amaotonovel Chapter 1376 The Inverted Five Elements Formation Shows Its Power Once Again! (2 chapters combined i
Chapter 1376 The Inverted Five Elements Formation Shows Its Power Once Again! (2 chapters combined i
The stone door of the cave slowly closed after Han Li left, emitting a dull thud. Qin Hao's gaze swept over the somewhat simple furnishings inside the cave, and a thought stirred within him. With a flick of his sleeve, the five-colored command flags were stored in his storage bag, and the light screen of the "Inverted Five Elements Array" that enveloped the entire cave rippled like water.
Immediately afterwards, he also put away the "Spirit Gathering Array" plate at the core.
Instead, the standard equipment that Qingxu Sect provided free of charge to Foundation Establishment disciples was the "Mist Array".
"There's nothing of value here anyway, so there's no need to waste spirit stones," Qin Hao muttered to himself.
While the "Inverted Five Elements Array" and the "Spirit Gathering Array" are excellent, they are veritable "spirit stone incinerators," requiring mid-grade spirit stones to fully activate their power. The path of cultivation is long, and every spirit stone must be carefully considered and saved wherever possible.
Having done all this, Qin Hao didn't linger. A flash of light appeared in his storage pouch at his waist, and the Crimson Soul Blade hummed as it emerged, hovering before him. He lightly touched the blade with his toes, stepping onto it, and with a thought, the crimson blade light transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the mist outside the cave and shooting straight towards the main peak of the Qingxu Sect.
The Crimson Soul Blade moved with incredible speed, sweeping across the rolling mountains of Qingxu Sect. Along the way, it encountered many Qi Refining disciples who were either wielding various magical artifacts or using lightness techniques to travel.
These disciples, sensing the unique spiritual pressure approaching from the Foundation Establishment cultivator, were all startled like birds, hastily descending from mid-air and respectfully standing by the roadside. Only after Qin Hao's escape light swept past like a gust of wind did they dare to continue their journey, their eyes filled with awe.
This is the stark ironclad rule of the cultivation world—survival of the fittest, with a strict hierarchy.
Insubordination? Superiors can arbitrarily punish or even kill, and as long as the reason is plausible, the rules of the sect often turn a blind eye.
The blade of light paused halfway up the main peak, and instead of landing in the plaza in front of the grand hall as usual, it turned and flew towards an area behind the main peak that was perpetually filled with the smell of sulfur and scorching spiritual pressure—the location of the weapon-refining hall.
Deep within the Refining Hall, in the Earth Fire Chamber area connected to the Earth's Lung Fire Vein, the temperature is far more intense than the outside.
A Qi Refining stage disciple dressed in a gray robe was guarding the entrance on the first floor. Sensing the unique spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator descending, he quickly bowed, his head bowed very low: "Disciple greets Uncle Zhang!"
Qin Hao glanced at the man with some surprise upon hearing this. He had only recently advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, and not many outer disciples in the sect recognized his appearance.
"You recognize me?"
The gray-robed disciple maintained his respectful posture, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement: "Reporting to Martial Uncle, when you broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, the Earth Fire Chamber you rented was where I served you, igniting the Earth Fire and recording the time."
"So it was you." Qin Hao suddenly realized, no wonder you looked familiar. He casually reached into his storage bag, and a talisman with shimmering light and spiritual energy appeared between his fingers. He handed it over casually: "It's fate. I'll bestow this 'Fire Serpent Talisman' upon you. Cultivate it well."
Although this Fire Serpent Talisman is a low-level talisman, it belongs to the high-level category and has considerable power. For a Qi Refining disciple, it is a rare life-saving item.
The gray-robed disciple accepted the talisman with both hands, his face instantly lighting up with joy. He repeatedly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you so much, Uncle-Master! Uncle-Master is blessed with boundless fortune, and your path to immortality is smooth! Did you come here today to rent the Earth Fire Chamber?"
He carefully put away the talisman, then added solicitously, "According to the sect rules, since you are now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you can rent a Grade A Earth Fire Chamber on the second floor equipped with a 'Purple Fire Cauldron,' which has a stronger and more stable firepower, making the weapon refining process more efficient."
Qin Hao was quite satisfied with this, as it was precisely the purpose of his trip. Ordinary earth fire and cauldrons would likely be insufficient to refine the remains of a peak-level second-tier demon beast like the Ink Dragon material.
"Okay, then help me rent a two-story underground fire room for half a month."
