Chapter 579 - 69: Hesitation Is Defeat (Part 2)

Their final destination would be various mining caves. This was the mainstream method major influences used to deal with captive Cultivators. After all, Cultivators were far more useful than mortals.

Of the five enemy Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Song Qingxing had already slain one at the Late Stage. Song Changrong and the others killed an Early-stage one, severely wounded and captured a Mid-stage one, while the remaining two fled with injuries.

One could say that a third of the Lieyang Sect’s strength was crippled in this single battle.

On the Song Clan’s side, aside from the Black Star Ship consuming a vast amount of Spirit Stones, Zhang Huaidao had suffered only minor injuries. Eight Song Clan cultivators perished, and more than a dozen were wounded.

The casualties on both sides weren’t even in the same league.

Song Changrong watched Song Qingxing return, wreathed in Evil Qi, and sighed with emotion. "We actually managed to severely injure a Purple Mansion Cultivator. It really feels like a dream."

The surrounding people cast looks of awe in his direction.

The cultivators in the Marketplace who had been harboring ulterior motives were thoroughly frightened, no longer daring to entertain any crooked ideas.

"Wrap things up. We’re returning to reinforce Vast Mist Peak," Song Qingxing said to Song Changrong, completely ignoring the gazes of those around him.

"This..." Song Changrong hesitated. After all, the clan had tasked him with guarding the Moon Viewing Marketplace, which was his duty as its Town Square Guardian.

"If the skin is gone, what will the hair attach to? If the clan is in peril, what use is a lone marketplace?" Song Qingxing’s sharp brows shot up as he rebuked him harshly, completely ignoring that the man before him was his elder.

Hearing this, Song Changxue also chimed in to mediate. "Qingxing has a point. The threat to the Marketplace has been temporarily neutralized. Now that our hands are free, we should return to aid the clan. The Quasi-Celestial Ship is worth at least half a Purple Mansion’s combat strength, after all."

"My aunt is right. I’m also very worried about the situation back at the clan."

Seeing that all three had stated their positions, Song Changrong no longer hesitated. He nodded, then turned to Zhang Huaidao and Qii Yuanli. "Fellow Daoists, we must return to reinforce the clan as quickly as possible. We’re leaving the Marketplace in your hands."

"As long as you can keep the Marketplace from falling, it will be a great service. If the situation becomes untenable, you may both withdraw. The clan will not blame you."

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured. If the Marketplace is lost, I will take my own life to atone!" Qii Yuanli said in a grim tone.

"The same goes for me!"

Regardless of whether they were just making a show of it, their attitude was at least earnest. Song Changrong handed him the token to control the Array, then led all the clan’s cultivators aboard the Black Star Ship and rushed toward the battlefield at Vast Mist Peak...

At this moment, Hex Tai was making the final preparations for the decisive battle.

Hex Tai was left completely stunned when Zhang Hongguang came tumbling wretchedly from the sky.

"Zhang Hongguang, what the hell happened? Where are the men? Where is everyone else?" Hex Tai demanded, suppressing his rage as he grabbed Zhang Hongguang by the collar.

"Senior, it’s over... It’s all over." Zhang Hongguang was still in shock, but seeing Hex Tai was like finding his backbone. He gripped Hex Tai’s hand, tears streaking down his face as he spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, explain yourself. Did another Purple Mansion Cultivator make a move?" Zhang Yu asked, frowning.

At this, Zhang Hongguang looked embarrassed. He recounted what happened, embellishing the story and greatly exaggerating the power of the Spirit Communication Soul-Catching Treasure Mirror, which he described as a one-of-a-kind Supreme Treasure.

’There was no other way. He’d been defeated by a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If he didn’t embellish the truth, how could he, the dignified master of a sect, ever hold his head high again?’

After listening to his tale, Hex Tai’s expression was as dark as a thundercloud. No matter how you spun it, he had still been defeated by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and with heavy losses.

’The worst part was, he couldn’t say much about it. After all, he himself had once been defeated by Song Xianming.’

"Fellow Daoist Hex, your Lieyang Sect is really something else," Rong Mingtao said mockingly.

At his words, the surrounding Lieyang Sect disciples lowered their heads in shame. Two of their sect’s Purple Mansion Cultivators, defeated at the hands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators... That had to be a first in the Daqi Cultivation World.

Rage burned in Hex Tai’s chest. He shot Zhang Hongguang a venomous glare before saying coldly, "Fellow Daoist Rong, there’s no need for your taunts. I can’t speak for anyone else, but if it were you, the result wouldn’t have been any better."

