Chapter 328: Grand Controller of Life and Death, Severing Life and Death

I never expected Floating Cloud Senior to have mastered the ancient formation 'Lone Offering Formation'.

This formation can be used not only on puppets but also on cultivators, demonic beasts, corpse refiners, ghosts, and other beings; it requires those etched with the formation pattern to not only be unable to resist but to wholeheartedly accept it, otherwise the formation will fail to be drawn.

Since puppets lack self-consciousness and every move is under the controller's command, drawing the formation on them encounters no obstruction; thus this formation is mostly used on puppets, corpse refiners, and the like.

Floating Cloud Senior evidently set a trap on these puppets.

If one is unaware of the existence of the 'Lone Offering Formation' or is not sufficiently observant, upon seeing so many puppets including two Fourth Level puppets, there is no doubt they will either flee or go all out in battle.

Moreover, he designed a trap for the greedy intruders who break into his cave dwelling.

Those coveting the Fourth Level puppets will inevitably deal with the Third Level puppets first, then try to see if they can control the two Fourth Level puppets.

If that is the case, they will have completely fallen into Floating Cloud Senior's trap.

Once all the Third Level puppets are completely cleared away, even though each Third Level puppet is comparatively insignificant next to a Fourth Level puppet, the combined power of so many Third Level puppets stacked onto the Fourth Level puppets will obviously greatly enhance their strength, making heavy casualties for the attackers almost inevitable.

Besides that.

Most importantly, when only two Fourth Level puppets remain, if either one falls, its power will be grafted onto the other Fourth Level puppet!

Thus.

That remaining Fourth Level puppet would then erupt with unmatched power; even a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator could only avoid its edge!

Therefore.

"We must deal with both Fourth Level puppets simultaneously and, as much as possible, avoid destroying those Third Level puppets!", Guangchengzi shouted.

Everyone present was extremely experienced; after a brief explanation of a few sentences, they immediately grasped the seriousness of the matter.

So they all ceased fighting.

And Guangchengzi, the only Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator present, without hesitation went up to one of the Fourth Level puppets.

At this point, since Yunhe and the others have already eliminated some of the Third Level puppets, the strength of these Fourth Level puppets has increased more than a notch compared to before; saying they can rival a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator is not an exaggeration.

"Leave the remaining one to us!"

Before Yunhe, Xue Wuchen, and Ji Liuyun could speak, Baimai Daoren rushed forward to meet the other Fourth Level puppet, with Hongling Xianzi closely following.

Their enthusiasm stems solely from the previously agreed rule: the greater the contribution, the earlier one gets to pick treasures.

Moreover, this dao couple excels at combined attack techniques, and they might be the fastest side besides Guangchengzi to resolve the other Fourth Level puppet.

"If that's the case, then please trouble the three dao friends to block these Third Level puppets."

Guangchengzi said.

In response,

Ji Liuyun naturally had no objection, and was also the first to rush forward again.

However, Xue Wuchen's expression appeared somewhat gloomy.

But he indeed could not compete with the dao couple Baimai Daoren and Hongling Xianzi for the opportunity, so he could only keep a stern face and charge once more into the puppet horde.

Yunhe likewise raised no objection; his gaze swept over the many puppets, his eyes faintly glowing as he also set to work on the task of obstructing the Third Level puppets.

Although the Third Level puppets pose little threat before Yunhe and company, merely hindering and restricting them without being able to kill them is also a troublesome matter.

Then one saw.

Ji Liuyun sat cross-legged in midair, a chessboard floating before him; as he swiftly placed black and white stones, invisible-seeming barriers arose beside each Third Level puppet, restricting their mobility.

Xue Wuchen's billowing black robe fluttered without wind; a blood‑red surge like a tide welled up from his body, turning into blood‑red chains that wrapped around the puppets, likewise preventing them from moving easily.

Seeing them each employ their methods, Yunhe naturally did not lag behind.

He activated the Ice Phoenix Wings within his dantian qi sea, drawing forth ice‑attribute mana.

At the same time, his five‑element mana interacted and moved; under the circulation of the 'Five Elements Spirit Body', it was infused into the Ice Phoenix Wings, bringing a stronger mana fluctuation.

