Translator: CinderTL
"Whoosh!"
In the void, twenty-three Core Formation Cultivators were flying towards the capital of the Great Shang.
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
Although the magnificent and towering city of the capital was already in sight, no one in the group spoke a word.
It wasn't until they reached a towering pagoda nearly a thousand meters high standing at the edge of the city, and two figures flew out from within, that a Golden Core Grand Cultivator finally asked for instructions, "True Inheritor Zhou, we..."
"Take your positions and prepare to fully activate the arrays," Zhou Wu Gou commanded.
The Golden Core Grand Cultivator was slightly taken aback. "True Inheritor, do you think... Bai Fei and Zhan Wuji won't be able to handle that traitor? And even if the traitor defeats Bai Fei and the others, would he still have the strength to cause trouble at our command center in the capital?"
Zhou Wu Gou glanced at him. "It's never wrong to be cautious."
He didn't voice his true thoughts.
Although this Golden Core cultivator was his trusted subordinate...
A leader must remain composed and not let those beneath them guess their true intentions.
He personally believed that someone like Li Chunjun, a genius of the Taixu Sword Sect, would undoubtedly have numerous life-saving treasures on him, even if the sect had truly released him.
In such a situation, even if Bai Fei and the others managed to trap Li Chunjun, he would still have ways to fight his way out using talismans and mystic treasures.
This was also the reason he insisted on not joining Bai Fei and the others in hunting down Li Chunjun.
What truly needed consideration now was the potential losses on Bai Fei's side.
If they suffered minimal losses while defeating Li Chunjun, it would undoubtedly deal a significant blow to his reputation as the True Inheritor.
If Bai Fei's side suffered heavy losses in repelling the traitor...
It would prove that his decision to defend the capital was a prudent one.
And personally...
He leaned towards the latter.
Li Chunjun, or rather, the Taixu Sword Sect, wasn't foolish.
Would Li Chunjun continue to pursue them near the capital of the Great Shang without some degree of confidence after already gaining significant advantages? Therefore, it wasn't excessive to be cautious.
If things unfolded as he anticipated...
From now on, Bai Fei and Zhan Wuji would no longer pose a threat to his position as the True Inheritor.
As for the inevitable loss of some Core Formation Elders during this time...
Some sacrifices were unavoidable.
After all, they chose to trust Bai Fei over him, and their deaths were their own choice.
"True Inheritor Zhou!"
"That traitor seems to have truly been driven to madness! Next, we'll use that woman to stage a scene, and it's certain to enrage him into charging recklessly into the array!"
Bai Yang and Tian Jian spoke with a hint of triumph in their voices.
"Although the likelihood of driving Li Chunjun into a blind rage and making him charge into the array isn't high, as long as we set things up properly, there's still hope," Zhou Wu Gou said, then turned to Tian Jian. "Is the array adjusted?"
"It's fully prepared," Tian Jian replied firmly. "Three layers of arrays. The first layer is openly displayed, consisting of three fourth-tier arrays: a Defense Array, a Killing Array, and an Entrapment Array. The second layer is hidden and can be fully activated in a single breath—a Space Locking Array and a Mind Deception Array, both fourth-tier!"
He paused, his eyes gleaming with intensity: "The third batch of formations is an overarching grand array. Once activated, it can link all Tier 4 formations into one, forming a Tier 5 grand array! Under the Tier 5 array, even if the traitor has countless Tier 4 Talismans or even a hidden Nascent Soul level battle automaton, he will have no chance of escape!"
"Good."
Zhou Wu Gou nodded with a smile.
However, Bai Yang voiced a concern: "Three Tier 4 formations in plain sight... isn't that a bit too much? What if the traitor sees the overwhelming power of our formations and is too intimidated to enter, rendering all our preparations in vain?"
"The strength of the formations is necessary to dispel his doubts. If the formations are weak, he might sense a trap and hesitate to enter."
Zhou Wu Gou calmly explained: "His greatest confidence must lie in the Minor Teleportation Talisman! Although our three formations are extremely powerful, as long as we don't reveal the Space Locking Array, he will still believe he has a chance to enter and wreak havoc!"
Bai Yang pondered for a moment and found this reasoning sound.
At this moment, a Golden Core cultivator suddenly stepped forward and reported in a grave tone: "True Disciple Zhou, Bai Fei, Zhan Wuji, and the others have encountered the traitor, and... they failed!"
"Failed?"
Zhou Wu Gou's expression remained largely unchanged: "Failure is to be expected. With such talent, the traitor wouldn't risk himself unless he was fully confident."
He continued: "Order all other Core Formation cultivators to retreat towards us at full speed. The royal city's grand array will protect their safety."
Finally, he asked: "How many people are with the traitor? Do we have an exact number?"
The reporting Golden Core cultivator looked uneasy: "It's just one person."
"Eleven people?"
Zhou Wu Gou frowned.
That was a significant number.
How could so many people infiltrate the Great Shang territory without any news from the local garrisons?
"True Disciple, not eleven, but one person!"
The Golden Core cultivator quickly clarified: "It's just Li Chunjun!"
At these words, not only Zhou Wu Gou, but also the several Golden Core cultivators beside him, as well as Bai Yang and Tian Jian, all had their expressions change drastically.
"Li Chunjun alone!? Defeated Bai Fei, Zhan Wuji, and dozens of Core Formation cultivators!?"
"That's impossible!"
