Too far away, couldnât quite discern the details of the array at that moment. Tie Dan didnât have any inspiration either, so he swept his Primordial Spirit across and took a glance at the gathering place.
Here and there, a few were carrying bows and holding forks, their bodies wrapped in beast skin, resembling hunters at first glance, but beneath they all hid chain armor as they emerged from the forest and gathered at a makeshift camp.
It became apparent at a glance, this should be a standard group of nine sentries. Since they werenât on horseback and were disguised, it meant they werenât reconnoitering scouts but covert sentries stationed at the boundaries. Thus estimated, fifteen miles out is another flag sentry, thirty miles out an encampment, and forty-five miles out the rear military headquarters.
Gazing at the rebel armyâs formation from afar, Tie Dan suddenly felt something move in his heart and furrowed his brow.
This situation of impending mountain rain and earth-shattering upheaval, even Immortals might face the risk of perishing. Yet, thinking carefully, though the Heavenly King Rebel Army had been trapped beneath Suiyang City for ten years, heavily demoralized and severely wounded in Primordial Qi, it hadnât been completely wiped out, right?
This was very unreasonable.
After all, itâs normal for the Immortal Palace not to win, and holding ground is extraordinary, while allies remaining steadfastly unmoving in crisis is basic maneuver, and observing victories and defeats wisely as self-preservation is tacit understanding. Hence, initially, Tie Dan thought this battle was just weak chickens pecking at each other.
But judging by the level of preparation on the side of the Divine Sect now, and the scenario in his dream where the Suiyang Formation was still breached by the Mystic Sect and turned into a Sealed Demon Prison, the Three Great Sects were definitely going to go all-out.
Yet, the main force of the rebel army could actually preserve itself after such heaven-destroying combat magic, each fighting separately later and still manage to go toe-to-toe with the Immortal Palace. This seems rather illogical.
Could it be... the Ten Absolute Array now laid by the Divine Sect isnât intended to deal with the rebel army, nor is the Mystic Sect coming for the rebels in this battle...
With the situation so chaotic, Tie Dan, holding a sword in vain, didnât even know where to split it, feeling bewildered momentarily. After much deliberation, perhaps directly heading into Suiyang might reveal some Weakness in the array...
"Whoâs there! Come out!"
Suddenly a shout of anger interrupted Tie Danâs thoughts.
Whatâs going on? Clearly just a bunch of ragtag soldiers, and the leader is only a Body Cultivation practitioner without even an Elixir formation. How come they could sense his existence?
Tie Dan turned, cold-faced, to look, then froze.
He saw those nine covert sentries in hunter guise surrounding a... person?
Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, body, limbs, all appearing human, but somehow feels not quite human. Not clothed, hairless, limbs thin and long like barley stalks, skin grayish-white and slimy, looking as though it emerged from water...
Wait, from the water? Tie Danâs brows knitted tightly, but hadnât found anything on the lakebed earlier? And this âpersonâ, why couldnât his Divine Sense scan it? Could it be the skin has some special ability, rendering it invisible to the Primordial Spirit Radar?
"OOO! This broad is so wild!"
Still a broad?
Tie Dan frowned. Although no male traits could be seen, just bare anyway, couldnât decipher female either...
"You fool! Whereâs a Beauty from deep mountains and wilderness! Itâs definitely a Monster!"
"So pretty, even as a Monster, looks like a fox spirit!"
"Enough nonsense! Capture it together and letâs have fun!"
"Okay! Listening to the leader!"
Solders never waste words, nine promptly divided into three, encircling the âBeautyâ. Three upfront holding forks in blockade, three holding ropes and preparing the Binding Immortal Rope, while three at the rear strung bows, ready for unexpected events.
Gazing long at the âBeautyâ, Tie Dan looked puzzled and momentarily doubtful.
This thing, could it really be the Langxuan Fairy from the dream? But doesnât resemble a Chinese Giant Salamander...
"Ah... Ahâ!"
Just as that âBeautyâ was about to speak, suddenly her eyes glanced at Tie Dan from afar, immediately screaming in fright! Whizzing up into the air, flipping her back, turning over and, with four feet flat on the ground, darted into the forest!
"Wow! Such pliant waist! Sheâs indeed a demon!"
"Little Beauty, donât run!"
"Release the arrows!"
"Donât hurt her!"
A bunch of scouts went mad, seemingly unaware how swiftly the beauty folded her waist to flee, yet cheerfully pursued.
Tie Danâs mind stirred, his figure flickered, instantly raced to the front for interception.
Who would have thought, in just this blink, the very moment Tie Dan leaped into the forest, the monsterâs shriek, huntersâ laughter, all sounds abruptly faded from his ears. The forest stood empty, besides scattered arrows on the ground, not a shadow in sight.
What!? Disappeared?? Right under his nose!??
Tie Dan was shocked and furious, flung a stream of sword energy, splitting open half the forest, yet still seeing no ghostly figure, left him defenseless and angrily cursing,
"Wretched creature! Dare to act mystically before me!!
Fine! Today, Iâll dig three feet deep, fill your lake! Letâs see where you hide!"
Instantly, Tie Dan let out a long cry, Divine Transformation through Dharma Manifestation! Yielding a forty-zhang giant sword! Slashing through the sky! A sword splitting downward!