Chapter 148

Chapter 148: The True Formation

"Tired?" You You blinked. Considering Shui Yan’s cultivation level, she never complained after sparring with Kui Bi over a dozen times in the sect. How could she tire so quickly now? These opponents couldn’t compare to Kui Bi at the Nascent Soul Stage. Was the pressure overwhelming?

Not wanting to disrupt Shui Yan’s focus, You You offered brief encouragement before ending the communication.

Soon it was Shui Yan’s turn. Her opponent, a Golden Core cultivator from host sect Ming Xin Sect, clashed with her immediately. As a sword cultivator, Shui Yan effortlessly sliced through every spell cast by the opposing Spellcaster, her sword energy suppressing all attacks. The Ming Xin disciple could only dodge helplessly.

Victory seemed certain, yet You You noticed something odd. Shui Yan’s sword moves felt slower than usual. She was the sect’s top practitioner of Qiu Zhang Technique, even surpassing Lin Feng. Qiu Zhang himself claimed she neared comprehending her own Sword Intent, where blade and will become one – yet now she rigidly followed textbook Qiu Zhang moves, their power diminished.

"Feng Rong." You You tugged her companion’s sleeve, interrupting his nut-cracking. "Does Shui Yan seem off?"

Feng Rong glanced at the arena, brow furrowing. "She’s leaking spiritual energy with each strike."

Peering closer, You You spotted faint energy wisps escaping Shui Yan and dispersing into the arena’s formation. "The bait incident’s aftereffects?"

"Possibly." Feng Rong shrugged. "But I lack knowledge about bait’s long-term impacts."

You You grabbed her pendant communicator. Yuan Qi’s palm-sized phantom appeared, smiling warmly. "How fares the competition?"

"Yuan Papa, check Shui Yan! Is this from the bait?" She angled the pendant.

Yuan Qi’s smile vanished. "Evacuate the arena! That’s the Zhu Xian Formation below!"

Before the words fully registered, Feng Rong shot into the arena, yanking Shui Yan back as he shouted, "Zhen Yan disciples – leave this floating peak now!"

Only Zhen Yan followers reacted instantly, summoning flying swords. Others stared bewildered until the entire peak blazed with light. White pillars erupted from competition stages, vaporizing trapped disciples – including Shui Yan’s recent opponent.

Layered formations lit across the peak like glowing domes. Yuan Qi’s image distorted as he warned, "Multiple formations under your—" before vanishing.

Celestial maidens in the viewing stands stirred. "Ming Xin Sect dares trap us?"

God Transformation Stage followers attempted breaking free, but the formations held. Below, the white light expanded, consuming slower cultivators.

White mist swirled through the formation. You You recognized Nie Zheng’s celestial energy signature – this was no ordinary spell.

"My cultivation!" someone screamed. Disciples clutched their bodies as energy poured out like water through cracks. Even Lin Feng’s group near Feng Rong couldn’t stop the leakage.