https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-373-Countless-Escape-Lights-Fleeting-Existence-in-the-World/12932488/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-375-Third-Rank-Formation-Thunderstorm-Surge/12932490/
Chapter 374: Da He's Old Acquaintance, A World of Difference
Chapter 374: Da He's Old Acquaintance, A World of Difference
Ten thousand miles of yellow sand, a vast wasteland!
As far as the eye could see, it was all yellow sand and gravel.
According to rumors, this place was not like this countless years ago.
Back then, it was also lush with water and grass, and the mountains were picturesque.
A thousand years ago, the Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains rose from the ground, defying the heavens and bathing in the power of thunder. Over time, the mighty thunder force shattered and turned the mountains and soil within this ten thousand mile range into countless grains of sand.
Even if the world changed and the rivers and mountains shifted, this place still experienced thunder shocks at all times.
Thus, over time, it became a vast golden desert stretching for thousands of miles.
Moreover, unlike secular deserts, this desert formed by the Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains had no flowers, trees, animals, or demonic beasts.
The entire desert was filled with undulating sand dunes, resembling a sea of sand that constantly rippled.
Without the protection of Windriding Technique, ordinary Qi Condensation Cultivators would be swept away by the quicksand and buried deep within.
Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators had to be cautious at all times to avoid being caught in the sand.
Luo Chen stood in the center of the team.
He surveyed the team's strength with his gaze.
The number of cultivators exceeded ten thousand, mainly consisting of late-stage Qi Condensation Cultivators.
However, the number of true Foundation Establishment Cultivators was also as high as a thousand.
This was almost enough to rival a Golden Core Great Sect.
It could even be said that ordinary Golden Core Great Sects couldn't gather so many true Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and only Qingdan Valley and Sword Sect in the Jade Cauldron Region had such a deep foundation.
"The Four Sects lead, with their vassal forces as the main force, and numerous loose cultivators with self-proclaimed exceptional strength mixed in."
"If a war like this were to break out in full scale, even with my exceptional strength, it would be difficult to ensure absolute safety, and our Luo Tian Association's hundred or so people..."
Compared to the excitement of others, Luo Chen appeared somewhat silent.
In his heart, he felt a bit pessimistic.
As he remained silent, the army of cultivators did not stop for a moment, and they were about to reach the Sixth Mountain.
A loud rumble echoed.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound reverberated in his ears.
Luo Chen looked up, startled.
In his line of sight, nine towering and perilous peaks stood, seemingly connecting the sky and earth, rising above the yellow sand plain.
Standing on golden flowing sand and beneath pitch-black clouds, bright white lightning bolts resembling snakes and dragons flashed and writhed in the void.
"Let's stop for a moment!"
"A thunderstorm is releasing, and it will last for about ten breaths. After that, we'll enter the mountain."
"Remember, the identification artifacts of each sect have attached lightning-resistant formations. Don't lose them!"
The voice of the Golden Core Senior echoed from the center of the army.
Luo Chen clenched the wooden plaque in his hand.
The plaque was pitch-black, and its deep color indicated that it was a second-tier lightning-resistant spirit wood. He wondered how Luoyun Sect managed to mass-produce so many of them.
In the past, only the Sword Sect was capable of producing these artifacts in large quantities, using them for miners working in the Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains for extended periods.
After a brief wait, a scorching breeze blew by.
The sky, filled with lightning and thunder, disappeared, and the dark clouds above slowly dissipated.
However, they merely dissipated, and everyone knew that within a month, the clouds would gather again, accumulating for another thunderstorm.
"Enter the mountain!"
At the command, tens of thousands of cultivators transformed into two streams of light, each entering the Fifth and Sixth Mountains.
These were the two mountains currently under the control of the Four Sect Alliance.
The remaining seven mountains, except for the Ninth Mountain which was unsuitable for long-term residence, were all under the control of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
According to rumors, the two Nascent Soul Realmen had an agreement. Once the Luoyun Sect was completely driven out of the Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains, it would signify their defeat.
The opposite was also true!
The Sword Sect, with its years of experience managing the Nine Mountains, initially suffered a slight disadvantage in numbers during the initial battles and lost four Thunder Mountains. However, as time passed, they began to exert their strength, launching fierce attacks and almost defeating the Four Sect Alliance.
The previously hard-won Seventh and Eighth Mountains were also consecutively lost within the past two years.
Currently, the situation for the Four Sect Alliance was as precarious as an egg hanging by a thread.
Rumors spread that the Luoyun Sect had developed a batch of puppets that were immune to lightning and could easily fight within the Thunder Mountains. These puppets would soon be transported and put into use.
At that time, it might be when the Luoyun Sect launches a counterattack.
For this reason, the Four Sect Alliance was currently desperately defending the remaining two Thunder Mountains.
...
"Finally, we're here!"
"The ten thousand miles of flowing sand are golden, and it hurts my eyes to look at it for too long."
"Is our residence this time the same as last time?"
As soon as Luo Chen landed, he heard the surrounding commotion.
