Chapter 222

Chapter 222

When the haze of Yushui was entirely tinged with blood, the wails of the aquatic fiends and the persistent clashes with the barriers erected by the disciples of Tianfu Sect and Feixian Island reverberated through the crimson fog.

The talisman formation and purification formation emitted a bright spiritual light, causing the tainted blood demons to emit piercing cries of agony.

Despite this, the blood demons continued to surge forward, relentlessly slamming into the two formations at the entrance, attempting to pollute and destroy them.

The evil-suppressing talisman formation and purification formation had a certain restraining effect on these blood demons already tainted by the blood miasma, managing to hold them back to some extent.

These blood demons were merely the vanguard sent by the monsters from the blood miasma turbid land. The cultivators all understood this, but the sounds emanating from within still sent chills down their spines.

Wu Qijie stood sentinel at the entrance of Yushui, his countenance unaltered.

Originally, the blood demons were aquatic creatures dwelling in the Yushui Marsh, sustaining themselves on Yaoguang grass. But when the seal on the blood miasma turbid land was breached, it tainted the waters of the Yushui Marsh, turning the aquatic creatures into these lowly blood demons. Their temperament became increasingly fierce and merciless, exhibiting a reckless disregard for life, using their physical forms to forge a gory trail through the mist of blood.

When the blood demons finally crawled out of the blood mist at the entrance, Wu Qijie did not hesitate to step forward with his blade and slay them.

Fortunately, the two formations blocked most of the blood demons, allowing only a few to emerge. Most of the blood demons were affected by the evil-suppressing talisman and purification formation, significantly weakening their strength by the time they managed to crawl out.

With Wu Qijie standing guard at the entrance of Yushui, a sense of security settled over everyone.

These people did not stand idly by. Upon realizing that their retreat was cut off, the Yuanzong realm cultivators present approached Su Wangling and Qiao Leshan to discuss the next steps in battle.

Su Wangling said, "I observed that the formation set up by Young Master Ning requires eighteen key points to be guarded. As long as we defend these eighteen points, the formation should hold until the elders arrive."

Qiao Leshan nodded and addressed a cultivator with a stern face, "Friend Tu, please ensure that each point is guarded by no fewer than five Yuanzong realm cultivators."

Tu Liang was a highly regarded Yuanzong realm disciple of the Scattered Cultivators Alliance. This time, he led the group sent into the Celestial Plains to search for the divine tree. Earlier, due to his distance, he missed the opportunity to seize the purification water lotus seeds, resulting in the Scattered Cultivators Alliance failing to secure any.

He was quite displeased about this and had considered directly seizing them but refrained because the disciples of Feixian Island protected Wen Qiao and Wen Tutu.

Qiao Leshan knew Tu Liang well and recognized his capabilities. These disciples of the Scattered Cultivators Alliance were formidable fighters, and their efforts would be crucial in defending the formation.

Tu Liang understood Qiao Leshan's intentions but knew that this was not the time to dwell on past grievances. If anyone were to complain, it would likely be Ning Yuzhou, who was setting up the formation.

Tu Liang responded straightforwardly, "Rest assured, we want to leave the Celestial Plains alive. We will definitely guard the formation."

After discussing the formation's defense, Tu Liang couldn't help but ask, "Have you informed your sects about the situation here?"

Both Qiao Leshan and Su Wangling nodded in agreement. They possessed artifacts that allowed them to communicate with their respective sects and had swiftly activated them upon sensing the disturbance in Yushui. Yet, as they were traversing the Celestial Plains, they relied on special sensing jade talismans rather than conventional communication tools. By breaking these talismans, they could signal to the elders of their sects that an emergency had arisen, prompting them to rush to their assistance.

Not just these two, but all the disciples from prestigious sects carried similar sensing jade talismans.

Hearing this, the cultivators present finally showed signs of relief.

At least there was hope.

However, Qiao Leshan, known for his blunt nature, said, "We don't know when they will arrive. It's best not to rely on luck and focus on defending the formation."

If everyone just waited to be saved, they might as well jump into the blood sea.

Seeing the cultivators' expressions turn grim again, Qiao Leshan ignored them and walked away.

Su Wangling chuckled softly. Qiao Leshan was a pragmatic person who never beat around the bush, which sometimes made him easy to anger.

Tu Liang and others glared at Qiao Leshan's back for a while before gathering the Scattered Cultivators Alliance members to make arrangements.

Ning Yuzhou continued setting up the formation.

The area enclosed by the formation wasn't large, barely accommodating ten thousand people. This was done to save time; size didn't matter as long as it could withstand the monsters from the blood miasma turbid land.

Wen Qiao, Wen Tutu, and Wen Guangun followed behind him, protecting him.

The two yellow crystal ants perched on her hair occasionally twitched their antennae, seemingly sensing something.

Indeed, the yellow crystal ants were sensing the surrounding aura and quietly reporting to Wen Qiao. Since their mutation, they could detect situations through the surrounding aura, besides guiding and locating people and objects.

