Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The storm has finally come.

The eruption after years of silence was even more intense than expected.

Without any warning, the attack came swiftly, targeting Funiu Mountain’s Inner City.

Judging by the level and scale of the Funiu Mountain Inner City Array, and the extent of its damage, at least five Tier Three Middle Stage Breaking Ban Talismans were simultaneously activated on each side.

In Yellow Heaven Domain, Talisman Masters are rare, and High Tier Talisman Masters even more so. If these twenty Tier Three Middle Stage Breaking Ban Talismans were all purchased from Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, their value would be roughly equivalent to a Middle Three Grades Magical Treasure, and with just this one strike’s effect, it would be considered a grand gesture even for a seasoned Core Formation power.

Funiu Mountain instantly entered a state of war readiness.

True Man Fengyin personally held down the fort at the central hub, and all Honored Guest Elders were immediately deployed to the four corners of the Inner City.

As for the six senior brothers guarding Xiaojiu at the Celestial Pool Dao Field, they needed no further reminder to be instantly vigilant.

At such a time, it was evident that the intention was to prevent Xiaojiu from forming an Upper True Pill.

”Humph, Xiaojiu clearly only has two sets of inferior Core Formation Spirit Treasures, yet these petty individuals still won’t let him go?” Second Senior Brother immediately exposed.

”It seems in their minds, Xiaojiu’s potential is already locked onto forming an Upper True Pill, or even achieving Core Formation Ascendant in the future!” A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Si’s eyes.

”No! They just want to eliminate any possibility that might affect their chance to partition Funiu Mountain.”

”Fellow senior brothers, I’ll leave Xiaojiu to you, while I go to defend the city.”

”I will go too.” The weakest among them, Eighth and Seventh Senior Brothers, knowing they wouldn’t be of much help here, were the first to get up and say their farewells.

”Second and Si, you two are the strongest, you must not let them break through.” Third Senior Brother closed his folding fan and looked at the two of them.

Without waiting for further words, Second Senior Brother, already filled with anger, unleashed two Bone-Cutting Sabers, and fiercely made his way toward the North Gate of the Main City.

Si glanced at Xiaojiu’s Dao Field, frowned slightly, before finally putting away his wine jug and floated toward the South Gate.

”Sixth Junior Brother, why are you still standing around? I’ll guard this place, as long as you all don’t let them break through, everything here will be fine.” Third Senior Brother turned to look at another person still there.

”Yes, Third Senior Brother, I’ll leave Xiaojiu to you.” Sixth Junior Brother nodded and headed towards the West Gate.

Meanwhile, inside the central hall at Funiu Mountain, True Man Fengyin was constantly monitoring the situation in all directions, his expression grim.

Outside the South Gate, the Canglang Lake Gu Family’s Core Formation Middle Stage clan elder was leading the charge, with the participation of three Core Formation Middle Stage pillars, and nearly ten Core Formation Early Period and Fake Pill battle powers.

Just this family was already not much weaker than Funiu Mountain’s current top tier.

And at the North Gate, which was the Main City Gate of the Immortal City, had the strongest Ice Soul Pavilion presiding, along with various unknown external reinforcements.

There were five Core Formation Middle Stage experts involved.

The East Gate and the West Gate were similarly led by Xiaoxiang Hall and Celestial Sword Sect, with aggressive offensives.

With so many forces gathered, if it weren’t for Funiu Mountain having the home field advantage, the City Defense Array, and the strong support of numerous Honored Guest Elders, they wouldn’t have been on the same level at all.

However, those visible threats were not what True Man Fengyin was worried about.

After all, Funiu Ascendant, the pillar of Funiu Mountain, was still present, and the Divine Bull was still there.

What worried him the most was not knowing how many Ascendants several major forces had deployed this time!

The Cold Jade Ascendant of Ice Soul Pavilion was almost certain to arrive, but whether the other forces had Ascendants coming in person was unknown.

If it were only two Ascendants coming, Funiu Mountain would be worry-free, and the Divine Bull might even be able to spare a hand to help Xiaojiu achieve Core Formation.

But if three Ascendants were deployed this time, Funiu Mountain could not be breached, but Xiaojiu’s path to Core Formation would be dangerous.

