Begin your practice with the crane-shaped stance.

Chapter 115 The Wind Rises

The self-destruction of the Green-Faced Demon earlier caused a huge uproar.

Such a terrifying commotion naturally alarmed all the forces within Lin Yuan Prefecture.

Lin Yuan Prefecture City.

The once imposing and solemn council hall of the Eagle Wolf Guard's thousand-household office is now unrecognizable.

The hall was filled with the eerie blood lotus banners of the Wusheng Sect, and a heavy stench of blood and malevolent energy permeated every corner.

This government office, which once represented the majesty of the Great You Dynasty, has now been brazenly transformed into the temporary headquarters of the Wusheng Sect after it breached the city.

On the main seat in the hall, the Black Spider King sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, breathing in the dense bloody aura around him to calm the restlessness of his magical power.

Suddenly, the palm-sized, blood-red bone mirror hanging from his waist trembled violently, emitting a dazzling red light.

This is a communication device used by the disciples of the Wusheng Sect who patrol the outer perimeter of the city at night, only when they encounter extremely serious emergencies.

-

The Black Spider Dharma King suddenly opened his eyes, ripped off the bone mirror, and a panicked report immediately came from the mirror: "Reporting—reporting to the Dharma King! A terrifying explosion has occurred in the direction of Tiger Hill, suspected to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator's self-destruction! The scene still retains an extremely strong aura of Taiyin Divine Light, and—and also the innate Yin Sha Qi of Lord Green-Faced Ghost!"

"Tiger Hill?"

The Black Spider Dharma King suddenly stood up. An incomparably powerful spiritual pressure, emanating from the Perfect Foundation Establishment realm, instantly swept across the entire hall, causing the several leaders of the Wusheng Sect below to tremble in fear.

His mind raced, his expression shifting between light and dark on his face covered in black tattoos, but his shrewd mind quickly pieced together the whole story.

That greedy fool, the Green-Faced Demon, disobeyed orders and deserted the group before; he must have gone outside the city to look for some kind of opportunity.

Now he's been forced to self-destruct at Tiger Hill!

And that iconic "Taiyin Divine Light" aura, looking across the entire Lin Yuan Prefecture, who else could it be but the Lone Moon Immortal?

"The Lonely Moon Immortal—she's hiding at Tiger Hill!"

Black Spider King sneered inwardly.

In the deadly formation at the bottom of the Crimson Fire Mine, Gu Yue, in order to forcibly seize the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed, withstood the siege of several Foundation Establishment experts, and was already at his last gasp and seriously injured.

Now that she can show her face at Tiger Hill, and even force the Green-Faced Ghost to a dead end and choose to self-destruct, she must have paid an extremely heavy price. At this moment, she must be injured on top of injured and extremely weak.

More importantly—Sacred Heart Lotus Seeds!

"Someone come here!"

The Black Spider King let out a roar, his voice like rolling thunder echoing throughout the entire hall of the Thousand Households.

"Gather all the elite fighters in the sect and immediately accompany me to Tiger Hill to investigate! Seal off that desolate mountain; we absolutely cannot let her escape! If it really is that vile woman, Gu Yue, I will reward you handsomely for retrieving the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed!"

"Yes!" A chorus of bloodthirsty voices immediately rang out inside and outside the hall.

Immediately, a group of evil cultivators from the Wusheng Sect soared into the sky, their killing intent palpable, and sped off towards Tiger Hill outside the city.

.

Outside the city, in the temporary camp where the Eagle Wolf Guards were stationed, the lights were on, but the atmosphere was particularly oppressive and heavy.

Commander Xiang sat in the main seat of the central command tent, his brow furrowed, pondering the chaotic mess that Lin Yuan Prefecture was currently in. Just then, a centurion responsible for scouting the perimeter hurriedly lifted the tent flap, strode in, knelt on one knee, and urgently reported:

"My lord, something terrible has happened! Our scouts report that the underground palace where the vengeful spirit of the Red Lotus Temple is sealed has been forcibly broken into!"

""

Commander Xiang suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing sharply: "Who did this?"

"Based on the lingering Yin energy at the scene, it's highly likely to be the Green-Faced Ghost from the Five Ghosts of Tianshui of the Wusheng Sect!" The Hundred-Household Commander swallowed hard, then dropped an even more shocking bombshell: "Moreover, just now, an extremely terrifying battle fluctuation erupted from the direction of Tiger Hill's deep mountains! It was mixed with the terrifying power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's self-destruction. According to the spirit-detecting artifacts used by the hidden stakeouts in the distance, besides the Green-Faced Ghost's innate Yin energy, there was also—and an extremely strong aura of Taiyin Divine Light!"

