A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 100

Chapter 99: Storming the Palace, Capturing the Emperor, Splitting into Multiple Forms, and Heading to the Front Lines

Responding to “Leaf Snake” Wu Jiu’s Strike. The attack was a rapid series of strikes using Luo Yan’s Wind-Riding Steps and Cloud-Stepping Boots.

If a direct assault on the enemy’s core failed, then the wings would be severed, and they would be defeated one by one. His

movements were like the wind, swift as a ghost.

His sword was drawn, its strike startling.

“What?!”

So fast!

Among the four Blood Servants, Leaf Snake, renowned for its speed and reflexes, suffered a great loss the instant it lost the initiative.

An arm was severed on the spot.

“How is this possible? My arm has been forged through countless trials; even without the Demonic Transformation, it’s not much worse than a regular top-tier magic weapon! What magic weapon could sever my arm?”

However, what Han Li held in his hand wasn’t a magic weapon at all, but… the Green Radiance Sword!

It was the Green Radiance Sword, enhanced only by late-stage Foundation Establishment magic power, before the use of Core Formation power.

It was a genuine Core Formation cultivator’s magic weapon.

“You couldn’t cut me in half? Your reaction was indeed quick.”

Han Li, having raised his Azure Origin Sword Shield and fully unleashed his divine sense, squinted.

It should be noted that he was now a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with even sharper senses, and had cultivated the flight technique corresponding to a high-level flight talisman, integrating it into his Luo Yan Wind-Riding Step, making his running speed far faster than his original self at the same stage. In other words, much faster than Wu Jiuzhi before him. Yet, even so, the opponent still managed to dodge the fatal strike with his incredibly sharp reflexes.

“Late-stage Foundation Establishment?”

“Drip drip drip…”

Blood dripped from the wound on Wu Jiuzhi’s severed arm.

Blood also dripped from the Green Radiance Sword in Han Li’s hand.

Their gazes met; the former jolted, then quickly retreated, disappearing in the blink of an eye, too fast for the n*ked eye to perceive.

And this speed was before he had fully transformed into a Fiend.

Even more interestingly, after sending out a transmission talisman, Wu Jiuzhi began circling the imperial palace garden.

Han Li raised an eyebrow upon seeing this:

“Not running away?

Instead, showing off your speed and agility here?

Are they trying to keep me here so that the Black Fiend Cult members can gang up on me later?

” “You dare to show off your childish skills before an expert?”

Han Li’s lips curled slightly.

He flicked the blood off his sword and disappeared from the spot, leaving only the whistling sound of air friction.

Both of them were displaying their speed and agility in the small palace garden at speeds exceeding two hundred feet per second.

Although this was not comparable to the ultimate speed of flying with a weapon, it was still quite exaggerated, after all, it was dodging and weaving in a small space. A slight carelessness could mean certain death.

The two chased and pursued each other, and gradually, Wu Jiuzhi was horrified to find that even if he used all his speed, he was still being crushed by the person in front of him.

“Impossible!”

He had never lost in speed before.

Just like Tie Luo had never lost in strength.

Han Li, who had disappeared, stopped first and revealed himself.

Blood stained the blade of the Green Radiance Sword in his right hand once more.

Opposite him, a figure with three deep, bone-revealing wounds appeared out of nowhere, staggering and falling to the ground, unable to get up for a long time. The area was now covered in drops of blood and countless crimson footprints.

Wu Jiuzhi propped himself up with one arm, trying to rise, but when he looked up, he met Han Li’s indifferent gaze again.

“Who are you? Why do you know me?”

The former boy, now a young man, asked in a dry voice.

He had once been just a small-time rogue cultivator. After joining the Black Fiend Sect, he had only superficially explored its inner workings, but had never met any other Foundation Establishment cultivators outside the sect. How did this person know him? And act as if they were very familiar.

Han Li didn’t answer, but instead teased,

“Stop pretending. You’re not that weak. Show me your trump card, or you might not be able to hold out until Qingwen and the others arrive.”

With that, he strode forward, each step landing on Wu Jiuzhi’s rapidly beating heart.

The young man dropped the pretense, nimbly flipping himself to his feet, his body radiating a brilliant crimson light.

He was about to enter the Demonic Transformation phase.

