Chapter 476: The Tyrant Fights Ten Thousand Armies

Everyone knew the true intentions of the Huangquan Temple. It had become a common joke in the cultivation world that they had been trying to destroy the Ice Prison Realm for a long time. The Blood Demon Hall Master's desire to become a "jailer" actually conflicted with the Huangquan Temple's goals.

However, this conflict wasn't absolute, as the Hall Master's primary objective was to break through to the God Transformation stage; being a "jailer" was secondary. This much was clear the moment the other party personally delivered Zhuo Shouyun.

The immediate issue was the division of responsibilities!

"After your breakthrough, you'll still be without strong support, so I'll also need your help to achieve my own breakthrough to the God Transformation stage."

"What about the process? Do you have a plan to avoid the scrutiny of those from Chitian?"

The Huangquan Temple Master scoffed. "Do I really need to give advice on such a simple matter? As for the process... as I just mentioned, we need to summon the Great River of Yellow Springs on a sufficient scale."

By then, he would have his own method to break through to the God Transformation stage. The Yellow Springs was a symbol of death, and only death on a grand scale could summon the true Great River of Yellow Springs. For instance, their sect's location became a vast, desolate desert, which was precisely how they drew the Yellow Springs to reside permanently in the world. This act effectively "killed" the spiritual energy of the region, causing immense damage to this realm. At the very least, the desolate desert had been completely transformed into a barren land, devoid of spiritual essence.

Wasn't the righteous path planning to use war to reduce the excess population anyway? This suited the Huangquan Temple Master's intentions perfectly. While becoming the vanguard was unexpected, he could still leverage the situation to secure significant advantages.

For him, the key to breaking through to the God Transformation stage was the Yellow Springs. If he could secure the Blood Demon Hall Master's cooperation in creating numerous death zones, the success rate of his plan would dramatically increase. Even if he assisted the Blood Demon Hall Master in breaking through first, the latter, pressured by the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect, would still need an ally also in the God Transformation stage for mutual support.

With this mutual benefit agreed upon, the cooperation between the two became a natural progression. Subsequently, a map of the Taihu Spiritual Domain was unfurled, revealing that the three conquered states were sufficient for orchestrating large-scale death sacrifices. The populations in those areas might not be able to evacuate smoothly.

"Currently, we have enough for five locations. We just need to secure four more to meet the required number of sacrifices for the summoning. Pushing deeper into Sword Sect territory is too difficult, so we should head north or south..." The implication was clear: target the weaker areas. A certain level of mortality was tacitly approved by Taihu, and their true purpose for reducing the population couldn't be openly declared. This was a challenge inherent to operating within the righteous path. When directives weren't explicit, one had to deduce the true intentions of those in power. However, large-scale death sacrifices were an absolute red line, a slippery slope that could not be touched.

Heading north meant confronting the Azure Cloud Sect, while going south would bring them against the Thunderfire Temple. They also needed to estimate the Sword Sect's reinforcement capabilities and establish a tactical depth within enemy territory that allowed for sufficient maneuverability. The two deliberated for a long time before finally selecting four locations, one of which was prominently the immortal capital of Shuiyun.

The Huangquan Temple Master chuckled. "Reports indicate Wang Yu appeared in the immortal capital of Shuiyun, slaying the two Nascent Soul cultivators guarding the area. Authority there is currently divided, making it an ideal target for exploitation."

Upon hearing Wang Yu's name, the Blood Demon Hall Master's eyes gleamed. "So, he must have gone to Ice River Pass. Avoiding the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect's forces was a wise decision. Once you and I break through to the God Transformation stage, there will naturally be no need for such talented individuals to constantly travel and be unable to cultivate in peace."

"Hahahaha, then I hope our cooperation proceeds smoothly."

"Naturally."

Several months later.

After consolidating their gains, the Scarlet Kite faction resumed its advance, surprisingly heading north. The entire Azure Cloud Sect immediately mobilized, spreading word of the demonic sect's movements. They urgently requested aid and dispatched reinforcements as needed. They aimed to make all preparations before a direct confrontation.

The moment the main Scarlet Kite forces moved, Wang Yu, who had been closely monitoring the situation, immediately acted. He leveraged his strong relationship with the northern demon tribes. He took a route through the Northern Broken Boundary Mountains, traveling south to the border between Shuiyun Prefecture and Feng Prefecture. Regardless of which path the Azure Cloud Sect's reinforcement team chose, he would be able to intercept them there. This also allowed him to coordinate with the main Scarlet Kite forces.

There was only one thing he needed to be wary of. That was the possibility of the Azure Cloud Sect anticipating his moves. From his appearance in the immortal capital of Shuiyun to the tribulation battle at Kuangmei Mountain, the Azure Cloud Sect would theoretically expect him to be near Ice River Pass. After all, Wang Yu's offense against the Scarlet Heaven Demonic Venerable was no secret. Even one or two Core Formation spies could gather such "common knowledge." From a logical human perspective of seeking advantage and avoiding harm, Wang Yu should naturally avoid the main Scarlet Kite forces.

