Chapter 40: Battle of Formations
"Formation, rise!"
Above Skull Mountain Market, the fully restored Hundred Bones Returning to Truth Great Formation rumbled into action, immediately startling Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan into pulling apart.
Seizing this opening, Lu Yuanchun's Incarnation shot past as a streak of blood-red light.
The Formation Pattern outside the Great Formation parted in response, allowing Lu Yuanchun to pass, then immediately closed again, moving so quickly that it left no opportunity for outsiders.
"Many thanks for Brother Lu's assistance."
Falling into the Formation, the blood-red light dispersed, revealing Lu Yuanchun's dishevelled appearance; on his pale Face, there was still a hint of surprise and uncertainty:
"Brother Lu is actually a Formation Master?"
If he wasn't a Formation Master, how could he reorganize the Formation and resolve what was originally a certain-death crisis?
"Senior Brother makes fun of me; it's merely a ninth-grade one." Lu Yang smiled faintly: "Only by studying it for several days can I slightly unleash the power of this Great Formation."
Lu Yang spoke simply, but Lu Yuanchun's Face was filled with solemnity.
Among the hundred arts of Cultivation, the Dao of Formations ranks first!
A Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator and a Late Stage Qi Refining Formation Master are not comparable in value; the latter can almost be regarded as a Qi Refining Great Perfection!
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu has gained quite a lot this time."
Lu Yang looked at Lu Yuanchun with a half-smile, and under his gaze, the expression on Lu Yuanchun's Face gradually stiffened, and cold sweat immediately trickled down.
However, the next second, he regained his composure.
"Brother Lu, I have kept the 'Mystic Womb Taiyin Treasure Jade' for you for a long time; today, it should be returned to its rightful owner!"
After speaking, Lu Yuanchun directly took out a small box, opened its lid, and inside, impressively, was a white jade stone with seven orifices, resembling a human figure.
As the saying goes, a wise man knows when to submit.
Lu Yuanchun was an old Disciple of the Primordial Sect, so he naturally understood that if he didn't hand over the treasure jade now, he would soon have to sacrifice himself on the front line of the Righteous-Demonic War.
Moreover, Divine Martial Sect had dispatched a Qi Refining Great Perfection, making escape impossible. Lu Yuanchun no longer held any illusions; instead of keeping the treasure, it was better to hand it over publicly. On one hand, it could be considered spending money to avert disaster, and on the other hand, it could shift the attention of Divine Martial Sect and others to Lu Yang.
"Mystic Womb Taiyin Treasure Jade."
Seeing this, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction, then put the small box into his Storage Pouch, turned around, and calmly looked at the figures that suddenly appeared outside the Market.
It was a handsome young man holding a spear.
He wore a martial crown and scale armor, and the long spear in his hand was engraved with Dragon Pattern; rather than a Cultivator, he looked more like a general from the Mortal world.
"A ninth-grade Formation Master?"
The young man's gaze was as sharp as a knife, as if it could cut through the Formation's obstruction and directly see Lu Yang, who was controlling the Formation: "I didn't expect such an unexpected variable."
At the same time, Divine Fist Wu Zhichong and Mountain-Moving Daoist Duanmu Yuan also came over, each bowing respectfully to the spear-wielding young man: "Senior Brother Ouyang, we were ineffective in our tasks and have disappointed you."
"It's fine."
Ouyang Haoze shook his head, his expression gentle: "Demon heads are cunning; it's normal for you two Junior Brothers to have overlooked something. You can atone for your mistakes with future meritorious deeds."
After speaking, he looked again at Skull Mountain Market, his eyes filled with Killing Intent.
"This Sect has been planning for many years; no accidents are allowed. If possible, it's best to first remove the nails left by the Demonic Sect here to minimize variables."
The next second, Ouyang Haoze's figure flickered, and the Qi Refining Great Perfection's aura was completely released. In an instant, a plume of vital Qi soared upwards, manifesting a heaven-shaking roar of Killing Intent, with countless armored soldiers and generals seemingly arrayed behind Ouyang Haoze, bolstering his vital Qi and spirit.
"Break for me!"
In an instant, only the sound of thunder rolling through the air could be heard, directly impacting Skull Mountain Market. A few Cultivators with lower cultivation levels were instantly shaken to the point of spitting blood by this angry roar.
"Qi Refining Great Perfection."
Lu Yang, presiding over the Formation, had a solemn expression. The peak of the Qi Refining realm, this level in major Sects not only symbolizes cultivation but also status.
Any Cultivator who reaches Qi Refining Perfection must be a True Disciple of the Sect!
