At that moment, several figures slowly emerged from within the formation. They were unfamiliar faces, but each of them exuded the aura of a fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. Clearly, these were stewards from other subsidiary peaks hiding on Feixian Peak.

There were only ten of them in total.

Just enough to handle the ghostly entities and ghost cultivators.

"They're still probing each other," Wen Jiu thought to himself with some frustration. Then, supported by the Discipline Hall disciple, he stepped into the formation.

The moment he entered, he was met with a sight that would be etched in his memory forever.

Hundreds of cultivators stood at the mountainside where the Night Patrol Division and Demon-Slaying Division were stationed. Every single one of them was at least at the third layer of Qi Refinement.

A single glance was all it took for Wen Jiu to spot several figures at the mountain's peak—all of them at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, on par with Ji Qiubai.

"When did all these people arrive at Feixian Peak?" Wen Jiu was shocked but quickly withdrew his gaze and gave a polite nod of thanks.

His arrival naturally drew some attention, but rather than suspicion, many gazes held admiration. Even the Discipline Hall's overseer, Feng Xuan, nodded at him approvingly.

Wen Jiu knew very well—this was the result of his earlier display: absorbing the poison smoke and revealing his Qi Refinement third-layer cultivation.

Sure enough.

In a sect, one had to show some worth now and then.

Just based on his earlier performance, even if he did nothing else, he might already be on the radar of the main peak.

Once Gong Chi was dead, there would be nothing stopping him from heading to the main peak.

"A Left Dao cultivator, yet the first to step forward when fellow sect members are in danger… quite commendable," Feng Xuan suddenly remarked in praise, tossing him a mid-grade first-tier healing pill.

At the same time, his gaze toward Wen Jiu grew even more approving.

He had just investigated Wen Jiu—this youth had only joined the sect a little over three months ago, yet he had already stepped into the third layer of Qi Refinement.

And he did so with inferior spiritual roots.

This alone proved his terrifying talent in the Left Dao.

Across the entire Dead Peak cultivation world—be it subsidiary peaks, rogue cultivators, or demonic cultivators—not a single person could match this youth's aptitude.

It was only a shame that he had taken Gong Chi as his master. According to sect rules, that meant he could never advance to the main peak.

Another unfortunate aspect was the cost of Left Dao cultivation—progress always came with a price. For Wen Jiu to reach the third layer of Qi Refinement so quickly, who knew what he had sacrificed?

If it had cost him ten or twenty years of lifespan, then his incredible Left Dao potential would be wasted. After all, even mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators only lived up to a hundred years at most—not much longer than an ordinary mortal.

Wen Jiu feigned difficulty as he slowly cupped his hands in salute. "Subordinate Wen Jiu, many thanks to the esteemed Overseer!"

Feng Xuan nodded and said no more.

His attention returned to the battlefield, ready to send reinforcements whenever necessary.

In the end, no matter how many forces the Tianzuo Alliance sent, he would deploy just enough to suppress them—no more, no less. He would keep waiting until a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator appeared.

Time was on his side. Reinforcements from other subsidiary peaks were on their way to Feixian Peak. He could afford to take his time.

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But he didn't believe that the Tianzuo Alliance would be willing to drag things out like this.

Meanwhile, Wen Jiu withdrew to the back, out of sight, quietly refining the poison smoke and waiting for the battle to break out. That would be the moment to kill Gong Chi.

Time passed, minute by minute.

More and more reinforcements from other subsidiary peaks arrived, steadily maintaining the upper hand over the Tianzuo Alliance.

Yet so far, the strongest combatants in the fight remained at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. Not a single peak master had appeared.

But as time dragged on, the Tianzuo Alliance seemed to be growing impatient. More and more demonic cultivators and Left Dao rogues joined the fray, turning the foot of Feixian Peak into utter chaos.

Even so, Feixian Peak still held the advantage.

The Tianzuo Alliance relied on sinister and deceitful techniques to barely hold on, but if things continued this way, their defeat was only a matter of time.

Still, Wen Jiu refused to believe this was all the Tianzuo Alliance had prepared. If this was the extent of their strength, would they dare to steal the Blood Ink Three Thousand corpse? Would they dare to covet the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Physique?

The night grew deeper.

The area surrounding Feixian Peak had been completely reduced to scorched earth.

Finally, Wen Jiu saw a blood-red pillar of light suddenly rise into the sky.

