Chapter 236 : The Final Assault on Verdant Sun

The Mountain Protection Formation of Green Sun Mountain proved worthy of its Fourth Rank Mid-Grade designation. Despite a relentless assault by seventy to eighty thousand cultivators working in shifts day and night for three full months, it remained unbreached.

However, the constant bombardment had drained the spiritual energy within the mountain's Spirit Pond to exhaustion. Now, they were forced to replenish the Spirit Pool's power using Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

At this rate, they could not hold out much longer.

"We can delay no longer,"

declared Exquisite Jiang, her expression grave as she stood amidst the void.

While they could continue to use lower-realm cultivators to whittle away at the Verdant Sun Sect's reserves, further delay risked Patriarch Xu emerging from seclusion prematurely. If he personally took command to activate the sect's offensive Formation [a structured arrangement of power used for defense or attack], the situation would become far more troublesome.

Currently, the Verdant Sun Sect cultivators, though launching counterattacks from behind their Formation's protection, had not yet dared to unleash the full offensive power of their Mountain Protection Formation against the lower-realm attackers.

This was because Patriarch Mo lacked the ability to fully harness the attack Formation's might and was unwilling to waste its precious energy.

But if a Golden Core Patriarch [a patriarch who has formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] were to take control, they would likely be unable to shield their own lower-realm forces, leading to devastating casualties.

Thus, she resolved to commit her full strength, aiming to shatter the Verdant Sun Sect's Mountain Protection Formation in one decisive blow. For the best reading experience, visit audio—novel.com.

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"Set the Heavenly Python Treasure Ship in motion."

This time, Exquisite Jiang personally activated the Heavenly Python Treasure Ship, carrying over ten thousand cultivators as they began their assault on the grand formation protecting Green Sun Mountain.

She unleashed the most powerful offensive Divine Ability [a supernatural power cultivated through esoteric arts] housed upon the Treasure Ship. The Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation [a sword formation aligned with seven stars, designed to slay demons] spanned nearly a thousand Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], cleaving down from across the vast expanse of the Heavenly Vault [the sky, the firmament].

This Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation, amplified by the combined power of over ten thousand cultivators and jointly driven by Exquisite Jiang alongside seven Violet Sanctum [a mid-level cultivation realm] experts and forty-nine Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation realm] cultivators, possessed a force capable of shattering heaven and earth upon release. Its overwhelming might was nearly comparable to a full-powered strike from a Golden Core Perfection Stage [the pinnacle of the Golden Core cultivation realm] expert.

With a single blow, it dimmed the defensive light barrier of the Verdant Sun Sect by thirty percent.

"Disaster!"

Seeing the perilous situation, Patriarch Liu swiftly seized the formation control disk from Patriarch Mo.

Channeling his full power at the Pseudo-Core Realm [a cultivation stage approximating the power of a Golden Core], he managed to restore a significant portion of the defensive barrier. Yet, before he could catch his breath, another Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation descended, striking the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive formation shielding a mountain] and dimming it yet another large fraction.

"The enemy possesses a weapon of war."

"This cannot continue."

Patriarch Liu's expression was grave. He understood in his heart that if the battle continued like this, their defenses would likely be completely breached within a few more strikes.

He felt they had no choice but to take the initiative, to see if they could shatter the enemy's War Treasure Ship and disrupt this formidable assault.

The Formation employed by the Verdant Sun Sect was known as the Green Sun Heavenly Aura Formation. It was comprised of two core Formation Artifact.

One was called the Heavenly Aura Treasure Disk. The defensive barrier it projected was potent enough to withstand powerful attacks from a Golden Core Peak Stage cultivator.

The other was named the Verdant Sun Heavenly Blade. This Verdant Sun Heavenly Blade was a formidable Fourth Rank Mid-Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]. When amplified by the Formation, at its peak power it could unleash six verdant solar blade auras, each strike comparable to a full-force blow from a Golden Core Peak Stage expert.

Though Patriarch Liu, at the Pseudo-Core Realm, could not unleash its full might, the blade's power under his command was still comparable to a strike from a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator.

With Patriarch Liu pouring all his power into the artifact, a brilliant blade aura erupted forth in an instant, transforming into a thousand-zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] arc of energy that cleaved through the air towards the Celestial Python Treasure Ark.

Exquisite Jiang reacted with lightning speed, immediately activating the Profound Mystery Heaven Aura Formation. A dark, protective energy shield enveloped the treasure ark, intercepting the devastating blade strike.

"The Profound Mystery Heaven Aura."

Seeing the formidable defense of this Art of Divine Subjugation [a powerful defensive technique], Patriarch Liu once again channeled his energy into the Verdant Sun Heavenly Blade [a legendary blade imbued with solar power] and unleashed two more cleaving strikes.

The Profound Mystery Heaven Aura [a profound defensive aura technique] indeed possessed immense defensive power. Though it swayed precariously after blocking three consecutive attacks, it astonishingly had not yet been completely shattered.

Just as Patriarch Liu was preparing to unleash a fourth strike, he realized his spiritual energy [the vital force used for cultivation] was running critically low. He hastily cried out.

"Disaster! My spiritual energy is insufficient!"

