Battle of Formations Against a True Disciple

"Formation, arise!"

Above Skull Mountain Market, the restored Hundred-Skeleton Return-to-Truth Formation rumbled into motion, startling Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan into pulling apart.

Seizing the opening, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a streak of Blood Light and sped through.

The formation patterns outside the great formation split apart in response, allowing Lu Yuanchun to pass. They then swiftly closed again, so fast that outsiders had no chance to exploit the gap.

"Many thanks for Brother Lu's assistance."

After entering the formation, the Blood Light dispersed, revealing Lu Yuanchun's bedraggled state. His pale face still carried traces of lingering fear and uncertainty.

"Brother Lu is actually a formation master?"

If he were not a formation master, how could he have restored the formation and resolved what had been a certain deathtrap?

"Senior Brother is flattering me. I am merely Ninth Grade," Lu Yang said with a faint smile. "I studied it for several days before I could barely bring out a fraction of this formation's power."

Lu Yang made it sound simple, but Lu Yuanchun's expression turned solemn.

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, the Dao of formations stood first!

The value of a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator and that of a Qi Refining Late Stage formation master could not be spoken of in the same breath. The latter could practically be regarded as a Qi Refining Completion cultivator!

"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu has gained quite a harvest this time."

Lu Yang looked at Lu Yuanchun with a smile that was not quite a smile. Under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression gradually stiffened, and cold sweat immediately trickled down his face.

Yet in the next moment, he regained his composure.

"Brother Lu, I have safeguarded the Mysterious Female Yin Jade for you for quite some time. Today, it is time to return it to its rightful owner!"

With that, Lu Yuanchun directly took out a small box and opened its lid. Inside lay a white jade stone with seven apertures, remarkably resembling a human figure.

As the saying went, a wise man submitted to circumstances.

Lu Yuanchun had been an old disciple of the Sacred Sect for years. Naturally, he knew that if he did not hand over the jade now, he would soon be sacrificed on the front lines of the Righteous-Demonic Battlefield.

Besides, the Divine Martial Sect had dispatched a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator. Escaping alive was already impossible, so Lu Yuanchun no longer harbored any illusions. Rather than keep the treasure, he might as well hand it over in public. On one hand, it would be spending wealth to avert disaster; on the other, it would shift the Divine Martial Sect's attention onto Lu Yang.

"The Mysterious Female Yin Jade."

Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction, then put the small box into his Storage Pouch. Turning around, he calmly looked toward the figure that had suddenly appeared outside the marketplace.

It was a handsome young man holding a spear.

He wore a martial crown and scaled armor, while the long spear in his hand was engraved with dragon patterns. Rather than a cultivator, he looked more like a general from the mortal world.

"A Ninth Grade formation master?"

The young man's gaze was sharp as a blade, as though it could pierce through the great formation's obstruction and see Lu Yang, who controlled its core. "I never expected such an unforeseen Variable."

At the same time, Divine Fist Wu Zhichong and Mountain-Moving Daoist Duanmu Yuan approached. They each respectfully bowed to the spear-wielding youth. "Senior Brother Ouyang, we have failed in our task and disappointed you."

"It is of no consequence."

Ouyang Haoze shook his head, his expression mild. "Demons are cunning. It is only natural for the two junior brothers to have been negligent. You may atone for your crimes through meritorious service afterward."

Having said that, he looked again at Skull Mountain Market, killing intent surging in his eyes.

"Our sect has plotted for years. Not the slightest accident can be permitted. If possible, we should first remove the Demon Sect's nail left in this place and reduce the Variables to the greatest extent."

The next instant, Ouyang Haoze's figure flashed. The Aura of Qi Refining Great Perfection erupted without reservation. In a moment, a pillar of essence and blood smoke soared into the sky, manifesting thunderous cries of slaughter. Faintly, countless armored soldiers and generals appeared in formation behind Ouyang Haoze, bolstering his essence, qi, and spirit.

"Break for me!"

In an instant, thunder rolled through the skies and crashed directly into Skull Mountain Market. A handful of cultivators with lower cultivation were immediately shaken into vomiting blood by that furious shout.

"Qi Refining Great Perfection."

As Lu Yang controlled the formation, his expression grew grave. The pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm—within every major sect, this level represented not only cultivation, but status as well.

Anyone who reached Qi Refining Completion was bound to be a sect's true disciple!

The Divine Martial Sect was located in the Northern Border. Though its scale fell far short of the Sacred Sect's, it still possessed several earth-shaking great divine abilities, which only true disciples could cultivate.

