"Pang Jingxuan!"
Upon hearing this, Peng Rui was first stunned, then cursed angrily, "And you still have the face to call yourself the Seventh Elder's true disciple?!"
"I-I..." Pang Jingxuan said with great grievance, "I'm only 40 years old this year. Isn't being a second-tier formation master perfectly normal—"
"Cut the crap!" Peng Rui barked. "Even if you can't break it, you still have to break it! Otherwise, we all die here today!"
Pang Jingxuan had nothing to say in response. He could only have several fellow disciples protect him while he took out formation plates and formation flags, attempting to break the Nine-Palace Bewildering Formation.
Peng Rui, meanwhile, held his flying sword in hand, stacked pills and talismans onto himself, and cautiously surveyed the surroundings, constantly on guard against a sneak attack.
"Everyone, don't panic!" someone reassured them. "So many of us are trapped here. Elder Shouzhongzi will notice something is wrong very soon and then come save us!"
"That's right!"
"The elder will come save us!"
The Shengyun Sect disciples could only pin their hopes on the Golden Core elder.
In the blink of an eye, half an hour passed.
Peng Rui gradually realized that something was wrong.
That was, this Nine-Palace Bewildering Formation was indeed intimidating, but just as Pang Jingxuan had said, it was only meant to trap enemies, not kill them.
After the initial several waves of attacks, the people outside seemed to be responsible only for maintaining the formation and preventing it from being damaged. They did not launch any further attacks, and at one point everything even sank into an eerie dead silence.
'These people...' Peng Rui pondered inwardly. 'They're only trapping us, but not killing us. What does that mean? We're waiting for the elder—what are they waiting for?!
'They—'
His brows knitted tightly, and he suddenly reacted.
"Luring the tiger away from the mountain! They're using us as bait to lure Elder Shouzhongzi over!
"Their objective?
"The Demon-Smiting Grand Formation?
"These people—
"Could they be people from the Eastern Divine Continent?!"
After connecting several clues together, Peng Rui felt his hair stand on end.
Starting half a year ago, when these people killed his fellow disciples, they had already begun laying out this scheme step by step?
Interesting!
For the sake of saving themselves, these ants had really put in quite a bit of effort!
"Pang Jingxuan!" Peng Rui grabbed his junior brother by the collar. "Quick, think of a way to find a way out, or a way to send word outside. Tell the elder not to come!"
"The elder not come? Th-then wouldn't we be finished?!"
"Cut the crap! Hurry!"
Daze Market.
"Reporting to Elder!"
Because Zhu Qingfeng was injured, he had been in charge of outer-perimeter scouting and had therefore not fallen into the encirclement. At this moment, he hurried back to the Great Marsh main peak in a fluster. "This is bad, this is bad! Senior Brother Peng and the others—they seem to have been trapped!"
Hearing this, Shouzhongzi showed no great reaction. He merely asked slowly, "Are their lives in danger?"
"Of course they are!"
Zhu Qingfeng said, "Dafeng Mountain is covered in a vast sheet of white. The demonic fiends must have set up a formation there in advance. If Elder doesn't hurry there, I'm afraid Senior Brother Peng and the others are doomed!"
Shouzhongzi fell silent. He gave no answer, only gazed quietly toward the southeast, as if waiting for something.
Zhu Qingfeng was so anxious he paced in circles, but he did not dare urge him again.
About the time it took to drink half a cup of tea later, several more Shengyun Sect disciples fled back in a miserable state. Judging from the direction they came from, it was clearly from the side of Dusk Valley.
"Elder, something happened, something happened!"
The leading disciple stumbled to his knees and collapsed to the ground. "On our way to Dusk Valley to investigate the situation, we ran into demonic cultivators from the Seven Kill Sect!"
Not long ago, Shouzhongzi had noticed the anomaly coming from Dusk Valley, so he had immediately sent people to check on it. But now it seemed they were already too late.
"Go investigate again," Shouzhongzi said. "Bring the people from the Demon-Suppression Bureau and Ronghua City with you!"
"Elder?!"