The main concern was that it was currently a time of consuming Spiritual Qi, when Spiritual Pressure was surging through his body, if affected at this time, Xiaojiu’s chance for an Upper True Pill would be extinguished, and his life might be at risk, with no hope of another Core Formation attempt.

This timing also exceeded True Man Fengyin’s previous expectations, as he originally thought the opponent merely wanted to cut off Funiu Mountain’s Ascendant seed.

Therefore, he previously estimated that if the opponent made a move, it would most likely be during the Solidifying Pill stage, the stage most easily influenced in terms of Core Formation quality, though not life-threatening for Xiaojiu.

But he clearly underestimated the determination of the several major forces.

To eradicate completely, giving Funiu Mountain no chance.

After observing the situation outside the city, True Man Fengyin once again communicated with several non-combat Honored Guest Elders, arranging for them to head to the four main city gates to host the repeating arrays, to buy Array Masters time to repair the main array’s cracks.

Honored Guest Elders are different from Tributors, one being passive, the other active. Honored Guest Elders, upon receiving the home’s favor, have obligations and responsibilities, whereas Tributors are actively sponsored by Funiu Mountain, and apart from agreed responsibilities, whether they help or not depends entirely on their intention.

After scheduling, a stalemate maintained inside and outside the city.

True Man Fengyin cast a final glance at the circumstances outside the city, sighing slightly.

All the cultivators in the outer city were observing from afar at this moment, with no intention of helping.

Many locals even watched with glee, completely forgetting how their ancestors were enslaved by the several major forces.

But upon further thought, the various cunningly named taxes imposed before he took over from Qu Tianyang were not small either.

Though not as harsh as the chaos caused by the major forces before, ultimately it was a case of five paces mocking fifty, failing to truly realize the original intent of Funiu Ascendant.

”Was Master wrong?”

In such a world where the strong prey on the weak, Funiu Ascendant’s vision would likely never be realized.

To avoid oppressing sentient beings, one needs the power of speech.

Power of speech requires strength.

Strength requires the accumulation of Spiritual Talent.

Like how Funiu Ascendant tacitly approved of Qu Tianyang’s actions, it can only be so.

”No, Master was not wrong, the world is wrong!” True Man Fengyin’s gaze became resolute, though his eyes carried a sense of helplessness.

Retracting his Divine Sense Perception from the outer city, True Man Fengyin finally looked in the direction of Xiaojiu’s Core Formation Dao Field.

”Xiaojiu ah, you’ve suffered, don’t blame Master, he’s having a tough time too.” With a sigh, he frowned slightly, realizing Xiaojiu’s Dao Field was guarded by only Third Senior Brother.

Through the grand hall’s transmitting shadow array, he saw only Third Senior Brother, and felt a bit uneasy.

If at this moment someone were to intrude upon the Core Dao Field, Third Senior Brother’s strength might not be enough to hold them off.

However, he then exhaled a small breath.

The Celestial Pool Core Dao Field is always heavily guarded, apart from the five Tributors, everyone else are long-time members of Funiu Mountain, tested through time.

Among the five Tributors, the old Pill Master has grown weak and feeble, his strength fell off the Late Core Formation stage long ago.

The old Physician has been poisoned for a long time, always using Magical Power to suppress toxicity, his cultivation is on the verge of falling from the True Pill Realm.

The Tier Three Middle Stage Array Master’s strength is even weaker than Third Senior Brother, and had long helped with mending the Immortal City Array.

Only Changqing Talisman Master and Good Fortune Pill King possess that level of strength.

True Man Fengyin held high expectations for Good Fortune Pill King, previously using treasures from Funiu Mountain’s treasury to seek his aid in critical moments.

As for Changqing Talisman Master, he was hard to grasp, but previously concerning Xiaojiu’s issue, he seemed cold and unfeeling, likely unreliable.

However, because of this, he was also unlikely to betray.

”Sword Cultivator Zou Qi, daring to request the instruction of Jiuyou True Man of Funiu Mountain!” At that moment, a Sword Qi accompanied by a dragon’s roar rang out in the skies above the Immortal City, as a figure in green ascended the heavens, pointing the sword at Funiu Mountain’s most renowned Sword Cultivator, Si.