During this phase, the blood cocoon would provide extremely strong defense. Once the transformation was complete, his speed and agility would increase significantly, his hands would be harder than ordinary top-tier magic weapons, and he would become even stronger.

“So he really is undergoing Demonic Transformation?”

Han Li chuckled.

He flashed forward, his sword flashing, the seemingly thick crimson light not much thicker than paper.

A few swift sword strikes, and his head and limbs were severed one after another.

Wu Jiuzhi could only die in stunned terror and regret, his eyes wide with disbelief:

“No…”

But the sword light was too fast, his pleas for mercy came too late, and reinforcements arrived even later.

Han Li, being an honest man, finally answered the question posed earlier:

“More than ten years ago, at the Tai Nan Small Gathering, I saw you and Qingwen and the others from afar. So, I recognize you and remember your face.”

Upon hearing this explanation, Wu Jiuzhi’s primordial spirit completely disintegrated.

He could finally rest in peace… perhaps.

Another of the four Blood Servants had fallen.

Thus,

the Black Fiend Sect’s Imperial Palace headquarters was left with only Emperor Yue, his late-stage Foundation Establishment avatar, Qingwen and Bingyao, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators, and a hundred or so Qi Refining elites from the Black Fiend Sect.

“The scales of victory should have tipped a little more in my favor.”

Han Li looked at the sky outside the courtyard, his lips moving slightly as he murmured.

…

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh…”

A series of whooshing sounds came.

Dozens of figures flying on swords appeared in the sky above the courtyard next to the Emperor’s palace.

Those were dozens of Black Fiend Sect elites.

The lowest cultivation level was at least the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

The two with the highest cultivation levels are Qingwen and Bingyao, both at the Foundation Establishment stage.

It is said that besides the four Blood Servants, there are five other Foundation Establishment cultivators serving as altar masters of the Black Fiend Sect. However, these five are not in Yuejing, but are secretly active in the five major cities outside Yuejing, capturing rogue cultivators and small family cultivators of Yue Kingdom for the sect, providing nourishment for the sect leader to cultivate demonic arts.

“Ye She, defeated?”

“Nine Fingers… dead?”

Bing Yao and Qing Wen had completely different reactions.

One was surprised and astonished.

The other was angry and sad.

“Kill this man, trap him, and the sect leader will arrive immediately.”

Qing Wen said hatefully.

Dozens of breaths later, Han Li threw down two dead dogs, took out three beads of different colors from Bing Yao, Wu Jiuzhi, and Qing Wen, and then strode towards the emperor’s palace.

There were also some elite members of the Black Fiend Sect there.

However, under his crescent twin blades, they were all no match for him.

“Who is outside? Are they the seven sect immortal masters who have come to save me? I have been waiting for you.”

An excited voice came from inside the Yue Emperor’s palace.

Meanwhile, not far away, a figure in a blood-red robe flew in with overwhelming momentum. His robes fluttered in the wind, his escape technique incredibly fast. His cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and he wasn’t far from the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, the Pseudo-Core stage.

“It’s the Sect Leader…”

“The Sect Leader is here.”

“No need to be afraid of this person anymore.”

The remaining Black Fiend Sect members guarding outside the Emperor’s palace exclaimed with joy.

The figure in the blood-red robe arrived before he did, his voice preceding his arrival, coldly ordering in a shrill voice:

“Quickly seize Emperor Yue. If this person is a cultivator from one of the Seven Sects, then if Emperor Yue dies here, he will be held responsible.”

Inside the palace, the middle-aged Emperor Yue panicked upon hearing this: “Seven Sects’ Immortal Masters, quick, quickly save me…”

His voice was anxious and trembling.

Han Li secretly curled his lip:

“They’re really putting on a convincing act.”

The purpose of this tactic was obvious.

They wanted to trick him into rescuing Emperor Yue.

Then, caught off guard, he was ambushed by the Yue Emperor, who had concealed his cultivation level.

Unfortunately, the Yue Emperor didn’t even flinch.

“Huh? What’s going on? Why isn’t this Foundation Establishment cultivator moving? Could he not be from one of the Seven Great Sects?”

Inside the palace, the Yue Emperor, who was already prepared and ready to launch an attack at any moment, was greatly puzzled.

His extremely powerful magic was held back, waiting for the moment to be unleashed.