He didn't pay attention to these noises but quietly waited for Dan Tai Jin's arrangements.
"Don't worry, my Shizi has already arranged everything. We'll go directly after they finish the handover."
Dan Tai Jin's voice entered Luo Chen's ears.
Luo Chen nodded.
Next, he quietly watched the handover of the various residences on the Sixth Mountain.
As people entered the mountain, others naturally left for rest.
The previous batch of cultivators who had been stationed here for several months flew out of the mountain, looking exhausted.
Xu Hai Zhen stood beside Luo Chen, whispering to him about the taboos of fighting in Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains.
"After years of soaking in the Thunder Mountains, they are filled with thunderous power, violent and frenzied. Therefore, low-level defensive formations are essentially useless."
"Currently, the Sixth Mountain has three large defensive formations, each with a rank of four, but their defensive capabilities are only equivalent to a typical third-rank defensive formation."
"These three formations were set up jointly by Luoyun Sect and Ailaoshan's formation experts."
"As long as we're not facing a powerful Nascent Soul stage enemy, we can take advantage of the terrain and defend against external threats."
Luo Chen nodded.
This intelligence was consistent with what Min Longyu had told him.
Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains wasn't actually that large.
A single mountain was roughly the same size as Danxia Peak.
But even a mountain of this size couldn't be covered by a single fourth-rank defensive formation; it required three, and even then, the effectiveness was greatly reduced.
This demonstrated how harsh the environment of this battlefield was.
"Additionally, when fighting here, be cautious of cultivators with Thunder Spirit Roots or those skilled in using thunder techniques. Their power can far exceed the ordinary."
"On the Sword Sect's side, there are three sword cultivators proficient in thunder techniques. Two are at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and the other is at the late-stage, all of them very powerful. The Flame Alliance also has a mid-stage Foundation Establishment thunder technique expert, whose true name is unknown, but his Daoist name is Yan Leizi."
"These are their portraits. If you encounter them, try to avoid direct confrontation."
Xu Hai Zhen took out several portraits and showed them to Luo Chen.
Luo Chen carefully memorized them and then asked, "What about our alliance? Do we have any experts in thunder techniques?"
"Yes!"
Xu Hai Zhen quietly pointed to a man with a rebellious look and curly hair among the cultivator army.
Luo Chen looked over, "A ramen head?"
"That man is named Flash Spirit, from Ailaoshan. He's at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment and possesses a powerful Thunder Spirit Core technique. Whenever he encounters sword cultivators from the Sword Sect, he's the first to step up without any fear."
"There's also a cultivator with a Thunder Spirit Root in Qingdan Valley who has a Dark Cloud Poison treasure, which is extremely suitable for large-scale battles."
"Additionally, on the Fifth Mountain, Luoyun Sect also has a thunder technique expert who makes the Sword Sect cautious."
Xu Hai Zhen suddenly paused.
He smiled bitterly, "Actually, our Luo Tian Association also has a thunder technique expert who is on the Sword Sect's list of low-level cultivators to be wary of."
"Min Longyu?" Luo Chen asked.
Xu Hai Zhen nodded, "Yes, Elder Min doesn't have a Thunder Spirit Root, but he can harness the power of thunder through materials and formations. His Five Thunder Bombardment Formation, which instantly killed five Foundation Establishment cultivators, is still widely talked about in Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains. The name Thunder Array Master strikes fear into countless hearts!"
Luo Chen nodded in agreement.
He had always felt that Min Longyu didn't need to feel so guilty.
During that night raid, he had already done his best.
The Daoist name Thunder Array Master was the perfect representation of his achievements in that battle.
Thinking about the array disc and the specially prepared formation that Min Longyu had given him before they parted, Luo Chen felt confident.
Although Thunder Array Master was no longer on the battlefield,
his crystallization of formation techniques remained.
As long as the environment was suitable...
Luo Chen subconsciously looked around, the pitch-black mountain surface, whether it was due to constant thunderous strikes or the stains of countless cultivators' blood, was an environment not very suitable for deploying that formation.
"Lastly!"
Xu Hai Zhen's expression turned solemn, "Remember, when fighting in the Thunder Mountains, never fly too high."
Luo Chen's eyebrows twitched, "Easily struck by lightning?"
"Yes! The accumulated thunderous power in the mountains is truly terrifying. Even if it seems calm, no one can predict when a bolt of lightning might suddenly descend from the sky. If you're flying high during a battle and get struck, you'll become an easy target. Remember, there are no living things in Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains!"
Ordinary thunder and lightning aren't actually a significant threat to cultivators.
It's not like the tribulation lightning during the Nascent Soul stage.
Some powerful cultivators can even harness celestial thunder to create artifacts, refine their bodies, and more.
But if you're suddenly struck during a fight, the brief paralysis can instantly change the tide of battle.
It would be laughable if you were to fly too high during a fight, get struck by lightning, and end up falling.
Xu Hai Zhen spoke at length, sharing almost everything he had learned in the past two years with Luo Chen.
