Missing Thoughts

Chapter 27

Yu Sui had just resolved the issue of contending for Primordial Soil and Five Elements Qi last night, and had condensed the Five Elements Light Core into a single orb, preparing to cultivate this core to advance her realm.

According to the current realm of the Five Elements Light Core, she should be a Nine Schools Practitioner of the first realm. The Star Map should have opened the basic Military Formation for her, but for some unknown reason, it had opened a Special Grade Military Formation.

The world was filled with the smoke of war and the stench of blood, a power and atmosphere that vowed to destroy everything. This made Yu Sui think of the Strange Fire within her.

If she had to find an explanation within herself, it could only be that.

At this moment, Yu Sui met her companions' scrutinizing gazes with an innocent expression, while thinking to herself: If I'm exposed, it's best to kill them within the Military Formation.

But if they challenged the Military Formation together and three died, leaving only her, she would be suspected no matter how she looked at it.

There would be too many subsequent troubles, so she shouldn't make a move unless absolutely necessary.

Wei Ren stared at Yu Sui and said, "You were a Normal Practitioner for over ten years, and suddenly you have a Five Elements Light Core, and you opened a Special Grade Military Formation in the first realm. It's hard not to make people suspect something."

Yu Sui said with some surprise, "You seem to know me very well."

Wei Ren gave his usual lazy smile, "We're both from Qingyang, and I'm a disciple of the Agricultural School. I grew up hearing your name, County Princess."

His words were teasing, but they were all true.

When Yu Sui heard him mention the Agricultural School, she understood that this person likely had some connection to Lady Su and Primordial Soil.

More and more evil ghosts emerged from the flames ahead. Their charred bodies were burned and stained with countless sparks from the raging fire. With every step they took, sparks fell, rolling on the ground, gathering to reignite other areas.

They were born anew, never extinguished.

"Did we open the wrong one? Can we go out and try again?" Xue Mushi asked.

Li Jinshuang said, "Break the formation, or wait for the time to be up and then exit."

"This can't be broken," Xue Mushi scratched his head and said, "Can you break it?"

Xue Mushi looked at Yu Sui, thinking that this Military Formation was opened based on her realm, and perhaps she had a way.

Yu Sui also scratched her head, "I only became a Nine Schools Practitioner last night, and this is my first time seeing a Military Formation. The hope of breaking it is slim. How long do we have to wait for it to disappear?"

She looked at Li Jinshuang at the end of her sentence.

Li Jinshuang's expression was solemn, "It's hard to say. I haven't seen a Special Grade Military Formation before either."

"I estimate it's tough. It won't disappear for at least ten days to half a month. Otherwise, we'll have to wait for someone to interfere from the outside," Wei Ren said, "But who could have imagined we'd be trapped in a Special Grade Military Formation? Let's try to break through on our own."

Xue Mushi stared blankly at the purgatorial scene ahead and said to Yu Sui, "You're Nangong Ming from the Thirteenth Realm, right?"

Yu Sui: "..."

This guy had already given up on himself.

Yu Sui glared back and said, "You're probably the reason you were jilted because you think about things this way, aren't you?"

Xue Mushi drooped his head, withdrawn.

"No matter what, let's survive first," Wei Ren, however, put away his usual flippancy and became serious. The Five Elements Qi around him formed a protective barrier, his gaze fixed on the evil ghosts wielding the Soul of the Dead Swords ahead. "They're here."

As Li Jinshuang drew her sword, she stepped aside, blocking in front of Yu Sui. She swung her sword horizontally, and the sword energy swept out, visibly shaking the Five Elements Qi.

The evil ghosts running towards them with swords and sabers leaped up, perfectly dodging the attack. Star fire fell from the sky. Their roars were also an attack, enough to disrupt one's mind, amplifying the fear and killing intent in their hearts.

Wei Ren cursed after seeing this. This was the Special Grade Military Formation. Even the low-level soldiers were masters of swordsmanship.

The evil ghosts swarmed forward, their eyes crimson gold, their fangs bared, forming a grotesque arc. Filled with killing intent, they charged towards the four of them.

Xue Mushi and Wei Ren retreated using the Wind Riding Technique. The evil ghosts that had leaped to dodge Li Jinshuang's sword energy threw their swords and sabers. The weapons shattered into countless fragments during the throw, flying towards the two who were retreating with the wind.

The evil ghosts chased at a rapid pace. They weren't running; they were using the Wind Riding Technique, just like them.

