Chapter 7 The Power of Formations

In Thousand Leaf Forest, the autumn wind rustled, and fallen leaves danced. It was already the afternoon of the third day, and the atmosphere was heavy, like a storm brewing.

Chen Li, who was nearby, was now highly focused. Two Formation Plates were already laid out, ready to be activated at any moment.

Yun Tiancheng, on alert, heard the chase not far away. His heart tightened, and he immediately informed Chen Li, the An Family Head, and the Wang Family Head.

At this moment, their battle stances were ready. Yun Tiancheng's Blazing Thunder Pearl was poised, the An Family Head's compass Magical Artifact had been activated, and the Wang Family's Lightning Guiding Talisman was being chanted.

Not far away, Luo Family Patriarch saw Zhang An entering Thousand Leaf Forest, and provoked him, saying, “Zhang An, you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, chasing an old Qi Refining man, do you have no shame?”

“Isn’t he just a servant? So what if he dies?” Luo Family Patriarch continued.

Zhang An, seeing that he was about to catch up and that the opponent seemed scared, snorted coldly, “Hmph, let’s see where you can run. I’ll let you know that even a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s dog is not something you, a Qi Refining cultivator, can provoke.”

The two exchanged insults. As Luo Family Patriarch stepped into the Spirit Trapping Formation in Thousand Leaf Forest, Zhang An followed right behind him.

Zhang An saw that Luo Family Patriarch had stopped running and thought he had given up. He yelled at Luo Family Patriarch, “Run, why aren’t you running? Still thinking of a Qi Refining cultivator fighting a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Dreaming?”

Luo Family Patriarch chuckled twice and remained silent. The moment he entered, he had already deployed the Soul Confusing Powder.

Zhang An scoffed and directly charged forward with his sword, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

Unexpectedly, the Soul Confusing Powder had already invaded Zhang An’s body, causing his mind to falter. As Zhang An’s mind scattered, he subconsciously formed an energy shield.

During these two or three seconds of distraction, Chen Li, not far away, immediately activated the Spirit Trapping Formation. One second later, the Spirit Trapping Formation was complete.

Looking at Zhang An’s energy shield, just as Zhang An was about to recover his wits, Luo Family Patriarch moved close, chanted a spell with his hands, clapped his palm towards his heart, and his body rapidly disintegrated.

Then he turned to Chen Li and the others, with a resolute expression, signaling that they could begin.

Chen Li, not far away, immediately activated the attack Formation. A crushing energy, capable of overwhelming several people, condensed from the Formation. The Spiritual Qi of the surrounding world rapidly gathered into the Formation.

Yun Tiancheng, witnessing this, couldn't help but gasp. Was this the damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining?

Inside the Spirit Trapping Formation, there was a loud boom as Luo Family Patriarch self-destructed, shattering Zhang An’s energy shield while he was still losing his senses!

One second after Zhang An recovered his senses, before he could react, he was hit by a compass Sword Qi, the thunder from a Lightning Guiding Talisman, and the fire-thunder flame from the Blazing Thunder Pearl. Under this triple attack, Zhang An’s yellow iron armor appeared, but it already had cracks. Zhang An, wearing the armor, was only injured.

After the first wave of attacks, Zhang An could finally catch his breath.

Under a series of attacks with the damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he thought he was being besieged by Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivators?

However, a sweep of his Divine Sense revealed four Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivators. Connecting this with the Luo Family Patriarch, who was an Eighth Layer Qi Refining cultivator and had just self-destructed, he seemed to know who these people were.

Yun Tiancheng and the others were completely surprised to see Zhang An's yellow iron armor appear. Their faces turned pale; their attacks had all been blocked by the yellow iron armor. Another attack with the damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining would not be fatal.

It's over!

“You’re courting death!!” Zhang An’s face was distorted, clearly losing control.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a majestic Formation energy rapidly approached, less than half a zhang from Zhang An.

Zhang An was bound by the Spirit Trapping Formation, which could restrain a Foundation Establishment cultivator for seven or eight seconds. Seeing that he couldn't break free, he could only quickly assume a defensive stance!

However, his spiritual power was restrained by the Spirit Trapping Formation, and he still thought it was the damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, only hoping his yellow iron armor could withstand one more blow. But as it approached, he realized something was wrong.

