Chapter 420: Intercepting the Sword Sect Support Team

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Approximately three days ago, Wang Yu's team, originally en route to reinforce Black Mountain Pass, changed direction midway. According to the Savage Devil Lord, this change was mandated by Patriarch Evil Soul, who instructed them to intercept and eliminate the support team dispatched by the Empty Heavens Sword Sect.

The exact details were not entirely clear. It was only known that at Black Mountain Pass, after several years of attrition, both sides had suffered severe casualties among their mid-to-lower-level forces, particularly the cultivators from Taihu stationed there. Most of them had been ground down and killed by magic treasures like soul banners. Cutting off this support team would significantly accelerate the fall of Black Mountain Pass. As executors of the command, they didn't need a precise understanding of the broader situation; their only role was to act as a sharp spearhead.

After half a day of rapid travel northward, Wang Yu and his companions entered the Dead Leaf Marsh north of Black Mountain Pass. He recalled traversing this very place alone when he first established his foundation. At that time, the war between the righteous and demonic factions had not yet begun, and according to ancient texts, there were still several safe routes through Dead Leaf Marsh. Now, with the war reignited, after so many years of confrontation and intense fighting, it was certain that many more formations, restrictions, and traps had been laid, with full preparations made. Moreover, neither side could manage real-time map updates. For Core Formation cultivators, this was also a perilous place, but for Nascent Soul cultivators, it was hardly worth mentioning.

"Leave it to me."

Their team was small in number but high in cultivation, making it easy to command and very suitable for stealthy infiltration and flanking maneuvers. Wang Yu, who usually operated at a higher level, found himself somewhat unaccustomed to and intrigued by engaging in standard tactical offensives in a localized battlefield. It was like transitioning from a third-person observer's perspective to a nail, deeply embedded in the battlefield.

In a corner of Dead Leaf Marsh, the Underworld Tiger Devil Lord let out a soft cry, and countless ghostly mists surged from his body. The black smoke transformed into palm-sized, red-eyed crows, which flew into the marsh's dense forest. These were his second Yin Beasts: the Underworld Blood Crows! They possessed a natural divine ability to split into sub-bodies, primarily serving an auxiliary role. This made them ideal for reconnaissance in large secret realms, ruins, or during wars. Their blood-red eyes also had the ability to perceive spiritual energy anomalies, break illusions, and see through falsehoods, making them highly practical. As an auxiliary means, they were top-notch.

"Follow me, and do not touch the ground."

The group then flew at low altitude, following the Underworld Tiger Devil Lord's lead, moving through the marsh's low airspace. They not only avoided restrictive traps but also managed not to alarm any local demon beasts. In less than half a day, they successfully traversed the marsh and fully entered the Taihu region. The group temporarily settled in a mountain hollow, and countless Underworld Blood Crows were dispatched. While searching for traces of the Sword Sect's support team, they also allowed ample time to discuss countermeasures.

Wang Yu was quite familiar with the environment here. He also knew that the largest city in the area was called Dead Leaf City. If they could capture it and send word to Blood Abyss State for more reinforcements, they might be able to launch a pincer attack on Black Mountain Pass. Of course, at this stage, he lacked sufficient authority and would not rashly offer suggestions. Attacking Black Mountain Pass was one of the conditions for cooperating with the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect. He knew full well that they almost certainly wanted a bridgehead for a direct advance. The Heaven Refining Demonic Sect's objective was always the Ancient Demonic Life! Anyone with half a brain could figure that out.

