To the north of the Chu Kingdom lay Bei'an, a city once bustling with life.

Bei'an City was the closest settlement in the Great Chu Kingdom to the northern barbarians. Its name, "Bei'an," was meant to signify peace and prosperity, but tragically, this city had never known true stability.

For years, Bei'an bore the heavy burden of defending against the northern tribes, its streets constantly garrisoned by large numbers of troops. The populace suffered relentless incursions from the barbarian armies since the city's founding. Bei'an had fallen to the Northmen multiple times, enduring two massacres. Consequently, for the people of Bei'an, nothing was more terrifying than the foreign armies of the Northmen. The moment it was clear Bei'an could not hold, the entire population would immediately evacuate, unwilling to linger for even a single extra moment.

With every impending major battle, the surrounding towns and villages near Bei'an were invariably the first to suffer misfortune. Often, before they were even fully awake, barbarian troops would sweep through, extinguishing their lives forever.

Now, the towns and villages surrounding Bei'an were utterly deserted of civilians; those killed were gone, and the survivors had long since fled into the city. Bei'an’s walls, at this moment, were riddled with sores and ragged holes, appearing incapable of withstanding much more damage.

The majority of the Great Chu Kingdom’s military strength had been redeployed to Bei'an in hopes of maintaining the city's stability, but wave after wave of warfare and slaughter had already depleted the Chu forces too severely.

Had it not been for the timely dispatch of troops from the Shuiyun Kingdom for support, Bei'an City would likely already have fallen into the hands of those northern barbarians by now.

Between Bei'an City and the northern tribes lay a continuous, icy mountain range. Within these mountains resided quite a few Celestial Master sects and clans, and just like the common folk of Bei'an, these Chu Kingdom Celestial Masters and families had suffered greatly.

When the barbarian armies advanced on Bei'an City, the high-level Celestial Masters from the North began sweeping through the nearby sects and families. Before Bei'an even fell, the surrounding organizations were already nearing collapse.

Dozens of smaller sects and families were annihilated, uprooted entirely, under the pressure of those northern Celestial Masters who were extreme proponents of brute strength. In a matter of mere days, more than half of the Great Chu Kingdom’s Celestial Masters dwelling in those continuous mountain ranges had perished.

As the barbarian army clashed with the defenders of Bei'an, the warfare between the Celestial Masters in the mountain range between the two nations never ceased. Battles raged constantly, and often, the most piercing, mournful shrieks drifted out from those continuous peaks.

The Great Chu Kingdom’s campaign was a complete rout.

Their conventional armies were inferior to the enemy's, and even more so were their Celestial Master families and sects. In several engagements, they had never managed a victory—it was a defeat that truly bred despair.

The fighting continued. The confrontations between the Celestial Masters of both nations within the continuous mountains were still raging fiercely. Large-scale massacres and smaller skirmishes persisted every single day, with Celestial Masters from both sides falling dead in the mountains at every hour.

High-level Celestial Masters from all corners of the Great Chu Kingdom converged, fighting for their people and for the honor of the Chu Celestial Masters, throwing themselves forward one after another into the endless mountain ranges.

Perhaps they would soon become nothing more than cold corpses. Decades of arduous tempering and cultivation would be instantly shattered, their souls annihilated, returning to become the primal energy of the world once more.

Armies fought armies, and Celestial Masters battled Celestial Masters. Everyone in the Great Chu Kingdom watched this war with bated breath. The Chu Family commanded all high-realm Celestial Masters within the nation—be they masters from established sects and clans or independent cultivators—to converge quickly on Bei'an City and enter the never-ending mountains to resist the Celestial Masters of the North.

Everyone knew that as long as the Great Chu Kingdom could achieve victory in the War of Celestial Masters, the nation itself could be saved.

Within a magnificent manor in Bei'an City, shadows flitted about. People walked out with heavy expressions, and others stumbled back in, wounded and weak.

In the center of the manor, sounds of quiet weeping were ceaseless, punctuated by frequent, painful groans. Many were missing limbs—these individuals were nonetheless esteemed figures from the great Celestial Master sects and families of the Great Chu Kingdom.

