Chapter 501: Preparing for Battle

Chapter 503: Preparing for Battle

Yang Jishan unfurled several maps.

Among them were a topographic map of the mines, the entrance layout of the Lu Family’s Corpse Mine, a structural diagram of the stone halls within, and a simple route map of the mine tunnels.

Tiny annotations covered the maps.

Those small characters explained details requiring caution: the Iron Corpses on guard, the locations of mechanisms, corpse-poison traps, secret passages, hidden rooms, concealed doors, and so on.

There were even formation diagrams marked—defensive formations, warning formations, manifesting formations, trap formations, killing formations, restraining formations… all labeled with absolute clarity.

The level of detail shocked everyone present.

Cross-checking the maps, Commander Yang arranged the battle tactics.

First came division into squads. Based on their cultivation techniques and the Dao arts they excelled at, the Foundation Establishment cultivators were grouped.

Each squad had differing strengths in offense and defense, complementing one another.

Those adept at killing techniques and sharp Dao arts went to the vanguard; those with hardy bodies and robust blood-qi focused on defense.

Some cultivators possessed obscure, uncommon Dao arts—perfect for acting as surprise units to deliver unexpected effects.

After assigning squads, Yang Jishan continued,

“The Dao Court has allocated a batch of pills. I’ll distribute them shortly…”

“These pills include Antidote Pills, Spirit-Recovery Pills, Blood-Replenishing Pills, and Blood-Purification Pills…”

“The rest are common pills; take them as needed.”

“But the Blood-Purification Pill is different. It specifically suppresses corpse poison. It’s precious—use it sparingly, but in critical moments, don’t you dare try to save it.”

“If you’re injured, bleeding, or tainted by corpse poison—especially that of a second-grade Iron Corpse—you must take it immediately. If the poison assaults your heart and you corpse-transform while alive… I’ll have no choice but to end you myself.”

The cultivators present all looked solemn.

Yang Jishan’s expression hardened as he added:

“Of course, if I am the unlucky one who corpse-transforms and becomes a living puppet of the Corpse King, don’t hesitate—kill me and burn the body to ash!”

“A descendant of the Yang family may fall in battle, but we must not die only to become zombies that aid evil afterward…”

After he finished, Yang Jishan asked:

“Among you, is there anyone versed in formation arts?”

Everyone looked around. Then a few cultivators stood—hair half-white or fully grayed, all quite elderly.

Yang Jishan nodded.

A white-robed youth hesitated, then also stood.

A middle-aged cultivator next to him tugged his sleeve—too late—muttering with irritation:

“What are you sticking your nose in for…”

A withered old man beside them sighed and shook his head.

But the white-robed youth remained upright and earnest.

Seeing someone so young, Yang Jishan looked surprised.

“This young friend… you’re a formation master?”

The youth nodded. “I am a second-grade formation master.”

Second-grade formation master!

A wave of shock swept the hall.

“So young?”

“Impossible…”

“At a time like this, who would lie?”

“What background does he have?”

“Probably from an aristocratic clan…”

“Then what’s he doing here?”

“Who knows…”

“He looks twenty or thirty at most… that talent is terrifying…”

“I’m one-hundred-eighty-plus and only a first-grade formation master… shameful, shameful…”

Whispers buzzed everywhere.

Yang Jishan was also stunned. Then, with a serious tone, he asked:

“May I know your honorable surname?”

The white-robed youth cupped his hands. “Commander Yang is too polite—my surname is Yun.”

“Yun… from the Yun family’s young master, then…”

Something flickered in Yang’s eyes. He nodded.

“Good. For this operation, I hope Young Master Yun can lend us his strength.”

The white-robed youth nodded. “To vanquish evil and uphold the Dao—this is my duty.”

His youthful righteousness made the nearby middle-aged cultivator wince, but Yang Jishan looked utterly pleased. He instructed a deputy commander:

“When battle begins, you are to stay at Young Master Yun’s side. Guard him closely—no accidents allowed.”

“Yes!”

