The Modern Martial Immortal

Chapter 188: Sudden Rain

Fangyuan Island had been a strategic hub established by the Nine-Cauldron Sect to defend against the Great Sun Sword Sect. Numerous arrays had been laid across the island, including a level 6 array: the Nine-Heaven Ocean Array.

The island had originally been personally overseen by Elder Cang Hai, who had undergone more than ten refinements by Purple Firmament Divine Lightning. However, as the situation in the East Sea worsened, that elder had been forced to abandon the island, leading the personnel of the Nine-Cauldron Sect stationed there to withdraw back to the sect.

In the end, the island fell into the hands of the Xuanming Sect. When the Nine-Cauldron Sect began mobilizing troops, suggesting it intended to reclaim the East Sea, the entire Xuanming Sect grew tense. Song You, Song Xuan, Lyu Ming, and other high-ranking figures convened meeting after meeting.

Yet according to their discussions, most of them believed this was nothing more than the Nine-Cauldron Sect bluffing. They had only just been taught a harsh lesson by the Infinite Star Palace, to the point that even a Golden Core ancestor had been forced to intervene. Said ancestor likely had not even stabilized under such circumstances yet.

In that situation, the possibility of the Nine-Cauldron Sect launching a full-scale war seemed low. The Xuanming Sect naturally refused to fall behind. To display a tough stance, they deployed a large number of forces around Fangyuan Island.

Though it hadn’t gotten to the point of mobilizing its entire sect across the entire East Sea, Xuanming still deployed more than half of its total strength. The number of great cultivators alone exceeded six hundred.

Then, the Nine-Cauldron Sect assembled its troops in the Nine-Heaven Domain, making it seem like they truly intended to advance deep into the East Sea. As a result, the pressure on the Xuanming Sect intensified further, with meetings being held almost daily. Fortunately, news came from the Infinite Star Palace, reassuring them.

Within the Nine-Cauldron Sect itself, there were internal disagreements over whether to fully enter the East Sea. Although the dispatched forces appeared imposing, their attacks were merely probing in nature. As long as the Xuanming Sect could withstand the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s first wave of attacks, the surrounding sects would certainly make their moves.

By then, the Great Sun Sword Sect, First Yang Sect, Star Sea Sect, Great Yue Dynasty, and Ancient Immortal Sect would all enter the fray. If the Xuanming Sect performed well and shattered the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s hollow display of strength, they could turn the tables on the stronger side and drive straight into the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s homeland.

Moreover, the Infinite Star Palace promised to sell them a decommissioned Sky Patrol Warship at cost price if the Xuanming Sect managed to break into the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s homeland.

Naturally, the higher-ups of the Xuanming Sect were well aware of their own limits and did not take the promise too seriously. Uniting the various East Sea sects and occupying thousands of kilometers of territory had already stretched them to their limits.

As for attacking the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s homeland, unless the Infinite Star Palace, Great Sun Sword Sect, or First Yang Sect took the lead, they would not do so. Otherwise, they would suffer devastating losses under the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s fierce counterattack.

At that point, not only would it be impossible to hold numerous islands in the East Sea, but even maintaining the sect’s existing interests there would be in serious doubt. Under these circumstances, they chose a relatively cautious tactic: holding on to Fangyuan Island until the bitter end.

If the Nine-Cauldron Sect suffered a heavy setback on Fangyuan Island, they would realize the difficulty of returning to the East Sea. Then, just as the Infinite Star Palace’s intelligence suggested, the opposing faction within the Nine-Cauldron Sect would naturally abandon the idea of reentering the East Sea.

***

On Fangyuan Island, Lyu Ming received a grim report.

”Hall Master, we have just received the latest intelligence. The Nine-Cauldron Sect’s forces have left the Nine-Heaven Domain and are advancing straight toward us. According to our informants, their first wave consists of 108 elite sword cultivators, accompanied by a small number of spell cultivators and psyche cultivators. Every one of them is a third-tier elite!”

Lyu Ming took a deep breath. ”So it has begun.”

Although he had anticipated it, when the news truly arrived, his heart still sank. Then, his gaze swept across the people behind him.

The forces the Xuanming Sect had stationed on Fangyuan Island were not weak. There were more than 160 great cultivators, with roughly 100 sword cultivators among them. Yet among those sword cultivators, more than half were second-tier Foundation Building cultivators, making their overall quality inferior to that of the Nine-Cauldron Sect.

Just like the Nine-Cauldron Sect, most of their sword cultivators were equipped with first-generation flying swords, with only a small number wielding second-generation swords purchased at great cost from other sects. As for those who possessed third-generation flying swords, they could be counted on one hand.

Lyu Ming glanced at the deputy master of the Heavenly Palace Hall. ”What did the sect master say?”

Though the Xuanming Sect did not have Heavenly Palace cultivators, it did not prevent them from establishing such a department. In practice, this department functioned as their intelligence division.

The deputy hall master said in a low voice, ”Over a hundred great cultivators? Such a formidable force, indeed. But it is not so overwhelming that we cannot resist. The sect master intends for you to rely on our arrays’ advantage here to entangle this force. Meanwhile, the grand elder will gather the great cultivators stationed on the other islands and rush over as reinforcements.

”When the time comes, attacking from within and without, we can heavily cripple this elite enemy force! As long as we leave half of them behind, we can break the Nine-Cauldron Sect’s will! Once the surrounding sects see our battle record, they will certainly rise in response! They will pressure the Nine-Cauldron Sect, ensuring they never dare set foot in the East Sea again!”

”Attacking from within and without...” Lyu Ming pondered briefly. ”The plan is not bad, but what if the Nine-Cauldron Sect does not take the bait? Or what if they have other deployments?”

