20demayo Chapter 1984 The Beginning of the Slaughter
Chapter 1984 The Beginning of the Slaughter
Chapter 1984 The Beginning of the Slaughter
"Among the inheritances I've learned, there are indeed quite a few array formations that can distort perception and create illusions..."
At the core of the Five Elements Grand Array, Chen Fei slowly closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the depths of his sea of consciousness.
Within that spiritual palace constructed by the Ten Thousand Paths of Heavenly Decree, countless scrolls of ancient texts, each shimmering with different colors, seemed to float in the air, each representing a profound inheritance of a formation technique.
"The Inverted and Bewildering Array excels at disrupting orientation and confusing the five senses and six perceptions, leaving those who enter the array feeling as if they are lost in a fog, unable to distinguish east from west..."
"The Void Mirage Array can draw upon the energy of the void to create a mirage-like illusion, deceiving people's minds with its deception..."
"The 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon, Traceless Array' can reflect the deepest desires and fears of those who enter it, thus weaving an illusion that perfectly matches their thoughts, making them sink into it and unable to extricate themselves..."
The names, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of various formations flashed through Chen Fei's mind like a revolving lantern.
Chen Fei was rapidly searching, comparing, and analyzing.
"These formations largely meet my needs for disguising myself and luring the enemy, but..."
Chen Fei frowned slightly.
"But none of them can perfectly match the state I envisioned. The Inverted and Bewildering Array focuses too much on interference and is somewhat insufficient in its effect of feigning weakness."
"The illusions of the Taixu Mirage Array are realistic, but it lacks deep guidance for the mind."
Although the Mirror Flower Water Moon Formation can directly target the heart, it is too complicated to set up and requires extremely high spiritual power, making it difficult to execute perfectly here..."
However, a trace of regret lingered in Chen Fei's heart for only a moment before disappearing without a trace.
Besides talent, the most important thing in the path of array cultivation is foundation.
The so-called foundation refers to two aspects: first, the depth of understanding of existing formations and the ability to integrate them; and second, the breadth of knowledge and the variety of formations mastered.
Chen Fei possesses both of these qualities.
Because the array formations inherited by Chen Fei did not come from any particular family or school, but rather from the Tianxuan Sect.
The Tianxuan Sect is the number one sect in the Xuanyu Realm. The array formation books collected in its Scripture Pavilion are all-encompassing and vast, almost gathering all the wisdom of the entire Xuanyu Realm in the field of array formation over countless years.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chen Fei's mastery of formations was the best in the Xuan Yu Realm back then.
"Since all the existing formations are inadequate, let's merge the existing formations and then create our own." An idea quickly took shape in Chen Fei's mind.
"Using the Inverted and Bewildering Array as its framework, it constructs the basic spatial distortion energy, integrates the essence of the Void Mirage Array, draws the Qi of the Void as the source of illusions, and further draws on the supreme method of the Mirror Flower and Water Moon Traceless Array to explore people's hearts and weave mental images."
Combining these three elements might create a completely new formation.
"Once this formation is complete, it will not only distort the perception of intruders from the outside, but also draw upon the primordial energy of the void, combining it with the inherent thoughts of living beings to weave a layer of illusion that is indistinguishable from reality!"
Once he made up his mind, a sharp glint flashed in Chen Fei's eyes.
"Buzz!"
Chen Fei suddenly formed an extremely complex starting hand seal in front of him, his ten fingers moving rapidly like butterflies flitting among flowers.
With each flick of his fingertips, mysterious runes shimmering with pale golden light flowed from his fingertips.
Like a golden fish with life, or a dancing spirit of light, it traces beautiful and mysterious trajectories in the void.
"go with!"
Chen Fei pointed his fingers lightly at the void surrounding the Five Elements Formation, and countless golden runes instantly shot out in an orderly fashion, like soldiers receiving a command.
Passing through the light barrier of the Five Elements Grand Array, it quietly merged into the empty space outside the array.
The runes entered the air, but did not immediately cause violent energy fluctuations. Instead, like spring rain nourishing all things, they began to silently merge and resonate with the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy).
A huge, invisible formation began to slowly take shape and condense in an extremely subtle way.
As the prototype of the Tai Xu Reversal Array gradually appeared, a strange power began to spread.
The Five Elements Array, which originally exuded a majestic aura and whose five-colored radiance flowed endlessly, began to visibly weaken in its energy fluctuations.
It was as if an invisible veil had enveloped the Five Elements Formation, quietly concealing and concealing most of its light and aura.
