Chapter 976: Out to War

At the Taiyi Immortal Sect, a vast bluestone plaza featured a towering golden pagoda. Its lower half was buried underground, and its surface was covered with countless mysterious runes, faintly displaying the characters "Taiyi Pagoda."

The pagoda had thirty-six levels, several of which shimmered with spiritual light, seemingly symbolizing something. Chen Haibin stood nearby, his gaze stern.

The Taiyi Pagoda was a significant treasure of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, specifically used to train disciples at or above the Core Formation stage. The thirty-sixth level could manifest five late-stage Nascent Soul demonic beasts.

He stared intently at the twenty-eighth level, which could manifest early-stage Nascent Soul demonic beasts.

For over half a year, he had been responsible for training the disciples of the Thousand Swords lineage, primarily overseeing the sword cultivators at the Core Formation stage.

Inside a vast hall, Wang Qingshan and six Core Formation stage sword cultivators had set up a sword formation, surrounding a black giant tiger over ten zhang long. The tiger had golden eyes and eight wings on its back.

This Eight-Winged Blazing Tiger was a Tier 4 low-grade demonic beast, equivalent to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

The black giant tiger was covered in wounds, and its aura was weak.

Wang Qingshan was at the eighth level of Core Formation, while the others were at the sixth level. Seven shimmering flying swords surrounded the black giant tiger, vaguely forming a Seven-Star Sword Formation.

"Stop wasting time," Wang Qingshan shouted, "unleash your strongest attack!" With a loud shout, he changed his sword art.

Due to Sword Venerable Xiaoyao, Wang Qingshan was able to serve as captain, and the other six Core Formation stage sword cultivators had to obey his commands.

The other six swiftly formed hand seals, causing runes on their seven flying swords to glow brightly. A clear sword hum resonated as densely packed phantom sword images shot out, slashing towards the black giant tiger.

The densely packed phantom sword images gathered together, transforming into a heaven-reaching great sword over a thousand zhang long. With overwhelming force, it fiercely struck the black giant tiger.

The black giant tiger let out an angry roar and spat out a massive black light sphere, which met the heaven-reaching great sword.

The black light sphere was shattered like thin paper by the heaven-reaching great sword. The sword then struck the black giant tiger, cutting it in half. Its body disintegrated into specks of spiritual light and vanished.

Wang Qingshan let out a sigh of relief, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.

"We finally killed this beast," a beautiful blue-robed girl with delicate features praised him with a smile. "Junior Brother Wang, it's all thanks to your excellent command. Otherwise, we might not have been able to slay this demon." Initially, when Wang Qingshan became captain, they were unconvinced. However, Wang Qingshan sparred with each of them, and without exception, they all lost to him, earning their wholehearted admiration.

"Senior Sister Wu, you flatter me," Wang Qingshan humbly replied. "Slaying this demon was a collective effort, not my achievement alone." The blue-robed girl was Wu Yun'er, Chen Haibin's senior disciple. It was unclear whether Chen Haibin had instructed her or if she genuinely admired Wang Qingshan, but in any case, she praised Wang Qingshan whenever she had the chance, openly considering herself his admirer.

Wang Qingshan knew his limitations. In a life-or-death fight, he might not be Wu Yun'er's match. Wu Yun'er had grown up in the Taiyi Immortal Sect, studying sword arts under Chen Haibin since childhood and mastering many spiritual techniques. While he could win against Wu Yun'er in sparring, a life-or-death battle was a different matter.

His greatest advantages were, firstly, his innate magical treasure, the Azure Glass Sword, refined from Glazed Bamboo—one of the ten great spiritual bamboos. Most Core Formation stage sword cultivators in the Taiyi Immortal Sect had innate flying swords inferior to his. Secondly, Wang Qingshan had consumed the True Soul Fruit, giving him divine sense comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator, which most Core Formation stage sword cultivators could not match.

"Be humble as a person, but high-profile in your actions" — this was Sword Venerable Xiaoyao's advice to him.

"Alright, Martial Uncle Chen has been waiting for a while. Let's head out!" Wang Qingshan announced. He took out a green token, infused it with spiritual power, and a large burst of green light flew out, enveloping all seven of them. The green light then carried them into the wall, where they vanished.

