Chapter 44: The Garrison Formation

w."As soon as they saw Yuan Hao, he froze in place. Zhu Yu Chun was overjoyed and immediately brandished his two spirit blades, rushing forward. However, just as the two top-grade spirit blades were...These two scoundrels were actually relentlessly pursuing him. Lu Xia Tian was furious and ran for dozens of miles through the mountains, avoiding other adventuring parties along the way. He almost ran into a second-order snake demon beast head-on, which gave him a fright. If he had encountered it, with monsters ahead and pursuers behind, he would have truly been in a desperate situation with no escape.

“That damned Fan Qing, next time I see him, I’ll make him pay.” As he ran away, Lu Xiaoteng hated Fan Qing to the bone. If it weren't for this guy's last-minute desertion, they might have had a fighting chance. But Fan Qing had also given Lu Xiaoteng another lesson. After experiencing the old man in black robes taking possession of his body, he understood the cruelty of the cultivation world and became more wary of other cultivators. He thought that by secretly guarding against He Tuozi, he could defuse the crisis of their team. With their team's strength, they were capable of holding their own against other teams.

But Lu Xia Tian hadn't expected that Fan Qing, who had been quite capable when they set out, would run away at the last moment. Perhaps Fan Qing's strength was severely damaged, and he felt he had no chance of winning, or perhaps Fan Qing had already obtained what his sect needed for the mission and didn't need to fight to the death like them anymore.

"Human hearts change, that's why Fan Qing left. In the cultivation world, amidst the treacherous human emotions and intricate webs of self-interest, the only constant and reliable thing is one's own strength," Lu Xia Tian mused. After passing this hurdle, he would definitely have to be more careful in the future.

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However, the hurdle before him was not so easily overcome. All together, he had only been cultivating for three or four years, and the time spent learning spells was even shorter. The large-headed monster and the richly dressed man chasing him behind were both cultivators who had practiced for nearly twenty years, ruthless and with at least a few lives on their hands as wandering cultivators. Their proficiency in spells was something that Lu Xia Tian, a newcomer to the cultivation world, simply couldn't compare to.

Even though both were using the same techniques, "Wind Control" and "Light Body," the distance between them was still closing rapidly. If not for a few escape talismans he had on him, he would have been caught by the two behind him long ago. Seeing the distance getting closer, Lu Xia Tian stuck another "Divine Movement Talisman" to his body. His speed suddenly increased significantly.

“You little brat, you can't escape! Hand over the spirit beast in your storage bag, and Grandpa Zou will spare your life!”

Zou Xin chased after from behind, exhausted and frustrated. His cultivation was slightly inferior to Da'e's, lacking the latter's profound magical power. He could only continuously take out spirit stones from his storage bag to replenish his energy, lest the upcoming battle be hampered by excessive depletion of Qi. He hadn't gained any advantage, and had even spent several spirit stones in the process. Naturally, Zou Xin was deeply distressed.

The big-bodied monster sneered, “Daoist Zou, there’s no need to be impatient. This man is cunning and resourceful, carrying so many escape talismans on his person. It shows he's truly wealthy. As long as we capture him, we won't have to worry about recouping our losses from the spirit stones.”

"That's true, once the talisman for divine movement and whirlwind on him are used up, where else can he run I spent several spirit stones. Once I catch this fellow, I will have to skin him alive to relieve the hatred in my heart." Zou Xin gritted his teeth and said.

Ahead, the sound of fighting broke out. Lu Xia Tian was now cornered with nowhere to run. To make matters worse, the sound of fighting came from ahead as well. As he got closer, he saw Wang Ping wielding a Xuan Tie staff engaged in a fierce battle with another cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining who wielded a spirit blade. The two fought fiercely, neither gaining an advantage.

"Lu Dao friend, help me!"

Wang Pingxiu's cultivation level was lower than the opponent's. After a fierce battle with the silver-winged centipede, he had not yet recovered his energy. At this time, he was being suppressed by the opponent. Suddenly, seeing Lu Xiaitian rushing over, he hurriedly cried out in surprise, but seeing the big man chasing after Lu Xiaitian, and the brocade-clad general Zou Xin, Wang Ping immediately closed his mouth, feeling bitter in his heart. He had originally thought that a savior had arrived, but unexpectedly, the savior turned into a disaster star in an instant.

At this time, he was barely able to take care of himself, so how could he worry about Wang Ping Too lazy to bother with this other guy who was also running away, Lu Xia Tian buried his head and continued to flee.

Ah! A scream erupted. Just now, Wang Ping saw Lu Xiaoteng and the large-headed monster, momentarily distracted, causing him to be slashed across his chest. Blood gushed out, soaking his clothes crimson, flesh peeling back on both sides, revealing the ghastly white bone beneath.

“Prepare to die!” The wielder of the sword, a burly man, advanced with glee. Wang Ping raised his black iron staff and valiantly parried several attacks, but after sustaining severe injuries, he was unable to hold on any longer. His black iron staff was cleaved in two by a single blow.