Ten breaths... twenty breaths...
As time passed, just as the twentieth breath ended, a deep rumble suddenly echoed throughout the entire space.
In the next instant, a huge, invisible array, emanating a faint mist and with constantly twisting and changing light and shadow, finally took complete shape, perfectly enveloping the entire Five Elements Array.
The aura of the Five Elements Grand Array itself was also reduced to an extreme at this moment, becoming almost imperceptible, like a candle flickering in the wind, perfectly merging with the ever-changing Void Reversal Array on the outside.
From the outside, no powerful array fluctuations could be felt here anymore; there was only a rather ordinary-looking clearing in the forest and a simple defensive light shield that seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
Inside the light barrier, a blurry figure, whose aura seemed to be only at the early stage of the fifteenth level, could be vaguely seen frantically trying to reinforce the crumbling formation.
Sensing the changes in the surrounding array, a smile flashed in Chen Fei's eyes.
"The effect was even better than expected."
However, Chen Fei did not stop what she was doing.
The formation is only one layer of protection. To survive in the perilous Thousand Lotus Realm and acquire enough resources, the more preparation you have, the greater your chances of success.
Chen Fei lowered his head again, focusing his attention on the fresh green leaf he had just picked in his palm.
With a glint of light at his fingertips, exquisite runes were swiftly inscribed.
The process of engraving talismans consumes very little spiritual energy; it mainly relies on a precise grasp of the talisman's structure and a stable output of primordial energy.
For Chen Fei, who had already cultivated the Myriad Paths of Heavenly Decree to the Great Perfection, these two points were almost instinctively perfect.
Therefore, although Chen Fei used most of his spiritual power to maintain the operation of the great formation, it did not prevent him from continuing to efficiently create talismans.
In just half an hour, the number of talismans made from leaves at Chen Fei's feet had accumulated to a new level.
More than three hundred talismans, each emitting a faint glow of various colors, were neatly stacked together, resembling a miniature seven-colored pagoda.
Although the power of a single talisman is limited, the sheer number of them combined creates a powerful, albeit subtle, energy fluctuation that is still enough to make one's heart tremble.
What pleased Chen Fei even more was that, as his divine soul power recovered slightly due to the primordial lotus seed, the Five Elements Array and the puppets within it became even more active.
He could clearly sense that the entire complex array, under the cyclical effect of the five elements, continued a slow but steady self-improvement.
The nine spiritual trees at the core of the formation, which form the foundation, became increasingly resilient under the continuous nourishment of energy, and the radiance flowing on their surfaces became even more dazzling.
Meanwhile, the hundreds of stone figures, golden demons, fire spirits, water spirits, and other puppets in the formation received more nourishment, and the aura emanating from their bodies subtly became stronger.
This improvement is not achieved overnight, but rather through a gradual and silent accumulation.
It only gradually came to a standstill after the portion of Chen Fei's restored spiritual power that he could mobilize at that moment was "filled" again and a new balance was reached.
"Now that the Five Elements Formation has been strengthened and combined with the Tai Xu Reversal Formation, just how powerful has it become?"
Chen Fei's mind was closely connected with the great formation, carefully sensing every bit of power flowing within it, and quickly making an assessment in his mind.
"If it is just passive defense, even a level 15 ultimate demon cultivator would not be able to break through from the outside in a short time."
"If the opponent is misled by the Tai Xu Reversal Formation and underestimates it, rashly entering the formation, then with the wonders of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint, and the siege of hundreds of puppets, I am more than 90% confident that I can completely capture them!"
This was an extremely confident judgment, based on absolute trust in one's own mastery of formations.
Of course, this is on the premise that the fifteenth-level ultimate demonic cultivator is not the kind of peerless genius who has forged the Xuan Yuan Dao Foundation or the Di Yuan Dao Foundation.
Thinking of Daoji, Chen Fei's gaze became slightly more serious.
If a fifteenth-level ultimate demonic cultivator has forged a profound foundation in the Dao, the true combat power they can unleash will far exceed that of ordinary cultivators of the same level.
"Faced with such an opponent, even with the advantage of formations, I'm afraid I can only barely hold my own against him at best..."
It wasn't that the formation wasn't sophisticated enough, but rather that the spiritual materials at the formation's core were too weak, and Chen Fei's own cultivation level was ultimately only at the mid-stage of the fifteenth rank, which severely limited the upper limit of the power the formation could bear.
