Chapter 23: The Path of Life and the Path of Death

A moment later.

Within the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation shrouded in faint mist, phantom images of blood-colored flood dragons swam about, their gazes fixed on Ji Ning, Ji Jiuhuo, and the other four outside.

"Ji Ning, don't charge in."

"Let me test him." With a thought from Ji Ning, over seven hundred flying sword treasures materialized around him, hovering slightly, each glowing with a faint light. A strand of indestructible sword light condensed before him, and with another thought, the Small Thousand Sword Formation's sword light shot through the air.

The ninth layer of the Small Thousand Sword Formation!

"Whoosh!"

The dazzling strand of sword light plunged into the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. The moment it entered, the blood-colored flood dragons roared and surged forward. Crackle... The sword light barely managed to disperse one flood dragon before being consumed entirely, and soon that flood dragon reformed.

"What?" Ji Ning was stunned. "It could only defeat one flood dragon? And it recovered in an instant?"

Dong Ziqi, within the formation, cast a cold glance at Ji Ning from afar and said hoarsely, "As expected of a genius of the Ji clan, only sixteen and already able to break one flood dragon of my Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. But this level of strength is far from enough."

"Ji Ning, don't charge in," Ji Jiuhuo urgently transmitted. "Such formations are most effective against Fiendgod Body Refiners. If you rush into that formation, you'll be surrounded by eight flood dragons, which will tear and bite you to pieces."

"I know," Ji Ning nodded.

Though the Fiendgod Body Refining path overwhelms the Ki Refining path,

nothing is absolute!

There are also strong practitioners on the Ki Refining path. For instance, using the Small Thousand Sword Formation, one can fight above their level. Or one can raise millions of poisonous insects that blanket the sky and devour everything clean. The Fiendgod Body Refining path is powerful only as a whole; individually, the Ki Refining path also has its dazzling figures.

"Let's join forces, the six of us, and see if there's an opportunity," Ji Jiuhuo said, his eyes flashing with killing intent.

Flying swords shot through the air!

Poisonous insects danced!

Sword lights wove through!

In an instant, a barrage of techniques descended upon the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. Inside, Dong Ziqi laughed wildly, "Come on!" The eight flood dragons, previously calm, now rampaged, meeting the attacks head-on, blocking treasures one after another. Sometimes a flood dragon would disperse, but it quickly reformed.

The eight flood dragons coiled and twisted, surging forward wave after wave, stubbornly blocking the attacks of Ji Ning and the other five.

"You cowards of the Ji clan, if you have the guts, enter my Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation!" Dong Ziqi, standing at the center of the formation, grew even more frenzied upon seeing his complete defense. "You killed my three junior brothers and sisters by outnumbering us. If it were a true contest of skill, how could your Ji clan possibly match us? In a real fight, I, Dong Ziqi, alone could annihilate you all!"

Outside the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation, Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Ying, the old servant A Xing, Ji Yichuan, Ji Liuzhen, and Ji Ning were shocked by the formation's power.

"Impressive," Ji Jiuhuo transmitted. "Though I'd heard of Dong Ziqi's Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation, I'd never faced it. Now it seems each of the eight flood dragons can match a full Zifu Disciple. United, their power is terrifying. To kill him, the six of us might have to sacrifice two or three."

"What venture doesn't involve risk?" Granny Ying transmitted. "Let's fight to the death against Dong Ziqi!"

"Our Ji clan has only so many Zifu Disciples! Snowdragon Mountain has plenty. It's not worth dying together with them," Ji Jiuhuo vetoed.

Ji Ning gazed at the distant Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation.

What to do?

...

The battle lasted about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Though Ji Ning only occasionally released a Small Thousand Sword Formation's sword light, his true essence was already more than half depleted.

"Stop," Ji Jiuhuo transmitted. "We've attacked together for so long without finding any opening. Without taking risks, we can't kill Dong Ziqi. Moreover, those vines are spreading rapidly and will soon exit the maze formation. Let's let them go this time."

"Let them go?" Ji Liuzhen's eyes were full of disbelief. "Patriarch, if we miss this chance, Dong Ziqi will surely act with other Zifu Disciples in the future. Killing him will be even harder."

"Foolish," Ji Jiuhuo transmitted angrily. "Our goal isn't to kill all of Snowdragon Mountain's people. It's to ensure our Ji clan's legacy endures! The longer we six hold out, the better, until the Grand Xia Dynasty's envoy arrives. Only when the contract is signed will we succeed. Our lives are more important than Dong Ziqi's! If we fight now and sacrifice two or three to kill Dong Ziqi and the other, Snowdragon Mountain will soon retaliate with a group of Zifu Disciples. Then how will we stall for time?"

Ji Liuzhen came to his senses.

Killing was secondary. What mattered most to the Ji clan was surviving this calamity.

They had to stay alive until the Grand Xia Dynasty's envoy arrived. Killing a few Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples was only a secondary matter. Doing so now merely reduced future pressure slightly. If it caused heavy losses on their side, it wouldn't be worth it.

...

Inside the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation, Dong Ziqi's heart was tense. Two hands can't fight four; besieged by six Zifu Disciples, each capable of multiple techniques, the attacks were overwhelming. He had barely managed to block all six. If the Ji clan used forbidden arts to fight desperately, he would be in danger too.