It turned out that the true leader of this so-called Black Fiend Sect was not the late Foundation Establishment eunuch in blood robes who had arrived. It was the seemingly ordinary Yue Emperor.

On the surface, the Yue Emperor was just an ordinary mortal.

The Yue royal family, some ant-like mortals, were able to rule the mortal realm of the Yue Kingdom, spanning ten thousand miles of territory, entirely thanks to the support of the Seven Great Sects. The price they had to pay was that the royal family could not cultivate immortality.

Even if there were royal relatives with excellent spiritual roots, they could not cultivate immortality.

Therefore, when the Yue Emperor, who possessed spiritual roots and even dual spiritual root aptitude, was born, how could he be content with that?

Not to mention the miraculous storage bag passed down from his ancestors.

This only fueled his resentment.

Thus, he created the Black Fiend Sect. He concealed

his cultivation level using the strange secret techniques recorded in the mysterious cultivation manual within the storage bag,

making it impossible for cultivators below the Core Formation stage to discern his true nature.

This also fooled the Foundation Establishment cultivator teams from the Seven Great Sects who came to investigate every ten years.

In this way, he gained much time to secretly develop his abilities.

After all, those Core Formation experts from the Seven Great Sects wouldn’t wander into the imperial city unnecessarily; as long as he remained secluded in the palace, the probability of him being exposed was low.

But why were the Foundation Establishment cultivators outside unmoved?

Had they discovered something amiss with him?

That shouldn’t be the case.

Han Li, on the other hand, also couldn’t discern the Yue Emperor’s true strength.

The unique concealment method inherent in the incomplete Xuan Yin Scripture was quite peculiar.

However, it didn’t prevent him from knowing some of the Yue Emperor’s secrets.

“It’s time to end this.”

He moved his right hand, hidden in his sleeve.

The invisible needle-shaped talisman, concealed by the fragment of the silk handkerchief magic treasure, vanished silently.

This peculiar talisman, so transparent it was impossible to see with the n*ked eye or detect with divine sense, had been brewing for a long time; he had simply been holding back. His purpose was to await the arrival of Yue Huang’s eunuch clone—the publicly known leader of the Black Fiend Sect.

This eunuch clone of Yue Huang was no ordinary being; he

too possessed dual spiritual roots.

Crucially, if he eliminated Yue Huang, he could perfectly inherit this clone.

“You know what? If you play the fool for too long, you’ll truly become a fool,”

Han Li murmured softly. The most peculiar aspect of the invisible needle-shaped talisman was its extreme difficulty to detect; its attack left no trace. The only point most easily discovered was when it was activated by infusing magical power.

But if this was combined with the concealment of the silk handkerchief magic treasure fragment, it would truly be silent and traceless. It wouldn’t be much less effective than Qiong Laoguai activating it himself.

“Buzz…”

Inside the palace, Emperor Yue suddenly felt a chill run through his body for some unknown reason.

Before he could think further, a chill truly

gripped his chest. Looking down, he saw a bloody hole in his heart, in his chest. Then, a cunning destructive force spread throughout his body, tearing his soul apart.

“I… I was attacked? What attacked me?”

He couldn’t understand.

In his last moments of consciousness, he peeked through the crack in the door and saw the Foundation Establishment stage figure outside happily putting away his sect leader avatar.

This made him… his eyes widen in fury.

His birth!

This guy must have done something he didn’t know about.

His ambition, everything he had…

“No…!”

…

Emperor Yue obtained his storage bag and focused his mind on examining it.

“The Black Blood Blade, a fragment of a magic weapon; a fragment of the Profound Yin Scripture; a fragment of the Void Heaven Map; a special magic artifact, the Soul Gathering Bowl; over two thousand spirit stones…”

It couldn’t be said that this guy was poor.

It should be said that he was very poor.

In truth, Emperor Yue was initially very wealthy, having inherited Ji Xuan’s storage bag.

Ji Xuan, after all, was a direct disciple of the Xuan Gu Old Demon.

Ji Xuan’s storage bag contained numerous demon cores from the Chaotic Star Sea, various elixirs and spiritual herbs, tens of thousands of spirit stones, and a considerable amount of other cultivation resources.

