Chapter 188 : Chapter 188

Chapter 188. Preparations to Activate the Ancient Killing Array

Seeing ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍that Yuntian said nothing, Shi Ritian continued to persuade him. “But it is still too early to be talking about this. Go notify the leader of your Desolate Battle Kui Ox Clan and tell him to make preparations. I’ll go contact the other clans right away and discuss the details of setting up the formation! In short, this time we will definitely take down that insignificant human. When the time comes, you and Cailin will finally be united, and that will count as a double blessing for our Ancient Royal Clan.”

Yuntian ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍nodded and swiftly turned to leave.

Watching ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his departing figure, a cold smile curled at the corners of Shi Ritian’s mouth.

Idiot!

Shi ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ritian even spat at the ground and sneered, “You really think that if you kill Chu Feng, Cailin will return to your side? Did you never stop to think about the nature of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan?”

“In ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍your dreams.”

Besides, Cailin was already a fallen, ruined woman now, damaged goods. You are probably the only one still waiting for her with such desperate longing.

But...

Once Chu Feng is dead, and I seize the Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame and the Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura, the next one...

Will be you.

You shameless little brat, you are the only one who has ever seen me in my most wretched state. Since that is the case, then I cannot let you remain in this world.

I will not allow any creature that could threaten me to exist in this world.

One day, I will become the new king, and when that time comes, I absolutely will not allow there to be any gossip or rumors about me.

The Ancient Royal Clan handled matters quite efficiently, perhaps because they had strength in numbers.

Three days later.

At the Ancient Royal Clan’s temporary encampment, in what had once been the Martial Arena where some of the lower-cultivation beast races trained, Shi Ritian stood in the very center of the arena. He suddenly spread his arms wide and shouted loudly,

“Leaders, you may all descend!”

As soon as his words fell, eight terrifying auras shot into the sky, stirring the winds and clouds. Bursting forth in a blaze of different lights, they made a thunderous entrance.

True Dragon, Nine Netherworld Mastiff, Heaven-Splitting Armor, Fire Chi, Fire Phoenix, Desolate Battle Kui Ox, Kunpeng, Heaven Horned Ant...

The leaders of the eight great Ancient Royal Clans had all gathered in one place.

At the center of the Martial Arena, eight great banners fluttered in the wind. Each banner was embroidered with the totem divine patterns of its respective clan. Beneath the sunlight, they shone brilliantly, exuding a fierce and imposing aura.

All around them, the elite warriors of every clan stood in orderly ranks, their armor gleaming, their battle intent surging into the heavens...

Every last one of them was shouting in support of their own clan.

The leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan was the first to speak, his voice ringing out like a great bell. “Everyone, today the eight clans have joined forces to execute that arrogant human madman. After this battle, let us see who still dares look down on our Ancient Royal Clan. He must be killed...”

“Good!”

The warriors of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens, carrying an unstoppable force.

At the same time, the leader of the Fire Phoenix Clan was a woman of peerless grace. She not only possessed strikingly beautiful features, but also wore a long crimson dress. With brows like a painting and an air impossible to ignore, she stood there as a radiant presence.

The Fire Phoenix leader let out a soft laugh, her voice crisp and clear like pearls falling upon a jade platter. “Leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan, you truly are impatient. But... is that human really so formidable that it requires all eight clans to join forces? If so, then I really would like to take a good look for myself.”

Beside her, a Kunpeng whose body shone completely golden gave a cold snort. “Fire Phoenix, what do you mean by that? Are you questioning the Dragon King’s decision? If he were not that formidable, would there be any need to activate the Ancient Killing Array?”

The Kunpeng Clan had never been easy to deal with. Within the Ancient Royal Clan, they had always been known for their arrogance and domineering manner.