If their mission was executed smoothly, they would also earn considerable military merits. During wartime, contribution point rewards were calculated differently: Minor Merit, Moderate Merit, Major Merit, and Medal of Honor. From lowest to highest, three Minor Merits could be exchanged for one Moderate Merit, and so on. These merits could be redeemed for items from the War Treasury list released by the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect. This list contained many rare items not usually seen: Foundation Establishment Pills, Core Formation Pills, rare spiritual treasures, powerful inheritances, and even secret techniques to defy fate and change one's aptitude—everything was available. The Demonic Dao was quite generous in this regard and deeply understood human nature. Furthermore, war missions were mostly collective actions, and generally, every survivor received a Minor Merit, allowing for very rapid accumulation. For the mission Wang Yu and his team were undertaking, Patriarch Evil Soul had offered a Major Merit reward. As for the Medal of Honor, it could not be obtained by exchanging three Major Merits; it had to be earned by playing a crucial role in a particular battle. Its effects were even more extensive: it could grant exemption from capital punishment, allow one to request a Nascent Soul Patriarch to take them as a disciple, or be exchanged for top-tier secret techniques and divine abilities. It was the highest-grade war reward.

This system primarily targeted disciples below the Nascent Soul stage. For Nascent Soul cultivators like Wang Yu, merits were generally tied to their respective peaks. At the end of the war, rewards would be distributed according to contributions. This involved the spoils of war obtained after victory or defeat. If the gains were minimal or nonexistent, they would only receive sect benefits and some resource prioritization. If the war gains were substantial, for example, expanding territory by a certain number of kilometers, accumulated merits could be exchanged for dominion over a region. If one didn't want it, they could also trade it with others. In short, military merits were like spoons. When the cake was divided in the final stage, the larger your spoon, the more cake you could scoop out, and the more satisfied you would be. The delay was somewhat long, however; seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators would find their own sustenance.

Inside the mountain hollow, the Savage Devil Lord said: "According to the intelligence from Senior Evil Soul, this support mission includes two Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators, eighteen Core Formation Envoys, and three thousand Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator disciples."

The Empty Heavens Sword Sect had seventy-two Sword Peaks and seventy-two Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators. While a single Sword Peak might not be as strong as one of the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect's Nine Peaks, their lineage was well-ordered. Each time, newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivators would take over, according to their ranking. The top-ranked among them were all Grand Cultivators at the late Nascent Soul stage. Considering the existing forces at Black Mountain Pass, the support team wouldn't be overly formidable, but it wouldn't be weak either.

The Sword Sect Envoys originated from the Righteous Qi Academy and were considered disciples of the Grand Righteous Sword Sovereign. Each generation had one thousand and eight Envoys, who typically roamed various parts of the Taihu region, acting like imperial envoys tasked with slaying demonic evildoers. Ostensibly, their status was lower than that of the Sacred Sect's true disciples, but in reality, their power was immense. They were widely resented by the Seven Righteous Sects, as no one wanted a killing star on their territory who could execute first and report later. The Sword Sect Envoys' minimum talent was a dual spiritual root aptitude, or they possessed other special abilities. In plain terms, they had a one or two-percent chance of forming a Nascent Soul. Moonlight Fairy Changxi, who had once put Wang Yu in a dire situation, was a prominent figure among them. If given the chance, he would not hesitate to retaliate. For now, it was unknown if such an opportunity would arise.

The Underworld Tiger Devil Lord stroked his chin: "We can handle a force of this size. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Xuandan?"

"Since we're already here, we can't leave without doing something."

"Indeed. Then we'll rely on your Underworld Crows, Brother Underworld Tiger."

"No problem."

Wang Yu glanced back at his four followers and concisely transmitted a message: "Once the fighting starts, don't charge too far ahead." Qing Yang was well-versed in this tactic. Yang Xiong might look like a brute but dared to disappear during wartime, knowing when to retreat from difficulty, so there was no need to worry about him. His main concern was Xu Ruozhou and Situ Hong. Both were Foundation Establishment cultivators, slightly weaker in strength, but if they went through a few more similar missions, accumulating a Major Merit would allow them to exchange it for a mid-grade Core Formation Pill, giving them at least one chance at advancement. He would also look out for them somewhat.

Dusk was falling.

Dead Leaf City.

Compared to the raging war at Black Mountain Pass, Dead Leaf City was hosting a grand banquet today, welcoming a team of cultivators who had traveled south from Ice River Pass in the north. The team was mainly composed of members from the Jade Cloud Sect. Their numbers exceeded six thousand, primarily consisting of Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with over thirty Core Formation cultivators and one mid-stage Nascent Soul leader.

