Chapter 142: Brother Gao, trust you have been well since we last met

"A turtle in a jar, a cornered beast fighting for its life!"

Shan Xiu pointed one finger toward the sky, and a massive ice spear, three zhang long, shimmered with intense killing intent.

He let out a low shout.

"Go!"

"Hold on, you must hold on!"

Zhou Yuanli’s expression was anxious as he paced constantly along the edge of the grand formation.

Watching the massive ice spear hurtling toward them, he prayed incessantly in his heart.

The next moment.

The ice spear struck the earthy-yellow light barrier, producing a sound so shrill it felt like it was grating against their eardrums.

*Crack, crack, crack...*

The two forces stalemated for several breaths before the ice spear dissipated into nothingness, leaving only a frost-like aura permeating the surroundings.

The suppressed earthy-yellow light barrier returned to its original state.

It looked precarious, but in reality, it was as solid as a rock!

Seeing this, Zhou Yuanli couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

*Puff! Puff! Puff!*

He looked down to see that the pile of spirit stones at his feet had already turned into grayish-white stone powder.

"Someone, replenish the spirit stones!"

He shouted loudly, and cultivators behind him immediately ran over.

Outside the grand formation.

Shan Xiu caught his breath and glared resentfully at the Earth-Defense Formation, which was like a turtle shell.

He then turned back and approached Gao Tingyuan, feeling indignant.

"Bastard, why am I the only one attacking? Are you all just sitting there watching a show?"

Lan Tianyun frowned. "Watch your tone! Besides, didn't the Second Brother send over sixty Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators to assist you in attacking the formation?"

"If a group of Qi Refining cultivators could shatter it, then this Earth-Defense Formation wouldn't be worthy of being called a boutique first-tier formation."

Shan Xiu remained unsatisfied.

His gaze was fixed firmly on Gao Tingyuan, who stood beside Lan Tianyun; the order had come from him.

But it looked like he was just going through the motions.

Gao Tingyuan pushed Lan Tianyun aside and walked step by step to the very front.

He raised his head, gazing at the massive light curtain that shrouded the entire Xieyue Valley.

"The time dragged on, indeed, for too long."

"Fellow Daoist Min, after trying so many times and watching for so long, do you have any ideas?"

Shan Xiu was stunned and subconsciously looked at the man behind him who hadn't said a word from start to finish.

No, he had actually spoken.

But that was inside a soundproof barrier, communicating only with Gao Tingyuan.

Now it seemed that he and that group of Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators attacking the formation were just testing the formation's strength and looking for flaws for this person?

Was he a formation master?

Just as he was puzzled, Min Longyu chuckled and took out an octagonal formation disk.

"Using the earth's energy as the pulse, and the valley as the momentum."

"Embrace the One and guard the center; the *You* is in the *Dui* palace."

"With the dissipation of the earth's energy, the valley is collapsing, already showing signs of metal flourishing and earth weakening."

"Therefore, when metal flourishes, attack; when earth weakens, it collapses."

"This formation, I have already broken it!"

His laughter gradually grew louder.

He threw the formation disk in his hand toward the sky, and it immediately floated above the earthy-yellow light barrier generated by the Earth-Defense Formation.

Beams of multicolored light were continuously cast out.

Every beam that landed on the earthy-yellow light barrier was like a clay ox entering the sea, with no reaction at all.

Seeing this, Shan Xiu, Fu Zhang, and the others were all confused.

This attack intensity didn't even produce as much of a reaction as the previous group of Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators' attacks!

However, as more and more light beams fell into the light barrier, the entire Xieyue Valley, and even the surrounding dozens of *li*, emitted a slight trembling sound.

At first, it was just a little bit.

Later on, the entire Xieyue Valley began to tremble violently.

Large chunks of rubble kept rolling down, forcing the cultivators in the valley to either activate their magic tools to fly into mid-air or cast the Wind-Riding Technique to barely leave the ground.