The man with the knife grinned menacingly and took advantage of the opportunity to slash Wang Ping's head off with a single blow. The bloody skull rolled across the ground for several times.

“Well done, quickly help me catch this kid.” Zou Xin was overjoyed. He had been chasing after him impatiently for a long time. Now that he had an extra pair of hands, even if some benefits were shared, it would be more acceptable to him than this boring pursuit.

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"Alright!" The man with the sword picked up Wang Ping's storage bag and charged at Lu Xia Tian from the left front.

Lu Xia Tian let out a cold snort, throwing out several Luo Yan fruits with his hand. Several puffs of black smoke rose up, and taking advantage of the fact that everyone's vision was obscured, he stuck a "Tu Dun Fu" on his body and burrowed underground.

"Where did it go" Zou Xin said with a grim expression.

"Just a shuriken, he can't get far. Search the surrounding area." The big-headed monster said calmly.

The three immediately dispersed to search, and soon the big monster found Lu Xia Tian's trail.

Lu Xia Tian glanced back. The appearance of the man with the sword changed his mind about just running away. He wasn't familiar with the mountain paths around him, and he might encounter similar situations later. While the Earth Escape Talisman could help him escape for now, talismans wouldn't last forever. He needed to find a suitable location to deal with this damned formidable foe, as well as the man in fine clothes. Of course, the prerequisite was getting rid of the weakest swordsman first. Facing two enemies was already difficult, facing three would be a dead end. He didn't want to die.

Having replaced the depleted spirit stone in his hand, Lu Xia Tian sped off once more. He used several Earth Escape Talismans and Wood Escape Talismans in succession, shaking off the swordsman whose cultivation was slightly inferior to his. Only the other two managed to keep up.

After running nearly twenty miles, Lu Xia Tian darted into a small grove. Birds scattered from the trees behind him. Needless to say, the big-eared monster was close on his heels.

A flash of ferocity crossed Lu Xiaotian's eyes. These two wouldn't let go, they were forcing him to fight back with his life.

Lu Xia Tian's eyes swept across the area, stopping on a relatively flat patch of grass. He took out several array flags from his storage pouch and planted them around the perimeter.

Feeling the other's breath approaching, Lu Xia Tian pasted another "Mù Tūn Fú" onto his body and attached it to a tree trunk about two people thick nearby.

Whether it's the "Earth Escape Talisman" or the "Wood Escape Talisman," or the "Water Escape Talisman," if they are just still, the consumed spiritual energy is relatively less, and the time they can maintain is also longer. Once they move, they can't maintain it for long. Moreover, these primary talismans cannot completely conceal a person's aura. Therefore, after Da E Gui Ren and Zou Xin entered the grove, they realized something was amiss.

"What's going on Didn't that guy run away" Zou Xinyi searched around with his eyes, whispering.

"Hmm, I can sense him nearby. Maybe his talismans are running out. Knowing he'll be caught eventually, he probably wants to hide in this forest. He most likely used a talisman. However, the spiritual energy of a talisman can't last long. I'm curious to see what tricks he has up his sleeve." The imposing figure, Da Meng, seemed confident. He let out a sigh and said, "When we find him, it will be his death knell."

"Good, I've been chasing him for so long, let's see how he dies." Zou Xin smiled wickedly. The two of them, one after the other, carefully searched for Lu Xiaottian's possible hiding place. Soon, based on the faint aura revealed by the talisman, they arrived at a flat meadow not far from Lu Xiaottian.

Lu Xiaitian secretly sized up the two people approaching him, but it was the man in brocade who walked in front, and the strange man with a big forehead followed behind. It deviated from his plan a bit. Originally, Lu Xiaitian planned to use the Shu Yuan formation to trap the powerful man with a big forehead. However, the spiritual power of the "Mùtùn Fú" couldn't last long, so he couldn't worry about it anymore. Seeing the man in brocade enter the range of several battle flags.

Lu Xia Tian murmured softly, "Shù Yuán Jìn Fǎ, qǐ!"

With a hum! Several flags that had been hidden underground suddenly burst forth. The small flags fluttered without wind, rustling in the air. The four flags stood in formation, each facing a different direction. At the tips of their poles glowed red, yellow, blue, and green.

“Bad! There’s an ambush!” The big-foreheaded monster and Zou Xin shouted at the same time. Their bodies shot backward. The big-foreheaded monster flew several zhang away without encountering any obstacles, his heart slightly relieved. However, Zou Xin bumped into a cyan light shield, the strong impact causing Zou Xin to cry out in pain. At this time, four light shields fell, rotating between the four flags and forming a mixed four-color light shield, trapping Zou Xin within a radius of two or three zhang.

“You think this little game can trap me Dream on!”

First, he was tricked by his prey and fell into the other party's trap, then he got a nosebleed and bruises. Zou Xin was furious. He took out a wolf tooth club from his storage bag, and then patted his spirit beast bag, the giant black ape appeared again. He wanted to break through this light shield as quickly as possible and rush out, smashing the guy who tricked him with one blow!

