Chapter 248: Three Beasts Formation
Bailu County City
The high city walls were manned by countless soldiers, and the martial artists of each family within the city were forcibly placed on the ramparts by the disciples of the Yan Ying Sect.
Hundreds of Yan Ying Sect disciples, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, patrolled the city walls.
Since the Pang family, which managed Bailu County City, fell from power, the families within the city had no strength to resist the Dan Qiao Realm martial artists sent by the Yan Ying Sect.
Whether they were merely going through the motions or seeking to seize benefits in these chaotic times, they were all swept up into this turmoil.
There were those who resisted, but they could not stir up the slightest ripple. Shops, origin stones, spirit herbs, spirit ore, manuals… all useful resources became objects of plunder.
“I wonder what the lords above are thinking. They’ve already discovered quite a few origin stone veins in that spiritual vein. If they were to be mined, it would be enough to allow many to advance to the Spirit Merging Stage, and even have a chance to touch upon the Dan Qiao Realm.”
“Silence! Do you know that Yun Cang Town has already lost two Dan Qiao Realm True Persons?”
“What?!”
The black-clothed martial artist was greatly alarmed. They were all Spirit Merging Stage martial artists and formed the main force responsible for leading this attack.
It was precisely because of this cultivation that they knew how powerful true Dan Qiao Realm martial artists were.
But now, two Dan Qiao Realm martial artists had already been lost.
The yellow-robed martial artist said, “The Beast King Sect has dispatched formidable individuals, and they are undoubtedly heading our way now. If…”
His gaze revealed worry. If the two True Persons leading their team, Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua, a Dan Qiao Realm martial artist, couldn’t resist, then they would likely be in trouble too.
“Screeeech!”
Just then, a sharp, piercing cry was heard, almost tearing at their eardrums, and everyone’s bodies trembled.
“The Beast King Sect has arrived!”
A scout exclaimed in surprise. Everyone followed the sound and saw that indeed, a line of black cavalry, like a black tide, was advancing, with dust billowing behind them.
The disciples of the Beast King Sect arrived on their mounts, pressing forward aggressively, and within moments, they were close to Bailu County City.
Although there were only a few hundred of them, the oppressive aura was like that of an army of thousands.
When martial artists go to war, their True Intents traverse the battlefield, and their auras connect. Even without employing a battle formation, their presence was awe-inspiring and soul-stirring, far surpassing ordinary mortal armies.
“Activate the formation!”
The Spirit Merging Stage martial artists who had been speaking moments ago were now highly tense, shouting loudly and ordering the city gate of Bailu County City to be closed tightly.
Simultaneously, the city’s defensive formation was activated. A halo of light enveloped the city walls, and the bricks and stones of the walls seemed to turn into gold.
The defensive formation of Bailu County City was not particularly profound, but it was sufficient to withstand attacks from some Dan Qiao Realm martial artists. This was the minimum requirement for a county city.
This was also one of the reasons why Bailu County City could withstand the Yan Ying Sect’s attack for so long.
However, now that the formation had been repaired, it was being used against the Beast King Sect.
Two streams of light, one white and one red, descended from within Bailu County City to the city wall. A man carrying a sword, with eyes like a falcon, gazed at the tidal wave of black cavalry.
A woman in heavy red makeup, her long hair tied back at her shoulders, her eyes roving, and her red lips slightly parted, said, “Those are Dan Qiao Realm martial artists from the Beast King Sect. If my guess is correct, that’s Su Yan.”
Zhuo Chengyun said coldly, “A newly advanced Dan Qiao martial artist. Feng Hong and Li Qiulong were used to sneak attacks, otherwise they wouldn’t have been ambushed and killed.”
Despite his dismissive words, the sword qi emanating from Zhuo Chengyun was condensed, and a faint illusory shadow of a sword-wielding hawk was seen merging with his form.
