"The formation begins!"
Above the Skull Mountain Market, the fully restored Hundred Bones True Formation rumbled into motion, immediately causing Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan to pull back in alarm.
Seizing this opening, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot forward.
The array patterns outside the formation parted to let him pass before sealing shut once more, the movement so swift it left no opening for pursuit.
"Thank you for your assistance, Brother Lü." Landing inside the formation, the blood light dissipated, revealing Lu Yuanchun's disheveled state. His pale face still held a mix of shock and uncertainty. "Brother Lü is actually a formation master?"
If he weren't, how could he have restored the formation and turned a near-certain death into survival?
"My apologies for the trouble, Senior Brother. It's merely a lowly ninth-grade formation," Lü Yang replied with a faint smile. "It took me several days of study to barely grasp the workings of this grand formation."
Lü Yang spoke lightly, but Lu Yuanchun's expression grew solemn. Among all the cultivation arts, formations reigned supreme! The value of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a late-stage Qi Refining formation master were incomparable—the latter was almost equivalent to a Qi Refining Great Perfection expert!
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu, you've gained quite a bit from this venture," Lü Yang said, looking at Lu Yuanchun with a half-smile. Under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression gradually stiffened, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Yet, the next moment, he regained his composure.
"Brother Lü, I've been safeguarding this 'Mysterious Yin Jade' for you. It's time to return it to its rightful owner!" With that, Lu Yuanchun directly produced a small box. Opening the lid revealed a white, seven-apertured jade resembling a human figure.
As the saying goes, those who understand the times are the true heroes.
Lu Yuanchun, a senior disciple of the Holy Sect, naturally understood that if he didn't hand over the jade now, he would soon be sacrificed on the front lines of the battle between righteousness and demonic forces.
Moreover, with the Divine Martial Sect deploying a Qi Refining Great Perfection expert, escape was impossible. Lu Yuanchun abandoned all illusions; rather than clinging to a treasure that would bring disaster, he decided to surrender it publicly. This would not only free him from further trouble but also divert the attention of the Divine Martial Sect and others toward Lü Yang.
"The Mysterious Yin Jade." Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction upon seeing it, then placed the small box into his storage pouch. He calmly turned his gaze to the figure that had suddenly appeared outside the market.
It was a handsome young man wielding a spear.
He wore a martial crown and scale armor, his spear engraved with dragon patterns—he resembled a mortal general more than a cultivator.
"A ninth-grade formation master?" The young man's gaze was sharp as a blade, as if it could cut through the formation's barrier and see Lü Yang at its core. "An unexpected variable."
Simultaneously, "Divine Fist" Wu Zhichong and "Mountain-Moving Daoist" Duanmu Yuan approached and bowed respectfully to the spear-wielding young man. "Senior Brother Ouyang, we have failed in our mission and disappointed you."
"It's fine." Ouyang Haoze shook his head, his expression mild. "The demons are cunning. It's understandable that you were careless. You can atone through meritorious service in the future."
Then he looked toward the Skull Mountain Market, his eyes filled with killing intent.
"Our sect has planned this for years; we cannot tolerate any mishaps. If possible, we should first eliminate the spies left here by the Demonic Sect to minimize variables."
In the next instant, Ouyang Haoze's figure blurred. The aura of Qi Refining Great Perfection erupted fully, instantly manifesting as a pillar of essence and smoke rising into the sky, accompanied by a deafening killing cry. Behind Ouyang Haoze, the faint silhouettes of thousands of soldiers and horses bolstered his spirit.
"Break!"
In that moment, thunderous roars rolled across the sky, crashing directly into the Skull Mountain Market. Several cultivators with lower cultivation levels were instantly shaken by this furious shout, coughing up blood.
"Qi Refining Great Perfection." Lü Yang, overseeing the formation, spoke gravely. The pinnacle of the Qi Refining realm—this level represented not just cultivation but status within any sect.
Anyone who reached Qi Refining Great Perfection was undoubtedly a true disciple of their sect!
