I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 279: Chapter 246: Variables

Late at night, Kongfang City was ablaze with lights, crowds gathered around the central square, bustling with excitement.

”The Xuanming Battlefield is extremely disadvantageous for both sides; those Ice Demons are difficult to fully eradicate, striking randomly anyone they encounter, unlike the Lost Imperial City where Bronze Puppets can be activated and controlled with Top-Grade spiritual stones.”

”It’s a pity the Demon Clan is extinct; otherwise, if they were around to command the Ice Demons in thousands, they could easily sweep across the Ice Field.”

”You guys laugh, but don’t you find those Ice Demons terrifying? Aren’t you afraid they might escape from the Secret Realm and revive the Demon Clan?”

”Are you daft? This is a Secret Realm. The remaining Demonic Qi inside is constrained by an Ancient Great Array, only operating according to fixed rules. Once those Ice Demons leave the array, they perish immediately—there’s nothing to fear.”

”But what if there’s a chance, what if the array has issues? What if the Demon Clan escapes the rules?”

”Impossible! How many times has the Wind and Cloud Meeting been held? Any problem would have surfaced earlier.”

Hong Tao and Qii Ming stood amidst the crowd, watching the two arguing over the possibility of the Demon Clan escaping.

Qii Ming withdrew his gaze and shook his head, while Hong Tao worriedly watched the mirage illusion above the square, wondering why Jiang Yuebai, who had just charged into the Ice Cluster, was nowhere to be found now.

Qii Ming noticed and comforted, ”Brother Hong, don’t worry. Senior Sister Jiang managed to single-handedly eliminate Kong’s Three Heroes, she’s bound to take the first place.”

Hong Tao clutched his storage bag nervously; he originally wagered only a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, but after hearing the arrogant taunts from the Noble Family people at Fengman Tower, he impulsively staked all his possessions.

Though not much, it was his entire wealth!

Around the square, on various pavilions, Nascent Soul True Monarchs from Noble Families and Sects stood confronting each other, while the few Nascent Souls from the Independent Cultivator Alliance had long departed.

In the Wind and Cloud Meeting, Loose Cultivators never made it to the main rankings, only able to contend for positions in the sub-rankings afterwards.

True Monarch Cang Huo still clung to Lii Jiuchuan, occasionally glaring at Ling Guanghan not far off.

Ling Guanghan conversed on Sword Dao with the Sword Monarch of Guiyuan Sword Sect, while Zhao Fuyi sat at a table with Ge Yuchan’s master, Li Fantao, drinking tea and chatting.

True Monarch Cang Huo glanced at Zhao Fuyi, ”True Monarch Fuyi has truly changed over the years. Her disciples would fight battles, and she would stubbornly stand at the forefront with a sour face; now she’s not worried at all.”

After speaking, True Monarch Cang Huo noticed Lii Jiuchuan’s furrowed brows, staring at the mirage illusion, teasing, ”On the contrary, you, usually the calmest one, why feel tense now? Where’s that lofty demeanor you had before?”

”Ahem~” Lii Jiuchuan coughed lightly, recalling what Jiang Yuebai mentioned about her means not being too good; indeed, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.

He needed to know right away how bad it might look, so he could promptly offer some explanations for the girl and save face, right?

”Look, your two young disciples have also entered.” Lii Jiuchuan switched the topic.

”Where, where?” True Monarch Cang Huo leaned forward.

In the Xuanming Battlefield, the young disciples from the sects were entering one after another, appearing in the pit where Jiang Yuebai originally emerged.

”These young ones are indeed all together, too bad their elder brothers and sisters are fighting bloody battles ahead.”

True Monarch Cang Huo observed for a while, noticing the Ice Demons lessening on the Noble Family disciples’ side, yet suddenly gathering under some command to fiercely attack the sect disciples.

”Strange, why are these Ice Demons targeting the sect disciples now?”

Upon hearing, Lii Jiuchuan meticulously observed for a moment, ”It’s indeed unusual; this year’s Foundation Establishment phase has many changes.”

True Monarch Cang Huo glanced at the mirage illusion overhead, in the Golden Core Stage hunting grounds, everything was as they anticipated.

