After losing contact with Yasenia's group, the Abyssal Worshiper Sect started to prepare. They couldn't really dip into what other sects had, like formations, etc. After all, those methods required Heavenly Energies that they couldn't manipulate.
So, to defend themselves, they created [Abyss Towers] in a perimeter around their territory. These [Abyss Towers] were particularly powerful defensive structures that could be linked to create a shielding dome. They worked by linking Abyss Energy and created a dense wall that could block energy and also attack anyone who came too close or tried crossing it. So, more than a solid wall, the dome was like a very thick dark fog that could devour, transform, and corrupt energy sources that came close to it.
The base of the large dome covered around 8 billion square kilometers, making sure no one could sneak in an attack. Yasenia scanned everything with her Spiritual Sense before returning to the group with a pensive look.
Mo Yun trotted over and smiled. "Did you find anything new?"
"The dome covers an area 100,000 kilometers in diameter. I've sent some traces of energy to see what happens, and the fog would detach and attack anything that comes close. So, our options are very limited in that regard. Brute forcing things has become impossible."
It had been around a month since the day they dealt with the Transcendence Realm Abyss members. When they arrived at their territory, they made sure to move undetected and use formations to avoid triggering any enemy alarms. So, they were hidden from their enemies for now.
Their current location was a large cave Gao Yan found inside a mountain range, around 200,000 kilometers from the enemies. That distance was big enough to escape surveillance. Moreover, with flying treasures or swords, mortals could easily cross a distance of 100,000 kilometers in 10 hours on average. For them, at the Sixth Realm, it took just a few seconds at most.
Hearing Yasenia's words, Mo Zifei, Mo Yun's little sister but with a much more mature aura, asked. "What do we do, then? We can't attack them or harass them. We can't bait them out without endangering ourselves… We are in a stalemate."
Yasenia agreed with her words and looked at Chen Jizhen. "What do you think? Any ideas?"
Over the last month, they had both worked out their feelings for each other. Now, although they didn't like each other, they also didn't have any hate or resentment. At most, they were coworkers and would respect each other at that level.
Chen Jizhen crossed his arms and asked. "Have you seen their mortal sect members coming and entering through the fog? Or have they turtled themselves?"
"No, they haven't become defensive to that extent." Yasenia clarified. "I could sense mortal groups leaving and entering the fog. The people that came out were as strong as Peak-Fifth Realm people or as weak as a novice Third Realm cultivator."
Chen Jizhen pondered for a while and then answered. "Then, we will go with your suggestion, Yasenia."
Mo Yun's eyes glittered. "Yay!"
After cheering, she waved her hand and summoned a green jade tablet. When the tablet appeared, she commented with a big smile on her lips. "I have already prepared everything! Check it out!"
Yasenia took the tablet and after giving it a read, she smiled. "Great. Did the senior elders approve this?"
Gao Yan smiled and nodded. "All done. They've checked everything and accepted it."
With a nod, the dragoness took the jade tablet and walked away. Her voice spread throughout the cave in the next instant. "All mortal cultivators are to gather in the main cave room."
The cave had been divided into livable spaces, so no one was confused when they heard Yasenia's mellow and charming voice.
Everyone moved quickly and rushed toward the center at their highest speed. Yasenia waited while setting up the last few formation strokes. Once she was done, she nodded and turned around. Her spiritual sense swept the area, checking their numbers. '79,873. One hundred and twenty-seven less than a month ago.'
These cultivators died from the after-effects of Abyss Energy exposure.
Below, everyone looked at the platform with respect, awe, and some other feelings. Yasenia was restraining her appearance, even wearing a veil and her long-sleeved blue dress with white phoenixes. Even then, her baseline beauty was just too strong for most people in the room not to be affected.
Yasenia ignored the strange gazes, already accustomed. Instead, she tapped the ground with her tail and activated the formation. The wall behind her lit up, and soon, words began appearing in the native language of this world. It was the universal language, so no one had any trouble reading it. Yasenia spoke to everyone present. "Today is the day we start our attack on the [Abyssal Worshiper Sect]. They have created a defensive structure around the most important sections of their domain, and since the enemy is not too weak, we can't force entry. However, the area they have is not large enough to cultivate their future talents."
Yasenia turned halfway, and her tail pointed at the wall while her arms remained elegantly resting at her sides. "This wall is an [Abyss Extermination Mission Wall]. This wall will generate missions that you can accept in exchange for Sect Points."
The juniors began discussing among themselves with surprise in their eyes.
"Sect Points?"
"They are really generous."
"Look, that quest over there gives as many as 100 Sect Points! I can buy a peak Heaven-Ranked healing pill with that many points!"
