World of Cultivation - Volume 05 - Charge Out of the Ancient Battlefield

by Fang Xiang

  But even though he was wary, Gongsun Cha did not panicked. He widened his eyes. The battle formation stirred his interest.

  A very powerful formation!

  Seven sword xiu to a group, groups that then interlocked. There were all kinds of illusory formations that had been carefully arranged. All of the xiu in each group tightly grasped their flying swords, waiting. But what shocked Gongsun Cha was not this profound battle formation, but the talismans that this group of people wore.

  The entire battle formation was shrouded in the light of the talismans!

  Seeing this, Gongsun Cha’s eyes became red!

  Compared to their enemies, they were just street beggars. Each of the sword xiu had one or two fourth-grade talismans, all the flying swords they had were also fourth-grade! Each of those jindan could be described as being bathed in the light of treasures, and it was blinding! Even more exaggerated was that the entire battle formation was covered in a layer of faint blue light.

  The enemy even had large scale battle formation talismans!

  When compared to his side, the talismans they had were mostly third-grade. The number of fourth-grade talismans could be counted on his fingers. The only thing that comforted them were the flying swords on their hands. They were all Gold Crystal flying swords that Zuo Mo had forged in the Golden Crystal Sand Sea for everyone.

  But there were more than two thousand people in Vermillion Bird Camp. No matter how powerful Zuo Mo’s Great Day Banded Flame was, it was a vast amount of work to forge more than two thousand flying swords. In order to save time, he had created a mass forging method that could forge twenty Gold Crystal flying swords in one go.

  But the Gold Crystal flying swords created through this method were lacking compared to the ones he had forged at the start. Low fifth-grade, and each possessed two very practical formation techniques, [Sharpness] and [Air Sweep].

  [Sharpness]increased the sharpness of the flying sword and [Air Sweep] greatly increase the speed of the flying sword. After great efforts the xiuzhe of Vermillion Bird Camp had basically all comprehended sword essence. These two formation techniques could be used to their full power in their hands.

  Compared to the flying swords on their hands, the talismans on their bodies were really poor. No wonder Gongsun Cha’s eyes turned red when he saw the light of the fourth-grade talismans on the enemy sword xiu.

  Zuo Mo was greedy and money-hungry. His style of disliking individuals with good talismans had deeply influenced everyone else.

  Without any additional motivation, the entire Vermillion Bird Camp seemed to be full of adrenaline, all of them excited as they greedily rubbed their hands, their faintly red eyes sweeping to and fro on talisman decorated bodies of the enemy sword xiu.

  “Daren, let an go to test the waters,” Lei Peng widened his eyes and rumbled with an innocent face.

  The laziness on Ma Fan’s face instantly disappeared. He spat out the grass stem in his mouth and silently raised a thumb up at Lei Peng. Hearing this, like magic, a mirror had appeared on Nian Lu’s hand and he was combing his bangs in the mirror.

  The other sword xiu of Sky Peak Platoon raised their chests and tried to seem very authoritative and brave.

  Sly!

  Someone got there first again!

  The other divisions looked with unfriendliness at this group. Many people had vexed expressions. That Lei Peng looked like an idiot, but how come he could act so quickly?

  Gongsun Cha thought and then nodded in consent. “Stay safe.”

  It was the first time he saw the battle formation. Letting Ma Fan and the others go to test the waters would allow him to see this formation clearly.

  Ma Fan and the others were overjoyed. No matter what, they had gotten the accomplishment of the first strike!

  Even the usually complacent Ma Fan was excited, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Brothers, we need to show these brats the power of our Sky Peak Platoon!”

  Everyone in Sky Peak Platoon was eager to fight!

  Ever since more and more people comprehended sword essence, the status of Sky Peak Platoon became more and more awkward. They also needed a victory to bolster the status of Sky Peak Platoon as the elite of Vermillion Bird Camp!

  As all the members of Sky Peak Platoon assembled. Everyone’s gazes landed on them.

  ———

  Liang Wei did not speak, and the feeling of strangeness increased. When he saw a little team exit the black ship sword xiu, he was finally sure that the black ship battle general did not know the Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation.

  A battle general who did not recognize the Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation?

  This absurd conclusion was impossible to him, especially when he considered the spectacular command from earlier. The feeling of absurdity rose.

  “No way, they don’t even recognize the Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation,” a subordinate exclaimed.

  “Maybe they have unorthodox training?” another subordinate spoke uncertainly.

  Liang Wei paused to consider this and felt that it was plausible. Unorthodox battle generals were not uncommon. In truth, not every yao could attend a yao art house, and not every yao art house had the ability to educate a battle general. Only the yao art houses with great power had the ability to nurture battle generals.

  Learning to be a battle general was a long process compared to learning yao arts. It was much harder to find the job, other than joining the military. Due to this, the yao who learned to be battle generals mostly came from rich families.

  According to what Liang Wei knew, this situation wasn’t just unique to the yao, xiuzhe, and mo had the same problem.

  Unorthodox battle generals would occasionally have spectacular attacking abilities, but compared to educated orthodox battle generals, there was great differences in terms of their control and ability to assess a battle.

