Heavenly Secret Sect and Purple Void Sect's Conspiracy

The group arrived before a channel, where a barrier above the dried-up riverbed blocked their path.

"Fellow Daoists, according to ancient records, there is a hundred-li-long trench within the Kingdom-Destroying Secret Realm, crisscrossing the entire kingdom. Beyond this barrier lies the very core of the kingdom."

"Fellow Daoist Pu, how is this barrier to be broken? I just struck it with fifty percent of my strength, yet it did not even ripple."

The Wind Moon Sect Elder withdrew his right hand as he spoke.

With fifty percent of a Return to Void True Lord's power, even mountains stretching for a hundred li could be leveled to the ground. Yet against this barrier, he could not even create the faintest ripple.

Pu Fangyuan seemed to have expected this. "The one who set up this barrier has a cultivation above ours. If we wish to break it, we absolutely cannot divide our strength. Only by joining our power as one will we have a sliver of a chance."

"My Heavenly Secret Sect possesses a Seven Star Array that can gather the power of seven people. With all our strength unleashed, it will be no weaker than a fatal strike from a Dao Integration mighty expert."

"Truly?"

For seven Return to Void cultivators to combine their strength and unleash an attack equivalent to a Dao Integration mighty expert was already beyond imagination.

"Of course."

Pu Fangyuan said proudly.

The Fortune Disc flew out again and landed beneath his feet. After a string of rustling, obscure incantations, signs of loosening appeared in the ground, and dust even rose into the air.

The entire process of setting up the array was swift. Lin Heng had not even clearly seen Pu Fangyuan's hand movements before seven marked positions emerged on the ground.

Pu Fangyuan stood at the position behind the Fortune Disc, then said, "Fellow Daoists, please stand in the positions I have marked in order. Fellow Daoist Hu and Fellow Daoist Fang, the two of you shall take the outer eastern and western points."

"Fellow Daoist Sun and Fellow Daoist Qiu, the two of you shall stand in turn at the lower-right corner. As for Fellow Daoist Meng, simply stand at the position behind me."

Pu Fangyuan directly arranged everyone's positions without explaining where the array core was.

Of course, Meng Yutong and the others were not proficient in array arts, so they had no idea where the danger of this Formation lay.

Meng Yutong looked down at her feet and frowned slightly.

Just moments ago, she had sensed a fleeting exchange of glances between Pu Fangyuan and Fang Zhen, the Purple Void Sect Elder. It was as though they had succeeded in their scheme, their eyes meeting in mutual understanding.

At their level of cultivation, even the smallest movements would be magnified without limit.

Moreover, when she had sent people to investigate the Heavenly Calculation Sect and the Purple Void Sect, she discovered that they had already interacted many times before entering the Kingdom-Destroying Secret Realm.

If the two had not conspired together, that would be impossible.

With that thought, Meng Yutong had already stepped into the position of the array core.

Fortunately, she had made thorough preparations before departing. Combined with Lin Heng's warning, even if she served as a tool, she was confident she could emerge unscathed.

"Do not hold anything back, everyone! Pour your power into the Fortune Disc!"

As Pu Fangyuan's words fell, powerful waves of True Yuan immediately surged from the seven positions.

The Formation activated, and the surrounding spiritual energy began to rush in madly, forming a vortex that gathered toward the Fortune Disc before transforming into a beam of light and pouring into it.

The beam grew brighter and brighter until, in the end, it resembled blinding Jin Guang that no one dared look at directly.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

Amid the thunderous roar of the Formation, cracks began appearing where the array had been formed.

The crowd was startled and continuously retreated, afraid of being caught in the aftermath.

"Crack..."

With a tremendous crash, the barrier collapsed in response.

At the same time, the backlash from the collision of the seven forces erupted.

Meng Yutong, positioned at the array core, bore the brunt of it. Even though she activated her Protective Qi at the first instant, it was shattered in a moment.

After all, this was backlash produced by seven Return to Void True Lords. Even a Spirit Transformation cultivator would likely have been blasted straight into mush.

"...Cough..."

"Master!"

