138: Chapter 138 Frontal Dialogue: Each Shows Their Strength

The pivot of the Mountain Protection Array is located in a hidden cave behind the Hehuan Sect.

Deep within the cave, nine profound ice pillars are arranged according to the nine-palace positions, their surfaces carved with dense, ancient runes.

At this moment, these runes are emitting a faint blue glow, echoing the light curtain of the Mountain Protection Array outside the mountain gate.

The Grand Elder inserts the ice soul ningyin hairpin into the groove at the top of the central profound ice pillar.

"Hum—!"

The moment the jade hairpin is inserted, the nine profound ice pillars simultaneously light up with a blinding ice-blue radiance! The temperature in the entire cave drops sharply below freezing, and even the air condenses into fine ice crystals.

Outside the mountain gate, the light curtain of the Mountain Protection Array, which had been trembling violently, suddenly stabilizes. The thickness of the light curtain increases more than threefold, and the runes flowing on its surface shift from light blue to a deep, profound ice blue, emitting a heart-palpitating chill.

"Eh?"

Situ E, outside the Formation, lets out a soft exclamation and stops his attack.

He narrows his eyes, examining the suddenly reinforced light curtain before him, a grim smile curling the corners of his lips:

"The ice soul ningyin hairpin? Xiao Nianyin, you bitch, you finally decided to bring out your treasure?"

His voice passes through the Formation barrier and reaches the Formation pivot cave:

"What? Too afraid to come out yourself, so you let a few old geezers take the hit? Hahaha! Xiao Nianyin, when did you become such a coward?!"

Inside the cave, the Grand Elder remains composed, hands forming seals, continuously injecting his own true Qi into the central profound ice pillar.

Yun Xuzi and Hua Xunhuan also stand in their respective positions, assisting in maintaining the Formation.

"Cult Leader Situ."

The Grand Elder speaks slowly, his voice transmitting through the Formation, calm and waveless:

"The Sect Master is currently in seclusion and cannot receive guests. If you are here to visit, Cult Leader, please return in three days. If you are here to provoke..."

He pauses, his tone turning cold:

"The Hehuan Sect's Mountain Protection Array may not be impregnable, but it can certainly hold you back for three days, Cult Leader."

"Three days?" Situ E sneers, "I am going in today, can you stop me?"

Blood-red light surges around his body, and the blood-colored lotus tattoo on his forehead seems to come alive, blooming with an eerie red glow.

A terrifying Saint Stage pressure erupts, like a mountain or an ocean, crushing down toward the Mountain Protection Array!

"Boom—!"

The Formation light curtain trembles violently, the ice-blue runes flickering frantically, emitting an overloaded creaking sound.

Inside the Formation pivot cave, the Grand Elder lets out a muffled groan, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Yun Xuzi and Hua Xunhuan also turn pale, clearly under immense pressure.

"Grand Elder!"

Yun Xuzi says urgently.

"It is fine."

The Grand Elder grits his teeth, persisting, his hand seals shifting, and the ice soul ningyin hairpin glows brilliantly, forcibly stabilizing the Formation.

Outside the mountain gate, seeing that his strike did not break the defense, a flash of surprise crosses Situ E's eyes, but it is immediately replaced by even deeper madness:

"Good, good, good! This is interesting! It seems that bitch Xiao Nianyin has brought out all her trump cards!"

He holds nothing back, pressing his palms together. The blood-red light around his body condenses into a massive blood-colored palm print, which he slams ruthlessly down toward the Formation light curtain!

This palm strike contains the full power of his Late Stage Saint Stage cultivation!

If it were an ordinary Mountain Protection Array, it would have surely shattered long ago.

But at this moment, with the Grand Elder and the other two presiding, and the ice soul ningyin hairpin as the Formation Eye, the power of this "Nine Nether Profound Ice Array" is pushed to the extreme.

"Dong—!!!"

Amidst the earth-shattering roar, the blood-colored palm print collides fiercely with the ice-blue light curtain!

The light curtain caves inward by a full three zhang, the ice-blue runes on its surface flickering, shattering, and rapidly regenerating.

The entire mountain of the Hehuan Sect trembles violently, countless rocks rolling down, and the halls shaking.

Inside the Formation pivot cave, the Grand Elder spits out a mouthful of blood, his figure staggering. Yun Xuzi and Hua Xunhuan are also deathly pale, clearly having suffered significant internal injuries.

But the Formation... ultimately held.

The ice soul ningyin hairpin ripples with radiance, dispersing, dissolving, and absorbing the terrifying impact force. The hairpin body vibrates slightly, emitting a crisp humming sound, as if responding to its master's will.

Outside the mountain gate, Situ E withdraws his palm, looking at the thin layer of ice condensed on his palm, a flash of solemnity crossing his eyes.

This ice... is not simple. It can actually erode his blood-evil true Qi.

"Xiao Nianyin..." he mutters to himself, his gaze growing increasingly fervent, "The more you refuse to come out, the more I feel... that something has happened to you."

He suddenly laughs up at the sky: "Good! I will wait three days! Three days later, if you still do not come out, I will raze your Hehuan Sect to the ground, find that precious Disciple of yours, and skin him alive in public, letting you see with your own eyes how he dies!"

Amidst his wild laughter, Situ E actually withdraws his attack, sits cross-legged outside the mountain gate, and closes his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The three hundred Jile Sect Disciples behind him also land one after another and set up camp on the spot.

Looking at this posture, he really intends to wait for three days.

Inside the Formation pivot cave, the Grand Elder breathes a sigh of relief, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, but his expression remains solemn.

"He has figured it out," Hua Xunhuan says softly, her tone rarely serious.

"Yes," the Grand Elder nods, "If the Sect Master does not appear in three days, he will launch a forceful attack. By then..."

He does not continue, but the meaning is clear.

By that time, relying only on the three of them, plus one ice soul ningyin hairpin, they will absolutely not be able to block Situ E's full-force attack.

"What exactly... is the Sect Master waiting for?" Yun Xuzi frowns.

The Grand Elder is silent for a long time before slowly saying: "Waiting for an opportunity."

"And also waiting for... all those who should jump out to finally reveal themselves."

He gazes deep into the cave, his eyes seemingly piercing through the stone walls, seeing that ice-sealed figure within the Ningyin Hall.

"It is time... to stir up the waters of this Hehuan Sect."