  The he had thought that it was a yao battle general inside the boat because the other’s battle had the flavor of yao, but now he wasn’t so sure.

  He also felt anticipation.

  Unorthodox battle generals were full of unpredictability. This kind of unpredictability would usually cause them to be defeated, but this unpredictability would also create headaches for their opponents.

  No one was willing to meet an opponent that did not act rationally.

  ———

  Sky Peak Platoon charged into the Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation.

  The Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation was a variant of the Northern Dipper Battle Formation. The entire battle formation was divided into seven intersecting areas. However, while other variations of the Northern Dipper Battle Formation used the Heavenly Pivot star as the center of the formation, the Twinkling Brilliance Battle Formation was creative in using the seventh star, the Twinkling Brilliance Star as the center of the formation.

  There was a long history of sword xiu using the Northern Dipper Seven Star Formation in techniques. From the beginning sword scriptures, to the seven person formations, to mountain guarding formations, then to large scale battle formations, its structure could be found throughout the entire history of sword xiu development.

  There were reasons that sword xiu preferred the seven star formation. The sword essence gathered through a seven star formation was very good, and it was multi-purpose as it could be used for both offense and defense.

  However, Ma Fan truly lived up to being the former core under Lil’ Miss. His tactical abilities were several levels above normal sword xiu. The position he chose to attack was very special.

  The Northern Dipper Seven Star Formation was shaped like a spoon, and the place Ma Fan attacked was the place where the spoon and the handle joined, the Celestial Balance.

  Entering the attack range of the other’s battle formation, everyone felt their surroundings changes.

  It was as though they suddenly entered a patch of grassland. Under their feet was a green carpet of grass that spread out endlessly. A curving great river wa
s like a belt of jade that slowly flowed.

  A gentle wind blew past. The smell of green grass that Ma Fan liked the most entered his nose.

  An illusory formation!

  Without needing his orders, the two sword xiu behind him shouted at the same time, two golden energies flew out of their hands and burrowing into the ground!

  Boom-om-om!

  The illusion of the grassland instantly shattered!

  Sword xiu mostly were generally not skilled in illusory formations. The enemy had cast the illusory formation by relying on the talismans they were carrying. How could they stand up to the attack of fifth-grade flying swords?

  The illusion broke, and the surroundings returned to normal. But seven sword energies had already reached them!

  The other hadn’t expected the illusory formation would trap them, it was a distraction. The attack that followed was the true killing move!

  “Follow behind me!” Ma Fan shouted a reminder. His movements were fast, his flying sword lightly swinging and a transparent and irregular sword energy charged at the incoming sword energies like ripples of water!

  This was a new sword move created from merging his [Illusory Shadowless Sword of Destruction] into [Clear Sky Sword Scripture].

  When this move was combined with his third stage sword cultivation, its power was explosive!

  The other members followed closely behind him, the flying swords in their hands unmoving as though they did not see the incoming sword energies.

  The ripple and the incoming sword energies of various colors crashed together without any finesse!

  Pew pew pew!

  When the sword energies hit the ripple, it was like a handful of pebbles landing in water and created many ripples.

  The water ripples and the sword energies were like two bubbles that hit each other, cancelling each other out they disappeared at the same time.

  The faces of the sword xiu on the other side changed slightly, their pupils contracting!

  Sword essence manifestation!

  An elite!

  Chapter 436: The Unforeseen Consequences of Lei Peng’s Blow

  The first level of sword essence, preliminary comprehension of sword essence; second level of sword essence, Heart Turn Sword Essence; third level of sword essence, sword essence manifestation.

  Comprehending sword essence for a sword xiu meant they had talent and potential above others. When Wei Sheng had stepped into the second level when he was in ningmai, he had shocked many.

  Comprehending sword essence was not as rare and attention-catching in other regions as it was in Sky Moon Jie. Large sects had numerous methods to allow their disciples to comprehend sword essence. For example, the sword cauldron, at its core use was similar to Zuo Mo’s five element sword formation.

  However, comprehending sword essence was just the first step through the door, and the path onwards was not a smooth one. A disciple that comprehended the third level of sword essence in ningmai would not be ignored even those large sects that were full of geniuses.

  The first two levels did not increase the power of sword moves greatly. The second level, Heart Turn Sword Essence, was also extremely unstable. But when sword essence reached the third level, and it could manifest, the power of each sword move would skyrocket!

  So when the other side saw Ma Fan’s sword essence manifestation, many were very shocked.

  Of course, they were just shocked, but no one was afraid. They were a battalion that were from Kun Lun. Geniuses were not rare in Kun Lun. While disciples that comprehended the third level of sword essence in ningmai did not fill the streets, they were not preciously rare. Even those subordinate sects had many.

  On top of that, they had finished forming their formation. This filled them with confidence towards the oncoming assault.

  Almost all battle formations had a similar attribute. That was once their assault started, it would be relentless, one wave after the other.

  Seeing Ma Fan stop the seven sword energies, the battle formation changed again.

  Seven people to each troop forming a small seven star formation. Seven troops to a team, forming a large seven star formation.