The deputy accepted the order.

Yang Jishan laid out the formation diagrams of the mine and pointed out several formations—locks and checkpoints used for defense.

He asked,

“Young Master Yun, how should these formations be broken?”

Yun shook his head. “I cannot unravel them—I can only teach you how to break them…”

Yang Jishan blinked.

Break? Unravel?

Was there actually a difference?

To ordinary Dao soldiers, breaking and unraveling a formation were basically the same thing…

But he didn’t dare ask and appear ignorant, so he vaguely said:

“Either is fine.”

Yun studied the diagrams, thought briefly, and then pointed out the formations’ weak points—where the formation eye lay, how the formation pivot circulated, which runes were crucial, which formation media were vulnerable…

As long as these spots were destroyed by spiritual power or brute force, the formations would collapse.

Overjoyed, Yang Jishan memorized everything, then ordered several squad leaders:

“Remember what Young Master Yun taught! During battle, you must strike precisely and destroy these formations!”

“Yes, Commander!”

Yang Jishan continued discussing with the others, filling gaps and refining the plan to suppress the Corpse Mine…

After the meeting, someone suddenly asked:

“Commander, where exactly did these incredibly detailed intel come from?”

The hall fell silent, all eyes shifting to Yang Jishan.

Yang glanced toward Situ Fang.

Situ Fang rose and said, “They were provided by two disciples of aristocratic clans.”

“Aristocratic clans?”

“Which clan?”

“How did they learn this? Is it reliable?”

Situ Fang frowned. “Our Situ family can vouch for it.”

Someone snorted. “Your Situ family’s guarantee doesn’t mean much.”

“It’s not distrust—this matter is huge. We must be extremely cautious…”

Situ Fang’s brows tightened.

Yang Jishan thought for a moment, then said,

“Very well. Bring these two disciples here. We’ll confirm with them directly.”

“This…” Situ Fang hesitated.

“Is there an issue?” Yang asked.

“I can invite them, but whether they’ll come, I can’t promise,” Situ Fang replied.

“No problem,” Yang said. “Just invite them.”

“Alright.”

Situ Fang cupped his hands and left.

Yang Jishan studied the maps again, frowning.

It was too complete… almost like intel leaked by an insider within the Corpse Mine.

No—an insider probably wouldn’t even know this much.

The terrain maps and stone-hall layouts were one thing, but these formation diagrams were definitely top-secret. Ordinary cultivators could never acquire them.

Likely only Lu Chengyun had access…

Was this Lu Chengyun’s trap?

Or was the one who gathered the intel someone deeply familiar with the mine’s internal formations—perhaps Lu Chengyun’s trusted subordinate?

Yang Jishan pondered, then noticed Young Master Yun staring intently at the diagrams as well.

“Young Master Yun—your thoughts?”

Yun paused, then answered seriously:

“I don’t know about the other intel, but as for this formation diagram—its formation logic is intricate yet coherent, fully aligned with the terrain. It cannot be fake.”

Yang Jishan nodded, finally relaxing a little.

As long as the formation diagram was real, all was well.

Formations were the core.

No one would leak something this confidential—not even Lu Chengyun—if trying to lure enemies in.

Even if other intel had small errors, they could adapt on the spot.

Yang Jishan now grew curious.

Who exactly were these “two aristocratic disciples” Situ Fang spoke of?

And what kind of person gathered intel this detailed?

Half an hour later, Situ Fang returned with two cultivators.

White Zisheng and White Zixi.

The moment they entered, the hall brightened.

White Zisheng—handsome and heroic, eyebrows sharp as swords. Though only Qi-Refining, his spiritual power was dense, clearly from an excellent foundation.

White Zixi—disguised, appearing merely elegant and beautiful, but with a cool, clear aura. Her eyes shimmered like glass, unforgettable at a glance.

Both radiated powerful spiritual fluctuations—no weaker than each other—and their bearing was unmistakably that of aristocratic scions. Their roots were extraordinary, yet their auras subtly concealed their true depth.

