Chapter 587: Appearance


    Although Meng Zhang knew that his own misjudgment had led the entire sect into a dangerous situation, he still forced himself to stay alert and carefully consider countermeasures. No matter what, even if the enemy was powerful, they had to persist until the end.


    The Yellow Lotus Sect''s East River Branch''s actions against the surrendered cultivators from the Flying Swan Sect were not a secret. If Taiyi Sect were to surrender now, it would be like cing the entire sect at the mercy of the enemy.


    Meng Zhang''s n was simple – to hold on until the end and never give up. He still clung to the hope that the enemy''s Primordial Spirit True Monarch might refrain from attacking due to their identity, leaving a chance for the Hundred Grass Slope to hold its ground.


    Additionally, not all of Taiyi Sect''s disciples were trapped at the Hundred Grass Slope. Some were located in Jiuqu League, especially in Great Wind City, where there were Taiyi Sect''s businesses and disciples whom Meng Zhang trusted. He contacted these disciples through a secret method and asked them to seek help from the Gu Yue Family. If Gu Yue Family was willing to assist, Taiyi Sect would agree to any condition.


    At this point, they had to grasp at any straw for survival. Meng Zhang had considered the idea of a full-scale breakout, but he quickly dismissed it. Relying on the power of the protective mountain great formation, Taiyi Sect could barely hold their ground. Once they gave up their biggest advantage and fled to the wilderness, they would undoubtedly face the enemy''s relentless pursuit. In that scenario, most of Taiyi Sect would be wiped out, and even Meng Zhang, a cultivator at the Gold Core level, might not escape unscathed.


    Leaving aside all distractions, Meng Zhang focused on defending the Hundred Grass Slope with all his might. Two more months passed, and Daoist Master Smiling Lotus led the joint forces of the two sects but still couldn''t break through the protective mountain great formation to reach the Hundred Grass Slope. The joint forces suffered heavy casualties, and their vital energies were depleted. Not only did they lose many low-level disciples, but several Gold Core Daoist Masters were also seriously injured.


    As time went on, even the cultivators from Yellow Lotus Sect''s Mountain Branch, who were originally there to supervise the battle, couldn''t bear watching any longer. Many of them voluntarily joined the attack on the mountain.


    Unfortunately, the Hundred Grass Slope held its ground firmly, impregnable like a golden soup, repeatedly driving back the attackers without sess.


    Of course, as the defending side, they also paid a high price. The protective mountain great formation, after constant attacks, was being patched up by Taiyi Sect''s cultivators under Wen Qiansun''s lead, but the repair speed couldn''t keep up with the damage. The great formation was now riddled with holes and weaknesses, seemingly on the verge ofplete copse.The losses among the defending cultivators were even more severe. They weren''t merely hiding behind the protective mountain great formation but actively strengthening it, filling the gaps, and driving the infiltrating enemies out of their formation. Often, they had to take the initiative and disrupt the enemy''s attack rhythm.


    After days of intense battles, nearly half of the mountain''s cultivators were lost, and those who survived were almost all injured and exhausted. If it weren''t for Meng Zhang''s strong strength and influence, many cultivators from the Hanhai Alliance would have copsed.


    At this point, both the attacking and defending sides were exhausted and had a sense of being unable to continue. Especially for the attackers, Daoist Master Smiling Lotus felt trapped in a difficult situation.


    This battle to annihte Taiyi Sect was not onlymanded by True Monarch Mountain Peak but also driven by his own will. For a mere Gold Core sect like Taiyi Sect to upy such vast and prosperous territories, not to mention their territory in the Endless Sea of Sand, just the Demon Wind Gobi''s territory alone surpassed East River Branch''s current holdings.


    In the Cultivation World, it was originally a world of survival of the fittest and constant fighting over resources. In the eyes of Daoist Master Smiling Lotus, Taiyi Sect was so weak and certainly didn''t deserve everything they currently possessed. If the East River Branch could seize Taiyi Sect''s territory, their strength would undoubtedly skyrocket. The abundance of resources would not only support a sufficient number of Gold Core Daoist Masters but also give him hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit stage.


    However, Daoist Master Smiling Lotus never expected this attack to be so difficult, and Taiyi Sect''s resilience was unexpectedly strong. He was beginning to feel discouraged, wondering if there was any point in persevering.


    After days of bitter fighting, the enemy remained immovable. Even if all the blood of the attacking side was drained, they might not be able to break through the enemy''s mountain gate. They had paid such a heavy price that even if they eventually seeded, the East River Branch would be almost ruined.


    If it weren''t for the cultivators from Mountain Branch in their ranks, Daoist Master Smiling Lotus would have been tempted to give up the attack. As for Fire Cloud Sect, they had long lost their fighting spirit. Although the main force in this operation was the East River Branch, Fire Cloud Sect suffered heavy losses as well.


