A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 50: Chapter 47: Surrounded on All Sides

The White Jade Flying Ship sped through the air, carrying Lu Qian and his two companions straight towards Yuqing Mountain.

Plum Blossom Marketplace is a thousand miles away from Yuqing Mountain, and even at full speed, it takes the flying ship five hours to reach. Jiang Qingfeng couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious: ”Junior Brother, can we make it in time?”

Lu Qian nodded: ”The Foundation Establishment Feather Scholar handles the Spiritual Artifact, and the escape speed is extremely fast, covering eight hundred miles in one hour. Zhou Chao, accompanied by two Feather Scholars, can definitely rush back in time. As long as Zhou Chao keeps a clear head and honestly relies on Yuqing Mountain’s Mountain Protection Grand Array for defense, Chaosheng Sect won’t be able to penetrate it.”

At this moment, it was Master Xuan Ji who was controlling the flying ship. He turned his head back upon hearing the conversation: ”By the time we get there, Chaosheng Sect might have already retreated?”

”Not that quickly. Chaosheng Sect is launching an all-out attack and won’t withdraw easily. Most likely, they’re at a stalemate.” Lu Qian spread out a map, marking different forces in Chongming County with various colors, ”In Chongming County, there are dozens of Qi Cultivation Sects, most of which are vassals of Foundation Establishment Sects. Before the Zhou Family’s decline, they kept Chaosheng Sect in check, which is why they had three Qi Cultivation vassals, whereas Chaosheng Sect only had two.”

Jiang Qingfeng examined the map carefully: ”But Zhou Chao mentioned that his three vassals are now in a semi-independent state.”

Lu Qian circled the three Qi Cultivation Sects: ”This semi-independence is certainly instigated by Chaosheng Sect. Fortunately, these Qi Cultivation Sects are too close to the Zhou Family and too far from Chaosheng Sect. Without a decisive outcome, they wouldn’t dare betray easily. Otherwise, we might be facing Chaosheng Sect plus five Qi Cultivation Sect vassals right now.”

Jiang Qingfeng asked: ”Now that the Zhou Family has found two Foundation Establishment Honored Guest Elders, should these three sects return to allegiance?”

Master Xuan Ji laughed: ”Naturally. I’ve been around for many years and seen plenty of these Qi Cultivation Minor Sects. They’re all seasoned turncoats who adeptly play to the prevailing winds.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qingfeng smiled inwardly. The current Yunshan Sect is likely even less impressive than the ordinary Qi Cultivation Minor Sects. However, as long as Junior Brother is here, everything will improve.

”But Zhou Chao is urgently returning with Feather Scholars to defend and can’t worry about them for now. If they want them to return, it will likely have to wait until after the battle...wait a minute...” Lu Qian’s fingers paused on the positions of the three vassals, sinking into deep thought.

Master Xuan Ji and Jiang Qingfeng immediately fell silent, continuously feeding Spirit Stones into the Spirit-Gathering Array of the flying ship, keeping the White Jade Flying Ship at peak speed.

In the blink of an eye, as the sun tilted westward, it became 1:00 PM, and the flying ship entered the territory of the Zhou Family on the map. Nestled in a verdant range of mountains was Yuqing Mountain, among other Spirit Veins, nurturing the Zhou Family and their few Qi Cultivation Sect vassals.

As they flew a bit further, Master Xuan Ji suddenly slowed down, and an Invisibility Talisman flew from his hand, casting a hazy cover over the flying ship.

”Looks like we’ve arrived just in time.” He shaded his eyes with his hand, gazing forward, ”Wow, quite a sight.”

At ten miles away, peaks rose tall, and a massive blue Defensive Grand Array was fully manifest, enclosing the mountain body in a hexagonal prism. Scores of Escape Lights surrounded the peak, fiercely assaulting it, fiery sparks blossoming on the array, markedly conspicuous.

”Is this the legendary Six Harmonies Array of the Zhou Family?” Lu Qian asked, ”It seems quite formidable in defense, not something that can be breached quickly.”

