Chapter 512 - 481: Three Rivers Peak, Annihilation

Chapter 512: Chapter 481: Three Rivers Peak, Annihilation

Looking out, they saw that the once-prosperous towns and cities across the land below had long since been reduced to ruins.

Perhaps, hundreds of years from now, a cultivator might come to this place and try to piece together the story of the great war from the crumbling ruins and scattered fragments of text.

Along the way, the group saw many cultivators impaled on flagpoles. The looks of indignation and despair on their faces before they died stung the heart of every cultivator present, including Lei Boyu.

On this scorched earth, there were also scattered cultivators who had evaded the Summoning Order, now picking through the ruins for treasure.

Indeed.

They would even come to blows, fighting over the pills on the corpses.

But as a faint breeze drifted past, the bodies of these cultivators, who had been fighting to the death, were suddenly sliced into several pieces.

Chen Che took the lead.

On this expedition, there were a total of eight Golden Core Cultivators, including Zhao Yunchen, and three hundred seventy-two Foundation Establishment Cultivators. There was not a single Qi Refining Cultivator among them.

...

Under the cover of Qi Concealment Talismans, the group advanced without using a shred of True Essence. Like a raiding pack of wolves, they sprinted for over a thousand li in one go before finally slowing their pace.

SWISH!

Just then, a figure abruptly appeared in the wasteland.

"Someone’s here! It’s a Ghost Cultivator!"

Sensing the other party’s aura, everyone’s heart jumped in alarm.

It was no wonder everyone was so vigilant.

It was just that these Ghost Cultivators and Evil Cultivators had all emerged from the woodwork during the Primordial Sect’s internal strife, only to be gathered by the Star-Picking Sect.

Twenty percent of the carnage had been their doing.

"Valley Master Chen."

However, this Ghost Cultivator didn’t attack. Instead, he kept his distance. "This junior greets you, seniors!"

The newcomer was none other than Lu Ping’an.

"Never mind the formalities. What’s the situation at the Star-Picking Sect?"

Chen Che nodded slightly, signaling for Lu Ping’an to join the group.

"Valley Master, as you instructed, I infiltrated the ravine twice and have determined their deployment. Including Ding Haochuan, I’ve seen a total of eleven Golden Core Cultivators. For now, their positions haven’t changed."

"The mountain is mostly filled with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators aren’t qualified to go up."

Lu Ping’an reported methodically.

After his last meeting with Chen Che, he had remained hidden at Three Rivers Peak, keeping an eye on the enemy’s movements.

At noon today, he had received a message from Chen Che stating that the forces from Celestial Ghost City would mobilize in full tonight to annihilate all the cultivators stationed here.

So, he had hidden here early to wait for them.

He only revealed himself when he clearly saw the large group of figures sweeping over from a distance.

They continued forward as they spoke.

Brimming with killing intent, Chen Che and his contingent came to a halt on a desolate hill just outside Three Rivers Peak.

Because on the other side of the desolate hill was the camp of the Star-Picking Sect cultivators.

They had gathered all their cultivators in one place not only to concentrate their forces but also to guard against a counterattack from Celestial Ghost City. From the hill, Chen Che could see a sprawling field of tents, with massive bonfires blazing in the clearings between them.

The entire encampment stretched for a good twenty to thirty li, extending all the way to the foot of the mountain.

And this was only the outermost area.

Deeper in the mountain was another ring of camps for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators... It could be said that these Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Cultivators had Three Rivers Peak completely surrounded. Should anything happen, they could react immediately.

At the same time, they could also form battle arrays and even launch a direct counterattack, relying on their numerical advantage.

And the closer one got to Three Rivers Peak, the tighter the defenses became.

One could clearly see several watchtowers built at the foot of the mountain, with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator stationed in each one. From the watchtowers’ positions, their Divine Sense could easily cover the entire camp.

Large groups of cultivators were gathered around blazing bonfires, their cheerful chatter and laughter echoing, interspersed with loud shouts of people encouraging others to drink.

In the largest clearing, two Qi Refining Cultivators were sparring.

One was an Evil Cultivator wielding a red Soul-Calling Banner. Its grade was far inferior to Xiao Chan’s, merely Tier One High Grade, but thanks to the spoils of this war, it now held the Divine Souls of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

With each wave of the Soul-Calling Banner, a cacophony of ghostly wails and wolflike howls erupted.

His opponent was a cultivator in red robes. Judging by the Cultivation Technique he used, he must be from the lineage of True Master Xuehai.

His entire body transformed into a bloody shadow, spinning rapidly around his opponent as he searched for an opening. But there were disparities in strength even among Evil Cultivators; his prolonged assault failed to break through, and his momentum was spent. He had no choice but to retreat and gather his power.