This enabled Emperor Yue, after ascending to the throne in his early twenties, to cultivate the incomplete Xuan Yin Scripture to the late Foundation Establishment stage within the next twenty years, very close to the Pseudo-Core stage.

Entering the Immortal Path twenty years ago, and reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage twenty years later—this speed of progress even surpasses that of Heavenly Spiritual Roots.

This rapid progress was due to two factors: the Blood Refining Divine Light’s accelerated growth and the exceptional talent of dual spiritual roots. However, the most crucial factor was Ji Xuan’s storage bag.

In other words, if Han had arrived a few years earlier, the benefits within that storage bag might have been even greater.

Of course, even if he were given a second chance, he certainly wouldn’t take that risk.

The current situation was quite good.

“The Black Blood Blade is most effective when used in conjunction with the Blood Refining Divine Light and the Blood Spirit Drill…” His cunning was unerring. Even the original owner of the body who had cultivated the Great Evolution Technique almost didn’t realize what was happening and suffered a terrible fate.

“The incomplete Xuan Yin Scripture contains three major techniques: Blood Refining Divine Light, Demonic Fiend Technique, and Black Fiend Asura Technique. It also includes the Blood Spirit Drill, the method for condensing the Blood Condensation Five Elements Pill, the Marrow Cultivation Pill, Blood Sacrifice, and other mysterious secret techniques.” It can be considered a grand tome of demonic cultivation.

And this is only an incomplete version.

“The Incomplete Void Heaven Map…” is the entry ticket to the Void Heaven Palace instance, a key.

“The Soul Gathering Bowl…” is a rare magical artifact used by demonic cultivators to contain the souls and primordial spirits of cultivators, specifically for them to refine and control their inner primordial spirits. It is also an excellent material for crafting second and third-level puppets.

It’s unknown how many rogue cultivators Emperor Yue slaughtered; even this late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was forced to shiver by the chilling aura within the Soul Gathering Bowl.

“This guy, under the guise of refusing to be a slave to the rulers of the Seven Sects, secretly rebels against them. But what’s the meaning of this? He’s secretly slaughtering so many rogue cultivators and cultivators from small families for his own cultivation. Damn, what a hypocrite!”

Few cultivators in the Tiannan cultivation world have a pure heart.

Including Han Li.

That’s why he didn’t burn the eunuch clone; instead, he kept it for future use.

This was much faster and more efficient than cultivating a new Fiend Core clone from scratch.

After carefully storing Yue Huang and the eunuch clone with a sealing talisman, he went to the training room where the eunuch clone was located to examine the corpses. These were all unfortunate rogue cultivators slaughtered by the Black Fiend Sect in recent years. From the training room, he found several thousand spirit stones and some valuable supplies.

With this, the four blood servants plus the eunuch clone’s storage bag brought his wealth to nearly twenty thousand.

Leaving the capital of Yue, he went straight to the battlefield of Jingu Plain.

He told Master Hongfu the whole story and

retrieved the body of the Yue Emperor. With

the dead witnesses and physical evidence in hand, and with the formidable enemy of the demonic path at hand, Master Hongfu and the Core Formation stage experts of the seven major sects not only did not criticize Han Li’s actions in Yue, but instead praised him highly. The fact that

this matter hadn’t been exposed was a merit in itself.

Otherwise, their seven major sects would have become a den of iniquity under their noses, a laughingstock if word got out.

Now that the seven major sects had discovered it, the cultivation world of Yue could be restored to its former glory.

From then on, rogue cultivators and cultivation families would no longer need to be so cautious due to the hidden threat of the Black Fiend Sect.

Therefore, Han Li was not only without fault, but also meritorious.

And a great merit at that.

“Since my disciple has performed such a great service, how about awarding him 20,000 merit points?”

Hong Fu looked at the leaders of various sects present and the other twenty or thirty Core Formation stage cultivators who were stationed there and made a suggestion.

Upon hearing this, the Core Formation cultivators from Huadaowu were the first to object:

“Isn’t that inappropriate? Our battlefield merits are only determined by the number of cultivators from the six demonic sects hunted. Giving 20,000 merits directly is too much.”

