Chapter 121: No, Lu Lang!
Qingzhu Mountain was not very far from Hongye Valley.
It was only about a thousand li journey.
It was precisely because of their close proximity that the two Families often competed for resources around their Family strongholds, leading to conflicts.
The Spirit Stone mine incident over ten years ago became the flashpoint for all these conflicts.
It caused the two Families to engage in a major battle, forging an utterly irreconcilable blood feud.
After the Lu Family’s main force had traveled several hundred li, Lu Changsheng saw a mighty force approaching them.
Leading this force was an old man with an aged face, a tall build, and robes embroidered with flying birds.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his black flying bird robes fluttering, riding atop a black Iron Feather Eagle, exuding a majestic Aura.
Behind him followed three flying boats and a group of Cultivators riding Spiritual Beasts.
“Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Yuanzhong!” The old man cupped his hands towards Old Ancestor Lu and Lu Yuanzhong.
“Fellow Daoist Bai! Fellow Daoist Bai!” Old Ancestor Lu and Lu Yuanzhong also returned the greeting to this Old Ancestor Bai.
After the three met, they exchanged a few simple words, then led their respective forces to accelerate their assault towards Hongye Valley.
Clearly, they had arranged to rendezvous here.
“This is the Bai Family of the Hundred Birds Lake, Old Ancestor Bai?” Lu Changsheng looked at the accompanying large force from the Bai Family.
There were about sixty people.
Besides Old Ancestor Bai, who was the only Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, the strength and number of Qi Refining Cultivators seemed similar to the Lu Family’s side.
However, as Lu Changsheng knew, excluding Lu Yuanzhong, the newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the Bai Family’s overall strength was a few points stronger than the Lu Family’s.
It seemed that the Bai Family had not, like the Lu Family, emptied their entire Family’s combat power and committed all of it to this battle.
“Hundred Birds Lake is rich in Spiritual Fish and aquatic products, and many Spiritual Birds from the surrounding areas come to the lake to catch them.”
“Therefore, most Bai Family Cultivators understand the art of beast taming. They not only fish but also capture and raise Spiritual Birds and Spiritual Beasts to earn Spirit Stones.”
Lu Changsheng then looked at the Spiritual Beasts ridden by the Bai Family’s large force.
He could tell that these Spiritual Beasts were quite good.
They were not ordinary mounts like the Iron Feather Eagle.
They should possess a certain level of combat power.
The magnificent black Iron Feather Eagle beneath Old Ancestor Bai’s feet was probably a Peak First-Grade Yao Beast.
“When we reach Hongye Valley later, you don’t need to disembark from the flying boat. Just follow my arrangements.”
As they neared Hongye Valley, Fourth Elder also spoke to Lu Changsheng, Lu Miaoyun, and the others on the flying boat, explaining what to do once they arrived at Hongye Valley.
The first step was to form a Formation.
Then, using the Talismans issued by the Family, they would attack the Formation to break it.
Once the grand Formation was breached, they would follow Fourth Elder into the attack.
Clearly, for this battle, the Lu Family and the Bai Family had already made detailed plans.
“Yes, Grandma!”
“Yes, Fourth Elder!” Everyone on the flying boat nodded in response.
Two hours later, “Everyone get ready, Hongye Valley is just ahead!” Lu Yuanzhong spoke, his booming voice reaching everyone’s ears.
The Lu Family disciples, who had been eager for action, immediately perked up, their spirits high.
“This is Hongye Valley?” Lu Changsheng gazed forward.
He immediately saw a mountain valley, shrouded and obscured by a Formation, hazy, with only the sight of red mountains visible.
This was his first time visiting Hongye Valley.
He knew that Hongye Valley was similar in size to Qingzhu Mountain and was rich in a type of red-leafed tree.
Meanwhile, inside Hongye Valley, “Not good, enemy attack!” The Chen Family’s patrolling guard, seeing the flying boats and Cultivators approaching Hongye Valley from the sky in the distance, immediately changed his expression, realizing something was wrong.
He quickly sent a message back to the Family, reporting an enemy attack.
At the same time, he fully activated the grand Formation’s effects, entering a defensive state.
After the large forces of the Lu Family and the Bai Family arrived around Hongye Valley, they began to disperse in an orderly manner.
From different directions, they surrounded Hongye Valley.
Two Formation Masters, skilled in Formations, took out their Formation artifacts and began to set up Formations on the outskirts of Hongye Valley.