"Yes! Please wait a moment, Martial Uncle... Martial Uncle, please keep your identification token safe. You can go directly to Room D on the second floor. The array restrictions have already been activated for you. We wish you a smooth weapon forging process, Martial Uncle!"
Qin Hao nodded slightly in acknowledgment, said no more, and walked straight toward the passageway leading to the second floor.
Compared to the first floor, the number of Earth Fire Chambers on the second floor of the Refining Hall has been reduced to less than one-third. However, each Earth Fire Chamber is several times larger, with heavy stone doors tightly closed and more complex and powerful protective and fire-gathering arrays engraved on them, isolating the terrifying high temperature inside.
The air was filled with the smell of sulfur mixed with pure fire spiritual energy, and every breath was hot. The concentration of spiritual energy was far above the first level. However, the earth vein fire was accompanied by fire poison and was not suitable for long-term cultivation.
Qin Hao arrived at the stone gate marked with the character "丁". A flash of light appeared on the waist token, and a beam of spiritual light shot out and entered the gate's array eye. The heavy stone gate slid open silently to the side.
"call--!"
An extremely hot, almost solidified heat wave instantly rushed towards him. Even with Qin Hao's Foundation Establishment cultivation, his body was instantly covered with a faint protective spiritual light before he could barely withstand it.
The interior is spacious, with a circular well about ten feet in diameter in the center of the floor. The wellhead is covered by a complex array of patterns. Under the suppression of the array, the crimson earth fire is like a docile yet violent beast, spewing out stable and powerful orange-red flames through the gaps in the array.
Directly above the fire well, eight thick, jet-black chains, each engraved with ancient runes, firmly suspend a giant cauldron about ten feet tall.
This cauldron is a deep purple-copper color, covered with mysterious flame and cloud patterns. It has three legs and two handles, and its shape is simple and grand. Under the reflection of the earth fire below, it is surrounded by a faint purple halo. It is the famous "Purple Fire Cauldron" of the Qingxu Sect's weapon refining hall.
Qin Hao took a deep breath, suppressing the slight discomfort caused by the heat wave, and closed the stone door with a wave of his hand, instantly isolating the high temperature and intense heat inside.
He then patted his storage bag, and several pieces of mineral materials of various colors, brimming with spiritual energy, flew out and hovered beside the cauldron. These were auxiliary materials commonly used in refining, used to enhance the toughness and spiritual conductivity of the main material. Next, he carefully took out the core material of this trip—a relic obtained from the level-two ink dragon he had killed in the Crimson Forbidden Land.
First came dozens of palm-sized, sharp-edged, jet-black scales that shimmered with a cold metallic sheen. These were the hardest protective scales on the back of the Ink Dragon, each containing a rich concentration of demonic power and water essence.
Next, two venomous fangs, each about a foot long, curved like hooks, with tips gleaming with a chilling, eerie blue light, were removed. As soon as they were exposed to the air, a slightly poisonous aura, sweet and numbing, spread out.
Finally, there was a massive and complete set of black dragon bones! The bones were thick and contained an astonishing sense of power, and the joints shimmered with a jade-like luster. In particular, the vertebrae and ribs that ran from head to tail exuded a sense of strength and resilience.
In addition to these main materials, there is also a clump of venom from a black dragon's venom sac, which is viscous like ink and emits a pungent stench, sealed in a special jade box, as well as a clump of pure and powerful second-level black dragon essence taken from the dragon's head and sealed.
"Activate!" Qin Hao's eyes narrowed, and his expression became solemn. He sat cross-legged in front of the Purple Fire Cauldron, his hands forming hand seals, and streams of spiritual light entered the cauldron and the fire control array below.
"Buzz!" The fire control array shone brightly, and the original orange-red earth fire suddenly deepened in color, turning into a blazing white-gold. The flames condensed, like roaring fire dragons, rushing into the fire-gathering opening at the bottom of the Purple Fire Cauldron.
The Purple Fire Cauldron lit up with runes, and the temperature inside the cauldron soared at an alarming rate, with the inner walls even beginning to glow a faint reddish hue.
Qin Hao changed his hand seals again: "Open the Cauldron!"
Guided by the incantation, the cauldron lid slowly floated up, and an even more intense wave of heat surged out. His divine sense was as fine as silk, precisely controlling the auxiliary mineral materials, which were then poured into the cauldron in batches.
Once the ore enters the cauldron, it rapidly softens and melts under terrifying high temperatures, transforming into a colorful liquid metal stream that tumbles and purifies within the cauldron.
