Chapter 305 - 282: Eruption

Chapter 305: Chapter 282: Eruption

Chu Mu’s gaze narrowed as he watched the Flying Boats unleashing their firepower. His expression grew grave.

In the Cultivation Immortal Realm, artifacts like Flying Boats, Spiritual Energy Cannons, and Puppets are extremely prevalent for one main reason: they don’t consume a Cultivator’s Magical Power and Divine Sense.

Simply put, they allowed one to wear down the enemy while conserving strength.

Take the current scene, for example. If Cultivators were to launch such an assault, it would require more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators attacking simultaneously and without pause to match this level of intensity.

But now, several Flying Boats and over a dozen Spiritual Energy Cannons were unleashing a relentless barrage.

Aboard the Flying Boats, an unknown number of Longevity Sect Cultivators could simply conserve their strength...

As for the outpost’s defensive artifacts, Chu Mu’s gaze shifted to the cannons atop the walls. Operated by Righteous Alliance Cultivators, they were already firing back at the Flying Boats suspended in the sky.

The Mighty Power of the Earth Fire Cannons was considerable. After one volley, the hovering Longevity Sect Flying Boats were already starting to wobble, their pristine white hulls now marred by several scorched marks.

Protected by the Grand Array’s barrier, the Righteous Alliance clearly held the advantage.

But if the Guardian Array were to be breached...

And as far as he knew, outposts like this were typically garrisoned by only three Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Righteous Alliance.

Even if other Foundation Establishment Cultivators happened to be staying here, the total number wouldn’t be very high...

Since the Longevity Sect dared to attack the outpost, they must have come with ample preparations and manpower.

He glanced down at the Sound Transmission Order in his hand. Unsurprisingly, all communications were being jammed.

It was impossible to send a request for aid from inside the outpost.

Chu Mu looked up at the trembling, flickering Guardian Array, observing its state and the intensity of the assault. A thoughtful glint appeared in his eyes.

He wasn’t overly concerned. ’With my abilities, as long as a Golden Core True Master doesn’t target me, I can always escape even if I can’t win.’

As for the outpost itself, this sort of back-and-forth siege was an extremely common sight on the front lines.

If it fell, it would just be another massacre.

If it held, it was just bad luck for the attackers.

’I have no friends or family here; it has nothing to do with me.’

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chu Mu was about to find a place to hide near the edge of the outpost and wait to see how the situation developed.

He had just taken a step when a sudden roar erupted from a nearby street.

’The enemy is at the gates, and a riot is breaking out inside the outpost!’

Chu Mu fixed his gaze on the source of the roar. As the dust settled, he saw a Cultivator fleeing with several Righteous Alliance disciples in hot pursuit.

At the site of the explosion, the remnants of a broken Array Prohibition were now visible.

Clearly, there were Cultivators inside the outpost acting as moles for the Longevity Sect, undermining the Guardian Array’s foundations from within.

However, the Righteous Alliance responded far more quickly than Chu Mu had expected.

Soon, squads of disciples in Righteous Alliance Magic Robes appeared on every street, quelling the chaos. Simultaneously, a decree was issued, forcibly conscripting all Cultivators within the outpost.

Within a few short minutes, the chaos vanished completely. The entire outpost began to operate with the efficiency of a military encampment.

It was like a vast machine, rapidly spinning to life to counter the sudden assault.

"Fellow Daoist, please come to the main hall for a discussion."

Just then, a sound transmission echoed in his ear.

Chu Mu sighed inwardly, at a loss for words. He leaped, and in the next moment, appeared before the central hall.

Stepping inside, he found three Foundation Establishment Cultivators already gathered. Upon seeing Chu Mu arrive, none of them could hide their delight.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, your Artifact Refining Puppetry Skill is truly masterful. I’m afraid we’ll all have to rely on you for this battle."

The speaker was an elder in yellow robes. His fawning voice rang out the moment Chu Mu entered the hall.

Chu Mu’s brow twitched, and his gaze toward the yellow-robed elder grew colder.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, another Righteous Alliance Cultivator—a portly man at the Foundation Establishment realm—quickly tried to smooth things over. "The Longevity Sect may have jammed our communications within the outpost, but many of our Alliance’s Cultivators are stationed outside."

"With a commotion this large, someone must have already notified the Alliance. We just need to work together and hold on for a little while until reinforcements arrive..."

"You are an Artifact Refining Master, Fellow Daoist. With this great battle upon us, we hope you can lend us your expertise."

At that moment, the other Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, who had been silent until now, voiced a question. "Are we the only four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in this outpost?"

The portly Foundation Establishment Cultivator quickly explained, "Fellow Daoist Li is outside managing the defenses. Counting him, there are a total of five Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the outpost."

"With our combined power and the strength of the Grand Array, holding out for reinforcements should be more than enough."

"Fellow Daoists, rest assured. Our Alliance has a special contribution decree. After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, you will all receive double contribution points..."

Just then, the Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator suddenly turned to Chu Mu and asked, "What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow and smiled, his gaze shifting. The round-faced Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Righteous Alliance was looking at him with eyes full of expectation.

It was true that according to Righteous Alliance law, they had the authority to forcibly conscript Loose Cultivators when an outpost’s Marketplace was in peril.

But "forcibly" was the operative word.

In this outpost, the Righteous Alliance had the power to compel Qi Cultivation Cultivators, but they lacked the leverage to force someone at his Foundation Establishment level.

"You make the arrangements, Fellow Daoist."