"Even the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy of the past couldn't achieve such a feat alone! Unless he was willing to sacrifice his Lifebound Flying Sword and suffer severe injuries!"
They couldn't help but exclaim.
"Huan Lie!"
Zhou Wu Gou's tone also grew heavier: "Are you certain?"
The Golden Core cultivator named Huan Lie directly handed a jade talisman to Zhou Wu Gou, his face heavy with seriousness: "According to the account of the surviving Junior Brother Hao, Li Chunjun has become the second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy!"
"The Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy!?" "He's already the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy?" "Wasn't the recent news just that he had the demeanor of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy? How did he become the second one so quickly?"
"If I recall correctly, that traitor hasn't even reached the Golden Core realm yet!?"
To be recognized as the second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy without even reaching the Golden Core realm, how formidable would his true combat power be once he advanced to the Golden Core realm!?
Compared to the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, Jiang Lingyun...
Stronger!? At that moment, another Core Formation Cultivator suddenly spoke up, "True Disciple Zhou, the garrison at Xue City has just sent word. They detected a distress signal from an elder who is being pursued by another Taixu Sword Sect cultivator... The pursuer is suspected to be Li Chunjun..."
"Xue City!?"
As the True Inheritor stationed in Great Shang, Zhou Wu Gou had a good understanding of the region.
He immediately deduced that the city was only 130 li away from the capital of Great Shang!
For a swift Sword Cultivator, it would take only a minute or two to cover that distance.
Considering the delay in transmitting the message, which could be several seconds or even tens of seconds...
"Quick! The formation, get into the formation!"
Zhou Wu Gou shouted urgently.
Without needing his command, all the cultivators transformed into streaks of light and shot into the city.
Bai Yang, Tian Jian, and others were no exception.
Since the formation was already half-activated, within just a dozen seconds, beams of light shot up from over a dozen towers, forming a massive, transparent barrier that enveloped the capital of Great Shang.
Almost simultaneously with the appearance of this barrier, a sword light emerged at the horizon.
"It's Elder Cao!"
Someone immediately recognized the identity of the sword light.
"Behind him is that traitor, Li Chunjun!"
Someone else pointed behind "Elder Cao."
"Save me! True Disciple Zhou, save me quickly!"
Elder Cao immediately activated his Divine Sense to send a desperate plea for help to the capital.
In an instant, several Core Formation Cultivators couldn't sit still and were about to take to the air.
"No!"
Zhou Wu Gou quickly shouted to stop them, "It's too late! Even if we leave the city now, we won't be able to save Elder Cao in time. Instead, we'll fall right into the traitor's trap and be picked off one by one! Listen to my command, defend the city!"
The Core Formation Cultivators who were about to act froze in place.
Each of their faces was filled with frustration.
But...
Considering Li Chunjun's terrifying track record, if just three or five of them rushed out of the city, wouldn't that be tantamount to suicide? For a moment, they had no choice but to stop and watch helplessly as Elder Cao, who had activated a secret technique to boost his potential, ran at full speed, while silently cheering him on in their hearts.
Thirty li, twenty-five li, twenty li...
But the more they watched, the more intense the resentment in their eyes became.
Fast! Too fast! Li Chunjun's pursuit speed was incredibly swift. Within ten li, he had already closed the distance behind Elder Cao.
And Elder Cao, upon seeing all the elders, including Zhou Wu Gou, remain unmoved, fell into unprecedented despair.
"No! No! No! True Disciple Zhou, save me!"
He shouted desperately.
His powerful Divine Sense reverberated through the void.
This cry for help turned the faces of Zhou Wu Gou, Bai Yang, Tian Jian, and others pale.
Yet, they dared not make any move to leave the formation.
Finally...
Just as Elder Cao was fifteen li away from the city's grand formation, Li Chunjun caught up to him.
The Flying Sword shot out with a sharp, tearing whistle and a surge of energy, instantly bridging the distance between them.
"Elder Cao, be careful!"
Some Core Formation Cultivators shouted.
But more of them couldn't bear to watch and turned their faces away.
"Whoosh!"
The Sword Qi howled!
The Golden Core Elder, who had already exhausted his strength with the secret technique, was unable to withstand the sharpness of the Scarlet Sky Sword. In an instant, he was pierced through by the fierce blade.
Blood sprayed across the sky! The look of despair on his face, along with his body being torn apart and turning into a mist of blood, was forever etched in the eyes of everyone present.
"Bastard!"
"Li Chunjun!"
"That traitor!"
At this moment, within the grand formation of the royal city, countless Elders at the Core Formation Realm cursed in fury.
Even Zhou Wu Gou, a True Inheritor Disciple, was no exception.
A Golden Core Realm Elder of the Chiyang Sword Sect had been killed right before his eyes by Li Chunjun. How could he maintain his dignity? What prestige would he, a True Inheritor Disciple, have left?
Yes, dignity and prestige! What truly angered him was not the death of his sect's Elder, but the negative impact this incident would have on him.
However, in a flash of thought, Zhou Wu Gou came up with an idea.
Turn the situation to his advantage!
Threatening the mortal family members of a cultivator was somewhat dishonorable, but in a moment of shared hatred and rage, acting irrationally could be entirely justified.
Zhou Wu Gou immediately "furiously" ordered, "Go, bring his mother here! I will carve that wretch into a thousand pieces right before his eyes! Let's see if he is truly heartless enough to watch such a thing happen!"
(End of the Chapter)
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