Chapter 696: Breached Formation (II)

Outside the city, vast numbers of yao roared and charged toward the city as though controlled by someone. The sight of their enormous bodies thundering across the ground was tremendously imposing.

Lin Zheyu and the others charged out through the western gate with him leading from the front. A silver-white saber light abruptly emerged from the void, instantly cleaving two yao over five meters tall in half that blocked their path.

"Keep up and don't fall behind!" Lin Zheyu commanded in a low voice.

He charged at the forefront like the tip of a blade, carving a path through the yao horde for the martial artists behind him. Zong Linjing and Bai Lin guarded one flank each, killing or driving back any powerful yao that approached.

Saber lights streaked through the void like silver lightning, and the yao blocking their path fell in swathes like chives beneath a sickle. Zong Linjing and Bai Lin stared in astonishment as Lin Zheyu slaughtered the yao with such clean efficiency, unable to keep themselves from swallowing nervously. The strength Lin Zheyu displayed was indeed formidable and far surpassed theirs, but it had not yet reached a level beyond their comprehension.

Bai Lin estimated that Lin Zheyu's strength was roughly equivalent to a martial artist who had broken free from four or five shackles. He was a genius among geniuses, after all. For such a monster to rival a martial artist who had broken five shackles while having broken fewer than two himself seemed... somewhat understandable... perhaps!

More than his raw combat strength, however, it was Lin Zheyu's clean and astonishingly efficient method of killing yao that truly amazed them. It was simply too powerful. No matter how formidable a yao was, none could withstand a single strike from Xiao Yu. His terrifying saber lights followed bizarre trajectories, emerging from the most unexpected directions and unfailingly striking the weaknesses in each yao's body.

"What saber technique is Fellow Xiao using? Why have I never seen it in the Martial Alliance's Library Pavilion?" Bai Lin could not help asking.

He and Zong Linjing were so idle that they were bored out of their minds. With Lin Zheyu holding the front, nearly every yao in their path was slain, and even those that ventured too close from the sides failed to escape. Zong Linjing and Bai Lin had no need to attack and merely had to remain alert for any unexpected danger.

"Fellow Xiao probably created it himself. His application of the power of spatial laws within the saber technique has reached consummate mastery, and it perfectly complements his fighting style," Zong Linjing speculated.

"That must be it. Even if the manual for such a powerful saber technique were placed before me, I wouldn't be able to cultivate it. Fellow Xiao's attainments in spatial laws are simply astonishing. We're all crude martial artists, so why is he the only one so impressive?" Bai Lin could not help complaining.

Zong Linjing glanced at Bai Lin. Although she said nothing, her eyes conveyed the same sentiment.

Lin Zheyu resembled an unfeeling killing machine as he swung Voidcleaver without pause, carving a path through the yao horde by force. Along the way, he slew at least three six-pattern yao and countless yao at the five-pattern level or below. However, he did not encounter a single seven-pattern yao comparable to the Nascent Soul realm. This was not inside the sealing formation, after all. The demon cave had not completely fallen and remained under the control of Great Wei and the Buddhist sects. There were undoubtedly yao at the seven-pattern level or above, but their numbers were limited.

"Uh, just as I was thinking how dull it was to slaughter these weak yao, the aura of a seven-pattern yao appeared in the distance." Lin Zheyu was rendered speechless.

"Change direction! Break through to the right!" Lin Zheyu commanded.

He had no desire to encounter that yao right now. If they truly crossed paths, he would have no choice but to expose his real strength, which would cause him considerable trouble. Lin Zheyu had no intention of abandoning his identity within the Martial Alliance for the time being, as it afforded him many conveniences.

"Everyone, keep up! Move faster!" Bai Lin shouted.

His voice was full and energetic. Throughout the entire journey, he had not found a single opportunity to attack. Following behind Lin Zheyu felt more like a leisurely sightseeing excursion than an escape. Compared with his previous experience, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Lin Zheyu's group changed direction and continued fleeing outward as powerful yao fell one after another like chives beneath a sickle.

The corners of Lin Zheyu's lips curved into a cold smile. "He followed us. Shi Tianyun truly has no idea what he's getting himself into!"

Ever since leaving the stronghold city, Lin Zheyu had sensed Shi Tianyun secretly following behind them. Even after Lin Zheyu displayed considerable strength, the man still refused to give up.

Once I bring these martial artists somewhere safe, I'll find an opportunity to kill him, Lin Zheyu thought.