Core Formation cultivators from the Giant Sword Sect and Spirit Beast Mountain also exchanged glances and joined in the objection:

“Indeed, it’s inappropriate. Our battlefield is the most important. Killing a minor elite at the twelfth or thirteenth level of Qi Refining on the battlefield gives fifty merit points. Killing an early Foundation Establishment cultivator only gives five hundred merit points. Mid-Foundation Establishment, one thousand five hundred. Late Foundation Establishment, five thousand merit points. Fellow Daoist Hongfu, your disciple has at most killed a late Foundation Establishment evil cultivator. Even considering the significance behind it, giving more than double that, ten thousand merit points, would be generous. How can it be twenty thousand?”

“Yes, what will the cultivators on the front lines think?”

With three objecting, the other group of Core Formation cultivators immediately fell silent, mostly choosing to observe from the sidelines.

The seven sects’ outward harmony masking their own hidden agendas had been a long-standing issue.

Moreover, merit points are equivalent to spirit stones, which are profits.

One merit point can be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone, so 20,000 merit points equals 20,000 spirit stones. They went through countless hardships to kill a Core Formation stage cultivator, and only received 100,000 merit points. You, Hong Fu, are offering 20,000 merit points for your disciple; this is a bit too much of a backdoor.

Seeing his master struggling to secure benefits for him, Han Li naturally wouldn’t just stand by and watch:

“Master, I have some corpses of Black Fiend Sect members here…”

He smiled innocently and took out a large storage bag.

When everyone saw the hundreds of Qi Refining stage corpses and four Foundation Establishment stage corpses poured out of the storage bag, they opened their mouths but remained silent for a long time. Looking at Han Li’s innocent smiling face, their expressions became increasingly strange: How could this guy take out so many “spoils of war” with such a smile?

Among them, a beautiful figure from the Hidden Moon Sect had the strangest expression:

Is that you?

No wonder I’ve been searching for you for so long without finding you. “

So you’re not a disciple of Tianque Fortress, but from Huangfeng Valley!

“

Hongfu’s master, who had been somewhat embarrassed, snorted.

She looked at the Core Formation cultivators from the three sects with a hint of mockery.

These hundreds of spoils of war, worth seven or eight thousand merit points, could double to fifteen or sixteen thousand due to their special nature. Adding the ten thousand from the Yue Emperor’s representative, the initial twenty thousand merit points were far from enough.

“Ah, this…”

It turned out their backyards had become such a wrecked mess without their knowledge.

And right under their noses!

The Yue Kingdom’s capital, a forbidden zone for the seven sects’ cultivators, had become the lair of evil cultivators—truly ironic. If word got out, these high and mighty people would become a laughingstock. Even their sect patriarchs would lose face.

“Ahem, twenty thousand merit points is quite appropriate,”

the Core Formation cultivator from Tianque Fortress said.

The leaders of the Hidden Moon Sect and the Pure Void Sect nodded in agreement.

But then, Master Hongfu objected.

“Forty thousand, twenty thousand is too little. Otherwise, I, Dong, wouldn’t mind making this known to the whole world. Anyway, it won’t be my Yellow Maple Valley that’s embarrassed.”

This was utterly fearless.

Who told her to have such a promising disciple?

The members of the six major sects: “…”

They looked at the person from the Initial Transformation Blade Dwelling, full of resentment:

Why did you provoke her? Now, they have to bring out another twenty thousand reserve spirit stones or corresponding supplies.

It’s simply asking for trouble.

“Alright, that’s settled.”

A male cultivator in the late Core Formation stage of the Hidden Moon Sect made the final decision.

He was afraid Han Li would bring out a few more corpses that could add points.

And Han Li was indeed preparing to reach into his storage bag, making a gesture as if to take something out.

“Alright, alright, forty thousand, forty thousand.”

The leaders of the other sects blushed slightly and quickly dismissed the matter.

After the Core Formation stage elders from various sects left the camp in Huangfeng Valley, Master Hongfu curiously examined her disciple:

“You actually broke through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, and your foundation is solid. It doesn’t seem like a forced advancement using demonic methods? Han Li, how did you do that?”

Han Li immediately bowed respectfully:

“Master, I obtained a fortuitous opportunity, which allowed me to make some progress. I’ve already asked someone to inform my senior sister about this opportunity. When she has time in the future, she can certainly go and investigate.”

“You always think of your good-for-nothing senior sister when there are benefits to be had.”

Master Hongfu shook her head with a smile, growing more and more fond of Han Li the more she looked at him.

