Chapter 553: The Entire Army Attacks
Gao Cuo needed the Firefly Burial Veil to refine a mask, one specially designed to disguise itself as a lifeless object. It could pass false for true, with remarkably effective results.
However, in ordinary times, Qiu Teng Peak was guarded with extreme strictness. Its defenses formed a complete system with no flaws.
Thus, Gao Cuo could only endure patiently, waiting for an opportunity.
This time, during the grand decisive battle, he had escaped in advance, intending to seize the chance to profit from the chaos. Then he learned the latest battle report: Bi Tengyi’s physical body had been destroyed by Shuang Ling.
Gao Cuo immediately discussed the matter with Sword Elder and altered their original plan. They swiftly moved close to Qiu Teng Peak.
After all, such an opportunity was extremely rare.
“Hm?” Sword Elder gave a soft exclamation.
Gao Cuo noticed nothing at first, but soon he saw Qiu Teng Peak activate its defensive grand formation. The entire mountain assumed its strongest defensive posture.
Gao Cuo’s heart stirred, and he immediately understood.
“Oh, it must be Bi Tengyi’s Nascent Soul traveling through the void and returning to her main stronghold.”
Bi Tengyi was one of the high-level leaders of the Ancient Vine Tribe. For many years she had wielded power and authority, and her personal strength was quite formidable.
But this great battle had subjected her to an unprecedented challenge. Her physical body had been destroyed, leaving only her Nascent Soul to narrowly escape with its life.
This sudden change threw the long-pampered Bi Tengyi into a state of extreme caution. Afraid that any accident might occur, she activated every defensive formation the moment she returned, turning Qiu Teng Peak into an impregnable fortress.
“However, by doing so, she has also revealed crucial information.”
At this point, Sword Elder sighed deeply.
“Gao Cuo, you also know much about Bi Tengyi’s background and cultivation journey.”
“She was originally born into the upper ranks of her tribe, a noble lineage. Though she shares the barbarian temperament of bravery and aggression, she has almost always relied on her background, her talent, and her cultivation to bully the weak and act arrogantly.”
“On the surface, this seems like nothing. But when facing major setbacks or trials of life, the flaw reveals itself immediately.”
“So don’t assume that many Nascent Soul cultivators, who normally occupy high positions of power, truly possess admirable character. In reality, they often appear strong outwardly while being weak inside.”
“The correct approach for Bi Tengyi would have been to remain hidden, appearing relaxed outwardly while tightening control internally. But now, within hundreds of miles, anyone who sees Qiu Teng Peak making such a massive defensive display will know that something major has happened. Combined with the latest battle reports, it is easy to deduce Bi Tengyi’s current predicament.”
“If she truly has enemies, they will certainly strike at this moment!”
“After all, a Nascent Soul is far weaker than the Divine Soul.”
After receiving Sword Elder’s guidance, Gao Cuo suddenly gained insight.
“Sword Elder, I understand.”
“On one hand, you mean that although most Nascent Soul cultivators possess powerful strength, their character is difficult to judge—some may even be inferior to me. That gives me a path for dealing with Nascent Soul cultivators in the future.”
“On the other hand, the path of cultivation is not merely about increasing cultivation levels. It also involves tempering one’s character. Especially during one’s weak stage, the pressure from the outside world is often immense, and it is precisely this pressure that shapes one’s temperament.”
“But after that stage, once cultivation reaches a certain height—such as the Nascent Soul level—it becomes difficult to feel external pressure. Ironically, that is detrimental to a cultivator’s overall Dao path!”
Sword Elder burst into laughter.
“Exactly. That is why some people achieve greatness later in life.”
“Cultivators who always live in comfort, never suffering setbacks or failure, will not walk far on the path of cultivation.”
“So tell me—were your previous two failures truly failures?”
“They were also a form of success.”
Gao Cuo had experienced two failures.
