Library of Heaven’s Path

Chapter 710: Barging into the Beguilement Formation

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

It was no easy feat for an amateur to break a formation, but with sufficient strength, it was still possible to do so through brute force!

If someone were to attempt to trap Zhang Xuan with a grade-3 formation now, even without using the Eye of Insight of Library of Heavenʼs Path, he would be able to crush the formation with just his fists.

No matter how powerful a formation might be, there would surely be a limit to its durability. If it were to suffer damage beyond its durability limit, it would instantaneously collapse.

Before supreme power, everything else was fleeting.

The Illusory Footsteps Beguilement Formation that the Luoyuan Empire master teacher had provided was a grade-5 primary formation. While it could trap Cosmos Bridge realm cultivators, it would be hard for it to do the same to stronger opponents.

The strongest of these spirit beasts were only at the Cosmos Bridge realm, but there were too many of them. Put their prowess together, and even a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan Perfect Harmonization realm expert would have to retreat in fear. With this force directed toward the formation, it was unlikely that the formation would be able to hold on for too long.

”Break the formation using brute force?”

Hearing those words, the faces of the crowd turned pale.

It was just a moment ago that theyʼd thought that they would be able to save everyone in the gorge, but in the next moment, the formation was already on the verge of breaking. What should they do now?

Were they to watch by from the sidelines as the formation was torn apart, and the master teachers were plunged into danger once more?

After everything they had done?

Luo Xuan turned to the master teacher from Luoyuan Empire and asked, ”You possess the deepest understanding of this formation. Is there any way to salvage the situation?”

The gazes of the others also hurriedly shot over.

The formation flags and blueprint were provided by him, so perhaps he might have a way to sustain the formation.

”Salvage the situation?”

With a bitter smile, the Luoyuan Empire master teacher shook his head and said, ”There is indeed a way, but itʼs impossible to succeed!”

”Impossible to succeed? What is it? With so many of us here, we might just be able to find a way to accomplish it,” Luo Xuan urged.

They had 52 master teachers here, and a handful of them were formation masters as well. As long as the other party could point out a direction for them, they just might be able to accomplish it somehow.

”At this moment, our numbers donʼt mean anything!”

The Luoyuan Empire master teacher sighed. ”The Illusory Steps Beguilement Formation is a grade-5 primary formation, but if reinforced by a 5-star formation master, it could display the strength of a grade-5 intermediate or even advanced formation! By then, it would be impossible for these spirit beasts to break out of the formation using brute force.”

”5-star formation master? Zhang shiʼs understanding of formations should be on par with a 5-star formation master, wouldnʼt that work?” Ruohuan gongzi couldnʼt help but ask.

Since Zhang shi was able to set up even a grade-5 formation so easily, surely reinforcing a formation wouldnʼt pose any trouble at all.

”You donʼt understand what I am saying. By 5-star formation master, I am saying that the personʼs cultivation must reach Cosmos Bridge realm as well! Zhang shiʼs comprehension of formations is indeed formidable, but his cultivation is still limited at the Consonant Spirit realm. Without sufficient strength, he wonʼt be able to bring out the true might of the power my teacher has imbued into the formation!” the Luoyuan Empire master teacher explained.

”This…”

Everyone clenched their fists tightly in frustration.

With their collective strength, they would have been able to help with anything else, but the Cosmos Bridge realm…

With the formation on the verge of collapsing, it was impossible for anyone to achieve a breakthrough within this short period of time.

In other words, it was impossible for them to reinforce the formation!

”That Brother Yu from before has reached the Cosmos Bridge realm, but itʼs too late to look for him now…”

Luo Xuan clenched his jaws in frustration.

Among the freshmen, the only one he knew to have reached Cosmos Bridge realm was the Brother Yu whom he had met just before the entrance examination. However, the other party was nowhere to be seen at the moment. Besides, considering the conflict between Zhang shi and him, it would be nigh impossible to gain his assistance!

