sinovels Chapter 80 Operation Lingmiao Garden
Chapter 80 Operation Lingmiao Garden
Main Hall of Kunwu Mountain.
The atmosphere was heavy and tense, more so than any gathering fifty years ago. More than two hundred Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered in the hall, including many in the late or even peak stages of the Nascent Soul realm, making it a gathering of the most elite forces of the human realm's allied forces.
Master Xuanhun stood in the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. His voice was steady and powerful: "Fellow Daoists, after fifty years of tug-of-war and attrition, the arrogance of the Ancient Demons has been somewhat curbed, but their foundation remains intact, especially with their occupation of Tiannan and Lingmiao Garden, giving them a continuous source of replenishment. If we cannot reclaim Tiannan and destroy their foundation, this war will not end!"
The hall was silent; everyone knew that the final battle against the ancient demon was about to begin.
"After multiple discussions among the Linglong Demon Consort, myself, and the high command of the allied forces, we have decided to launch a large-scale counterattack with the goal of reclaiming Tiannan and destroying the ancient demon's lair there!" Master Xuangu said decisively.
"However, Tiannan has been cultivated for many years and is now a den of dragons and tigers. The main force of the ancient demons has gathered here, and with the avatar of the Yuan Sha Saint Lord in charge, a direct attack would inevitably result in heavy losses." Master Xuan Gu changed the subject. "Therefore, our first step is not to directly attack their lair, but to first sever one of their arms—to reclaim, or completely destroy, the 'Lingmiao Garden' that has been occupied by the ancient demons!"
"Lingmiao Garden?!" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. The importance of Lingmiao Garden was known to all. If it could be reclaimed, it would be a huge encouragement to the human realm and would also cut off part of the ancient demons' source of spiritual medicine; but if it could not be reclaimed, its complete destruction would also prevent the ancient demons from using its resources to continue to grow stronger.
"Indeed." Venerable Xuan Gu nodded. "Lingmiao Garden is located in the heart of Tiannan, but it's not the core area of the ancient demons' defenses. If we can use elite forces to launch a surprise attack and quickly break in, the chances of success are great. Even if we can't completely reclaim it, we must thoroughly destroy its core medicinal fields and spiritual vein nodes so that the ancient demons can't use them!"
"I will personally lead the raid on Lingmiao Garden." Xuanhun Shangren's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Wang Tianlong, Ice Soul Fairy, Caiyi, and several dozen other cultivators with the strongest auras. "Wang Tianlong, Ice Soul, Caiyi... you one hundred Nascent Soul cultivators will accompany me on this raid!"
The cultivators whose names were called stepped forward, their expressions solemn. Wang Tianlong and the Ice Soul Fairy, who was not far away, exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity and determination in each other's eyes. The battle at Lingmiao Garden would undoubtedly be even more dangerous than that at Black Wind Mountain Range.
"Meanwhile," Venerable Xuanhun continued, "the Demon Consort Linglong will be stationed at Kunwu Mountain to oversee the entire operation. Additionally, Venerable Qingmu and Chief Jiaolong, you two will each lead two teams, each with fifty Nascent Soul cultivators, to simultaneously attack the Blackwater Marsh and Crimson Flame Mountain, two important ancient demon strongholds within Tiannan territory. Create chaos, draw the attention of the ancient demons' main force, and create opportunities for us!"
"Yes!" Master Qingmu and the Dragon Clan Chief (who had already led the elite demons to Kunwu Mountain) answered in unison.
"Gentlemen," Xuanhun Shangren's voice suddenly rose, "this battle concerns the human realm! If we can successfully sever their spiritual medicine foundation and disrupt their heartland, it will greatly damage the morale of the ancient demons, creating an excellent opportunity for our subsequent full-scale counterattack on Tiannan! I hope all fellow Daoists will work together with one heart and one mind, and bravely fight the enemy!"
"Unite as one! Fight bravely against the enemy!" The cultivators inside the hall roared in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles, their fighting spirit soaring to the heavens.
Wang Tianlong and the other cultivators from Lingmiao Garden were left behind to discuss the specific details! The rest of you, prepare yourselves, and we will act simultaneously in three days! Master Xuanhun waved his hand.
Wang Tianlong and the others immediately followed Master Xuanhun to the side hall. A detailed map of Tiannan, especially a 3D image of Lingmiao Garden and its surrounding area, floated in the air.
"Lingmiao Garden is now shrouded by the ancient demons with the 'Ten Thousand Poisons Demonic Miasma Array,' which contains countless demonized plants and poisonous insects. Furthermore, an ancient demon, the 'Poisonous Dragon Venerable,' who is at the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage, is personally overseeing the situation..." Master Xuangu began to explain the enemy situation and action plan in detail.
Kunwu Mountain, Wang Tianlong's Cave.
