Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

The piercing cold wind howled, and the once sweltering summer’s Wuxiang City seemed to have plunged into winter overnight.

A tense atmosphere suddenly enveloped everyone’s heart, even Jian Changhe grew solemn.

Dong dong~~

Amidst the sound of war drums, a massive flying boat soared across the skies, bearing an overwhelming majesty.

This flying boat stretched a hundred zhangs in length, and atop it was not a delicate pavilion but a sturdy fortress.

It was a fortress, entirely of profound black, with intricate runes glowing across its surface.

Standing atop the city wall, Yang Zhenshan squinted slightly at the flying vessel soaring by.

A large flying boat is not just a flying artifact but also a warfare artifact.

One such vessel can accommodate a large scale attack array, meaning each large flying boat symbolizes a movable attack array.

However, the arrays on such vessels have flaws; they can’t connect to earth veins or respond to celestial phenomena—merely the simplest artifact arrays.

Even so, the arrays on large flying boats may still be second-order arrays.

The cold wind whistled, as Yang Zhenshan’s eyes shone brightly, firmly fixed on the flying boat above.

He could clearly see two figures standing atop the fortress on the flying boat.

One wore a moon-white long skirt with snowflake dark-pattern embroidery along the hem, skin as white as snow, long eyebrows as thin as icicles, adorned with a silver frosted flower hairpin, with long hair reaching the waist, coldly elegant like snowflakes.

The other donned a tattered black cloak, slender build like a bamboo pole, skin pale, eyes sunken, pupils dark gray, seemingly like bottomless pits.

These two are Nether Prison Sect’s Divine Soul Realm strengths, Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao.

”Report to the two Supremes, the army is ready, prepared to besiege at any moment.”

On the deck, Nether Prison Sect’s Sect Leader Jiang Taishu respectfully reported to Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao.

Li Xuanxiao gazed down towards Wuxiang City, speaking lightly: ”Hidden Sword Mountain, Sister, how much strength do you think Hidden Sword Mountain still has?”

”How much strength they have, we’ll know when we try!” Sheng Youhuang’s voice was like the tinkling of an icy spring, clear and pleasant.

”Hehe, I’ve heard that Hidden Sword Mountain is unfathomable, and the master Jian Changhe might possess the Heavenly Sword True Monarch’s spirit sword!”

”That’s a spirit sword from a Golden Core Great Power; neither you nor I could withstand it!”

Li Xuanxiao chuckled sinisterly.

”Spirit sword!” Sheng Youhuang’s eyes sparkled like black gemstones, ”Doesn’t that mean if we capture Jian Changhe, the spirit sword will belong to us!”

The strength of Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists is already comparable to Foundation Establishment Cultivators; the magical treasures used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators can also be utilized by Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists, and spirit artifacts can also be wielded by them.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the artifact spirit must be willing to be commanded.

Put simply, Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists are not much different from immortal cultivators, positioned between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages.

Therefore, Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao covet not just the Sea of Spirit’s resources but also the depth of Hidden Sword Mountain.

”Transmit the order, attack!”

Sheng Youhuang’s clear voice echoed through the heavens and earth.

The next moment, thirty-six bronze war drums on the deck lined up in three rows, warrios wielding mallets with bulging sinews, as the vibrations from the drum heads stirred air torrents, lifting gravel skyward, dong dong sound waves resounding like ancient beasts’ heartbeats.

”Kill~~!”

Nearly a thousand innate martial artists clad in iron armor surged like black tides towards Wuxiang City.

These elite warriors wearing black mystic armor held turtle shell pattern square shields in their left hands and long blades in their right, wolf head spikes on the shield edges gleaming coldly under the sun.

Evidently, this is the true army of Nether Prison Sect, the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards.

Though there are only a thousand Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards, each one is at the Heavenly Gang Stage, infamous within Nether Prison Sect.

In the past century, Nether Prison Sect has continuously expanded outward, and the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards have always been the vanguard, invincible and undefeated, securing significant victories for Nether Prison Sect.

