Published: February 13, 2025
Ye Pingsu silently raised the Illusion Shattering Formation Staff in his hand, and in his mind, scenes from a long time ago appeared.
It was many years back, when he had just become a peak expert, and at that time, the Su Clan Leader had met with him privately.
Even to this day, Ye Pingsu could clearly remember every word spoken. He had promised, and then he received slightly more resources than others.
The increase wasn't much, but it allowed him to get a small lead over his peers who had also become peak experts around the same time.
When he showed an exceptional talent for close-combat formations in the mid-stage of being a peak expert, the clan leader sought him out again, resulting in even more resources for him.
The third conversation occurred after he had become a peak expert. Ye Pingsu fulfilled his promise by forming a battle team, allowing the old tribe chief's faction to stand out among the three factions of the Su Clan, unmatched by any opponent.
That state lasted for many years, until several new peak experts emerged from the other two factions, restoring balance. However, because of Ye Pingsu’s presence, even the declining faction he belonged to could still stand level with the other two factions, which produced numerous talented individuals.
Later, with the passing of the old tribe chief and as his seniority grew, the mark of his faction within the Su Clan gradually faded, and he became a symbol of the entire Su Clan.
He transformed into... the lone pillar of the Su Clan’s unresolved debate on close-combat theory.
But Ye Pingsu knew that he still owed a favor to the old tribe chief's faction, a favor incurred because of the Illusion Shattering Formation Staff.
That favor had remained unused for many years, leading Ye Pingsu to sometimes doubt whether the people of that faction had forgotten about it.
However, just before this expedition, members of that faction came to him, asking him to repay the favor.
After living for so many years, there wasn’t much that could cause Ye Pingsu, who had stood at the peak for far too long, to feel intense emotional fluctuations.
However, upon hearing that request, he experienced unprecedented shock.
He truly hadn't expected the request to be... that way.
Ye Pingsu found it hard to understand, was this really necessary at this time?
He had spent his life focused on learning formations to enhance his cultivation and did not understand politics. He had always followed orders to fight.
Just like this time, the entire Su Clan was in a state of war, and Ye Pingsu was no exception. He never thought about whether they should launch a war, didn't consider what winning would mean, nor did he ponder what losing would entail; he simply followed orders.
Because Ye Pingsu clearly understood what he excelled at in life.
He was skilled at fighting, and that was all he was good at.
But that didn’t mean that when presented with that request, he was unaware of the situation the Su Clan would face!
They were going to lose to the dwarves here!
As Ye Pingsu looked at the magnificent waterfall falling towards him during the seventh manifestation, he suddenly found the answer.
He abruptly reversed the Illusion Shattering Formation Staff, stabbing the lower part of the staff fiercely against his chest.
A mist of blood spread within the formation, turning the originally translucent array base into a light red color.
Ye Pingsu raised his head, his gaze fixed on the waterfall that was now within arm's reach. He pulled the staff out from his body, trailing a stream of blood. One drop of blood combined with a symbol that suddenly illuminated within the formation and spun towards the waterfall.
The immense waterfall stood in stark contrast to the tiny light symbol that was only a few dozen centimeters long, as if a deity was looking down upon the mortals.
Then the collision occurred.
The sky suddenly brightened, followed by an abrupt darkness.
The energy elements, dust, and everything in the surrounding air seemed to vanish in an instant, light being swallowed whole.