After a moment of hesitation, one master teacher suggested, ”Since it has come down to this, why donʼt we leave the gorge to try and get the help of other examinees in the area? Otherwise, once the formation collapses and the spirit beasts break loose, we will all be doomed…”

However, halfway through his words, he suddenly noticed the bizarre silence amidst the group. Looking up, he saw each and every one of them staring at the battlefield below with a frenzied look on their faces.

”What happened?”

Frowning, he shifted his gaze downward, and his mouth slowly widened.

In the midst of the wavering formation, Zhang shi stood on a floating rock platform, and his aura was rising steadily.

Hong long long!

He furiously absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy through his acupoints, and the absurd speed of his absorption induced a deep rumbling reminiscent of thunder in the gorge. A magnificent bridge connecting him to the world could vaguely be seen behind him. At this moment, he looked exceptionally tall and powerful, as if an undefeatable god of war.

”This… He is trying to achieve a breakthrough to the Cosmos Bridge realm?”

The master teacherʼs lip quivered uncontrollably, and he nearly burst into tears.

To advance to the Cosmos Bridge realm, other Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle cultivators would have their teacher stand guard for them in case of any problems, and all kinds of resources would be prepared by their sides so as to prevent exhaustion whenever required. Even so, it would still take several days of hard work before they could achieve the breakthrough… And yet, this fellow actually made the breakthrough on the spot just because he required his cultivation to be at the Cosmos Bridge realm in order to reinforce the formation…

What the heck was this!

Boom!

Amidst his shocked trembling, Zhang Xuan widened his mouth and swallowed the faint bridge in the air. His body rumbled, and his aura began to surge furiously.

Hu!

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid gas, the young man opened his eyes, and a bright gleam shone from his eyes. His movements were extremely graceful, seemingly aligned with nature itself.

”Cosmos Bridge realm… He really made the breakthrough just like that?”

”Isnʼt this a little… way too easy…”

Everyone swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Never had they ever seen someone achieve a breakthrough so quickly in their life.

After two or three breaths, a Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle cultivator had become a Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator…

ʼBrother, are you sure you arenʼt an expert who came here just to toy with us?ʼ

Oblivious to the frenzied crowd, Zhang Xuan glanced at the shaking formation beneath him and muttered, ”Thereʼs no time for me to continue…”

Under normal circumstances, possessing the entire Cosmos Bridge realm Heavenʼs Path Divine Art, he would strive for Cosmos Bridge realm pinnacle in a single breath. However, with the formation teetering on the brink of collapse, he couldnʼt afford to wait any longer.

”Stabilize!”

With a flick of his finger, a surge of zhenqi shot out from his hand. The surge of zhenqi further divided into several hundred streams, permeating throughout the entire formation.

Geji! Geji!

Under the nourishment of the Heavenʼs Path zhenqi, the thinning mist abruptly thickened once more. The Illusory Steps Beguilement Formation, which had been shaking violently under the rampage of the spirit beasts, gradually stabilized as well.

”He succeeded…”

”The formation has been reinforced…”

The excitement and agitation of the crowd were palpable. Admiration seeped into their gazes as they looked at the young man below.

To reach Cosmos Bridge realm on a whim… Was that young man still human?

This was especially so for Ruohuan gongzi, Luo Xuan, and the others. Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, they were on the verge of fainting from shock.

They had seen the other party making the breakthrough for Yin-Yang realm to Clarifying Turbidity realm during the Master Teacher Tournament in Myriad Kingdom City with their own eyes. Barely a month had passed, and he was already a Cosmos Bridge realm expert…

They were still thinking of competing with him after reaching the Master Teacher Academy, but they could no longer muster the confidence to do so.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Zhang Xuan climbed back up and instructed, ”Alright. Since the Beguilement Formation has stabilized, letʼs hurry up and save the master teachers inside!”

”Youʼre right. However, given that spirit beasts are roaming inside the formation as well… how can we ensure that we will be able to stay out of their path?” a master teacher within the crowd asked.

The activation of the Beguilement Formation had halted the battle momentarily and trapped the spirit beasts, thus providing an opportunity to save the master teachers. However… things werenʼt as simple as they seemed.

