287: Breaking the Formation Begins

As his voice fell, the floating "cloud shuttle" immortal boat shuddered violently!

The massive inscription arrays on both sides of the hull erupted with blinding green light, and countless thick green light cords shot out like living things, accurately anchoring onto the void nodes surrounding the grand Formation!

Buzz—!

The entire space emitted a low hum, and the originally chaotic spatial fluctuations actually began to calm down under the shroud of the green light!

At the same time, the massive Formation diagram atop the Immortal Cave suddenly lit up! The complex patterns flickered with spiritual light, generating a powerful suction force!

Buzz—!

Several thick pillars of light shot up from the Formation Plate, accurately striking several key nodes of the gray light barrier!

The light barrier trembled violently, the runes on its surface flickering frantically as if subjected to immense stimulation.

"Now is the time! Everyone, attack the light barrier and deplete the grand Formation's spiritual energy!"

Mo Chenggui's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

Rumble—!!!

In the next instant, thousands of Cultivators who had long been unable to restrain themselves struck almost simultaneously!

Countless torrents of spiritual energy of various colors and attributes, like a river bursting its banks or a falling meteor shower, struck that massive gray light barrier from all directions with destructive power!

Sword light, Saber Qi, fireballs, ice spikes, giant rocks, vines... all kinds of Spells and Magical Artifact lights illuminated half the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors!

Deafening roars instantly exploded like ten thousand thunders erupting at once; the ground shook violently, and the surrounding mountain Peaks trembled, sending down countless falling rocks.

The scene was as if doomsday had arrived!

Situ Jun stood where he was, not in a hurry to strike; his gaze was sharp as he carefully observed the changes in the light barrier.

Hua Hanxiang stood by his side, watching this grand and frantic scene with her mouth slightly agape, her eyes filled with shock.

Bai Yu guarded the side vigilantly, his Divine Sense spread out to watch for potential attacks from the shadows.

The first round of probing attacks did not achieve the expected results; the Formation's light barrier only rippled slightly.

An hour later, Mo Chenggui, with a grim expression, stopped the attacking crowd and said:

"After an hour of everyone's efforts, several Formation Great Masters from our chamber have now confirmed—this grand Formation is the 'Nine Yuan Earth Vein Formation' from the ancient era. Its core energy source is far from being as simple as we previously estimated. This Formation relies on the Southern Border's earth veins, making it inexhaustible and extremely defensive; it certainly cannot be broken in a short time."

An uneasy whisper rose from the field.

Someone couldn't help but shout:

"Elder Mo, then what should be done? Are we just supposed to watch?"

"Not at all!"

Mo Chenggui pressed his hand down to calm the restless crowd, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"Our chamber's Great Masters have consulted ancient records and found that although this Formation can automatically absorb earth vein Spiritual Qi to replenish itself, its replenishment speed drops to its lowest during the monthly transition of the New Moon. And tomorrow at midnight is precisely the transition of the New Moon!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of instigating power:

"More importantly, at this time we have gathered enough manpower to continuously strike the key nodes of the grand Formation with spiritual energy, making its consumption rate far exceed its replenishment rate, which will cause the Formation's spiritual energy to steadily decline! According to calculations, attacking continuously for a day and a night makes it hopeful to deplete the Formation's spiritual energy to thirty percent! By then, at the moment of the New Moon transition, it is hopeful to deplete it to sixty percent! The grand Formation will naturally reveal weak gaps that can be traversed! It may even break the grand Formation entirely!"

"A day and a night?"

The people below looked at each other; this time was much longer than many had anticipated.

"Correct, a day and a night!"

Mo Chenggui's tone was resolute:

"This is not something that can be achieved by the strength of one person or one sect; it requires the concerted efforts of all Fellow Daoists present! With an Opportunity before us, how can we fear difficulty? My Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is willing to provide some Medicinal Pills for restoring spiritual energy and will preside over the Formation assault, coordinating all parties! Now we shall strike together, persevere, exhaust its spiritual energy, and break its barriers! The day the Immortal Cave opens will be after midnight tomorrow! At that time, everyone will rely on their own abilities to vie for the Legacy of the Dark Crow Exalted!"

Although the time to break the Formation was unexpected, the clear path Mo Chenggui laid out and the promise of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce still ignited everyone's passion.

Exclamations, discussions, and shouts once again swept through the valley.

"A day and a night... although it's a bit long, it's better than not being able to get in!"

"The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is indeed wealthy and powerful, even providing Medicinal Pills!"

...Before long, everyone agreed to Mo Chenggui's suggestion.

Dozens of chamber Disciples immediately wove through the crowd, distributing some basic "Qi Recovery Pills"; though it was a drop in the bucket, it showed the chamber's attitude.

"Fellow Daoists!"

Mo Chenggui's voice rang through the valley again, steady and powerful:

"Because this is a sustained war of attrition and there are over ten thousand people here, please assist our chamber personnel in dividing you into teams. Each team will consist of a thousand people; one team will attack the Formation for an hour before being replaced by the next, rotating to recover."

As soon as Mo Chenggui finished speaking, the deacons of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, holding glowing white Jade Slips, quickly moved through the dense crowd.

The Jade Slips floated in mid-air, emitting a soft white light, quickly dividing the Cultivators according to their Cultivation levels. The originally noisy crowd was soon orderly divided into ten square Formations, with a green command flag emblazoned with a cloud pattern standing before each Formation.

Seeing the teams divided, Mo Chenggui nodded, stepped forward, and shouted loudly:

"First team, listen to my command! All attacks, concentrate on the nine Spiritual Pivot Nodes marked on the light barrier! Attack!"

With Mo Chenggui's command, the thousand Cultivators who were already prepared struck together!

"Rumble—!!"

Sword Qi, incantations, Magic Treasure lights... merged into a destructive energy storm, frantically battering the nine nodes on the ancient light barrier.

The light barrier flickered slightly, the rune ripples on its surface flashing incessantly as it tried to offset this massive attacking force and channel part of the energy into the earth veins.

The booming sounds were deafening, the ground trembled slightly, and the shockwaves from the attacks again kicked up dust from the ground, forming visible rings of airwaves that expanded outward.

On Situ Jun's side, he was assigned to the first team along with Hua Hanxiang and Widow Ya, similarly following the crowd to launch unified attacks, as beams of condensed spiritual energy blasted toward the designated nodes.

The attack lasted for about an hour; although the light barrier fluctuated violently, there was no sign of it breaking, only that the nine spiritual energy nodes being concentrated upon seemed to dim slightly.

"First group, withdraw and rest; second group, take over! Remember to take your Medicinal Pills to restore your spiritual energy!"

Mo Chenggui calmly issued the order.

As his voice fell, the first team withdrew, and their positions were immediately filled by the second team. After all, a day and a night was extremely long, and no one could maintain Peak output indefinitely.

Time slowly passed amidst the earth-shaking roars, and soon it was the morning of the second day.