The deputy master sneered. ”That would be even better. Their first attack would be forced to halt due to our flawless deployment, which would deal a severe blow to their morale. At the same time, it would further expose their hollow show of strength to the surrounding sects...

”As for other deployments, the Great Sun Sword Sect, First Yang Sect, Star Sea Sect, Ancient Immortal Sect and Great Yue Dynasty have all been moving their personnel frequently. The Nine-Cauldron Sect won’t know when these forces will strike their homeland. Under such circumstances, they must leave sufficient strength behind for defense, and the forces they can deploy against us will be limited.”

Lyu Ming did not entirely believe it. Still, he understood one thing. Since the Nine-Cauldron Sect had chosen the Xuanming Sect as its first target, a battle was inevitable.

All they could do was take advantage of the relatively favorable situation and display their might as much as possible.

With that thought, Lyu Ming nodded. ”Then we shall proceed according to the sect master’s plan. Let us hope the grand elder’s actions are swift and discreet.”

***

Within the Psyche Kingdom, which had been disguised as the Void Psychic World, every higher up of the Nine-Cauldron Sect captured the discussion within Xuanming.

”They have no sense of caution at all.”

”Hehe, of course. They would never imagine that we have abilities close to a Dharma Form.”

Lou Yuyu said, ”Every one of the enemy’s deployments is right under our noses. If we still can’t clean up a mere Xuanming Sect, then I will change my name.”

One higher up after another appeared thoroughly relaxed.

Li Qingshan said unhurriedly, a faint smile on his face, ”The movements of the Great Sun Sword Sect, First Yang Sect, Star Sea Sect, Ancient Immortal Sect, and Great Yue Dynasty are all under surveillance. They are merely bluffing to help share pressure for the Xuanming Sect. Of course, if an opportunity presents itself, that bluff will immediately turn into action, and they will seize the chance to bite a chunk off the Nine-Cauldron Sect.”

Only at the end did he turn to Lou Yuyu. ”What are your thoughts?”

Lou Yuyu said without hesitation, ”We know how their manpower is distributed, but they know nothing about the precise locations of our forces. Song Xuan, the grand elder of the Xuanming Sect, plans to gather East Sea forces to encircle us. Likewise, we can mobilize more manpower to completely annihilate their two teams.”

At the same time, he waved his hand, and a topographic map of the East Sea was projected into the air. ”The Xuanming Sect has deployed a total of 604 great cultivators in the East Sea. Aside from the 166 stationed on Fangyuan Island, the forces they can mobilize before we arrive amount to only 140 to 150.

”Therefore, we can first swallow those 140 to 150, then move on to attack Fangyuan Island. Once Fangyuan Island becomes a trap, the Xuanming Sect’s East Sea forces will lose more than half of their strength in one stroke!”

”Are you sure about this?” Li Qingshan asked.

”Sect Master, as long as you can provide me with sufficient intelligence support, I can promise you that we will take out more than 300 great cultivators of the Xuanming Sect!” Lou Yuyu replied with absolute certainty.

”Good!” Li Qingshan gave him his full trust. ”Then go and do it. More than three hundred great cultivators account for nearly thirty percent of all of the Xuanming Sect’s great cultivators. Moreover, since those positioned on the front lines are mostly second- and third-tier cultivators, this force is practically equivalent to more than half of the Xuanming Sect’s overall strength. If we can swallow them all in one go, they won’t even be able to catch their breath for decades, let alone stir up trouble again in our East Sea.”

Lou Yuyu nodded heavily. He soon went off to make the necessary arrangements.

Li Qingshan then turned to the other hall masters, instructing them to ensure overall stability. Under no circumstances were they to allow the rear to catch fire while the front lines were engaged in battle. After giving these instructions, his psychic consciousness entered a deeper layer of this Void Psychic World.

”Hall Master Yaoguang, we will be relying on you for intelligence support,” Li Qingshan said solemnly. ”At present, the only force in the East Sea that truly poses a threat to us is the Great Sun Sword Sect. As for the First Yang Sect, it is preoccupied with disputes over sword qi and can’t spare any attention for the East Sea situation. At most, it will occasionally make some noise to assert its presence.

”As long as we can demonstrate sufficient strength and intimidate the other sects, making them realize that our sect is no longer what it once was, they will retreat obediently and relinquish the East Sea’s islands.”

Yaoguang nodded. He had spent this entire period watching the excitement unfold within the Void Psychic World. His understanding of the current situation was no less than that of Li Qingshan and the other higher ups of the sect. Although he hadn’t touched upon certain core secrets, the situation in the East Sea was something he understood thoroughly.

”These forces are all taking advantage of the chaos to profit in the East Sea. They are also very clear about the consequences of opposing us. In such a situation, there is only one course of action. Fight! Strike hard with a single blow, so that a hundred more blows never come!” Yaoguang paused slightly before continuing, ”I have already arrived at the front lines. Leave the rest to me.”

”Mhm. This battle is of vital importance. As for everything else, you can set it aside for now,” Li Qingshan said.

”It doesn’t matter. Gao Shenghan and the others learn very slowly. Even when I teach them something, they need a long time to comprehend it. There is plenty of time,” Yaoguang replied.

The sect master could not help but find that amusing. He wondered what the hall master of the Profound Array Hall would think if he knew this was how Yaoguang evaluated him.

”In any case, I’ll leave it to you,” Li Qingshan said solemnly.

”Okay,” Yaoguang replied.

In the next instant, his thoughts shifted. His psychic mind had descended directly upon Shen Qinglian, a fourth-tier great sword cultivator. He was also one of Li Qingshan’s disciples responsible for leading external campaigns.

”Change direction! Ambush target, 6500 kilometers to the east! Just advance at full speed. They will not receive a single warning.”