The current Ruins Formation Disk was not the same as the previous one.
In the past, the formation disk could only drive a few basic battle formations, each requiring thirty to forty wooden puppets. Ye Zhongming was not satisfied with the combat power of the puppet warriors, and the types of battle formations were limited, with each having a single function, making their usage quite restrictive.
For example, the Charge Formation was purely offensive, the Defense Formation was purely defensive, the Swallow Formation was useful in chaotic battles, and the Flying Formation was a mobile, flowing formation.
This meant that Ye Zhongming had to choose the appropriate formation based on the situation during combat. However, many situations couldn’t be judged immediately. The opponent might defend first and then attack, flee, and then return to fight or engage in a direct confrontation, leading to a stalemate and chaotic battle. Should he choose the Charge Formation or the Swallow Formation in such cases?
The battlefield is ever-changing, and no single formation can handle all scenarios.
Moreover, each formation had specific requirements for the puppet warriors. For every battle formation, a separate set of puppet warriors was needed. Since Ye Zhongming had left the Puppet Ruins of the Bbright Water Realm, he could no longer acquire these puppet warriors. He had to use Strengthen to make them stronger, further reducing their numbers. Eventually, he couldn’t meet the requirements for all formations, which further limited the use of the formation disk.
As a result, Ye Zhongming didn’t use the formation disk for a long time after obtaining it. He had too many other abilities and equipment at his disposal, most of which were more practical than the Ruins Formation Disk.
However, after evolving into a top-tier Smith and gaining the ability to design and create his own equipment, Ye Zhongming dedicated time to studying the Ruins Formation Disk and the puppet warriors. After numerous experiments, and even destroying dozens of puppet warriors and causing the array disk to crack twice, he successfully modified the equipment.
After the modification, the Ruins Formation Disk now only had two formations: the Charge Formation, which was primarily offensive but also adaptable to battlefield changes, and the Defense Formation, which focused on defense without engaging in offensive charges yet could handle chaotic battles and mobility.
To be honest, the forces’ leaders around Ying City weren’t even on Ye Zhongming’s radar. Since the puppet warriors now only needed to meet the requirements of two formations, their numbers were sufficient. After keeping some in reserve, Ye Zhongming enhanced and modified the rest. The current puppet warriors had individual combat power exceeding that of a five-star evolved, approaching six-star level. The Charge Formation required fifty puppets, while the Defense Formation required seventy. When combined, these formations were extremely dangerous even for Cloud Peak’s core members, making them more than enough to deal with these enemies.
From facing over a hundred enemies with a minimum evolution level of five stars and an average of six stars alone, Ye Zhongming now had over fifty helpers, significantly closing the numerical gap before the battle even began.
Although Heaven Zi and Heaven Jia were the first to attack, Ye Zhongming forced them to act.
The puppet warriors had already engaged the Guan City evolved at the front, and the sudden change in the situation left many of them flustered.
Human psychology is peculiar. When people felt confident, they were resolute, believing their choices are absolutely correct and unchangeable. However, once the situation shifts, they quickly transition from confidence to hesitation, completely forgetting their previous determination.
This shift can happen in an instant.
Especially for those who were previously indecisive, they began to change their minds. Knowing that aligning with Cloud Peak was no longer possible, they wondered if escape was an option.
“Let’s fight! Do you think Ye Zhongming was just looking around earlier? He was memorizing our faces!”
The seven-star evolved from the Demobilized Team shouted, leading the charge and engaging the puppet warriors. His words were meant to make those who wanted to flee realize that they could escape temporarily, but not forever. Cloud Peak would not let them go.
The only way to ensure their safety was to kill Ye Zhongming.
The wavering morale stabilized somewhat. Seeing no other choice, the evolved, hardened by the apocalypse, launched a frenzied attack on the puppet warriors.
As for Ye Zhongming, that was a matter for the three eight-star evolved.
“You’re thinking too simply,” Ye Zhongming muttered to himself after clashing with Heaven Zi and Heaven Jia using the Undead Sand Moon Blade, gaining a preliminary understanding of their attacks. Noticing the situation behind him, he added, “It’s not that easy.”
The gray blade emitted a faint light, causing the two assassins to become more cautious. They circled Ye Zhongming, constantly moving, looking for opportunities while preparing to dodge any incoming attacks.
Ye Zhongming swung his blade, delivering three strikes.
The first was a job skill, the Thousand Seal Slash; only a dozen blade shadows appeared, indicating he was holding back. The other two were full-powered ordinary attacks.
For other evolved, such attacks would be terrifying.
However, Heaven Zi and Heaven Jia both had assassin or agility-type jobs. Speed was their forte, and with no restraints or obstacles, they easily dodged Ye Zhongming’s telegraphed attacks.
This King of Cloud Peak didn’t seem all that impressive!
Both leaders of the Heavenly Stems and Eart Branches had the same thought.
Evolved who had come this far had extensive combat experience, especially the two assassins. They knew the value of such experience in battle. Yet, Ye Zhongming seemed to be relying solely on brute force.
Could it be that the King of Cloud Peak was all reputation and no substance, merely a smith who had gathered people around him due to his job? Was he just a high-level evolved with good equipment?
But soon, the strange phenomenon answered their question.
The three missed strikes landed on the ground, leaving deep marks. Light emanated from these marks, and to the astonishment of many, undead creatures began to emerge from them.
What is this?!
Expressions of disbelief appeared on everyone’s faces. They had never heard of a weapon’s strikes being used to summon allies!
And let’s not forget, Ye Zhongming had activated his bloodline. With his attacks, random dark creatures would appear. Just before him, a black hole suddenly opened, and a fat giant clad in dark red armor stepped out, wielding two massive bone-mounted swords. Its round body, as thick as a truck, was crisscrossed with more than a dozen flaming chains, each spewing scorching hellfire. When the fire touched the bone blades, they turned into flaming swords.
The appearance of this green-faced, fanged, hellish creature stunned everyone, as its aura was overwhelmingly terrifying!
Level eight!
Many inwardly groaned at the realization.