Chapter 98: Deployment (additional update in the evening)

“Okay.”

After hearing Lu Changsheng’s plan, everyone agreed. At this point, there was no choice but to trust Lu Changsheng.

Several talismans appeared from within the ample sleeves of Lu Changsheng. The chief disciple of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons sneered, “Liu Yun’er, don’t waste time. Quickly finish them off to avoid any unnecessary complications.”

“I understand, but we need to spare Lu Changsheng’s life. I need his power to step into the Void Refinement Realm.”

In Liu Yun’er’s right hand, a purple dagger materialized.

The blade was only three inches long, but it overflowed with a purple radiance, undoubtedly an Innate Spirit Treasure.

“Hiss…”

The Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons spurred on the Calamity Serpent, which flicked its crimson tongue and whipped up a foul, fishy wind.

An elder from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion displayed a purple hue on his face, showing signs of poisoning, as his internal True Qi dissipated.

“This is the All-Poison Immunity Pill, take it quickly.” Elder Ku Mu hurriedly fed the elder a pill to detoxify him, “This creature is truly formidable. The mere poison it emits is terrifying, no wonder it was known as a disaster in Ancient Times.”

“Everyone, gather towards me.”

Lu Changsheng sent a message telepathically, took out an Earth Escape Talisman, and infused it with True Qi.

Upon the infusion of True Qi, the Earth Escape Talisman shone with a golden light, enveloping Lu Changsheng and his companions.

“No good, they’re planning to use the Earth Escape Talisman to get away!”

Liu Yun’er quickly retrieved a talisman, attempting to lock down Lu Changsheng and his party.

“Wooden Barrier Talisman!”

Before escaping, Lu Changsheng tossed a second talisman.

This was the seventh-grade “Wooden Barrier Talisman” returned to Lin Qingzhi, an upgrade from the fifth-grade “Wooden Prison Talisman,” which could instantly create a wooden domain spanning ten miles.

The Wooden Barrier Talisman blazed with green light, and its magical power formed a ten-mile wooden domain. The ground within the valley shattered, countless wooden walls rose, and vines grew wildly, trapping the people of both the Joyous Union Sect and the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons.

Meanwhile, the Earth Escape Talisman had taken effect, and in an instant, Lu Changsheng and his people appeared thirty miles away.

Lu Changsheng continuously used five Earth Escape Talismans, traveling swiftly underground, leading the group over a hundred miles away.

“They will catch up soon. I need time to make a breakthrough; you must hold them off as long as possible.”

Lu Changsheng knew continuing to flee would be futile. He had to break through to the ninth layer of the Dao Palace Realm as quickly as possible and use the Immortal Artifact to suppress the Calamity Serpent in order to turn the tide.

“Third-grade elixir ‘Scarlet Blood Pill,’ fifth-grade ‘Scarlet Blood Consolidating Essence Pill,’ and seventh-grade ‘Phoenix Blood Revival Pill

to speed up the recovery of blood qi.”

“Fourth grade ‘Earth Spirit Pill,’ fifth-grade ‘Heavenly Spirit Pill,’ and sixth-grade ‘Dajuqi Pill’ to accelerate the gathering of nature’s spiritual energy.” Lu Changsheng took out a bag of elixir pills and distributed them among the group.

The sects of Mount Shu and the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion were prepared to give their lives to protect him, so Lu Changsheng did not skimp on the elixir pills.

These pills could easily be acquired later, but one only has a single life, and once lost, it’s gone.

“Fairy Xia, this ‘Zhurong God Talisman’ is for your use.”

Lu Changsheng handed over the offensive seventh-grade talisman to Xia Ningxue.

Since Lu Changsheng was going to concentrate fully on the breakthrough and would be unable to fight, he could only bolster his companions’ strength.

Among the group, Murong Shi, Xiao Meng’er, Xia Ningxue, and Zeng Yeqiu had the highest cultivation. Zhao Wuyan, who was at the sixth layer of the Dao Palace Realm, still had a considerable gap to overcome.

“Although I don’t know what means you have to defeat them after breaking through to the ninth layer of the Dao Palace Realm, I will definitely persist until your breakthrough is complete.”

