CHAPTER 918: CHAPTER 690: NEW CHALLENGES

As time slowly passed, the strength of those twenty Tri-Floral Realm cultivators continually recovered, and Li Yi’s hold over Red Gold Mountain grew deeper and deeper, at least without worrying that this Treasure Mountain would fall into others’ hands.

Taking advantage of the gap while these Tri-Floral Realm experts regained their power, Li Yi began researching the next realm, the Chao Yuan Realm.

Five Qi Chaoyuan, it’s said to be simple, using the Five Elements Qi to nurture the Primordial Spirit until the Primordial Spirit blooms the Tao Flower and reaches perfection.

But Li Yi is different from ordinary cultivators; he is an Evolver, already possessing a soul. Now, with the Supreme Treasure Red Lotus nurturing him, stepping into the Five Qi Chaoyuan realm is easy.

To match his own abundant mana, a typical Primordial Spirit is not enough. He wants to use the Dharma Manifestation Realm of the Four Seas and Eight Continents as a foundation, combining the advantages of the Five Qi Chaoyuan and the Supreme Treasure Red Lotus to nurture a unique Primordial Spirit Dharma for himself.

Prior to this, Li Yi must first condense his soul into a Dharma Image, and then transform the Dharma Image into a cultivator’s Primordial Spirit.

While Li Yi was studying the Dharma Cultivation Method of the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

On this day.

Merchant Lady Nuheng hurriedly arrived at the City Lord Mansion. She found the comparatively leisurely Li Yi and delivered very important news.

"Red Mountain City will change, so please, Da Yi, prepare early," Nuheng began with this statement.

Li Yi listened, feeling a bit surprised. Now, as the master of Red Gold Mountain, with twenty Tri-Floral Realm cultivators stationed, how could there be change?

"Please elaborate, Nuheng," he did not immediately question but instead asked sincerely and patiently.

Nuheng said, "I’ve received a message from other merchant masters that the Divine Blood Warriors of the Divine Wood City lineage intend to challenge you, the Mountain Lord, to reclaim Red Gold Mountain. That day, the Divine Blood Warrior Mu Tu was driven away by Nanshan Bo, and will return again."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi immediately understood.

The Divine Blood Warrior is unwilling, wanting to stir trouble again. It’s just unfortunate for them, as they chose the wrong time, for now, Red Gold Mountain is said to be a mighty force, with many experts.

Many cultivators have already recovered to the One Flower Realm cultivation, and soon, there will be Two Flowers Realm experts everywhere. Li Yi has also undergone the tempering of Divine Blood, his physique has transformed, and his strength has greatly improved.

"If he dares to come, he will surely die," Li Yi coldly laughed at this moment and said, "I was able to capture Red Gold Mountain, and I can defend it as well. Just in time, I need the Divine Tree Leaf of the Divine Wood lineage to refine Red Gold and forge Red Gold Divine Soldier."

"When will the warriors of Divine Wood lineage arrive at Red Gold Mountain?"

Nuheng paused, not expecting Da Yi to be excited and eager upon hearing of the arrival of Divine Wood lineage warriors, wanting to defeat the upcoming enemies. It should be noted that the Divine Wood lineage is much stronger than the Red Gold Mountain Master.

"Da Yi, if all goes normally, they will arrive at Red Mountain City by noon tomorrow," Nuheng seriously said afterward.

Li Yi nodded: "Thank you for informing me, it seems the intelligence between merchant masters is truly swift, being able to learn such major events a day in advance. Handing Red Mountain City over to you for management was indeed the right decision."

Nuheng said, "In matters this significant, the merchants within Divine Wood City will surely receive the news. This isn’t due to my capability. The true generosity came from Taiyi, because you let me manage Red Mountain City, enabling me to maneuver enough Red Gold so that those merchant masters are willing to risk offending Divine Wood City to inform me."

"We’ll need to reward those merchant masters afterward," Li Yi said with a smile, "Red Gold Mountain isn’t lacking in anything but Red Gold. As a Mountain Lord, I’m not stingy; once everything settles down, they will receive their due reward, and this includes you, Nuheng."

Nuheng smiled and said, "I’ve already obtained the reward I should have. Before achieving greater merits, I can’t claim benefits that do not belong to me."

Li Yi said, "You are a wise merchant master. Stay peacefully in Red Mountain City for the next few days. I’ll take care of the warriors from Divine Wood lineage."

"With the Mountain Lord’s words, Red Mountain City can be more stable," Nuheng said.

She also needed some positive response from Li Yi, or else the carefully stabilized Red Mountain City would be in chaos again. After all, the warriors from the Divine Wood lineage are very renowned here, enough to scare away the few people in Red Gold Mountain.

After sending off Nuheng.

Li Yi’s expression gradually grew serious again. Though he is confident, he also couldn’t underestimate the foundation of a major city. After all, regarding the warriors of Divine Wood lineage, he only knows of someone named Mu Tu, and is unaware if other experts will arrive.

If they send a Hundred Mountain Master, it’s best not to fight and immediately cross realms to escape.

"Instead of waiting for them to battle at Red Gold Mountain, it might be better to proactively engage them, intercepting halfway, and just taking this opportunity to scout the opponent’s real circumstances, lest waiting without preparation tomorrow," he then had a slight flash in his eyes, a plan gradually emerged in his mind.

Immediately, Xiangyun appeared under Li Yi’s feet, and he rose into the air, transmitting a message towards the direction of the Red Gold Mountain Range: "Cultivators whose strength has recovered to the Tri-Floral Realm, please gather at the City Lord Mansion for an important meeting."

