Chapter 624 - 134: The Beginning of Chaos 3

The faces of everyone on the Cyan Feather Green Ship changed. Without a word, they all knew something had gone terribly wrong.

"Master Guan, a powerful enemy is breaking through the Array! We need your help, quickly!" Fang Bai’s urgent voice echoed from the sky.

The expressions of many Disciples shifted, and they all turned to look at the main seat on the high platform. At that moment, Guan Shouxin was still seated cross-legged like a statue, completely motionless and unresponsive.

This strange sight made many of them frown, realizing something was amiss.

CRACK...

Before anyone could react, a distinct cracking sound echoed from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see cracks spreading rapidly across the sky. In the blink of an eye, they covered the protective Shield, which then shattered into a burst of Spiritual Light that filled the air.

A Three-Star large-scale Magical Artifact should be able to withstand an attack from even a Four Symbols Cultivator; it couldn’t possibly be breached this quickly. But that was only if it was being maintained by a Three Talents Cultivator and operated by a sufficient number of Disciples.

If the Three Talents Cultivator in charge did nothing, or worse, secretly turned against them, then even the finest Magical Artifact—or even a Magical Treasure—would be for naught.

As the Shield shattered, a streak of light shot down to the plaza, hovering above the crowd.

"What fool dares to block the escort for the Traveler of the World!" Song Huidong bellowed, glaring at the streak of light.

Huixin paused at the outburst, glancing at Song Huidong without a word.

"Haha, we’re here to cause trouble for you bald-headed monks!" Qu Wenbai’s voice boomed from within the light.

The miniature altar in the sky expanded rapidly, growing to several dozen feet across in an instant.

Fortunately, it wasn’t hovering directly overhead but in the sky before them. Otherwise, its sun-blotting form would have been incredibly oppressive.

Zhang Deming watched the rapidly expanding altar. ’It’s still much smaller than before, but I’m not mistaken. It’s the same damned thing I encountered underground.’

And that voice... it belonged to that old fiend, Qu Wenbai. He remembered it clearly. He processed both facts in a single glance, and his expression hardened.

Without a second thought, he whirled around to face Qin Shizhong behind him. "Get below and hide!"

Qin Shizhong froze, confused by Zhang Deming’s words.

Zhang Deming paid him no mind. With a flip of his hand, the Spirit Nurturing Peak’s Peak Master Order appeared in his palm. His Jade Pendant granted him considerable authority.

As a Peak Master, his rank on this mission was equal to Guan Shouxin’s—perhaps even slightly higher. The only difference was that one operated openly while the other remained in the shadows. Therefore, he had the authority to command the Cyan Feather Green Ship Array.

As the Jade Pendant flashed with Spiritual Light, an Array Platform materialized on the tiered platform where they stood.

"What are you gawking at? Get down there and hide in the main control room!" Zhang Deming said to the stunned Qin Shizhong.

Though still bewildered, Qin Shizhong did as he was told, instinctively stepping onto the Array Platform. With a flash of Spiritual Light, he vanished.

Yang Guangfu’s expression was unreadable as he watched Zhang Deming reveal his hidden Peak Master’s Token without a second thought, just to ensure Qin Shizhong’s safety.

Zhang Deming looked at him, paused, then said, "You go down, too."

Yang Guangfu was sorely tempted, but even in a crisis, he didn’t forget to curry favor. "But Master," he said hesitantly, "what about you...?"

"Just look after yourself and your Junior Brother Qin. I don’t need you to worry about me," Zhang Deming replied swiftly.

Yang Guangfu paused for another moment before stepping onto the Array Platform without further hesitation. The platform flashed with Spiritual Light, and he, too, disappeared.

With Qin Shizhong safely tucked away in the main control room, he turned his grave gaze back to the sky.

After Qu Wenbai’s words, the few monks from Xuande Temple frowned slightly. As they stared at the enlarging Celestial Heart Altar, Huixin looked especially puzzled, as if recalling something. A flicker of recognition entered his eyes.

Then, five objects materialized above the altar, rotating slowly: an Ordinary Fire-Folding, a bewitching flower, a metal sphere, a mass of twisted black mist, and an ugly Puppet.

Five shadowy figures slowly condensed into view.

"For so many years we’ve been hunted by you bald-headed monks, forced into hiding, not daring to see the light of day. It is time to strike back," Guan Shouxin said coldly, his gaze fixed on the people below, primarily on Huixin’s group.

Huixin had already been suspicious. Now, with the appearance of the five figures and Guan Shouxin’s words, his doubts were instantly confirmed. He said,

"I never imagined that Five Elements Remnants of your caliber still existed. You’ve struggled just to survive until now. Instead of staying hidden, have you grown so tired of living that you’ve come out here to die?"

"Hmph. You’ll find out soon enough whether we’re here to die," Guan Shouxin said coldly.

With that, the five figures acted in unison. An opening appeared at the base of the altar, and from it spewed countless giant, earthworm-like creatures covered in disgusting slime.

The massive creatures varied in size; some were several meters long, while others were over ten. They had fanged, chrysanthemum-like maws at both ends of their bodies, which were covered in vertical pupils. Their entire appearance was bizarre and grotesque.

Many Disciples of the Celestial Spirit Sect recognized them; some had caught a fleeting glimpse of these creatures at the breach in the Cyan Wood Secret Realm.

Furthermore, because of the incident at the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, a great deal of information about these giant creatures was publicly available in the Celestial Spirit Sect’s archives. The Sect’s records called them Filth Insects.

Once released, the Filth Insects swarmed toward the Disciples in the plaza.

Of the five on the Celestial Heart Altar, only Guann Zhenzhen and Duan Yuanbing of the metal sphere remained, broadly controlling the movements of the Filth Insects below. The other three—Qu Wenbai, Guan Shouxin, and a third figure—all floated down.

Lu Ya and Guan Shouxin went straight for Huixin and the others. Lu Ya, in particular, revealed a chilling smile, licking his lips as his eyes flashed with excitement. He had always had an excellent appetite for Wish Cultivators.