Chapter 68: Forceful Counter
Chapter 68: Forceful Counter
Nangong Jun’s face turned cold as she snorted disdainfully,
“It is just a slight injury, nothing serious. No need for the Venerable One to worry.”
Gu Lie encountered a rebuff from Nangong Jun but didn’t mind at all. He put on a carefree act, spreading his hands and laughing, “Whenever you wish to be treated, feel free to come find me inside the tower! I, this Venerable One, have the kindest heart. I simply cannot bear to see a delicate and beautiful lady suffer unfairly, hahahaha…”
“……”
“I say, old man!”
Gu Lie’s tone suddenly shifted, his sinister eyes fixed on the Matrix Tower, “You have been watching long enough. Hand over the Matrix Tower to this Venerable One… now!”
Clearly, he was dead set on taking control of the Matrix Tower.
But Mo Li did not think much of him.
“If you wish to take over the Matrix Tower, present the shift change Identity Plaque from the Reinforcement Department.”
Hearing this, Gu Lie laughed in anger,
“You want the shift change Identity Plaque? Hah! Fine… I can submit an application to the Reinforcement Department at any time! As long as the Reinforcement Department believes your Magic Power is insufficient to manage the Matrix Tower, I am certain that the control of the Matrix Tower will ultimately fall to me.”
“Is that so.”
Mo Li remained calm and composed, showing no intention of giving up the Matrix Tower.
Gu Lie grew increasingly impatient, snorting coldly, “You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.” After saying this, he took out a Messaging Talisman, preparing to contact the Reinforcement Department.
Right at that moment.
BOOM!
Inside the Matrix Tower, an overwhelming aura of a Spirit Condensation Stage expert erupted without warning. Amplified by the Formation within the Matrix Tower, it descended like a tangible mountain from the sky, majestic and awe-inspiring, suppressing the Spirit Condensation Stage Evil Cultivator and the group of Evil Cultivators behind him.
The Spirit Condensation Stage Evil Cultivator Gu Lie naturally was not afraid and remained unaffected;
But the group of High Insight Stage Evil Cultivators behind him all paled dramatically in shock!
“Ah!”
“What is this…”
Under the sudden press of this powerful aura, the fifty Evil Cultivators had no time to activate any defensive measures. They were all suppressed together. Many knelt into the ground on the spot. Screams and successive thuds of kneeling echoed around. The Evil Cultivators were livid, their faces pale, feeling utterly humiliated.
“Audacious!”
“This is too much!”
“What exactly are you trying to do!”
Gu Lie was furious, roaring repeatedly.
From inside the Matrix Tower, a leisurely voice drifted out, calm and unhurried,
“I, this Venerable One, have newly arrived at Two Realms Mountain. While I am familiarizing myself with the Matrix Tower, as long as my Magic Power remains sufficient, no one shall take the control of the Matrix Tower from me within three days… If you don’t believe it, go ahead and submit your application to the Reinforcement Department. See if they will agree.”
Mo Li’s casual demeanor and thunderous actions not only completely intimidated the group of Evil Cultivators but also rapidly elevated his image in the minds of Cultivators like Cheng Fei.
Watching the fifty Evil Cultivators all kneeling in disarray, Cheng Fei and the others felt a sense of satisfaction, as if a long-held grievance had been avenged.
Hah… feels great!
Revered Qin stood up tall, looked at everyone, and without a word, released his Magic Power aura without reserve.
BOOM!!
An even more powerful Spirit Condensation Stage aura descended from the sky, bearing down on the Evil Cultivators who were resisting Mo Li’s pressure, making a bad situation worse.
The few High Insight Stage Evil Cultivators who were barely managing to keep their knees from touching the ground completely lost hope.
Thud! Thud!
The remaining ones all knelt down.
At this moment, Gu Lie finally realized that the situation had taken a bad turn.
