Chapter 164: A Dire Situation

The assembled attack by the otherworldly fiends was indeed premeditated.

Their plan was to first conquer sects possessing medium-grade ley lines individually, and then use the power of those ley lines to construct Ancestral Spirit Pools.

The so-called Ancestral Spirit Pools were sacred grounds used to nurture the ancestors of Kunxu.

According to the dog-headed fiend's explanation, although they were called otherworldly fiends by the cultivation world, their true name was the "Kunxu Remnants."

They were the descendants of the Kunxu ancestors.

Although the Kunxu Remnants were divided into many finer sub-races, outwardly, they all referred to themselves as the Kunxu Remnants.

Even though the Ancestral Spirit Pools constructed within the cultivation world were merely replicated low-spec versions, they still possessed many functions.

For instance, they could gather the primordial energy required by the Kunxu Remnants.

More importantly, they could replicate avatars through core hearts.

The strength of an avatar was related to the Ancestral Spirit Pool.

If the grade of the ley lines was sufficient, it was even possible to forge an avatar with the exact same strength as the original body.

When campaigning abroad, this function was of immense significance.

If avatars could be replicated for the Fiend King and all the commander-grade fiends at the Golden Core Realm, the resulting force would inevitably be massive.

By then, conquering the entire Yunchuan Prefecture would be a very simple matter.

However, because the conditions for constructing an Ancestral Spirit Pool were harsh, requiring at least medium-grade ley lines, they could only gather a massive army to attack places like the Herb Sect and the Artifact Pavilion.

"Then why did you attack the Crimson Flame Sect in the Eastern Region?"

Qingxi threw out this question.

Within the Crimson Flame Sect, there were no medium-grade ley lines whatsoever.

Upon hearing this, the dog-headed fiend was so anxious he almost cried.

Bro!

Didn't I already say this when you interrogated me alone earlier?

Though he was roaring inside, the dog-headed fiend could only patiently explain.

"Actually, attacking the Crimson Flame Sect was merely a diversion to confuse the public. Our true targets were only five: the Herb Sect, the Artifact Pavilion, and the three Two-Star Factions."

Hearing this, Xia Yan broke out in a cold sweat.

No wonder the fiend army attacking the Herb Sect was so massive; it turned out to be one of the actual targets.

The Eastern and Western Regions, to put it bluntly, were just feints to draw attention.

Had it not been for the evolution of the Fire Spirit Rabbit's bloodline, Ye Wuyou's presence to hold down the fort, and Qingxi discovering the fiends underground, the Herb Sect today would have met the exact same fate as the Artifact Pavilion.

As for the mountain gates of the three Two-Star Factions, those were places second only to the Thunder Dragon Valley—how could they be broken into so easily?

"Now that the Artifact Pavilion has fallen, the fiends are probably already constructing an Ancestral Spirit Pool. This matter must be reported to the Sect Master Senior Brother at once."

Ye Wuyou immediately retrieved a flying sword used for communication, imprinted a message inside with his aura, and hurled it away.

"Then, what are your next plans?"

Ye Wuyou pointed his sword at the dog-headed fiend, his formidable aura pressing down so heavily that the fiend could not move.

"I really only know this much. The rest is known only to the Fiend King; he didn't tell us anything else."

The dog-headed fiend shrank his neck, terrified of being slain by Ye Wuyou by accident.

As a military strategist with the head of a dog who had only lived for three hundred years, he felt he hadn't lived enough yet and had no desire to die.

After squeezing out all of the dog-headed fiend's value, Ye Wuyou looked at Qingxi and asked, "How do you plan to deal with him?"

Though he desperately wanted to execute the dog-headed fiend with a single sword stroke, the captive was caught by Qingxi after all, so even if he were to be killed, the decision should rest with Qingxi.

"Let's keep him for now. I feel this dog-headed strategist still has some residual value."

"Very well, then lock him away for now."

Ye Wuyou swept out several sword auras that sank into the dog-headed fiend's body, linking together into a sword aura shackle that completely suppressed his cultivation.

Unless a Half-Step Heaven Profound expert or someone even stronger intervened, it would be extremely difficult to undo the seal.

