Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The nine-tiered circular jade battle platform shimmered with light, and a pale blue light curtain was drawn across the Mo family's mechanical barrier. Amidst the roaring and surging of spiritual energy, the chaotic battle phase of the Eastern Yi Mountain and Sea Pride Competition officially began.

Hundreds of prodigies from all sides broke the stalemate in an instant, the sounds of spells exploding and weapons clashing filling the entire battle arena. Some roamed and launched surprise attacks, some banded together to plunder, and some lay in wait to observe; chaos reigned, and danger lurked everywhere. Everyone was fighting to the death for the one hundred and twenty spots to advance, but only the Laoshan faction, amidst the clamor of the battle, maintained a peaceful haven.

Twenty disciples from Laoshan stood in formation, their breaths mingling and their minds in perfect harmony.

The formation is clearly divided into four corners, and the entire camp's offensive and defensive maneuvers, rhythm, and momentum are all under the control of Lin Yan, the center of the formation.

He is the irreplaceable core of the Laoshan team.

His profound cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment was contained within him, neither ostentatious nor fierce, yet possessing a calm and composed aura that suppressed all directions. His innate inner fire lay dormant in his meridians, and pure spiritual energy slowly spread, connecting each fellow disciple like an invisible network. The positioning, breathing exercises, and gaps in their attacks and defenses were all manipulated and controlled with a single thought. Lin Yan's eyes were calm and clear, surveying the chaotic scene below, taking in every detail: clandestine attacks, undercurrents of power, and deadly spiritual energy.

Based on his prediction and strategy for the battle, the disciples of Laoshan took their positions in the four directions, each fulfilling their duties, and obeying only the orders of the formation leader.

In the due north direction, Yun Xi, dressed in white with a cool and aloof air, held the gleaming white sword, the Water Cloud Sword. Embodying the orthodox immortal sword style of Laoshan, it was the formation's trump card for both offensive and defensive operations. Her sword aura was clear and ethereal, her sword intent deeply concealed. If any unsuspecting rogue cultivator dared to charge from the north, there was no need for a bloody battle. Simply reciting the immortal sword incantation, the Water Cloud Sword would tremble slightly, unleashing a torrent of cloud-like sword aura, directly overwhelming the opponent's spiritual power with its primordial Daoist essence, repelling the enemy without bloodshed.

She acted with restraint and controlled her actions, always adhering to the defensive rhythm set by Lin Yan in advance. She only harassed the enemy, did not greedily pursue them, and did not deviate from the formation, thus securing the northern position and stabilizing one side of the defense.

Shen Yue, standing to the south, possessed a robust and composed figure. His Xuan Yan spear, firmly planted on the ground, was imbued with earth-elemental spiritual energy, forming the most solid frontal barrier of the formation. He meticulously followed Lin Yan's instructions, avoiding reckless advances and brute force. His spear swept horizontally and vertically, its tip coated with a thick layer of spiritual energy, reinforcing the frontal line layer by layer. Any scattered cultivators who dared to charge with brute force were met with his spear's relentless force, sent flying, and forced back. With his solid foundation, he firmly defended the southern formation, withstanding all frontal assaults.

Ye Qing, standing on the west side, was slender and agile, wielding a long, gleaming green sword. His swordsmanship was nimble and unpredictable, specializing in breaking through enemy lines, intercepting attacks, and guarding the flanks and concealed killing intent. Following Lin Yan's pre-battle instructions, he moved swiftly along the flanks, his movements unpredictable, keeping a close watch on those who might flank and ambush. With swift swordplay, he dismantled all the insidious attacks, precisely patching up the most vulnerable flanks of the formation, and safeguarding the entire camp's blind spots.

Four people, four poles, four directions, a solid formation.

Yunxi used her immortal sword to suppress the enemy, Shen Yue used his spear to defend the front, Ye Qing used his sword to eliminate the sneak attacks, and Lin Yan sat in the center of the formation, commanding the overall situation, deciding the advance and retreat, and controlling life and death.

Without any deliberate practice, the group possessed an unspoken understanding as fellow disciples, their minds perfectly aligned, completely relying on Lin Yan to control the formation. A slight tremor at the core of the formation elicited responses from all directions; a calm core brought stability to the entire area. Despite the raging battles and turbulent spiritual energy on the battle stage, the Laoshan formation remained steadfast and unshakeable, like a pillar anchoring the sea amidst a stormy sea.

Within moments of the start of the battle, several scattered attacks were defeated in succession.

Some rogue cultivators launched a fierce attack on the northern formation, but Yun Xi, accustomed to the Water Cloud Sword Technique, unleashed a torrent of pure white sword energy, layer upon layer of Daoist rhyme, instantly shattering the opponent's techniques and forcing them to retreat in disarray. A two-person team joined forces to attack the southern formation, but Shen Yue swept his spear across, unleashing a devastating explosion of heavy rock energy that sent the two cultivators into a frenzy, causing their weapons to slip from their hands, and forcing them to retreat without achieving their goal. Furthermore, some hidden cultivators attempted to sneak around the western side to steal from the formation, but Ye Qing's swift sword broke through their movement techniques and shattered their concealment, quietly neutralizing the sneak attacks.

