Free Web NovelChapter 497: Chapter 93: Stalemate
"Troublesome."
Shen Fei indeed didn’t expect the Wind Queen to have such courage, clearly having the chance to become a True Immortal.
Yet she cut off that possibility just to hold them off.
Though merely crafted from the Ancient Secret Realm, her temperament indeed earned Shen Fei’s admiration.
Such a pity.
"Now we can only delay." Shennong couldn’t act this time either.
Though the Wind Queen used to be a Human Immortal, self-slashing now makes her a level below immortals.
"Let the Empress and Shen Yao wear them down a bit, let’s see how long he can hold on, even with the Wind Queen."
Shen Fei slightly frowned, contemplating if he should employ the Jasper Pool.
With the Jasper Pool’s [Time’s Moment], coupled with the [Great Sealing Skill], those setting up the Array could be momentarily halted.
And the Array only needs a momentary pause to crumble without attack.
Now, let’s first test if the strength of the Wind Queen is as high as it seems.
After all, he has only three and a half hidden cards at Youxiong.
True Martial, Jasper Pool, and the Ghost Swordsmen Corps previously deployed each count as one card, Fang Lingyun and the others haven’t been negotiated yet, and even if negotiations are successful, trust is uncertain.
Can only count as half a card.
Given the crowd’s mixed loyalties, even if Fang Lingyun and the others agree with Shen Fei about relinquishing interests here.
But what about those beneath them.
Not everyone will follow them, negotiations now only roll with the tides of power.
The snowball has begun rolling.
They are forced to negotiate, but if given the chance.
Switching sides again wouldn’t be surprising, so trust can’t be excessive.
Each unveiling of a hidden card must achieve results, constantly accumulating advantage, to ultimately secure victory at Zulu.
The duel between the two sides is not over, as the Array prevents the Jiuli Tribe from charging again.
But instead, they bombard with artillery, Immortal Techniques, and Witchcraft, a dazzling exchange of various powers between the sides.
The Empress mobilizes the vast Celestial River to hit the powerful Array gradually rising from the Wind Queen.
The forces within continually ’freeze,’ then are forcibly shattered by the Wind Queen’s Array energy.
But ultimately, these are laws; every shattering consumes substantial energy.
And this consumption originates from the cultivators.
As for Shen Yao, he also commands countless poisonous fogs to cover the sky like a boundless serpent, wanting to devour the fortress city.
Though obstructed by a thin membrane, it still gnaws away at the force on top like a maggot, persistently wearing down the strength.
One hard, one soft, one for impact, one for attrition.
Inside the fortress, the Wind Queen slightly frowned, sensing the rapid rate of the Array’s various aspects depleting.
The Array is merely the earth’s veins, gathering people with these veins to meet strong enemies, but power doesn’t come from thin air.
Besides the ’Kunqian Inversion Array’ she comprehended, which allows humans to command immortals, borrowing laws to mobilize Heaven and Earth power.
Those forming the Array are responsible for maintaining the source of power, sustaining the extended and fierce battle.
As for an Array not reaching the immortal level.
It relies more on the cultivators’ strength for maintenance, so even centered on her.
The Array she commands can resist some laws, but the power source cannot be changed.
"Difficult..."
The Wind Queen had never faced such a degree of confrontation before; most times, Li Mu led the troops.
She mostly assisted from the side and trained cultivators who could form Arrays.
Now directly facing Jiuli’s attacks.
Only now does she realize such terror, astonished that there are two who haven’t entered Human Immortal yet, already capable of wielding laws.
"Kunqian Inversion Array, Profound Lady Race! Assemble Nine Heavens Spirit Summoning Array!"
With the Wind Queen’s command, the fortress’s people began mobilizing, unlike the previous small scuffles.
With the Wind Queen presiding, the ’Kunqian Inversion Array’ she formed even directly covered the entire fortress.
Simultaneously.
Silhouettes from the Profound Lady Race also flew out, countless melodies swirling, crisp and pleasing, like celestial music descending to the mortal world.
This music should exist only in Heaven, seldom heard on Earth.
And cultivators touched by the music have their mana skyrocketing madly, thus further empowering the Array.
The Kunqian Inversion Array not only exists as an Array but condenses the surrounding Array forces into a mirrored surface, the real mirror hanging over the fortress.
Suddenly.
The Celestial River reverses, the poisonous fog retaliates.
Making the Empress and Shen Yao somewhat surprised, for their laws should be stronger than the Array’s laws.
Previously the Kunqian Inversion Array could only block the slash of the Chiyou Dharma Aspect summoned by the Jiuli Array.
But add any of their laws afterward, and it would be difficult to resist, yet now this single Array actually contends against both of them.
This Wind Queen is indeed formidable.
Unclear how long this standoff persisted, facing consecutive assaults, the Wind Queen’s complexion alternated between pale and flushed.
Especially as Jiuli gradually deployed another Array, summoning the Chiyou Dharma Aspect, with three entities attacking in concert.
Even the Wind Queen is under great pressure, gritting her teeth to endure; if broken.
The fortress would truly be lost.
’Boom-boom-boom--!’
’Bang-bang--!’
The rumblings, explosions, substantial energy ripples continuously appeared at the collision site of the four.
The Array teetered, resembling a ship amidst surging waves, still safe yet constantly at risk of being engulfed by massive waves.
The Wind Queen’s aura already began to decline, even her black hair at the roots started turning white.
Her face inexplicably bore two more wrinkles.
Until two figures reappeared above the sky.
The Celestial Dao Demon Venerable and the Drought Demoness, their auras seemingly unchanged, yet beside the Celestial Dao Demon Venerable stood Tiger Soul, its blade tip stained with traces of blood.
"Indeed formidable, let’s call a temporary truce."
The Celestial Dao Demon Venerable looked at the Drought Demoness, the slash he made on her chest now gradually healing.
This Drought Demoness’ Dao specializes in warfare.
If not for the similar effects of his ’Heaven and Earth Domain’.
Mutually offsetting, it might have been difficult to inflict such wounds.
But this time yielded great results; returning to Blue Star, even without True Immortal power, slicing this Drought Demoness under the blade will suffice.
"The ferocity of the Leader Jiu Li is truly well-deserved."
The Drought Demoness’s expression slightly changed; previously achieving True Immortal made her believe she could battle Chi You and Shennong.
After fighting Shennong, even more so.
She thought Chi You wasn’t much, awaiting Ying Dragon’s ocean emergence, the two joining forces with her father.
Enough to obliterate Jiuli completely.
But Chi You’s slash still brought some clarity.
The duo returned to their respective camps, and simultaneously the Empress and Shen Yao ceased their attacks, withdrawing within the defense line.
Many Human Immortals engaged in battle also retreated swiftly.
The Array dispersed, their initial skirmish concluded, marked by numerous corpses within Youxiong Fortress.
Finally, Cangjie and Duan Xiu reappeared, yet Cangjie’s expression was somber and delicate.
"Hope you reconsider well when you return, whether you’re fighting for the Human Race or Youxiong."
With that, Duan Xiu returned to the Jiuli Defense Line, Cangjie full of thoughts returned to Youxiong Fortress.
Immediately seeing the grayed temples of the Wind Queen, his expression changed, "Why are you here?"
