nycdaug Chapter 177 Ding Weiyuan, Yun Fei breaks through illusion
Chapter 177 Ding Weiyuan, Yun Fei breaks through illusion
At this moment, in this corner of the cultivation world, some time has passed since Cao Geng sent his disciples out to search for rare and exotic animals in order to strengthen his sect.
Ding Wei and Zhao Gang looked at Cao Geng in front of them, and they were all extremely surprised. How shocking was Cao Geng's speed in recruiting disciples? In just over a month, he not only recruited more than 700 Qi-refining disciples to guard the foundation of the sect, but also released many elite disciples outside to practice and cultivate.
Could it be that Cao Geng was like the legendary immortal, possessing extraordinary power of enlightenment? Not only did he expand the entire sect to more than 700 disciples within a month, but he also built the sect into a secret and solid place for cultivation?
However, Ding Wei and Zhao Gang had some misunderstandings about Cao Geng. It was true that he did not have only more than 700 disciples under his command, but in fact, in the past month or so, the number of disciples Cao Geng actually recruited was exactly these 700. All the other disciples with different cultivation levels were the ones Cao Geng sent his own disciples to travel around and recruit talents after conquering Huaian City.
Now, it has been a while since the disciples were sent out. Perhaps it is time to recall them and join forces to fight against the evil Japanese pirates entrenched nearby.
Ding Wei and Zhao Gang were shocked and could not help but ask Cao Geng: "Junior brother, how many disciples do you have under your command now?"
Cao Geng smiled calmly and replied, "As for the total number of disciples, I can't give an exact number at this moment. However, even if we face those Japanese pirates, I am still confident that I can deal with them."
In fact, the situation of Cao Geng's various peaks accepting disciples has been changing. Even if it is just a day, the overall strength of the sect may be very different. Therefore, he really cannot accurately tell the specific number of his current disciples. But one thing is certain, the strength controlled by Cao Geng now has far exceeded the mark of 20,000 cultivators.
However, Cao Geng had no intention of revealing such figures to Ding Wei and Zhao Gang. Even if he told them, they would probably not believe it.
Ding Wei knew that Cao Geng must have a reason for going on this expedition, but he still reminded him solemnly: "Brother Cao Geng, I understand that you have a heavy responsibility on this trip, but as a fellow disciple, I have to remind you that those Japanese pirates failed to kill you last time they offered a bounty, and this time they mobilized a large force to lure you out. Their true strength is definitely not as simple as two regiments."
As one of the three great men in the cultivation world of northwest Shanxi, Ding Wei was able to perceive with just a few clues that there were a large number of hidden forces behind the Japanese pirates' attack on the two leaders Cao Geng and Li Yunlong.
Cao Geng knew that Ding Wei's action was out of concern, so he smiled slightly and said, "The outcome of victory or defeat does not depend on the strength of the troops, but on whether one can skillfully use the harmony of heaven, earth and people to seize the fleeting opportunities in the battle..."
Cao Geng certainly would not tell them that no matter how much force the Japanese pirates mobilized this time, he was determined and confident to ensure the final victory. Even if he said it, Ding Wei and Zhao Gang would not believe it. The current situation was urgent, and he urgently needed to rescue Li Yunlong and Zhao Jiayu who were besieged by the Japanese pirates, so he did not elaborate with Zhao Gang and Ding Wei. The next moment, Cao Geng resolutely decided to leave, and set out to lead the army to go straight to Zhao Jiayu. Seeing this, Ding Wei and Zhao Gang naturally stopped trying to dissuade him.
Ding Wei and Zhao Gang sighed softly, "Brother Cao, after you led the other cultivators away, the Qingfeng Lingshan training base was handed over to the two of us to guard. Now our cultivation has been damaged, and we are unable to go with you to Zhaojiayu to help Li Yunlong and the villagers of Zhaojiayu out of trouble."
Cao Geng looked at Ding Wei and Zhao Gang with surprise. He was delighted to see that they had volunteered to manage the training base.
He did not refuse and nodded, saying, "Okay, then I'll trouble you two junior brothers to take care of the things here."
Ding Wei and Zhao Gang waved their hands and said, "It's okay, Senior Brother, please take care of yourself."
Compared to the life-and-death crisis that Cao Geng is about to face, the challenges they face at the Qingfeng Lingshan Training Base are actually insignificant.
Cao Geng nodded slightly and said no more. Then, he quickly gathered the monks and led them to Zhaojiayu, which was 300 miles away from Qingfeng Village!
Just as Cao Geng led most of the monks from the Qingfeng Lingshan training base to rush to Zhaojiayu to prepare to fight against the invasion of the demon clan, many cultivation sects in northwest Shanxi speculated that Cao Geng might not be able to escape unscathed from the attack of the demon clan this time.
However, there were also some forces who, after learning the news, instead of standing by and watching indifferently like other sects, felt that the actions of the demon clan were really too much.
"After searching for Brother Cao in North China without success, they actually dared to force Brother Cao to personally rescue Zhaojiayu? The conspiracy of these evildoers is really cunning!"
All the sects were filled with righteous indignation and denounced the demon clan for their despicable behavior and shamelessness, and for using cruel and unscrupulous means to deal with Cao Geng.
While being extremely angry about the demon tribe's behavior, most sects also felt depressed and powerless. In the past four months, everyone in northwest Shanxi has known the name of Cao Geng. Originally, in the minds of many people with lofty ideals, Cao Geng, the new leader of the Eight Desolations War Group, has become a role model for fighting against the invasion of the demon tribe. However, now that the demon tribe is targeting Cao Geng, these small sects are helpless...