The training grounds, spanning nearly ten acres, were filled with the injured, alongside others sitting in detached silence, regulating their breathing. Hundreds of Celestial Masters were gathered here, some whispering strategies, others shouting with faces contorted in hatred. It resembled a refugee camp.

The masters from the Chu Family, the Yuci Family, the Shangqing Sect, and the Wuwei Sect had nearly all assembled. The numbers from smaller sects and factions were even greater; the training ground was swarming with people.

Chu Shanxin had long since lost her usual composure, sitting on a meditation cushion with a furrowed brow. Beside her were masters from the three major powers: Yuci Yuan, Changsun Deyun, and Song Yu. Also present was Chu Yunlong, an Eight Trigrams Celestial Master from the Chu Family. The entire group looked utterly exhausted.

Chu Yunlong was Chu Shanxin’s grand-uncle. He had reached the peak of the Eight Trigrams Celestial Heaven realm, his soul capable of wandering the heavens, and he served as the leader of this contingent.

Chu Yunlong’s expression was grave. He surveyed the group around him and stated, "In the past half-month, we have already lost two Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters, thirty-six Seven Star Celestial Masters, and fifty-seven..." (The specific rank name was omitted, implying a lower or intermediate rank). "This pace is unsustainable."

Silence fell over everyone; their faces grew progressively grim.

"Xin'er," Chu Yunlong hesitated for a moment before finally asking with resignation, "Are there truly no messages at all from the Tianwu Kingdom or the Shuiyun Kingdom?"

Chu Shanxin looked dejected and offered a self-deprecating, bitter smile. "The Western Regions are stirring restlessly; the Tianwu Kingdom can barely manage itself, so we can't count on them. As for the Shuiyun Kingdom..."

Chu Shanxin sighed deeply before continuing, "Who could have predicted that battle would end in the total defeat of the Huangfu Family? We backed the wrong side. Now that the Shuiyun Kingdom is entirely under the control of Xuanyuan Valley, why would they bother helping us?"

"But didn't troops arrive?" Song Yu frowned, a flicker of hope in his voice.

"Troops and Celestial Masters are not the same thing," Chu Shanxin shook her head. "Everyone knows that in this kind of conflict, true victory only comes from winning the War of Celestial Masters. The effect of the army is negligible. Furthermore, soldiers are trained from common strong men—they are easily replaced if they die. But cultivating a single Celestial Master requires an immense investment of resources and time; the loss of even one is a massive blow to a family or sect. The fact that not a single Celestial Master from the Shuiyun Kingdom has arrived proves the point."

"Sigh," Chu Yunlong also shook his head helplessly. "It's all my fault. My fault for having reservations about the Xiao Family back then, and for acting too aggressively. Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this."

"We all share the responsibility," Chu Shanxin glanced at Changsun Deyun and Yuci Yuan. "We are the ones who forced the Xiao Family out; regretting it now is too late."

"We are short on manpower now, and our top masters are vastly inferior to the enemy's. If this fighting continues, our losses will become even more catastrophic," Song Yu looked up at Chu Yunlong, his expression suddenly hardening. He gritted his teeth and declared, "The Great Chu Kingdom probably cannot be held. We should temporarily abandon the defense. Since those two nations refuse to help, let the northern barbarian Celestial Masters advance into the central lands. Then, we’ll see if they step in or not!"

"Stop speaking nonsense!" Chu Yunlong snapped. "If we abandon the defense, the populace will suffer horribly, and the nation will truly be finished."

Chu Yunlong and his party continued to discuss how to respond to the incursions of the northern Celestial Masters, but after much deliberation, they could devise no viable solution.

After all, their overall strength was indeed far inferior to that of the Northmen.

With a somber face and no clear path forward, Chu Yunlong suddenly felt a jolt of alarm flash through him. He stood up abruptly, his expression intensely serious.

"What is it, Third Grand-uncle?" Chu Shanxin reacted immediately, pressing him for an answer.

"A group of masters has entered Bei'an City—they are extremely powerful!" Chu Yunlong was visibly tense, speaking in a low voice. "For people to enter our Bei'an City at this critical moment—I don't know if they are Northmen. If they are, it means the barbarians are preparing for the final assault!"

A sudden, heavy silence fell over everyone. No one spared a moment longer for cultivation; they all rose, their faces growing uglier by the second.