Just then, the Soul-Calling Banner thrust straight through his chest. By the time it was withdrawn, it had already absorbed his Divine Soul.

Then, with a flick of the banner, the opponent snatched the Storage Pouch and swaggered away.

The clearing was silent for only a moment before two more cultivators took the stage.

"They’re holding contests."

Lu Ping’an explained in a low voice:

"The Golden Core Cultivators in the mountain gathered these cultivators here and forbade them to leave. So when they get bored, they hold contests and spar. The winner takes everything, including the loser’s possessions and their very life."

Chen Che nodded slightly. He had, of course, already figured that out.

The boisterous cheers grew louder, and across the wasteland, bathed in watery moonlight, the melodious strains of an erhu drifted on the air.

The duels on the raised platform attracted a large number of cultivators, and many had even started taking side bets. The Evil Cultivators wagered Spirit Stones and Magical Artifacts on their favored fighters, some even arguing until they were red in the face.

Chen Che withdrew his gaze and returned behind the desolate hill.

’These Evil Cultivators are numerous, but they’re just a disorderly mob. They won’t be able to withstand a single blow.’

Chen Che’s Divine Sense transmission echoed in everyone’s mind.

’The Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Cultivators are yours to handle. The Golden Core Cultivators in the mountain are for us. Before you strike, we will shatter their defenses for you. Remember why we are here. This time, we leave no survivors.’

Everyone responded with determined gazes.

Many had already drawn their weapons. Having coated them in dark pigment, even the bright moonlight couldn’t draw a cold glint from their sharp edges.

Chen Che’s gaze shifted to Chen Xi and Xiao Chan.

The latter two nodded slightly.

Then, the pair of them slowly began to form a spell.

A sudden, chilly wind swept across the peaceful wasteland, causing the camp’s bonfires to CRACKLE loudly. The once-bright moonlight was obscured by a large mass of dark clouds.

The cultivators in the camp saw the dark clouds drifting in, but far from being concerned, they only grew more excited. They casually tossed a Rain-blocking Technique spell on the bonfires and returned their full attention to the dueling platform.

It wasn’t that they were careless.

But a Golden Core Cultivator was a Golden Core Cultivator.

The power to change the weather was at their fingertips, and the casual manner in which they did it was completely beyond the enemy’s imagination. Accompanied by muffled rolls of thunder, fat drops of rain began to fall without warning, coming down in a dense sheet.

Then, the eyes of the Golden Core Cultivators present narrowed, and they all clenched their fists in unison.

BOOM!

The rain filling the sky instantly condensed into Water Swords.

Each of these Water Swords was several inches long. Though condensed purely from rainwater, they were as crystal clear as if forged from jade, yet they were harder than steel.

Then, trailing a brilliant silver light, they descended in an overwhelming torrent.

The cultivators caught in the downpour had yet to react when the swords hit. Like grass buffeted by a fierce wind, their bodies began to jerk and twist violently.

The Water Swords, gleaming with a mercurial sheen, shattered their Protective True Qi, pierced their armor, and passed straight through their bodies. With momentum to spare, they plunged into the ground behind them, accompanied by a rapid series of sickening, tearing sounds.

In an instant.

The wasteland was instantly painted into a gruesome ink-wash scroll of scarlet blood.

"Ahhh—"

"Enemy attack!"

SWISH SWISH SWISH—

The sound of objects tearing through the air was like a passing swarm of locusts!

Unsure of the enemy’s location or the nature of the attack, the terrified Evil Cultivators reacted by scattering in every direction. The sight was like watching countless birds burst from a startled forest, fleeing for their lives.

WHOOSH—

Just then, Chen Che shot forward, taking the lead and heading straight for Three Rivers Peak. Chen Xi, Xiao Chan, Yu Qian, Meng Changtu, and the others followed closely behind him.

Their figures vanished in a flash.

Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind the hill surged forward at almost the same instant, descending upon the panicked crowd like a crashing tide.

By now, Chen Che and the others had already swept into Three Rivers Peak.

Within the peak.

The terrain was complex, a chaotic maze of massive canyons, ravines, and dense forests filled with towering ancient trees. This was compounded by floating runes laid out in deceptive arrays, turning the whole of Three Rivers Peak into a bewildering labyrinth.

Chen Che swept his gaze over it, his eyes immediately locking onto a narrow, slit-like canyon.

’Found it!’

...

「Meanwhile.」

Inside the canyon ravine, it was brightly lit and filled with cheerful laughter.

Ding Haochuan, one arm severed, raised his wine cup high.

"Cheers!"