Eternal Tale

Chapter 302: Bai Li Zhonghu

Boom!

A flash of blood-red light erupted behind the group as the Golden Core-level corrupted being closed in, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Malice poured off him in waves as he finally cornered his prey.

With a wicked grin, he raised a hand, channeling tainted blood from his body to form a long spear, preparing to strike—until he froze, abruptly looking up toward the black mountain before him. A look of horror spread across his face as he slowly began to back away.

The cultivators' eyes widened in shock. What was going on?

They turned to gaze at the mountain, a chill crawling up their spines. This was no ordinary black mountain of the War Realm—it was a mountain of corpses.

“No way… that can’t be right…”

“Ha… haha… Huang Shao, do you think corrupted beings fight among themselves?”

“Look, it’s retreating… even the corrupted being is afraid…”

The voices of the cultivators trembled as they spoke, their lips quivering at the sight. This taboo was more terrifying than death itself.

The Golden Core-level corrupted being turned and fled in terror.

Swish!

A streak of light shot from the mountaintop, piercing through the sky to intercept the corrupted being. It let out a shrill scream, tainted blood spraying into the air as it was annihilated without any chance to resist.

Squinting, the cultivators saw a faint figure standing at the peak of the mountain. The deadly light had come from this person.

“Greetings, esteemed elder!”

“Greetings, senior!”

In unison, the cultivators bowed, some even collapsing to their knees, awestruck to discover this was a Da Li cultivator. Beads of cold sweat trickled onto the blackened ground as they remained bowed, too afraid to look up.

“No need for such formality.”

A deep, calm voice washed over them, and a gentle force lifted them to their feet as if they were weightless. Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing sighed in relief, feeling as though they had been granted a second life.

They quickly paid their respects again and hurriedly departed.

<hr>

On the mountaintop.

“Brother Xun, once word gets out, will anyone come for us?” Xiao Chi asked.

“Of course. Just wait. The Bai Li Clan is no ordinary group of cultivators, and besides, there’s no one in Da Li capable of capturing us now,” Chen Xun replied with a light chuckle.

“Moo, moo~”

Brother Ox nodded firmly. As long as the war front remained at the Celestial River, they preferred not to enter the tiger’s den unprepared.

Chen Xun chuckled. In this world of cultivation, power spoke the loudest—without it, no one would care to acknowledge them. Having demonstrated their strength, they now waited patiently, dispatching corrupted beings that dared to approach.

Before long, rumors spread across the War Realm. A terrifying figure had appeared on the battlefield's flank, slaying corrupted beings and stacking them high. It was said that all who passed by this mountain should bow in respect.

The news shook all corners. Was there an ancient powerhouse of Da Li hidden away all this time?

Corrupted beings fled from the area, and before long, this region had become a rare safe haven for wandering cultivators, stretching for miles around.

Legends quickly grew around the towering black mountain of corpses, its river of blood striking fear into even Nascent Soul-level cultivators. They left three offerings each day as a gesture of respect, believing this granted them protection.

<hr>

Meanwhile, at the Da Li frontline.

Rows upon rows of cultivators stood, surrounded by auras of boundless energy. Banners snapped in the wind, and a thousand warships anchored above, casting red light over the ground as a wave of murderous intent filled the air.

The atmosphere over the sprawling camp was tense, suffused with a palpable sense of dread. There was a strict, unyielding silence, each soldier adhering to the rigid discipline imposed by the camp’s leaders.

Unlike most, the command camp wasn’t stationed at the rear but right at the front lines, face-to-face with the War Realm. Every soldier wore armor crafted from Da Li’s finest materials, exuding an aura of unmatched might—these were the elite soldiers of the Bai Li Clan.

After years of fighting against the corrupted beings, they’d found a way to withstand the energy drain of the War Realm: to rely on immense physical vigor to resist the corrosive energy. Though it limited their spiritual sense to some degree, their objective wasn’t merely cultivation; it was to advance the front lines—an approach very different from that of wandering cultivators.

<hr>

Inside the command camp.

The air was thick with tension as soldiers stationed outside stood at rigid attention, cold sweat trickling down their backs.

For new recruits, the atmosphere was unbearable. It demanded mental fortitude more than even the chaos of combat.

In the War Realm Camp, a saying was passed around: If your heart can withstand the pressure, join the camp, but your first task is to put life and death aside.

It was considered a graveyard for the average cultivator and a paradise for the strong.

At the center of the camp, a middle-aged man with a calm expression sat in a commanding chair made from the bones of Deity Transformation-level corrupted beings. Although his face showed no hint of murderous intent, anyone who looked into his tiger-like eyes felt as if they were staring into a sea of corpses.

With a proud and solitary air, he exuded an aura of dominance over the world. This man was none other than Bai Li Zhonghu, the War Marshal of the Bai Li Clan, a mid-stage Deity Transformation powerhouse.

With an unreadable expression, Bai Li Zhonghu’s gaze fell on his gathered officers, his calm demeanor concealing his intentions.

“Word from the War Realm—an expert has been slaughtering corrupted beings on the battlefield’s flank, piling up their corpses. Many of our cultivators have found safety thanks to him.”

His voice was steady, yet warm, as he spoke, “I’d like to meet this person.”

At his words, a strange silence fell over the camp, each officer instinctively sensing an indescribable, ominous pressure. It was as if something more than human sat in that chair.

“Marshal, when shall we depart?” one officer asked.

“Today,” Bai Li Zhonghu replied.

“But we don’t know much about this person’s background,” another officer added, his tone cautious. “It could be a hidden elder of Da Li who’s chosen this time to reveal themselves, possibly targeting our War Realm Camp.”

The officers debated, each speculating about the intentions and origins of this mysterious cultivator.

“No need for such concern. Any cultivator willing to fight corrupted beings on the battlefield is worthy of this Marshal’s respect,” Bai Li Zhonghu said coolly, his cold gaze sweeping over them. The officers quickly fell silent, sitting as if on needles under his watchful eyes.

Bai Li Zhonghu stood slowly, his eyes gleaming with a fierce killing intent as he turned to gaze upon the War Realm map spread before him. The hatred he harbored for the corrupted beings burned deep; they had to be eliminated.

All the officers rose to their feet with him, a tidal wave of battle spirit sweeping the camp as the banners above flapped furiously, almost unable to contain the rising power within.

Above the camp, ten immense warships took to the sky, majestic as they set a course toward the battlefield’s flank. They flew with an unstoppable momentum, unshielded by any formations, braving the winds head-on.

<hr>

On the battlefield’s flank.

Three figures atop the mountain of corpses opened their eyes, looking toward the horizon.

Buzz—

Buzz—

In the distance, ten colossal warships appeared, bearing a sense of unyielding force. Battle flags waved atop the vessels, symbols of the War Realm Camp, the same ships they had seen before.

Chen Xun smiled and stood up. Finally, they had arrived. He was curious to see what sort of formidable figure would emerge to meet them.