Especially in this place filled with foul and yin energy, the range of their detection was extensive.

Wen Qiao listened silently, and couldn't help but cast his gaze towards the heart of Yushui.

Qiao Leshan led several Feixian Island disciples, planning to leave the formation to kill a batch of blood sea monsters and gather information before making further arrangements.

Qiao Leshui nervously said, "Brother, be careful."

Qiao Leshan nodded and replied, "Yes, you also be careful! Come, let's go out together."

Qiao Leshui: "..."

Qiao Leshui eventually went out with Qiao Leshan, trusting his brother's strength without fear.

After the Feixian Island disciples left the formation, another group followed, including the group of body cultivators.

Xiong Yan was a disciple of the Five Elements Sect, a sect of body cultivators. Although their numbers were smaller than those of major sects, they were still a formidable force. This time, the Five Elements Sect disciples came for the divine tree, hoping to benefit from its effects on body cultivation. Unfortunately, they neither saw the leaves of the divine tree nor secured any purification water lotus seeds.

Xiong Yan said to Wen Qiao, "Little sister, we're going to kill some of those blood sea monsters."

Wen Qiao hurriedly replied, "Senior Xiong, be careful. If it gets too dangerous, retreat. Wait until my husband finishes the formation, then I'll join you in killing them!"

"Good girl!"

Xiong Yan laughed heartily and led the group of body cultivators away.

Many cultivators chose to investigate the blood sea, while only a few timid ones remained inside the formation, unwilling to face the monsters directly.

Soon, those cultivators returned swiftly.

Immediately after, they saw a surge of blood-colored floodwaters rushing toward them. The blood-colored floodwaters resembled an unceasing tidal wave, sweeping through the heavens and earth, devouring everything in its path, chasing closely behind the group of cultivators.

"Not good, the Blood Sea has spread here."

The cultivators hiding within the formation cried out in alarm, their faces filled with fear and panic.

"What's the point of shouting? Hurry up and guard the formation," someone rebuked angrily. Trapped as they were, fear was useless; they might as well fight to the end.

While there were many who feared death, even more understood that the situation left no room for retreat—they could only fight until the bitter end!

Qiao Leshan led the disciples of Feixian Island into the formation and hurriedly asked, "Has Young Master Ning completed the grand formation?"

Su Wangling looked at Ning Yuzhou, who was still engrossed in setting up the formation. Although several formation masters were assisting him, their levels were too low to be much help. Ning Yuzhou had to rely on his own calculations and setup, which consumed a tremendous amount of energy and spiritual power. His face was pale, and beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks, indicating the immense strain he was under.

At this moment, Ning Yuzhou had already set up the second layer of the grand formation and was working on the third.

After seeing this, Qiao Leshan and the others pursed their lips, then turned to look at the approaching Blood Sea.

The Blood Sea did not move slowly; in a short while, it had reached the vicinity of the grand formation.

Just as the blood waves were about to crash over, the formation suddenly emitted a burst of spiritual light, forcing the blood waves to retreat, stopping several dozen feet away from the formation.

The hearts of the cultivators, which had been pounding with fear, gradually settled, and their faces lit up with surprise.

"It really can hold!"

"Of course it can hold, but if we don't defend it properly, even the most stable formation won't last," Qiao Leshan said calmly.

With just two layers of the grand formation, they managed to repel the surging Blood Sea, demonstrating Ning Yuzhou's profound expertise in formations. Once he finished the final layer, it should provide some protection.

As the blood waves finally stopped, the cultivators inside the formation noticed the monsters emerging from the Blood Sea.

Wen Qiao was momentarily stunned and exclaimed, "Are these the hungry ghosts from the Blood River?"

If not for their red-black skin, they would resemble the hungry ghosts crawling out of the Blood River. However, these creatures exuded a stronger aura, almost like an evolved version of the hungry ghosts.

Wen Qiao couldn't help but wonder if the re-emergence of the Blood Miasma Zone had caused the hungry ghosts in the Blood River to break free.

Hearing her voice, Su Wangling turned to see her standing nearby, with a mutated demon rabbit perched on her shoulder, leaving the small shanshou beast to guard Ning Yuzhou.

Su Wangling gathered his spiritual power and observed the Blood Sea, saying, "They are not the hungry ghosts from the Blood River, but their essence is similar. They are stronger than those hungry ghosts, so Miss Wen, please be cautious."

Wen Qiao nodded. Seeing the monsters emerging from the Blood Sea charging towards the formation, she summoned her Sun Bow.

Everyone present looked at the Sun Bow with envy.

In the Heavenly Plains, where evil and filth abound, a spirit treasure like the Sun Bow, imbued with the power of the sun, possesses formidable killing power and is incredibly useful in critical moments.

Wen Qiao stretched out her hand and drew the bow, but instead of an arrow, she condensed a spiritual arrow using her spiritual power.

The spiritual arrow shot out swiftly.