Both anxious and afraid, Zhu Qingfeng said, "Then what about Senior Brother Peng and the others? We can't just leave them alone, can we?!"
Outside Dusk Valley.
Cao Dongjun of the Seven Kill Sect, Jiang Shang of Ronghua City, and the Eighth Prince Zhao Xun of the Demon-Suppression Bureau had gathered together.
"The dragon puppet is complete."
Cao Dongjun suddenly opened his eyes. Fine dragon scales covered the surface of his cheeks. "Pass the order down and have the subordinates begin the blood sacrifice!
"City Lord Jiang, Eighth Prince, the two of you are to enter Dusk Valley with me immediately, take control of the dragon puppet and retrieve the Imperial Heaven Living Earth, then complete the blood sacrifice as quickly as possible!"
"It has already been arranged," Zhao Xun said quietly. "But the people of the Demon-Suppression Bureau can't go in with you. I will also have to withdraw shortly afterward."
"I understand."
Cao Dongjun said, "Once the Living Earth is in hand, Eighth Prince can leave first."
"This time..." Zhao Xun paused. "I do owe the Seven Kill Sect thanks for your assistance."
"Heh, you're too polite."
Cao Dongjun said unhurriedly, "Since our sect and the Great Song are allies bound by life and death, we should naturally work together with one heart. If one prospers, all prosper; if one suffers, all suffer.
"Once the Living Earth is in hand, I ask that the Great Song court keep it safe and make absolutely certain the news does not leak. Otherwise, one wrong step will lose the entire game."
"Hall Master Cao may rest assured."
With complete confidence, Zhao Xun said, "The court has already made preparations. We will certainly be able to hide the item without a trace. As for the schemes in Northern Yang Dao, those sects above will remain completely unaware."
"Congratulations, congratulations."
Jiang Shang cupped his fists and said, "Once the court obtains this supreme treasure, it will advance by leaps and bounds over the next 100 years. I believe it will soon become a true immortal court."
"Naturally."
Zhao Xun narrowed his eyes. "For hundreds of thousands of years, the cultivation world has been steeped in chaos. Everyone fights and snatches from everyone else, and they do not stop until death. Where is there the slightest semblance of immortal cultivators? They are plainly bandits—worse than bandits!
"That is why this world needs order!
"It needs a court capable of suppressing all ages, one that can uphold the order that ought to exist!
"And that responsibility should rightfully be borne by our Great Song!
"Enough. Begin the operation. The anomaly from someone breaking through to the Golden Body Realm in Dusk Valley earlier has already drawn the attention of the Shengyun Sect disciples.
"We must finish this swiftly, lest that old thing Shouzhongzi notice as well."
With that, the three of them each put on magical masks, covering their original faces and features, then flew straight toward Dusk Valley.
Yet not long after they had set out, another intense anomaly erupted from the valley ahead.
Rumble—
Within the sight of the three men, all of Dusk Valley suddenly began to quake violently, as if a great earth dragon had turned over. Several small peaks were even tilting and collapsing at a speed visible to the naked eye. A ray of seven-colored auspicious light shot into the sky, straight into the highest heavens, before turning back like a final flare and illuminating the earth!
For a time, all of Northern Yang Dao was shrouded in auspicious light. Above the sky, multicolored clouds billowed like a celestial river surging forward, as though countless gods were gazing down upon the mortal world.
"This is—"
The corner of Cao Dongjun's eye twitched. "Bad! It's the Living Earth. Someone has taken the Living Earth away!"
"What?!"
Zhao Xun was shocked out of his wits. "Didn't you say Bai Liangbi would hand the Living Earth over to us himself?!"
"The people of the Zhuxian Sect must have seen through the dragon puppet!"
Cao Dongjun said, "It doesn't matter. Another 2 kilometers ahead, and I'll be able to activate the dragon puppet. They don't have any Core Formation cultivators—they won't be able to stop us!"
"Then why aren't you hurrying?!"
"Watch out—"
As they spoke, an Exquisite Treasure Pagoda descended from the heavens, towering into the sky, smashing down over their heads with the force of Mount Tai crushing downward.