Li Jinshuang engaged the evil ghost at the forefront. The clash of swords and sabers produced a crisp sound. The weapons trembled against each other. Li Jinshuang exerted force, breaking the evil ghost's weapon, and then swept her sword horizontally, severing the evil ghost's head.

Yu Sui didn't have time to praise her beautiful beheading strike before she saw more evil ghosts leaping towards Li Jinshuang.

Li Jinshuang didn't stop. With each step, she struck, always completing a cycle within nine steps. She drew the charging evil ghosts into her sword formation, disarmed them, and then beheaded them.

Military School Nine Schools Techniques - Nine Revolutions. Every nine steps is a cycle, which will disarm enemies entering the Nine Revolutions Sword Formation.

But there were too many evil ghosts.

Li Jinshuang was held in place, killing one and a hundred followed.

As she beheaded them with her Nine Revolutions Sword Formation, the evil ghosts that followed behind no longer charged blindly. They paused at the edge for a moment, then formed a hand seal with one hand and pressed it onto their swords to cast spells.

Li Jinshuang caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of her eye as she fought. Her brow furrowed just as the evil ghosts casting spells simultaneously attacked. They leaped from above, slashing down at Li Jinshuang. Their attacks cut through her sword formation. Seven swords and sabers pressed down simultaneously. After repelling a few nearby evil ghosts, Li Jinshuang immediately held her sword horizontally to block these seven strikes, and was repelled out of the Nine Revolutions Sword Formation by the sword energy.

The sounds of weapons clashing continued incessantly.

Li Jinshuang was repelled by the combined attack of seven evil ghosts. She could barely maintain her balance and would fall into the horde of evil ghosts if she retreated further.

The vast army of evil ghosts before them were almost all masters of swords and sabers. They were battle-hardened, not only excellent soldiers but also Nine Schools Practitioners.

Every movement of the evil ghosts shook off loose star fire. Yu Sui dodged the evil ghosts' pursuit using the Wind Riding Technique. She was surrounded by three to five evil ghosts several times but managed to break free.

In this situation, she couldn't afford not to act.

Dodging, Yu Sui turned her feet and charged. The foremost evil ghost swung its sword at her with both hands.

Zhen Hexagram, Life Technique, Thunder Breath.

The moment Yu Sui turned her head, a faint blue light flashed in her eyes. Tiny, numerous Thunder Serpents leaped from her long sword, coiling around and halting the attacking sword. The Evil Ghost was covered in small Thunder Serpents, and when they exploded, the Evil Ghost was burned to ashes.

Although the issue with Primordial Soil had not been resolved, Yu Sui, under the guidance of Sage Chang Gen, remembered how to perform the Sixty-Four Hexagrams birth technique.

Last night, time was limited, and coupled with her emotions, Yu Sui only sparred with Mei Chengyu in the Wind Riding Technique.

The Evil Ghosts within the Military Formation now were perfect for Yu Sui to practice on.

The Five Elements Qi unfolded around her, forming a defense. Yu Sui snatched the long sword and slashed at the pursuing Evil Ghosts. After carving a path through the horde of Evil Ghosts, she leaped up using the Wind Riding Technique, sword in hand, and slashed towards Li Jinshuang.

Her long sword swept horizontally, the sword energy scattering the Star Fire and Reed Catkins in the air. Thunder Serpents fell with the sword energy, pouncing on the seven Evil Ghosts.

Yu Sui decapitated an Evil Ghost. Three Evil Ghosts reacted quickly and retreated, reducing Li Jinshuang's pressure. She cooperated with Yu Sui to counterattack, beheading the remaining four Evil Ghosts who hadn't managed to retreat in time.

Ashes and Star Fire grazed Yu Sui's face. She raised her hand to wipe them away, tidying her slightly messy sideburns. Meeting Li Jinshuang's surprised gaze, she said softly, "I studied swordsmanship at the Imperial Academy for four years. Although I learned slowly, I did learn it."

In Li Jinshuang's eyes, Yu Sui was delicate, innocent, and beautiful.

These were qualities her grandmother said she didn't need and wasn't allowed to possess. Her grandmother told her she should despise all delicate, innocent, and beautiful children because they were all weaklings.

Even though Yu Sui's face was smudged with ash, her clear, bright apricot eyes calmly watched the Evil Ghosts ahead, showing no trace of panic or fear. The bloody wind on the battlefield stirred her pink skirt. The ornaments at her waist and the hairpins on her head jingled.

