Chapter 56, Qi Spring and Showdown

Translator: Raznick

 

Wolf Ridge harbored an actual Qi Spring! 

 

The realization stunned stunned all present from the five cultivating clans.

 

Such a cultivation haven increased the cultivation speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator by two or three times. Even Golden Core Stage cultivators would benefit from it.

 

Despite the five cultivating clans having a history spanning hundreds or even thousands of years, none possessed such a valuable cultivating site. This was something they deemed unimaginable—a treasure no single clan could claim.

 

Zhou Daoyi acted swiftly. He had the Sky Cloud Python take them to the Green Cloud Mountains’ Mu Clan estate for safety and assigned Fire Spirit Jackal to provide rear support.

 

Zhang Zixuan, on the other hand, desired to silence those who might reveal the secret but lacked the means to do so.

 

By the time Zhou Chun learned of the battle at Wolf Ridge while in the market, five days had gone by.

 

“There is a Qi Spring hidden under Wolf Ridge. No wonder the Mu Clan were killed by the United Cloud Alliance!”

 

Zhou Chun recalled the time when he and the Mu Clan from the Green Cloud Mountains were chased by the cultivators of the United Cloud Alliance on their way to Wolf Ridge, and finally solved the doubts that had troubled him for years.

 

The United Cloud Alliance most likely had just discovered the Qi Spring and had yet to set up an array to hide it, so they slaughtered anyone who entered Wolf Ridge, especially the cultivators of Mu Clan.

 

Zhou Chun remembered that at that time, Mu Clan’s patriarch, Mu Xuanfeng, also captured a Qi Refining cultivator from the United Cloud Alliance. Did that mean that person didn’t know the secret?

 

[That has to be it!]

 

For if they had known about the Qi Spring earlier, even if Mu Clan could not obtain it by their own strength, they could have presented the information to a Golden Core cultivator in the Green Lotus Monastery for a reward.

 

Now, with the news out, the Qi Spring would end up in the hands of Green Lotus Monastery!

 

Zhou Chun could not help but feel envious.

 

Top sects in the world of cultivation, like Green Lotus Monastery, were truly living it up.

 

On weekdays, there was no need to worry about the fights between the small sects and clans below. Just let them fight on their own as long as they didn’t encroach on their principles.

 

Whenever smaller sects and clans discover any valuable treasures, Green Lotus Monastery, being one of the major sects, could just lay claim over them as simple as that.

 

[After the United Cloud Alliance suffered this loos, would they simply let it go? ]

 

Zhou Chun’s brows furrowed again, growing concerned for his distant relatives in Nine Peaks.

 

Meanwhile, Zhou Daoyi, the Zhou Clan’s Clan Leader, had already returned to the Nine Peaks Zhou Clan estate. Gathered together in the Central Palace were several Zhou Clan Elders and Grand Elder Zhou Mingde, speculating on how the United Cloud Alliance would respond.

 

“Word of the Qi Spring has been promptly reported to Green Lotus Monastery by the Mu Clan,” one elder remarked. “Given that the four clans have an advantage here, it’s unlikely that Green Lotus Monastery will allow the United Cloud Alliance to exploit this for their favor.”

 

“But Green Lotus Monastery doesn’t interfere in conflicts between cultivating clans and rogue cultivators,” another elder noted. “Especially since the United Cloud Alliance seems to have backing beyond their own strength. It might not be enough to prompt Green Lotus Monastery to take action against them.”

 

“However, the United Cloud Alliance has never encountered setbacks or suffered losses since their inception,” yet another elder pointed out. “Since we dealt them such a severe blow, they won’t take this lying down!”

 

“Most likely, they’ll choose a location to strike back at, and our Zhou Clan could very well be that target!”

 

Zhou Daoyi spoke as he shared intelligence and personal conjectures in a serious tone.

 

Zhou Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

 

High Elder Zhou Mingshan spoke in a hoarse voice: “Among the cultivating clans, only ours is the outsider. None of our clan members have managed to rise within the Green Lotus Monastery. We seized Nine Peaks from rogue cultivators. If United Cloud Alliance wants to take revenge and retaliate, we would be the best target!”

 

“But we’re not pushovers! With the protective array of the Nine Peaks under my personal control, and with the cooperation of all clan members, we can withstand an attack by enemies superior in numbers to us!”

 

These words were spoken by Zhou Clan’s Second Elder, Zhou Chongshan, a short, ugly-looking old man.

 

Yet his confident tone failed to ease the worry of others.

 

Clan Leader glanced at him and said in a somber voice: “The leader of United Cloud Alliance is rumored to be a late Violet Palace cultivator!”