Each of them called out their natal magical artifact and struck at the pagoda with a full-force blow.
Dong!!!
Accompanied by a muffled boom, the Exquisite Treasure Pagoda was blasted backward, revealing the two figures hidden behind it. One stood in white robes, the other in azure, side by side.
The man in white held a spear in one hand and a sword in the other. Flames blazed from his seven orifices as he floated beneath the seven-colored auspicious clouds, like a god and demon combined.
With such an appearance, exactly matching the description on the wanted notices, who else could he be but Chen Lei, the Tianwu Emperor of the mortal world?
"Well now."
Cao Dongjun sneered. "So it was you, brat, who has been joining forces with the people of the Zhuxian Sect and stirring up trouble all this time. What, you want the Living Earth too?"
"Heh, this mortal emperor."
Zhao Xun mocked, "Given the situation, shouldn't you be going to the Great Marsh main peak to find that Shouzhongzi and think of a way to preserve your turtle shell? Even if you come here and manage to get the Living Earth, do you have the life to use it?!
"Hand over the Living Earth obediently, and this king can give you a chance to submit to the Great Song court. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourself."
"The Great Song?"
Chen Sanshi asked in return, "What kind of court is that supposed to be?"
Zhao Xun froze. "What did you say?"
"I said, what kind of court is the Great Song supposed to be?"
Expressionless, Chen Sanshi said, "When your state was first established, it was nothing more than a puppet selected by a single sentence from the heavenly sect superiors to help handle miscellaneous affairs. At best, you amount to a second-rate sect. So what gives you the right, and what qualifications do you have, to tell me to submit to the Song court?
"On the contrary, my Great Han has only recently been founded and happens to need some manpower. Why not have your Song court come and submit as a whole? In the future, you may still receive the title of marquis. But if you delay any longer, the only end awaiting you will be the destruction of your state and the extermination of your clan."
"Arrogant brat!"
The word "puppet" struck Zhao Xun at his sore spot, and he flew into a rage. "What gives a mere mortal court the right to speak in such a tone?!"
"He's deliberately stalling for time. Stop wasting words with him!"
Seeing through it, Cao Dongjun wasted no time. His body swelled by another twofold, turning green-faced and fanged, resembling a flood dragon. Gripping a broad crimson sword like a jagged sawblade, he left an afterimage where he stood and charged straight at the white-robed figure.
Jiang Shang, the City Lord of Ronghua City, followed close behind. His Primordial Unity Golden Saber descended toward Chen Sanshi's head like a blazing mountain.
Just as Zhao Xun was about to make his move, a sword stabbed toward his face.
"Zhao the Eighth, your opponent is me!"
"Shangguan Siheng, why are you everywhere?!"
The two of them plunged into fierce battle.
On the other side, Chen Sanshi floated in midair, towering and unmoving. Only when that blood-colored broadsword was less than 3 meters from him did he suddenly thrust out his spear. The spear crossed past the sword's edge, changing the direction of the attack while stabbing straight for the other man's throat.
In that instant, Cao Dongjun felt as though he had been thrown into a furnace. He hastily retreated at full speed, barely avoiding the spear's radiance.
As for Jiang Shang's Primordial Unity Golden Saber, it was firmly held in place by the Dragon Abyss Sword, unable to descend even another inch.
Ten Thousand Swords Descend!
Just as Cao Dongjun was about to charge again, he saw dense sword qi surge out from behind the white-robed figure, condensing above his head into a gigantic sword more than 3 meters long, crashing straight down at the crown of his head and forcing him to cast a defensive technique.
Chen Sanshi used the chance to drive Jiang Shang back, then wrapped in Heaven-Scorching Fire, he pounced directly at Cao Dongjun. The latter let out a beast-like roar and chose to meet him head-on.
Not far away, Jiang Shang hurried back into the fight, flanking him together with the Seven Kill Hall Master. The three became locked in chaotic battle, thunderous booms ringing out one after another beneath the seven-colored auspicious clouds.
One of them, Cao Dongjun, was at True Force Perfection. The other, Jiang Shang, was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Yet even with the two of them joining forces, they still could do nothing to the white-robed figure before them.