Li Jinshuang's eyes reflected this pink hue, as beautiful as peach blossoms, yet it was something she could never touch. Even looking at it for too long would earn her scolding and questioning: "To covet these bright and precious colors, have you still not let go of your inner weakness? Do you want to be someone whose entire clan is massacred without the ability to resist?"

At this moment, Li Jinshuang looked at Yu Sui before her. The light of Thunder Breath flickered, gathering into a beam of faint blue light in her dark, profound eyes.

She asked herself:

Is this truly a weakling?

More Evil Ghosts were pursuing Xue Mushi and Wei Ren. These two had tried to escape the encirclement several times without success and were now completely surrounded, forced to fight back-to-back.

Both of them were protected by Five Elements Qi burning on their bodies.

Wei Ren glanced back, a forced smile on his face. "You're a Taoist School disciple, aren't you? Why aren't you using any Five Elements birth techniques? Nangong Sui can use Thunder Breath even in the first realm, what about you?"

Xue Mushi said, "I can't."

"Why can't you?" Wei Ren asked through gritted teeth. "Taoism, Ghost Dao, Yin-Yang School, and Military School – the Five Elements birth technique is their forte. It's one of the Nine Schools Techniques that disciples must learn. You say you can't, so how did you reach the Fourth Realm?"

Xue Mushi hesitated, then said, "I practiced through divination."

Wei Ren: "..."

He said expressionlessly, "Then why didn't you divine that you would face this tribulation before entering Asura Hell?"

Xue Mushi honestly replied, "My realm wasn't high enough."

Wei Ren cut in unceremoniously, "It's no wonder the Yin-Yang School's Saintess broke off your engagement."

Xue Mushi lowered his eyes, looking dejected.

"If you don't pull yourself together soon, I won't bother with you. In this Special Grade Military Formation, even the low-ranking soldiers are Nine Schools practitioners. You might actually die," Wei Ren said. Just as he finished speaking, the Evil Ghosts leaped high and slashed down with their swords, forcing the two back.

Xue Mushi was pushed aside by Wei Ren. Amidst the flashing sword light, Wei Ren, who was a step slower, had his sleeve sliced off. The blade grazed his skin, opening a wound that stretched to his shoulder.

Wei Ren tutted, snatching the sword to counterattack. However, the Evil Ghost whose sword he'd taken immediately retreated, and another Evil Ghost with a sword stepped forward.

Their swords clashed with a dull thud. The Evil Ghosts' attack speed increased, and sparks flew from their dual swords. Wei Ren was forced back by the fierce assault, unable to retaliate.

His specialty, poisons, were useless against the Evil Ghosts in the Military Formation. In Asura Hell, Wei Ren was the most severely countered.

Wei Ren had noticed the Evil Ghosts pursuing from behind but was too heavily suppressed by the ones in front to spare any effort. Just as he furrowed his brow, he suddenly heard the clinking of copper coins.

Four copper coins encircled Wei Ren and the Evil Ghost he was fighting. The crisp sound was pleasant, piercing through all barriers in the world and reaching the depths of the soul.

Xue Mushi held the fifth copper coin in his hand. The transparent Five Elements Qi he emitted resonated with these four coins, creating another world in the heavens and earth, immobilizing all the Evil Ghosts within.

The Evil Ghosts pursuing from behind were frozen in mid-air, their swords hovering above Wei Ren's head, brushing against his hair. The swords swung by the Evil Ghosts in front, which had just drawn a bloody line across Wei Ren's forehead, stopped.

Wei Ren reacted quickly, immediately slashing down the head of the Evil Ghost in front, then the one behind.

"Why didn't you use this technique sooner?" Wei Ren glared at Xue Mushi after dispatching the Evil Ghosts.

Xue Mushi, however, said with a stiff face, "I can't control it for long. Hurry."

Wei Ren then snatched another long saber, holding one saber and one sword, and slew all the Evil Ghosts within the copper coin realm.

Xue Mushi's divination technique, Qi Ding, could freeze the operation of the world within the hexagrams he arranged. It wasn't simply stopping time; rather, it stripped away the Five Elements Qi within the hexagram world. Thus, the Evil Ghosts, who existed in the Military Formation solely through Five Elements techniques, were rendered immobile.

It was a Nine Schools technique that somewhat countered the Military Formation.

Just as Wei Ren finished killing the Evil Ghosts within the divination technique, he suddenly looked up towards the city. They were a considerable distance from the city gate, right in the center of the battlefield. Because of the City Defense King General at the city gate, several people dared not go there. Only a fool would run in that direction.