When the spiritual arrow struck the monster in the Blood Sea, it exploded with a loud bang, turning into a spray of blood that merged back into the Blood Sea.

Wen Qiao sensed the impact and felt a tinge of regret. The spiritual arrow was inferior to the Sun Arrows made from stone golden pythons. However, the number of Sun Arrows was limited, and some could not be retrieved due to severe damage or other reasons, making them irreplaceable once used.

She needed to conserve the Sun Arrows.

However, as she thought this, the people around her looked at her differently.

"Sis, your spirit bow is quite powerful," Xiong Yan, covered in blood, walked over. "Don't underestimate these monsters; although they aren't strong individually, their numbers are overwhelming. As long as there is Blood Sea, they keep emerging endlessly, making them difficult to defend against. We were even injured by them earlier."

Wen Qiao glanced at his shoulders and arms, noticing deep wounds covered in ominous filth, healing very slowly.

"Furthermore, when killing them, ordinary spirit treasures are not only damaged but also ineffective. However, the weapons of Feixian Island's disciples seem to be more effective against these monsters."

Everyone looked enviously at the weapons wielded by the disciples of Feixian Island.

The disciples of Feixian Island used identical spirit light swords, similar to Qiao Leshan's, though of different grades. Apart from Qiao Leshan's heavenly-grade spirit light sword, the others used earthly-grade spirit light swords, which were slightly less powerful.

At this moment, the disciples of Feixian Island had already left the formation to confront the attacking monsters.

The sword lights of the spirit light swords flashed brilliantly, cutting through the monsters as easily as slicing vegetables, complemented by the impressive appearance of the Feixian Island disciples, creating a striking scene.

Wen Qiao drew her bow again, condensing spiritual arrows to kill the monsters attacking the formation.

Arrow after arrow, the spiritual arrows eliminated all the monsters attacking the formation, leaving the surrounding cultivators amazed. They never expected that this female cultivator, only at the late stage of the Yuan Kong realm, would possess such formidable combat power, even surpassing the speed of Yuanshen realm cultivators in slaying monsters.

Condensing spiritual arrows consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual power. Without spirit replenishment pills and honey fat, Wen Qiao wouldn't dare to waste so much.

Because she could afford to waste, the other cultivators found her particularly fierce, and those who had initially planned to snatch her Pure Spirit Water Lotus seeds quietly backed off.

Unbeknownst to them, the battle had already begun.

A hum sounded, and a brilliant burst of spiritual light illuminated the sky, forcing the Blood Sea monsters attempting to attack the formation to retreat, emitting shrill cries before dissolving into a spray of blood that fell back into the Blood Sea.

Everyone couldn't help but look up at the spiritual light, their faces filled with joy.

"Husband!"

Wen Qiao rushed over, supporting the pale and nearly exhausted Ning Yuzhou, quickly feeding him honey fat.

After swallowing several pieces of honey fat, Ning Yuzhou's complexion improved significantly.

The alchemists accompanying Ning Yuzhou silently put away their spirit pills. Since Younger Brother Ning was also an alchemist and his pills were superior, their offerings were unnecessary.

"Young Master Ning, are you alright?"

Everyone asked with concern, deeply grateful for the grand formation he had set up.

Ning Yuzhou smiled at them and said, "I'll rest for a while."

Hearing his words, everyone quickly made space and considerately placed some tables, chairs, and demon beast furs on the ground for him to sit and rest. Even Su Wangling, the sickly young master of Linglong Fort, had never been treated so well.

Su Wangling found it amusing yet somewhat mocking.

Just moments ago, they were almost killing each other over the Pure Spirit Water Lotus, but now they treated him like a savior—Ning Yuzhou was truly a miraculous presence.

Su Wangling had never underestimated Ning Yuzhou, but he realized that Ning Yuzhou was even more formidable than he had guessed.

Ning Yuzhou sat there resting, with Wen Guangun still by his side, slowly gnawing on a piece of Qiong Jade Purple Spirit Bamboo in its paws. Its innocent and harmless appearance made it hard for anyone to be wary of it, yet no one knew that this earth-elemental little food-iron beast had a defense surpassing everyone present.

Su Wangling walked over, "Young Master Ning."

Ning Yuzhou opened his eyes from meditation and looked at him, asking, "Young Master Su, is there something you need?"

Su Wangling nodded lightly and set up a soundproof barrier around them before speaking seriously, "Young Master Ning, the situation in Prison Water Marsh is worse than we anticipated."

If not for fear of making these cultivators lose hope and their resolve to defend the formation, Su Wangling would not have withheld the full truth. He worried that they might not hold out until the ancestors of the Primordial Emperor realm arrived.

Ning Yuzhou remained silent, merely looking at him.

"As I see it, Young Master Ning must have noticed as well, otherwise you wouldn't have expended so much effort to set up this grand formation," Su Wangling pointed out.

Ning Yuzhou neither confirmed nor denied it, finally speaking, "What do you want to do?"