Step by Step Ascend to Immortality

Chapter 52: Chapter 017 Entering the battle

The Outer Formation: Eight Furies of the Yellow Spring

Once Mr. Wenruo confirmed it, Ding Wugu fell silent.

With the route established, Yan Chuan no longer paid attention to the others. Instead, he assisted the Silver Armored Army in dealing with the two dying demonic serpents. Although Yan Chuan didn't do the work himself, his experience was invaluable. His brief instructions ensured the serpents were fully dispatched.

Nearby, Mo Yuxi took out a folding fan and gently waved it, her eyes narrowing as she observed Yan Chuan from afar. Her gaze grew increasingly bright.

Mo Yuxi sensed that while Yan Chuan lacked Ding Wugu's physical constitution, his understanding of Feng Shui seemed on par with, if not surpassing, Ding Wugu's.

"Mr. Wenruo, it seems my judgment was correct!" Mo Yuxi said with a smile.

"The Saintess has always had a keen eye, but let's wait until we've obtained the 'Wan Miao Demon Lotus' before celebrating," Mr. Wenruo said with a wry smile.

"Indeed, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Yan Chuan can do," Mo Yuxi nodded in agreement.

"

Xiao He'er, catch two demonic beasts every day for them!" Mo Yuxi instructed the crane nearby.

"Squawk!" The crane flapped its wings in acknowledgment of the task.

Ding Wugu cast a resentful glance at Yan Chuan from a distance.

Yang Zhijiu frowned and looked at Mo Yuxi with similar disdain towards Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan had not hidden the demonic beast meat. The soldiers had access to it, though in limited quantities. Only the first two hundred soldiers had tasted it. Consuming the demonic meat led to significant improvements in the lower-ranked soldiers' cultivation.

With the blood of the demonic serpents, which attracted numerous wild beasts, the soldiers' meat supply had remained steady.

After another ten days.

"Drink!"

Huo Guang shouted, slamming his spear into a massive boulder.

"Boom!" The boulder exploded into pieces.

"Master, I've reached the Eighth Stage of Strength!" Huo Guang said excitedly.

"Hmm!" Yan Chuan nodded in satisfaction.

Over the past ten days, many had made breakthroughs. Out of the three thousand soldiers, over a hundred had reached the Fifth Stage of Strength, and this number was continually rising.

On a nearby mountain peak.

Yang Zhijiu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, overlooking the Silver Armored Army below, while Ding Wugu stood beside him.

"The Eighth Stage of Strength? Hmph, a bunch of country bumpkins!" Yang Zhijiu sneered.

Strength Stage? Yang Zhijiu clearly looked down on it.

"Indeed, just a group of useless trash!" Ding Wugu echoed with bitterness.

"Ding Wugu!" Yang Zhijiu suddenly said with a serious tone.

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"Hmm?"

Yang Zhijiu gazed at the distant camp and said in a deep voice, "Ding Wugu, you must secure everything inside the Feng Shui formation for me!"

"Don't worry, Young Master Yang. The Wan Miao Demon Lotus will definitely be ours. Who could possibly compete with us? The Daoist of the Rooster Day personally instructed us!" Ding Wugu immediately replied.

"No! You misunderstand my meaning." Yang Zhijiu shook his head.

"Oh?"

"I mean, it must be obtained by me alone, and not by the Saintess Mo Yuxi," Yang Zhijiu said solemnly.

"Uh?"

"Mo Yuxi wants the Wan Miao Demon Lotus to repay a debt to my father. I can't let her repay it. I want her to owe us forever!" Yang Zhijiu said with a cold smile.

"A favor?" Ding Wugu was slightly surprised.

"Don't worry about the details. Right now, outside the formation, let Yan Chuan be arrogant. Once we're inside, only someone with a Feng Shui constitution like you can help me. So, once we're inside, use all your efforts to help me obtain the Wan Miao Demon Lotus. If you succeed, I'll convince my father to admit you into the inner circle!" Yang Zhijiu promised.