Countless Evil Ghosts were also pursuing from the flames on the City Defense King General's side. At this moment, they were being chased not only by an endless stream of Evil Ghosts but also by a sky full of arrows.

The arrow rain, carrying Star Fire, descended like stars falling after the sky collapsed. They came from high above, carrying the power and killing intent to destroy everything. The flames burning at the arrowheads flickered intermittently due to the force of their flight.

The rockets let out a piercing shriek, grazing Xue Mushi's cheek and leaving a trail of bright red blood.

Simultaneously, an arrow struck and repelled the floating copper coins. The four copper coins were knocked away, and Xue Mushi's divination technique world collapsed. The Evil Ghosts waiting not far away immediately pursued.

Yu Sui looked up at the sky full of arrows and said to Li Jinshuang, "We can't win, let's run."

With that, she used the Wind Riding Technique under her feet and flew into the reed thicket.

Li Jinshuang repelled the last Evil Ghost, no longer willing to fight, and turned to flee.

The four of them fled for their lives, wanting to get away from the Evil Ghost army near the city and ran in the opposite direction. Blocking their path was a vast expanse of seemingly endless reed thicket. They had to pass through these tall reeds to reach the other side of the battlefield.

Arrows and evil ghosts chased after them. They were fast, but the four fleeing were faster. The once quiet reed thicket rustled urgently as they ran. Reeds swayed, and Yu Sui's pink dress was stained a striking red by the blood-splattered reeds.

As the reed thicket swayed, more and more reed catkins appeared. Arrows fell, sparks ignited the ground, and raging flames engulfed the reed thicket, beginning to devour everything in front of them.

Yu Sui once again heard her own heartbeat. Everything around her fell silent, only the thumping of her heart reminded her that she was still alive.

The intense heartbeat, the reeds brushing past her cheeks, the bright red catkins flying before her eyes, the smell of blood in her nostrils, the lingering scent of gunpowder on the battlefield—all of it seeped into the deepest part of her soul through her eyes, ears, nose, and pores.

It stirred her hidden desires.

The killing intent that perpetually existed on the battlefield, the immense power that controlled it all, the evil ghosts wielding swords, the sparks when swords clashed, the blood that splattered—this was what it felt like to be alive.

Using the Wind Riding Technique, Yu Sui ran forward and let out an ill-timed laugh. The reeds, taller than her, obscured the path ahead, just as her path in this world had always been obscured, making it impossible to see where to go.

What lay ahead?

Even knowing it was dangerous, she didn't know the specific danger, so she could only cautiously probe everything.

Yu Sui felt as though she had walked a long, long road, and finally today, she had briefly found a place to stop and rest.

Stimulated by the blood and fire of the battlefield, Yu Sui finally felt that she was still alive.

Not yet dead.

Yu Sui gripped the hilt of her sword. Sensing the clash of Five Elements Qi ahead, she swung her sword horizontally, and the sword energy cut the reeds in half. The path ahead revealed its true face:

Moonlight peeked out from behind the dark clouds, its silver glow reflecting in the long river that divided the battlefield. The river flowed murmuring, its water clear to the bottom, where black and white twin fish played.

A massive black shadow was also reflected on the water's surface.

They were dense, filling the riverbank. Horses adorned with armor slowly raised their heads, looking towards the people emerging from the reed thicket on the opposite bank.

Black iron cavalry, bearing weapons, their bodies hidden beneath iron armor, could not be discerned. Only beneath their helmets could one see pupils the same fiery gold as the evil ghosts, staring intently at their enemies in the darkness.

As the dark clouds swallowed the moon in the sky, what glowed with golden light on the ground were the Soul Light Cores of the black-armored iron cavalry.

Thousands upon thousands of them.

Yu Sui abruptly stopped, staring at the Soul Light Cores of the black-armored iron cavalry on the opposite bank, not daring to take another step forward.

Li Jinshuang, who followed behind, also halted, silently tightening her grip on her sword.

Wei Ren and Xue Mushi burst out of the reed thicket and, upon seeing the scene on the opposite bank, couldn't help but shiver.

If the evil ghosts were masters of swords, then the black-armored iron cavalry on the opposite bank were practitioners of the Thirteenth Realm's Nine Schools.

Thousands upon thousands of Thirteenth Realm practitioners.

This was a Special Grade Military Formation—Hell Asura.

This thing was clearly meant for Nine Schools Saints to challenge.