***

Following Lin Zheyu's group from far behind, Shi Tianyun could not help marveling as he watched Lin Zheyu effortlessly slaughter the yao. "What a powerful saber technique! This man's natural talent is truly remarkable.

"Unfortunately, he's still somewhat weak and only in the early Shackles realm. He still has tremendous room to grow. If he cultivates to the limit of the Shackles realm, just how inconceivably powerful will his physique become? What a pity, truly a pity..." A cold smile appeared on Shi Tianyun's face. Though he spoke of regret, his eyes brimmed with icy killing intent.

The youngster had only his own astonishing natural talent to blame. Shi Tianyun did not dare allow a martial artist with such monstrous talent to continue growing. Once the man cultivated to the limit of the Shackles realm, he might possess strength comparable to the Nascent Soul realm. Faced with such formidable combat power, only the Shi Family's few late-stage Nascent Soul realm experts could be confident of subduing him.

Shi Tianyun frowned slightly and said with some impatience, "Why haven't those two arrived yet? If they don't get here soon, Xiao Yu will escape."

He flipped his right hand and produced a purple jade token, then sent an urgent message with a thought. The jade token soon began flashing with a reply. The speed of the response surprised even Shi Tianyun. He focused on the token, and a deep, impatient voice sounded in his mind.

We're almost there. What's the rush? Damn it, our luck was rotten. We ran into a seven-pattern yao and only just escaped from it.

Shi Tianyun was rendered speechless.

There were only so many seven-pattern yao in the Bloody Trial Grounds, yet they had still managed to encounter one. Their luck was truly abysmal. However, Shi Tianyun's speechless expression soon disappeared, replaced by a faint smile. He raised his head and looked toward the distant void, where a peculiar energy fluctuation had appeared. It was so subtle that only those who had cultivated a special secret art could detect it. The fluctuation was moving quickly and rapidly approaching his position.

"Finally," Shi Tianyun said calmly.

A burly man clad in animal hides cursed in a peculiar accent. "Damn it. If that seven-pattern yao hadn't looked down on me, escaping its claws would have cost me my life or at least a layer of skin.

"Since we're dealing with a genius, I want twice the agreed amount this time!" the burly man demanded coldly.

Shi Tianyun frowned in displeasure. "Impossible! He's merely a crude martial artist in the early Shackles realm. The price we previously agreed upon was already above the going rate."

"Hmph, don't play dumb. The great calamity has descended, the workings of heaven are in disarray, and fortuitous opportunities abound. This is precisely the time when nobodies rise, and powerful figures emerge in droves. Even if he's only a crude martial artist, a genius like him will possess opportunities far surpassing those of ordinary people. The slightest carelessness while hunting someone like that could lead to our downfall. I want twice the amount we previously agreed upon. If you refuse, I'm walking away." The burly man sneered and made as if to leave.

"Damn it, twice it is. Deal!" Shi Tianyun knew the other man had him over a barrel and could only agree helplessly, though the cost made his heart bleed.

"Hehe, you should have agreed from the start," the burly man said with a grin.

Shi Tianyun could not help rolling his eyes.

"He's a martial artist, so it would be inconvenient for me to attack him directly. However, I can create some trouble for him from the sidelines. When the time comes, watch for the right opportunity and strike," Shi Tianyun instructed.

The two secretly followed Lin Zheyu's group while discussing their plan through voice transmission.

"Another one has arrived, and he's even a barbarian totem warrior. Interesting..." Lin Zheyu raised an eyebrow while slaughtering the yao, an intrigued smile appearing on his face.

Just as Lin Zheyu and the others fled into the distance at full speed, a powerful figure raced over from afar without making the slightest attempt to conceal his aura. Meanwhile, under the frenzied bombardment of the two eight-pattern yao, the sealing formation around the space-time node Lin Zheyu had previously guarded was already on the verge of collapse. Even the flames burning across the Vermilion Bird apparition above the formation had dimmed considerably.

Boom!

Suddenly, just as another Deity Transformation realm expert was about to arrive, the entire sealing formation finally gave way and exploded. The enormous Vermilion Bird apparition burst apart, transforming into a sky full of flames that swept outward in every direction. Even from far away, Lin Zheyu and the others could feel the terrifying heat.

Lin Zheyu and the others exchanged glances as the same thought flashed through all their minds.

The formation has been breached!