Lin Yan could predict the trajectory flaws and weaknesses of each wave of enemies in advance and secretly remind them with his spiritual power. The four guards only needed to take advantage of the situation to break through the enemy's moves.

Anyone who harbored any illusions and insisted on charging straight to the center of the formation would have their meridians scorched by Lin Yan's radiating alchemical fire energy before even reaching within three zhang (approximately 10 meters). A faint, crimson-hot spiritual energy silently locked down the formation's core, domineering and condensed, suppressing any reckless intruders. After several rounds of probing, the surrounding chaotic prodigies all understood: the Laoshan team, seemingly holding a corner, actually possessed extremely strong control; the youth at the center of the formation orchestrated the entire operation, leaving no gaps in the formation.

The surrounding cultivators all took the initiative to give way, and no one dared to easily provoke the Laoshan camp anymore.

As the battle unfolded, scattered weaklings were eliminated one after another, and the battlefield gradually shifted from chaotic slaughter to a system of factional division. Several major clans banded together to expand, absorbing scattered small teams, seizing key airspace, and reaping the advantages of the battle with their overwhelming strength.

The most powerful and domineering force was the Hao clan coalition led by Hao Lei.

Hao Lei already harbored a grudge against Lin Yan, and they had clashed several times in Haodu before. Now that the grand competition had begun, he was determined to use the competition rules to publicly crush Laoshan and humiliate Lin Yan, thereby enhancing the prestige of the Hao clan.

As the direct descendant of the Hao clan, he wielded immense influence. From the outset, he coordinated all the Hao clan disciples participating in the competition, and through a combination of persuasion and coercion, he rallied and coerced more than ten small and medium-sized families that were affiliated with the Hao family, piecing together a massive coalition of nearly forty people.

With Hao Lei at its core, this team is far more disciplined than ordinary scattered groups. Their fighting style is fierce and domineering, targeting weaker teams to crush and swallow them up. They rampage through the airspace, clearing out large areas of control, and their momentum is overwhelming and unstoppable.

Hao Lei stood at the forefront of the group, his brocade robes flamboyant, his brows and eyes arrogant and sinister. He coldly swept across the entire field, finally locking onto the Laoshan camp standing motionless on the east side. His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed precisely on Lin Yan at the center of the formation, his eyes revealing undisguised ferocity and mockery.

"What a small world!"

"I never expected you to dare to lead a mere twenty people to cower in a corner and eke out a living."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Hao Lei's lips, as old grudges and new annoyances surged up all at once. He had been waiting for a long time, just waiting for the battle to stabilize so that he could publicly besiege Laoshan, shatter Lin Yan's confidence and crush Laoshan's solid formation in front of thousands of cultivators in Haodu.

"You dared to oppose me in Haodu City before. Today, on the battle stage, I will show you the difference between the geniuses of aristocratic families and the bottom-tier sects."

He ignored the chaos around him, raised his hand and gave a cold, domineering order.

"All personnel assemble! Destination: Laoshan Mountain to the east!"

"I will crush this formation! Today, I will personally destroy Lin Yan's core formation!"

At a command, the forty Hao clan allied soldiers simultaneously turned around, unleashing a surging torrent of spiritual energy, and swept towards the Laoshan camp. Layer upon layer of figures, the roar of spiritual energy echoed across the land, and a chilling aura filled the air. The cultivators fighting along the way retreated in fear, none daring to directly confront their onslaught.

An overwhelming aura of malevolence crashed down upon the front of the Laoshan formation.

Yunxi, Shen Yue, and Ye Qing all tensed up at the same time, their Water Cloud Sword, Xuanyan Spear, and Qingfeng Sword humming and trembling, their fighting spirit filling their bodies.

At the heart of the formation, Lin Yan slowly raised his eyes.

Their eyes met across the distance, and they faced off.

Faced with Hao Lei's overwhelming pressure, fueled by old grudges, he remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic, only a cold glint in his eyes.

Old grudges and entanglements can be settled all at once on the field today.

The next moment, Lin Yan's mind stirred slightly, and his spiritual power resonated throughout the team. His tone was calm, yet it exuded an unquestionable sense of control and authority.

"Everyone must hold their positions, fortify the defenses on all four sides, and refrain from reckless advances or chaotic retreats."

"Yunxi Town is located in the north. The Water Cloud Sword suppresses its sharpness and breaks its momentum with rhythm, blocking its elite vanguard."

"Shen Yue guarded the south, his long spears firmly holding the front, withstanding the onslaught of people, and nailing down the line."

"Ye Qing moved to the flank, his longsword cutting off the enemy's encirclement and attack."

"Everyone follows my flow of energy; when the enemy is agitated, I remain calm; when the enemy is strong, I remain stable."

As soon as the order was given, the three immediately took their positions.

Yunxi held the Water Cloud Sword horizontally in front of her chest, the sword's spiritual power flowing gently, its clear and cool Daoist aura covering the northern sky; Shen Yue pressed forward with his spear, the heavy earth spirit locking down the frontal defense, as steady as a rock; Ye Qing swayed slightly, moving through the air to the side, his longsword concealed, ready to intercept any approaching enemy.