A dense wave of blood energy spread instantly, accompanied by a familiar presence and an even more familiar face, rapidly approaching Feixian Peak. Behind him loomed a massive, blood-red, winged demon.

Upon witnessing this scene, Wen Jiu clearly heard Feng Xuan speak, "So they're finally getting serious."

At that moment, a side peak master at the sixth level of Qi Refinement slowly descended, landing beside Feng Xuan. His gaze grew increasingly grave as he looked at the enormous, blood-red demon. "That's a Bloodborn Fiend—the guardian demon of Bloodrobe Tower. It's a descendant of the otherworldly fiends that once swept through the entire Godfall Mountain Range a thousand years ago. While this one isn't nearly as powerful as the one that devastated the cultivation world of Deadman Peak back then, it is still far stronger than an ordinary cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refinement."

Feng Xuan's expression also became heavier. "So that's why they've been holding back—not just to test us, but to break the seal on the Bloodborn Fiend… Get ready. Now that the Bloodborn Fiend has emerged, the Tianzuo Alliance and Bloodrobe Tower will be coming at us with full force!"

With that, Feng Xuan glanced toward the main peak.

The thought of Elder Ye Chen's presence reassured him.

—

Meanwhile, atop the main hall.

Ye Chen silently observed the unfolding events, his gaze locked onto the Bloodborn Fiend and the Bloodrobe Tower remnant, Bai Changxin. As they drew closer, the killing intent in his eyes grew sharper and more intense.

His disciple, though lacking in talent and unlikely to ever reach the late stages of Qi Refinement, was still his disciple.

A teacher for a day, a father for life.

And as a father, he would never allow his child to die in vain.

Yet Ye Chen remained motionless, merely exhaling a slow breath. "Come on, give me more… This isn't nearly enough… What a pity—the Jiangzuo Alliance leader doesn't even dare to show himself, only sending an old man with one foot in the grave."

—

Boom!

The Bloodborn Fiend crashed down onto the battlefield.

A violent surge of blood energy erupted, sending all Tianzuo Alliance cultivators and Feixian Peak disciples within a hundred feet flying backward. Even a side peak steward at the fourth level of Qi Refinement was unable to withstand the shockwave.

In the next moment, Bai Changxin led the Bloodrobe Tower forces forward, accompanied by six cultivators at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, preparing to storm the Feixian Peak battlefield.

But just then, eight side peak masters at the sixth level of Qi Refinement shot out from Feixian Peak's formation.

Bai Changxin, as if expecting this, chuckled. Blood energy surged around him, his aura climbing rapidly. "Only eight peak masters? That's barely enough to feed the Bloodborn Fiend."

At his words, the six cultivators beside him all let out amused laughs.

At that moment, Feng Xuan's voice rang out from the mountainside. "The victor is still undecided. Bai Changxin, you killed our side peak master Ji Qiubai—today, you and your Bloodborn Fiend will be buried here!"

With that, Feixian Peak's protective formation was reactivated.

This time, it was a killing array!

Although Deadman Peak's side peaks were only equipped with mid-grade first-tier formations, they were top-tier within that grade.

After the last Bloodrobe Tower rebellion, this formation had been personally constructed by a top-grade first-tier spirit array master from the main peak. It could defend against and even kill any opponent below the late stages of Qi Refinement.

Buzz!

The formation lines trembled.

Blades of sword light erupted from the ground, rising like a torrential downpour into the sky before plummeting toward the Bloodborn Fiend.

The fiend let out a furious roar, blood energy surging violently. Rather than retreating, it charged forward to meet the attack head-on.

Boom!

The rain of swords descended.

The Bloodborn Fiend—so confidently relied upon by Bai Changxin—was instantly blasted backward, sent flying ten meters. The overwhelming blood energy surrounding it was forcibly torn apart by the sword rain.

Though the fiend remained uninjured, this sight reignited the fighting spirit of the Feixian Peak cultivators.

Bai Changxin's expression darkened, rage twisting his features.

"Kill!"

With that, he was the first to charge toward a side peak master.

At the same time, Wen Jiu, seeing that no one was paying attention to the mountainside, quietly withdrew.

He retreated to a concealed location and immediately activated the Three Rivers Ghost Veil.

His target—the Nightwatch Division's dungeon.

The battle was now in full swing.

Next up was dealing with Gong Chi.