"The Divine Light of Taiyin? The Lonely Moon Immortal!"

Xiang Qianhu abruptly stood up, the table in front of him trembling slightly from the unconscious surge of his magical power. His originally gloomy face flushed slightly with extreme excitement.

Various fragmented pieces of information quickly connected in his mind, instantly piecing together the truth of the matter.

While attempting to seize the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed at the bottom of the Crimson Fire Mine, Gu Yue Zhenren was besieged by several Foundation Establishment experts from the Wusheng Sect and was already severely injured. After escaping, she hid deep in the Tiger Hill Mountains!

That fool, the Green-Faced Ghost, somehow stumbled upon Tiger Hill and ran into the Lonely Moon Immortal, ultimately being forced to self-destruct.

He knew all too well the value of that Sacred Heart Lotus Seed, and Master Guyue was already seriously injured. Now, he had suffered the impact of the Blue-Faced Ghost's self-destruction, which was definitely a double blow and a desperate situation where he was exhausted and on the verge of death!

In such a dire situation where she could lose her life at any moment, she would have neither the energy nor the time to calmly refine that incomparably precious Sacred Heart Lotus Seed.

The treasure must still be on her!

"We still have a chance! This is a golden opportunity, we must not miss it!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Commander Xiang decisively and sternly ordered, "Pass on my military order! Abandon the outer defenses, launch a full-scale attack, and head straight for Tiger Hill!"

"Yes, sir!" The officers inside the tent sensed the undeniable killing intent and urgency emanating from Commander Xiang, and they all clasped their fists and roared in unison.

Zhao Ting secretly ran away. He didn't go to Tiger Hill, but instead quietly found Xiao Hong, who was hidden in the Eagle Wolf Guard camp.

"Sister-in-law, I am not capable of interfering in Brother Xia's affairs. Take advantage of this time to leave Lin Yuan Prefecture and go to this place to live in anonymity. Do not mention your time in Lin Yuan Prefecture." He took out his valuables and an envelope.

On the other side...

Accompanied by the heavy thud of hooves and the clanging of armor plates, a murderous aura filled the Eagle Wolf Guard camp. Large numbers of elite cavalry, personally led by Commander Xiang, surged forward like a black torrent of steel, taking advantage of the darkness to sweep madly toward Tiger Hill.

Qixia Immortal Sect, once a blessed land surrounded by immortal energy, is now a place ravaged by war and devastated.

Within the sect, the civil war between the aristocratic faction and the master-disciple faction has reached its most brutal and intense stage.

The cultivators of the master-disciple lineage suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat in defeat. Now they could only retreat to the main hall on the main peak, relying on the last broken protective formation to hold on. This was their last stronghold.

Outside the encirclement, within the temporary headquarters of the powerful clans, the atmosphere was somewhat unusual.

The Pei family's enforcement elder hurried into the secret chamber, clutching a newly lit communication jade talisman tightly in his hand, his face brimming with excitement: "Ancestor, we've just received confirmation that True Person Gu Yue's whereabouts have been exposed! She is currently hiding deep within the Tiger Hill Mountains!"

The elder in charge of law enforcement, his eyes fierce, eagerly inquired, "She must be seriously injured now. Shouldn't we dispatch our experts immediately to retrieve the Sacred Lotus Seed?"

In the center of the secret chamber, the Pei family's outer alchemy patriarch, who had been sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes. His wrinkled old face did not show the fanaticism that the law enforcement elder had expected; instead, it revealed a cold and clear-headed understanding of the overall situation.

"Go there now? Go and die?" The old ancestor of external alchemy sneered, his withered fingers lightly tapping his knee. "Think about it carefully. The Great You Dynasty is already furious about the changes in Lin Yuan Prefecture and is mobilizing a large army from the surrounding areas to suppress it. In order to win this civil war, our Pei family has secretly colluded with those demons of the Wusheng Sect, which has already violated the taboo of the court. There is no way out."

He paused, then looked at the elder in charge of law enforcement: "Even if we manage to snatch the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed from Gu Yue, so what? Do you really think that just because our Pei family happens to produce a mid-grade Golden Core cultivator in the future, the Great You Dynasty will just stand by and watch us peacefully occupy the entire Qixia Immortal Sect right under their noses?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the elder's head, instantly calming him down, a fine layer of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

He knew full well that what the ancestor had said was true; colluding with the Wusheng Sect was tantamount to treason. Once the imperial army pressed in, a mere mid-grade Golden Core cultivator would not be able to protect this vast foundation.

"Then—Ancestor, what should we do now?" The Enforcement Elder asked tentatively, lowering his voice.