Once the auxiliary materials had been smelted and purified, Qin Hao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he shouted, "Go!" Dozens of black dragon scales transformed into streaks of black light and were all thrown into the cauldron!
"Hiss—!" The moment the immense water-based demonic power contained in the Ink Dragon Scale Armor came into contact with the raging earth fire, it emitted an extremely violent explosion and energy conflict. The entire Purple Fire Cauldron trembled slightly, and the inside of the cauldron was like a boiling oil pot, with black gas and white smoke churning violently!
Qin Hao remained composed, his hands moving with lightning speed, activating the fire-controlling array with all his might. Using his own pure spiritual power as a guide, he forcefully suppressed and harmonized the violent conflict between water and fire within the cauldron. Sweat instantly soaked through his clothes, then evaporated into white steam under the intense heat. This was an extremely mentally and physically demanding process; the slightest mistake could destroy the materials.
Time passed slowly. Under Qin Hao's powerful fire control abilities and the blessing of the Purple Fire Cauldron, the conflict within the cauldron was gradually tamed.
The black dragon's scales began to soften, their dark luster shimmering as they slowly mingled and permeated with the molten auxiliary materials. Qin Hao seized this fleeting moment of balance, slamming his hands together: "Condense the armor! Shape it!"
Divine sense, like an invisible giant hand, probed into the cauldron, enveloping the glossy black solution that had fused with the essence of scales and auxiliary ingredients, and rapidly sketched its outline on it.
A prototype of an inner armor covering the chest, abdomen, and vest gradually materialized amidst the raging flames. The armor plates were fine and dense, with sharp, serrated edges characteristic of dragon scales, and the entire piece radiated a deep, dark light.
Qin Hao dared not relax in the slightest, continuously injecting magic power to repeatedly temper and compress the armor body, while simultaneously embedding reinforcement and defense runes into the armor itself.
After three days and three nights, the violent energy inside the cauldron finally subsided completely.
As Qin Hao unleashed his final, condensed incantation, the cauldron lid slammed shut. He slowly withdrew his magical power, his face showing a hint of weariness, but his eyes were filled with anticipation.
"Collect!" The lid of the cauldron opened again, and a beam of dark light shot out, which Qin Hao captured in his hand.
It felt cool to the touch, carrying the weight of metal and the suppleness of leather. Upon closer inspection, it was an exquisitely crafted inner armor with a sleek design, covering the vital parts of the upper body. The armor plates were as fine as fish scales, jet black and matte, yet a subtle, lively shimmering light flowed between the scales.
The armor was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it possessed immense resilience. Qin Hao channeled his magic power and flicked his finger!
"Clang!" A clear and melodious metallic clang rang out, and a powerful shockwave came from the fingertips, but the armor plates remained completely undamaged.
"What a fine Ink Scale Armor! A top-quality defensive magic weapon!" Qin Hao was overjoyed. With this armor protecting him, his safety had increased significantly.
Three days later, Qin Hao felt that his divine sense and magical power had been fully restored, and then he opened the cauldron again.
This time, he used those two black dragon fangs! At the same time, he carefully opened the jade box that sealed the venom, and used his magic to wrap a drop of viscous, pitch-black black dragon venom, suspending it beside the cauldron for later use.
The venomous demonic power contained in the fangs collided with the earth fire, generating an even more bizarre, ghostly blue toxic smoke that hissed and crackled.
Qin Hao was prepared. He held his breath, and his protective spiritual light formed a barrier to isolate the poisonous smoke. He concentrated his consciousness highly, guiding the fire to temper the impurities inside the poisonous fangs, carefully preserving their original highly toxic properties.
This process is far more complex than refining scales, and the backlash and destructive power of the toxicity are even greater. A vein throbbed on Qin Hao's forehead as his magical power surged forth like a flood, maintaining the delicate balance within the cauldron.
Two more days passed. The two venomous fangs were refined, stretched, and shaped within the cauldron, eventually condensing into two daggers, each about seven inches long, entirely dark blue, as thin as willow leaves, and curved like the fangs of a venomous snake! The blades gleamed with a chilling light that could pierce the soul with just a glance.
"Poison Fang Dagger, complete!" Qin Hao shouted. Just as the dagger was about to solidify, he had a thought, and the drop of black dragon venom hanging beside the cauldron was precisely split into two parts, which shot into the spines of the two daggers with lightning speed.
The azure dagger suddenly emitted a dazzling blackish-blue light, and an even richer, dizzying, and sweet-smelling odor spread out. The cauldron wall made a slight "sizzling" corrosion sound when it came into contact with it, and it was immediately refined by the earth fire.
