Chapter 74
Yan Xiaochuan's call was heard by everyone in Dragon Slaying Cave.
Though disciples also in the eighth section knew Su Tong and their group's location, it was nighttime now. Moving would encounter "mountain stone path turning," making it easy to get lost.
The location Yan Xiaochuan mentioned was also quite remote. Without knowing what was there, everyone wouldn't act rashly.
People who weren't skilled at "reading stars to position earth" wouldn't choose to act at night.
Mei Liangyu and Zhongli Shan brought Shi Yuezhen to find them. They happened to be at the transmission array, so after entering the cave they transmitted back to the eighth section, using celestial stars for direction, then proceeding in the opposite direction would be correct.
When encountering others on the road, they only detoured around them, not engaging in conflict and wasting time.
Gu Qian, standing by the river, fell into thought. Hearing that Yu Sui had been struck by golden thunder, he frowned deeply with worry showing in his eyes. He originally wanted to go back, but hearing Yan Xiaochuan call for Shi Yuezhen, with Qian Ying eliminated by Zhongli Shan, even if he went there now he couldn't help.
If Qian Ying were still there, it wouldn't be like this.
He would immediately bring Qian Ying back to find them and help eliminate the lightning marks.
The light in Gu Qian's eyes grew colder. Qian Ying's elimination was a great loss for him.
"Do you want to go take a look?" Xun Zhiya asked.
Gu Qian turned his head. Li Jin Shuang also looked over.
Xun Zhiya's expression paused, then continued: "At Nangong Sui's side."
"Sui Sui is only First Realm. For her to reach the eighth section of dragon belly, someone must be helping and guiding her." Gu Qian lowered his head slightly, his expression dark and unclear. "Shi Yuezhen will definitely go, and so will Sheng Hao. If we go now, we might run into them."
After a quiet moment, Gu Qian said: "I'll wait for Ji Meng and the others to arrive, then go take a look."
He was still somewhat worried.
……
Though Sheng Hao had also gone back, he was blocked by competitors from School of Names on the road, delaying some time and letting Mei Liangyu's group of three take the lead.
The beach was still bathed in moonlight. Yan Xiaochuan was in the water, cautious and not daring to move.
Su Tong also stood at the beach edge, staying as far from the seawater as possible. She looked left and right, carefully sensing the existence and flow of surrounding Five Elements energy, analyzing: "Dragon Slaying Cave has various large and small formations, secret realms, and Military Formations. Sometimes you accidentally enter them, we just don't know which one they triggered."
Yan Xiaochuan looked up and asked: "Are there Military Formations in the water too?"
Who's so devious to put Military Formation triggers in the sea!
"Yes," Su Tong said. "Tidal Star Sea, Dragon Fish, these two Military Formations are mainly water-based combat, and both are high-level Military Formations."
Hearing her say this, Yan Xiaochuan became even more cautious, retreating backward, preparing to take a long detour to shore to avoid being dragged into a Military Formation, which would leave Su Tong alone outside in danger.
Su Tong dared let Yan Xiaochuan call out across Dragon Slaying Cave because first, their location was remote enough, they'd encountered no one along the way, their luck maxed out.
Second, she believed Shi Yuezhen and the others would definitely rush over.
Not to mention Zhongli Shan would definitely come, even Mei Liangyu who had entrusted her to watch Yu Sui, upon learning such news and being not far away, would definitely rush back.
While detouring, Yan Xiaochuan muttered: "How come our Divine Calculator Xue didn't foresee this situation?"
Su Tong thought of an excuse for Xue Mushi: "Maybe the consumption along the way was too great. We all relied on his guidance to advance."
"True." Yan Xiaochuan swam toward shore. "He worked hard. If it really is a Military Formation, he'll have to protect Little Princess inside."
Su Tong thought this was hard to say.
Xue Mushi and Yu Sui's abilities could be strong in certain situations, but in Military Formations that required hands-on combat abilities, it was hard to tell.
Su Tong said: "If it's a Military Formation, they both should know that staying inside for a quarter hour without fighting would let them come out. But if they engage the formation puppets, that would be trouble."