Chu Yunlong swept his gaze over the assembly. "Everyone be cautious! Enemies may be approaching, and their power is immense! Be fully alert!"

Everyone on the training grounds, whether cultivating or severely wounded, instantly tensed up. Curses rained down upon the Northmen for their disregard of established rules as fear gripped them.

In an instant, chaos erupted on the training grounds. Some looked utterly despairing, feeling as if the color had drained from the sky; they felt their end had finally arrived.

Chu Yunlong stood at the very center of the training field, maintaining a relatively calm demeanor, having already amassed his full strength, ready to react to any sudden event.

For this entire period, his mind had been under extreme strain, constantly worried and anxious, draining his mental energy. Now, he forced every ounce of focus back into readiness. He suddenly noticed a weariness in his soul, realizing that due to his persistent lack of rest, even his resilient body was beginning to fail.

He cursed inwardly, forcing himself to remain alert, waiting silently for the arrival of those people.

Soon, even Chu Shanxin sensed the oppressive pressure emanating from the approaching group. Everyone realized the newcomers were unusual, and the atmosphere within the manor grew tighter, all attention focused, already preparing to strike against the arrivals.

Suddenly, Chu Yunlong’s expression shifted to confusion. He waved a hand, signaling his people to hold their attack, and murmured, "Their speed has slowed. It seems... it seems they aren't moving aggressively."

"Forget what they're doing; they must be enemies. We should strike first," Song Yu urged.

His suggestion found approval from many. The strings of tension holding these men had been pulled too tight. Days of incessant battle had eroded their reason. Now, only hatred resided in their hearts—hatred born of desperation, ready to erupt like a volcano at any moment.

"No, wait," Chu Yunlong refused the suggestion, frowning with a look of deep puzzlement. He muttered, "Perhaps... perhaps they are not enemies."

"At this point, who else would be coming?" Song Yu gave a bitter laugh, exasperated. "The people from within our own country who should be here are here, and those who shouldn't be can’t come yet. Although we sent people to the Boundless Star Domain to search for our high-level masters still wandering, it takes time."

"Let's observe a while longer. In any case, everyone stay alert," Chu Yunlong instructed.

Song Yu reluctantly agreed to Chu Yunlong's counsel, bracing himself to await his final judgment.

After an awkward silence, a servant rushed forward, stumbling and crawling until he knelt before Chu Yunlong, stammering, "Th-Third Master, there is a person outside claiming to be Ji Changkong requesting an audience."

"Ji Changkong!!" Chu Yunlong was instantly stunned. "What is happening?"

"A young man, bringing many experts with him, has arrived at the gate. He says he requests an audience with the person in charge here. He claims his name is Ji Changkong, that he is from Xuanyuan Valley, and that he has come... come to help us," the servant reported breathlessly.

Chu Shanxin’s bright eyes suddenly lit up. Without waiting for Chu Yunlong’s assent, she sharply commanded, "Quickly, invite them in!"

The servant remained, looking to Chu Yunlong for confirmation. "Third Master?"

"We will greet them personally!" Chu Yunlong pondered for a moment, his tone suddenly ringing with excitement. "This could be a turning point. Perhaps, perhaps the Great Chu Kingdom is not fated to perish!"

"Let's go, we will greet the visitors ourselves!" Chu Shanxin was also energized and turned to the assembled group. "Everyone has heard recently how vast the strength of Xuanyuan Valley is. Even high masters from the Guiyuan Sect couldn't gain any advantage there. That shows how powerful Xuanyuan Valley truly is today."

"If they are truly people from Xuanyuan Valley, then... then the Great Chu Kingdom might actually be saved," even Song Yu nodded slightly, agreeing with the others.

For years, rumors about Xuanyuan Valley had never ceased outside. Anyone with ears knew how terrifying the Valley's power was, and who truly held the reins in the Shuiyun Kingdom now. Gaining the help of Xuanyuan Valley was tantamount to receiving aid from Mount Tianshan, equivalent to the support of the entire Shuiyun Kingdom.

What did this imply?

It meant the Great Chu Kingdom had truly secured the backing of an entire nation, obtaining powerful state support. And this nation was currently not only peaceful but also overflowing with talent, existing at its peak moment.

