https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-504-The-Zhang-Family-s-Ancestral-Master/12542469/
Chapter 503: Preparing for Battle
Chapter 503: Preparing for Battle
In the chamber, Yang Jishan hung up several maps, each detailing different aspects of the upcoming mission. There was a topographic map of the mineral terrain, an entry point to the Lu family's corpse mine, a structural diagram of the stone palace within, and a simple route map of the mine tunnels.
The maps were annotated with tiny, meticulous notes, indicating potential hazards and points of interest. They marked the locations of iron corpse guardians, hidden mechanisms, corpse poison traps, secret passages, hidden chambers, and concealed doors. Even the structure of the array formations was included: defensive arrays, early warning arrays, projection arrays, trap arrays, killing arrays, and restraining arrays, all clearly marked. The level of detail impressed everyone present.
Yang Jishan, the commander, studied the maps and began to devise a tactical plan, dividing the foundation cultivators into teams based on their cultivation methods and specialized techniques. Each team was a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities, ensuring they complemented each other. Those adept at aggressive techniques with sharp magical arts were assigned to the assault teams, while those with robust physiques and abundant qi were tasked with defense. There were also cultivators with obscure and unconventional techniques who could serve as wildcards, capable of surprising the enemy.
After finalizing the teams, Yang Jishan continued, "The Court of Magi has provided us with a batch of pills, which I will distribute shortly..."
He explained the types of pills: "These include poison-avoiding pills, spirit-returning pills, blood-replenishing pills, and serum pills, among others. The rest are common pills that you can take as needed, no explanation necessary. However, the serum pills are different. They are specifically designed to counteract corpse poison, and we have a limited supply. Use them sparingly, but don't hesitate to take them when the situation calls for it."
He emphasized the importance of timely treatment, "If you get injured and start bleeding, especially if you're infected with the second-grade iron corpse poison, take the serum pill immediately. Otherwise, if the poison reaches your heart and turns you into a living corpse, I will have no choice but to put you out of your misery."
The cultivators in the room wore solemn expressions, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Yang Jishan's expression turned stern as he added, "Of course, if I, unfortunately, succumb to the corpse transformation and become a puppet of the Corpse King, do not hesitate to kill me and burn my body to ashes. Leave no trace of my remains. I, Yang, may die in battle, but I refuse to become an undead minion, wreaking havoc on the world."
After a brief pause, he asked, "Now, among you, are there any cultivators skilled in array formations?"
The group exchanged glances, and several older cultivators with partially or completely white hair stood up. Yang Jishan nodded in acknowledgment.
Then, the young man in white hesitated for a moment before also rising to his feet. The middle-aged cultivator beside him tried to pull him back, muttering his disapproval. The elderly, frail-looking man next to them sighed and shook his head.
Undeterred, the young man in white stood tall with a sincere expression.
Yang Jishan was surprised by his youth and inquired, "Are you a formation master, young man?"
The young man bowed and introduced himself, "My name is Yun, and yes, I am a second-grade formation master."
A second-grade formation master at such a young age! The room erupted in astonishment.
"A second-grade formation master, and so young?"
"Impossible..."
"Who would lie about something like this at a time like this?"
"What's his background?"
"He must be from a noble family..."
"How did someone from a noble family end up here?"
"Who knows..."
"He looks to be in his twenties. What incredible talent!"
"I'm over 180 years old, and I'm just a first-grade formation master. Sigh, I'm ashamed..."
The room buzzed with whispers and amazed comments.
Yang Jishan was equally shocked but quickly regained his composure and asked, "What is your full name, young master Yun?"
The young man in white, Yun, bowed politely and replied, "You're too kind, Commander Yang. I am Yun, the young master of the Yun family."
"The Yun family's young master?" Yang Jishan's eyes narrowed slightly as he made the connection.
"Indeed," Yun confirmed with a nod. "I am here to lend my assistance in this endeavor. I will do my part to eradicate evil and protect the path of cultivation."
The youthful enthusiasm of the young master Yun caused a headache for the middle-aged cultivator beside him, but Commander Yang Jishan's eyes shone with appreciation. He immediately instructed one of his deputy commanders, "Once the battle commences, you are to stay by young master Yun's side and ensure his safety at all costs. Do not let any harm come to him."
"Yes, Commander!" the deputy acknowledged the order.
Yang Jishan then spread out the map of the mine, pointing out several array formations that served as locks and checkpoints. He turned to Yun and asked, "Young master Yun, how do you suggest we dismantle these formations?"
Yun shook his head, "I don't know how to dismantle them, but I can teach you how to break them..."
Yang Jishan was taken aback. "Break them?" he asked, unsure of the difference between 'breaking' and 'dismantling' in this context. In his experience, the terms were usually interchangeable when it came to formations.
Not wanting to appear unknowledgeable, he simply said, "Very well."
Yun studied the formation map for a moment before pointing out its weaknesses. He explained the location of the formation eye, the flow of the formation core, the critical points of the formation lines, and the weakest points of the formation medium. By exerting spiritual or physical force on these key points, the formations could be shattered.
Yang Jishan was delighted and made sure to record all the information. He then instructed the team leaders, "Remember what young master Yun said. When the time comes, make sure you don't make any mistakes. Break those formations!"
"Yes, Commander!" they replied in unison.
Yang Jishan continued to consult with the group, refining their plan to suppress the corpse mine, filling in any gaps and incorporating everyone's suggestions.
Once the planning was complete, someone asked, "Commander, where did you get such detailed information? It's incredibly thorough."
The room fell silent as everyone turned to Yang Jishan, who glanced at Situ Fang.
Situfang stood up and explained, "I obtained this intelligence from two young nobles."
"Nobles?"
"Which family?"
"How did they get this information? Can we trust it?"
