Chapter 148
The Western Regions Change Hands
Chapter 148 The Western Regions Change Hands
Master Jin's escape technique is still very fast.
But behind him, Feng Hun was already drawing his bow and nocking an arrow.
"Can you escape?"
The Wind Pattern Ring evolved into a Wind Longbow. On the bowstring, a wind arrow, condensed from wind-attribute magic, was becoming increasingly solid. The next moment, the bowstring snapped open, and the arrow shot out like a meteor.
Ahead, the fleeing leader of the Jin Cult suddenly shuddered, feeling alarm bells ringing in his heart.
"dangerous!"
He subconsciously summoned his preferred defensive magic weapon.
It was a small shield that shone with spiritual light. After it appeared, it erected three thick light screens in succession.
In addition, he subconsciously made minor adjustments to his flight path.
But just then, his mind went blank again, and a tremendous pressure suddenly fell on him.
This was a divine pressure comparable to that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. This pressure pressed down on his heart, causing him to pause slightly, his body stiffening for a fleeting moment, even temporarily halting his flight technique.
Where do you think you're going to run off to?
Han Li's tall figure appeared in Jin Jiaozhu's mind as an ideology, and he showed him a gentle smile.
"not good…"
Feeling dizzy and disoriented, Master Jin sensed something was wrong. He quickly bit his tongue to force himself to clear his head and used the pain to suppress his fear of Han Li.
"Huff, huff..."
He was breathing heavily.
My body was trembling slightly for no reason.
Having wielded power and influence in the far west for over two hundred years, he never imagined that one day he would suffer a crushing defeat in a battle of spiritual sense against a Core Formation cultivator.
A complete defeat.
It should be noted that his spiritual sense is extremely strong among those of the same level, surpassing ordinary late-stage Core Formation cultivators and even pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators, and is almost comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators.
However, at this moment, he was being completely outmatched in every way by those who came to seize his lineage.
In terms of magical cultivation, the mid-stage Core Formation cultivator is far inferior to the opponent's pseudo-Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
In terms of spiritual awareness, the third level of the Great Evolution Technique is inferior to the fourth level of the opponent's Great Evolution Technique.
They are not even on the same level.
But they're only one minor realm apart, so why is the gap so huge?
why?
That kind of oppressive aura that only exists between realms of great power is deadly.
"Damn it."
escape.
Run away.
"middle!"
The humming sound of the bowstring could be heard.
Not far in front of him, the triple protective light barrier erected by the magical shield was pierced by the wind arrow with three consecutive cracking sounds. The shield itself was then blasted far away by the incredibly powerful arrow.
After taking the arrow's blow, Little Shield was severely injured, its spiritual power greatly diminished, and its aura dimmed considerably. Without proper nurturing over a period of time, it would be rendered useless.
"What? My aura shield..."
The leader of the cult was greatly surprised.
That was a defensive magic weapon that he had strengthened multiple times using many magical treasures and metals.
How could they be defeated so easily?
He originally thought that the difference between the two was only the difference between the Core Formation stage and the Core Formation stage.
But now it seems that my ideas were too idealistic.
Before he knew it, a fine bead of sweat had appeared on Master Jin's forehead.
"Oh? It actually blocked it?"
Han Li was taken aback.
Feng Hun didn't hold back with that fully charged arrow.
Ordinary defensive magic items would be absolutely unable to stop it, and might even be destroyed by a single arrow.
After all, the high-grade ancient treasure Wind Pattern Ring, activated by Feng Hun with his late-stage Core Formation cultivation and more than twice the wind attribute mana of other cultivators of the same level, was almost as powerful as an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator! How could an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator be so easily neutralized?
But Kim Jong-un managed to block it with just a shield?
"This shield is good."
"It has been nurtured by alchemical fire and the true essence of a Core Formation stage cultivator for at least two hundred years..."
"Even if it's not a high-level magic weapon, it must be a top-quality magic weapon!"
They underestimated Master Kim's wealth.
Right.
How could a powerful ruler of a region be without any assets?
Even though the far west is often used as a testing ground for high-level cultivators from various sects in the south, and is frequently raided, leaving only scraps, it's still enough for the Golden Sect Leader to eat and drink his fill.
"Walk."
Kim Jong-un is trying to slip away again.
However, neither Han Li nor Feng Hun gave chase, quietly waiting for the Golden Sect Leader to return on his own.
Sure enough, less than ten breaths after leaving, the Grand Master Jin was forced back by a figure.
That was Qu Hun, holding a vajra and wearing a brocade kasaya.
The aura of someone at the peak of the Core Formation stage and the Buddhist radiance emanating from him filled the Thousand Bamboo Sect leader with bitterness:
"There's another one hidden?"
Why make such a big fuss to deal with someone as insignificant as him?
What makes him so capable of alarming so many top-tier Core Formation stage cultivators?