"If he has mastered a great divine ability, I'll abandon the formation and run immediately."

While preparing his escape, Lu Yang came to the edge of the formation and confronted Ouyang Haoze through it. "I am Lu Yang. May I know Fellow Daoist's name?"

"You are unworthy of knowing my name." Ouyang Haoze sneered. "If you know what is good for you, surrender at once. Then I may show mercy and merely abolish your demonic arts without taking your lives. But if you choose to resist stubbornly, the day the formation breaks, not even chickens and dogs will be spared!"

"When will grievance upon grievance ever end?"

Lu Yang's smile remained unchanged, his tone gentle. "Though our two sides are divided between righteousness and demonhood, we have always kept to our own waters and never crossed paths. Why not give me some face?"

"Give you face?"

Ouyang Haoze burst into laughter and mocked, "What outrageous arrogance! You are only at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. If I refuse to give you face today, what can you do?"

"Why must it come to this?"

Lu Yang shook his head. "Since that is the case, please, Fellow Daoist—come and break the formation."

"You seek death!"

A flash of killing intent passed through Ouyang Haoze's eyes. The smoke formed from his blood and qi all withdrew as he threw a punch. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a mortal martial technique.

Yet Lu Yang's expression tightened slightly at the sight, and he did not dare relax in the slightest. He immediately summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pellet, merged his body with Sword Light, and slashed at Ouyang Haoze. In an instant, fist and sword collided. Boundless sharp qi and fist force exploded in every direction, like blossoms of sparks blooming in midair.

Ouyang Haoze moved like lightning, throwing several hundred punches in the blink of an eye.

The Divine Martial Sect differed from other cultivation sects. Body cultivators ruled there, and most of its divine abilities centered around fists and feet. At close-range combat, their speed was even faster than Sword Cultivators!

"Arrow Barrage Strike!"

Ouyang Haoze spread his arms as though drawing a great bow. Then his fist shadows became arrows, drowning Lu Yang's position in the blink of an eye.

Rumble!

Amid the explosive booms, Lu Yang felt as though all the Spiritual Qi around him had been drained away, replaced by endless fist shadows seeking to grind him into powder!

A thousand strikes in an instant, leaving no opening at all for retaliation—this was clearly a superior divine ability!

Though Ouyang Haoze had spoken arrogantly and acted as if Lu Yang did not merit his notice, once he truly moved, he did not show the slightest carelessness. He went all out from the very start.

In an instant, violent waves of air billowed and churned.

Under his fist shadows, Lu Yang lasted less than ten seconds before being smashed to pieces. His Sword Light scattered, and in the blink of an eye, he turned into a sky full of dry bones and shattered remains.

The fist momentum abruptly ceased. Ouyang Haoze stood in the air, his brows slightly furrowed.

On the other side, above the marketplace, the Hundred-Skeleton Return-to-Truth Formation revolved. A figure condensed from illusion into reality and strolled forth—it was Lu Yang, completely unharmed.

"Fellow Daoist's fists are peerless in might. I am impressed."

Ouyang Haoze did not respond. He punched again, still using Arrow Barrage Strike. Lu Yang still resisted stubbornly and was still smashed to pieces after holding on for more than ten seconds.

Yet in the next moment, Ouyang Haoze watched Lu Yang's corpse turn into dry bones and shattered remains, while the unharmed Lu Yang strolled out of the formation once more. His great sleeves fluttered, his bearing unchanged; even his true qi and Dharma Power had not been depleted in the slightest. He cupped his hands toward Ouyang Haoze. "Does Fellow Daoist wish to fight again?"

".The Hundred-Skeleton Return-to-Truth Formation truly lives up to its reputation."

Ouyang Haoze's expression grew solemn.

As far as he knew, this formation was Seventh Grade and contained one hundred Skeleton Soldiers. A cultivator within it could manifest one hundred percent of their true body's combat power through the bodies of the Skeleton Soldiers.

Thus, the Skeleton Soldiers effectively fought in place of the true body.

If they won, all was well. If they died, the true body remained entirely unaffected. Moreover, so long as the formation continued operating, even expended Skeleton Soldiers could swiftly recover.

With that being the case, no matter how fiercely he attacked, it would be futile—mere wasted effort. And that was only because he stood outside the formation and had not rashly entered it. Otherwise, once inside, Lu Yang could summon every Skeleton Soldier and beat him as a group. At that point, even a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator would have to shed a layer of skin!