Chapter Fifty-Six: The Mist

Even with the formidable Eight-Demon Chain Sealing Immortal Formation guarding the city, the oppressive force piercing through the great array caused numerous large mortal structures to collapse with a thunderous roar, while fierce winds raged across the ground, whipping up dust and stones.

Cao Yun instinctively activated the golden light shield within his body. Witnessing this earth-shattering strike, he stood frozen on the spot, his heart stirred profoundly. Is this truly the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator? So terrifying!

At that moment, Elder Meng and seven others suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground. Four Foundation Establishment cultivators and four Core Formation cultivators each produced a magic plate in their hands, swiftly placing them before themselves. Their expressions grave, their hands swiftly weaving spells, clearly preparing to withstand the impending assault.

“Hmph, to actually endure my attack, this city-protecting array is quite interesting!” Long Qianyu sneered from the sky, a colossal palm blotting out the sun as it once again slammed fiercely toward the city’s protective formation.

With a deafening boom, one of the Core Formation cultivators’ magic plates suddenly shattered before him. Blood flowed from his seven orifices, his body staggering as he collapsed heavily to the ground.

“In that case, taste my treasured artifact!” Long Qianyu roared in anger. In the heavens, a golden steel ring hundreds of feet wide, swirling with fierce gales and thunderclaps, crashed down with tremendous force.

Another Core Formation cultivator’s magic plate on the plaza exploded, blood spewing from his mouth as his body wavered and then collapsed.

“Break! Break! Break!” Accompanied by Long Qianyu’s furious shouts, the golden steel ring repeatedly slammed down, the thunderous booms echoing across the skies, shaking all who heard.

The last two Core Formation cultivators seated on the plaza saw their magic plates shatter one after another. Both spat blood, their bodies powerless as they fell to the ground.

The youngest Foundation Establishment cultivator also coughed up blood, the magic plate before him emitting black smoke, clearly severely damaged.

Now, of the original eight seated on the plaza, only four remained. Aside from three mid-to-late Foundation Establishment elders, the young cultivator’s face was ashen, sweat beads the size of soybeans covering his forehead. His body trembled uncontrollably, evidently pushed to the brink.

At this moment, Li Qing arrived at the plaza with all his disciples. Each wore an expression of shock and fear, trembling as they took in the terrifying scene before them—they had never witnessed such a dreadful battle.

“All disciples, heed my command: immediately pour all your spiritual power into this magic plate!” Elder Meng suddenly raised his arm, and in an instant, a magic plate over three feet wide materialized before everyone. His voice was as steadfast as a rock, attempting to calm their terrified hearts.

Though anxious, the disciples understood the gravity of life and death. Gritting their teeth, they exerted themselves fully, channeling their spiritual power unreservedly into the magic plate. Cao Yun did the same, generously infusing his energy.

Suddenly, the magic plate blazed with intense radiance, like a scorching sun rising before their eyes, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day.

At the plate’s center, a dazzling pillar of light shot skyward, striking the city’s protective light barrier. Previously interwoven with only black and crimson hues, the barrier now crackled with lightning as thick as a wrist, silver bolts darting through it like silver dragons weaving majestically.

In an instant, the Nascent Soul cultivator’s diamond bracelet artifact abruptly swelled in size, accompanied by thunderous might, crashing violently against the protective barrier.

“Rumble—” A deafening roar echoed across the horizon, yet the city’s light barrier remained immovable, steadfast as a mountain, as if no attack could shake it.

“Hmm?” A voice of surprise and doubt sounded from the air.

Witnessing this, everyone involuntarily exhaled in relief.

“Junior Brother, the Eight-Demon Chain Sealing Immortal Formation, combined with the Golden Lock Anti-Immortal Array, is a truly daunting defense. Yet, only a few Foundation Establishment juniors have been stationed here by the demonic sect. There must be some trick; we may have fallen into their ploy to lure us away,” Xuan Qingzi’s voice suddenly echoed through the void just as Long Qianyu prepared to strike again.

“Hmph, these demonic scoundrels are extremely cunning. Have you uncovered their scheme, Senior Brother?” Long Qianyu transmitted his voice through the void.

“Not yet clear. The demons have made no other moves so far. The seven righteous sects have nearly mobilized all their Nascent Soul cultivators, except a few late-stage seniors. Whatever the demons plot, it is of little concern,” Xuan Qingzi replied with a tone of disdain and composure.

At that moment, the disciples of the Celestial Star Wolf Sect gazed up at the massive, immobile face suspended above the capital, their hearts filled with complex emotions.

“Very well, leave the city to a few Foundation Establishment disciples for defense. I shall join Senior Brother to rendezvous with the six sects,” Long Qianyu proposed.

“Agreed. It would be more appropriate for the Formation Master Sect of Celestial Artisans, experts in arrays, to manage this formation going forward. Junior Brother, accompany me to meet the others,” Xuan Qingzi responded.

As Xuan Qingzi’s voice faded, the colossal face in the sky gradually shifted from solid to ethereal, eventually vanishing without a trace.

Only then did the Celestial Star Wolf Sect cultivators beneath the great formation breathe a collective sigh of relief.

After this righteous assault, Cao Yun increasingly sensed that the demonic sect was secretly plotting something significant. Such a self-sacrificial tactic, using lower-ranked cultivators to restrain higher-ranked ones, was no random gambit.

Inside the council hall, Elder Meng sat cross-legged at the central elevated mat, flanked by mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, early-stage ones, and late-to-mid-stage Core Formation cultivators. Cao Yun, by comparison, could only occupy the lowest seat.

“Had it not been for the reinforcement of the Eight-Demon Chain Sealing Immortal Formation and the Golden Lock Anti-Immortal Array, the capital would have long since fallen. Though the righteous Nascent Soul cultivators have withdrawn, we must remain vigilant against their return,” Elder Meng said gravely.

“Elder Meng speaks rightly. Yet, with only four Foundation Establishment cultivators and dozens of Core Formation disciples guarding the capital, why has the supreme Nascent Soul elder delayed appearing? What exactly do our sect and the six demonic sects intend?” a Foundation Establishment cultivator asked. Having lived for centuries, they were not unaware of the underlying reasons.

“Junior Brother Qingmu, I know little of this matter myself. Only that recently the six demonic sects have launched offensives against several northern kingdoms—Qin, Dongzheng, Zhao, Yue, and others. Perhaps they are already in action,” Elder Meng replied.

“What? Although our demonic sect’s territories are vast and sparsely populated, surely not even for inheritance would we resort to such great upheaval?” a young Foundation Establishment cultivator named Zou exclaimed in surprise.

“Junior Brother Zou, this righteous-demonic war is shrouded in mystery. Though we elders hold high rank, we are still kept in the dark about many details. I know no more than you,” Elder Meng sighed deeply, his tone filled with helplessness.