novelraw Chapter 256 : The Pinnacle of Formations, Heaven-and-Earth Cage! 【Modified】
Chapter 256 : The Pinnacle of Formations, Heaven-and-Earth Cage! 【Modified】
Chapter 256: The Pinnacle of Formations, Heaven-and-Earth Cage! 【Modified】
Tide Bay. Within the Black Moon Grand Array where Jiang Zhi was located.
The Myriad Souls Banner isolated external auras and, combined with the Black Moon Grand Array, formed a strange space.
Jiang Zhi unleashed the Sword Domain 【Killing】. Every strike was earth-shattering, yet the outside world remained utterly unaware.
And he, for the moment, could not perceive anything occurring outside.
"This wicked banner and this array are indeed bizarre." He narrowed his eyes, the baleful aura and killing intent radiating from him growing stronger.
The Sect Leader of the Black Moon Sect had openly admitted—he was stalling for time.
That meant he must have other objectives.
Clearly, something else must be unfolding outside!
Jiang Zhi began to shift his thinking, attempting to first break this space and return to Tide Bay.
But his thoughts were instantly seen through by the bronze-masked man.
A deeper amusement flickered in the Black Moon Sect Leader’s eyes.
"Jiang Zhi, if I weren’t fully prepared, why would I even try to stop you?"
"This Myriad Souls Banner is one of the Kunlun Sect’s three great treasures, nurtured by a Soul Transformation Venerable for a thousand years."
"You should know that without the suppression of Origin Power, a Soul Transformation cultivator transcends your Xuanhuang Nine Realms!"
"With this Soul Transformation Immortal Treasure in hand and aided by the Black Moon Grand Array, trapping you for half an hour is no difficult task."
"Aside from you, the strongest of your Dao Gate is merely at the Eighth Realm."
"And these Eighth Realm cultivators, none can compare to your terrifying combat power."
"They also lack Origin Power."
"I’ve already sent the Vice Sect Leader with the six Banner Spirits. With the sub-banner of the Myriad Souls Banner in hand, neither your Sect Master nor any Elder can stop him."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhi's killing intent intensified.
He had a rough grasp of the juniors' strength.
If those Eighth Realm cultivators descended the mountain, he didn’t believe the six Banner Spirits could threaten their lives.
Even if defeated, they would still be able to protect themselves.
But if it were the Seventh Realm disciples, or someone like Chu Huaixu at the Sixth Realm—
"Only Shen Man could ensure her safety. The others would undoubtedly die!" Jiang Zhi immediately judged in his heart.
Trash below the Seventh Realm like Chu Yinyin were at risk of being instantly refined!
Whether it was psychological warfare or another goal, the Black Moon Sect Leader continued revealing outside developments to the unaware Jiang Zhi.
"Oh? It has already begun over there."
"So it’s your Dao Gate’s Enforcement Elder, Lu Pan of the Eighth Realm." His eyes, visible beyond the mask, still carried a hint of amusement.
Yet, opposite him, Jiang Zhi suddenly stopped trying to break the space and slashed another sword toward him.
The Sect Leader immediately blocked with Banner Spirits.
"Hm? You don’t seem worried about Lu Pan?"
A sneer formed on Jiang Zhi’s face: "Do you think you evil cultivators can fathom our Dao Gate’s Eighth Realm? Mere six Banner Spirits and some ridiculous sub-banner can’t hold him!"
If Lu Pan wished to leave, it would not be difficult.
But the Sect Leader’s next words made Jiang Zhi's heart instantly tighten.
"But what if I said Chu Huaixu is also present?"
"You and I both know that at our Eighth Realm, a brat in the Third Realm lives or dies on a whim."
"A mere thought, and he dies."
"And he’s not alone—your Dao Gate’s two other Third Realm true disciples are with him."
"Lu Pan may protect himself, but how will he protect the other three?"
"A slight misstep, just a thread of power slipping through the cracks, and all three might be reduced to dust, wiped from existence."
