CHAPTER 612: OUTSMARTED BY ONE’S OWN CLEVERNESS

"Yun Xiao, could you have known all along that the Qingshan Sect’s Sect Protection Array is actually the Nine Palace Mountain Formation? Otherwise, why would you bring exactly nine of us?"

Great Elder Lu Zhan was full of surprise. After all, there were more than just these nine individuals in the Jade Pot Sect who had reached the Spirit Vein Realm, and this small number of people seemed insufficient to obliterate the entire Qingshan Sect.

The other Elders simply trusted that Yun Xiao would never gamble with their lives carelessly, which is why they didn’t question further. But now, hearing his words, they couldn’t help but feel their hearts stir with shock and awe.

"Indeed, I had some understanding of it, and now it seems I’ve bet correctly!"

Yun Xiao did not deny it. Since he had decided to take action against the Qingshan Sect, how could he not make preparations in advance? Even the Elders of the Qingshan Sect weren’t fully aware of the nature of the Sect Protection Array, but how could this pose a difficulty to the Long Xiao Battle God of a previous life?

From the map borrowed from the Royal Family, Yun Xiao could clearly see the geographical layout of the Nine Palace Mountain, suggesting that the founding master of the Qingshan Sect at that location was an Array Master well-versed in formations.

In his former life, although Yun Xiao specialized in Meridian Refining, he was a prodigy with a wide range of skills. Thus, even if he was not among the top Array Masters of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, on this Hidden Dragon Continent, no array could escape his detection.

The so-called Nine Palace Mountain Formation uses the natural formation of nine mountains, and with specific Array Flags and techniques, it can harness the Earth Power of the peaks to unleash force comparable to that of an Earth Rank cultivator.

Yun Xiao had reason to believe that when the founding master of the Qingshan Sect established the sect, his strength had already reached the Earth Rank Third Realm; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to set up the Nine Palace Mountain Formation.

As for the later cultivators of the Qingshan Sect, firstly, as one of the three great Sects, no one dared to provoke them lightly. Secondly, the Spirit Vein Realm cultivators of the Hidden Dragon Continent simply did not possess the qualifications to force the Qingshan Sect to activate this Sect Protection Array.

In the eyes of Qingshan Sect’s Sect Master Li Feng, this Sect Protection Array that could exert Earth Rank level attacks could not only block the Seventh Rank Vein Demons from the outside but also utterly eliminate intruders like Yun Xiao and the others from Jade Pot Sect.

This was the main reason why Li Feng did not abandon the sect and flee. He believed that by utilizing the Sect Protection Array to capture Yun Xiao and his group in one fell swoop, the entire Xuanyue Empire would thereafter be under the rule of the Qingshan Sect.

It’s just a pity that no matter how much Li Feng calculated, he did not foresee that Yun Xiao had an extensive understanding of arrays, something that no Array Master on the Hidden Dragon Continent could compare to. This time, he truly shot himself in the foot.

The Nine Palace Mountain Formation might rank amongst the top on the Hidden Dragon Continent, but it would be considered quite ordinary on the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. At least, Yun Xiao knew far more variations of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation than the founding master of the Qingshan Sect.

"Teacher, Great Elder, come closer and listen to what I have to say..."

Yun Xiao didn’t beat around the bush. Penetrating into the formation had always been part of his plan; otherwise, how could he take control of the master controllers of those nine peaks? He took out a map from his Waist Storage, which clearly marked the positions of the Qingshan Nine Peaks, and spoke in a low voice.

"I’ll take the main peak in the center of the Nine Palace. Teacher, you go to this mountain, remember... Great Elder, you go..."

As Yun Xiao explained the intricacies of the formation, Yu Shu and Lu Zhan seemed to be opening a new world. Their studies were focused on Meridian Qi combat and Meridian Refining Technique, and they were nearly clueless about formations.

So now, all the powerful members of the Jade Pot Sect were like obedient apprentices, shocked as they listened to Yun Xiao’s continuous utterance of professional array terminology.

"Damn it, is there anything this guy doesn’t know?"

The normally mild-tempered Medical Pulse Masters couldn’t help but curse inwardly, deeply shocked by Yun Xiao’s overwhelming knowledge. How could someone so young be so strong in cultivation and also have such a thorough understanding of both the Meridian Refining Technique and formations?

With Yun Xiao’s explanation, the seemingly insurmountable grand threat of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation became clear in the minds of all the Elders. Their respect for Yun Xiao grew several times stronger.

"Heh, Qingshan Sect has truly been outsmarted by their own cleverness!"

When Yun Xiao finished speaking, Fourth Elder Li Shan’s ruddy face showed a smile of satisfaction, and the other Great Elders strongly agreed.

Yet everyone knew that if it wasn’t for Yun Xiao’s knowledge of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation they had discussed, even if all the Jade Pot Sect members entered the Qingshan Nine Peaks, they would not be enough for the formation to eliminate.

After all, this was a large array that could even contend with Earth Rank cultivators. If the formation couldn’t be broken, one could only be slaughtered at will. But now, the situation was clearly about to turn around.

