The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 768 - 426 Reverse of Battle Situation_2

After these battles, the weakness of the Hidden Stream faction was laid bare to those who were paying attention; although the demons had remarkable combat power, their magic artifacts were sorely lacking! The Hidden Stream had been secluded within the Ba Snake Mountain Range for years on end, and it is well-known that places rich in metallic qi do not foster plant life, and where vegetation thrives, there are no rich mines, thus nearly no ores are produced in these mountain ranges. Having been out of conflict for so long, the Demon Soldiers of Hidden Stream couldn’t even fully equip a set of protective demon armor!

In contrast, the cultivator ranks of the Northwest Alliance, once they engaged in battle, shone brightly with various colors, a display of the functioning protective magic tools. Especially the troops of Guangcheng Palace and the Immortal Fairy Sect, their armor, shields, and exquisitely crafted weapons... were almost fully armed to the teeth, which was enough to make the Hidden Stream Demon Soldiers drool nonstop.

It is worth mentioning that since humans are relatively frail, and clashes often erupt between the Immortal Sects and the Demon Sects, the Immortal Sects provide spirit armor for cultivators committed to the battlefield to protect their bodies. However, such equipment is quite rare and difficult to equip each person with a set.

Ning Xiaoxian remained in the mountains and did not follow the ten-day agreement with Langya because both Tu Jin and Qi Zai had been summoned to the frontlines! As a Pill Master, she had the privilege to be exempt from joining the battlefield. Besides, she was now the Garden Director of the Immortal Plant Garden, with certain powers in her hands, even Langya could no longer order her around as before.

Changtian was right; men indeed grow the fastest on the battlefield. Having been baptized by war, even a ruffian-like demon such as Qi Zai has become as stable as if transformed. If before he had seemed somewhat aloof, now the light flashing in his eyes was like sword qi cutting through a dark room. Women are most defenseless against such a gaze, hence after each battle, Qingluan would be passionately involved with him.

However, Tu Jin didn’t change much. He had absorbed the memories of Yin Jiu You, which spanned tens of thousands of years. He had seen this kind of battle array countless times, and his eyes became even colder. According to Changtian, Tu Jin and Yin Jiu You were becoming more and more alike. After devouring the soul of Duanmu Yan, Tu Jin’s cultivation had entered the middle Mahayana stage, only a short distance away from the later stage.

At this point, after suffering over fifteen thousand casualties, Hidden Stream also learned from the painful lesson and began to retreat, no longer engaging in positional warfare on the Red Cloud Plateau. Langya ordered everyone to pull back into the Bashe Forest to regroup. When the Northwest Alliance attempted to pursue, they were harshly repulsed by the forest controlled by Lin Wei, only penetrating a few hundred miles before giving up.

Thus, the situation entered a delicate stage, with the Ba Snake Mountain Range as its backing, the Northwest Alliance could not penetrate. Zhuo Erxiu remembered her previous lesson and never confronted Hidden Stream at the forest’s entrance again, only sending people every few days to curse with Divine Skills and then fleeing. However, this also made Hidden Stream interior uncomfortable, as if these people were like sharks smelling blood, lingering outside their doorstep, never letting up. The inherently proud Hidden Stream had never experienced such suffocating encounters of being blocked and attacked; the thick sense of shame accumulated day by day as long as the Northwest Alliance remained unscathed.

This accumulation eventually led to an explosion of resentment within, and the questioning voices toward Jiu Mo rose day by day. Although it was not without the machinations of those behind the scenes stirring up unrest, her repeated strategic blunders were already evident to all. Worse still, most of the recent battles had been led by demon generals from the Jiu Mo faction, and Langya almost silently sent assistance, which meant the main responsibility also fell on her. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Insolence towards the Sect Leader during war could result in immediate beheading. Jiu Mo commanded her subordinates to suppress the rebels fully, executing seventy to eighty of the most vocal complainers in public, but this did not have the intended intimidating effect, and the rebellious spirit among the Demon Soldiers became even more intense. Eventually, there were those who mocked her in secret, hoping for her swift downfall.

"This woman’s cultivation is not low, but she lacks the talent to command her followers. Those under her command are not giving their best effort," Changtian commented on Jiu Mo. "If I’m not wrong, Langya might have reached some sort of agreement with the person behind the scenes, which is why she’s dragging Hidden Stream down during their external battles."

This brings us to a unique aspect of Hidden Stream. Aside from following Changtian’s orders to implement a dual leadership system, the position of its head is decided through challenge, not appointed by the preceding leader. Therefore, each leader is essentially the most exemplary in martial prowess within Hidden Stream. Jiu Mo secured her position not by her cultivation but by the unique potent toxins in her constitution.

So, now, many in the demon crowd view Jiu Mo with particularly unfavorable eyes, eagerly wishing for someone to step forward and replace her.

That night, Elder He completed his work and slowly made his way to his residence. With the front lines engaged in battle, the logistical work in the hinterlands of the Ba Snake Mountain Range was piling up like a mountain. The new Garden Director had just taken office and many tasks still relied on shrewd and capable old hands like him. Ning Xiaoxian was working hard, but her management of the Immortal Plant Garden still seemed immature compared to the experience of someone like him, who possessed hundreds of years of expertise.

Hence, most of the detailed and complex tasks still fell onto him, and in recent days, he had to work until the stars dimmed before he could return. Thankfully, his Dao allowed him to avoid the fatigue that beset aging mortals, or else how could he cope?

Elder He always preferred tranquility; his courtyard was situated on the mountainside, with almost no neighbors nearby. Just like Ning Xiaoxian, he did not staff his courtyard with maids, preferring to do everything himself. However, this meant that every time he returned home, the house was eerily quiet...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)