Not long after, the bad news that Sha City was surrounded by countless monsters and spirits reached the Corpse-Driving Sect.
At the same time, more than ten other border cities also announced entering a wartime state.
Luckily, the Corpse-Driving Sect was deeply entrenched, leaving behind massive formation defenses in these cities to ensure they wouldnât fall easily.
Moreover, the strong ones among the attacking monsters hadnât appeared; they possessed intelligence not inferior to humans, knowing to focus on probing initially or risk being targeted for decapitation.
Therefore, these cities wonât face the danger of being toppled in the short term.
Despite this, the Zhao Kingdom is already in a state of unrest among the people, with rising prices and various rumors flying around.
The nationâs power is visibly being consumed...
Inside the Corpse-Driving Sect, some elders have already taken true inheritors and inner sect disciples to the besieged cities to ensure the situation doesnât worsen.
Many local cultivation families are taking out treasures to summon loose cultivators to collectively resist the monsters.
The Sectâs millennia-old foundation remains intact, with its position still solid.
Wendao Peak, a cave mansion on the mountainside.
Currently, an astonishing aura rushes into the sky.
Thereupon, countless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gather, forming a visible white vortex above the cave mansion.
"Is this...someone establishing their Foundation?"
One by one, focusing eyes turn to this spot.
A thrilling roar echoes.
The Spiritual Qi vortex suddenly vanishes, and a figure in a deep blue Daoist robe flies out of the cave mansion.
"The dantian surges like a thousand waves calming, purple Qi from the east clears hundreds of veins..."
The person is a strikingly handsome young male cultivator, with seven nearly connected black moles from his right cheek to neck.
The whole person is spirited and exuberant, full of vigor and vitality.
"Itâs Qiu Shaojie, Senior Brother Qiu!"
"Senior Brother Qiu entered the sect five years ago and became a true inheritor, the fastest in Corpse-Driving Sectâs history.
Itâs said he could have broken through to Foundation Establishment years ago, but with lofty ambitions, he finely honed himself, waiting until today to finally break through..."
"Senior Brother Qiuâs aura is now restrained and uninhibited, no longer possessing the previous domineering presence, truly fearsome..."
"Though Cyan Wolf Ridge may be eyeing us, seeking various ways to weaken our sect.
But with talents like Senior Brother Qiu, our sect will eventually ride the wind and waves, turning misfortune into fortune!"
"Exactly, countless trials are all grinders; once our sect overcomes this calamity, it will soar irreversibly beyond reach!"
At this critical juncture, Qiu Shaojieâs breakthrough serves as a powerful morale booster for the Corpse-Driving Sect, filling everyone with fighting spirit.
One must know all things bear dual nature, with disaster being a ladder for advancement.
If one is so easily defeated, then why pursue cultivation, how change oneâs fate?
Soon, Qiu Shaojie was lauded as a model by the sect, channeling massive resources to him.
Qiu Shaojie also voluntarily asked to go to defend the border cities, guarding them against attacks from the demon clans at Cyan Wolf Ridge.
The Corpse-Driving Sect again raised contributions for heading to the border, encouraging disciples to kill monsters and hone their skills.
Inside the sect, the desire for cultivation surged, leading to more fervor.
At this critical moment, no one dares to slack off.
No one knows what the battle situation will develop into in the future; only by continually growing stronger can one live longer.
...
Inside the sect, apart from cultivating, Lou Yi also began other actions, putting to use a seemingly casual move made earlier.
In He City, the closest to the Corpse-Driving Sect, inside an inconspicuous house with tightly closed doors.
Two men sat across a table with only a pot of tea and two cups placed upon it.
One looked ordinary, eyes dull, dressed in gray, appearing to be in his thirties.
One looked in his twenties, fair and slim, though with a slightly gloomy expression.
The gray-clad man was Lou Yi with altered appearance.
The fair young man was Su Yu, who joined the Yellow Springs Sect after being expelled from the Corpse-Driving Sect.
"You dare come here?" Lou Yi said in surprise.
