Chapter 128: The Great War Begins

Chapter 128: The War Begins

Jiang Yan’s divine sense instantly connected with the mountain-protecting formation, extending beyond its perimeter to investigate whether experts from Tianshan were indeed attacking Mount Hua.

The protective formation shimmered with a soft, pale light, its circular barrier rippling with winding streams of energy. As his divine sense touched the surface of the barrier, Jiang Yan immediately noticed a bright, snow-white sword stuck to it. The blade glowed with a faint violet hue, its tip pressed firmly against the barrier as if attempting to pierce through.

"A talisman sword," Jiang Yan breathed a long sigh of relief. If Tianshan were truly attacking at this moment, he would be at a loss for how to respond. However, he was puzzled by this particular talisman. Junior Brother Mu should not have reached Linqing Prefecture yet; why had he sent a transmission talisman back so soon?

With a slight shift of his divine sense, a small opening appeared in the glowing barrier. The talisman sword immediately transformed into a streak of light and darted toward him.

Jiang Yan reached out, his spiritual energy surging from his body to envelop the high-speed projectile. Only after ensuring there were no hidden tricks did he dare to grasp it. Upon reading the words inscribed on the blade, he let out a scoff.

"A declaration of war, of all things." Jiang Yan turned the talisman over in his hands, filled with disdain. How brainless of Tianshan to brazenly declare in writing that, in three days' time, when the moon is at its zenith, they would challenge the current Sect Leader of Mount Hua to a duel at the summit.

He tossed the talisman aside and turned his gaze back to the sleeping Moon Marten. He felt a sense of urgency. *Wake up, little one. If you can wake up, even if I cannot reach the advanced realm of a Talisman Master, I will have nothing to fear from the Tianshan intruders.*

Jiang Yan did not notice that the discarded talisman had been snatched up by the Howling Celestial Dog, which leaped into the air and swallowed the object whole. Once finished, it continued to stare longingly at the fragment of Azure Origin Wood beneath the Moon Marten.

Jiang Yan and Yun Ying crouched in the Spirit Beast Garden, observing the Moon Marten for a long time. Seeing no signs of it waking, Jiang Yan finally abandoned the hope of relying on it to help him fend off Foundation Establishment cultivators. He realized that improving his own strength was the true priority.

With a flick of his wrist, he produced two milky-white porcelain bottles and handed them to Yun Ying. "Ying'er, I am afraid I won't have time to look after the little fox these next few days. Please take care of it for me. If it wakes up, feed it the spirit beast pills from these bottles."

Yun Ying nodded obediently, her delicate face serious. "Yes, Brother, I understand. When the little fox wakes up, I will feed it the pills. But, Eldest Brother, may I also feed Whitey and Blacky?"

Jiang Yan paused. He looked at the Howling Celestial Dog and the Howling Soul Dog, who were squatting on the ground, staring eagerly at the bottles in Yun Ying’s hands. He couldn't help but ruffle her hair and smile. "Very well. If you wish to feed them, you may. But don't overdo it—only one pill per day for each."

Delighted by his permission, Yun Ying clapped her hands in joy. "Thank you, Eldest Brother! Blacky, Whitey, hurry and thank him!" she chirped to the two beasts.

Jiang Yan watched with a chuckle as the two spirit beasts, looking like pathetic, begging puppies, wagged their tails and bowed to him in gratitude. Their plight was quite comical: one a high-grade Rank 1 spirit beast, the other a mid-grade Rank 1, yet they were being kept as pets by little Yun Ying, and saddled with such dreadfully rustic names.

After leaving the garden with a smile, Jiang Yan headed to the Talisman Formation Arena to cultivate his divine sense, hoping to reach the level of a true Talisman Master before the Tianshan disciples arrived at Mount Hua.

Yun Ying watched her Eldest Brother leave, then lowered her head again to gaze at the Moon Marten resting on the Azure Origin Wood. She was filled with curiosity—why did her brother care so much about the little fox? Did he like it that much?

She carefully took a pill from the bottle and placed it in the Moon Marten’s mouth, feeling quite proud of herself. *When it wakes up, it can eat this medicine immediately, and I won't have to watch it all day.*

Still smirking at her own cleverness, she stood up to find Senior Sister Wan at the back of the mountain. She failed to notice, however, that the pill in the Moon Marten's mouth was slowly dissolving. As she took a few steps toward the exit, her pant leg was nudged. The Howling Soul Dog and the Howling Celestial Dog let out pleading whimpers, having smelled the scent of the pills.

Yun Ying mimicked Jiang Yan’s gesture, chin in hand, thinking for a long moment before tossing two pills into the air for the beasts.

"Arf!" Both dogs leaped up, but the Howling Celestial Dog was far more agile; with a flick of its tongue, it snatched both pills out of the air.

"Woof!" The Howling Soul Dog was incensed. *This isn't fair! We both serve the little master; the least you could do is leave one for me!*

Seeing what happened, Yun Ying pouted. Her brother had said only one pill per beast. She glared at the triumphant Howling Celestial Dog and tossed another pill to the aggrieved Howling Soul Dog.

"Arf!" Another familiar sound followed as the two beasts scrambled for the prize, but the Howling Celestial Dog snatched that one as well.

Yun Ying stomped her foot in frustration. "Whitey! You're incorrigible! You took both pills twice without leaving a single one for Blacky!" Helpless, she sighed and reached for another pill...

***

Outside Qingyang Town, several streaks of golden light descended, revealing Zisu and Ding Ning dressed in plain robes. The two walked side by side toward the other end of town. According to the patrol rules set by Mu Yun, their mission would only be complete once they reached the far side of the town.

"Senior Sister, Tianshan is about to invade Mount Hua. Since the Sect Leader and Senior Aunt Wan have both reached Foundation Establishment, wiping out Tianshan should be easy. Our blood debt from the Purple Garment Sect can finally be avenged," Ding Ning remarked as they walked along the cobblestone path.

Zisu’s delicate brows furrowed, her lovely face etched with worry. "Junior Sister, I fear it is not that simple. I have a lingering feeling that the Sect Leader is hiding something from us second-generation disciples."

Ding Ning raised an eyebrow, dismissive. "What is there to worry about? Even if he is hiding something, the fact remains that our Sect Leader and Senior Aunt are at the Foundation Establishment realm. Surely killing a few Tianshan experts who haven't reached that level is as easy as turning over one's hand."

Zisu’s brows remained tightly knit. "I just feel that something is wrong..."

"Who says killing Tianshan disciples is as easy as turning over one's hand?" A mocking, shrill voice suddenly echoed from the path ahead.