Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 366 Rivers Rise and Fall
These words were spoken politely, but no one present failed to hear the danger in them, and the cultivators of the Nangong family were both shocked and furious.

"Do it!"

Qin Feiyu didn't bother with any more words and immediately gave the order.

"Today, without the permission of the Qin family, no one can leave this place alive."

The wedding banquet was in a state of chaos for a while, and some cultivators with low cultivation levels were in a panic.

Qin Yue huddled tightly behind Qin Xijun, gazing at her relatives in the sky with nothing but fear in her eyes.

However, just moments before, the Qin family members appeared.

A gaunt old man gazed at the sky, a look of astonishment in his eyes.

He was Nangong Jin, the formation master who presided over the family's formation.

"Ancestor... he really predicted it correctly."

He muttered to himself.

When the patriarch summoned him last night, he felt that the patriarch was overly worried.

The Qin family is indeed powerful, but it seems that a catalyst is still needed for them to directly attack the Nangong family.

Especially with many guests present at the wedding banquet, it's unlikely that the Qin family would offend the powerful figures behind these guests.

However, at this moment, looking at the group of Qin clan cultivators in the sky and hearing Qin Feiyu's hypocritical words, they were amazed by the ancestor's foresight.

Our ancestors were wise.

Nangong Jin silently recited the mantra in his heart, without the slightest hesitation. His withered hands formed hand seals, and the magical power of the Pseudo-Core Realm within his body was poured into an array plate in front of him without reservation.

Start the battle!

"Om-!"

A distant and ancient sound resounded, causing the entire Nangong family to tremble violently.

Immediately afterwards, a surge of powerful water-based spiritual energy rose up, and countless beams of azure light shot into the sky from all directions!

The light intertwined and converged in mid-air, forming a surging, aquamarine curtain of light.

The illusory waves rolled and churned, emitting a deafening sound of the tides, layer upon layer, firmly enveloping the entire Nangong clan territory.

River and Mound Formation!
This formation is a low-grade third-tier water-based formation, and its most formidable feature is its defense.

Under the control of Nangong Jin, a pseudo-Core Formation cultivator, theoretically, as long as there are no Core Formation cultivators among the invading enemies, the abundant water vapor along the Lingyang River can delay them for an extremely long time.

This was naturally left behind by the ancestor Nangong, passed down for a thousand years. Records show that it has never been used more than a few times.

But every time it was used, it deterred the opponent.

This was the first time it had been used in his generation.

At that moment, dozens of Foundation Establishment and Pseudo-Core Formation cultivators from the Qin Clan attacked together, unleashing a variety of magical artifacts and spiritual weapons that shone with different colors under the night sky.

bang bang bang...

Countless raindrops of attacks were swallowed up by the waves of the River and Mound Formation.

Various kinds of roars could be heard incessantly.

But the azure waves remained as steady as Mount Tai, hardly shaken at all.

The Jianghe Daling Formation is ultimately a third-order formation with a deep foundation and is connected to the Lingyang River, so the spiritual energy of the water system is inexhaustible.

No matter how fiercely the Qin clan's cultivators bombarded the area, they steadfastly protected the Nangong clan's territory, diverting most of their attacks into the surging river and creating huge waves.

Qin Feiyu's expression darkened slightly, clearly not expecting the Nangong family to use such a trump card formation without prior preparation.

Lu Ziye was just an unknown cultivator from the Dongyuan Sect, and Nangong Ling's status was even more humble.

What kind of pomp and circumstance, what reason, would warrant such a grand mobilization?!

However, he hadn't originally thought that he and his group would be able to succeed in one strike.

But then he patted his Qiankun bag, and a dark blue treasure gourd flew out from it.

The gourd was raised high in a sacrificial ceremony as the person chanted incantations and rapidly formed complex hand seals.

A chilling, bone-piercing surge of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from around the gourd!

"Sacrificial vessels".

As soon as Qin Feiyu finished speaking, all the late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and Pseudo Core Formation stage cultivators of the Qin clan attacked simultaneously.

A torrent of brilliant light rushed into the gourd.

The gourd's originally dull patterns gradually began to shine with a dark luster.

Its aura and power also rose steadily.

Looking at the gourd, Zhang Cheng frowned slightly.

The many guests in the clan's territory were relieved to see the astonishing defensive power of the Nangong family's formation.

After the initial panic subsided, many people shouted, "Qin Feiyu! Whatever conflicts of interest or grudges your Qin family may have with Nangong is none of our business."

"Even if you choose this day to make your move, why drag us into it?! Aren't you afraid that the Qin family will incur public wrath and be attacked by the masses in the future?!"

"To attack them en masse?"

Standing atop the clouds, Qin Feiyu faced the questioning and shouting of the guests below. Instead of restraining himself, he burst into a burst of wild laughter, a laugh filled with ease and sarcasm.

