Chapter 40: Formation Battle for True Transmission
“Formation, arise!”
Above the Skull Mountain market, the restored Hundred Bones True Formation rumbled into motion, instantly startling Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan, causing them to retreat.
Seizing this opportunity, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a streak of blood light and dashed past.
The formation patterns outside the grand array parted in response, allowing Lu Yuanchun to pass through, then swiftly closed again, leaving no chance for others to exploit.
“Many thanks for your assistance, Brother Lü.”
Upon entering the formation, the blood light dissipated, revealing Lu Yuanchun's disheveled appearance; his pale face still bore traces of shock and uncertainty.
“Brother Lü, you're actually a formation master?”
If not for being a formation master, how could he have restructured the formation and resolved the previously fatal crisis?
“Forgive me for the jest, but I'm merely a ninth-grade at best,” Lü Yang replied with a faint smile. “After several days of study, I can now barely unleash some of this grand formation's power.”
Lü Yang spoke modestly, but Lu Yuanchun's expression turned solemn.
Among the myriad arts of cultivation, formation arts reign supreme!
A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a formation master of the same level are incomparable; the latter is nearly equivalent to a perfected Qi Refining cultivator!
“Speaking of which, Brother Lu, you seem to have gained quite a bit this time.”
Lü Yang looked at Lu Yuanchun with a half-smile, and under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression gradually stiffened, cold sweat streaming down.
However, in the next moment, he regained his composure.
“Brother Lü, I've safeguarded the 'Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade' for you for quite some time; today, it's time to return it to its rightful owner!”
With that, Lu Yuanchun directly took out a small box, opened the lid, revealing a white jade stone resembling a human figure with seven apertures.
As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances.
Lu Yuanchun, being a senior disciple of the First Saint Demon Sect, naturally understood that if he didn't hand over the jade now, he would soon perish on the front lines of the righteous-demonic battlefield.
Moreover, with the Divine Martial Sect dispatching a perfected Qi Refining cultivator, escaping alive was no longer possible.
Lu Yuanchun abandoned any illusions; rather than keeping the treasure, it was better to hand it over publicly, both to avert disaster and to shift the attention of the Divine Martial Sect and others onto Lü Yang.
“Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade.”
Seeing this, Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction, then stored the small box in his storage pouch, turning to calmly face the figure that had suddenly appeared outside the market.
It was a handsome young man wielding a spear.
He wore a martial crown, clad in scale armor, and the long spear in his hand was engraved with dragon patterns. Rather than a cultivator, he resembled a general from the mortal world.
“Ninth-grade formation master?”
The young man's gaze was as sharp as a blade, seemingly able to pierce through the formation's concealment and directly see Lü Yang at the center: “I didn't expect such an unexpected variable.”
At the same time, 'Divine Fist' Wu Zhichong and 'Mountain-Moving Daoist' Duanmu Yuan also approached, each respectfully saluting the spear-wielding youth: “Senior Brother Ouyang, we failed in our task and have disappointed you.”
“No matter.”
Ouyang Haoze shook his head, his expression gentle: “Demonic cultivators are cunning; it's normal for you two to have some oversights. Just make amends with merits later.”
After speaking, he looked toward the Skull Mountain market, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
“Our sect has planned for many years; we cannot afford any mishaps. If possible, we should first eliminate the demonic sect's remaining spies here to minimize variables.”
In the next moment, Ouyang Haoze's figure flickered, and the aura of a perfected Qi Refining cultivator was fully released.
Instantly, a stream of vital energy soared skyward, manifesting a deafening battle cry, with countless armored soldiers seemingly arrayed behind him, bolstering his spirit.
“Break it for me!”
Suddenly, a thunderous sound echoed, directly crashing into the Skull Mountain market, causing several lower-level cultivators to vomit blood from the sheer force of the shout.
“Perfected Qi Refining.”
Lü Yang, presiding over the formation, wore a grave expression.
This pinnacle of the Qi Refining realm in major sects symbolizes not only cultivation but also status.
Any perfected Qi Refining cultivator is undoubtedly a true disciple of their sect!
