This was not Mo Tiange's first time facing a fifth-rank demonic beast. But it was her first underwater battle.
In the distance, Ren Yufeng and Xiang Zhiyang came sprinting over. It was unclear what movement technique they were using, but their speed in the water was actually faster than on land. It seemed the Zhengfa Sect excelled in water-based spells; using water evasion in water was truly a perfect match.
The two of them darted forward and shouted loudly, "The formation!"
Lu Rongsheng immediately waved the wooden sword in his hand and yelled, "Activate the formation!"
The seven of them cast their spells simultaneously. The defensive formation lit up with a bright radiance, tearing open a gap. Ren Yufeng and Xiang Zhiyang flew into it.
Lu Rongsheng shouted again, "Close the formation!"
Spiritual light surged at the opening, sealing it shut in an instant.
The defensive shield had just closed when the aura of the Water Carp Beast fiercely pounced upon them. For a moment, the ten people inside the shield all paled.
Although they had long planned how to deal with this beast, it was, after all, a demonic beast equivalent to the Core Formation stage. The powerful momentum of its frontal charge was still difficult for these Foundation Establishment cultivators to treat as ordinary.
Ren Yufeng shouted, "Calm down, fellow junior brothers! Our Seven-Star Absolute Array will definitely be able to block it!"
As his words fell, the Water Carp Beast had already seen the several people before it. Demonic beasts mostly acted on instinct, especially when already enraged. The Water Carp Beast charged headlong at them!
Mo Tiange forced herself to remain calm. Looking out from within the formation, the Water Carp Beast was at least as large as all ten of them bundled together. Its entire body was a dark, ink-like color, with an appearance similar to an ordinary carp, yet it possessed a massive head with interlocking black teeth in its mouth. It was truly... hideously ugly!
The Water Carp Beast rammed into them. The momentum of a fifth-rank demonic beast was ferocious beyond compare. Mo Tiange almost thought they would be swallowed whole by this beast in one bite. However, the blue defensive shield blocked it. The beast crashed against the shield, causing the blue light to waver, but it still held.
Seeing this scene, not only Mo Tiange, but even Ren Yufeng and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They had set up this formation themselves and naturally had confidence in it, but confidence still needed to be verified by reality. Now that they saw it had indeed blocked the Water Carp Beast, smiles appeared on their faces.
"Fellow junior brothers and sisters! Everyone has seen it. Proceed according to plan!"
Everyone responded and held their positions. Ren Yufeng then said to Mo Tiange, "Junior Sister Ye, this Water Carp Beast has a very powerful spell, but it requires a relatively long time to cast. Once that spell passes, we will temporarily open the formation. At that time, you must attack with all your might."
"Alright." This wasn't difficult. However, after thinking for a moment, she asked Ren Yufeng, "Senior Brother Ren, when the formation is opened, will it..."
"Junior Sister Ye, just trust us!" Before she could finish asking, Ren Yufeng interrupted her. He was nervously staring at the Water Carp Beast before him, too lazy to spare any attention to answer Mo Tiange's question. The arrogant temper he had shown upon their first meeting unconsciously surfaced.
Mo Tiange frowned slightly but said nothing. Given her current status in the Xuanqing Sect, there were truly few people who would speak to her like this. As Dao Lord Jinghe's disciple, who would dare to court misfortune? This Ren Yufeng's temper was indeed not small. She just didn't know if he had the strength to match his temper.
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Ren Yufeng shout loudly, "Now! Open the formation!"
Hearing this, Lu Rongsheng waved the wooden sword in his hand. "Open the formation!"
In an instant, a gap appeared in the defensive shield above their heads.
Ren Yufeng shouted again, "Attack!"
Mo Tiange raised her hand. The Flying Sky Shuttle shot out through the formation's gap, transforming into a golden streak that struck the Water Carp Beast. At the same time, Ren Yufeng and Xiang Zhiyang's magical tools also flew out, but they were merely flying swords. It seemed they hadn't had time to refine other five-element attribute magical tools and had to use the most common flying swords.