Divine Martial Sect is located in the Northern Frontier. Although its scale is far inferior to the Primordial Sect, it possesses several world-shaking Great Divine Powers that only True Disciples can Cultivate.
"If he has mastered a Great Divine Power, I'll immediately abandon the Formation and run."
While preparing to escape, Lu Yang went to the edge of the Formation and confronted Ouyang Haoze across it: "I am Lu Yang. May I know Fellow Daoist's name?"
"You are not worthy of knowing this Venerable One's name." Ouyang Haoze sneered: "If you know what's good for you, surrender quickly. In that case, this Venerable One might not be entirely unforgiving; I will only cripple your Demonic Technique and not take your lives. If you choose to stubbornly resist, the day the Formation breaks will be the day not even a chicken or dog is left alive!"
"When will vengeance ever end?"
Lu Yang's smile remained unchanged, his tone gentle: "Although our two sides are Righteous and Demonic, we have always kept to ourselves. Why not give me some Face?"
"Give you Face?"
Ouyang Haoze burst into laughter, mocking: "What big words! A Qi Refining eighth-layer Cultivator, today I will not give you Face, what can you do?"
"Why bother?"
Lu Yang shook his head: "Since that's the case, then please, Fellow Daoist, come and break the Formation."
"Seeking death!"
Killing Intent flashed in Ouyang Haoze's eyes. The vital Qi transformed into a plume of smoke around him completely retracted. He threw a punch, which at first glance seemed like merely a Mortal martial art.
However, Lu Yang's expression slightly condensed upon seeing this, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. He immediately unleashed the Blood Sun Sword Pill, then merged with the sword light and struck at Ouyang Haoze. In an instant, fist and sword clashed, and unparalleled sharp Qi and fist force exploded in all directions, like sparks blooming in mid-air.
Ouyang Haoze moved like lightning, unleashing hundreds of punches in the blink of an eye.
Divine Martial Sect is different from other Cultivation Schools; Body Cultivators reign supreme, and their Divine Abilities are mostly based on fists and feet. Their close-quarters combat speed even surpasses that of Sword Cultivators!
"Volley of Arrows!"
Ouyang Haoze stretched out his arms, as if drawing a large bow, then his fist shadows rained down like arrows, engulfing Lu Yang's position in the blink of an eye.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the explosive roars, Lu Yang felt as if all the Spiritual Qi around him had been drained, replaced by endless fist shadows that sought to crush him into powder!
A thousand strikes in an instant, leaving no room for counterattack; it was clearly a superior Divine Ability!
Although Ouyang Haoze spoke arrogantly and didn't put Lu Yang in his eyes, when he actually started fighting, he showed no carelessness, going all out.
In an instant, explosive Qi waves surged and rolled.
Under his fist shadows, Lu Yang only lasted less than ten seconds before being pulverized. His sword light shattered, transforming into a sky full of withered bones in the blink of an eye.
The momentum of the punch suddenly stopped. Ouyang Haoze stood in the air, his brows slightly furrowed.
On the other side, above the Market, the Hundred Bones Returning to Truth Great Formation operated, and a figure materialized from emptiness, stepping out. It was Lu Yang, completely unharmed.
"Fellow Daoist's fist might is unparalleled; I am impressed."
Ouyang Haoze did not respond, but punched again, still using Volley of Arrows. Lu Yang still resisted stubbornly, and after persisting for more than ten seconds, he was again pulverized.
However, in a flash, Ouyang Haoze saw Lu Yang's corpse turn into withered bones, while an unharmed Lu Yang walked out of the Formation again, his sleeves fluttering, his demeanor unchanged. Not even a trace of his True Qi or magical power was lost. He bowed to him: "Fellow Daoist, would you like to fight again?"
"...The Hundred Bones Returning to Truth Great Formation, as expected, lives up to its reputation."
Ouyang Haoze's expression was solemn.
As far as he knew, this Formation was ranked seventh-grade, containing a hundred bone soldiers within. A Cultivator inside the Formation could manifest their true body's full combat power by borrowing the body of a bone soldier.
Thus, it was equivalent to the bone soldier fighting on behalf of the true body.
If they won, everyone would be happy; if they died, it would have no impact on the true body. Moreover, as long as the Formation continued to operate, the bone soldiers could quickly recover even if they were consumed.
In this way, no matter how fiercely he attacked, it would be futile, a wasted effort. This was also because he was outside the Formation and hadn't rashly entered; otherwise, once he entered the Formation, Lu Yang could summon all the bone soldiers to directly gang up on him. At that time, even a Qi Refining Great Perfection would be stripped of a layer of skin!