Chapter 362: Quelling

Words : 2466 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Zhang Lan also felt his scalp go numb. He knew the Large Formation was formidable, but he hadn’t expected its killing power to be so terrifying. Despite being a mere First-grade Formation Method, it made him, a Foundation Building Cultivator, feel an overwhelming sense of despair that he couldn’t resist. "Is the Large Formation really that strong…” Zhang Lan and Yang Jiyong couldn’t help but express their admiration, muttering to themselves. After speaking, both of them were taken aback, then looked at each other with disgust, as if they had swallowed flies. Zhang Lan disdainfully said, “Doesn’t your Yang Family also have a Large Formation? Why are you making such a fuss, acting like you’ve never seen the world before?” Yang Jiyong retorted, “Doesn’t the Zhang Family have one? You’re not any better, are you?” Zhang Lan said, “Our Zhang Family has profound resources; there’s no need to activate the Large Formation.” Yang Jiyong also said, “Our Yang Family has fought far and wide, with a formidable reputation; no petty foes dare to offend us, so naturally, there’s no need to activate the Large Formation.” Zhang Lan sneered, “All that flowery talk, but isn’t it just because you’ve never seen the Large Formation activated?” "Nonsense, aren’t you the same?” … After half a day of bickering, they were both equally matched and could not mock one another. Thereafter, they both looked towards the center where the Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation was situated, and each let out a slight sigh. Indeed, the activation of the Large Formation was a rare sight… Although the Zhang and Yang Families both constructed Large Formations, they would not activate them under normal circumstances. Activating the Large Formation requires a massive amount of Spirit Stones, and even if their families did own Spiritual mines, they could not afford such wastefulness. Only if powerful enemies attacked, or the clan faced a catastrophic disaster, would they activate the Large Formation to defend against the foes. Given the profound resources and vast power of the Zhang and Yang Families, no one dared to provoke them, and the Large Formation had not been officially activated for hundreds of years. Therefore, neither Zhang Lan nor Yang Jiyong had ever truly witnessed the activation of a Large Formation up close. The Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation drawn by Mo Hua was the first time they saw a fully activated Large Formation. Although they knew Large Formations were powerful, they had no idea how powerful they really were until today, experiencing it firsthand, and realizing just how dreadful a Large Formation could be. Moreover, the Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation was different from their families’ Protecting Sect Formations; it wasn’t simply a defensive Formation or one that focused on defense while incorporating offense. It was a Formation purely designed for slaughter. The power of such a Formation was even more formidable than they had imagined. This time, both of them remained silent for a long time until Yang Jiyong finally murmured: "Formation Masters are truly terrifying…” This time, Zhang Lan did not refute, but softly agreed, “Yes…” Yang Jiyong looked at the surging Spiritual Power and sky-high fighting spirit of the Large Formation, his heart filled with shock: "On the battlefield, if such a Formation could be constructed, it would surely dominate all directions and annihilate all powerful enemies! Even Cultivators a realm higher might not survive!” ????????NO͍₿Êᶊ He looked up towards a mountain peak in the distance. At that peak, sat the Formation Pivot of the Large Formation, where the young Mo Hua was in control of the entire Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation. Yang Jiyong had never felt as profoundly aware of Mo Hua’s inscrutability as he did now. A thirteen-year-old main Formation Master, and moreover, one who had laid down a Formation focused on killing. "This child will undoubtedly become a great weapon of slaughter in the world.” "He can build Large Formations to save tens of thousands of people, and naturally, he can also build Large Formations to kill tens of thousands…” Yang Jiyong’s heart trembled with fear, and his gaze grew more solemn. At this moment, Mo Hua was completely focused, conscientiously controlling the Large Formation, manipulating the Five Elements Formation to entrap and kill Feng Xi. Meanwhile, Feng Xi had escaped from the entrapment of the Quicksand Formation and Golden Light Formation within the Earth Series foundation and fled along the stone wall into the Water Series foundation. Mo Hua connected with the Formation Pivot, cut off the supply of Spiritual Power to the Earth Series foundation, and then transferred the Spiritual Power refined at the Formation eye through the Formation Pivot to the Water Series foundation. With the infusion