Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 485

Before Ice River Pass.

Ten thousand li of ice sealed the land, a thousand li of snow drifted down. The mighty river had been frozen by extreme cold into pale-blue crystal. Around it blew the North Wind Storm, a gale of extremely low temperature.

This storm was one of the environmental dangers of Ice River Pass.

Legend said it blew out from the depths of the Endless Ice Plains, carrying a faint trace of frozen demonic essence. Further north beyond Ice River Pass lay the rarely visited North Wind region.

It was considered the final threshold for Taihu forces entering the Endless Ice Plains, hence its common name: “North Wind Ice Storm.”

This spiritually charged dangerous environment also affected divine sense. Cultivators below Core Formation could not see clearly into the depths of the ice at all.

This gave the “water ghost” tactic plenty of room to operate.

The city wall of Ice River Pass stood a thousand zhang tall, built entirely from North Plains Frozen Stone that had been sealed for countless years. It was in no way weaker than the azure jade stone used to construct Eastern Extreme Capital.

Over the years the Azure Cloud Sect had poured heavy resources into it, adding formations and no-flight restrictions, thoroughly seizing control of this strategic pass.

Under pressure from the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect, the main force of the Nether Mountain Sect was forced to commit a full lineup of twenty-three Nascent Souls, over a thousand Core Formation cultivators, and hundreds of thousands of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples.

Aside from the high-end combat power, half of them were rogue cultivators conscripted from the Crimson Kite. For these bottom-tier demonic cultivators who feared neither heaven nor earth.

War was also the perfect opportunity to increase their strength.

Except for a few naturally cautious and life-preserving individuals, almost all answered the call. This ragtag army was the main force attacking Ice River Pass today.

The great perfection cultivator High Priest Youpeng, along with his strongest fighter under him, the Yin Flood Dragon Demon Lord, had also committed their combat power to the Ice River Pass battlefield.

Only the Cold Blood Peak cultivators belonging to the Blood Reversal Sect remained temporarily unseen.

Inside Ice River Pass.

The Red Cloud Ancestor of the Azure Cloud Sect, the Yellow River Superior, the Golden Flame Dao Lord and Fire Virtue Dao Lord of the Blazing Sun Sect, one great perfection Nascent Soul, three late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivators, plus a fourth-rank late-stage Fire Crow King.

A total of five top-tier combat powers. The Red Cloud Ancestor was the only great perfection expert and the support force the Azure Cloud Sect had recently transferred to Ice River Pass.

As for early to mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, the two sects plus a few Nascent Souls who had rushed over from the Sword Sect totaled twenty, barely balancing the demonic experts.

After all, they were the defending side. Their pressure was not as great as the attackers’, and they held the terrain advantage. If nothing unexpected happened, this would be a war of attrition.

It came down to who had more people and deeper reserves.

Who could better endure the casualties!

In the council hall of Ice River Pass, the Red Cloud Ancestor held the highest seniority and strongest cultivation, so he naturally held the right to speak first. The others had to give him some face.

He took the lead without hesitation.

“Previously the Nether Mountain Sect fought timidly and cautiously, clearly unwilling to expend too much strength. They hold a pessimistic view of this righteous-demonic war and want to reap maximum benefits after it ends.

“Now they have thrown everything into the fray. It is obvious that a Venerable from the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect has applied pressure. Besides the situation at Ice River Pass, we must also guard against the southern Water Cloud Prefecture and Feng Prefecture.

“Little friend from the Sword Sect, does your sect have any clear information on reinforcements?”

Clearly, in the Red Cloud Ancestor’s eyes.

No matter how much pressure the Nether Mountain Sect applied, they could not break through the defenses of Ice River Pass.

Therefore.

He shifted the focus toward the southern region of the Azure Cloud Sect’s territory.

This line of thinking could not be called entirely right, nor entirely wrong.

