Free Web NovelChapter 402: Chapter 360: Armies Surround Golden Dawn Peak
Ning Songzhi was silent for a moment. It was hard for him to imagine that the figure he had revered since his entry into the sect, his own Peak Master He Yangchen, had fallen so inexplicably, and even his remains were not found.
The hatred between the two sects deepened, leaving no room for mediation. Now, with the Peak Master who was also kind to him slain by the Yunshan Sect, Ning Songzhi could only suppress his friendship and past admiration for Lu Qian deep within his heart and fully dedicate himself to this battle.
He had initially been in Meihua Square contacting other Golden Core Masters, but the task progressed slowly. Once one entered the Golden Core stage, their status changed completely, and their entanglements became significant. They treasured their path and were unwilling to take risks lightly.
Despite exerting utmost effort and seeking several Masters, they all shook their heads upon hearing the request, expressing their unwillingness to wade into this muddy water.
Therefore, Master Fengfeng recalled Ning Songzhi due to the needs of the battle.
"Zhenren, the death of the Peak Master might be a trap set by Lu Qian."
Thus spoke Ning Songzhi.
"Previously, the Elders speculated that Lu Qian dispatched Guh Niqiang to both prepare for the crossing of the Golden Core Celestial Tribulation and to create the illusion of a power gap."
"Our internal spy might have been discovered long ago, and Lu Qian simply took advantage of the situation, deliberately leaking information, using Jiang Baitao as bait to set an ambush. He and the secretly returned Guh Niqiang joined forces, thus slaying the Peak Master."
Master Fengfeng snorted coldly: "Sounds like something that sly dog Lu Qian would do. But even if Guh Niqiang returned, she hasn’t advanced to Golden Core, ultimately she can’t see through He Yangchen’s Dao Pattern."
Ning Songzhi added, "Lu Qian is proficient in formation techniques. If he devised some method for a sneak attack, imprisoning the Peak Master within a formation..."
Once a formation is established, inside and outside are isolated, and even communications can’t get through. All methods relying on spiritual power connections would be interrupted. Although He Yangchen can become invisible, he can’t penetrate the formation to escape.
Master Fengfeng remained expressionless: "Not very likely, He Yangchen isn’t a fool. He should have escaped the moment he saw Lu Qian. This advance is to verify this matter. Even if we end up forcing Guh Niqiang out, that’s a good thing."
The unknown is the most troublesome, with information comes strategy.
"Our sect has a deep foundation and can afford to endure. If we attack now and then, let’s see how Guh Niqiang prepares to cross her tribulation!"
"Ning Songzhi, if Guh Niqiang appears, it will be up to you."
Ning Songzhi bowed to accept the order.
On the other side, with each command issued by Lu Qian, the entire Shuangye Alliance roared into action.
Teams of cultivators integrated into the combat sequence orderly and swiftly boarded the Divine Ships, following the drills conducted hundreds of times.
The four Divine Ships vibrated gently, and a rift opened in the Ten Extremes Ten Directions Grand Array.
Duu Yeming and Tong Youx had already flown into the ships, and Lu Qian, after softly instructing Jiang Qingfeng, who was in charge of overseeing affairs, was about to move when Qingfeng pulled him back.
Senior Sister bit her cherry lips, tears in her eyes, made a difficult decision, and whispered, "Junior Brother, please, don’t let Taotao go."
Ever since Jiang Baitao advanced to Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, she was naturally included in the combat sequence.
Previously, Jiang Qingfeng didn’t sense anything wrong. She herself was strict with Baitao, always upholding the principle that jade must be carved to become useful.
However, this time Jiang Baitao was gravely injured, teetering on the brink of death, and she tended to her all night, feeling deeply pained. Eldest Sister like a mother, Baitao was her sister, akin to a daughter she had raised from childhood. Now, with something having happened, she was somewhat frightened, unwilling to see Baitao injured again.