"Walk."

Without hesitation, the old patriarch of external alchemy uttered a single word, then revealed a sinister smile: "The fierce attacks of the past few days were merely a smokescreen. What our Pei family truly desired has long been in our hands. In the days since, the Qixia Immortal Sect's centuries-old foundation and its once heavily guarded inner treasury have been quietly emptied by us."

"Right now, Lone Moon's appearance at Tiger Hill has conveniently drawn the attention of the Eagle Wolf Guard and the Wusheng Sect. This is a golden opportunity for us to escape, a once-in-a-lifetime chance bestowed by Heaven!" The Outer Alchemy Ancestor stood up, waved his sleeves, and decisively issued the final order, "Pass down the order to our core clansmen to immediately abandon the siege, take all resources, and secretly evacuate according to the original plan, retreating at full speed to the sea!"

As long as they escape into the vast sea, far from the emperor's reach, the Pei family can still rise again in that remote and uncivilized land, thanks to the vast cultivation resources in the sect's treasury.

The elder in charge of enforcement understood immediately and clasped his hands in obedience. But as he turned to leave, he remembered something, paused, and asked, "Ancestor, what should be done with those two male disciples of True Person Lonely Moon?"

At the beginning of the internal strife within the Qixia Immortal Sect, the two male disciples of Master Guyue, in order to save their lives, shamelessly betrayed their sect and actively sought refuge with the aristocratic faction, even revealing many of the master and disciple's secret formations.

Upon hearing this, the Old Ancestor of External Alchemy revealed an undisguised contempt and disgust in his turbid eyes, and coldly said, "They're nothing but two traitorous dogs. Taking them along will only waste the Pei family's spirit stones and the space of our escape ark."

He turned around, his back to the elder in charge of enforcement: "Leave them here. Since they are good disciples of Master Guyue, let's be merciful and clean up Master Guyue's sect before we leave."

The two, who surrendered to the sect during the internal strife, originally thought they could rely on a powerful family to save their lives and even fantasized about wielding power in the future. They never dreamed that after the Pei family had completely exploited them, they would become discarded pawns and even be silenced.

"promise!"

The elder in charge of law enforcement bowed deeply, accepted the order, and strode into the night.

..

On the main peak of Qixia Immortal Sect, the broken protective array's light curtain flickered like a candle in the wind in the night, as if it would collapse completely at any moment.

.

Inside the main hall, the once-prosperous master-disciple faction has been almost completely wiped out, leaving only a few members.

Several elders covered in blood and a dozen core disciples slumped to the ground, their eyes filled with deep despair.

Faced with the fierce attacks from powerful families and factions outside, everyone knew that once the formation broke, all that awaited them was death and annihilation.

However, just when everyone thought their time was up, the continuous, deafening magical bombardment outside the hall suddenly stopped without warning.

That suffocating offensive vanished in an instant, like the receding tide.

The entire area surrounding the main peak was plunged into a chilling silence.

"What's going on? Why have the aristocratic families stopped?" A disciple gripped the broken magic weapon in his hand, his voice trembling.

Before long, a disciple who had been sent out to scout rushed into the main hall, his face filled with unbelievable joy and shock. He shouted, "They've retreated! The Pei family and the other powerful clans have all retreated! They not only abandoned the siege, but also took all the people they could carry, and left the sect altogether!"

The hall was initially deathly silent, then erupted into gasps of relief.

The disciple who had been gathering information swallowed hard, then dropped another bombshell: "I've also learned that something major has happened outside Lin Yuan Prefecture. An extremely terrifying battle has erupted in the depths of Tiger Hill, and someone has sensed an incredibly strong aura of 'Taiyin Divine Light.' Rumors are circulating that Master Uncle Lonely Moon's whereabouts have been exposed in Tiger Hill!"

Upon hearing the words "Master Lonely Moon," an elderly man sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall, whose breath was weak, suddenly opened his eyes.

This man was the only remaining external alchemy master in the master-disciple faction. He had been injured in the previous civil war and was already severely weakened. Now that the entire master-disciple faction was leaderless, he was the only pillar of support for everyone.

"The Lonely Moon has appeared at Tiger Hill—" the Outer Alchemy Master murmured to himself, his turbid eyes flashing with extremely complex light, like an abyss.

He knew very well that Master Guyue had gone to the Crimson Fire Mine to compete for the "Sacred Heart Lotus Seed," which could help people form their core. Now, instead of returning to her sect, she was engaged in a fierce battle with someone in the desolate Tiger Hill. What did this mean?

This means that she must have encountered unimaginable danger in the Crimson Fire Mine, and at this moment she must be seriously injured, or even desperate, which is why she hid in Tiger Hill!

