On the seventh day of entering the mountain range, a protective shield with a range of two thousand miles, shimring with a jade-green water ripple, ca into view.
This is the magical barrier and temporary restriction array arranged by the Biyun Sect.
The water ripple covers the ancient relics at the core and wraps everything within a thousand-mile radius.
However, the water ripple layer appeared evidently dim, with several areas showing damage.
Soon after Xiao Changfeng led the group into the barrier, a Fake Pill Elder erged from within the relics.
"Fellow cultivators of Cangyun State, invaders from the Outer States seek to seize the relics within our state. This matter concerns not only the prestige of Biyun Sect but also the path of every cultivator in the state. Thus, we invite you to join us in resisting them, and after the battle, rewards will be distributed based on rit.
I, on behalf of the sect, promise that those who perform outstandingly will receive spirit dicines, magical artifacts, secret cultivation technique manuals, the Hundred Arts Inheritance... everything one could desire. We will even distribute at least ten Foundation Establishnt Pills as rewards, ensuring no one feels disheartened."
Among the nearly two hundred loose cultivators summoned, besides six Foundation Establishnt loose cultivators, most were at the late Qi Cultivation Stage. Upon hearing about the Foundation Establishnt Pill rewards, they all appeared excited.
Those who have remained in the Immortal City till now are generally those who seek stability, not daring to venture into the Ruins Forbidden Area.
Unlike the loose cultivators who entered the relics earlier, it's not that they lack courage or strength; they either have ties holding them back, are stable in nature, or most importantly, are unwilling to be enemies of the Biyun Sect.
With such a promise, they now have hope.
"Changfeng, arrange for the fellow cultivators to take turns guarding, considering the pressure of defense in each area, and respect their willingness. Do not force anyone unless absolutely necessary," the Fake Pill Elder instructed before hurriedly leaving.
Xiao Changfeng accepted the task. Not adept at sweet-talking, he simply asked those who volunteered for rit and rewards to step forward.
For loose cultivators, the sect cannot command them as directly as they would family cultivators, since family cultivators have bonds and weaknesses, but loose cultivators, being rootless wanderers, could beco another enemy if pressured too much.
Therefore, appearances must be maintained.
To Li Ji'an's surprise, more than half of these Qi Stage loose cultivators stepped forward, more than he expected.
External reinforcents were stationed outside the Core Relics, not allowed to enter without sect orders, and Li Ji'an was the first to be deployed.
This area is still in the southwestern part of the mountain range, five hundred miles from the Core Relics, primarily to prevent local loose cultivators from entering, which constitutes the second layer of defense; Xiao Changfeng ntioned that five hundred miles further west, at the edge of the magical barrier, is the first layer of defense.
Qi cultivators are stationed in one place, while loose cultivators like Li Ji'an, in teams with other Foundation Establishnt cultivators, patrol districts, all under the command of sect disciples.
The leader of Li Ji'an's team was an elderly Foundation Establishnt cultivator from the sect, very amiable and the type to contribute as long as his health allowed.
After receiving Xiao Changfeng's secret instruction, he was even more cordial towards Li Ji'an.
"Pleasure to et you, Fellow Daoist Li. I am Wumaoshan. I look forward to working with you on our patrols," Wumaoshan greeted with a smile, lacking the superiority often seen in other sect disciples.
"You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Wu. I will rely on all of you for assistance," Li Ji'an replied modestly, bowing to the three in front of him.
"I've heard of Alchemist Li's renowned na in my family; a pleasure to et you," nodded another elderly Foundation Establishnt woman.
"Little Friend Li, your modesty during the auction still impresses ," chuckled the last man with a bulbous nose as he took a hearty swig of alcohol, stroking his graying beard.
Xiao Changfeng had already inford him of the trio's identities: Wumaoshan was an elder from the sect, the elderly woman was an elder from the Beast Taming Liu Family, and the bulbous-nosed man was an elder from the Zhao Family of Celestial Spring City, one of the Five Great Clans.
All were in the early Foundation Establishnt and elderly, at the age of peaceful retirent.
Xiao Changfeng arranged for him to be with these three elders out of consideration for Li Ji'an.
When Xiao Changfeng once asked why Li Ji'an gave up, Li Ji'an answered him as he did with Yan Qingwan.
Thus, he understood Li Ji'an's philosophy of prioritizing safety above all else.
"Thank you for your praise, Fellow Daoists. I'm just a humble practitioner of Alchemy Dao," Li Ji'an responded with a smile.
The three then took Li Ji'an to a temporarily set up Spirit-Gathering Array.
"Fellow Daoist Li, this southwestern area is our patrol zone, mainly to deal with thief cultivators sneaking in from the front. Occasionally, we patrol once," Wumaoshan explained.
The Liu Family elder added with a smile, "In the three years we've been stationed here, no one has sneaked in."
Li Ji'an nodded in satisfaction.
He had no doubt, as the front lines were guarded by sect Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and there was a sect magical barrier and temporary protection array.
Most importantly, this southwestern region faced primarily local loose cultivators from Cangyun State, with few Foundation Establishnt wanderers, Hua Hongling was discovered and injured at this area's first line of defense back then.
However, that was only the earlier situation.
Now, the major wave of loose cultivators was over, unable to shake Biyun Sect's defenses, and next, it was expected that the sects of the two states would soon make their move.
Then, with sect forces confronting in the north, drawing most of Biyun Sect's core power, the scattered loose cultivators might bypass after being intimidated by the sect.
However, most of the pressure would fall on the front lines, with not much problem here.
In the following days, Li Ji'an contentedly bided his ti here, while patrolling occasionally in search of the hidden cave ntioned by Duanmu Qin, accompanied by Gugu.
Based on the clues given by Duanmu Qin and the area where Hua Hongling was injured, it was likely that the hidden cave was in this patrol zone.
"Caw~" One day, an eagle's cry ca from high above, followed by a falcon swooping down, landing on the elder woman's arm.
This was her spiritual bird, a second-tier spirit beast, extrely fast, with excellent eyesight.
"Alchemist Li, my treasure has confird that there are no intruders," she said.
"Thank you," Li Ji'an replied with a smile. "I'll go out and patrol once more."
Wumaoshan nodded, "Very well, I'll note it down for you."
This was part of Li Ji'an's contribution, naturally needing docuntation for future sect inspections.
Leaving the Spirit-Gathering Array, Li Ji'an glanced at the bulbous-nosed man, who was snoring, only having spoken to Li Ji'an the day he arrived and remaining drunk most days since.
"Too bad, I wonder where Duanmu Qin is patrolling?" he thought. Attempting another direction yielded no results, and Li Ji'an suspected that the hidden cave had so unconventional thod of concealnt, making it unlikely to find based on his current search thod.
Reaching the forward frontline station, Li Ji'an still found nothing.
"Senior Li?" Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice called from the frontline station.
Li Ji'an recognized the speaker as Yan Qing.
And those stationed with him were also Yan Family mbers.
This surprised Li Ji'an, as family cultivators, being subjected to sect orders, would probably be assigned to more dangerous areas, yet this place was relatively safer.
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