"Not good, the grand formation is about to break!"

Murong Qinglian blurted out.

Gu Caiyi looked nervous, her hand subconsciously grabbing Luo Chen's sleeve.

"Reinforcements haven't arrived, and the enemy is powerful. When the formation breaks later, you must protect yourself."

Luo Chen gave a hum, his face still calm.

He reached back and held Gu Caiyi's hand; she was stunned for a moment.

A blood-red pill fell silently into her palm.

Luo Chen nodded at her and then called for Murong Qinglian.

"Sister-in-law, please help me collect the pill furnaces from the other two pill rooms!"

At a time like this, why worry about such things?

Murong Qinglian was helpless but followed him into the pill room.

In the Pill Hall, the other cultivators were filled with panic.

Granny Yuan stood at the front, whispering something to her eldest son, Yuan Dongsheng, behind her.

Sikong Shoujia’s eyes darted around constantly.

Zhou Yuanli gathered Liu Qiang, Dongfang Jing, and several other closely related Qi Refining late-stage cultivators together.

He gave instructions with a serious expression.

*Boom!*

A loud noise suddenly rang out.

The Earth-Defense Formation was about to break!

In Xieyue Valley, all the cultivators looked up at the sky.

Over a hundred cultivators, dense and crowded, occupied almost half the sky.

Beams of spiritual light flickered, appearing conspicuous even in the dark night.

The leader, taking advantage of the fact that the formation hadn't completely broken yet, spoke in a loud voice:

"Today, our Dajiang Gang, in alliance with the Lianyun Chamber of Commerce and the Xuanyi Society, has come to conquer the Poshan Gang."

"The destruction of the Poshan Gang is already a foregone conclusion."

"You need not engage in futile resistance; surrender your weapons and submit, and we will let bygones be bygones and spare your lives."

"Join our Dajiang Gang, and your treatment will be the same as before; the path to the Great Dao can still continue!"

Hearing this, those panicked early-stage and mid-stage cultivators were filled with doubt.

Would they really let bygones be bygones, and would their treatment really be the same as before?

For a moment, many people had thoughts of surrendering.

After all, the Poshan Gang was just a gang composed of loose cultivators.

Without heritage, without masters, without honor, naturally, there was no cohesion!

Just as some people were having thoughts of defecting, an old voice cursed out loud.

"Do not be deceived by him!"

"The Dajiang Gang and our Poshan Gang have a deep feud; have you forgotten the life-and-death battle on the Dao-Discussion Platform?"

"That Shorty Gao is spouting nonsense, lies!"

Shorty Gao...

*Puff!*

A few people couldn't help but laugh.

Gao Tingyuan was indeed quite short, a unique stature among immortal cultivators.

However, was it Elder Sikong who said that?

Elder Sikong continued to curse: "Besides, after you surrender on the spot, will they really let you go?"

"Even if they don't kill you, do you think they won't want the spirit stones you've accumulated, the magic robes you wear, and the magic tools you've worked so hard to earn?"

"Everyone, do not believe such nonsense!"

With that final roar, the originally scattered fighting spirit in Xieyue Valley gradually coalesced again.

Even if not for the Poshan Gang, they had to fight for themselves!

Most of the enemies outside were at the Qi Refining mid-stage.

They themselves also had many Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators; would the other side really be willing to let go of the resources on them?

These things were all accumulated through half a lifetime of hard work.

No one was willing to hand them over.

Elder Sikong was right; the other side’s flowery words were just to deceive them!

Luo Chen stood between Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi, with Zhou Yuanli and the others behind him, already prepared and ready to strike.

He glanced at Sikong Shoujia, who was furious and cursing loudly.

This old man was quite a smart one!

It was obvious that those guys from the Dajiang Gang only intended to spare the low-level cultivators.

But for their group of Qi Refining late-stage cultivators, they would definitely aim to kill.

After all, they had to give these mobilized men some benefits.

In this way, Sikong Shoujia and the others would be in great danger once the formation broke.