The first was the Evil God Bone at Azure Sky Mountain. The second was the Wood-Within-Fire in the Ten-Li Burning Forest.
Both times, he had gained nothing.
Now was the third attempt.
This time he intended to steal the Firefly Burial Veil from Qiu Teng Peak.
Compared to before, he was clearly much calmer.
“Sword Elder, your words make great sense. But… I still hope to truly succeed.”
As he spoke, the numerous green vines covering Qiu Teng Peak began retracting. Vast waves of green vitality rapidly faded, transforming into a surging emerald tide that gathered into the interior of the mountain.
Sword Elder murmured, “It has begun.”
Gao Cuo nodded slightly. He knew Bi Tengyi was reconstructing her body, which would inevitably consume an enormous amount of life energy.
This would greatly weaken the overall defenses of Qiu Teng Peak, creating flaws in its defenses.
And those flaws would become his opportunity.
Sword Elder reminded him, “Prepare yourself.”
Gao Cuo nodded again and began activating his cultivation technique.
This time he truly released his full power. The entire process was utterly silent, without the slightest trace of aura leaking out.
Half an incense stick later, he had transformed into a stone sphere—the Stone Dwelling Old Monster.
If Bi Tengyi’s Nascent Soul had not returned, Gao Cuo would not have needed to exert his full strength to disguise himself as the Stone Dwelling Old Monster.
But since her Nascent Soul had returned and was now guarding Qiu Teng Peak, obtaining the Firefly Burial Veil might lead to direct confrontation.
In that case, the identity of the Soul Formation–level Stone Dwelling Old Monster would make Bi Tengyi hesitate.
More importantly, once this disguise was used, even the Dragon King Temple faction would hesitate to investigate further. Otherwise, they might inadvertently create internal conflict between Dragon Ginseng King and the Stone Dwelling Old Monster—two Soul Formation–level powers within Thousand Peaks Forest.
With a powerful enemy pressing in from outside, Dragon Ginseng King would certainly hesitate to provoke such internal strife.
This was precisely what Gao Cuo and Sword Elder desired.
“The Stone Dwelling Old Monster?!” Bi Tengyi’s Nascent Soul cried out in alarm.
Sure enough, when Gao Cuo officially made his move, he shocked Bi Tengyi. She dared not act rashly and immediately sent a request for reinforcements.
The message traveled with extreme speed to the Dragon King Temple and reached Grandfather Long.
“We’ve discovered the Stone Dwelling Old Monster’s true body!”
“He has finally appeared!”
“Is it real?”
“Bi Tengyi is absolutely certain!”
“Then proceed according to the previous arrangements!”
The Dragon King Temple reacted with astonishing speed.
They had long anticipated the Stone Dwelling Old Monster and had prepared numerous contingency plans. Several of them had even been rehearsed in advance.
They had no choice but to treat the matter seriously.
After all, in their eyes, the Stone Dwelling Old Monster was a Soul Formation–level existence capable of influencing the entire situation in Thousand Peaks Forest.
During the period of his disappearance, they had searched frantically but found nothing.
Now, he had finally appeared!
In every plan prepared by Dragon King Temple, the first step was the same—offer incense and report the matter to Dragon Ginseng King.
Upon receiving the information, the Dragon King statue’s eyes immediately shone with brilliant light, turning from lifeless to alive.
Moments later, Grandfather Long received the latest instructions.
“The Stone Dwelling Old Monster?!” He suddenly sprang up from his seat.
After learning of the Stone Dwelling Old Monster’s appearance, Dragon Ginseng King immediately set out.
Grandfather Long also received a new command—launch a full assault on the Liangzhu Kingdom army camp without the slightest delay.
“Hear my order—full assault by the entire army!” Grandfather Long roared. His voice echoed across the battlefield.
Zhao Xi: ?!!
The Liangzhu Kingdom army: ??!