"Damn it, why are you forcing me? Where have I offended you, fellow Daoist? If I'm going to die, let me die knowing why."
Master Jin gritted his teeth.
He's been cornered.
There is no way back.
He prides himself on being well-behaved in this far west, never provoking anyone from the outside world, right? He just wanted to be a "mountain king" living a peaceful life in his own little corner, was he wrong? But why is this person so aggressive?
He felt wronged.
"Heh, more than a hundred years ago, did you arrange for Huang Long and several other Foundation Establishment cultivators to go to Huangfeng Valley in Yue Kingdom to assassinate that person from the Lin family?"
Han Li spoke coldly.
"Yes, so what?"
"They really have the audacity to attack my cave dwelling. Is that reason enough?"
Upon hearing this, Master Jin's breath hitched.
This…
How dare Huang Long and his men?
"Furthermore, you all plotted against Senior Brother Lin back then, causing him to die from poisoning. Can't I avenge Senior Brother Lin?"
"Uh…"
Jin Jiaozhu was suddenly speechless.
"Moreover, in the cultivation world, it has always been a dog-eat-dog world. Why bother with so many reasons and excuses? I, Li, am not a good person. I have my eye on your foundation and want to take it for myself. Are you satisfied with this explanation?"
As long as Master Jin lives, this far west region will remain a major threat.
"Back then, you treated Senior Brother Lin and his son in the same way, seizing their inheritance. So, stop pretending to be wronged and innocent."
"What goes around comes around..."
"It's just that this time it's your Jin family's turn."
Han Li said calmly.
"Fine, very well, you forced me to do this."
Enraged, Master Jin roared.
Since there is no way to escape this time, we can only fight to the death.
He retreated back to the main altar.
There are also many followers of the Thousand Bamboo Sect there.
"Young men of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, follow me to resist foreign enemies and safeguard our foundation in the far west."
"My lads, do not be afraid of these outsiders. There are many of us, and we can wear them down."
"Come quickly to my aid! Once we defeat the enemy, your reward will be doubled..."
With the allure and encouragement of some secret technique, even some less die-hard followers were given a shot of adrenaline. Before long, another twenty-odd protectors at the early to mid-stages of Foundation Establishment and several hall masters at the late stage of Foundation Establishment arrived.
These followers were mostly beneficiaries of the Thousand Bamboo Sect who had cultivated the first two levels of the Great Evolution Technique. Each of them could divide their divine consciousness and control hundreds of puppets. As a result, the leader of the Golden Sect quickly gathered a large number of people around him and formed a puppet army with a more tightly organized formation.
The number is as high as two or three thousand.
In addition, the leader himself summoned more than two hundred puppets, making a very impressive display.
Han Li noticed the puppet summoned by the Golden Sect Leader and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Huh? A whole bunch of Foundation Establishment stage puppets?"
Among them were over a hundred level-three puppets comparable to those in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.
There are nearly a hundred level-four giant tiger puppets, comparable to those in the late Foundation Establishment stage.
It's also worth mentioning that the Foundation Establishment stage protectors and hall masters combined only controlled a few dozen level three or four puppets, averaging one or two Foundation Establishment stage puppets per person. Meanwhile, the Golden Sect Leader himself controlled over two hundred puppets.
All of them were Foundation Establishment stage puppets.
The combat power of the puppet held by one person far surpasses that of the combined puppets held by the other twenty or thirty mid-level members of the Thousand Bamboo Sect.
"Is this far west region really that wealthy?"
"These should all be my spoils of war."
Han Li murmured excitedly.
Dozens of air vortexes were rapidly forming around him and Feng Hun.
Meanwhile, Jin, the cult leader, was surrounded by numerous followers in the center of the crowd. Many of his puppets were already brewing beams of spiritual energy from their mouths.
The next instant, hundreds of beams of light shot out.
Thousands of energy projectiles transformed into raindrops, forming a curtain of rain that bombarded the area.
Such an offensive would force most Core Formation cultivators to temporarily retreat.
But Han Li and Feng Hun did not.
"Secret Technique, Hurricane Shield."
A second ago, the dozens of cyclones that were originally only a few feet in size within a 300-foot radius in front of the two people instantly expanded into a huge tornado that was tens of feet wide and over a hundred feet high.
These tornadoes possess destructive power akin to natural disasters and continue to grow stronger.
"go."
Dozens of tornadoes can serve as both a shield and a spear.
However, this spear did not use sharpness as a breakthrough point, but rather used overwhelming momentum to crush everything in its path.
Everything in the way will be swept away by the numerous tornadoes.
Sure enough, thousands of spiritual energy projectiles struck the storm cluster, only creating a few ripples and causing only a slight slowing effect. It took a cluster of hundreds of ultra-high-temperature energy beams to disperse more than a dozen storm tornadoes.
However, there were still dozens more behind.
And after this delay, these dozens of things have clearly grown larger. They've expanded even more fiercely and powerfully.
