Chapter 76 – Breaking the Sealing Array Formation
The discussion now over, the group were preparing themselves to execute the plan when Yao Yong suddenly asked, “We keep thinking about destroying the sealing array, but not how to break it. If our spells and mystic instruments have no effect on the array, won’t our efforts be wasted?”
Everyone was stunned; they hadn’t considered this possibility and were at a loss.
Lu Ping thought for a while, then he passed an item to Yao Yong.
Yao Yong exclaimed in shock, “A talisman treasure!”
His shout attracted everyone’s attention and they looked at Lu Ping in surprise, who simply explained, “I passed by an island and found it there. I suspect it was left behind by the Qiao Clan’s Second Young Master, Qiao Xiying, when he was chased by the sea snake monster.”
The group couldn’t help admiring his good luck.
In fact, the entire incident started with Hu Lili’s expedition to find Sheng Tao’s cave-dwelling. Back then, she didn’t know Lu Ping had been hiding in the dark the entire time. But after hearing Lu Ping’s explanation, Hu Lili suddenly looked at him with a scrutinizing expression. Lu Ping immediately knew she suspected something.
But because it wasn’t an appropriate time, they both dedided not to bring up the incident. And Lu Ping didn’t mean any harm at the time. On the contrary, he was even prepared to save them.
The only issue was that Lu Ping should’ve warned Hu Lili and her friends about the Xuan Ling disciples beforehand instead of hiding in the dark. Fortunately, the Emerald Sea Spirit Snake interfered with the battle and Hu Lili and her friends were able to escape safely.
Thus, Lu Ping didn’t have too much guilt in his heart and only felt a little bad. And Hu Lili didn’t have any evidence of Lu Ping’s presence during that time.
In the end, she could only accept Lu Ping’s explanation; that he was on Huang Li Island and noticed a disturbance coming from a certain direction, so he decided to check it out and discovered the nameless island and the talisman treasure on it.
Most importantly, no one knew or would believe that the Emerald Sea Spirit Snake had been killed by Lu Ping that day. Even Qiao Xipeng didn’t know that.
Zhen Ling Sect had established their base at the northern end of Xuan Qi Island. Therefore, Xuan Ling’s sealing array formation would also be found there.
Hu Lili, Du Feng, Yao Yong, and Zhong Jian used the Invisibility Charms given to them by Lu Ping. They sneaked to an islet not far from Xuan Qi Island and waited patiently for the arranged time to arrive.
During their discussion, they set a time in order to synchronize their actions. According to the plan, Lu Ping would activate the message sword and send it out to Xuan Qi Island within an hour from the set time.
The message sword would inform the cultivators on the island about their strategy in detail, as well as divert Xuan Ling Sect’s attention onto Lu Ping.
Then, the Xuan Qi Island’s disciples would rush out of the island and fake an attack on the sealing array formation. This would occupy Xuan Ling Sect’s remaining forces and thus, create an opportunity for Hu Lili and the rest to approach the sealing array in secret.
In the center of the battlefield, Xuan Qi Island was currently protected by a dome of blue lights. This was the island’s great protective array formation.
Xuan Ling disciples were attacking the light dome in an attempt to break the island’s defensive shield. Within the array, Zhen Ling disciples parried these attacks with their mystic instruments while trying to suppress the invading Xuan Ling disciples.
As a result, all kinds of mystic instruments were clashing outside of the light dome. It looked like an exhibition of mystic instruments, from low-grade mystic instruments to the top-grade ones, from the most commonly seen weapons to the strangest ones.
It was an eye-opening experience for Hu Lili and the rest as they watched the battle from their hiding place.
In the midst of the chaos, they saw giant tidal waves dozens of feet tall, huge boulders that suddenly materialized out of thin air and rained down like meteors, and giant fireballs that left trails of fire as they bombarded the light dome.
Whenever Xuan Qi Island was faced with powerful attacks like these, spells or mystic instruments of similar powers were then cast from inside the barrier, blocking the incoming attacks from hitting the light dome.
This was clearly the work of the Core Forging Enlightened Masters. Hu Lili and the rest were left dazzled by the display.