The twenty disciples of Laoshan Mountain shared their spiritual power and stood in neat positions. All their strength converged at the center of the formation and was under the command and control of Lin Yan.

On the opposite side, Hao Lei had already led his troops to within a hundred feet of the front line. Looking at Laoshan's perfectly orderly formation and then at Lin Yan, who was calmly holding the line, he couldn't help but sneer with disdain.

"Feigning composure."

"I'd like to see how long your formation, which relies on sticking together to survive, can last!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hao Lei waved his hand and shouted sharply:

"All troops, launch a full-scale attack! Break through their lines!!"

Dozens of beams of spiritual energy shot into the sky, and swords, spears, halberds, and magical lights intertwined to form a sky-filling offensive, carrying rolling baleful energy, and bombarded the four directions of Laoshan's protective formation.

On the north side, several elite disciples of the Hao clan were the first to engage the enemy, launching a surprise attack with a series of combined spells that overwhelmed the enemy with extreme ferocity.

Yunxi's expression was calm and composed. She parted her lips slightly and silently recited the incantation of the Water Cloud Sword Immortal: "Clouds and water embrace the heavens, ethereal rhythm suppresses the spirit."

hum-

The gleaming white Water Cloud Sword trembled as it was drawn from its sheath, and countless tiny sword energies, like water and mist, suddenly spread out. Beneath its gentle appearance lay the absolute suppression of the authentic Daoist essence of immortal swordsmanship.

The several spells that came crashing down shattered layer by layer and dissipated their spiritual energy upon touching this Cloud and Water Sword Domain, failing to even cause a ripple. The elite Hao clan soldiers at the forefront felt their spiritual energy being suppressed by the Daoist aura, their blood and qi stagnating, their bodies stiffening, and their faces filled with horror. They could only retreat hastily and in a sorry state, and the first wave of the Northern Formation's attack collapsed in an instant.

On the south front, a large number of Hao troops, relying on their numerical advantage, launched a fierce attack, intending to use brute force to tear apart the defense line.

Shen Yue remained calm and composed, unfazed by the enemy's fierce momentum. He gripped his Xuan Yan spear tightly, its heavy shaft radiating a surge of spiritual light. Adhering strictly to the defensive rhythm set by Lin Yan, he swept and slashed with his spear, unleashing a powerful burst of rock energy that withstood the combined assault of over a dozen men. With each rise and fall of his spear, he steadily repelled the enemy, maintaining an impenetrable front line. Despite the relentless attacks, he refused to retreat an inch, firmly sealing off the southern gate of the formation.

In the western airspace, several cunning Hao clan disciples avoided the head-on melee and quietly circled around to the flank, attempting to launch a sneak attack and find an opportunity to break through the formation.

Ye Qing moved like the wind, instantly leaping from his original position, his green-bladed longsword as swift as a streak of light. Sword light danced and swirled, his moves cunning and precise, specifically targeting gaps in his opponents' attacks and weaknesses in their spiritual energy. In a few strikes—pointing, thrusting, parrying, and slicing—he dismantled everyone's sneak attacks, forcing several flanking cultivators to retreat repeatedly, unable to get even a step closer to the formation. The threat on his flank was completely eliminated.

The three sides clashed fiercely, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

Only Lin Yan, at the heart of the formation, remained standing still.

His eyes were sharp, taking in the positioning, offensive rhythm, spiritual weaknesses, and gaps in the coordination of Hao Lei's allied forces. Hao Lei, relying on his superior numbers, was eager to break through the formation, and his offensive was rash and reckless. His troops were disjointed and unbalanced, and none of these weaknesses escaped his notice.

Lin Yan did not make a move for the time being, but instead used his mind to harmonize the spiritual power of the entire team, fill in the minor gaps in the formation, and steadily control the rhythm of the entire battle.

Whenever the pressure on a defensive line suddenly increased, he would quietly send out a wisp of innate spiritual fire to strengthen and guard it; whenever the enemy forces were densely packed, he would immediately send a telepathic message to remind his fellow disciples to shrink the defensive line and focus on defending the enemy.

The Laoshan formation was as solid as an iron wall, with coordinated attacks and defenses from all sides. No matter how fiercely Hao Lei's allied forces attacked, they remained unmoved and did not retreat an inch.

On the front lines, Hao Lei's face was extremely gloomy.

He originally thought that with forty men and his own cultivation, he could crush the mere twenty-man Laoshan team in an instant, subdue Lin Yan, and settle old scores.

But the reality before him shattered his arrogance.

The figure in green robes calmly commanded the formation, directing everything. The four sides were well-organized and coordinated, and no matter how many times his disciples attacked, the Laoshan formation remained as stable as Mount Tai, without any flaws.

Hao Lei stared intently at Lin Yan, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity, a mixture of shame, anger, and fear.

"Lin Yan...you really did hide it well."

He gritted his teeth and hissed coldly, finally unable to restrain himself, and decided to take action himself to forcefully break the formation and shatter this impregnable four-sided battle formation.