"Even if I die, I'll drag them down with me," Dong Ziqi thought, madness flickering in his eyes.

"Senior apprentice-brother Ziqi." Mu Si, sitting cross-legged with a pale face, suddenly opened his eyes in surprise. "The vines have grown beyond the maze formation."

Dong Ziqi was startled, then ecstatic. "We can get out?"

If he could live, he naturally didn't want a desperate fight.

"I can sense the vines' positions. Following them, we can charge straight out," Mu Si said, rising quickly. "Senior apprentice-brother Ziqi, maintain the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. Let's go."

A green leaf appeared out of thin air.

The leaf grew to several zhang in length. Mu Si and Dong Ziqi stood on it, surrounded by the eight roaming flood dragons as Dong Ziqi kept the formation active.

"Go."

Whoosh!

The green leaf flew into the distance along a bizarre path, sometimes advancing, sometimes turning left, sometimes retreating. Retreat, retreat, advance... It was utterly strange. In truth, it was a result of disoriented direction; they seemed to change direction constantly, but they were actually approaching the formation's edge.

Whoosh! Mu Si and Dong Ziqi on the leaf suddenly saw the wild mountains and forests outside.

"We're out."

"Out, we're out!" Joy appeared on the faces of Dong Ziqi and Mu Si. Trapped in the maze formation with no escape, control in the enemy's hands, it had been agonizing. Now that they had escaped, they felt immensely relieved.

"Ji clan!" Dong Ziqi ground his teeth.

Mu Si's face darkened. "Three junior brothers and sisters died here. How can we not avenge this?"

"Ji clan!" Dong Ziqi's voice rolled across hundreds of li. "Just wait to be annihilated!"

Whoosh!

A green leaf streaked across the sky and quickly vanished on the distant horizon.

Six figures emerged from the maze formation—Ji Jiuhuo and the other five. Ji Jiuhuo turned to look at the distant wild mountains, where faint figures could be seen. He called out loudly, "Bian River Clan, Kou Clan, Blackfire Sect..." As he spoke, figures in the distance shot through the air.

"Forgive us, we can do nothing."

"Brother Jiuhuo, we dare not interfere."

Voices came one after another.

Those figures, standing on treasures, flew away. The Zifu Disciples of other forces in Swallow Mountain had been drawn by the violent fluctuations in primal energy. Though they couldn't see the battle between the Ji clan and Snowdragon Mountain, they could guess. Especially Dong Ziqi's final hateful words, whose meaning they understood.

"Alas." Watching the distant streaks of light fly away, Ji Jiuhuo shook his head. "The yuan stone vein involves too much; it will surely attract more Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples. No wonder the Blackfire Sect, Bian River Clan, and Kou Clan refuse to get involved."

In Swallow Mountain, the Ji clan, Blackfire Sect, Bian River Clan, and Kou Clan were in the same camp, united against Snowdragon Mountain and the Ironwood Clan.

But their alliance resisted only the Swallow Mountain branch of Snowdragon Mountain. This time, with the yuan stone vein, Zifu Disciples from Snowdragon Mountain's main sect would soon invade Swallow Mountain, easily sweeping away the Blackfire Sect, Bian River Clan, and Kou Clan. Naturally, they dared not interfere, no matter how great the benefit.

"Patriarch, what should we do now?" Ji Liuzhen asked.

Ji Ning and the others looked at the patriarch.

Ji Jiuhuo said slowly, "The Swallow Mountain branch of Snowdragon Mountain has suffered heavy losses this time, with three Zifu Disciples dead. They will surely invite fellow disciples from other places to rush here quickly. With the attraction of the yuan stone vein, a large number of Zifu Disciples may come, killing their way into Swallow Mountain."

Ji Ning and the others nodded.

"They will invite those close to Swallow Mountain. Given a Zifu Disciple's speed, they could arrive within a day or two," Ji Jiuhuo said. "We have two paths."

"The first path."

"We hide," Ji Jiuhuo said. "Let the Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples fail to find us no matter what. If we hide for a few days until the envoy arrives, we can sign the transfer contract. This path is safer... but it plunges our entire Ji clan into crisis."

"Those Zifu Disciples will arrive quickly, within a day or two. In that short time, our Ji clan's hundreds of thousands of clansmen cannot flee far," Ji Jiuhuo sighed. "If a large group of Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples can't find us, to vent their anger, they might massacre our clansmen or take them as slaves. That's very likely."

Ji Ning and the others' faces changed.

Hundreds of thousands of clansmen!

"The second path," Ji Jiuhuo said. "We openly set up a formation in one place and declare that Snowdragon Mountain can come and kill us if they have the ability."

"Snowdragon Mountain is a major sect; such sects value their reputation highly. If we openly set up a formation, when their group of Zifu Disciples attacks, they will do their utmost to break it. They won't stoop to slaughtering mortals, as that would tarnish their reputation. But if we hide, and they can't find the culprits, to show that Snowdragon Mountain's authority cannot be violated, they will surely massacre our clansmen."

Ji Ning and the others nodded.

Yes.

Major sects care about their reputation!

If we hide, the sect, to uphold its dignity, will have an excuse to massacre the Ji clan as a warning to others.

But if we stand up and openly confront them, they cannot then target ordinary mortals.

"Everyone, speak up. Which path do we choose?" Ji Jiuhuo looked at his clansmen.