Chapter 1111: Man-eating Formation
Seeing there was nothing serious, Lu Zhou cut off the Heavenly Writingâs power of sight.
âIn five days, the sea beasts will arrive. In other words, the people from Great Yuanâs royal court will likely appear in five days as wellâŠâ
Their current defensive strength was not enough. There were quite a few Thousand Realms Whirling cultivators in Great Yuanâs royal court and the Dark and Light Alliance. It was stretching it a little too far for him to rely on his disciples to defend them.
He decided to check on Yu Shangrong and silently chanted the mantra for the Heavenly Writingâs power of sight.
âŠ
On a city tower in Shanbei Circuit.
Yu Shangrong held his Longevity Sword as he looked at the forest outside of the city.
The weather was very bad; it was raining and foggy. It was the complete opposite of Jiangdong Circuit.
A cultivator flew over from afar at this moment. He bowed and said, âMister Second, the weather isnât good. Itâs better for you to return first. The fierce beasts will retreat temporarily as well so there wonât be any problemâŠâ
âItâs fine,â Yu Shangrong turned around and said indifferently, âJust remember to inform me if that swordsman appears.â
âUnderstood.â The cultivator bowed and continued to say, âThat swordsman is very strange. Before you came, three of our cultivators had died under his sword.â
Yu Shangrong revealed a smile. âI hope his swordsmanship is up to my standards.â
ââŠâ
After seeing that Shanbei Circuit was fine for now, Lu Zhou checked in on Yu Zhenghai and Ye Tianxin. The two places they were at were fine for now as well.
However, the wilderness had been overrun with fierce beasts. All the humans had retreated back to the cities. Waves after waves of fierce beasts arrived, occupying places where there was a lack of human activities.
Lu Zhou cut off the power of sight and fell deep into his thoughts. Even with the Supreme Mystic Card, it would be difficult for him to turn the tides alone. All he could do was find Mu Ertie, Fan Ruoxi, and the beast emperor. However, were those three going to just stay still and wait to be slaughtered? Obviously not.
The situation was rather tricky.
Little Yuanâer and Conch were not at the Thousand Realms Whirling stage yet, and they did not have enough combat experience. His seventh and fifth disciples were only suitable to guard the royal palace.
âYan Zhenluo and Lu Li should be able to guard Jiangbei Circuit.â
Then, Lu Zhou thought about the four elders of the Evil Sky Pavilion. They had rich combat experience and had gone through many life-or-death situations. However, they were not around now. He was worried there would not be enough people when the time came.
Lu Zhou chanted the mantra for the power of sight again.
Soon enough, he saw a place shrouded by a furnace-like barrier. The entire place was cast with a red light.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At this moment, Duanmu Sheng brandished his Overlord Spear, repelling the Square Box.
Energy seals flew in the air as the Square Box flew back and forth. From time to time, the Six Compatible Daoist Seals and the Eight Trigrams Seal would appear.
At the same time, the other three elders were standing at the side, watching the battle.
Bang!
Duanmu Sheng was covered in sweat, and blue veins were popping on his arms. At this moment, he pierced the spear upward before he brought it down with a crushing momentum.
âImperfect Divine Intervention!â
The spear landed true on the Square Box.
Boom!
The Square Box fell to the ground.
At this moment, Pan Litian interjected with a smile on his face, âAlright, stop fighting! Duanmu Sheng wins this round.â
The Square Box shrank rapidly as Hua Wudao flew out from it. He coughed as he staggered a few steps back before he managed to stabilize himself. Then, he said with a sigh, âThe intensity is too high! Mister Third should be able to sprout the tenth leaf soonâŠâ
âI agree.â Pan Litian nodded.
Zuo Yushu chimed, âI think so too⊠Over the past half a year, Old Pan, Leng Luo, and I have successfully sprouted the tenth leaf. Although Mister Third has yet to sprout the tenth leaf, his potential is greater than all of usâŠâ
Among the people present, only Duanmu Sheng and Hua Wudao had yet to sprout the tenth leaf.
Leng Luo brought a life heart out and said, âIf thereâs a need, we can give your our life hearts to help you sprout the tenth leafâŠâ
Duanmu Sheng was moved when he heard this. He said, âThe life hearts belong to you; I canât accept them. When I sprout the tenth leaf, Iâll be able to obtain a life heart as well. I appreciate your kindnessâŠâ
Everyone nodded.
