made a series of gestures.

A massive golden light barrier enveloped most of the Tianming Mountain Range. The barrier's surface bore patterns of demonic beasts. Wang Qingshan, Shi Pan, Qian Lei, True Monarch Qian Jin, Chen Yueying, and three other Mahayana cultivators all launched attacks against the golden light barrier.

Wang Qingshan had inquired among other Mahayana cultivators. Eighth-tier Heavenly Fei Beasts were still very rare, meaning that the Spirit-Breaking Blade was a very valuable treasure for breaking formations. Using it publicly would certainly attract unnecessary trouble. If necessary, he would still use the Spirit-Breaking Blade.