“It’s hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice!”
Although various thoughts were swirling in his mind, Chen Fei's hands did not stop moving in the slightest.
"Shh!"
Another perfectly rune-enhanced talisman was born from his fingertips, and he gently placed it on the small mountain made of talismans.
Just as Chen Fei was about to continue engraving the next talisman, his gaze suddenly shifted slightly.
Chen Fei slowly raised his head, his gaze first looking straight ahead, then sweeping over his left and right sides in turn.
Through his close connection with the Tai Xu Reversal Array, Chen Fei clearly sensed that three figures exuding dense demonic energy were rapidly approaching his area from three different directions.
"One late-stage Rank 15, two mid-stage Rank 15..."
Chen Fei remained calm, lowered his head again, and continued to concentrate on carving the talisman in his hand.
"However, the fluctuations of this primordial lotus seed seem somewhat strange..."
As Chen Fei inscribed the talismans, a hint of doubt flashed through his mind.
"From the beginning until now, all those attracted by the fluctuations of this lotus seed have been demonic cultivators, not a single human cultivator."
"Is this a coincidence?"
"Or perhaps I just happened to land in an area where demonic cultivators gather?"
"Or perhaps, this is another hidden rule of the Thousand-Petaled Demon Lotus Realm? The fluctuations emitted by the Origin Lotus Seed only attract those who are hostile to its holder?"
If it's the latter, then the brutality of this bet will be a step further.
"This is practically forcing both sides into a fight to the death!"
Just as Chen Fei's mind was racing—
"Wow!"
A terrifying roar, as if the Milky Way had burst its banks and billions of drops of blood were gushing forth, suddenly came from the highest heavens.
The sound was so loud, so violent.
It pierced directly through the barrier of the Tai Xu Reversal Array and clearly reached Chen Fei's ears.
Chen Fei suddenly looked up and saw that the sky, which had been illuminated by the crimson sun that Kuang Yezhou had transformed into, was now covered by a huge blood-red ripple that stretched across the sky.
The crimson ripples resembled a surging river of blood, or a hideous scar, radiating a terrifying killing intent and overwhelming resentment that sent chills down one's spine.
What made Chen Fei's pupils shrink even more was that, the instant the crimson ripples appeared, an aura of demonic cultivation so powerful it was suffocating swept across the entire Thousand Lotus Demon Realm like a storm.
"The fifteenth-order limit, and it's no ordinary fifteenth-order limit!"
At the same time, a cold thought descended along with the crimson ripples, clearly informing all living beings within the realm of the meaning of the strange phenomenon at this moment.
A demonic cultivator has killed more than twenty level 15 cultivators and obtained more than twenty Origin Lotus Seeds, thus triggering the rules of this realm to manifest.
Chen Fei stared at the slowly dissipating crimson ripple in the sky, his expression becoming extremely solemn.
Outside the formation, the three demonic cultivators who were approaching stopped almost simultaneously.
They all raised their heads simultaneously, their eyes filled with shock and uncertainty as they looked at the shocking crimson sky.
"This is the Blood River Reflecting the Sky!"
Tan Yingyi, the mid-stage fifteenth-level demonic cultivator, narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured softly.
"Among those who entered this realm this time, there have been some truly formidable figures! It seems that we should have the upper hand in this Thousand-Petaled Demon Lotus Realm at this moment!"
Another mid-stage fifteenth-level demonic cultivator, Chen Dinghan, revealed a mixture of awe and excitement in his eyes.
After his initial surprise, Yu Haochang, the leader of the late-stage fifteenth-level demonic cultivators, withdrew his gaze. The most important thing now was to get rid of this fat sheep in front of him.
Just then, Tan Yingyi quietly transmitted his voice, a hint of caution in it:
“Brother Yu, look at that cultivator in front of us. He's just sitting there in that broken formation, completely unconcerned. He must have sensed the three of us approaching, but he's still not flustered at all…”
Could this be a trap?
Upon hearing Tan Yingyi's telepathic message, Yu Haochang couldn't help but let out a low, cold laugh.
His demonic eyes, gleaming with an eerie light, swept over the seemingly crumbling, rudimentary array in front of him, and the figure within it who still kept his head down. His gaze was filled with undisguised contempt and disdain.
"A trap? Of course it's a trap! Isn't this obviously an illusion array? And..."
Yu Haochang's gaze seemed to pierce through that thin layer of light: "There must be other killing formations nested within this illusion array, but..."
