Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

The situation at hand was clear to Chen Li, and naturally, the others could see it as well.

The entire Returning True Sect was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere.

That afternoon, Sect Leader Xia Hongyi once again convened the Foundation Establishment members to discuss strategies, but they did not come up with a better solution.

A Mountain Protection Array designed for the same grade, if focused on defense, often has weaker offensive capabilities, whereas one focused on offense tends to have weaker defense.

The Mountain Protection Array of the Returning True Sect was precisely the type that emphasized defense. Although it had offensive capabilities, they were inward rather than outward, primarily aimed at suppressing cultivation levels and physical constraints.

One surely couldn’t invite the wolf into the house by willingly letting in a third-stage demon beast.

Moreover, for demon beasts with robust physiques, how much effect the suppression of cultivation levels and physical constraints would have was still debatable.

Besides, the only other option was to give up the third-stage spiritual land and evacuate the area entirely.

But for the Returning True Sect, this was undoubtedly unacceptable.

On one hand, a third-stage spiritual land was incredibly precious, something that could be found but not sought, the very foundation of a sect’s establishment; it couldn’t simply be abandoned.

On the other hand, and most importantly, the great ancestor was still in seclusion healing injuries, and unless it was a critical moment, no one dared to rashly disturb him. If anything went wrong, leading to a deviation, then not even dying a hundred times could atone for it.

...

"Maybe we should take the wardrobe too," Zhou Hong gently touched the beautifully carved wardrobe, feeling reluctant, "It’s made from first-grade spirit wood and could probably be worth dozens, if not a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones."

"Then should we take the bed and the table as well? Why not take the door off its hinges, too?" Chen Li said, speechless.

After so many years, her eyes were still so shortsighted.

Just dozens or hundreds of low-grade Spirit Stones, is that a lot?

It’s only the equivalent of four or five Golden Light Body Protection Talismans.

When I learn the Water Elemental Shield, I can sell one for six mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Zhou Hong gave him a glance but ignored Chen Li’s teasing, "Can’t we really defend it?"

"Sigh, I don’t know either. I’m just preparing for the worst just in case. If something goes awry, it’s always better to have prepared early than to be unprepared," Chen Li let out a sigh.

Such were the times; sometimes, one had to make extra plans, ready to pick up the bucket and run at any moment.

Fortunately, he had gotten used to it over the years.

"Don’t worry, it’ll be alright," Chen Li said softly.

"Mm!"

...

"Whoosh!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Chen Li exhaled a breath of turbid air, slowly lowering his hands, completing a cycle of qi cultivation.

He opened the attribute panel.

"Realm: Foundation Establishment Fourth Level: 10/100"

"Finally advanced a little more!"

After stepping into the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, the speed of his cultivation had slowed down drastically, with progress made only every thirteen days, and this was with the aid of Harmonizing Qi Elixirs. If he had used the original Gathering Qi Elixirs, it would have taken at least fifteen days.

It was a pity that the one hundred and twenty bottles of Harmonizing Qi Elixir bought from Red Pillar City were almost used up, with only a little more than six bottles left in his possession.

"Even if I get through this safely, it’s time for a trip to Red Pillar City," Chen Li said, closing the attribute panel and walking out of the meditation room.

It was still early morning, and the sky hadn’t brightened yet; it was the darkest time of day. He glanced at the sky where the Mountain Protection Array emitted a faint glow against the night, and even from afar, he could feel the obscure mana fluctuations within it.

"Sigh, it should hold... right?" Chen Li let out the umpteenth sigh of these few days.

He admitted that he was not a brave man.

But how many people truly are not afraid of dying?

More so when one has suffered for years, only now having established a foundation, with a wife and concubines, the path of cultivation ahead, just starting to enjoy life...

Chen Li paced back and forth in the courtyard, his mind full of thoughts, until; unknowingly, a hint of red dawn appeared in the east, and the sky gradually lightened.

"Screech!" A familiar piercing bird call broke through the Array, coming from a distance.

"They’ve finally arrived!" Chen Li came back to his senses.

As if the last shoe had dropped, he felt a sense of resigned calm in his heart.

Life and death were determined by fate!

He did not believe it was his time to die yet.

"Dang!"

"Dang!"

"Dang!"

...

Amidst the bird calls, the bells atop the mountain also began to ring.

Chen Li used a Phantom Skill, leaving his illusion behind as his true self left the courtyard and flew towards the mountain summit.