To prevent accidents, Su Tong forced herself to endure her dizzy head and cast trigrams, setting up protection at the forest position near the beach. If others came, she could make them lost in ghost walls for quite a while.
From using Nine Schools Arts again, Su Tong's face paled further, her brain experiencing ice and fire extremes, unsteady on her feet as she leaned against a boulder by the beach and sat down.
A quarter hour passed, but Yu Sui and Xue Mushi hadn't returned to the seaside.
Su Tong thought this was trouble. They might be entangled by formation puppets inside and would need to break the formation to get out.
At the same time, she sensed someone approaching. Just as she looked up, she saw a familiar figure appear before her. Zhongli Shan's tall frame blocked the moonlight, his shadow also covering Su Tong crouching against the stone.
He had rushed here using Wind-Riding Techniques, the Five Elements energy flowing around him not yet completely withdrawn.
Su Tong blinked, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Zhongli Shan crouched down, reaching out to touch Su Tong's forehead, asking her: "Where's the Taoist School person?"
"No need for you all to act." Su Tong smiled, lifting her chin slightly. Even though her expression was weak, it couldn't hide the pride in her eyes. "Sui Sui, Yan Xiaochuan, and I already eliminated him."
"Senior Brother Liangyu!" After safely reaching shore, Yan Xiaochuan waved at Mei Liangyu who had used instant movement to stop on the beach.
Mei Liangyu only saw Su Tong and Yan Xiaochuan, not seeing anyone else. He frowned and looked over, asking: "Where's Nangong Sui?"
"Little Princess was sucked away by the seawater over there. It seems like formations or other Military Formations in Dragon Slaying Cave." Yan Xiaochuan explained, pointing in a direction for Mei Liangyu.
Mei Liangyu glanced at Su Tong by the boulder. Her condition looked very poor. Having been struck by golden thunder with lightning fire burning, Su Tong looked half-dead. He didn't know how much his delicate First Realm Junior Sister was suffering.
"Who used the golden thunder?" Mei Liangyu asked Yan Xiaochuan.
Yan Xiaochuan eagerly raised his hand: "Taoist School's Wen Yanghui! We were originally crossing the river at dragon tail to go to the transmission point when Wen Yanghui arrived and started attacking without a word! He knocked both Senior Sister Su and Little Princess into the water. I immediately decided to go down and rescue them!"
His eyes were full of "I did well, right?"
"Wen Yanghui?" Mei Liangyu laughed upon hearing this, though his eyes held no mirth.
This kid probably targeted Su Tong specifically.
Wasn't he close with Gu Qian? How come he also attacked Gu Qian's childhood friend?
Could it be because Nangong Sui is my Junior Sister?
Then he picked the wrong person to mess with.
Mei Liangyu said nothing and walked toward the azure sea.
"Senior Brother Liangyu!" Yan Xiaochuan was about to warn him of danger when he heard Mei Liangyu say without looking back: "I'll bring them out."
Yan Xiaochuan lowered his raised hand and touched his nose, watching Mei Liangyu go alone. His eyes held some envy. Being strong was good, you could act cool anytime anywhere, and do it righteously and confidently.
The key was that it made him feel relieved and completely secure, with no worries when he was around.
Truly worthy of being the promising talent certified by my Master.
Yan Xiaochuan prayed inwardly: when will Master praise me like this too?
Mei Liangyu walked toward the center of the natural scenery sea area and instantly disappeared from sight.
Zhongli Shan withdrew his gaze and said: "Should be a Military Formation."
"That's what I think too. They didn't come out when time was up, so they probably have to defeat the fortress commander." Su Tong's voice was weak.
Shi Yuezhen walked past the boulder to her side, looked at her injuries, shook her head gently, then raised her hand. Golden Five Elements energy flowed between her fingers as she had Su Tong turn around, helping her remove clothing to eliminate the lightning marks.
Zhongli Shan and Yan Xiaochuan tactfully turned away.
After being glanced at by Zhongli Shan, Yan Xiaochuan also moved further away, then looked at Zhongli Shan hopefully.
Zhongli Shan said: "Sheng Hao is also coming from behind."
Yan Xiaochuan's face changed. Then I'm done for.
Senior Brother Liangyu, you'd better hurry and rescue Little Princess.
