"That’s... a Foundation Establishment Demon!"

"Quick, activate the Sishui Yuanmu Array."

"Yes, sir!"

"I’ll send a message to the Patriarch. A Foundation Establishment Demon has appeared at Shentong Mountain. It must be the Vice Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect."

On Shentong Mountain, the Qi Refining Tenth Layer Shen Family Cultivators who sensed the fluctuation of Demon Power acted quickly. As the Defense Array activated, a Sound Transmission Talisman transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

Yang Yingjie sat up. He felt something rise in his throat, but he forced it back down. The next moment, he popped a green medicinal pill into his mouth to regulate his condition.

’That was so close. I almost died.’

Yang Yingjie looked at the pitch-black shield lying beside him.

’If it weren’t for this Upper-Grade Magical Artifact that Fang Yun refined for me, I would’ve been finished just now.’

Against the attack of Demon Power, the Profound Iron Shield, though only an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact, had defensive capabilities comparable to a supreme-grade magical artifact.

Given the time he had, he wouldn’t have been able to deploy a supreme-grade magical artifact, even if he’d had one. Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators are slow to deploy such items, and they are also difficult to control. In fact, many can only manage it with great difficulty.

"Damn it!"

Outside, the Vice Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect roared furiously, relentlessly striking the deep green protective barrier.

Ripples spread across the barrier’s surface, but on the whole, it remained very stable.

Yang Yingjie watched the Vice Sect Leader outside. He really wanted to taunt him a bit, but on second thought, he decided against it.

’The Vice Sect Leader probably hasn’t completely lost his mind yet.’

’If I were to provoke him further and he decided to destroy the Sishui Yuanmu Array at all costs, it wouldn’t just be me. The Shen Family Cultivators stationed here would also suffer heavy losses.’

Realizing this, Yang Yingjie got up, picked up the pitch-black shield from the ground, and headed up Shentong Mountain.

’I hope there’s something in this Storage Pouch worth some Spirit Stones, or else this will have been a loss.’

A Qi Refining Seventh Layer Demon from the Stone Demon Sect was only worth forty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, and the explosive Yellow Iron Sword he had used up cost more than that.

...

「The Shen Family Ancestral Land.」

In the main hall, Elder Cao and Bai Qinying of the Celestial Cloud Sect had already appeared.

At this moment, aside from Patriarch Shen, there was only one other Shen Family Elder of the Foundation Establishment Realm present.

"Have the Stone Demon Sect’s Foundation Establishment Demons made their move?" Bai Qinying asked as soon as she entered, glancing at the two men.

"They have," Patriarch Shen nodded. "One of our Shen Family Elders has already gone to provide support."

Patriarch Shen had only just finished speaking when another Sound Transmission Talisman appeared before him.

"Patriarch, quick, what’s the situation?"

"Demons from the Stone Demon Sect have also appeared at Shentong Mountain."

"Shentong Mountain... I’ll head over right now."

The Shen Family Elder in the hall acted at once, departing for Shentong Mountain to help deal with the Stone Demon Sect’s Foundation Establishment Demon.

Now, Patriarch Shen was the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Shen Family left.

"This situation looks grim," Elder Cao said. Based on the current information, he concluded, "The Stone Demon Sect has already deployed two Foundation Establishment Demons at once."

The appearance of Foundation Establishment Demons on Shen Family territory meant that the conflict between the Stone Demon Sect and the Shen Family had entered a new phase.

Just as Patriarch Shen was about to say something, yet another Sound Transmission Talisman appeared.

"Another Foundation Establishment Demon?" Bai Qinying asked.

"Yes," Patriarch Shen had already risen to his feet. "Does the Stone Demon Sect really think they can annihilate our Shen Family like this?"

Patriarch Shen appeared before Elder Cao and took out the Array Plate that controlled the Shen Family’s ancestral Grand Array.

The two elders from the Celestial Cloud Sect were only responsible for guarding the Shen Family’s ancestral land. Now that Demons from the Stone Demon Sect had appeared elsewhere, he, the Patriarch of the Shen Family, needed to take action.

"The situation is urgent. I won’t chat any longer with you two Elders."

"Go."

With that, no Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Shen Family remained in the hall.

Bai Qinying hadn’t even found a place to sit down yet.

"Elder Cao, we were called over, and now we’re the only ones left here."

Elder Cao put away the Array Plate given to him by Patriarch Shen and found the nearest seat to sit down.

"Three Foundation Establishment Demons have already appeared. If nothing unexpected happens, it won’t be long before they show up here as well. Elder Bai, we must be ready at all times."

"Understood. My hands were getting itchy anyway."

"Focus on defense. Don’t you go running outside the Shen Family’s ancestral land," Elder Cao reminded her.

Within the Shen Family’s ancestral land, they could draw upon the power of the Spirit Vein to control the Grand Array, giving them an absolute advantage.

"I know, I know," Bai Qinying said, showing she understood. "When the Foundation Establishment Demons arrive, Elder Cao, you control the Array and coordinate with me to deal with them."

「Four hours after the three Shen Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators left the ancestral land.」

Bai Qinying and Elder Cao had both gone outside and were now standing in mid-air.

In the distance, they had already noticed the Foundation Establishment Demons. There were two of them. For now, they hadn’t spotted any Qi Refining Level Demons.

"Shi Tianpo, I told you long ago that the Shen Family’s ancestral land would most likely be guarded by Celestial Cloud Sect Elders. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so easy for you to lure out the Shen Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators," the former Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect said.

Shi Tianpo had now taken the position of Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect.

"Do not call me by my name directly. You should call me Sect Leader."

"You only barely defeated me. Wait until you break through to the next Realm and decisively defeat me, then you can say that." The former Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect had no intention of calling Shi Tianpo ’Sect Leader.’ "What’s your plan for this situation? A frontal assault on the Shen Family’s ancestral land?"

"I didn’t even bring any Sect Elders or disciples. Do you think I’m that stupid?" Shi Tianpo shot a glare at the former Sect Leader beside him.

The man was acting as if he were an idiot.

There were Foundation Establishment Cultivators inside the Shen Family’s ancestral land; a frontal assault would not be a wise choice.