After all, ice attribute is merely a variant energy, not transcending the five elements; with the stimulation of the five‑element mana's mutual generation and the activation of the Ice Phoenix Wings, ice‑attribute mana can be indirectly evoked.

As he formed the hand seal, he spoke in a calm tone:

"Condense."

Instantly, an extremely surging bitterly cold wind wrapped with drifting snow swept over those puppets.

In the blink of an eye, layers of ice crystals appeared on those puppets, and as the ice crystals rapidly solidified, they greatly restricted the puppets' movements until they turned into ice sculptures.

Having done that, the three exchanged a few glances.

"Two dao friends, excellent techniques."

Ji Liuyun placed the last black stone and involuntarily said,

Xue Wuchen gave a low hum and did not reply.

Yunhe smiled and replied, "Your techniques are not bad either, Daoist Ji."

Having said that, the three almost simultaneously turned their gazes to the two Fourth Level puppets and the three individuals engaged with them.

Although Guangchengzi's whisk in his hand looks ordinary, it seems to be an exceptionally effective magical treasure; under his whisk, his opponent hardly has any room to retaliate.

At this moment he could even divert his attention to the pair of Baimai Daoren and Hongling Xianzi, evidently waiting for them to find an opportunity so he could join them in simultaneously disposing of the two Fourth Level puppets.

After some struggle, Baimai Daoren and Hongling Xianzi finally seized the opportunity.

Only see that Hongling Xianzi, her lovely visage bearing menace, waved a black leather whip with a 'crack', knocking aside the puppet's arm and swiftly wrapping it around.

At the same time, Baimai Daoren's two white eyebrows floated up, and he hurled a pair of hook‑shaped magical treasures that caught the puppet's feet.

"Guangchengzi dao friend, now is the time!"

Baimai Daoren shouted while a bright white mana surged from his body, and on the other side of the puppet Hongling Xianzi unleashed a secret art like red silk; the two almost simultaneously struck the puppet without distinction of order.

"Good!"

Seeing this, Guangchengzi responded with a shout, a profound and mysterious aura emanating from his whole body; while using the whisk to restrain the puppet, he raised an arm sharply and chopped down like a long sword, faintly accompanied by the buzzing of a sword's edge.

"Mysterious Gate Technique, incarnate as sword!"

Seeing this scene, Xue Wuchen narrowed his eyes and could not help muttering.

Mysterious Gate Technique?

Hearing his low whisper, Yunhe fell into thought.

Seeing that both sides' attacks were about to land, everyone's hearts instantly settled.

But just then.

Suddenly, an anomaly arose!

Clatter—

All the third-level puppets controlled by Yunhe, Xue Wuchen, and Ji Liuyun suddenly collapsed like building blocks losing their support, crashing apart!

"Not good!"

No one knew who shouted that, but Yunhe and the others' faces drastically changed.

No one expected that the Floating Cloud Elder had actually left such a backup on these third-level puppets!

At the same time.

Crack!!!

Guang Chengzi struck out with a sword; although that fourth-level puppet had gained power boosts from many third-level puppets, Guang Chengzi, wanting to avoid causing more trouble, held nothing back.

A strike from a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator.

It ruthlessly crushed the puppet into countless fragments.

However, on the side of the White Eyebrow Daoist and the Red Gauze Fairy, a problem arose.

The suddenly increased power forced that fourth-level puppet to pay the price of a shattered breastplate, successfully blocking the red gauze emanating from the Red Gauze Fairy.

After taking a blow from the White Eyebrow Daoist from behind, fine cracks also appeared on its back.

Yet at this moment, the puppet's aura surged at a visible speed!

"We're done for!"

The White Eyebrow Daoist and the Red Gauze Fairy almost simultaneously withdrew.

But the puppet seemed unwilling to let them go, aiming at the Red Gauze Fairy, it swung its arm and smashed out; a fierce wind broke the air, the Red Gauze Fairy's expression drastically changed, and in a hurry she could only mobilize her mana before her to wrap red gauze into a light veil to try to block.