With spear and sword in hand, Chen Sanshi's martial techniques unfolded without the slightest flaw, pressing forward with fierce aggression. If not for the fact that the two of them still held the advantage in pure realm, they probably would have been completely outmatched!
'This guy...'
Cao Dongjun was inwardly stunned.
A little more than 10 years ago, he remembered this man as only a True Force middle-stage martial artist. And now, he could already casually handle two cultivators with late Foundation Establishment combat strength!
Most likely, he was cultivating both the martial path and immortal path together. His martial cultivation had to be at least late True Force, and his immortal cultivation was probably also at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!
At this rate, the other party was probably an upper-grade, or even heavenly-grade, spiritual root. His martial talent was also first-rate.
Barring any accidents, give him another few dozen years, and it would be entirely enough for him to reach Core Formation!
Could it be...
Could that barren land really produce a Golden Core cultivator?
If even one Core Formation cultivator appeared, dealing with the Eastern Divine Continent would become troublesome.
"Heaven-Scorching Breathing Method?!"
During the exchange, Cao Dongjun gradually realized that his meridians were being eroded by flames, and his True Force was being consumed at an astonishing rate. He quickly guessed the root of the other party's martial path.
If this continued, the two of them might actually be killed across realms!
At the same time—
The seven-colored auspicious light in the sky suddenly began to contract. All of the auspicious anomalies started moving toward the due south, while also growing weaker and weaker.
"Not good! Someone is taking the Imperial Heaven Living Earth away!"
Cao Dongjun became agitated. "City Lord Jiang, stop wasting time with this bastard. The matter has already grown too big. The top priority is to activate the dragon puppet and seize the Living Earth!"
"Fine!"
Jiang Shang shouted, "Leave this place to me!"
"Damn it!"
Cao Dongjun tried several times to break away, but the instant he showed even the slightest intention of retreating, that Dragon Gall Silver Spear wrapped in flames would appear right in front of his face.
Gritting his teeth, he directly pulled out a blood-red talisman. The moment he activated it, a skull opened its gaping bloody mouth toward the white-robed figure.
A talisman treasure!
It had been refined from the magic treasure Blood Fiend Demon Bone!
Chen Sanshi had no intention of taking on a talisman treasure head-on. With a flash of movement, he retreated more than 30 meters away.
Cao Dongjun seized that opening and escaped at full speed.
On the battlefield, only Jiang Shang remained.
The mana in his dantian had already been more than half burned away. Knowing he was no match, and seeing that Cao Dongjun had escaped successfully, he too formed hand seals, intending to flee.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Chen Sanshi drew his bow and nocked an arrow. On the bowstring was, shockingly, a Mana-Devouring Cicada. Carrying vast True Force, it shot forth like a streak of light toward the city lord's back.
"A Mana-Devouring Cicada?!"
Jiang Shang was acquainted with Qiu Yan and naturally knew how terrifying the Mana-Devouring Cicadas he had raised were. No matter what, he had never imagined this man would use them as "arrows."
And—
No matter how he dodged, he still could not evade them!
The greatest weakness of the Mana-Devouring Cicada was that it was difficult for it to get close to an enemy. Yet at this moment, that weakness had been completely eliminated.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several Mana-Devouring Cicadas exploded. Jiang Shang summoned magical artifacts to block while frantically retreating.
At the same time, Chen Sanshi charged in again. The Heaven-Scorching Fire on the surface of the Dragon Abyss Sword transformed into the even fiercer and more violent Myriad Beast Fierce Flame. With a single flash of the sword, he cut off the other man's head.
More than 100 meters away, Zhao Xun realized the situation had gone wrong. After exchanging one blow with Shangguan Siheng, he summoned his mount Zouwu and fled into the distance.
"There's no need to chase."
Chen Sanshi came to Shangguan Siheng's side.
Their purpose here had been to stall for time from the very beginning.
By now, enough time had passed to complete the original arrangement.
And as for him, he had something even more urgent to do.
"Pass the order!
"March on Heavenly Water Isle!"