But if they incited all the cultivators in Xieyue Valley to fight together.

In the chaos of the scene, it would be a matter of individual ability, and everyone would have a chance to escape!

Outside the grand formation.

Gao Tingyuan helplessly shrugged at the few people behind him, signaling that he had already done his best.

Fu Zhang and Lan Tianyun both frowned, feeling that Gao Tingyuan had done this on purpose.

It was obvious that he could have said a few more words just now to refute that Poshan Gang elder.

That way, the upcoming battle would have been easier.

Shan Xiu didn't care about that and asked urgently: "Fellow Daoist Min, how much longer?"

Min Longyu sat cross-legged on the ground, pointing his fingers like swords to remotely control the formation plate.

The corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a proud and composed smile.

"Soon, soon!"

"Break!"

"Break!"

"Break!"

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Beams of light were continuously fired from the rotating formation disk.

Every beam that hit the Earth-Defense Formation caused a huge roar.

After eight such times, Min Longyu let out a long whistle.

"A mere small formation, how can it stop me? Watch me break it!"

He leaped into the sky, held the formation disk with one hand, erupted with brilliant spiritual light, and then pressed down hard.

*Snap!*

The already precarious Earth-Defense Formation, under this pressure, felt like the sky was collapsing and the earth was sinking.

The earthy-yellow light barrier collapsed instantly.

At the same time, in Xieyue Valley, hundreds of cultivators turned into streams of light, flying toward every direction outside.

Seeing this, Shan Xiu took the lead.

"Kill!"

Gao Tingyuan’s gaze was fixed on the center of the group of cultivators huddling together at the Pill Hall of Xieyue Valley.

He took a step, but his figure paused.

"Tianyun?"

"Second Brother." Lan Tianyun looked at him with a complex expression and shook his head slightly. "Luo Chen cannot be killed; he is the person the Gang Leader specifically named."

"When did you defect to Wang Haichao?" Gao Tingyuan’s expression was vicious.

"I just don't want you to anger a Foundation Establishment cultivator for this; you cannot withstand the wrath of a true cultivator."

"Let go!"

"I..."

"Ridiculous, if you keep being indecisive, they will all escape. I'll see how you explain that to Wang Haichao then!"

Lan Tianyun was startled, and his hand loosened.

Gao Tingyuan broke through the air, a blue water dragon cutting through the night sky, killing anyone who stood in his way.

Shouting, wailing.

Flesh, severed limbs.

Explosions, roars.

Almost instantly, the Xieyue Valley under the moonlight was stained red.

Those who resisted stubbornly would naturally not be shown mercy.

Slaughter became the only theme at this moment.

Sikong Shoujia did not hesitate, erupting with his strongest power, and flew toward the edge.

Wherever he passed, whether it was a Qi Refining mid-stage or a seventh or eighth-layer cultivator, none could stop him for even an instant.

But this kind of formation was the most eye-catching.

A golden melon-shaped hammer smashed through the air.

Accompanying it was Fu Zhang’s arrogant voice.

"Sikong Shoujia, the head of the four elders of the Poshan Gang. Killing you will be just the thing to establish the prestige of my Fu family!"

"Little friend, why be so ruthless?"

Sikong Shoujia replied, a mysterious black turtle shell blocking behind him, taking that hammer blow head-on.

Fu Zhang was stunned, then his face was filled with joy.

"No wonder you were able to survive before; so you had such a good magic tool!"

After the surprise, his movements became increasingly intense.

The first battle of the ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators unfolded in the most ordinary way.

Seeing Sikong Shoujia lure away the strongest person of the Fu family, Granny Yuan nodded at Luo Chen and the others in the Pill Hall.

"You guys go first!"

Murong Qinglian was stunned, seeing the man behind Granny Yuan.

She frowned and said: "The remaining formations in the valley won't be able to stop that Min Longyu."

"It doesn't matter, this old woman still has some tricks."

