A direct assault is the most foolish method to break a formation, yet also the most effective. Every formation has its limit of endurance; when the force attacking it exceeds what it can withstand, it will collapse and cease to exist.
Therefore, formations are also affected by cultivation realms. A formation at the Qi Refining stage cannot kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator; a Core Formation stage formation is helpless against a Nascent Soul cultivator.
In principle, the mountain-protecting great arrays of various sects are mostly formations above the Nascent Soul stage, yet they cannot compare to a Deity Transformation cultivator. Thus, with the gathering of so many demon cultivators above the Eighth Rank, they could completely force a breach.
Of course, the process of breaching would not be that easy.
Now, Demon Lord Xuanyue and his group intended to use this crude method to break the formation.
For demon cultivators, even if they have reached the Eighth Rank and transformed, with intelligence no less than humans, their talent in miscellaneous arts is still inferior to humans'. Using skill to break a formation was not as straightforward as using brute force.
Ten Eighth-Rank demon cultivators formed a simple formation, each summoning the treasures refined within their bodies. They erupted with spiritual energy, transforming it into a single, dazzlingly colorful flying sword that shot towards the Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation.
The murderous sword tip, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, struck the Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation heavily with a tremendous boom, causing the entire Bixuan Pavilion to shudder.
At the Teleportation Array, Tang Shen's expression grew even graver. He pressed the Dao-Attainment Pagoda into Ying Jinyi's hands and said, "You go first."
Ying Jinyi flusteredly refused, "This disciple dares not. Only the Chief Elder is qualified to hold the Dao-Attainment Pagoda."
Tang Shen replied with solemn dignity, "This is an extraordinary time. For the continuation of our sect, the Dao-Attainment Pagoda is entrusted to you. Do not refuse."
Ying Jinyi still shook her head. "Elder Tang, you could take the Dao-Attainment Pagoda and leave first as well. Moreover, for restoring the sect's orthodoxy, Elder Tang is more suitable than I."
But Tang Shen insisted, "The Chief Elder has the responsibility to protect the disciples. I must remain here. When I tell you to go, you go!" With that, he placed the Dao-Attainment Pagoda in her hand and pushed her forward.
Three disciples had just been teleported away. Ying Jinyi stood on the Teleportation Array, tears welling in her eyes. "Elder Tang..."
Tang Shen paid no heed. Instead, he bowed respectfully towards Feifei, who was lazily leaning against the wall nearby. "Senior Brother, once we reach Kunwu, I must trouble you to look after us."
Feifei lifted an eyelid slightly and nodded.
Watching the Teleportation Array light up and Ying Jinyi vanish, Tang Shen turned around, gazing silently towards the direction of the mountain gate.
Ten Eighth-Rank demon cultivators split into two teams, and six Ninth-Rank demon cultivators formed one team. These three teams took turns attacking the Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation, finally tearing an opening in the defensive barrier.
Seeing this, Demon Lord Xuanyue revealed a pleased expression. He glanced at the expressionless Mo Tiange and Qin Xi, then waved his hand. "Enter the formation."
Watching over twenty demon cultivators enter the Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation, a cold sneer appeared on Mo Tiange's face. A small flag materialized in her hand, and with a light flick, a series of thunderous roars erupted from within the great array, as if the heavens were collapsing.
Demon Lord Xuanyue's expression changed slightly. He turned to the two Tenth-Rank demon cultivators beside him. "Elders, this..."
Among the two Tenth-Rank demon cultivators, the one with a pale, beardless face waved his hand. "Second Prince, do not worry. They will not be completely wiped out."
Qin Xi swept a glance over them. His Three Yang True Fire Sword concealed within his sleeve, he said in a low voice, "Let me into the array. I'll eliminate them."
Mo Tiange hesitated briefly, then took out a Jade Talisman and handed it to him. "With this talisman on your person, the great array will not attack you. Whatever you do, do not confront them head-on. Use the array to kill them."
Qin Xi let out a soft chuckle. "I know. No need to instruct me as if I were your disciple."
Mo Tiange was taken aback, feeling a bit embarrassed. These past few days, commanding disciples and managing the great array had gotten her into the habit of giving instructions left and right, and she had spoken those words without thinking.
"Open the array and let me in," he said.
Mo Tiange waved the formation flag. A small opening three feet wide and long appeared where they stood, filled with rolling dark clouds. Qin Xi contracted his body and leapt down.
Entering the great array, Qin Xi rode the wind as if treading on air. All around him were churning, restless dark clouds, with flashes of lightning not far away.
The Jade Talisman hung at his waist. Whether it was the dark clouds or the lightning, they acted as if he did not exist, causing him no trouble.
Blocked by the dark clouds, he could see nothing. With a flick of his sleeve, he parted the clouds and descended.
Leaping down from the dark clouds, he naturally looked down, only to be greatly startled. Below was not land, but sky!
A vast, azure sky, with a single sun suspended within it. Had he gone the wrong way? Thinking this, he prepared to turn himself around to face downwards. Halfway through the turn, he stopped. No, this was indeed below.
And above, patches of mottled earth were visible between the dark clouds: plains, yellow soil, mountain peaks, oceans.
"The Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation... so this is how it is..." Qin Xi seemed to grasp something.
Since heaven and earth were inverted, then likely yin and yang and such were also inverted. Those demon cultivators wanting to break this formation would be dreaming if they didn't lose eight or ten of their number.
Thinking this, he spotted the group of demon cultivators that had entered the formation.
Twenty-six demon cultivators, with three Ninth-Rank demon cultivators at the head and tail respectively. The twenty in the middle were divided into four teams, forming a spindle-shaped formation, cautiously flying forward.