Those who had been on the verge of despair were ecstatic upon hearing the news of visitors from Xuanyuan Valley. Some among them felt a touch of shame, such as Chu Shanxin and Changsun Deyun. They had previously acted against the Xiao Family; although the Xiao Family had suffered no major losses, they had at least managed to antagonize them.

The Xiao Family was now a component of Xuanyuan Valley. If Ji Changkong had arrived, the Xiao Family members might also appear, making them extremely awkward.

However, if even Chu Shanxin could set aside her shame to go, these others soon stopped hesitating. Led by Chu Yunlong, they headed toward the entrance.

Outside, the group from Xuanyuan Valley was conversing with faint smiles playing on their lips. "When the Chu Family people arrive, we shouldn't be too overbearing. We need to ensure those Chu Family members don't lose face too severely,"

Ji Changkong said with a smile to Xiao Xing and Xiao Poshuan, "Of course, a little appropriate sarcasm wouldn't hurt, hehe. The Chu Family should have the awareness for that."

The Xiao Family had indeed suffered due to the Chu Family's pettiness back then, forcing them to relocate their entire sect to Xuanyuan Valley. To claim that Xiao Poshuan and Xiao Xing held absolutely no resentment would be untrue.

In Ji Changkong’s view, since they had traveled a thousand miles to help the Chu Kingdom, shaving off a bit of their pride shouldn't be considered excessive.

Xiao Xing smiled faintly. "That depends on the attitude of the Chu Family. If their demeanor satisfies us, we won't say much. After all, we didn't come to the Great Chu Kingdom on their account. However, if they try to pretend nothing ever happened, hmph, then we might need to hold a real reckoning!"

"Hmph!" Xiao Poshuan’s face flushed with anger as he grumbled, "If they still dare to be so arrogant, I’ll turn around and leave. I’ll only come back after the Northmen have slaughtered them all, and then I’ll help collect the bodies!"

"Don't worry, they definitely won't dare to keep being arrogant. Otherwise, the Chu Family will be truly finished," Ji Changkong chuckled, turning to Chen Qisen beside him. "Our troops weren't used as cannon fodder here, were they?"

Chen Qisen shook his head proudly. "The Great Chu Kingdom has reached this desperate state; if they still dared to harbor such thoughts, they wouldn't have survived this long. Changkong, rest assured, our people here have been treated with the utmost respect. If the Chu Family dares to play games, the common people of Chu will verbally tear them apart!"

"That's good," Ji Changkong said, reassured. "We came to the Chu Kingdom for the common people. The reason we are engaging with their Celestial Masters here is to exchange greetings and understand the situation on the Northmen's side. Once we engage the Northmen in battle, we will need their intelligence to make better judgments."

"After this incident, I think the Great Chu Kingdom will behave, and the Chu Family won't dare to act rashly anymore," Chen Qisen smiled.

While the group was speaking, Chu Yunlong and the others, including Chu Shanxin, finally appeared at the gate.

As soon as Chu Yunlong and his entourage arrived, an eager look surfaced on their faces, and they immediately moved toward Ji Changkong. After a quick scan of the crowd, Chu Yunlong found his target and addressed Xiao Poshuan: "Brother Xiao! What happened last time was the fault of my Chu Family. Now that your Xiao Family has come, my Chu Family sincerely apologizes!"

Changsun Deyun, Song Yu, Yuci Yuan, and the rest, including Chu Shanxin, all stepped forward, their faces full of sincerity, bowing deeply to apologize to Xiao Xing and Xiao Poshuan.

Xiao Xing smiled faintly and said nothing much.

Xiao Poshuan kept a stern face and snorted, "Can an apology resolve this matter so easily? Because of the coercion from your Chu Family, my Xiao Family was forced to leave our home, and we still cannot return. This matter isn't something that can be settled with a simple wave of the hand!"

"Yes, yes," Chu Yunlong replied with an ingratiating smile. "Brother Xiao, what should we do? As long as our Chu Family can manage it, we will spare no effort."

"I haven't decided yet. I will talk to you after I have thought it over," Xiao Poshuan said airily with an arrogant air. "The situation hasn't been favorable recently, has it?"

