novelraw Chapter 922 783: In One Vigorous Effort
Chapter 922 783: In One Vigorous Effort
Outside the Immortal Trapping Array, there are about three hundred people, divided into seven directions to guard the array. In reality, each group of dozens is protecting a Qiankun Sect disciple holding a Command Arrow.
As those in the know are aware, such hastily erected arrays have significant flaws and are easily susceptible to external interference. Therefore, those participating in the formation are accompanied by many protectors.
Additionally, the Qiankun Sect is one of those famous sects that has sent more disciples because of the efficiency required during array formation.
Of course, before the Qiankun Sect disciples joined the battle, they privately conveyed to the Nanshan Commander, Ming Chaofeng, that their main role was to provide support. They avoided charging into battle as much as possible, so Ming Chaofeng generally would not send Qiankun Sect disciples on risky missions, striving to use the best resources where they are most needed.
The reason for mobilizing Qiankun Sect disciples for an active attack this time is because it's truly necessary. There are no more suitable people available nearby, so they urgently need them to strike and buy time for the main force coming later.
Of course, if the Qiankun Sect disciples can capture Shi Chun themselves, it would be even better, saving the trouble for the main force later.
Therefore, seeing Shi Chun securely trapped, the leader among the seven Qiankun Sect disciples, Zhe Yuren, cast a spell and shouted, "A petty rogue from the Land of Exile dares to come out and make noise. Treachery and slyness are never the Righteous Path; meeting us showed his true form. Fellow disciples, we need no outsiders to intervene; we can handle this ourselves. Together, press the array and swiftly capture this rascal to receive our merits!"
The tone carried excitement, as Qiankun Sect's ranking in the Cultivation World is not as high as Thunder Sound Sect's. Just moments earlier, Thunder Sound Sect disciples Chongxing and Tie Anfeng fell to Shi Chun's hand, and it was heard that Qu Xiaoxiao also succumbed to Shi Chun of the Mingshan Sect. Now that Shi Chun has fallen into his hands, capturing him would bring great honor.
The merits of capturing Shi Chun in this Battle of Great Pardon aside, it would surely be a great honor to the sect. Upon returning, a generous reward would be inevitable.
Given these reasons, he naturally sought rapid victory.
Moreover, as he said, Shi Chun seemed like just some petty rogue from the Land of Exile in his eyes, not worth serious consideration before the encounter, and even less so now.
It wasn't just he who thought this; it was a common failing among disciples of those famous sects. Given their prestigious backgrounds, how could they possibly regard someone like Shi Chun with any seriousness?
"Aye!"
The fellow disciples in the other six directions all responded loudly, each increasing their mana output, strengthening the array to quickly subdue Shi Chun.
Among Zhe Yuren's group, someone joked, "Brother Zhe, after you gain that great merit, don't forget about us!"
Immediately, another chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, Brother Zhe, after your feast, let us have some soup."
Yet another laughed, "Precisely, precisely."
Zhe Yuren, holding the Command Arrow and casting spells, responded heartily, "Of course, companions. Your protection is invaluable, deserving rewards. Please continue to watch our surroundings carefully. If anyone approaches, alert us immediately so we can rearrange the formation and prepare defenses."
"Brother Zhe, rest assured, nothing will go wrong. Everyone, stay vigilant and watchful."
The man by Zhe Yuren's side shouted loudly, rallying a strong response, revealing his considerable influence over them.
He took the lead in turning around, keeping his back to the Immortal Trapping Array and began guarding the surroundings, while others followed suit, allowing the Qiankun Sect disciples to focus on closing the net.
The seven Qiankun Sect disciples, led by Zhe Yuren, indeed concentrated fully on their efforts.
Lan She, the Beiju Commander, watching the Heavenly Mirror's mirror image, looked increasingly uneasy, urging those who failed alongside Chongxing to create disruptions. He didn't want to see the Qiankun Sect succeed, being mindful of Thunder Sound Sect's reputation.
As the Immortal Trapping Array spun faster and faster, the seven spell-casting individuals suddenly froze, all feeling a stutter in the array's operation, becoming less fluid.
First, there was a slight hitch, then it quickly spread over a large area.
"Senior Brother, what is happening?" Another spell-casting woman holding a Command Arrow suddenly shouted.
Once she said this, the protectors nearby all turned to look.
Zhe Yuren harshly shouted, "It might be a trapped beast making a last stand. Everyone, exert all your mana and keep the operation…"
Just as he finished speaking, he instinctively widened his eyes, seeing a streak of black light shooting out from the array, enveloping him instantly, and his awareness plunged into a different world, silent, strangely silent.
He recalled the reminders from the Command Center before, warning them against a black light mirror in Shi Chun's possession.
He instinctively wanted to scatter and dodge, but the current Immortal Trapping Array entangled him. As one of the array's pivotal points, if he fled, the array would collapse on its own.
Not understanding the current situation, running away because of the black light was no solution.
Unsure of what was happening, and having never encountered such a stuttering of the array before, he shouted for help, "Everyone, protect us quickly!"
But despite hearing his own off-key voice, the others within the black light couldn't hear him.
When others were covered by the black light, they immediately remembered the Command Center's warning. Not hearing any surrounding sounds terrified them quickly, as avoiding danger is everyone's instinct. So they reacted faster than Zhe Yuren, scattering swiftly to avoid danger first.
