Chapter 726 - 365: Alarmed; Encirclement and Annihilation

Chapter 726: Chapter 365: Alarmed; Encirclement and Annihilation

After the matriarch, Ji Lingxian, roared in anger, her figure instantly vanished.

The entire Ji Family leadership was instantly alerted. As a powerful force in the region, the family possessed a strict hierarchy and a rapid response system.

The Ancestor’s furious roar echoed like a clap of thunder, instantly setting off a chain reaction across the entire Ji Family estate.

Whatever could startle an Ancestor was no small matter. Therefore, the Ji Family’s Mountain Protection Array thundered to life. Brilliant light flared as runes swirled, enveloping the three main peaks and two auxiliary peaks.

Ji Lingxian reached the subterranean entrance and hurried through the tunnel, swiftly arriving at the location of the Underground Spiritual Vein.

But just as she drew near, a curtain of light blocked her path.

"An Array?!" Ji Lingxian’s expression grew even darker.

’Someone actually set up an Array down here without anyone noticing? What in the world are the people in Defense paid for?!’

Without a second thought, Ji Lingxian unleashed a violent surge of Mana, striking the Array with her palm. Powerful waves of Mana slammed into the light curtain.

However, the Grand Array was incredibly powerful. Her attack was easily repelled, and she was unable to breach it.

Ji Lingxian’s expression was grim. ’This is the work of no ordinary person... or power!’

Fueled by rage, she continued her reckless assault. The massive disturbance reverberated through the entire Ji Family estate, startling the other three Ancestors from their seclusion.

The three Ancestors, startled from their seclusion, emerged one after another. After a brief sweep of their Divine Sense, their figures vanished like the wind.

Moments later, the three of them appeared before the matriarch.

These three were Ji Changfeng, Ji Lingyun, and Ji Xiaotian. They were a generation younger than Ji Lingxian—her nephews.

Ji Changfeng was tall and held a black blade. His expression was stern, and his eyes revealed profound wisdom and a powerful sense of authority.

Ji Lingyun was agile and carried himself with a scholarly air. He held a black folding fan, looking every bit the elegant strategist.

Ji Xiaotian was burly and muscular, his face radiating a domineering aura. He carried a massive black battle-axe.

Upon their arrival, the three Ancestors’ expressions changed when they saw Ji Lingxian attacking the Grand Array. Ji Changfeng asked in a deep voice, "Aunt Lingxian, what’s happened? Why such drastic measures?"

Ji Lingxian said with a grim expression, "Someone is coveting my Ji Family’s Spirit-eating Insects. My Mother Insect just sensed that it has lost contact with a large number of its offspring. Someone must be causing trouble underground. A Grand Array has been set up here, and I can’t break it even with my full strength!"

Hearing this, the three Ancestors all looked grave. They knew full well the importance of the Spirit-eating Insects to the Ji Family. They were not only precious Artifact Refining Materials but also one of the family’s greatest secret Weapons.

The Weapons in their very hands were all forged from materials derived from the Spirit-eating Insects, making them nigh-indestructible!

Ji Lingyun opened his folding fan, fanned it slightly, and said, "Let’s not be hasty. We should investigate the situation thoroughly before we act."

However, Cheng Zongyang, who was underground waiting for his Gourd to absorb the Spirit Vein, knew he was in deep trouble.

’Just as I thought,’ he mused. ’These Spirit-eating Insects really are being raised by the Ji Family!’

He hadn’t expected his collecting of the Spirit-eating Beetles to cause such a disturbance. Even his Array couldn’t stop them from being sensed.

But the Earth Treasure Gourd was still in the process of absorbing the Spirit Vein. All he could do was grit his teeth and endure, waiting for the Gourd to finish its work.

As time passed, the Ji Family Patriarch and a crowd of the family’s upper echelons also arrived at the underground cavern.

"Four Ancestors, what in the world is going on?" asked the Ji Family Patriarch, a man in his sixties named Ji Yan. He was a generational genius of the family, already at the Peak of Golden Core.

Ji Lingxian showed no regard for his status as Patriarch, roaring, "What kind of Patriarch are you?! Someone not only snuck in right under our home, they even managed to set up a Grand Array! Are the people in Defense completely useless?!"

Ji Yan was stunned, but a nearby patrol supervisor quickly interjected, "How is that possible? The Mountain Protection Array never issued a warning. How could he have bypassed our Tier Four warning Array?"

"Oh no..."

Suddenly, a member of the team that monitors the Underground Spiritual Vein interrupted, his face a mask of horror. "I just ran a diagnostic!" he stammered in panic. "The Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Vein is dropping! Compared to yesterday, it’s... it’s already down by thirty... thirty percent!"

"What did you say?" Now, the other three Ji Family Ancestors were also enraged, glaring furiously at the junior family member who had reported the findings.

The junior was so terrified he immediately dropped to his knees, trembling uncontrollably.

Now, Ji Lingxian understood. ’This isn’t about the Spirit-eating Insects—it’s about the Sixth Grade Spiritual Vein underground!’

But this only made the Ji Family even more furious!

The others also realized this wasn’t just about the Spirit-eating Insects. Someone was stealing the Underground Spiritual Vein, and the theft had triggered the insects’ retaliation!

Because the Spirit Vein was their home!

Their home was being stolen, so the Spirit-eating Insects would naturally fight back!

And the Ji Family’s Spirit Vein was the foundation of their clan. Once it was damaged or stolen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Bring out the Mountain Shifting Talismans! Expose the Array!" At this point, Ji Lingxian could no longer care about damaging the Ji Family’s land. Once the Spirit Vein was gone, the foundation for the family’s future development would be gone, too!

A short while later, with ten Golden Core Cultivators leading and another twenty assisting, ten Mountain Shifting Talismans erupted with a powerful golden light that sank into the ground.

A golden membrane of light spread out, covering a three-li radius. This membrane then "scooped" up a massive section of earth. With the assistance of the other twenty Ji Family Golden Core Cultivators, this immense block of land was moved aside, crushing a vast swathe of verdant forest at the mountain’s base.

This revealed the unmovable light curtain of the underground Array. However, it was still filled with soil, making it impossible to see who was inside or where they were located.