"It's extremely difficult," Chu Yunlong sighed, his expression bleak. "In just a few days, we've lost half our top masters domestically. Now, even those at the Five Elements Heaven realm have been forced into combat..."

Hearing this, Xiao Poshuan lost the inclination to press the issue further. He snorted. "Let's set aside the matter between our two families for now. My Xiao Family understands righteousness. After we drive out these Northmen, we can discuss our family issues. Hmph! If you had spoken kindly back then, and hadn't intended to treat my Xiao Family as mere cannon fodder, my family wouldn't have left in the first place."

"Brother Xiao, it was indeed our Chu Family's fault back then; the responsibility is mine. If it weren't for the sake of the common people of Chu, I truly... truly have no face to meet you," Chu Yunlong repeatedly expressed his contrition.

Only then did Xiao Poshuan's expression soften slightly, and he nodded lightly before signaling to Ji Changkong with his eyes, indicating his side of the matter was settled.

"This must be Young Master Ji from Xuanyuan Valley?" Chu Yunlong finally followed Xiao Poshuan's cue and found the true focus of attention, repeatedly saying, "Young Master Ji, for you to ignore past grievances and come to our Chu Kingdom, my Chu Family is immensely grateful."

"Ji Changkong, it was our Chu Family who wronged you regarding the matter at Tianshui City last time," Chu Shanxin suddenly stepped forward, looking solemn as her chest rose and fell. "Once this current crisis is over, I will submit to your judgment! Whatever you wish to do to me, I will accept without objection!"

Bai Qingya, standing beside Ji Changkong, frowned slightly.

"Let's consider past matters settled. The fact that I came to the Great Chu Kingdom shows I haven't held those old issues against you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here at all. I believe we should focus on discussing the situation with the Northmen, rather than continuing these pleasantries here," Ji Changkong appeared completely natural, a slight smile on his face, as if the past truly held no weight for him.

Chu Shanxin stared at him blankly for a long moment before nodding softly and murmuring a single word, "Thank you..."

The others ceased their polite formalities, and led by Chu Yunlong, they entered the inner training grounds.

Upon seeing the multitude of injured lying everywhere, and the figures missing limbs groaning softly on the ground, the Celestial Masters who arrived from the Shuiyun Kingdom immediately grasped the brutality of the fighting that had taken place here, requiring no further elaborate description.

Chu Yunlong looked slightly embarrassed. "The conditions are primitive; please make do with sitting on the ground."

Seeing so many wounded, the contingent from Shuiyun Kingdom understood the desperate straits of the Great Chu Kingdom. Hearing the apology, they all fell silent, saying nothing further.

"Let's dispense with the unnecessary pleasantries. Briefly describe the situation for me, especially regarding how many high-level masters the Northmen have brought," Ji Changkong stated with a grave face, cutting straight to the point with no formality.

Chu Yunlong swiftly gave a general overview of the situation. "The Northmen are currently led by the Yaksha Tribe, encompassing many other races, and they possess an extreme number of experts. We estimate there are about ten Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters, and fifty to sixty at the Seven Star Celestial realm..."

"Hold on!" Ji Changkong interrupted Chu Yunlong, frowning as he asked, "Aren't the most powerful race among the Northern Barbarians the Asura Imperial Clan? Why is the Yaksha Clan taking the lead to command the battle of the Celestial Masters in the Endless Mountain Range?"

The moment these words left his mouth, the atmosphere immediately shifted.

Chu Yunlong’s face was wretched; he sighed and shook his head. "Indeed, the strongest race in the Northern Barbarians is the Asura Imperial Clan, and their Celestial Masters are the most terrifying. It's just..." He paused. "Even now, those Asura Imperial Clan Celestial Masters have yet to appear. The strongest race we have faced so far is merely the Yaksha Clan. Perhaps... perhaps, in the eyes of the Asura Imperial Clan, it isn't yet worth their effort to strike."

At this point, Chu Yunlong's expression grew incredibly strange.

Wei Chi Yuan and the others looked thoroughly ashamed, wishing the ground would open up and swallow them whole. Even after fighting so fiercely, the enemy hadn't even deployed their main force, yet their side had already suffered such heavy losses. How could those who had fought through blood and fire bear this disgrace?

