A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

"What formation?"

Xiong Chumo carried the sledgehammer, looking completely bewildered.

She's an expert in weapon crafting, but a complete novice when it comes to array formations.

Bai Jie also frowned, clearly not familiar with the name.

"This formation is based on resentment and lust, and is ostensibly a legacy, but in reality it is a trap."

Luo Fan stared ahead, "Those who enter the formation will have their minds corrupted, turning them into puppets who only know how to kill."

What he didn't say was that this formation was exactly the same as the one used to create the Myriad Souls Coil.

Although Luo Fan didn't explain in detail, Bai Jie understood.

She and Luo Fan experienced a demonic attack together in the Black Wind Mountains.

After hearing Luo Fan say this, they were no longer unfamiliar with this method.

"I'll bring them back right away!"

Xiong Chumo looked at his fellow disciples who had lost their minds and said, carrying the giant hammer.

Luo Fan remained silent.

Once greed has taken hold, it's too late. One could say that the greed of the masses is influenced by this evil formation.

as predicted.

A piercing scream came from the gray mist.

The disciples at the very front have already triggered the formation!

The gray mist surged violently, coalescing into several pitch-black ghost claws that reached for the nearest people.

The two disciples with weaker cultivation levels had their protective spiritual light shattered.

They were dragged into the depths of the thick fog and never moved again.

One person managed to dodge, but his arm was scratched and left with several bloody marks. He staggered backward.

Because his mind was affected, he seemed to freeze in place, forgetting to move.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Xie Nantian hurriedly reminded everyone.

The other elite disciples who were with him also tried to prevent those disciples from being attacked by the formation.

As the first group of people were attacked, a gray fog surged up throughout the valley.

More menacing shadows and ghostly claws pounced on all the intruders from all directions.

Those pillars of light, passed down through generations, flickered intensely.

The aura it exuded was a mixture of savagery, chaos, and a seductive, malevolent power.

"Everyone, stay focused!"

Bai Jie swung her sword, freezing and shattering the several swirling misty shadows that were sweeping towards her.

"Form ranks! Cover each other!"

Xie Nantian gave a loud command, and he and several of his fellow disciples hastily formed a battle formation.

A spiritual energy barrier was thus formed, resisting the invasion of the mist.

But the scene in the distance was completely out of control.

Those controlled by the formation had bloodshot eyes and rushed towards the strange pillars of light without regard for anything else.

Xiong Chumo pulled Luo Fan behind him, and with a sweeping swing of his hammer, smashed a rushing misty shadow.

Lu Qingdai waved her hand repeatedly, and streaks of green vines broke through the soil, forming a barrier around them.

"This can't go on."

Bai Jie swung her sword and shattered a misty shadow.

With her back to Luo Fan, she secretly transmitted her voice, "Xiao Fan, quickly think of a way."

The fog thickened, and the corrupted disciples, their eyes red, charged toward them!

"Oh no, they've been taken control!"

The man standing next to Xie Nantian was named Chu Wuyai.

He joined the sect earlier than Ji Kun and belonged to the same lineage as the sect leader, making him a true core disciple.

In addition, there are Shen Fufeng, Zhao Jingzhou, and Yan Wujiu.

If it weren't for Yunxi's order to participate in this assessment, and the legacy of the Sword Tomb...

They are still in seclusion.

Of course, most importantly, the Zhengyang Sect wanted to show off its power by stepping on them.

They certainly wouldn't allow that.

Even if they are defeated, they must let the Zhengyang Sect know that the Peach Blossom Temple has successors.

Even though they possess profound cultivation, how could they bring themselves to kill their fellow disciples who had lost their minds?

The difficulty lies in relying solely on defense, as this will eventually deplete your spiritual energy, leaving you in an even more passive position.

"Senior Brother Xie, please make a decision."

As Yan Wujiu spoke, the other four all looked at Xie Nantian.

Even if they wanted to save their fellow disciples' lives...

But when things reach the point of no return, there's no time to worry about anything else.

Xie Nantian understood this principle, and he took a deep breath.

"Keep them contained for now, don't hurt anyone!"

With a flick of his wrist, Xie Nantian swung his longsword, the blade striking the disciple who lunged at him.

Bang!

The disciple was sent flying, but he quickly got up again and charged forward with a roar.

Others followed suit and switched to using knockback and binding spells.

Those who can be controlled possess immense strength, are insensitive to pain, and are numerous.

Xie Nantian and the others were caught off guard and overwhelmed.

"Junior Sister Lu, we've held them back. We hope you can take this opportunity to find a way to break the formation!"

After knocking another person away, Xie Nantian quickly gave Lu Qingdai some instructions.

Lu Qingdai bit her lip and nodded, then looked around again.

"Senior sister, protect Junior Brother Luo!"

Bai Jie said something to Xiong Chumo, then flashed into the fray and joined the battle.

She specializes in targeting joints and acupoints, repelling those people without causing injury.

Lu Qingdai frowned deeply. "To break the formation, we must find its core!"