"What is happening at the Spirit Pond [a pond that concentrates and refines spiritual energy]? Quickly replenish the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]!"

Patriarch Mo also furrowed his brow, his expression shifting to one of alarm as he looked towards the direction of the Spirit Pond. The story continues at audio-novel[dot]com.

At that very moment, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation] ran over, his face a mask of panic. "Master, it's terrible! Patriarch Zhang has fled, taking all the Spirit Stone from the Spirit Pond with him!"

"Wasn't Origin Brightness Zhang supposed to be holding his post at Verdant Peak?"

The two Patriarch [a title for a senior clan or sect leader] exchanged horrified glances, their hearts sinking like stones.

At this critical juncture, the several Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens their spiritual sea] cultivators presiding over the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes for defense or attack] at Green Sun Mountain were almost all die-hard loyalists of the Verdant Sun Sect.

The Spirit Pond [a pool of concentrated spiritual energy used for cultivation] was overseen by Path Master Ming, a cultivator of the Violet Sanctum 5th Tier [the fifth level of the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage]. For other crucial posts, they were unwilling to employ any cultivator they could not fully trust, even if that person held the rank of Elder of Violet Sanctum.

Take Origin Brightness Zhang, for example. Although his cultivation had reached the impressive Violet Sanctum 6th Tier [the sixth level of the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage], he was the junior fellow disciple of Patriarch Xu. Their relationship was far from cordial. In fact, Origin Brightness Zhang harbored deep resentment towards Patriarch Xu for having schemed against and usurped the position of their senior brother.

Consequently, Origin Brightness Zhang had been kept under house arrest within the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of fiery spiritual energy]. It was only due to the severe shortage of manpower that he was finally brought out to hold a key position. No one expected chaos to erupt the moment he did.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their foundation for further advancement] wailed, "Patriarch Zhang declared that the Sect Master has committed heinous acts devoid of all conscience. Today, by having Exquisite Jiang slay Patriarch Xu, he seeks to avenge our senior brother and wash away the humiliation!"

"That wretched scoundrel, Origin Brightness Zhang!"

Patriarch Liu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in his fury. Gritting his teeth, he suppressed the rage burning within him and could not help but ask,

"What about your Uncle Ming?"

The one responsible for guarding the Spirit Pool [another term for a Spirit Pond] was Celebrating New Ming, a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Violet Sanctum stage]. He was a trusted confidant of Patriarch Liu.

Yet, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator's expression shifted slightly, his face etched with sorrow. "Uncle Ming was persuaded by Patriarch Zhang," he said mournfully. "They fled together, taking the Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] with them."

"*Cough*—"

Patriarch Liu finally could not hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood, his complexion instantly aging several years.

Tears streaming down his face, Patriarch Mo looked at him with a choked voice and said, "Back then, I told you not to support Senior Brother Xu, but you insisted he was ruthless and decisive, the most suitable candidate."

"But I understood long ago that while such a man may appear ruthless on the surface, at his core he is petty and greedy, lacking the grand vision necessary for great undertakings."

"His method of squeezing the very marrow from the bones of the various great clans has caused the Verdant Sun Sect to lose all popular support. Reaching this point was only to be expected."

"Hahaha…"

Patriarch Liu let out a bitter, tearful laugh, his vision blurred as he gazed at Patriarch Mo.

His eyes held a mixture of regret and profound loneliness. "My choice was wrong."

"I have failed our eldest senior brother, I have failed our master, and I have failed the Verdant Sun Sect."

"Go. All of you, go. Save as many as you can. Preserve a single spark of the Verdant Sun Sect's legacy. Never return seeking vengeance."

"This old man will remain here alone, to fight the final battle in the name of the Verdant Sun Sect!"

Patriarch Liu sat in profound stillness, a man of over four hundred years resembling a gnarled and weathered log.

Patriarch Mo let out a hearty laugh, then, casting aside all pretense, settled himself cross-legged upon the ground in deep meditation.

"This old man has but a few years left," he said. "I shall accompany you."

"Born in Verdant Sun, buried in Verdant Sun."

"Let us perish together with the Verdant Sun Sect, preserving the last vestige of its noble spirit. It will be easier to face our ancestors in the Nine Springs [the underworld in Chinese mythology] that way!"

"Boom—"

High in the Nine Heavens Above, the spiritual energy within the Celestial Python Treasure Ark had finally been utterly depleted.

Exquisite Jiang had prepared meticulously, expending a staggering three hundred thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] in a single breath to recharge the treasure ark, unleashing three consecutive strikes of the Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation.

Three attacks, each rivaling the might of a Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core cultivation realm] expert, descended. The air screamed with the roar of sword energy, annihilating all before it. The Green Sun Heavenly Aura Formation shattered completely, and the seemingly impregnable Mountain Protection Formation was finally breached.

Countless cultivators, faces alight with savage glee, surged like a frenzied tide into Green Sun Mountain, ready to commence the final, decisive battle.

"Hmmmm—" [a low, resonant hum]

At that very moment, a grand gate upon the summit of Green Sun Mountain swung open.

A Middle-aged Man with long, flowing hair strode forth. His features were etched with a chilling calm as he stepped onto the void, treading upon empty air as if it were solid ground. Read, share, and discuss at audio‑novel.com.