Chapter 59: Tenacity

When the spiritual sense of every cultivator present transformed into fine threads, connecting one after another to the luminous barrier of the grand array, the array remained utterly calm and ripple-less, showing no signs of abnormality. Everyone's gaze focused once again upon Yun Zhuzi.

At this moment, Yun Zhuzi furrowed his brows tightly and muttered to himself, "Could it really be impossible? Our manpower is still insufficient. If there were just a few more people, surely this would not fail."

Although the light had faded from Yun Zhuzi's eyes, his murmured words clearly reached Cao Yun's ears.

Cao Yun flashed over to Yun Zhuzi's side and asked, "Senior Brother Yun Zhuzi, is it true that any cultivator who has left their spiritual sense on the array will suffice? Will Qi-Condensation stage disciples work as well?"

Cao Yun's words were like a solitary lamp appearing in the darkness, instantly reigniting the dimming light in Yun Zhuzi's eyes. He replied with extreme excitement, "Of course that works! Junior Brother Cao, could it be that your Heavenly Star Wolf Sect has also had Qi-Condensation stage disciples plant their spiritual sense into a grand array before?"

"Indeed," Cao Yun said calmly. "Some time ago, before any Nascent Soul stage cultivators were stationed in the capital, we were attacked once by righteous-path Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Had it not been for the reinforcement of the Golden Lock Immortal-Resisting Array, our city would have fallen and we would have perished long ago. It was precisely during that time that all the Qi-Condensation stage disciples poured their vital Qi into the Golden Lock Immortal-Resisting Array."

"This is simply wonderful!" Yun Zhuzi praised sincerely. "Junior Brother Cao is truly meticulous and unfazed by any crisis. Your state of mind is comparable to that of old Nascent Soul monsters."

"Senior Brother Yun Zhuzi, let us first have the various senior brothers of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect summon their Qi-Condensation disciples over. Success or failure rests on this single move." Cao Yun was in no mood to listen to such flattery at the moment.

The conversation between Yun Zhuzi and Cao Yun was overheard by the numerous Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Without waiting for notification from Cao Yun and Yun Zhuzi, they began on their own initiative to contact the Qi-Condensation disciples using their disciple identity tokens.

Before long, countless streams of light arrived successively, and within a short time, over a hundred Qi-Condensation disciples had gathered here. Yun Zhuzi repeated his previous method, explaining the general situation to the Qi-Condensation disciples before tossing a jade slip into the air. Following the instructions, the numerous Qi-Condensation disciples scanned the contents of the jade slip with their divine sense.

Shortly thereafter, fine threads formed from streams of divine sense slowly shot toward the luminous barrier of the grand array. Soon, these threads of divine sense arrived one after another. Just when everyone thought this attempt would also be in vain, the spiritual sense thread connected to the disciple identity token of one Qi-Condensation disciple pointed toward the upper space of the magic array, where a faint yellow light flickered unsteadily within the originally blood-red luminous barrier.

Seeing this, Yun Zhuzi was overjoyed and hastily cast an array incantation toward the spot where the yellow light flickered on the barrier. Soon, the glowing area returned to peace, and then a beam of blood-red light shot down from above.

"Everyone take this opportunity, quickly pour all your spiritual power into the area of the barrier emitting the blood-red light!" Yun Zhuzi shouted aloud.

Hearing this, the crowd immediately condensed their entire body's magic power into spheres of light, shooting them one by one into the section of the barrier that emitted the crimson red light.

In an instant, that pillar of light expanded from a foot in size to several dozen zhang wide.

"Senior and junior brothers of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect, please follow me and quickly enter this blood-red pillar of light!" Yun Zhuzi shouted anxiously, his figure already transforming into a streak of escaping light that plunged into the light beam.

Hearing this, the others also darted toward the luminous barrier in succession. Cao Yun entered just a moment after Yun Zhuzi, followed closely by everyone else arriving one after another.

Before long, the pillar of light transformed into a blood-red sphere measuring several dozen zhang, firmly protecting Cao Yun and the others within it.

Once enveloped by the light sphere, everyone finally felt at ease and successively expressed their gratitude to Yun Zhuzi. Yun Zhuzi calmly nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

After expressing his thanks, Cao Yun found a spot to sit cross-legged at will, slowly closed his eyes, and released his divine sense. At present, his spiritual sense could extend for over a hundred miles, covering a radius of more than thirty miles.

Once his spiritual sense expanded, Cao Yun discovered that the mortals within the city seemed to have lost their minds, beginning to slaughter one another. Their eyes were hollow and dazed, and ferocious smiles hung at the corners of their mouths. Within this blood-red space, they brandished the sharp blades and clubs in their hands, ruthlessly attacking their former relatives, friends, and neighbors. Fresh blood stained the streets, wails rose one after another, and the entire capital city plunged into chaos and despair.

Meanwhile, acts of arson, murder, and looting were even more commonplace. Fear and madness transformed into the most primal desires of the mortals. Streets and houses were filled with the conquest of barbarism and violence. Opposite-sex mortals went from terror to bewilderment, then to numbness, and finally joined in the madness. Everywhere was filled with sights and sounds of slaughter and lewdness.

Raging fires swept through the city, swallowing houses one by one. Thick smoke billowed, blotting out the sun and sky. Some mortals took advantage of the fire to loot, seizing other people's wealth and even carrying out cruel slaughters against the innocent. The entire capital had long lost its former order and tranquility, leaving behind only endless fear and despair.

This scene, resembling an Asura hell, was shocking to the heart, making one feel as though they were in a purgatory on earth.

Cao Yun sighed; this was the fundamental nature of mortals. Once restraints were removed, what remained was madness. Once faced with despair, their original rationality vanished completely, leaving only instinct and roaring cries. He shook his head and slowly pulled back his divine sense.

"Senior and junior brothers, since we have nothing to do right now, why don't we hold an exchange meeting?" Suddenly, a voice broke the tranquility within the protective barrier.

"Ah, this suggestion is marvelous!" another voice chimed in agreement.

"Good idea. With so many peers of the same realm here, surely everyone will be able to trade for what they need," Cao Yun also chimed in.

"Mm, I approve of this matter as well. How about this: those senior and junior brothers who wish to participate shall form a circle, place the items or storage pouches they wish to trade in front of them, and then take turns introducing the items they wish to exchange and what they hope to get in return," Yun Zhuzi proposed.

"This suggestion is excellent!" Everyone expressed their agreement.

Subsequently, the cultivators within the protective barrier gathered into two large circles: one circle composed of Qi-Condensation stage cultivators, and the other composed of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

Following the rules, everyone successively placed their items in front of themselves. Before anyone even began introducing their goods, they involuntarily began scanning the numerous treasures on the ground with their spiritual sense. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle; this maxim remains forever classic.

"Then let us begin with the proposer, this junior brother," Yun Zhuzi said to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage Heavenly Star Wolf Sect cultivator.

"Since Senior Brother Yun Zhuzi has said so, I shall go first. I possess a demonic core from a Gold-Core stage demonic beast, and I wish to trade it for a magical treasure belonging to a Gold-Core stage cultivator." The mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator dropped such a precious item right at the start.