Chapter 725: Wilderness Combat

Situ Mo was truly no ordinary person. Despite being suppressed by True Fire and targeted by the Rebirth Cave Profound Screen, and even with Ding Weizeng escaping, he still managed to seize a fleeting opportunity and turn the tide of the battle.

Li Minggong and the other person arrived too late to assist. An Siwei was severely wounded and captured after only three retaliatory moves. The next moment, Situ Mo's chilling voice emerged as he commanded:

"Attack the mountain!"

Situ Mo unfastened a seal from his waist, tossed it into the air, and it transformed into a stone mountain. It pressed down upon the Rebirth Cave Profound Screen. With just a glance, Li Minggong recognized the stone mountain; it was likely a gift given during a period of good relations between Xuanyue and Tang Jin.

This magical artifact was of no low grade. Once it pressed down, Li Minggong's spiritual energy consumption doubled. Situ Mo drew his blade and stood before the two. Behind him, five individuals were already descending with the wind, moving to attack the main Fuxian mountain.

Situ Mo's combat experience far surpassed that of the two. Although he couldn't decisively defeat the two, the mountain beneath their feet couldn't escape. By defending without attacking and using his artifact, he single-handedly blocked Li Minggong and Ding Weizeng. Then came a thunderous crash:

"Boom!"

The grand formation beneath their feet shattered within two rounds. The cultivators of the Li family were exposed before the Foundation Establishment cultivators like trembling sheep. Li Minggong's pupils widened slightly. Situ Mo, having already captured the severely wounded An Siwei, seized the opportunity and shouted:

"Li Minggong! The Floating Cloud region can no longer be defended! I will release this person; you lead your people across the river! I swear I will not pursue!"

Li Minggong remained unswayed, and the light from his artifact intensified. An Siwei, however, gritted his teeth, his face flushing crimson. This sight made both Ding Weizeng and Situ Mo change color simultaneously.

"Are you trying to die?!"

Situ Mo, hailing from a prominent family, immediately saw that An Siwei intended to fight to the death. Golden light flashed in his eyes, striking An Siwei's glabella. He quickly dispersed An Siwei's spiritual energy.

But in that brief moment of delay, Situ Mo felt a surge of immense power. His magical robe lit up on its own. He felt as though he had been struck by something, his vision spun, and he rapidly recoiled. A mouthful of suppressed blood nearly gushed out.

Yet, his will was tougher than average. Despite such a sudden attack, he did not release the spell he was holding. He pulled An Siwei to a halt. Upon closer inspection, an additional person had appeared at his original position.

This was a young man in colorful feathered robes. His face was slightly round, and his eyes were clear. However, the fine orange feathers at his temples immediately marked him as a demonic creature.

"Xiaray?"

He paused slightly. Several figures emerged on the main Fuxian peak. His own forces had been pushed back and were gathering around him. Situ Mo tossed the person he held to his subordinates. He suddenly leaned back, and a dark shadow finally became visible, sweeping past his chin and leaving a dark red streak of blood.

"You motherless bastard!"

The vertical pupil of the Hook Snake emerged from the shadow. Li Wushao, wielding two black swords, lunged towards Situ Mo's ribs. Situ Mo's feathered robe rippled, and he drifted back several steps, evading the attack. Golden energy surged throughout his body, flowing into him along his robe, and his long blade gleamed brightly.

Beneath them, the colossal white ape that had reverted to its original form and the intermittently visible Li Chenghuai fought alongside the Tang Jin Sect members. In the Floating Cloud region, iridescent light shimmered, and True Fire and Gengjin alternately intertwined. This disturbed the spiritual energy fluctuations. The common people below stumbled into the forest, huddling on the ground and trembling.

***

**The Wilderness**

Compared to the extreme chaos in the Fuxian region, the Wilderness was vaster and appeared quieter. A golden-eyed man sat imperiously in the light of the sky, locked in a standoff with several figures across the river.

