The situation seemed to have veered off track. Confusion was etched on the faces of the many cultivators trapped within the grand formation as they stared dumbfoundedly at the three figures on the mountaintop and at Lin Feng nearby.
Wu Luosen's initial accusation that Lin Feng had killed his disciple—the vile cultivator who had plagued the Labyrinth Isle—was something the crowd could grasp. However, the subsequent reactions of the other two strangers left them utterly bewildered. From their words, it sounded like they too had a vendetta against this young cultivator?
And when Lin Feng uttered his declaration, everyone was momentarily stunned. Then, the scene exploded.
"What?! Shadowghoul Sect?! Those two are actually from the Shadowghoul Sect?!" "Seriously?! Senior Wu... no, Wu Luosen is colluding with the Shadowghoul Sect?!" "This... Fellow Daoist Lin? Do you know them? Are they truly Shadowghoul Sect members? What are their cultivation levels?" "…"
Amidst the clamor of voices around him, Lin Feng offered no reply. His gaze remained locked fiercely on the figures above. He channeled his true energy into his eyes, attempting to pierce the distance and clearly see the features of his enemies. When his focus landed on the face of the black-robed youth who had recognized him earlier, his eyes narrowed sharply. A flash of realization struck him.
"So it's him?!"
Lin Feng vaguely recalled encountering a cold-eyed, handsome youth dressed in black at the teleportation point in Zhenxuan City when he was leaving Xia Country. It was exactly the man he saw now! Because he had been about to leave Xia Country permanently, Lin Feng had been exceptionally vigilant, which was why this individual had left a faint impression. He never imagined this person was connected to the Shadowghoul Sect!
What Lin Feng didn't know was that their paths had nearly crossed much earlier, during the Great Python Mountain incident. Furthermore, this very individual had begun tracking him almost from the moment he left Qingyun City years ago. The black-robed youth before him now was none other than Yu Youtian, the Shadowghoul Sect disciple who was Liang Han's senior brother, the one Lin Feng had twice narrowly avoided!
Truly, life's paths crossed unexpectedly. Who could have imagined that after traversing thousands of miles away from Xia Country, they would meet again here in the Starry Sea.
Knowing his enemy's identity ignited Lin Feng's killing intent anew. He harbored not an ounce of goodwill towards the Shadowghoul Sect, especially given their potential connection to his parents' disappearance. Now that he had encountered them, letting them escape was unthinkable!
As Lin Feng silently strategized, Yu Ping beside him couldn't help but interject, "Young friend, are you certain they are Shadowghoul Sect members? You recognize them?"
Lin Feng replied grimly, "'Recognize' isn't quite accurate. I don't even know their names. But I do have a blood feud with them."
A flicker of understanding passed through Yu Ping's eyes. He didn't press for details about the feud; he had heard Yu Youtian's words moments ago, implying Lin Feng had killed Shadowghoul Sect cultivators before. What truly concerned him was the shocking revelation that Wu Luosen was colluding with the sect. This drastically escalated their peril. Even if they managed to break the formation, escaping unscathed seemed increasingly unlikely…
Just as Yu Ping frowned in contemplation, Lin Feng asked, "Senior Yu, can you discern the cultivation levels of those two?"
Although Lin Feng possessed the Observation of Origins Technique, the distance and the intervening formation barrier prevented him from gauging Wu Pang and Yu Youtian's strength. Yu Ping paused momentarily before answering, "The elder is at the Eighth Level of Nascent Soul. The youth is at the Great Perfection stage of Golden Core…"
He trailed off, then sighed softly. "Dealing with the elder alone would be beyond my capability, let alone with Wu Luosen also present... If we break the formation later, I will try to hold off one of them... and the rest of you must scatter and flee. Save as many as possible..."
Yu Ping's words, implying a willingness to sacrifice himself for the group, stirred deep gratitude among the cultivators. Lin Feng, too, felt a surge of respect. After a moment's thought, he pressed further, "Senior Yu, how is your injury? How much longer until you recover?"
Yu Ping responded, "Another quarter-hour should suffice. But I cannot be disturbed during that time."
"A quarter-hour... No problem!!" Lin Feng declared without hesitation. "Senior Yu, focus solely on healing. Leave the rest to me! Once you've recovered, we'll break the formation together. At that point, I ask you to restrain the Shadowghoul Sect's Nascent Soul elder first. Leave Wu Luosen... to me!"
