Chapter 422: Conspiracy
Tang Daozhou returned to the cave, took out a transmission note from the mustard seed ring, put it to his mouth, said a few words silently, then raised his hand and threw it, the transmission note turned into a stream of light and flew out.
About half an hour later, Han Chengzong walked into Tang Dao Zhoudong Mansion, clasped his fists and bowed: "Master, the disciple has finished all the chores. I wonder what the master has to do to summon the disciple?"
Tang Daozhou said: "You have done well. I called you here because I have something to ask you."
"Then when did Chen Yuan come to Shuofeng City, and how did you know that he was a late-stage pill-forming monk?"
Han Chengzong frowned: "But Chen Yuan doesn't want to participate in the war? The disciple is not familiar with him. When the beast tide came, the disciple went to the city to recruit monks to participate in the war, and invited Xiao Chengmo and Wei Hai of the Ice Spirit Sect to help him."
"Chen Yuan was standing beside the two of them. It was Wei Hai who introduced him, and the disciples found out that he was a late-stage pill-forming monk who came from Renzhou and was going to the ice field to hunt monsters."
"Bing Ling Sect?" Tang Daozhou's expression changed slightly, "Go to Fangshi quickly, look for Xiao Chengmo and Wei Hai, and ask Chen Yuan what the relationship is with the Ice Ling Sect. Go back quickly!"
Han Chengzong was puzzled, wondering why Tang Daozhou cared so much about a late-stage pill-forming monk.
But the master had a destiny and had to obey. He immediately agreed, turned around and walked out of the cave quickly.
After Han Chengzong left, Tang Daozhou stood up, stroking his beard and pacing back and forth.
He frowned, seeming very embarrassed, and murmured: "If this person has good relations with the Ice Spirit Sect, it will be difficult..."
About two-quarters of an hour later, Han Chengzong walked into the cave and Tang Daozhou sat down again.
After a while, Han Chengzong walked through the passage and came to the main hall. He cupped his fists and bowed: "Master, this disciple has already inquired about it. Chen Yuan just came to Shuofeng City to hunt monsters and wanted to buy information about the Transformed Demon King from Bingling Pavilion. According to the news, we are just acquaintances with Xiao Chengmo and Wei Hai, and have nothing to do with the Ice Spirit Sect.”
Tang Daozhou's expression softened: "Okay! Chengzong, when the next beast tide comes, you should be prepared to activate the Canglan formation. After the master gives the order, you will activate the formation."
Han Chengzong was astonished: "Master, the tide of beasts has become stronger, but it has not yet reached its end."
"Although some of the monks in the city have uneasy hearts, they also know that their lips are dying and their teeth are cold, and they will not cause trouble."
"Isn't it too early to use the Canglan Formation now?"
The Canglan Formation is a killing formation and the core of the Guanlan Sect's Protecting Formation. Looking at the entire Hanzhou, it is a first-class formation.
The Guanlan Sect is not a sect born and raised in Hanzhou, but a large sect that offended Weizhou more than 3,000 years ago. The entire sect moved here and established Shuofeng City, which has been passed down to this day.
At the original site of Guanlan Zong's mountain gate, a Canglan River flows through it, and the name of Guanlan Zong comes from this.
This Canglan Formation was a sect-protecting formation refined by a past master of the Guanlan Sect and a great master of formation techniques. It was extremely powerful and could severely injure mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
However, the cost of activating this formation is also very high. In addition to consuming twenty-four top-grade spiritual stones, it also consumes one top-grade water-attribute spiritual material.
The Guanlan Sect is only a medium-sized sect, and has only produced two mid-stage Nascent Soul monks in the past. Hanzhou is also barren. After more than three thousand years, it has not accumulated many top-quality spiritual stones and water-attribute spiritual materials, and some have been consumed in the past. It was only enough to launch the Canglan Formation twice.
The sect masters of all generations have left a legacy that the Canglan Formation must not be activated until the critical moment of life and death.
Tang Daozhou stroked his beard and smiled: "Don't worry, we don't have to activate the Canglan Formation this time, it's just in case."
"Did you know that Chen Yuan is also a Nascent Soul cultivator like his master?"