The outer alchemy master's gaze swept over the dilapidated hall and the few disciples around him, and an extreme chill welled up in his heart.

The Qixia Immortal Sect has been completely destroyed.

Before the aristocratic factions withdrew, they must have already emptied the sect's treasury. Even if the Grand Elder, who fought the Vice Leader of the Wusheng Sect, returned safely, he was already nearing the end of his lifespan. Even if he won the battle, he would surely be severely weakened and not far from passing away.

It can be said that the Qixia Immortal Sect today is just an empty shell with leaks on all sides.

To preserve the lineage in this perilous situation, we must have a new mid-grade Golden Core ancestor to oversee it!

It is highly likely that Master Guyue is holding that Sacred Heart Lotus Seed in his hand.

The outer alchemist's fingers clenched slightly within his wide sleeves. If the Lone Moon Immortal's injuries were not serious, then all would be well, and the master-disciple faction would welcome back a pillar who was about to form his core; but what if—what if the Lone Moon Immortal damaged his Dao foundation, or was so weak that he was simply unable to refine the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed to break through to the Golden Core stage?

That sacred lotus seed, which is crucial to the sect's fate, must not be wasted on a useless person!

The continuation of the sect is paramount. If Master Guyue is truly beyond saving, for the sake of the Qixia Immortal Sect's lineage, even if it means bearing eternal infamy, he must do everything in his power to retrieve the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed from her and cultivate a new mid-grade Golden Core cultivator for the sect as soon as possible!

With this thought in mind, the external alchemy master suppressed his surging blood and qi, and slowly stood up, supporting himself on the back of the chair. His aged face regained its dignity, and he ordered in a deep voice, "We survived this calamity entirely thanks to the protection of our ancestors. Now that we have news of Gu Yue, we must not let her wander outside and be bullied by others."

The Outer Alchemy Master's gaze swept over the remaining group, his tone revealing an undeniable resolve: "Everyone, take the remaining pills and healing artifacts, and follow me down the mountain immediately! We're going to Tiger Hill to 'welcome' Master Lonely Moon back to the sect!"

As night deepened, the once quiet Tiger Hill was now filled with a suffocating and chilling atmosphere.

The edge of the huge scorched crater left by the self-destruction of the Green-Faced Ghost's Foundation Building still emitted a pungent burnt smell and lingering Yin energy.

In the shadowy forest surrounding the scorched pit, powerful auras gathered like a tide.

The first to arrive were the Black Spider Dharma King, who had transformed into a thick black beam of light, and dozens of menacing elites of the Wusheng Sect behind him.

Immediately following, accompanied by the dull yet orderly sound of horses' hooves, the Eagle Wolf Guard led by Commander Xiang arrived outside the forest.

Not long after, several dim streaks of light flashed across the night sky. The severely injured external alchemy master of the Qixia Immortal Sect, along with the remaining remnants of his master and disciple faction, landed on the towering cliffs on the other side.

The three forces unexpectedly met in this desolate wilderness, forming a tripartite balance, and began to contend with the area deep within Tiger Hill that was covered by the "Five Elements Bewitching Array".

The area being concealed was tightly surrounded in the very center.

However, amidst this tense and eerie atmosphere, the vast forest was deathly silent, with even the sound of wind rustling through the leaves clearly audible.

Although all three groups coveted the Lone Moon Immortal hidden within the formation and the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed that could defy fate, at this moment, none of them dared to cross the line first.

The situation is far too complicated.

Hidden beneath a black cloak, the Black Spider King coldly swept his eerie green eyes across Xiang Qianhu.

He knew perfectly well that the old fox had brought the elite Eagle Wolf Guard of the Great You Dynasty overnight, and it was definitely not for the purpose of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path.

Even severely injured, Master Guyue is still a prodigy capable of easily crushing a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If I rashly lead a forceful attack on the formation now, Master Guyue's dying counterattack will be extremely terrifying. If I lose men then, that old thief Xiang Qianhu will surely stab me in the back without hesitation, wiping out the Wusheng Sect in one fell swoop and reaping the benefits.

On the other side, Commander Xiang sat upright on his tall black dragon horse, his hand on the hilt of his goose-feather sword, his eyes half-closed, also calculating in his mind.

"The heretics of the Wusheng Sect and the remnants of the Qixia Immortal Sect have all gathered together—humph, perfect." Xiang Qianhu sneered inwardly.

A cornered beast's struggle is the most deadly, and he was unwilling to risk the lives of his elite troops to appease the wrath of Master Lonely Moon.

He was determined to remain calm and not be the first to step forward.

