Seeing there was nothing serious, Lu Zhou cut off the Heavenly Writing’s power of sight.
“In five days, the sea beasts will arrive. In other words, the people from Great Yuan’s royal court will likely appear in five days as well…”
Their current defensive strength was not enough. There were quite a few Thousand Realms Whirling cultivators in Great Yuan’s royal court and the Dark and Light Alliance. It was stretching it a little too far for him to rely on his disciples to defend them.
He decided to check on Yu Shangrong and silently chanted the mantra for the Heavenly Writing’s power of sight.
…
On a city tower in Shanbei Circuit.
Yu Shangrong held his Longevity Sword as he looked at the forest outside of the city.
The weather was very bad; it was raining and foggy. It was the complete opposite of Jiangdong Circuit.
A cultivator flew over from afar at this moment. He bowed and said, “Mister Second, the weather isn’t good. It’s better for you to return first. The fierce beasts will retreat temporarily as well so there won’t be any problem…”
“It’s fine,” Yu Shangrong turned around and said indifferently, “Just remember to inform me if that swordsman appears.”
“Understood.” The cultivator bowed and continued to say, “That swordsman is very strange. Before you came, three of our cultivators had died under his sword.”
Yu Shangrong revealed a smile. “I hope his swordsmanship is up to my standards.”
“…”
After seeing that Shanbei Circuit was fine for now, Lu Zhou checked in on Yu Zhenghai and Ye Tianxin. The two places they were at were fine for now as well.
However, the wilderness had been overrun with fierce beasts. All the humans had retreated back to the cities. Waves after waves of fierce beasts arrived, occupying places where there was a lack of human activities.
Lu Zhou cut off the power of sight and fell deep into his thoughts. Even with the Supreme Mystic Card, it would be difficult for him to turn the tides alone. All he could do was find Mu Ertie, Fan Ruoxi, and the beast emperor. However, were those three going to just stay still and wait to be slaughtered? Obviously not.
The situation was rather tricky.
Little Yuan’er and Conch were not at the Thousand Realms Whirling stage yet, and they did not have enough combat experience. His seventh and fifth disciples were only suitable to guard the royal palace.
“Yan Zhenluo and Lu Li should be able to guard Jiangbei Circuit.”
Then, Lu Zhou thought about the four elders of the Evil Sky Pavilion. They had rich combat experience and had gone through many life-or-death situations. However, they were not around now. He was worried there would not be enough people when the time came.
Lu Zhou chanted the mantra for the power of sight again.
Soon enough, he saw a place shrouded by a furnace-like barrier. The entire place was cast with a red light.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At this moment, Duanmu Sheng brandished his Overlord Spear, repelling the Square Box.
Energy seals flew in the air as the Square Box flew back and forth. From time to time, the Six Compatible Daoist Seals and the Eight Trigrams Seal would appear.
At the same time, the other three elders were standing at the side, watching the battle.
Bang!
Duanmu Sheng was covered in sweat, and blue veins were popping on his arms. At this moment, he pierced the spear upward before he brought it down with a crushing momentum.
“Imperfect Divine Intervention!”
The spear landed true on the Square Box.
Boom!
The Square Box fell to the ground.
At this moment, Pan Litian interjected with a smile on his face, “Alright, stop fighting! Duanmu Sheng wins this round.”
The Square Box shrank rapidly as Hua Wudao flew out from it. He coughed as he staggered a few steps back before he managed to stabilize himself. Then, he said with a sigh, “The intensity is too high! Mister Third should be able to sprout the tenth leaf soon…”
“I agree.” Pan Litian nodded.
Zuo Yushu chimed, “I think so too… Over the past half a year, Old Pan, Leng Luo, and I have successfully sprouted the tenth leaf. Although Mister Third has yet to sprout the tenth leaf, his potential is greater than all of us…”
Among the people present, only Duanmu Sheng and Hua Wudao had yet to sprout the tenth leaf.
Leng Luo brought a life heart out and said, “If there’s a need, we can give your our life hearts to help you sprout the tenth leaf…”
Duanmu Sheng was moved when he heard this. He said, “The life hearts belong to you; I can’t accept them. When I sprout the tenth leaf, I’ll be able to obtain a life heart as well. I appreciate your kindness…”
Everyone nodded.