Qin Hao swiftly drew out two daggers. The daggers felt light in his hand yet carried a chilling aura, with black mist seemingly flowing within their dark blue blades.
"Top-grade! Extremely poisonous! Armor-piercing, kills instantly upon contact with blood! Furthermore, the venom from the Black Dragon's venom sac can be applied at any time to enhance the poison!" Qin Hao's eyes gleamed. With these poisoned daggers, combined with his talismans and formations, even when facing a powerful enemy, he would have a deadly and insidious killing move.
The final highlight is the complete skeleton of the black dragon! Especially the thick vertebrae and the tough ribs, which are excellent materials for crafting flying magical artifacts.
Qin Hao took a deep breath and poured the massive dragon bones into the Purple Fire Cauldron in batches. This time, he wasn't just putting in materials, but also the sealed essence of the black dragon! The immense demonic power contained in the dragon bones combined with the essence, unleashing a soaring black demonic aura within the cauldron, seemingly about to burst the Purple Fire Cauldron apart! Its power far surpassed that when the armor and dagger were forged.
Qin Hao was completely focused, not daring to be distracted in the slightest. He not only had to melt the hard dragon bones, refining and purifying them into the most essential bone fluid, but also guide the unruly black dragon's spirit to merge into it, endowing the magical artifact with spirituality, while simultaneously imprinting it with his own divine imprint, completely erasing its remaining ferocity. His hands moved so fast that they were mere afterimages, casting complex and profound runes into the cauldron, forcibly suppressing and guiding the raging demonic soul to fuse with the bone fluid.
The process was long and agonizing. The demonic soul within the cauldron struggled and roared incessantly, its silent howls assaulting Qin Hao's consciousness. Qin Hao's face paled, and a trickle of blood even escaped from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes grew ever sharper and more resolute.
For seven whole days and seven nights! The roars within the cauldron finally subsided, and the vast demonic energy receded into nothingness. The Purple Fire Cauldron's radiance became restrained, with only a ball of deep, black jade-like bone fluid flowing with a strange luster slowly rotating within it, emitting a unique and elusive aura.
Qin Hao's eyes gleamed, and he suddenly raised his hands upwards: "Dragon boat formed! Conceal!"
The inky black fluid in the cauldron seemed to come alive, instantly stretching, extending, and shaping! A prototype of a flying boat, about ten feet long, with a smooth, shuttle-like shape and made entirely of black jade-like bones, was born in the flames! The boat's lines were elegant, with the shape of a dragon faintly visible, and the bow was slightly raised, exuding a sharp, swift air.
The most crucial step has arrived! Qin Hao bit his tongue, spraying a mouthful of blood essence onto the hull as a mist. At the same time, he unleashed his full divine sense, imprinting core restrictions related to "concealment," "absence concealment," and "speed" deep into the hull's dragon bones with incantations! The trace of innate concealment ability contained within the Black Dragon's spirit was activated to the maximum extent, merging into the core restrictions of the magical artifact.
"Buzz—!" A deep and resonant dragon's roar seemed to emanate from within the ship's hull, and the entire bone ship suddenly burst forth with a profound dark light. Then, within the radiance, a strange, transparent quality, as if it could dissolve into space, was revealed! The dark light flashed and disappeared, and the bone ship was fully formed!
"Ink Dragon Boat! Go!" With a thought, Qin Hao's ten-foot-long ink jade bone boat instantly shrank to the size of his palm, transforming into a streak of ink light that flew into his hand.
The boat's hull was as smooth and warm as jade, cool to the touch, with perfectly streamlined lines, emanating a faint but pure spatial fluctuation. Qin Hao tried to infuse it with a trace of magic power, and the Ink Dragon Boat instantly vanished from his palm, as if it had never existed, leaving not even a trace of its aura!
"Good! Good! Good!" Qin Hao said "good" three times in a row, his face beaming with undisguised joy.
"With this boat, whether escaping or ambushing from the shadows, it's like adding wings to a tiger! A top-quality magical artifact for stealth and flight! This artifact forging trip was worth it!"
Satisfied, Qin Hao carefully stored the three newly crafted powerful magical artifacts into his storage bag. Feeling that more than half of his magical power had been depleted, Qin Hao sat cross-legged, swallowed a recovery pill, and began to close his eyes and regulate his breathing to recover.
When the half-month deadline arrived, Qin Hao stepped out of the Ding Fire Chamber on time. His expression was calm, but the restrained sharpness between his brows was even stronger than when he arrived.
