Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 69 - 66: All-out War
Ling Changqing’s worries soon became a reality.
Two months later, the Wu Family Patriarch gathered several allied forces and officially declared all-out war on the Ling Family.
Wu Canglang had considered a surprise attack, but with Ling Family spies also present within his own clan, it was difficult to guarantee that such a large-scale operation wouldn’t be leaked beforehand.
So, after much consideration, he opted for a direct, open declaration of war.
One day later, more than ten Flying Ships, fully loaded with cultivators from the Wu Family’s side and war supplies, approached the outer waters of Zenxin Island.
The Ling Family, already prepared, had pulled back their defensive lines, withdrawing all the clan disciples and slave cultivators stationed in the outer territories to concentrate their forces on defending Zenxin Island.
On Tang Qiu Yao’s orders, the clan headquarters’ Protective Array was fully activated. A massive, egg-white-colored celestial curtain descended, sealing off the inside from the out.
Inside the Council Hall, the atmosphere was somber.
The nine Foundation Establishment Cultivators and numerous other Ling Family higher-ups were all present, including Ling Changqing.
This battle would determine the Ling Family’s survival, so everyone had to approach it with the utmost caution.
"...All Elders, you can rest assured,"
Tang Qiu Yao, seated in the main seat, had a grave expression as her calm gaze swept across the hall.
"Ten years ago, the Patriarch adjusted and upgraded the Clan Protection Array. It’s strong enough to withstand the full-force assault of a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even if a Pseudo Core master were to attack, we could safely hold out for about a month..."
In terms of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Wu Family did not have a numerical advantage. Even with the addition of the few from their allied forces, the advantage was not significant.
Aside from that Elder Tianyang, the Ling Family didn’t really need to fear anyone else, plus they had the advantage of fighting on their home turf.
Of course, the situation on a battlefield can change in an instant, and no one knew if something unexpected might happen.
Therefore, pulling back the defensive lines to hold their ground, countering action with inaction, was the wisest choice. This was also the strategy Ling Qiyue had instructed Tang Qiu Yao to follow before she went into Cultivation in Seclusion.
The cool-headed Elder Yulu spoke up, asking, "What about our allied forces? Should we notify them?"
The Ling Family, of course, had allies as well. If they were willing to help, they could probably scrape together three to five Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Tang Qiu Yao shook her head. "Not yet. We can hold on. Let them wait for now!"
Examples of allies turning on and backstabbing you at a critical moment were not uncommon in any world.
It was only after Ling Changqing’s persuasion that Tang Qiu Yao had dismissed the idea of having those allied forces come to their aid.
Allowing Foundation Establishment Cultivators from other forces to stay inside the Clan Protection Array would be a potential hidden danger. If they were to suddenly turn, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The white-haired Elder Tianhe frowned and asked, "The Patriarch... has she not finished her seclusion? How much longer will she need?"
In the current situation, without Ling Qiyue personally taking action, they likely had no way to deal with that Elder Tianyang.
Against a combatant at the Pseudo Core master level, the other Ling Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators were simply no match.
Tang Qiu Yao said, "I have already secretly notified the Patriarch. She will be ending her Cultivation and coming out of seclusion soon, so we don’t need to worry."
"That’s good to hear."
Hearing this, the Elders present all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
As long as Ling Qiyue was here, they weren’t worried about the outcome of the battle. This young Female Patriarch had already proven her abilities and methods more than once.
Outside the Protective Array.
The Wu Family’s many Flying Ships landed slowly several dozen li away. Thousands of cultivators disembarked in formation and, under the command of their Elders, quickly got to work.
Before long, a temporary camp was set up, and the light barrier of a Protective Array slowly rose.
"...Later, if the Ling Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators take the field, I must ask you, Fellow Daoist, to help intercept them!"
In the camp’s main hall, Patriarch Wu Canglang sat in a subordinate seat, speaking eagerly to the old man in the main seat.