"Fellow Daoist Meng!"

Ye Tian and the others, along with the Centennial Sword Sect Elder, cried out in alarm.

"Cough, cough, I... am fine..." Meng Yutong shook her head and forced out a faint smile, signaling that they need not worry.

"Fellow Daoist Pu, why did such a powerful backlash occur?"

Meng Yutong's gaze was icy as she knowingly asked the question.

The Centennial Sword Sect Elder and the white-robed woman from Clear Moon Long Song also cast questioning looks at him.

"Hehe." Pu Fangyuan smiled. He had long prepared an explanation for this. "You should all know that most Formations possess an array core. The Seven Star Array is the same. However, unlike ordinary Formations, every position in the Seven Star Array can become the array core."

"What? Every position can become the array core? You mean every one of us could suffer such a severe backlash? Then why did you not explain this beforehand? We were not even given the slightest chance to prepare."

Centennial Sword Sect Elder Hu Rong demanded.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, if I had explained the dangers of this array in full, and one among you refused to use their full strength out of fear of backlash, would that not have made all our efforts a waste?"

"I have medicinal pills for healing here. Fellow Daoist Meng, recover without worry. This old man will go ahead and scout the path for everyone."

After handing the pills to Mu Liuxi, Pu Fangyuan directly led his disciples into the core of the secret realm.

The Purple Void Sect and the other sects followed, scrambling to rush inside.

Once the barrier was broken, opportunities lay within. Whoever took the first step was more likely to gain more.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, you may go in first. We will follow shortly."

Meng Yutong said.

"Very well. Who knows what dangers still lie within the city? Fellow Daoist Meng, heal your wounds first!"

After Hu Rong led the Centennial Sword Sect away, Meng Yutong finally sat cross-legged on the ground and prepared to heal.

Ye Tian, Lin Heng, and the others could only silently stand guard at the side.

The tide of events could not be defied. Master was seriously injured now; it was equivalent to half her strength being crippled.

If I remember correctly, Ye Tian will later get into a fight and fall into danger. She will then stage another desperate rescue of her disciple, and her cultivation will most likely be completely ruined.

And in the end, the beloved disciple she protected will turn around and commit the act of riding his master to destroy his ancestors!

If anyone was to blame, it was this woman for being too foolish. After all these years, she still could not see through her disciple's character...

"..."

"..."

For a moment, everyone fell silent, though they had already been silent to begin with.

Yun Yao and Mu Liuxi felt guilt and terror rising in their hearts.

They felt guilty because, after hesitating again and again, they had not warned Meng Yutong to avoid the danger.

They were afraid because every word Lin Heng had spoken had come true, as though he had glimpsed the Heavenly Dao and learned the trajectory of their lives in advance.

Could it be that Ye Tian truly would betray his master and destroy his ancestors?

Ever since Ye Tian entered the peak, from Master above to the five Senior Sisters below, who had not cared for him with painstaking devotion?

And he had lived up to their expectations. Possessing a Void Spirit Root and exceptional cultivation talent, he had needed only three short years to overpower those of his generation.

Given another hundred years to grow, the Cultivation World would sooner or later gain another towering giant.

Although Meng Yutong had her eyes closed, her divine sense remained fixed on Ye Tian. She wanted to see how he would react upon seeing her injured.

She discovered that he had lost his usual composure. There was even a trace of concern in his eyes.

That surprised her somewhat.

According to Lin Heng, he should have shown a trace of anticipation instead.

However, that was not enough to dispel her distrust of Ye Tian.

Meng Yutong glanced at her Storage Ring. Inside, a layer of black fragments floated conspicuously.

This was one of her trump cards: a Dao Pearl capable of blocking one fatal attack.

And now, she was merely playing along with their scheme, deliberately pretending to be gravely injured in order to test her disciples.

"The last Dao Pearl has also been used up. Fortunately, it helped me neutralize seventy percent of the backlash."

I would like to see whether what happens next is as Lin Heng said. Tian'er, do not disappoint your Master!

After all, they had spent so many years together. She still did not wish to believe that her beloved disciple would do such a thing.