The group from the Duxian Dao before him were shrouded in a pale gray mist. Above their heads hovered a brown stone tablet, etched with intricate patterns.

The leader wore a black Daoist robe with a silk sash tied around his waist. The area between the two lapels was silvery-white. Black patterns were drawn on each of his cheeks. He held a Daoist scripture in his hand. Though his attire was quite peculiar, it conveyed a strange sense of beauty.

He had high brows and deep-set eyes. This was none other than Guan Gongxiao, the Duxian Dao's chief disciple. He was at the late Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation. Although he had not been at this stage for long, he was exceptionally proficient in magical arts, considered a master within the Dao.

The Wilderness was vast and the home territory of Xuanyue and the Li clan. Both their communication and defensive capabilities were far superior. Li Zhouwei had not appeared by the river earlier. Even the outermost defensive forces were sparse, making the area seem somewhat empty.

But Guan Gongxiao was not foolish. He did not rush headlong into the heartland. Instead, he first dispatched people to attack several critical mountain peaks, ensuring a controlled advance and retreat. Li Zhouwei then advanced to block, resulting in a standoff by the river.

The Wilderness region was vast. However, Li Zhouwei was unwilling to let Xuanyue's forces disperse widely. Most areas were only guarded by Qi Cultivation or even Embryonic Breath cultivators. Only critical points were guarded by Foundation Establishment cultivators. And here, at this location, were Xuanyue's main forces: a total of fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Kong clan, nine of whom, led by Fu Yuezi, were present. The remaining five were led by Li Zhouwei, including Cui Jueyin, Li Wen, Qu Bushi, and Miaoshui. Counting these, the Kong family members, and the yet-to-arrive Cheng, their combined forces amounted to fifteen individuals.

Both sides had sufficient forces. On the Duxian Dao's side, Guan Gongxiao, Gongsun Baifan, and others numbered even more, a full eighteen individuals. This could be considered the largest gathering since the North-South Conflict.

Li Zhouwei was waiting for Li Cheng. Guan Gongxiao was also waiting for the Tang Jin Sect. After a brief stalemate, a change in atmospheric conditions occurred to the east, and baleful energy soared into the sky. Kong Guxi's expression suddenly changed.

Li Zhouwei didn't even need to ask. Xuanyue's flanks must have fallen. The Duxian Dao wouldn't commit all their forces here. A significant number of guest cultivators must be attacking from various directions.

'The Wilderness is inherently riddled with pathways and vulnerabilities. My family alone cannot possibly defend it. Retreating from the region to confront their main force is the only option.'

The tension was now palpable. The jade pendant at Li Zhouwei's waist grew warm, signaling that Li Cheng was only moments away. Heavenly light pulsed between his brows, and the Upper Yaofu Light erupted, shooting across the river. Immediately, a stone tablet from the Duxian Dao flew up to block the radiant light.

Neither side wasted words. The scene instantly shifted from stillness to action. Spiritual energy brilliance rose everywhere. Li Zhouwei thrust his halberd forward.

His eyes were resolute as he drew his blade. On the contrary, Guan Lingdie took a step back, not daring to engage him. Instead, she turned to attack Qu Bushi, the easier target. Clearly, their previous encounters years ago had left a considerable impression on her. With a life-or-death crisis potentially imminent in the current major battle, she immediately retreated.

Gongsun Baifan intended to meet the attack, but Cui Jueyin gave him no chance. This elegant, scholar-like man chuckled faintly. Bright steps appeared one after another beneath his feet, drawing Gongsun Baifan into them.

With Gongsun Baifan blocked before him, Guan Gongxiao's gaze shot over like an arrow. The Daoist scripture in his hand flapped open by itself, facing the incoming halberd. Vast river water surged forth from the scripture, swirling and dancing beneath his feet.

Li Zhouwei's heavenly light shone down, piercing into Guan Gongxiao's eyes. Guan Gongxiao felt that the person before him was unremarkable, except for his golden-yellow pupils. He sneered inwardly:

"Let's see what might this White Qilin of yours possesses!"