Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang

Seeing Song Changsheng's expression turn unfriendly, Zhu Yiqun immediately shut his mouth knowingly, though his pair of small eyes still kept looking him up and down.

Song Changsheng could not help rubbing his forehead. It seemed impossible to explain things to this fellow; the more he tried to clear it up, the darker it would become.

He simply ignored Zhu Yiqun and quickened his pace toward the dense forest ahead.

In less than half an hour, the group all arrived at the meeting place as agreed. After confirming that everyone was present, they set off toward the ruins...

The ruins were quite a distance from the Market. They raced all the way and still spent two days and one night before reaching the outskirts of their destination.

On the barren hillside, Zhu Yiqun pointed at the dense forest below and said, "The ruins are down there. There are still a few days until Winter Solstice. Let us rest a little, then begin our preparations."

Having traveled without pause, everyone was indeed somewhat exhausted. They sat down on the ground one after another and began conserving their strength...

"Fellow Daoist Song, come take a look." A calm voice sounded beside Song Changsheng's ear.

He looked up and saw Xu Yun, also an Array Master, beckoning to him.

Xu Yun was around thirty years old. Her cultivation was more or less at the bottom among the group, yet she was also a First-Tier Peak Grade Array Master. When it came to breaking the formation, she and Song Changsheng were the main force.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, is something the matter?"

"A Second-Tier High Grade Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array—do you have no interest in witnessing it for yourself?" Xu Yun smiled slightly.

Song Changsheng walked to her side and discovered that not far in front of her was the range of the ruins' array. Dense Yang Qi gathered in this place, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"It has actually reached Second-Tier High Grade. If Winter Solstice were not approaching, we alone would never be able to shake such a permanent grand array."

To forcefully attack a Second-Tier High Grade grand array, at least several Foundation Establishment Cultivators would have to join forces. Their little bit of strength was simply not worth mentioning.

"Yes, we are fortunate. Though this Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array is powerful, it is a Demon-Refining Formation and will not actively attack us righteous-path Cultivators. That gives us a chance to study a Second-Tier array at close range."

Xu Yun smiled slightly, then sat cross-legged at the edge of the grand array and began studying its Formation Patterns.

Naturally, Song Changsheng would not give up such a rare opportunity. He found a spot not far from Xu Yun and began studying it as well.

As soon as he began, Song Changsheng immediately discovered something unusual. It was his first time encountering the Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array, yet for some reason, studying it felt utterly smooth and familiar.

As he delved deeper, Song Changsheng finally understood why. The Formation Patterns of this Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array bore a striking resemblance to the patterns on the damaged Formation Base he had picked up at the Central Plaza in the Market.

Though many details differed, it was clear they came from the same source. Song Changsheng had already thoroughly grasped the Formation Patterns on that Formation Base, which was why his study now proceeded so smoothly.

This was good news for him. The patterns on the Formation Base had further deepened his understanding of the dao of arrays, but part of them had been missing, leaving many things unclear.

Now, perhaps he could use this Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array to complete that missing portion...

Time quietly flowed away. Over the past few days, Song Changsheng had basically gained a complete understanding of this array, reaping a full harvest and faintly touching upon the threshold of the next level.

Xu Yun beside him had clearly gained much as well, a captivating smile on her face.

"Changsheng, how is it? Are you confident?" Zhu Yiqun hurriedly came forward and asked.

"I have some confidence now. The time has come; let us prepare to break the array." Song Changsheng spoke with confidence in his chest.

"Excellent! Fellow Cultivators, take your positions and prepare to break the array!" Zhu Yiqun slapped his thigh excitedly and immediately called everyone into action.

"Fellow Daoist Song, to break this array, we have prepared a large quantity of Cold Nether Stone and three Formation Breaking Talismans. What method do you think would be most appropriate?"

Xu Yun placed the decision in Song Changsheng's hands.

"Since that is the case, then I will make a fool of myself. This is my plan: the two of us will use Cold Nether Stone to arrange arrays at these two points, continuously weakening its Yang Qi.

"Once it reaches a certain point, we will use the Formation Breaking Talismans to open two breaches. All fellow Cultivators will remain outside to keep the breaches stable, while the two of us enter the array, search for the Formation Eye, and wait for an opportunity to break it," Song Changsheng said slowly.

Xu Yun neither agreed nor disagreed, but Xu Yunhe spoke instead. "Fellow Daoist Song, how certain are you that you can find the Formation Eye? We have only one chance."

"At least seventy percent," Song Changsheng said conservatively.

"Seventy percent? Then let's do it!" Li Hu roared boldly.

"I think it will work." Everyone nodded in succession. On the road of cultivation, how could there be so many absolute certainties? Seventy percent was already extremely high.

"Good. Fellow Daoist Xu, let us act separately."

Song Changsheng and Xu Yun each went to the weak points they had observed, then took out Formation Flags and Cold Nether Stone to begin arranging their arrays.

Though both were First-Tier Peak Grade Array Masters, the gap between them was exceptionally obvious. Xu Yun was a full half hour slower than Song Changsheng.

Once the arrays were ready, they activated them at the same time.

For a moment, vast Cold Nether Qi erupted from within the arrays. Guided by the two of them, the frigid Qi surged toward the Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array.

Buzz.

In an instant, the frigid Qi collided with the barrier of light formed from Yang Qi. Like cold water poured onto red-hot iron, it gave off a sizzling crackle.

During Winter Solstice, Yang Qi was insufficient, and its rate of consumption far exceeded its replenishment. Before long, it began to falter from lack of support.

Just as the Cold Nether Stone within the arrays was about to be consumed completely, Song Changsheng shouted, "Prepare the Formation Breaking Talismans!"

Li Hu and Zhuang Yuechan immediately stepped out from the crowd, each holding a yellowed talisman in hand.

Song Changsheng finally understood why Zhu Yiqun had specifically waited for Zhuang Yuechan. So she had a Formation Breaking Talisman as well.

"Release!"

The two activated their talismans simultaneously. Two dazzling black beams shot straight toward the two weak points, and with a deafening boom, two vortex-shaped breaches were torn open in the barrier of light.

"Enter the array."

Seeing the two enter the grand array, Zhu Yiqun and the others immediately activated their Spiritual Power to maintain the stability of the entrances.

This was the two's retreat path.

Once the breaches closed before the array was broken, the two would lose their way within the grand array and ultimately be trapped alive inside!

After entering the grand array, the danger rose in a straight line. One wrong step could bring the slaughter of the Heavenly Gang Wind Baleful Intent within, so they had to proceed with the utmost caution.

Song Changsheng recalled the Formation Patterns of the grand array in his mind, continuously deducing the laws governing its operation. Every step he took required him to deduce it anew.

This was an extreme test of one's attainments in arrays. If he made even one error in his deductions, he could very well be led into the abyss of death.

But this was also the fastest way to break the array. So long as his deductions were correct, he could swiftly find the Formation Eye hidden within the grand array...