The Divine Martial Sect was located in the Northern Frontier. Though its scale was far smaller than the Holy Sect's, it also possessed several world-shaking divine abilities that only true disciples could cultivate.
"If he has mastered a great divine ability, I'll abandon the formation and flee immediately."
Lü Yang prepared to retreat as he moved to the edge of the formation, confronting Ouyang Haoze across the barrier. "I am Lü Yang. May I ask your esteemed name?"
"You are not worthy to know my name." Ouyang Haoze sneered. "If you know what's good for you, surrender now. Then I might show mercy, merely abolishing your demonic arts and sparing your lives. If you resist, when the formation breaks, none shall be spared!"
"When will this cycle of vengeance end?" Lü Yang's smile remained unchanged, his tone gentle. "Though our paths differ—righteous and demonic—we have always kept to our own domains. Why not give me some face?"
"Give you face?" Ouyang Haoze laughed loudly, mocking. "Such arrogance! A mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator? Today, I will not give you face. What can you do about it?"
"What a pity." Lü Yang shook his head. "Since that's the case, then I ask you, Fellow Daoist, to break the formation."
"Seeking death!" A murderous glint flashed in Ouyang Haoze's eyes. The wolf smoke formed from his blood and qi dissipated completely. He clenched his fist and struck—seemingly using only the martial arts of an ordinary person.
Yet, upon seeing this, Lü Yang's expression hardened. He dared not be the slightest bit careless. He immediately summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pill, merging his body with the sword light to slash at Ouyang Haoze. In an instant, fist and sword collided; unparalleled sharpness and fist force exploded in all directions like sparks blooming in mid-air.
Ouyang Haoze moved with lightning speed, unleashing hundreds of punches in the blink of an eye.
Unlike other cultivation sects, the Divine Martial Sect emphasized physical cultivation. Its divine abilities were mostly based on fists and feet. In close combat, their speed even surpassed that of sword cultivators!
"Rapid Arrow Assault!" Ouyang Haoze stretched his arms as if drawing a great bow. Then, his fists shot forth like arrows, engulfing Lü Yang's position in an instant.
Boom!
Amid the explosions, Lü Yang felt as if all his spiritual energy had been drained, replaced by endless fist shadows threatening to crush him into dust!
A thousand strikes in an instant, leaving no chance to counter—clearly a superior divine ability!
Though Ouyang Haoze spoke arrogantly and disregarded Lü Yang, he showed no carelessness in his attack, going all out.
In an instant, explosive shockwaves surged and churned.
Under the barrage of fists, Lü Yang was shattered to pieces in less than ten seconds. His sword light fragmented, turning into a sky full of withered bones in the blink of an eye.
The fist momentum halted abruptly. Ouyang Haoze stood in the air, his brow slightly furrowed.
On the other side, above the market, the Hundred Bones Rejuvenation Formation activated. A figure materialized and stepped out—it was none other than Lü Yang, completely unharmed.
"Fellow Daoist's fist power is unparalleled. I admire it."
Ouyang Haoze did not respond. He threw punches again, still the barrage of arrows. Lü Yang stubbornly resisted, holding out for over ten seconds before being smashed to pieces once more.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, Ouyang Haoze watched as Lü Yang's corpse turned into withered bones, and the unscathed Lü Yang walked out of the formation again—sleeves fluttering, demeanor unchanged, his true qi and magic power undiminished. He bowed. "Fellow Daoist, shall we continue?"
"The Hundred Bones Rejuvenation Formation lives up to its reputation." Ouyang Haoze's expression turned solemn.
As far as he knew, this seventh-grade formation contained a hundred skeletal soldiers. A cultivator within the formation could manifest their true combat power through these soldiers.
Thus, the skeletal soldiers essentially fought in place of the main body.
Victory was cause for celebration; death had no impact on the main body. Moreover, as long as the formation continued to operate, even if the skeletal soldiers were depleted, they would quickly regenerate.
Therefore, no matter how fiercely he attacked, it was futile—a waste of effort. This was only because he remained outside the formation. If he charged in, Lü Yang could summon all the skeletal soldiers for a direct group assault. At that point, even a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator would suffer greatly!