“No, ah!!!”

Zhang An’s upper body was pierced through by the Formation energy. The energy, after penetrating him, exploded into a large pit behind him, sending up a cloud of dust.

At this moment, the despairing Yun Tiancheng and the others were dumbfounded by the power of the Formation and Zhang An's screams!

Is this the damn damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining?

Just moments ago, they had all been pale-faced, but in a few breaths, the situation was reversed. Yun Tiancheng let out a huge sigh of relief.

The Wang Family Head and An Family Head exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

At this moment, inside the Spirit Trapping Formation, Zhang An's abdomen below his head was hollow, and the power of the Formation had also extinguished his Foundation Establishment vitality.

He now only had one breath left, his lower body and head limp on the ground. Yun Tiancheng and the others entered the Spirit Trapping Formation, only to hear Zhang An muttering, “Why! Why! I’m not reconciled!”

“Alas, it is not easy for a Loose Cultivator to cultivate to Foundation Establishment. Back then, our families humbly pleaded with you repeatedly, but you turned a deaf ear. If you had known this day would come, why bother in the first place!” Yun Tiancheng said to Zhang An expressionlessly.

After speaking, Yun Tiancheng’s Fireball Technique instantly engulfed Zhang An. Before Zhang An could even groan, he turned into ashes. A gust of wind blew, and the ashes returned to the earth.

At this time, Chen Li also came down with the Formation Plate. Activating it once had cost three hundred Spirit Stones, making Chen Li feel a pang of heartache.

When the others saw Chen Li, their attitudes changed. Before, they had merely shed their disdain; now, they felt fear.

“Brother Chen, we owe you a great deal today. If it weren't for you, we would all have lost our lives here!” Yun Tiancheng expressed sincerely.

“Fellow Daoist Chen’s Formation attainments truly impress us. If Fellow Daoist Chen ever needs help in the future, my Wang Family will assist you with all our might!”

“My An Family too. Whatever help Fellow Daoist needs from us, the An Family will do its best!”

The group praised him profusely. Chen Li smiled slightly, “This matter also concerned my life, so I naturally did my best. Luo Family Patriarch bravely led the enemy without fear of danger, heroically sacrificing himself. He should be given primary credit!”

Then the group turned their attention to Luo Family Patriarch, remembering him and praising him greatly.

A moment later, Chen Li went to put away the Spirit Trapping Formation. Yun Tiancheng and the others seemed to have picked up Zhang An’s Storage Pouch and were discussing something.

After Chen Li finished, Yun Tiancheng and the others came over and said, “Brother Chen, the Storage Pouch contains over three thousand Spirit Stones, some Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and books. Brother Chen, please choose first.”

Chen Li didn't stand on ceremony. He took six hundred Spirit Stones, no longer feeling the sting of the three hundred Spirit Stones he had just spent. He then picked some books and Magical Artifacts.

After the division, Zhang An’s third-grade Magical Sword and the six hundred Spirit Stones from the Storage Pouch were given to Luo Family Head. After all, they were comrades-in-arms, and their Old Ancestor had bravely sacrificed himself; they still had a sense of fairness in their hearts.

During their retreat, they also gathered some of Luo Family Patriarch’s relics and bones, clearing the traces from the scene.

A moment later, Chen Li's wood-attribute attack Formation was also put away. The group arrived at the Teleportation Array. After the Teleportation Array completed its transfer, there was a boom, and the Teleportation Array on this end was destroyed.

...

On Baifeng Mountain, Luo Family Head looked at the time; it was already the evening of the third day. His heart was anxious; he dared not imagine the worst-case scenario.

Suddenly, the Formation fluctuated. When he saw the four return, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The four informed him of the details of the battle. Luo Family Head thanked them for collecting the Old Ancestor’s relics and bones.

When Luo Family Head received his share of the spoils, he was very surprised and tried to decline. Upon learning of the power of Chen Li’s Formation, the Luo Family stated that Chen Li deserved the primary credit. They offered another hundred Spirit Stones to Chen Li, but he refused.

Aside from Luo Family Patriarch’s death in battle, the various families were very pleased; the objective had been achieved.

From the chase to Zhang An’s death, the battle that decided life and death lasted only thirty seconds of golden time. The initiation of the battle was quite successful!