Yuan Ming left the open mine and quickly put the minor incident he had just experienced behind him.

It had been half a month since the last great battle.

During that time, under the continual challenges of the Black Wind, he had mastered his Fist Intent to perfection, and the yin qi in the wind no longer affected him. Continuing his training would yield little benefit. Moreover, with the tense battle situation between the Wu Yue Sect and the sects of the Central Plains, he didn't have much time left for cultivation. It was time to leave the Black Wind Desert.

However, the recent event served as a reminder— with the Wu Yue Sect having fully mobilized, their rear base in the Northern Desert was definitely vulnerable. Instead of rushing to the front lines to support the battle, it might be more impactful to infiltrate the Northern Desert, cut off the Wu Yue Sect's supplies, and destroy their lair.

Conveniently, Wangbei City was located north of the Black Wind Desert, the closest city to the Northern Desert. Perhaps it was fate that the Black Wind had drifted through the desert and brought him here.

Yuan Ming pondered in his heart and quickly made a decision. After discerning the direction briefly, he took Hua Zhi and the others, and they sped toward the Northern Desert.

...

Qingshui Oasis.

Unlike other areas of the Yunhuang Continent, the Northern Desert hardly had any permanent cities.

The majority of mortal and cultivator settlements here were situated within oases, large or small. However, every oasis's water source would periodically dry up and reemerge, not in sync with one another. Thus, the people of the Northern Desert almost always gathered in tribal groups, moving to another oasis with a burgeoning water source before the current one dried up.

The spirit veins here were also mostly situated around the oases, and like the water sources, would periodically dwindle and flourish.

The reasons for this phenomenon were numerous and varied, but like with the Black Wind, few dared to assert with certainty that their theories were the truth.

Before reaching the Northern Desert, Yuan Ming made a point of acquiring a map of the area from Wangbei City, but although it marked the locations of the oases, it did not specify the periodicity of the water sources.

Thus, after passing three dried-up oases, Yuan Ming finally found one where water was still emerging.

However, to his disappointment, the inhabitants here were all mortals, with no trace of any cultivators.

Yuan Ming quickly realized that continuing this search was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The battle in the Central Plains might conclude while he was still going around in circles in the sandy desert, searching for traces of the Wu Yue Sect.

He needed intelligence. However, the Northern Desert was more than ten thousand miles away from Da Jin, making common methods like the Communication Talisman ineffective. After much deliberation, he resorted to using the Stealing Heaven Tripod and Black Incense to employ a possession ability.

In the midst of the elusive incense fog, Yuan Ming's consciousness soon descended upon Yan Siyun.

At that moment, Yan Siyun seemed to be discussing something with Xi Ying. When Yuan Ming's consciousness took her place, Xi Ying instantly sensed something was amiss.

"Yuan Ming, is that you?" Xi Ying eyed the suddenly silent Yan Siyun, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"It's me, how are things on your end?" Yuan Ming asked through Yan Siyun's body.

"Not very optimistic. After you killed the Nine Yin Venerable, the Wu Yue Sect switched from their lukewarm tactics to launching an all-out assault. The three armies of the Cloud Desolation Alliance were already lacking in strength, and we had to retreat while fighting. We barely managed to pull back under their encirclement, buying some time for the rear. However, most parts of northern Da Jin have fallen. The Wu Yue Sect's army is now close to Yuhua City and is expected to arrive within ten days at most. Tian Jizi has already ordered a full contraction of our forces, possibly planning to rely on the Sect Protection Array to fight a decisive battle against the Wu Yue Sect," Xi Ying said with a grave expression.

"Ten days? That's faster than I expected. I'm currently in the Northern Desert. I probably won't make it back in time. Tell me the location of the Wu Yue Sect's lair. I want to see if I can make a difference, perhaps forcing the Wu Yue Sect to retreat," Yuan Ming pondered for a moment then asked. Nоtе frоm thе еditоr: Alwаys сhесk МV2LЕМРYR fоr соrrесtiоns.

"Your idea is good, but aside from that initial appearance, the Wu Yue God has never taken action in our previous encounters. I'm worried he might be staying back at the lair rather than with the troops," Xi Ying expressed her concerns.

"It shouldn't be so. I always felt that the Wu Yue Sect didn't accelerate their invasion into the Central Plains but slowly consumed the immortal and mortal forces of Zhao Country, likely with a certain scheme in mind," Yuan Ming said.

"Regardless, their lair won't be entirely unguarded, and with the Wu Yue God's vast divine powers, if you really encounter him, you must be extremely cautious," Xi Ying said.

"I will act cautiously. Even if I can't defeat him, escaping should still be possible. Plus, this battle nearly determines the fate of Yunhuang; the Wu Yue God should value it greatly. No matter the previous situation, he will likely show himself during the mountain assault," Yuan Ming nodded and responded.

"Well, all right. According to my clan's records, the lair of the Wu Yue Sect is located beneath the Black Witch Mountain in the Northern Desert. Be very careful when you go. Moreover, even if you arrive early, don't rush to take action. Wait until ten days later when the Wu Yue Sect's army officially starts the mountain assault, and their forces are tied up, then make your move, to prevent them from being able to quickly send reinforcements back to the Black Witch Mountain," Xi Ying hesitated briefly, then said.

