Chapter 9: Disciples of Snow Dragon Mountain Gather at Oxhorn Mountain

At noon, the Golden Crow hung high in the sky.

When Ji Jiuhuo, Ji Ning, and the others were at Oxhorn Mountain setting up the grand formation and diligently practicing to familiarize themselves with it, in the Snow Dragon City within the Yan Mountains, quite a few Zifu Disciples of Snow Dragon Mountain had already gathered. A huge cloth curtain was suspended high in the air above Snow Dragon City, upon which were placed long tables, fruit plates, wine, and the like.

One could see cultivators sitting cross-legged at ease, toasting and drinking, quite content.

"This Junior Apprentice Brother Dong Ziqi has invited quite a crowd this time; I fear he has invited all the fellow disciples from the various regions around the Yan Mountains," said an elder with a long beard, holding a beast-head wine goblet, speaking to a silver-haired cultivator beside him. "It hasn't been long, and already more than ten Zifu cultivators have gathered."

"The more Zifu cultivators, the better we can practice the combined formation techniques of our Snow Dragon Mountain!" the silver-haired cultivator laughed. "Thus, no matter what tricks that little Ji clan has, with us fellow disciples joining forces... it will be a simple matter."

"The little Ji clan hardly requires so many Zifu cultivators," the long-bearded elder shook his head. He had come to earn a share of the merit; once the mine was taken, the sect would assign merits, and those who participated would receive a portion based on their contributions. But the more cultivators, the smaller each person's share.

As they chatted among themselves,

Dong Ziqi, as the host, naturally went around with wine, conversing with everyone. He had some reputation among his fellow disciples and was considered a fairly outstanding figure, so everyone gave him face. However, most of Dong Ziqi's time was spent accompanying Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu.

Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu had a golden glow on his face, and sitting cross-legged, he exuded a domineering aura. The Earth Dragon beside him had shrunk to several zhang in length, lying there, occasionally devouring some meat.

Beside him were three relatively stronger junior apprentice brothers, including Dong Ziqi, keeping him company.

"With Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu here this time, no matter what tricks the Ji clan has, they will be useless. In fact, we are just here to share a portion of the merit."

"The last time I saw Senior Apprentice Brother was over thirty years ago."

They all chatted, flattering and fawning.

After all, the Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu before them could, in terms of strength alone, fight head-on with an ordinary Wanxiang Adept! Relying on his divine abilities, killing Zifu cultivators like them was as easy as slaughtering chickens. Moreover, they had heard that Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu was currently in seclusion seeking a breakthrough. If he didn't break through, it was fine, but if he succeeded, he would become a Wanxiang-level divine-body cultivator.

At that point, Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu's status would skyrocket, and he would become a major figure in the sect. Naturally, they wanted to build some rapport early.

"Hmm?" Dong Ziqi turned his head to look at the sky.

In the distance, on a flying bird, there was a man dressed in animal skins. The bird was just an ordinary bird, not a先天性 great demon. The man in animal skins shouted directly: "Cultivators of Snow Dragon Mountain, I am ordered by my clan leader to inform you that our Ji clan's clan leader and other Zifu cultivators have set up a grand formation at Oxhorn Mountain, eight hundred li outside Ten Thousand Swords City, awaiting the Snow Dragon Mountain cultivators to break it!"

Having said that, the man in animal skins turned and left on his bird.

"Arrogant brat, watch me capture him," a Zifu cultivator with triangular eyes and black robes said coldly, preparing to act.

"Stop." A faint voice came.

The triangular-eyed Zifu cultivator looked and saw that it was Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu, seated in the main seat, who had spoken. He immediately dared not act.

"We are cultivators who have embarked on the path of immortality. He is merely a mortal messenger. Lowering ourselves to kill him would only tarnish Snow Dragon Mountain's reputation," Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu said indifferently. "That little Ji clan dares to openly set up a formation and invite us to break it. We, the fellow disciples of Snow Dragon Mountain, must display absolute strength and crush them mightily."

"Senior Apprentice Brother is right."

"Senior Apprentice Brother speaks sense."

"Our strength far exceeds that of the Ji clan; acting openly and aboveboard is the right way." The Zifu cultivators all praised in succession.

Tong Yu added: "However, since the Ji clan dares to inform us directly, they must have some tricks up their sleeves. These tribes have been rooted for thousands of years... they might have some powerful moves. Fellow apprentices, do not be careless; be more attentive and cautious... With our strength, destroying the Ji clan is naturally no problem."

"Yes." Everyone nodded and accepted the instruction. In truth, they all knew this reasoning, but since Tong Yu was speaking, they had to listen obediently.

...

Another two hours passed, and another group of three Zifu cultivators arrived. When these three newly arrived Zifu cultivators saw so many fellow disciples gathered, especially Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu, they naturally took him as their leader. Although many Zifu cultivators went to exchange a few words with Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu, he only responded casually.

"Hmm?" Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu's eyes lit up as he looked at the distant sky, even putting down the beast-head wine goblet he was holding.

In the distant sky, a white crane broke through the air, carrying two Zifu cultivators. One was Junior Apprentice Brother Mu Si, who had been sent to invite fellow disciples, and the other was a cultivator dressed in ordinary animal skins with disheveled hair. His eyes were like bright stars, and just looking at him made one's heart calm involuntarily.

"Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao has arrived." Dong Ziqi quickly stood up.

"Let's go welcome Junior Apprentice Brother Zidao." Tong Yu stood up.