“By the way, now that you’ve come to the front lines, why don’t you stay here for a while? With your strength, you should be able to contribute to the Foundation Establishment stage battlefield, helping us reduce losses and alleviate some pressure. Besides, our seven sects have very high reward mechanisms to encourage our cultivators to fight actively, so you can exchange your merits for cultivation pills and other supplies. Take a look at this…”

Master Hongfu said, tossing over a jade slip.

This jade slip recorded the merit values for different cultivators.

Qi Refining Stage: 50 merits.

Ordinary Early Foundation Establishment Stage: 500.

Early Foundation Establishment Stage under the Core Formation Sect: 1000.

Ordinary Mid-Foundation Stage: 1500.

Mid-Foundation Stage under the Core Formation Sect: 3000.

Ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Stage: 5000.

Late Foundation Establishment Stage under the Core Formation Sect: 10,000.

Ordinary Early Core Formation Stage: 100,000.

Early Core Formation Stage under the Nascent Soul Ancestor: 200,000.

Mid-Core Formation Stage: 300,000.

Mid-Core Formation Stage under the Nascent Soul Sect: 500,000.

Late Core Formation Stage: 1,000,000.

The young sect leaders of each faction: Slay 100,000 and capture a million alive.

Items that can be exchanged for merit points include spiritual herbs, pills, talismans, magic weapons, spiritual materials, cultivation techniques, spirit stones, etc. Even a magic weapon that hasn’t been refined and bound to a master has been prepared as a reward by the Grand Elder of the Hidden Moon Sect, a Nascent Soul cultivator. It’s a truly generous offer.

Required merit points: 1.2 million.

However, so far, neither side has suffered many Core Formation cultivator losses, and no one has exchanged their merit points.

Yellow Maple Valley has not yet suffered any casualties.

The Blade Transformation Valley, Pure Void Sect, and Giant Sword Sect have each lost one member.

Excluding the Li brothers, the demonic path lost six members.

Two of them were killed by Master Hongfu, who suddenly entered the battlefield, disrupting the balance, and then used the magic weapon Qiankun Tower to kill them on the spot. The other was the work of Old Monster Qiong.

Facing these two, the demonic path’s direct line of late-stage Core Formation experts numbered only two or three. Who could possibly fight them one-on-one?

Previously, whenever Old Monster Qiong entered the fray, at least three late-stage Core Formation experts from the demonic path were responsible for guarding him. Three against one, that was quite manageable, especially since he was the one suppressing three. Now, with the addition of Master Hongfu, whose strength has skyrocketed, the demonic path’s vanguard of Core Formation experts is naturally stretched thin.

Even if Master Hongfu doesn’t receive the same treatment as Old Monster Qiong, she still needs at least two late-stage Core Formation experts to restrain her, otherwise she will be overwhelmed.

This makes things very difficult for the demonic path’s vanguard.

This is why the recent Core Formation battles haven’t been as intense, and why there’s still time to see him.

From this, it’s clear that the butterfly effect caused by the Yan family incident is quite significant. The balance of power among Core Formation cultivators has actually shifted slightly?!

You see, in the original timeline, the Six Demonic Sects were well-prepared, consistently dominating the Seven Yue Sects, never suffering a loss, even with their vanguard.

Now, on the Core Formation battlefield, they’re showing signs of setbacks.

Of course,

this advantage is only temporary.

Once the main force of the Demonic Sect arrives, even ten or more of Master Hong Fu’s forces would be useless.

The combined forces of the Purple Gold Kingdom, Yue Kingdom, and Yuanwu Kingdom, facing the main force of the Six Demonic Sects, can only rely on their formations to retreat defensively. They have no confidence to launch an offensive.

The current situation is far better.

Focusing his mind on the jade slip, Han Li glanced at the exchange list and was immediately tempted.

It contained even rare and high-quality pills. Using different types of pills to improve his cultivation would help him reduce his drug resistance. The required merit points are also high. A single rare pill suitable for the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment costs three to four thousand spirit stones, comparable to the value of a Foundation Establishment pill.

Foundation Establishment pills are also on the exchange list, costing

four thousand merit points each.

In addition, spoils of war captured from the battlefield can also be exchanged for merit points, but the price is discounted by 10% due to the need for appraisal.