Luo Chen noticed some of the loose cultivators around them, eager and ignorant, ready to try their luck.
Many of them probably didn't know these experiences.
"Share these experiences with the Luo Tian Association's brothers!"
"Yes, I've already arranged for someone to inform them."
As they were talking, the handover on the Sixth Mountain was gradually coming to an end.
Luo Chen's expression suddenly changed, and his gaze shifted to a small detachment of troops.
The Lianyun Merchant Alliance!
There, a woman stared at him, dazed.
Luo Chen nodded slightly.
The woman gave a bitter smile and nodded as well.
"Senior Li, what's wrong?"
In the team slowly flying out, Nangong Jin asked puzzledly.
Li Yixian sighed, "I thought that with Dan Chenzi's reputation as a pill concocting master in the region, he could stay out of this war. But I never expected that he would be dragged into it as well."
Nangong Jin was taken aback and subconsciously looked towards the direction of the Luo Tian Association.
However, Luo Chen's figure had already disappeared into the mountains, following the guidance of the Ice Fortress cultivators.
He muttered, "Even a renowned pill master like him has been drawn into this vortex, so it's only natural for ordinary people like us to face the same fate."
Li Yixian gave a bitter smile and was about to say something when an aged voice sounded from behind.
"Don't underestimate Dan Chenzi. The place they are stationed at is clearly one of the safest locations."
"The Ice Fortress values him far more than us!"
Li Yixian and Nangong Jin were startled.
They then respectfully bowed.
"Greetings, Great Elder."
The Great Elder of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance waved his hand wearily, "There's no need for such formalities, go and rest!"
As he spoke, he watched Luo Chen's departing figure, and a hint of envy appeared on his face.
Different stations faced varying levels of pressure.
If the Lianyun Merchant Alliance had received such treatment, their losses might not have been so severe.
In just two years, the Lianyun Merchant Alliance, which previously had nine Foundation Establishment Cultivators, was now left with only five.
Even Zhou Qing, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator whom he had high hopes for, had unfortunately perished.
If this continued, how many members of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance would be left alive to return to the Heavenly Wave Immortal City after the war?
"Forget it!"
"I hope that Tian Xingzi's words are true, otherwise, this trip would have been in vain."
With a sigh, the Great Elder of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance wearily flew away from the Sixth Mountain.
...
The Luo Tian Association's task was to guard a relatively remote mountain slope, where a rare patch of trees could be found.
Thunderstrike Wood! A second-tier material, it was the most widely used material in thunder-attributed magical artifacts.
It was valuable but not uncommon.
Some great sects had their own methods of cultivating Thunderstrike Wood by harnessing the power of thunder.
This location was remote, away from the battlefield, and the mountain was relatively high.
The resources produced here were not scarce.
One could say that this place was definitely the least interesting spot for the enemy to attack.
Unlike other vassal forces, which were either located on transportation routes, array formation hubs, or had valuable resource production sites.
"Are you satisfied?" Dantu Ji asked.
Luo Chen retracted his gaze that had been surveying the surroundings and sincerely replied, "To be honest, it's a bit beyond my expectations."
He had thought that Absolute Emotionless Senior would give the Luo Tian Association great consideration. But he never imagined that it would be this much!
This place, in addition to all the advantages mentioned earlier, was also ideal for escaping.
Even if enemies attacked the mountain, the cultivators at the front would bear the brunt.
Dantu Ji shook his head, "It's good, but my master has also paid a significant price. The Supreme Blood Burning Pills you refined earlier were almost all traded to the Luoyun Sect and Yin Yue Shishu."
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed!
Damn!
He now understood why, despite having refined a large number of Blood Burning Pills two years ago, the situation of the Jueqing Yi Pu on the battlefield had not improved in the slightest.
Even the Luo Tian Association had been assigned a location that was merely "relatively safe."
It turned out that Absolute Emotionless had not fully utilized all the Supreme Blood Burning Pills.
Instead, she had hoarded them until now, only to trade them with others.
For a moment, anger rose within him.
But as Dantu Ji flew towards the peak, his anger gradually subsided.
If the roles were reversed, he might have done the same.
Initially, the pills were just slightly superior life-saving elixirs.
They were valuable but not that crucial.
However, as the war intensified, the Blood Burning Pills not only provided life-saving capabilities but also temporarily enhanced combat power by several folds, potentially turning the tide of a small-scale battle.
Trading them now could bring even greater benefits.
Moreover, it also indirectly benefited the Luo Tian Association.
"I've underestimated these Golden Core Seniors."
"They seem to be reclusive cultivators, but in reality, they see the value of benefits more clearly than anyone."
"I was just praising her, but it seems I was being too sentimental."
Luo Chen looked around and shook his head.
This place should have been one of the earliest destinations for the Luo Tian Association.
"Forget it, since we're here, we'll make do."
"Worrying about these things is pointless, dealing with the upcoming battles is the most important."
As he muttered, Luo Chen took out the Eighteen Traveling Arrays from his storage bag!
(End of Chapter)
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