Chapter 10 Contact

Dong Ziqi stood at the front of the cloth canopy, gazing into the distance. Mount Oxhorn in the distance was as calm as ever.

"Senior apprentice brother Tong Yu, Senior apprentice brother Zi Dao." Dong Ziqi called out, "Ahead is Mount Oxhorn, but at a glance, I can't see anything."

Immediately a group of Zifu cultivators rose and walked over. Tong Yu and Nong Zidao were especially surrounded as they stood on the cloth canopy, looking into the distance. Nong Zidao then smiled: "It's just an illusion maze. Though nothing can be seen from outside, we can only know the situation on the mountain by probing."

Whoosh!

The huge cloth canopy swooped down and soon landed in the wilderness not far from Mount Oxhorn. The group of Zifu cultivators all stepped down and looked up at Mount Oxhorn in the distance.

"Fellow cultivators of Snowdragon Mountain, I, the Ji clan, have been waiting here for some time." A vigorous voice came from distant Mount Oxhorn.

"They really are on the mountain." Dong Ziqi's pupils contracted. He said, "That's the voice of Ji Jiuhuo, the clan leader of the Ji clan. That old fellow is very cunning, skilled in formations and poisonous insects."

Tong Yu said indifferently, "Just an old man. Killing him is like killing a chicken."

"Such boldness is rare." Nong Zidao also smiled.

"A great formation has been set up around Mount Oxhorn. We have no idea what traps and mechanisms are inside." A silver-haired Zifu cultivator said worriedly, "What should we do?"

The triangular-eyed cultivator snorted: "What other way is there? To break the formation, we must first test it and try to understand its mysteries."

The Zifu cultivators discussed how to proceed.

"No need."

Nong Zidao chuckled: "This illusion maze is quite ordinary. From the fluctuations of primal energy around the entire periphery of Mount Oxhorn, I already know the mysteries of this illusion maze. Crane, go break this maze." Nong Zidao also communicated mentally, telling his mount, the immortal crane, how to break the formation.

The immortal crane transformed into a white-clad girl, who looked like a maiden of sixteen, youthful and lovely: "Master, wait a moment. I'll go break this formation."

The white-clad girl immediately turned into a streak of light and went directly to the foot of Mount Oxhorn. Without entering the formation, she held a black long whip and swung it... The whip quickly lengthened, directly piercing into the great formation, and with exquisite precision, it coiled around a formation flag inside, then with a whoosh, pulled it out.

"Good!"

"Senior apprentice brother Zi Dao's spirit beast is extraordinary!"

"Well broken." Everyone praised.

From their side, they only saw the whip enter the great formation and become invisible to the naked eye. When the whip was retracted, it had already coiled around a formation flag! With one flag pulled out, the maze formation was broken, and the scene of Mount Oxhorn changed slightly. Several figures could be seen on the mountain peak.

"It's the Ji clan." Mu Si saw at a glance, and also saw the youth among the six, "That genius of the Ji clan, Ji Ning, is also there."

"Rise!"

From the distant peak of Mount Oxhorn, Ji Jiuhuo let out a loud shout. Immediately, a large amount of mist arose from the entire mountain, spreading everywhere—black mist... making it impossible to see inside.

"Master." The white-clad girl turned into a streak of light and flew back, "I was just a bit short. I pulled out one flag, but another formation started. I couldn't pull out the other flags."

"Enough. Pulling out one flag breaks that maze formation." Nong Zidao said calmly, "It seems the Ji clan has prepared several formations. Unfortunately, none of them seem to be particularly clever."

Tong Yu added, "Junior apprentice brother Zi Dao has studied many formations. How could he be compared to that old man of the Ji clan? It would be abnormal if he could set up formations that you, junior apprentice brother, consider clever. The current situation is normal."

"Senior apprentice brother Zi Dao, how do we break this formation?"

"The trajectory of this mist formation is hard to trace."

All the Zifu cultivators looked at Nong Zidao.

Nong Zidao shook his head: "The previous illusion maze was easy to break, but this formation is more difficult. Moreover, the Ji clan probably has several layers of formations, formations within formations. Just looking at the mist from outside, how can we break the formation? Only a being like a Daoist of the Primordial Spirit could see through the formation's reality at a glance."

"Then what should we do?" Tong Yu looked at Nong Zidao.

"Probe the reality!" Nong Zidao said, "In my opinion, we nineteen Zifu cultivators should split into two teams. First, send twelve Zifu cultivators into the great formation together. These twelve junior apprentice brothers and sisters must stay together and not separate, or they will be picked off one by one. With twelve Zifu cultivators together, even if the Ji clan wants to attack, they won't have enough strength."

Nong Zidao looked at Dong Ziqi: "Junior apprentice brother Ziqi, this time your Yan Mountain branch invited everyone. You will lead the other eleven fellow disciples to enter first."