"But where is the core of the formation?"

Xiong Chumo smashed one person away with a hammer, then turned and asked.

Lu Qingdai smiled. "Good question. I'd like to know too."

"..."

Xiong Chumo rolled her eyes.

Senior Sister Lu still had the mood to joke around; she didn't even know where the array's core was.

but…

She knew where Lu Qingdai's array core was hidden, and even stole a glance at Luo Fan.

His eyes were filled with an intriguing look.

Since she couldn't find the key point of the formation, she took Luo Fan to find the other key point.

If Lu Qingdai knew what Xiong Chumo was thinking, she would be so angry that she would smash her head in.

"I'll give it a try."

Lu Qingdai formed hand seals, her eyes glowing with a blue light, as she carefully sensed the fluctuations of the surrounding array.

A moment later, her face turned even paler.

"It should be a dual-core formation; those beams of light on the surface are decoys, the true core lies deep within the gray fog!"

She pointed towards the center of the valley, towards the thickest, dark golden pillar of light.

The fog is thickest there, and the evil spirits are strongest there.

"I'll go break through the formation!"

Lu Qingdai was about to set off.

"No!"

Bai Jie and Xiong Chumo, who had returned, spoke at the same time.

Xiong Chumo curled her lip. "This formation is far too dangerous; going in is suicide!"

"I'll go."

Bai Jie glanced at Luo Fan.

He was still gazing intently into the distance.

Lu Qingdai shook her head, "I'm the only one here who understands formations, and only I can break them."

"I'll go with you!"

Xiong Chumo shouldered the sledgehammer. "Stop talking nonsense, two people can help each other!"

The two women exchanged a glance and reached a consensus.

"etc."

Luo Fan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

He stared into the depths of the gray mist, his Insightful Eyes operating at full power. "The core of the array is not below the pillar of light."

"What?"

Lu Qingdai was taken aback.

Luo Fan pointed to another spot, "The real core is under that black boulder three hundred feet to the left."

How did you know?

Lu Qingdai tilted her head.

She had just been wondering how Luo Fan could see through the demonic formation.

"Ancient books record that the Netherworld Heart-Devouring Array's core is usually located where malevolent energy gathers and remains hidden."

Luo Fan remained calm and composed, saying, "That boulder fits perfectly."

This was certainly not recorded in any ancient book; he obtained it through fragments of Mo Chen's memories.

The location was found after repeated observations by the Eye of Truth.

Lu Qingdai looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw an inconspicuous boulder there.

The fog was thinnest there, with a faint, chilly aura that would go unnoticed unless you looked closely.

"I'll go with you."

Luo Fan continued.

"No!"

The three women spoke in unison.

"Your cultivation level is too low; it would be too dangerous for you to go."

Lu Qingdai's tone left no room for argument.

"Junior brother, you stay here. With Senior Brother Xie and the others protecting you, you'll be safer."

Xiong Chumo also said.

Bai Jie didn't speak, but her eyes were clear.

--no.

Luo Fan touched his nose.

In other people's eyes, he was only at the first level of Qi Refining, so he didn't really have much credibility.

"Then be careful."

He concluded by saying, "If you encounter danger, retreat immediately; do not fight head-on."

"rest assured!"

Xiong Chumo swung the sledgehammer, "Watch me smash that damn array-breaking eye to pieces!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Lu Qingdai called out to Xie Nantian, "I'm entrusting Junior Brother Luo to you!"

Xie Nantian forced back two controlled disciples with a single sword strike, then turned around and nodded emphatically.

"As long as I have a breath left, I will protect Junior Brother Luo!"

His gaze was solemn, and his tone was grave. "My fellow junior sisters, please be careful."

"Walk!"

The three of them moved like lightning, rushing towards the black boulder.

Luo Fan was protected by the crowd at the center, but his gaze kept following Bai Jie and the others.

The God-Slaying Sword trembled slightly.

It's not fear.

It's excitement.

It was like smelling the scent of prey.

at the same time.

Deep in the valley, where the gray fog was thickest, Ji Kun's silhouette came into view.

His gaze swept over Xie Nantian and the others who were fighting hard in the distance, and finally landed on Luo Fan.

The murderous intent in his eyes was undisguised.

"Enjoy this appetizer!"

Ji Kun smiled and turned to step into the swirling gray mist behind him.

Beyond that gray mist lies the true path to the Sword Tomb's legacy.

In the midst of the chaos, everyone briefly forgot about Ji Kun.

Not far from that black boulder, Lu Qingdai and her companions encountered trouble.

The key to the formation has been found; breaking this stone will solve the problem. However, breaking the formation itself is not so simple.

Around the megalith, there was a small, dark red magic circle made of bones…

They suppressed the strength of all three of them to the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

The formation appears to have been set up recently, still retaining a sinister aura.

Before they could get close, another roar was heard.

Looking up, there was a magnificent tiger, its strength comparable to the third level of Foundation Establishment!