Otherwise, the outcome would be the same as the Yingyue Immortal Sect’s—our gates would be breached, and we would be slaughtered to the last, becoming nothing but blood-food for the Demon Dao.

’This isn’t entirely a bad thing. At least it provides an opportunity to accumulate points.’

’Since that’s the case, I don’t need to be in a hurry. I can absolutely take my time.’

Since a protracted war was now inevitable, Xiao Chen began to consider his plan of action.

For him, more time meant more opportunities to earn points.

Elder Song had just made it very clear that the points for guarding strongholds were limited.

Even the rewards for guarding the front lines couldn’t compare to those from killing a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator.

Therefore, his goal this time was undoubtedly to become a Demon-slaying Guard and then rapidly accumulate a large number of points by hunting Demonic Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Coincidentally, this would also allow him to stay away from high-risk areas like Seeking Plum Mountain and Luoyan Mountain.

’I currently have two main advantages: first, a large number of Top Grade Magical Artifacts, and second, a large reserve of Dantian Magical Power.’

’Therefore, only in one-on-one duels can I maximize my advantage in combat power.’

Xiao Chen’s train of thought gradually became clearer. ’If I go to the front lines to fight in chaotic brawls, melees, or battles of attrition, it would be tantamount to weakening my advantages.’

’When there’s an Array in place, a few more or a few less cultivators at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment makes almost no difference to the overall situation.’

’So for me, picking them off one by one is the way to go.’

The reason people were being sent to guard the various resource strongholds in the rear was that Demonic Foundation Establishment cultivators had already crossed the front lines. They had entered the rear areas, attempting to wreak havoc.

They were particularly targeting various Spirit Veins, Spirit Medicine caches, and warehouses to destroy the Lingyuan Sect’s resource reserves.

Becoming a Demon-slaying Guard to hunt these infiltrating agents would be the perfect way to leverage his combat power.

Hunting Demon Cultivators also involved pursuits, which would coincidentally allow him to leverage his advantage in Escape Techniques.

Moreover, his Eye of Truth, which he had started cultivating last year, was only one month away from completion.

When it was complete, he would be better able to track and identify Demon Cultivators.

’What a coincidence! Everything fits perfectly!’

The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the more he felt that this was the right way to approach his trip to Hezhou.

WHOOSH!

BOOM!

BANG!

Suddenly, the sound of fireworks exploding outside interrupted Xiao Chen’s train of thought.

He stepped out of his room to see that, while he had been busy planning, the Flying Boat had already arrived above the Lingyuan Sect.

Down on the ground, a great number of fireworks were being set off, seemingly as a gesture of welcome.

As Xiao Chen watched the fireworks bloom in the sky, for some reason, he thought of Su Wanqing.

She seemed to really enjoy watching fireworks; she would call for him every year during the Lantern Festival.

A torrent of gasps suddenly erupted from the other side of the Flying Boat.

"Look over there! My heavens!"

One Cultivator’s voice even held a slight tremor.

"Holy shit, what a huge statue!"

"Whoa, that thing must be at least fifty or sixty zhang tall!"

Xiao Chen quickly walked to the other side and looked down in the direction everyone was pointing.

There, a magnificent and imposing statue of a Divine General stood majestically before the gates of the Lingyuan Sect.

Its face was stern and majestic. It wore a war helm, and at its crest, a Three-foot Pearl was embedded, shining with a brilliant light.

It was clad in Golden Armor woven from countless tightly-knit golden plates. Each plate had been meticulously polished, and they all reflected a dazzling golden radiance.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon the statue, making it seem as if the entire figure was enveloped in a golden halo.

’Is this the Lingyuan Sect’s trump card?’

Before his arrival, Xiao Chen had heard that the Lingyuan Sect possessed a sixty-six-zhang-tall sect-protecting Divine General.

But seeing it now with his own eyes, the shock he felt was not the least bit diminished.

In a book, "sixty-six zhang" was just two words.

Yet, even looking down from the Flying Boat, it resembled a small mountain.

The statue was said to be a Giant War Puppet that the founding patriarch of the Lingyuan Sect had procured from the Eastern Domain, and it was the sect’s Supreme Treasure.

When combined with their unique Sect Protection Array that used Elemental Magnetic Peak as its core, it was powerful enough to contend with a Golden Core True Man.

The Lingyuan Sect’s cultivators did not rush them. It was only after a while that a Sword Light flew up to meet them, guiding the Flying Boat to land before the sect gates.

Afterward, they led everyone into a grand hall that was clearly newly constructed to assign them their respective guard duties.

This first round of assignments would be handled and distributed by the Lingyuan Sect.