Hua Wudao said, âRest first. The Star Gathering Formationâs effect is really extraordinary. Cultivating here for half a year is like cultivating for eight to ten years outside. However, the environment is really too harshâŠâ
Apart from the abundant Primal Qi, the environment was abnormally harsh. When it was hot, it was incredibly hot; when it was cold, it was freezing. There were no plants or water. There were only bottomless abysses.
âElders, please rest first. Iâll continue,â Duanmu Sheng said.
The elders sighed inwardly. They could all see Duanmu Shengâs diligence. He did not even stop to rest. Even when he was resting, he was still cultivating.
Wuu!
The Star Gathering Formation suddenly buzzed.
Zuo Yushu jumped up and brought her Coiling Dragon Staff out before she flew toward the edge of the formation. âDonât worry. Iâll go and take a lookâŠâ
Among the people present, only Zuo Yushu was knowledgeable about formations. She flew to the edge and checked the inscriptions, looking for the source of the strange noise. She frowned and muttered to herself, âStrange⊠I donât think the Star Gathering Formation is broken, but why did it shrink slightly?â
âIt shrank again?â Pan Litian transmitted his voice over.
âYes, it shrank by about two meters this time⊠At this rate, it wonât be long before we have no place to cultivate. The frequency is getting higher as wellâŠâ Zuo Yushu replied.
âThis formation is a bit strange. The people of the Sky Research Court said that many people died in the formation in the past. Could this be why they died?â
Zuo Yushu said, âUnlikely. This formation doesnât seem like a killing formation. Now that you mention it, if so many people died here, there should be remains or somethingâŠâ
As soon as her voice fell, the three elders looked at the cliff in unison.
Realization dawned on Zuo Yushu, and she flew over immediately.
Swoosh!
A gust of light wind rushed up from the bottom of the cliff. It was cool and refreshing.
Zuo Yushu frowned, sensing something amiss. âThe sound came from the bottom of the cliff. It should be caused by the strong wind.â
âThatâs possible. However, why does the sound correspond with the formation shrinking? How can there be such a coincidence?â Pan Litian said.
The four elders exchanged a look.
Zuo Yushu said, âWho knows? After all, the Star Gathering Formation is an ancient formation left by the sages. There are many things the Sky Research Court is not privy to as wellâŠâ
Wuu!
The strange noise rang even louder than before.
At this moment, the gentle wind suddenly turned into a pulling force.
Zuo Yushu hurriedly brandished her Coiling Dragon Staff and released tens of thousands of talisman seals. After she retreated to her original position, she said, âDonât go near the cliff.â
âWhatâs going on?â
âThis Star Gathering Formation could be⊠Iâm not sure, but it could be a man-eating formationâŠâ Zuo Yushu said.
âMan-eating formation?!â
Pan Litian was shocked. âElder Zuo, are you joking? If this is a man-eating formation, how are those people from the Sky Research Court going to live?â
Zuo Yushu said, âI said Iâm not sure.â
âEven the fierce beasts eat Nine-leaf cultivators⊠Who knows what this formation likes to eatâŠâ
âThen what are we waiting for? Letâs leave!â Pan Litian turned around and said, âWhat if the Star Gathering Formation not only gathers Primal Qi and the essence of heaven and earth, but it also gathers human essence? It might really be a man-eating formation now that I think about itâŠâ
Duanmu Sheng frowned. He looked around. After cultivating here for half a year, he felt it would be a pity to leave now.
Wuu!
The sound grew louder again.
The furnace-like barrier around them shrank again; it was not twice as small compared to before.
Leng Luo said calmly, âLeave.â
Leng Luo was the first to use the Dao concealment technique and flew toward the entrance of the Star Gathering Formation, leaving afterimages in his wake. When he was about to reach the entranceâŠ
Bang!
A barrier suddenly appeared in front of him, sending him flying back.
The entrance was sealed!
Wuu!
The sound rang again louder than before. It was as though someone was playing an ancient clay ocarina at the bottom of the cliff.
âLet me do it.â Duanmu Sheng flew over at top speed, brandishing the Overlord Spear, stirring up thousands of waves. Tens of thousands of energy spears shot toward the sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Although the spear attack was formidable, Duanmu Sheng and his attacks were bounced by the barrier as well.
At this moment, Zuo Yushu said with a horrified expression on her face, âNo! Someone is manipulating this formation!â