That is to say, a Foundation Establishment pill can be exchanged for three thousand six hundred merit points.

“Master, what is the current situation on the battlefield between the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages?”

Although Han Li considered himself quite strong, he dared not be careless. He had to ask all the necessary questions to avoid being caught off guard.

“It’s getting more and more brutal.”

Hong Fu said seriously,

“Do you know how many disciples my Yellow Maple Valley initially sent?” “

Nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators and nearly three thousand Qi Refining cultivators,”

Han Li said.

Another hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a thousand Qi Refining level twelve or thirteen elites were assigned to guard various mines and spirit herb gardens, and the patrol teams near the border were also significantly strengthened.

“Of the initial three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, only about two hundred remain. Of the initial three thousand Qi Refining elites, less than fifteen hundred are left. It seems our forces haven’t suffered any manpower loss, and the battle line remains stable, but in reality, it’s just that reinforcements are arriving intermittently, essentially a piecemeal effort.”

For example, the cultivators who escaped from the destroyed mines and herb gardens are still being sent back to the front lines after returning to their sects.

Unless they have connections to temporarily avoid the early attrition warfare.

Also, those without backgrounds, holding unremarkable positions, or possessing technical skills are still sent to the front lines as cannon fodder.

“The casualties are so high?”

Han Li was shocked.

“In the year since the war began, our seven sects have lost over eight hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. Over ten thousand Qi Refining elites have perished.”

Of course, some disciples exchanged for Foundation Establishment Pills and became new Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Others exchanged for precious pills, breaking through the bottlenecks that had bound them for years.

Here, there is death, but also opportunity and fulfillment.

There is the regrettable loss of geniuses. There are also rising new talents, which are exciting.

“Han Li, are you willing to go to the battlefield?”

Master Hong Fu asked kindly, without forcing him.

Han Li did not hesitate at all:

“I am willing to follow Master into battle!”

“Good.”

Hong Fu nodded with satisfaction.

The look of satisfaction in her eyes grew stronger and stronger:

“Prepare yourself. In three days, there will be a new round of small battles. These small battles will not involve Core Formation cultivators. You can go up and try it out to get used to it. In ten days, there will be a major battle in which even Core Formation cultivators will participate. You must be careful, careful, and very careful.” “

Disciple understands.”

Han Li nodded, and then took out a jade slip:

“Master, I have information here about the five strongholds of the Black Fiend Sect. Should we arrange for people to wipe them out?”

“Of course, let your two senior sisters lead the team. They came to the front line three months ago and have been training for three months. They can go down and rest for a while.”

Han Li nodded, without any objection.

…

Why come to the front line?

It could have been delayed longer.

It was simple; he needed to persuade Master Hongfu to leave this dangerous place.

The seven sects could only hold out for a year and a half at most before exhausting their reserves and seeking help from the Yuanwu Kingdom to the north and the Zijin Kingdom to the south.

That would also be the time for the six demonic sects to coordinate a coordinated attack

from within and without at Spirit Beast Mountain. If they couldn’t withdraw in time, their army would crumble like a house of cards, and even late-stage Core Formation cultivators would face the danger of death. Once entangled by high-level demonic cultivators and surrounded by a large army, even a few so-called experts could be worn down and killed.

He didn’t want Master Hongfu to be in danger.

However, requesting her to withdraw from the battlefield and return to her sect now was unrealistic. Even using the opportunity of the Spirit Eye Spring as an excuse might not work. This was because Master Hongfu was the strongest Core Formation cultivator in Huangfeng Valley; without Nascent Soul cultivators participating, the front lines needed such a powerful expert.

Therefore,

he came.

He entered the fray, guiding the connection between the two events, ultimately achieving his goal of persuading Master Hongfu and even Huangfeng Valley.

“Master, there’s not much I can do for the Red Tassel Mountain lineage before I leave.”

As he left the main camp of Yellow Maple Valley, Han Li looked back one last time.

…

Afterwards, he was assigned to a Foundation Establishment stage tent.

Just as he was about to close the curtain and activate the isolation array to seal the area, a gaze fell upon him from a distance. The mid-to-high-grade sensing talisman pressed against his chest immediately heated up.

Their eyes met, and he instinctively looked away.

