Chapter 136: The Array Shattered

"Oh? I’d like to see exactly how this 'endless' grudge plays out." A cold glint flashed in Gu Shi’s eyes. The thing he hated most in his life was being threatened.

Now that he was being threatened by True Monarch Jin Ming, he certainly wasn’t about to let the matter rest.

"Even if none of us are a match for you, senior, once our sect’s elders break free, we will pursue you to the ends of the earth without hesitation." True Monarch Jin Ming continued to attempt intimidation. Since he couldn’t win in a fight, was he just supposed to stand here and wait for death?

Gu Shi was truly enraged now. He had never been threatened like this before, and he raised his hand to strike down at True Monarch Jin Ming.

This terrified True Monarch Jin Ming. He had just witnessed Gu Shi’s power; there was no way he could survive a blow like that. It was highly likely that a single palm strike would shatter him completely.

"Pfft..." He tried to dodge, but it was too late. Gu Shi’s hand had already descended upon him. True Monarch Jin Ming vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. It was clear that the strike had caused him severe damage.

"Lin Yanghao, hurry and warn him! The spirit stones in his formation's eye are almost depleted. If he doesn't leave now, those old monsters will break out," Ling'er urged.

Lin Yanghao did not dare to delay for even a second. He immediately shouted at Gu Shi, "We must leave now! The spirit stones in your formation's eye are about to run out!"

Lin Yanghao’s shout gradually quelled the anger in Gu Shi’s heart. He finally remembered that the time limit for his array was nearly up; if he didn't leave, those old freaks would escape.

Unsure whether True Monarch Jin Ming was dead or alive, Gu Shi cast a reluctant glance at the Pill Sect, gritted his teeth, and fled rapidly with Lin Yanghao.

As it turned out, Gu Shi’s array relied on top-tier spirit stones to function. Even Gu Shi didn't possess many, so using one had been a painful sacrifice. Given that the formation required top-tier spirit stones and could only be maintained for such a short duration, one could imagine how powerful it truly was. Gu Shi was certain that this array transcended the level of any high-grade formation, though he had no idea what its specific classification was. He could find no material more advanced than top-tier spirit stones to power it—the only things superior would be the Immortal Jades of the Immortal Realm. But acquiring even a single top-tier spirit stone was difficult enough, let alone Immortal Jade.

Seeing Lin Yanghao and Gu Shi finally depart, the disciples of the Pill Sect felt the heavy weight lift from their hearts.

True Monarch Jin Ming was not as fortunate; he lay covered in blood, his survival uncertain.

...

"This is bad. Chang Shan is dead," True Monarch Yu Ding said, his face etched with grief.

"What? How is that possible? Who exactly are these people?"

"With our divine sense assisting him, True Monarch Chang Shan was a match for even those at the peak of the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Could the intruder be at the Mahayana stage?"

"What are we to do? Does this mean our Pill Sect is doomed?"

Inside Gu Shi’s grand array, dozens of ancient monsters were in a heated discussion.

"We must break this formation. We cannot allow the sect’s ten-thousand-year foundation to be destroyed. If we do, how could we ever face our predecessors?" declared True Monarch Yu Ding.

"Form the array! The Big Dipper Tiangang Formation!" As True Monarch Yu Ding’s voice fell, the others each summoned their natal magical treasures and arranged themselves in a circle.

"Condense!" A red light appeared in the center of the circle, flashing outward to strike against the surrounding barrier.

"Break!" True Monarch Yu Ding shouted in a deep voice, releasing a heaven-shaking roar. Watching the scene before them, they knew they had succeeded; the array had been broken.

If they had tried this at the very beginning, they would never have succeeded. But things were different now—the spirit stones in the eye of the formation were nearly exhausted, and the array’s power had been drastically reduced.

"I hope we aren't too late," True Monarch Yu Ding prayed, hoping no further disaster had befallen the Pill Sect.

Immediately, True Monarch Yu Ding and the others rushed toward the main hall of the Pill Sect.

"Qing Ping, go and check on Jin Ming," True Monarch Yu Ding thought with a secret sigh of relief. Fortunately, Gu Shi had not wiped them out completely, or the sect's heritage would have been annihilated. The consequences would have been unimaginable. Yet, his mood did not improve; his expression remained grim.

"Grand Elder, True Monarch Jin Ming's life is not in danger, but he has suffered severe injuries. His ribs are almost entirely shattered," reported the one called Qing Ping after an examination.

"That is good, that is good." True Monarch Yu Ding breathed a heavy sigh of relief. True Monarch Jin Ming was, in fact, the son of his old friend, Nan Tian.

Years ago, while exploring a secret realm, Yu Ding and Nan Tian had accidentally encountered a mid-grade, high-tier spirit beast. At the time, Yu Ding was only at the Fusion stage, so even with their combined strength, they were no match for the creature. To ensure Yu Ding’s escape, Nan Tian had died at the hands of the beast. Having no other way to repay the debt, Yu Ding had raised Jin Ming as his own.

With his Heavenly Spirit Root talent, Jin Ming’s cultivation progressed rapidly. Later, as Yu Ding ascended to the position of Grand Elder, Jin Ming naturally rose with him, and under Yu Ding’s cultivation, he smoothly took the position of Sect Master. Because of this, he had been so anxious; in his heart, he viewed Jin Ming as his own son.

"Give me a full account of what transpired," Yu Ding commanded an elder.

"Greetings, Grand Elder. It happened like this..." The elder did not dare to hide anything in front of the Grand Elder and recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

"Very well, I understand. You may go." Yu Ding fell into deep thought. So, all of this stemmed from that Drought Demon. But what surprised him most was not the conflict itself, but that such a formation had been created by a Drought Demon—how heaven-defying was that? Nowadays, even zombies could set up arrays; it was truly absurd.

It seemed he would have to find an opportunity to meet this creature himself.

"Someone come!"

"Grand Elder, do you have any instructions?" Hearing the summons, the elders did not dare to delay and arrived in an instant.

"Issue a bounty across the entire cultivation world for these two. The reward is five hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

He had already decided: once the sect was restored, he would deal with Gu Shi. For now, he needed to keep a close eye on their movements. Otherwise, if they vanished, he wouldn't even have anyone to fight.