The bronze lamps in the Seven Mysteries Sect's council hall flickered in the draft, casting Han Li's and Qingyunzi's shadows onto the wall bearing the Heavenly South Mountain Range Map, stretching them into long, twisted shapes.
"Elder Han, are you truly leaving?" Qingyunzi gripped the edge of the stone table, his knuckles white. The Seven Mysteries Sect's only remaining sect master at the Core Formation Late Stage had frost at his temples, and his eyes were full of conflict. "I know you've laid down the Magnetic Essence Sword Formation for us. It draws upon our three miniature earth veins, reinforced with a Magnetic Essence Beast Core and star-patterned steel. After your seven days and nights of calculations, it can withstand three full-force attacks from a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator. With this formation protecting us, we need fear no one at the Core Formation Stage..."
Han Li pressed the final Magnetic Essence Formation Talisman into the heart of the formation diagram. The star patterns on the talisman paper resonated with the earth veins' Spiritual Power, giving off a faint hum. When he raised his eyes, his gaze was like moonlight reflected in a frigid pool. "Fellow Daoist Qingyunzi, this formation may withstand three fierce attacks from someone at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, but the Blood Fiend Church Master is at the late Nascent Soul stage. Relying on this formation alone would be like a mantis raising its arms against a chariot. I've tracked the Blood Fiend Cult for half a month and learned that its master ritually refines his Blood Soul Banner in Black Wind Valley on the seventh day of every month. He must divide his attention to control that Evil Artifact then. That is my only opening. But no one in the Seven Mysteries Sect can help