Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 86: Breaking the Formation with Blood

Although the Ghost Saint Daoist had recovered a fraction of his strength, the Heart-Guarding Sword remained the personal artifact of the Sword Saint, Dugu Bai. Even now, even if he regained ten times his power, he would likely still be unable to break through.

“Well, senior, how about it? Isn’t it about time? Perhaps you could try again—maybe you’ll succeed in breaking through on your next attempt.” Mu Wanqing, seeing that the black mist remained unable to penetrate their defenses, felt somewhat relieved and then tempted him with her words.

“Hmph!” The Ghost Saint Daoist also realized the formidable power of Zhang Heng’s protective artifact. Understanding that he could not break through for the time being, he decided not to entangle himself any further with Zhang Heng and the others, and flew outward.

“Hey, hey, hey, he’s leaving!” Mu Wanqing grew anxious, yet did not dare disturb Zhang Heng.

This ghostly being was so powerful that if he managed to get outside, the lower-level cultivators would surely suffer disaster.

Zhang Heng opened his eyes, smiling calmly. “I know.”

Although the array taught by the system was intricate and complex, Zhang Heng now possessed a photographic memory, making it easy for him to remember. The trouble was, he had never actually used an array before and had no idea how to deploy it. Worse still, time was running out—there was no chance to practice slowly.

Zhang Heng glanced in the direction the Ghost Saint Daoist had fled.

Then, putting down Mu Wanqing, he rushed outside, but as he reached the entrance, he hesitated, feeling uneasy.

The girl was not without charm, and now she was seriously injured. If he left her here alone, something terrible might happen.

Helpless, Zhang Heng turned back and picked her up, chasing after the Ghost Saint Daoist.

Mu Wanqing had never imagined there would come a day when she would be held in the arms of a stranger—a male cultivator, no less. And, to her surprise, he carried her for so long.

“Brother System, where did he go?”

By the time Zhang Heng emerged, the Ghost Saint Daoist was nowhere to be seen. He could only ask the system.

“Beep, according to the scan, the Ghost Saint Daoist’s consciousness has headed toward the Hundred Ghosts Yin-Gathering Array.”

Cradling Mu Wanqing, Zhang Heng dashed in the direction of the Hundred Ghosts Yin-Gathering Array.

He had anticipated that the Ghost Saint Daoist would head there.

At this point, most of the other cultivators remaining in the tomb had already perished. The Ghost Saint Daoist needed only to reach the Hundred Ghosts Yin-Gathering Array to absorb a vast number of wandering spirits.

If he succeeded, Zhang Heng truly would have no way to deal with him.

Inside the Hundred Ghosts Yin-Gathering Array, Wu Hong, Yun Xiaotian, Qi Xuan, and two silent Void Return stage experts, unable to escape, sat cross-legged in meditation, trying to maintain their composure.

They could all sense their spiritual energy and blood essence being drawn away by some strange force. Yet, they were powerless to stop it. Sitting thus was the only way to slow the loss.

“Alchemist Wu, who exactly is this Zhang Heng? He doesn’t seem like an ordinary person,” Qi Xuan asked, breaking the heavy silence and voicing the question in his heart.

Wu Hong, a fourth-tier alchemist of some renown, usually cared for nothing but his craft—why was he so invested in Zhang Heng?

At the mention of Zhang Heng, Wu Hong’s interest was piqued. “Eighteenth Prince, you’re only twenty-four, yet you’ve already reached the ninth stage of the Yuan Dan realm. You truly deserve the title of Qi Kingdom’s foremost prodigy.”

Qi Xuan, hearing this, did not grow conceited, but continued to smile humbly.

Wu Hong continued, “Yet, even so, compared to Zhang Heng, you fall far short.” He spoke bluntly, not sparing Qi Xuan’s feelings. In his mind, all prodigies must bow their heads before Zhang Heng.

Though Wu Hong’s words displeased Qi Xuan, he did not let it show, maintaining his smile. “Oh? If Elder Wu says so, then Zhang Heng must have his extraordinary qualities. Given the chance, I would very much like to befriend him.”

Wu Hong turned away, ignoring him.

The group remained seated in meditation.

Just then, a mass of black shadow ignored the air barrier and rushed in from the outside. The group stared at it in shock and confusion—had the barrier vanished?

The shadow shot to the center of the platform and then, to their astonishment, spoke in human tongue.

“Ahahaha! I suppose you are the ones who activated the formation for me? As a reward, this saint will be the first to absorb your spiritual energy. This is your honor—hahaha!” The voice was sinister and seductive.

Before the group could react, the six stone statues at the platform’s edge suddenly moved, weaving about the platform. Simultaneously, the lines beneath the platform began to glow ever brighter.

At that moment, the force draining their energy and blood essence grew even stronger.

Panic set in. At this rate, in less than a quarter of an hour, they would all be drained to death.

What now? They cried out in terror, but some invisible restriction bound them, rendering even the three Void Return stage experts unable to resist or move, let alone Qi Xuan and Yun Xiaotian, both still at the Yuan Dan stage.

“Ahahaha!” The evil laughter of the black mass continued, but no one cared to listen.

The shadow of death enveloped them all.

At that moment, Zhang Heng, carrying Mu Wanqing, finally arrived.

It was not that the girl was heavy, but that Zhang Heng had never tried using the Minor Aurora Mirage technique while holding someone, so he moved a bit slower.

This was bad—the black shadow had already entered the Hundred Ghosts Yin-Gathering Array.

The system had warned that the array could not be forcefully broken from the outside. If it was, Wu Hong, Yun Xiaotian, and the others would surely perish.

But now, the Ghost Saint Daoist’s consciousness had invaded the array. If Zhang Heng wished to destroy him, he would have to forcefully break the formation. If he did that…

What should he do? Zhang Heng grew increasingly anxious.

If he delayed any longer, all the cultivators inside the tomb would face disaster.

Mu Wanqing did not know exactly what was happening, but seeing Zhang Heng’s pained expression, she chose not to speak.

Brother System, there must be a way, right?

Though not a saint, Zhang Heng could not stand by and watch so many cultivators die.

Just then, countless white shadows drifted in from outside, all emitting eerie, resentful wails.

Could these be…? The spirits of the dead cultivators, so many of them—Zhang Heng made a rough count. If one white shadow matched one cultivator, then at least fifty thousand had perished in this tomb.

Brother System, is there any way?

For those already dead, Zhang Heng was powerless, but there were still many who lived.

Countless spirits surged toward the black shadow of the Ghost Saint Daoist, each one forced into the mass of black mist. The platform was filled with terrified, anguished cries.

Mu Wanqing, too, was frightened pale by the horrifying scene.

At that moment, the system finally spoke.

“Beep, the system’s blood can break the restrictions of this array.”

“Blood? My blood? You mean my blood can break this formation?”

“Beep, yes.”

Good! No time to think further—it was urgent to stop the Ghost Saint Daoist before his fusion was complete.

Zhang Heng retrieved a small knife from his storage ring and sliced his left index finger. Blood immediately welled up.

He dabbed his blood onto the air barrier. Instantly, a finger-sized hole appeared in the barrier, and Zhang Heng understood—his blood could indeed break through, though the amount was insufficient.

Gathering his spiritual energy into his finger, Zhang Heng pressed forward, sending his blood along with his energy onto the barrier.