After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Having done all this, Lin Fengmian didn't hesitate at all, not even bothering to linger his gaze on those pale-faced people for even a moment longer.

He turned around abruptly, and the flying sword beneath his feet suddenly unsheathed.

Transforming into a streak of light, it sped towards the edge of the formation!

Since the outsiders want him, he will go and meet these so-called "Celestial Star Alliance" in person!

As soon as he made a move, Chu Qingyi, Honglian, and several other peak masters and elders immediately followed, all wanting to see what he was going to do.

Chu Qingyi followed on her sword, her gaze falling on the figure in the green robe, her heart filled with both worry and helplessness.

That little devil...

She sighed softly, suppressed her turbulent emotions, and quickened her pace to catch up.

At this moment, the entire Hehuan Sect was firmly protected by the solid light barrier of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Zhou Tian Grand Array.

No matter how loud the commotion outside was, not a single breeze could be felt inside.

This eerie calm only fueled the growing suspicion and uncertainty among those who harbored their own conjectures.

Master Yunhe gazed at the spiritual patterns flowing on the light screen and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice:

"My God... Could this formation really have been set up by that brat Lin Fengmian?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyi immediately turned her cold gaze to Honglian.

Honglian dared not hide anything, and quickly transmitted her voice, recounting in detail how Lin Fengmian took out the array plate, how he activated the array, and how he cooperated with her to reinforce the hub.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyi's lips twitched almost imperceptibly beneath her veil, feeling both amused and annoyed.

This guy... he's really good at hiding his true intentions!

Despite possessing the array plate of such an ancient formation, he remained silent until the sect was on the verge of collapse, at which point he finally revealed it.

I have no idea how much more he's hiding from me.

As she thought this, her gaze involuntarily fell on the figure flying on a sword.

Outside the formation.

The retreating members of the Heavenly Demon Sect and Yinshan Palace quietly gathered around again.

A white-bearded elder from Yinshan Palace, looking distressed, sighed to the red-faced elder from Tianmo Sect beside him:

"Fellow Daoist Du, this formation is too strange!"

"We've been bombarding it for ages with so many of us taking turns, and it hasn't even budgeed! Could this really be the legendary level four formation?"

He became increasingly flustered as he spoke, and his voice lowered several decibels:

"If the leaders of the Heavenly Star Alliance find out that we can't even take down a second-rate sect, we'll be in deep trouble!"

Elder Du also looked extremely annoyed and slapped his thigh hard:

"Who says otherwise! When did this little Hehuan Sect develop such a foundation? It's unbelievable!"

He waved his hand impatiently:

"We can't afford to waste any more time like this! The Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Divine Origin Alliance can't possibly come in person. If all else fails, we'll have to bring out the Heavenly Demon Sect's Formation-Breaking Pestle, gather all our disciples, and break the formation with all our might!"

Just then, Elder Luo from the Heavenly Sword Sect flew over, feigning concern by cupping his hands and smiling:

"Fellow Daoist Tang, Fellow Daoist Du, I, Luo, have come to lend you both a helping hand!"

The two quickly returned the greeting, but inwardly cursed the old fox for only now trying to take advantage of the situation. Where was he when the formation couldn't be broken?

But on the surface, they had to force a smile and pretend to be polite.

Elder Luo stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Without saying much, he raised his right hand, and a sharp sword aura shot out from his fingertip!

The sword energy was entirely azure, containing the unique sharpness of the Heavenly Sword Sect. It moved with extreme speed and crashed into the ever-flowing array with a "boom"!

however--

Above the array, only a very faint ripple appeared, like a pebble thrown into a deep lake, disappearing into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

Not even a single crack remained.

Elder Luo's smile froze instantly.

He frowned deeply, narrowed his eyes, and carefully scanned the array with his divine sense. After a long while, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his tone becoming much more solemn:

"This...it really is a complete fourth-order grand formation!"

He turned to look at Tang and Du beside him, his expression darkening.

"This is getting a bit tricky."

Upon hearing this, Elder Tang and Elder Du almost cursed aloud on the spot.

You're only realizing it now? We've been making a ruckus here for ages!

It didn't even crack open! You think it's difficult?!

But the two still had to maintain a facade of harmony, so they could only curse Elder Luo's ancestors in their hearts while forcing out a smile that was more like a grimace:

"Elder Luo is absolutely right... So, in your opinion, what should we do?"

Seeing this, Elder Luo coughed lightly, realizing that what he had just said was somewhat unnecessary.

He stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the densely packed disciples of the Hehuan Sect around him. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he raised his hand to add an amplification spell to his voice.

The sound immediately boomed and echoed throughout the entire mountain gate:

"Listen up, fellow disciples of the Joyful Union Sect!"

"Although this fourth-order grand formation is difficult to break in the short term, I want to tell you something—the reason why a fourth-order grand formation is so powerful is because it requires a massive amount of spiritual energy to maintain its operation!"

"To support such a large formation, at least a high-grade third-tier spiritual vein is needed to continuously supply spiritual energy!"

"But as far as I know, the entire Zhao Kingdom only has one low-grade third-tier spiritual vein! It's simply impossible for it to support such a large formation!"

"so--"

His voice suddenly rose, tinged with a confident, cold laugh:

"This Joyful Union Sect must be using spirit stones to keep going!"

"Once the spirit stones are exhausted, this great formation will collapse on its own! At that time—"

His gaze swept over the pale-faced disciples of the Hehuan Sect in the formation, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his lips:

"None of you will escape!"

"Spirit stones are limited; defending the formation will lead to certain death! Whether you surrender now while you still have a chance, or wait to die with your 'Supreme Elder,' the choice is yours!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples of the Hehuan Sect stirred up a commotion.

Many disciples who had just gained some confidence from the great formation now looked ashen-faced again.

Yes... a fourth-order grand formation is indeed powerful, but the spirit stones required to maintain it are simply astronomical!

The Hehuan Sect is currently besieged and without external support, how long can it last relying solely on its existing reserves?

One month? Three months? Half a year?

Once the spirit stones are exhausted and the great formation is broken, they will be like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of the people outside!

For a time, people were filled with anxiety, and whispers could be heard everywhere.

Some people have already begun to waver.

"Elder Luo is right... We can't just be trapped here and die, can we?"

"How about... we go and surrender? Anyway, the Heavenly Star Alliance only wants Lin Fengmian, it has nothing to do with us..."

"Shut up! Do you want to betray the sect?!"

"I was just saying! What are you yelling about!"

The seeds of infighting have already begun to sprout quietly.