"Uh..." Ji Changkong was left speechless for a moment. He looked from one person to the next, muttering, "So that's how it is. You mean... they haven't truly exerted themselves yet?"

"Probably... that seems to be the case," Chu Yunlong admitted, his face flushing.

"I see," Ji Changkong frowned, then inquired further, "Has the fighting always taken place within the Endless Mountain Range? Are all those Northern Barbarians waiting for you inside the mountains? What sort of combat is it? Is it organized duels, or is it a free-for-all with no rules?"

"There are absolutely no rules. As long as you encounter any of their people within the Endless Mountain Range, you can use any means necessary to kill them! Those Northern Barbarian curs never adhere to propriety; the moment they spot one of us from the Central Plains in the mountains, they immediately launch a deadly attack!" Chu Yunlong stated.

"Lack of rules is understandable," Ji Changkong conceded, tapping his chin. He then asked, "Are those Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters gathered together, or are they dispersed?"

"They operate in units corresponding to their respective tribes. They do sometimes gather in a large assembly, but for the most part, they remain scattered," Chu Yunlong said with a bitter smile. "However, most of those who enter the Endless Mountain Range are not weak. If a fight breaks out in any location, just one shout can draw people from both sides to the scene. What might have started as a clash between two individuals can easily escalate into a massive brawl..."

"Understood," Ji Changkong smiled faintly. He glanced back at the people from Xuanyuan Valley behind him. "Although the Endless Mountain Range is fraught with peril at every step, it is certainly a place for tempering oneself. This is the battlefield for us Celestial Masters. We might die here, but we might also achieve some breakthrough during the combat. We have cultivated in the valley for so long; finally, we have an opportunity to test our mettle."

The group emerging from Xuanyuan Valley was quite different from the Celestial Masters of the Great Chu Kingdom. Hearing Ji Changkong's words, everyone in their ranks looked visibly excited, showing genuine anticipation.

Upon hearing of the Northern Barbarians' savagery, these individuals felt no fear; instead, they were eager. This fact stunned Chu Yunlong and his officers, who stared strangely at the arrivals from Xuanyuan Valley and the Water Cloud Kingdom, bewildered by their demeanor.

They were unaware that those who had cultivated in Xuanyuan Valley over the years had progressed rapidly under the dense spiritual energy within the valley.

Within Xuanyuan Valley, the environment strongly emphasized practical combat. There, the Ji Family, Ghost Sect, and Xiao Family jointly utilized rare treasures to entice disciples into dueling each other for these artifacts. This was done to keep the valley inhabitants occupied, preventing constant internal conflict.

Stimulated by the lure of these precious items, every Celestial Master in the valley participated in these intermittent treasure-contesting bouts. With the watchful eyes of Eighth Trigram Celestial Masters overseeing the fights, no unforeseen accidents occurred. Because of this arrangement, participants could fight without reservation, deploying their full strength in every clash.

This atmosphere in Xuanyuan Valley greatly aided the improvement of the Celestial Masters' combat experience. Those who left the valley possessed almost no fear of battle.

The people who emerged from Xuanyuan Valley this time were the elite masters of the valley. Most of the Seven Star Celestial Masters hailed from the Ghost Sect, the Xiao Family, or experts from various factions who had genuinely pledged allegiance to Xuanyuan Valley. Not only were their individual powers formidable, but within the valley, they had also received support with various scarce materials, meaning every single one possessed a suitable divine weapon and spirit treasure, confident in facing any danger.

Having finally emerged from Xuanyuan Valley, upon hearing they could engage the Northern Barbarians, they didn't hesitate to contemplate the terrifying nature of the enemy; their only thought was how they could use the Northern Barbarians to enhance their own strength and achieve victory in the next internal competition back in the valley.

Consequently, every face was alight with excitement, looking as if they were heading out to hunt in the Endless Mountain Range.

Chu Yunlong's side watched the aura of the Xuanyuan Valley experts, and comparing it to their own initial entry into the Endless Mountain Range, he felt an even deeper sense of shame.

"We have a general understanding of the situation in the Endless Mountain Range now. Well, how about this: we will make a trip there. And you?" Ji Changkong asked, looking at Chu Yunlong.