"He...he is a Nascent Soul cultivator?" Han Chengzong's eyes widened with astonishment on his face.
Tang Daozhou nodded slightly: "Yes, and my master has persuaded him to take action against Xiong Lie."
Han Chengzong's face was filled with joy: "Chen Dao...Senior Chen is willing to join forces with Master, so Xiong Lie is definitely no match, and Shuofeng's crisis will be resolved!"
He suddenly remembered that when he invited Chen Yuan to jointly resist the beast tide, Chen Yuan once said that it was not convenient for him to take action for the time being.
He also thought that Chen Yuan was timid and afraid of fighting, or was short-sighted and didn't understand the meaning of cold lips and teeth.
Now he realizes that it turns out that he is narrow-minded. Nascent Soul monks naturally cannot take action against low-level monsters.
But Han Chengzong's mind changed and he asked in confusion: "Master, since Senior Chen and Master have joined forces to deal with Xiong Lie, with two against one, it shouldn't be a problem, why do we need to prepare the Canglan Formation?"
Tang Dao Zhou gently stroked his beard and shook his head: "As a teacher, I don't know how to take action. It was Chen Yuan who took action alone to deal with Xiong Lie."
"Why is this?" Han Chengzong was puzzled.
Tang Daozhou narrowed his eyes and recounted his request for Chen Yuan's help. At the end, he said: "Chen Yuan hid his cultivation until the master came to visit him. He finally revealed his identity and asked the master for seven thousand-year-old spiritual grass. It takes three level eight demon pills to deal with Xiong Lie."
"My master wanted to join forces with him, but he refused in every possible way. Apparently he saw that my master was unwilling to give up the cold grass and wanted to protect Shuofeng City, so he dared to speak like a lion."
Han Chengzong frowned: "When the disciple invited this senior Chen to resist the beast tide, he once said, 'It is not convenient for us to take action for the time being.'"
"Now it seems that it was probably because the beast tide had just begun and the situation was not critical enough that he could not ask for too many thousand-year-old spiritual grass, so he stood still."
Tang Daozhou sneered: "That must be the case! It's a pity that my master's injury has not recovered, and he didn't make preparations in advance to invite his old friends to help him. Otherwise, how could he be afraid of Xiong Lie?"
"Now is Shuofeng City's most critical moment. Chen Yuan seized the opportunity and demanded a high price. I have to agree to his request, but I will not actually give him the spiritual grass and demon elixir."
Han Chengzong said in surprise: "Master wants to use the Canglan Formation to deal with Senior Chen?"
Tang Dao Zhou gently stroked his beard: "If Chen Yuan loses to Xiong Lie, everything will be easy. Then I will join forces with him as my master to repel Xiong Lie, and the beast tide will recede."
"But if Chen Yuan wins, my master will take action to entangle them. You immediately launch the Canglan Formation and kill him and Xiong Lie on the spot!"
Han Chengzong was shocked: "Master, please think twice. The origin of this senior Chen is unknown. He claims to be a casual cultivator, but he may be the elder sect leader of some sect, or he may be a member of the ten major sects."
"If you kill him rashly, what should you do if you offend any major sect?"
Tang Daozhou stopped his movements and said coldly: "It is precisely because this person's origin is unknown that he must use thunderous means to leave no one alive!"
"Seven thousand-year-old spiritual grass and three eighth-level demon elixirs are not only accumulated by the master throughout his life, but also the heritage accumulated by the sect for more than three thousand years. How can they be given away so easily?"
"Then Chen Yuan is a monk from outside the state. He lives alone in Hanzhou and has no worries. If he really defeats Xiong Lie, he will definitely be stronger than his teacher."
"If we let him go then and he is blocked outside the city, the monks of our sect will not be able to even take a step out of the city, and Shuofengfang City will be in depression and unable to recover."
"Only by killing this person can we settle the matter once and for all without leaving any future troubles."
Han Chengzong hesitated and said: "But if he is not a casual cultivator..."
Tang Daozhou smiled and said: "He is the elder of the ten major sects and a monk from outside the state."
