Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

After flying a considerable distance, Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General exchanged smiles. They both made discoveries and understood each other's intentions.

Daoist Master Black Fox spoke pleasantly on the surface, but in reality, he didn't trust Meng Zhang at all. He appeared generous and enthusiastic but was actually petty and scheming. Since leaving the black market, Meng Zhang and his companions noticed they had acquired an unexpected tail.

Surprisingly, the individual secretly trailing them displayed remarkable skills. Despite following them for a long distance, their presence remained undetected. Even a Gold Core stage cultivator might not have been able to discover them.

Meng Zhang was well aware that Dark Alliance cultivators, especially those in specialized roles like spies and assassins, might not have a strong Cultivation Base, but they possessed exceptional abilities in concealing their tracks and executing covert assassinations.

Luo Ye, as a Daoist Master, had average talents in this area and was not particularly skilled in these techniques. However, Jue Ying, the other Daoist Master, was completely different. She was a natural-born assassin with astounding talents, a willingness to put in effort, and remarkable proficiency in various related skills. Meng Zhang had witnessed her skills firsthand when she helped establish the Secret Hall in Taiyi Sect and taught An Moran.

Now, once again, he witnessed the capabilities of a Dark Alliance cultivator in this aspect. Unfortunately, this cultivator trailing them had picked the wrong target.

Meng Zhang, being a Diviner, had an astonishing Spiritual Awareness that was nearly impossible to deceive. As for Extreme Sword Spirit General, having survived from the prime days of Taiyi Sect until now, his true abilities and hidden cards were a mystery even to Meng Zhang, the Sect Master.

A mere Gold Core stage cultivator had no chance of stealthily trailing them without being detected. Meng Zhang didn't want to expose the pursuer at this moment; it wasn't the time to start a conflict. He soared into the sky with incredible speed, and Extreme Sword Spirit General followed closely without lagging behind.

Enduring the fierce gusts of wind, Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General continued ascending until they reached the area under the Nine Heavens before stopping their ascent. Only cultivators of Gold Corelate stage and above could gradually adapt to the special rules of the Nine Heavens.

For cultivators whose Cultivation Base fell short, forcefully entering the Nine Heavens would result in death. However, ascending to such heights was enough to shake off their pursuer, and there was no need to venture into the Nine Heavens.

The atmosphere in the high altitudes of Grand Dust World was harsh, and the raging gusts of wind hardly ever ceased. Unless one was a Primordial Spirit True Monarch, survival in such an environment required the continuous operation of True Essence and protective spells. Consequently, any trailing pursuers would either give up or reveal themselves.

Glancing back at the empty space behind them, Meng Zhang realized that the pursuer had wisely abandoned the chase.

Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General decided not to continue ascending but instead set their sights on the direction of Yuantu Great Prairie, flying through the high altitude like this was not an easy task for an extended period.

They flew a certain distance and then voluntarily lowered their altitude to a few hundred zhang (a zhang is an ancient Chinese unit of length equivalent to about 3.3 meters) above the ground. After all, their purpose of flying high had been achieved, and they had successfully shaken off their pursuers without wasting unnecessary energy.

The border between Yuantu Great Prairie and Jiuqu League was extremely long, meandering for tens of thousands of li (Chinese unit of distance, roughly 500 meters per li). Neither the Barbarian Clan nor the Jiuqu League could fortify and defend every inch of the border. The Jiuqu League adopted a strategy of focused defense, establishing defenses in certain key areas, especially where Third Rank spirit veins were present, relying on major cities like Dongyuan City for protection. These defense lines were divided into numerous sections, each entrusted to different sects and factions for defense.

If the Barbarian Clan launched an attack on a certain section of the defense line, nearby Jiuqu League cultivators would actively reinforce that area. The Barbarian Clan was skilled in offense but lacked proficiency in defense. Even when they were relatively weaker or at a disadvantage, they would still take the initiative to attack. Only the Jade Sword Sect, facing the direction of the Barbarian Clan, would often take the initiative to launch preemptive strikes.

In fact, the defense line held by the Jade Sword Sect was not only the most stable but also slowly and firmly advancing deeper into Yuantu Great Prairie. In the past, to provide a retreat route for Taiyi Sect, Meng Zhang had purchased a piece of land that Jade Sword Sect had captured in the direction of Yuantu Great Prairie.

Apart from that, even the first sect of the Jiuqu League, Azure Origin Sect, rarely launched attacks. When facing the Barbarian Clan's army, defense and counterattacks were their most commonly used strategies.

Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General's destination this time was a defensive stronghold situated on Yuantu Great Prairie, located between the Barbarian Clan's army and the Jiuqu League. It was a small mountain on the grassland, with a Second Rank spirit vein embedded within it. The mountaintop had been flattened, and several structures were built on it. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, a Second Rank protective formation covered the entire area.

Based on the different grades of spirit veins, the Jiuqu League had established several strongholds of various sizes on Yuantu Great Prairie. During peaceful times, these strongholds collected resources from the surrounding areas and exploited the spirit veins beneath them. During times of war, these forward strongholds provided early warnings for the rear. Some of the larger strongholds could also serve as support points for the entire defense line, delaying or even blocking the enemy's advances.

Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General didn't enter the stronghold directly but rather landed a few dozen li away to the west of the stronghold, waiting silently. Both of them were Gold Core cultivators and had great patience, so they waited in silence for more than two days.

On the third night, Luo Ye Daoist Master and Jue Ying Daoist Master flew in from the west. Even before getting close, both sides noticed each other. The four individuals gathered together, finally reuniting.

After bidding farewell to Meng Zhang and the others in Dongyuan City, Luo Ye Daoist Master and Jue Ying Daoist Master had stayed in the city for more than a day to avoid arousing suspicions from Daoist Master Black Fox. Only after they were certain that there were no pursuers behind them did they change their flight direction and fly here to meet Meng Zhang and Extreme Sword Spirit General.

Jue Ying Daoist Master was an exceptionally skilled scout and assassin within the Dark Alliance. Nobody dared to track her secretly in front of her; it was all in vain. She could guarantee that their tracks were not exposed.

Before this, Luo Ye Daoist Master had only told Meng Zhang part of the plan. Now, upon their arrival, she disclosed the remaining details of the plan without omitting anything. According to the plan, they wouldn't foolishly venture into the deep Yuantu Great Prairie with their true identities. Nor would they directly infiltrate and personally experience the Barbarian Clan's vigilance capabilities. They would conceal their identities and movements, infiltrating deep into Yuantu Great Prairie in a very special way, and then act opportunistically.

Before this, Luo Ye Daoist Master had already used her connections to arrange for skilled individuals to be responsible for supporting and covering them.

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