Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 183: Golden Core Verbal Battle

Wang Hao and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were stunned. The Qi Refining clan members fared worse: several trembled under the heavenly lightning still gathering overhead.

Even a thousand li away, the tribulation’s power was too great for them.

In a cave dwelling on Severed Origin Mountain, the six Golden Core cultivators heard the disturbance and looked toward the Qingyuan Sect together.

“The thunder tribulation has come. Du Guangchao has reached the last stage,” Sha Dinshan said calmly.

His eyes betrayed deep jealousy.

“How could we fail to congratulate the first Nascent Soul cultivator of the Leizhou Peninsula?”

He flew out toward the Qingyuan Sect, followed by the other three Golden Core cultivators of the Burning Heaven Sect.

The two Golden Core cultivators from Boundless Palace exchanged a look. Neither wanted a Nascent Soul cultivator next door, so this battle could not be avoided. They nodded. “As neighbors, we ought to offer our congratulations too.”

Six streaks of light raced toward the Qingyuan Sect, followed by two warships carrying hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In a cave dwelling at the summit of Qingyuan Mountain, an old man in a blue-green Daoist robe sat with his eyes closed. His refined bearing contrasted with the pain on his face.

It was Du Guangchao, undergoing the final stage of the inner demon trial on his path to forming a Nascent Soul.

If he passed it, the thunder tribulation would finish gathering. Only after surviving that lightning could he become a Nascent Soul cultivator. Most cultivators attempting the breakthrough died during the thunder tribulation.

Du Guangchao suddenly struggled, then opened his eyes.

At the same moment, the heavenly lightning finished gathering and fixed on his position.

Thunder boomed through the sky.

The lightning did not strike yet. It allowed Du Guangchao some time to prepare; otherwise, a cultivator still dazed from the inner demon trial could not respond, however many methods he possessed.

An overwhelming pressure from the heavens spread in all directions. It weakened with distance, but moved too quickly for Wang Hao to react.

Fortunately, they were far enough away for Wang Hao to withstand the wave, barely.

Several Qi Refining clan members were less fortunate. They vomited blood and fell, their faces pale from the impact.

Wang Hao hurried to shield them and channeled spiritual power into them to steady their unsettled Qi.

“Damn it! The Qingyuan Sect must have known how powerful the tribulation would be. Why didn’t they tell us to prepare our defenses?” Li Derong said angrily, looking into the distance.

Wang Hao followed her gaze. Qingyuan’s own disciples had prepared and suffered little, while independent cultivators and clan members lay scattered on the ground.

The sect was courting disaster, Wang Hao thought.

It had spent so much to recruit those cultivators, only to injure half of them itself. Worse, its conduct chilled their hearts.

Perhaps the proud sect had never cared about the lives of people it considered beneath it.

If a sect like this could produce a Nascent Soul cultivator, the heavens would be unjust.

Fortunately, the pressure passed as quickly as it had come. Du Guangchao was its main target, and it no longer affected the others. Another two or three waves would have been more than Wang Hao could shield his clan members from.

While Wang Hao was treating them, several streaks of light appeared in the distance and flew rapidly toward the sect.

“They’re here,” Wang Hao thought.

His frustration eased a little. The Burning Heaven Sect’s arrival might ruin Qingyuan’s plans. Whether the attackers would turn on the Wang Clan later was a problem for later. A sect that cared so little for its subordinate cultivators did not deserve to endure.

He quietly told his clan members and Li Derong to put their own safety first when the fighting began.

“All Foundation Establishment cultivators, come with me to support the sect!” a Qingyuan elder called.

Li Derong glanced at Wang Hao. “Let’s go. At least we can’t defy the sect openly.”

Wang Hao nodded. Even if Qingyuan’s Golden Core cultivators all died, its hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators were still more than the Wang Clan could affront. For now, they had to appear cooperative.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered and boarded the elder’s flying boat. At that distance, it would take about two quarters of an hour to reach the sect.

Daoist Master Baili and Jin Heng stood in the air, watching the six approaching Golden Core cultivators.

“Fellow Daoist Sha, our sects’ grievances are in the past. If the Leizhou Peninsula gains a Nascent Soul cultivator, the region’s status will rise, benefiting you as well. Why must it come to this?”

Sha Dinshan snorted coldly. “Pretty words. The benefits will belong to your Qingyuan Sect, while we will be reduced to running dogs. Who wants their fate held in another man’s hand?”

“If you wish to talk, Fellow Daoist Baili, have Du Guangchao stop forming his Nascent Soul. Then we can sit down and talk.”

Daoist Master Baili kept trying. They had prepared some hidden measures, but his injuries had not healed and they still lacked the strength to face six Golden Core opponents.

“I can guarantee that if you leave now, Qingyuan will not wage war against your sect. I will even let the territory you took from us go unchallenged.”

“Stop wasting time, old Baili. How can anyone sleep soundly with someone else at their bedside? I will not let Du Guangchao form his Nascent Soul so easily today.”

“How dare you, Sha Dinshan! Do you want a fight that destroys both sides? Very well!” Daoist Master Baili shouted.

Still hoping to delay them, he turned to the two Boundless Palace cultivators. “Wen Ruixin, our sects have not interfered with each other for centuries. If you leave now, I will treat this as though it never happened.”

His thunderous voice carried so far that Wang Hao heard it clearly aboard the flying boat.

“Your Qingyuan Sect throws its weight around, monopolizes trade routes, troubles its neighbors and exploits those under it,” Wen Ruixin said evenly. “The heavens cannot tolerate it. I am merely acting on Heaven’s behalf to save tens of thousands who suffer under you. Surrender and have old Du stop his breakthrough, and we may spare your life.”

Wang Hao found himself agreeing. Qingyuan had indeed been too overbearing and deserved to be taught a lesson.

“Ha! You turn black into white! Shameless! I’ve never seen anyone so brazen!” Daoist Master Baili laughed in anger, beard and hair bristling.

“Why anger yourself over a dying man, Fellow Daoist Wen? Once we take Qingyuan, you can do as you please with him,” Sha Dinshan said with a cold smile.

“Let’s see if you have the ability!”

Daoist Master Baili shook his spirit beast pouch.

A flash of gold revealed a giant black eagle and a green turtle in midair.

Both were third-rank spirit beasts.

Their bodies kept growing until each was the size of a small hill.

“A third-rank Black Feather Eagle and a Black Water Turtle?” Wen Ruixin named them.

They had expected a difficult battle, but not two mid-grade third-rank beasts. At that stage the beasts were as intelligent as people and more resilient than Golden Core cultivators of the same rank.

The battle was now six against four. The attackers still had an advantage, but they might not break through before Du Guangchao completed his breakthrough.