Chapter 91: Coming Attack

The Human World

Upon seeing Zhao Yan, the two guards’ expressions softened slightly. One of them spoke up and asked, “Ah, Junior Brother Zhao. What brings you to the Sect Master’s Peak so late?”

Zhao Yan bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Senior Brothers. Uncle-Master Yu sent word that there are some errands at the Sect Master’s Hall that require extra hands, and he asked me to bring a few junior brothers up the mountain. We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow.”

“Errands?”

The two exchanged a puzzled glance, but after noticing the jade waist tags hanging from Qin Sang and the others, they didn’t press further. “Junior Brother Zhao, you should be familiar with the rules of the mountain. Make sure the junior brothers don’t break any taboos, or we’ll be in trouble.”

Zhao Yan quickly assented, “Don’t worry, Senior Brothers. I’ll keep a close eye on them.”

The two nodded and cleared the path.

Zhao Yan led them to the foot of the Sect Master’s Peak. They then walked up the stone steps leading to the summit. However, they didn’t head directly to the Sect Master’s Hall. Instead, they slipped into a fork in the path they passed. Qin Sang and the other four followed closely.

Along the way, they encountered a few senior brothers. Zhao Yan had various pretexts to deceive them. The five eventually entered a secluded wooden building. The building looked decrepit and dilapidated from age and neglect, but there was no hint of decay.

This wooden building was located on the back side of the Sect Master’s Peak. From below the building, one could clearly see Yuanzhao Peak and the large lake at the foot of the mountain.

Zhao Yan peeked outside, then closed the door. He took out four palm-sized triangular cloud banners from his mustard seed pouch. He handed one to each of the four, transmitting a message: “These are cloud banners personally refined by the Sect Master. They are forbidden artifacts of the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition. We must all five control them together to activate them. Each of you should refine one now; we’ll need them soon.”

Qin Sang took the triangular cloud banner. He noticed that the cloud banners held by the four of them were all different.

The banner in his hand was covered in water-blue cloud patterns. Holding it, he felt an incredibly abundant surge of water-attribute spiritual energy, as if he were immersed in rivers, lakes, and seas.

Ruan Nanfeng’s banner had fiery-red cloud patterns. The other two had yellow and green patterns, respectively.

Qin Sang didn’t know what the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition was. However, the reputation of forbidden artifacts was well-known. It was said that cultivators proficient in formations could, based on their understanding of arrays, refine unique magical artifacts to form a set of forbidden artifacts.

By simply placing these forbidden artifacts in specific positions, they could unleash a portion of a formation’s power. This process took far less time than setting up a complete formation.

Qin Sang gripped the triangular cloud banner and, following Zhao Yan’s instructions, extended his spiritual sense into it. His vision immediately shifted, and he found an endless expanse of water within the banner. Dazzling silver lights flickered on and off in the water, as if countless bolts of lightning were swimming within it.

Just as Qin Sang felt a flicker of doubt, he suddenly saw a figure standing with hands clasped behind their back on the water’s surface. It was none other than Yi Tiannie, the Sect Master of the Kuiyin Sect!

Qin Sang was startled and shocked. He quickly said respectfully, “Qin Sang greets the Sect Master!”

Yi Tiannie stood there silently, expressionless.

Seeing this, Qin Sang gave a self-mocking laugh. How could Yi Tiannie possibly be here? He truly was a scared bird. But since this set of forbidden artifacts was personally refined by Yi Tiannie, did he perhaps leave some of his power within them?

Qin Sang didn’t understand the specifics. He could only follow the refining method Zhao Yan had given him and refine the triangular cloud banner.

All four did the same. The wooden building was silent.

Before long, all four triangular cloud banners exhibited anomalies one after another. Wisps of cloud energy floated out from the banners. Electric snakes darted within the cloud energy, and faint rumbles of thunder could be heard.

At this moment, Zhao Yan, who was standing by, raised a transparent jade treasure. It absorbed all the electric light from the cloud mist. The wooden building immediately returned to silence.

