52: A feast of fireworks, collapses, and "added ingredients".

"Boom—Rumble—!!!"

Another thunderous impact struck.

This time, even the teacup in front of Zhou Wannian jumped, spilling scalding tea all over the table. Dust trickled down from the ceiling beams, and the "Wannian Talisman Shop" signboard swayed precariously in the wind, letting out a miserable groan.

"That's quite some force."

Zhou Wannian calmly brushed the dust off his sleeves and looked out the window.

By now, the sky had turned into a bizarre and grotesque painting.

The light curtain of the Ward-Protecting Formation, originally blood-red, was vibrating violently. Outside the curtain, the black flying boat of the Black Wind Stockade was like a frenzied beast, continuously spitting out pillars of pitch-black demonic fire, desperately pounding at a single node of the Formation—due west, the Dui Position.

"Not just Demonic Fire Cannons, but also... corrosive toxic mist."

Zhou Wannian activated his Spiritual Sight Technique and clearly saw that within the demonic fire, there was a large amount of green smoke mixed in. That was "Spirit-Dissolving Smoke," specifically used to defile Spiritual Qi and corrode Formation foundations.

"It seems the Black Wind Stockade is really going all out this time, even using such a ruthless tactic."

On the streets, the residents of the Inner District, who had been relatively calm, finally panicked.

Some screamed as they ran home, others scrambled around like headless flies, and some usually arrogant Family scions were now kneeling on the ground, praying to the Chen Family Old Ancestor.

Only Zhou Wannian acted as if nothing was wrong, even having the leisure to critique the Black Wind Stockade's firepower configuration.

"However, relying only on this level of attack to break through a second-tier Formation would take at least three days."

"If the Chen Family wants to hold out, they completely can."

"Provided... their 'engine' doesn't explode."

Zhou Wannian's gaze turned deep as he looked toward the Chen Family Ancestral Residence... The Chen Family Ancestral Residence, the underground core Formation eye.

This was a vast underground karst cave, the air thick with a suffocating stench of blood and Yin-baleful Qi.

In the center of the cave was a massive pool of roiling, boiling blood—the Main Blood Sacrifice Pool.

Above the blood pool floated a withered, rotting body that nonetheless emitted a terrifying pressure. The body was bristling with tubes, through which a continuous stream of blood Qi was being forcibly injected into its dead Meridians.

This was the Chen Family's "Old Ancestor," a Corpse Puppet that had long been dead but was forcibly preserved.

"Not enough! Still not enough!"

Standing by the blood pool, the Chen Family Grand Elder, Chen Tiannan, had eyes as red as blood, looking like a madman.

He watched the constantly vibrating Formation patterns overhead, the pressure brought by the invading enemies.

"The external attacks are too fierce! The Formation's spiritual power consumption is accelerating! The Old Ancestor's awakening has been interrupted!"

"We must increase the input! Bring out all the stockpiled resources!"

Chen Tiannan roared, "Yinhun Wood! Throw all the Yinhun Wood into the Yin-Gathering Formation! We must stabilize the Old Ancestor's Divine Soul!"

"Yes!"

A group of Chen Family death soldiers immediately brought in crates of heavy wood.

This wood was pitch-black and emitted a bone-chilling cold; it was the "Top-grade Yinhun Wood" the Chen Family had spared no expense to acquire at a premium recently.

Among them was the large batch supplied by Chen Zhaozu (who was actually Zhou Wannian).

"Such heavy Yin Qi! It truly is top-grade!"

The Third Elder in charge of the disposal reached out and touched a piece of wood. Although he felt a slight, tingling heat at his fingertips, he dismissed it as a reaction to the excessive Yin Qi and didn't think twice.

"Throw it in!"

Crash—

Tons of Yinhun Wood were dumped into the Yin-Gathering Formation eye located beneath the blood pool.

Immediately after, Chen Tiannan performed a hand seal and activated the Formation.

"Buzz—!!!"

The Yin-Gathering Formation operated at full power.

Immense Yin-baleful Qi was extracted from the wood, converging into a black torrent that surged toward the Corpse Puppet in the blood pool, attempting to soothe its frenzied remnant soul.

However.

Just as this torrent of Yin Qi reached its peak and was about to touch the Corpse Puppet,

A sudden change occurred.

Within that pitch-black Yin Qi, tiny, imperceptible... purple sparks suddenly leaped.

That was lightning.

It was Thunder Struck Wood Powder, meticulously ground by Zhou Wannian and disguised as charcoal powder hidden deep within the grain of the Yinhun Wood.