After all, this had always been one of the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect’s strategic goals. Fighting on two fronts carried the inherent risk of neglecting one while focusing on the other.

Moreover, the entire Crimson Kite demonic camp was now attacking the Azure Cloud Sect, a soft target. The southern battlefield facing the main forces of Yellow Springs Monastery and the Blood Reversal Sect was already as precarious as a pile of eggs.

Even if the Seven Righteous Sects had all sent support teams, the pressure was still at its maximum!

Under such circumstances, the Red Cloud Ancestor could not afford the slightest oversight. He personally oversaw every detail.

The person being questioned in the hall was one of the seventy-two Peak Masters of the Sword Sect, known as the Ninefold Sword Lord, a relatively young Nascent Soul whose cultivation had only reached the third layer.

Facing the Red Cloud Ancestor’s question, he replied with great respect, “This matter is a sect secret. This junior cannot reveal too much, but I can give Senior a bottom line: even if a Demon Venerable takes action, the Azure Cloud Sect’s battle line will not collapse.”

In other words, a Sword Sect Venerable had already moved.

The moment these words were spoken.

It was like a calming pill, quickly steadying the hearts of the Nascent Souls present.

“If that is the case, as long as we hold Ice River Pass, the battle line will not continue to retreat. That is good news.”

Of course.

The premise was that they could hold it.

Golden Flame Dao Lord suddenly spoke.

“The people from Cold Blood Peak have not shown themselves yet. They are most likely still unwilling to give up on Kuangmei Mountain. There is also that Supreme Law Demonic Lord, hiding inside the Northern Land Demon Race without showing his face.

“Both are targets we must guard against. And… if the Northern Land Demon Race makes a move, can we stop them?”

This question touched the core. Although no one had mentioned it.

Everyone knew that Wang Yu’s relationship with the Northern Land Demon Race was unclear. The Azure Cloud Sect had spent some resources to request help from the Fire Crow Clan of the Northern Land Demon Race.

However, such an alliance treaty was not firm and could be unilaterally torn apart at any time. One could glimpse this possibility from the report the Soul Spirit Origin Lord brought back.

No one spoke of it because they deliberately chose to ignore it.

After all, the reality was that if the Northern Land Demon Race joined the war with full force, only by doubling the number of experts at Ice River Pass would there be any chance of holding it.

And that.

Would still need to be split between the two battlefields of Ice River Pass and Kuangmei Mountain.

Which was more important would have to be weighed by the commander. Following the simple principle of “the more you say, the more mistakes you make; the less you say, the fewer mistakes; saying nothing is best.”

No one mentioned it. Only the eager-to-earn-merit Golden Flame Dao Lord poked through this layer of window paper.

The hall instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at one another, momentarily at a loss for words.

At this moment.

The Red Cloud Ancestor stepped forward and said, “This matter can only be guarded against; it cannot be confirmed.

“Additionally, there is good news. Not long ago, people from Northern Suppression Tower sent word that they will dispatch an elite force to reinforce the Ice River Pass battlefield.”

Everyone’s spirits lifted, only to exchange glances with one another.

“Northern Suppression Tower? They didn’t participate in the last righteous-demonic war, nor the one before that, nor the one before that. They only stayed shut inside that ruined tower cultivating bitterly. They’re actually coming out?”

These words echoed what everyone was thinking.

After the initial delight came worry. Although Northern Suppression Tower had been recognized by the Sword Sect as one of the Seven Righteous Sects, its disciples almost never traveled outside.

Most of their lives were spent inside the Endless Ice Plains.

The outside world knew very little about them. Whether they possessed the power to turn the tide remained unknown. Doubt and distrust were only natural.

The Red Cloud Ancestor continued, “The specific details are unclear, but it seems the demonic cultivators did something in the Endless Ice Plains that touched upon Northern Suppression Tower’s taboo. That is why they are taking action.

“The natural stronghold of Kuangmei Mountain can be left to them to guard. There should be no problems.”

