Chen Qingmu was an elder cultivator of the Qing generation. At 76 years old, he was nearly as old as the First Elder, but he only broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining two years ago. Thus, he hadn't become a family elder and was instead given the status of a clan elder.
Chen Changming, on the other hand, was one of the last remaining cultivators of the Chang generation. When he broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining five years ago, he was already 94 years old.
Considering his advanced age, he hadn't been included in the journey to Qingyang Sect at that time. This time, due to the shortage of manpower needed to activate the Fiery Sun Heavenly Fire Flags, the family decided to bring this 99-year-old elder out of retirement.
Chen Nianyong, apart from Elian, was the most advanced cultivator of the Nian generation. At 59 years old, he broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining, just barely within the age limit.
This was largely thanks to Elian, who provided 20 spirit peaches and several Qi Restoration Pills to speed up his cultivation, allowing him to reach the ninth level just a month ago.
In recent years, the family had suspended stipends and borrowed spirit stones from the clanspeople, which slowed the progress of their cultivators. Excluding the First Elder and the still-recovering Second Elder, it was quite remarkable to assemble six ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators.
"Not bad. At least we managed to gather six ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators to activate the Fiery Sun Heavenly Fire Array," the old patriarch said with a faint smile. With this array, it was akin to having an additional early Foundation Establishment cultivator, increasing their odds of success by thirty percent.
"Since preparations are complete, let's set out."
This time, the group traveling to Tianxu Mountain was much smaller than usual. However, aside from the old patriarch and Elian, all six of the family's ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators were joining, making it a near full-force deployment.
That said, the convoy wasn't limited to just their group. Nearly a hundred cultivators from Yu County hitched a ride with the Chen family's caravan, hoping to traverse the dangerous wilderness of 100,000 miles safely.
Without late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, traveling to Tianxu Mountain alone was fraught with peril. Thus, joining caravans led by the six Foundation Establishment clans became a common practice.
For the family, each passenger paid a spirit stone for the journey, providing an extra source of income while enhancing the caravan's deterrence. Naturally, they welcomed this arrangement.
Three months passed as the caravan traveled over 70,000 to 80,000 miles.
One day, under a clear blue sky, the caravan—consisting of around a hundred people—stopped to rest in the vast wilderness overgrown with wild grass.
In the center of the convoy, the Chen family's cultivators gathered. Chen Nianyong gazed at the open expanse of the desolate plain and muttered, "Once we cross this plain, it'll be just another 20,000 miles to Tianxu Mountain."
"Do you think we might have been wrong? Could it be that those guys don't dare to come at all?"
Elian smiled faintly and replied with certainty, "Don't worry. They're even more desperate than we are."
"Look, here they come now."
As soon as he finished speaking, a few figures appeared on the distant horizon, flying towards them.
The old patriarch stood up, gazing at the approaching figures.
"Two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Zuo family, Lin Taihe, Old Devil Zhang... no, there's one more."
His expression grew serious as he noticed a burly man in a black robe among them, whose aura was far stronger than the other four.
Recognizing the danger, he leaned closer to Elian and said quietly, "That man's aura suggests he's a late-Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator. I'll handle him. You hide your aura for now and strike later."
"Understood."
Elian's expression turned grave. The appearance of a late-Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator added a significant complication to the battle.
The group of enemies approached, and from afar, Old Devil Zhang let out a long howl.
"Old Chen, come and meet your death!"
"Defeated cur, how dare you act arrogant?"
The old patriarch sneered and flew forward. With a wave of his sleeve, he unleashed a fire dragon that roared and lunged at Old Devil Zhang.
The Fire Dragon Technique, a second-tier mid-grade spell, was formidable when wielded by someone of the old patriarch's cultivation.
Old Devil Zhang, who had lost his magical treasures years ago, now relied solely on a second-tier low-grade demonic banner. He couldn't withstand the attack and was sent flying backward.
"Arrogance!"
Before the old patriarch could press his advantage, the others joined the fray. Among them, the late-Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, Old Devil Hong, summoned a black-blooded net to attack.
The sight of the black-blooded net made everyone's faces change. It was an insidious demonic artifact, created through a cruel process involving the deaths of 66,000 mortals. Their hair was used to weave the net, which was then soaked in plague-infested black blood for 27 days.
This artifact was wickedly powerful, capable of corrupting the spiritual essence of any magical tools or cultivators it ensnared. Even late-Foundation Establishment cultivators risked having their essence and tools reduced to pus if caught.
"Foul demon! You deserve death!"
Furious at the sight of such a vile artifact, the old patriarch abandoned his restraint and activated the Blazing Fire Divine Flags.
Seven flags flew from his body, forming a seven-star formation that blanketed the sky with pure Yang fire. The torrential flames swept across the heavens, burning the black-blooded net with crackling sounds. Plumes of foul black smoke rose before being incinerated into nothingness.
"My precious artifact!"
Seeing his demonic treasure being damaged, Old Devil Hong was heartbroken. He tried to retrieve it, but the old patriarch wouldn't allow it.
With a sweep of the Blazing Fire Divine Flags, the net was drawn into the formation. The surging flames burned the artifact to ashes.
"Formation flag artifact..."
Zuo Mingxu gasped in shock. The first use of the Blazing Fire Divine Flags had destroyed a second-tier high-grade demonic artifact in one strike.
Fear crept into his heart, but with things having progressed this far, he had no choice but to push forward.
"Everyone, do not falter!"
"This old scoundrel must be eliminated today, or he'll become an even greater threat in the future!"
Zuo Mingxu shouted, activating a magical tool that aimed straight for the old patriarch's brow.
Simultaneously, the others gritted their teeth and unleashed their magical tools and spells in a flurry of attacks.
The old patriarch's eyes narrowed as he summoned the Blazing Fire Divine Flags back into a defensive formation. The fiery flags surrounded him, forming a shield of raging flames that repelled the onslaught, giving him an almost invincible aura.
Despite facing five opponents, the old patriarch stood his ground, holding them off without yielding.
Meanwhile, the Chen family cultivators weren't idle. The Third Elder and others activated the Fiery Sun Heavenly Fire Flags, unleashing torrents of flame against the weakest of the five, Zuo Zhouqi.
The array's power was extraordinary. Even Zuo Zhouqi could only struggle defensively, finding himself locked in a fierce battle.
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