Chapter 40: Formation Clash – True Transmission
Chapter 40: Formation Clash – True Transmission
"Formation activate!"
Above Skull Mountain Bazaar, the fully restored Hundred-Bone Reanimation Array rumbled to life, forcing Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan to hastily retreat.
Seizing the opening, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a crimson streak of light and shot through the formation.
The array's outer runes parted instantly, allowing him passage before snapping shut with lightning speed, leaving no opportunity for intruders.
"Grateful for your help, Brother Lv", Lu Yuanchun said as his blood-colored aura dissipated, revealing his battered form. His pale face bore an expression of lingering shock. "Didn't expect you to be a Formation Art Master!"
Only a Formation Art Master could have restructured the formation art to resolve such a deadly predicament.
"Merely ninth-grade proficiency", Lv Yang replied with a faint smile. "It took days of study to barely harness this formation's power."
Though Lv Yang spoke modestly, Lu Yuanchun remained solemn. Among the hundred cultivation arts, formation mastery stood supreme. A ninth-grade formation master at the Refining Qi Late Stage held incomparable value – practically equivalent to a Refining Qi Perfection cultivator.
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu seems to have gained quite a treasure today", Lv Yang remarked with a knowing smile.
Under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression stiffened as cold sweat trickled down. But within moments, he regained composure.
"Brother Lv, I've safeguarded the Primordial Yin Jade for you all this time. Today, I return it to its rightful owner."
With that, he produced a small lacquered box. Inside lay a white jade figurine with seven orifices, uncannily resembling a human form.
A wise man knows when to yield. As a senior disciple of the Holy Sect, Lu Yuanchun understood that withholding the treasure now would only mean dying on the Orthodox and Evil Battlefield frontline. With Divine Martial Gate deploying a Refining Qi Perfection expert, escape was impossible. Better to surrender the artifact publicly – both to avert disaster and shift Divine Martial Gate's focus to Lv Yang.
"Primordial Yin Jade", Lv Yang acknowledged, pocketing the box before turning toward a sudden figure emerging outside the bazaar.
A handsome young spear-wielder stood there – crowned in martial regalia, armored in scale mail, his spear etched with dragon patterns. More general than cultivator in presence.
"Ninth-Grade Formation Art Master?" The youth's gaze pierced like a blade, seemingly transcending the formation to fix on Lv Yang. "Unexpected variable."
Meanwhile, 'Divine Fist' Wu Zhichong and 'Mountain-Shifting Daoist' Duanmu Yuan approached respectfully. "Senior Brother Ouyang, we've failed in our duties", they bowed.
"No matter", Ouyang Haoze shook his head, voice deceptively gentle. "The demon's cunning caught you off guard. Redemption awaits."
His eyes darkened as he surveyed the bazaar. "Our sect's decades-long planning allows no surprises. Eliminate the remaining demon sect footholds first – minimize variables."
In a flash, Ouyang Haoze unleashed his Refining Qi Perfection aura. A pillar of martial essence soared skyward, manifesting phantom armies – thousands of spectral armored warriors materializing behind him to bolster his might.
"Break it down!"
Thunderous qi roared through the bazaar. Lower-cultivation disciples spat blood from the shockwave.
"Refining Qi Perfection", Lv Yang murmured, maintaining the formation. Qi Gathering's ultimate stage symbolized both power and status. True Transmission disciples alone could master such techniques.
Divine Martial Gate might lack Holy Sect's prestige in the Northern Borderlands, but their peerless martial arts required True Transmission status to learn.
"If he uses supreme techniques, I flee immediately", Lv Yang thought, positioning himself at the formation's edge. "Lv Yang here. May I know your name, Senior?"
" unworthy of knowing mine", Ouyang Haoze sneered. "Surrender now and I'll spare your life – merely seal your demonic arts. Resist, and I'll raze this place to dust."
"Must vengeance never end?" Lv Yang smiled, voice calm. "Though our paths differ, let's maintain mutual respect."
"Respect?" Ouyang Haoze laughed bitterly. "A mere eighth-stage cultivator dares demand courtesy? What can you do about it?"
"Very well", Lv Yang sighed. "Then please, Senior, attempt the formation."
"Die!" Ouyang Haoze's eyes blazed. His martial essence condensed as he threw a seemingly mundane punch.
Lv Yang's expression sharpened. Summoning the Blood Sun Sword Core, he merged with its blade-light and slashed. Fist met sword in an explosion of sparks.
Ouyang Haoze moved like lightning, hundreds of punches blurring in an instant. Divine Martial Gate's Body Cultivators specialized in close-range combat – their speed eclipsing even sword cultivators.
"Chaotic Arrow Barrage!"
Arms spread like a bow, Ouyang Haoze launched fist-shadows as arrows. Lv Yang's position vanished beneath the onslaught.
Boom after boom! Lv Yang felt his qi draining, surrounded by relentless fists seeking to crush him to powder – a Supreme Divine Ability!
Though dismissive in words, Ouyang fought with utmost seriousness. Within ten seconds, Lv Yang shattered into skeletal fragments, his sword-light extinguished.
Ouyang Haoze paused mid-air, frowning.
Above the bazaar, the Hundred-Bone Reanimation Array whirred. From its energy emerged an unscathed Lv Yang.
"Your fists command great power", Lv Yang bowed.
Without reply, Ouyang launched another Chaotic Arrow Barrage. Again Lv Yang resisted, again he shattered after ten seconds. Again his remains became bones, again he reformed unharmed from the array.
"Seventh-grade Hundred-Bone Reanimation Array indeed lives up to legend", Ouyang Haoze grimaced.
He knew its mechanics – the array contained a hundred bone soldiers. Within, cultivators could manifest full combat power through these substitutes. The original remained unharmed, the bone soldiers endlessly regenerating while the formation operated.
No matter his strength, attacking from outside proved futile. Worse – if he entered the formation, Lv Yang could command all bone soldiers at once. Even a Refining Qi Perfection expert would suffer grievous losses.
(End of Chapter)
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