After nodding to the gray-robed disciple, he summoned the Ink Dragon Boat, which transformed into a streak of black light and vanished into the sky in an instant.
This time, Qin Hao did not return to his cave, but flew straight towards a vast and secluded mountain range on the edge of the Yellow Maple Valley's territory.
Several hours later, they arrived at the agreed location—the edge of a primeval forest with towering ancient trees and gnarled vines. This place was quite a distance from the gate of Yellow Maple Valley, but it was within a buffer zone tacitly agreed upon by various sects, where spiritual energy was thin and few people were around.
Qin Hao descended with his escape light, landing in a clearing surrounded by giant trees and scattered rocks in the forest.
As his divine sense swept across the area, Han Li heard a whispered voice from the shadow of a giant tree branch not far away: "Senior brother, you've arrived."
"Hmm." Qin Hao's figure flashed, appearing in the shadows beside Han Li, his aura as concealed as a stubborn rock. "Junior Brother Han, how is the situation? Are you sure Lin Mo will leave the valley from here today?"
Han Li's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, fixed on the direction of the Yellow Maple Valley's mountain gate. He whispered, "Senior Brother, don't worry. Yesterday, under the pretense of buying some low-grade weapon-refining materials, I chatted with a Qi Refining stage disciple I knew from the Hundred Refining Hall. Through subtle questioning, I learned that Master Lin... Lin Mo, did indeed take leave and leave the valley today. This person is extremely cautious. I have carefully surveyed the area. Within a hundred miles, only this nameless path winding through the desolate mountains and deep valleys is the most secluded, far from the trade routes and markets commonly used by various sects. If he really wants to secretly leave the valley to contact the old members of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, this is the first choice."
Qin Hao nodded slightly: "That's true, but we must be prepared for him to take another route. If it doesn't work today, we'll find a secluded spot nearby and take turns staking out the area. This man is so eager for revenge that he's like someone being fried in oil; there will come a time when he leaves the valley alone."
A hint of worry flashed in Han Li's eyes: "Senior Brother's plan is meticulous. However... as far as I know, Lin Mo was once the young master of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, with a deep foundation and methods far beyond those of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. I'm worried that he probably has many trump cards to save his life or escape. What if... what if he escapes, or sends out some warning before he dies, and our plan to ambush and kill Foundation Establishment cultivators from Yellow Maple Valley here is exposed..."
Thinking of the consequences—Yellow Maple Valley's fury, Qingxu Sect's determination to distance themselves from the situation and label them both traitors, leaving them with nowhere to go in the entire Tiannan and even the Great Jin—Han Li's heart tightened, and cold sweat broke out on his back. This was practically dancing on the edge of a knife.
Qin Hao noticed the tension in Han Li's eyes, but a cold and confident smile curved his lips: "Junior brother, please relax. If I weren't absolutely certain, why would I have chosen this place to make my move? You'll soon witness the power of the 'Inverted Five Elements Formation' firsthand. Even if he had wings, he wouldn't be able to escape this formation!"
Seeing Qin Hao's confidence and composure, Han Li's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he became even more eager for the legendary formation. He said in a low voice, "In that case... I will wait for Senior Brother to display his divine power."
Qin Hao said no more, his gaze becoming serious, like a lurking cheetah, his aura completely concealed. Han Li also held his breath, blending himself into the shadows. In the dense forest, only the rustling of the mountain wind through the treetops and the chirping of some low-level insects could be heard, the atmosphere as oppressive as the calm before a storm.
Time slipped away silently in the waiting. An hour felt like an eternity, like a snail slowly crawling along.
at last!
As the horizon was about to disappear into the twilight, a pale blue streak of light approached from the direction of Yellow Maple Valley. Its speed was neither fast nor slow, but it carried a cautiousness that deliberately concealed its aura. It was flying along the hidden path towards the mountain range where Qin Hao and his companion were lying in ambush!
Han Li's pupils contracted sharply, his heart leaped into his throat, and he lowered his voice to a whisper, tinged with barely suppressed excitement and nervousness: "Senior brother! He's here!"
A cold glint flashed in Qin Hao's eyes! Without the slightest hesitation, just as the azure sword light driven by Lin Mo was about to fly dozens of feet above their heads, his hand, hidden under his sleeve, suddenly made a hand seal that he had prepared beforehand!
"Inverted Five Elements Formation, activate!"