Ren Yufeng and Xiang Zhiyang's flying swords swiftly slashed at the Water Carp Beast. However, this demonic beast's skin was exceptionally tough. The two flying swords only left white marks upon slashing, completely unable to pierce the beast's body.
Mo Tiange's Flying Sky Shuttle shot out, the golden streak circling around the Water Carp Beast. By this time, the other two had already retrieved their flying swords. Ren Yufeng urgently said, "Junior Sister Ye, hurry!"
Mo Tiange didn't even glance at him. The golden streak descended upon the beast's head and suddenly pierced into the Water Carp Beast's body. The Water Carp Beast cried out in pain and suddenly went berserk.
Ren Yufeng and the others, however, were delighted. At least Mo Tiange's magical tool could injure this demonic beast. This trip wasn't in vain.
"Junior Sister Ye!" Ren Yufeng called out. "It's up to you now!"
Mo Tiange remained silent. She took out a stack of high-grade talismans and slapped them out!
Outside, water surged and sand raged—they were several earth-attribute spirit talismans.
This Water Carp Beast was of the water element. Earth countered water, so these talismans struck its vital point.
The Water Carp Beast flew into a rage, swinging its tail and fiercely striking the defensive shield. The blue shield trembled. Lu Rongsheng, who was presiding over the formation, spat out a mouthful of blood. The enraged strike of a fifth-rank demonic beast was not easy to withstand, even if they had prepared for it.
Seeing the Water Carp Beast go berserk, seemingly preparing another spell, Ren Yufeng shouted, "Cease attacks! Close the formation!"
Upon hearing this, Mo Tiange circulated her spiritual qi and immediately retrieved the Flying Sky Shuttle. The formation then closed.
Seeing these people it could see but not attack, the Water Carp Beast flew into a rage again. It swung its tail, forcefully striking the defensive shield. After several consecutive hits, Lu Rongsheng had already spat out several mouthfuls of blood.
Seeing this, Ren Yufeng immediately ordered, "Junior Brother Xiang, you take over for Junior Brother Lu!"
Xiang Zhiyang acknowledged and walked to Lu Rongsheng's position. He took out his own magical tool—it was a jade tablet.
Seeing this situation, Mo Tiange frowned slightly. With Xiang Zhiyang taking over for Lu Rongsheng, and Lu Rongsheng too severely injured to act for now, only Ren Yufeng and she remained to attack. Ren Yufeng's flying sword had limited damage. Relying on her alone to deal with a fifth-rank demonic beast... to be honest, she wasn't very confident.
But in this situation, even if she wanted to retreat, she couldn't. She could only grit her teeth and persevere.
"Junior Sister Ye," Ren Yufeng glanced at her hand during this interval and said, "your magical tool is quite formidable."
Mo Tiange replied indifferently, "It was bestowed by my master when I established my Foundation. Fortunately, it's proving useful."
"Is that so?" Ren Yufeng asked. "Under whom in the Xuanqing Sect is Junior Sister Ye? In my youth, I also traveled to Kunwu and got to know a few elders of the Xuanqing Sect. Perhaps I happen to know your master."
Mo Tiange smiled and vaguely said, "I am a disciple of Clear Spring Peak. My master hasn't ventured out for many years. Senior Brother Ren likely wouldn't know him."
"Oh..." She spoke so ambiguously. Ren Yufeng was perceptive and could tell she didn't want to say more, so he didn't press further. He just looked at her thoughtfully a few times before turning his attention back to the Water Carp Beast outside.
The Zhengfa Sect's Seven-Star Absolute Array was truly impressive. Even under the Water Carp Beast's frenzied attacks, it firmly withstood them.
The time for the second opening of the formation soon arrived. This time, the Water Carp Beast had already sustained minor injuries. Ren Yufeng's flying sword finally had an effect, leaving slight cuts on the beast's body.
Mo Tiange still attacked with the Flying Sky Shuttle, interspersing it with flying needles and small throwing knives. Unfortunately, the Water Carp Beast's skin was truly thick. Apart from the Flying Sky Shuttle, none of the other attacks caused significant damage. As for talismans, she had already thrown out several high-grade ones earlier and didn't have many left. She didn't want to waste any more.