……
Not long after Yu Sui saw the ocean waves in the sky, she lost the sense of solid ground beneath her feet, falling down through clouds and mist into seawater. She quickly raised Five Elements energy protection, glimpsing from the corner of her eye a massive red fish slowly swimming past from behind.
Thirteenth Realm high-level Military Formation: Dragon Fish.
The red fish was as large as the sky, appearing flat as paper in Yu Sui's vision, slowly swimming in the moonlit transparent seawater.
Every fish scale was like a city gate, and when the scales lifted, it was like city gates opening wide. Some scale openings were pitch black, others were lit with fire, and formation puppets guarded the entrances.
Yu Sui looked back to see countless black paper boats following the red fish's tail. Whether due to currents or otherwise, black paper boats were sailing into the scale openings one by one.
Each black paper boat carried numerous small paper figures holding swords and blades. They looked like paper dolls, but upon entering the scale openings, they would transform into terrifying formation puppets.
Yu Sui knew she had accidentally entered a Military Formation within Dragon Slaying Cave, so she wanted to avoid these black paper boats and not approach the red fish. Staying here for a quarter hour would let her leave.
Just as she was about to turn around in the water, she saw a familiar figure falling down.
Xue Mushi, who had suddenly fallen from above, stared wide-eyed at Yu Sui in the water.
Both were holding their breath underwater, using Eight Trigrams Life Arts to cross water and maintain breathing, golden Five Elements energy flowing rapidly.
Xue Mushi gestured to Yu Sui, indicating she should look above.
Yu Sui looked up to see a massive black warship floating overhead, its shadow covering the red fish. With moonlight blocked, transparent clear water that had been bright now revealed armored formation puppets holding swords and blades.
Dark golden light shone from eyes beneath silver helmets as they locked onto the two intruders in the water, raising their weapons high.
Yu Sui and Xue Mushi looked at each other, then turned to run toward the red fish.
The black warship on the surface moved slowly but blocked all moonlight, making the water pitch black. Only the faint gleam of red scales and firelight from inside the lifted scale openings could be seen.
Neither Yu Sui nor Xue Mushi wanted to fight these formation puppets. Once they engaged, they would have to defeat the fortress commander to exit the formation.
However, the formation puppets all used Eight Trigrams Life Arts: Water Crossing, shooting through water like fish, pursuing fiercely while forming square formations to surround the two from all directions.
Yu Sui and Xue Mushi were cautious, only defending without attacking, constantly dodging and evading while struggling to approach the red fish.
Using Nine Schools Arts water crossing and Wind-Riding Techniques, Yu Sui broke out of the formation puppets' encirclement and reached higher ground. Looking back, she saw a scale opening before her, a black hole the size of city gates that was pitch dark when viewed.
She waved her hand, sending Surrounding Heaven Fire along the opening's stone walls inside, the long fire line illuminating the interior to reveal it was empty.
Yu Sui had come to higher ground because she hadn't seen black paper boats entering the higher scale openings.
She leaped to the scale opening illuminated by Surrounding Heaven Fire, looking back at Xue Mushi below and signaling him to come up and hide here.
Upon entering the scale opening, she could feel dry air coming through. Yu Sui withdrew water crossing and pressed against the opening's stone wall, watching Xue Mushi shake off the formation puppets in the water below and come up.
After entering, Xue Mushi breathed a sigh of relief, also withdrawing water crossing and covering his throat to cough twice.
The scale stone cave was very long. Even Yu Sui's Surrounding Heaven Fire forming a long line couldn't see the end, but she could confirm nothing was behind, so they didn't go deeper but stayed at the opening watching changes in the water outside.
"How did you fall in too?" Yu Sui asked him.
"Don't know." Xue Mushi looked confused. "I saw Yan Xiaochuan found 'Sound Crossing Water' and wanted to return to shore. While swimming, I just fell down."
Yu Sui: "Ah, while swimming you just fell down."
Xue Mushi nodded blankly.
Seeing him even more dazed than she had been as a child, Yu Sui couldn't help asking: "You really weren't broken off from engagement because you're too dumb?"
Xue Mushi lowered his head, saying sullenly: "No."
