Chapter 4614: War Escalation

If they had possessed eight or ten top-grade immortal-slaying cannons, it wouldn't have been so easy for Xiao to slay Nangong Yueshuo.

Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingbai arrived. When they had returned to Qinglian City, the battle was already over. Upon learning that Tianfeng City was under attack, they hurried back to provide support.

“Fellow Daoist Nangong, where is Senior Cousin Qingling?” Wang Qingbai asked, sounding a little nervous. Xiao was a King Beast, and he worried that something might have happened to Wang Qingling.

“The Old Ancestor and the others have gone to pursue Xiao. Its Rampage Divine Ability is incredibly powerful; Xiao received a full augmentation.” Nangong Yunyan's face was filled with apprehension; it was his first time fighting a King Beast. He had heard others speak of the immense power of King Beasts before, and how many veteran Grand Luo Golden Immortals had fallen, but Nangong Yunyan hadn't fully grasped it until he personally faced one. Only then did he truly understand the terror of a King Beast.

“Qingbai, let’s go after them and help,” Wang Qingshan said, summoning an Earth-grade immortal vessel. He was worried about Wang Qingling and wanted to go assist.

“An Earth-grade immortal vessel! I’m coming too.” Fairy Liuyun's face was full of envy, and she volunteered to join the fight.

The three of them, Wang Qingshan included, boarded the Earth-grade immortal vessel and left Tianfeng City, pursuing the others.

Less than half an hour later, they returned, and Nangong Dezhi, Nangong Changqing, and Wang Qingling were with them.

“How was it, Old Ancestor? Did you eliminate Xiao?” Nangong Yunyan asked.

“No, we only injured it. The augmentation from its Rampage Divine Ability is too powerful. This is merely its early Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage; if its cultivation were higher, the rampage augmentation would be even greater,” Nangong Dezhi explained. “If King Beasts were that easy to deal with, the ten tribes under the Hunxie King Tribe wouldn’t have been stalemated with the nine Heavenly Cities under the Kunlun Dao Ancestor for so many years. Bear in mind, most chaotic beast tribes with a Grand Luo Golden Immortal guarding them only have High Priests who have mutated three times and mastered Supreme Laws. The Barhu Tribe was just incredibly lucky to have Xiao emerge.”

“This time, we owe a great deal to Master Miaode and Fairy Wang for arriving in time; otherwise, Tianfeng City would likely have been breached,” Nangong Changqing said.

“Indeed! Master Miaode eliminated Hu, which allowed us to concentrate our firepower on Xiao,” Nangong Yunyan echoed.

“If Fellow Daoist Nangong hadn’t injured Hu, this humble monk wouldn’t have been able to eliminate it so easily. Speaking of which, I am also indebted to Fellow Daoist Wang for helping me upgrade my Zen staff to a top-grade immortal artifact,” Master Miaode said humbly. Before he arrived, Hu had already been wounded. Master Miaode, without a top-grade immortal artifact infused with a Primordial Spirit Treasure, wouldn’t have been able to eliminate Hu so swiftly.

Upon advancing to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage, chaotic beasts have mutated at least three times. If they haven’t mastered a Supreme Law, they are considered ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage chaotic beasts. However, if they have mastered a Supreme Law, they are qualified to serve as a tribe’s High Priest. The High Priests of the Chahar, Tianga, and Buryat tribes have all mutated three times and mastered Supreme Laws. Chaotic beasts at the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage that have mutated four times—a feat as difficult as an immortal at the same stage perfecting their laws—are typically groomed as successors within chaotic beast tribes. Chaotic beasts at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage that have mutated four times are usually high-ranking members of Dao Ancestor-level chaotic beast tribes. As for ten-colored chaotic beasts, they are exceedingly rare, groomed as future Dao Ancestors. Among the twelve major chaotic beast tribes, most Dao Ancestors have only evolved four times; those who have evolved five times are exceedingly rare. The most powerful chaotic beast Dao Ancestor, Chen, is ten-colored.

“Master Miaode is truly blessed to possess a top-grade immortal artifact infused with a Primordial Spirit Treasure, in addition to his immortal body. In a one-on-one fight, he need not fear a King Beast,” Fairy Liuyun said, her face filled with envy. The Ye family's foundation couldn't compare to that of the Myriad Buddha Sect. While they could purchase some refining materials from Yiyan Hall and refine high-grade immortal artifacts without issue, they lacked the financial resources to acquire materials for top-grade immortal artifacts. Purely in terms of physical strength, Nangong Changqing was evenly matched with Xiao, even though both were in the early Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage. However, Xiao’s Rampage Divine Ability not only enhanced its physical power but also improved its laws, weapons, and chaotic battle armor. If Nangong Changqing had a top-grade immortal artifact infused with a Primordial Spirit Treasure, he wouldn’t have been in such a predicament.

