Published: March 2, 2025
Chapter 168: Collapse
Suddenly, the barrier formed by the formation emitted a brilliant spiritual light, and then a dense web of cracks quickly spread across the barrier, rapidly covering the entire area.
"Bang!"
Finally, like shattered glass, the barrier broke apart under the attacks of the enemy cultivators, turning into countless stardust that merged into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.
With the cultivators' spiritual perception, one could clearly feel that the concentration of spiritual energy in this area had suddenly increased significantly. This was because the formation absorbed spiritual energy from the spiritual vein, and the energy that hadn’t been completely consumed blended into the air.
"Puff!"
As the host of the formation, when it was destroyed, Cao Mengyu inevitably suffered a backlash, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, her complexion as pale as paper, and her breath weakened considerably.
Without the formation as a reliance, they were no match for their opponents; with the formation broken, they were even less capable of standing their ground.
The Yuan Yang Sect cultivators, of course, did not remain in place waiting for death. At the moment the formation shattered, they instinctively turned and fled.
One by one, the qi refinement stage disciples controlled their magical artifacts and flew southward, a direction completely opposite from the north, which was the path leading to Moonlit City.
Some clever cultivators did not follow the main group but instead flew to the left and right, dispersing to avoid being pursued by the enemy force. In the blink of an eye, they had already run over a hundred zhang, nearly disappearing into the darkness.
If the reaction of the qi refinement disciples was this fast, how much quicker would the foundation establishment cultivators be?
Yan Hongyu, Li Bùtóng, Ding Hui, Cao Mengyu, and the other foundation establishment cultivators were already prepared, responding even faster, guiding their magical artifacts to fly two or three miles away in no time.
The few of them dispersed and fled in different directions; whether they could escape alive would depend on fate. Cao Mengyu, having been injured by the backlash of the formation, ended up lagging behind.
But in this life-and-death race, every moment was crucial; there was no time to care for others while trying to save oneself, so no one offered to help.
However, she was not the last foundation establishment cultivator; that title belonged to Liu Yu. At the moment the formation broke, he seemed to be in a daze for a moment before reacting, then erratically controlled his magical artifact to retreat backward, heading straight for the entrance of the spiritual herb garden.
Being at the back, the other foundation establishment cultivators from Yuan Yang Sect did not pay much attention to Liu Yu's situation.
Having held their ground until the formation was broken could be considered completing the sect's task. After all, the enemy's forces were overwhelming, and staying put to resist would lead to certain death, accomplishing nothing and merely throwing away their lives.
"You, you, go to the entrance of the spiritual herb garden and prevent anyone from causing trouble."
"The rest of you, follow me to chase them!"
Qi Shaoan ordered ominously, then produced a pink long fan, transforming into a streak of pink escape light that quickly pursued Li Bùtóng.
His escape speed and spiritual pressure far exceeded that of ordinary foundation establishment cultivators, and that unremarkable long fan displayed a pressure that was even greater than that of a superior spiritual artifact.
It was harvest time; killing a foundation establishment cultivator from the opposing side could not only yield their financial spoils but also earn a considerable amount of merit upon returning, which meant a good number of spiritual stones!
The other foundation establishment cultivators from the Heavenly Harmony Sect reacted just as quickly as Yan Hongyu, Li Bùtóng, and the others, their faces twisted in sinister smiles. The moment the formation disappeared, they hastily chased after them, and the distance between both sides was not widening but instead gradually shrinking.