Chapter 40: Formation Battle Against True Disciples
Chapter 40: Array Against the True Disciple
"Activate the formation!"
Above the Skeleton Mountain Market, the fully restored Hundred Bones True Formation rumbled into motion, instantly forcing Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan to retreat in alarm.
Seizing this opening, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a streak of crimson light and shot past them.
The formation patterns outside the grand array parted at his approach, allowing him passage before swiftly closing again—so quickly that no outsider could exploit the gap.
"Many thanks for Brother Lü's assistance..."
Once inside the formation, the crimson light dissipated, revealing Lu Yuanchun's disheveled state. His pallid face still bore traces of lingering panic:
"Brother Lü is actually a formation master?"
If not for a formation master, how could anyone reorganize the formation and turn the tide of what had seemed an inevitable death?
"Senior Brother flatters me. I've barely reached the ninth grade," Lü Yang replied with a faint smile. "After days of study, I can barely wield a fraction of this formation's power."
Though Lü Yang spoke lightly, Lu Yuanchun's expression remained solemn.
Among the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, formation mastery stood supreme!
A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a late-stage Qi Refining formation master were incomparable in value—the latter could almost be considered equivalent to a perfected Qi Refining expert!
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu seems to have reaped quite a harvest," Lü Yang remarked with a knowing smile.
Under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression stiffened, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Yet, in the next moment, he regained his composure.
"Brother Lü, I've safeguarded the 'Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade' for you long enough. Today, it's time to return it to its rightful owner!"
With that, Lu Yuanchun produced a small box. When opened, it revealed a white jade carved with seven orifices, eerily resembling a human figure.
As the saying went, a wise man knew when to yield.
Lu Yuanchun was a seasoned disciple of the Saint Sect and understood perfectly well that if he didn't hand over the jade now, he'd soon be sacrificed on the frontlines of the righteous-demonic conflict.
Moreover, with the Divine Martial Sect deploying a perfected Qi Refining expert, escape was no longer possible. Lu Yuanchun abandoned all illusions. Rather than clinging to the treasure, he chose to surrender it publicly—partly to buy his safety, and partly to redirect the Divine Martial Sect's attention toward Lü Yang.
"The Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade..."
Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction before storing the box in his storage pouch. He then turned calmly to face the sudden appearance of a figure outside the market.
It was a handsome youth holding a spear.
Clad in scaled armor and wearing a martial crown, the dragon-engraved spear in his hand made him resemble a mortal general more than a cultivator.
"A ninth-grade formation master?"
The youth's gaze was sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce through the formation's veil and see Lü Yang directly. "An unexpected variable indeed."
Meanwhile, "Divine Fist" Wu Zhichong and "Mountain-Moving Daoist" Duanmu Yuan approached, bowing respectfully to the spear-wielding youth. "Senior Brother Ouyang, we've failed in our task and disappointed you."
"No matter."
Ouyang Haoze shook his head gently. "Demons are cunning. It's understandable that you were caught off guard. Redeem yourselves henceforth."
His gaze then returned to the Skeleton Mountain Market, brimming with killing intent.
"Our sect has planned this for years. We cannot tolerate any mishaps. If possible, we must first eliminate the demonic sect's foothold here to minimize variables."
In the next instant, Ouyang Haoze flashed forward, unleashing the full aura of a perfected Qi Refining expert. A pillar of vital energy surged skyward, manifesting the thunderous clamor of countless soldiers arrayed behind him, bolstering his spirit.
"Break!"
A thunderous roar blasted into the Skeleton Mountain Market, instantly causing weaker cultivators to cough up blood from the sheer force of the shout.
"Perfected Qi Refining..."
Lü Yang, maintaining the formation, wore a grave expression. The pinnacle of Qi Refining—this level represented not just cultivation but status within major sects.
If favored by a True Person, such an individual was invariably a true disciple!
Though the Divine Martial Sect was far smaller than the Saint Sect, it still possessed several world-shaking divine abilities reserved exclusively for true disciples.
"If he's mastered a divine ability, I'll abandon the formation and flee immediately..."
While preparing his escape, Lü Yang moved to the formation's edge, facing Ouyang Haoze across the barrier. "I am Lü Yang. May I know your esteemed name?"
"You are unworthy of knowing my name," Ouyang Haoze sneered. "Surrender now, and I may spare your lives—merely crippling your demonic arts. Resist, and when this formation falls, not even your chickens and dogs will be left alive!"
"Endless vengeance serves no one."
Lü Yang's smile remained unchanged, his tone mild. "Though our factions stand on opposite sides, we've never crossed paths before. How about granting me this courtesy?"
"Grant you courtesy?"
Ouyang Haoze burst into mocking laughter. "Such audacity! A mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator—what will you do if I refuse?"
"Why must it come to this..."
Lü Yang sighed. "Very well. Then, esteemed friend, come and break my formation."
"Seeking death!"
Killing intent flashed in Ouyang Haoze's eyes as he condensed the vital energy around him into a fist strike—deceptively simple, like a mortal's martial technique.
Yet Lü Yang dared not underestimate it. He immediately summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pill, merging with its radiance to slash at Ouyang Haoze. In an instant, fist and sword clashed, unleashing waves of razor-sharp sword qi and crushing fist force that bloomed like fireworks in the air.
Ouyang Haoze moved like lightning, delivering hundreds of punches in the blink of an eye.
Unlike other immortal sects, the Divine Martial Sect emphasized body cultivation, with divine abilities centered on fists and kicks. At close range, their speed even surpassed sword cultivators!
"Rain of Arrows!"
Ouyang Haoze spread his arms wide as if drawing a massive bow, then unleashed a barrage of fist shadows like arrows, engulfing Lü Yang's position in an instant.
Boom!
Amid the explosions, Lü Yang felt as if the surrounding spiritual energy had been vacuumed away, replaced by endless fist shadows intent on grinding him to dust.
A thousand strikes in an instant—no room for counterattack. This was undoubtedly a superior divine ability!
Despite his arrogant words, Ouyang Haoze held nothing back, attacking with full force.
In moments, violent shockwaves roiled through the air.
Under the relentless assault, Lü Yang lasted less than ten seconds before being shattered—his sword light dispersed, his body reduced to scattered bones and remnants.
The fists halted abruptly. Ouyang Haoze hovered mid-air, frowning.
Meanwhile, above the market, the Hundred Bones True Formation whirred. A figure materialized from the void—Lü Yang, unharmed and stepping forward as if nothing had happened.
"Esteemed friend's fists are peerless. I am in awe."
Ouyang Haoze didn't respond, attacking again with the Rain of Arrows. Lü Yang resisted stubbornly before being pulverized once more after another ten seconds.
Yet, moments later, Ouyang Haoze watched as Lü Yang's corpse turned to bones—while an unscathed Lü Yang strode out from the formation again, sleeves billowing, demeanor unchanged, not an ounce of his true qi or magic power depleted.
"Shall we continue, esteemed friend?"
"...The Hundred Bones True Formation lives up to its reputation."
Ouyang Haoze's expression darkened.
As he knew, this seventh-grade formation concealed a hundred skeletal soldiers. A cultivator within could manifest their full strength through these skeletons.
Thus, the skeletal soldiers fought in place of the true body.
Victory brought joy; defeat bore no consequence. Moreover, as long as the formation persisted, destroyed skeletons would swiftly regenerate.
No matter how fiercely Ouyang Haoze attacked, it was futile—mere wasted effort. And this was while he remained outside the formation. Had he ventured inside, Lü Yang could summon all skeletal soldiers to swarm him. Even a perfected Qi Refining expert would be skinned alive!