129: The magic array begins to appear, and the sharp sword is drawn.
The accidental disturbance in the first round was like a pebble cast into a calm lake, sending ripples spreading across Chengtian Square.
The murmur of discussion in the spectator stands grew much louder, and many wore expressions of uncertainty and alarm.
The Elders of the Sects whose Disciples had been "cleared" from the stage earlier looked particularly grim. They rushed forward to check on their Disciples, only to find that they were merely temporarily unconscious, and the cold, strange power that had caused them to lose control had inexplicably dissipated, leaving behind only a trace of weakness.
The Royal Prince's expression remained composed, but the depths of his eyes held a hint of gravity. Hidden in the shadows, Shadow Guard Commander-in-Chief Nangong Qing's aura grew increasingly icy.
The Sword Discussion did not stop because of this. After a brief rest and clearing of the arena, the second round of competition—one-on-one arena battles—officially began.
The thirty-plus qualifiers took to the stage in pairs according to the draw results to face off.
The battles became increasingly intense and spectacular. Those who could emerge from the hundred-person melee were all true Geniuses. Various exquisite Martial Skills, powerful Magic Treasures, and dazzling bursts of Protective Aura bloomed continuously on the Sword Discussion Stage, drawing repeated gasps of amazement from the spectator stands and temporarily diluting the previous eerie atmosphere.
Yan Lie, Bing Yun, Ling Feng, and others also took the stage one after another. Their strength far surpassed their peers; battles were often decided within a few moves, and they advanced easily, displaying the absolute demeanor of top Sect leaders.
Ye Chen's gaze, however, never left the ground of the Sword Discussion Stage and the nine stone pillars. He could clearly feel that as the battles on the stage continued, especially when a Genius was injured and bled, or when emotions fluctuated violently, the suction of the Yin Fiend Formation underground would strengthen by a fraction! That hidden evil energy became more active, like a shark that had caught the scent of blood.
As for the nine dragon-carved stone pillars, they appeared unchanged on the surface, but in Ye Chen's Chaos perception, dark red, evil runes were slowly lighting up inside them like blood vessels, connecting tightly to the underground Formation, like nine volcanoes about to erupt!
"They are accumulating power, waiting for the best opportunity..." Ye Chen thought to himself. The Dark Hall was extremely cautious, seemingly waiting for a moment that would maximize the effect of the blood sacrifice.
His Divine Sense quietly connected with the seven stars linkage plate, reminding his companions on the stage: "Pay attention to controlling the rhythm, reduce unnecessary consumption and emotional fluctuations, and avoid providing too much energy to the devilish Formation."
Yan Lie and the others understood immediately. In the ensuing battles, they focused more on technique and efficiency, defeating their opponents at the minimum cost while striving to keep their minds calm.
However, the Dark Hall clearly would not let them off so easily.
Just as Ling Feng easily defeated an opponent and was preparing to step off the stage, a sudden change occurred!
The surface beneath his feet lit up without warning with a circle of extremely complex, dark red Formation patterns that emitted a thick, bloody stench! A terrifying suction force far exceeding the previous one suddenly erupted, like countless invisible tentacles, tightly binding Ling Feng and frantically draining his Qi, blood, and Soul Power!
"Not good!" Ling Feng's expression changed drastically. He felt the circulation of his Protective Aura suddenly stagnate, and a tearing pain shot through his Divine Soul! The dark red Formation shone brightly, vaguely forming a twisted ghost face that emitted a silent, sinister grin!
"Move!"
Almost the moment the Formation lit up, Ye Chen's voice exploded in the minds of the other six through the seven stars linkage plate!
Yan Lie, Bing Yun, Shi Yue, Jin Hao, and Mu Wanqing, who had long been prepared, sprang into action simultaneously! They did not attack Ling Feng, but instead rushed toward the five dragon-carved stone pillars at the edge of the Sword Discussion Stage, according to the positions they had previously deduced!
Yan Lie was enveloped in raging flames. He threw a punch that felt like a falling sun, smashing fiercely into the base of one stone pillar!
Bing Yun lightly raised her delicate hand, and extreme cold Qi condensed into an ice crystal spear, which pierced toward another stone pillar with a chill that could freeze the Soul!
Shi Yue stomped his feet, and thick earth Protective Aura surged into the stage, attempting to interfere with the connection between the stone pillar and the earth vein!
Jin Hao pointed his fingers like a sword, and his incomparably sharp Golden Protective Aura Sword Qi tore through the air, slashing toward the runes on the surface of the third stone pillar!
Mu Wanqing formed hand seals, and the vibrant green wood Spiritual Qi transformed into countless tough vines that wrapped around the fourth stone pillar, attempting to delay its energy flow!