Time passed.

Qin Sang and the others had finished refining the forbidden artifacts. They sat in the wooden building, waiting idly. They still hadn’t seen Yu Hua’s figure, and didn’t know where he had gone. But with Zhao Yan watching them, Qin Sang couldn’t find an opportunity to prepare his ebony sword and could only endure.

After an unknown amount of time, the ground suddenly trembled.

A thunderous roar came from the Sect Master’s Peak: “Who goes there!”

Zhao Yan’s face lit up with joy. He yanked open the wooden door. Above Yuanzhao Peak, an enormous Yin-Yang twin fish diagram appeared. It slowly rotated in the night sky, clearly the manifestation of Yuanzhao Sect’s protective grand formation.

Above the twin fish diagram, endless rolling black flames obscured the sky and sun.

Eerie winds howled. Within the towering demonic flames, ghostly figures flickered, and their piercing cries were soul-stirring. It was as if a hundred ghosts were roaming outside at night. Innumerable evil spirits ferociously assailed Yuanzhao Sect’s protective grand formation, one after another.

Someone cackled loudly: “Old Ghost Ji, did you ever imagine this day would come when you ambushed me in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield?”

Ten thousand ghosts cried out in unison. The mountains of Yuanzhao Sect trembled. Huge waves surged in the lake.

Just then, a deafening bell rang out from Yuanzhao Peak, echoing across the sky.

The ringing of this bell signified a great disaster for the sect!

“Whoosh whoosh…”

Yuanzhao Sect was suddenly thrown into chaos. Streaks of escape light soared into the sky from various parts of the inner sect. The disciples, all in a panic, stared at the terrifying scene above, unsure of what was happening.

Zhao Yan closed the wooden door and said in a deep voice, “Form the array! Activate the escape technique!”

Qin Sang’s heart turned solemn. The four changed their positions, each holding a banner, and occupied the four directions around Zhao Yan: front, back, left, and right.

Zhao Yan held the jade treasure in his palm. At his command, Qin Sang and the other four raised their triangular cloud banners and chanted incantations.

Qin Sang felt the triangular cloud banner in his hand act like a bottomless pit, frantically devouring the spiritual energy within his body. Fortunately, it didn’t last long.

The four triangular cloud banners flapped loudly. Four colors of cloud energy burst forth, enveloping the five individuals. From the outside, the five of them seemed to have vanished from their spot.

Zhao Yan let out a low command: “Go!”

The five quietly left the wooden building and headed straight down the mountain.

Yuanzhao Peak, in front of the Grand Elder’s cave mansion.

The stone door was tightly shut. Xuan Chenzi, the current Sect Master of Yuanzhao Sect, paced back and forth outside the cave mansion. He occasionally looked up at the sky, then at the cave’s entrance, his heart burning with anxiety.

Just then, streaks of escape light also sped up from below and landed around Xuan Chenzi. The newcomers were all deacons from various halls.

“Sect Master, the enemy is powerful! The Evil-Quelling Bell has already rung. Has the Grand Elder not emerged from seclusion yet?” a red-faced old man urgently inquired.

Xuan Chenzi’s face showed bitterness. He opened his mouth, about to speak, when the stone door suddenly opened, and a deep voice came from within: “Come in, all of you.”

Everyone’s faces lit up with joy, and they filed in.

“Disciples greet the Grand Elder!”

Everyone bowed in unison. Xuan Chenzi raised his head and said urgently, “Master, the demonic cultivators have suddenly attacked without any warning. Your disciple only managed to activate the grand formation and still doesn’t know the origin of these demonic cultivators. The demonic flames outside are overwhelming. Please take charge, Master…”

The Grand Elder of Yuanzhao Sect had hair and beard as white as snow, but his face was like that of a youth. He kept his head slightly tilted upwards, staring intently at the sky, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through the cave mansion and see beyond the grand formation.

“I already know. The attackers are Old Demon Yi from the Kuiyin Sect, and all three Core Formation demonic cultivators from the Kuiyin Sect have arrived.”