26: Chapter 26 Quasi-Second-Tier Skin-Painting, Is the Gang Leader a Fake?

Lu Yuanze's heart grew increasingly uneasy.

Within the Formation, black and blue water mist churned, and waves of aura that made his heart palpitate began to manifest.

"Is it the Cloud-Killing Mist-Hiding Formation? Or the Heavy Water Soul-Pressing Formation?"

However, in the next breath...

"Roar!"

A booming roar recalled his wavering thoughts.

A slender Dragon-Snake, several zhang long and covered in pitch-black scales, suddenly appeared. Its eyebrows protruded, and it had no horns on its head.

"This is... a dragon?"

Lu Yuanze immediately recognized the entity manifested by the Formation before him.

"It's the Black Wave Subduing Flood Dragon Formation!"

Having identified the Formation, a look of despair surfaced in his eyes.

"Impossible! With your abilities, how could you possibly drive such a Second Grade Formation?"

In the next moment...

He immediately noticed something was wrong.

A Second Grade Formation couldn't possibly have only this much momentum. Moreover, this Formation was a far cry from the description in his memory: 'Black waves ripple for miles, Dragon-Snakes roam the skies.'

"It must be a modified version of the Black Wave Subduing Flood Dragon Formation."

He quickly reached a conclusion in his mind.

But even so, the Formation's momentum had already exceeded the scope of a First-rank High Grade Formation, reaching a Quasi-Second Grade level.

"Fortunately, I am also a Formation Master, otherwise I might have really met my end here tonight."

He let out a long breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He retrieved the long spear that had been thrust into the ground beside him.

He tapped the storage belt at his waist.

A red light flashed, and several golden, shimmering Talismans appeared in his hand.

Driven by his magic power, they radiated intense golden light and floated around Lu Yuanze.

"Eh, it's actually a First-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman."

Hiding behind the Formation, Xu Changsheng marveled silently. As expected of a notorious Robber Cultivator, his methods were far superior to Liu Erniu's.

His brow furrowed.

He manipulated the Formation Plate in his hand.

The black dragon roared again, opening its bloody maw and, shrouded in black mist, lunged toward Lu Yuanze.

At the same time...

The Restriction-Breaking Talismans were driven to their full potential. The golden light was dazzling, even pushing back the surrounding pitch-black water mist.

"Break for me!"

Lu Yuanze roared.

The patterns on the Restriction-Breaking Talismans interconnected and reflected off each other, transforming into a massive golden sword pointed directly at the black dragon.

"Boom!"

Light interlaced in the night sky, and the surrounding Formation became unstable as ripples spread through the Void Realm.

After a brief stalemate between the gold and the black, the black dragon was crushed by the golden sword and dissolved into black mist.

The power of several Restriction-Breaking Talismans was terrifying; it could be said they could break any First-rank Formation in the world.

But unfortunately...

They were facing a Quasi-Second Grade Formation, and one that had fallen from the Second Grade at that. Even among Quasi-Second Grade Formations, it was a standout.

The restriction-breaking sword then struck at what Lu Yuanze judged to be the Formation's eye.

It was precisely the house where Xu Changsheng was hidden.

Something that left Lu Yuanze dumbfounded happened.

After the golden sword entered the black mist, the scenery of the entire courtyard began to warp and blur violently, as if the Formation would be broken in the next instant.

But in just a few breaths, it returned to its original state.

The golden sword was like earth entering the sea; it melted rapidly at a visible speed, burned out, and finally turned to ash.

The black mist closed back up, and an identical black dragon condensed once more.

"How can this be?"

Lu Yuanze couldn't believe it. His mouth hung open, his eyes widened, and the horizontal scar on his face twitched.

He still refused to give up.

"Since Talismans won't work, then I shall break your Formation with my own!"

With that, he slapped his Storage Pouch again.

He took out several palm-sized Formation Flags and, under the control of the Object Manipulation Technique, they flew in all directions.

"Turbulence Formation, rise!"

Under Lu Yuanze's activation, all the Formation Flags shone with white light. They swayed without any wind, and countless runes flew out.

In an instant, the Formation was complete.

