In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

At the foot of Black Witch Mountain, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and birdsong filled the forest.

Su Han took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling the surging spiritual power within his body after the initial formation of his Golden Core. An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body.

Lu Xueqi stood quietly to the side, dressed in white, her aura becoming increasingly ethereal and otherworldly. Clearly, three days of comprehension had allowed her to make further progress in swordsmanship.

Biyao curiously moved her hands and feet, with faint, almost imperceptible spiritual light flowing between her fingertips. She felt both unfamiliar and excited about the newly awakened Wu clan bloodline and heritage.

Wang Shouren's gaze swept over the three, especially lingering on Su Han for a moment. He clapped his hands and laughed, "The Golden Core is complete, the Dao Foundation is solid, the younger generation is truly formidable. The connection with the Black Witch Mountain Divine Palace is indeed extraordinary."

Elder Mo Yuan was also filled with satisfaction: "Your ability to obtain the ancient inheritance of the Wu Clan is a sign of your affinity with our clan. Return to the tribe first, and we will discuss this further later. The matter of Burning Incense Valley must be handled with caution."

The group returned to the Black Witch Clan tribe. The tribe was nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains; the wooden houses were built against the hillside, their style rugged and ancient, and the air was filled with the scents of herbs and cooking fires. Upon seeing the Great Elder return, the tribespeople bowed respectfully, their curious gazes falling upon Su Han and his companions.

Over the next few days, Su Han consolidated his newly achieved Golden Core stage cultivation and familiarized himself with his surging power while discussing the mysteries of the Samsara Mirror with Wang Shouren. He took out two fragments of the Samsara Mirror and placed them on the stone table in the meditation room. The fragments were neither gold nor jade, but cool to the touch, with irregular cracks along their edges. Their surfaces were engraved with incredibly complex and ancient patterns, resembling the movement of stars or the birth and death of all things. When the two fragments were brought close together, they emitted a slight hum and a faint, chaotic glow. The patterns on their edges seemed to wriggle slightly, as if trying to connect, but there was always an insurmountable gap between them.

“As expected,” Wang Shouren said with a solemn expression after careful observation. “The Mirror of Reincarnation has been broken for a long time and its spirituality has been greatly damaged. It can only be reunited by collecting all the fragments and using a special method or opportunity. The ‘reincarnation’ mentioned in the ancient books involves the secrets of the origin of space and time and is by no means ordinary. The fact that the Demon Lord of Ghost Eyes is so eager to find it suggests that his ambitions are far beyond ordinary domination.”

Su Han nodded and carefully put away the fragment: "Senior, the most urgent task is to deal with the attack from Burning Incense Valley. We must not let them harm the Black Witch Clan. Then, I must continue to search for other fragments."

“Exactly.” Wang Shouren pondered, “Fenxiang Valley is merely a pawn on the table. That Ghost Eye Demon Lord is incredibly cunning. He’s using this as an excuse to force you to show yourself and to disrupt the situation so he can fish in troubled waters. We need to find out his true purpose, and… whether there is an even more terrifying existence behind him.”

Just as the two were talking, Lu Xueqi and Biyao walked in. Lu Xueqi said directly, "The clansmen who were gathering information reported that Fenxiang Valley has joined forces with several sects, including Qingxia Sect and Xuanming Sect, and their momentum is considerable. They will arrive at the outskirts of Black Witch Mountain soon."

Biyao added, "I also used my newly acquired Gu techniques to 'ask' some information from a few spies from Fenxiang Valley who were active nearby. They seemed quite certain that the Divine Palace treasure was in our tribe, and... they mentioned a word, 'Holy Religion'."

"The Holy Religion?" Su Han and Wang Shouren exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt and wariness in each other's eyes. This was clearly the name of a force they had never heard of before.

“It seems the waters are deeper than we thought.” Wang Shouren stood up. “We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. Let’s set up our defenses first. Elder Mo Yuan has already summoned the clansmen to prepare. Su Han, you’ve just received the inheritance and need time to digest it, but with such a powerful enemy at hand, I’m afraid our training will have to start sooner rather than later.”