"The major sects in Hanzhou seem to be headed by the Ice Spirit Sect, but in fact, the Blood Flame Sect is the most respected."
"Every year, the Blood Flame Sect must hand over the special spiritual materials, spiritual grass and demon elixir materials of Hanzhou. Even the Ice Spirit Sect does the same."
"Even if Chen Yuan does have some background, as a teacher, it can be said that the Canglan Formation was launched to kill the demon king, and Chen Yuan was just unfortunate to be involved in it."
"The monks all over the city have seen with their own eyes that the sect behind Chen Yuan has no reason to cause trouble for our sect?"
"The Blood Flame Sect will not pay attention to the beast tide attacking the city, but if sects from other states dare to come to Hanzhou to cause trouble, the Blood Flame Sect will not ignore it."
"When the time comes, I will pay more tribute to the Blood Flame Sect and Ice Spirit Sect, lower my posture, apologize to the sect behind Chen Yuan, and this matter will be over."
Han Chengzong was filled with admiration and bowed deeply: "Master has thought carefully, disciple understands, now go and prepare spiritual stones and spiritual materials. As long as master gives an order, the Canglan Formation can be activated!"
Tang Daozhou stroked his beard and smiled: "Go ahead, I have replanted the cold grass, and it will mature in more than twenty years."
"As long as we survive this calamity and break through the bottleneck, Shuofeng City will be more prosperous than it is today."
…
The mortals in Shuofeng City had no choice but to sleep peacefully overnight. The next day after the tide of beasts receded, they returned with a vengeance.
The melodious ringing of bells spread throughout the city, and the monks and mortal soldiers walked out of the caves and military camps and headed straight for the four walls.
Tang Daozhou, who had been recovering from his injuries during the previous two beast tides, flew out of the mountain gate this time and arrived outside Chen Yuan Cave.
He bowed his hands in a salute and said in a deep voice: "The beast tide is coming, please move and take a look, Fellow Daoist Chen."
The two red-lacquered doors slowly opened, and Chen Yuan stepped out, returned the salute, and said calmly: "Fellow Taoist Tang, everything remains as usual. When Chen needs to take action, he will take action."
Tang Daozhou hesitated for a moment and nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist Chen, please help yourself. I'll excuse you."
"My disciple Han Chengzong already knows the identity of Fellow Daoist Chen. If something happens to Fellow Daoist Chen, just go to him directly."
He flew into the sky, and Chen Yuan also took up the escape light and flew to the north.
The northern city wall has always been the main attack direction of the beast tide. At this time, thousands of monks have gathered, as well as a steady stream of mortal soldiers, climbing onto the city tower.
Chen Yuan exuded the Qi of the late stage of Dan Jie. With a sweep of his consciousness, he found where the Dan Jie monks such as Han Chengzong, Xiao Chengmo, Wei and others were. He folded his body and flew over.
As soon as he cast his light, everyone looked over.
Han Chengzong's expression changed, and just as he was about to speak, Chen Yuan sent a message: "Please also ask Little Friend Han not to reveal Chen's identity, just treat him as a fellow Taoist."
Han Chengzong was startled, then he clasped his fists and bowed: "Fellow Daoist Chen is here today, but do you want to fight against the beast tide with us?"
Chen Yuan cupped his fists and returned the salute: "Exactly."
All the pill-forming monks looked happy. During the last beast wave, Elder Liu of the Guanlan Sect died in battle. There were only six late-stage pill-forming monks left, but they had to resist nine seventh-level monsters.
There are two people fighting one against two, which is extremely risky.
Although they can rely on the power of the city defense formation, Shuofeng City has a radius of hundreds of miles, and the area covered by the city defense formation is also huge.
The large formation has to resist the impact of thousands of monsters, which is extremely stressful. In the battle between monks and seventh-level monsters in the late stage of pill formation, it is actually not of much use.
Now that Chen Yuan has joined the battle, and with the addition of a late-stage pill-forming monk, the situation has suddenly improved a lot.
Xiao Chengmo bowed his hands and said calmly: "Fellow Daoist Chen is willing to help, and we are much more confident in resisting the beast tide."
