Chapter 329 - 324: As Long as You Can Counter-Kill, a Mistake Is a Lure

The battle erupted suddenly.

Du Youqian had been on guard the whole time, yet he was still nearly caught off guard.

Two unfamiliar Core Formation Masters had somehow snuck close to the Daoist Temple, apparently intending to destroy the Array’s core.

And Du Youqian, the Tier Three Array Master controlling the Array, hadn’t even noticed them. It wasn’t until his intuition screamed a warning that he intensified his Divine Sense scan and finally detected them.

Not only were these two deeply skilled in Arrays, but their ability to conceal their movements was also simply incredible.

One of them must have comprehended a Divine Ability related to Concealment.

Some Core Formation Masters might lack absolute combat power, but they always have a unique trick up their sleeve.

It just goes to show, no Core Formation Master is ever simple.

Throughout history, battles where the underdog defeats the superior have happened from time to time.

Holding an absolute advantage in strength doesn’t guarantee victory.

Du Youqian reminded himself once again not to be careless.

If he underestimated the heroes of the world, he could capsize in a gutter at any moment.

With their plan foiled and seeing they could no longer get near the Array’s core, the two acted decisively. They launched a sudden attack, using their Treasures to flank Du Youqian from the left and right.

As for Master Wu Ai, who had already heard the commotion and was rushing over, they simply tossed out a Tier Four Defensive Treasure—a metal ring that could change its size—to temporarily block her path.

"So it’s you! Hu Po Master, Master Bai He, how long will you cling to your misguided path? Hurry up and right your wrongs!" Master Wu Ai shouted sharply.

In Momenan, Treasures are limited, and Tier Four Treasures are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Every single one is accounted for.

To bring out such a Treasure was tantamount to laying their cards on the table. The enemy was clearly determined to silence all witnesses and didn’t care about exposing their identities.

The one who used this Tier Four Treasure was a Core Formation Master from a Third-class Sect, Master Bai He.

And everyone knew that Master Bai He and Hu Po Master of another Sect were always inseparable.

Therefore, the identity of the other unfamiliar Core Formation Master was obvious without asking.

Who else could it be but Hu Po Master?

Their identities exposed, the two didn’t hesitate to deliver a killing blow to Du Youqian.

Master Bai He left the Tier Four Treasure to operate on its own while he himself controlled a set of seventy-two miniature flying daggers, which crisscrossed through the air to seal off Du Youqian’s every path of advance or retreat.

Meanwhile, Hu Po Master controlled a Treasure Flying Sword, its Sword Qi chillingly sharp, and served as the main attacker.

From the very first exchange, they used their deadliest moves, adopting a "you die or I die" stance.

Core Formation Masters are beings with long lifespans. Even in battle, they tend to prioritize self-preservation.

Even if they suffer a small loss, as long as they survive, there will always be a chance for revenge.

Thus, under normal circumstances, combat tends to be relatively restrained.

For short-lived species, excluding the very old and the very young, their period of peak physical stamina lasts only a brief twenty to thirty years, fifty at most.

But Core Formation Masters possess a long "youth." If they can cultivate to the Golden Core Middle and Late Stage, they can maintain vigorous Life Force for six or seven hundred years.

Who would casually risk their life to fight you to the death!

Therefore, the duo’s life-risking fighting style caught Du Youqian off guard. Coupled with his reluctance to reveal his trump cards too early, he was temporarily forced onto the defensive.

Fortunately, their Divine Abilities seemed to be related to Concealment and Array-Breaking, not Slaughter Divine Abilities. Otherwise, Du Youqian might have even suffered a small loss.

Outside the Array, the Cultivators under Pang Master arrived one after another, each displaying their own Divine Abilities to attack the Grand Array.

Someone even used a precious Tier Three Forbidden-Breaking Talisman, looking as if they were about to tear an opening in the Grand Array.

Some of the more impatient ones even disregarded the Grand Array’s power and charged straight in, preparing to rush in to help Hu Po Master and Master Bai He.

As long as they could eliminate the person controlling the Array’s core, what could the Array do to them, no matter how powerful it was?

Wu Ai didn’t know Du Youqian well enough. Seeing him in such a perilous situation, she bit her lip and was actually about to use a Secret Technique to burn her Essence Blood.

"Don’t!" Du Youqian used Telepathy to stop her. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ai, there’s no need to be nervous. I created this situation intentionally. You can rest assured."

Only then did Wu Ai stop activating the Secret Technique. She glanced at Du Youqian, put away her worries, and focused on dealing with the Tier Four Treasure.