Granny Yuan smiled kindly, pulled her son, and flew toward where the Medicine Hall used to be.

And in the valley, there was someone who didn't care about anything, walking in the spirit fields.

He occasionally looked down at some small formations, revealing a look of delight at finding a target.

As for the fighting nearby, it seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Seeing an old woman fly over, he frowned and casually threw out a few formation flags.

Then, a brilliant golden light flared up!

In mid-air.

Luo Chen was in the crowd, flying toward the outside.

If he were alone, he could have just ignored everything and escaped calmly.

But here, there were his friends.

Unless absolutely necessary, he couldn't do something like escaping alone.

"Hall Master, we will create an escape opportunity for you later. I know your speed is very fast; you must seize the opportunity!"

Luo Chen looked at the backs of Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang in front, sighed, and his lips moved slightly.

"At this point, there's actually no need to fulfill the protection duty anymore; just try your best to protect yourselves later!"

Who would have thought that Zhou Yuanli would remain silent.

Not just him, Liu Qiang and Dongfang Jing were the same.

Luo Chen suddenly realized something.

Those who could be sent to protect him must be the ones Mi Shuhua trusted the most.

But this group of bodyguards clearly hadn't reached the point where Mi Shuhua trusted them completely.

Then how could they have been arranged to come?

Wasn't he afraid that they would abandon Luo Chen and run away when they encountered danger?

Therefore, there was only one reason!

That was that Mi Shuhua must have done something to them.

Only this reason could explain why, even now, they were still swearing to protect Luo Chen to the death.

Just as these thoughts were turning, a figure had already blocked their path.

"Danchenzi, pay back the debt of that palm strike!"

It is that rogue cultivator from the Snow Lotus Workshop—Shan Xiu!

His fighting spirit was high, and a huge black pair of scissors hovered above his head; it was the top-grade magic tool that emitted a black light when he ambushed Luo Chen back then.

That time, it was blocked by the joint efforts of Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang.

This time, it was the same.

"Get lost!"

He shouted angrily, but Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang didn't give an inch, a saber and a sword spiraling out, entangling him tightly.

"Go!"

Murong Qinglian grabbed Luo Chen, and together with Gu Caiyi, protected him in the middle, flying to the side.

The other few Poshan Gang late-stage cultivators were also entangled by nearby enemies.

"Stay!"

A sigh rang out.

A blue-clothed cultivator blocked the path ahead, his robes fluttering without wind.

Murong Qinglian sneered, shook off Luo Chen, and struck first.

"Caiyi, take Luo Chen and go!"

"Yes, Sister Qinglian, take care!"

Gu Caiyi looked nervous, pulling Luo Chen and preparing to escape.

But the person’s body didn't move at all.

"What's wrong?"

"Can't leave anymore!"

Luo Chen chuckled, looking at the blue dragon roaring toward them from the side, stained with countless blood mists.

Gu Caiyi’s face changed drastically; the speed was too fast, and she couldn't react in time.

The defensive magic tools on her body couldn't be deployed in time to protect Luo Chen.

"Did I just say I'd take him away, only to watch him die in front of me?"

Thoughts flashed through her mind.

In a moment of trance, she saw four-colored tassels descending from the sky.

*Boom!*

Luo Chen pulled Gu Caiyi back, retreating constantly.

Above his head, the Four-Image Tripod bloomed with four-colored light, and strands of tassels entangled the blue dragon.

Suddenly, Luo Chen pushed Gu Caiyi away.

"Go help Sister-in-law!"

Gu Caiyi was thrown out and looked back.

Luo Chen was wearing a green robe, with the four-colored tripod above his head, and a bright red long spear in his hand.

Opposite him, a short, stocky figure reached out and grabbed.

Two blue short halberds revealed their true form.

"Brother Gao, trust you have been well since we last met!"

Luo Chen smiled slightly, the long spear in his hand pointing diagonally, the tip becoming increasingly red, the intense high temperature seeming to melt the void.