Watching the Mountain

Chapter 423: Chapter 220: Wuchen’s Divinity Transformation

Unfortunately, there was still no news of Luo Qianxue, so everyone could only imagine the scene in their minds.

Besides Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao, the Eight Heroes of Profound Pure from the Profound Pure Sect, all in the Golden Core Stage, also had a dazzling performance.

The Body Cultivator Li Shaobai charged recklessly across the battlefield. He single-handedly broke through the enemy’s ranks on several occasions, disrupting their formations and throwing them into a panicked defense.

Meanwhile, a group of seven childhood friends, including Lan Juhua and Qing Mei, relied on the Profound Pure Seven Heavens Array to slay over thirty Golden Core Stage Cultivators on the battlefield. They were credited with the highest number of enemy kills on their side.

The most dazzling achievements in Changqing County came almost exclusively from the Profound Pure Sect. Although other sects had their own notable victories, they paled in comparison.

However, many of the reinforcements who came to support Changqing County displayed achievements no less dazzling than those of the Profound Pure Sect.

The most brilliant among them was Luo Qianfan, a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch from the Profound Celestial Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.

When the battle began, he single-handedly fought three Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs of the same Realm from the Overseas Archipelago. He held his ground for half a month until the Black Cliff Mountain Range defensive line collapsed, and even then, he had not been completely defeated.

He was only forced to retreat after the defensive line fell.

It could be said that he was largely responsible for the Black Cliff Mountain Range’s defensive line holding for half a month.

Without him, the defensive line at the Black Cliff Mountain Range might have fallen at the very start of the battle.

Most of the older Cultivators on the battlefield had some recollection of the name Luo Qianfan, the Daoist Monarch from the Profound Celestial Sect.

Cultivators from the Upper Three Sects rarely appeared in the outside world; he was one of the few to have emerged into the Cultivation Realm in the last thousand years.

More importantly, when Luo Qianfan first appeared, he had defeated the then-unrivaled Wuchen True Monarch while only at the Golden Core Stage of his Cultivation.

The main reason Wuchen True Monarch was known in the Cultivation Realm for lowering the bar for Nascent Soul Stage combat power was that he had been defeated by Golden Core Stage Cultivators on two separate occasions after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

One defeat was at the hands of his fellow sect member, the Evergreen Sword Saint Zhang Zhentian. The other was against Luo Qianfan of the Profound Celestial Sect.

To think that after more than a thousand years, Luo Qianfan, who had then only been at the Golden Core Stage, had now become an awe-inspiring Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch. And the combat prowess he displayed was as dominant as ever.

’As expected of someone from the Upper Three Sects. Their depth and resources are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.’

For the disciples of the Profound Pure Sect, the best news after the fall of the Black Cliff Mountain Range’s defensive line was this: the forces of the Overseas Archipelago had not lingered in Changqing County. After breaking through, they had pushed straight onward, continuing their assault toward the heart of the Eastern Domain.

This meant they didn’t have to worry about an attack on the sect itself.

However, this didn’t mean the sect could lower its guard. The breach of the defensive line meant that Changqing County, like Linhai County before it, was now territory the Overseas Archipelago could claim at any time.

They would surely send follow-up forces to secure their gains.

That would be the sect’s greatest challenge.

Many disciples swallowed their grief and prepared to face the challenges to come.

However, on the third day after the fall of the Black Cliff Mountain Range’s defensive line, Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao returned, leading the disciples who had been sent to the battlefield.

Fortunately, the forces of the Overseas Archipelago were focused on their next target. Because of this, the disciples faced little resistance as they disengaged from the battlefield and were able to make it back. Otherwise, it was uncertain if they could have returned at all.

When they returned, the rest of the sect’s disciples went out to greet them.

Seeing the defeated procession return, heads bowed and bodies covered in scars, the disciples who came to greet them showed no hint of blame. Instead, they too lowered their heads slightly, sharing in the sorrow of the returning warriors.

Everyone knew that these warriors had fought in their stead. If not for them, they would have been the ones on that battlefield, and their presence would not have changed the outcome.

The sect had sent over 16,000 disciples to the battlefield. Now, only a little over 12,000 had returned. Those who didn’t make it back had perished on the field of battle.

In just half a month, so many of their fellow disciples had been lost. Half a month ago, many of them were still laughing and joking with everyone. Now, they were separated by life and death.

The cruelty of the battlefield filled everyone with deep sorrow.

Li Daoyi, standing in the center of the formation, watched the silent, downcast crowd. After a long pause, he clenched his fists and called out to everyone:

”Everyone, I know this is difficult, but we don’t have time to grieve. An even greater challenge awaits us.”

”So I ask you all to put aside your sorrow for now and prepare with me to face the enemy to come.”

At his words, the formation quickly dispersed. The warriors who had just returned threw themselves into the urgent tasks at hand, without even taking the time to compose themselves or tend to their wounds.

Li Daoyi returned to the sect’s main hall, summoned the Elders, and issued one command after another.

He remained busy until the following evening. After everyone had dispersed, he looked to Xu Ran at his side and said with an unreadable expression:

”I’ve read the sect’s archives. Martial Uncle, you must have experience welcoming troops back from a campaign many times, is that correct?”