One Formation was to prevent Chen Family Cultivators from escaping.
The other was to break the Chen Family’s Second-Grade Grand Formation.
“Everyone prepare, begin breaking the Formation!” Old Ancestor Lu and Old Ancestor Bai did not engage in any challenges or shouts.
They simply raised their hands and, with a single command, ordered everyone to begin breaking the Formation.
The next moment, “Boom, boom, boom!” “Boom, boom, boom!” “Boom, boom, boom!” All the Lu Family Cultivators and Bai Family Cultivators simultaneously took out Talismans, cast Spells, and unleashed intense Spiritual Light, bombarding the Hongye Valley’s Second-Grade Grand Formation.
This caused ripples to appear on the grand Formation’s light barrier, making rumbling sounds.
Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun, along with Fourth Elder, were also in the southeast of Hongye Valley, activating Talismans and bombarding the grand Formation.
“It seems that no matter where, war is expensive,” Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but think to himself, observing the situation before him.
Even with three Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators from the Lu Family and Bai Family, breaking the Chen Family’s Second-Grade Grand Formation was not easy.
They could only force their way through the Formation.
And this method of attack, frankly, was burning money.
Each wave of attack cost several hundred Spirit Stones.
To break the Chen Family’s Second-Grade Grand Formation, it would likely cost tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.
In front of Hongye Valley, Old Ancestor Lu looked at the Hongye Valley Grand Formation.
He sent a voice transmission to Lu Yuanzhong beside him: “Yuanzhong, when the grand Formation is broken later, you just hold the line and try not to act.
Otherwise, if Old Ghost Chen becomes desperate, he might try to kill you.
As for me, Old Ancestor, my Lifespan is short, so I have no worries. I can just kill him and eliminate future troubles.”
Old Ancestor Lu said in a deep voice.
Although they had three Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators on their side, facing one Old Ancestor Chen, they were absolutely confident.
However, it was uncertain what methods Old Ancestor Chen might possess.
In a cornered struggle, he might fight to the death, trying to kill Lu Yuanzhong and plunge the Lu Family into crisis as well.
After all, Old Ancestor Lu was nearing his end.
For Lu Yuanzhong’s Foundation Establishment and this battle, the Lu Family had expended a great deal.
They also had no ability to cultivate a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Therefore, Lu Yuanzhong absolutely could not suffer any mishaps.
“Old Ancestor…” Lu Yuanzhong’s expression was moved.
He also knew in his heart that in this battle, Old Ancestor had embraced the resolve to die.
He intended to fight to the death and kill Old Ancestor Chen.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to persuade Old Ancestor Bai to bring so many people to participate in this battle.
Because once such a Family war began, Old Ancestor Chen, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator, had to be killed.
Otherwise, if Old Ancestor Chen, this Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, escaped, it would bring endless trouble for both the Chen Family and the Bai Family.
“Old Ghost Lu, Old Ghost Bai, are you trying to fight my Chen Family to the death?” As the Spiritual Light of the Hongye Valley Grand Formation dimmed, a stream of light emerged from Hongye Valley, emitting a terrifying Spiritual Pressure and Aura.
It was Old Ancestor Chen.
He quickly took charge of Qingzhu Mountain’s Second-Grade Grand Formation.
The Second-Grade Grand Formation, which had been somewhat dim under the attack, now burst forth with light, forming an impenetrable, giant, inverted bowl-like structure of glazed glass.
“The fish will die, but the net may not break,” Old Ancestor Lu said with an indifferent expression.
Then he shouted loudly, “Restriction-Breaking Talisman, break the Formation!”
With a single command, immediately, the Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators of the Lu Family and the Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators of the Bai Family successively unleashed First-Grade Restriction-Breaking Talismans, striking towards the weak points of the Formation.
This immediately caused the giant bowl, which had just burst forth with light like inverted glazed glass, to dim slightly.
“Lu Family’s Lu Yuanzhong, you actually Broke Through to Foundation Establishment!” At this moment, Old Ancestor Chen saw Lu Yuanzhong beside Old Ancestor Lu, his pupils constricting.
The Chen Family and the Lu Family were mortal enemies, so he naturally understood the Lu Family.
He knew who had the potential to Break Through to Foundation Establishment.
At a glance, he recognized Lu Yuanzhong and saw that he had Broken Through to Foundation Establishment.
“Old Ghost Lu, I didn’t expect that before your death, your Lu Family would actually give birth to a new Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!” Old Ancestor Chen looked at Old Ancestor Lu, his face grim as he spoke.