His tone suddenly changed, becoming incredibly arrogant.
"So what if there's a trap? Before absolute power, all schemes and tricks are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs!"
"I had noticed this person before he entered this realm. He was only at the mid-stage of the fifteenth level. Even if he had some skill in formations, at most he could only use some strange tricks to kill people like you at the mid-stage of the fifteenth level."
"But today, with the three of us joining forces, do you really think we need to fear a mere mid-stage fifteenth-tier formation? That's a joke!"
Yu Haochang's voice was like the clash of metal. He was not only speaking to Tan Yingyi, but also to Chen Dinghan beside him, and to himself.
"Brother Yu is right!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Dinghan's spirits lifted, and the last trace of doubt on his face vanished. He licked his dry lips, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in his eyes.
"Shall we break through his formation now, and then go in and properly refine this formation?"
"That's exactly right, kill!" A cold glint flashed in Yu Haochang's eyes.
Before he finished speaking, a terrifying demonic aura erupted from Yu Haochang's body like a star exploding. He suddenly raised his right arm and clenched his fist in the air.
"Qiang!"
A massive, black demonic sword, its blade wreathed in crimson light, appeared out of thin air in his hand.
As soon as the demonic blade appeared, it emitted a series of chilling buzzing sounds, as if countless vengeful spirits were wailing within its blade.
"break!"
Yu Haochang let out a roar, his arm suddenly swinging, slashing the demonic blade in his hand fiercely down at the crumbling formation in front of him.
"hiss!"
A colossal, jet-black blade of light, like a roaring demonic dragon, tore through the sky, carrying a violent aura capable of destroying everything, and slashed fiercely at the array's light barrier.
Almost simultaneously, Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan also unhesitatingly summoned their demonic swords. Their sword intent soared into the sky, and countless sharp, pitch-black sword beams, like a rain of pear blossoms, followed closely behind the terrifying blade beam, pouring wildly towards the array light shield in front of them.
"boom!"
The combined attack of the three demonic cultivators was far from ordinary, especially Yu Haochang's full-force strike at the late stage of the fifteenth level, which possessed the power to cleave through ordinary planes.
The array's protective barrier in front couldn't even withstand the ferocious attack for a single breath.
A series of cracking sounds rang out, and the entire array's light shield trembled violently. Then, like shattered glass, it exploded with a bang, turning into countless flying light points that quickly dissipated into nothingness.
However, after the outer array shattered, what appeared before Yu Haochang and the other two was another layer of solid light shield radiating sharp golden light.
This light shield was platinum in color, with countless tiny sword-shaped runes rapidly flowing across its surface, emanating a chilling and incomparably sharp aura.
"As expected, there's an inner layer of formation!" Tan Yingyi's eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice.
"Humph!"
Upon seeing the second layer of the formation, Yu Haochang showed no surprise and let out a disdainful snort.
"As expected, it's a nested formation. But what can a mere metal-element killing formation do to me?"
Yu Haochang gave the formation no chance to change. He raised his demonic blade again, unleashing another terrifying blade of light, no less powerful than the previous one, like a black lightning bolt tearing through the heavens and earth, slashing fiercely forward.
Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan also sneered and once again urged the Heavenly Sword Light, which followed closely like a storm.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The ferocious attack slammed into the light shield of the Golden Spirit Returning Origin Array once again. This time, the Golden Element Killing Array demonstrated a defensive capability far stronger than the outer illusion array.
"Qiang Qiang Qiang!"
A series of ear-piercing sounds of metal clashing suddenly erupted, the platinum-gold light shield trembled violently, and the sword-shaped runes on its surface flickered wildly, desperately trying to extinguish the incoming attacks.
They held out for several breaths, but ultimately could not withstand the relentless onslaught of the three demonic cultivators.
"Oh!"
With a deafening roar, the light shield of the Golden Element Killing Array followed the same fate as its predecessors, shattering into countless golden specks scattered across the sky.
With the shattering of the Golden Spirit Returning Origin Formation, the core of the formation was finally exposed to Yu Haochang and his companions without reservation.
At the very center of the formation, the figure they had been watching closely was now filled with panic. He staggered and turned, about to flee desperately into the dense jungle behind him.
"Want to escape?"
"Hahaha, only now you're thinking of running away?"
Seeing Chen Fei's disheveled appearance, Yu Haochang's last trace of doubt vanished instantly. He let out a triumphant laugh, and his figure transformed into a dark shadow. With extreme speed, he directly crossed the broken array barrier and chased after the fleeing Chen Fei.
Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan were not to be outdone. With cruel smiles on their faces, like cats catching mice, they moved in unison and rushed out with Yu Haochang.
The moment Yu Haochang and the other two stepped into the original space within the formation, a sudden change occurred.
"Buzz!"
A deep yet powerful hum of the array suddenly resounded in all directions.
Chen Fei, who had already fled in panic to a distant place, suddenly vanished like a bubble after a slight distortion.
Almost at the same time, Chen Fei's figure slowly condensed again. He was still standing in the same place, as if he had never moved an inch. There was no trace of panic on his face.
"not good!"
Yu Haochang was, after all, a demonic cultivator at the late stage of the fifteenth level, with extremely rich combat experience. The moment he saw Chen Fei's figure disappear and then reappear, an extremely strong sense of crisis instantly washed over his entire body like ice water.
A sense of foreboding had just begun to creep into his heart, and before he could make any other move, an endless stream of thick white mist suddenly surged forth from all directions like a flood bursting its banks.
In the blink of an eye, it completely enveloped the space within several miles around the three of them.
What was even more unacceptable to them was that the two layers of array light shields that they should have completely destroyed had suddenly reappeared out of thin air.
Moreover, it is more solid and heavier than before.
"This is impossible……"
Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan's expressions changed drastically upon seeing the sudden change around them, and Yu Haochang's expression was equally grim.
Their hearts felt as if they were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and a chilling coldness shot from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
"What we just destroyed wasn't the real core of the formation; it was just an illusion, a decoy!"
“From beginning to end, we never truly touched the essence of this great formation.”
"What a brilliant illusion array!"
"What a deep and cunning mind!"
Only now did Yu Haochang truly understand what a terrifying opponent they were facing.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Just as the three demonic cultivators were shaken and in complete disarray, a series of deep, rhythmic footsteps, like the urgent beat of a death knell, slowly came from the depths of the thick white fog.
Each footstep seemed to strike their heartbeats, making them hold their breath.
Then, under their watchful eyes, nine enormous stone figures, each nine feet nine inches tall, emerged step by step from the white mist with heavy strides.
These stone figures are a deep bluish-gray color, and their bodies are covered with mysterious stone patterns. They have no facial features, but two yellowish-brown flames burn in their empty eye sockets.
"Roar!"
It was a deafening roar from all nine stone figures at the same time. In the next instant, the nine stone figures simultaneously raised their stone fists, which were as large as small mountains.
The earthy yellow light on the fist gathered wildly, condensing into nine enormous fist imprints that seemed capable of suppressing the Milky Way. With a terrifying power that could crush everything, they slammed down fiercely towards the three demonic cultivators surrounded in the center.
"Don't take any chances, charge out!"
Yu Haochang let out a roar, directly burning the source energy within his body. The demonic blade in his hand erupted with a monstrous black light, meeting the fist imprint head-on.
Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan were also furious, burning their own essence and unleashing their strongest divine powers in an attempt to resist.
However, everything was in vain!
In just a few breaths, amidst a series of dense explosions and shrill screams, the protective demonic light of Tan Yingyi and Chen Dinghan, both mid-stage fifteenth-level demonic cultivators, was shattered by the stone fist.
Next came their demonic bodies and souls, which were brutally blasted and crushed by that unparalleled power, turning into two thick clouds of blood mist, and their aura vanished instantly.
"Ah, I'm not willing to give in!"
Less than three breaths later, Yu Haochang also let out a roar filled with endless resentment and despair.
His demonic blade shattered, his demonic body collapsed, and in the end, he followed in the footsteps of Tan Yingyi and the other two, dying and vanishing under the siege of these nine stone men!
At the core of the formation, Chen Fei quietly watched the gradually subsiding energy fluctuations in the distance, and the three wisps of demonic cultivator blood mist slowly drifting away.
Chen Fei slowly extended his left hand and took the three pure wisps of demonic cultivation essence into his palm.
Then, he once again unleashed the Myriad Paths of Heavenly Decree, skillfully beginning to peel away the power of destiny and fragments of status contained within it.
The whole process was smooth and seamless, as if it had been repeated countless times.
Just as Chen Fei put away the fragment of his rank, three emerald green lotus seeds appeared out of thin air in front of him, just like before, radiating a soft and pure light.
At the same time, Chen Fei clearly felt that the heavy oppressive feeling that had always existed in his sea of consciousness had eased a little again.
(End of this chapter)