"Then why was the engagement broken?" Yu Sui asked.
Xue Mushi rubbed his eyes without answering, clearly not wanting to continue this topic.
Yu Sui didn't press, looking back down. The formation puppets seemed unable to find where they'd gone and began wandering the water like headless flies.
But there were too many, and with moonlight blocked, the water was dark with sword and blade-wielding formation puppets visible everywhere, like piranhas patrolling the seawater.
"This is a Military Formation. We should be able to get out after holding on a bit longer." Yu Sui said softly. "I didn't expect there to be underwater Military Formations."
Though she knew there was natural scenery in the seawater, she didn't know it was a Military Formation and was dragged into the formation after taking just two steps forward.
Xue Mushi also looked down, saying quietly: "Military Formation: Dragon Fish. Underwater Military Formations are very rare. I've seen it in Taiyuan before. If deployed as a live formation by Military School, an entire city would be flooded by seawater."
Yu Sui looked back curiously: "Was it a Military School Saint from Taiyuan?"
But Xue Mushi shook his head: "It was your Qingyang's Great General, Zhongli Ci."
"General Zhongli?" Yu Sui was stunned. "How could he deploy Dragon Fish Military Formation in Taiyuan?"
"It was a remote city in Taiyuan. I'm not clear on details, but it seemed he was competing with some Military School disciple from Taiyuan." Xue Mushi spoke vaguely, apparently regretting bringing this up. He awkwardly changed the topic: "How did you fall in?"
"Don't you think you're asking too late?" Yu Sui said puzzledly. "If you want to change topics, pick another one."
Xue Mushi opened his mouth, making a short "ah" sound, somewhat embarrassed.
Racking his brains, he finally found a new topic: "I heard that the further forward in Dragon Slaying Cave, the more formation trials like this there are. Do you have confidence to get through them?"
Yu Sui said: "Maybe."
Using Heavenly Eye to break formations, illusion arts, and such, it really was a maybe.
Unless she encountered formations that Heavenly Eye couldn't break.
Like Medical School poison formations or Agricultural School insect formations.
Technical Arts School derived from shamanism, Yin-Yang School from curses, Medical School from poison, Agricultural School from insects.
The four schools mastering shamanism, curses, poison, and insects all liked adding strange things to their formations, making them harder to deal with and more unpredictable than Military Formations.
After hearing Yu Sui's answer, Xue Mushi looked at her with some admiration.
But Yu Sui said gently: "However, I'm not that arrogant to challenge Thirteenth Realm formations with just First Realm strength."
Xue Mushi said honestly: "But you can open special-grade Military Formations."
"...I'm still First Realm. Yan Xiaochuan got Sound Crossing Water and will call Sister Yuezhen back. Then my Senior Brother and others will know I'm here and might take us along." Yu Sui's expression didn't change as she looked at Xue Mushi with soft, smiling eyes. "Their team seems to still lack Taoist School disciples. Maybe they'll need you to divine shortcuts to reach dragon throat faster."
After hearing this, Xue Mushi frowned: "Won't divining in front of your Senior Brother be too risky? They might see through me."
Yu Sui said: "Divine Calculator Xue, have some confidence in yourself."
Xue Mushi: "I really don't have any."
"The transmission points you divined all exist correctly. What's there to see through?" Yu Sui said.
Xue Mushi added: "If we leave Dragon Slaying Cave and they ask me to divine..."
"Then don't divine." Yu Sui said simply. "Don't agree, don't speak. Be a cold divine calculator. As long as you don't take initiative, others can't force you."
"Oh." Xue Mushi nodded as if understanding.
Yu Sui added: "As long as you're cold enough, they won't dare approach you."
Xue Mushi nodded again, seeming to think she was right, seriously planning his escape route.
As they talked, time was running short. The black giant ship sailed away, shadows withdrew, and moonlight shone into the water again.
Xue Mushi looked outside at the formation puppets disappearing with the moonlight's illumination. They could get out after holding on a bit longer.
Just as Yu Sui was about to check outside, she glimpsed her Wind-Listening Ruler glowing faintly and opened it to check.
It was a message from Zhongli Que.
"Sui Sui, don't enter the cave, you'll be tortured to Death by a Thousand Cuts."