He had thought that if he just held out for a few more years, Old Ancestor Lu would die.
He never expected that at this moment, the Lu Family would have a new Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator born.
He also understood in his heart that the Lu Family and the Bai Family were fully prepared, making it clear that they intended to annihilate his Chen Family today.
If the Formation were to break, not only would the Chen Family perish, but under the siege of three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he too would find it difficult to escape.
“Old Ghost Chen, the grievances between our two Families should come to an end,” Old Ancestor Lu said with a cold voice.
“Old Ghost Lu, do you really think my Chen Family is easy to bully?!” Old Ancestor Chen sneered, his expression becoming extremely calm.
He immediately sent a voice transmission: “Fellow Daoist Meng, please help!” A moment later, a stream of light flew out through the air, transforming into a slender young man.
“A Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!”
“How is this possible? How does the Chen Family also have a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator?!”
“No, this person is not from the Chen Family!” Even though this young man did not emit Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure, Old Ancestor Lu, Old Ancestor Bai, and Lu Yuanzhong all recognized at a glance that this young man was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Their expressions all changed.
They dared to come to Hongye Valley for this battle precisely because they relied on their three Foundation Establishment Cultivators against the Chen Family’s single Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Three against one, they were confident of victory.
But three against two, it would be very difficult to kill Old Ancestor Chen.
Moreover, in this battle, they had to act quickly.
They had to take down Hongye Valley with lightning speed.
Otherwise, if the Centipede Ridge Zheng Family received the Chen Family’s plea for help and arrived, they would have no hope of taking down Hongye Valley.
“Old Ancestor.”
“Fellow Daoist Lu, should we fight or retreat?” Lu Yuanzhong and Old Ancestor Bai looked at Old Ancestor Lu, asking him what he planned to do.
None of the three had anticipated that the Chen Family would actually have a second Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.
For this trip to take down Hongye Valley, the Lu Family and the Bai Family had distributed resources to all their disciples, which were all expensive Spirit Stones.
If they failed to take down Hongye Valley, it would be a huge loss for both Families.
Moreover, choosing to retreat now would also greatly impact the Family’s morale.
Old Ancestor Lu did not speak.
His expression was extremely grim.
He had not anticipated this situation either.
His Lifespan was short; he didn’t have much time left.
Once he passed away, the Lu Family would only have Lu Yuanzhong, a Great Cultivator who had recently Broken Through to Foundation Establishment.
At that time, the Lu Family would face the Chen Family with great difficulty.
The Chen Family might even unite with the Centipede Ridge Zheng Family to attack their Qingzhu Mountain.
“Fellow Daoist, you shouldn’t be from the Chen Family, should you?”
“This matter is a grudge between my Lu Family and the Chen Family. As long as Fellow Daoist leaves and does not participate in this battle, my Lu Family is willing to offer a generous gift.”
“Or if Fellow Daoist has any requests, you can also mention them.”
Old Ancestor Lu looked at Meng Xiaochun, cupping his hands and speaking politely.
He also saw that the other party was not from the Chen Family.
He hoped that the other party could leave and not participate in this battle.
“Fellow Daoist Meng, I have already sent a message to the Centipede Ridge Zheng Family. As long as Old Ancestor Zheng arrives, the crisis will resolve itself.”
“My Chen Family will not let Fellow Daoist Meng make a move in vain; there will definitely be a generous reward!”
Old Ancestor Chen also quickly said to Meng Xiaochun.
Although Meng Xiaochun came over, she said she had an old grudge with the Lu Family.
She wanted to participate in the Chen Family’s extermination of the Lu Family, to get revenge and also to get a share of the spoils.
But now, with three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in front of them, he didn’t dare to bet whether Meng Xiaochun would leave or not.
Therefore, if he wanted Meng Xiaochun, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, to help, he naturally had to pay a price.
Meng Xiaochun did not speak.
Because at this moment, she finally knew where her previous unease came from.
Locking Love Gu!
After Breaking Through to Foundation Establishment, she could barely suppress the influence of the Locking Love Gu.
But at this moment, her heart couldn’t help but pound, and emotions began to spread.
Her Divine Sense involuntarily looked towards the southeast of Hongye Valley.
She saw a handsome young man with a tall and straight figure on a flying boat in the distance.
“Kill him, I must kill him!”