A cultivator attempted to probe them with Divine-Sense—

But the moment he released it, something seized his sense and dragged it into an abyss, vanishing without trace.

The cultivator’s face went pale with terror.

These two were not people he could afford to offend.

Yang Jishan took a long breath before asking,

“May I know where the two young friends hail from?”

White Zisheng replied, “Our surname is White.”

White?

Yang Jishan’s heart skipped.

Which White?

Across the nine provinces of the cultivation world, several major clans bore that surname…

But pressing further would be disrespectful. So he moved on:

“These Corpse Mine details—how did you obtain them?”

White Zisheng said, “My little junior brother discovered them.”

“Your junior brother?”

“Yes,” White Zisheng replied. “He’s skilled in formations. Lu Chengyun exploited that, captured him, and has him trapped inside the Corpse Mine.”

“Then this intel…”

White Zisheng nodded. “All gathered by him while inside.”

Yang Jishan frowned.

Skilled in formations? How skilled?

These intel packets included a formation diagram. Was that really something someone could investigate while trapped?

Yang’s doubt lingered.

But seeing the presence and bearing of White Zisheng and White Zixi, he gradually dismissed suspicion.

“To be the junior brother of these two aristocratic heirs… he must be exceptional. Doing things ordinary people can’t—it’s plausible…”

Nearby, White Zixi quietly tugged White Zisheng’s sleeve.

White Zisheng pursed his lips, clearly reluctant, then said:

“There is one more matter… I hope all of you can help rescue my little junior brother.”

He hated asking for favors—but for Mo Hua’s sake, he forced himself.

The Corpse Mine held too many zombies for him to charge in alone. And Mo Hua hadn’t returned in far too long…

Yang Jishan said, “Of course.”

This junior, being the disciple of these two White clan scions—and captured by Lu Chengyun—clearly had unusual status and ability.

And he’d provided crucial intel. No matter what, they had to rescue him.

Yang asked:

“What does this junior brother look like? Any distinctive features? What is his name?”

White Zisheng replied, “Thirteen years old, skilled in formations, delicate features. His name is Mo Hua.”

Thirteen?

So young?

Gasps filled the hall.

Yang Jishan also froze.

Mo Hua?

That name… sounded very familiar.

Where had he heard it before?

Someone had mentioned it to him, hadn’t they?

Unable to recall, he set the thought aside and declared solemnly:

“When we storm the Corpse Mine, if any of you encounter this cultivator named ‘Mo Hua,’ you must assist him and rescue him!”

Everyone nodded.

They remembered the name “Mo Hua.”

None of them knew what that name truly meant…

Author Notes:

Update Adjustment

Temporarily switching to a guaranteed one chapter per day—around 4,000+ words—with extra chapters added when possible.

This book has been written continuously for six months now, every single day without a break. I’m a bit worn out and need to slow down a little, make time to exercise, and adjust my mindset.

From how things look, this is shaping up to be a long xianxia epic.

In the planned outline, many vast and all-encompassing worldbuilding elements haven’t even been unfolded yet, and the main storyline has only just begun to move…

It’s a massive project.

So it needs to be done steadily, with a long-term view.

No matter how the temporary results look, the goal is to keep updating over the long haul—persist all the way to the end.

To present the xianxia world I want to build in its complete form.

To write out Little Mo Hua’s entire growth, experiences, and insights, all the way until the day he ascends and seeks the Dao.

This is my first book, and I hope to do my best, to start well and finish well.

One million words is the small goal.

Finishing it is the ultimate goal.

…

As for update timing—lately I’ve been dealing with some insomnia and irregular sleep, so the updates have been unstable. I’m very sorry.

I’ll adjust and try to get things back to a stable rhythm.

About the reader group—

Right now, there isn’t one, so I won’t be creating it for the time being~

Don’t want to get distracted… and don’t want you all roasting me to the point I lose the will to write~ (●”●)

Lastly, thank you all for your support.

Wishing everyone good health and happiness every day~

(^_^)