Free Web NovelChapter 159: Chapter 159: Under Attack
Staring at the Spiritual Energy Shield before him, Jiang Xu slapped his forehead.
"I almost forgot about it!"
Jiang Xu slapped his Spirit Beast Bag, pulling out the groggy Spirit-Devouring Insect.
"Wakey wakey, dinner’s ready!" After speaking, Jiang Xu flicked it with his forefinger.
The Mother Insect, flicked awake, was still dizzy. It seemed to hear something about... food?
The Spirit-Devouring Insect Mother perked up at once.
It was only a Tier One Spirit Insect, so of course, it couldn’t see what was in front of it.
Jiang Xu took direct control of it with his Insect Control Technique, commanding a massive swarm of Sub-Insects to cover the Spiritual Energy Shields and begin feeding.
This was the same method the Spirit-Devouring Insect Mother had used to escape the Profound Origin Sect’s Grand Array after its battle with Zong Ziqi.
The Spirit-Devouring Insect Mother could feel its Sub-Insects returning one after another, their bellies swollen and full. It was overjoyed.
’If they keep eating at this rate,’ it thought, ’I might just break through and return to Tier Two soon!’
’Then I can give this vile, despicable guy—who loves to starve me—a lesson he’ll never forget!’
While the Mother Insect was fantasizing about how it would torture Jiang Xu, the Spiritual Energy Shield around the Netherworld Stone Marrow had already faded to a perilously weak state.
Jiang Xu quickly reined in all the Sub-Insects, stopping them from feeding any further.
The Mother Insect was not pleased. ’I’m so close to advancing, why is he stopping them?’
Just as it was about to surge forward and protest, Jiang Xu recalled it into the Spirit Pet Bag.
The Mother Insect didn’t understand, but Jiang Xu knew exactly what he was doing.
If the Spiritual Energy Shield collapsed completely, the Array would activate instantly. When that happened, Jiang Xu had no idea what the consequences would be.
This weakened state was perfect.
Jiang Xu formed a sword-finger sign, concentrating his Magical Power into a sharp point at his fingertip. He then extended it toward the Spiritual Energy Shield.
Before his finger could make contact, a ring of Sub-Insects surged forward, eating a small hole in the Spiritual Energy Shield just large enough for Jiang Xu to slide his hand through.
Recalling the contents of the Array Book, Jiang Xu began to alter the Array Patterns on the Netherworld Stone Marrow.
Destruction is always simpler than creation.
It was like someone had painstakingly built a sandcastle, and Jiang Xu’s job was to kick it over and reduce it back to a pile of sand.
The only challenge was figuring out how to make that one kick as destructive as possible.
’Hmm, does this Array Pattern amplify the Array’s effect, or does it transfer Magical Power? Which node do I need to destroy to disable it? Ah, screw it. I’ll just pick a spot at random!’
However, for an Outer Sect Disciple, even a simple kick was exceedingly difficult.
’To modify the Array Patterns, you have to know where to do it. If I change the wrong spot and the effect is minimal, I’ll be in trouble.’
He worked tirelessly for nearly a full day, from sunrise to nightfall, but had only managed to modify seven or eight pieces of Netherworld Stone Marrow. It was clear there were many more ahead he hadn’t even touched.
’I have no idea what the final effect of these tampered Arrays will be.’
Jiang Xu wracked his brain, trying to imagine the outcome of the Arrays he had so haphazardly altered, but he couldn’t come up with a single clue.
...
Night gradually devoured the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace. The violet tint of the sky deepened, becoming a dark purple hue as if ink had been blended with twilight mist.
The once-bright river of stars seemed dim and listless in the oppressive atmosphere. Only a few tenacious stars managed to pierce the heavy clouds, scattering faint motes of light. This weak glow fell upon the Marketplace’s scattered buildings, making the ornate pavilions with their carved beams and upturned eaves appear all the more desolate and lonely.
Neither the lanterns nor the Spiritual Light from the Arrays could dispel the pervading chill. They flickered with all their might, casting mottled shadows across the streets and alleys, but it felt like the final, desperate struggle before a storm, only adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Su Duo stood grim-faced before the Marketplace. He felt a sudden palpitation, a premonition that seemed to well up from nowhere.
A Golden Core Cultivator’s Spiritual Realm is on the cusp of Nascent Soul Formation, granting them an extraordinary intuition for matters concerning their own fate.
The more vital the matter is to their interests, the stronger this premonition becomes.
This is a unique phenomenon that occurs when a Cultivator’s spiritual world resonates with the will of Heaven and Earth.
And now, Su Duo felt that very stirring. He knew his assault on the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace would not go as smoothly as he had imagined.
Something beyond his calculations was likely to occur.
But the arrow was already nocked; it had to be loosed.
He had prepared for too long and committed too much, even deploying his personal Black Demon Guard. To retreat now over a mere premonition was out of the question.
"Black Demon Guard, hear my command!"
Su Duo’s deep, imperious voice echoed in the night wind. Each word was sharp and resonant, like a thunderclap shattering the silence, instantly creating an oppressive, murderous aura.
"As you command!"
A troop of Black Demon Guards in pitch-black Battle Armor appeared behind Su Duo in an instant. Without hesitation, they dropped to one knee, cupped their fists in salute, their eyes blazing with fanaticism!
"You will follow me and spread the glory of the Demon Dao!"
"Aye!"
The Black Demon Guards answered in perfect unison, their voices a thunderous roar that shook the very ground.
...
’Uh, what’s this...?’
Jiang Xu was still diligently modifying the Array Patterns.
He had just finished altering another two or three pieces.
The more Jiang Xu modified, the more adept he became, and his speed increased.
’At this rate,’ he thought, ’I should be able to finish the rest in another day or two.’
But at that very moment, Jiang Xu saw the Spiritual Energy Shields on the materials flare to life, no longer weak and fragile.
If Jiang Xu hadn’t reacted in a flash, his arm might have been severed by the reforming Spiritual Energy Shield!
The close call sent a jolt of fear through Jiang Xu!
But before he could even recover from the shock, he saw the Netherworld Stone Marrow in front of him erupt in a blinding radiance. It, along with all the other pieces, shot into the air and took up positions in the sky.
’The positions of the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations?’
Jiang Xu’s understanding of Arrays was superficial at best. As an Outer Sect Disciple who hadn’t even reached Entry-Level, let alone become a Tier One Array Master, he clearly couldn’t grasp the intricacies of the Array’s transformation.
But that hardly mattered.
All Jiang Xu needed to know was that the enemy’s Array had activated, meaning their attack on the Marketplace was imminent. That was enough.
"ENEMY ATTACK—!!!"
The cry echoed from the sky, spreading throughout the entire Marketplace.
Within the Marketplace, a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators shot into the air as if they had been waiting for this very moment. They moved just moments after the enemy’s Counter-Array activated.
The leader, a cultivator with Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivation, held an ancient-looking Compass in his hand.
He said nothing, knowing that words were useless now.
He simply pressed his palm tightly against the Compass and frantically poured his Magical Power into it.
In an instant, a magnificent Grand Array flared to life, enveloping the entire Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace with a deafening roar!