The Divine Martial Sect, though smaller than the First Saint Demon Sect, possesses several astonishing divine abilities, which only true disciples can cultivate.
“If he has mastered a divine ability, I must abandon the formation and flee immediately.”
While preparing to escape, Lü Yang approached the edge of the formation, confronting Ouyang Haoze across the array: “I am Lü Yang. May I know your name, fellow cultivator?”
“With your status, you're not worthy of knowing my name.” Ouyang Haoze sneered: “If you know what's good for you, surrender now. I might spare your life by abolishing your demonic cultivation. But if you resist, once the formation is broken, none shall be spared!”
“An eye for an eye will never end.”
Lü Yang maintained his smile, speaking gently: “Though we stand on opposite sides, we've never interfered with each other. Why not grant me a favor?”
“Grant you a favor?”
Ouyang Haoze burst into laughter, mocking: “Such arrogance! A mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Even if I don't grant you a favor today, what can you do?”
“Why bother?”
Lü Yang shook his head: “Since that's the case, please proceed to break the formation.”
“Seeking death!”
A flash of killing intent appeared in Ouyang Haoze's eyes.
The wolf smoke formed from his vital energy fully retracted, and he launched a punch that, at first glance, seemed like ordinary martial arts.
However, Lü Yang's expression turned solemn upon seeing this, not daring to be careless.
He immediately summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pill, merging with the sword light to slash at Ouyang Haoze.
In an instant, fist and sword clashed, unleashing unparalleled sharpness and fist force, resembling sparks blooming mid-air.
Ouyang Haoze moved like lightning, delivering hundreds of punches in the blink of an eye.
The Divine Martial Sect differs from other cultivation sects, emphasizing body cultivation, with most divine abilities focusing on fists and kicks.
Their close-combat speed even surpasses that of sword cultivators!
“Rain of Arrows!”
Ouyang Haoze spread his arms wide, as if drawing a massive bow, then unleashed a barrage of fist shadows like arrows, instantly engulfing Lü Yang's position.
Boom!
Amidst the explosions, Lü Yang felt his surrounding spiritual energy being drained, replaced by endless fist shadows aiming to pulverize him!
A thousand strikes in an instant, leaving no room for counterattack—clearly a superior divine ability!
Though Ouyang Haoze spoke arrogantly, underestimating Lü Yang, he showed no negligence when fighting, going all out.
In a flash, explosive shockwaves surged.
Under his barrage, Lü Yang lasted less than ten seconds before being shattered, his sword light dissipating, turning into a sky full of skeletal remains.
The punching ceased abruptly, and Ouyang Haoze hovered mid-air, frowning slightly.
Meanwhile, above the market, the Hundred Bones True Formation operated, and a figure materialized, stepping out unscathed—it was Lü Yang, completely unharmed.
“Your fist power is unmatched; I am impressed.”
Ouyang Haoze didn't respond, launching another punch, still the Rain of Arrows technique. Lü Yang resisted tenaciously, once again being shattered after over ten seconds.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, Ouyang Haoze saw Lü Yang's corpse turn into skeletal remains, while an unscathed Lü Yang emerged from the formation, his robes flowing, demeanor unchanged, even his true energy and mana untouched. He cupped his hands: “Shall we battle again, fellow cultivator?”
“The Hundred Bones True Formation truly lives up to its name.”
Ouyang Haoze's expression turned serious.
As he knew, this formation ranks as a seventh-grade, containing a hundred skeletal soldiers.
A cultivator within can manifest their full combat power through these skeletal soldiers.
In this way, it's equivalent to the skeletal soldiers fighting in place of the real body.
Victory brings joy; defeat has no impact on the real body.
Moreover, as long as the formation continues operating, the skeletal soldiers can quickly regenerate even if destroyed.
Thus, no matter how fiercely he attacks, it's futile—a waste of effort.
This is because he's outside the formation and hasn't ventured in; otherwise, once inside, Lü Yang could summon all skeletal soldiers to swarm him.
Even a perfected Qi Refining cultivator would suffer greatly!