Chapter 459: The drums of battle
Translated by: La0o9
Proofreader: Arya
There were very few people still alive on the floating island as the majority of them were already killed.
It was silent all around.
Wang Hong Dao scowled as he looked ahead.
Qi Yan was holding an autumn-like longsword while wearing a large-brimmed hat.
The brim of the hat was lowered enough that it was impossible to see his face.
But Wang Hong Dao only needed a single glance to notice who he was.
That really was Qi Yan.
There was nothing different from the actual person.
Qi Yan was staring at him with an expression of indifference.
They faced each other head on, their gazes locked.
The first to move their gaze away was Wang Hong Dao, observing the sword in Qi Yanâs hand.
He spoke: âNo, you are definitely not Qi Yanâ
âNow why would you say that?â Qi Yan asked.
âThat brat Qi Yan doesnât know how to use the sword, his forte was Fire elemental spells and formationâ
âMaybe Iâve gotten interested in the sword recentlyâ Qi Yan replied.
Wang Hong Dao shook his head: âSwordsmanship is the most grueling of them all, thereâs no way an âinterestâ can get you this farâ
He raised his hand and started to use spirit energy.
A silvery white insect silently landed on his back.
âAlthough youâre using that hat, I can still guess your cultivation from the power you show, and that much is completely worthless in front of me. If you want to live, tell me the new worldâs coordinates nowâ Wang Hong Dao spoke.
Qi Yan just held the sword in his hand without replying.
Seeing that, Wang Hong Dao continued: âDonât waste my time, whoever you are, give me the world coordinates and sit still so I can restrain you, then weâll have plenty of time to talkâ
âWhy is Elder Wang in so much of a rush?â Qi Yan asked.
âI am not, there is simply no need for so much useless talkâ
âWhy is that?â
âThe more talking we do, the more variables there areâ
Wang Hong Daoâs voice became willed with killing intent: âIâll give you another three breaths, throw down your sword and surrender, or Iâm going to kill you right nowâ
Qi Yanâs sword moved.
A sword slash flew out at nothing in the air.
Raeeeeeek!!
A large monster insect suddenly appeared out of nowhere, screeching in pain.
It was cut from head to tail by the sword slash.
Golden blood spilled out like rain that quickly scattered in the wind.
The monster insect died on the spot as its corpse fell to the ground unmoving.
âElder Wang, you said youâd give me three breaths, now why would you attack right away?â Qi Yanâs asked in an indifferent tone of voice.
Wang Hong Daoâs expression turned slightly grim.
âHow rare for you to reach such a level of swordsmanship at such low cultivationâ
âHowever, with only that much, youâre still 100,000 years early to be gloating in front of this old man!â
As soon as he said so, Wang Hong Daoâs spirit energy waves began to boil like a terrifying volcano.
The entire floating island itself was trembling slightly.
âSo this is the level of pressure of a Cryptic realm cultivator huh?â
Sensing the spirit energy waves in the air, Qi Yan sighed lightly.
âOne last chance, surrender, or the next moment will be your lastâ Wang Hong Dao spoke without changing his expression.
Qi Yan answered: âYour statement regarding my last moment, my gongzi would probably disagreeâ
âYour gongzi?â Wang Hong Daoâs voice raised.
He didnât expect to hear that way of referring to someone.
That word implied a lot of things that couldnât be described by words in a short period of time.
Wang Hong Dao went stiff for a second.
Right at that moment.
Qi Yanâs expression visually changed.
Wang Hong Dao also looked up at the sky.
Dong!
It sounded like something was being banged on.
Immediately after that, that sound started to echo across the entire floating island.
Dong!
Dong dong dong!
Dong dong dong dong dong dong dong!
Dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong!
A hurried and urging sound of battle drums rang out, quickening more and more as it reverberated.
The sound of the battle drums resounded across the whole floating island.
This was Guang Yang sectâs highest level of warning, representing an emergency situation that would affect everyoneâs life and death.
Once the drums beat, every cultivator was to disregard whatever they were doing and head to the lowest level of the floating island.
Everyone was required to throw their lives away protecting that place if necessary.
Because this drumming sound means the most crucial formation had malfunctioned.
The large-scaled spirit energy quarantine formation!