"If nobody has any questions, then let’s each take our own actions!"

Seeing the Elders eager to go, Yun Xiao nodded and spoke solemnly. Yet upon hearing this, Yu Shu looked over worriedly.

"We don’t have any problems, but the main peak of Qingshan, Li Feng, that old geezer, is most likely guarding it himself. Let me go instead!"

Yun Xiao had grown increasingly dear to Yu Shu, who involuntarily admired his disciples more and more. Yu Shu truly did not want Yun Xiao to take such a significant risk, even though Yun Xiao had already established his reputation by annihilating the heads of the three major families of the Imperial City.

After years of dealing with the Qingshan Sect, Yu Shu knew all too well that the strength a formidable sect master with centuries of inheritance could unleash was absolutely incomparable to the so-called heads of the three major families of the Imperial City, who were frequently replaced.

The Wang, Song, and Surname families were nominally the three major families of the Imperial City, but in fact, they were all vassals propped up by the Xuanyue Imperial Family. With a thousand years of inheritance, the Imperial Family of Xuanyue had seen countless changes in the three major families; almost every King would establish new major families upon ascending the throne to secure control of the Imperial City.

But the Qingshan Sect was different. Ever since the founding of the sect, it had been passed down from generation to generation, constantly refining its prowess. Each Sect Master had their own formidable methods and trump cards. Even Yu Shu himself did not dare to claim he could confidently defeat Li Feng.

"Why don’t you take the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion with you?"

The Great Elder Lu Zhan also chimed in with his thoughts, but he obviously overlooked a problem—if the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion could enter the great array, would there still be such trouble?

"The Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion has already been blocked outside by the array. I guess that old geezer Li Feng would definitely not dare to let it in. As for you, teacher, are you confident that you can face Li Feng and also control the main peak mechanism of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation?"

Yun Xiao first addressed Lu Zhan before turning his head to speak to Yu Shu, whose words made the latter somewhat embarrassed. Yu Shu knew his own capabilities very well: he and Li Feng were evenly matched, and it would take thousands of moves in a solo fight to determine a victor.

Moreover, the most likely outcome would be both sides getting severely injured after exhausting all their efforts, let alone managing to control any crucial mechanism of the main peak’s array.

Although Yun Xiao’s apparent cultivation level seemed much weaker than Yu Shu’s, only being in the late stage of the Spirit Vein Realm, many elders present understood that the combat power Yun Xiao could unleash was beyond anyone’s imagination.

"Alright then, you must be cautious, and should things become untenable, prioritize your own life!"

Since Yun Xiao had said so, Yu Shu was not pretentious about it, but he couldn’t help issuing several admonitions, which truly moved Yun Xiao. This teacher of his, after all, was concerned about him.

"Let’s split up and act separately!"

Yun Xiao patted the Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan on his shoulder and then stepped forward, heading directly towards the main peak of Qingshan. Although he was full of confidence, he also knew that a grand battle inevitably awaited him ahead.

At this moment, many elders of the Jade Pot Sect each found their own peak to control, knowing well that a fierce battle awaited them, and the outcomes might not all go as smoothly as planned.

...

One of the Qingshan Nine Peaks, Hualong Peak!

This Hualong Peak, located directly north of the Qingshan Nine Peaks, was under the guard of Yang Lin, the Great Elder of the Qingshan Sect.

In the past, even as the Great Elder of the Qingshan Sect, Yang Lin only knew that the sect possessed such a Sect Protection Array, yet he was oblivious to the true might of the array, he didn’t even know the name of it.

However, today, with a formidable enemy at their doorstep, Sect Master Li Feng finally revealed the Array Map of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation, convening the remaining nine powerful cultivators of the Spirit Vein Realm from the sect to impart the method of controlling the nine peaks.

Only after learning the control techniques of the Nine Palace Mountain Formation did Yang Lin and the others realize just how powerful the Sect Protection Array was. Even an Earth Rank cultivator like Ran Xing, should he inadvertently enter the array, would probably meet his demise.

Of course, out of Li Feng’s caution, the controllers of the Qingshan Nine Peaks strictly followed the plan, not letting the Seventh Rank Low Level Vein Demon Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion inside, perhaps fearing unexpected occurrences.

As for the Jade Pot Sect powerhouses who had entered the array, to Li Feng and the others, they did not pose much threat. They were confident that as these elders from the Jade Pot Sect delved deeper, the might of the array would be unleashed, leaving none of them alive to exit the Qingshan Nin Peaks.

Great Elder of the Qingshan Sect, Yang Lin naturally thought the same. Yet, just as he was sensing the presences within the Nine Palace Mountain Formation, he discovered that one of them was rapidly approaching the Hualong Peak he was guarding.

"Hm?"

The presence approached so swiftly that, just as Yang Lin had sensed it, a figure had already appeared at the summit of the mountain peak, and the appearance of this figure was not at all unfamiliar to him.

"Yu Shu?!"

Looking at the tall figure with a fair-faced complexion, Yang Lin couldn’t help but feel an unease rising in his heart, because the Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect had arrived too quickly. How did he know that he was on this Hualong Peak?