Since the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect launched its major campaign in Feng Province five years ago, the Taihu cultivators had no choice but to retreat and defend Ice River Pass, with large numbers of cultivators withdrawing to the Taihu Spirit Domain. They intended to wait for the demonic factions to fight amongst themselves until a true conflict erupted, then seize the opportunity to act. This detached team was not here to reinforce Black Mountain Pass; instead, they had plans concerning Qifeng Pass in the central section of the Northern Severed Boundary Mountains. If they could capture it, the corresponding Night Qiong State would also fall into great chaos, providing an opportunity for the Yellow Spring Temple to expand its gains. Although both sides had previously caused chaos in Feng Province, they had never actually communicated. Instead, they had achieved considerable strategic coordination based on the prevailing situation. Otherwise, with the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect's deep foundation, they wouldn't have been so beleaguered.

The Jade Cloud Sect team settled in Dead Leaf City for rest and recuperation. On one hand, this location was suitable as a secondary hub for dispatching scouts to gather intelligence on the enemy's movements and intentions. On the other hand, they were also waiting for the Moon Gazing Palace to react. The outcome of a solo assault on Qifeng Pass had already been attempted by the Thunderflame Temple. They achieved considerable results, and the strategic objective of covering a surprise attack on Ice River Pass was also accomplished. It was only a pity that they failed to capture this pass, making the outcome somewhat less than perfect.

At the Dead Leaf City Lord's Mansion, the current City Lord respectfully honored the Jade Cloud Sect's Ancestor by seating him at the head of the table. He spared no effort in entertaining them, even spending half of the City Lord's Mansion treasury.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles from Dead Leaf City, figures flying on swords streaked across the sky. Foundation Establishment cultivators did not yet possess the ability to transform their bodies into sword light. Thus, most of them flew by standing on their swords, thundering through the sky with a considerable commotion. At the very front were two white-bearded elders. One wore an eight-trigram purple sash robe, exuding an immortal and scholarly aura. The other wore plain hemp robes and trousers, carrying an iron sword on his back. He had a free-spirited and uninhibited demeanor, but appeared somewhat disheveled, giving off an impression of being dirty, though in reality, he was very clean. Nascent Soul cultivators' escape velocity was too fast, so they were not moving at full speed. Following them were eighteen streaks of sword light. The most striking among them was a moon-white sword shadow, dazzling and brilliant, whose Core Formation eighth-level aura placed it at the forefront of all the Envoys.

The hemp-robed elder narrowed his eyes and remarked: "Another eight hundred *li* and we will reach Black Mountain Pass. This journey is perilous; do not advance recklessly for the sake of merit. Evil Soul and Ghost Blade are both renowned Grand Perfection stage powerhouses. Even their residual power is beyond what you can withstand."

"Disciples understand."

"Many thanks for the guidance, Ancestor Hemp Robe."

After a few brief exchanges, the team returned to silence. The elder in the eight-trigram purple sash robe was filled with worry, secretly transmitting a message to Ancestor Hemp Robe. "What do you think the sect sent us here for? Are we just cannon fodder to fill the lines? It's all your fault for offending Sword Monarch Five Elements! What will become of my Eight Trigrams Peak now..."

"Heh, if not for your oafish disciple who insisted on seizing that Fire Jiao Sword from the Sword Tomb, why would we be targeted? My Hemp Robe Peak hasn't even figured things out yet, let alone yours!"

Knowing that Black Mountain Pass was a battlefield where Nascent Soul Grand Perfection cultivators contended, anyone could guess that the support mission was a tough assignment. If they successfully defended it, that would be one thing. The fear was being held accountable if they failed. The reason these two were dispatched was because when the Sword Tomb opened recently, a disciple from the Eight Trigrams Sword Cultivators seized a Fire Jiao Sword that a disciple of Sword Monarch Five Elements had set his sights on. At that time, Ancestor Hemp Robe had stood up for his friend's disciple, and so the situation had evolved into its current state.