Since Tong Yu stood up to welcome him, naturally the other Zifu cultivators also stood up to welcome him, all of them very enthusiastic.

Nong Zidao...

He was a renowned figure in the Yan Mountains and surrounding areas. Tong Yu was merely a rogue cultivator who later joined Snow Dragon Mountain, while Nong Zidao had been trained by Snow Dragon Mountain since childhood. He was from the influential 'Nong' clan within Snow Dragon Mountain, a famous formation expert among the younger generation of Snow Dragon Mountain, cultivating a high-level Qi Refining method, and had a chance to become a Wanxiang Adept in the future.

Such a figure was ordinarily very difficult to invite.

"I didn't expect Dong Ziqi to invite Nong Zidao as well." The Zifu cultivators were secretly surprised.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Zidao." Tong Yu greeted him with a smile. "I thought it would take some time for you to arrive, but you're here so quickly."

"Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu." The crane landed on the cloth curtain, and Nong Zidao stepped down. "Hearing that Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu invited me, and that I could earn some merit, I naturally dared not be slow. With my crane as transport, I was a bit faster than the other junior apprentice brothers and sisters."

The two of them conversed without speaking to the other fellow disciples, and the Zifu cultivators found it only natural.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Ziqiao." Nong Zidao looked at Dong Ziqi beside him. "You have rendered great merit this time."

"With Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao here, I can finally relax," Dong Ziqi quickly said. "Earlier, Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and I were worried about the formation... Although the Ji clan is a small tribe, they have a history of several thousand years. The grand formation they set up for the survival of their tribe must be extraordinary. I was feeling apprehensive before, but now that Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao is here, everything becomes simple."

"With Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao here, the little Ji clan's formation can be broken at will."

"Easily broken."

The Zifu cultivators all nodded and praised with smiles.

Nong Zidao nodded lightly. He was skilled in formations and was highly regarded within the sect, but after all, he was only a Zifu cultivator. Without reaching Wanxiang... his status could not rise high. And beside him, Tong Yu, with his divine abilities, was fully capable of matching a Wanxiang Adept. Moreover, he was not too old and had a chance to break through. Naturally, he wanted to build a good relationship, and this was an easy task to earn merit, so of course he came.

"With Junior Apprentice Brother Zidao here, we now have a total of nineteen Zifu cultivators," Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu said, looking around. "Counting my Earth Dragon and Junior Apprentice Brother Zidao's crane, we can be considered twenty-one Zifu cultivators."

Everyone nodded.

Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu glanced at Nong Zidao beside him, and their eyes met, making a decision instantly.

"Our strength is definitely superior, and with Junior Apprentice Brother Zidao to break the formation," Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu said. "There's no need to delay any longer. Let's set off now for Oxhorn Mountain! As for the fellow disciples who arrive later, Junior Apprentice Brother Ziqiao, you arrange for someone to welcome them and inform them that we have already gone to Oxhorn Mountain."

"Alright." Dong Ziqi quickly agreed. With Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and Nong Zidao making the decision, the later-arriving fellow disciples would not dare to say much.

"Good, let's go."

"With so many of us fellow disciples, we can destroy the Ji clan."

"With Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao here, the matter is settled." All the Zifu cultivators agreed, because the more Zifu cultivators came, the more the merit would be divided. By setting out first... and dealing with the Ji clan first, they would claim the main share of the merit. Those who came later would only get the leftovers.

Dong Ziqi directly transmitted a message to his clansmen in Snow Dragon City: "Wait in the city. Once my other fellow disciples arrive, tell them... Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao have taken the other fellow disciples to Oxhorn Mountain first."

"Yes, clan leader." In the city, innate creatures were prepared to welcome the later-arriving Zifu cultivators.

"Let's go." Dong Ziqi said with a smile.

Whoosh!

The cloth curtain immediately flew through the air.

This group of Zifu cultivators sat on the cloth curtain, toasting and drinking along the way, carefree and at ease. For them, this trip to Oxhorn Mountain was just a casual outing, utterly relaxed.

...

Oxhorn Mountain.

Now the sun had reached the western mountains, and the light of the setting sun enveloped the land, draping the wilderness and Oxhorn Mountain in a layer of red gauze.

The Ji clan group had long finished their drills and were resting, their eyes full of confidence and anticipation. If before they were fighting for their lives, even embracing death... now they had enough confidence to contend with Snow Dragon Mountain. Ji Jiuhuo even said: "If they don't lose dozens of Zifu cultivators, they won't break the formation." His tone was filled with anticipation of slaughter.

With such a grand formation... the Zifu cultivators of Snow Dragon Mountain would surely die in large numbers within it.

"This bottle of liquid elemental essence," Ji Ning said, holding a jade bottle and speaking with the clan leader and others. "I only used a little over thirty percent in my previous cultivation, leaving quite a bit. In dealing with Snow Dragon Mountain, our Ji clan cannot afford any carelessness. This liquid elemental essence could be of great use at a critical moment. Please keep it safe, clan leader."

Just as Ji Ning was saying this, Ji Liuzhen suddenly shouted: "Look, look to the north!"

"Hmm?" Everyone turned to look.

Standing at the peak of Oxhorn Mountain, they could see in the distance a huge cloth curtain flying through the air. On the cloth curtain were tables and seats, and Zifu cultivators sat cross-legged, toasting and drinking, carefree and at ease. Among them, one stood on the cloth curtain, looking this way—it was Dong Ziqi!

...