Chapter 111: A Diversion
The array formation in the sky shifted faster and faster. Within moments, the area encircled by the formation began to shrink, gradually revealing the original appearance of the Yu estate. The black miasma within grew even more frantic and agitated, violently attacking the heavenly array above. Yet how could a heavenly-rank formation be destroyed so easily? Not only did the black gas fail to break it, but each strand that struck the array was scattered by its radiant light.
Wen Qing looked up at the formation with a complex expression. This is only a heavenly-grade array formed from spiritual energy, he thought. If it were fueled by immortal energy… even an immortal would never escape it. An overwhelming sense of helplessness rose within him; he could do nothing but stand aside in awe as more than a dozen cultivators cooperated to maintain the spell.
Inside the array, the Chi Xiao seemed to be driven to desperation. Shrill wails echoed again and again from within, each one sharper than the last, making everyone’s scalp prickle. The more the black mist fled about, the tighter the array constricted. At last, a humanoid shadow appeared in the center. Because it was shrouded entirely in thick resentment, no one could clearly see its face—only that it seemed to be a woman. Her long black hair brushed the ground, and her blood-red eyes glowed with eerie light as she fixed them coldly on the people outside.
A chill crept into everyone’s hearts. The next instant, a furious voice rang out:
“Despicable mortals! What have you done?!”
The being flung out a massive surge of black energy straight at the array’s luminous barrier. She seemed to pour her entire strength into the strike; wherever the miasma passed, vegetation, brick, and stone all melted away. Then—with a thunderous boom—it slammed into the array.
On the west side, the elder presiding over one of the array nodes suddenly felt an immense pressure crash down on him. His qi roiled violently; his footing faltered, and he stumbled back a step. The whole array shuddered, yet he gritted his teeth, swallowed the blood rising in his throat, and forced himself to hold firm.
“Elder Li!” cried Master Xu in alarm. The Soul-Locking Array might be heavenly-rank, but their opponent was still a ghost general; a full-force attack on one node could indeed shake the formation. He immediately shouted, “Switch back to the third configuration!”
No one hesitated. They all began changing their seals. Behind Elder Li, Jiao Hengyi stepped forward and replaced him. In that instant the array in the sky not only failed to collapse—it grew even more solid. The weak spot that the Chi Xiao had just detected vanished completely, and the dark energy she released was pushed back by the surrounding white light.