In the last war between Nether Prison Sect and Sea of Spirit, this unit was also the most terrifying army, inflicting considerable casualties on Spirit’s Three Sects.

Unfortunately, the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards only number a thousand; they are an elite force but merely a small-scale elite force.

However, due to the formidable reputation of the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards, during their charge, tens of thousands of innate martial artists under Nether Prison Sect also surged forward aggressively.

Under this terrifying momentum, Wuxiang City alone seemed frail indeed.

On the city wall, Yang Zhenshan stood with his hands behind his back, the biting cold wind making his vestment robe flutter.

He gazed at the incoming enemy forces unmoved, his eyes calm as still water.

Yet, beside him, Jian Guyun and others couldn’t help revealing anxious looks.

”Nether Prison Sect’s spirit is indeed formidable!” Jian Canghai said solemnly.

”Compared to the Sea of Spirit, Nether Prison Sect has undoubtedly grown stronger over the years!” Jian Suxin agreed.

From this attack alone, it was evident Nether Prison Sect’s killing intent surpassed that of the Sea of Spirit.

In the past, Spirit’s Three Sects were very domineering but lacked this fierce aura.

”Elder Yang, if you need us to act, just instruct!” Jian Guyun said gravely.

Yang Zhenshan’s lips curled into a faint smile, ”Don’t be hasty, Senior Guyun, this is just the beginning!”

He wasn’t intimidated by Nether Prison Sect’s ferocity; truth be told, he even felt Nether Prison Sect’s army was just a group of scattered forces, except for the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards, the rest were merely rabble.

Seeing him still able to smile, Jian Guyun couldn’t help but wonder.

”Who knows where this fellow’s confidence comes from!”

Yang Zhenshan’s confidence naturally came from Jade Capital’s Three Guards.

Beneath the city wall, Qu Changkong watched the approaching enemy forces, his expression unwavering.

He’s witnessed many such scenes; though the present enemies are innate martial artists, far beyond those ordinary soldiers of old, the nature of warfare remains unchanged.

As the enemy force drew closer, their distance to the city walls slowly closed within three hundred zhangs.

Just then, Qu Changkong suddenly raised his long halberd, commanding: ”Cloud-Piercing Crossbows, fire!”

As soon as he spoke, the sound of bowstrings vibrating resounded.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh~~

One by one, arm-thick crossbow arrows shot forward, piercing the air with urgency.

Three hundred crossbow seats, operated by the soldiers, fired arrows with rapid speed.

The crossbow arrows flew, their icy light flashing under the overcast sky.

On the fortress flying boat, Sheng Youhuang watched the arrows, narrowing his eyes, ”What are those?”

”They appear to be crossbow arrows!” Li Xuanxiao answered.

”Crossbow arrows? Can these pose a threat to innate martial artists?”

”Perhaps they’re spiritual weapons!” Li Xuanxiao murmured.

As they spoke, the first wave of fired arrows had landed.

The thick arrows crashed onto the ground, easily dodged by the charging Nether Prison Sect disciples; even when imbued with wind attributes, they couldn’t threaten innate martial artists.

But just as Nether Prison Sect disciples found these arrows amusing, they suddenly exploded upon hitting the ground, snow-white ice crystals shot like swords, piercing through their armor and flesh.

”Ah~~”

Cries of agony rose in unison, and in the blink of an eye, the battlefield was flooded with wails.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly at the scene of arrows bursting, ”Not too bad, they can penetrate spiritual weapon armor. Unfortunately, there are only three hundred available right now!”

The Cloud-Piercing Crossbows were potent but lacked numbers, failing to inflict significant casualties on Nether Prison Sect, though their sudden attack did slow the assault’s momentum.

The Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards continued advancing toward the walls, but those behind them from Nether Prison Sect slowed somewhat due to the Cloud-Piercing Crossbows, creating a noticeable gap.

In moments, the Wolf Head Mystic Armor Guards reached the city’s base, while the forces behind them became increasingly sparse and loose due to the crossbow attack.

Qu Changkong saw this, the corner of his mouth curving into a cold smile.

”Afraid already?”