"Banner Spirits are unlike your cultivators. They are far more sinister!"
"Shall we guess what choice Lu Pan will make?"
"Will he send the juniors away first and face an Eighth Realm cultivator and six peak Eighth Realm, Nascent Soul-complete Banner Spirits alone? Or will he risk it all and flee with the three in tow?"
"Oh right, I forgot to mention—there’s also a Yin Vein there, which greatly empowers the Banner Spirits."
Each word struck Jiang Zhi like a heavy blow.
He realized the Yin Vein’s location—it must be Guanghan Cliff.
That place was already quite distant from the Dao Gate.
But with the speed of cultivators like Xiang Yan, reinforcements could arrive within half a stick of incense.
Still, Jiang Zhi didn’t think the enemy would be so foolish.
They had calculated everything. There must be a meticulous setup.
Just as he was trapped in this strange space, any communication with Lu Pan was likely cut off.
Guanghan Cliff was hundreds of miles from the Dao Gate—Divine Sense couldn’t probe or cover that range.
With minimal concealment, the Dao Gate wouldn’t sense anything from that far.
Most critically, he knew Lu Pan too well.
"He would never allow Chu Huaixu and the others to bear even the slightest risk."
"He would always choose the safest option for them."
Those three were far too special—two were the saviors foretold in the Dao Ancestor’s Maxim, and one carried the hope of turning the tides.
So special that Lu Pan would never weigh his Eighth Realm status above them.
With his personality, he likely already made his decision.
───
Pine and Cypress Daoist stood amidst the snow.
With a square-jawed face and ever-serious expression, his gaze carried authority. A constant pressure radiated from him, as if he wore a face of iron.
As the First Senior Brother of this generation in the Gentleman Temple, he oversaw the work of his juniors, watching over them.
Naturally, he also became the Dao Gate’s Enforcement Elder.
He was one of the most powerful cultivators in the Dao Gate.
Back at the Dao Gate Grand Hall, when discussing Origin Fragments, it had been suggested that if Lu Pan could refine even a thread of Origin Power, he would certainly become a Ninth Realm powerhouse.
But now, he had to face four enemies and the power of a Yin Vein alone.
The Banner Spirits emerging from the Black Banner were surely weaker than in life.
But their numbers and cultivation levels were formidable.
All were Nascent Soul-complete and peak Eighth Realm!
Where did they even come from?
If it were just one-on-one, Lu Pan could eliminate the evil cultivator within half a stick of incense.
But with the Yin Vein and the banner boosting them, it was different.
As the Yin Vein's power flowed into the Vice Sect Leader, his aura climbed steadily.
Some unknown evil art had temporarily boosted his strength to match the peak of the Eighth Realm.
"That Black Banner in his hand... it’s incredibly evil!"
Lu Pan couldn’t sense any spiritual artifact aura from it. On the contrary, it felt like one of those supreme immortal treasures seized from the Kunlun Grotto-Heaven!
"Even the Four Symbols Swords Chu Huaixu brought back don’t compare!"
The only comfort was that Banner Spirits differed from Nascent Souls. These Nascent Soul-level Banner Spirits could potentially be slain!
But then, he saw a strange power emerge from the Black Banner.
Three Banner Spirits—features growing clearer, expressions no longer vacant.
They still retained their intelligence from life?
Lu Pan’s heart sank instantly.
Intelligence meant they could use divine abilities—these were not mere mindless undead.
If so, he likely stood no chance.
Even a victory would be hard-fought.
And Chu Huaixu and the others had only just been escorted beyond Guanghan Cliff—not far enough.
Lu Pan couldn’t guarantee their safety.
He tried contacting the sect for reinforcements—completely cut off!
"They planned this."
"Too far from the Dao Gate for them to sense anything here." He frowned, abandoning the idea of calling for help.
His only hope now lay with the Demon-Slaying Little Martial Uncle.