Hua Wudao said, “Rest first. The Star Gathering Formation’s effect is really extraordinary. Cultivating here for half a year is like cultivating for eight to ten years outside. However, the environment is really too harsh…”
Apart from the abundant Primal Qi, the environment was abnormally harsh. When it was hot, it was incredibly hot; when it was cold, it was freezing. There were no plants or water. There were only bottomless abysses.
“Elders, please rest first. I’ll continue,” Duanmu Sheng said.
The elders sighed inwardly. They could all see Duanmu Sheng’s diligence. He did not even stop to rest. Even when he was resting, he was still cultivating.
Wuu!
The Star Gathering Formation suddenly buzzed.
Zuo Yushu jumped up and brought her Coiling Dragon Staff out before she flew toward the edge of the formation. “Don’t worry. I’ll go and take a look…”
Among the people present, only Zuo Yushu was knowledgeable about formations. She flew to the edge and checked the inscriptions, looking for the source of the strange noise. She frowned and muttered to herself, “Strange… I don’t think the Star Gathering Formation is broken, but why did it shrink slightly?”
“It shrank again?” Pan Litian transmitted his voice over.
“Yes, it shrank by about two meters this time… At this rate, it won’t be long before we have no place to cultivate. The frequency is getting higher as well…” Zuo Yushu replied.
“This formation is a bit strange. The people of the Sky Research Court said that many people died in the formation in the past. Could this be why they died?”
Zuo Yushu said, “Unlikely. This formation doesn’t seem like a killing formation. Now that you mention it, if so many people died here, there should be remains or something…”
As soon as her voice fell, the three elders looked at the cliff in unison.
Realization dawned on Zuo Yushu, and she flew over immediately.
Swoosh!
A gust of light wind rushed up from the bottom of the cliff. It was cool and refreshing.
Zuo Yushu frowned, sensing something amiss. “The sound came from the bottom of the cliff. It should be caused by the strong wind.”
“That’s possible. However, why does the sound correspond with the formation shrinking? How can there be such a coincidence?” Pan Litian said.
The four elders exchanged a look.
Zuo Yushu said, “Who knows? After all, the Star Gathering Formation is an ancient formation left by the sages. There are many things the Sky Research Court is not privy to as well…”
Wuu!
The strange noise rang even louder than before.
At this moment, the gentle wind suddenly turned into a pulling force.
Zuo Yushu hurriedly brandished her Coiling Dragon Staff and released tens of thousands of talisman seals. After she retreated to her original position, she said, “Don’t go near the cliff.”
“What’s going on?”
“This Star Gathering Formation could be… I’m not sure, but it could be a man-eating formation…” Zuo Yushu said.
“Man-eating formation?!”
Pan Litian was shocked. “Elder Zuo, are you joking? If this is a man-eating formation, how are those people from the Sky Research Court going to live?”
Zuo Yushu said, “I said I’m not sure.”
“Even the fierce beasts eat Nine-leaf cultivators… Who knows what this formation likes to eat…”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s leave!” Pan Litian turned around and said, “What if the Star Gathering Formation not only gathers Primal Qi and the essence of heaven and earth, but it also gathers human essence? It might really be a man-eating formation now that I think about it…”
Duanmu Sheng frowned. He looked around. After cultivating here for half a year, he felt it would be a pity to leave now.
Wuu!
The sound grew louder again.
The furnace-like barrier around them shrank again; it was not twice as small compared to before.
Leng Luo said calmly, “Leave.”
Leng Luo was the first to use the Dao concealment technique and flew toward the entrance of the Star Gathering Formation, leaving afterimages in his wake. When he was about to reach the entrance…
Bang!
A barrier suddenly appeared in front of him, sending him flying back.
The entrance was sealed!
Wuu!
The sound rang again louder than before. It was as though someone was playing an ancient clay ocarina at the bottom of the cliff.
“Let me do it.” Duanmu Sheng flew over at top speed, brandishing the Overlord Spear, stirring up thousands of waves. Tens of thousands of energy spears shot toward the sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Although the spear attack was formidable, Duanmu Sheng and his attacks were bounced by the barrier as well.
At this moment, Zuo Yushu said with a horrified expression on her face, “No! Someone is manipulating this formation!”