Last time, the Yellow Springs Sect caused chaos in He City, even obliterating the local Gu family.
This infuriated the Corpse-Driving Sect, who conducted a thorough sweep of He City.
Unexpectedly, recently, the Yellow Springs Sect silently reestablished a foothold in He City.
If not for Lou Yi having Su Yu as an inside contact, heâd not know this.
"Donât you know the most dangerous place is the safest place?" Su Yu, the fair young man, said somewhat smugly.
He cautiously glanced at the gray-clad man and asked, "Why did you ask me here?"
Su Yu was very unwilling, but with a handle held by the other side, he had no choice but to come.
"Help me investigate a place." Lou Yi said calmly.
"Which place?"
"The place where the Yellow Springs Sect imprisons the ancient martial arts inheritors, the name starts with the character âYinâ."
"Hiss..."
Su Yu gasped, his expression becoming somewhat changeable.
From the few words spoken, he could already sense the difficulty of the matter.
With a slight mistake, the ending would surely be extremely tragic.
However, the opposite Lou Yi ignored his thoughts, coldly urging, "What, you donât want to do it?"
In his hand, suddenly appeared a stone like black crystal.
As Spiritual Power infused it, its transparent surface began playing scenes of Su Yu slaying fellow disciples, like a movie.
Seeing it, Su Yuâs face turned pale, with fury burning in his eyes.
"Do you intend to use it to threaten me for life?"
"So what if I do?" Lou Yi remained unmoved, "If I expose this, youâll be dead without doubt.
And if you help me, you wonât just avoid death..."
On the table before them, suddenly appeared a shiny magical artifact and several blue porcelain bottles with elixirs.
"Upper Grade Magical Artifact... Qi Absorption Pill..."
Su Yu opened the bottles to smell, his expression improved significantly.
He lifted his head, realizing in astonishment that the seat opposite him was empty, the gray-clad man having left unnoticed.
"Late-stage Qi Refining? No, probably even beyond..." Su Yuâs eyes flashed with a hint of dread.
âForget it, why not help him? Plus, thereâs benefit to be gained.
When I break through to Foundation Establishment, Iâll kill him; these wonât matter then.â Su Yu could only comfort himself this way.
Returning to the base, he found the crowd reveling in drink, meat, punch, and dice.
"Su Yu, join us?"
"No need."
Su Yu sat aside and began pondering.
âAn ancient martial arts inheritor is held in a secret place by our sect... This matter is surely extremely confidential, ordinary congregation members shouldnât even ask, lest it arouses vigilance. To know, one must approach the elder level.â
âDifficult, truly difficult!â
Days later, Su Yu accompanied a convoy departing from He City, passing through two cities, arriving at a desolate sandy ground.
A group of men entirely clad in black with cold demeanor came over to blindfold their eyes with a magically treated black cloth and gave them earplugs, before forcing them into sealed vehicles.
After circling a while, they finally reached a spacious underground space, then removed all the shielding measures on their bodies.
The underground area spans hundreds of acres, surrounded by smooth rock walls with fearsome ghost images painted on them.
A dim oil lamp hanging overhead flickers with yellow-green flames, imparting an eerie sensation.
"Where is this place, Iâm here for the first time!"
"Why are we brought here, is there a new task to be assigned?"
"Iâve heard a big figure is coming..."
Over a hundred people like Su Yu who arrived here whispered and speculated.
But when two elderly figures in black robes with elusive aura appeared on the scene, everyone instantly froze, saying nothing.
âThis is a Foundation Establishment elder, one seems to be Elder Xu?â Su Yu thought.
What shocked him even more.
The two Foundation Establishment elders apparently werenât the highest status ones, instead standing one left, one right, seemingly awaiting someone.
A moment later, a mysterious woman in a white dress, her face covered with white gauze, came to stand between them.
"Quickly pay respects to the Holy Daughter!" The Foundation Establishment elderâs voice resounded.
Then the two of them took the lead in kowtowing, showing respect.
...