The East Sea Alliance's grand army did not immediately launch an attack, but stopped a hundred miles west of Fusang Island and arranged their formation.

Yuan Ming stood at the front of the Flying Boat, manipulating his first soul seated on the White Jade Lotus Platform, releasing Divine Sense of a Half-step Word Witch level, enveloping the green formation.

The Divine Sense empowered by the Stealing Heaven Tripod had an astonishing exploration capability, easily penetrating the formation, quickly uncovering numerous clues within the green formation.

However, the green formation's coverage was too vast; even with his current range of Divine Sense, it could not cover everything.

"This formation appears to be a Wood Attribute Array," Wan Tianren looked towards Old Man Hei Zhu and Shi Yanshi, "you two are proficient in Wood Attribute Divine Skills and Formations, can you discern what type of formation this is?"

Old Man Hei Zhu and Shi Yanshi had been observing the formation around Fusang Island from afar. Although they detected some changes, they were unable to determine the origin of the formation, admitting to their limitations.

"What about the other Fellow Daoists? Can anyone ascertain the origins of this formation?" Wan Tianren looked towards the other Nascent Soul cultivators.

The people present looked at each other, and no one spoke.

"Divine Envoy Yuan, you are proficient in formations, can you recognize this formation?" Wan Tianren looked towards Yuan Ming.

"I have no clues for the moment," Yuan Ming shook his head.

"This battle is a decisive clash between the East Sea Alliance and the Wu Yue Sect. We cannot afford to be even slightly negligent. Since we cannot discern the nature of this formation, let us observe it for a while, and only attack after we have ascertained its details," Wan Tianren said slowly, frowning.

"Alliance Leader Wan seems too cautious. Our allied forces are strong and well-prepared, and with Divine Envoy Yuan presiding, why fear a mere formation! I, Hou Chou, volunteer to be the vanguard and probe the reality of this formation," Hou Chou stepped forward, voluntarily asking to fight.

Upon hearing this, Wan Tianren looked at Yuan Ming.

"What Fellow Daoist Hou says is not without reason. Our decisive battle with the Wu Yue Sect is imminent. If we delay without advancing, it may affect morale. Let Fellow Daoist Hou lead a team to assault the formation, to scout it out. But do not venture too deeply to avoid falling into the enemy's trap and encountering danger, and pray for assistance from Lord Nether Moon God in a timely manner," Yuan Ming said after a brief contemplation.

"Rest assured, Divine Envoy Yuan," Hou Chou responded, leading dozens of cultivators, mostly from the Water Ape Clan, charging towards the green formation with the vanguard's stance.

"Alliance Leader Wan, with Fellow Daoist Hou making a move, this green formation will surely change. Perhaps you should send people to scout around and quickly gather information about this formation," Yuan Ming transmitted a message to remind Wan Tianren.

Wan Tianren nodded, ordering Old Man Hei Zhu, Shi Yanshi, and dozens of other cultivators proficient in formations, to fly to various parts of Fusang Island to investigate the formation.

Not only that, he also deployed personnel within a thousand miles nearby to prevent any sneak attacks.

Seeing Wan Tianren's orderly arrangements, Yuan Ming nodded secretly and shifted his gaze to Hou Chou and the others.

Hou Chou and the rest quickly charged into the range of the formation but did not approach further.

Taking the lead, Hou Chou raised his Double Halberds Magic Treasure, which expanded many times in the wind, and two rainbow-like streaks of golden light fiercely slashed at the green formation, emitting a piercing screech in the void.

The others also took action, bombarding the formation with various Magic Treasures.

In the midst of deafening sounds, the green formation unleashed wave-like glows, tearing open a large gap. Hou Chou seemed to hesitate slightly before continuing forward with his team, successfully penetrating the formation.

* is the home of this chapter

"Thought this formation was formidable, turns out it's nothing much, let's charge in!" Hou Chou sneered contemptuously as he rushed forward.

However, at that moment, countless green tree shadows suddenly appeared from nowhere, filling all the space in front, behind, left, and right, as if the group had entered a boundless forest.

Unfazed, Hou Chou's halberds emitted dazzling golden light, merging into a single golden war halberd, slashing open the tree shadows in front again, cleaving a pathway tens of yards long.

The other Water Ape cultivators followed closely, broadening the pathway significantly as they continued forward.

In the distance, the alliance's Core Formation and lower-level cultivators seeing this, many faces showed delight, uplifting their morale once again.

However, including Wan Tianren, all Nascent Soul cultivators frowned, seeing Hou Chou and others seemingly breaking through the formation while knowing that once they passed, the broken part of the formation and the shattered tree shadows rapidly reformed, fully restored within a few breaths.

It appeared everything was still under control; since they had to probe the formation, giving up now would be worse than not attempting at all.

Yuan Ming constantly used his first soul's Divine Sense sensing array, observing the situation more closely than others.

This green light formation was filled with numerous scattered Array Patterns, distinctly different from the continuous patterns of regular formations. What seemed like a breach by Hou Chou and others was merely a disruption of these loose patterns, like flotsam in water, merely scattered by the impact, which swiftly returned to normal once they moved on.

Determinedly charging forward, Hou Chou and his men quickly advanced several miles.

As they delved deeper, the situation gradually changed.

The further forward they went, the tougher the green light in the formation became, and the difficulty of breaking through the formation and its tree shadows increased, significantly slowing Hou Chou and his group's progress.

Moreover, invisible restraining forces seeped out from the surroundings, making Hou Chou and his group's movements increasingly difficult, as if entangled by robust ribbons.

Only then did the group realize the prowess of the green formation; though Hou Chou was arrogant, he was not foolish, and immediately ordered a retreat.