"...When Elder Yasenia stands sideways, her figure looks too good."
Yasenia let them speak for a little while before she cut down their chatter. "Silence." After waiting for a second, everyone stopped speaking. "For the rewards, we have set up a transporting array, and you will need to go to Elder Mo Zifei or Elder Gao Yan. There are 100 posts for people who will help the elders process the missions and give rewards as well. These positions are voluntary. Still, those who volunteer will receive rewards that are not worse than accepting gold-tier missions."
Hearing the unknown term, many looked confused. They didn't need to fret, as Yasenia clarified the situation without leaving anything aside. "The missions will naturally require different types of people. We won't send Third Realm juniors to inspect locations where Fifth Realm enemies or monsters might appear. Hence, we will separate them into different tiers. The missions go as such."
Yasenia pointed at the wall, and the image of a mission table changed to a map with five different colors. "Places where Third Realm cultivators can participate are Bronze-level sites; for those in the Fourth Realm, they will be referred to as Silver-level sites; for those of the Fifth Realm, we have classified them as Gold-level sites. Finally, any realm where peak-Fifth Realm threats might appear will be classified as Abyss-level sites. We will also mark the sites unavailable for you juniors as forbidden sites."
She added sternly. "Anyone who dares to go to forbidden level sites will be punished severely. So, after you download the map into an information jade, check well where you are going."
Seeing Yasenia's stern face, some people couldn't help but feel shy. 'Elder Yasenia is so pretty when she worries about us.'
After explaining that, Yasenia asked aloud. "Who wants to volunteer?"
Around 3,000 people raised their arms, and Yasenia picked 100 of them at random according to their temperament. The ones she chose were either handsome men or pretty women with rather calm personalities. Those who will reassure people fighting Abyss threats need to possess social skills and a pleasant appearance to clear their minds.
Yasenia turned around and left, preparing for her own role in all of this. 'Our forces are strong, and we have also prepared a baseline array of treasures so that they can protect themselves from Abyss Energy influence.' Her eyes became cold. 'Once they start losing promising juniors, their high-level people might start appearing. It will be then that we will strike. That strike must be a sure kill so that we can scare them and push them to use more Sixth Realm elders at once.'
Yasenia was not afraid that they would move all at once, but that their strongest people would remain tightly tucked behind the Abyssal Fog Wall. Looking out at the distant dark dome, Yasenia squinted her eyes. "That wall feels dangerous, but not insurmountable. I can probably cross it without receiving any permanent injury. The problem is that the enemy has more than 10 Sixth Realm people. I am not confident in facing all of them without developing the War or Celestial Intent Domain. If I can understand any of those domains during my stay here, I can probably guide the others inside with me and clean up the place."
"What are you thinking about?"
A man's voice came from the side. Yasenia turned and saw Jilang Qin approaching. He wore blue robes and had a refined appearance. There was a calm smile on his face, looking free and easy. Yasenia shook her head. "I was thinking that I need to make a breakthrough soon so that I can deal with this problem. Our arrangements will likely work for a few years, but eventually, the enemy may develop items to cause our juniors trouble. Abyss Creatures are tricky to deal with."
Jilang Qin nodded, mirroring her worries. "I hope a few of their elders come out before then. I don't think they have intelligent leadership among them. Otherwise, they wouldn't have tried to scan the area and blitz us with their superior strength."
"They can't do that." Yasenia looked at Jilang Qin's confused expression and explained. "They have the advantage of being on the defensive. While they could deal a strong blow to us, they know that we are not weak after we eliminated four of them without suffering any serious injury. In terms of strength, each of us can probably face two of them in a stalemate. Therefore, six against twelve can end up in our victory. Even if there are more than I estimated, our treasures will give us an edge."
Jilang Qin showed a look of realization. "I see. You noticed that, which shows your intelligence."
"Not only mine." Yasenia smiled wryly. "The enemy can think of something you overlooked, so we are not facing mindless, corrupt monsters. There must be someone with wisdom among them."
When he heard that, his face instantly changed from one of surprise to one of solemnity. "No wonder you showed such a worried expression. Are you thinking that our juniors might be in more trouble than we expected?"
Yasenia nodded and sighed. "We must be outside and monitor them from a distance. Also, once a team returns, they will go through a scan to make sure they weren't corrupted by the enemy."
"Got it. I'll tell the others."
Yasenia saw the man leaving, and her face turned serious as she looked into the distance. "I wonder what your next move will be? Will you be slowly asphyxiated by us, or will you use some unknown method to fight us?"
The dragoness turned around to leave and entered a room she had set up to cultivate. 'Let's prepare to develop the War Intent Domain next.'