“How would I dare? Leader of the Kunpeng Clan, you must be joking...” The Fire Phoenix leader covered her mouth and laughed softly. Compared with the other leaders, her voice was much gentler. “I am merely curious. I heard that the human is only at the Third Level of the Self-Severing Realm, yet he was able to crush that boy Shi Ritian... Tsk, tsk. He really is something of a figure. That is why I am rather eager to meet him.”

“A figure? What nonsense...” The leader of the Heaven Horned Ant Clan might have belonged to a race whose name sounded less imposing, but he himself was a burly man with muscles knotted all over his body.

At that moment, he gave a disdainful laugh and said, “No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than the innate divine strength of my Heaven Horned Ant Clan? In the end, he is nothing more than a human. No matter how capable he may be, he cannot escape the limits of his inborn foundation.”

Nearby, the leader of the Heaven-Splitting Armor Clan stroked his beard and smiled. “Leader of the Heaven Horned Ant Clan speaks truly. Still, that human possesses the Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame, so he should not be underestimated. In my opinion, no matter what happens, we should all proceed with caution. We absolutely must not fall for the human’s schemes again.”

“The Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame...” A strange gleam flashed through the beautiful eyes of the Fire Phoenix leader. There was no fear in them, only curiosity and admiration.

“That is the inheritance of the Nine Netherworld Great Emperor. It is a rare treasure indeed. I have wanted it for a long time, but it has always been beyond reach. If we can seize it this time...”

Before she could finish speaking, a furious shout suddenly cut her off.

“Fire Phoenix!” the Dragon King of the True Dragon Clan said in a deep voice, his tone particularly gloomy. “Today’s purpose is to kill that madman and uphold the dignity of our Ancient Royal Clan. Put aside any other thoughts you may have for now.”

The Fire Phoenix leader curled her lips and fell silent. The other leaders said nothing either, though a trace of amusement flickered in their eyes, as if they were enjoying the spectacle.

This was the Ancient Royal Clan. The reason troubles kept arising again and again was precisely because, though they appeared united on the surface, their hearts were not truly one. Behind the scenes, they all wanted to see one another make fools of themselves.

The Dragon King swept his gaze across the crowd and said slowly, “Since the eight clans have joined forces, then you must act with one heart. If anyone harbors ulterior motives while inside the formation, do not blame this king for showing no mercy.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the leaders present all differed, but every one of them cupped his fists and bowed. “We shall obey the Dragon King’s command. We would not dare harbor the slightest stray thought.”

The Dragon King gave a slight nod, then looked toward Shi Ritian at the side. “Is Shi Ritian present?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Ritian hurried forward and dropped to one knee. “This junior is present!”

“Since this plan was proposed by you, then this king appoints you as the Killing Array Executor. You will take full charge of the encirclement and killing operation. During this period, you will also be responsible for gathering intelligence on the enemy, deploying manpower, and directing the formation. All decisions in these matters shall be left to you.”

Shi Ritian was wild with joy, but on the surface he put on a solemn expression. “Many thanks for the Dragon King’s trust. This junior will certainly do everything in his power to kill this human.”

“Good.” The Dragon King nodded and smiled. “Rise, and tell everyone present what you are planning.”

Shi Ritian rose to his feet, drew a deep breath, and said in a clear voice, “Seniors, after deep consideration through the night, this junior has come to the conclusion that in order to encircle and kill this man, we must proceed from three directions.

First, we must gather intelligence on the enemy. We need to send people to infiltrate the Great Chu Dynasty and find out his movements, his daily routine, and the state of the guards around him. Only by knowing the enemy and knowing ourselves can we prevail.

Second, we must choose the battlefield carefully. We need a place that is suitable for setting up the formation, difficult to detect, and possessed of complex terrain.

Third, we must prepare in advance before setting up the formation. The Ancient Killing Array requires seven times seven, forty-nine days to complete. During that time, each clan must mobilize resources and dispatch elites without the slightest error. I must also ask the leaders to conserve their strength and make full preparations.”

After hearing this, the leaders all nodded one after another.