Once they've exhausted all of Master Guyue's trump cards, the Eagle Wolf Guard will step in under the guise of the imperial court to clean up the mess and rightfully seize the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed.

As for the alchemist standing on the cliff, he kept his eyes down and his mind completely focused, suppressing his aura.

They are currently the weakest group. If they dare to stand out, they will be torn to shreds by the iron hooves of the Eagle Wolf Guard or the evil magic of the Wusheng Sect.

For a moment, the forest fell into an extremely strange stalemate.

Each person harbored their own secrets, their eyes fixed on the void shrouded in the array's mist, yet their feet seemed rooted to the spot.

Nobody is stupid, and nobody wants to be the stepping stone to test a great cultivator's dying counterattack. They are even more afraid that if they risk their lives to break through the formation, they will end up with the tragic fate of "being the king's vanguard, but doing the work for someone else."

..

Xia Dong suddenly opened his eyes, completely waking up from that dreamlike, absurd, and enchanting world. He gasped for breath, feeling sticky and sticky all over, completely soaked in sweat and some indescribable warm scent.

He looked around and found himself lying on Senior Lonely Moon's bluestone couch inside the cave.

However, before he could savor the lingering, intoxicating aftertaste of his dream or investigate why such a strange phenomenon had occurred in his body, he was left with little time.

At this very moment, outside the Tiger Hill Cave, there is an immense and unrestrained release of spiritual pressure.

:

Among these auras, some were sinister and eerie, while others were filled with murderous intent.

"Surrounded?"

Xia Dong's heart trembled violently, and his expression instantly turned extremely solemn. These intertwined and terrifying auras were simply too immense, like a tangible dark cloud pressing down from above.

Even the "Five Elements Bewitching Array" was unable to completely isolate this terrifying pressure at this moment.

The air inside the cave seemed to have solidified, so oppressive that it was almost impossible to breathe.

With a formidable enemy at hand, life hangs in the balance.

"Where is Senior Lone Moon?" Xia Dong disregarded the shame in the dream and hurriedly went to look for the figure of True Person Lone Moon.

Just as the thought arose, a terrifying phenomenon was released from the Five Elements Bewildering Array.

This power is pure, cold, and boundless, carrying an unparalleled majesty that transcends heaven and earth, like an ancient, slumbering deity awakening.

.

The deathly silence in the mountains and forests did not last long.

:

The Black Spider King's eerie green eyes flickered uncertainly in the darkness. He knew very well that the current stalemate between the three parties was most disadvantageous to the Wusheng Sect.

This is, after all, the territory of Lin Yuan Prefecture. The longer this drags on, the more reinforcements the Great You Dynasty might send.

Since both the Eagle Wolf Guard and the remnants of the Qixia Immortal Sect have their own ulterior motives and are unwilling to be the stepping stones for this test, then let him be the one to tear off this disguise!

"A bunch of two-faced good-for-nothings." The Black Spider King sneered, his already violent patience completely exhausted.

He abruptly swung his withered hand down and ordered sharply, "Break the formation first, then drag the person out!"

"Yes, sir!"

Dozens of elite disciples of the Wusheng Sect responded in unison. They quickly stepped forward and unleashed bone artifacts, filthy talismans, and various vicious unorthodox spells stained with intense bloodlust.

Seeing that the Wusheng Sect finally couldn't hold back and made a move, Xiang Qianhu on the other side not only did not order an order to stop them, but instead slightly raised his hand, signaling his Eagle Wolf Guards to step back half a step, completely giving up the front of the battlefield, and adopting a posture of sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight with a clear conscience.

As for the alchemist on the mountain rock, he also watched coldly from the sidelines.

He stared intently at the direction of the great formation, silently accumulating the remaining true essence within his body, ready to act according to circumstances the moment the formation broke.

In mid-air, the filthy blood light and evil aura converged into a nauseating black torrent, accompanied by mournful howls, and crashed fiercely towards the misty light screen of the Five Elements Bewildering Array.

Just when the disciples of the Wusheng Sect thought they could break through the great formation in one fell swoop.

The change occurred without warning.

Splash—splash—

From the depths of the previously quiet, flowing array of mist and miasma, a sound that was both ethereal and immensely powerful suddenly emanated.

The sound started as a low hum, but in an instant it became deafening, like a stampede of thousands of horses.

It sounds like a raging storm on a vast ocean, stirred up by the full moon!

The moon rises and the tides begin, and the Great Dao manifests!

Immediately afterwards, an extremely pure tidal aura, seemingly capable of freezing all things in heaven and earth, surged wildly from the depths of the great formation like a bursting dam.