Chapter 113: Northern Yin

As the crowd ascended, they simultaneously moved northward. A bird's-eye view from the southeast entrance would reveal a continuous stream of righteous sect members moving up the mountain like ants, angling toward the north.

After just two days, one could observe a distinct waistline forming thirty miles below the summit of Kunlun, spanning the southeast entrance, the eastern slope, and the western slope. This was the stalemate line beyond which the righteous cultivators could not advance.

Further north, one hundred and fifty miles from the southeast entrance on both the eastern and western slopes, there were two vertical lines of conflict. These were the front lines where righteous disciples held off northern reinforcements. This meant the Blood God Cult had successfully kept the righteous forces pinned to the south, preventing them from encircling the Kunlun summit.

Seeing this, Jian Bingru, who was overseeing the main camp, immediately adjusted his strategy. He reduced the number of people assaulting the mountain, sending only small groups of third-realm experts leading second-realm disciples upward. They were to remain hidden, seeking out the peripheral nodes of the mountain-protecting formation. His goal was not to slaughter the demonic cultists, but to infiltrate the Blood God Cult and assess the situation within.

Simultaneously, he dispatched a large number of second-realm experts, leading first-realm disciples, to continue pushing northward.

The Demon Cult now faced a choice: either tighten their defense, relying on the mountain-protecting formation to guard the nodes and prevent the righteous from reaching the interior—which would require abandoning the north—or hold the north to avoid being cut off, which would leave their front gate completely exposed.

The people on these two lines were rotated daily; as soon as their mana was exhausted or they were injured, they were immediately sent back to the main camp.

The hall masters of the Blood God Cult grew anxious. The mountain-protecting formation could not be compromised; they could not let the enemy in. They had nowhere left to retreat.

Yet, they dared not abandon the northern slope. The West Kunlun mountain range was a long ridge, and the northern slope served as the Blood God Cult's path of retreat toward the Northern Demon Sect. If that were cut off, they would be isolated. Furthermore, the entrance to the subterranean tunnel leading directly to the Kunlun summit lay on the northern slope; it must never be discovered.

The hall masters went together to the Blood Cloud Palace to seek instructions.

"Order the disciples to gradually withdraw from the northern line and focus all efforts on defending the south. Leave only twenty or so men on the north side to guard the tunnel," the Blood God Child said calmly.

"But Sect Master, with only twenty men?" The hall masters were puzzled.

"Do not worry. Reinforcements from the north are already on their way."

The righteous wanted to train their troops, and the Demon Cult were not fools. Normally, the demons would not dare venture deep into the southeast, but now that the righteous had come to the north, they were literally at their doorstep, with their own mountain as a battlefield. Why wouldn't they want to come? Besides, the righteous disciples were wealthy and their flesh was fragrant; he had promised the newcomers a share of the spoils. He could only imagine how many demons would flock to join the fray.

"Sect Master! The Hall Master of the North Yin Hall of the Ice and Snow Palace requests an audience!" a voice announced from outside the palace.

The Blood God Child smiled. Had they not just arrived? "Welcome them!"

Before long, the Blood Cloud Palace—renamed from the Mo Yun Palace—welcomed its first outsider.

He was a young man, as fresh as the mountain breeze after rain. He was handsome, slender as green bamboo, with a hearty laugh and words as pleasant as a spring breeze. "Congratulations, Senior! Your great undertaking is nearing completion!"

Just a moment before the young man entered, the Blood God's shadow shifted, transforming into a middle-aged man in a loose robe, with white hair, a lotus crown on his head, two dragon-whisker-like locks hanging before his forehead, and a vertical blood-colored mark between his brows.

The Blood God Child turned to look at the young man and laughed. "I wouldn't call it a 'great undertaking,' just a quest for a place to settle down. Even for this, I must rely on the support of fellow cultivators."

The young man shook his head in admiration. "Senior, your success lies in secrecy. You were a guest at the Ice and Snow Palace only a short while ago, yet in a single night, you razed West Kunlun and established a new sect. You truly have the power to turn clouds to rain with a flip of your hand. You have no idea—the Northern and Southern Demon Sects are in an uproar. Even fellow daoists from overseas have come to inquire: just who is this sacred figure?"

The Blood God Child laughed loudly. "What sacred figure? I am but a remnant of my former self. But you, North Yin, to be a Hall Master at such a young age, commanding tens of thousands of demonic troops—you are far better off than I, a mere figurehead!"

It was common knowledge that as the largest sect in the Northern Territory, the Ice and Snow Palace was divided into three halls due to the vastness of the region. Each hall master was a ruler of their own domain, commanding tens of thousands of troops, and they were known by their hall names.

The current North Yin Hall Master was the youngest in history. Rumors in the Northern Demon Sect suggested that he had attained his position solely because his extreme beauty had won the favor of the Ice and Snow Palace Master.