Lu Qian sighed, knowing that Senior Sister was just concerned to the point of distraction. Although gentle, Senior Sister was incredibly strong inside, aware of the proper way to educate Baitao and never acted spoilingly.
Patience with a few words and she would surely understand. But time was pressing, and seeing his beloved’s weakly pleading appearance, Lu Qian’s heart softened and he nodded in agreement.
Yet at that moment, Jiang Baitao had already rushed onto the Divine Ship like a whirlwind, with Li Da and Wang Ruoyu closely following behind.
"Sister, don’t worry yourself for nothing, I’m no longer a child."
"I am Junior Martial Uncle Jiang of the Yunshan Sect, the disciples are watching me!"
"Four Heroes of Yunshan, depart—eh? Where is Nephew Tianci?"
The round-faced Cui Linglong shouted from the side: "Five Heroes, it’s Five Heroes!"
An hour later, the four Void-Soaring and Distant-Guarding Divine Ships, lagging yet arriving first, settled in Golden Dawn Peak. At this moment, five Divine Ships had gathered at Golden Dawn Peak, along with three Foundation Establishment, and one hundred and sixty Qi Cultivation Elites.
Soon, within the span of a tea ceremony, Lu Qian had just finished arranging the defenses, when the alarm resonated throughout Golden Dawn Peak.
Looking out, six Foundation Establishment Escape Lights led nine Floating Battleships emerging from the mountains, advancing swiftly toward Golden Dawn Peak!
"Form array to meet the enemy!"
With a thunderous roar, spiritual energy surged, massive hexagonal pillars rose, layers of solid blue light barriers securely enveloping Golden Dawn Peak.
Six Harmonies Grand Array!
In recent years, as Shuangye Alliance’s territories increased, establishing a Mountain Protection Grand Array became an important matter.
Though Lu Qian excelled at the Five Elements Grand Array, through prolonged battle arrays, he realized that the Five Elements Grand Array excelled in defeating the strong with the weak, suitable for opposing a few elites or the enemy’s experts, but against large squads, its attack power would be greatly dispersed, often leading to a feeling of not quite reaching the mark.
No wonder veteran Yuchi Hui had previously set up the Six Harmonies Grand Array and the Seven Stars Beidou Formation, both suited for military contest.
Both arrays, included within the Profound Monarch’s Collection of Books, especially the Six Harmonies Grand Array, whose essentials Lu Qian was well-versed in. As for the Seven Stars Beidou Formation, requiring prolonged practice and coordination, suitable for large troops, but Shuangye Alliance still lacked from the perspective of troops or precise coordination and strict commands.
This was why, at Golden Dawn Peak, they deployed the multilevel, immensely sturdy Six Harmonies Grand Array, where inward attacks would be blocked, but outward retaliations would flow smoothly.
The nine Floating Battleships, closing in, arranged in a circular formation, surrounded the peak top, with six Foundation Establishments standing at six corners, led by a man who shouted loudly: "Let Lu Qian come out to speak!"
It was Wangg Hao, the former Fifth Elder of the Xuanguang Sect and current Peak Master of Yinghua Peak.
Looking closely, the five Foundation Establishments he led were all familiar figures from Yunshan Sect.
There was Patriarch Kong Lingde, Elder Kong Pengfei of the Kong Family, Yinn Hongbo and Zhuang Qing from the Spirit Talisman Sect, as well as a relatively unknown figure, Zhang Wei, a Foundation Establishment Honored Guest Elder hired by the Xuanguang Sect.
Lu Qian was stirred, confirming his suspicions, silently thinking, as expected.
This group was led by Wangg Hao, the battle power centered around the vassal sects. Although numerous, their cohesion and combat ability were not strong; their main role was to act as a distraction.
The true main force attacking was from Qingli Mountain direction, led by Xu Chengyun, the current Sect Leader of Xuanguang Sect, along with two newly advanced Foundation Establishments and elite cultivators from Xuanguang Sect.
Lu Qian chuckled softly, saying to Duu Yeming beside him, "No need to pay attention to them."