He spoke politely, but in his heart he was quite disdainful of Chen Yuan, with a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.
Yesterday Han Chengzong came to him and asked about Chen Yuan's origins. He told the truth. Today Chen Yuan came to the city wall.
In his opinion, Chen Yuan came to help this time not only because of Han Chengzong's strong invitation, but also because he saw that Shuofeng City was in danger due to the fierce beast tide, and he was worried about his life after the city was destroyed.
If Chen Yuan had taken action earlier, the human race would have had an extra late Jindan cultivator.
Perhaps Elder Zou and Elder Liu would not have died, and the situation would have been much easier than it is now.
Chen Yuan dragged it until the fifth beast tide, but he still had to join the battle. He was really short-sighted.
Chen Yuan saw him like this, but he didn't care. He smiled slightly and turned to greet everyone.
The attitudes of other Jindan cultivators were much more sincere. They didn't dare to put on airs in front of late Jindan cultivators like Xiao Chengmo did.
After Chen Yuan returned the greetings one by one, the beast tide was only a few miles away from the northern city wall.
Han Chengzong said solemnly: "Fellow Daoists, the beast tide is about to attack. Just like before, I will take the violent bear."
"Thank you Daoist Xiao for stopping the Nether Tiger, Elder Yu for stopping the Iceberg Giant Eagle, and as for the Blood-Eyed Python, I'd like to ask Daoist Gongsun to take action..."
He hesitated for a moment and looked at Chen Yuan: "How about asking Daoist Chen to stop a level 7 Frost Tailed Crocodile?"
Chen Yuan nodded, but the other late Jindan cultivators looked at him with a hint of doubt.
The strength of the Frost Tailed Crocodile was second only to the four level 7 monsters such as the Nether Tiger. Chen Yuan was not well-known, so it was inevitable that people would doubt whether he could stop this monster.
However, this was Han Chengzong's arrangement, and they could not raise any objections.
But everyone was determined to keep an eye on the fight between Chen Yuan and the Frost Tailed Crocodile.
If he showed signs of weakness, they would immediately rescue him.
They were not concerned about Chen Yuan's life or death, but the beast tide was too fierce.
Shuofeng City had just experienced a beast tide more than 30 years ago. It was caught off guard and was not prepared to fight against it.
The power of every cultivator in the late Jindan stage is indispensable.
Xiao Chengmo even sent a message directly to Chen Yuan: "Fellow Daoist Chen, don't be too far away from me when we fight later. If you are not strong enough, you can send a message to me directly and I will help you immediately."
Xiao Chengmo was very disdainful of short-sighted people like Chen Yuan, but he also knew that he should have some strength to inquire about the news of the transformed demon king.
He didn't want to see Chen Yuan die easily in the beast tide, otherwise the situation in Shuofeng City would be even more critical when the beast tide came next time.
Chen Yuan smiled and replied: "Fellow Daoist Xiao is kind, Chen appreciates it."
Xiao Chengmo frowned. Chen Yuan's words meant that he didn't need to help.
He snorted coldly, and the light of escape rolled up and flew into the sky, and he was even more dissatisfied with Chen Yuan in his heart.
At this time, the beast tide had come within a hundred feet of Shuofeng City and stopped together, as if blocked by an invisible high wall.
A beam of light flew over from the horizon and stopped hundreds of feet above Shuofeng City, revealing the figure of Xiong Lie.
The cultivators on the northern wall all looked up at the demon king, feeling the mountain-like pressure of the transformed demon king, with solemn expressions.
Chen Yuan looked at Xiong Lie with deep eyes.
Xiong Lie looked at Tang Daozhou who was in the formation, raised his snow-white eyebrows, and sneered: "Old Tang, you are finally willing to show up? This king will give you one last chance today. As long as you hand over the cold chi grass, this king will retreat immediately..."
Before he finished speaking, a pair of black wings suddenly appeared behind Chen Yuan, and with a flap, the figure disappeared on the spot.
The next moment, he appeared behind Xiong Lie, the aura of the Nascent Soul cultivator burst out, a layer of black light appeared on his arm, and he punched out! (End of this chapter)