Chapter 804: Chapter 794: Looking for Teammates

Ye Zhen, disguised as True Person Black Water, struck and killed the leaders of the Sky Horse Gang and the Five Immortals Hall. Among the many consequences of this, one thing caught Ye Zhen by surprise.

It made the upper echelons of the Red Fire Subdivision’s various forces become extremely timid.

In their resting Silent Chambers, not only did they strengthen defenses, but they also directly used Talisman Formations or more advanced and expensive Warning Talismans, almost covering all directions with the Light of the Guardian Talisman.

The reason is simple, the news from the Sky Horse Gang and the Five Immortals Hall, especially the death of the Sky Horse Gang’s Grand Leader Xu Yueshan, was almost a silent assassination in a secret chamber!

Guards were outside the room, the Light of the Guardian Talisman inside was intact, yet the person was dead!

True Person Black Water could sneak in silently, leaving only one possibility — from underground!

This analysis left the high-ranking figures of the Red Fire Martial City’s major forces stunned, prompting them to change their alert strategies.

The most direct consequence was that Ye Zhen accomplished almost nothing over these few days.

The overwhelming pressure of the impending battle five days later made Ye Zhen want to take advantage of these days to quietly strike, to eliminate top figures in either the Longevity Sect or the Heavenly Net Sect, or at the very least, secretly deal with Yun Pochuan and Zhou Muqing, reputed to possess the Secret Technique capable of slaying an Establishment King.

Unfortunately, this series of chain reactions gave Ye Zhen no chance to act. Any forceful action would trigger the various alert restrictions they’ve set up, and Ye Zhen might then face a siege!

Wandering around the Main Hall of the Flying Tiger Hall and the martial artists’ bases of the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect for two or three days, Ye Zhen was ultimately compelled to abandon this idea and focus on integrating the newly added forces of the Red Fire Subdivision.

Since small tricks wouldn’t work, the only option was to battle them head-on.

Fortunately, most of these newly recruited martial artists were from guilds and had some experience in martial artist battle formations, making them easier to handle.

Ye Zhen’s lack of small actions doesn’t mean the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect weren’t active. Over these five days, they were actively colluding, constantly contacting various forces within the Red Fire Martial City, engaging in ceaseless covert maneuvers.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye, with information continuously flowing into Ye Zhen’s hands, increasing the pressure on him.

Indeed, the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect only dispatched fifty Vein Forging Realm martial artists and three hundred Soul Sea Realm martial artists each, but they were the elite of the elite!

The Longevity Sect sent members of the most elite Azure Dragon Hall, while the Heavenly Net Sect sent members of the Heavenly Character Hall, both equivalent to the Sunshine Hall of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect in reputation.

The lowest cultivation among these martial artists was Third Stage Vein Forging Realm, with most ranging between the Fourth and Sixth Stage Vein Forging Realm, and the average exceeded the Fourth Stage Vein Forging Realm.

Although sixty-four Vein Forging Realm martial artists joined the Red Fire Subdivision five days ago, their strength paled compared to the elites of the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect.

A Fifth Stage Vein Forging Realm martial artist could count as an expert, though the average cultivation didn’t even surpass the Third Stage Vein Forging Realm.

However, these weren’t the greatest threat, as part of this gap could be bridged with the pre-arranged Formations by the Red Fire Subdivision.

The greatest threat came from the arrival of two Kings from the Establishment Realm with this reinforcement.

One is the Second Divine General of the Longevity Sect, Gongsun Li, a renowned figure whose early reputation even slightly outshone that of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong, known in Jianghu as Demon Blade, with cultivation reaching the Fifth Stage Establishment Realm.

Moreover, he possessed the ability to defeat foes above his level within the Establishment Kings, having once killed a Fifth Stage King while he was at the Fourth Stage.

The King from the Heavenly Net Sect, though slightly less reputed than Demon Blade Gongsun Li, was also a renowned figure in Jianghu.

She was one of the rare female Kings of the Establishment Realm named Feng Ting, though more known by her moniker—Life-taking Lady!

This nickname is related to her weapon, a famous Spiritual Artifact named the Life-taking Spirit Whip, a whip that, once unleashed, never returns empty, earning her the moniker Life-taking Lady.

Although she receded into seclusion for cultivation within the Heavenly Net Sect many years ago, seldom appearing in Jianghu, her reputation remained prominent, with her cultivation reaching the Fourth Stage Establishment Realm.

Bear in mind, even Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong’s cultivation was merely at the Fifth Stage Establishment Realm, so the pressure Ye Zhen faced against these two Establishment Kings is imaginable.