The veiled figure in the distance didn’t pay much attention either, only glancing briefly before turning and leaving.

Watching the departing figure, Han Li took a deep breath:

“I was recognized?”

That’s right.

The other party was a Core Formation stage cultivator. No matter how well he disguised himself, as long as their cultivation levels didn’t exceed each other’s, theoretically, the other party could recognize him based on his magical aura.

“So what if I was recognized? What can they do to me?”

He scoffed and pulled down the curtain at the door.

…

Three days later.

Han Li appeared in one of the dozens of small battlefields formed by Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stage cultivators.

He joined

the battle. Glancing at the situation, he summoned eight level-two puppets.

As the saying goes, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” and he didn’t want to be targeted right from the start.

Slowly bleeding the demonic path dry, accumulating merits quietly, and making a fortune in silence was the safest and most efficient

approach. That’s how the original owner of this body quietly killed over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators and a large number of Qi Refining cultivators within a year. His fame didn’t rise in the early stages, but rather later. He had to learn from this successful example.

Eight level-two puppets provided support, the Azure Dragon Chain, a top-tier rare magic weapon, led the charge, and the equally rare fine steel bracelet was used for surprise attacks.

This was the equipment and strength he displayed from the outset.

A top-tier rare magic weapon powered by late-Foundation Establishment magic power wasn’t much weaker than a top-grade magic weapon powered by mid-Foundation Establishment magic power.

He, on whom high hopes were placed, concealed his strength in the first battle, only killing seventeen or eighteen Qi Refining cultivators from the demonic path.

This not only didn’t displease his master, Hong Fu, but instead garnered even more praise.

Those who understood would naturally understand the reason.

“This kid is incredibly steady.”

On the other side of the Hidden Moon Sect, a disheveled old man squinted with interest:

“Moreover, his cultivation speed is a bit too fast. Just how many resources did Hong Fu invest in nurturing him?”

“Isn’t that kid supposed to be very powerful? How come he only has this much strength? No, he’s hiding his true abilities.”

“Hmph, what a cunning brat…”

The Core Formation cultivators, who were focused on Han Li, had varying expressions.

On the tenth day after arriving at the front lines, the battle between Core Formation cultivators began.

An interesting scene unfolded at this moment.

The battlefield for Core Formation cultivators was thousands of feet high in the sky, far from the crowd.

The battlefield for Foundation Establishment cultivators was hundreds of feet low in the sky.

The battlefield for the densely packed Qi Refining cultivators, like a

swarm of locusts, was on the ground. Normally, the Core Formation cultivators on the Core Formation battlefield would restrain each other and wouldn’t interfere with the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment battlefields. But somehow, the aftershocks of clashing magical treasures or spells would fall diagonally downwards.

Then, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from various sects who had performed well a few days earlier were more or less affected by the aftershocks of the Core Formation stage battle.

Some were seriously injured, while others died on the spot, with their own Core Formation experts unable to provide timely assistance.

“The battlefield situation is indeed complex; it’s not wise to rush in.”

Seeing this scene, Han Li was relieved.

Fortunately, he hadn’t stood out too much and attracted the attention of the Core Formation stage cultivators from the demonic path.

He knew very well that although he was valued by his master, Hong Fu, and had her covert protection, his master would definitely provide him with as much protection as possible. However, Hong Fu couldn’t devote all her attention to him; he also had his two senior sisters, Xiu Ting and Xiu Lan, to look after. In addition, the battle between cultivators of the same level was a distraction; how could he easily be distracted? Even if he had the spare strength, he might not be able to provide timely assistance.

Therefore, it was best for him to keep a low profile.

He only had one life; it was better to be safe than sorry, and staying alive was the most important thing.

No matter how outstanding a Foundation Establishment cultivator was, once they died, no one would care about them anymore.

The battlefield situation was unpredictable. The Core Formation experts of the Six Demonic Sects were always secretly targeting the outstanding Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Seven Sects of Yue Kingdom.

Similarly, the Seven Sects retaliated in kind, specifically targeting the more impressive Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Demonic Sect. While

it was difficult to determine a life-or-death situation among Core Formation cultivators,

reaping the benefits from the Foundation Establishment and even Qi Refining cultivators was merely a matter of aftershocks.

The term “cannon fodder” took on a concrete form at this moment.

(End of Chapter)