Not a single Dan Qiao Realm True Person was a fool. Even Li Qiulong and Feng Hong, who were killed by a sneak attack, possessed considerable skill.
Yu Lianhua’s eyes flashed with sharpness, “The roles of attacker and defender have reversed. If we hold our ground, it is a victory. Furthermore, we may even have an opportunity to kill him.”
As they spoke, the disciples of the Beast King Sect arrived within a hundred zhang of Bailu County City.
On their descent from the mountain, all disciples rode Black Scaled Leopards. They moved with strict discipline, and upon halting, their mounts roared in unison, immediately putting pressure on the Yan Ying Sect and the defending martial artists on the city walls.
“Clang!”
The Eagle Feather Sword, a Natal Spiritual Artifact, flew out from behind Zhuo Chengyun, like an eagle’s cry, piercing the soul-stirring roars of the beasts.
He waved his hand, sending a streak of sword light directly towards the Beast King Sect’s formation.
“Subdue the Mountain, Break the Army! Combined Attack!”
Commander of the Mountain Guard Zhai Gaoyi swung his spear, and the battle formation was instantly connected. The five hundred disciples of the Mountain Guard unleashed a joint strike, transforming into a blood-colored giant beast that clawed its way forward.
With a booming sound, the giant beast’s charge shattered the sword light of the Dan Qiao Realm martial artist.
“As expected of the Beast King Sect.”
Seeing this, Zhuo Chengyun’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze.
A combined attack from a battle formation – this was the sect’s foundation.
Su Yan’s figure gradually appeared behind the ranks. His gaze seemed to pierce through space, landing on Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua.
“Two Dan Qiao True Persons,” he smiled. “Just playing these tricks.”
He looked at Zhai Gaoyi and said, “Advance the formation to attack the city.”
“Yes.”
Zhai Gaoyi’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit, as did all the disciples. The confidence instilled by the Beast King Sect made them fearless of these Dan Qiao Realm True Persons.
Zhai Gaoyi shouted loudly, with himself as the core and the three deputy commanders as the formation eyes, he immediately mobilized the entire formation.
Su Yan watched intently, continuously comprehending the formation’s operation. He mused, “The Mountain Felling Formation, using Qi and Blood, and True Essence as connections, converges on the main person controlling the formation, manifesting True Intent and outlining the Mountain Felling Beast. Its might is indeed extraordinary. However, the core lies in the formation artifacts.”
He noticed that each disciple of the Mountain Guard had a Heart Protecting Mirror embedded in their armor, with inscriptions flowing and gathering power.
And on the main controller, Zhai Gaoyi, and the three deputy commanders, the main formation artifact had transformed into their weapons, namely the spears in their hands.
This set of formation artifacts was the core of the formation, and the method of Qi gathering and training was the key to mobilizing the formation. Only then could they form a complete formation.
‘The cost of the formation artifacts alone is likely no less than a million origin stones, not to mention the daily training expenses. This battle formation method is indeed a foundational item.’
Before Su Yan’s thought had even finished, the Mountain Felling Beast had materialized – a blood-colored giant beast, a hundred meters in size, with ferocious scales and claws.
As soon as the Mountain Felling Beast appeared, it immediately swung its massive claws, like battering rams, towards the city walls of Bailu County City.
The Spirit Merging Stage martial artists on the city walls treated it as a formidable enemy. Especially the leaders controlling the formation, they immediately mobilized the city’s defensive formation, which transformed into a golden barrier, blocking the Mountain Felling Beast.
The blood-colored giant claws struck the barrier, producing a thunderous roar like that of a colossal bell, as if it had shattered a celestial palace, emitting a rumbling sound.
With a single blow, the barrier shook violently, and even the city walls within trembled.
A tenth of the origin stones accumulated within the city was instantly depleted, and before everyone’s eyes, it turned into dust.
“Again!”
Zhai Gaoyi once again circulated his True Essence, mobilizing the Mountain Felling Beast for a second round of attack.