Meanwhile, Wan Tianren also commanded, planning to dispatch Hou Mo to lead a group of cultivators for reinforcement.

But the outer area of the green light formation, which was originally relatively easy to breach, had now become quite challenging, causing Hou Mo and his men to be momentarily stuck outside the formation.

Just at that moment, a sudden change occurred!

Near Hou Chou and others, a green shadow flashed past, and dozens of Wu Yue Sect Cultivators appeared out of thin air, their various magic treasures attacking like a storm.

The leader was none other than Li Wu, who shot a black bamboo whip from his hand, stabbing at Hou Chou's neck like a venomous snake.

Hou Chou swung his golden war axe. The cumbersome halberd was surprisingly agile in his hands, easily blocking the black bamboo whip before the halberd reversed, a rich golden light emerging from it.

Hou Chou's fingers moved rapidly, and the golden light suddenly condensed into a virtual image of a mountain tens of meters high, blocking the magic treasures of others as well.

"Don't love the battle, retreat with all your might, I'll cover the rear!" Hou Chou shouted loudly.

Li Wu and others immediately pursued. They were enveloped in a layer of green light, moving unhindered within the great array, seemingly unaffected by it.

Although Hou Chou and his companions retreated with all their might, their speed was not half what it usually was, and they had to break through the great array that had already closed behind them. They couldn't escape and were quickly overtaken, facing the prospect of severe injury.

"Lord Nether Moon God, my Water Ape Clan wishes to believe in you, please lend your aid!" Hou Chou recalled the portrait of the Nether Moon God and prayed in his heart.

Yuan Ming sensed Hou Chou's prayer, was slightly delighted, and immediately mobilized the first soul's massive soul power, casting the Dream Butterfly Illusion Technique.

Enhanced by the power of desire, the first soul's soul power reached the level of a half-step Spoken Witch. The green light formation could not stop it, and how could Li Wu and others resist? They instantly fell into an illusion, standing motionless on the spot.

The attacking magic treasures also stopped in mid-air, not falling any further.

Hou Chou was overjoyed and hurriedly led the Water Ape Clan and others to retreat frantically. After some turmoil, they quickly escaped the great array.

Yuan Ming did not withdraw his divine sense, carefully sensing Li Wu and the others, or to be precise, the layer of green light on them.

Regrettably, his expertise in formations was average and he could only discern that the green light contained some scattered array patterns similar to the green formation.

Yuan Ming shook his head and did not continue his investigation, controlling the first soul to increase the power of the Dream Butterfly Illusion Technique.

Aside from Li Wu, the sea of consciousness of the other Wu Yue Sect Cultivators trembled, their divine souls suddenly collapsing from within, their eyes becoming vacant, losing all signs of life.

Li Wu's divine soul also suffered heavy damage, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his face deathly pale.

However, he managed to break free from the Dream Butterfly Illusion Technique, his eyes regaining clarity.

He showed a look of indescribable terror, his body's green light surged, and his figure vanished in a flash.

Regret flashed in Yuan Ming's eyes as he controlled the first soul to withdraw his divine sense.

His soul power had greatly improved recently, and the Dream Butterfly Illusion Technique had risen along with it, vaguely nearing the trend of approaching the final level of Void Silence Realm.

The Illusion Dream Realm of the Dream Butterfly Illusion Technique can create an illusionary space that manipulates the flow of time. The Void Silence Realm goes a step further, allowing control over a person's life and death within the illusionary space, annihilating their divine soul.

Unfortunately, he was only close to reaching the Void Silence Realm, not yet there; he could only kill some individuals with weak soul power. He could only severely damage, but not kill, someone like Li Wu, a Nascent Soul being, with one blow.

"Xi Ying once said, the Wu Yue God could kill people with a word, which is somewhat similar to the Void Silence Realm..." Yuan Ming mused.

Old Man Hei Zhu and others had now reached various locations on Fusang Island, employing various methods to investigate the green formation.

However, the expressions of the group were unpleasant, indicating scarce findings.

Seeing this, Wan Tianren transmitted a message to have Old Man Hei Zhu and others return.

"Alliance Leader Wan, we are incapable of uncovering much useful information," Old Man Hei Zhu said regretfully.

"This formation is painstakingly arranged by the Wu Yue Sect, naturally it's not something that can be easily broken through, you need not take it to heart," Wan Tianren consoled.

Hearing this, Old Man Hei Zhu and the others felt better.

Yuan Ming communicated with Wan Tianren through divine sense, instructing Old Man Hei Zhu and others to record all findings about the green formation in a jade scroll to give to him, which he would present to the Lord Nether Moon God to seek advice on breaking it.

Upon hearing that the Lord Nether Moon God was willing to help, Wan Tianren was also overjoyed.

In his view, the Lord Nether Moon God was omnipotent; since He was willing to help, perhaps the green formation could be broken soon.

Old Man Hei Zhu and others quickly presented their findings, which Yuan Ming collected, nodded to Wan Tianren, summoned a small flying boat, and leapt into it.

A huge silver spherical barrier appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the flying boat within.

Seeing this, several Nascent Soul Cultivators from the East Sea Alliance were startled, and some, bolder ones, quietly cast spells to probe, without exception, all were blocked by the silver barrier.

"Divine Envoy Yuan is seeking advice from Lord Nether Moon God on breaking the green array. There's no need for alarm. Spread the word, no one must disturb Divine Envoy Yuan," Wan Tianren immediately commanded.

Upon hearing this, those who had been restless, both publicly and privately, deemed Yuan Ming's actions to be for the benefit of the entire East Sea Alliance and naturally dared not make another move.