Chapter 324: Taking Action

Hall Master Yuanxiang, as an existence who had mastered two Half-Primordial Level Paths and had been tormented by contamination for so long yet remained unyielding, naturally would not give up easily.

“Elders, everyone knows the situation has already become extremely dire,” Hall Master Yuanxiang transmitted his voice. “Outside Rainlan City, a massive army of Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms has surrounded us. To escape from within the encirclement—only a handful in the entire city could accomplish that! At the very least, I cannot.”

The more than three hundred Elders also understood this point. If they tried to flee, they would not be able to escape either.

Hall Master Gaitao had long been refining Weapon Secret Treasures and believed that the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm was far safer than the Dark Sacred Realm. This place was his weapon-refining stronghold. A vast number of Weapon Secret Treasures represented most of his accumulated wealth, and he could not afford to lose them. Only because of that had he been willing to pay any price to purchase an escape treasure.

The other Elders were not as wealthy as Hall Master Gaitao. The life-saving items they possessed also gave them no confidence of escaping.

“If we cannot escape, then we will defend to the end.”

“I have already requested reinforcements from the Dark Sacred Realm! This time, a Limit-Breaking Class Bewitching Heart Worm has appeared. The Dark Sacred Realm has already dispatched a cultivator squad, and they are on their way. For them to reach Rainlan City will take a little over one day.”

“As long as we hold on for a little more than a day, we will achieve victory!” Hall Master Yuanxiang spoke truthfully.

The cultivator squad consisted of three members, each of whom was no weaker than Hall Master Yuanxiang at his peak. They first had to arrive at the teleportation lake within the Dark Sacred Realm.

Afterward, they would travel through the teleportation lake of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm and then head toward Rainlan City. Even moving at great speed, the total time required would still exceed a day.

“The ninety-two Elders of the Star Swarm Grand Formation—continue intercepting and killing the Infiltrator teams.”

“The rest of the Elders should quickly disperse more Avatars. Once discovered by an Infiltrator team, the Avatar should immediately dissipate itself. We must delay them as long as possible.” Hall Master Yuanxiang issued orders one by one.

“Yes.” All the Elders accepted the command.

In fact, earlier Hall Master Gaitao could also have dispersed multiple Avatars to stall for time. But he had not been willing to gamble. Because when facing pursuit from terrifying existences like the King and others, even the slightest delay would mean every Avatar would be destroyed—and all his treasures lost.

But the Elders within the city now either had no choice or disdained fleeing. Naturally, they would use every method possible to delay the enemy.

……

Boom—!

The Star Swarm Grand Formation had lost Hall Master Gaitao, and its power had weakened by one-third. Yet at this moment, the entire formation’s might was focused solely on three teams among the thirty-nine elite Infiltrator squads.

When the formation’s power converged, these three elite squads also began to suffer casualties.

“King, these Elders are far too cunning. The moment they discover us, their Avatars immediately dissipate. They still have other Avatars!”

“The formation’s power is too great. Our squad has already lost the True Bodies of three Core Members!” 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“King, our squad has only sixty percent of its strength remaining. These Elders are far too cunning!”

“We succeeded! Elder Qiuge’s Avatar speed was far inferior to our mental bodies. All of his fleeing Avatars dissipated. Rainlan City has lost one Elder.”

One message after another was transmitted to the King. Among them, only a single piece of good news appeared.

The King had already anticipated this.

The pressure from the Low-Rank Primordial Lifeform army outside the city was insufficient, which meant the Infiltrators themselves faced greater danger.

“Endure it. We have already arrived at Hall Master Yuanxiang’s Cave Dwelling.”

The King, along with thirty Leader-Level True Bodies, had all arrived here. Originally there had been thirty-two Leader-Level Infiltrator True Bodies within Rainlan City, but two had already died during interception.

Boom!

The King and the thirty Leaders all appeared somewhat illusory. Moving at astonishing speed, they rushed toward Hall Master Yuanxiang’s Cave Dwelling.