Du Youqian was actually just bluffing.

How was this something he had created intentionally?

In truth, he had indeed made a mistake, lost the initiative, and been forced into a passive position, which was why he looked so wretched.

But a man has to look cool, even unto death.

’As long as I can pull off a counter-kill, then everything that happened before was just a feint to lure and confuse the enemy.’

’Perfectly logical.’

Hu Po Master and Master Bai He pressed their attack relentlessly, while over a dozen Core Formation Masters were forcefully charging and breaking the Array.

Du Youqian stopped dodging, no longer caring about his own safety. With a long cry, he met Hu Po Master’s Treasure Flying Sword head-on!

A strange look flashed in Hu Po Master’s eyes.

’Crashing into a Treasure Flying Sword with a body of flesh and blood?’

’Is this Master Baili a fool?’

It was like an egg hitting a stone.

But in the next instant, he and Master Bai He were both stunned.

The Treasure Flying Sword let out a muffled thud, as if hitting worn leather. It was knocked back, staggering and wobbling as if a person had been dazed by a blow and was shaking their head.

’This Master Baili... Is he really that tough?’

Master Bai He snapped back to his senses. His seventy-two flying daggers no longer tried to trap Du Youqian; instead, each one shot toward Du Youqian’s vital points.

Du Youqian shot forward, closing in on Hu Po Master. He reached out with his not-so-thick arms and wrapped them around Hu Po Master’s waist.

The seventy-two flying daggers pursued and struck all the vital points on his back, but they only produced a series of CLANG CLANG CLANG sounds.

"A Body Refining Cultivator!"

Hu Po Master was scared out of his wits, thinking Du Youqian was about to snap his waist in two. He immediately used a Secret Technique, and his entire body seemed to go boneless as he twisted and squirmed free.

’Huh? Why was it so easy to break free?’

Hu Po Master looked up, only to see that Master Baili had at some point summoned a Treasure Flying Sword. The sword had quietly approached Master Bai He from behind and then, with a sudden thrust, impaled Master Bai He on its tip.

"No!" Hu Po Master’s eyes widened in fury and grief. Only then did he understand that Master Baili’s previous actions were all feints meant to lure and confuse the enemy.

The one Master Baili wanted to eliminate was never him, but Master Bai He, the owner of the Tier Four Treasure!

Jinhuan unleashed its Sword Intent inside Master Bai He’s body. Master Bai He was helpless against it; though he appeared unharmed on the outside, the light had already faded from his eyes.

Du Youqian didn’t bother to trouble his soul. He turned, crossing his arms to form an ’X’ and blocking a downward slash from another Core Formation Master.

This person had forcefully broken into the Array, so his speed was extremely fast.

Du Youqian smiled faintly, and the Array activated.

The Core Formation Masters who were still rushing in cried out in alarm. Some were trapped by the Array, while others, sensing the danger, immediately retreated from its range.

This included the saber-wielding Core Formation Master, who also hadn’t truly escaped the Array’s shackles and thus lost the ability to pursue Du Youqian for a short time.

Only the one who had been willing to use a Tier Three Forbidden-Breaking Talisman was unaffected by the Array, but his speed was a fraction slower.

In that instant, Du Youqian switched targets. The sword Jinhuan flew out of Master Bai He’s corpse and slashed toward Hu Po Master. Meanwhile, Master Wu Ai, who had easily knocked away the Tier Four Treasure after Master Bai He’s death, also sent her Flying Sword slashing toward Hu Po Master.

Facing a pincer attack from two experts, Hu Po Master gave a bitter laugh and raised his sword to meet Du Youqian’s attack.

He naturally wouldn’t close his eyes and wait for death, but his struggles didn’t make much of a splash.

The sword Jinhuan suddenly slowed for a moment, causing Hu Po Master’s preparation to be for naught. Then, Master Wu Ai’s Flying Sword smoothly sliced into Hu Po Master’s back.

Seizing the opportunity, the sword Jinhuan accelerated past, and its Broken Water Sword Intent beheaded Hu Po Master with a single strike.

Their first time cooperating, and it was so seamless. Du Youqian couldn’t help but glance at Master Wu Ai.

But danger lurked everywhere, and it was no time for idle chat. The two raised their swords. Master Wu Ai went to face the expert who had broken through with the Forbidden-Breaking Talisman, while Du Youqian used his Sword Control to harass the Core Formation Masters fighting the Array and simultaneously manipulated the Array to increase its power output.

Of the sixteen attacking Core Formation Masters, two had fallen in a short time. The rest were all terrified.