220: Chapter 220 The Deceptive Formation

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience went into an uproar.

Which Cultivator present wasn't used to having spiritual power by their side? To suddenly have to trek on foot like a prisoner while constantly suppressing their spiritual power, where a single slip-up meant death—who wouldn't panic?

Someone else turned pale: "But the palace is still several miles away, and the way is crawling with Yao Beasts and filled with hidden traps. Without our spiritual power, how are we any different from cripples?"

"That is your problem."

A Cultivator from the Ganglei Sect sneered, "You want the Legacy treasures but don't want to risk your life? Where in the world would you find such a good deal? Either wait here or restrain your spiritual power and brave the Formation on foot!"

Everyone looked at each other, and for a moment, no one dared to take the first step.

Ye Tianhao's fingers, hanging by his side, lightly tapped the hilt of his sword as he calculated rapidly in his mind.

His cultivation was solid, and his Physical Body already far surpassed Cultivators of the same level; even without relying on spiritual power, he had no fear of close-quarters combat.

This Heart-Burning Spirit-Devouring Array was a near-certain death for others, but for him, it was actually quite fair.

In the crowd, Ye Jing and Jia Zheng were also hiding at the back. Ye Jing asked in a calm voice, "Fellow Daoist Jia, are you and these other Cultivators perhaps waiting for a way to break the Formation?"

Jia Zheng nodded helplessly, "Yes, Fellow Daoist. This is my first time deep in the Minghai Realm. I heard a general overview from my father by chance, but I don't understand this Heart-Burning Spirit-Devouring Array. I'm afraid that one mistake could cost me my life."

Seeing that the Cultivator spoke with such humility and helplessness, Ye Jing merely looked thoughtful and gave a faint smile. "Then Fellow Daoist Jia is indeed more thorough. Once we enter, please take good care of me!"

"Not at all, not at all. Meeting is fate. In this peril-filled Minghai Realm, cooperation is always better than going it alone."

The two of them chatted quite harmoniously.

The Cultivators at the front had begun to hesitate, none of them daring to venture deep inside.

The Elder of the Ganglei Sect snorted disdainfully, then said to the Disciples behind him, "Go! We're going in!"

With that, he led the way, restraining his spiritual power and heading deep inside. His sturdy body moved inward with ease, followed by his Disciples.

Seeing this, the other Cultivators hesitated for a moment before also restraining their own spiritual power and slowly entering.

Because spiritual power could not be used, some Cultivators secretly exchanged looks upon seeing the situation.

They immediately used their Magical Artifacts to attack those Cultivators who had restrained their spiritual power.

Since those Sect Cultivators were relatively strong, if everyone went deep inside and no one could use spiritual power, wouldn't it be impossible to gain any advantage? It was better to take the opportunity to finish them off and be done with it.

This attack was almost completely unexpected. Just as some Cultivators near the Formation tried to use spiritual power for defense, the Formation was activated.

A low "buzzing" sound rang out.

The barrier formed by the Formation suddenly emitted a dark purple light. The light visibly coiled and transformed into strands of Spiritual Silk, which clung to the surrounding Cultivators like greedy venomous snakes.

The Formation patterns on the ground lit up rapidly, spreading like a blood-colored spider web. Any Cultivator touched by the Spiritual Silk instantly let out a shrill scream.

The Spiritual Silk could actually penetrate clothing to directly gnaw at the Physical Body and suck out any remaining spiritual power. Even for those Cultivators who had already restrained their spiritual power, the hidden power within their bodies was forcibly pulled out, flowing along the Spiritual Silk into the depths of the Formation.

"Not good! It's the killing move of the Heart-Burning Spirit-Devouring Array! No one use spiritual power!" Yun Jian shouted to the Disciples behind him. "Quickly, head deep into the Formation now! That's the only way to survive!"

As soon as he spoke, he led the Disciples behind him and rushed toward the interior of the Formation.

The few Cultivators who had just launched the sneak attack intended to profit from the chaos, but they hadn't expected to be swept into the Formation themselves.