With a deep shout from Qin Hao, an invisible yet incredibly powerful array force suddenly erupted! Centered on Lin Mo, the space within a radius of over a hundred feet suddenly distorted and blurred! Clouds and mist arose out of thin air, instantly becoming as thick as tangible white cotton, swirling and spreading! The sky, the earth, the distant mountains and dense forests... all familiar scenes were as if instantly wiped away and replaced by an invisible giant hand!
Lin Mo felt a blur before his eyes, as if he had been instantly transported to another world. All around him was a vast expanse of white mist, with no sky or earth. His divine sense was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, being weakened and distorted layer by layer by a powerful force, and his perception range was suddenly reduced to about ten feet around him!
"Not good! An ambush! A formation?!" Lin Mo was, after all, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator who had experienced many trials and tribulations. He immediately realized that he had fallen into an extremely sophisticated trap!
Despite his shock, his reaction was astonishingly fast! He didn't even have time to retract the Green Edge Sword at his feet; his body instinctively retreated rapidly, while simultaneously slapping his hands on the storage pouch at his waist!
"Buzz!" A thick, pale golden light shield instantly rose from his body, protecting him completely—it was the "Golden Shield," the top-tier defensive magic weapon he relied on to save his life!
Almost at the same time, he muttered incantations and his hands moved rapidly like butterflies flitting among flowers!
"Puppet array!"
With a low roar, invisible portals seemed to open in front of, behind, and to the left and right of him! Countless mechanical beasts and puppets of various shapes surged out like a tidal wave!
There are low-level mechanical beasts in the shapes of wolves, tigers, and leopards, which are swift in movement and have sharp claws and teeth; there are wooden or metal puppets that hold knives and shields and have flexible joints, with their eyes flashing with red spiritual light.
In the blink of an eye, no fewer than three hundred puppets surrounded Lin Mo, forming an impenetrable mobile fortress! Although most of these puppets only had the attack power of the Qi Refining stage, their sheer number and fearlessness, combined with their combined attack, were enough to give even Foundation Establishment cultivators a headache.
In the shadows outside the formation, Han Li was terrified, his pupils dilating in shock!
Witnessing the sudden appearance and formation of hundreds of puppets was far more shocking than hearing about it! A mix of emotions welled up within him: he was delighted that Senior Brother Qin's words were true, that Lin Mo indeed possessed the core secret manual of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, "The True Explanation of Puppetry"! If he could obtain it, the improvement to his strength would be immeasurable! He was worried, however, that this person was far more troublesome than he had anticipated! With so many puppet guards, plus his own mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation and defensive magic artifacts, once he broke through the formation or sent out a distress signal... Han Li felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his palms, gripping the "Azure Dragon Flag," were already covered in cold sweat.
However, Han Li's worries were quickly dispelled by what happened in the formation.
Trapped within the formation, Lin Mo, after his initial panic, had a sharp and fierce look in his eyes. "Who are you, you cowardly rats! Hiding yourselves! Break!" he roared, his hands rapidly changing hand seals!
"Puppet Combo Attack!"
As he made his hand seal, the nearly one hundred powerful puppets surrounding him, each wielding a massive armor-piercing spike, a heavy hammer, or an energy cannon, instantly changed direction, aiming at the areas where the white mist of the formation was churning most violently! Their attacks were not individual, but rather, under some mysterious connection, their energy converged, and their movements became perfectly synchronized!
"Boom!!!"
Hundreds of beams of light, energy waves, and physical strikes of various colors, each powerful enough to threaten a cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, slammed into the invisible barrier formed by the "Inverted Five Elements Array" with a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, like a violent torrent of metal!
Han Li's heart leaped into his throat, fearing that the formation would be torn apart by this thunderous combined attack.
However! The expected earth-shattering roar did not come! The violent torrent of energy crashed into the thick fog, like a mud ox entering the sea! The array's light barrier only rippled violently like water with a stone thrown in, creating strong ripples of spiritual energy that cleverly deflected and guided most of the attack energy, distributing it throughout the entire array to withstand.
Only a small amount of energy escaped, creating a few faint flashes at the edge of the formation, which were instantly annihilated by the formation's power.
The thick fog remained, and the formation stood firm! Lin Mo's combined attack with puppets, which was powerful enough to severely injure mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators and even make late-Foundation Establishment cultivators retreat, did not even shake the formation in the slightest!
"Impossible!" Lin Mo's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock. He knew better than anyone the power of the Hundred Puppets' combined attack, yet it had no effect on this formation?
Outside the formation, Han Li witnessed this unbelievable scene firsthand, and his heart was filled with turbulent waves!
