Chapter 384: I've Never Fought a Battle Like This Before!
"Elder Lu Bu, while the battle at the Starfallen Pavilion has come to an end, the Soul Hall's assault on the Pill Tower remains unrelenting!" Elder Qiu Mao said with a grave expression, his tone heavy with urgency.
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. Oh, really? But… what does that have to do with me?
However, for the sake of appearances, Lu Bu refrained from voicing his thoughts. Instead, he silently waited for Elder Qiu Mao to continue.
"In the western and northern regions of the Pill Domain, the Second Heavenly Sovereign, Bone You, along with the Sixth and Fifth Heavenly Sovereigns, the Ninth Heavenly Sovereign, and a large contingent of Soul Hall's Heavenly Sovereigns and Dou Zuns, have initiated confrontations with us," Qiu Mao explained.
"Soul Hall has launched an aggressive offensive, massacring entire cities in the Pill Domain. City after city has been utterly wiped out, with no survivors. They've extracted the souls of everyone, regardless of gender or age."
"In the outer regions of the Pill Domain, the cities are littered with corpses piled as high as mountains!"
Elder Qiu Mao's tone became increasingly somber. As he described the atrocities, his face grew darker, fury blazing in his eyes. The hatred for the Soul Hall was evident in his expression.
"Currently, President Xuan Kong Zi and President Tian Lei Zi are holding their ground against Bone You to prevent the Second Heavenly Sovereign's further atrocities. President Xuan Yi is managing the situation from Holy Pill City, coordinating the defenses."
"Meanwhile, Elder Cao and a few others are engaging in the northern region, battling against the forces led by the Fifth and Ninth Heavenly Sovereigns. So far, both sides have suffered mixed results."
"So… you want me to join you in assisting Elder Cao?" Lu Bu rubbed his chin, his brows furrowed slightly as he muttered.
The Elder Cao in question was the head of the Cao family, one of the five great families in the Pill Domain Cao Ying's family, to be exact. Although Lu Bu had heard of him, they had no direct dealings.
"Precisely! If the two of us join forces with Elder Cao, we'll secure a decisive victory!" Qiu Mao said eagerly. Lu Bu's strength as a Fifth Turn Dou Zun was two levels higher than his own. With both of them joining the fray, the Fifth and Ninth Heavenly Sovereigns of the Soul Hall would undoubtedly be crushed!
The thought of such a battle brought a flicker of excitement to Qiu Mao's face. He could almost envision the swift and overwhelming victory. The defeat of the Fifth Heavenly Sovereign seemed just within reach!
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. Sure, the logic makes sense… but what's in it for me?
No, no, Lu Bu had no intention of taking on a thankless task.
However, unlike with Xiao Yan or Yao Chen, outright refusal wouldn't work here. The Pill Tower wasn't the Starfallen Pavilion, and this situation required a more tactful approach.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Lu Bu pondered for a moment. Then, as if struck by an idea, his expression grew serious.
Nearby, Xiao Yi Xian noticed the change in Lu Bu's demeanor and couldn't help but chuckle softly. When the Young Master makes this face, someone's about to get schemed against…
"Elder Qiu Mao, I must say, your suggestion is flawed!" Lu Bu's expression turned solemn, his tone grave. "The Soul Hall's assault on us is multi pronged. While defeating one front is certainly a cause for celebration, it won't fundamentally change the overall situation."
"Even if we manage to take down the Fifth and Ninth Heavenly Sovereigns, what then? The Second Heavenly Sovereign, Bone You, will still be there. The Sixth Heavenly Sovereign will still be there. Elder Xuan Kong Zi and Elder Tian Lei Zi will still have to deal with Bone You."
"On the surface, our victory might seem like progress, but in reality, we'll have changed nothing!"
"This…" Qiu Mao was taken aback. He mulled over Lu Bu's words and realized they rang true.
"Then what should we do?" Qiu Mao asked, a hint of urgency creeping into his voice. While the Pill Tower was wealthy and powerful, no one relished the idea of prolonged warfare.
"The solution is simple: we open a third front!" Lu Bu declared. "If the Soul Hall can attack us and slaughter our cities, why can't we strike their branch halls and destroy them instead?"
"Don't forget, their large scale assault leaves their rear vulnerable and unguarded. This is the perfect opportunity for us to act freely!"
Lu Bu grinned wickedly, his eyes glinting with excitement.
"This…" Qiu Mao froze, dumbfounded. He had never considered this option not out of ignorance but due to ingrained habits.
In their past conflicts with the Soul Hall, the Pill Tower had always been on the defensive. With the Pill Tower in the open and the Soul Hall operating from the shadows, the former was often forced into a reactive position, waiting for opportunities to repel the Soul Hall's attacks.
By the time the Soul Hall retreated, even if the Pill Tower wanted to pursue, they had no idea where their enemies had fled.
It wasn't that they lacked the will to fight back young alchemists often voiced such desires. But those in power, like Qiu Mao, operated within a framework of conventional thinking, heavily influenced by past experiences and familiar patterns.