......
With a frown, Situ Fang assured them, "The Situ family guarantees its reliability."
Situo Fang's eyebrows furrowed deeply.
Yang Jishan pondered briefly before suggesting, "How about this, you bring those two disciples here, and we can confirm the information ourselves..."
"This..." Situo Fang hesitated.
"Is there any inconvenience?" Yang Jishan inquired.
"I can invite them, but I can't guarantee that they will come," Situo Fang replied.
"That's fine." Yang Jishan waved off the concern. "Then, Situo, please go and invite them."
"Alright." Situo Fang nodded, bowed slightly, and took his leave.
Yang Jishan studied the maps, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Indeed, it was too comprehensive...
It was as if an insider from the corpse mine had leaked the information...
No, even an insider might not know this much detail.
The topographic map of the mountain and the layout of the stone palace were one thing, but the array formation map was an absolute secret—not something that an ordinary cultivator could get their hands on.
Perhaps only Lu Chengyun, within the entire corpse mine, would have access to such information...
Was this Lu Chengyun's plot to lure them into a trap?
Or was the cultivator who obtained the intelligence a close confidant of Lu Chengyun, familiar with the internal array formations?
Yang Jishan frowned, perplexed. Turning his head, he noticed that Young Master Yun was also intently studying the array formation map. He asked, "Young Master Yun, what do you think?"
Young Master Yun paused slightly, then thoughtfully replied, "I'm not sure about the rest, but at the very least, this array formation map is intricate and logically consistent, matching the terrain and layout. It doesn't seem to be fake."
Yang Jishan nodded, feeling a slight relief.
As long as the array formation map was genuine, that was the most important thing.
The array formation was the key.
Even if Lu Chengyun intended to lure them into a trap, he wouldn't go so far as to expose such confidential information, losing his sense of reason.
As long as the array formation was accurate, the rest of the intelligence could be adjusted for on the fly, even if there were some discrepancies.
Yang Jishan then became curious.
Who were these two disciples that Situo Fang had mentioned?
And what was the identity of the cultivator who had obtained the intelligence?
Half an hour later, Situo Fang returned, accompanied by two cultivators—Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.
As they entered the hall, the eyes of those present were immediately drawn to the pair.
Bai Zisheng had a proud and imposing demeanor, with a sword-like brow and bright eyes. Although he was only at the Qi Refining Realm, his spiritual energy was robust, indicating an exceptionally solid foundation.
Bai Zixi had altered her appearance, but her beauty was still evident, with a clear and crisp aura. Her eyes shone like sparkling lapis lazuli, unforgettable to those who beheld them.
The spiritual energy around her was surging, rivaling that of Bai Zisheng.
At a glance, it was clear that they were disciples of an eminent family, with transcendental spiritual roots. However, their auras were also somewhat obscure, making it difficult to discern their true depths.
A cultivator secretly probed with his spiritual sense.
But as soon as he released it, he felt as if something was drawing it in, pulling it into an abyss, leaving no trace.
The cultivator's face paled, and he felt a sense of awe.
These two were not people they could afford to offend.
Yang Jishan was stunned for a moment before he asked, "May I ask where the two of you are from?"
"We are from the Bai family," Bai Zisheng replied.
The Bai family?
Yang Jishan's heart skipped a beat. There were several prominent Bai families in the Nine Continents of the Cultivation World...
However, given their extraordinary backgrounds, he didn't press further and instead asked about the matter at hand:
"How did the two of you obtain the information about the corpse mine?"
"My junior disciple gathered the information," Bai Zisheng answered.
"Your junior disciple?"
"Yes." Bai Zisheng nodded. "He's skilled in array formations and was taken advantage of by Lu Chengyun. He's currently being held captive in the corpse mine."
"And these pieces of intelligence..."
Bai Zisheng nodded again. "They were all obtained by him while inside."
Yang Jishan's eyebrows knitted together.
Skilled in array formations? How skilled could he be? These pieces of intelligence included the array formation map. Could someone really gather such information from within?
Yang Jishan was skeptical but gradually set aside his doubts as he observed Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi. He thought to himself, "For these two cultivators from the Bai family to acknowledge him as their junior disciple, he must have some extraordinary abilities, capable of achieving things that others cannot."
On the other hand, Bai Zixi, who had been silent, gently tugged on Bai Zisheng's sleeve.
Bai Zisheng hesitated before reluctantly speaking up, "I have one more request... I would like to ask all of you to rescue my junior disciple..."
Bai Zisheng was not one to ask for help easily. If it weren't for Mo Hua, he wouldn't have bothered to request assistance from these people.
But there were too many zombies in the corpse mine, and he didn't dare to rush in blindly. Moreover, Mo Hua had been gone for a long time...
"Of course," Yang Jishan replied.
This junior disciple was a captive of Lu Chengyun, held against his will, and clearly possessed extraordinary identity and abilities.
On top of that, he had provided them with such crucial intelligence, doing them a great favor. They had to ensure his rescue, no matter what.
Yang Jishan asked, "What does your junior disciple look like? Are there any distinctive features? What is his name?"
"He's thirteen years old, skilled in array formations, with a striking appearance. His name is Mo Hua," Bai Zisheng replied.
Thirteen years old? So young?
The cultivators in the hall were taken aback by this revelation.
Even Yang Jishan was surprised.
Mo Hua?
The name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it from someone before...
Who was it that had mentioned that name to him?
Yang Jishan couldn't recall at the moment, so he set the thought aside and said solemnly, "Everyone, when we attack the corpse mine, if you happen to come across this young cultivator named 'Mo Hua,' make sure to lend him aid and rescue him!"
The cultivators in the hall nodded in agreement.
They all remembered the name "Mo Hua."
However, they had no idea what significance this name held...
(End of Chapter)
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