Chapter 487: Reward Lei Yan Order

Lei Zhenhai’s expression froze. Immediately, he sharply retorted, “Just you, a mere junior disciple?”

Jiang Fan calmly replied, “As I said, things of pure yang can counteract evil. I just happen to have some methods to restrain it.”

The elders, who had been in despair, couldn’t help but regain their composure. If a junior disciple could handle a corpse puppet made from a demon emperor’s body, then surely they, as elders, shouldn’t be helpless.

Li Qingfeng stared at the small demonic beast struggling on the ground. He casually threw a low-level fire talisman (for Foundation Establishment 1-2) onto it. This talisman, originally unremarkable and weak, immediately made the demonic beast scream in agony as it ignited. A visible stream of death aura evaporated from its body. In a short while, it turned into white bones on the spot, utterly still.

Gasps of surprise erupted among the disciples. Liang Feiyan exclaimed in astonishment, “So weak? A single fire talisman can kill it?”

Fu Chaojun also let out a slight sigh of relief, “I thought these evil creatures were incredibly formidable. But when they encounter something that counters them, they’re surprisingly fragile.”

Xia Chaoge said, “Although this was just a small demonic beast, after its transformation, it was at least at the Foundation Establishment fifth or sixth level. If we can restrain it so easily, then as long as we have enough countering items, we might not need to fear those high-level corpse puppets.”

Suddenly, hope rekindled in the hearts of the once-desperate crowd. Everyone turned their gaze towards Lei Zhenhai, urging him, their Sect Master, to make a decision.

Lei Zhenhai was still hesitant to fight. Besides the Nine-Headed Python, there was also a ninth-level Core Formation demon priest among them. If she intervened, who would be able to contend with her?

However, if he, as the commander, were to order a retreat knowing they had a chance to fight, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion would hold them accountable. Even Ye Cangyuan would find it hard to escape blame, let alone Lei Zhenhai. He would surely be publicly beheaded by the Heavenly Thunder Sect as a solemn execution.

He glared at Jiang Fan in annoyance. “It’s all this kid’s fault. Without him, none of this would be happening!” Gritting his teeth, he commanded, "All personnel from each sect, immediately count your pure yang and righteous items and prepare for battle!"

A heavy feeling settled in everyone’s hearts. They were finally going to confront the army of corpses head-on. With no reinforcements behind them and severe manpower shortages, the outcome of this desperate battle was unpredictable.

They immediately began inventorying their usable items. The elders were generally well-off and carried a good number of fire talismans and similar items. However, the disciples looked troubled; very few of them possessed fire talismans.

Lei Zhenhai said, “If you don’t have fire talismans, use flames to attack the enemy.” But this still left the disciples looking distressed. This was the boundless snowy plain, nothing but ice and snow, not even a blade of grass. What would they burn to attack with fire? Were they supposed to set their own clothes on fire?

Even before the battle began, they encountered a huge problem. Although some elders generously distributed their fire talismans to the disciples of their sects, it was merely a drop in the ocean. Two or three talismans per person were nowhere near enough. And in a direct confrontation, how many attacks from the corpse army could they withstand?

Lei Zhenhai also frowned deeply. The war preparations were too rushed. The shortage of combat supplies was simply fatal!

“Sect Master Lei, I think we should retreat,” said the third elder of the Giant Sect, his face grave. The disciples of the Giant Sect naturally lacked spiritual power and couldn’t use fire talismans. To attack with fire, they had no fuel. Were they supposed to fight with bare hands?

Ming Youlian also said, “Sect Master Lei, it’s not that we don’t want to fight, but the timing and geographical advantage are not on our side. If we retreat like this, I believe the Heavenly Secret Pavilion will take our circumstances into consideration.”

Lei Zhenhai wanted to retreat more than anyone. However, he didn’t believe the Heavenly Secret Pavilion would show mercy to him, the commander, if they voluntarily abandoned Boundary Mountain and allowed thousands of corpse armies to pour directly into human territory.