Wei Ren and Xue Mushi slowly looked towards Yu Sui on their left.

Yu Sui said softly, "To die in the same year, month, and day, we can be considered fated. We'll be good friends in the next life."

Wei Ren said expressionlessly, "Who's your friend?"

Yu Sui stared at the Thirteenth Realm black-armored iron cavalry ahead and continued softly, "We're about to die, so making a friend before death isn't a loss. Do you have friends? You don't, right."

Wei Ren replied, "I do."

Xue Mushi scratched his head, seemingly afraid of alarming the Thirteenth Realm army opposite, and lowered his voice, saying, "I do too."

Only Li Jinshuang remained silent.

Yu Sui glanced at Li Jinshuang, who was silent but tense, ready to fight at any moment, and said, "Then Li Jinshuang doesn't."

Li Jinshuang still didn't reply.

It seemed there was no need to refute; she truly didn't.

Yu Sui continued softly, "This shouldn't be my problem. You all saw it just now; I only have the strength of the First Realm."

Wei Ren retorted, "If it's not your problem, whose problem is it?"

Yu Sui said, "Then it's the Star Map's problem. My senior martial brother said that when things go wrong, don't look for reasons within yourself. Be confident; it's definitely someone else's problem."

Wei Ren's eye twitched slightly upon hearing this, cursing inwardly about the nonsensical things Mei Chengyu had taught her.

Xue Mushi said after a moment of silence, "I don't want to die here."

Wei Ren sneered, "Neither do I."

"Alright then, if we die, come find me for revenge. If we survive, all grievances are settled, and we'll go out and make friends," Yu Sui said. "Turning enemies into friends is also a kind of Nine Schools Technique, isn't it?"

Wei Ren said, "Your Master, Old Man Chang, will regret taking you as a disciple."

Yu Sui, however, laughed and said, "I bet he won't."

"Li Jinshuang," Yu Sui called softly towards the black-armored iron cavalry ahead, "I'm giving you a chance to make a friend. Don't waste it."

Li Jinshuang didn't speak after hearing this, merely switching to holding her sword with both hands.

This Special Grade Military Formation was still too difficult for them. If the black-armored iron cavalry on the opposite bank attacked together, thousands upon tens of thousands of Thirteenth Realm Nine Schools practitioners would be thrown at them, instantly killing the four of them.

If they retreated, there was still the City Defense King General on the city side, who was not of the Thirteenth Realm. His eyes blazed with fire, and perhaps if they appeared within his line of sight, they would be burned alive.

Even if they weren't burned to death by the City Defense King General, they would be drained of their Five Elements Qi by the endless Evil Ghosts, dying at the last moment.

No matter what, they couldn't escape death.

Wei Ren said to Xue Mushi, "Aren't you good at divination? Can't you calculate a way to break this situation?"

Xue Mushi said with a苦着脸, "I don't divine for good or ill fortune, wealth or poverty, life or death. I learned how to kill."

As soon as he said this, the other three looked at Xue Mushi, their gazes varied.

Xue Mushi sighed softly and said slowly, "The Taoist School's Seven Kill Hexagram, I only learned this one."

"If I remember correctly, this seems to be one of the Nine Schools Techniques that the Taoist School has forbidden from cultivation," Wei Ren said.

Yu Sui curiously asked, "Is it powerful?"

"Powerful, powerful and sinister, which is why it's forbidden," Wei Ren said, looking at Xue Mushi. "I didn't expect you, who looks like a wooden blockhead, to be so bold as to learn a divination technique strictly forbidden by your Taoist School. Is this why you were jilted?"

Xue Mushi: ""

"I mean, I don't want to die. Even if it exposes that I learned the Seven Kill Hexagram, I want to get out of here. Even if I'm expelled from the Academy, I want to live," Xue Mushi said after a moment of silence, his previous slow tone replaced by a seemingly firm resolve.

He took a step forward but was stopped by Yu Sui, "Hey, wait. Don't rush ahead alone. To break the Military Formation, you need to kill the City Defense King General. What are you going to do fighting these Thirteenth Realm亡兵?"

Xue Mushi: ""

The young man who had just been full of courage, as if about to save the world, deflated under her words.

Wei Ren asked with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Besides killing the City Defense King General, which is an impossible task, is there anything else?"

Li Jinshuang said in a low voice, "This is a Military Formation without a master. No one will issue commands. It will only launch a spell attack when it detects enemies. This river in front of us should be the key to triggering the Thirteenth Realm亡兵 on the opposite bank. As long as we don't cross the river, they won't attack."