As for Ye Chen himself, he appeared like a phantom above the dark red Formation beside Ling Feng! The guixu sword was already in his hand, and the gray light of Chaos on the blade shone with unprecedented brightness!
"Chaos Guixu — Break Restriction!"
With a low shout, the guixu sword, carrying the supreme will to sever Karma and annihilate all techniques, struck down fiercely toward the core hub of the dark red Formation!
All of this happened in the blink of an eye! From the activation of the Formation to the simultaneous counterattack of the seven, it took only a split second!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Five loud noises erupted almost simultaneously! The attacks of Yan Lie and the other four landed fiercely on the five stone pillars! The defensive brilliance on the surface of the stone pillars flickered violently, emitting an unbearable humming sound! Although they failed to destroy them immediately, the violent energy impact instantly interfered with the stable linkage between the five stone pillars and the core Formation!
And Ye Chen's guixu sword also pierced with pinpoint accuracy into the core of the dark red Formation!
"Hiss—!!"
Like a red-hot iron rod inserted into ice water, a piercing sound rang out! The dark red Formation erupted with strong resistance, and countless phantoms of vengeful Souls rushed out, roaring toward Ye Chen, but before they could get close, they were completely purified and annihilated by the absolute silence and Guixu Sword Intent of the guixu sword!
Wherever the sword tip reached, the Formation patterns encountered their nemesis, rapidly dimming and disintegrating!
The terrifying suction force binding Ling Feng vanished suddenly! He staggered a step, his face pale, but his eyes erupted with the light of survival and monstrous rage!
"Dark Hall demons! Get out here!" Ling Feng roared, his wind-attribute Protective Aura erupting with full force as his figure turned into a cyan whirlwind, scanning his surroundings vigilantly.
This sudden turn of events left the entire Chengtian Square in instant silence!
Everyone was stunned by the tacit, earth-shattering joint counterattack of these seven!
"They... are they attacking the Sword Discussion Stage?!"
"What is that red Formation? Such an evil aura!"
"Ling Feng seemed to have been ambushed just now!"
The spectator stands erupted in Chaos!
On the royal viewing stand, the Prince stood up abruptly, his face livid. Shadow Guard Commander-in-Chief Nangong Qing's figure had already vanished from the shadows.
The teacup in Zhao Family Head's hand was crushed to pieces with a "crack." He stared fixedly at the unharmed Ling Feng on the Sword Discussion Stage and the destroyed dark red Formation, his eyes filled with disbelief and fury!
"How is this possible?! How could they know?! How could they coordinate?!" he roared in his heart.
On the Sword Discussion Stage, the remaining four stone pillars shone brightly, attempting to stabilize the situation, but the Yin Fiend fluctuations coming from underground became extremely violent and unstable!
"Exposed! Initiate early!" A frantic, hoarse voice, as if coming from beneath the Nine Netherworlds, resounded across the square!
The next moment, dozens of black-robed figures who had been hiding their identities suddenly sprang up around Chengtian Square! Powerful Devilish Qi erupted without reservation, including nearly ten powerful auras of Earth Fiend Realm Middle Stage and three of Earth Fiend Realm Late Stage! The three leaders were none other than the Grand Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder from the underground palace! They no longer hid and appeared directly, aiming straight for the Sword Discussion Stage!
At the same time, in the spectator stands, Zhao Family Head and some of the Zhao family experts he brought also suddenly overturned tables and chairs, drew their weapons, and lunged with sinister grins toward the royal viewing stand and the Imperial Guards maintaining order around them! In the direction of the east city, an even more terrifying, heart-palpitating Devilish Might shot into the sky, accompanied by a muffled, thunderous sound of an eggshell cracking—the devilish egg had hatched early!
The Dark Hall had been forced to launch the general attack early! The scene instantly spiraled out of control, falling into extreme Chaos!
"Protect the Sovereign! Execute the rebels!" The Royal Prince remained calm in the face of danger and gave a stern order.
The Longxiang and Huben elites, as well as the Shadow Guards experts who had long been lying in ambush, poured out from the shadows like a tide, clashing fiercely with the revealed Dark Hall Cultists and Zhao family rebels! The sounds of fighting, explosions, and screams instantly resounded through the sky!
The Sword Discussion Stage became the center of the storm!
Ye Chen stood holding his sword, the chaos primordial fetus spinning at an unprecedented speed, his cold gaze locked onto the three Dark Hall Elders rushing toward him.
"Your conspiracy ends here."
The guixu sword emitted a joyful hum, thirsting for blood.
The sharp sword, already unsheathed!