"Hahahaha! A bunch of frogs in a well! Do you think that after today, the State of Chu will still be the State of Chu as before? Or that the border regions will still be the border regions as before?"

"It's going to change."

"What six major sects, what immortal cultivation families? When the great wave comes, they will all be reduced to ashes."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the Nangong clan's territory before finally settling on Nangong Ming and the others.

"It's hard to say whether those Tom, Dick, and Harry, and the forces behind them, will be able to live well in this world in the future!"

Even if they manage to survive...

A smug smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "They'll still have to bow down and submit to my Qin family!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

"Master."

Xiao Ju showed no fear on her face, she simply called out softly.

"Just wait and see what happens."

But then Song Yan gestured slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

Lu Ziye shielded Nangong Ling behind him, his eyes burning with anger.

Zhang Cheng sat behind the two men, gazing at the horizon.

Li Yi and Nangong Wang stood in front of Nangong Shu.

Nangong Ming shouted, "I think you've gone mad!"

"Disciples of the Nangong family, heed my command! Assist the array master in defending the array!"

The cultivators of the Nangong family left their positions and dispersed to the surrounding areas of the central courtyard, each assisting their clansmen at the center of the formation.

Countless streams of spiritual energy, some coarse and some fine, rose from all parts of the family and flowed into the River and Mound Formation.

The massive tidal water curtain looked even more stable.

However, at that very moment, the spiritual light emanating from the gourd suddenly contracted sharply.

The next instant, the gourd trembled violently, and a dark blue rainbow shot out with terrifying power.

Silent and swift as lightning, it crashed against the curtain of waves.

Boom!

The power of this strike was almost equal to the sum of all the previous attacks.

Many of the disciples guarding the formation only felt a slight tremor in their minds, but did not feel particularly uncomfortable.

The Jianghe Daling Formation, as expected of a third-tier formation, remained as immovable as a mountain.

However, Qin Feiyu did not seem surprised and continued to gather spiritual energy to enter the gourd.

Soon, a second beam of the same light struck the water curtain once more.

Its momentum wasn't exaggerated, but it was as powerful as thunder.

This time, countless disciples guarding the formation felt dizzy and their spiritual energy became somewhat unstable.

Nangong Jin was slightly startled and quickly diverted more of his spiritual power to help protect the weak points of the formation.

Several elders from the Nangong family who were at the Pseudo-Core Realm, including the family head Nangong Ming, also stepped forward and unleashed their spiritual power to protect the formation.

Qin Feiyu chuckled coldly. This Black Sun Gourd was an extremely special treasure. Even if he told people about it now, many would never have heard of it.

This is a very special top-grade spiritual artifact bestowed by Qin Yang!

It can be said that it was created specifically for breaking formations.

According to Qin Yang, this top-grade spiritual artifact was originally designed to be a magic weapon, but unfortunately, it was not lucky enough and was ultimately designed as a spiritual artifact.

However, although it ultimately did not become a magic weapon, the characteristics originally conceived as a magic weapon were retained.

This top-grade spiritual artifact can only be activated nine times in a short period of time, and it requires the combined efforts of many people to activate it.

After nine uses, it needs to recover slowly and cannot be used again for more than ten years.

It may sound like it has many limitations and is even somewhat useless, but in reality, as a top-grade spiritual artifact, its power is no less than that of a real magic weapon in this special situation.

These nine attacks were like surging waves, one after another, each wave higher than the last.

By the sixth attack, it was equivalent to a casual strike from a Golden Core cultivator.

The ninth attack was even more terrifying, and even ordinary third-tier protective formations could not withstand it.

Qin Feiyu believed that even if this formation had special features, it would be difficult to withstand the simultaneous release of nine dark lights.

This treasure gourd only needs to shake the foundation of this river formation; the remaining dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators, each with their own methods, are not worried about failing to break the formation.

The fifth beam of dark light crashed in, causing the water curtain of the River and Lake Formation to ripple violently, like the surface of a river ravaged by a gale, with blue light flashing and flickering.

The sixth course...

The seventh one...

Even Qin Feiyu was somewhat surprised, and couldn't help but curse inwardly.

The group took several pills to restore their spiritual energy.

This alone shows the extraordinary nature of this gourd. Even just activating this treasure is difficult for many Foundation Establishment and Pseudo Core Formation cultivators who possess spiritual energy artifacts.

Soon, the eighth beam of dark light crashed into the great formation.

"boom--!"

Countless water-like fragments of spiritual energy burst forth from the point of impact, and the great formation began to flicker.

The Nangong cultivators below, who were in charge of the formation, were pale-faced, and some even had blood coming from the corners of their mouths, clearly enduring a tremendous impact.

Crackling sound...

Faintly, the crisp sound of shattering glass could be heard coming from within the formation.

The expressions of the many cultivators in the Nangong clan territory changed drastically.