Ding Wugu's eyes lit up. "Yes, thank you, Young Master Yang! I will do my utmost."

Another month passed!

The grand army finally arrived at the Kun position of the Feng Shui formation, which is the southwestern quadrant of the formation.

On a boat amidst the clouds.

"Wasting so much time, mortals are truly useless!" Yang Zhijiu scolded the army under Yan Chuan.

"The Feng Shui formation isn't something that benefits from entering it earlier," Mr. Wenruo said, shaking his head with a smile.

"Well, we've finally arrived. Prepare to enter!" Yang Zhijiu said.

"Huh? There's another army over there?" Mo Yuxi said, slightly surprised.

Everyone looked, and indeed, not far from Yan Chuan's army, there was another force of two thousand soldiers, all wearing green headscarves.

Yan Chuan, Huo Guang, and Liu Jin were confronting their opponent's leader.

Below.

To the left of Yan Chuan was still the vast sea of clouds, with a fifty-meter-wide black rift.

Directly in front of Yan Chuan stood seven generals. The leader was a very burly man with a three-inch-long centipede-like scar on his left cheek, making him look exceptionally fierce.

"Master, this is Zhao Kunwu of the Zhao family! He's Zhao Tiande's sixteenth uncle!" Liu Jin whispered.

Zhao Kunwu glared at Yan Chuan with a cold, menacing gaze. Zhao Tiande, whom he had sent to assassinate Yan Chuan, was now dead. Zhao Kunwu believed Yan Chuan was responsible for his death.

"Zhao Kunwu? Why don't you bow to this king?" Yan Chuan saidlightly.

"Bow to you? A mere young brat like you? Pah!" Zhao Kunwu's expression turned cold.

"Click, click!"

The Silver Armored Army instantly drew their bows.

Disrespecting the prince was a grave offense! At this moment, the Silver Armored Army was utterly devoted to Yan Chuan. At a command, they would follow him through fire and water.

"Click, click!"

The Green Scarf Army behind Zhao Kunwu also quickly notched their bows. Both sides were elite troops, and neither showed any signs of retreating. Tension filled the air.

"What's going on? Do you want to play with me?" Zhao Kunwu's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint.

Clearly, Zhao Kunwu was a fierce general who had fought his way through countless battles. Facing a barrage of arrows, his expression remained unchanged.

"A Feng Shui formation disturbance, and the Zhao family wants a share? The Zhao family must have other people entering through different entrances, right?" Yan Chuan saidlightly.

"So what if we do?" Zhao Kunwu snapped.

"Please!" Yan Chuan said with a slight smile.

"Huh?" Zhao Kunwu was momentarily taken aback.

The two armies coincidentally met here. Zhao Kunwu had expected a fierce battle but was surprised to see Yan Chuan's sudden submission.

"Hahaha! Once I come out, I'll teach you a lesson. Let's go!" Zhao Kunwu laughed triumphantly.

Although the forces were similar, Zhao Kunwu had other tasks. Despite his desire to kill Yan Chuan, he knew that doing so would come at a great cost. With Huo Guang's protection, success was not guaranteed.

Since Yan Chuan had submitted, Zhao Kunwu was naturally in high spirits. The submission of a king was like the submission of the Emperor Yan. Zhao Kunwu enjoyed this feeling. Killing Yan Chuan could wait until later.

Zhao Kunwu led the Green Scarf Army, proceeding cautiously into the entrance of the Feng Shui formation.

"Master?" Huo Guang said with reluctance.

"No need to worry. He'll be dead within two hours!" Yan Chuan said coldly.

"Uh? Understood!" Huo Guang said, surprised.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

...

Mo Yuxi and the others landed.

"Alright, it's time to go in!" Yang Zhijiu said.

"Shall we go?" Mo Yuxi asked, looking at Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan nodded and then turned to the crane.

"During these days, thank you for catching demonic beasts every day. For this Feng Shui formation, you should stay out!" Yan Chuan said sincerely.

"Squawk!" The crane immediately expressed its displeasure.