Overjoy instantly overwhelmed his previous worries! The power of this "Inverted Five Elements Formation" was truly formidable! The combined attack of three hundred puppets was like hitting cotton! His awe of Qin Hao and his desire for this formation instantly reached their peak!
"Senior brother, this formation..." Han Li turned to Qin Hao, his eyes filled with barely concealed urgency and fervor, his voice trembling slightly. This was practically an unparalleled weapon for murder, robbery, and stealth! If he could obtain it...
Qin Hao clearly saw the eagerness in Han Li's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "This formation has an extraordinary origin. It was created by an unparalleled genius formation master who painstakingly simplified a fragmented ancient formation found in an ancient cultivator's ruins. If you are interested, Junior Brother, we can discuss it after this matter is settled."
He changed the subject, his gaze returning to Lin Mo, who was restless and agitated like a trapped beast in the formation. His tone turned cold, "However, the most urgent task is to deal with Lin Mo first! Delay will only lead to unforeseen circumstances!"
Upon hearing this, Han Li felt as if he had been doused with cold water, instantly sobering up. A look of shame appeared on his face: "Senior brother is right! I was too hasty! The important matter is ahead!"
At this moment, Lin Mo in the formation had recovered from his shock, replaced by endless anger and a trace of barely perceptible panic.
He frantically urged his divine sense to command the puppets, constantly attempting to attack the formation from different angles, while desperately trying to sense the outside world and locate the formation's foundation. However, all his efforts were in vain.
The thick fog rolled and swirled, obscuring his vision and limiting his senses. His attacks were like stones sinking into the sea; he couldn't even touch his opponent's shadow.
"You cowardly rat hiding your head and tail! If you have the guts, come out and fight me, Lin! What kind of skill is it to trap people with such a low-class formation!" Lin Mo roared angrily, trying to provoke the enemy out.
Qin Hao ignored these shouts, his eyes as cold as ice. He seized the moment when Lin Mo's mind wavered slightly due to the failure of his attack, and his control of the puppet faltered for a second. Then, he slammed his left hand into his storage pouch at his waist!
A streak of pink light shot out! It was a crystal ball the size of a fist, with what appeared to be swirling pink mist inside!
"Bewitching Pearl! Go!" Qin Hao shouted, casting a spell into the crystal ball!
"Buzz!" The Bewitching Heart Pearl shone brightly, and a pink beam of light with strange and mesmerizing fluctuations shot out like lightning, accurately enveloping the top-level flying sword magic weapon that Lin Mo was fully controlling and which was hovering at the edge of the formation, attempting to attack—the Azure Edge Sword!
The moment the pink light enveloped the Azure Edge Sword, Lin Mo's expression changed drastically! He immediately felt as if his divine sense attached to the Azure Edge Sword had been thrown into boiling oil, experiencing a sharp burning pain and dizziness!
It was as if a million seductive sounds were resounding deep within his mind, frantically interfering with his will and control over the flying sword!
"Damn it! What kind of evil magic weapon is this?!" Lin Mo was shocked and furious. He desperately tried to retrieve the Qingfeng Sword by urging his divine sense, while cursing fiercely, "Who are you demons?! How dare you brazenly ambush and kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the heart of my Yellow Maple Valley! Do you know that this is tantamount to starting a war with my Yellow Maple Valley?! If I, Lin, am lucky enough to escape, I will chase you to the ends of the earth and grind you to dust! I will capture your souls and refine your spirits! May you never be reincarnated!"
Outside the formation, Qin Hao merely responded with a disdainful sneer, his tone full of mockery: "Heh, this former young master of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, it seems that even after such a drastic change, his nature remains so...naive and childish. Even now, he still dares to try to intimidate others with his power? Utterly laughable!"
Han Li, standing to the side, secretly shook his head, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. If he were in such a desperate situation, he would immediately feign weakness and beg for mercy, even offering up some of his wealth to try and appease the enemy, lowering their guard and seizing the opportunity to escape or launch a counterattack.
Lin Mo's approach of being all bluster and no substance, resorting to threats to provoke the enemy, is tantamount to courting death! It's tantamount to telling the enemy that the two sides are locked in a life-or-death struggle with no room for maneuver, and that the other side will only retaliate more ruthlessly and swiftly!
"However, he did make one right." Qin Hao's gaze swept over the silent mountains and forests, his voice turning cold, "This is ultimately within the territory of Huangfeng Valley. Although it is remote, delaying too long may lead to unforeseen complications. A moment's delay could cause unforeseen changes!"
A murderous glint flashed in Qin Hao's eyes! Without the slightest hesitation, he slammed his right hand hard on the storage bag!
Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Five radiant talismans, densely covered with golden wind blade runes, were instantly activated and appeared before him! They were the powerful mid-level attack talismans – the "Golden Blade Storm Talisman"!
"Go!" Qin Hao pointed his fingers like a sword and suddenly pointed towards Lin Mo in the formation!
The five talismans simultaneously burst forth with light, transforming into five dazzling golden orbs that instantly disappeared into the "Inverted Five Elements Array"!
"boom--!!!"
Within the formation, the swirling white mist was instantly replaced by countless dazzling golden rays that crisscrossed and tore everything apart! Hundreds of enormous golden sword energies, condensed from pure gold-elemental spiritual power, appeared out of thin air, like a giant, high-speed rotating golden meat grinder, raging wildly around Lin Mo!
"Clang Clang Clang!!!"
"Pfft! Crack! Boom—!!"
The ear-piercing clang of metal clashing, the explosive sound of energy shields being torn apart, and the shattering sound of puppets being smashed all rang out instantly! Under such a violent and dense attack, Lin Mo's top-level defensive magic weapon, the "Golden Shield," only lasted for less than two breaths before its light flashed wildly and it emitted a mournful cry of being unable to bear the burden!
Several golden blade energies broke through his defenses and slammed into the small protective shield he had hastily conjured, producing a deafening explosion!
Even worse were the puppets surrounding him! They were like puppets thrown into a giant crusher! Wood chips flew everywhere, and metal parts scattered in all directions! The wolf-shaped mechanical beast was cut in half at the waist, the shield-wielding puppet's shield and arm were sliced off, and the energy cannon puppet was shredded into scrap metal before it could even fire!
The three hundred puppet army was instantly thrown into chaos, nearly half of them were decimated by the golden storm! The debris was swept up by the violent whirlwind, forming terrifying tornadoes of metallic remains!
"Ah—!" Lin Mo roared in shock and anger, filled with pain and resentment, from the center of the storm! His robes were torn, revealing several deep wounds that exposed bone, dripping with blood! Faced with this sudden storm of talismans, as powerful as the heavens and earth, he had the cultivation of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator and many tricks up his sleeve, but because he was trapped in the formation and lost the initiative, he could only passively take the beating!
"My puppets!!" Lin Mo's heart bled as he watched his puppet army, which he had painstakingly crafted with countless materials, suffer heavy losses.
The power of the five "Golden Blade Storm Talismans" had not yet been completely exhausted, and the golden storm vortex was still spinning and tearing wildly! Qin Hao's eyes flashed even colder, and without pausing, he slapped his storage bag again with his left hand!
"disease!"
Two streaks of dark light! One streak of crimson light! Like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, or meteors piercing the sun, they tore through the air, carrying deadly intent, and instantly shot into the center of the still raging golden storm!
These were his two masterpieces—the Ink Dragon Venomous Fang Dagger and the Crimson Soul Blade!
Lin Mo, who was in the eye of the storm and was desperately trying to repair the "Golden Shield" and control the remaining puppets, had no time to react!
First, the Crimson Soul Blade transformed into a crimson streak, and with a "whoosh," it precisely struck the same spot on the already dimmed and cracked "Golden Shield"!
With a crisp "crack!", this top-tier defensive artifact finally succumbed to the repeated blows, collapsing completely like a shattered eggshell! It vanished into specks of golden light!
The moment the defense was breached, another silent, eerie blue light—the Poison Fang Dagger—almost completely blended into the storm's shadow, pierced through a weak point in Lin Mo's protective aura like a leech, and slashed fiercely across his right shoulder!
"Ugh—!" A piercing, excruciating pain, instantly numbing half of his body, shot through Lin Mo's body! He let out a shrill scream! The wound instantly turned black, and that eerie blackness spread upwards along the blood vessels at a visible speed! The Black Dragon's deadly poison had begun to take effect!
Misfortune never comes singly! Without the protection of the "Golden Shield," the remaining puppets were as fragile as paper in the golden storm, and most of them were instantly killed! Only a dozen or so incomplete puppets remained, crookedly guarding Lin Mo, and they were already at their last gasp!
In just a few breaths, the tide of battle turned! Lin Mo went from a menacing mid-Foundation Establishment expert to a disheveled, blood-soaked, blackened-shouldered, and feeble-looking trapped beast! The shadow of death loomed over him like never before!
"Pfft!" He spat out a mouthful of black blood with a strange, metallic smell, his eyes filled with resentment, unwillingness, and a hint of...despair! (End of Chapter)