Soon.

From the direction of the Red Gold Mountain Range, waves of five-colored radiant light soared into the sky.

Hidden within various mountain peaks and caves, the cultivators paused their cultivation upon hearing Li Yi’s summon and went into action. Although they hadn’t concerned themselves with worldly matters these days, they knew that coming across realms must mean there’s a task to be done.

After all, Li Yi spent the cost to cross realms and bring them to the Wilderness World, not for enjoyment. Where there’s gain, there’s bound to be loss.

One cultivator after another swiftly flew over; some were riding clouds and mists, others treading on the Five Qi, and some transformed into Divine Light. In just a moment, a full twelve cultivators gathered.

The reason twelve came is that all twelve cultivators were of the Three Flower Realm level.

There are eight cultivators whose life span is nearing its end and the degradation of their realms is severe. They have come to the Barbaric World for some time but have not been able to bloom their Daoist Skill anew, so now they can only continue to hide in their caves, unable to respond to this call.

"There are twelve who have already reached the Three Flower Realm?" Li Yi glanced around, feeling quite satisfied with the result.

After all, considering they returned across realms not long ago, being able to recover to this extent is already very good.

"Taiyi, has something happened?" Divine Lady Yun flew over on a cloud, immediately asking.

Others also turned to look at Taiyi.

Li Yi said, "Last time, after seizing Red Gold Mountain, one warrior of the Divine Wood Lineage escaped. Now, I have received news that someone intends to come to Red Gold Mountain at noon tomorrow to challenge me for the position of Mountain Lord, aiming to seize Red Gold Mountain."

"How dare they attempt to take our refuge? Taiyi, there’s no need for you to act; tomorrow, I will ensure this person comes with no return. I’ve already blossomed two Tao Flowers; facing a Mountain Lord-level warrior shouldn’t be an issue," said Master Yuan Yang.

He used to be a cultivator at the peak of the Three Flower Realm. Now that two Tao Flowers have bloomed again, the restoration of his strength is considered rapid.

"Indeed, this place is named Red Gold Mountain, so naturally, we cannot hand it over. Tian Gong Taoist also mentioned that the Dao Artifacts refined from Red Gold surpass even the top Inheritance Dao Artifacts. Occupying Red Gold Mountain will give us the Red Gold Dao Artifacts to use in the future. Even if Taiyi didn’t say anything, I would have defended Red Gold Mountain without any thought of retreat," said a Taoist named Qing Fengzi, gnashing his teeth and showing a murderous intent.

After experiencing the End of Dharma, one realizes how wonderful it is to have abundant Spiritual Energy and obtain Red Gold Dao Artifacts. How could one endure losing all this now?

"If they dare to come, they are courting death. Tomorrow at noon, we will strike together and send the warriors of the Divine Wood Lineage on their way," said a man around thirty, who, though not seemingly a cultivator, looked like a warrior. This man, named Heavenly Sword, was once one of the thirty-six protectors of the Heavenly Dao Sect, skilled in slaughter.

Yun Feizi seriously said at this moment, "Heavenly Sword, don’t be reckless; listen to Taiyi’s arrangement. This world is not that simple. Even two powerful Immortals could not overpower the former Red Gold Mountain Master together, let alone when we haven’t fully recovered our strength."

Heavenly Sword nodded, then looked at Li Yi again, waiting for his instructions.

The others also stopped speaking, looking at Li Yi.

Even though they were all once proud cultivation experts, in front of Li Yi, they could only bow and take orders. The Sacrifice Spell was one thing; most importantly, just by standing there, Li Yi exuded an awe-inspiring wave of Divine Power.

He hasn’t even reached the Chao Yuan Realm yet.

Should he one day enter the Three Flower Realm, even if forty-nine cultivation experts gathered, they probably couldn’t shake him even a little.

Such strength and potential naturally command respect.

"All of you are senior cultivators and should know the principle of striking first. Since the other side plans to challenge me at noon tomorrow for the Mountain Lord position, let’s strike today and annihilate them halfway."

Li Yi said, "If we can capture a few Divine Blood Warriors and send them to Divine Wood City, we might exchange for quite a few Divine Tree Leaves. In case there’s a strong individual of Hundred Mountain Master level among them, we’ll have a day to withdraw from Red Gold Mountain, so as not to be besieged and lose our lives in vain."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Li Yi’s approach.

It was very reasonable.

With advance and retreat options, rather than waiting to be besieged, they would do the same.

If they really waited for the opponent to knock on their door tomorrow, it might be too late to withdraw if they couldn’t withstand the attack.

"Taiyi’s strategy is sound. Striking halfway allows for both attack and defense; I suggest sending a few people ahead to test the enemy’s strength first," Yuan Yang Taoist added some advice.

But Shenxu Taoist beside him said coldly, "There’s no need; we can operate our Daoist Skill halfway to locate them, then all attack together. If the opponent survives our joint strike, they must be a strong one. If the opponent is unscathed, we retreat swiftly; if they’re severely wounded, we’ll come out to clean up."

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes slightly opened, surprisingly looking at Shenxu Taoist.

It was a good idea.

But it sounded a little underhanded.

Li Yi also looked at Shenxu Taoist. Indeed, seasoned people are wise. These old cultivators have such rich experiences, they can come up with all kinds of good methods.

"Alright, let’s do it this way; there’s no time to lose. Let’s go now," Li Yi immediately adopted the plan and set off promptly, to prevent any leaks and unexpected complications.

He identified a direction, then rode the clouds toward Divine Wood City’s direction.

Twelve cultivation experts immediately followed closely, not daring to delay even for a moment.