The council meeting at Ice River Pass did not last long.

In the distance, the sound of war horns rang out, growing louder and louder.

Large numbers of demonic cultivators flew over at low altitude. All kinds of magic treasures, talismans, and even blood-soaked demonic weapons and evil artifacts were hurled toward Ice River Pass in a chaotic barrage.

The high-altitude astral wind layer became the battlefield for Nascent Soul cultivators.

The moment the battle at Ice River Pass began, the assault on Kuangmei Mountain started at the same time!

…

…

Atop Kuangmei Mountain, which towered to an unknown height, the Cold Blood Peak cultivators poured out from their main camp in full force. Wang Yu had long since donned the Demonic Dragon Armor and held a three-pronged, two-bladed spear. A snow-white fox followed at his side.

The fox was also canine. Rounding it up, she could be considered a “Smiling Heaven Fox.” She stayed close to Wang Yu, nervously looking around in all directions.

For her, participating in such a large-scale war was a first. It was understandable that she felt anxious. Wang Yu instructed, “Later, stay close to me and watch the situation. If things turn dangerous, try to stay as far away from me as possible.”

The words sounded contradictory, but Wang Yu was worried that his fame was too great and he would easily become the target of everyone. In that case, Snowjade’s assistance would be negligible.

He would still have to divert attention to protect her. Keeping her at a distance was the correct choice.

If he was not surrounded and could fight guerrilla-style or hunt targets one by one, Snowjade’s control abilities would be very useful.

He had prepared two different scenarios in advance.

This attack on Kuangmei Mountain was actually a feint, just like the one at Ice River Pass. The main force of the Northern Land Demon Race was not here.

Do not forget.

The Northern Severed Boundary Mountain Range served as a mutual barrier between Taihu and the Crimson Kite, but for the Northern Land Demon Race, neither Ice River Pass nor Kuangmei Mountain was an impassable natural stronghold.

The entire side of the mountain range was open for them to traverse.

The traps and restrictions accumulated over many great wars were no problem at all for the Northern Land Demon Race, who lived inside the mountains. They knew far better than human cultivators which areas were dangerous.

Therefore, the Five Colors Holy Lord had made this choice in order to swallow the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

The demonic path would keep attacking head-on while the Northern Land Demon Race circled around from behind. The two sides would close in and deliver a fatal blow. Simple, crude, yet extremely practical.

They were exploiting the information gap.

This tactic might seem superfluous, but it was actually aimed at achieving greater results. Wang Yu also could not suppress his desire to collect more Nascent Souls. He wanted to use the fighting to calm his boiling Qi sea.

Thus, he chose to act together with his own people from Cold Blood Peak.

The main battlefield was definitely at Ice River Pass. Kuangmei Mountain would likely only have five or six Nascent Souls left. Several years ago he had already killed two of them, making the defenses even weaker.

Therefore.

He was only giving Snowjade a heads-up. Deep down, he did not feel there would be any trouble for him.

At that moment.

Heavenly Frost Demon Lord, who had crossed paths with Wang Yu several times before, also wore a full-defense Frost Demon Battle Armor and held his life-bound magic treasure, the Heavenly Frost Halberd. He said to Wang Yu,

“Brother Wang, during the upcoming battle, if you have any strength to spare, please look after the cultivators of the four Cold Blood clans. Only our Cold Blood Peak branch has come to Ice River Pass this time…”

The once-arrogant Heavenly Frost Demon Lord now addressed him as “Brother Wang” with exceptional enthusiasm.

Wang Yu’s alchemy cooperation with him had gone quite smoothly.

He still remembered owing him several Taiyin Demonic Essence Pills. As for the Cheng, Chu, and Xue clans, they had also maintained good cooperative relations with Wang Yu.

They had supplied him with quite a few yin-cold heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

On this matter, Wang Yu could only say he would help if it was within his power.