Zhou Xin wielded his wolf-tooth staff, bringing it down with a crack against the shield.

Bang! The mace hit the shield like it was hitting copper wall iron wall, and the mace was bounced back.

Zou Xin's hands went numb from the shock. His face changed color, for he had already used five points of strength, and this shield remained completely motionless.

Undeterred, Zou Xin increased his strength, swinging two clubs. The Black Ape, in turn, flailed its massive hand like a fan, striking with it. Unable to break through the formation, it tried pushing with its body instead. After trying every method, both man and beast were exhausted, panting heavily, yet the Shuyuan Formation remained unyielding.

Lu Xiaoteng let out a cold snort. The Shuyu Array could trap a Qi Refinement Great Accomplishment cultivator, and the brocaded man was only at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. Even with an extra black ape, he was no match for Lu Xiaoteng.

The giant monster was on high alert, completely impossible to sneak attack. Secretly stuffing a pill into his mouth, Lu Xiaoteng walked out from the hidden tree trunk.

"How dare you have such audacity! It seems you still have an array of formations at your disposal. However, your formations are now depleted. If you have no other means, I think you can go die."

The Great Demon chuckled coldly. A Qi Refinement Fifth Layer cultivator, even a pill refiner, had used so many talismans before and after. He plotted against He Tuozi, and now he had trapped Zou Xin with an array formation. He didn't believe that in the open, Lu Xiaottian would be his opponent. Even if the other party was a pill refiner, besides being wealthy, they wouldn't have much effect in fighting. He led his squad to kill dozens of cultivators and robbed their storage pouches. As for wealth, he wasn't inferior either. That array formation could easily trap Zou Xin, who was a strong cultivator. After killing Lu Xiaottian, the formation would be his.

A greedy look flashed across the ogre's face. He pressed his hand to his waist and drew out a black meteor-shaped fork. At the same time, a swarm of shadow ants buzzed out from him.

"With these low-level Shade Ants, you think you can stop me Dream on!" Lu Xia Tian scoffed, conjuring a Vajra Talisman to protect himself, and wielding his spirit sword, he charged headlong towards the hulking monster.

"I'll show you what I'm capable of in a bit!"

The big-nosed monster sneered, "This kid is only relying on his Vajra Shell and maybe some protective talismans. Once those are depleted and his shield is gone, what can this kid possibly do to stop my ant swarm If it weren't for my cultivation level affecting my divine sense, I could command seven squads of shadow ants. With a few more squads, even against a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, I would have confidence in a fight. Sixty or seventy shadow ants are enough to deal with Lu Xiaoteng, whose cultivation level is a tier below mine."

Under the leadership of seven head ants, the shadow ants were divided into seven squads and surrounded Lu Xia Tian from different directions.

Lu Xia Tian successively unleashed dozens of spells, including Wind Blade Technique, Fireball Technique, and Ice Arrow Technique. A few were blocked by the Head Ant. The Head Ant's defense was noticeably stronger than that of ordinary Shadow Ants. Although it was hit by a low-level spell, it swayed in the air like a drunkard, but it was not fatal.

At this time, the huge monster let out a grunt and called up another group of shadow ants to replace the injured head ant's squad, maintaining their attack on Lu Xiaoteng.

Soon, a squad of shadow ants took advantage of Lu Xia Tian's attacking gap and clung to the Golden Armor, fiercely biting at it.

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Lu XiaTian's face changed slightly, he cast a "Whirlwind Technique" to sweep away several, but immediately from another direction, a new swarm of Shadow Ants flew over and joined the ranks gnawing at the King Kong Shield.

"Frostbite!"

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"Rocket Art!"

After a layer of frost, dozens of rockets shot out, and four or five shadow ants fell to the ground, emitting a burnt smell.

"Useless. As long as you can't kill all the Shadow Ants, they'll wear you down." The large-bodied monster cackled with a chilling glee. At least three or four people had been worn down to death by him like this; he was well-versed in this tactic.

“Impossible, I must exterminate these damned insects.” The Golden Armor shook violently under the bites of dozens of Shadow Ants, then shattered like glass. Lu Xia Tian hastily summoned another Golden Armor Talisman, protecting himself within it. He then repeated his attacks, killing the Shadow Ants.

However, the Giant Ants protect their Queen Ants very fiercely. If one Queen Ant gets injured, they immediately replace it with another to fill the gap. As for those Shadow Ants, once they die, the Giant Ants simply chuckle and pat the gourd at their waist, sending out a few more Shadow Ants.

Although Lu Xiaotian had killed nearly thirty of them before and after, the number of ants besieging him never decreased due to the constant replenishment from the large monsters.

After the third Vajra Armor was shattered by the shadow ants, Lu Xia Tian summoned a talismans again, but this time it was an Earth Spirit Shield. Its defensive power was slightly weaker than the Vajra Talisman.p Demons, Tiger Stripe Shark Demon, and Eleventh-Rank Sea Serpent Demon saw the eight flying swords swirling and flitting about. They were immediately startled by the alternating flashes of sword ligh...