Watching the dog-headed fiend being taken away and locked up by two Innate Realm experts, the few people in the grand hall all felt a heavy sense of pressure.

The fact that the Ancestral Spirit Pool could replicate fiend avatars with eighty percent of their strength was simply a nightmare for the Yunchuan Prefecture!

Before long, a few loud rumblings suddenly echoed from within the Herb Sect, accompanied by a minor spiritual energy tide.

"Hahaha, this old man has finally broken through!"

This was Qiu Mingzi's triumphant laughter.

"Old thief, what are you feeling smug about? This old man has broken through as well."

The Sect Master of the Crimson Flame Sect refused to be outdone, releasing the cultivation aura of the Element-Core Realm, which was no weaker than Qiu Mingzi's.

Immediately following this, powerful auras were released from various locations within the Herb Sect's mountain gate.

The Sect Master of the Blissful Sect also broke through to the Element-Core Realm, while the Sect Masters of the Narcissus Gate, the Vast Origin Sect, and the Yunluo Sect—who were already at the Element-Core Realm—smoothly stepped into the peak of the Element-Core Realm.

However, breaking through to the Golden Core Realm hereafter would be extremely difficult.

To break through, one must first condense a golden core, and this single requirement alone stumped the vast majority of peak Element-Core Realm cultivators.

Furthermore, surviving the heavenly lightning tribulation that followed was fraught with extreme danger.

Precisely because of these two points, the Golden Core Realm had become a watershed divide.

Any sect with a Golden Core Realm expert holding the fort could become a peak One-Star Faction.

Sensing the growing auras of the crowd, joy flickered in Ye Wuyou's eyes as he said, "It is a joyous occasion for everyone to break through thanks to this stroke of fortune. Then, next..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a flying sword pierce through the grand array's protective barrier and appear before them.

Catching the flying sword and sinking his consciousness into it, Ye Wuyou's expression changed drastically upon learning the news it conveyed.

"Has some other news come from the Central Region?"

Watching Ye Wuyou's expression, Xia Yan sensed that the matter must be very serious.

"Indeed, a massive problem has occurred."

Ye Wuyou's hand trembled as he put away the flying sword. "The three Heaven Profound Kings have been heavily injured by the Fiend King."

Hearing this, everyone present revealed looks of shock.

Aside from the aloof Prefectural Lord, the three Heaven Profound experts were the strongest pillars of the Yunchuan Prefecture. If even they were beaten into heavy injuries, wouldn't that mean the entire human race in the prefecture had essentially been defeated?

"Something's not right. The three Heaven Profound Kings have been locked in a stalemate with the Fiend King for so long, and it was said they were evenly matched. How could they suddenly be defeated?" The Sect Master of the Vast Origin Sect asked with deep confusion.

"The Ancestral Spirit Pool was successfully constructed, creating three avatars at the Half-Step Heaven Profound level for the Fiend King. They used self-detonation to gravely injure the three Heaven Profound Kings," Ye Wuyou explained.

"However, the three Heaven Profound Kings also used powerful methods to heavily injure the Fiend King. Currently, both sides are in a state of truce, but the situation remains severe."

"What is an Ancestral Spirit Pool?"

Hearing that the Fiend King had also been heavily injured, the crowd felt slightly relieved, but a new question arose.

Ye Wuyou recounted how Qingxi captured the dog-headed fiend and explained the matter of the Ancestral Spirit Pool, causing the others to suddenly understand.

Soon, however, they were gripped by worry.

If the Fiend King continued to use the Ancestral Spirit Pool to create avatars and launched a sneak attack taking advantage of the three Heaven Profound experts being heavily injured, the human race would undoubtedly perish!

Thinking of this, some wished they could immediately rush to the Central Region to provide support, or head to the Copper-Purple Mountain Range to destroy the Ancestral Spirit Pool.

Yet others wore looks of pure terror, preparing to flee the Yunchuan Prefecture altogether.

"Such a major event has occurred in the Central Region; I must return to provide support. Everyone, farewell!"

Ye Wuyou cupped his fists toward the crowd, and with those words, stepped onto his sword light and departed.