“If Fellow Daoist Wang hadn't gone to deal with the Ogedei Tribe and had returned with us, Xiao would have been severely wounded, even if not killed,” Nangong Dezhi said in a deep voice. He could gain the upper hand against Xiao by relying on the difference in their cultivation, but eliminating Xiao was difficult. Wang Changsheng possessed a complete set of top-grade immortal artifacts infused with Primordial Spirit Treasures; with his assistance, Xiao would have suffered severe wounds even if it didn't die.

“It seems the chaotic beasts aren’t truly united,” Wang Qingshan said. “They clearly had an agreement with the Chahar Tribe that if the Chahar Tribe were attacked, two tribes would provide support. Yet, upon learning of the Chahar Tribe’s predicament, they chose not to assist but instead launched a surprise attack on Qinglian City and Tianfeng City.”

“Beings, chaotic beasts included, naturally seek advantages and avoid disadvantages,” Nangong Changqing said nonchalantly. Whether it's an individual or a faction, when they are weak, allies and in-laws may not be trustworthy, and opportunistic individuals abound. When they are strong, however, allies and in-laws become more reliable, and honorable people are more common. If the Hunxie King Tribe were attacked, even without an agreement, the ten tribes would surely fight to reinforce them. This isn't because the Hunxie King Tribe upholds loyalty and commitments, but because of its immense power.

Nangong Yunyan took out a magical disc glowing with red light, injected a spell into it, and furrowed his brow. “Old Ancestor,” Nangong Yunyan reported, “the Hunxie King Tribe has launched its offensive. Wanbao City, Tiandan City, Wanfo City, Xingyue City, and Leiming City are all under attack by chaotic beasts. They are advancing head-on, and many Yellow and Profound Cities have already been overrun.”

“Issue orders for the army to prepare for battle,” Nangong Dezhi commanded. “Send people to eliminate the remaining four tribes of the Chahar Alliance!”

“Judging by the time,” Nangong Yunyan said, “they should have engaged as well. The other three tribes won’t be able to resist us, but the Ogedei Tribe will be tricky.” The Nangong Immortal Clan could send Taiyi Golden Immortals who had cultivated immortal bodies to lead the charge; eliminating chaotic beast tribes without a Grand Luo Golden Immortal guarding them would not be difficult. However, the Ogedei Tribe had a Grand Luo Golden Immortal guarding it.

“Eliminating those three tribes will suffice,” Nangong Dezhi said. “Judging by the time, Fellow Daoist Wang and the others should have succeeded as well.” Given Wang Changsheng’s strength, combined with Wang Ruyan, Nangong Yunxin, and Nangong Changlong, eliminating the Ogedei Tribe would be effortless.

“Old Ancestor, did you truly eliminate Mi?” Nangong Yunyan asked, somewhat incredulously. Mi was not comparable to Hu; otherwise, the Chahar Tribe wouldn't have been stalemated with the Nangong Immortal Clan for so many years.

Nangong Dezhi nodded and said, “With several of us joining forces, Mi simply couldn’t stand against us.” He naturally wouldn’t publicize that Wang Changsheng possessed a complete set of top-grade immortal artifacts infused with Primordial Spirit Treasures. After all, even the Kunlun Dao Ancestor only possessed such a set. If the news spread, Grand Luo Golden Immortals would undoubtedly set their sights on Wang Changsheng. For a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, merely possessing a single top-grade immortal artifact infused with a Primordial Spirit Treasure was already exceptional, given the immense difficulty of gathering materials and refining them. Most Grand Luo Golden Immortals wield complete sets of high-grade immortal artifacts that are not infused with Primordial Spirit Treasures, such as Nangong Changqing, Nangong Yueshuo, Nangong Yunxin, Nangong Changlong, Xu Xing, Mu Yan, and Liu Qian. Even having ordinary top-grade immortal artifacts was considered quite fortunate for them.

“We owe a great deal to Fellow Daoist Nangong; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to eliminate Mi,” Wang Qingshan said. A tall tree catches the wind, and Wang Changsheng wasn't one to seek empty fame. After eliminating the Chahar Tribe, the Hunxie King Tribe certainly wouldn’t let the matter rest. It was better for Nangong Dezhi to be at the forefront, as Wang Changsheng had no desire to be targeted by the Hunxie King Tribe. From the outside perspective, Wang Changsheng hadn't been in the Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage for long, so the elimination of the Chahar Tribe would undoubtedly be attributed to Nangong Dezhi. If the Hunxie King Tribe decided to avenge the Chahar Tribe, their primary target would logically be Nangong Dezhi.

“Let’s discuss these matters later!” Nangong Dezhi said. “It’s still unknown how long this great war will last.” Nangong Dezhi was not in the mood for pleasantries and instructed everyone to return to their respective homes and prepare their armies for battle.