If it affected his own safety, he would not save them.

Heavenly Frost Demon Lord understood and accepted this. Even though he was the big brother of the four Cold Blood clans, he would not risk danger to save them either.

It was simply comparing hearts.

After Heavenly Frost Demon Lord left, the Ice Soul Fairy unusually took the initiative to approach. After the effects of the Flood Dragon Luan Treasure Pill had been completely digested over the years.

The two of them had only experienced one accidental dual cultivation session.

There had been no further contact since.

“Wang Yu, after this war ends, I will be able to cultivate to great perfection Nascent Soul within twenty years. On Kuangmei Mountain, I consider myself unmatched.

“If you encounter danger, I can save you once for the sake of the treasure pill. After that, we will owe each other nothing—our favor will be settled.”

With that, she turned and flew to the front of the formation without waiting for Wang Yu’s reply. This left a certain someone slightly stunned.

The Ice Soul Fairy’s words were filled with concern for his safety.

Of course.

One could also say he was overthinking it. Based on his experience… it did not seem like it~

While Wang Yu was pondering this.

Another major figure from the Zhuo Clan in Cold Blood Peak, Blueheart Elder, also came to his side, as if they were lining up to talk with him.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, seeing is believing. You truly have an extraordinary bearing and dragon-phoenix grace.”

“Senior Blueheart flatters me.”

Although he had secretly helped kill Scorching Sun Old Demon of the Zhuo Clan, on the surface Wang Yu’s relationship with the Zhuo Clan remained close. This matter had never been exposed.

The blame had been pinned on Crimson Heaven.

If anyone hated Crimson Heaven the most, it was the people from Scorching Sun Old Demon’s lineage. Although Blueheart Elder was not from that lineage, he still maintained a friendly attitude toward Wang Yu.

After some polite conversation and small talk.

Blueheart Elder also hinted to Wang Yu that if he encountered danger, he could come to him for help—he would take action!

This was one of the benefits of belonging to a major faction.

Unlike rogue cultivators, even if they were roped in, it was hard for them to enter the true core circle. Most ended up as high-value cannon fodder.

Wang Yu wanted to return to the Blood Reversal Sect not because he felt strong attachment to the sect, but because it was convenient to borrow its power. As one of the five great demonic sects.

It had the stable ability to produce Nascent Soul cultivators.

It also possessed the hidden secrets of the Ice Prison Realm, profound and core inheritances, and a vast network of connections built over centuries—all of which were hard to give up.

Once he left this circle, he would be like a blind man.

It would be extremely difficult to obtain the highest-level intelligence again. This was determined by the structure of the Ice Prison Realm and could not be changed by a single person’s power.

Back to the main topic.

Several thousand Cold Blood Peak elites advanced straight ahead. Only when they passed through the previous battle zone did they realize in shock that not a single cultivator was stationed there.

The middle and lower regions of Kuangmei Mountain were almost completely empty.

“The situation is wrong. This old man will head to the mountaintop to scout first. The rest of you set up defensive lines at the mountainside and watch for ambushes from below or above.”

Blueheart Elder took on the heavy responsibility. He transformed into millions of finger-sized ice birds, stirring up layers of cold mist, and shot toward the mountaintop like an arrow leaving the string.

The rapid flapping of wings sounded like a thousand birds crying together.

The loud chattering was deliberate—to stir the grass and force the enemy to reveal themselves.

Wang Yu’s eyelids twitched. He had a bad premonition.

Sure enough.

Less than half an incense stick later, a violent boom erupted from above. Amid dazzling white light and freezing currents, Blueheart Elder dove down in a sorry state, shouting in alarm,

“Northern Suppression Tower! It’s people from Northern Suppression Tower!”

Wang Yu’s heart stirred. The Five Colored Holy Lord had warned him earlier that Northern Suppression Tower was very likely to join the war, and it had some connection with that Ice God’s Son.

He was already prepared for this!