It emitted waves of spiritual energy turbulence, striking every corner of the courtyard in an attempt to shake the Black Wave Subduing Flood Dragon Formation.

How could Xu Changsheng let him have his way? A new round of the black dragon's offensive had arrived.

Lu Yuanze responded with a low voice.

The Wind-Walking Spear unsheathed like a dragon, holding back the black dragon.

For a moment...

The scene was deadlocked; neither could do anything to the other.

This was not the result Xu Changsheng wanted to see. Looking at the small mountain of Spirit Stones beside him that had been drained of spiritual energy, he sighed slightly.

The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. The consumption of Spirit Stones, reinforcements from the Black Wolf Gang, and patrols from the market guards were all variables!

Decisively, he triggered the Lightning Strike Talismans outside the Formation that were in a semi-activated state.

A few breaths later...

The Lightning Strike Talismans pasted around the courtyard all began to burn. Lightning flashed, and thunder roared through the heavens.

The dazzling blue-white luster pierced through the viscous black water mist, turning the dark night into day.

"Not good!"

Lu Yuanze thrust out his spear to withstand the black dragon's attack and slapped his waist. A large stack of orange, yellow, and green Talismans suddenly appeared in his hand.

He activated them immediately.

"Rumble!"

Various Spells manifested, clashing and annihilating with the lightning amidst the sound of explosions.

"These... these are all Lightning Strike Talismans!"

Lu Yuanze immediately identified the incoming Talismans.

In this Liuyun Market, there was no way Xu Changsheng could have purchased such a large quantity of Lightning Strike Talismans. There was only one possibility.

"You are a High-Grade Talisman Master!"

The moment those words left his mouth, his temporary Talisman defense line was instantly pierced through.

Countless bolts of lightning exploded between him and the Turbulence Formation.

"Bang!"

The Formation was blown apart, and the Formation Flags were knocked askew.

Seeing this...

For the first time, a look of despair appeared in Lu Yuanze's eyes.

He finally knew why Liu Erniu hadn't fulfilled the commission he gave him.

It wasn't that he had gone missing at all, but that he had been silenced by this Xu Changsheng!

This person was not the Qi Refining Third Layer Cultivator and First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master that Huang Laifu said could be easily crushed.

He was a First-rank High-Grade Talisman Master with a Quasi-Second Grade Formation!

"My name is far-famed; is it really going to end here today?"

His heart was filled with resentment.

He shouted: "Xu Changsheng, I have no grievance with you! It was Huang Laifu who commissioned me. I know you have a grudge against him. If you let me go today, I swear the Black Wolf Gang will form an alliance with you to deal with that Huang Laifu together!"

There was no response.

Xu Changsheng knew that as things stood tonight, only one of them, either he or Lu Yuanze, could walk out of this residence.

It was already a life-and-death situation. He had also confirmed that the mastermind behind the scenes was indeed Huang Laifu, so there was no need to say anything more to this man.

Moreover, after seeing this man's cruel and ruthless actions in the black market that day, he couldn't trust his oaths at all.

He only believed that the dead truly kept their mouths shut.

With this thought...

He gritted his teeth.

He took out another large pile of Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch.

The killing intent within the Formation became increasingly chilling.

Finally...

Amidst a loud explosion and a mournful wail, Lu Yuanze fell straight down.

"This is?"

Although he could no longer feel any Divine Sense or life force, Xu Changsheng still cautiously sent Ink Shadow forward to confirm the death.

He saw Ink Shadow tugging at 'Lu Yuanze's' body, and it actually pulled out a complete, flesh-colored human skin.

Xu Changsheng originally wanted to scold it for being too heavy-handed.

But he immediately realized the strangeness of it.

"No, this isn't 'Lu Yuanze'."

Holding his High Grade Bone Shield in front of him, he stepped out of the room and took the human skin handed over by Ink Shadow.

Feeling the astonishing aura upon it, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"This... this is a Quasi-Second Grade painted skin!"

Then he connected the dots.

"Could it be that the leader of the Black Wolf Gang isn't actually one person, but several or even a group of people?"

He carefully examined the painted skin in his hand.

An absurd idea appeared in his mind.

"Could I also become the leader of the Black Wolf Gang? And take all their wealth for myself?"