"Not good."
Kim Jong-un's heart sank.
"If I had known this calamity would come, I should have recalled all the Foundation Establishment stage protectors and hall masters from the various branch altars. With three to five times more Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and a large number of puppets to help, facing these three head-on wouldn't be out of the question..."
pity.
pity.
Now, where is there any regret he has?
It's just that he had too much of a desire to control this land before.
Because of this desire for control, he dispersed most of the Foundation Establishment stage Dharma Protectors and the elites at the Qi Refining level 12 or 13 to various branch altars to plunder local resources.
Otherwise, they would certainly have the strength to fight.
After several more rounds of concentrated fire, it took a huge amount of spirit stone reserves to finally defuse the storm.
On Han Li's side.
Seeing more and more disciples of the Thousand Bamboo Sect joining the battle, he was not worried at all; on the contrary, he was happy about it. The more die-hards who jumped out as soon as possible, the better. It would be best to wipe them all out in one fell swoop, so that a few troublesome ones would pop up from time to time in the next few years and cause him trouble.
Then, Feng Hun tested two wind-attribute secret techniques.
For example, the flexibility of "Nine Heavens Gale Wind Escape" and the growth progress of "Gale Wind Body Tempering Technique".
The Nine Heavens Gale Escape Technique can be cultivated by those in the Core Formation stage. Once the Wind Soul unleashes it, its speed rivals that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Therefore, it is simply impossible for a Foundation Establishment stage puppet's spiritual energy pillar to catch up.
Coupled with the reaction speed and agility of a Wind Soul Core Formation level cultivator, he moved through thousands of puppets as if they were nothing.
The Wind Tempering Technique utilizes various winds and forces from nature to temper the body.
The technique has seven levels.
One can cultivate during the Foundation Establishment stage.
Once the highest level, the seventh level, is mastered, the cultivator's physical body can be comparable to that of a demon cultivator in human form.
Han Li spent more than a year crossing the hurricane desert. He didn't encounter anything else, but he encountered countless wind-forces.
The Hurricane Desert can be considered the most suitable place to cultivate the Wind Tempering Technique.
Here, regardless of whether one is in the Foundation Establishment stage, the Core Formation stage, or even a Nascent Soul ancestor, everyone must traverse on foot. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator with profound Daoist knowledge cannot withstand the impact of the wind for an extended period.
However, the Wind Soul, by virtue of the Wind Spirit Root's affinity for various spiritual winds in nature, and with the Wind Force Body Tempering Technique, turned waste into treasure.
therefore.
This journey.
Both Han Li's physical body and his wind spirit soul with the wind spirit root benefited immensely.
His body had just reached the first level of Wind Tempering, making his physical hardness comparable to that of a level 2 demon beast.
Feng Hun has perfected the second level, and his physical strength is comparable to that of a level 3 demon beast.
The physique of a level 3 demon beast can withstand the spiritual energy light bullets without any problem.
Even if you take several energy beams from a level 3 puppet, you won't be easily injured.
Only the super-high temperature spiritual energy beam of the level four giant tiger puppet would pose a threat.
Given more time, Feng Hun's physique will be no weaker than that of a high-level demon beast of level five or six.
"How could this be? Is this person a body cultivator?"
Seeing that things were getting worse, Master Jin was stunned.
“Not bad, not bad…”
After reviewing the results of his year-long journey, Han Li nodded in satisfaction.
"It's time to end it."
The Qiankun Tower talisman was unleashed, its force field covering an area of several miles.
More than twenty gold-devouring insects were released, and the ferocious nature of the insects was no longer suppressed.
The sixth-ranked member, at the peak of level seven, appeared and coldly glanced at the large group of trembling two-legged sheep.
A level-six gale-force wind caused the eagle to soar high into the sky, looking down upon all the ants on the ground.
The level seven Ice and Fire Wolf strode with elegant steps.
Then, just in case, he ordered a group of high-ranking Ironarm Beasts to burrow underground. Those who dared to use earth-burrowing techniques could gamble on whether they would encounter the Ironarm Beasts, masters of burrowing, underground.
He's the kind of person who likes to dig holes, so he's used to preventing others from digging holes for him to escape as well.
At this moment, all the cultivators of the Thousand Bamboo Sect felt that something was wrong.
One by one, they were all dumbfounded.
Their faces also turned pale.
I was so eager to jump out and support Master Jin, but my heart... is now sinking.
...
Several hours later, the battlefield was cleared.
Dangerous members of the Thousand Bamboo Cult who were loyal to Master Jin, as well as Master Jin himself, were all executed.
The remaining ordinary followers who witnessed the annihilation of Master Jin and his group of Dharma Protectors were mostly preserved.
It simply means that all the members of the Qianzhu Sect's main altar and its 108 branch altars in various places must accept his divine control restriction.
This is hard work.
A month or so later, the far west changed hands.
(End of this chapter)