49: Mysterious Qi Array

They continued to venture deeper into the Xuanzhen Sect.

Along the way, they faced no obstacles. Occasionally, a few stray Xuanzhen Sect Disciples would rush out from the sidelines, only to be met by a casual punch from Chen Nian.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With every dull thud, a head exploded.

The entire process was clean, efficient, and utterly decisive.

Wu Jiahao and Zhao Xinyi watched all of this dumbfounded, unable to calm the shock in their hearts for a long time.

They knew Senior Chen Nian was strong, but this scene of treating life like grass and taking lives with a flick of a finger still brought unparalleled visual impact and psychological shock.

However, as they continued to advance, watching Chen Nian's still-indifferent back, their original tension and fear were gradually replaced by an almost numb sense of awe.

Just then, a wave of energy so powerful it was suffocating swept out from the depths of the Xuanzhen Sect like a tsunami.

The airflow in the entire space stagnated, and the air seemed to turn into thick glue, making it difficult even to breathe.

Immediately after, the voice of a middle-aged man, filled with endless rage, echoed throughout the Xuanzhen Sect like rolling heavenly thunder.

"Brat!"

"As a Spiritual Energy Bureau Agent, you represent the heavens on your inspection; you should be upholding the law!"

"Why are you being so lawless, daring to come to my Xuanzhen Sect to start a massacre!"

"My Xuanzhen Sect is a prestigious and righteous Sect with a century of Legacy. In this Donghai City, who doesn't know us, who hasn't heard of us!"

"Even if the Director of your Spiritual Energy Bureau came in person, he would have to show my Xuanzhen Sect some respect!"

"You come to my Xuanzhen Sect to cause trouble for no reason and wantonly kill my Disciples. Do you think there is no one left in my Xuanzhen Sect?!"

That voice was full of vigor, carrying the authority and fury of someone long accustomed to a high position; every word seemed capable of shaking one's heart.

Hearing this self-righteous questioning, Chen Nian's footsteps finally stopped.

He slowly turned around, the corner of his mouth curling into an extremely contemptuous arc.

"For no reason?"

He repeated in a low voice, as if savoring an incredibly ridiculous phrase.

"Do you really have no idea why I'm here?"

Chen Nian's voice wasn't loud, yet it reached every corner of the Xuanzhen Sect clearly. That icy killing intent even suppressed the other party's thunderous rage.

"The Xuanzhen Sect colluded with the Corpse Ghost Cult, secretly using ghostly qi to Cultivate Evil Arts, and even assisted Ghostly Creatures in causing trouble in Donghai City, harming the innocent."

"Every single count is too numerous to record!"

"These sins are enough for your entire Sect to die ten thousand times over."

"Now, in the name of a Spiritual Energy Bureau Agent, I sentence your Xuanzhen Sect to death!"

As Chen Nian's words fell, the aura hidden in the depths suddenly became even more violent.

"Little ghost, your strength is indeed not weak, but this is the territory of my Xuanzhen Sect, the Foundation we have built for a hundred years!"

"A mere individual like you dares to be so arrogant!"

"Today, I will let you know what true heritage is. You will pay for your ignorance and arrogance with your life!"

Before the voice had even finished.

"Buzz—"

The entire space shook violently.

On the ground and the surrounding walls, countless blood-red runes instantly lit up.

They spread and intertwined rapidly like living things, and in an instant, they formed a massive Formation covering dozens of meters.

A gloomy, evil energy filled with the aura of destruction rose from the Formation, firmly trapping Chen Nian and the other two in the center.

Following that, over a dozen figures flickered into existence from all directions, landing on various key nodes of the Formation.

Every one of these people possessed a powerful aura. The energy fluctuations they emitted were all at the second rank or higher, with some even being third-rank experts.

They were the Elders of the Xuanzhen Sect and its most core, powerful Disciples.

At this moment, each of their faces was filled with ferocity and malice. Their hands formed seals and their mouths chanted incantations as they frantically poured their spiritual energy and ghostly qi into the Formation beneath their feet.

As they cast their spells, the power of the entire Formation began to climb steadily.

The blood-red light grew increasingly dense, even condensing in the air into countless phantom evil ghosts with bared fangs and claws, letting out silent roars.

"It's... it's the Xuanzhen Qi Sha Formation!"

Wu Jiahao's face instantly turned deathly pale, his voice trembling with fear.

"I've seen it in the Spiritual Energy Bureau's archives. This is the Xuanzhen Sect's secret grand Formation and their strongest ultimate move. This Formation can draw upon the Evil Qi of the earth's ley lines and fuse it with the casters' essence blood and spiritual power. It's enough to refine any living being within the Formation!"

All color drained from Zhao Xinyi's face as well. She could feel her spiritual energy being rapidly suppressed and eroded by the Formation's power. Her body felt as if it had fallen into a quagmire; even moving a finger became incredibly difficult.

"If this continues, we'll be refined alive into a pool of bloody water by this Formation!"

The shadow of death loomed over their hearts like never before.

However, Chen Nian, standing in the center of the Formation, still wore that calm and indifferent expression.