After seeing Lu Changsheng, the effect of the Locking Love Gu, which had been suppressed, erupted like a tide, causing fear and dread to arise in Meng Xiaochun’s heart.
There was only one thought in her mind: quickly kill Lu Changsheng and take back the Locking Love Gu.
“Old Ancestor Chen, I can help you, but I need you to help me kill a Lu Family Cultivator right now.”
She suddenly clutched her chest, desperately suppressing the excruciating pain brought by the Locking Love Gu, and said in a deep voice.
“Kill who?”
Old Ancestor Chen directly asked.
“I once swore an oath that I cannot harm him, so as long as Old Ancestor Chen is willing to make a move, I am willing to help your Chen Family overcome this tribulation!”
“This person is on the flying boat in the southeast direction.”
Meng Xiaochun bit her teeth, her face in pain, and said with difficulty.
She took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Old Ancestor Chen.
Inside was Lu Changsheng’s appearance.
Old Ancestor Chen was also surprised by Meng Xiaochun’s painful appearance, and he was somewhat curious about her situation.
He believed Meng Xiaochun’s words by fifty percent in his heart.
He could see that she must have been affected by some oath or curse.
He thought to himself, what kind of overbearing oath is this?
It makes a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator show such a painful expression when she harbors ill intentions towards someone.
However, there are all sorts of strange methods in the Cultivation World.
For example, some master-servant contracts would make servants like this, unable to break free.
Once they harbored ill intentions, they would suffer a backlash from the contract, making them wish they were dead.
“Good, Chen accepts this!”
Old Ancestor Chen directly agreed.
At this moment, he had no choice but to agree.
Otherwise, if Meng Xiaochun left, their Hongye Valley would be in danger.
Moreover, looking at Meng Xiaochun’s appearance, he also knew.
If Lu Changsheng didn’t die, once the great battle began, it might even affect the strength of this Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was his offering.
“Old Ghost Lu, give up. This Fellow Daoist Meng is my Chen Family’s offering; how could she leave?”
“I have already sent a message to Fellow Daoist Zheng; it’s still not too late for you to leave now!”
Immediately, Old Ancestor Chen looked at Old Ancestor Lu and said coldly.
“Continue to break the Formation!”
Old Ancestor Lu gritted his teeth upon hearing this.
For him, at this moment, the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired.
Facing this situation, their Lu Family had no retreat to speak of.
“Brother Bai, don’t worry. When the time comes, I will use a secret Spell. Even if I can’t drive away Old Ghost Chen, I can at least severely injure him and leave him with little Lifespan!”
Old Ancestor Lu said in a deep voice to Old Ancestor Bai.
Compared to the Lu Family, the Bai Family’s situation would be a bit better, and they could still retreat.
So he had to keep fighting and must stabilize Old Ancestor Bai.
“Good, since Brother Lu says so, I will continue to fight!”
Old Ancestor Bai nodded upon hearing this.
He also didn’t want the Chen Family to become too powerful.
He hoped that Old Ancestor Lu could take Old Ancestor Chen with him before he died.
Immediately, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators exchanged glances and began to move, attacking the Formation ahead, wanting to accelerate the breaking of the great Formation.
“Everyone, form a Formation!”
Old Ancestor Chen shouted loudly.
He had the Chen Family disciples simultaneously circulate their cultivation, their Qi integrating into the Formation to resist the attack.
But the Lu Family and the Bai Family were well-prepared for this battle.
Not only did they distribute a large number of Talismans to their two Family disciples for attack.
They also prepared many Restriction-breaking Talismans, continuously weakening and breaking the Formation Restrictions.
Moreover, at this time, the Formation Masters of the Lu Family and the Bai Family also began to leverage and influence the second-tier great Formation of Hongye Valley with external Formations.
“No, if this continues, it will be difficult for me to hold out until Fellow Daoist Zheng arrives.”
Old Ancestor Chen knew that under the current circumstances, it would be difficult to rely on the Formation to hold out until Old Ancestor Zheng arrived.
Moreover, if they continued to stalemate like this, his and his clansmen’s magical power would also be continuously consumed by the Formation.
When the Formation was broken, he himself would also be damaged and would not be able to escape the calamity.
“Fellow Daoist Meng, I will now fulfill the agreement!”
Old Ancestor Chen made a decisive decision.
He planned to give up resisting with the great Formation.
He would rely on himself and Meng Xiaochun to hold out until the Zheng Family arrived.
As soon as his voice fell.
