Chapter 190 : Allies Gather for the Coming Storm

In the end, Percival Pan left behind only a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the remaining members of his party all boarded the Chen Clan's Treasure Boat alongside him.

Eldrin Chen piloted the Treasure Boat onward. Their first stop was Feng County, where they sought out the Xu Immortal Clan.

For this campaign, the Xu Clan had also resolved to commit their full strength. In addition to their two Purple Mansion Ancestors deciding to join the fray, they had mustered a full sixteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

After collecting the Xu Clan cultivators, the group spent two days journeying aboard the Treasure Boat before arriving at Ling County to rendezvous with the Yang Clan.

"Will Brother Yang be able to take action?" Xavier Xu inquired upon reaching the Yang Family.

Yang Yuanhe shook his head, a trace of sorrow clouding his features. "Although the Old Granduncle still possesses the strength to fight, doing so would likely worsen his injuries."

"He requires another twenty years of recuperation to recover seventy to eighty percent of his strength. Only then would it be safe for him to engage in battle again."

Hearing this, a sense of shared sorrow and foreboding settled upon the group.

Conflict is an inevitable part of the cultivation path, and many meet their end in sudden, unforeseen moments.

Not everyone possesses the thunderous, decisive prowess of Eldrin Chen. In truth, whether in terms of innate combat talent or the potency of his Mana and Divine Abilitys, few within the Chu Kingdom at his cultivation level could even be considered his peers. The complete novel can be found at *audio-novel.com*.

Most individuals, like Yang Zhengyuan, found themselves fortunate indeed to have escaped with their lives from the clutches of a Golden Core Demon King [a powerful demonic beast equivalent to a Golden Core realm cultivator].

Hearing this, a complex expression flickered in Xu Darius's eyes—a mixture of sympathy and a certain grim satisfaction. "Since Brother Yang is unable to act," he said, "then I must ask you to lend out the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy [a defensive magical treasure that forms a protective canopy]."

"After all, Cangkun Mountain is protected by a Third Rank Mid-Grade Formation [a powerful defensive array]. With that treasure, our safety margin would increase considerably."

It was at this moment that Eldrin Chen noticed the apparent discord between Xu Darius and Yang Yuanhe.

This brought to mind a certain rumor he had heard. It was said that long ago, after Xu Darius had broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm, where one forms a spiritual palace], he had once sought to exchange for the Yang Fire Divine Thunder [a powerful thunder-based divine ability] with the Yang Family.

Xu Darius was now only about ten years older than the Old Patriarch. Back then, when he broke through to the Purple Mansion, he was merely a little over a century old—a rare young Heaven's Chosen [a title for a prodigious talent favored by heaven] within the Chu Kingdom.

Jealous of Xu Darius's prodigious talent, Yang Yuanhe had flatly refused the exchange for the Yang Fire Divine Thunder, thus sowing the seeds of this longstanding grudge.

Seeing Xu Darius's expression, Yang Yuanhe's face turned cold. Only a cultivator at the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm] possessed the necessary Mana [spiritual energy used to power techniques and treasures] to wield the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy.

While Xavier Xu possessed the Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears [a pair of powerful magical shears], the one most suited to wield the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy was undoubtedly Xu Darius. Their relationship was strained, and Yang Yuanhe was deeply reluctant to lend his treasure to Xu Darius. His rapport with Percival Pan was also rather distant.

Most crucially, once a Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] fell into another's hands, there was a risk its secrets could be discerned, potentially revealing a method to counter it.

Just as he hesitated, a streak of flowing light shot out and landed in Eldrin Chen's hand. It was none other than the Third Rank High Grade Magical Treasure, the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy [a defensive magical treasure that forms a protective canopy of purple-gold energy].

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. Before he could even voice his question, a voice reached his ears.

"I observe that Fellow Daoist Eldrin's Mana [the spiritual energy used to power magical arts] is profound and exceptionally pure. It should be more than sufficient to activate this Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy."

"I lend this treasure to Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], as the Yang Clan's contribution to this battle. We entrust this task to you, Fellow Daoist."

The speaker was Yang Zhengyuan. Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "With this treasure in hand, we should be able to ensure our safety."

Having secured the treasure, the group wasted no further time. They immediately boarded the Treasure Boat [a flying vessel powered by spiritual energy] and flew through the night towards Cangkun Mountain.

This time, they had assembled a force of six Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within their dantian] cultivators and a full forty Foundation Establishment Cultivator [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. It was a battle where they were committing their full strength.

Cangkun Mountain was located just over ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from the Yang Immortal Clan. After flying all night, they arrived at the foot of the Cerulean Peaks Range early the next morning.

They rested for only One Shichen [one Shichen-time equals two hours], taking a few Pill [a medicinal pellet refined from spiritual herbs] to restore their Mana before launching their assault on Cangkun Mountain.