After the discussion, Wang Tianlong returned to his cave, his face solemn. He did not immediately sit down to meditate and regulate his breathing, but instead took out the jade slip containing information about Tiannan and studied it carefully again, especially the part about "Lingmiao Garden".
"The Tiannan Lingmiao Garden, occupied by the ancient demons... I don't know if it's the core area from the original story, but with the 'Ten Thousand Poisons Demonic Miasma Array' and the 'Poisonous Flood Dragon Venerable' in charge, along with nearly a hundred Nascent Soul Ancient Demons and some human traitors, its danger level is definitely far greater than the Black Wind Mountains," Wang Tianlong muttered to himself.
Involuntarily, the scene from the original story flashed through his mind: Han Li's encounter in the shattered fragments of the Spirit Garden after entering the Fallen Demon Valley—spatial rifts, ancient restrictions, and the risk of death if he was not careful.
"Even if this Lingmiao Garden, occupied by the ancient demons, isn't the core of the Fallen Demon Valley, it must be extraordinary for them to value it so much. With numerous restrictions and poisonous creatures everywhere... plus the ancient demons' strict defenses..." The more Wang Tianlong thought about it, the more he felt that the danger of this mission might far exceed his expectations.
"We can't wait any longer." A resolute glint flashed in Wang Tianlong's eyes. "We must transform our battle merits into tangible survival skills! Especially defensive measures and ways to cope with unpredictable environments!"
He immediately got up and went to the Hall of Military Merit again.
Fifty years later, the Hall of Battle Merit was still bustling with activity, but the list of items had long been updated, now containing many rare treasures retrieved from ancient demons or newly acquired from the Spirit Realm. Wang Tianlong, now possessing over 13,000 battle merits, was full of confidence and skipped the ordinary area, heading directly to the area dedicated to displaying top-tier treasures and Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures.
His gaze quickly swept over the descriptions on the jade slips:
"The Xuanwu Armor (Imitation), a replica of the Xuanwu Armor, a powerful spiritual treasure. Its defensive capabilities are astonishing, capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. It also offers additional resistance to poison and fire attacks. 8000 battle merits are required to exchange for it." (The defense is good, but it's too cumbersome and primarily effective against physical and elemental attacks, with limited effectiveness against spatial rifts and soul attacks.)
"Seven Flame Fan (Imitation), a replica of the Heavenly Treasure Seven Flame Fan, combining offense and defense. When fanned, it can form a seven-colored fire curtain, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities. Exchange requires 9000 battle merits." (It combines offense and defense, but the consumption will inevitably be huge, and the flames may be suppressed in poisonous miasma and demonic energy environments.)
"The Void Shuttle (Imitation), a flying treasure imbued with a trace of spatial power, allows for short-range teleportation within a small area, proving remarkably effective at breaking through restrictions and avoiding spatial rifts. Requires 7500 battle merits to exchange." (This is great! A spatial treasure, perfect for an environment like the Spirit Garden, useful for both escaping and advancing.)
"The Pure Heart Bodhi Bead, a rare Buddhist treasure, can stabilize the mind and resist illusions, soul attacks, and demonic corruption. 3000 battle merits are required to exchange for it." (An essential item! The Spirit Misty Garden is rife with demonic poison; even a slight weakening of the will can allow it to be exploited.)
"Heavenly Net, a one-time consumable treasure. Once activated, it forms a large-scale binding restriction, extremely effective at trapping enemies. Requires 2000 battle merits to exchange." (Used in crucial moments to block pursuers or trap powerful enemies, buying time.)
After a moment's thought, Wang Tianlong quickly made a decision: "Exchange for the 'Sky-Piercing Shuttle (Imitation)' (7500 battle merits), the 'Pure Heart Bodhi Bead' (3000 battle merits), and the 'Heavenly Net' (2000 battle merits)!"
He spoke to the spirit realm cultivator in charge of the exchange.
"A total of 12,500 battle merits, confirmed?" the other party confirmed.
"Confirmed!" Wang Tianlong handed over his identity token without hesitation.
A flash of light, and his battle merits were deducted. Three treasures appeared before Wang Tianlong.
The Void Shuttle is about the size of a palm, silver-gray in color, and emits faint spatial fluctuations; the Bodhi Beads are a string of simple wooden prayer beads, warm to the touch, and calming to the mind; the Heavenly Net is a ball of supple golden silk threads.
Wang Tianlong put the Bodhi Beads on his wrist and immediately felt his mind become clear. The demonic energy in the surrounding environment, which had been so irritating, seemed to become less unbearable. He nodded in satisfaction and carefully put away the Void-Breaking Shuttle and the Heavenly Net.
Only after doing all this did he feel somewhat relieved and return to his cave.
"With these items, plus my own escape techniques and that last trump card..." Wang Tianlong sat cross-legged, beginning final preparations for the operation three days later. "Lingmiao Garden... Venerable Poison Dragon... let me see just what kind of methods you have!"