More troublesome is, whether it was the Hall Master of the Azure Dragon Hall of the Longevity Sect or the Hall Master of the Heavenly Character Hall of the Heavenly Net Sect, one with a cultivation reaching the Seventh Stage Vein Forging Realm and another the Eighth Stage, both boasting extraordinary combat power, capable of rivaling a First Stage King of the Establishment Realm, akin to the Sunshine Hall Master Shen Cang of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.

Such a formidable reinforcement undoubtedly attracted the attention of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.

Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong even sent Ye Zhen a Talisman Communication, apologetically explaining that unforeseen events altered their plans, as the resolute stance of the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect led them to dispatch sizable forces to escort these reinforcements out of Qinglan Martial Capital.

Even though the Sun and Moon Divine Sect set up an ambush, with both sides suffering casualties, they failed to prevent these reinforcements from safely leaving Qinglan Martial Capital.

According to Jian Qianxiong, this would impose tremendous pressure on Ye Zhen, and there was no effective assistance from the Divine Sect, no reinforcement would be sent!

Jian Qianxiong’s inability to dispatch reinforcements wasn’t due to indifference but had its reasons.

Within his Talisman Communication, Jian Qianxiong mentioned that, inexplicably, the Longevity Sect Master Yin Changsheng provocatively challenged him twice within these five days, repeatedly sending invitations as if harboring suspicions about his current health condition.

The top forces of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect were stretched thin at this moment, particularly with Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong yet to recover from his severe injuries, leaving the sect’s top forces unwilling to act rashly.

As Jian Qianxiong put it, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect might be facing a life-and-death juncture, where surpassing this hurdle could transform them into a dragon amid the winds and clouds, while failure might lead to the sect’s overall collapse.

The immense pressure Ye Zhen faced is evident from Jian Qianxiong’s slight concession in his suggestion.

Previously, Jian Qianxiong persistently urged Ye Zhen to hold the Red Fire Subdivision, but upon learning that Ye Zhen had subjugated sixty-four Vein Forging Realm martial artists and over four hundred Soul Sea Realm martial artists, Jian Qianxiong relented for the first time.

He advised that if Ye Zhen truly couldn’t hold the Red Fire Subdivision, he should withdraw with all personnel from the Red Fire Subdivision to preserve strength, even if it resulted in the Sun and Moon Divine Sect suffering a severe blow due to losing the Red Fire Martial City’s territory.

To be fair, Jian Qianxiong’s suggestion was quite reasonable, because based on the current intelligence obtained by the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, the likelihood of Ye Zhen holding the Red Fire Subdivision was less than even fifty percent.

In fact, Ye Zhen also thought the same, if it weren’t for the decision made by Pan Feng of the Eight Divine Generals of the Longevity Sect and Shang Lingqi of the Heavenly Net Sect, which made Ye Zhen want to laugh out loud, Ye Zhen might have really followed Jian Qianxiong’s suggestion and led his people to evacuate.

Five days ago, Ye Zhen took advantage of the momentum to recruit sixty-four Vein Forging Realm Martial Artists and four hundred and fifty Soul Sea Realm Martial Artists, making the strength of the Red Fire Subdivision soar. This made Pan Feng and Shang Lingqi feel threatened and uneasy.

Because besides the Red Fire Subdivision, there was also the powerful Flying Tiger Hall in Red Fire Martial City. The intentions of Flying Tiger Hall were obvious even to a fool — to watch the tigers fight from the mountain, and then pick up the benefits after both are badly hurt!

With the current strength in hand, the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect were confident they could defeat the Red Fire Subdivision and seize the territory, but they would definitely have to pay a considerable, even large, price!

The martial artists of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect have never been easy opponents!

The question then was, after defeating the Red Fire Subdivision, what if Flying Tiger Hall took advantage of the situation?

One careless move and they would end up with nothing!

To prevent this from happening, they could only ensure that after defeating the Red Fire Subdivision, they still had power that Flying Tiger Hall would fear!

Thus, Pan Feng and Shang Lingqi made a wise decision — to find an ally!

Currently, in Red Fire Martial City, Flying Tiger Hall was impossible to join as an ally, and the reorganized Five Immortals Hall and Sky Horse Gang were even more disorganized, not qualified to be their ally at all.

The only remaining choice, and the only force qualified to be their ally in Red Fire Martial City, was the Brotherhood led by Yuen An!

More importantly, Yuen An had the Demon-Annihilating General, capable of slaying an Establishment Realm King. As long as there were enough Attribute Spirit Crystals and time, the Demon-Annihilating General could be an endlessly tireless Establishment Realm King.

Moreover, the Brotherhood had more than eighty Vein Forging Realm Martial Artists, and with over five hundred newly recruited Soul Sea Realm Martial Artists, their numbers reached a terrifying thousand!