"By the way, did you manage to locate Wulu, the one I mentioned last time?" Xi Ying suddenly remembered.

"I located him, but he is currently in seclusion in an uninhabited area, the exact location of which I'm not clear on. I dare not rashly control him to leave, and currently, I'm unable to communicate with him," Yuan Ming sighed regretfully.

Afterward, the two exchanged further intelligence, and Xi Ying detailed Chang Chun Temple's arrangements near Yuhua City to Yuan Ming.

As the possession time was about to end, and the important matters had been discussed, they both fell into silence.

"Well, I should go," Yuan Ming hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

Xi Ying pursed her lips, her gaze like a clear spring, filled with both worry and reluctance.

Yet for some reason, as she looked at Yuan Ming, who was possessing Yan Siyun, she suddenly felt irritated.

"Don't possess other women in the future, I don't like it," Xi Ying chided.

Yuan Ming paused, his Divine Sense sweeping over Xi Ying and seeing her cheeks slightly puffed up in a seemingly reproachful yet angry manner, couldn't help but smile wryly and replied,

"Alright, it won't happen again."

"Also, next time, I want to see the real you, standing in front of me unharmed!" Xi Ying added.

Yuan Ming heard the worry in her words, and his heart softened even more.

"I promise you," he said earnestly, as if making a vow.

...

Four days later, Black Witch Mountain.

This mountain, situated at the far northern edge of the Northern Desert, was remote, with neither grass nor trees growing upon it, only rough, cracked black stones covering every corner of the mountain.

In the thousand miles around the mountain body, there were few spirit veins or oases, making it an utterly desolate place rarely visited by humans.

However, the stronghold of the Wu Yue Sect lay beneath this desolate land.

Outside Black Witch Mountain, Yuan Ming used the Void Transformation Technique to conceal his form, hiding in the clouds and covertly observing everything on the mountain.

He soon noticed an incredibly vast Formation that enveloped the entire Black Witch Mountain within it.

This Formation was not only protective but also combined with Illusion Techniques. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator might not be able to see through the Formation to view the actual situation on the mountain.

Moreover, Yuan Ming felt the essence of Soul Power flowing from the Formation, leading him to speculate that the Formation might react to any external Divine Sense contact, potentially exposing the position of the investigator. In severe cases, it might even trigger a counterattack.

Faced with this Formation, Yuan Ming also found it somewhat tricky, but after some thought, he quickly figured out a way to bypass the Formation.

Within the clouds, Yuan Ming cautiously extended the Undying Tree Root, and with a thought, the root trembled and tore a small opening in the void, cautiously probing through it.

Simultaneously, in an inconspicuous corner atop Black Witch Mountain, an extremely tiny rift in the void suddenly opened, and the Undying Tree Root quietly poked its head out.

The Great Array enveloping Black Witch Mountain showed no reaction at this time.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming was overjoyed and immediately controlled the Undying Tree Root to rapidly investigate the situation on Black Witch Mountain.

The mountain was filled with numerous stone houses, and many members of the Wu Yue Sect in Black Robes were stationed in them. The number of people was even greater than Yuan Ming had anticipated. Their strengths varied, but most were in the late or peak stages of each cultivation realm.

Beyond those residing on the external sections of the mountain, Yuan Ming quickly discovered that the interior of the mountain had been hollowed out by the Wu Yue Sect, resembling an ant's nest with countless twisting tunnels that connected each stone house, forming a vast underground network.

Without a map or prior scouting, outsiders entering the place would likely soon lose their way in this complex terrain.

Among these tunnels and stone houses, members of the Wu Yue Sect had also laid countless forms of restrictions. Although currently inactive, the mere sight of them was enough to make one break out in a cold sweat, let alone facing them directly.

The more Yuan Ming observed, the more he was alarmed. The Wu Yue Sect had secured their stronghold impermeably. Without the Undying Tree Root allowing him to scout in advance, even several top-tier cultivators of similar strength to him might find it difficult to conquer this place.

However, since he was now aware of the setup here, these threatening difficulties seemed much less significant. Most crucially, after his investigation, he found out that although the cultivators left behind were strong, there was only one Black Robed Elder who had reached the Nascent Soul stage, and he was not a Soul Cultivator.

Soon, Yuan Ming had thoroughly scouted the situation at Black Witch Mountain. The only place he couldn't fully explore was a stone house located at the deepest part of the underground, covered by an exceptionally strong restriction. Even the Undying Tree Root couldn't penetrate the void to enter it, and Yuan Ming was unclear what was inside.

Apart from the enemy's setup, Yuan Ming discovered several locations within Black Witch Mountain storing spiritual materials, elixirs, and Cultivation Technique Books.

Unfortunately, the spiritual materials and elixirs had mostly been taken, leaving only a small portion for daily use by the stationed cultivators, but the collection of Classic Books was well-preserved.

Yuan Ming noted down these locations, then silently submerged himself, waiting for the day of the decisive battle to arrive.