Chapter 194: Is This a Trap?

As a formation that can blanket the entire nation, the core altar's occupied area is enormous, reaching tens of thousands of square meters.

With such a vast area, it is impossible for cultivators alone to guard it, so four military camps are stationed around its perimeter.

The altar is now completed; although the primary treasure that should serve as the formation's core is not yet in place, the formation already displays its imposing aura.

The altar itself is constructed from white jade; with a rhythmic pulse, beams of light radiate outward from its center, illuminating the countless runes etched upon it.

Simultaneously, waves of oppressive might pulse outward, passing through the camps and the city, extending to the unseen horizon, linking formation eyes across the nation, brazenly provoking countless players.

The four camps surrounding the altar constantly endure this pressure, giving a suffocating sensation.

"General, aren't those orthodox cultivators making a mountain out of a molehill? I think the Returnees are quite good, like Chen Shicheng, who helped us accelerate millet and greatly increased its yield. I wonder what the emperor thinks, why…"

"Silence!"

The young General didn't look up, and said while staring at the book in his hand, "Wang Peng, these matters aren't ours to consider; the emperor has his own thoughts. We just need to carry out the orders."

"But… sigh…"

Seeing the General ignore him, Wang Peng let out a deep sigh, turned, and left the tent to carry out tonight's patrol Task.

After his figure vanished, the General finally set down the book he hadn't even turned a page of, and stared blankly at the nearby lanterns.

The extermination of the Returnees is not only something Wang Peng complains about; he also finds it incomprehensible.

Having worked at the grassroots, he has dealt with more and more complicated players than the lofty officials.

Although some players indeed act wildly, contrary to his understanding, overall they are tolerable, especially players like Chen Shicheng who greatly helped them; merely increasing grain yields could earn him a noble title.

Thinking again of the lofty demeanor of those orthodox cultivators—"Alas!"

The General stepped out of the tent and squinted at the magnificent altar.

Wang Peng is merely his personal guard; he may not know all the secrets, but his special status grants him much knowledge.

For instance, although the altar appears to be the formation's core, its construction material is ordinary and cannot support a nationwide formation.

Moreover, the guarding soldiers are temporarily drafted; their Combat Power and coordination are abysmal. The true elite are elsewhere, outside the city.

This is clearly a trap, and it's uncertain whether Chen Shicheng, the Returnee who owes a debt to Great Yu, will fall for it. If we really see him here, should we warn him? "What's the point of overthinking? The teleportation array is disabled; he's ten thousand li away—how could he possibly rush from the northeast? Let nature take its course."

The General shook his head helplessly, reentered the tent, and picked up the book to read again.

At the same time, Chen Shicheng stood at the private box window of the Cloud‑rolling Tower, gazing at the nearby altar, while Hui Siye emerged from his mask to observe with him.

Chen Shicheng showed no strong reaction, merely marveling at the altar's grandeur and might.

But after watching a moment longer, Hui Siye tilted his head in doubt and said, "Kid, don't you think something's off?"

"Hm?" Chen Shicheng was startled, squinting to examine the distant altar, "What's wrong? Did the formation finish early, or…"

"It has nothing to do with that."

Hui Siye cut Chen Shicheng off, saying uncertainly, "You also practice formations; you should know that formations at the same location cannot coexist— the stronger side inevitably overwhelms the weaker."

"Exactly. I have used the Demon‑slaying Immortal Formation on the Icefield to break the Palm Buddha Kingdom, and have shattered the Iron Blood Great Wall's formation as well as foreign barriers. So you mean—"

Chen Shicheng stopped mid‑sentence and suddenly realized.

Indeed!

Before entering the city, he had heard locals say that the city possessed a formation capable of repelling cultivators of the Ascendant Realm, and now another formation that can blanket the whole nation is being built—clearly defying logic.

Of course, some formations can overlap, such as the Jie Sect's Ten Absolute Formation.

However, that kind of formation is arranged by immortals, and those immortals are not ordinary beings; the formation may even have been modified by the Lord of the Tongtian Sect, allowing it to coexist and become far more powerful.

Although the orthodox cultivators arranging these arrays have high realms, they could never match the ancient divine masters.

And if this formation were truly set, what about the capital's defenses? Even though the emperor of Great Yu is a cultivator with a respectable level, no emperor would place himself in danger, and he is no exception.

"No way,"

Chen Shicheng grew increasingly alarmed as he thought.

If this altar is an illusion crafted by orthodox cultivators to draw players' main forces, wasting valuable manpower on a fake altar to safeguard the real one, that logic holds.

So where is the real altar? Moreover, all this is speculation; he only glanced from afar, never even seeing the altar itself clearly, how could he draw a definitive conclusion?

This is not something a simple guess can settle; the formation concerns Huaxia's future, involving the attention of the entire nation and even the world. A single misstep would not merely be a Task failure but could plunge the whole country into abyss.

"No, we can't be so rash now; this is just our speculation. What if they manage to resolve the formation's conflict?"

Chen Shicheng said so, but he was already convinced it was likely a trap, especially since he possessed a max‑level Demon‑slaying Immortal Great Array of boundless rank.

Even a strong ordinary player cannot comprehend a formation within three years, even the simplest one.

The orthodox cultivators likely counted on this, thus creating a trap with such a flaw.

However, they overlooked Chen Shicheng, who has the bug that allows Merit Points to boost Skill.

Even if he knows this is a trap, what can he do? This is no ordinary Task but a national affair; I, a mere Karamy, no matter how strong, would not be believed.

(End of Chapter)