This force could influence the outcome of the war. If they were recruited, not only could the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect take down the Red Fire Subdivision with fewer losses, but they would also have enough power post-war to deter Flying Tiger Hall from taking advantage.

Moreover, because True Person Black Water had previously attempted to kill thirty Vein Forging Realm Martial Artists of the Brotherhood and assassinate Brotherhood Sect Master Yuen An, the Heavenly Net Sect and Longevity Sect believed the Brotherhood hated the Red Fire Subdivision or Ye Zhen to the core, and that they had a common enemy!

The perfect ally!

Thus, in the past three days, the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect spared no effort to woo the Brotherhood, offering one tempting condition after another, even promising half of the territory of the Red Fire Subdivision post-war!

As for Brotherhood Sect Master Yuen An, especially since it involved Master Ye Zhen who controlled his life and death, he reported the matter to Ye Zhen without reservation.

Finally, following Ye Zhen’s instructions, after putting forward numerous conditions, they agreed to the cooperation request.

Moreover, with Ye Zhen’s involvement, all conditions were to be delivered upfront, rejecting any conditions like post-war splitting of territory or giving the Brotherhood thirty percent of war gains.

Very simply, if the Red Fire Subdivision with Ye Zhen won the war, the benefits promised by the Heavenly Net Sect and Longevity Sect would all be empty words and unattainable.

If the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect won the war, the Master would be dead, Yuen An wouldn’t survive, and these benefits would be meaningless.

Considering this, Brotherhood Sect Master Yuen An, following Ye Zhen’s instructions, fiercely took advantage of the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect!

Five hundred High Grade Attribute Spirit Crystals, ten drops of Longevity Holy Water, a hundred Heavenly Level Lower Grade Cultivation Technique Manuals, ten Heavenly Level Middle Grade Cultivation Technique Manuals, and one Heavenly Level High Grade Cultivation Technique Manual, these items alone exceeded the value of ten million Mid-grade Spirit Crystals.

Besides, they also demanded a hundred Low Grade Artifacts and Low Grade Precious Armors, twenty Mid-grade Artifacts, one Mid-grade Precious Armor, and ten High Grade Treasures. Finally, in his personal capacity, Yuen An managed to demand one Low Grade Spirit Artifact from the Longevity Sect for personal use.

In the end, the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect grudgingly agreed to Yuen An’s lion-like demands because, apart from the pain of giving up one Low Grade Spirit Artifact, they believed that once they captured the territory of Red Fire Martial City, they could earn everything back within a year!

Just by noontime yesterday, the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect delivered piles of supplies to the Brotherhood, finalizing the agreement, including a Low Grade Spirit Artifact, the Rosy Cloud Breaking Seal, for attack use!

According to Yuen An’s intention, he wanted to pass the Rosy Cloud Breaking Seal on to Ye Zhen, but Ye Zhen didn’t take it, leaving it for Yuen An instead.

After being treated with the Puppet Spirit Locking Technique from the Puppet Spirit Record, both Yuen An and Yangh Yiguan would be absolutely loyal to Ye Zhen, and thus, boosting their strength was something Ye Zhen was happy to do!

It was precisely for this reason that after witnessing the terrifying power of the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect joining forces, Ye Zhen decided to continue holding his ground!

…..

True Spirit Calendar, July 27, according to True Spirit Calendar terminology, had not yet entered autumn and was in the midst of scorching summer!

However, starting from late yesterday, the entire Red Fire Martial City was filled with a desolate murderous intent, making the originally bustling Red Fire Martial City appear desolate, as if autumn had arrived early.

Merchants closed their shops in advance not to mention, and those Loose Cultivators who witnessed the bloodthirsty reinforcements from the Longevity Sect and Heavenly Net Sect entering the city fled far from Red Fire Martial City early!

For a time, Red Fire Martial City seemed to have turned into a dead city. Apart from spies hidden in every corner from every major force and messengers flying around, there was no trace of life.

Inside and outside the city, radiant lights soared to the sky, due to all defensive arrays in the Red Fire Subdivision’s various defensive zones being fully activated.

All sides seemed to be waiting for the moment of decisive battle. Under immense pressure, Ye Zhen even used Earth Escape to roam around without finding any opportunity to take action!

The deaths of the two Grand Leaders thoroughly scared the high echelons of all major forces in Red Fire Martial City!

Helplessly, Ye Zhen could only passively wait for the enemy to come to him because the current strength of the Red Fire Subdivision was insufficient for active assaults!

“Attack!”

At noontime on the twenty-seventh, thunderous shouts suddenly erupted from the encampments of the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect, with a massive swarm of martial artists soaring into the sky, their invisible killing qi even dispersing the cloud qi over Red Fire Martial City!

The great battle has begun! (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)