    Daoist Master Scarlet me''s resentment grew heavier and almost uncontroble. If it weren''t for his remaining reason, he would have ordered Fire Cloud Sect to retreat. In his view, themanding Daoist Master Smiling Lotus didn''t know when to advance or retreat, and the orders from True Monarch Mountain Peak were nothing but nonsense. He had secretly sent a message to Daoist Master Zhu Liangyu, asking him to speak in front of True Monarch Profound Wind and let him know that Fire Cloud Sect was on the verge of copse and couldn''t hold on any longer.


    Meanwhile, within the Hundred Grass Slope, Meng Zhang, who was still gritting his teeth to persevere, had no idea that the enemy was also considering a retreat. After days of exhausting battle, he was starting to feel numb. Especially with no response from Gu Yue Family, it made him increasingly anxious. Despite their seemingly close rtionship, they were unreliable when it mattered most.


    This brutal battle had exhausted both the attackers and defenders, and even the bystanders couldn''t bear to watch. True Monarch Mountain Peak didn''t pay much attention to the situation here after giving the order. It was onlyter when he inquired incidentally that he learned about the East River Branch''s prolonged and costly attack.


    True Monarch Mountain Peak intended to make the East River Branch suffer a bit, weaken them, and break their arrogance for future training. He had never nned to severely weaken the East River Branch or harm their foundation. After all, once the East River Branch waspletely under his control, they would serve under him, and he certainly didn''t want to disable them and witness their vitality greatly diminished.


    Taiyi Sect''s tenacity and resilience had affected his ns, and as broad-minded as he was, he would not turn a blind eye. A few dayster, True Monarch Mountain Peak ventured alone into Demon Wind Gobi and arrived on the battlefield.


    He appeared leisurely, slowly striding through the sky, seemingly slow but swift, and soon arrived over the Hundred Grass Slope. His grand entrance did not escape the attention of both attackers and defenders.


    Meng Zhang had witnessed True Monarch Mountain Peak''s appearance before during their encounter in the Deadly Sea of Sand when he had ambushed True Monarch Tian Zhu''s external avatar.


    Now that he saw True Monarch Mountain Peak arrive, his heart was filled with despair. Even though there was a protective mountain great formation separating them, he still couldn''t feel the slightest sense of safety. No wonder his impulsive ability didn''t warn him; it turned out that Primordial Spirit True Monarch personally made a move, surpassing the level he could sense.


    Both the East River Branch and the Mountain Branch of Yellow Lotus Sect, along with the Gold Core Daoist Masters from Fire Cloud Sect, were terrified but eager to go and pay their respects to True Monarch Mountain Peak.


    High above in the sky, True Monarch Mountain Peak paid no attention to others and did not utter a single word before taking action. A faint mountain peak illusion appeared over the Hundred Grass Slope and slowly descended, lightly touching the Third Rank protective mountain great formation. The already severely damaged and perforated great formation instantly crumbled like paper.


    As soon as Meng Zhang spotted True Monarch Mountain Peak''s figure, he knew things were not looking good. Nevertheless, he didn''t give up and struggled in his final effort. Together with arge group of Taiyi Sect disciples, including several Gold Core cultivators, they tried to support the great formation with all their strength. However, the protective mountain great formation had almost no resistance and waspletely destroyed. Many cultivators directly connected to the great formation, especially those like Meng Zhang who were maintaining the operation of the formation, were immediately gravely injured, spitting blood, and copsed helplessly on the ground.


    Lying on the ground, Meng Zhang''s heart was filled with bitterness. He had underestimated Primordial Spirit True Monarch after all. The Divine Ability of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch was beyond what a Gold Core cultivator could fathom.


    Once True Monarch Mountain Peak seeded with one strike, the cultivators from both attacking and defending sides cheered thunderously. They had paid an unimaginable price and tirelessly attacked for days, but they couldn''t even make a dent in the enemy''s protective mountain great formation. True Monarch Mountain Peak appeared and effortlessly shattered the great formation. To him, the results of the battle were not worth mentioning.


    True Monarch Mountain Peak was about to continue, intending topletely destroy the enemy''s mountain gate. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he looked towards the empty sky behind him. Though it appeared empty to others, there was a faint disturbance that escaped their senses but not his.


    With a cold snort, True Monarch Mountain Peak distorted the seemingly empty sky with great force, causing ripples to surge through it. A figure leaped out of the ripples and arrived not far in front of True Monarch Mountain Peak.


    "Why is it you?" True Monarch Mountain Peak was quite surprised. He never expected this person to appear before him in such a manner.


    The cultivator who had just appeared was the long-absent Jin LiDaoist Master. No, now she should be addressed as Jin LiTrue Monarch.


    In the past, Jin LiDaoist Master could barely contend with True Monarch Mountain Peak by relying on the power of the Fourth Rank magic tool, Yellow Sand Ten Thousand Li Chart, but it was never this easy. Now, Jin Li had amanding presence and an imposing demeanor, holding her ground against True Monarch Mountain Peak without showing any sign of weakness, looking eager for a challenge.


    She could stand on equal footing with True Monarch Mountain Peak for only one reason—she had broken through the Gold Core stage and had be a Primordial Spirit True Monarch herself.


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