Chapter 517: Rushing to the Frontline, Six Nations Attack Qin

On the way back, my nephew visited Bailian Sect to see Senior Guang. My second aunt told me that Senior Guang was in seclusion, and Ye Tong was also in seclusion. All major and minor affairs of Bailian Sect are now handled by my second aunt. She informed me that Bailian Sect could provide personnel and supplies, but their rightful share must not be reduced.

Wang Changsheng was not surprised that Senior Guang was in seclusion for cultivation. However, this meant that the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Bailian Sect were now temporarily under Wang Changsheng's command.

Wang Changtai suddenly entered. His gaze swept over everyone present before settling on Wang Changsheng. "Ninth Brother," he said, "Senior Li from Huangsheng Palace has sent someone to invite you to Huangsheng Palace to discuss military deployment."

"Understood. Look after the estate," Wang Changsheng instructed. "My wife, Qingshan, and Qingjun will accompany me."

After giving a few more instructions, Wang Changsheng left Qinglian Villa with Wang Ruyan and the two others, heading directly for Huangsheng Palace.

With his Core Formation Stage Two cultivation, he could reach Huangsheng Palace in less than half a month by flying at full speed.

Inside a magnificent golden palace at Huangsheng Palace, Li Qingshan, Tong Tianqi, Feng Yue, and Sun Junyan, four Core Formation cultivators, were discussing military deployment. Chen Yuhua had also sent them invitations for her Nascent Soul formation ceremony, but none of them had attended, citing seclusion as their reason and sending representatives instead.

"By now, Fellow Daoist Guang and Fellow Daoist Wang should have arrived," Feng Yue said, frowning with a worried expression. "Fellow Daoist Li, where is your senior brother? If he were here, we would feel much more at ease."

Li Haifeng was already at Core Formation Stage Nine and was originally Wei State's representative. Now that Chen Yuhua had advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, they all feared she might act against them. Consequently, they dared not refuse Chen Yuhua's demands entirely, nor could they fully agree to them.

"My senior brother is not present, so I am in charge of the overall situation," Li Qingshan stated. "I can fully represent Huangsheng Palace."

Li Qingshan, of medium build, wore a green daoist robe and carried a green wooden sword on his back, exuding an air of an immortal. During their trip to the ruins of Jinyang Sect, disciples of Huangsheng Palace obtained a batch of thousand-year spirit herbs. Li Haifeng was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage. If he succeeded, the situation would change significantly. Li Qingshan would lead Huangsheng Palace disciples into battle, while another Core Formation cultivator was recalled to guard Huangsheng Palace and protect Li Haifeng during his breakthrough.

A Huangsheng Palace disciple quickly entered and respectfully announced, "Uncle-Master Li, Senior Wang from Qinglian Villa has arrived. He is outside the mountain gate, accompanied by three Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Invite him in quickly," Li Qingshan ordered.

The Huangsheng Palace disciple left to carry out the order, and soon after, a streak of blue light flew into the hall.

Wang Changsheng's gaze swept over the four individuals; then he bowed to them and courteously stated, "I, Wang, greet all fellow daoists." More than a hundred years ago, he was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator and would have addressed them as "seniors." Now, having advanced to Core Formation Stage Two, he could address them as peers.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please make yourself at home and take a seat," Li Qingshan said with a slight smile, gesturing for Wang Changsheng to sit down.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, did your nephew relay Senior Chen of Baihua Sect's words to you?" Sun Junyan asked, narrowing his eyes. "What are your thoughts on the matter?"

"I have heard about it," Wang Changsheng replied. "I have only recently advanced to the Core Formation Stage, so I will defer to your decisions. We are a collective, and we should advance and retreat together." Wang Changsheng refrained from taking a stance on this issue. If he agreed to obey Chen Yuhua's orders and later suffered losses, wouldn't he be blamed? And if he opposed her orders, incurring her displeasure, wouldn't he be pushed forward as a scapegoat? He had no desire to offend anyone or be implicated in such matters. In any case, he had two relatives in Taiyi Immortal Sect, so he didn't believe Chen Yuhua would act without restraint.

