319: Breaking the Formation

Chu Haotian's brow furrowed into a knot as his spiritual sense spread out like a tide, meticulously probing the intricate pathways of the World-Locking Formation. This Formation was extremely sophisticated, with interlocking runes and spatial barriers as heavy as mountains; it would be no easy task to break it by force in a short time.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Zhao Jingchen and Lin Xiuqin beside him, which couldn't help but give Chu Haotian a bit of a headache.

The coming battle would be a hundred times more perilous than the one in Jiuyou City, belonging to an entirely different league. When the time came, he and Master Qing Xuan would be too busy to look after themselves, let alone ensure the safety of these two.

Chen Xuan, who had been observing in silence, suddenly spoke: "Fellow Daoists, I will first send the two Disciples, Jing Chen and Xiuqin, back to the Tianque Sect, lest they be caught in this deathmatch and become a burden."

Upon hearing this, Master Qing Xuan's eyes were filled with surprise, and he subconsciously asked, "Can Fellow Daoist actually break this World-Locking Formation?"

One had to know that this Formation was set up by Cao Xu. Although this man's reputation was not as resounding across the Rain God Continent as his own, he was still a top-tier expert in the Dao of Formations. This World-Locking Formation was specifically designed to seal off space; its runes were tightly interwoven, and its spatial barriers were as thick as iron. Opening a path of survival through it was immensely difficult.

At least in the eyes of an expert like Master Qing Xuan, even if he gave it his all, it would take half an incense stick's time to find the flaws in the Formation's core.

But let alone half an incense stick, the moment he showed even the slightest sign of breaking the Formation, the nine Void Refining Realm experts before them would undoubtedly swarm them without hesitation, giving them no room to breathe.

Facing Master Qing Xuan's doubt, Chen Xuan only gave a faint smile and did not explain further.

He had his own considerations: although the current situation was dangerous, it hadn't yet reached the point where he needed to use the integration realm trial card. Undercurrents were surging in the Rain God Continent, and there was no telling how many variables would follow. He needed to save his trump cards; if it truly reached the stage where the Yao Race launched a full-scale invasion of the Rain God Continent, he would need some cards left for self-defense, whether for protecting the Sect or relocating it.

As these thoughts turned, Chen Xuan lightly raised his finger, and a gentle yet irresistible spiritual power enveloped Zhao Jingchen and Lin Xiuqin.

Then, with a casual wave of his hand, the two figures shot out like arrows from a bow, heading straight toward the Tianque Sect behind the Demon Suppressing Tower. Sending the two back to the Sect was undoubtedly the most secure choice at the moment.

Both Master Qing Xuan and Chu Haotian's pupils constricted as they stared blankly at the scene: the seemingly indestructible golden World-Locking Formation was like a mere decoration before Chen Xuan, failing to provide any obstruction. His figure passed straight through, and the Formation runes remained perfectly intact as if they had never been touched.

Not only were Master Qing Xuan and Chu Haotian horrified, but even Cao Xu, who had set the Formation, stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

The calculating smile on his face from before instantly froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

He had just been boasting about "showing off slight skill before a master," only to be slapped in the face the next second. Was the World-Locking Formation he took such pride in actually so vulnerable in the other's eyes?

Among the nine, Yan Shu was the first to react, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.

A green glow suddenly appeared around him as dense Spiritual Qi gathered frantically at his fingertips. His left hand drew in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to form a vortex, while his right hand slowly condensed the phantom of a long sword, its blade flowing with a blue-green luster.

"Slash!"

A sharp cry broke the silence as the blue-green Sword Qi suddenly expanded by several yards, surging like a raging tide and carrying the majestic momentum of a rushing river as it slashed fiercely toward Chen Xuan's back.

However, at the very moment the Sword Qi was about to touch Chen Xuan's back, a mysterious golden rune suddenly appeared out of thin air, floating behind him. With just a gentle shake of the rune, it forcefully blocked the unstoppable Sword Qi. With a loud "bang," the Sword Qi disintegrated into shards of Spiritual Qi and vanished without a trace.

Holding his White Jade Brush, Master Qing Xuan breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing this, but he secretly wondered: Could this Fellow Daoist Chen also be a grandmaster proficient in the Dao of Formations?

He had shown off his Formations in front of him several times before and had even been praised by him; thinking back now, it was a bit embarrassing.

Seeing this, Yan Shu's gaze grew colder, and he immediately barked out an order:

"Pursue!"

As the command fell, three humans and one Yao sped off like meteors chasing the moon in the direction Chen Xuan had departed.

The next moment!

"ROAR—"

A roar that shook the heavens rang out as a Golden Lion Shadow suddenly raised its head. Fine cracks spread across the ground, and ripples of Spiritual Qi surged in layers like waves.

Following that, a thick lion arm swung violently, its claws as sharp as cold iron carrying the weight of a thousand tons as they slammed down fiercely toward the four figures ahead, intent on completely cutting off their path!

As long as Jing Chen and Xiuqin could safely hide within the Tianque Sect, Chu Haotian would have no more worries and could fight with everything he had!

But just then, a highly condensed silver-white Sword Qi suddenly rose from the ground like a bolt of lightning piercing the darkness, instantly colliding with the golden lion claw.

A deafening "clang" of metal striking metal rang out, and the Golden Lion Shadow was knocked back several steps by the Sword Qi, a faint white mark appearing on its claw.

Watching the four pursuing figures gradually vanish into the distance, Yan Shu finally breathed a small sigh of relief.

His gaze swept over Master Qing Xuan as he said coldly, "It seems you two Fellow Daoists still intend to be those who die a noble death!"

Master Qing Xuan composed himself and said comfortingly, "With Fellow Daoist Chen's abilities, as long as he returns to the Tianque Sect, dealing with those four will be no difficult task. Let us focus on the matter at hand first."

Chu Haotian retracted his thoughts and slowly nodded, his gaze as sharp as a blade as it swept over the familiar person before him. He said in a deep voice:

"Today, I shall purge the Sect of its traitors!"

As his voice fell!

The golden light around him surged again, and the surging spiritual power made the surrounding air hum.

His figure blurred as he closed the distance, his palm condensing a powerful force. The Golden Lion Shadow lunged forward with him, its claws and palm winds interweaving as they slammed fiercely toward Wei Ling.

When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred; his first killing move was aimed directly at this Junior Brother who had betrayed the Sect!

Wei Ling did not hesitate either, as golden spiritual light similarly rose around him. A massive Golden Ape Shadow suddenly appeared, its arms thick and powerful, carrying a momentum that could tear mountains apart as it met Chu Haotian's palm wind.

"Senior Brother, why be so stubborn!"

He bellowed as the ape shadow swung both fists, colliding violently with the claws of the Golden Lion Shadow. With a loud "bang," golden spiritual power splashed in all directions, and both men retreated several steps.

Meanwhile, Master Qing Xuan held his White Jade Brush, its tip flickering with spiritual light as he drew rapidly in the air.

Runes flowed from the brush like water, instantly weaving into a massive light screen of runes in front of him, blocking the Sword Qi attacking from the other side.

Daoist Chi Song's sword strike missed, but he remained calm. With a flick of his wrist, the sword hummed, and dense white Sword Qi crisscrossed like a storm, relentlessly striking the rune light screen.

Even a cornered dog will bite, let alone figures at the level of Tianque Sect Peak Masters like Chu Haotian and Master Qing Xuan. If they were pushed to the brink and risked everything by burning their Dao Foundation, even if their side won, they would likely pay a heavy price, which wouldn't be worth it.