The Feng Shui Formation: The Guide to Earthly Qi

Yan Chuan once again advised, "In the Feng Shui formation, where earthly qi is guided and yin and yang are intertwined, flying creatures cannot stretch their wings and are even restricted. If you enter the formation, you won't be able to fly and will only be able to walk on the ground, which could put you at a disadvantage. It's better to patrol the perimeter and wait for the formation to break before flying in!"

The crane remained unwilling, squawking in protest.

"Yan Chuan is right. Although I'm not an expert in Feng Shui, I've read some texts and know that flying creatures should avoid Feng Shui formations," Mr. Wenruo said, nodding in agreement.

The crane still seemed reluctant, squawking plaintively.

"Alright, little crane, Yan Chuan is only looking out for your safety. Stay outside and be ready to assist when the formation is breached!" Mo Yuxi said firmly.

The crane nuzzled Mo Yuxi in a show of grievance but received no further sympathy.

Annoyed, the crane flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flying away.

Mo Yuxi smiled wryly, shaking her head. She knew the crane's behavior was merely its way of throwing a tantrum.

"Let's go!" Mo Yuxi said, turning to Yan Chuan.

"Alright!" Yan Chuan nodded.

The army slowly entered the Feng Shui formation.

At this moment, Yan Chuan no longer traveled in a sedan chair. Surrounded by his soldiers, he stepped into the formation.

Inside, the darkness was akin to a tunnel. As they proceeded, a bright light appeared in the distance.

The group quickly passed through the tunnel.

Emerging from it, the scene before them transformed dramatically.

They found themselves on what seemed like a vast prairie, with countless white clouds drifting in the sky.

On the prairie, plump white rabbits nibbled on lush green grass. Some rabbits had even found carrots and were happily munching away.

The sudden intrusion of three thousand soldiers startled the nearby rabbits, causing them to flee. However, they soon forgot the disturbance and resumed their peaceful grazing.

"Your Highness, Zhao Kunwu and his troops are heading in that direction!" one of the soldiers reported.

In the distance, Zhao Kunwu's army was moving northwest. Their pace was quick, as a massive yellow pillar stood out as the only unusual feature on the prairie.

"Ding Wugu, what's that pillar?" Yang Zhijiu asked.

"My Feng Shui sense tells me that it's the entrance to the inner formation," Ding Wugu replied proudly.

"Let's hurry! We must not let those ants get there first!" Yang Zhijiu urged excitedly.

"Young Master Yang, have you forgotten about the Huangquan Horse Demons?" Mr. Wenruo inquired, frowning.

"Eh?" Yang Zhijiu paused, becoming solemn.

"Yan Chuan, do you recognize this formation?" Mo Yuxi asked.

Everyone turned their attention to Yan Chuan.

"I've heard of it. Only when the Huangquan opens can we break through the pillar to enter the inner formation," Yan Chuan explained without hesitation.

"Huangquan opening?" Mo Yuxi asked in confusion.

"When the clouds in the sky turn completely yellow from the Huangquan, the entrance will open. This is also the most dangerous time. It happens once a day," Yan Chuan clarified.

"Now I remember. The Huangquan Horse Demons appeared when the yellow clouds were thick!" Yang Zhijiu's eyes lit up with realization.

"There's still some time. Please be patient," Yan Chuan advised.

He then turned to Huo Guang and instructed, "Now, have the army hunt rabbits and collect their blood!"

"Huh? Understood!" Huo Guang responded, though he was puzzled.

The nearly three thousand soldiers quickly obeyed the order, drawing their bows and beginning to hunt the white rabbits in large numbers.

"Hunting rabbits?" Ding Wugu sneered in disdain.

"Let's go check out the pillar!" Yang Zhijiu urged.

"Alright!" Mo Yuxi and the others agreed.

Soon, Mo Yuxi, Mr. Wenruo, and the others left Yan Chuan's side.

Yan Chuan paid them no mind and continued directing his soldiers to hunt as many rabbits as possible.