”Li Shen Zhi, that scheming brat, lurking like a sparrow in the shadows, acquiring their wealth while avoiding danger; how could Fuyi receive such a greedy yet timid person, totally conflicting with her character...”

”Hm? These two women seem to be Loose Cultivators; how did they enter the hunting ground too? Could it be this time the Independent Cultivator Alliance is aiming for the Golden Core crown?”

True Monarch Cang Huo looked curiously at the upper-level Golden Core Cultivator hunting grounds, filled with glaciers just like the lower levels.

Besides Noble Family and Sect Golden Core Cultivators, there was also a Mid-Stage Golden Core female cultivator equipped with puppets, and a Late-Stage Golden Core female cultivator wearing a mask concealing her identity.

*

Within Xuanming Battlefield.

”Into the Ice Cluster; it can teleport you elsewhere.”

A group of people surrounded by numerous Ice Demons, Hee Wangchen ran fastest, reaching the Ice Cluster first.

Just about to dash in, someone flew out from the Ice Cluster, directly colliding with Hee Wangchen.

”Little Bai?”

Standing behind the Bald Giant Ape, Yun Shang recognized who fell with Hee Wangchen, eyes widened in surprise.

Those fighting fiercely ahead, including Xie Jingshan and Zhuo Qingfeng, also glanced back.

”Ouch~” Hee Wangchen groaned climbing up, ”Senior Sister Yuebai, you’re tougher than a Magic Artifact; you nearly knocked me out!”

”Quiet!”

Jiang Yuebai appeared flustered, sitting on the ground clutching a Jade Scroll, muttering continuously, trying to record quickly vanishing insights from her mind, even if just a few words, so she can recall slowly later.

With the increasing number of Ice Demons, the dozen people originally intended to enter the Ice Cluster to evade them, Zhuo Qingfeng seeing Jiang Yuebai in such a state, his momentum surged, a sword stroke released, actively engaging Ice Demons to buy Jiang Yuebai time.

”Ah!”

Hua Yingshi sighed, going up to resist the Ice Demons as well.

”Let me handle this!”

Xie Jingshan dashed before Zhuo Qingfeng, smearing his palm across the sword edge, blood splattering, then plunged the Huo Dou Sword into the ice.

Bang!

Blazing flames soared, forming a massive fiery shield protecting everyone inside; Xie Jingshan tightly gripped the sword’s hilt, blood from his palm flowed incessantly, maintaining the integrity of the fire shield.

Boom boom! Boom boom!

Dozens of Ice Demons crazily crashed against the fire shield outside, Xie Jingshan gritted his teeth, ”Are you done yet?”

Jiang Yuebai exerted herself to remember most of the insights, clenching the Jade Scroll, closing her eyes as a powerful aura suddenly erupted from her.

”Is she Foundation Establishment Late-Stage now?”

Everyone was shocked by Jiang Yuebai’s aura, unable to discern clearly what her cultivation was at the moment.

Upon reopening her eyes, Jiang Yuebai’s gaze was clear and bright, untainted; she flashed beside Xie Jingshan, lightly kicked him away.

”Let me take over.”

As the fiery shield extinguished, Jiang Yuebai wielded the Fire Thunder Spear, alone dashing into the Ice Demon horde.

With domineering prowess clearing out a group of Ice Demons, Jiang Yuebai flicked her long spear, astonishing everyone.

”Humph, mere Ice Demons...”

The wind suddenly surged; the ice fragments pierced by her moments ago recombined.

In a blink, five giant Ice Demons, each three feet tall, bristling with spikes, formed, their vigorous momentum threatening.

Jiang Yuebai blinked, turned with her spear dragging, and fled.

”Run quickly!”

Everyone: ???

The group momentarily stunned before reacting, hustling behind her into the Ice Cluster.

”Jiang Yuebai, I despise you!”

Xie Jingshan narrowly dodged an ice spike aiming for his rear, hopping while cursing angrily.

Jiang Yuebai gritted her teeth; without destroying the Demonic Qi core, Ice Demons keep reassembling, growing stronger each time.

Continuing to fight was meaningless; she wasn’t genuinely at Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, and her injuries hadn’t healed yet!