Qin Xi held the Jade Talisman, silently transforming into a wisp of dark cloud, slowly drifting closer to this group.
Under normal circumstances, no matter what he transformed into, before these Eighth and Ninth-Rank demon cultivators, he would more or less reveal some flaw. However, this was inside the Heaven-Earth Inversion Formation, with Mo Tiange presiding over the array, and he held the Jade Talisman. After transforming into dark cloud, he melded with the great array itself. Exposing his identity was impossible.
After traveling for a while, the demon cultivator leading the center group stopped and turned. "Split into pairs. Spread out and search for anything unusual; it might be the formation's eye."
"Yes!" the many demon cultivators responded.
The leading demon cultivator added, "Remember, if there is any unexpected situation, immediately activate the mind-link chain."
"Yes."
The demon cultivators split into pairs, heading off in different directions to search. Qin Xi selected a pair who were both at the early Nascent Soul stage and quietly followed them.
After flying for a while, one of them, a scruffy-looking dark-skinned man, said, "Human formations are truly miraculous. Everything here looks real. Searching like this, how would we know what's strange?"
"Indeed!" another short, stocky youth said. "Human things are odd and bizarre. How can we recognize them?"
The two flew silently for a while longer. The dark-skinned man spoke again, "I say, we were doing fine in the Xumi Sea. Why come attack humans? Humans may have many treasures, but our Xumi Sea is full of treasures everywhere; we're not lacking compared to them!"
"Who knows?" the short youth said. "The Ruler has given the order; who among us dares disobey? And this time the leader is the Second Prince. The Second Prince is most interested in human things. I heard he even traveled to human lands a century ago. Really hard to understand..."
"There must be some profound reason. The Kirin bloodline is noble, born with intelligence far surpassing ours. The Second Prince is also the smartest among the princes. Perhaps he can succeed the Ruler's position in the future!"
Hearing this, the youth laughed. "Brother Feilong, is that why you specifically followed the Second Prince here?"
The dark-skinned man chuckled slyly. "If not for that, who would willingly take on this thankless task? Brother Jieli, surely you are the same?"
The youth laughed but did not argue, indicating it was indeed the case.
Listening from behind, Qin Xi pondered inwardly. The Xumi Sea... did it refer to the South Sea? The royal clan of the South Sea seemed to have a struggle for succession.
"...Brother Feilong, why does it seem like we can't see clearly anymore?" the short youth muttered.
"Yes..." The two turned around to see dark clouds rising around them, obscuring the surrounding scenery completely.
"Not good!" the youth cried out. "The formation might be activating!"
No sooner had he spoken than he and the dark-skinned man prepared to disperse the dark clouds. But they saw the dark clouds suddenly erupt with lightning, cascading down upon the two of them.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" The explosions were unceasing. Hidden within the dark clouds, Qin Xi watched as the lightning strikes rendered the two demon cultivators utterly defenseless, instantly forcing them back into human form. His Three Yang True Fire Sword flew out from his sleeve, silently and nimbly circling once. The heads of the two demon cultivators trapped by the lightning were easily severed.
After death, the two reverted to their original forms. The dark-skinned man was originally a sea centipede, yet named Feilong (Flying Dragon). The short youth was a fat, stubby loach.
He stored the two corpses in his Qiankun Ring, then heard the sound of flight approaching from not far away.
The commotion from the small heavenly thunder array just now was too great. Eighty percent of the demon cultivators scattered elsewhere had heard it and were rushing over.
Qin Xi remained completely unflustered, still transformed into a wisp of dark cloud, drifting leisurely away.
Multicolored streaks of light soon arrived. Two Ninth-Rank demon cultivators were the first to fly over, their gazes sharp as they scanned the surroundings, yet finding nothing suspicious.
"Maybe they're not here?" one of them murmured.
The other shook his head. "There was indeed a sensation of spell fluctuation here. It was right here just now."
Other demon cultivators arrived one after another. One Ninth-Rank demon cultivator counted the numbers, his expression grave. "Two are missing."
Another Ninth-Rank demon cultivator swept his piercing gaze across the surroundings. "It seems they met their end here."
The two demon cultivators exchanged a look. One said, "We can't split up anymore."
The other nodded. "Let's search together." Then he raised his voice, "This formation is bizarre and unfathomable. From now on, do not disperse. Form ranks!"
Once again, the Ninth-Rank demon cultivators took positions at the front and rear, forming a spindle-shaped formation.
Qin Xi sighed regretfully. With so many demon cultivators together, even using the formation's power to pick them off one by one would be difficult. When would the formation's power activate?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, suddenly, the surroundings darkened.
The demon cultivators were startled. Looking up, they saw the earth and oceans above begin to roar. Below, the red sun dimmed, and dark clouds obscured its light.
In an instant, many things appeared around them: sparkling, translucent hexagonal ice crystals; floating sparks suspended in mid-air; intertwining wooden vines; wildly scattering, raging sand. The wind whipped against their faces, stinging painfully.
The moment these demon cultivators assumed defensive postures, these things came crashing down upon them.
Ice crystals transformed into blades; sparks coalesced into lotuses; wooden vines sprouted thorns; raging sand fell like rain. The ocean above their heads descended in massive, ferocious waves. The sky beneath their feet flashed with continuous lightning, becoming a world of slaughter.
Besides external threats, there were internal troubles. Just as the demon cultivators were about to cast spells, they discovered the spiritual energy rules within this space had been altered. Yin and yang were reversed, the five elements were in disorder. Their spells, forcibly cast, had greatly diminished power.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, Qin Xi quietly hid within a cloud, drifting towards these demon cultivators. From within the cloud, a barely perceptible glint of sword light emerged.