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 a finger at the sky, and a massive, three-zhang-long ice spear flickered 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 slammed into the earthy-yellow light barrier, emitting a piercing, grating sound that felt like it was rubbing against their eardrums.

Crack, crack, crack...

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

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

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

Seeing this, Zhou Yuanli couldn't help but heave 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 grey-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 hatefully at the Earth-Defense Formation, which was as stubborn as a turtle shell.

He then turned his head and went to find Gao Tingyuan, feeling deeply aggrieved.

"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 mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to assist you in attacking the formation?"

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

Shan Xiu remained dissatisfied.

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

But it looked like they were 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 covered the entire Xieyue Valley.

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

"Fellow Daoist Min, having tried so many times and watched for so long, do you have any ideas?"

Shan Xiu was stunned and subconsciously looked at the man behind him who had been silent from start to finish.

No, wait, he had actually spoken.

It was just that he had been inside a sound-dampening barrier at the time, communicating only with Gao Tingyuan.

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

Was he a formation master?

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

"Using the earth's Qi as the pulse, using the valley as the momentum."

"Embrace the One and guard the center; the Rooster resides in the Dui Palace."

"With the flow of the earth's Qi, 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, causing no reaction at all.

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

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

However, as more and more light beams fell into the light barrier, the entire Xieyue Valley, and even the surrounding tens of miles, 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 rolled down continuously, forcing the cultivators in the valley to either activate their magic tools to fly into mid-air or cast the Wind-Riding Art to barely leave the ground.

"Oh no, the grand formation is about to break!"

Murong Qinglian blurted out.

Gu Caiyi's expression was tense, and one hand subconsciously grabbed Luo Chen's sleeve.

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

Luo Chen gave a hum, his face remaining calm.

He reached back and held Gu Caiyi's hand, causing her to freeze for a moment.

A blood-red pill silently fell into her palm.

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

"Sister-in-law, help me pack up the alchemy furnaces in the other two alchemy rooms!"

At a time like this, why was he still thinking about these things?

Murong Qinglian sighed helplessly and followed him into the alchemy room.

In the Alchemy 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 eyeballs rolled constantly.

Zhou Yuanli gathered Liu Qiang, Dongfang Jing, and several other late-stage Qi Refining cultivators with whom he had closer ties.

He gave instructions with a solemn expression.

Boom!

A loud noise suddenly erupted.

The Earth-Defense Formation was about to break!

In Xieyue Valley, all the cultivators raised their heads to look at the sky.

Over a hundred cultivators, densely packed, occupied almost half the sky.

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

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

"Today, our Dajiang Gang, in alliance with the Lianyun Merchant Alliance 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 we will let bygones be bygones, and you can save your lives."

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

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.

There was no heritage, no masters, no honor, and naturally, there was no cohesion!

Just as some people were considering defecting, an old voice cursed angrily.

"Don't be fooled by him!"

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

"That Shorty Gao is just spouting nonsense, lies!"

Shorty Gao...

Puff!

A few people couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Gao Tingyuan was indeed quite short; among cultivators, such a physique was considered unique.

However, the one who said this was Elder Sikong?

Sikong Shoujia 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 scattered fighting spirit in Xieyue Valley gradually coalesced once more.

Even if it wasn't for the Poshan Gang, they had to fight for themselves!

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

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

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

No one was willing to hand them over willingly.

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 clever one!

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

But for their group of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, they would definitely prioritize killing them.

After all, they had to give these people who had been mobilized some benefits.

As such, 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 ensuing chaos, it would be a matter of individual ability, and everyone would have a chance to escape!

Outside the grand formation.

Gao Tingyuan shrugged helplessly at the few people behind him, indicating 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 he could have said a few more words to refute that Poshan Gang elder just now.

That would have made the upcoming battle 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, his fingers forming a sword shape, remotely controlling the formation disk.

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 struck the Earth-Defense Formation caused a massive roar.

After eight such strikes, 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 in one hand, erupted with brilliant spiritual light, and then pressed down fiercely.

Crack!

The already precarious Earth-Defense Formation felt as if the sky were collapsing and the earth sinking under this pressure.

The earthy-yellow light barrier collapsed instantly.

At the same time, over a hundred cultivators in Xieyue Valley turned into streaks of light, flying in all directions toward the outside.

Seeing this, Shan Xiu took the lead.

"Kill!"

Gao Tingyuan's gaze was fixed firmly on the center of the group of cultivators huddling together at the Alchemy Hall in Xieyue Valley.

He took a step forward, 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 Yang?" Gao Tingyuan's expression was vicious.

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

"Let go!"

"I..."

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

Lan Tianyun was startled, and his hand loosened.

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

Shouts, wails.

Flesh, severed limbs.

Explosions, roars.

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

Those who resisted stubbornly would naturally no longer be shown mercy.

Slaughter became the only theme at this moment.

Sikong Shoujia did not hesitate, erupting with his strongest strength as he flew toward the edge.

Wherever he passed, neither mid-stage Qi Refining nor seventh or eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivators 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, head of the four elders of the Poshan Gang. Killing you will be just the thing to establish prestige for my Fu family!"

"Little friend, why must you kill them all?"

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

Fu Zhang was stunned, then his face 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 ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators unfolded in the most ordinary mode.

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

"You go first!"

Murong Qinglian froze for a moment, 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."

"No matter, this old woman still has some tricks up her sleeve."

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

In the valley, there was one person who didn't care about anything, walking through the spirit fields.

He occasionally lowered his head to look at some small formations, revealing a look of delight at finding something interesting.

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 several formation flags.

Following that, golden light blazed intensely!

In mid-air.

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

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

But here, there were his friends.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, he couldn't bring himself to escape alone.

"Hall Master, later we will create an escape opportunity for you. 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 your protection duties anymore; try your best to preserve yourselves later!"

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuanli remained silent.

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

Luo Chen suddenly realized something.

Those 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 why were they arranged to come here?

Wasn't he afraid that they would abandon Luo Chen and flee 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 determined to protect Luo Chen with their lives.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a figure blocked their path.

"Danchenzi, pay for the grudge of that palm strike!"

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

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

That time, it had been 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 refused to yield an inch, a saber and a sword circling out to entangle him firmly.

"Go!"

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

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

"Stay behind!"

A sigh rang out.

A blue-robed cultivator blocked their path, his robes fluttering without wind.

Murong Qinglian sneered, pushed Luo Chen away, and struck first.

"Caiyi, take Luo Chen and go!"

"Yes, Sister Qinglian, take care!"

Gu Caiyi's expression was tense, and she pulled Luo Chen to escape.

But his body didn't move an inch.

"What's wrong?"

"We can't leave!"

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

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 distraction, she saw four-colored tassels descending from the sky.

Boom!

Luo Chen pulled Gu Caiyi back, retreating constantly.

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

Suddenly, Luo Chen pushed Gu Caiyi away.

"Go help Sister-in-law!"

Gu Caiyi was thrown away and looked back.

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

Opposite him, a short 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, his long spear pointing diagonally, the tip becoming increasingly red, the intense heat seemingly melting the void. ===== CHAPTER 143 =====