Seeing the two on the verge of infighting, Zhang Yu quickly stepped in to mediate. "Both of you, calm down. Let’s not do something that would only hurt our allies and delight our enemies."

"Hmph. I’ll defer to Fellow Daoist Zhang, then," Rong Mingtao sneered. Though he was currently Hex Tai’s ally, their years of enmity couldn’t be so easily forgotten. Limiting himself to a few taunts was already a show of great restraint.

Hex Tai also temporarily suppressed his anger and took Zhang Hongguang back to the main tent to treat his injuries.

Although his core essence wasn’t damaged, his Physical Body had taken a heavy toll. His future on the path of cultivation would certainly be affected.

What Hex Tai found strange was that the sword wound on Zhang Hongguang’s chest, which should have been his lightest injury, refused to heal. It just kept oozing blood.

Even for a Purple Mansion Cultivator, losing blood like that would eventually damage their very core.

’What a strange sword wound. There’s some kind of power clinging to it, continuously inflicting damage.’ Hex Tai’s brows furrowed. He had never seen such a bizarre injury.

Recalling Zhang Hongguang’s explanation, he started to believe him a little. After all, this wasn’t a wound that could be inflicted by just anyone.

’Could Luoxia City have secretly intervened?’

At this thought, a sudden sense of urgency gripped Hex Tai.

After treating Zhang Hongguang’s injuries, Hex Tai found the other Purple Mansion Cultivators and said bluntly, "We can’t drag this out any longer. Tomorrow, we will first capture the three outer Spirit Mountains. Once Master Xu sets up the Grand Array, we will break through Vast Mist Peak in one fell swoop!"

Rong Mingtao and the others exchanged a look and finally agreed to this plan.

The next morning, all disciples from the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan were mobilized, charging straight for the three Spirit Mountains. With a do-or-die order issued, the disciples from both clans fought with exceptional valor, and the battle became white-hot from the very beginning.

On Vast Mist Peak, Song Luzhou watched as the three Spirit Mountains were completely surrounded. He asked in confusion, "Uncle, what are they doing?"

Song Xianming’s eyes narrowed. He quickly understood their intentions and sighed. "They have a master on their side. She saw through my plans and intends to use them against me."

"Then what should we do?"

"The only option now is a direct confrontation," Song Xianming said, his expression sinking. ’I’m one step behind... A single Tier Three Array Master has ruined all my plans.’

Song Luzhou’s face paled at his words. The three outer Spirit Mountains weren’t protected by the Clan Protection Array. In a direct clash, there was no telling how many would die on both sides.

But at this point, there was no other way. Gritting his teeth, Song Luzhou began to dispatch his forces.

Song Chang’an and Song Qingming were dispatched to Spirit Embroidery Mountain.

Song Luyun and Song Changrong were sent to Spirit Plant Mountain.

Song Lutong and Song Changlian were moved to Jade Bamboo Mountain.

Only the units under Song Qingqian and Song Xianyun, along with Song Luzhou’s personal forces, remained on Vast Mist Peak as the reserve.

With these reinforcements, the pressure on Liu Hongye and the others eased considerably.

The forces on both sides were roughly equal in number, so no clear victor emerged quickly. The battle devolved into a brutal war of attrition, with casualties steadily mounting on both sides. Every so often, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator would fall.

At this point in the battle, retreat was no longer an option. Everyone was blood-crazed, and the entire battlefield echoed with a single word: Kill!

Everywhere but Vast Mist Peak, the slaughter raged. Song Luzhou could even smell the stench of blood permeating the air.

"Elder, Chi Huo Tributor is severely injured! Spirit Embroidery Mountain is in peril!" a clansman hurriedly reported.

"Elder, Jade Bamboo Mountain is about to fall, too!"

Listening to the reports from all fronts, Song Luzhou’s expression grew as dark as a storm cloud. Nearly half of the cultivators on the Song Clan’s side had been scraped together from various Foundation Establishment Influences.

Their forces were not as elite as those of the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan to begin with.

Furthermore, since they had been conscripted, their morale was low. It was already a feat that they hadn’t collapsed after such a prolonged, grueling battle.

"I will personally lead a group to Spirit Embroidery Mountain. Have Twenty-first Uncle and Qingqian go reinforce Jade Bamboo Mountain."

At this point, pulling the men back was impossible. The two sides were completely entangled.

After a brief moment of consideration, Song Luzhou decided to commit all the forces at his disposal.

This was now a contest of nerve. Whoever hesitated would lose!

...