Chapter 1177: Sandi'e Stronghold

Elder Ji nodded. "The position of Sandi'e Stronghold is extremely important. At present, two Daoists are stationed there, but we are still not entirely at ease. We hope you can go reinforce them and assist in operating the array. Of course, if you have any difficulties, feel free to raise them. Everything can be discussed."

"Do you have a general deployment map of the front lines? I would like to look at the situation first." Qin Sang neither agreed nor refused immediately and instead made his request.

"Of course." Elder Ji readily agreed. He took out a jade slip and handed it to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang activated his spiritual consciousness and sank it into the slip, examining it carefully.

The contents inside were quite simple. The so-called deployment map was also rather crude, but it contained everything Qin Sang needed.

At present, the two most important strategic locations on the front lines lay in the east and west respectively: Wangdong City and Shiqu Mountain.

The top experts of the Two-Domain Alliance, including Daoist Master Zhenyi, Devil Lord Tongyou, and others, as well as Senior Sister Qingjun, had split into two forces and stationed themselves at these two critical locations, establishing major camps.

Senior Sister Qingjun was currently at Shiqu Mountain. Other dangerous strongholds and cities were also garrisoned by Spiritual Infant cultivators, each under the command of one of these two main camps.

Because Sin Abyss had stretched the battle line too long, mixing feints and real attacks, the Two-Domain Alliance had no choice but to deploy forces this way. Coincidentally, Sandi'e Stronghold fell under the jurisdiction of Shiqu Mountain.

There were several other locations similar to Sandi'e Stronghold. Their importance ranked only below the two major camps. The human race had invited demon kings to assist precisely to stabilize these key positions.

As long as these positions held firm, even if other areas fell, they could still block the advance of the Sin Abyss, and perhaps even launch a counterattack.

Aside from these, there was also Hukou Stronghold in the far west. It lay in the most remote position, at the tail end of the highland, and served as the gateway to Heavenly Demon Hill. It was currently defended by forces sent by the demon race.

Sin Abyss had clearly come prepared. The desert forces bordering Tianxing Highland had already been wiped out early on by Sin Abyss, and Hukou Stronghold would also soon face its threat.

The demon race certainly did not want Sin Abyss to break through from there. The Feathered King had been guarding against exactly that possibility.

After understanding the situation, Qin Sang felt that being stationed at Sandi'e Stronghold was acceptable, so he did not request a reassignment.

Seeing this, Elder Ji was delighted and immediately took out a Mustard Seed Pouch. "Inside is a Golden Sinking Wood, along with a sum of spirit stones. Please check them, Daoist."

Qin Sang accepted the pouch and examined its contents. To his surprise, the piece of Golden Sinking Wood was as thick as an arm. This material was the core essence extracted from the heartwood of a spiritual tree. Even a mature spiritual tree would not yield a piece much thicker than this. The Two-Domain Alliance had clearly spent a great deal.

"I will gladly accept it!" Qin Sang stored everything without hesitation.

Earlier, in exchange for cultivation resources, most of the treasures he had brought back from Canglang Sea had already been sold off, aside from the Malevolent Demonic Pills and the top-grade demonic cores and demon bones.

Although a Spiritual Infant grandmaster would not lack spirit stones, in a situation like this, having extra reserves was always beneficial.

"You Daoists have been fighting Sin Abyss for so long. You must know them well. I wonder if there are detailed records. It would help me prepare." Qin Sang’s knowledge of Sin Abyss was limited to what he had heard from Senior Sister Qingjun.

"Of course. Even if you had not asked, I would have given them to you. And here, this is the command token that proves your identity." Elder Ji handed him another jade slip along with a token.

Qin Sang then proposed transferring the old macaque and the other demonic beasts from Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea to Sandi'e Stronghold. Elder Ji agreed to all the requests one by one, though they would need to be dispatched through the unified command of the Two-Domain Alliance, so it would take a few days.

As for the disciples of Devilish Flame Sect, they were currently stationed at Shiqu Mountain, where Senior Sister Qingjun was.