Zhongli Que trembled as she sent the most concise, clear information.
But Yu Sui's heart sank to the bottom.
She immediately thought of a certain possibility, because something similar had happened before.
Zhongli Que had foreseen her being burned to death and told her not to go somewhere.
But actually, what Zhongli Que foresaw was her method of death through resonance with the Strange Fire World Destroyer.
And Yu Sui couldn't escape it.
Yu Sui looked up at Xue Mushi standing ahead, her mind racing. There wasn't much time, but she couldn't leave the formation now. Outside were Yan Xiaochuan and Su Tong, and Mei Liangyu and others who were coming.
The words "slow slicing" echoed in her mind, making Yu Sui's heart pound.
She couldn't possibly endure the pain of slow slicing while maintaining composure in front of so many people.
"This is bad." Xue Mushi suddenly said.
A black paper boat had somehow reached the opening where they were.
"Go." Xue Mushi retreated, Yu Sui acting simultaneously. As they ran deeper into the scale stone cave, paper figures disembarking from the boat all instantly transformed into formation puppets wielding swords, chasing them.
Yu Sui ran only two steps before suddenly braking and turning to fight.
Thunder snakes hissed along both stone walls, engaging the formation puppets charging at the front, lightning and flames flashing alternately.
Xue Mushi looked puzzledly at Yu Sui who had suddenly started fighting. This way they couldn't leave the Military Formation.
Though puzzled, thinking Yu Sui wanted to fight, he also stopped and turned back to help. Copper coins flew out with pleasant ringing sounds. Just as Xue Mushi began divining, he suddenly sensed something strange. In the depths of his consciousness, flames swayed, and a small black dot appeared in the flames, slowly rotating.
Xue Mushi's face changed drastically.
Yu Sui turned back just in time to see this scene. Both looked up simultaneously, sensing the same power.
Resonance from the same flame.
Both were shocked to their cores, momentarily forgetting the formation puppets pursuing from behind. They raised swords to strike forward. Yu Sui reacted faster, avoiding the sword energy, but Xue Mushi was hit by sword energy, sent flying far with blood spattering everywhere.
A rough male voice resonated in their minds: "Who's going to die this time?"
An androgynous voice also said: "The timing's a bit fast."
Yu Sui looked at Xue Mushi with trembling eyes. Xue Mushi, covering his shoulder and leaning against the wall to stand up, also looked at her in disbelief.
Surrounding Heaven Fire illuminated the pitch-black stone cave and the trembling eyes of the youth and girl.
Could Xue Mushi actually be a World Destroyer?
Yu Sui glanced at the swarm of formation puppets chasing them, and before pain arrived, thunder snakes rose again, sending many flying. After creating distance, she took a deep breath: "Let's go."
Xue Mushi reacted quickly this time. Both used Wind-Riding Techniques deeper into the stone cave, their minds filled with the voice of the fifth World Destroyer about to die:
"Why... I clearly... did what they said, so why do they still treat me like this?"
The voice of a youth who had once collapsed was still collapsing now.
News of the World Destroyer's appearance was transmitted to Taiyi Academy.
Ghost Way School Saints, who could sense heaven and earth's consciousness, received it first.
Saint Chang Gen then passed the news to other Saints at Taiyi Academy.
Saint Leng Rouin at Military School Practice Hall paused slightly.
Yu Saint and Elder Zhu, guarding Dragon Slaying Cave's dragon head position, sensed it and looked toward the sky.
The Medical School Saint picking herbs in the courtyard sighed softly.
Five Saints had also left Taiyi Academy, while the remaining Saints learned the location of this World Destroyer's appearance, in Dan Kingdom, a youth of only nineteen years.
The bustling streets of a certain place in Dan Kingdom had long been occupied by countless armies. People living there were driven to outside the city, with countless Thirteenth Realm cultivators guarding every street and alley.
To execute the World Destroyer, Saints from different countries were rushing toward the alley.
In the shadows of the alley, the youth already driven to desperation by people was barely alive, blood flowing like rivers.
Mei Liangyu had just entered Dragon Fish and, seeing the opening where lightning and flames flickered, used instant movement to go there.