"But the Evil Ghosts will still chase us from behind," Wei Ren said. "Where can we hide?"

Yu Sui took two steps back, "I'm not crossing the river anyway."

She would rather keep fighting the Evil Ghosts than cross the river and be instantly killed by tens of thousands of Thirteenth Realm亡兵.

"The Military Formation is also a materialized Five Elements spell. If we can't kill the City Defense King General, perhaps we can decompose its Five Elements Qi and speed up its disappearance," Li Jinshuang suggested.

Wei Ren listened and stroked his chin, lost in thought. "That sounds plausible. Like Xue Mushi's divination technique just now, it drained the Five Elements Qi within a certain range."

"But I can't cover such a large Military Formation," Xue Mushi said, lowering his head. "If it's done repeatedly, draining my Five Elements Qi until it's all gone, it won't change at all."

The vastness of the Five Elements Qi required to maintain a Special Grade Military Formation was beyond their imagination. With Xue Mushi's Qi Ding divination technique's limited range, by the time he drained enough Qi, he would have been killed by the Evil Ghosts, and this Asura Hell would still be firmly trapping them.

Yu Sui said, "What if I use my Five Elements Birth Technique to amplify it?"

Xue Mushi looked up. "How much can you amplify it?"

Yu Sui estimated, "About ten times the original amount?"

Xue Mushi thought for a moment and said, "Not enough. It's still too little. Ten times would only be like a giant tree shedding a single leaf."

"Then let's think of other ways to disrupt the Five Elements Qi," Wei Ren said.

Yu Sui looked at the black-armored iron cavalry on the opposite bank. Although she possessed the Heavenly Eye, so far, she had only resonated with it on the Number Mountains related to Communication Arrays. At other times, she had no idea how to use this power.

It was like now.

No one had taught her, and no one had told her what kind of power it was.

Yu Sui relied entirely on her intuition for this power, guiding herself when it was needed.

She was a child with world-destroying power, lacking combat experience and a predecessor to guide her, so she could only explore it slowly on her own.

It was very simple for Yu Sui to get out.

All she needed to do was ignite a cluster of Strange Fire. That power, capable of destroying heaven and earth, could easily break through the Special Grade Military Formation before them.

Yu Sui's thoughts inevitably drifted to the Strange Fire. As she lowered her head, the black and white double fish playing in the river water were reflected in her eyes. In a daze, she heard someone chuckle softly in her ear.

Yu Sui, underwater, smiled in her ear and said, "Borrow your power, how about it?"

"Just burn them all to death."

"I can do it."

"Hesitation will only get yourself killed."

The battlefield was littered with corpses, and killing intent was everywhere. These seemed to be the Strange Fire's favorite things, and everything before her was what the Strange Fire was most willing to see.

Yu Sui said to the Strange Fire in her heart, "Shut up."

She withdrew her gaze and said to Xue Mushi, "One hundred times. I can amplify it one hundred times."

Xue Mushi looked up in surprise.

Wei Ren gasped, "Don't tell me you're going crazy first."

"I don't want to die either," Yu Sui said, staring at Xue Mushi. "I've worked hard to survive this long. Even if I have to die, it won't be here."

Xue Mushi saw himself in Yu Sui's eyes. Different faces, but the same look.

This time, Xue Mushi didn't hesitate to ask if she could do it. Instead, after a moment of silence, he said, "Okay."

Wei Ren pinched the center of his brow. "Are you two crazy, or am I crazy? What do you think?"

He turned to ask Li Jinshuang.

Li Jinshuang turned to look in the direction of the City Defense King General, not answering, only saying, "The Evil Ghosts are catching up."

Wei Ren seemed to give up struggling. He let out a cold laugh, channeling all his pent-up frustration onto the Evil Ghosts. He turned and walked back to the very front, his back to the others. "You two better hurry. If the Evil Ghosts attack, I won't be able to help you."

Li Jinshuang gripped her sword with one hand, standing on the front line with Wei Ren.

Yu Sui said to Xue Mushi, "We don't necessarily have to drain all the Five Elements Qi. We can focus on a single point. As long as we make it imbalanced, it'll count as a success."

If the Five Elements Qi became imbalanced, the threat within the Military Formation would at least be greatly reduced.

Xue Mushi pondered for a moment and said, "Then let's focus on the Five Elements Fire."

That was perfect. She had a natural suppression over the Five Elements Fire.