Not hearing echoes from his surroundings, Zhe Yuren also quickly took evasive action, waving his hand to toss out four command flags with purple backgrounds and golden patterns.
However, in such a moment, any hesitation could be fatal.
Since Shi Chun decided to unleash a lethal blow, his subsequent killing moves wouldn't delay. In this regard, he is always decisive, striking whenever there is an opportunity.
He didn't know which of them outside was the leader and which was the follower, only knowing that the one holding the Command Arrow must be related to the Array.
Therefore, the dark light of the 'Three Corpses Mirror' shot directly at him, ignoring others who darted away or scattered, focusing solely on the person with the Command Arrow.
Immediately, he hurled his long knife with a swoosh, with all his might.
Seeing the opponent pulling out some other object, he decisively threw the long knife while the opponent was still unaware in the dark light, taking the opportunity to strike decisively, as the opponent didn't dodge under the cover of the dark light.
He was actually already riding A San to the edge of the white light, ready to charge forward, but he still managed to throw and kill before the four flags were fully deployed, to seize even a tiny advantage.
This was a reaction he had honed through years of fierce battles and desperate fights.
It was this a split-second advantage that caused Zhe Yuren to groan in disbelief and be thrown backward, his wide eyes opening in shock, as something abruptly pierced through his chest after breaking his defense.
He tried to cast a spell to stabilize his tumbling body, but unfortunately, his body felt like a deflating balloon, unable to gather power, feeling his internal energy rapidly leaking away.
The dark light suddenly vanished, and in his terrified gaze, he saw a figure charging on a mount with fluttering robes in the back.
Shi Chun waved and retrieved the four flying flags, and with a flick of his finger, sent a powerful energy to knock the Token from Zhe Yuren's hand.
With wide eyes, Zhe Yuren's chest continued to spurt blood, with half of the knife handle, that had pierced through his defense, left in his chest.
As Shi Chun passed by, he grabbed the other half of the handle from Zhe Yuren's back, pulling out the blood-stained long knife, completely drenched in blood.
With one hand taking the knife, Shi Chun used the other to retrieve the fallen Command Arrow, not knowing what it was but without intention to return it.
Without a backward glance, he rode A San, carrying the elegant silhouette of a woman, and dashed away.
There was no choice; first, he didn't know what these people were up to; second, knowing there were disciples from Qiankun Sect skilled in setting up arrays, he didn't want to get entangled and trapped in another array.
Most importantly, it was not suitable for him to dive into a battle with Mu Lanqing on his back, as she would be in great danger. His primary task now was to ensure Mu Lanqing reached safety.
The only safe place he could think of now was the Extreme Abyss, so he continued galloping towards it.
The ambush by Nanshan People made him even more aware it wasn't a place to linger.
From the dark light launching and breaking out of the array, to killing the enemy with a single strike, to seizing the Command Arrow and Flags—his actions were seamless, every reaction swift and smooth, as if trained over a long period.
The galloping Qilin A San did turn its head to glance, seeing the owner's bloodstained knife, the figure flipping through the air, and others looking stunned and foolish.
It shook its head disdainfully and continued its run.
The Mu Lanqing, hugging the man, looked back too. From her blocked view, she hadn't yet realized what happened, and in a blink of an eye, they had burst out, seeing the Qiankun Sect's disciple laid low.
Those who were protecting Zhe Yuren widened their eyes, having just dodged in panic to turn around and see Zhe Yuren pierced through, almost thinking they were dreaming, doubting their own eyes.
No one stopped Shi Chun from leaving, watching as he dashed away.
Once they regained their senses, many were panicked, now truly not knowing how to explain to the Command Center. Their sole task was to protect the Qiankun Sect disciple, and in danger, they had all run, leaving the target they were to protect slain, what was this?
Never mind how others might judge, even they felt it was excessive, this was no way to protect someone.
If it were a fight and they fled after losing, that could be justified. How would they explain now?
The key is Zhe Yuren's special status—his aunt is an elder of the Qiankun Sect, capable of demanding accountability, pressuring Commander Ming Chaofeng to severely punish them.
Someone sighed inwardly, questioning why someone of such background would come to a place like this to stir up trouble, wasn't this setting others up?
In short, the group was in chaos. Some urgently flew to save the bleeding Zhe Yuren, while others feigned to chase Shi Chun, unable to match A San's speed.
Zhe Yuren was killed, the Command Arrow taken, the Immortal Trapping Array vanished on the spot, and the unified white light of seven disappeared too.
Other six Qiankun Sect disciples were confused, seeing the chaos after the white light vanished, they rushed to check.
When they finally got Zhe Yuren in their hands, his wide eyes had no more life, though his body was still warm, the once elegant look lost in death.
"Senior Brother…" The beautiful woman holding the body wailed, tears streaming, crying from heartbreak.
Her name was Huang Yuhuan, always admiring this Senior Brother, joined the battle upon seeing his sign-up, never imagining she'd come to collect his body.
Other brothers began angrily scolding those protectors.
A group hurriedly arrived from a distance, it was the Beiju People who let Shi Chun go before, suddenly seeing this scene, unsure of what happened, while the dispirited Nanshan People turned vigilant, both sides facing off in the air.
The Beijiu group scanned around, looking for Shi Chun's figure, as the Command Center had informed them that Shi Chun was trapped by the Nanshan People—where was he?