The Demonic Dao was in utter chaos, a dog-eat-dog situation. While the Righteous Dao appeared united, its internal affairs were also a mess. With the outbreak of war, there were countless greedy individuals who wished to take the opportunity to eliminate rivals and acquire more resources. Among the Seven Righteous Sects, only the three closest to the Severed Boundary Mountains were currently acting as the main force: Thunderflame Temple, Moon Gazing Palace, and Jade Cloud Sect. Although the Empty Heavens Sword Sect was contributing, it was far from deploying its full strength. The North Suppression Pagoda had few members and was primarily focused on the Endless Ice Plains, so it could be disregarded. As for Crane's Return Valley and Blazing Sun Sect, whose mountain gates were located far behind in the Taihu region, they were feigning ignorance, determined to let others be cannon fodder. They would only act according to the situation or wait for a better opportunity after the most intense initial clash ended. In this regard, the Empty Heavens Sword Sect was helpless. They governed the world with benevolence and righteousness. They could not directly interfere in other sects' internal affairs, only urge them to contribute. They did not use coercion, and the situation had not escalated to a point where they would resort to underhanded tactics. The three sects whose mountain gates were on the edge of the Severed Boundary Mountains had no choice; if they didn't resist, they would be slaughtered. Among them, there were not a few ambitious individuals instigating things, essentially egged on by the hawkish faction.

"Be careful. The Scarlet Kite Sect is in intense internal conflict this time; who knows what they're plotting. The battle at the Lust Demon Seal in the Black Mountain Demonic Land is truly fierce. I hear tens of thousands of lives have already been lost, and the conflict is still expanding. A bunch of lunatics."

The secret of the Ice Prison Realm was known not only to the high-ranking members of the Five Demonic Sects but also to the Seven Righteous Sects of Taihu. However, they did not act as radically as the demonic sects. They believed that things would resolve themselves when the time came, and the Soul Transformation Venerables would eventually find a solution. Since they had not reached that level, they didn't need to worry about such matters.

Just as the Sword Sect team arrived above a valley, a sense of dread suddenly seized Ancestor Hemp Robe's heart. His expression hardened, and he roared, "An ambush!" This was a spiritual sense warning; the higher the cultivation level, the more accurate the premonition, and among them, sword cultivators' premonitions were the most acute. But even as he spoke, events unfolded rapidly.

The Underworld Tiger Devil Lord let out a sinister cackle. His third and fourth Yin Beasts, the Eight-Armed Ox-Demon and the Skeleton Nightmare Horse, emerged together. Accompanied by the suddenly darkened sky, four hundred-zhang-tall Ghost Gates surrounded the Sword Sect team. The ghastly totems on the Ghost Gates suddenly opened, exhaling endless gloomy mist and demonic energy, isolating the space from the outside world. Wang Yu tossed Snow Jade to Situ Hong; it was time for this little one to hone its combat abilities.

At the same time, the Void Secret Art: Chains of Heaven was secretly unleashed, working in conjunction with the Underworld Tiger Devil Lord's Ghost Gates to transform the valley into a deadly battlefield. Wang Yu's gaze involuntarily fixed on the moon-white figure within the Sword Sect team. Familiar, too familiar! He had just been thinking of her. Thanks to her, Wang Yu's Foundation Establishment process had been full of twists and turns. Such great "kindness" deserved a "reward."

The Savage Devil Lord also stepped forward and whispered: "The one on the left, wearing the eight-trigram purple sash robe, is Master Bagua. He is skilled in unique sword formations and has a record of many victories against stronger opponents. I'll take care of him. The one on the right is Ancestor Hemp Robe. He cultivates only a single iron sword, following the path of an ancient artifact cultivator, and his strength is formidable. As Brother Xuandan recently advanced to Nascent Soul, leave this one to Brother Underworld Tiger to handle."

"Understood." Wang Yu nodded. His knowledge of Taihu's strong cultivators was limited, so it was naturally good not to have to face a powerful opponent of the same realm. He paused and then said: "I will quickly deal with the lesser cultivators and then assist you two, fellow Daoists."

"—Attack!"