Chen Haibin looked at the seven, a look of approval on his face, and said, "Good, Junior Nephew Wang. After all this training, you've finally achieved some results. However, you must remember that you were only dealing with illusory Nascent Soul stage demonic beasts. If you truly encounter a Tier 4 demonic beast, you might not be its match. Do not become arrogant, understand?"

"Yes, we disciples will remember Martial Uncle Chen's (Master's) teachings," the seven replied in unison.

A heavy bell toll resounded, faintly accompanied by a deafening dragon roar.

"All disciples, heed my command! The demon race is invading!" A booming male voice echoed from high above, reverberating through the sky. "Disciples currently training, cease your drills and gather at the Myriad Immortal Platform to await orders. Nascent Soul cultivators, proceed to the Ancestral Hall."

Chen Haibin's expression turned solemn. He instructed, "Demonic invasion? Go back and pack your things, then head to the Myriad Immortal Platform. I will proceed to the Ancestral Hall first." After speaking, he transformed into a streak of light, speeding away and vanishing into the horizon.

The seven, including Wang Qingshan, exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

"Quickly, go back and pack your belongings, then head to the Myriad Immortal Platform as soon as possible!" Wu Yun'er said, her slender eyebrows furrowed. She then conjured a blue sword light and sped away.

Wang Qingshan and the others returned to their respective residences. Within the Taiyi Immortal Sect, streaks of escape light crisscrossed as every cultivator appeared to be in a hurry.

Wang Qingshan lived in a valley filled with a vast expanse of green spiritual bamboo, where a secluded green bamboo building stood.

The Three-Headed Fox was sprawled outside the bamboo building, having already advanced to Tier 3. Seeing Wang Qingshan, the Three-Headed Fox was delighted and pounced into his arms.

Wang Qingshan stroked its head, then took out a green fruit and fed it to the Three-Headed Fox.

He approached a green spiritual bamboo over a hundred zhang tall, its surface covered with numerous runes and emitting a faint spiritual power fluctuation.

Wang Qingshan formed a hand seal, and the green spiritual bamboo shattered. A misty green flying sword shot out; it was translucent, as if crafted from a green spiritual jade.

Feeling the pure wood spiritual energy emanating from the green flying sword, Wang Qingshan's face lit up with joy.

This was the Sword Cultivation Art. With a great battle imminent, Sword Venerable Xiaoyao, against all dissenting opinions, imparted this secret art to Wang Qingshan. He was forbidden from transmitting it to the Wang clan members and, for this, incurred a large amount of contribution points.

The Sword Cultivation Art was a secret technique for nurturing flying swords, involving planting them within spiritual bamboo to slowly enhance their power. This art was suitable for flying swords refined from spiritual bamboo or wood. Since Wang Qingshan's flying sword was refined from Glazed Bamboo, the Sword Cultivation Art greatly benefited his Azure Glass Sword.

The Azure Glass Sword had been cultivated in spiritual bamboo for over ten years, its power significantly enhanced. If it were cultivated for hundreds or even a thousand years, its power would be almost comparable to a Profound Heaven Spirit Treasure.

Wang Qingshan put away the Azure Glass Sword, retrieved the Three-Headed Fox into his spirit beast bead, and flew towards the Myriad Immortal Platform.

A short while later, Wang Qingshan appeared on a vast bluestone platform located on a colossal peak floating in mid-air. This was the Taiyi Immortal Sect's designated place for mobilizing its forces.

Over thirty Core Formation cultivators and hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators had already gathered on the bluestone platform.

Wang Qingshan dutifully took his place among the Core Formation cultivators and waited quietly.

Not long after, several streaks of escape light flew from the horizon and landed in front of the disciples. Sword Venerable Xiaoyao was among them.

"Over a hundred years ago, when the demon race invaded, our human race suffered countless casualties," Sword Venerable Xiaoyao declared. "Now they invade again. How can we tolerate this? All disciples, heed my command! Follow me into battle! Those who retreat in battle, disobey orders, or neglect their duties will be dealt with according to sect rules, without mercy."

Sword Venerable Xiaoyao's tone was filled with a chilling aura of severity.

"Yes, we disciples obey Martial Uncle Ye's (Grandmaster Ye's) command," Wang Qingshan and the others replied in unison. Their voices shook the sky.

Sword Venerable Xiaoyao conjured a misty green flying boat, which expanded a hundredfold and landed in front of the disciples. The immense green boat carried everyone out of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, vanishing into the horizon.