Xia Ningxue took the Zhurong God Talisman, her bright eyes filled with determination.

“Murong, among all those present, you possess the highest cultivation level, so only you can bring out the full power of this talisman.”

Lu Changsheng then handed the eighth-grade talisman “Divine Thunder Exorcism Charm” to Murong Shi.

Although Xia Ningxue’s talent surpassed that of Murong Shi, Murong Shi had cultivated for a longer period. Before Lu Changsheng broke through to the ninth level of the Dao Palace realm, Murong Shi was the most suitable person to use the eighth-grade talisman.

“This is the Divine Thunder Exorcism Charm, I’ve only seen one with master before, but to think you actually possess such a talisman.”

Murong Shi, who had cultivated for hundreds of years and was widely knowledgeable, recognized the eighth-grade Divine Thunder Exorcism Charm from the drawings and ancient script on the talisman.

Such high-level talismans are rarely owned even by cultivators in the Void Refinement Realm, let alone used by Dao Palace Realm cultivators, who can’t fully unleash the magic power contained within an eighth-grade talisman due to their insufficient cultivation level.

“Do not feel it’s a waste to use it, elder sister. As long as it saves your life, use it without hesitation.”

“Mhm.”

Murong Shi carefully stored away the eighth-grade talisman “Divine Thunder Exorcism Charm.”

If she had the cultivation level of the Void Refinement Realm and could fully activate the Divine Thunder Exorcism Charm’s power, that alone would suffice to eradicate the Calamity Serpent.

“Qingzhi, Chen Yao, the two of you hide in this cave. No matter what happens, do not join the battle. Not only will you be unable to hinder the enemy for even a moment, but you would also distract us.”

“This is the sixth-grade talisman ‘Spirit Concealment Talisman’, there are only two, use them to hide your presence. If I unfortunately fall in battle, you must escape and seek vengeance for me in the future.”

After distributing the talismans and elixir pills, Lu Changsheng gave two sixth-grade talismans to Lin Qingzhi and Chen Yao.

With one possessing the Heart of the Innocent and the other the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Physique, as long as the two of them grew up, they would be capable of avenging him.

Lu Changsheng had taken every possible scenario into account with his arrangements.

“Disciple is incompetent and cannot assist master. In the future, I will cultivate even more diligently to quickly catch up to master.”

Lin Qingzhi also understood that a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm would be of no use in this battle and could only watch the battle without getting in the way.

“Mount Shu’s disciple Chen Yao is grateful for Elder Lu’s usual care. If something goes awry… I will join Lin in seeking revenge for you, Elder.”

Chen Yao bit her thin lips, her resolve firm.

“Alright, I’m going to start breaking through.”

Having made his arrangements, Lu Changsheng had no choice but to risk everything.

He chose to hide in a cave, taking out the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core. The golden light from the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core illuminated the cave, and countless bats, startled by its demonic power, flew out of the cave.

Compared to before, the luster of the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core had dimmed a great deal.

As long as he refined the remaining demonic power in the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core, he could step into the ninth level of the Dao Palace Realm.

“When all was churned into existence, born before heaven and earth, in tranquility and vastness, standing alone without change, circling endlessly…”

Lu Changsheng began to operate the Taiqing Wuji Technique to refine the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core.

The demonic power of the Flood Dragon’s Golden Core was meticulously stripped away and assimilated into Lu Changsheng’s body.

Outside the cave, Murong Shi, Xia Ningxue, Zeng Yeqiu, Xiao Meng’er, Zhao Wuyan, Elder Ku Mu, and other protectors were all on high alert, swallowing elixir pills, and elevating their condition to the peak.

“I wonder what chances Lu has of dealing with that Void Refinement Realm Calamity Serpent after breaking through to the ninth level of the Dao Palace Realm?”

Although Elder Ku Mu had some confidence in Lu Changsheng, he couldn’t imagine how Lu Changsheng was going to turn the tide.

“At this point, we can only trust him. Had Luo Feng not betrayed us, we wouldn’t be in such dire straits. Even if we fall in battle later, we must eliminate the traitor.”

Zeng Yeqiu looked towards the east, feeling the presence of the Demon Sects’ elders from the Joyous Union Sect and Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons approaching with Earth Escape Talismans.