He presided over the Formation, causing a huge heavy hammer to appear above the second-tier great Formation, which was like a glazed jade bowl.
It smashed heavily towards a flying boat in the southeast direction.
“Hmm!? What is Old Ghost Chen trying to do?”
“Does he want to break through the defenses and break out?”
“Not good, it’s the Fourth Elder’s direction!”
Old Ancestor Lu, Old Ancestor Bai, and Lu Yuanzhong were all startled when they saw this scene.
They didn’t expect Old Ancestor Chen to counterattack at this moment.
Thinking he wanted to tear open the defenses they had set up and escape, they quickly flew towards the southeast direction.
“Not good!”
In the southeast direction, on the flying boat, the Fourth Elder was directing everyone to break the Formation.
Seeing Old Ancestor Chen suddenly manipulate the Formation and launch an attack towards them, her face changed dramatically.
She slapped her Storage Pouch and activated and used a stack of life-saving Talismans.
They were all first-tier Peak Grade Talismans, transforming into layers of golden light, protecting everyone.
And she sacrificed a blue precious pearl, which flew into the sky, emitting dazzling light, trying to block this heaven-reaching heavy hammer!
Lu Changsheng’s face also changed when he saw this scene.
He didn’t expect that in such a smooth battle, the Chen Family would actually start to counterattack.
And the attack just happened to be directed at his side.
He could clearly feel the terror of this blow.
This was no longer an attack from an ordinary Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.
With the Fourth Elder’s first-tier Talismans, it would probably be difficult to block it!
At this moment, Lu Changsheng didn’t care about hiding his strength.
He took out the only second-tier Medium Grade defensive Talisman he had and directly activated it.
In an instant, a thick golden divine light burst forth from the Talisman, forming a golden light shield that enveloped the entire flying boat, giving off an indestructible Aura.
“Huh? This is a second-tier Talisman!?”
The Fourth Elder was startled when she saw the Talisman Lu Changsheng used, recognizing it as a second-tier Talisman.
She didn’t expect Lu Changsheng to have a second-tier Talisman.
Before she could think more.
“Bang!”
The giant hammer in the sky had already smashed down heavily.
It directly smashed the blue precious pearl sacrificed by the Fourth Elder into dust, causing the Fourth Elder’s face to turn pale and she let out a muffled groan.
“Bang bang bang—”
The giant hammer continued to fall, causing the defenses formed by the Fourth Elder’s several life-saving Talismans to quickly shatter within a few breaths.
Only the light shield formed by Lu Changsheng’s second-tier Medium Grade Talisman held out for a moment longer.
And at this instant, Lu Changsheng activated another second-tier Low Grade Talisman, transforming it into a layer of golden light shield.
The Fourth Elder also had no time to be surprised or think further, and she also sacrificed several more Talismans from her Storage Pouch, activating and using them to form a defense.
“Hmm?”
Old Ancestor Chen was also somewhat surprised when he saw this scene.
He originally thought that his single blow would easily smash everyone on the flying boat to death.
He didn’t expect that these people would have so many Talismans.
And they even had second-tier Talismans protecting them.
“Kill!”
Old Ancestor Chen’s expression turned fierce.
He continued to draw on the power of the great Formation, intending to kill Lu Changsheng and the others.
However, at this moment, Lu Yuanzhong and Old Ancestor Lu also arrived.
Seeing the Fourth Elder and Lu Changsheng desperately resisting, they immediately sacrificed their Spiritual Artifacts and cast Spells, blocking the great hammer of the Formation.
And at the same time.
Meng Xiaochun inside the great Formation watched this scene.
Seeing Old Ancestor Chen manipulate the great Formation to kill Lu Changsheng, she felt no satisfaction at all.
She clutched her chest tightly, her entire body in immense pain, unable to breathe, her heart twisted as if by a knife, and tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.
“Quick, quick!”
She could feel the Locking Love Gu, and the emotions swirling in her heart, causing her to gradually lose her reason.
The last shred of rationality in her heart urged Old Ancestor Chen to quickly kill Lu Changsheng.
But the next moment, the influence of the Locking Love Gu and the emotions spreading in her heart finally made her unable to maintain her clear rationality.
“No! Lu Lang!”
Meng Xiaochun suddenly looked up, let out a long cry, her tear-filled eyes looking at Old Ancestor Chen, who was attacking Lu Changsheng, and a murderous intent filled her heart.
She suddenly shot up into the sky, rushing towards Old Ancestor Chen, who was manipulating the Formation.