CHAPTER 1911: BREAK IN THE FORMATION

"Can this kid handle it?"

Long Ao Tian looked at Chen Mengmeng, who was focused on the swampland in sorrow, and whispered.

"If he can’t, can you?"

Bai Qiu never pampered Long Ao Tian, retorting bluntly.

Long Ao Tian immediately lost his temper and didn’t dare to say another word. Xu Nanzhi, who had just withdrawn her mind from Long Xuan’s side, took a deep breath and calmly said.

"There must be a reason why Yang Qianyan and the others targeted Mengmeng first. In terms of using the Heavenly Dao Breath, none of us combined here might be as adept as he is."

Xu Nanzhi’s reasonable explanation left everyone silent, no longer disturbing the fully focused Chen Mengmeng.

They could all venture through the swamp, but none had the slightest confidence in finding any news about Yu Yanshu within it.

The entire state of the swamp was just too strange, strange enough to make one question if this Great Formation was indeed crafted by someone less than an Earth Immortal.

"Beyond human capability, had I not seen it myself, I’d hardly believe that such a massive Sword Array could have been created by Yan’er."

Standing at the highest point, Xu Nanzhi reassessed the swamp and gained a brand-new understanding of the Sword Array.

"Those people didn’t fail because they couldn’t find this place, it’s because they couldn’t break it open."

Bai Qiu pierced straight through to the ultimate reason why they had been guided here.

Bei Tang Qian Xiao was still somewhat puzzled, asking, "Even Earth Immortals can’t manage it?"

Ling Xiao coldly watched everything below: "An Earth Immortal could, indeed, forcefully break the formation, but it would change everything around here, even half of Southern Xinjiang. However, doing so would not only fully expose them, but the person who set up the formation would likely not survive."

"They want a living Yu Yanshu?"

Bei Tang Qian Xiao fully realized the implication, feeling even more uneasy, opened his mouth.

"So everything we’re doing now is actually within the schemes of the Demonic Path?"

"But do we have a choice?"

Xu Nanzhi bitterly smiled and turned to look at Bei Tang Qian Xiao.

"Don’t forget what our ultimate purpose of coming to this place is?"

"Su Chengyu?"

Xu Nanzhi smiled wryly: "Correct, in such a vast Southern Xinjiang, concerning Chengyu’s clues, we only have this one line. So even knowing it’s a trap they’ve set, stepping into it is our only path. Moreover, there are still other variables in this..."

"Found it."

Chen Mengmeng, fully immersed in the swamp, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on an inconspicuous Array Eye within the swamp.

Bei Tang Qian Xiao followed his gaze and immediately asked, "Where is Yu Shuang now?"

"Uncertain, but that’s the last place her aura lingered, and there I found a trace of Yu Yanshu’s aura."

"How are the two of them now?"

Facing Bei Tang’s inquiry, Chen Mengmeng only shook his head.

The Power of Cause and Effect could only trace to this place; the powerful Heaven and Earth Breath barred further exploration, completely isolating him from the situation within.

"Seems like we must go deeper."

Xu Nanzhi spoke, while Bai Qiu’s gaze turned aside.

"And those two next to us?"

"If they don’t move, we ignore them; if they do. Long Ao, Bai Qiu."

"Understood."

"Mm."

Xu Nanzhi, Long Ao Tian, and Bai Qiu, being old acquaintances, instantly understood each other’s intentions.

Seeing this, Ling Xiao also actively spoke up: "I’ll help too."

"Thank you."

Xu Nanzhi replied, then finally looked at Mengmeng. Before he could speak, Mengmeng spoke first.

"Sister NanZhi, let me lead the way. The core of this Great Formation strangely resonates with my Dao sense, minimizing the risks considerably."

"Then I’ll leave it to you."

Without being polite, Xu Nanzhi trusted Chen Mengmeng completely, knowing that his strength was by no means inferior to hers despite them both reaching the Hollow Vacuum.

With that, Chen Mengmeng was the first to rush into the marsh’s Great Formation. As soon as the formation sensed an external invasion, countless Sword Qi immediately attacked everyone.

Xu Nanzhi, intending to react with previous methods, noticed countless vines around Chen Mengmeng instantly meeting the Sword Qi and dissipating upon contact.

Though it was also a neutralization, Xu Nanzhi clearly felt that Chen Mengmeng’s method differed completely from her own.

Before Xu Nanzhi could figure out what was happening, Bei Tang Qian Xiao had already identified the anomaly first.

"Not resisting, but assimilating?"

"Yes, I’m not sure why, but my Five-element Divine Vine seems to merge into the formation, thus avoiding the Sword Qi’s assault. Sister Qian Xiao, you might also try, it should work for you as well."

Chen Mengmeng’s words were tactful, but Bei Tang Qian Xiao understood that Shen Xiao Sky Thunder might achieve similar results.

However, she and Chen Mengmeng were ultimately different, without even a clear Heavenly Dao path of her own; it wasn’t impossible she couldn’t do it due to her limitations.

Yet, since entering Southern Xinjiang, Bei Tang Qian Xiao had sensed falling behind her companions, intensifying her determination to grow stronger.

Shenxiao Heavenly Thunder appeared in Bei Tang Qian Xiao’s hands, yet she paid no mind to it at all; the visions flashing in her mind were of Long Xuan, Chen Mengmeng, and even Yu Shuang using their own Earth Core Lotus techniques.

Red Lotus Divine Fire, Five-element Divine Vine, Heavenly Qi-breaking Gang Wind, she never concerned herself with these techniques per se, but rather the profound differences when they, especially the trio, utilized them.

Different Heavenly Dao Breaths, yet identical roads.

Her mind suddenly enlightened by something, she looked down at the Shenxiao Heavenly Thunder in her hand.

With an unprecedented method, she directed the Heavenly Thunder straight towards the Sword Qi before her, blasting it away.

With a loud thunderclap, the Sword Qi and Divine Thunder vanished instantly on the spot.

Bei Tang Qian Xiao watched this scene, dazed, "Did I do it?"

"Yes, Sister Qian Xiao, just like that. Form is not what you need to be fixated on; the belief embodied in the thunder, the path you tread, is what you should truly heed. This will be your Dao."

"Mm."

Bei Tang Qian Xiao nodded, then proactively moved forward to assist Chen Mengmeng, alleviating the pressure the surrounding Sword Qi imposed on the group.

Watching this unfold, observing the continuously forming Heavenly Dao Breath within Shenxiao Heavenly Thunder, Xu Nanzhi was slightly filled with emotion.

"The Earth Core Lotus, truly useful."

Xu Nanzhi couldn’t help but muse over it all.

"Convenient for more than just themselves."

Bai Qiu chimed in, then looked towards the close proximity of the Sword Array’s center.

"We’ve arrived, be careful!"

Gathering her concentration, Xu Nanzhi focused on the Sword Array’s center, preparing to deploy Luo Shen Incantation, attempting to tear an opening within the formation.

In that very moment, a blue-green Gang Wind swept in, enveloping Long Ao Tian and the others before anyone could react.

"This..."

"It’s Yu Shuang, she’s assisting us!"

Bei Tang was the first to react, opening his mouth, allowing Xu Nanzhi to finally relax.

However, in the next instant, sensing something awry, Xu Nanzhi sharply raised her head; a Sword Shadow seized the fleeting flaw, descending from the sky upon the group!

"Worthy of our wait, finally found a breach. Lord of the Sect, let’s see where you can hide this time."