He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, merely casting a contemptuous glance at the surrounding Xuanzhen Sect Elders and Disciples with their hideous faces.

"What prestigious and righteous Sect, what long history."

"In the end, you only have these minor tricks to show off. It's simply laughable to the extreme."

The next second.

"Boom—!"

A terrifying power beyond words erupted from within Chen Nian's body.

Brilliant golden light, like a sun exploding inside him, instantly pierced through the sky.

The power of the Prison Suppressing Divine Body was released without reservation at this moment.

That golden energy was filled with a domineering aura of extreme yang and absolute suppression, violently clashing with the Formation's gloomy and evil blood-red energy.

"Boom—!"

Accompanied by a massive explosion.

The moment the blood-red energy touched the golden energy, it was like snow meeting a scorching sun, making a 'sizzling' sound as it was rapidly evaporated and purified.

The originally overbearing Xuanzhen Qi Sha Formation was actually forcibly suppressed by this golden energy. Its blood-light dimmed, its runes flickered, and it let out an overwhelmed humming sound.

Even Wu Jiahao and Zhao Xinyi behind Chen Nian were now enveloped in a layer of soft golden energy.

That layer of golden light shield isolated them from all the pressure and erosion coming from the Formation.

The two felt their bodies lighten. The pressure that had almost crushed them vanished, replaced by a warmth and peace of mind like a spring breeze.

They were instantly shocked beyond measure.

Wu Jiahao's mouth hung open as he stared blankly at Chen Nian's back, which was shrouded in golden light like a deity.

Zhao Xinyi's eyes were filled with even more brilliance, and a tidal wave of emotion surged in her heart.

Senior Chen Nian is simply too incredible!

This is the Xuanzhen Sect's secret killing Formation!

A terrifying Formation capable of killing those at the Peak of the third rank and even posing a threat to fourth-rank experts!

Yet before him, it was suppressed so effortlessly!

Not only that, he could even spare the attention to protect them!

What did this mean?

It meant that in his eyes, this so-called Xuanzhen Qi Sha Formation wasn't a threat at all!

Without a doubt, he didn't care about this Formation in the slightest!

Moreover, he had them in his heart... he is truly powerful and kind!

The two were deeply moved, their eyes looking at Chen Nian filled with endless admiration and gratitude.

Seeing this, the Xuanzhen Sect Elders and Disciples who were going all out to maintain the Formation were even more terrified.

"How is this possible!"

An Elder cried out in a lost voice, his face full of disbelief.

"The Xuanzhen Qi Sha Formation... our secret grand Formation, how could it be suppressed by the power of just one person!"

"What is that golden energy? Why... why do I feel my own power melting away!"

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! Who on earth is he!"

For a moment, they were panicked and talking amongst themselves, and their movements in maintaining the Formation even showed a hint of stagnation.

However, Chen Nian would not give them time to be shocked or react.

"A bunch of ants!"

He coldly spat out four words, and the golden energy within his body surged once more.

"Crack!"

"Crack, crack!"

The entire Formation made a sound like shattering glass.

Clear cracks began to spread across the blood-red light barrier.

"Not good! The Formation is going to break!"

"Quick! Give it your all to maintain it!"

The Xuanzhen Sect Elders and Disciples were instantly filled with terror. They still wanted to desperately cast spells, squeezing out the last of their power to maintain the crumbling Formation.

But it was all in vain.

"Boom—!"

The entire Xuanzhen Qi Sha Formation completely exploded in a deafening roar!

A violent energy shockwave, mixed with golden divine aura and blood-red Evil Qi, swept out in all directions.

Those dozen or so Xuanzhen Sect Elders and Disciples were hit by the backlash of this terrifying energy.

One by one, they were sent flying like kites with broken strings. While still in the air, they coughed up large mouthfuls of blood.

They crashed heavily to the ground, looking in terror at the figure stepping out from the center of the energy storm.

That person was bathed in golden light, completely unharmed, his eyes cold and devoid of even a trace of human emotion.

"Monster..."

An Elder struggled to lift his head and, using all his strength, spat out those two words.

"You... you are a monster!"

Hearing this, the corner of Chen Nian's mouth curled into that contemptuous smile again.

"If you say so."

"I have no objection."

The moment his words fell, he casually flicked his hand.

"Swish—!"

A red silk thread, almost impossible to catch with the naked eye, shot out from his fingertip, drawing a strange arc in the air.

The Xuanzhen Sect Disciples and Elders on the ground didn't even have time to make any reaction.

A tiny bloodline appeared simultaneously on each of their necks.

In the next instant, heads bearing expressions of terror and resentment rolled directly onto the ground.

Blood gushed out from the severed necks like fountains, completely staining the bluestone ground a shocking blood-red.

Chen Nian stood amidst the corpses and blood, his expression indifferent as if he had only done a trivial thing.

He looked up, his gaze piercing through layers of halls and buildings toward the deepest part of the Xuanzhen Sect.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority that resounded through the entire Xuanzhen Sect.

"Old thing, aren't you coming out yet?"

"If you don't come out, I'll have to personally dismantle this wretched Sect of yours."