It directly affected whether or not the realm demon will notice this island!
And right now, that formation was being sabotaged!
To any sect, this meant an irreconcilable all-out war.
The ancient drums were reverberating across the entire island.
Wang Hong Daoâs expression warped.
In an instant, he retracted every bit of spirit energy he was releasing before, not leaving even a single speck of it to scatter.
He already used the fastest possible speed to retract all his spirit energy.
But the situation changed too rapidly and too fiercely.
No matter how fast Wang Hong Daoâs reaction was, the effect of his previous actions was already felt.
Countless sharp jaws showed up in midair.
The realm demonâs unconscious offshoots already noticed.
These jaws surrounded the floating island, staring straight at Wang Hong Dao.
They moved about a bit before slowly calming down.
How regretful, the spirit energy we felt over there was already gone.
Just a bit more and we wouldâve found some delectable food.
More and more jaws gathered, slowly covering the sky and the void of space itself.
Guang Yang sectâs floating island was now surrounded by the realm demonâs unconscious offshoots.
Seeing that, Wang Hong Dao gritted his teeth: âYou rotten bratâŠâ
âIt canât be helped, your cultivation is too high that gongzi doesnât want you using spirit energyâ Qi Yan casually answered.
They were now both standing on top of the platform.
No spirit energy can be used anywhere on Guang Yang sectâs island now.
From now on, anybody that dared to use even the tiniest bit of spirit energy will be discovered by the realm demonâs unconscious offshoots and eaten.
No matter if it was the Cryptic realm Wang Hong Dao or the Virtualized realm Zhao Wu Chui, neither of them could use a single bit of spirit energy now.
The black jaws that covered the sky slowly descended, baring their sharp teeth.
They were now in position, patiently waiting.
Waiting for any living beings to let out even a speck of spirit energy.
Once they discover their prey, that cultivator will be swarmed by the jaws and eaten so cleanly that not even scraps will remain.
âSo this is your method of dealing with me?â Wang Hong Dao stared at Qi Yan and asked.
Dong! Dong!
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
The constant drumming resounded like rain on a barrel, urging people to come and risk their lives protecting the sectâs formation.
As long as the formation wasnât fixed, this drumming will continue.
Originally, this would be the time for cultivators to rush forward and protect the sect.
But almost every cultivator had already been killed by Wang Hong Dao.
There was no one left to protect the formation.
This was without a doubt, the most difficult moment of Wang Hong Daoâs life.
His hand subconsciously reached for his gem ornament.
âI know you have an airship to escape with, but do you actually dare to use your storage item now?â Qi Yan spoke.
Wang Hong Dao glanced at the sky.
There was no sky to look at anymore, only unconscious offshoots.
They were jittering about, sensing any spirit energy in the air.
Wang Hong Daoâs expression became dark.
Opening the gem ornament requires only a thread of spirit energy.
But this thread of spirit energy might be noticed by the unconscious offshoots.
And that would mean death.
Wang Hong Dao didnât want to make that bet.
âBut did you actually think this through? This way even you wonât be able to escape!â Wang Hong Dao spoke.
âI didnâtâ Qi Yan answered.
Seeing him admit that so nonchalantly, Wang Hong Dao couldnât believe it.
âI definitely wonât believe that, no one could ignore their own life and deathâ Wang Hong Dao shook his head.
âListen to that, this ancient battle drumming, I didnât expect it to be this fitting to be honestâ Qi Yan casually commented.
Holding his sword tightly, he tilted his body forward.
âRight here, right now, itâs either you die or I die. Everything else can be left for afterwardsâ
He spoke.
âWait!â Wang Hong Dao shouted.
âYou moron, thereâs always room to talk, why didnât you tell me that the floating islandâs formation was under your control!â Wang Hong Dao was gritting his teeth.
âThere was no need toâ Qi Yan answered: âNot just my gongzi but even I feel that way, a battle should actually look like a battle, things like schemes and plots are so meaninglessâ
The autumn-like longsword was pointed straight at Wang Hong Dao.
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
The drumming began to pick up pace.
Thick fighting spirits filled the air.
There was almost a faint smell of smoke and fire.
âHuang Quan realm, Shannu. Let us beginâ she said.