After Li Chunlong and the others departed, only the six of us remained.
Senior Bai Daozi looked at us and nodded slightly:
"Everyone, rest assured, though our journey is perilous, this humble Daoist will do his utmost to ensure your safety."
Senior Bai Daozi's firm tone instilled a sliver of hope, dispelling some of our despair.
I let out a soft chuckle:
"Senior, fate dictates life and death, fortune and status are heaven-sent. Whether we live or die, it is all in the hands of destiny."
As soon as I finished speaking, Old Mo chimed in:
"Exactly, no need for more words. It's all destiny. Let's kick some ass."
Xia Qiuxi and Huang Jie smiled but said nothing.
Wu Kehang also added his agreement:
"Senior, we of this generation all have our destinies. To be able to fight demons and eliminate evil alongside Junior Sister, we die without regret."
With that, he cast a deep glance at Xia Qiuxi.
Well now!
His action drew the attention of all of us towards Wu Kehang.
What was this fellow implying? Wasn't he confessing his feelings to Xia Qiuxi?
Xia Qiuxi seemed a bit embarrassed and smiled awkwardly:
"Senior Brother, your cultivation is high, you won't die."
It was quite clear that Xia Qiuxi harbored no romantic feelings for her Senior Brother.
Senior Bai Daozi chuckled:
"Let us move as well! We shall see what fate has in store."
Saying that, Senior Bai Daozi led the way, beginning to advance westward stealthily.
I said nothing and simply followed.
Huang Jie and Xia Qiuxi quickly caught up.
Old Mo even went over to pat Wu Kehang's shoulder:
"Keep it up!"
With that, he followed.
Wu Kehang no longer spoke, silently falling in line.
Our group of six moved swiftly towards the west.
After about twenty minutes of stealthy movement, we reached the attack point.
It was about five hundred meters from the Yin Gathering Terrace, and the area ahead was wide open with no cover.
The moment we revealed ourselves, we would be exposed.
However, our mission was precisely to attract attention, thereby creating an opportunity for Li Chunlong and the other Daoist friends.
At this moment, Senior Bai Daozi spoke:
"Everyone, adjust for five minutes. We attack in five minutes."
Everyone nodded in unison and took their positions.
Some popped pills, others practiced breathing exercises, all aiming to reach their peak condition during the final five minutes of preparation.
The five minutes passed quickly.
By this time, everyone was ready.
Gazing at the patrolling Yin spirits and the guarding Corpse and Ice monsters ahead, everyone drew their swords.
Senior Bai Daozi stood tall, exuding an ethereal aura.
Wielding an iron sword, he suddenly let out a low cry:
"Upholding the heavenly mandate, slaying demons and eliminating evil, kill!"
As his low roar echoed, Senior Bai Daozi's body flashed with lightning. With a leap, he charged out from the bushes.
The six of us, including myself, did not hesitate, unleashing our full cultivation.
Following closely behind, we shouted in unison:
"Upholding the heavenly mandate, slaying demons and eliminating evil, kill!"
In an instant, the six figures of us surged forward.
The commotion we caused immediately attracted the attention of the patrolling Yin spirits in the sky.
Those Yin spirits' gazes sharpened, and they all stopped.
Towards our direction, they let out a fierce roar:
"Roar!"
"Ah!"
The sound was immense, reverberating through the valley.
After their low growls, these Yin spirits bared their claws and plunged downwards, heading straight for us.
The Corpse monsters guarding the ground also turned their attention to us immediately.
Letting out "Ao Ao" roars, they viciously charged towards the six of us.
Senior Bai Daozi, leading the charge, let out a thunderous roar:
"Lightning Arts, Lightning Sword!"
With a sword strike, accompanied by a "boom" of thunder, an arc of electric sword energy shot towards the heavens.
The six patrolling Yin spirits descending from above were instantly sliced into dust and smoke.
However, at the same time, around forty to fifty Corpse monsters guarding the vicinity had already gathered.
Shouting "Ao Ao," they surrounded us.
I formed a seal with one hand and let out a low roar:
"Heaven and Earth Boundless, Heaven and Earth Borrowing Power,敕!"
