Chapter 602: Chapter 408: Future Tier Four

In theory, Sword Cultivators loved facing enemies who relied on defense.

Such opponents were nothing more than living targets to a Sword Cultivator.

But Fang Yun’s defensive prowess was so formidable it was making Miao Qinghong lose confidence. If her techniques hadn’t worked perfectly fine against others, she would have started to suspect something was wrong with her own sword cultivation.

"I am about to strike!"

The moment Miao Qinghong finished speaking, her Sword Intent flared. The Lifebound Flying Sword in her hand gathered a Sword Qi that seemed capable of annihilating everything.

Facing the full-powered strike from a Late-stage Core Formation Sword Cultivator, Song Qiaoqiao, watching from below, held her breath. She knew the power of this single strike was enough to threaten even a typical cultivator at the Peak of Core Formation.

The Sword Qi tore through the air. It was a simple, unadorned strike, yet it contained a boundless energy as it slashed straight toward Fang Yun.

This was Miao Qinghong’s all-out strike, holding nothing back!

And yet, faced with a blow that would make even a cultivator at the Peak of Core Formation turn pale, Fang Yun was protected by nothing more than a single, rapidly circling shield-like shadow.

The energy field generated by the No-leak Shield left no openings. When the Sword Qi struck it, the attack simply vanished, stirring only a few ripples of Spiritual Power before dissipating completely.

Throughout it all, Fang Yun hadn’t moved an inch, as steady as a boulder.

"At this point, I suppose only a Nascent Soul cultivator could threaten you."

Fang Yun shook his head gently. "Perhaps, once you break through to the Peak of Core Formation. But that would only be against my strength as it is now."

Miao Qinghong had a rough idea of Fang Yun’s cultivation progress.

At this rate, Fang Yun would likely break through to the Late-stage Core Formation in less than twenty years. Meanwhile, she had only just entered the Late-stage Core Formation and was still a long way from the peak.

’If this kept up, she would never be able to break through Fang Yun’s defense.’

After that one strike, Miao Qinghong showed no intention of attacking again, so Song Qiaoqiao deactivated the isolating Spirit Array.

The plan was for Miao Qinghong to attack Fang Yun first, and then for Fang Yun to attack Miao Qinghong in return. But the latter was a possibility Song Qiaoqiao hadn’t even considered.

’She knew her husband’s offensive Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Profound Jade Sword, had already undergone two Sacrificial Refinements. It could easily kill a cultivator at the Peak of Core Formation. Defense isn’t a Sword Cultivator’s strong suit; to block Fang Yun’s attack, Miao Qinghong would have to meet it head-on, and in that situation, she would be very easily injured.’

’As for his defensive Lifebound Magical Treasure, the No-leak Shield, her husband had only completed one Sacrificial Refinement.’

’Once it undergoes a second Sacrificial Refinement, even an ordinary Early-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator would have a hard time threatening him.’

This simple exchange gave Song Qiaoqiao a much clearer and more direct understanding of Fang Yun’s current defensive capabilities.

The three of them were now seated in a small pavilion at the top of Cloud Summit.

No sooner had they sat down than Miao Qinghong began to speak, not about the spar, but about the current situation.

This came as no surprise to either Fang Yun or Song Qiaoqiao.

Now that she had broken through to the Late-stage Core Formation and her strength had increased, Miao Qinghong was even more eager to take the fight to the Evil Demons and Crooked Paths.

"Sect Leader, I believe we should intensify our operations against the Dragon Demon Palace, as well as the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect."

"Hmm. The resources within the Demon Spirit Sect’s former territory have been more or less absorbed and repurposed. We can now afford to focus more energy on dealing with the other Evil Demons and Crooked Paths." This time, Fang Yun didn’t object.

His reasoning, however, was different from Miao Qinghong’s.

Miao Qinghong’s motivation stemmed from her personal increase in strength, whereas Fang Yun’s was based on the overall changes within the sect.

In the past decade, a total of twelve Elders in the sect had attempted to break through to the Core Formation Stage. Of these twelve, all but one possessed Dual Spirit Roots talent; the exception had Three Spirit Roots talent.

Two of the Elders with Dual Spirit Roots succeeded in their breakthrough, becoming the sect’s thirteenth and fourteenth Core Formation Cultivators. Of the remaining Elders who attempted it, four failed and perished, while six failed but survived, each suffering serious injuries of varying degrees.

One of the injured Elders was relatively fortunate. His foundation hadn’t been severely damaged, and with fifty to sixty years of his lifespan remaining, he would have a second chance to attempt a breakthrough to the Core Formation Stage if he recovered fully.

The two new Supreme Elders both came from Battle Peak, meaning they offered no bonus to the sect’s resource production.

Fang Yun found himself wishing for the sect to produce more non-combat-oriented Supreme Elders.

"Sect Leader, you’re agreeing just like that?" Miao Qinghong was a little surprised; she had thought it would take more effort to persuade him.

Fang Yun, the current Sect Leader of the Celestial Cloud Sect, wielded immense power within the sect. His status and prestige were exceptionally high.

Anything he wanted to advance could be advanced, while anything he opposed would almost certainly grind to a halt.

Thus, for any of the sect’s upper echelons who wished to voice their opinions or implement their own strategies, they didn’t necessarily need Fang Yun’s approval, but they absolutely had to ensure he wasn’t against it.

Of course, gaining his approval was always the best-case scenario.

This power dynamic had formed primarily because the sect’s upper echelons all understood one thing clearly: their Sect Leader was simply too important!

The Celestial Cloud Sect’s continued growth and prosperity were inseparable from their Sect Leader.

"Would you prefer it if I objected, Elder Miao?"

"Of course not. I’m just a little surprised." A rare smile touched Miao Qinghong’s lips. "It’s for the best that you agree so readily, Sect Leader."

"We can look for an opportunity to make a move against the Dragon Demon Palace. As for the Black Ghost Cave, the Ghost-Controlling Sect, and Ghost Head Castle—which is directly aiding the Dragon Demon Palace—we can put them on the back burner for now."

Fang Yun had discussed this with Lin Ke.

According to the information he’d gotten from Lin Ke, even if the Celestial Cloud Sect’s overall strength were to increase further, it would be best not to try and eliminate Ghost Cultivator factions like the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect. Annihilating the Dragon Demon Palace was already the extent of what they could handle.

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