After all, compared with the well-equipped demon army, the strength of these small sects is too weak. Compared with the fully armed demon army, their strength is like a drop in the bucket.
"If my sect could be stronger, we would definitely come forward to rescue Senior Brother Cao!" Many sect leaders were extremely angry, but they could do nothing. Once they led the monks to fight against the demons, they would be greeted by the demons' overwhelming thunderbolt attack, which would be a fatal disaster for them.
At this moment, when the patriotic monks in many small sects were heartbroken by the demon tribe's actions against Cao Geng, Chu Yunfei of the 358th Corps of the Jinsui Defense Line also received this news. As a fellow cultivator who had cooperated with Cao Geng many times and an ally who knew Cao Geng's strength, Chu Yunfei keenly realized that if the demon tribe really wanted to provoke a conflict with Cao Geng in the northwest of Shanxi, then this territory would inevitably fall into a bloody storm again.
"Cao Geng is not an easy person to deal with." Chu Changfeng knew Cao Geng's cultivation background very well, so he made such an assessment of the current cultivation landscape in northwest Shanxi.
"Besides, this time the Japanese monks have repeatedly targeted Cao Geng, even a stubborn stone would be angry. Facing the provocation of the Japanese monks, Cao Geng will definitely not avoid a fight!"
Although Chu Changfeng has not yet learned that Cao Geng has mobilized the sect's garrisoned disciples to fight against the Japanese monks, he is convinced that given Cao Geng's character, he will definitely take action this time.
"Master, then how should we respond?" On the side, Fang Lixin asked Chu Changfeng for advice.
Originally, Fang Lixin had a clear understanding of Cao Geng's ability. Therefore, as with Chu Changfeng, he was keenly aware that this piece of northwest Shanxi fairyland might stir up waves when the Japanese monk provoked Cao Geng this time!
"What the Japanese monks did to Cao Geng this time was really too much."
"In that case, why don't we take this opportunity to lend a helping hand to Cao Geng and do him a favor?" Chu Changfeng said with a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
He knew that Cao Geng was not someone that could be shaken by ordinary cultivators, and how could he die just because of the pursuit and targeting of the Japanese cultivators. In the turbulent situation in the northwest of Shanxi, Chu Changfeng might as well take this opportunity to lend a hand to Cao Geng, and perhaps even benefit from it, which would also be extremely beneficial to their 358th Division.
Moreover, Chu Changfeng had already been fed up with the worse-than-pigs-and-dogs behavior of these Japanese monks. Even if the target coveted by the Japanese monks was changed to another sect, Chu Changfeng would not hesitate to support them secretly. But if the target was really Cao Geng, he, Chu Changfeng, would definitely turn from covert to open, personally lead his troops to support Cao Geng, and deal a fatal blow to the enemy monks.
"Immediately send a message to the Cao Geng Sect, and inform us that the 358th Division of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army has decided to intervene in this matter and fight against the Japanese monks together."
Chu Changfeng gave the order decisively. Fang Lixin had no objection and immediately took the order and left to convey the instructions.
...However, while Chu Changfeng was preparing to cooperate with Cao Geng to deal with the Japanese monks, the disciples led by Cao Geng were not idle either.
At this moment, he had already led his disciples to a place 40 miles away from Zhao Jiayu, and saw that his team was about to collide with the front line of the Japanese monks.
Cao Geng decisively ordered the troops to stop and sent his spies to investigate the defense situation of the two groups of Japanese monks outside Zhaojiayu.
Not long after, Cao Geng's spies brought back information about the defenses deployed by Japanese monks near Zhao Jiayu.
The spy reported: "Master, the Japanese monks have mobilized two regiments and have surrounded Zhao Jiayu. Of course, they may have concentrated two regiments to deal with Master Li Yunlong, so they do have more than enough people. But they also mobilized a lot of troops to patrol and defend the area ten miles away from Zhao Jiayu."
Based on the information reported by the spies, Cao Geng clearly captured...
When the demons surrounded Zhao Jiayu, perhaps only one Yinsha League was sent to participate in the blockade. However, even this Yinsha League was more than enough to deal with Li Yunlong's troops. And those Yinsha League cultivators who were kept in the open were always patrolling outside, looking for clues that the Third Immortal Brigade led by Cao Geng might appear. This was enough to show that the demons were willing to use any means to deal with Cao Geng's Third Immortal Brigade.
After all, under such a strict defense, Cao Geng did not send out all his troops, but only sent a small number of disciples to investigate the truth. Once his secret detective disciples were arrested, the demons would probably use them to find out the secret location of the spiritual land where the Third Immortal Brigade was located.
"It is obvious that this group of demons is targeting my Third Immortal Journey." Cao Geng said this with a serious expression.
He knew that the demons were coming with such force that Cao Geng would not have to mobilize all his disciples to fight them, but he could not take them lightly. "What good plans do you have?" Someone from the third immortal group asked soon.
Cao Geng unfolded a map of mountains and rivers in his hand, pointed to a place and said: "At this moment, we are in the place shown in the map. The demons are surrounding the First Immortal Brigade's stronghold from the north and south sides, and are paying close attention to the surrounding situation! If our disciples go straight to the First Immortal Brigade's stronghold from the east and west sides to join them, then next, our army and the First Immortal Brigade may fall into the hands of the demon forces that have already surrounded the First Immortal Brigade's stronghold, so it is not advisable to advance from the east and west."
"However, if our army chooses one of the two routes, north or south, to directly attack the demons, then in a short period of time, the enemy's cultivation power that our army will have to face will only be one Yinsha League."