of Spiritual Power, the Inundating Water Formation and Poisonous Wood Formation were activated, and the ground was instantly covered in accumulated water. As Feng Xi waded through the water, each step became increasingly difficult. Around it, the air carried waves of dark green Wood Poison, which gradually eroded Feng Xi’s skin, causing numbness and corroding its Blood Qi. Some of the Wood Poison mixed into the water, getting more potent by virtue of the interaction between the elements, where water can nourish wood, hence intensifying the toxicity. With each step through the water, Feng Xi’s flesh was eroded by the Poison, and soon only bones remained. After the Blood Qi congealed, it was corroded again… Feng Xi was trapped in the Inundating Water Formation for several hours, and by the time it got out, its Blood Qi was visibly weakened. Awaiting it ahead were the successive formations constructed by the Golden Lock Formation, Water Sword Formation, Wooden Prison Formation, Fire Rain Formation, Red Fire Formation, and Earth Crack Formation. As long as it could not leave the Large Formation, it would remain trapped in an endless cycle of the Five Elements’ entrapment and slaughter until it was gradually worn down by thousands upon thousands of Formation Patterns. All the cultivators witnessing this scene were deeply shaken, and a glimmer of hope also arose: Perhaps they could indeed, using the Large Formation, kill the Big Demon! The spirits of everyone soared. Afterward was a lengthy process of subjugation. The killing power of the Large Formation was formidable and highly effective against Feng Xi. But because Feng Xi’s Blood Qi was so profound, in order to completely quell it, the Large Formation had to be kept in constant motion – continuously driven, restrained, and depleting Feng Xi’s Blood Qi until its demise. This was not an overnight feat. This suppression could last for days, or even tens of days. During this time, all cultivators had to remain diligent and vigilant, for if Feng Xi managed to escape, it would be difficult to lure it back into the Formation, and even more challenging to kill it. Mo Hua remained in front of the Formation Pivot, controlling the entire Large Formation. Whenever Feng Xi tried to smash through the walls, Mo Hua controlled the Spiritual Power to reinforce the stone walls. Wherever Feng Xi was trapped, Mo Hua would stimulate the Formation there, while also activating nearby Killing Formations. Mo Hua would cut the Spiritual Power to unnecessary Formations, saving some Spirit Stones. Mo Hua’s Divine Sense was in constant depletion. If Feng Xi was confined and could temporarily not escape, Mo Hua would sit in meditation to recover some Divine Sense. If Feng Xi escaped, Mo Hua would consume Divine Sense to control the Formation Pivot and stimulate the nearby Formations to restrain Feng Xi. Feng Xi was constantly manipulated within the Compound Formation of the Five Elements’ entrapment by Mo Hua, restrained by the lock Formations and attacked by the Killing Formations. As Feng Xi never ceased, Mo Hua, too, was relentless in his efforts. Master Luo, watching from the side, was filled with admiration. How profound must one’s foundation of Divine Sense be, and how swift must the recovery of Divine Sense be to achieve this… Master Luo was not surprised that one could control the Large Formation on their own. But to control the Large Formation on one’s own, command it as effortlessly as one’s own limb, while being tirelessly vigilant with an abundance of Divine Sense – could a Qi Refinement cultivator truly achieve this… "At least let him control the Large Formation; in just a few hours, he’d probably be utterly exhausted.” Master Luo sighed. He had initially thought that if Mo Hua grew tired, he could take over for a while. But now that Mo Hua wasn’t tired and he was just watching, he felt unbearably exhausted himself. Moreover, while the Formation Pivot looked complex, actually controlling it was even more so. One must have a thorough familiarity with all areas of the Large Formation to be able to open, close, transfer, and adjust it properly. Master Luo realized he had overestimated himself. This task, beyond his own abilities, could only be entrusted to the Master Formation Master of the Large Formation, which was Mo Hua. Watching Mo Hua, Master Luo felt a sense of admiration in his heart: "Indeed, there is always someone better.” Mo Hua still meticulously controlled the Large Formation without distraction. With the Large Formation’s vast expanse, errors were inevitable even with Mo Hua’s precise control—be it a mistake in the flow of Spiritual Power, compatibility issues within a Single Formation, insufficient carrying capacity of the Formation media, or wear and tear causing Formation Patterns to break, and so forth. There would be moments when the Large Formation’s supply of Spiritual Power was insufficient and the Formation would fail to activate. At such times, the Foundation Building