Seeing North Yin for the first time, the Blood God Child had indeed credited this rumor. But after dealing with him a few times, he realized the young man was calculating, never flaunted his magic, and possessed unfathomable strength. He was definitely not that simple.

North Yin bowed toward the north. "It is entirely due to the Palace Master's trust that I have been fortunate enough to attain this position. I cannot compare to your profound magic, Senior. Your brilliant methods have even won the high praise of our Palace Master!"

After exchanging pleasantries, the Blood God Child got straight to the point.

"I wonder, North Yin, how many attendants have you brought with you this time?" This was a coded question about the number of reinforcements.

North Yin smiled and held up two fingers.

The Blood God Child breathed a sigh of relief. "Two hundred?"

North Yin shook his head. "Senior, for such a grand event as the founding of your sect, how could I be so stingy? I have specifically ordered two thousand demonic soldiers to assist you. They are only first or second-realm children, but I hope you will not despise them."

"Hahaha, North Yin, you have given me a great surprise!" The Blood God Child laughed. With these two thousand soldiers, even if the Longevity Sect and the Five Ghosts Gate did not come, he would not be afraid. Although he did not fear the righteous sects, he had long understood that relying on himself alone would not defeat the righteous, nor would it defeat Emei. Therefore, West Kunlun, his first foundation, could not be lost.

"North Yin, I owe you a great favor."

Hall Master North Yin smiled and handed over a cold, ice-carved token. "The two thousand soldiers of the North Yin Hall are outside the northern foothills, awaiting your command."

The Blood God Child took the token and handed it to a subordinate behind him. "Slowly integrate them into the northern line."

After giving this simple instruction, he turned back, feeling even more satisfied with the young man. If he had insisted on commanding them himself, he might have caused trouble instead.

Seeing the Blood God Child take the token, North Yin smiled. "Senior, the favor is easily spoken of. You know that we three hall masters will soon return to the Palace to report and be evaluated. When we are before the Palace Master, I hope your West Kunlun Blood God Cult will stand by the North Yin Hall."

The Blood God Child heard this request for repayment and was not angry, but pleased. He laughed heartily, "Certainly, certainly!"

***

On the fifth day of the mountain assault, at the northern line.

"Xinzhan, go back to the main camp and get some rest!" Feng Jihu said, feeling a pang of sympathy as he watched Cheng Xinzhan sitting on the ground drawing talismans the moment he returned from the front.

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head. In fact, since the day he ascended the mountain, he had never once gone back down. Even Ying Jingsong and Huo Jingyan had sent messages several times to ask what was going on.

There was no complicated reason. Cheng Xinzhan had mastered the most difficult 'visualization method' in the breathing arts, and with the 'Inner Scene God' residing in his body, he was constantly absorbing energy. His mana recovery speed was unimaginable to others. Even after long periods of using magic swords, spells, or talisman arrays, when his mana hit rock bottom, he would switch to body-sword techniques to slay enemies. By the time his physical strength was exhausted, his mana had already recovered.

If he were ever caught off-guard by a flying bone sword, a quick casting of the "Zhao" character Light Spell would obstruct everyone's vision. In that instant, he would swap his bamboo body for his flesh body, take the hit, and then use a simple illusion to hide the tear in his robe. To others, it looked like a profound secret art of turning into mysterious light to dodge the sword. He was so cautious that he had never suffered a serious injury, so there was really no need to return to the camp for rest.

In just these four days, he felt that he had integrated everything he had learned over the past four years.

Two days ago, because of his courageous performance, people on the eastern slope of the northern line had started calling him "Little Zhongkui."

By the third day, tired of seeing his fellow daoists constantly running back and forth to the camp to replenish their talismans, he began drawing talismans for everyone while his mana recovered. He would find a wind-sheltered rock, sit down, and start drawing. The chaotic noise of the front line and the residual energy of spells seemed to have no effect on him. What others considered a rare and unattainable state of "True Stillness" was as natural as breathing to him.

They had never seen anyone like him. Even the disciples of Sanqing Mountain, even his close sect-mate Feng Jihu, knew Cheng Xinzhan was talented, but they had no idea he was *this* talented.

Some things are easy to do in the mountains, but on the front line of life and death, they become difficult. Yet, the harsh environment did not affect Cheng Xinzhan, which precisely highlighted the gap between him and ordinary mountain geniuses.

When he announced that he would draw talismans for anyone who provided their own paper and ink, charging nothing else, a wave of cheers erupted on the eastern slope, leaving the demon cultists feeling uneasy.

From then on, the name "Cheng of the Talismans" became widely known.

As more people came to request talismans, some recognized him as the one who had nearly swept three titles at the last Huanzhu Tower sword-fighting competition. People were no longer surprised that he could fight with both magic swords and body-sword techniques. Some asked why he didn't use a flying sword to fight, but whenever he heard this, he would just smile and say nothing. The secret of the flying sword hidden in his eyes was only known to a dead demon; he naturally treated it as his trump card.