The spirit beasts werenʼt dead yet. It was still possible to encounter them in the Beguilement Formation, and the chances of that were indeed relatively high considering the number of spirit beasts trapped inside the formation.

Furthermore, the Beguilement Formation didnʼt discriminate against friend and foe. In other words, the master teachers inside were also affected by it.

Of course, the master teachers could try leaping up onto the floating platforms and attempt to escape from the Beguilement Formation. However, under the circumstances where even their sense of direction was confounded, it would be difficult for them to differentiate between up and down. On top of that, to truly escape from the formation, they would have to find the Life Gate first.

The Illusory Steps Beguilement Formation wouldnʼt be called a grade-5 formation if it were so easy to escape from.

In the end, the Beguilement Formation was just a means to buy some time for those inside.

Zhang Xuan glanced at the Beguilement Formation and replied, ”I see. Wait here then, Iʼll head in to save them.”

”Zhang shi, you mustnʼt! Even though you are a formation master, your senses will still be confounded in the Beguilement Formation. Itʼll be a disaster if you were to be trapped with the spirit beasts inside…”

Everyone was horrified by Zhang Xuanʼs words.

Even though Zhang Xuan had reached Cosmos Bridge realm, there were plenty of Cosmos Bridge realm spirit beasts inside the formation as well. There was no way he could stand against so many powerful spirit beasts!

”Trapped?”

Zhang Xuan shook his head before instructing, ”There will be some injured among the master teachers inside, so prepare to receive and treat them!”

After which, leaving no time for the crowd to react, he leaped straight into the Beguilement Formation.

”Zhang shi…”

The crowdʼs vision darkened, and they nearly fainted on the spot.

To leap right into the Beguilement Formation, what if he leaped right into a swarm of spirit beasts? Even if he was tired of living, this wasnʼt the way to seek death!

A master teacher amid the crowd asked, ”What do we do?”

”Thereʼs no need to panic. Zhang shi would never do anything reckless. Since he dared to leap into the formation, he must have his own plan!” Ruohuan gongzi assured.

Others might not know Zhang shi well, but he knew that the other party would never do anything he was unconfident of. Considering how the other party jumped in without any hesitation, he must have a plan in mind.

”Indeed. Didnʼt Zhang shi tell us to prepare to receive the casualties? Since he said those words, he must have found a way to save the master teachers inside!” Luo Xuan added.

”A plan in mind? What plan could he come up with? Even if he has a thorough understanding of formations, he still canʼt possibly stand against so many spirit beasts alone…”

”That is unless he finds a way to circumvent the spirit beasts to save the others!”

”Since Zhang shi was able to set up a grade-5 formation and achieve a breakthrough to the Cosmos Bridge realm so easily, he might just really accomplish this impossible feat…”

After a momentary discussion, the crowd turned their gazes back to the battlefield. Zhang Xuan had already disappeared amidst the thick layer of mist.

It was impossible for him to fight against so many spirit beasts single-handedly. The only possible solution was for him to circumvent the spirit beasts and guide the master teachers out.

However… there were several hundred spirit beasts in the Beguilement Formation. Even if Zhang shi knew how to navigate around the formation, was it really possible to circumvent all of them?

Roar! Roar! Roar!

While everyone was tense, ferocious roars abruptly sounded from the midst. It seemed like Zhang Xuan had encountered with some of the spirit beasts.

”Did Zhang shi encounter the spirit beasts?”

If that was really it, he would be in grave danger!

”What do we do?”

Anxious, everyone was tempted to rush in to help him. However, before they could even move, another wave of roars sounded. However, it wasnʼt a ferocious roar this time. Rather, it seemed like the spirit beasts had encountered something sinister and terrifying.

It was tinged with fear and apprehension.

Roar? Roar? Roar?

Following which, screams of agony reverberated throughout the gorge, threatening to burst oneʼs eardrum. Rather than Zhang shi, it seemed like it was the spirit beasts who were in danger…

”What is going on?”

Everyone stared at one another bewilderedly.