Chapter 264: Chapter 239: Prelude to the Great War

Celestial Cloud Sect, Artifact Casting Peak.

Inside Fang Yun’s dwelling.

Bai Qinying was there, telling Fang Yun about her upcoming guardian mission.

"So, you’re heading off to guard the Xiao Family’s ancestral lands... What’s the current situation?" Fang Yun asked.

"The Xiao Family is being harassed by the Demon Feng Family."

’The Demon Feng Family...’

Fang Yun quickly recalled the details about the Demon Feng Family.

The Feng Family was a Foundation Establishment Clan of Demons, their territory bordering that of the Stone Demon Sect.

The Stone Demon Sect could no longer be considered a Demon Foundation Establishment Influence. According to the intelligence gathered, the Celestial Demon Sect had temporarily taken it over.

At this point, the Stone Demon Sect was what one might call a semi-Foundation Establishment Influence.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the sect weren’t from the Stone Demon Sect itself. Under these circumstances, the annual tribute of resources they had to offer would surely increase many times over.

"Is it just harassment?" Fang Yun pressed.

"For now, it’s just harassment." Bai Qinying nodded. "But based on past incidents, it won’t be long before they make a real move."

As she said this, a flicker of excitement appeared in Bai Qinying’s eyes.

This guardian mission would almost certainly give her a chance to take action.

During the guardian mission for the Shen Family, she never had a chance to make a move. In the end, Junior Brother Fang had swooped in and taken care of those Foundation Establishment Demons from the Stone Demon Sect himself.

She had never killed a Foundation Establishment Demon before.

"What happened in the past won’t necessarily apply to the present," Fang Yun said, managing Bai Qinying’s expectations.

Then, he added,

"The future is uncertain. While you’re on your guardian mission, if you run into any trouble, be sure to let me know."

"So that’s what you’re after, Junior Brother."

Bai Qinying remembered the last incident all too well.

After she had sent word to Fang Yun, she had managed to get assigned to a support mission, but ultimately had to turn back halfway because he had already done everything that needed to be done.

He hadn’t even gone through the proper reporting procedures before rushing over to provide support. If not for the favorable outcome—and Fang Yun’s own influence and status within the sect—he would have undoubtedly faced some punishment.

"That’s just one part of it."

He had always been very clear about his stance toward Evil Demons and Crooked Paths.

Not even many of the Elders from Battle Peak could match his fervor in this regard.

Making his stance known was a necessity, as many of his future actions would be built upon this foundation.

For the sake of his Talent Points, Fang Yun was constantly laying the groundwork for his future actions, ensuring he made a lasting impression on the various Elders.

"If I run into something I truly can’t handle, I promise I’ll let you know," Bai Qinying assured him.

With her on the guardian mission for the Xiao Family, their overall strength in the face of a Demon invasion would be significantly boosted.

If a situation arose that they truly couldn’t handle, it would generally mean things had become extremely critical.

After bidding farewell to Fang Yun, Bai Qinying departed for the Xiao Family to begin her guardian mission.

Back in his dwelling, Fang Yun did not resume his cultivation. Instead, he began to think, preparing for what was to come.

Judging from the information he’d received from Bai Qinying, the fact that all the powers aligned with the Celestial Demon Sect, big and small, were getting involved meant that the war between the two great Core Formation Sects had already begun.

At this point, unless the Celestial Demon Sect retreated quickly, it wouldn’t be long before Elders like him could enter Celestial Demon Sect territory to take action.

The territory of the Celestial Demon Sect was very dangerous; one had to be extremely cautious when operating there.

’This is a good opportunity for me to get Talent Points... But to seize this chance, I need to gather enough intelligence first...’

Even if the sect allowed them to enter the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory, Fang Yun would absolutely not act recklessly.

Compared to accumulating Talent Points, his own life was certainly more important.

So, until he was absolutely sure of his chances, he would focus on preparations and support work.

Once he was confident, he would go to the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory and deliver a heavy blow to their vassal forces. This would allow him to gain a large number of Talent Points while also indirectly weakening the Celestial Demon Sect’s offensive power.

With his plan settled, Fang Yun resumed refining and absorbing the Upper Grade Spirit Ascension Pill.

...

「Half a year later.」

At the border between the territories of the Celestial Demon Sect and the Celestial Cloud Sect.

A battle erupted between Qi Refining Cultivators and Qi Refining Demons.

Over the past six months, battles like this had become commonplace in the territory of the Celestial Cloud Sect.

On the Demon side, there were three of them: one at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, one at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and another at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

On the Cultivator side, there were only two, at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and Qi Refining Eighth Layer respectively.

On paper, the Demons undoubtedly held the advantage, but the reality of the situation was quite different.

"Watch out for that Spirit Refiner’s broadsword! There’s something strange about it!"

"I know. We’ve heard about these kinds of Upper Grade Magical Artifacts. Just our luck to actually run into one."

Word had already spread among the powers, large and small, in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory about an Artifact Refining Elder from the Celestial Cloud Sect who could refine Upper Grade Magical Artifacts specifically designed to counter Demons.

This was not good news.

It was especially bad news for the Qi Refining Demon factions.

It was bad news, but there was a silver lining to it.

Currently, only one Artifact Refining Elder in the Celestial Cloud Sect knew this refining method, so the number of these Upper Grade Magical Artifacts was limited.

If they ran into a Spirit Refiner carrying one of these Upper Grade Magical Artifacts, they could only curse their bad luck.

In the midst of the exchange, they could clearly feel the Spirit Refiner’s broadsword weakening their defenses and preventing them from perfectly exerting their Demon Power.

The battle had lasted less than a Hundred Breaths when the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Demon fell, unable to get back up.

"You go first! I’ll fight them to the death!"

the Qi Refining Eighth Layer Demon shouted.

"Alright."