Chapter 55: The Heavenly Might of the Nascent Soul

Two days later, Cao Yun's spiritual power was once again completely exhausted. At this moment, finding himself deep within a lush forest, he located a large tree roughly as thick as a water bucket, sat cross-legged beneath it, and began to slowly recover his spiritual power.

He tossed seven or eight restorative pills into his mouth, then flipped his wrists to reveal two spirit stones shining in his palms. His previously empty dantian gradually filled up, nourished by the medicinal potency and the spiritual energy radiating from the spirit stones.

After only the time it takes to eat two meals, the greater part of his spiritual power had been restored. Without lingering much longer, Cao Yun resumed his flight toward the territory of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect.

Following another half-day of flight, Cao Yun finally arrived within the borders of the Zhouwu Kingdom, which was now merely a half-day journey away from the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect.

Just as he thought he was about to arrive safely, a squad of cultivators ahead locked onto him from afar. Judging by the formidable divine sense of the cultivator who had locked onto him, it was most likely a powerhouse at the Core Formation stage.

When the squad drew closer, Cao Yun realized to his surprise that the newcomer was a Core Formation cultivator clad in the attire of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect, followed closely by several Foundation Establishment cultivators rushing along in a hurry.

"Your disciple Cao Yun pays respects to the Martial Uncle," Cao Yun bowed respectfully to the Core Formation cultivator who had flown up before him.

"Cao Yun? Weren't you stationed at the Dongliao Mineral Vein? Could it be that the place has truly been breached?" The Core Formation cultivator, who appeared to be around twenty-two or twenty-three years old, asked with furrowed brows.

"Reporting to Martial Uncle, a few days ago, righteous path cultivators gathered more than ten Core Formation cultivators to surround the mining area. At the critical moment when the grand formation was about to be shattered, Martial Uncle Li, Martial Uncle Wang, and Martial Uncle Wu took the lead to break through the enemy's encirclement. The remaining Foundation Establishment disciples like myself seized the opportunity to scatter and flee in all directions. Although only a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator pursued me, and my techniques are mediocre, I have mastered a few escapist secret arts, and after various twists and turns, I finally managed to shake off that pursuer. I was just on my way back to the sect to report on my mission," Cao Yun reported truthfully.

Upon hearing Cao Yun's account, the young cultivator shook his head helplessly, sighed, and said, "Let us hope Senior Brother Li and the others can return safely. While the righteous path was attacking the Dongliao Mineral Vein, our sect also launched an offensive against the Zhouwu Kingdom, which is why we could not provide timely reinforcement to Senior Brother Li and them. However, precisely because of the diversion provided by Senior Brother Li and the others, we were able to successfully conquer the Zhouwu Kingdom."

At that moment, Cao Yun finally understood why the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect had delayed sending reinforcements. As it turned out, they had been used as bait. Cao Yun could not help but silently ponder whether this had been planned all along or if it was merely a coincidence.

"Nephew Cao, you need not return to the sect to report. Simply accompany us to the capital of the Zhouwu Kingdom to reinforce the defense deployment. As for the matter of the Dongliao Mineral Vein, I will report it to the sect myself," the young Core Formation cultivator instructed.

"Yes, Martial Uncle." Since the sect elders had made such arrangements, Cao Yun naturally had no choice but to obey the transfer order.

Guided by the young Core Formation cultivator, Cao Yun and his party soon arrived at the capital of the Zhouwu Kingdom. At this time, the doors and windows on both sides of the capital's streets were tightly shut; the once bustling and prosperous capital had now become lifeless and desolate, with not a single mortal figure to be seen.

"Nephew Cao, since you are new here, accompany us first to familiarize yourself with the defense deployment of the capital," the young cultivator said flatly to Cao Yun.

"Yes, Martial Uncle!" Cao Yun nodded and followed behind the young cultivator, beginning to carefully examine the capital that had now fallen into the hands of the demonic path. The defenses of the capital were arranged quite rigorously; upon the city walls, various restrictions and formations flickered with brilliance, forming an indestructible barrier.

Within the city, numerous strongholds were also garrisoned by cultivators of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect to guard against sudden raids by righteous path cultivators.

"Martial Uncle, this disciple has something he does not understand," Cao Yun suddenly asked.

"What is it?" The young cultivator stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Cao Yun.

"Aren't the goals of us demonic path cultivators to cultivate into demons? Why attack this mortal realm? Secular affairs are intricate and complex; wouldn't this delay our years of cultivation?" Cao Yun voiced the doubts in his heart.

Hearing this, the young cultivator smiled faintly and said, "Nephew Cao, there is much you do not know. Whether one cultivates immortality or cultivates as a demon, the foundation is always rooted in people. Just like firewood in a stove, if new wood is not added in time, the fire will soon go out because the fuel is burned to ashes. But if new firewood is continuously fed into the stove, the flame can burn forever, passing down from generation to generation in an endless cycle. This is also why the righteous path cultivators, even though their cultivation resources are inferior to ours, have managed to keep their tradition suppressing our demonic path cultivators for thousands of years."

Cao Yun was instantly enlightened, and he said, "Thank you, Martial Uncle, for your guidance."

The young cultivator smiled slightly and continued leading Cao Yun to inspect the defense layout of the capital.

In the days that followed, Cao Yun remained in this mortal capital.

However, how could there ever be peaceful times in an era of war? Suddenly, the entire capital of the Zhouwu Kingdom trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake. A voice resembling the might of the heavens suddenly descended from the sky, transforming into peals of rolling thunder that crashed down forcefully.

"This old man is Long Qianyu of the Dao-One Gate! You demonic scoundrels actually dare to openly invade a mortal capital—you are courting death!"

A colossal face appeared in the sky, seeming to shroud the entire mortal capital within it. It possessed a broad face and large ears, with eyes as deep as the sea, exuding a formidable majesty.

The cultivators of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect in the capital of the Zhouwu Kingdom were shaken to the verge of collapse by that voice, while some mortals and low-level cultivators were directly knocked unconscious. Only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above like Cao Yun managed to barely keep their footing.

"Oh no! It's a Nascent Soul powerhouse!" In the council hall, a late-stage Core Formation elder who looked to be about forty years old, surnamed Meng, changed color drastically and cried out in alarm.

Hearing this, Cao Yun felt a jolt of shock in his heart as well. This spectacle, resembling the fury of the firmament, was indeed the means of a Nascent Soul cultivator. He silently wondered whether the Eight Demons Chain Immortal Sealing Array, jointly deployed by numerous Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators, would be able to withstand the fierce onslaught of this mighty Nascent Soul expert.

In truth, deep within his heart, Cao Yun harbored a certain degree of anticipation, longing to witness firsthand the divine abilities of a Nascent Soul cultivator and see what earth-shattering might they could display.

Immediately afterward, Cao Yun and the others instantly transformed into streaks of light, rushing out of the council hall and arriving at the plaza outside the hall.

At that moment, a gigantic palm spanning a hundred zhang was seen pressing down toward the sky above the capital, blotting out the sun as though the heavens themselves were collapsing with an unstoppable momentum.

Witnessing this apocalyptic scene, Cao Yun swallowed involuntarily, his tongue gently licking his parched lips.

"Quick! Li Qing, gather all the disciples in the city here immediately. No matter what, we must block the attack of the Dao-One Gate's Nascent Soul cultivator!" Elder Meng commanded anxiously.

At this moment, the gigantic hand smashed down fiercely. The light barrier of the city-protecting grand formation emitted a deafening roar, and streaks of black and red demonic Qi flickered violently, barely managing to resist the crushing weight of the giant hand.