”That’s right.” Master Xuan Ji watched with fascination and exclaimed, ”That black rascal owes us quite a bit. The secret manual of the Six Harmonies Array and the First-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein—he can’t just up and die, or we’ll be out of luck.”

As they flew closer, Jiang Qingfeng raised a delicate eyebrow and whispered, ”Junior Brother, look, it’s a Floating Battleship!”

Among the Escape Lights surrounding Yuqing Mountain, two large ships stood out, sails high, flags fluttering, every few moments, Spiritual Light Beams of various colors shot from the ships’ hulls, bombarding the Grand Array below.

Lu Qian naturally recognized them; the Yunshan Sect used to have three Floating Battleships each ten zhang long. Unfortunately, they were captured by the enemy before they could even ascend due to a sudden attack.

Floating Battleships, collectively known as cultivator warships, are primarily used in wars among Low-Tier Cultivators. Typically, a Floating Battleship carries dozens of Qi Cultivators. When nearing the enemy, they attack collectively, employing long-range attacks with Spiritual Power Light Cannons.

Though these warships appear quite formidable, they can only bully Qi Cultivators. Once a cultivator climbs to Foundation Establishment, they can directly pilot a Spiritual Artifact to fly on an Escape Light, significantly faster than during Qi Cultivation. Floating Battleships fly slowly, making it difficult to hit Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars unless several ships coordinate massive bombardments together.

Not to mention, when cultivators rise to Golden Core, with the profound mysteries of Magical Treasures and astonishing Divine Techniques, Floating Battleships become mere toys before them.

In essence, as cultivation advances, the individual combat strength of cultivators increases geometrically, quickly rendering the collective power of Floating Battleships obsolete.

However, for Qi Cultivators who must rely on Flying Spiritual Artifacts for flight, Floating Battleships remain the masters of the skies. The weak defense of Flying Spiritual Artifacts makes them easy targets for Spiritual Power Cannons, and even if they manage to get close, which Qi Cultivator can withstand the enthusiastic greetings of dozens of peers?

Thus, despite the high cost of Floating Battleships, and the exorbitant expenditure of Spirit Stones to power Spiritual Power Cannons, they still secure a firm place in the wars of small sects. Additionally, some Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars and Golden Core Masters use Floating Battleships as ceremonial vessels for travel, appearing far grander than just flying on an Escape Light.

At this moment, both sides’ Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars are on guard and have not engaged; only Floating Battleships can counter Floating Battleships. But Yuqing Mountain remained silent, no warships taking to the air, merely putting on a display of determined resistance.

Could it be that the Zhou Family sold even their Floating Battleships to heal Zhou Bing’s injuries?

The White Jade Flying Ship moved a bit closer, even the flag patterns on the Floating Battleship were clearly visible. Several Escape Lights patrolled near the battlefield, likely as scouts, any further approach risked being spotted.

Lu Qian and his companions stopped in place. Currently, two Floating Battleships hovered above the Mountain Protection Grand Array, unleashing chaotic bombardments, while scores of Escape Lights carrying over a hundred cultivators encircled Yuqing Mountain from all sides.

”Lu the Kid, how do we get in now?” Master Xuan Ji stroked his goatee, ”Don’t rely on me. My set of Jade Seal Array Bases is still being reforged in the Marketplace. Even if I raise a defensive formation with this set of Command Banners, it won’t withstand the bombardment from dozens of cannon shots from the Floating Battleships.”

Lu Qian carefully identified the sect flags on the Floating Battleships, confirming that only Chaosheng Sect and its two vassal Qi Cultivation Sects, Qingli Mountain and Liuhua Valley, were present, and he sighed in relief.

He pulled out the map again, glanced over it, and smiled: ”If we can’t get in, then we simply won’t go in.”

”Then where are we going?” Jiang Qingfeng, knowing Lu Qian undoubtedly had a plan, asked curiously.

Lu Qian pointed on the map: ”We’re going to help Zhou Chao do what they don’t have time to do, mobilize this surprise force.”