The beast’s claws erupted with red light, and the True Essence circulating within it was even more vigorous.
With a thunderous blow, the golden barrier swayed incessantly.
The martial artists within Bailu County City felt terror in their hearts. They could all see that if this continued, the defensive formation would likely not be able to withstand the attacks.
For the sake of plundering resources, they had not allocated all their origin stones to defending the city.
“Hmph.”
Yu Lianhua snorted coldly and flew out, a swaying red flower instantly appearing behind her.
As the Red Opium Poppy True Intent emerged, a strange red light immediately fell upon the Mountain Felling Beast.
The red light was captivating, and even though protected by the Mountain Felling formation, the Beast King Sect disciples participating in the formation were stunned into a daze, causing the Mountain Felling Beast’s attack to falter.
Yu Lianhua sneered contemptuously, about to truly unleash her power to destroy the disciples’ resolve.
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed, “Fellow Daoist, you don’t take me as a mere decoration, do you?”
Su Yan stepped forward, his Divine Sense sweeping out, dispelling all the mental interference.
He raised his hand and struck, unleashing the Hundred Tigers Breaking the Army Seal with a tiger’s roar that shook the heavens, directly targeting Yu Lianhua.
Yu Lianhua never expected Su Yan to act so decisively and ruthlessly.
Her eyes sharpened, and the Red Opium Poppy behind her whipped out two thorny vines, colliding with the Hundred Tigers Breaking the Army Seal.
The attacks dissipated. Yu Lianhua’s face paled slightly, and she was shocked, “What a formidable technique.”
Even with just a probing attack, Yu Lianhua sensed how troublesome this Heavenly Prodigy Su Yan was.
She said in a delicate voice, “Senior Brother Zhuo, let’s attack together.”
Zhuo Chengyun didn’t need her reminder; his Eagle Feather Sword had already slashed out a hundred-zhang sword light, heading straight for Su Yan.
“You’ve come at the right time.”
Su Yan stood undaunted, stepping forward and extending a single hand to grasp a Star Picking Hand, crushing the sword light in mid-air.
After the Dan Qiao Realm True Persons began to fight, Zhai Gaoyi and the others were jolted awake. Anger surged within them, and they controlled the Mountain Felling Beast to fiercely bombard the city wall.
The momentum grew even greater, the rumbling sounds like the earth turning over or thunder from the heavens.
As the city walls were being fiercely attacked, Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua revealed their true abilities, unleashing their Natal Spiritual Artifacts and attacking Su Yan from both sides.
Zhuo Chengyun’s Eagle Feather Sword possessed a fierce momentum and the ability to split into feather blades, always launching attacks from the most devious angles.
Yu Lianhua, on the other hand, was the opposite. Her spiritual artifact was not a conventional weapon but a red paper Precious Umbrella.
The Precious Umbrella was adorned with countless red flowers, all of them strange and alluring blossoms like the Red Opium Poppy.
When the Hundred Flowers Umbrella was opened, it could deflect attacks. When the Precious Umbrella spun, it unleashed a captivating divine light that specifically targeted a person’s soul.
The two cooperated seamlessly, suggesting they were either Dao Companions or long-time close friends. Their combat prowess was even more troublesome than Li Qiulong and Feng Hong.
Su Yan did not unleash his full power, using the Fierce Subduing Tiger Ming King True Intent behind him to contend with the Star Picking Hand. For a time, he was somewhat unable to handle them.
Moreover, the more they fought, the more he realized how cautious and prudent these two were. Although they were fighting Su Yan, they were inexplicably connected to the city’s defensive formation beneath their feet.
At any moment, it seemed they could use the city’s defensive formation to escape the battle.
A mysterious smile flickered across Su Yan’s lips. Let’s see what tricks you have.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the Mountain Felling Beast struck with a thunderous blow, directly shattering the city’s defensive formation.