The Duel of Generals was currently raging fiercely, and the Thousand Peaks Forest side had even begun gaining the upper hand. Why had a full assault suddenly been ordered?
This was extremely strange!
Not only did Liangzhu Kingdom feel this way—even the Thousand Peaks Forest coalition army was momentarily stunned. Many of them turned to look at Grandfather Long, unsure what he was doing.
Grandfather Long swept his stern gaze across them and responded to their doubts.
“The entire army attacks. No mistakes allowed!”
He issued the command again.
“Hahaha! Now this is more like it!” The first to react was none other than the current Elephant King, Xiang Yue.
Xiang Yue stopped laughing, abandoned Shuang Ling, and charged straight toward the Liangzhu Kingdom’s fortified camp.
His power was overwhelming. Air split apart around him as he rushed forward with terrifying momentum, like a cannonball blasting ahead without hesitation.
Zhao Xi immediately stood up and activated a formation.
Cangyue Flying Shield Formation!
Seven hundred silver shields rose into the air. Moonlight flowed across their surfaces, and the Geng Metal energy on each shield condensed into tangible blades of light—combining offense and defense.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Xiang Yue charged straight ahead, smashing through shield after shield.
“This kind of battle is what I like. Hehehe…”
Meanwhile, Li Jiuchu abandoned Mo Yechen and flew higher into the sky.
He grinned wickedly, his lips splitting to the corners of his ears. When the Corrupt Immortal Poison Basket overturned, three hundred thousand Corrupt Immortal Maggots poured out like a torrent of asphalt across the sky, descending to engulf the military city.
Zhao Xi and the others’ expressions changed drastically.
Zhao Xi activated the Cangyue Flying Shield Formation again, releasing over a thousand silver shields. They circled and combined above the city, forming a round lunar wheel.
Geng Metal energy transformed into countless blade storms.
The first wave of poisonous insects crashed into the blades and disintegrated instantly. The sound of shattering shells resembled hail striking jade plates, continuous and deafening.
Crack. Crack.
Inside the military city, cracks appeared across the formation disk of the Cangyue Flying Shield Formation.
The cracks spread rapidly. Within a few breaths, they covered the entire disk.
“I see it!” Within the Thousand Peaks Forest alliance, the Poison Scorpion Cave Lord suddenly launched a scorpion-tail poison needle.
The needle moved silently. Hidden within the swarm of poisonous insects, it approached undetected before erupting with explosive speed. In a single instant it pierced through space, reappearing precisely to strike the formation disk.
The disk shattered instantly.
The Cangyue Flying Shield Formation collapsed into chaos. Xiang Yue broke through the obstruction, and the insect swarm surged forward again.
Fragments of shattered shields scattered across the battlefield like starlight. More than a dozen formation masters suffered immediate backlash and died on the spot.
The Geng Metal energy dispersed like wind.
Lightning Net Locking the Sky Formation!
In the next moment, thousands of lightning serpents shot out from the cracks in the city wall. Purple-white electricity intertwined into hexagonal nets.
The wolf-claw markings on Lone Fang’s face glowed with green light. His muscular right arm suddenly expanded to three times its size.
“Wolf Fang Break!”
With a roar, he smashed his wolf-tooth club against the lightning net.
Boom!
The explosion’s smoke swallowed Lone Fang and the surrounding area.
The Poison Scorpion Cave Lord floated gracefully onto the battlefield.
Her tail stinger slowly traced a scorpion-shaped talisman in midair.
The next moment, the five formation masters maintaining the Lightning Net Locking the Sky Formation suddenly bled black blood from their seven orifices. The formation pillar, the Red Copper Azure Dragon Pillar, tilted violently, and the chains of lightning convulsed like dying serpents.
Xiang Yue, who had charged to this point, tore the electric net apart with both hands like a prehistoric beast and continued his assault.
Li Jiuchu’s insect swarm arrived a moment later. Just as the lightning net began recovering, the swarm covered it, resulting in fierce mutual destruction.