He had intended to use his peak condition to intimidate the two Venerable Ones and forcefully seize control of the Matrix Tower. He never expected that these two had retained most of their Magic Power strength, directly suppressing all the followers he brought and causing him to lose face entirely.
“Those who insult others shall always be insulted in return!”
Mo Li’s calm and indifferent voice sounded once more, announcing mercilessly,
“All Cultivators who have come as reinforcements, guard the War Zone well. If anyone makes any suspicious moves during this time, I, this Venerable One, will not hesitate to exercise my authority to supervise and punish, striking you down under the feet of the Monster Beasts. Even if I have to face questioning from the Reinforcement Department later, my conscience is clear.”
Hearing this, the group of furious Evil Cultivators turned even paler, their eyes filled with fear.
In the War Zone, the Spirit Condensation Stage Venerable One guarding the Matrix Tower held the power of life and death. If he truly acted against them, as long as the War Zone’s defense line remained intact, who in the Reinforcement Department would offend a Spirit Condensation Stage Venerable One for the sake of a mere Epiphany Stage Evil Cultivator?
“We respectfully obey the Venerable One’s decree.”
The group of Evil Cultivators bowed and acknowledged the order in unison, becoming docile.
The Eighth-grade Ghost Cultivator who had earlier provoked Mo Li and caused Nangong Jun’s injury was trembling all over, his face devoid of color, showing a look of despair as if a great disaster was imminent.
He had acted on the Venerable One’s order to provoke, but he never expected things to go completely differently from the Venerable One’s plan…
It’s over!
He could already foresee what fate awaited those who offended the Matrix Tower’s controller.
“Useless fool, stay by my side. What can he do to you?” Gu Lie snorted and scolded, finally dispelling the panic in his subordinate’s heart.
Mo Li and Revered Qin simultaneously withdrew their released auras. The group of Evil Cultivators felt as if they had been granted amnesty, and they quickly went to their respective battle stations.
After watching all the Evil Cultivators being dispatched to the peripheral areas, Nangong Jun finally turned back, her face brightening as she expressed her thanks,
“Little junior brother, thank you.”
Lu Hangzhi was taken aback.
Nangong Jun transmitted her voice to explain,
“If it weren’t for the gift you gave me, Senior Sister, the situation might be very different now.”
Lu Hangzhi nodded, then thought deeper and suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body:
If not for the Spirit Honey, Revered Qin and Elder Mo Li would have insufficient Magic Power. Gu Lie, taking advantage of the situation, might actually succeed if he submitted an application to the Reinforcement Department to take over the Matrix Tower.
At that time, Nangong Jun, being injured, would face two choices:
Either fight to the death outside the Matrix Tower until she perished; or enter the Matrix Tower, ultimately unable to escape the cruel clutches and humiliation of the Evil Cultivators…
At this thought, Lu Hangzhi suddenly felt sympathy for the five female Cultivators who had fallen.
…
Hu Bugui and the others finished their rest, came out of the Matrix Tower, and replaced some Cultivators who had suffered significant Magic Power loss.
Lu Hangzhi supported the injured Nangong Jun as they entered the Matrix Tower to recover Magic Power and treat her injuries.
Surprisingly, Cheng Fei also chose to enter the Matrix Tower.
It was unclear whether he felt pressured by the arrival of the Evil Cultivators or was preparing to return to his peak state…
Following them into the Matrix Tower were Cultivators like Lei Qun, Tong Zhan, and Zi Ying.
This meant that almost all the surviving members from the previous period in the War Zone had withdrawn into the Matrix Tower, leaving only Hu Bugui and nine others outside!
The main defense duties were all handed over to the Evil Cultivators.
Hu Bugui and the others all gathered between Revered Qin and the Matrix Tower;
The group of Evil Cultivators immediately looked very uneasy, each feeling endangered.
…
Back inside the Matrix Tower, everyone did not rush to their respective Training Rooms. Instead, they gathered in the front hall to exchange information.