Hall Master Yuanxiang sat there, smiling as he looked at them.

“You’ve arrived.” Hall Master Yuanxiang smiled faintly—and then directly dissipated.

“Hm?”

The King and the thirty Leaders landed nearby.

“King, we can no longer sense Hall Master Yuanxiang’s Avatar within Rainlan City,” one Leader said in confusion.

“I cannot sense it either.” The King looked slightly puzzled. He raised his head to look at the formation operating in the sky. “But Hall Master Yuanxiang is the City Founder. If he died and lost control, the power of Rainlan City’s formations should decline drastically. Yet now… the formation’s power has not changed. He is still alive!”

“Yes. I am still within Rainlan City.”

A voice echoed inside the Cave Dwelling.

The King and the thirty Leader-Level True Bodies carefully sensed their surroundings.

“I am tormented by contamination, and all my mental strength is devoted to resisting it. Since I know that I myself am Rainlan City’s greatest weakness, how could I have failed to prepare?” Hall Master Yuanxiang’s voice echoed again. “With just you lot, you will never find me.”

“Damn it!”

The King and the thirty Leaders were quite furious.

Dealing with Hall Master Weiyang and Hall Master Gaitao earlier had gone smoothly—everything according to plan, causing one to die and the other to flee.

Yet now, facing the weakest Hall Master Yuanxiang, they could not even locate him.

“Why not guess where I’m hiding?” Hall Master Yuanxiang’s voice continued.

“No need to pay attention to him. He is stalling for time.”

The King swept his gaze over the thirty Leaders. “Begin the next step of the plan. I will act alone. The rest of you divide into five squads! Begin assassinating the Elders one by one! The more you kill, the better. Every Elder killed will weaken the formation’s power.”

“Yes.”

The King ignored Hall Master Yuanxiang’s voice and quickly separated from the others, beginning to assassinate the Elders in the surrounding Cave Dwellings.

Whoosh!

Inside one Cave Dwelling.

Elder Qinyi had not even had time to react before he was attacked by the King. His innate secret technique, Heart Bewilderment, had reached an unimaginable level. Elder Qinyi possessed only a single valuable Secret Treasure—and it had been left in the Dark Sacred Realm. The body he kept in Rainlan City naturally had no ability to resist and was killed instantly.

Thus an Elder died completely within the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm.

“Next one.” The King’s gaze was cold.

Hall Master Yuanxiang possessed the highest realm in Rainlan City. Even the King found it difficult to ambush him.

But ordinary Elders would be struck before they even noticed the King.

Once they failed to resist, all of their Avatars within the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm would perish.

……

“Sigh.”

Within an ordinary Cave Dwelling in Rainlan City’s outer district, Hall Master Yuanxiang was hiding there. He carried a Secret Treasure that completely isolated light, aura, and causality. Even if Luo Feng used the Simulated Eye of Life and Death to observe this Cave Dwelling, he would not be able to see Hall Master Yuanxiang.

Hall Master Yuanxiang knew he was weak, but he was wealthy. Long ago he had purchased a Secret Treasure capable of perfectly concealing himself. Even within the Dark Sacred Realm, only a handful could break through such concealment.

“Although the Elders can use Avatars, these Infiltrators are mental bodies. Their speed is too fast. The Elders are still gradually being reduced.”

“Let alone a full day—even holding out for half a day will be difficult.” Using the formation, Hall Master Yuanxiang observed the entire city and clearly understood the situation.

Although the Infiltrators were also suffering losses under the Star Swarm Grand Formation’s attacks, most of those losses were merely Core Clan Members. As for the King and the Leaders, eliminating them was far more difficult.

Yun Dan Tower.

Luo Feng was currently cultivating in seclusion. His Strongest Avatar stood outside the Quiet Chamber acting as a guardian.

“Brother Luo Feng.” Tower Master Changqing arrived quickly.

“Tower Master.” Luo Feng looked at him in confusion.