"Little Martial Uncle has Origin Power. It’s linked to the aura in Chu Huaixu’s body. He should be monitoring this."
"If anything goes wrong, he’ll rush here." Lu Pan thought.
He had come down the mountain alone to protect the three juniors, believing it foolproof.
After all, in the Xuanhuang Realm, he was nearly unstoppable.
And Jiang Zhi, the Dao Gate’s strongest, was also nearby.
"I just didn’t expect to face such tricky evil cultivators and a strange Black Banner." Lu Pan thought.
At that moment, billowing black mist surged from the banner. The Vice Sect Leader, wearing a wooden mask, spoke coldly:
"It’s long been said the Dao Gate’s Enforcement Elder is a top-tier formation grandmaster."
"Today, I’ll kill you with a formation!"
"Three-Spirit Yin Fiend Array—rise!"
Three Banner Spirits immediately formed a formation. The Vice Sect Leader gripped the Black Banner in his right hand and began forming seals with his left.
A sneer formed on Lu Pan’s face.
"These tricks? You dare show off before me?"
A glint of malice appeared in the masked man’s eyes.
"I’ll kill the Xuanhuang Realm’s famed formation master with this crude array!"
A blatant insult.
Lu Pan looked at him and shook his head slightly.
"In the Dao Gate, I’m but a slow-witted First Senior Brother."
"In killing, I can’t compare to Little Martial Uncle."
"In talent, not to Seventh or Junior Sister."
"I can’t defeat Second Junior Brother."
"Third Junior Brother, the Sect Master—had he not been busy, would have far surpassed me."
"I’m older than Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Junior—but when they reach my age, their achievements will outshine mine."
"But if you wish to humiliate me in formations—"
"Hahahahahaha!" Lu Pan laughed heartily.
Then, he channeled his spiritual energy, his voice echoing for a hundred miles.
"Huaixu, since you’ve taken me as your master and study formations—"
"Today, I’ll show you why, among the myriad Art-Daos, formations are supreme!"
"Pay attention. This is the pinnacle of formations!"
Lu Pan rose into the air.
In an instant, he assessed the battlefield. He held no illusions of advantage.
Thus, he had no intention of holding back—he would begin with his ultimate move!
"No room for hesitation. One moment of mercy, and all is lost. I must go all out!"
This was no time to test the waters. He might not get another chance.
"Though... this array demands a heavy price."
But glancing toward Chu Huaixu and the others, a carefree smile bloomed on his face.
"So be it!" He laughed loudly.
This Eighth Realm powerhouse continued to channel his power, shouting:
"The Xuanhuang Realm is vast, yet it has an end."
"Once, I pondered—if it has limits, then so do we."
"This world itself is a cage we cannot escape."
"Thus I refined the Cage Grand Array and elevated it—this formation is named: Heaven-and-Earth Cage!"
"Today, I shall use this heaven and earth to imprison you—and myself!"
"Initiate the formation!"
Using himself and his spear as the core, a blue light array erupted around him.
One formation soared to the heavens. One anchored the earth!
He hovered between heaven and earth.
Even from faraway Guanghan Cliff, Chu Huaixu could see the terrifying array.
It completely enveloped the entire Guanghan Cliff region.
Lu Pan calmly spoke: "Stop."
The flurrying snow halted instantly within the twin formations.
Each snowflake suspended mid-air, unmoving.
These snowflakes were, in fact, the evil cultivator’s 【Domain】.
But now, Lu Pan’s half-white hair gained more silver.
"Sever," Lu Pan said again.
The Yin Vein’s power was instantly cut. The rampant Yin Qi ceased its spread.
Beneath the Vice Sect Leader’s feet, the connection to the Yin Vein was broken. His pseudo-Eighth Realm peak cultivation shattered in a blink!
Lu Pan, within the 【Heaven-and-Earth Cage】, looked nothing like a man bound.
He resembled a god—his words shaping reality!