Yu Sui nodded, pointing forward with her finger. "Turn around."

Xue Mushi was taken aback but obediently did as he was told. After turning around, he asked, "Why?"

"It's a secret technique, I can't let anyone see it," Yu Sui said. "I'm not as bold as you."

She was referring to the Taoist School's forbidden art, the Seven Kill Hexagram, but it also implied that what she was using wasn't a standard Nine Schools Technique.

Xue Mushi replied, "Okay."

He didn't ask further. He took a few steps forward, his back to Yu Sui, and spread his palms. Four copper coins stood upright in his palm. "It's starting."

Li Jinshuang and Wei Ren had been ordered by Yu Sui not to look back, and they didn't have time to now anyway, as they were busy fighting the pursuing Evil Ghosts.

Wei Ren no longer intended to hold back. He formed hand seals and exhaled golden Five Elements Qi.

Agricultural School Nine Schools Technique, Illusion Beast: Snake Shadow.

In the darkness, numerous snake-like phantoms quietly grew. They crawled out from all directions, attaching themselves to the pursuing Evil Ghosts along with the darkness. They opened their fanged mouths and bit down on the Evil Ghosts' fatal spots.

The snake-like phantoms, born from the darkness, tore at the Evil Ghosts' necks, severing their heads.

The starfire on the Evil Ghosts fell, burning the phantoms. Soon, they grew again from the darkness, just like the Evil Ghosts born from flames, they were inexhaustible.

Li Jinshuang, who had just severed an Evil Ghost's head with her sword, couldn't help but glance at Wei Ren, who was maintaining his Nine Schools Technique on the spot. Her brow furrowed.

Not to mention Xue Mushi, the Nine Schools Technique Wei Ren was using now was also forbidden by the Agricultural School. The Agricultural School had even declared that anyone who learned Illusion Beast Techniques would be their mortal enemy.

"Stop looking at me," Wei Ren said, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. He raised an eyebrow and gave Li Jinshuang a wicked grin. "You'll die if you keep looking."

Three Evil Ghosts leaped high into the air, swords slashing down at Li Jinshuang. She retreated to dodge and swung her sword. Snake-like phantoms bit at the Evil Ghosts' sword-wielding hands, helping her disarm them.

The two of them cooperated, defending the front line.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed from behind, a soft, moon-white radiance shimmering. Neither Li Jinshuang nor Wei Ren looked back.

Xue Mushi also didn't look back. He was concentrating on stabilizing the world of his divination technique, formed by the copper coin circle, focusing on drawing out the Five Elements Fire from the Asura Hell.

Yu Sui closed her eyes, delving deep into her consciousness, gazing at the Strange Fire. Today, another hundred Five Elements Light Cores were stripped away.

The Five Elements Light Cores, shimmering with a faint white light, were stripped from the Strange Fire and floated around Yu Sui, forming a long line. They were tiny, usually imperceptible to the naked eye.

The stripped Light Cores reflected Xue Mushi's divination technique, Qi Ding, in front of them. Yu Sui connected them with the Bagua Life Technique, amplifying Xue Mushi's divination technique a hundredfold, continuously drawing out the Five Elements Fire from the Military Formation.

As they drew it out, the starfire on the Evil Ghosts clearly diminished. Without the support of the starfire, they were just dark, slow-moving charred corpses.

The four of them rapidly consumed their Five Elements Qi but saw some results, a glimmer of hope rising in their hearts. Perhaps they could succeed.

The change happened in an instant.

The Black-armored Iron Cavalry, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly moved.

The horses carrying the Black-armored Iron Cavalry took two steps forward, reaching the very front of the riverbank. The Iron Cavalry Soldier on horseback had golden-red eyes and held a long spear. He bent his body back, then sprang forward like a released bowstring, throwing his spear. The spearhead gleamed silver as it flew towards Xue Mushi.

Xue Mushi and Yu Sui simultaneously sensed the killing intent in the spear. They both acted at the same time.

Hundreds of Light Cores shattered, their released Five Elements Qi momentarily slowing the silver spear. As Yu Sui extended her hands to block the spear, thunder serpents flashed, crawling all over the spear and helping to pull it.

Xue Mushi looked back and happened to notice the Black-armored Iron Cavalry on the opposite bank preparing to throw a second spear.

In a flash of lightning, Yu Sui was struck by the first spear and sent flying, rolling several times in the reed thicket.

Li Jinshuang and Wei Ren, unable to catch her, turned back in shock.