Mei Gu had likely already made contact with Devilish Qingyang Sect. After discussing a few more matters, both sides reached agreement.

Since time was of the essence, Qin Sang immediately rose and bid farewell to Elder Ji. Traveling south from this place, the terrain ahead stretched into clear view. Faintly, the distant mountains could be seen growing lower and lower.

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When they reached the second staircase of the highland, Tan Yi'en could not help but exclaim in amazement.

A sheer cliff tens of thousands of zhang high stood before them, smooth as a mirror while wind and snow howled.

Unless one attacked through several narrow entrances of the stronghold, attempting a feint assault across such cliffs would be extremely difficult. Even immortal cultivators would find it troublesome.

There was still some distance between Sandi'e Stronghold and Shiqu Mountain. Since Elder Ji had urged them to hurry, Qin Sang decided to go to Sandi'e Stronghold first before contacting Senior Sister Qingjun. After descending the second staircase and flying onward for who knew how long, he finally arrived at the place he was assigned to guard.

Along the way, they encountered patrols. As long as they showed the command token, they were allowed to pass without obstruction.

***

At Sandi'e Stronghold...

Several peaks overlapped here, forming treacherous terrain. It was a strategic location fiercely contested by military forces.

There was no city here. The Two-Domain Alliance had instead set up a grand array. Dense mist covered dozens of li around it, preventing Sin Abyss from discerning the truth within.

Inside the stronghold, however, there was no trace of fog. At the center stood a tall tower, surrounded by rows of neatly arranged stone houses.

With no battles occurring for the moment, the cultivators were resting inside the buildings.

The core of the array lay within that tower. Two Spiritual Infant grandmasters were currently chatting inside.

One came from the Tianxing Alliance, with the Dharma name Jinglin. The other came from Taiyi Core Sect, a true disciple of Daoist Master Chongyi, named Si Di, who had advanced to the Spiritual Infant Realm a hundred years ago. Both were at the early stage of the Spiritual Infant Realm.

"Elder Ji sent a message earlier. We’re getting a helper as well. I wonder which demon king it will be." Daoist Master Jinglin looked quite expectant.

Their expressions showed no sign of urgency, indicating that the situation was not critical. Still, receiving reinforcements was always good news.

"Hopefully it's not that black bear!" Si Di snorted. He seemed to have had conflicts with the black bear demon before. "Otherwise, when the time comes, my Auric Mirror might end up striking in the wrong direction!"

Daoist Master Jinglin smiled faintly. "Elder Ji would not send someone who does not get along with us. Even if it really is that black bear, it will only be responsible for operating the Cold Bell Array. Out of sight, out of mind—"

Before he could finish speaking, a streak of light suddenly flew into the tower. Daoist Master Jinglin grabbed it. "He's here!"

The two flew out of the tower. With a flash of evasion light, they arrived at the edge of the array and saw two figures standing outside. One of them wore a mask, and pure demonic qi radiated from his body. Clearly, he was a demon king.

"Hmm?" The two exchanged glances.

They had at least heard of the demon kings of Heavenly Demon Hill, even if they had never met them. Yet the person before them was completely unfamiliar.

"I am Demon King Ming Yue of Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea. You two must be Daoist Jinglin and Daoist Si Di?" Qin Sang introduced himself. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent the command token into the array.

After verifying it, they allowed Qin Sang and Tan Yi'en to enter.

"No wonder we did not recognize you. So you only recently broke through. I have heard that Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea has a mysterious Senior Bamboo. I never expected another demon king to appear." Jinglin and Si Di appeared outwardly warm.

Qin Sang keenly caught the trace of disappointment that flashed through their eyes but paid it no mind.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two invited Qin Sang into the tower for further discussion. Tan Yi'en was led away by a Golden Core cultivator to settle elsewhere. Before Tan Yi'en left, Qin Sang handed him the command token.

If Tan Hao’s old acquaintance was not at Sandi'e Stronghold, Tan Yi'en would go search the other camps. With Qin Sang’s command token, he could move freely here.

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