However, he couldn't simply assume the best-case scenario. If the Azure Cloud Sect deployed several late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators to guard against his surprise attack, he might not win a direct confrontation. If a Grand Perfection cultivator led the team, he would face severe repercussions. This was a risk Wang Yu had to accept himself. He was willing to bear it; a hunter must always be prepared to become the hunted. Moreover, with Xueyu having reached the Fourth-Tier Transformation stage, she was now capable of assisting him in battle. With the Sky Fox Illusion perfected, holding back two early-stage Nascent Soul opponents would be no problem.

Furthermore, half of the Azure Cloud Sect's main forces were tied up at Ice River Pass. Their mountain gate also required strong cultivators for defense. While the overall strength of the Seven Righteous Sects was comparable to the Five Demonic Sects, in terms of individual sect's foundations, with the exception of the Sword Sect and the mysterious North-Suppressing Pagoda, no single righteous sect could truly rival any of the five demonic sects. The reinforcement teams could at most muster ten Nascent Soul cultivators, and the true gathering point for powerful cultivators was the front line confronting the main Scarlet Kite forces.

But Wang Yu had no intention of approaching that area. He would only target the reinforcement teams!

Half a month later.

Feng Prefecture.

Each spirit boat, capable of carrying three thousand cultivators, comprising the sect's core force of approximately ten thousand individuals, was heading towards the southern front. Since the sovereignty of Shuiyun Prefecture was still contested, the reinforcement team chose to travel through Feng Prefecture. The powerful members of the team primarily consisted of cultivators from the Orange Cloud and Blue Cloud lineages, making them highly recognizable. They wore brocade robes adorned with embroidered clouds of various colors. Nascent Soul cultivators also bore the emblem of a small azure cloud cauldron, symbolizing the Azure Cloud Sect's Fifth-Tier Guardian Spirit Treasure: the Azure Cloud Sky Cauldron!

Fourth-Tier spirit boats were slower than the escape light of Nascent Soul cultivators. Due to their massive size and air resistance, and their inability to transform into light, spirit boats were actually slower than even Core Formation cultivators. Their role was more akin to battlefield tanks.

Wang Yu stood on a small hill, observing the three spirit boats flying across the sky. With his superb divine sense, he could instantly discern the powerful cultivators aboard. "Twelve Nascent Soul cultivators: seven early-stage, three mid-stage, and two late-stage. That's slightly more than anticipated..." He couldn't rule out the possibility of additional hidden powerful cultivators.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Yu decided to proceed. With his physique as a late-stage Fourth-Tier Body Refiner, enhanced by the top-grade Fourth-Tier true artifact, the Fiend Dragon Armor, and his flesh-and-blood demonic weapon, the three-pointed double-edged spear, he wouldn't need to worry about the risk of perishing there, even if he were outmatched. He would kill as many as possible, then he could safely enter seclusion for a while, potentially even advancing to the late-stage Nascent Soul realm. By then, the time for the Saint Lord's Heavenly Palace would also be approaching. The timings would align perfectly.

With the potential gains far outweighing the risks, Wang Yu had no reason not to try. He had already set traps for these war spirit boats. The primary material for his traps was the Heavenly Yin Water Pool he had taken from Dongji Capital. After he drained the Heavenly Yin Divine Water from it, it became a Qiankun space. This space was gradually decaying. Using the power of the Ancestral Water Order and the Earth Mother Sutra, passed down by the personal disciple of the Ancestral Earth Master, Wang Yu was fully capable of destroying the Heavenly Yin Water Pool prematurely. Using Feng Shui secret arts, he would let them experience the taste of a Qiankun space collapsing.

While concealing himself with the Void Concealing Heaven Curse, he transmitted a message to Xueyu. "Prepare the Sky Fox Illusion. Just hold them for a single breath, then you can retreat. As for whether to lure away two Nascent Soul opponents, that's your call."

"Understood, Yuniang."

Time passed. As the three war spirit boats entered a swamp in southern Feng Prefecture, the ground suddenly illuminated with the spiritual glow of nine formation flags. Wang Yu had set up the grand Feng Shui formation using the mysteries of the Void Concealing Heaven Curse, hiding it directly within a spatial interlay. Unless one possessed a refined ability to perceive spatial shifts, no one could detect it beforehand. The Azure Cloud Sect was powerless in this regard, as their fundamental cultivation methods were the seven Fourth-Tier top-grade cloud lineage techniques.

And so, as everyone watched, even though the three war spirit boats immediately activated their protective spiritual barriers, they were scattered. The barriers themselves shattered after only a few breaths. However, this brief buffer allowed the Nascent Soul cultivators on board to react, swiftly taking control of their vessels and forcibly activating their defensive capabilities using their Dao Yuan. They managed to raise their protective spiritual barriers once more, but during the momentary lapse, thousands of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators died instantly. They were reduced to dust by the winds of destruction, their very bones obliterated, a truly horrific end.