Why had the Thirteenth Realm Undead Army on the opposite bank attacked?!

The five copper coins Xue Mushi had arranged instantly blocked in front of him. Their holes faced each other, instantly generating countless black threads connecting heaven and earth. They grew straight and dense, cutting through everything in their path the moment they appeared.

Seven Kill Hexagram, First Hexagram: Strangling.

The black threads extended backward, strangling the Evil Ghosts, who had resumed normal movement after the divination technique Qi Ding dissipated, into pieces with fine threads. However, they couldn't stop the second spear thrown by the Black-armored Iron Cavalry.

As the spear shattered, the released Five Elements Qi also shattered Xue Mushi's Seven Kill Hexagram. The black threads vanished in an instant.

Yu Sui stood up from the ground, wiping the blood from her face. She heard the sound of the Thirteenth Realm Myriad Army on the opposite bank drawing their swords.

Tens of thousands of undead soldiers drew their swords towards the four on the opposite bank, preparing for battle.

The aura of death spread, pressing down heavily on everyone's hearts. Facing tens of thousands of Thirteenth Realm Nine Schools Practitioners, they had no chance of winning.

Wei Ren felt they were finished.

Li Jinshuang felt she would never make friends in this lifetime.

Xue Mushi, pushed back and on the ground, clenched his fists.

The fierce wind on the battlefield stirred the blood-red reed catkins, making them sway. Some fell into the river. Yu Sui looked towards the army on the opposite bank, her eyes shimmering with a magnificent light.

Night had just fallen.

As the sky darkened, the stars met the earth once more.

Mei Chengyu and the others emerged from the Martial Path Arena with grim expressions. They were not satisfied with the day's results. Although Wei Kun hadn't successfully advanced to Grade A, he hadn't been beaten up by them either. This was because after drawing lots, he discovered he was up against Mei Chengyu and immediately forfeited.

Mei Chengyu had waited for him all day, only for this outcome. His expression was as cold as a snowman in winter.

Nian Qiuyan busied himself comforting Kong Yiyi, who was preparing to go beat up Wei Kun, holding her back. He couldn't manage alone, so he called Cang Shu to help restrain Kong Yiyi.

Cang Shu glanced at Mei Chengyu, who was striding out of the Martial Path Arena, and asked Xing Chun, "Can you hold her?"

Xing Chun made a gesture, assuring him, "I can hold her, I can hold her."

Cang Shu then went to help Nian Qiuyan.

Xing Chun chased after Mei Chengyu to the outside of the Martial Path Arena. It was quite lively outside now; many students who had attempted advancement hadn't left, including Gu Gan and a few others.

Gu Gan was waiting by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field. Hearing the commotion from the Martial Path Arena, he looked over and saw Mei Chengyu walking out with a cold face, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Xing Chun caught up to Mei Chengyu and shouted, "Hey, it's good that he didn't get back to Grade A. He's been hiding from you like a dog everywhere. As long as you're here, he won't dare to go outside the outer city. Besides, hey, what the hell is going on over there?"

Mei Chengyu continued walking forward. Xing Chun looked at the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field and said, "Hey, hey, hey, come back. Look at Nangong Sui, your junior martial sister. Did they just come out of the beginner trial?"

The star map within the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field activated, and the disciples undergoing trials were sent back.

At this moment, the field was ablaze with starlight.

Mei Chengyu turned to look, his gaze passing over Gu Gan and the others, and landed directly on Yu Sui, who was covered in blood and wiping her face. His steps halted, his gaze narrowing slightly.

Gu Gan, who was waiting by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field for Yu Sui, was also stunned by the four who emerged.

The four who emerged were not clean; they were covered in blood and all injured.

Yu Sui was lowering her head, wiping the blood and ash from her face. When she looked up, she noticed many familiar faces standing on the field and paused.

Wei Ren shot a cold glance at Gu Gan and the others by the side, "What are you looking at? Never seen people just out of a trial before?"

He was very annoyed right now.

Yu Sui was too tired to explain. She looked at Xue Mushi and said, "You restart it. I can't lose these two points."

Xue Mushi pointed at Li Jinshuang, "Let her go."

Before Li Jinshuang could refuse, Wei Ren said, "We're all in the Fifth Realm. It's the same whether you go or I go. I don't believe in this crap. Try opening another Asura Hell."

Li Jinshuang was also decisive. She directly reached out and activated a new trial on the star map.

The four blood-covered figures who had just emerged vanished in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a bewildered crowd.