 

Zhou Chongshan winced fell silent.

 

Reaching the Violet Palace Stage, even a small difference in cultivation would translate in a huge gap in power. Zhou Clan’s Grand Elder Zhou Mingshan, along with his spirit pet, the Fire Spirit Jackal, could barely be considered a match for a mid Violet Palace cultivator.

 

A late Violet Palace cultivator was unstoppable.

 

And it would take just one of those cultivators unleashing all that raw power to bring the Zhou Clan’s protective array working at maximum strength.

 

“We’ll prepare mount a counterattack before the United Cloud Alliance gets the chance to attack Nine Peaks first. I will be leaving the clan for a while.”

 

Zhou Clan Grand Elder Zhou Mingde waved his hand and made the final decision.

 

“Understood.”

 

The Foundation Establishment cultivators glanced at each other and voiced their agreement.

 

All the Zhou clansmen in Nine Peaks were mobilized. Talismans were taken out from the clan’s treasury and provided to each Zhou Clan cultivator.

 

If a full-scale war was to break out outside Nine Peaks, even fresh Zhou cultivators would have to use their meager spiritual power to activate the talisman and join the battle.

 

Several days later, a Golden Core Stage cultivator from Green Lotus Monastery who received the information, brought along several disciples skilled in arrays to Wolf Ridge. They began setting up arrays to relocate the Qi Spring.

 

Meanwhile, after remaining quiet for several days, the United Cloud Alliance quickly organized a large number of cultivators and left their headquarters.

 

However, these cultivators did not head to attack the Nine Peaks Zhou Clan but instead went straight for the Scarlet Glow Iron vein.

 

This situation brought both joy and worry to the Zhou Clan leadership.

 

They were pleased that the Zhou Clan’s estate would no longer be plagued by warfare. However, they were concerned that if the Scarlet Glow Iron vein fell into enemy hands, it would deal a significant blow to the Zhou Clan.

 

Thus, the leaders of the five cultivating clans quickly gathered once again to discuss strategies.

 

Eventually, the five cultivating clans reached an agreement: each clan would dispatch its own members to support the mine, and confront the United Cloud Alliance forces in a bold, open showdown at the Scarlet Glow Iron vein!

 

After making their arrangements, representatives from each clan began sent their elite forces to Gold Maple Peak’s Sun Clan estate.

 

Zhou Clan alone dispatched a team of thirty-five individuals, with a minimum cultivation level of Sixth Layer of Qi Refining Stage. They also brought along some tamed demon beasts capable of assisting in battle.

 

The other clans dispatched varying numbers of their own members based on their total numbers.

 

When the five cultivating clans’ forces assembled within the Gold Maple Peak’s Sun Clan estate, the total number of fighters reached one hundred seventy-three, with no fewer than fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators among them!

 

Additionally, the group boasted three Violet Palace Stage cultivators, hailing from the Zhou Clan, Wang Clan, and Sun Clan respectively.

 

The Violet Palace Stage cultivator from the Sun Clan was also a core disciple of the Green Lotus Monastery. He had joined the sect three hundred years ago and now had a mid Violet Palace cultivation.

 

To persuade this individual to join the battle, all five cultivating clans had made certain sacrifices.

 

“Respectfully informing Seniors, the United Cloud Alliance has appeared thirty miles away.”

 

Within a grand hall at the Sun Clan estate, a Zhou Clan Qi Refining cultivator responsible for gathering intelligence rushed into the hall. He bowed and reported the latest developments to the leadership.

 

All eyes in the hall turned towards a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe with a pale complexion seated at the head.

 

“Keep scouting and report when they’re ten miles away.” In response to everyone’s gaze, the man simply moved his lips slightly before giving his reply.

 

“Understood.”

 

The Zhou Clan cultivator respectfully acknowledged and quickly retreated.

 

After dismissing the scout, the middle-aged Daoist stood tall, sweeping his gaze over all present. “Fellow Daoists, the enemy has come from afar and didn’t bother to even scout. Time and location are on our side; victory in this battle is assured!”

 

“We will win for sure!”

 

The assembly of cultivators responded in a solemn voice, their eyes filled with battle fervor.

 

The middle-aged Daoist with a pale complexion nodded approvingly at this sight, then swung his whisk and issued the order in a commanding tone: “Set out!”

 

With that, he strode confidently out of the hall.

 

Soon after, one hundred seventy-three cultivators from the five major clans left Gold Maple Peak’s Sun Clan estate, heading straight for the United Cloud Alliance’s team, some ten miles away.