Chapter 217
"No response? Did someone kill our scouts?"
A sect cultivator in crimson robes frowned, taking the communication artifact and examining it carefully.
He belonged to Huoliao Temple, a northwest sect specializing in weapon refining.
This artifact could link to cultivators’ sea of consciousness, transmitting alerts like enemy attacks or retreat signals within range.
After brief concentration, his eyes snapped open with deeper concern.
"Northern and southern scouts aren’t responding. The eastern one still…"
His words halted abruptly as the artifact’s remaining glow faded.
"Eastern scouts gone too."
When cultivators died, their consciousness links broke – now confirmed by the main artifact.
Their instant deaths without warning meant the attackers vastly outmatched them.
"Finally," grinned a Huoliao Temple disciple nursing a burn from Qiu Ran’s Calamity Lightning, "Tiger-Chasing sends real prey instead of ants. Let’s see how these ‘geniuses’ taste!"
Besides Huoliao Temple’s two cultivators, the siege force included Han Mountain Sect, Listening Snow Tower, Suspended Bell Mountain, and Xisuo Sect – eight elite disciples total.
All perfected realm masters of Spiritual Manipulation, they outclassed Eastern Wilderness’ best. Their presence explained why previous Tiger-Chasing reinforcements got slaughtered mid-journey.
What price had the Eastern Wilderness Seventh Prince paid to sway these neutral northwest sects? This alliance burned all bridges with Tiger-Chasing Dynasty.
The cultivators exchanged glances before focusing on their leader – Xisuo Sect’s black-clad senior brother Bai Songran.
At Twelfth Level Qi Gathering, his Wind Path techniques ranked second only to Lanyue Sect’s Bi Hua among northwest talents.
"Senior Brother Bai?" prompted a brown-clad Han Mountain disciple.
"Hold positions as planned," Bai Songran ordered, eyeing the trapped Qiu Ran. "But remember – retreat if you encounter Green Mountain. Don’t engage."
The seven others nodded, vanishing to their posts.
With the northwest cultivators gone, pressure on Guhui Town’s formation lessened dramatically. The besieged Tiger-Chasing forces finally breathed easier.
Thirty miles east of Guhui Town.
After eliminating the scout from an extremely long range, Zi He stowed his bow and vanished into the forest.
As he disappeared, a yellow wind began to rise, drifting through the dim night toward the eastern camp of the Eastern Wilderness army.
Assigned to the northern front, Zi He and Yang Lingrui had arrived the day after receiving their orders.
Instead of rushing into a rescue, they used gathered intelligence and Zi He’s pupil technique to map the Eastern Wilderness forces, scout positions, and pinpoint weak spots in the defenses.
Once Shen Yue, Xiao Yize, and others arrived, the group coordinated to strike simultaneously.
With the scouts removed, the Eastern Wilderness lost track of their movements. By the time eight outer sect disciples reached key points, only the final defensive line remained. Tiger-Chasing’s forces seized the chance to push forward.
“So it’s just Tiger-Chasing’s yellow wind ghost? No real threat!”
“Flame Prison!”
Yang Lingrui was cutting through the camp when the shouts reached him. The Huoliao Temple disciple who’d quarreled with Qiu Ran approached, followed by a red fire projection. Yang Lingrui tried to retreat but staggered as a crushing force slowed him.
“Stay awhile, Friend.”
Another Huoliao disciple emerged, gripping a magic disc that pinned Yang Lingrui in place.
“Gravity technique?”
Though calm, Yang Lingrui’s eyes flickered when he noticed the disc resembled Elder Yu’s.
“Die!”
As the disciple lunged with the projection, Yang Lingrui summoned his illusionary body, slipping free of the gravity field and fleeing.
“Coward!”
The disciple gave chase despite his junior’s warning: “Senior Brother, watch for tricks!”
“Relax. My detection bracelet’s active—I’ll retreat if anyone else approaches.” He flashed the bracelet. “Guard the camp. I’ll handle this ghost.”
The junior stayed, uneasy. Reports said the yellow wind ghost preyed on weak troops, nowhere near Qiu Ran’s strength. “Senior Brother’s cultivation is deep, and he has the Spiritual Manipulation method and spiritual treasure. He’ll be fine.” Yet his dread grew.
Less than half an hour later, his Jade Pendant shattered.
“Senior Brother… dead? But the artifact didn’t warn us! How? That ghost’s only Tenth Level!”
Trembling, he debated investigating until a new arrival steadied him.
“Luo Senior Brother!”
Luo Zhuli, the Sect Master’s direct disciple from Suspended Bell Mountain, glanced at the pendant fragments. “Where’s your Senior Brother?”
“He…”
Luo Zhuli sighed. “I warned him not to underestimate enemies. The yellow wind ghost and ‘Faceless Zhanwei’ outsmarted him. They’re weaker than you—stay alert, and you’ll survive.”