Nangong Jin frowned deeply, let out a muffled groan, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Many of the cultivators surrounding the protective formation, whose bodies were already teetering on the brink of collapse, bled from their mouths and noses after this collision and could no longer continue.

Although the River and Mound Formation is a third-tier low-grade formation, apart from Nangong Jin, there are not many Foundation Establishment cultivators wielding it this time.

Moreover, the light emanating from the gourd seemed endless.

Most importantly, these attacks are getting stronger and stronger, reaching the level of a Golden Core cultivator!

No wonder the Qin family has expanded so terrifyingly in recent years. Such methods are far beyond the ability of small families and sects with little foundation to resist.

If another attack like this were to occur, I fear...

The moment the thought crossed their minds, everyone gasped.

But then, dark light gathered again on the gourd, and this radiance was much stronger than the previous eight rays!

"It's over!"

Everyone's hearts sank to rock bottom.

None of the cultivators present were fools. After all, the Qin family had come prepared. The two sides were quite evenly matched this time, and it seemed that the Nangong family's protective formation was about to be broken.

The guests' seats were in complete chaos. The lower-level cultivators were pale, while those with slightly higher cultivation levels were all summoning their protective magic weapons.

Many people kept their distance from the cultivators of the Nangong family, fearing that when the formation was broken, the Qin family would go on a killing spree and affect them. They also wanted to wait for an opportunity to escape.

Qin Xijun summoned several defensive magical artifacts, protecting the newlyweds, Xiaoyue, and her father-in-law Zhang Cheng.

"Grandpa, don't be afraid, we're here to protect you!"

Nangong Ling was naturally a little flustered, as she had never encountered such a situation before.

Even if it means dying here with Lu Lang today, I will protect my grandfather's safety.

Looking at his adopted granddaughter's retreating figure, Zhang Cheng was slightly taken aback, and then a hint of heartache welled up in his eyes.

Heaven is blind.

This was true hundreds of years ago, and it will be true hundreds of years from now...

In the midst of the chaos, no one noticed that Zhang Cheng, this ordinary old man, remained calm and composed in the face of danger.

He sat there the whole time. After the Nangong family's senior members left, in such a chaotic environment, everyone was only concerned with their own safety, and no one cared about an ordinary old man.

From the moment Qin arrived, his gaze had been fixed beyond the array of water curtains, fixed on the depths of the rolling dark clouds in the sky.

However, when the last ray of dark light on the gourd solidified, Zhang Cheng finally turned his gaze away from the clouds.

He sighed softly.

We can't wait any longer. If we don't take action soon, the Nangong clan will suffer many casualties.

"Grandpa, please don't panic."

Nangong Ling muttered to herself, unsure whether she was comforting Zhang Cheng or herself: "If the great formation is broken in a while, listen to Granny Qin, and don't be reluctant to leave."

Just as she was concentrating, she suddenly felt a warm hand gently pressing on her shoulder.

"Don't be afraid, kid."

Zhang Cheng's voice was deep and gentle, clearly reaching the ears of Nangong Ling and the others.

For Nangong Ling, the voice was very familiar; it was the voice of her grandfather that she had heard since she was a child.

But the voice was completely unfamiliar, carrying a faint air of authority.

Qin Xijun looked at her father-in-law with some doubt, about to ask him a question.

At that very moment, the ninth streak of dark light shrieked and was about to sweep across the sky.

At this moment, Zhang Cheng made a move.

With a single step, he instantly traversed a distance of dozens of feet and appeared outside the formation.

Upon seeing that figure, Nangong Ling's eyes were filled with astonishment.

At this moment, her mind was completely blank.

Grandpa... wasn't he a servant in the early stage of Qi Refining?
Why can it fly?
Although I had a vague feeling that something was wrong, my concern for my grandfather's safety was extremely urgent.

"Grandpa! What are you doing? Come back quickly!"

Zhang Cheng lowered his gaze slightly and exchanged a glance with Song Yan in the crowd.

The latter understands it perfectly.

"Xiao Ju, go with Grandma and take good care of yourself."

Xiao Ju nodded upon hearing this: "Yes."

Song Yan took a few steps back and disappeared into the crowd.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the old man who had suddenly appeared.

He stood in mid-air directly in front of the dark light, facing the surging radiance; the old man's body appeared truly withered.

With a calm expression, he slowly raised his right hand and casually pointed forward with one finger.

A spark of inspiration quietly emerges at the fingertips.

That glimmer of light was equally insignificant, like a firefly compared to the bright moon under the illumination of the dark light.

But the next moment.

The menacing, dark spiritual energy suddenly solidified, and then slowly collapsed and disintegrated.

Finally, less than a foot in front of Zhang Cheng's fingertips, it completely collapsed, turning into specks of spiritual energy that dissipated.

"..."

That terrifying dark light, comparable to the power of a Golden Core cultivator, was extinguished by the old man with a single finger.
The once chaotic Nangong clan territory was now eerily quiet.

(End of this chapter)