A sharp glint flashed in Su Han's eyes: "Don't worry, senior, we are not cowards." ...

The Black Witch Clan quickly went on high alert. Ancient witch arrays were activated, and beams of spiritual light rose from all corners of the valley, forming a semi-transparent protective shield. Warriors, armed with poisoned crossbows, concealed themselves in strategic locations within the mountains and forests. Elder Mo Yuan presided over the central altar, communicating with the ancestral spirits. Wang Shouren oversaw the overall situation and coordinated manpower.

Su Han, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao were also busy. Su Han tried to integrate his understanding of the "Reincarnation Technique" into his own cultivation method. Although he had only just begun to grasp the basics, he had gained a completely new understanding of the circulation and control of spiritual energy, and his Golden Core cultivation was becoming increasingly adept. He even vaguely sensed that there was some deep connection between the Reincarnation Mirror fragment and this technique.

Lu Xueqi practiced her sword under the moonlight. The "Bright Moon Sword Manual" complemented her original ice-based techniques, making the sword light even colder and more piercing, like moonlight pouring down, carrying a chilling aura that could freeze the soul. She was already extremely talented, and although her three days of comprehension were short, she had already grasped the essence of the sword manual.

Biyao studied under the sorcerers of her clan. The Hundred Gu Scripture was profound and extensive, involving various secret techniques such as raising, controlling, refining, and even transforming oneself into a Gu. It resonated with her awakened bloodline, and her progress was rapid. She could not only control various poisonous insects and Gu creatures, but also condense Gu shadows with her sorcery power, making them unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

Two days later, at dusk, a whooshing sound echoed across the sky. Dozens of streaks of light approached from afar, landing on the mountains surrounding Black Witch Mountain. Led by the Incense Valley, hundreds of cultivators from sects such as the Azure Cloud Sect and the Profound Nether Sect, their banners waving, exuded a murderous aura. Leading them was none other than the Incense Valley Master, True Man Chiyang, accompanied by the grim-faced Protector Bai and several elders from other sects.

The voice of the Crimson Sun Immortal was as loud as a bell, echoing throughout the mountains and fields: "Mo Yuan! Hand over the treasures of the Divine Palace, as well as the villains who murdered my Valley Elder, or I will raze your Black Witch Clan to the ground today!"

Elder Mo Yuan's voice rang out steadily from the valley: "Chi Yang, your Incense Valley has long coveted the Divine Palace, colluding with demons and framing my clan. Why feign benevolence? If you want war, then let's fight!"

"Stubborn fools!" roared True Man Chiyang. "Fellow Daoists, follow me to break the formation!"

A fierce battle erupted instantly. A barrage of magical artifacts and spiritual energy rained down on the tribe's protective shield, creating ripples. The Black Witch Clan warriors, relying on their advantageous terrain and magical formations, fiercely resisted, unleashing a barrage of poison arrows, Gu worms, and witchcraft spells, making it difficult for the allied forces to advance an inch.

Su Han and his two companions did not reveal themselves immediately, but instead remained hidden in the shadows, observing the battle.

“There’s definitely something fishy going on,” Wang Shouren said in a low voice. “The allied forces seem to be making a big show of force, but their attack is quite methodical, as if they are testing the waters, or as if they are… waiting for something.”

Su Han activated the Reincarnation Technique, his divine sense becoming several times sharper than before. He faintly sensed a deeply hidden, chilling aura lurking at the edge of the battlefield, like a venomous snake lurking in. "It's the aura of the Ghost Eye Demon Lord. He really has come, but his true form hasn't appeared yet."

Just then, a sudden change occurred on the battlefield!
Behind the allied forces, several Xuanming Sect cultivators suddenly unleashed a black banner. A howling wind arose, and countless vengeful spirits surged forth from the banner, attacking the Black Witch Clan's protective array. These vengeful spirits didn't attack the protective barrier; instead, they attached themselves to it, frantically devouring the array's spiritual energy! (End of Chapter)