“Brother Luo Feng, I am one of the Elders of Rainlan City and also a target of the Infiltrators’ assassination. One of their elite squads is already approaching the Yun Dan Tower.” Tower Master Changqing took out a bracelet and handed it to Luo Feng. “This contains all the treasures of the Yun Dan Tower, worth approximately 2.7 billion Primordial Crystals. I ask Brother Luo Feng to safeguard them.”

“All the treasures of the Yun Dan Tower? That’s far too valuable. I have no confidence in protecting them. Tower Master Changqing, you should find another solution.” Luo Feng replied.

“At the very least you are not an Elder and are not a target for the Infiltrators. Your strength also surpasses mine. The chance of you surviving is certainly greater than mine.” Tower Master Changqing said, “Even if you fail to keep them safe, I will not blame Brother Luo Feng. If they are preserved… I will be deeply grateful. The Hundred Tribulations Heart Marrow I gave earlier can count as the storage fee.”

“The fee for the Hundred Tribulations Heart Marrow should still be paid afterward,” Luo Feng said as he accepted the bracelet. “These Yun Dan Tower treasures—I will temporarily keep them for you. I can only promise to do my utmost.”

“Thank you, Brother Luo Feng.” Tower Master Changqing said, then turned to look outside.

That elite Infiltrator squad had already arrived at the Yun Dan Tower.

Whoosh!

Tower Master Changqing instantly soared into the sky and fled toward the distance.

“Kill Tower Master Changqing.”

This elite squad consisted of eight Leader-Level Avatars, six Core Clan Member True Bodies, and fifty-nine Core Clan Member Avatars. In terms of real strength, a single Core Clan Member True Body could already threaten Tower Master Changqing. When combined into such a squad, their power became vastly more terrifying.

Roar—!

A massive illusory serpent suddenly roared. The roar shook the entire Yun Dan Tower complex and struck the fleeing Tower Master Changqing, affecting his movement.

The Bewitching Heart Worm Clan and the Soul-Devouring Serpent Clan were mental-type beings among the Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms. They could shift between illusion and reality. They were somewhat similar to the mental lifeforms Luo Feng had once fought within Infinite Space—but clearly far more terrifying.

“Hmph!”

Accompanied by a cold snort—

A surging crimson tide suddenly spread across the vast area surrounding the Yun Dan Tower, instantly engulfing the elite Infiltrator squad.

The terrifying Blood Sea eroded and annihilated both the True Bodies and Avatars of these Infiltrators.

In the blink of an eye, they were all dead. Not a single one remained.

“Hm?” Tower Master Changqing, who had been fleeing, stared at this scene in shock.

“How is that possible?” He could not believe it.

……

“This is—”

Inside a Cave Dwelling in the outer district, Hall Master Yuanxiang—concealing his aura—had been observing the situation and also saw what happened at the Yun Dan Tower.

An entire elite Infiltrator squad had been wiped out in a single exchange! They had no ability to resist.

“Late-Stage God Emperor Bewitching Heart Worms and Soul-Devouring Serpents can shift between reality and illusion. Their vitality is extremely tenacious. Fewer than twenty individuals in the entire city could destroy their bodies in a single move! And to eliminate an entire squad in one strike—only Hall Master Weiyang and Hall Master Gaitao could do that.” Hall Master Yuanxiang’s eyes lit up.

Hall Master Gaitao had fled before even engaging in battle.

Hall Master Weiyang had managed to resist for several breaths even when facing the King and twelve Leader True Bodies who attacked at all costs.

An elite Infiltrator squad—roughly speaking—possessed threat comparable to a single Leader-Level True Body.

A Hall Master-level strength could easily wipe out such a squad with a mere wave.

“Luo Feng, have you reached the strength of a Half-Primordial Level Seeker?” Hall Master Yuanxiang hurriedly transmitted his voice.

With the two Hall Masters having died and fled respectively, it seemed that a new Hall Master might now have appeared within the city.