Now, with the Spiritual Silk wrapped around their ankles, the intense pain turned their faces pale instantly. Their Magical Artifacts fell to the ground with a "clatter" as they stopped attacking others and focused solely on tearing at the Spiritual Silk on their legs.

But the more they tore at the Spiritual Silk, the tighter it coiled, and the faster it sucked their spiritual power.

In just a breath's time, two Cultivators with weaker cultivation shriveled up, their internal spiritual power drained completely.

Their skin became wrinkled like old tree bark, and they collapsed to the ground, lifeless. Their corpses were soon enveloped by dark purple mist.

They gradually dissolved into a pool of black water, merging completely into the Formation patterns.

The crowd fell into complete chaos. Some were so terrified their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and they frantically tried to control their Magical Artifacts to flee outside the Formation.

But as soon as they approached the edge of the Formation, they were bounced back by an invisible barrier. Countless strands of Spiritual Silk swarmed over, instantly devouring them, and their deaths were even more gruesome than those before.

The Elder of the Ganglei Sect had a solemn expression. His sturdy frame stood firmly within the Formation, hands clenched into fists.

Relying on his powerful Physical Body to endure the gnawing of the Spiritual Silk, veins bulged on his forehead, yet he still gritted his teeth and said, "Everyone, stay steady! Do not move recklessly or use spiritual power!

This Formation relies on sucking spiritual power; the more you panic, the faster you'll die!"

The Disciples behind him followed closely, calming their minds as he did and relying on their Physical Bodies to move forward. Although their bodies were marked with bloody gashes from the Spiritual Silk, they managed to keep their lives for the time being.

Ye Tianhao's eyes narrowed, his footsteps paused slightly, and his hand hanging by his side gripped the hilt of his sword.

He did not panic; instead, he completely restrained the last trace of spiritual power in his body, suppressing even his aura to the lowest level.

The dark purple Spiritual Silk floated near him, but just as it was about to cling to him, it was shaken off by the Blood Qi faintly emanating from his body.

When he first became a Cultivator, he had practiced martial arts with his father since childhood. His Physical Body had been tempered a thousand times and far surpassed those of his level. For a moment, the Spiritual Silk of the Heart-Burning Spirit-Devouring Array was actually unable to break through his Physical Body's defense.

At this moment, Ye Jing and Jia Zheng were standing. Jia Zheng's face was pale, his hands tightly gripping a defensive Magical Artifact, yet he didn't dare to activate his spiritual power.

He could only rely on the physical defense of the Magical Artifact to block the Spiritual Silk, and his body was already covered in bloody cuts.

Ye Jing, however, remained calm and steady in his footsteps. At some point, a black jade pendant had appeared in his hand. The surface of the pendant emitted a faint glow, keeping all nearby Spiritual Silk at bay.

"Fellow Daoist Jia, it seems you aren't entirely ignorant of this Formation."

Ye Jing spoke calmly, his tone carrying a trace of subtle probing.

Jia Zheng froze, then gave a bitter smile. "You must be joking, Fellow Daoist. This is just a Protective Jade Pendant my father left me; it can ward off some evil spirits.

This is also the first time I've realized it could actually block the Spiritual Silk of the Heart-Burning Spirit-Devouring Array."

Ye Jing didn't press further, only nodding slightly. "In that case, let's head forward together to look out for each other."

Jia Zheng nodded and followed Ye Jing without saying much.

From the rear, Ye Jing saw a young man also following the group not far behind.

Taking a closer look, the youth was none other than his eldest grandson, Ye Tianhao. He couldn't help but feel a secret surge of joy.

It seemed his grandson had finally arrived here as well.

But he wasn't in a hurry to reveal himself. The situation in the Minghai Realm was currently complex, and operating alone was the safest course—not to mention he had smuggled himself here.

By now, more than half of the Cultivators who had launched the sneak attack were dead or injured. Seeing things were going south, the remaining few immediately tried to retreat outward.

After this incident, those people no longer dared to take action within the Formation, and they all honestly restrained their spiritual power and entered.

As Ye Tianhao moved with the flow of people, he felt a gaze fall upon him. He instinctively looked back, but there was nothing there.