Xu Shiren's Binding Formation had been jointly refined from three kinds of Heavenly Gang and nine kinds of flying mercury, making it exceptionally light and nimble. At first, he had used it to catch spirit pills that escaped when he opened his furnace. Later, through repeated refinement, it had become a Dharma Treasure he carried for protection.
This treasure had two marvelous uses: it exerted Aversive Suppression on treasures such as spirit pills and precious pearls, and it could sever the connection between an Elixir Pearl caught inside the net and the energies of the outside world.
A month earlier, when they discussed how to kill Hu Hailong, Xu Shiren had said that Hu Hailong liked to flaunt his power through his internal core. He had volunteered to detonate pills with his hand furnace and capture the core with his Dharma Treasure.
The idea was extremely risky-wounding the enemy eight hundred while losing a thousand themselves-and neither Zou Shizheng nor Cheng Xinzhan had agreed. Xu Shiren, however, had insisted. He knew this might be their only chance to lure Hu Hailong out, and their only chance to catch him unprepared; opportunities would be even scarcer afterward. Zou Shizheng and Cheng Xinzhan both understood his urgency and willingness to take the risk, for the Sect Master of Sun Terrace Mountain, the mentor who had first guided Xu Shiren onto the path, had been killed by that demon, Hu Hailong.
After their earnest persuasion failed, Zou Shizheng and Cheng Xinzhan began supporting Xu Shiren's plan. Zou Shizheng brought out a Death-Substitution Talisman treasured by Luofu Mountain, which could divert the backlash from the destruction of a Fetal Artifact and counter a surprise attack from a demon's internal core. Cheng Xinzhan refined a thick stack of Boulder Thunder talismans and stuffed them into