“Brother Cheng, what do you know about that guy Gu Lie?” Lu Hangzhi was the first to speak.
Cheng Fei wore a heavy expression as he answered,
“Knowing him? Not really. I only know he’s called Gu Lie, in the early Spirit Condensation Stage. His strength rivals Reverend Qin’s. He has a terrible weakness for women… During his time guarding the War Zone, he brutalized as many as eight female cultivators. If Reverend Mo and Reverend Qin hadn’t arrived, we’d probably have been wiped out long ago.”
Lei Qun, Tong Zhan, and the others nodded silently, their faces etched with lingering fear and slight relief.
“The situation in the War Zone is getting more complicated,” Cheng Fei started again, voicing the anxiety everyone felt. “Looks like the Monster Beast attacks won’t stop anytime soon. In three days, Reverend Mo will be reassigned… I’m worried.”
Just then, Mo Li’s voice drifted down from the second floor to the first:
“Don’t worry. Unless absolutely necessary, I won’t give any help to those Evil Cultivators. Reverend Qin won’t offer them any support either.”
Upon hearing this, the group collectively let out a sigh of relief.
Without the support of the Matrix Tower, Gu Lie might be powerful, but half his men would end up dead or injured.
The immense pressure from Gu Lie’s forces came mainly from the imbalance in strength; they clearly had the advantage in numbers and power. But if their numbers dwindled, and the two sides slowly became evenly matched, they wouldn’t dare act too recklessly in the future, not if they considered the security of the War Zone.
“We have less than an hour to rest,” Mo Li continued. “Everyone, use the time well. Absorb your Demon Beast Inner Cores, boost your cultivation, recover your magic power quickly! Those who know how to repair Spiritual Artifacts or Magical Artifacts can use the refining room inside. Another fierce battle is coming!”
With that, he left first.
The others quickly followed, dispersing to choose individual Training Rooms to digest the gains from the previous fight.
Back in his Training Room, Lu Hangzhi first checked his own condition.
The Lotus Bracelet and Heartguard Mirror were fine. A little magic power would restore them to perfect condition.
He hadn’t used much Spirit Honey either.
He’d harvested a large batch of Demon Beast Inner Cores. Just Ninth-Grade Internal Cores alone – Sister Jun had delivered ten of those. Total: twenty-one eighth-grade inner cores, thirty-four seventh-grade cores. Outside the Two Realms Mountain, such wealth could establish a small sect.
But inside the Two Realms Mountain, it wasn’t considered much.
Lu Hangzhi took out the eighth-grade inner core Reverend Qin had given him earlier. He carefully sipped at it. Instantly, he felt his blood surge, his face flushed as if drinking strong liquor. The Spiritual Power Pool in his mind churned wildly. His cultivation steadily improved, firmly striding towards the mid Sixth Rank level.
“Within three days!”
“I must reach Seventh Grade!”
“Only by breaking through to Seventh Grade will I have the strength to resist Gu Lie’s Evil Cultivators, hold my ground in this War Zone, and protect Sister.”
His goal was clear, his resolve steadfast. The hour passed quickly.
During that time, Gu Lie and his men endured an attack by a sizable Beast Tide. Reverend Qin and Mo Li kept their promise. No aid came. They watched seven Evil Cultivators get torn apart and devoured by Monster Beasts…
Guided and protected by Reverend Qin and Mo Li, Hu Bugui’s group suffered no casualties.
Gu Lie’s expression was ugly, but he couldn’t find any reason to complain.
All fifty men he had brought were his old core loyalists. He had planned to use them to control the War Zone and implement his elite abduction scheme. He never expected to lose seven in a single hour…
The Evil Cultivators who survived in the Two Realms Mountain weren’t fools. They now understood the intentions of both the Matrix Tower and Reverend Qin’s group. Their arrogance and fierceness diminished. When the hour was up, they all applied to enter the Matrix Tower, seeking to avoid pointless sacrifice.