He was an old man in a Golden Magical Robe. Although his features were well-proportioned, he was bald, and his shiny forehead was extremely eye-catching.
The oppressive aura he exuded was clearly a cut above the surrounding Foundation Establishment Cultivators; he was at the Pseudo Core level.
A Pseudo Core, in truth, referred to an incomplete Core Formation Realm. Its strength could not be compared to that of a true Core Formation Zhenren, amounting to less than fifty percent of the latter’s power at most.
In terms of Lifespan, a Pseudo Core master could live about a hundred years longer than a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
However, a Pseudo Core master’s Cultivation would be forever stuck at the Middle stage Core Formation, with no possibility of further advancement. The Nascent Soul Realm was utterly unthinkable.
Most cultivators who reached the Late stage Foundation Establishment could only achieve the Pseudo Core level due to the limitations of their own aptitude and Spirit Root, or insufficient resources.
Although a Pseudo Core master couldn’t compare to a True Pill cultivator, they could at least live for another hundred years, and their advantage over Foundation Establishment Cultivators was still quite significant.
Elder Tianyang opened his half-closed eyes and said nonchalantly:
"Fellow Daoist Wu, rest assured. When the time is right, I will not stand idly by."
"Let’s be clear. Once we break through the Protective Array, I have the right to first pick of the spoils. As for the Ling Family’s women, seventy percent of them must be mine!"
"Of course, of course! That’s only right!"
Wu Canglang said with a sycophantic smile, but inwardly he was cursing the old bastard for his shameless greed.
’He only has a few years left, yet he’s still so lecherous? He’ll probably end up dying on top of some woman one day.’
The atmosphere in the hall was quite lively. Over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators excitedly discussed plans for dividing up the various territories and benefits after the Ling Family’s demise.
In their eyes, the Wu Family’s victory was a foregone conclusion. With Elder Tianyang present, the Ling Family couldn’t possibly resist; it was only a matter of when they would be annihilated.
To the side, Wu Qi, her beautiful face pale and mournful, was expressionless and silent. A deathly stillness surrounded her, making her seem like a lifeless statue.
A moment later, the Wu Family’s assault officially began.
In the overcast sky, massive bolts of lightning, meteors, rains of fire, and ice spikes fell unceasingly, smashing heavily against the Protective Array’s light barrier.
Ripples spread across the surface of the egg-white-colored curtain. Amidst the shifting light and shadows, it silently absorbed and neutralized the continuous barrage.
Deafening explosions rang out one after another. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators were naturally the main offensive force, but the numerous Qi Refining Stage Cultivators were not idle either.
They launched their attacks with all sorts of Magical Artifact Talismans and Daoist Soldier Puppets. Of course, there was no shortage of various high-powered Divine Techniques either.
However, given the limited amount of Spiritual Power that Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators possessed, they would often exhaust themselves and have to stop after just a few attacks, forced to consume Elixirs to meditate and recover.
Inside the Grand Array, the many Ling Family cultivators watched with solemn expressions, coldly observing the Wu Family cultivators’ relentless attacks.
As long as the Protective Array remained stable, they had nothing to worry about.
Perhaps, once the Wu Family’s cultivators had nearly exhausted their Spiritual Power, they could even launch a counterattack and catch them by surprise.
"...Senior Sister, what should I do now?"
In the Council Hall, Ling Changqing asked the beautiful woman beside him.
"You don’t need to go out and fight. Just come with me and stand guard at the hub of the Protective Array!"
Tang Qiu Yao explained that the battlefield wasn’t lacking a single Qi Cultivation 7th Layer cultivator, so there was no need for Ling Changqing to put himself in harm’s way.
But with his extraordinary Luck and Fortune, if he could remain stationed at the core hub of the Protective Array, the probability of the Wu Family breaking through the Grand Array would undoubtedly decrease significantly.
"Alright, let’s go together then."
Ling Changqing nodded in agreement.
