Chapter 695: Breached Formation (I)

Terrifying explosions reverberated throughout the demon cave. The place had always teemed with yao and was used by numerous factions as a training ground for their disciples. The depths of the demon cave were even known as the Bloody Trial Grounds. Now, vast numbers of yao were pouring out from its deepest reaches and embarking upon a frenzied slaughter.

Outside the city, a vast army of densely packed yao surged forward. Their roars shook heaven and earth as they launched a frenzied assault upon the city's defensive formation.

"Hm?"

Yao Lang, Shi Tianyun, and the others fighting on the battlefield all paused in surprise as they sensed a terrifying aura emanating from the space-time node.

"Not good, the first formation defense line has been breached!" Mo Qingyang stared gravely toward the space-time node, then flickered back inside the city's defensive formation.

"It's not that simple..." Mu Jianying landed beside Mo Qingyang, her expression solemn.

As a powerful sword cultivator, she possessed an even keener sense of danger. From the direction of the space-time node, Mu Jianying detected a terrifying aura... No, there were two!

"What? Not good!" Mo Qingyang was initially taken aback, but his expression abruptly changed a moment later.

Two incomparably terrifying and malevolent auras soared from the space-time node. In an instant, all the demonic qi within the demon cave began surging violently in response.

"An eight-pattern yao has successfully crossed over!"

Shi Tianyun had also returned to the city. His body trembled slightly beyond his control as the thought of retreat arose in his mind. That was an eight-pattern yao, a terrifying existence comparable to a mighty Deity Transformation realm cultivator. Before such a being, Golden Core realm cultivators like them were nothing more than cannon fodder.

Some time back, Bai Lin had been far from the battle between a Deity Transformation realm expert and an eight-pattern yao, yet merely being grazed by the aftermath had left him severely injured and forced him to recuperate for a long time.

Mo Qingyang slowly exhaled and said in a grave voice, "Prepare to evacuate. Only cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm or above can intervene in the battle from this point onward."

Even with the protection of the formation, it would still be exceedingly dangerous for cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm to participate in a battle at the Deity Transformation realm level.

Shi Tianyun and the others also exhaled softly before their figures flickered and vanished from the spot. At the same time, Lin Zheyu and Wang Zhengtian teleported from the first formation defense line back to the plaza in the central district.

"Take the Martial Alliance's martial artists and withdraw ahead of us!" Wang Zhengtian instructed before his figure flickered and instantly disappeared.

Boom!

The entire city shook violently. Lin Zheyu narrowed his eyes and saw two enormous yao near the space-time node, furiously bombarding the surrounding formations.

A fiery-red apparition suddenly soared into the sky with a clear cry, and a crimson energy barrier instantly enveloped the entire city. The barrier trembled beneath the bombardment of the two enormous yao before stabilizing once more.

"What terrifying strength. Even from so far away, I can sense the power radiating from those eight-pattern yao. It makes my body tremble uncontrollably!" Lin Zheyu murmured as a gleam flashed through his eyes. His body quivered slightly as he watched the two enormous yao, not from fear, but from an inexplicable surge of excitement.

"One day, I will become just as powerful. I will even surpass the Deity Transformation realm..." Lin Zheyu exhaled deeply.

This was the first time he had witnessed a battle at the Deity Transformation realm. Although the formation isolated the fluctuations of energy and aura, the apocalyptic presence emanating from the combatants was still powerful enough to make one tremble uncontrollably.

Bai Lin raced over from the distance, speaking with breathless urgency. "You're finally out! Quickly, we must leave this place. The sealing formation here won't be able to contain those two eight-pattern yao for long. Once the mighty Deity Transformation realm cultivators begin fighting them, the resulting energy shockwaves could flatten everything within a radius of dozens of kilometers!"

He had previously experienced an eight-pattern yao breaking through a sealing formation and invading this world, so he knew what to expect. What had just happened was almost identical to his previous experience. In fact, the situation was even more severe this time. Bai Lin had sensed two terrifying auras from the direction of the space-time node, both of which made him tremble. This meant that two powerful eight-pattern yao had crossed through the space-time node.

There had only been one last time! Back then, he had also sensed that something was amiss and fled early with the other cultivators. Even so, he had still been accidentally caught in the aftermath of the battle between a mighty Deity Transformation realm cultivator and the eight-pattern yao. Bai Lin had thought himself certain to die. He had come within a hair's breadth of death and nearly failed to return alive.

"All right! Where are Fellow Zong and the other Martial Alliance disciples?" Lin Zheyu asked.