Then, he looked towards the sky.

It was a dense expanse of white clouds, not a trace of the bird demon to be seen.

But in the next moment.

The clouds overhead split open instantly, revealing the still slightly dark sky.

At the same time, a shooting light, cutting through the thick air like a meteor falling from the heavens, dove down at an astonishing, breakneck speed.

As if it had already seen through the illusion here, the bird demon launched an attack fiercely without even a hint of probing.

Chen Li’s heart nearly skipped a beat, for he had seen Golden Core flight before, but compared to this bird demon, it was as slow as a snail’s crawl – the demon’s speed had far surpassed the speed of sound.

One second it was a kilometer high in the sky.

The next second, its huge body was alarmingly close.

Chen Li originally thought that the bird demon would collide with the Array, but it wasn’t so: it skimmed along the edge of the Array’s protective barrier, lightning-fast, extending its claws for an aerial strike. If not for the sight of a blur, it would have been almost impossible to tell that an attack had just occurred – it all happened in a flash.

"Boom!"

The Array’s barrier suddenly brightened, then slowly dimmed again.

"Blocked it!" A hint of joy rose in Chen Li’s heart.

After its strike failed, the bird demon let out another piercing screech, returning to the high sky in the blink of an eye. It repeated its diving claw strikes several times, each with an incredible force, yet all were blocked by the Mountain Protection Array, making its cries distort in anger.

Just as Chen Li heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that was all it would be.

The situation changed once again.

Seemingly realizing that its previous actions were futile, the bird demon simply flew down and landed on the Array’s protective barrier.

But the barrier remained unfazed. Flapping its enormous wings that could blot out the sky, it tried several times to find a footing to no avail. Finally, it just floated in midair supported by its mana, its sharp beak viciously pecking at the barrier while its claws tore at it fiercely.

The Array’s barrier started to shine brighter and brighter.

"This is bad!" Chen Li’s heart skipped a beat.

Arrays like this one didn’t fear intermittent attacks; as long as there were enough Spirit Stones and the single instantaneous strength of the attack didn’t exceed the Array’s defensive limit, as well as there being enough time to recover, it would stand as steady as a rock, no matter how many strikes it took.

The most fearsome was a continuous, unyielding attack. Once the energy input could not keep up with the consumption, there was nothing but collapse in its future.

Every tear from the massive bird, every peck, was a Golden Core-level assault, even far surpassing the human Golden Core cultivators of the same tier.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The explosions almost melded into one continuous roar.

...

At the mountain summit.

"Can it hold up, should we attack and see?" A Foundation Establishment with a pale face, moving his mouth and trembling, asked.

The Mountain Protection Array’s defense was one-way; attacks could go out from the inside, but not reach the inside from outside.

A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators looked at each other, unable to decide.

Foundation Establishment attacking Golden Core, and against a Golden Core Stage demon beast with robust physique at that, probably could only break the skin, at most causing superficial injuries.

"Won’t this further enrage the demon beast, leading to a fight to the death?" A Foundation Establishment cultivator hesitated.

"This..."

Xia Hongyi, who had been somewhat willing to act, also hesitated upon hearing this.

...

Unfortunately, the bird demon seemed extremely fixated on this third-order spiritual land, adopting a stance of determination to seize it, its attacks never stopping for a moment.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the Array began to flicker on and off, teetering on the brink of collapse, with even the mountain itself starting to shake faintly.

At this moment, inside the sect’s gate, chaos reigned supreme; Qi Cultivation disciples ran around frantically like headless flies, every single one of them sensing impending disaster.

Chen Li’s heart sank faster and faster, then suddenly, he looked back.

He saw Zhou Hong, Zhang Shuniang, and a few maids, all standing dumbfounded at the doorway, each one’s face pale as if they had lost their souls.

"Don’t stay here; go to the basement and wait. Once it’s safe, I’ll come find you," said Chen Li.

The most dangerous and chaotic moment was imminent; opportunities for survival would be fleeting!

Before Chen Li had even finished speaking, the Mountain Protection Array emitted a mournful cry. The protective shield flickered one last time and then completely vanished.

The sky darkened as a colossal figure slowly descended.

At the same time, a terrifying pressure spread out.

"Go now!" Chen Li barked.

The women, stunned by the Golden Core’s oppressive might, snapped out of it and hurried towards the entrance of the basement.