Others, however, easily guessed the reason: that flying sword, which looked to be of extremely high quality, must have been broken by the combined attack of the Emei swords! Where could one find a replacement for such a fine sword in such a short time?

As the saying goes, "He who takes gifts is soft-spoken." Those who received talismans from Cheng Xinzhan naturally spoke in his favor. Coupled with their suspicions about the origins of the Blood God Cult, they began to mock Emei. In the main camp, they dared not, as Emei masters were overseeing things, but on the northern line, they spoke freely.

Word spread, and in the mouths of those on the eastern slope, Emei's already mediocre reputation became even worse.

The people from Sichuan were concentrated on the western slope, but rumors always found their way over. Now, the Emei disciples were striving to dispel the suspicions through fierce offensives, wanting to surpass the eastern slope in momentum. The people on the eastern slope, not wanting to be outdone, fought just as hard.

Jian Bingru, as the coordinator and a fourth-realm master, knew the battlefield like the back of his hand. He deliberately transferred the Sichuan sects and those close to Emei to the western slope, and the eastern sects to the eastern slope. The daily kill counts and distance advanced were announced in the camp, with rewards for the victors, effectively turning internal friction into the drive to slaughter the enemy.

Cheng Xinzhan drew another ten talismans and handed them to the person waiting in line. "Just do your best to eliminate the demons," he said earnestly. "We do this to defend the Way, not for competition. Your own lives are the most important. If you're tired, go back to the camp and rest!"

Ever since he heard that Jian Bingru in the main camp was encouraging competition between the two sides, he made sure to add this sentence every time he handed out a talisman. The man nodded and bowed to Cheng Xinzhan.

Feng Jihu watched from the side as Cheng Xinzhan buried his head in his work again, showing no signs of leaving. He sighed and tucked a "Clear Vision and Liver-Cleansing Pill" into his mouth.

After drawing talismans for two more hours, he put away his brush, picked up his "Autumn Water" sword, and stood up. "Everyone, my mana has recovered. I am returning to the front line. The same old rule: give the paper and ink to my fellow sect-mate here, write down what you need, and pick them up when I return."

Feng Jihu watched as he was surrounded by a crowd, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had been refining medicine and saving lives on the front line, and now he was moonlighting as a bookkeeper.

Back at the front, the eastern slope was long and the terrain complex. The so-called "northern line" was not a true line. Some charged ahead, some lagged behind. Looking around, one could only hear loud roars and see the neon glow of spells, but it was hard to tell where anyone actually was.

Cheng Xinzhan followed the sound of battle to the nearest skirmish. When he drew closer, he saw Sun Miaoshu and Zeng Jinian, along with two other Sanqing Mountain sect-mates he had met, and two masters from Wutai Mountain.

After all these days, the teams were no longer organized by the individual peaks of Sanqing Mountain; even disciples from different sects fought side-by-side. For instance, the prayer beads of the Wutai Mountain monks could suppress blood light, and the lightning cultivators from Sanqing Mountain's Shuji Peak could break through blood miasma; they were highly sought after. As for those who refined pills and medicine, it went without saying.

Opposite them were ten demons, but judging by their clothing and weapons, they were not of the Blood God Cult's style. They wore blue robes with cyan collars, black wave patterns on their cuffs, and their weapons varied, unlike the standardized gear of the Blood God Cult.

Cheng Xinzhan joined the fray, starting with a fire dragon talisman array he had practiced to perfection. Now, it only took thirty-six talismans to produce power equal to the sixty-nine-talisman dragon from five days ago.

The fire dragon forced back a demon who had been suppressing a Wutai Mountain monk. Cheng Xinzhan approached the monk and asked, "Are these the people from the Ice and Snow Palace who appeared yesterday?"

The battlefield changed in an instant. The righteous cultivators had realized the Blood God Cult had reinforcements, but they didn't know how many had come, how long this battle would last, or how many people would need to be committed. Since the rear had not yet come up with a strategy, those on the front line naturally just did their best to eliminate the demons.

The monk panted and replied, "It should be them. These people use extremely cold magic. If you are hit, it seeps directly into your meridians and organs. Only the Ice and Snow Palace of the Northern Territory possesses such strange power."

At the mention of "cold," Cheng Xinzhan's eyes brightened. There were indeed few cold-element methods in his sect. His encounter with Yu Qingsi of Tianzhu Mountain at White Jade Capital had given him much insight. After returning to the sect, he had consulted classics and asked his seniors, only to find that the sect's methods regarding "Yin" were mostly focused on "Water," "Softness," "Swamp," "Kan," "Death," and "Change," with very little regarding extreme cold.

His fighting spirit soared. All methods could be studied together; since he had encountered it, how could he not learn a thing or two?

"Star of Jingzhen, brilliance of the Bing-Ding light! Flying fire for ten thousand miles, fire follows smoke! Disperse!" He cast a spell, spitting out "Bing" fire, which transformed into dozens of fire sparrows that spat flames and smoke, rushing toward the demons.