Chapter 1342: Opening the Mountain

Chapter 1342: Chapter 1342: Opening the Mountain

Regarding the oppressive force that shook the Jinwu Guard to their core, Pei Yan and the other Heavenly Dao elites barely felt any fear. After all, they had seen much more formidable powers. This force was weaker than the one Master of Origin could invoke, affecting only those below the Asura Dao level.

Pei Yan was not afraid of the force but was very curious about its origin, as he noticed that the lightning within the thunderclouds wasn’t emanating from this power but was directed at it. Could this not be a tactic unleashed by the White Deer Institute’s enemies but rather by the Immortal Palace’s army? It didn’t add up! As Pei Yan surveyed the entire battlefield, he didn’t see anyone from his side releasing such a sizable spell. Could there be another force targeting the White Deer Institute?

In his astonishment, Pei Yan overlooked the increasingly grave expressions on Jin He Xuan and Long Jin’s faces. Meanwhile, the battlefield underwent changes. Whatever was about to descend from the black mist in the sky, it couldn’t intimidate Pei Yan nor affect the Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect’s brothers holding talismans. They ignored it and approached the location occupied by the Mo Sect Leader at the mountain gate, each raising a hand to trace symbols in the air.

In an instant, Pei Yan clearly felt the elemental energy around them surge madly towards their location, whipping up whirlwinds that not only blocked all attacks from the White Deer Institute but also scoured the ground. Soon, a towering Talisman Giant covered in various talismans began to take shape amid the tempest.

Since arriving at the Daoist Plane, Pei Yan gained some understanding of the Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect. Talismans are a common battle tactic for cultivators in the Daoist Plane, but not everyone can make them. Low-level talismans can be crafted by beginners with decent talent, but higher-level talismans require greater skill, affected by the creator’s talent, experience, materials, techniques, and even luck during creation, all influencing the success and effectiveness of the talisman.

This isn’t something everyone can accomplish, which is why sects founded on talisman crafting are rare in the Daoist Plane. The Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect stands out among them. Compared to the Mo Sect, a scarce faction specializing in mechanical artifact refining, the Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect excels because it holds a significant advantage in its domain, unlike the Mo Sect and Hongjun Sword Furnace which have rival factions. The sect’s techniques are named after it, and supposedly, once perfected, talisman crafting is unbound by other constraints. Everything in the world can be used to craft talismans, even the omnipresent gentle breeze.

Previously, Pei Yan had only heard of such prowess, but witnessing it today validated the reputation. Within moments, two giants, identical to the peaks in front of them, supported by talismans stood solidly. These giants, clad in heavy armor like magnified Jinwu Guard soldiers, wielded massive stone axes, and once firm, swung them fiercely at the mountain.

Boom! Crash!

The round-headed axe slicing through the wind struck the mountain, producing a deafening collision sound. This didn’t achieve the expected effect of splitting the mountain; the White Deer Institute’s defensive array continued to withstand the assault. The mountains only had a notch at the top, and the stone axe was partially shattered.

However, the attack wasn’t in vain. In coordination with the mechanical puppet insects within the mountain’s interior, the axe blow diminished the protective array around the entire peak significantly. The internal array’s damage slowed the mountain’s self-repair speed.

As stone splinters flew through the air, the shock impulse began affecting the ground, jolting the White Deer Institute disciples guarding the mountain wall and the Jinwu Guards preparing for assault, causing them to stagger wildly. Despite this, the talisman giants showed no signs of halting, swinging their restored axes at the mountain again.

Boom! Crash! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The previous scene replayed, only this time the mountain was even more fractured. Watching this unfold, Pei Yan remarked with a smile, "A few more times and this mountain can’t hold, without it the defense will crumble, allowing the Jinwu Guard to storm up. The White Deer Institute must fight back, break those two talisman giants to buy time."

After making his observation, Pei Yan didn’t hear any response from Jin He Xuan and the others. Turning to look, he noticed their unusual expressions. Jin He Xuan and Long Jin furrowed their brows, resentment and frustration etched on their faces as they stared at the cloud above the White Deer Institute. Observing closely, Pei Yan noticed their complicated emotions, sensing anger while detecting a hint of sorrow in their eyes.

This made Pei Yan even more curious about the entity in the clouds. Amid his confusion, a vigorous dragon roar emerged from the clouds. Pei Yan quickly turned back, witnessing a mass of black mist slowly emerge from the thunderclouds, as winds and thunder within intensified, with countless lightning strikes barraging the black mist tirelessly. Such dense lightning would shake the souls of those slightly weaker.

Although the level of this lightning wasn’t as high as the one Pei Yan endured during Sword Discussion Conference breakthrough, its density was unmatched. What could this be, stirring such repulsion from Heaven’s Daoist magic? Perhaps it’s an ally summoned by the White Deer Institute?

While Pei Yan puzzled over this, the black mist persisted despite the barrage and even grew stronger. Astonishingly, a red and a white mist emerged alongside it. As these three mists gradually unfolded, the thunderous rain from the sky resembled an unceasing war drum, yet failed to affect the mists. As they slowly drifted out of the clouds, they let out a high-pitched cry, rushing towards the giants wielding axes.

By now, the White Deer Institute’s two mountains had lost half their peaks under the talisman giants’ relentless hacking. Crumbling stones clogged the mountain path, filling the battlefield ahead, and the mountain protection array flickered as if reaching its limit. In this critical moment, two streams of black and white mist charged forth, each colliding with a talisman giant. Before the axes could swing down, they knocked both giants over. With the black-and-white mist corroding them, the talismans covering the giants began to emit white smoke, their glow gradually dimming.