106: Chapter 106 Since we're already here, let's fight!

"A grand Formation, a grand Formation concerning the rise and fall of the Sect." The Disciple answered involuntarily.

"What Formation? What does it do?"

"I don't know. I only heard the Elders say that once it's completed, our Sect will dominate Qinghe Prefecture."

"What is the background of the Cultivators from other prefectures you've been in contact with?"

"I don't know about any Cultivators from other prefectures; I've only seen a few unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Seniors guiding the construction of the Formation."

As the questions and answers continued, Chen Tai's expression turned very grim.

This Disciple's rank was too low and his knowledge limited. Aside from confirming that they were building a grand Formation and that non-Blazing Fire Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators were involved, he couldn't provide any core intelligence.

"Damn it!" Chen Tai cursed under his breath.

Just then, Deacon Lin's face suddenly paled as he urged, "Elder Chen, the profound light talisman's effect only has half an hour left! We must hurry!"

Chen Tai steeled his heart.

Since the captive was useless, he could only go and see for himself!

"Let's go! We'll head to the valley entrance and take a look!"

He no longer hesitated. After destroying the evidence of the body, he quickly rushed toward the valley the Disciple had mentioned.

The terrain at the valley entrance was open, but the guards were very strict.

A total of six Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were positioned on the boulders on both sides of the valley entrance, sealing the entire entrance completely.

Chen Tai and Deacon Lin hid behind a massive rock, not even daring to breathe loudly.

"What should we do?" Deacon Lin sent a voice transmission. "Six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and one of them is at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage! It's impossible for us to break through!"

"Elder Chen, should we retreat?" Deacon Lin clearly didn't want to go any deeper. "If we leave now, this Talisman can still support our safe departure."

Chen Tai's gaze swept over the six Foundation Establishment Cultivators as his mind raced.

He knew Deacon Lin was right, but since they had already come this far, how could he report back to the Sect if they retreated now?

"Junior Brother Lin, since we're already here and have this Talisman to conceal our aura," Chen Tai replied. Before coming, he had already prepared himself mentally, so he naturally wouldn't back down at the final step. "The Sect wants concrete intelligence. If we only see this much, how can we convince them? We must find out exactly what is going on inside!"

Deacon Lin's face turned pale, but under Chen Tai's firm gaze, he only sighed and said no more.

"Then what do we do now?" Deacon Lin asked instead.

"Split up! You retreat a certain distance first and find a hidden spot," Chen Tai decided instantly. "Then use the second-grade Puppet Talismans to find a way to lure those six Foundation Establishment Cultivators away! I'll take the opportunity to slip into the valley entrance, take one look, and leave! Afterward, we'll meet at the market town outside the mountain range."

This was an extremely risky plan, practically gambling with their lives.

Deacon Lin was naturally unwilling, but he knew Chen Tai was right. At this point, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired.

He could only nod heavily.

Since they were already here and had done this much, they might as well go all out!

He no longer hesitated and took out a silver-white Talisman from his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

"Senior Brother Chen, this is a second-grade Truth-Piercing Talisman. Although its effect isn't as good as the profound light talisman, it can deal with some second-grade and lower illusion Formations. Be careful!"

Then, after some thought, Deacon Lin took out several more Talismans with different effects and stuffed them into Chen Tai's hand.

Chen Tai took the Talismans and nodded. "Alright."

Deacon Lin said no more. His figure began to slowly retreat, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the dense forest.

As for their cultivation auras, the two had already prepared before coming. As long as they didn't actively release Spells or spiritual power, they didn't need to worry too much about being discovered.

Half an incense stick later, Deacon Lin had retreated several miles to a dangerous mountain col.

He made sure the place was safe enough before stopping.

After casually setting up a simple isolation Formation, he took out five ancient-looking jade Talismans with restrained spiritual light from his Storage Pouch.

These five jade Talismans were also his trump card treasures.

Second-grade Low Grade Puppet Talismans—each one could summon a battle Puppet comparable to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

Such treasures were meant to be used at a life-or-death moment, but now he had to use them all at once.

"I'm doing this for the Sect; I must ask the Sect Master for compensation when I get back!" Deacon Lin's heart bled, but his actions didn't hesitate in the slightest.

He slowly injected spiritual power into the five jade Talismans.

The jade Talismans shone brightly, and five figures identical to real people appeared out of thin air.

These Puppets were clad in standard armor and held shimmering Magical Artifacts. Their eyes were hollow, yet they emitted a genuine Foundation Establishment Stage pressure.

The armor and Magical Artifacts were things Deacon Lin had saved up over the years specifically to enhance the Puppets' combat power.

With a flick of his Divine Sense, Deacon Lin issued an order.

The five Puppets then charged from different directions toward the entrance of Fallen Phoenix Valley with a fearless attitude!

Another half an incense stick later.

"Who's there?!"

The Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the valley entrance was the first to notice the movement. After a sharp shout, a high-grade magic tool appeared in his hand out of thin air.

When he saw five "Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators" attacking at the same time, his expression couldn't help but change.

Not daring to underestimate the enemy, he shouted again:

"Form a Formation and meet the enemy!"

With his command, the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators beside him moved to meet the five Puppets.

For a time, the sound of explosions outside the valley entrance was incessant. The brilliance of Spells and sparks from colliding Magical Artifacts scattered everywhere, lighting up the misty forest fitfully.

Neither side held back, but the battle did not end as swiftly as the Blazing Fire Sect Cultivators had expected.

Although the five Puppets were only at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment level, their fighting style, which completely disregarded "injury," allowed them to fight the five Blazing Fire Sect Cultivators of the same rank to a standstill.

What annoyed them even more was that the five "people" were not fighting to the death but were retreating while fighting, constantly drawing the battle toward the outer forest, their purpose obvious.

The Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator guarding the valley entrance frowned. During the fight, he realized the opponents were just five Puppets, and he couldn't help but secretly curse his people as useless for failing to take them down.

If this dragged on and disturbed the Grand Elder presiding over the grand Formation inside the valley, he would certainly be in big trouble!

"A bunch of useless trash!" He could no longer restrain himself and shouted at a group of trembling Qi Refinement Stage patrolling Disciples nearby, "Guard the valley entrance! If there's any unusual movement, crush this warning talisman immediately!"

He wasn't worried that the person controlling the Puppets would dare to enter the valley; a Cultivator who could only control five Early Foundation Establishment Stage Puppets would likely be discovered by the Grand Elder as soon as they entered and be swatted to death with a single palm.

He was worried about his five fellow Disciples who were fighting further and further away, fearing something might happen to them, in which case he would have to take all the blame.

With that, he mounted his Flying Sword, his figure turning into a streak of blazing light as he rushed out of the valley entrance toward the distant battle.

He wanted to end it quickly!

Opportunity!

Chen Tai didn't hesitate for a moment when he saw this. The instant the Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator flew far away, leaving only the group of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators on guard, he moved!

He first raised his left hand, and a gray Talisman flew out quietly, burning soundlessly in the air and turning into a ripple invisible to the naked eye, instantly enveloping and isolating the area where the group of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators was.