Heryn Li, who was guarding Cangkun Mountain, saw six Purple Mansion Cultivator charging towards him. A look of sheer terror flashed across his face, and he immediately activated the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array formation that protects a mountain stronghold].

A Third Rank Middle Grade Earth-Fortress Treasure Seal [a powerful defensive artifact shaped like a seal] unfurled, anchoring heaven and earth as it transformed into a vast, ethereal square seal, shielding Cangkun Mountain within its protective embrace.

By the time he managed to activate the Formation [a structured array of energy channels and symbols used for defense or attack], the assailants had already descended upon Cangkun Mountain. A barrage of Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] slammed against the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, yet failed to breach its defenses in a short time.

"End this swiftly!"

Seeing the Earth-Fortress Celestial Kun Grand Formation spring to life, Xavier Xu roared his command.

His actions were decisive. In one fluid motion, he unleashed a Third Rank High Grade Barrier-Breaking Treasure Talisman [a single-use talisman designed to disrupt and weaken defensive formations]. The Treasure Talisman shot forth like a comet, piercing into the grand formation's core. Countless formation patterns shattered in its wake, violently disrupting the intricate energy lattice of the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation.

Instantly, the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation's radiant glow dimmed by half. The defensive barrier, which could have withstood assaults from Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators for days, now trembled violently under the renewed onslaught. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel.com (official site).

The Barrier-Breaking Treasure Talisman's disruptive effect would last only about One Shichen. Knowing time was precious, the attackers redoubled their efforts, pouring their power into Magical Treasure and Divine Ability [supernatural techniques cultivated by immortals] to assault the formation with all their might.

"Disaster!"

Watching the Defensive Formation [a protective energy array] teeter on the brink of collapse, Heryn Li's expression shifted through shades of alarm.

Gritting his teeth, he activated another Formation Tool [an artifact specifically designed to power or control a formation] embedded within the formation's core—a pale yellow banner. The banner erupted with a dazzling stream of light, coalescing into a bolt of divine thunder that lanced outwards.

"It is the Earthly Soil Divine Thunder [a divine ability that channels the power of the earth to unleash devastating thunderbolts]."

The moment he saw this divine thunderbolt manifest, Eldrin Chen raised his hand and summoned forth the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy [a defensive magical treasure]. It transformed into a canopy of violet-gold mist, shielding the group and blocking the attack.

It turned out the banner was named the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Banner [a banner treasure that embodies the defensive and offensive power of the earth]. It was inscribed with the Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power] known as Earthly Soil Divine Thunder. When the grand Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack] was intact, it could unleash six bolts of Earthly Soil Divine Thunder, each strike possessing power comparable to a full-force blow from a cultivator at the Purple Palace, Peak Stage [the pinnacle stage of the Purple Palace cultivation realm].

Relying on this Divine Ability, even ordinary Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators would hesitate to assault Cangkun Mountain.

However, the power of the Formation was now diminished by half, and the might of the Earthly Soil Divine Thunder had fallen to the level of a Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Purple Palace realm] cultivator.

Although Eldrin Chen could only wield seventy percent of the Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy's power, it was more than sufficient to withstand the assaults from the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Banner.

"BOOM—"

Seeing his first strike fail, Heryn Li grew frantic. He channeled his energy into the banner once more, unleashing three consecutive bolts of divine thunder.

The Purple-Gold Heaven's Net Canopy proved its worth as a Third Rank High Grade Magical Tool [a high-grade treasure of the third rank]. Even after enduring the bombardment of four Third Rank [pertaining to the third major cultivation rank] divine thunderbolts, its protective barrier held firm.

At this point, Heryn Li finally panicked. His face etched with anxiety, he cried out.

"Xavier Xu, Eldrin Chen, why do you dare to trespass upon our Green Sun Sect?"

"This is treason and rebellion! Do you not fear the future reckoning from Xu the Ancient Ancestor?"

Xavier Xu let out a cold laugh. As he channeled spiritual energy into the Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears to assail the defensive Formation, he declared in a loud voice, "Xu the Ancient Ancestor usurped his position by scheming against his own senior brother—a jackal by nature!"

"The clans of Bianzhou stand strong and self-reliant. We have never been vassals to the Green Sun Sect, so how can this be called treason?"

"While we toil and bleed to repel the Demonic Tribe, you sit idle, feasting upon the greatest Earth Vein [a powerful, earth-aligned spiritual energy leyline] in all of Bianzhou. Where is the justice in that? Today, we shall drive your Green Sun Sect out of Bianzhou!"

Each of Xavier Xu's words struck a nerve, causing Heryn Li's expression to shift repeatedly between anger and dismay. Visit audio-novel . com to enjoy the complete series.