  The one who was leading the Twinkling Brilliance team was a jindan sword xiu, He Jian. He was in charge of this seven star formation made up of forty nine people. When he saw the other’s sword move, he too had been slightly shocked. The other’s sword essence level was even one above his own. But he did not feel nervousness. At a glance, he saw that the cultivations of this group of people were all ningmai.

  The gap between ningmai and jindan was deep. Even if the other had one whose sword essence was one level above his, they were not a match for him!

  A fierce smile floated upon He Jian’s lips!

  Who cares what genius that was; by his hands, someone like that would only die!

  He opened his mouth and spat out a blue sword pill!

  The sword pill was just the size of a rice grain, but it grew when it came into contact with the air. After flying for ten zhang, it had expanded to more than three zhang wide. Pulling along a long blue tail of light, it was like an enormous, blue axe that howled as it charged at Ma Fan’s group!

  The howling was like sobbing wails, shocking people’s souls!

  The other forty eight sword xiu saw their Head attack and showed smiles of relief. During all their time together, they had never seen a sword xiu below jindan escape Head’s attack!

  The fight was going to end!

  He Jian’s sword energy came extremely quickly and grew bigger. When it came near Ma Fan and the others, the sword energy was almost enough to cover all of them!

  The sword essence was sharp and intimidating, pressing straight at their heads and making them feel it was unstoppable!

  A jindan’s attack had an extraordinary presence!

  ———

  On the Black Turtle, Xie Shan looked at the smile the sword xiu were showing. He twisted his mouth. “Pitiful Ma Fan, he is being underestimated again.”

  “So pitiful … …”

  “Pitiful? That Ma Fan is laughing inside, if he’s able, he’ll put on a sheepskin, this guy is black on the inside!”

  The crowd discussed heatedly.

  ———

  Ma Fan looked at the incoming sword energy. His eyes unconsciously narrowed as his figure suddenly flashed to the side.

  Half a body-length behind him was Lei Peng. His eyes glaring angrily, he raised the Gold Crystal broadsword. His legs bent slightly at the knee in the sky as though there was invisible ground beneath the feet. All the muscles in his body expanded, the ling power gathered like a burning flame and erupting from his body.

  But all of this was silent as though he was a statue.

  It made everyone feel an extreme contrast. Lei Peng was covering the raging sword energy with a suppressing silence.

  The enormous sword energy that came with a long dazzling tail tore at the air, rumbling like thunder.

  Extreme movement against extreme stillness, roaring thunder against deathly silence!

  At this moment, the two conflicted natures formed a frightening scene!

  Lei Peng seemed to return that battle, the moment right before the three of them had fainted. All the ling power in his body was like burning flames that burned every strand of his nerves in this soundless silence!

  The blurry scene, the distant voice, the unwilling roar … …

  The chaos flashed through his mind like a tide. The rough sword hilt he was tightly grasping gave him a thread of security, a thread of clarity!

  Something seemed to flow through his mind.

  This single thread of clarity was lightly plucked like an invisible chord.

  Without any hesitation, the ling power flooded into the sword hilt by travelling through his arms and then palms. The raised broadsword moved in a single motion, swinging up and then down in the air!

  The restlessness disappeared, the howling disappeared, all sound seemed to disappear in this
instant!

  A silent blow!

  ———

  Far away, He Jian’s expression changed dramatically. Terror showed in his eyes. Before he could react, the other’s broadsword struck his flying sword!

  Zzzt!

  The sound was like a cloth being torn and scratched through the air in an unusually clear manner. The enormous blue curtain of light was cleaved by this blow.

  He Jian grunted; his face pale, and his eyes shocked! He was injured! He didn’t believe it, he had actually been injured! And injured by a ningmai!

  His flying sword was destroyed! The other’s blow that brutally cleaved his flying sword into two!

  For any sword xiu, their flying sword was connected with their life. If the flying sword was damaged, the sword xiu would also be heavily wounded!

  It was the first time he had been so heavily wounded!

  What was so hard for him to accept was that the other was a ningmai sword xiu!

  How was this possible … …

  His gaze was unfocused and his expression blank.

  ———

  Ma Fan and the others were also shocked by Lei Peng’s blow. One move heavily injuring a jindan sword xiu, such an absurd event had truly happened right in front of them.

  But when they noticed that Lei Peng was maintaining his attacking posture motionlessly like a statue, all of their expressions changed!

  Damn it!

  This guy was having an epiphany at this time! Ma Fan groaned inside. This was the battlefield!

  An epiphany was a rare chance for a breakthrough and would occur randomly. No one knew what could consistently initiate epiphanies, but everyone knew that epiphanies were chances for a breakthrough! Yet if the state of epiphany was disturbed, that was undoubtedly wasting a great opportunity!

  No one knew when the next epiphany would be activated.

  But Ma Fan reacted quickly. He advanced rather than retreating, shouting, “Kill!”

  At this time, the other side’s expert was heavily wounded, and their formation was at its weakest. In a conflict of dozens of people, one jindan xiuzhe could be the decisive factor in the fight.