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..."
My two swords and two beads flew out, and under the guiding seal of my sword finger, they instantly pierced through several Corpse monsters.
Old Mo, on my left, advanced bravely, bringing down his axe with a flash of lightning.
With a "boom," he cleaved an Ice monster.
Xia Qiuxi raised her hand, and tree root inscribed steel needles "swooshed" towards the attacking Yin spirits.
Each needle was precise, hitting its mark perfectly, and several Yin spirits were directly impaled.
Wu Kehang held a bronze mirror in one hand and shone it forward:
"Golden Light Treasure Mirror."
The mirror's talismans glowed brightly, emitting a beam of light.
The charging Ice demons let out "Ao Ao" cries as they were illuminated, their icy exteriors melting, and they cried out as they exploded.
Huang Jie, meanwhile, continuously formed seals for a considerable time.
But now, his hand seals were complete, and with a flick of his right hand:
"Hundred Talismans Art!"
Over twenty talismans flew out, striking the surrounding Corpse monsters and Yin spirits.
The moment they got close to these wicked beings, they exploded instantly with continuous "boom, boom, boom" sounds.
The lethality was not high, but the area-of-effect damage was significant.
A dozen Yin spirits and Corpse monsters, blasted by the talismans, let out mournful "wuwuwu" cries and fell to the ground in a heap.
The moment we appeared, we caught these wicked beings completely off guard.
However, from the direction of the Yin Gathering Terrace, a series of bell tolls rang out.
"Dong..."
The sound was immense, spreading throughout the valley.
With the ringing of the bell, it was as if the very earth was trembling.
Following that, we noticed black mist rising from the ground, then the ground began to crack, and withered, shriveled human hands emerged from beneath the earth.
Beneath the nearby mountain walls, a stone door was opened.
Black mist billowed upwards, resembling the ghost nest we had seen outside Wudang Mountain back then.
Countless phantoms and Yin spirits flew out from that cave.
Accompanied by "awuwuwu" cries, like a swarm of locusts, they surged towards us.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of Corpse monsters and Yin spirits had gathered around us again.
The sheer number was appalling.
"Old Qin, we're going to make a killing today!"
"Hahaha, that's right, let's do it."
I replied, looking at the vast number of wicked beings, and I let go of all reservations.
The greater the disturbance we caused here, the higher the probability of successfully destroying the Yin Gathering Terrace.
Therefore, I held nothing back.
I shouted towards the Purple Bone Vine:
"Where are the Twelve Demon Generals?"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"..."
Twelve voices responded, and then streams of demon souls flew out from within my Purple Bone Vine.
This scene startled Wu Kehang, Huang Jie, and the others, who all turned to look at me.
Subsequently, the twelve demon souls appeared, guarding us on all sides.
As for Old Mo and the others, I offered no explanation.
I simply said to Senior Bai Daozi and the others:
"Esteemed sirs, these are my protective soul generals. They can fight alongside us."
Senior Bai Daozi smiled, for as a high-ranking member of the Dao Alliance, he was aware of some of my background.
The Nine Saint Princess's faction was somehow connected to me.
Huang Jie and Wu Kehang, though briefly surprised, quickly adapted.
Huang Jie even laughed and said:
"Hahaha, Brother Qin, you have impressive skills. Then I shall also reveal some of my true abilities."
With that! Huang Jie suddenly took out a handful of soybeans from his pocket.
He scattered them into the sky and formed a hand seal, chanting:
"Six Ding and Six Jia Army Command, Within Heaven and Earth Slay the Wicked, Form Army, 敕!"
As the command was issued, the scattered soybeans began to emit white smoke.
Following that, strangely shaped humanoid soul bodies with chicken heads and dog tails, wielding weapons, gradually solidified.
Witnessing this, several of us were stunned.
This was a high-level secret art of the Daoist school, a technique spoken of in folklore: scattering beans to create an army.
I had only heard of it before, but I never imagined that Huang Jie would know this legendary secret art.
Truly worthy of being from the foremost Daoist family of the Southern region; this inheritance rivals that of contemporary major sects...