"We will naturally go together!" Chu Yunlong’s expression turned serious. "You are surely unfamiliar with the conditions in the Endless Mountain Range. We will lead the way; we will work together to fight against those Northern Barbarian savages."

The Celestial Masters from the Great Chu Kingdom, spurred on by the fervor of the Xuanyuan Valley group, all expressed their desire to enter the Endless Mountain Range alongside them.

Ji Changkong nodded, glancing over the assembled group on the training grounds. "Only a portion of us should go. Anyone who is injured or has not fully recovered their strength should temporarily remain here and wait for the next expedition. This battle likely won't end quickly, so no one needs to rush."

"Young Master Ji is correct," Chu Yunlong agreed, turning back to address the injured who had volunteered. "You all rest here first. Only after you have recovered can you go kill more of those Northern Barbarian curs."

Although Chu Yunlong held little sway over Ji Changkong’s group, he still commanded a degree of authority among the Celestial Masters of his own kingdom.

Following his arrangements, those who were injured or lacking in strength were kept behind. Beyond them, every Celestial Master present on the training ground was organized to enter the Endless Mountain Range with Ji Changkong's contingent.

These men had realized that the group from the Water Cloud Kingdom represented a fresh wave of reinforcements, filled with masters. This time, entering the Endless Mountain Range, they were certain to catch the enemy off guard. This time, they intended to go and slay the enemy, not cower and hide—thus, everyone vied to participate.

Chu Yunlong sighed inwardly. When he had previously suggested entering the Endless Mountain Range, everyone had looked miserable, reluctant, and clearly timid. Now, with Ji Changkong's arrival, these same men were actively requesting entry. It seemed that in their minds, Xuanyuan Valley...

However, Chu Yunlong still felt immensely fortunate. Fortunate to receive the aid of Xuanyuan Valley and the Water Cloud Kingdom.

Following Ji Changkong’s suggestion, Chu Yunlong didn't linger on formalities. After making arrangements within the city, he led the Celestial Master experts from Xuanyuan Valley and the Water Cloud Kingdom stealthily toward the Endless Mountain Range separating them from Beian City and the Northern Barbarians.

On a peak situated closely beside the Bitter Sea of the Northern Barbarians, a youth with a sinister countenance stood proudly atop the summit, his eyes filled with icy cold disdain as he gazed at the unending expanse of mountains ahead.

This youth had long, dark-green hair, and sharp barbs jutted out from his knees, elbows, and shoulders. His irises were also dark green. Beside him, dozens of other barbarians sharing his appearance subtly guarded him, silently watching the front.

"Young Master, once we secure the Great Chu Kingdom this time, you can claim the Imperial Princess. Rest assured, those Great Chu Celestial Masters are finished; within a few days, every Celestial Master of the Great Chu Kingdom will be slain by us!" declared a giant nearly two meters tall, carrying a hexagonal black shield on his back. The shield was covered in grotesque spikes, which were a dark, blood-red color, suggesting how much Central Plains Celestial Master blood they had already absorbed.

The giant was at the peak of the Eighth Trigram Celestial realm, emanating an overwhelmingly dense killing aura. As he stood there, his muscles subtly twitched, and veins resembling earthworms crawled across his neck.

This colossal man was clearly a member of the Yaksha Clan. His eyes were alight with unrestrained arrogance and sharp murderous intent; anyone who met his gaze would instantly know this was no benevolent figure, but an utterly ruthless killer.

The youth grinned coldly, gripping a massive, spiked mace. "Xue E, I like that woman! In our Northern Barbarians, I want that woman!"

The giant called Xue E roared with laughter. "Young Master, that woman is indeed beautiful. She is also the daughter of the Asura King. By obtaining her, our Yaksha Clan will rise to prominence sooner or later!"

"Even without her, our Yaksha Clan will rise to prominence!" the youth declared with arrogant fervor. "I have now cultivated to the Eighth Trigram realm, and my father broke through to the Ninth Palace realm three years ago. Aside from the Imperial Clan, the Yaksha Clan is the strongest race in the Barbarian Kingdom! Hmph! Sooner or later, our Yaksha Clan will replace the Asura Clan and become the Imperial Clan of the Barbarian Kingdom!"