After grinding away for a while, seeing the Water Carp Beast's temper provoked again, the formation closed once more.
Repeating this several times, the Water Carp Beast could do nothing against them and had sustained many minor injuries. It finally began to tire, and its movements slowed.
Seeing this, Ren Yufeng said joyfully, "Everyone, stay sharp! The Water Carp Beast's movements have slowed. We're almost done grinding it to death!"
Hearing his reminder, the Zhengfa Sect cultivators who were arduously guarding the formation's eye glanced at the Water Carp Beast and their spirits lifted. Even Lu Rongsheng, who was sitting cross-legged healing his injuries, excitedly opened his eyes.
Xiang Zhiyang, who had taken over presiding the formation for Lu Rongsheng, also looked up and said weakly, "Senior Brother Ren... if this goes on any longer, I'm about to collapse..."
For such a reinforced defensive formation, the person presiding over it bore much more impact than the others. Among them, including Mo Tiange, there were only three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and one late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Ren Yufeng had to command. Mo Tiange didn't understand their Zhengfa Sect's techniques. Only Lu Rongsheng and Xiang Zhiyang could preside over this formation. Lu Rongsheng was already exhausted, and there was no one to replace Xiang Zhiyang.
Seeing Xiang Zhiyang's condition, Ren Yufeng pondered for a moment and said, "If Junior Brother Xiang can't hold on, the next time we open the formation, we'd better put in extra effort and directly exterminate this Water Carp Beast!"
These words were directed at Mo Tiange. Mo Tiange was currently meditating. Although she didn't need to continuously output spiritual qi, attacking a fifth-rank demonic beast consumed a considerable amount of spiritual qi. She could only seize this brief time to recover quickly.
Mo Tiange opened her eyes and stood up. "Senior Brother Ren, I don't have many talismans left. I truly have no confidence in directly exterminating it next time."
"Junior Sister Ye, don't worry," Ren Yufeng said urgently. "Just use your talismans. When we find the treasure, we'll give you a larger share."
"..." Mo Tiange wanted to say that wasn't what she meant, but after thinking, she didn't voice it. She still had a killing move she hadn't used because she felt it wasn't the right time yet. But now she couldn't afford to hold back. Apart from her, none of these Zhengfa Sect cultivators had effective means to deal with this Water Carp Beast. If she didn't use it and their defensive formation was broken, it would be difficult for her to escape unscathed.
Just as she was thinking this, the formation opened once more. Ren Yufeng shouted, "Junior Sister Ye, full power!" As he spoke, his flying sword took the lead.
Mo Tiange didn't hesitate. She flung out the Flying Sky Shuttle. At the same time, her solidified divine sense, enhanced by the Spirit Refinement Art, also probed out!
The solidified divine sense cultivated by the Spirit Refinement Art was extremely fine and completely invisible. The fifth-rank Water Carp Beast only sensed something pouncing towards it. It waved its fins, trying to strike it out. However, the solidification of divine sense was not equivalent to other substances. The moment it swung, Mo Tiange immediately dispersed this solidified divine sense, transforming it back into ordinary divine sense.
The Water Carp Beast moved its eyes in confusion. The next moment, Mo Tiange's divine sense gathered slightly again and fiercely lashed out at this demonic beast!
"Gurgle!" The Water Carp Beast grunted, its primordial spirit struck squarely!
The method to counter the Spirit Refinement Art was simple: tightly guard one's mind and not use one's own divine sense. This way, the primordial spirit was deeply hidden within the sea of consciousness, and no one could casually enter. However, whether for cultivators or demonic beasts, using divine sense during battle was almost instinctive. Divine sense was their eyes. How could they guard against this move? Especially for demonic beasts—they lacked intelligence, and using divine sense was a subconscious behavior.
Seizing the moment the Water Carp Beast's primordial spirit was struck squarely, Mo Tiange pressed her advantage. Her solidified divine sense pierced out again. At the same time, she controlled the Flying Sky Shuttle, creating the illusion of an attack.