"What?!" Yu Ping stared, almost certain he had misheard. Lin Feng's tone radiated absolute confidence about securing the quarter-hour and breaking the formation. And... dealing with Wu Luosen?! Where did this confidence come from?!
Naturally, Yu Ping was unaware that Lin Feng's confidence was well-founded. With the Molten Rock Fire and the Crimson Soul Flying Sword, buying time and breaking the formation were feasible. While facing two Nascent Soul experts was daunting – the Shadowghoul elder at the late stage was beyond his current means – Wu Luosen, at the mid-stage, was a different prospect. Lin Feng's White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman, Crimson Soul Flying Sword, and especially his Strange Fire were potent counters to Wu Luosen's Nether Soul techniques.
"Hummm…"
Before Yu Ping could fully process Lin Feng's astonishing statement, the surrounding formation shuddered violently once more. The countless Nether Souls, as if receiving a renewed command, shrieked with heightened fury and surged forward again!
...
On the mountaintop, the moment Lin Feng shouted, 'You... are from the Shadowghoul Sect!!', Wu Pang knew Yu Youtian hadn't been mistaken. This was the man who had murdered his beloved disciple!
A murderous chill radiated from Wu Pang. His voice dripped with frozen venom. "I will make that wretch beg for death!!"
Beside him, Wu Luosen looked momentarily surprised. He hadn't anticipated Wu Pang also having a vendetta against Lin Feng, and also over a slain disciple. A flicker of shared bitterness crossed his mind. Hearing Wu Pang's oath, he immediately added coldly, "You needn't worry. I intend the same!!"
As he spoke, Wu Luosen raised his right hand. A massive black banner, taller than a man, materialized before him – a Nether Soul Banner, vastly superior to the one used by his disciple in the Labyrinth Isle. Dark Qi churned across its surface, and ghastly, contorted human visages writhed within, struggling to break free yet held captive, creating a horrifying spectacle. As the banner appeared, a wave of Yin wind swept outwards, merging with the Soul-Snatching Grand Formation below. Instantly, all the Nether Souls within seemed injected with a potent stimulant, shrieking as they renewed their frenzied assault!
Watching Wu Luosen act, Yu Youtian beside Wu Pang suddenly paled, a critical detail flashing in his mind. He urgently cried out, "Senior Wu! That Lin Feng... he is also an Artifact Refiner! And according to my investigations, he possesses Strange Fire! The Molten Rock Fire, ranked eighty-ninth on the Strange Fire Rankings!!"
Wu Luosen's expression instantly contorted with shock. "What?! You say he has Strang—"
"BOOM!!!!"
His words were cut off by a deafening explosion from the formation below. A colossal vortex of crimson fire erupted violently within the trapped circle!
...
Inside the formation, Lin Feng had no time left for explanations to Yu Ping. As the thousand Nether Souls surged forward once more, he snapped his head up. Flames seemed to dance in his eyes as an intense scorching aura erupted from his body. He raised his right hand, and a small, deep-red fireball shot forth. The moment it left his grasp, it exploded, igniting the very air itself and transforming into a gigantic flaming vortex that roared outwards!
The leading wave of Nether Souls bore the full brunt. Engulfed by the Molten Rock Fire, they had no chance to escape. A chorus of agonized shrieks pierced the air as they vanished into nothingness. The remaining Nether Souls recoiled en masse. Though mindless, they possessed an instinctive terror of Strange Fire.
"Strange Fire!! That's... Molten Rock Fire! Mid-grade!!" Yu Ping's pupils constricted, followed by immense relief and dawning understanding. He finally grasped the source of Lin Feng's confidence. With Mid-grade Molten Rock Fire, the Silverthread Fire, and the White Tiger Spirit artifact – all potent weapons against Nether Souls – holding off the horde for a time was entirely possible. And once he recovered his strength, breaking the formation shouldn't be overly difficult!
Recognizing the critical urgency, Yu Ping wasted no more time. He cast an appreciative glance at Lin Feng, then immediately focused his spirit and resumed his healing meditation.
Simultaneously wielding the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman and the Molten Rock Fire was taxing for Lin Feng. His expression remained grave as he swept his gaze over the surrounding cultivators, their faces alight with hope at the sight of the Strange Fire. He raised his voice, "Everyone! We continue our joint defense! We only need to hold out for a quarter-hour! Once Senior Yu recovers, we break this formation together!"
Morale surged. Voices rose in agreement: "Yes!! Listen to Fellow Daoist Lin! Full defense! Stay vigilant!"