He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Military orders are like mountains! Disciples of all sects, abandon all illusions and fight to the death! If we achieve a great victory in this battle, our sect will apply to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for 200 merit points for each person! Furthermore, those who achieve first-class merit will be rewarded with 1000 merit points! Second-class merit, 500 merit points! Third-class merit, 300 merit points!"

"As for the elders of each sect, our sect will also apply for 10 Dust Heart Pills for each of you! Those who achieve first-class merit will be rewarded with a five-year advanced study opportunity at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion! Second-class merit, a two-year advanced study opportunity! Third-class merit, a six-month advanced study opportunity!"

Having spoken, he took out a crystal artifact and threw it into the clouds above. “This is the Heaven-Monitoring Crystal, capable of recording all movements of the entire battle. At that time, your achievements in killing enemies will be accurately recorded. Whether you can seize this immense opportunity is entirely up to you!”

The elders felt greatly inspired. Dust Heart Pills were unique elixirs for Core Formation cultivators, used to enhance cultivation, and only the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master could refine them. Only a small quantity was distributed to the Nine Sects each year. Each elder could receive at most one per year. Consuming one was equivalent to half a year of cultivation. Now, with the possibility of receiving ten, it was a guaranteed breakthrough to the next level for elders in the mid-Core Formation stage, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those in the late Core Formation stage.

However, the more significant rewards came afterward: advanced study at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion! The abundance of resources at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion could be seen from this merit reward treasury. Compared to the Nine Sects, it was like heaven and earth. If one could achieve first-class merit and study at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for five years, it was unimaginable what realm they would reach upon emerging.

However, in contrast to the elders’ excitement, the disciples’ morale was difficult to lift. Although the rewards were very enticing and incredibly tempting, the reality of resource scarcity remained unchanged. These rewards felt like something they could earn but might not live to enjoy.

Seeing the low morale among the disciples, Lei Zhenhai watched with growing anxiety. His mobilization efforts had not yielded the desired results. He had no choice but to look around and announce, “Whoever has surplus supplies, or can find combustible materials quickly, our sect will reward them handsomely!”

Gritting his teeth slightly, he pulled out a tattered, greenish-white token from his bosom, covered in numerous seals. The token was smooth as jade, and faint flashes of lightning could be seen within, forming three flickering characters: "Thunder Origin Token"!

Lei Zhenhai looked at the elders, placing his hope in them. “I believe none of you elders are unfamiliar with this Thunder Origin Token. If anyone can provide enough supplies, our sect will lend them this token for a month. If you can comprehend the supreme dao from it, you will soar to great heights.”

The elders of all sects showed expressions of shock, their eyes filled with fervent desire. Even Li Qingfeng was incredibly envious, though he soon smiled bitterly and said, “Sect Master Lei must be joking. If we truly had such supplies, we wouldn’t need you to tell us; we’d already have brought them out.”

The other elders also expressed deep regret. Where would they conjure up so many supplies? Even with spatial storage artifacts, it would be impossible to carry all the combustible materials needed for a large-scale battle.

Jiang Fan also felt a surge of longing. The sight of Lei Zhenhai transforming into lightning and descending from the sky had profoundly shaken him. If he could obtain the Thunder Origin Token, perhaps he too could study it and figure out that miraculous method of transforming into lightning, just like Lei Zhenhai.

Unfortunately, he had no combustible materials. He didn’t even have a single fire talisman.

“Hey, kid, that’s the Thunder Origin Token! Doesn’t it tempt you?” the evil spirit in his embrace suddenly whispered, its voice a thin thread, into Jiang Fan’s ear. “That’s a token from the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Palace, an otherworldly divine sect. It contains cultivation techniques from the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Palace.”

Jiang Fan spread his empty hands and quietly replied, “Where am I supposed to conjure supplies from? And enough supplies at that?”

Seeing Lei Zhenhai retrieve the Thunder Origin Token with disappointment, the evil spirit urgently said, “You can’t conjure them, but I can!”