Chu Mu waved his hand dismissively, saying nothing more.

’I can’t escape anyway, so I might as well play along.’

’If the situation turns against us, I’ll slip away then. No one will be able to blame me.’

"You are a man of principle, Fellow Daoist!"

The round-faced Foundation Establishment Cultivator exclaimed in admiration before turning to the Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator.

"You make the arrangements, but let me be clear: I’m not signing up for any suicide missions."

That Foundation Establishment Cultivator waved his hand with a look of bored resignation.

"Fine."

The round-faced Foundation Establishment Cultivator paid it no mind and immediately began assigning tasks in an orderly fashion.

Though they were called "tasks," they were actually quite simple.

As long as the Grand Array held, the most important things were to maintain order within the outpost, prevent internal sabotage of the Grand Array, and ensure its continued operation.

As for the rest... as long as the Grand Array remained intact, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present just needed to conserve their energy and watch the show.

The battle across the Grand Array was being fought entirely with artifacts.

As for operating the various artifacts, any Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivator in the outpost could be grabbed to do the job.

Chu Mu’s duties, however, were considerably more complex.

The outpost’s entire offensive and defensive system was built around Earth Fire as a power source, all of which fell under the purview of his Artifact Refining Skill.

However, his role was merely to supervise.

Every critical point was guarded and monitored by Righteous Alliance Cultivators at all times.

Standing before the hall, he witnessed a rather unconventional battle.

There were no fluctuations of Magical Power from any Cultivator, only the thunderous exchange between various artifacts.

The Longevity Sect’s Flying Boats hovered in the sky, their Spiritual Energy Cannons pouring firepower onto the outpost’s Grand Array, while their own defensive Array Prohibitions withstood the counterattack from below.

There were also various other offensive artifacts, large and small, all using attacks of Spiritual Power to either block the counterattack from the ground or, just like the Spiritual Energy Cannons, to pour firepower onto the outpost.

Meanwhile, the outpost’s counterattacks were all based on Earth Fire, drawing upon the Earth Vein’s Fire Qi and converting it into projectiles launched by various offensive artifacts.

Crisscrossing beams of light filled the sky, a brilliant, kaleidoscopic display as far as the eye could see.

’If this is all there is to it...’

Chu Mu found it strange. If this was the full extent of their assault, then defending the outpost would be no problem at all.

’But if so, what’s the point of this attack from the Longevity Sect?’

’And how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Longevity Sect are on those Flying Boats?’

’This outpost has the natural advantage of Earth Vein Fire Qi, making it a much tougher nut to crack than other encampments.’

’The last time it was breached, the Longevity Sect supposedly deployed ten Flying Boats, thirteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and hundreds of Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators.’

’So this time...’

Chu Mu was pondering this when, amidst the constant din of explosions, a heaven-shattering KABOOM suddenly and jarringly rang out.

The sound drowned out every other noise!

In an instant, an indescribable, scorching heat erupted violently!

At the same time, a sense of inexplicable threat and Palpitations surged through his heart. Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Divine Soul Saber was issuing a frantic warning.

’Has the Earth Vein Fire Qi been detonated?’

With no time to assess the situation, the thought flashed through his mind as he leaped into the air. His form flickered, his aura retracted, and he shot up into the sky.

The next second, another earth-shattering explosion rocked the area.

A blinding, golden heat erupted from the ground as an endless torrent of Earth Vein Fire Qi swept across the land.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The outpost, which had been perfectly fine a second ago, was now completely engulfed in a sea of fire.

The ground cracked open, magma surged, and flames scorched the very heavens!

Countless agonizing screams echoed from within the inferno. The Grand Array, which was powered by the Earth Vein Fire Qi, shattered into pieces.

High in the sky, the Flying Boats’ torrential firepower, no longer impeded by the array, rained down mercilessly into the sea of fire.

It was a slaughter, reaping lives one by one.

The premonition of deadly danger had not subsided.

Within his line of sight, Chu Mu could clearly see the menacing muzzles of the cannons on two of the Flying Boats lock onto him as he hovered in the sky.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The next second, brilliant beams of light wove together, forming a Heaven and Earth Net that descended directly upon him!

Chu Mu’s expression flickered. He glanced around, and seeing that the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were receiving the same treatment, he relaxed slightly.

The assault was terrifying, but for a Cultivator of his realm, attacks from inanimate objects like these posed little threat unless they reached a certain magnitude or he was somehow restrained.

This was especially true for him.

He used no Magical Power, relying solely on his physical strength to weave and dodge through the sky. After evading the barrage, he plunged headfirst into the sea of fire and magma below.

’Unless it was absolutely necessary, I’m not willing to expose my identity in a situation like this.’

The name "Chu Mu" was clearly a sensitive one for the disciples of the Longevity Sect.

’What’s more, they have the absolute advantage right now. If they really detected my presence, I’d be a free meal they couldn’t possibly refuse!’

With the Earth Vein Fire Qi detonated, the churning sea of fire and magma created volatile Spiritual Qi, forming a natural cloaking barrier.

’Once inside, it’ll be nearly impossible for anyone to detect me, no matter what abilities I use.’

Apparently, Chu Mu wasn’t the only one with this idea. After dodging the Flying Boats’ Spiritual Power assault, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators paid no more heed to the outpost’s defense. With an unspoken understanding, almost all of them leaped into the still-erupting sea of fire and magma.

They all intended to use the natural barrier created by the volatile Earth Vein Fire Qi to hide their presence and escape the Longevity Sect’s pursuit.

...