Cultivators within the Large Formation and the stationed Taoist Soldiers needed to take action, even if only to briefly contain Feng Xi and prevent its escape. Feng Xi, trapped and being killed, was furious to the extreme. Taking action to contain it at such times was extremely dangerous. Therefore, Zhang Lan, Yang Jiyong, Elder Yu, and others were all on high alert, not daring to be careless. Everyone would strike only once and then retreat after a single hit before letting another take over. This way, they could both contain Feng Xi and prevent everyone from engaging in prolonged combat with it, avoiding showing any weaknesses that Feng Xi could exploit to devour them, costing them their lives and replenishing Feng Xi’s Blood Qi. Zhang Lan and the others were under tremendous pressure and acted with extreme caution. Fortunately, Mo Hua was quick to adjust the Formation Pivot, restoring the operation of the Large Formation and once more trapping Feng Xi within it, activating the Formation, and killing it in turns… This process was exceedingly lengthy… Outside of the Large Formation, the mood of all the Cultivators in Tongxian City shifted from shock and joy to anxiety and agony. They did not know how long they would have to kill the Big Demon or if they could kill it at all; they could only fall into a long wait… In the following ten days, whether day or night, the colorful lights over the mountains never faded, and the strong fluctuations of Spiritual Power rose and fell. The roar of Feng Xi was also incessant, day and night. As its Blood Qi gradually faded, its ferocity intensified, staining the sky over the mountain crimson as if a gate to purgatory was slowly opening in the heavens. And the Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation was like a five-colored shackle, firmly locking that purgatorial gate. Finally, after more than twenty days, Feng Xi’s roars weakened, gradually quieting. And the blood-red in the sky also slowly darkened. Evening clouds spread down, coating Big Black Mountain in a golden glow, and a shred of hope rose in everyone’s heart. Inside the Large Formation, after more than twenty days of relentless battle without rest, all the Cultivators were exhausted, and their supplies of Spirit Stones were nearly depleted. All the Cultivators worked together and finally drained Feng Xi of its Blood Qi completely! Feng Xi’s Blood Qi dissipated, and it seemed feeble; it slowly collapsed to the ground. Elder Yu and the others were pale, gasping for air, clenching their teeth, having endured for over twenty days. When Feng Xi fell, everyone felt numbness filling their hearts. It took a long time before they gradually came to their senses, incredulous, they said: "Dead?” "Killed?” "The Big Demon is dead, it’s been killed…” … Joy surged like a tide, and they couldn’t help but shout out in celebration. Mo Hua also took a deep breath and collapsed to the ground. But before Mo Hua could relish the victory, a sudden unease gripped his heart. He scrambled up and looked down, his pupils shrinking involuntarily. The fallen Feng Xi, without noise, was slowly standing up again… Just like the Pig Monster that had died once before, it stood silently and suddenly, silently, swallowed the Patriarch of the Qian Family. The cheers stopped abruptly, and the onlookers also saw this scene, exclaiming in shock: "The Big Demon isn’t dead?” "Impossible, its Blood Qi was clearly depleted…” "What do we do now?” At the same time, the aura of Feng Xi changed; no longer did it carry the crimson hue of Blood Qi but was now enveloped in a black-grey aura of death. Its pig face twisted and deformed, reshaping and transforming into a huge human face. This human face was like a strange Taoist persona. He opened his mouth, without lips or teeth, and spoke in an indistinguishable gender. It sounded like one person speaking, yet also like many speaking together, eerie and noisy: "Who is it? Who ruined my grand plan?” "Ruined my grand plan!” "Who dares?” "Ruined… my grand plan!” … Many disordered voices mingled together, sounding as though they were both ringing in the ears and in the Sea of Consciousness. Zhang Lan and others turned pale: "What is this thing?!” "This pig… is a person?” The moment Mo Hua saw the human face, enlightenment struck; he understood why the pig could die and then return to life. Because within it, there had always been another Divine Thought hidden. The Divine Thought of that strange Taoist persona! The Monster Sensing of Feng Xi had long since extinguished; what drove its rebirth was the Divine Thought of that Taoist persona. The person Mr. Zhuang prohibited him from asking about, thinking about, or mentioning… that strange Taoist persona! Feng Xi revived, the human face emerged, evil spirits entwined, and Death Qi was heavy. In the mountain abode, Mr. Zhuang also wore a grave expression and muttered: "Planting Devil in Taoist Heart…”

Chapter 362: Quelling

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