Bang!!

A solid punch sent the Red Gauze Fairy flying like a cannonball, heavily striking the hall's wall.

Seeing this, everyone's hearts couldn't help but churn.

There was one exception!

That was Yunhe.

At the very moment the anomaly suddenly arose, he did not hesitate to flash forward.

As the puppet sent the Red Gauze Fairy flying, he had already appeared beside the remaining fourth-level puppet.

While everyone was puzzled, Yunhe acted without hesitation.

"The power of a fourth-level puppet is too great; even with the 'Solitary Offering Formation' boosting it, it's impossible to instantly graft all of its power onto this puppet."

"With the Red Gauze Fairy drawing attention, this surprise attack carries no risk; if one strike fails, we'll find another way."

"Moreover, the damage the White Eyebrow Daoist and his dao partner previously inflicted on this puppet is not minor."

His action seemed rash, but it was not.

Although hasty, he still had calculations in mind.

Moreover, he was not only doing this to resolve the trouble, but also because of this puppet.

This is a fourth-level puppet!

More importantly.

The Solitary Offering Formation!

Yunhe developed a strong interest in this formation.

Of course, what he needed to face at this moment was a fourth-level puppet whose power was continuously and rapidly increasing.

Hum—

Then he saw.

Five-colored light halos swirled in his pupils, almost without pause, and two divine beams shot straight from his eyes.

Inverted Five Elements Spirit-Attracting Divine Light!

This divine light possesses forbidden power.

As these two divine beams contacted or even pierced the puppet, its surging aura came to an abrupt halt!

At the same time.

The puppet, having reacted, twisted its body to attack Yunhe.

But from Yunhe's sleeve, three streams of light suddenly flew out, launching a counterattack swift as thunder and unstoppable as blocking one's ears.

Nine Songs Sword Technique, Grand Arbiter of Life, Sever Life and Death!

One sword deflected the puppet's fist, one sword broke its body, one sword struck straight at its core!

Swish!

In a flash of brilliant light, the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword precisely aimed at the gap previously made by the White Eyebrow Daoist and his partner on it.

Under the heavy blow, the gap suddenly widened, revealing the inner darkness of its black hole.

Finally, a lethal sword came down in a cleaving strike!

The puppet's movement ceased instantly, its body instantly breaking into several sections and scattering down.

Yunhe unhesitatingly rolled up his sleeve, retrieving the three flying swords while also collecting the puppet's remains entirely into his storage bag.

This happened so quickly that almost no one could react.

But seeing Yunhe so swiftly instant-kill this puppet gave them a greater understanding of his strength.

"That's us—" the Red Gauze Fairy, who had just risen leaning against the wall with a slightly pale face, blurted out.

But when Yunhe's gaze fell upon her, her voice stopped abruptly, and her expression tightened as well.

Daoist Yunhe, what do you mean by this?

The white-eyebrow Daoist furrowed their brows and asked in a low voice.

They had barely managed to destroy this puppet with great difficulty; although the sudden change caused their cooperation with Guang Chengzi to fail, the situation now gave them an extremely unpleasant feeling of having their prey snatched away.

Facing the white-eyebrow Daoist's shout, Yunhe took a slight breath, his expression unchanged, and spoke in a calm tone:

If Daoist Xi feels that this Yun's action is improper, then fellow Daoist, please feel free to take it.

If it were against Guang Chengzi, Yunhe would still feel apprehensive, but against the white-eyebrow Daoist and the Red Gauze Fairy, even if they joined forces and used their combined technique, he would not fear.

Could it be that he intends to flee, yet the other side could still catch him?

Moreover, even if he does not flee, he is confident that their means are insufficient to threaten his life.

You!

Hearing this, the white-eyebrow Daoist's eyes widened.

But upon thinking of how Yunhe had swiftly and cleanly dealt with that Fourth Level puppet earlier—although they had taken advantage of it, they later realized that the puppet's strength had not increased that quickly; yet the strength Yunhe displayed still caused him to feel some apprehension.

————

PS: I thought I had set up automatic updates, but it seems I forgot—sorry, sorry, deeply sorry!

(End of chapter)