The two raced toward the outskirts without sparing any attention for the terrifying energy fluctuations erupting behind them. Flames now blazed across the dark sky, driving away the boundless darkness. Their scorching aura forcibly suppressed the roiling demonic qi.

"They're already prepared. You were the only one missing," Bai Lin quickly replied.

The two crossed the plaza and arrived before the western gate. A large number of cultivators had already gathered there, including both martial artists and immortal cultivators, divided into several clearly distinct groups. This stronghold was primarily staffed by disciples from three major factions, the Martial Alliance, the Shi Family, and the Vermilion Bird Sect. However, the Vermilion Bird Sect had dispatched three Nascent Soul realm cultivators and one mighty Deity Transformation realm cultivator, who formed the true core of the stronghold's grand formation.

None of the Vermilion Bird Sect's disciples could be seen among those evacuating. Only a dozen or so cultivators from the Shi Family and numerous martial artists from the Martial Alliance were present. As for geniuses such as Yao Lang and Mo Qingyang, they had specifically accepted missions to participate in the Bloody Trial here. Thus, the evacuation mainly involved members of the Shi Family and the Martial Alliance.

"Hmph!" Yao Lang could not help snorting coldly when he saw Lin Zheyu and the others arrive.

This fellow still could not stand the Martial Alliance's martial artists. Lin Zheyu was genuinely curious about what Senior Wang Zhengtian had done to Yao Lang's elder sister back then. However, Yao Lang merely snorted and made no attempt to mock or provoke them.

"You've finally arrived. Would you like to travel with us? There is greater safety in numbers," Mo Qingyang invited with a smile.

Among the Shi Family's group, Shi Tianyun smiled brightly at Lin Zheyu. Anyone unaware of their circumstances might have mistaken them for close friends.

Lin Zheyu shook his head. "No, we still need to protect the other martial artists from the Martial Alliance."

"Haha, of course. In that case, we'll be leaving first. Fellow Zong, Fellow Bai, Fellow Xiao, until we meet again!" Mo Qingyang cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu and the others as he laughed.

Among the Martial Alliance's group, only the three Shackles realm martial artists earned any respect from those immortal cultivators. Most of the Golden Core realm cultivators merely watched coldly from the sidelines.

Mo Qingyang alone had approached Lin Zheyu and the others to invite them to travel together, since a larger group could more easily look out for one another. Even so, the only ones they valued were Lin Zheyu, Zong Linjing, and Bai Lin. They did not spare so much as a glance for anyone below the Shackles realm.

In the eyes of these Golden Core realm experts, the lives of cultivators below the Golden Core realm hardly counted as lives at all. They were not worth taking any risks to protect. If not for their blood ties and the constraints of clan rules, the Golden Core realm cultivators of the Bai Family would never have brought so many burdens with them at such a dangerous time. However, if they truly encountered a life-or-death crisis, those Golden Core realm experts would undoubtedly abandon the burdens and flee on their own.

After Mo Qingyang and the others departed, Shi Tianyun stepped forward and said with a broad grin, "Would the fellow friends from the Martial Alliance care to travel with our Shi Family? That way, we can look out for one another."

"Hmph!" Bai Lin could not help snorting coldly at the sight of Shi Tianyun.

The other martial artists likewise regarded him with hostile expressions, traces of anger flickering in their eyes. Had they not lacked the strength, they would likely have snorted just as openly as Bai Lin. The Shi Family's intentions were obvious to everyone.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you for the kind offer, fellow friend," Lin Zheyu replied indifferently.

"Then take good care of yourselves, fellow friends. It is extremely dangerous outside, and the slightest mistake could leave you dead at the hands of a yao. But rest assured, if the opportunity arises, I'll do my best to collect your corpses." Shi Tianyun smiled as though oblivious to the other martial artists' hostile stares, revealing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

Before Lin Zheyu could respond, Bai Lin snorted and waved an arm at the other martial artists. "Hmph, whether we die or not is none of your damn business! Let's go. We shouldn't stay here any longer!"

After speaking, he exchanged a glance with Lin Zheyu and Zong Linjing before moving off and leading the charge through the western gate.

Shi Tianyun watched Lin Zheyu and the others depart and let out a cold laugh. "Hehe..."

After waiting for so long, his opportunity had finally arrived!

"I'll leave them in your care. I'll be back shortly," Shi Tianyun told the two remaining Golden Core realm experts from the Shi Family. With that, his figure flickered, and he secretly followed Lin Zheyu's group.