Lightning is pure Yang, while Yin souls are pure Yin.

Normally, this small amount of lightning powder would be suppressed by the Yin Qi and couldn't cause any trouble.

But in the high-pressure environment of the Yin-Gathering Formation, where Yin Qi was compressed to its limit, this tiny bit of lightning fire was like a cigarette butt thrown into a fuel depot.

"Sizzle—Pop!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out from the Formation eye.

Chen Tiannan was stunned: "What was that sound?"

Before he could react,

"Boom!!!"

"Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!"

A chain of explosions erupted without warning at the core of the Yin-Gathering Formation!

It wasn't a normal fire explosion, but a "Spiritual Explosion" triggered by the violent conflict between Yin and Yang spiritual energies!

Purple lightning and black Yin Qi intertwined, instantly transforming into a destructive storm that blew the sturdy Yin-Gathering Formation to pieces!

"No!!!"

Chen Tiannan's eyes nearly split from rage.

But that wasn't the most terrifying part.

Because the Yin-Gathering Formation had exploded, the Yin Qi that was supposed to soothe the Corpse Puppet instantly spiraled out of control, turning into sharp blades that frantically sliced at the Corpse Puppet's already fragile Physical Body.

"Roar—!!!"

Above the blood pool, the Corpse Puppet let out a scream that didn't sound human.

The blood Qi within it began to flow backward, and the soul-locking Restrictions loosened in the explosion.

Boom!

The Corpse Puppet lost control!

It violently snapped the tubes on its body, and a wild blood-baleful shockwave swept out in all directions with it at the center!

"Pfft!"

The Third Elder, who was closest, was directly vibrated into a cloud of blood mist.

Despite his Foundation Establishment cultivation, Chen Tiannan was also sent flying by the airwave, crashing heavily against the rock wall and coughing up blood.

"It's over..."

Chen Tiannan looked at the "Old Ancestor" roaring madly in the blood pool and beginning to indiscriminately attack everything living around it, his eyes full of despair.

"The Formation... has backfired."

...Outside, in the Inner District.

Just as everyone was watching the battle in the sky with horror,

Suddenly.

"Rumble—"

A muffled, extremely loud bang came not from the sky, but from underground! From the center of the market!

Then, everyone witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

The Chen Family's ancestral residence, symbolizing power and majesty, that magnificent main building, suddenly bulged like a punctured balloon.

And then—

Collapse!

A pillar of black and red gas soared from the ruins of the ancestral residence, piercing the clouds and instantly dispersing the swirling snow.

And the originally indestructible crimson Ward-Protecting Formation, under the impact of this internal explosion, became like a snake with its spine removed.

The light curtain flickered violently a few times, and then... "Crack."

It shattered.

Fragments of spiritual light rained down like a meteor shower.

The Inner District was now defenseless...

At the entrance of the "Wannian Talisman Shop."

Zhou Wannian held a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, watching the soaring black-red pillar of smoke and the raining fragments of the Formation.

On his face appeared a look of intoxication, like that of an art connoisseur.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

"These fireworks are truly beautiful."

"The Yinhun Wood bought for three thousand Spirit Stones really has quite a kick."

He could even imagine the expressions on the faces of those Chen Family Elders—the bewilderment and despair of falling from "having victory in hand" to "eternal damnation" in an instant.

"This is what's called lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own feet."

"If you hadn't been so greedy for that little bargain, and hadn't engaged in such atrocious blood sacrifices, this lightning powder would at most have given you some warmth."

Zhou Wannian poured the tea onto the snow as if in libation for something.

"The Formation is broken; the Chen Family is in chaos."

"The Black Wind Stockade is coming in."

He turned and walked back into the shop, closing the door that had been wide open, but he didn't lock it, leaving it just slightly ajar.

Then, he walked into the backyard.

Reaching the entrance of the cellar, he knocked on the door panel.

"Young Master Chen, wake up."

"It's dawn."

From the cellar came Chen Zhaozu's groggy voice: "Huh? Old Zhou? Is it time to eat? Are we having braised pork today?"

Zhou Wannian smiled and didn't answer.

He turned toward the secret room and took out the luggage he had prepared long ago, as well as several "Second-Tier Poison Thunder Drills" he had kept at the bottom of his chest.

"No braised pork."

"However, if you come out now, you should be able to make it for a feast of 'Braised Chen Family'."

He donned a black cloak and put on that hideous ghost-face mask.

In this moment, the submissive Shopkeeper Zhou vanished.

Replacing him was the legend of the black market, "Lord Thunder."