“Activate the Azure Sea Soldier Tide Formation!” Zhao Xi’s hair crown burst apart as his long hair flew wildly in the wind.
Sweat covered his face as he forced the formation to operate.
Nine streams of water gathered like dragons and rose from the moat. Their roars sent waves surging hundreds of feet high.
The river waves surged into the sky, rapidly forming a massive water-screen barrier.
Just before the barrier fully sealed, Xiang Yue smashed into it and broke inside first.
Martial Art—Army-Breaking Momentum!
Still charging headfirst, Xiang Yue unleashed a martial technique specialized in breaking military formations. The nine water dragons rushed to block him, but their military force scattered under the impact as he crashed through them one by one without dodging.
The insect swarm that followed clung to the water barrier and began viciously devouring it.
“Release arrows! Release arrows!” a general hurriedly shouted.
Immediately, countless arrows rained down from the city walls.
Military arts empowered the attack. The arrow storm was unbelievably dense, all targeting Xiang Yue.
Divine Ability—Vajra Invincibility!
Golden light erupted from Xiang Yue’s entire body. His defense surged to the limit as he continued charging directly through the arrow rain.
“This still didn’t stop him?!”
The generals atop the walls turned pale with shock.
Xiang Yue’s ferocity far exceeded their expectations.
Just as they braced themselves for the devastating impact of Xiang Yue colliding with the wall, a mechanical puppet suddenly appeared in front of him.
Boom!
The two collided. The puppet was sent flying backward.
Yet it quickly stabilized itself and landed firmly.
Its face faintly resembled Shuang Ling’s, but its body was flexible like a serpent. Draped in flowing robes with scattered starlight and misty moisture within, it radiated immense power.
Nascent Soul level!
Xiang Yue snorted coldly and exhaled a hot breath from his nostrils before charging again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each step he took left deep footprints in the ground.
The mechanical puppet moved forward to meet him, like an infant throwing itself into an adult’s embrace.
Martial Art—Steel Fist.
Xiang Yue’s fist turned a silver-black metallic color as its hardness surged, striking with overwhelming force.
The mechanical puppet raised both palms and met his steel fist head-on.
In an instant, thousands of suspended threads shot out from its palms.
The threads wrapped around the steel fist. Combined with the Soft Palm martial technique, they formed a mechanism technique—
Cloud-Binding Hands · Thousand-Thread Restraint!
Xiang Yue felt as though his fist had struck a mass of cotton. His immense and rigid strength was rapidly dissipated.
For the first time since entering the battlefield, a hint of surprise appeared on his face as he carefully examined the puppet before him.
“Using softness to overcome hardness. This is the Soft-Bone Mystic Maiden—Shuang Ling’s trump card.”
“Three thousand six hundred ring joints, each embedded with ‘force-dispersing talisman runes’, capable of rotating freely according to the direction of impact.”
“Inside it flows ‘Nine-Turn Corridor’ liquid spirit mercury, able to redirect seventy percent of the force it receives elsewhere.”
“That outer robe appears ordinary, but it’s actually woven from Star Silkworm Thread. It naturally forms a force-dispersing net structure that can alter the direction and trajectory of external force.”
“If that’s the case, the core of this mechanical puppet must be Mermaid Tears.”
Ning Zhuo watched with eyes shining.
Although the Soft-Bone Mystic Maiden temporarily held Xiang Yue back, it also consumed a tremendous amount of Shuang Ling’s energy and spiritual sense.
To achieve softness overcoming hardness required extremely delicate combat techniques.
As a result, the situation that Shuang Ling had painstakingly maintained suddenly collapsed.
Previously, the Nascent Soul cultivators had been locked in a stalemate with her. Now they regained their freedom and rapidly withdrew.
Shuang Ling was clearly a tough opponent. Rather than continuing to entangle with her, it was far more practical to strike at others first and seize military merit and achievements.