"Shh!" Xue E cautioned, startled. "Young Master, we are near many people. Be careful not to be overheard. As long as the King lives, our Yaksha Clan will never have a chance. When the King is gone, the Barbarian Kingdom will belong to our Yaksha Clan! With the Clan Head and the Young Master here, our Yaksha Clan will become the Imperial Clan!"

The youth's eyes shone with excitement. "Exactly! We will replace the Asura Clan and become the Barbarian Kingdom's Imperial Clan! And I will have that woman—that woman will be mine sooner or later!"

"Young Master! The person you asked me to investigate, he seems to have gone into secluded cultivation in Xuanyuan Valley after returning from the East Sea," Xue E recalled something and hurriedly reported.

"Ji Family, Xuanyuan..." A ferocious rage contorted the youth's face. "After I sweep the Great Chu Kingdom clean, I will certainly march on Xuanyuan Valley! In the Big Dipper Star Domain, this brat repeatedly ruined our clan's affairs. Many of our clan's masters died at his hands. I swore I would kill him, and I will!"

"The Young Master has already broken through to the Eighth Trigram realm; killing him now is naturally easy. However, that brat is reportedly the grandson of the Ancient Pagoda Master. We should not act rashly; we need to deliberate carefully," Xue E advised.

"That old coot, Gu Ya, is already past his prime, injured by the Holy Mother You Lan. His wounds haven't even healed, and he has no time to concern himself with this matter," Galuo said boastfully. "With our strength, we can wipe out Xuanyuan Valley quickly. By the time Gu Ya finds out, we might have already conquered the entire Central Plains."

"That is true. The King said we don't need to worry about Gu Ya. If Gu Ya dares to make a move, he will surely come from the Imperial Palace," Xue E nodded. "On this continent, our Barbarian Kingdom's King is still the strongest Ninth Palace Celestial Master. Even a full-strength Gu Ya might not be the King's match, let alone in his current state."

"That old fellow should either break through to the Tenth Heaven realm soon, or suffer a debilitating qi deviation sooner. As long as he is in the Barbarian Kingdom, my father dares not make a move against him, and no race in the Barbarian Kingdom dares to provoke him."

Even the supremely arrogant Galuo showed a flicker of fear when mentioning the Asura King.

Xue E was about to say something when a strange buzzing sound emanated from a peculiar formation set up beneath his feet using the skull bones of Celestial Masters; several skulls began to hum.

Xue E reached out and seized a skull still smeared with blood, placing it in his palm, which was as large as a winnowing basket. He inserted his five fingers into the skull's eye sockets and ears, closed his eyes, sensed for a moment, and then suddenly laughed, "Those Chu Kingdom curs are here to send themselves to their deaths again!"

Galuo’s expression sharpened. He cursed, "Excellent! These turtles are finally coming out. That old man is truly insistent on following some kind of rule, forbidding us from directly attacking the city. Otherwise, the Great Chu Kingdom would already be ours!"

"Indeed. Fighting these weaklings requires no adherence to rules," Xue E agreed. "Clan Head excels in this regard."

"Heh heh, my father never follows rules; he only follows profit!" Galuo sneered coldly, then suddenly produced an unknown beast horn, brought it to his lips, and blew a series of low, mournful notes.

In a short time, numerous powerfully built and savagely featured Barbarian Celestial Masters came rushing from a distance. Among these Northern Barbarian warriors, a few women were strikingly beautiful and enchanting, with ample bosoms and rounded hips, all dressed scandalously.

Of course, beautiful barbarian women were a minority; only a few specific tribes produced such beauties. The majority of Northern Barbarian women were coarse-skinned and physically imposing.

Galuo swept his cold gaze over them. "The cowards of the Chu Kingdom are here to die again. Slaughter them all! The King said that for the fertile lands of the Great Chu Kingdom, the tribe that kills the most will get the first choice in the distribution of territory."

"Woooo! Wooo-shien!"

These Celestial Masters from the Northern Barbarians brandished their strange and bizarre divine weapons and sharp implements, their faces alight with excitement, exhibiting the ferocity of bloodthirsty beasts.

Even the beautiful, bewitching barbarian women showed savage glints in their eyes, drawing out their bloodstained weapons, ready to wreak widespread slaughter.

(A desperate plea for monthly tickets echoes softly in the background.)