Lin Feng sensed someone approaching from behind. Turning, he saw it was the white-robed youth possessing the Silverthread Fire. The young man gave Lin Feng a slight nod. "Fellow Daoist Lin, my name is Lei Yan."
There was no time for pleasantries. Lin Feng nodded curtly. "Fellow Daoist Lei, you take one side, I'll take the other?"
Lei Yan responded decisively, "Good! Agreed!!"
He immediately turned, positioning himself back-to-back with Lin Feng. With a flick of his right hand, he summoned his Silverthread Fire once more. Though ranked slightly higher than Lin Feng's Molten Rock Fire on the Strange Fire Rankings, Lei Yan's fire was only Low-grade, making its visible presence slightly less imposing. His control over it also seemed less refined than Lin Feng's mastery, perhaps indicating he had acquired it recently. Nevertheless, the Silverthread Fire was no less deadly to Nether Souls. The moment it appeared, it incinerated several phantoms that ventured too close.
...
"Damnation!!"
On the mountaintop, Wu Luosen's face was twisted with fury. He continuously channeled bursts of true energy into the hovering Nether Soul Banner, commanding the Nether Souls below to attack. But watching his precious minions vanish one by one into wisps of smoke under the Strange Fires felt like daggers to his heart. Before embarking on this venture, he had used his position as an Elder of the Zhenhai Alliance to secretly investigate most passengers aboard the ship. Naturally, he couldn't investigate everyone thoroughly. Lei Yan and Lin Feng had been among the few whose backgrounds remained unclear. He had never anticipated that among his 'prey' would be individuals possessing Strange Fire – not just one, but two.
The Soul-Snatching Grand Formation he had deployed was a Tier-4 array. Its power relied heavily on the might of the Nether Souls. Against ordinary cultivators, it was overwhelmingly potent. Without Strange Fire, everyone within the formation would have long been slaughtered by the thousand Nether Souls, their souls absorbed to fuel the array. But the unexpected appearance of Strange Fire, twice over, completely countered his spectral army. It was a situation that drove him towards madness.
"Mere Golden Core ants! DIE!!" Wu Luosen snarled, his face a mask of rage. He accelerated the flow of his true energy. Being thwarted by two Golden Core cultivators was unacceptable. He no longer cared about the losses to his Nether Soul reserves; his sole resolve was to forcibly annihilate everyone within the formation, regardless of the cost.
Observing Wu Luosen's near loss of control, a flicker of barely concealed contempt flashed in Yu Youtian's eyes. This was far from the swift resolution Wu Luosen had promised earlier.
Wu Pang glanced at Wu Luosen, a trace of dissatisfaction also in his gaze. Yet, he felt little real concern. In his view, even if Wu Luosen failed to eliminate the group within the formation, he could simply step in himself later. His primary target was Lin Feng alone. Letting a few others escape was inconsequential to him; he lacked Wu Luosen's multitude of concerns.
...
Time crawled by. Despite the formidable defense provided by the two Strange Fires and the White Tiger Spirit, achieving flawless protection was impossible. Tragically, over a dozen more cultivators had already fallen victim to the relentless Nether Souls.
Lei Yan's face had grown pale. He retrieved a True Energy Restoration Pill and swallowed it. Glancing reflexively behind him at Lin Feng, he was inwardly shocked to see the other man still appeared composed. Lin Feng's cultivation base was demonstrably lower, yet his true energy reserves seemed vastly deeper. This could only mean Lin Feng cultivated a far superior technique. Lei Yan practiced a Low-grade Heaven Tier technique himself – what level must Lin Feng's be?!
What Lei Yan didn't know was that Lin Feng's apparent 'ease' stemmed not just from the profound reserves granted by the Stellar Chroma Art, but also because he had resorted to consuming two precious drops of Spirit Spring Water. His reserves were dwindling, but facing their current predicament, conserving them was no longer an option.
At that precise moment, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from within the huddled group. Faces lit up with hope as everyone turned. Yu Ping, who had been seated cross-legged in deep healing meditation, had opened his eyes!
His complexion had returned to normal. Rising to his feet, Yu Ping surveyed the weary cultivators around him. His gaze settled on Lin Feng, and he gave a slight nod. "You have all endured much. My injuries are healed. Now... I shall find a way to break this formation and lead you out!"
Lin Feng, however, interjected immediately, "Senior Yu, regarding breaking the formation... I have an idea. I request that everyone focus their attacks on specific points I designate."
"Oh?" Yu Ping blinked, then stared at Lin Feng in astonishment. "You know how to break it? You... are also an Array Master?!"