Mo Li flatly refused them all!
“This is absurd! You are elites from the Reinforcement Department! You guard for just one hour and demand rest in the Matrix Tower… Denied! Only the critically wounded may enter the Matrix Tower! Everyone else holds position here!”
Hu Bugui and nine others were permitted to enter the Matrix Tower to rest.
“…”
The remaining Evil Cultivators became even more cautious, hurriedly trying to recover their magic power.
Stepping out of the Matrix Tower, a faint smile touched Lu Hangzhi’s lips. His mid Sixth Rank cultivation was fully stable. His Spiritual Power Pool had calmed down, brimming with magic power. The range of his spiritual sense had noticeably increased.
Cheng Fei and Nangong Jun also emerged with satisfied expressions.
The former’s cultivation had advanced. He now seemed like a finely polished sword radiating sharpness. Just looking at him felt dangerous. The latter’s injuries were obviously healed. Behind her floated an Artifact Flying Sword pulsing with incredible power. A playful smile graced her face as she walked out.
“Brother Cheng’s breakthrough deserves congratulations!”
Lu Hangzhi stepped forward, his eyes bright with genuine happiness.
Cheng Fei, in good spirits, chuckled,
“I was stuck at Peak Eighth Grade for a long time. Today, I actually have to thank that Ghost Cultivator. Him provoking me fiercely gave me the push I needed to break through the Ninth Grade barrier.”
As he spoke, he deliberately unleashed his aura. The powerful pressure of a Ninth Grade cultivation of the Comprehension Stage surged out. Immediately, the Evil Cultivators became visibly unsettled. The eighth-grade Ghost Cultivator who had earlier provoked Cheng Fei paled, his face darkening.
“Brother Cheng!”
“Congratulations, Brother Cheng!”
Nearby cultivators rushed to offer heartfelt well-wishes.
Among the survivors, Cheng Fei was the undisputed leader of the righteous cultivators. His display instantly changed Hu Bugui and the others’ previously cautious, defensive demeanor. They, too, began to reveal sharp intents, radiating their own strength.
Lu Hangzhi moved to Nangong Jun’s side.
“Sister?”
Seeing his expression of serious concern, Nangong Jun couldn’t help but laugh. “Relax! Your sister isn’t some fragile flower raised in a greenhouse! Just a minor injury, it’s almost completely healed already.”
“But your flying sword…”
“Nah!” She gestured behind her cheerfully. “The Ancestral Master just gifted me this Artifact Flying Sword. It’s even better than my old one!”
Ah, so that was it. No wonder she looked so pleased. With a Magical Artifact flying sword like that, her strength had leaped forward. Lu Hangzhi finally relaxed completely.
“All personnel, attention!”
Just then, a deep, commanding voice boomed from the Matrix Tower, echoing across the Two Realms Mountain:
“Significant areas of the Two Realms Mountain have now fallen. The numbers of the affected War Zones are near the center, closing in on the mountain peak! At present, Monster Beasts continue gathering within the occupied zones! All War Zones must heighten vigilance immediately! Beware of Beast Tides coming from these areas coordinating with the Monster Beasts descending from the Sky Passage above! The Reinforcement Department will arrive shortly!”
A collective gloom settled over everyone:
Part of the Two Realms Mountain had fallen!
This meant that from now on, they had to watch for dangers from the skies above and also from the huge swarms of Monster Beasts encroaching from adjacent War Zones.
“Dammit!”
“I knew this prolonged quiet spelled trouble!”
Whether they were from Reverend Qin’s group or Gu Lie’s faction, every cultivator looked grim. They all sprang to their feet.
The Monster Beasts in the occupied zones hadn’t moved for a long time. They must have been waiting for forces from the other end of the Sky Passage to launch a second, even fiercer wave of attacks.
The assault intensity…
Would be a level of ferocity Lu Hangzhi’s group had never encountered before.