However, Xuan Ling Sect had more Core Forging Enlightened Masters on their side. There was always an attack that Xuan Qi Island couldn’t block and would successfully hit the light dome.
Every time the barrier was attacked, ripples of energy would spread across the entire light dome, causing tremors to spread across Xuan Qi Island. Whenever that happened, Hu Lili and the rest felt their hearts quiver with shock and worry.
Suddenly, they saw a golden light flash across the sky from the west. It went through the light dome and entered Xuan Qi Island in an instant. It moved so quickly that no one could stop it.
In that moment, the entire battlefield paused for a split second. The Xuan Ling disciples exclaimed in shock and even their Core Forging Enlightened Masters stopped their attacks. They glanced at each other with questioning looks.
Soon enough, five cultivators left Xuan Ling Sect’s formation and headed west to where the message sword originated from. Then, two more message swords were released from Xuan Ling Sect’s formation, one flying to the south and the other one northwest. Clearly, they were directed to the two search teams that were dispatched before this.
The time has come!
Hu Lili and the rest were suddenly pumped with energy but at the same time, they felt worried about Lu Ping when they saw the five Xuan Ling disciples going after him.
Another hour passed since then. Both sides continued their attacks and defensive maneuvers as if nothing had happened. But as Xuan Ling Sect now had fewer Blood Condensation disciples on the battlefield, the attacks were slightly weakened.
Suddenly, loud and mocking laughter came from Xuan Qi Island. “Feng Xu-Dao, you old dog! I’ve gotten bored looking at you and your puppies performing the same show these past four days. Is there really nothing else? In that case, let me come and teach you a lesson!”
From within Xuan Ling Sect’s formation, a slender old man wearing a big cloak sneered. “And I was still wondering which moron your Zhen Ling Sect hid on Xuan Qi Island. So it’s you, Jiang Xuan-Lin. How disappointing!”
A tempered voice said from Xuan Qi Island, “Words are useless, one’s actions are what matters! Come!”
This could be no one else but Enlightened Master Qu, the elder in charge of Xuan Qi Island.
A cultivator standing next to Feng Xu-Dao retorted, “Qu Xuan-Cheng, you old dog! I’ll make sure you die today!”
Another voice came from Xuan Qi Island, “Enlightened Master Xu-Shui, please don’t make declarations you cannot follow through. To even shout them out loud, how embarrassing.”
Hu Lili and the others easily recognized his voice; it was Zhen Ling Side Hall’s Enlightened Master Xuan-Yong.
Then, another lady from Xuan Ling Sect chimed in, “Old Dog Xuan-Yong, are you not a babysitter now? Why stay here, instead of at your Zhen Ling Sect’s baby house? Did you come just to die?”
Jiang Xuan-Lin shouted, “Well then, let’s see who dies first!”
With these words, the images of five mystic instruments rose from Xuan Qi Island. The Enlightened Masters flew out under the protection of their mystic instruments and left the light dome.
Xuan Ling Sect had seven Enlightened Masters on their side. They flew into the sky and headed straight towards Zhen Ling Sect’s five Enlightened Masters.
At the same time, a group of Zhen Ling cultivators rushed out of the barrier and headed north. The group was led by Master Immortal Liu who wielded a top-grade Xuan Hua Long Axe. His attacks were fierce and powerful, and he had clearly attained the state of Technique. He easily pushed back two Late Blood Condensation cultivators that stood against him.
Behind him, the Zhen Ling cultivators defended from the attacks from the sides while pressing forward.
Xuan Ling Sect’s Feng Xu-Dao laughed mockingly. “Jiang Xuan-Lin, do you think we’re so foolish? I’ve already seen through your plan and I’m well-prepared for it… Huh? Not good! Someone else has reached the sealing array!”
Feng Xu-Dao quickly realized Zhen Ling Sect’s plan, but it was already too late. He could only watch as a golden javelin suddenly appeared outside of Xuan Ling Sect’s sealing array formation. The javelin glowed brightly with golden lights as it shot out towards the array along with a few other spells.
Their attacks landed on the array’s critical points at the same time. Then, a loud cracking noise could be heard and the sealing array formation was destroyed!
Kacha—