The moment Ji Chen uttered those two words, a tremendous explosion erupted in Wind-Thunder Valley.
The tortoise shell hovered in midair within the valley, drawing in the surrounding wind laws and Thunder Arts. The brighter the markings on its surface grew, the more chaotic the thunderclouds around the formation became.
Several black Spirit Boats had already advanced to the middle of the valley. The barriers raised over their bows kept shattering, only to be restored by the Cultivators behind them.
The two Black Robe elders from the Court Guardian Pavilion were in no hurry to kill anyone.
They were dismantling the formation.
One held up the tortoise shell, while the other clutched dozens of tiny black spikes, driving them into different locations within the valley from a hundred yards away.
Every time a black spike landed, the turmoil in Wind-Thunder Valley briefly stalled.
The Wind-Thunder Annihilation Formation Ji Chen had laid was being peeled apart, bit by bit.
"You'd better actually have a solution."
Ji Chen stared at Zhou Xuan, his expression grim.
"If you're just trying to seize the chance to extort me, none of us will get the relics once the formation breaks."
Zhou Xuan did not respond to that.
He took the Soul-Calming Wood from his sleeve.
The piece of wood was barely a palm's width, dark in color, with several dry cracks across its surface.
No matter how one looked at it, it seemed to have nothing to do with the Law Storm in the valley that could destroy a Longevity Realm cultivator's body.
Old Ancestor Xuanming studied it for a moment, then could not help speaking.
"Brother Zhou, can that thing really work?"
"The Celestial River Sect used it to suppress evil entities for thousands of years. Surely it's good for more than burning incense."