"This is brilliant!" Qiu Mao suddenly slapped his thigh in excitement. "Elder Lu Bu, your idea is a revelation! It's opened my eyes and cleared my mind!"
Lu Bu's words had been a wake up call, and Qiu Mao now brimmed with enthusiasm.
"Well then, where are the Soul Hall's branch halls located?" Lu Bu asked with a faint smile. "I imagine Elder Qiu Mao has some intelligence on this matter?"
"Of course!" Qiu Mao retrieved a scroll from his storage ring and handed it over. "This contains all the known locations of the Soul Hall's branch halls."
"Does it include the 24 Earthly Fiend Branch Halls?" Lu Bu asked casually as he unfurled the scroll.
"Yes… though only 23 remain. Of those, we've only identified the locations of seven," Qiu Mao admitted. One of the branch halls had been destroyed by Lu Bu and Xiao Yan in the past.
"That's enough!" Lu Bu nodded. "If that's the case, let's move out immediately. The sooner we act, the more pressure we'll relieve from Elder Xuan Kong Zi and the others. We might even force the Soul Hall to retreat altogether."
"Elder Lu Bu is absolutely right! Let's proceed without delay!" Qiu Mao said fervently.
With that, Lu Bu took Xiao Yi Xian's hand, and the three of them soared into the distance.
"Elder Qiu Mao, you'll take the lead in this battle while I cover the rear. Does that sound good?" Lu Bu said, his tone measured.
"Well… covering the rear is quite dangerous. Why not move together?" Qiu Mao hesitated.
"Elder Qiu Mao, that's precisely why I should handle it. My strength speaks for itself!" Lu Bu declared with unwavering conviction, his righteous demeanor leaving no room for doubt.
"This mission requires speed, decisiveness, and precision. If we delay even a moment, the Soul Hall could mobilize reinforcements to encircle us. Should that happen, none of us will escape unscathed. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" Qiu Mao nodded solemnly. Lu Bu's words made perfect sense. Prolonging the battle was a risk they couldn't afford.
"Good. Then let's proceed," Lu Bu said, satisfied. Qiu Mao is easy to persuade… I mean, easy to reason with.
Northern Pill Domain, Yan Mountain City.
North of Yan Mountain City lay a vast mountain range stretching thousands of miles, known as the Xuyu Mountains. Beyond the range lay the area controlled by the Fifth and Ninth Heavenly Sovereigns of the Soul Hall.
Within Yan Mountain City, Elder Cao led the Pill Tower's forces in numerous skirmishes against the Soul Hall in the Xuyu Mountains. Both sides had fought to a stalemate, with neither gaining the upper hand.
The Pill Tower, with its immense wealth, supplied its fighters with an endless supply of pills. Here, pills were as abundant as candy, with everyone free to consume as needed.
Rare Seven Rank pills were everywhere, and each combatant carried several. If someone was injured, they immediately popped a pill. If supplies ran low… Ha! Are you doubting the Pill Tower's wealth?!
In Holy Pill City, the once peaceful skies were now permanently shrouded in thunderclouds. The continuous roar of thunder echoed across the city as bolts of lightning fell, all caused by the relentless production of pills. Countless alchemists, working tirelessly like hens laying eggs, churned out one seventh tier pill after another.
The Pill Tower had fully opened its stores to supply materials without restraint. Herbs flowed out as if there were no end to them, with instructions to use as much as needed. The alchemists were overjoyed they had never before experienced such abundant resources for refining pills in their lives.
This was one reason why no one in Central Plains dared to offend the Pill Tower. Not only was its influence and network unmatched, but its wealth made it fearless in war. The Pill Tower fought battles without hesitation over expenses, as if their supply of pills was inexhaustible.
In a battle where wealth dictated the outcome, who could possibly contend with the Pill Tower?
…The Soul Hall could. Not only could they, but they were extremely capable of doing so.
The Soul Hall was equally unconcerned about costs, wielding an army of souls as vast as the stars. They possessed countless Dou Zun and Dou Zong level souls and had no qualms about forcing their souls to self destruct as a weapon.
If one batch of Protectors was lost, they simply summoned another. If an entire group of Dou Zuns fell, they extracted the souls of others in reserve, restored their bodies, and sent them back to the front lines.
Thus, the battle between the Pill Tower and Soul Hall raged on a war fueled by pills on one side and souls on the other. Bloodshed and carnage continued without pause, yet neither side could decisively overwhelm the other.
"This won't do," Elder Cao said gravely from within Yan Mountain City, his expression dark. Even with all the wealth in the world, this is unsustainable.
And to waste such resources fighting the likes of Soul Hall a despicable organization it was infuriating. This needed to end quickly and decisively.
"Elder, someone from Holy Pill City has arrived!" an attendant rushed in to report.
"Holy Pill City?" Elder Cao frowned in confusion. "Why? We just received our pill supplies a couple of days ago. Did something happen?"
"Well…" The attendant hesitated, unsure of how to explain.