Even Wang Yu could not avoid the winds of spatial destruction. Despite its intimidating name, when uncontrollable, its power accumulated and then erupted. The initial wave of attack was equivalent to a grand cultivator's full-force strike. Subsequent gusts, however, diminished to only the intensity of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, a fact he had long anticipated. It was a resourceful use of waste, and achieving his goal was all that mattered.

While the destructive power wasn't at its maximum, the tactical effect was fully realized. The three war spirit boats were completely scattered, and in such an environment, only Nascent Soul cultivators dared to venture outside their protective spiritual barriers. Factoring in the three early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators who were maintaining their defenses with cultivation and spirit stones, Wang Yu was left facing only nine enemies. He chose a spirit boat that lacked any late-stage Grand Cultivators. Wang Yu boldly crashed into it!

A figure in black armor, its black-and-gold base color exuding a savage dominance, coiled with dragon fiend energy, wielded a platinum-colored three-pointed double-edged spear. His Silver Blood Divine Marrow was fully unleashed. A conical force field, attached to the spear tip, completely tore through the air, causing continuous spatial vibrations amidst water-like ripples. The spiritual barrier of this war spirit boat proved as fragile as tofu. Wang Yu, like a meteor from beyond the heavens, broke through all resistance with unstoppable force, plunging headfirst through the spiritual barrier, shattering the deck, and penetrating directly into the spirit boat's core.

Giving no time for reaction, the force field accompanying the three-pointed double-edged spear acted like a giant's hand, shattering large sections of the spirit boat's structure with a single sweep. The central defensive formation instantly shattered, and the early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator standing on the jade platform, filled with terror and despair, was pulverized into a bloody mist by the sheer brute force. Behind Wang Yu, the Glazed Pagoda and Lightning Fiend Coffin opened in quick succession. The essence of flesh and blood flowed into the Lightning Corpse, and the Nascent Soul was absorbed by the Glazed Pagoda, vanishing as smoothly as a dream.

At that moment, the sole mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator on the spirit boat, along with two other early-stage Nascent Souls, hesitated, appearing both eager to intervene and terrified by Wang Yu's formidable presence. In that brief hesitation, the Ice螭 Elixir Flame erupted around Wang Yu, directly detonating the war spirit boat's central core and the massive reserves of spirit stones stored within. The resulting spiritual energy storm forced all cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage into a "body cultivation" state, their internal magical power so chaotic that they couldn't cast any divine abilities. The eruption of the Ice螭 Elixir Flame nearly caused the demise of every cultivator on board the spirit boat. Only the mid-stage cultivator and two early-stage cultivators miraculously survived.

Wang Yu had been on the scene for mere moments, yet he had already achieved astonishing results. On the other two spirit boats, two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were rushing forward most quickly. Having already traversed the core of the winds of destruction, they were rapidly approaching the destroyed war spirit boat. Wang Yu, in response, unleashed the Tianshu Thunderfire Secret Art once more! His already peak combat power surged even further.

The three-pointed double-edged spear, imbued with Asura's intent, swept out like a Blood Slaughter Heart Sword. The two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators immediately summoned their natal magic treasures to resist. Yet, both they and their treasures were instantly shattered. Unable to even utter a sound, they were forcefully slain by Wang Yu on the spot. In this scenario, his kill count instantly rose to three.

"It's the Extreme Law Profound Pill Demonic Lord! Fellow Daoist Languang, hold on!" Languang was the last surviving mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator on that spirit boat. At that very moment, the two Grand Cultivators arrived in unison, both unleashing the Azure Cloud Sect's signature divine ability. The Innate Cloud Qi Great Handprint was immediately hurled towards Wang Yu.

Yet, the fiend utterly ignored it, enduring both divine abilities head-on. He even used the momentum of the recoil, his body flashing with black demonic thunder, to accelerate towards Languang. Languang originally had a chance to resist, but then a subtle mental fluctuation swept through. Xueyu, empowered by Wang Yu with the Void Concealing Heaven Curse, had made her move! The Sky Fox Illusion took effect instantly, creating a perfect coordination. Languang froze almost completely as Wang Yu forcefully tore open her chest, his body passing straight through her. Blood splattered as his spear tip impaled her Nascent Soul and flung it directly into the Glazed Pagoda.

With that, all cultivators on this spirit boat were annihilated!

The two late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators were utterly enraged, almost unable to comprehend the potential repercussions of this event. Why would this madman from the demonic path dare to attack them like this? They simply couldn't fathom it. What gave him such audacity? They soon found out: it was sheer, overwhelming power! They had charged too quickly, becoming separated from the cultivators behind them. The forces had formed almost three distinct echelons, separated by the winds of spatial destruction: the second echelon consisted of two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and the third echelon comprised two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.