With a tremendous roar, those martial artists who had participated in defending the city, especially the main controllers of the formation, suffered a backlash.
With muffled thuds, they transformed into mist of blood.
The sudden turn of events shocked everyone.
Kill!
At this moment, from the left and right corners of the city wall, two attacks suddenly flew out.
One was an incredibly dark, containing an extremely malevolent Short Knife.
The other was a ferocious small beast with a half-ghost face, as if it were devouring souls.
The two attacks shot directly towards Su Yan’s body. Appearing suddenly, they were almost upon him in an instant.
“Clang!”
A golden light swirled around Su Yan, and he waved his hand, striking both attacks away.
His bare hands were like a Vajra.
How is this possible!
Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua’s eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief.
“Activate the formation!”
A black-robed Old Man roared, his True Essence like dark red blood, instantly injected into the ground, and a Great Banner suddenly rose.
A lean man with a beard on the left also waved his hand, grasping a Great Banner on the east.
Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua surrounded Su Yan from the front and back respectively, holding dark red Great Banners.
The four of them formed a circle, the Great Banners connected to each other, drawing upon the hundreds of martial artists on the city wall and the immense Qi and Blood contributed by Bailu County City, transforming into a red cloud that obscured the sun and sky, enveloping Su Yan and all the Beast King Sect disciples.
Not good!
Zhai Gaoyi’s face changed dramatically. Having fought on battlefields for years, he immediately recognized this as an extremely advanced formation, designed for trapping and killing, which would be absolutely difficult to resist.
“True Person Su, flee quickly! We will assist you with the Mountain Felling Formation to break this formation.”
Zhai Gaoyi made a decisive choice to prepare for self-sacrifice.
Compared to their hundreds of disciples, Su Yan, the newly advanced Dan Qiao Realm True Person, was the key.
A monster that the sect encountered once in a hundred years.
If he were to perish here, it would be a loss for the entire Beast King Sect.
Blood Shadow Old Demon Su Tianyu, upon hearing Zhai Gaoyi’s words, shook the Great Banner in his hand. The white beard on his face fluttered, revealing a disdainful sneer, “My Three Beasts Great Formation, since its completion, has been used for eighty-nine years to kill twelve Dan Qiao Realm martial artists, none of whom escaped. Let alone the First Heaven of the Dan Qiao Realm, even the Second Heaven wouldn’t be able to escape.”
Blood Shadow Old Demon himself was an established First Heaven martial artist, possessing solid skills, and was proficient in formation techniques.
The lean man with a beard grinned sinisterly and said coldly, “Why waste words with him? Slaughter these eight hundred people. Their souls and essence blood will all be mine, perfect for refining my Blood Bone Rod.”
Both were notorious evil cultivators who had been on the pursuit list for a long time. They felt no burden in killing martial artists from renowned sects.
Zhuo Chengyun and Yu Lianhua, however, were even more cautious. They had been fighting Su Yan for some time and knew he was not easy to deal with.
Yu Lianhua reminded, “Daoist Su, you must not be careless. This fellow’s Contracted Beast has not yet been summoned, and he still has other means.”
“Even if there were a few more Dan Qiao Realm martial artists, they wouldn’t escape this formation.”
Blood Shadow Old Demon Su Tianyu was very confident. His gaze was fixed on Su Yan, and he smiled, “If Daoist is willing to surrender, perhaps you can suffer less pain. If you are willing to hand over the cultivation manuals of the Beast King Sect, we might not spare your life.”
Su Yan listened to them finish speaking, his expression remarkably calm.
He glanced at the four of them, merely frowning slightly, seeming somewhat displeased.
“You went to such great lengths to drag me here, only to prepare such meager means?”
“Hmph, you impudent brat, do you look down on my formations?”
Blood Shadow Old Demon was furious. Under his main control, the four formation flags swayed, and three ferocious beast shadows immediately appeared behind him, their eyes blood red, surging towards Su Yan like a tidal wave.