"Did Fellow Daoist Guang not accompany you?"

"Fellow Daoist Guang is in seclusion," Wang Changsheng explained. "My second sister is currently in charge of Bailian Sect. She has authorized me to represent Bailian Sect and Qinglian Villa regarding military deployment."

Li Qingshan nodded. "We all agree to deploy troops," he said, "but Wei State and Tang State are old rivals, so we must be vigilant. As for the spoils, it will likely be limited to plundering some resources. We must act opportunistically and ensure we aren't used as pawns without realizing it." Their mindset was peculiar: they had to obey Chen Yuhua's orders, yet they also had to be wary of her.

After discussing for most of the day, they finally reached a preliminary conclusion. The Wang family and Bailian Sect were to send forty Foundation Establishment cultivators and one hundred Qi Refining cultivators, along with various resources. Any gains would be distributed according to the number of troops contributed, naturally, provided they achieved merits. Wei State would dispatch a total of two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators and five hundred Qi Refining cultivators, led by Li Qingshan, with Wang Changsheng, Sun Junyan, and Feng Yue accompanying him. At the same time, security would be heightened to prevent Tang State from luring them away.

Once the discussions concluded, they each returned to their respective homes to mobilize their personnel. The Wang family dispatched eight Foundation Establishment cultivators: Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingjun, Mo Caiyun, Zhao Zheng, Wang Qingqing, Wang Changhao, and Wang Changhuan. Bailian Sect sent thirty-two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Wang Changsheng had no other choice but to send his wife, daughter, and son-in-law to the battlefield to make up the numbers. Wang Changsheng kept them close to protect them, as he couldn't guarantee safety in the rear. Other Foundation Establishment clan members either had insufficient cultivation or were unskilled in combat, such as Wang Qingqi, who had never fought. Even Wang Changhao had to join to fill the ranks. Additionally, some clan members either went into hiding in the mortal world or remained in Qingyue Market, ensuring that the clan would not be wiped out, regardless of what happened to any group of members.

Of course, Wei State's five sects wouldn't deploy large numbers of people to attack the demonic path based solely on a few words from Chen Yuhua. Chen Yuhua had already promised that Baihua Sect would take the lead in attacking the demonic path's strongholds on the border as an example.

By the time Wang Changsheng and the three others, along with hundreds of cultivators, arrived in Chu State, Baihua Sect had already dismantled the demonic cultivators' strongholds on the border, eliminated two Core Formation cultivators, and captured a large number of demonic cultivators. This initial victory significantly boosted morale.

The six states — Chu, Han, Wei, Tang, Beiliang, and Xijin — surrounded and attacked Qin State. With a Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing the operation, Qin State's five sects seemed no match. The great sect of Wu State, Xuanyang Gate, also allied with cultivation forces from five other countries to jointly attack the adjacent demonic sects. The territory controlled by the demonic sects was located precisely between these eleven states, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from two sides.

On a vast plain stood a massive city called Pingmo City, specifically built by the six states for their attack on Qin State. Cultivators from all six states gathered there. To stabilize morale, Chen Yuhua personally presided over Pingmo City.

Each force had its own camp. Qinglian Villa and Bailian Sect's camp consisted of three six-story pavilions. The leader of the Bailian Sect contingent was a female cultivator named Zhao Qian, who was at Foundation Establishment Stage Six.

"Madam, Fellow Daoist Zhao," Wang Changsheng cautioned with a solemn expression, "please keep an eye on the others. Don't let them wander off or cause trouble." Wang Changsheng warned them seriously, explaining that Pingmo City was a melting pot of thousands of cultivators. If they weren't closely supervised, there was no telling what kind of trouble they might get into.

Wang Ruyan and Zhao Qian readily agreed, understanding the gravity of the situation and naturally not daring to be careless.