"Grandfather, it's me!" A clear, playful voice came from outside the hall. A figure in a black dress, graceful and alluring, entered. It was none other than Cao Ying, disciple of Xuan Kong Zi and a member of the Cao family.
"What are you doing here?" Elder Cao's expression darkened as he glared at her, his tone furious.
"I brought a powerful helper to assist you!" Cao Ying said cheerfully, completely unfazed by his anger. "Senior Tian Huo, I'll leave the introductions to you."
At her words, an elder in white robes slowly walked in, his face calm and adorned with a faint smile. "Elder Cao, I'm here to lend a hand."
"Senior Tian Huo? What's going on here?" Elder Cao was startled and confused.
Elder Cao, being one of the Pill Tower's Eight Grand Elders, naturally knew of Tian Huo, who was Lu Bu's bodyguard. His strength was well known he had already reached the Fifth Turn Dou Zun stage and had recently broken through to the Sixth Turn. His rapid progress was so astonishing that even the Pill Tower elders, who had endless access to pills, found it baffling.
But why would Tian Huo, Lu Bu's personal guard, join the battle against Soul Hall?
"Xuan Yi invited me, and lending my assistance seemed only natural," Tian Huo replied with a smile, stroking his beard.
Cao Ying said nothing, but her expression carried a hint of pride. It had been her idea to involve Tian Huo. Knowing his immense strength, she had considered him a perfect solution to their dire situation.
However, since she had no personal connection to Tian Huo, she had approached Xuan Yi for help. After some discussion, she traveled to meet Queen Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian. Once the two women agreed, Tian Huo finally accepted the request to join the fight.
The Pill Tower had also taken extra precautions in Lu Bu's absence. Tian Huo might have left, but the defenses of Lu Bu's estate were bolstered, not weakened. After all, with the two Dou Saint level Taixu Ancient Dragons tied to Lu Bu, the Pill Tower wasn't willing to take any chances.
"Thank you, Senior Tian Huo!" Elder Cao said joyfully. With the aid of a Sixth Turn Dou Zun, the Fifth Heavenly Sovereign of Soul Hall was as good as finished!
Northwest Central Plains, the border between the Central and Northern regions, deep within the Chaiji Swamp.
Amid the green and black miasma of the Chaiji Swamp, a grand palace loomed faintly in the distance, shrouded in mist and shadow.
This was one of Soul Hall's twenty four Earthly Fiend branch halls. Due to Soul Hall's recent escalations, many of its personnel had been reassigned elsewhere, leaving this branch hall severely understaffed.
A thick black mist swirled around the branch hall, its presence flickering in and out like a spectral apparition. This was the branch hall's defensive array a stark departure from Soul Hall's usual aggressive approach. In the past, their formations were designed for offense, but now… well, it clearly reflected their current precarious position.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shattered the stillness. High above, a massive fireball, blazing like a meteor, hurtled through the sky. It carried immense destructive force and a searing heat as it crashed into the branch hall's defensive array.
Boom!
The impact sent tremors rippling through the swamp. The soft mud churned, and the foul black water sprayed into the air, only to evaporate instantly in the intense heat.
Creak, creak…
The fireball clashed with the invisible barrier surrounding the hall, the two forces locked in a deadly standoff. Strange, ear piercing noises filled the air as the barrier struggled to hold.
Bang!
The barrier shattered, and the fireball crashed down, obliterating half the grand hall in an instant.
"Hahaha! I've never fought such a satisfying battle in my entire life!" Elder Qiu Mao roared with laughter, his voice full of exhilaration.
"Who dares? Courting death!" A furious roar came from within the ruined hall as a gaunt elder emerged, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Qiu Mao in the sky.
Swish, swish, swish!
Black mist surged out like a swarm of hornets, and Soul Hall's defenders took up battle positions.
"Heh, just a Nine Star Dou Zun?" Qiu Mao sneered at the elder, grinning. Suddenly, he realized that Lu Bu's "rear guard duty" might not be so bad after all.
But before the thought could settle, the black robed elder's hands formed a series of seals, and a dark vortex like rune appeared on his forehead. In an instant, his aura surged, breaking past the Nine Star level to reach the peak, just a step away from Transition Dou Zun.
"A Soul Clan member?!" Qiu Mao's expression darkened. He hadn't expected a mere Nine Star Dou Zun to actually hail from the Soul Clan.
Without hesitation, Qiu Mao's figure flickered and disappeared. As planned, once the defenses were breached, the next phase of the attack fell to Lu Bu.
From the shadows, Lu Bu and Xiao Yi Xian emerged, surveying the remnants of the branch hall.
"Young Master, no unexpected activity nearby," Xiao Yi Xian said softly, her voice calm as her veiled face glimmered with confidence.
"Leave the rest to me." Lu Bu grinned, his gaze fixed on the ruined Soul Hall branch below. "Heh heh heh… I've never fought a battle this easy in my life!"
The soul essence within… it was all his for the taking.
Ka ka ka…
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