"Alright." Dong Ziqi agreed directly.

Nong Zidao then selected the troops, directly picking twelve Zifu cultivators including Dong Ziqi.

"Twelve junior apprentice brothers and sisters, you go first." Nong Zidao flipped his hand and produced three jade talismans, handing them to Dong Ziqi and others, "These three jade talismans were refined by me. As long as you are not too far from me, I can sense them. You all enter the formation first. Senior apprentice brother Tong Yu and I will follow later. We will each probe the formation's reality, and I can sense your positions, making it easy to regroup."

"Good."

"Senior apprentice brother Zi Dao's plan is thorough."

No one objected.

Because they were very confident! As sect disciples, they were all skilled in formation-combining techniques! With just six fellow disciples, they could form a combined formation. Nine, ten, or twelve fellow disciples could also set up combined formations. This was the strength of the sect. Thousands of Zifu cultivators, relying on combined formation techniques, could still contend with a Daoist of the Primordial Spirit!

The prerequisite was that they all understood the mysteries of the combined formation. The larger the combined formation, the more complex it was. For example, thousands of Zifu cultivators forming a combined formation required years of training and coordination.

……

On Mount Oxhorn.

Black mist shrouded everything. Ji Ning and the others flew to the edge of the black mist and looked outside.

Everyone's heart was heavy.

That Zifu crane demon earlier hadn't even entered the formation, yet with a single whip stroke from outside, it could easily coil around a formation flag. Clearly, it had seen through the formation's reality. Being able to see through the illusion maze without entering the formation made the Ji clan's hearts sink.

"The outermost maze I set up is the weakest." Ji Jiuhuo said, "First, show weakness to the enemy, making them complacent."

"They have twelve Zifu cultivators coming first, seemingly about to enter the formation." Ji Liuzhen quickly said.

"Split into two groups?" Ji Jiuhuo nodded slightly, "I estimate the later group is stronger. From their earlier conversation, it seems those two Zifu cultivators are the leaders. But they are in the later group and haven't entered the formation yet."

"Let's prepare the Black Dragon Locking Heaven Formation." Granny Ying quickly said.

Ji Jiuhuo flipped his hand, producing two tokens. The tokens were ancient, with the character 'Xia' on them.

"Minister tokens?" Ji Ning looked at the two tokens in surprise, "Two minister tokens?"

"Earlier, when we killed the He siblings, we got one minister token. This unowned minister token is theirs." Ji Jiuhuo looked at Ji Ning, his eyes full of expectation, "The other minister token is our Ji clan's, the Ten Thousand Swords City minister token. Ji Ning, keep these two minister tokens on you!"

Ji Jiuhuo handed them directly to Ji Ning.

"Me?" Ji Ning was startled.

"This calamity is fraught with danger. If I survive by luck, you can give me back the Ten Thousand Swords City minister token then. If I die, you keep it." Ji Jiuhuo said, "No matter what, these minister tokens must not fall into Snowdragon Mountain's hands. Once things become hopeless, use the Ten Thousand Miles Evasion Talisman to leave quickly. The minister tokens will go with you. Even if they eventually break the formation, they will find no minister tokens. Then you will represent our Ji clan and sign a contract with the Grand Xia Dynasty."

Ji Ning nodded gently and took the two minister tokens. With a surge of primal energy, he easily refined them.

At the same time, he faintly sensed calls from two distant directions—the calls of two cities to him.

"Good."

Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Ying, and the others smiled. They had already arranged their retreat, so they could fight with peace of mind.

"Liuzhen." Ji Jiuhuo said, "In the Black Dragon Locking Heaven Formation, you will be the center of the dragon head formation. I will channel the formation's power into you."

"Yes." Ji Liuzhen nodded.

"Ji Ying." Ji Jiuhuo even called his sister by her full name, a rare occurrence, "You will be the center of the dragon body formation."

"Mm." Granny Ying's eyes were full of longing.

"Liu Xing." Ji Jiuhuo also called out the name of his old servant A Xing, "You will be the center of the dragon claw formation."

The old servant nodded gently.

"Ji Ning." Ji Jiuhuo looked at Ji Ning, "Among us, you are already the strongest. Your primal energy was still weak before, but once combined with the great formation, our primal energies unite! Your strength will increase the most. Thus, your power will far surpass ours. The dragon tail of the Black Dragon Locking Heaven Formation is the most mysterious and flexible, able to assist all sides. You will be its center, and also our trump card."

Ji Ning nodded.

Once the Black Dragon Locking Heaven Formation was set up, among the five sub-formations—dragon head, dragon claw, dragon body, dragon pearl, and dragon tail—the others were not flexible enough, but the dragon tail was the most agile, able to sweep and appear anywhere.

"I will sit at the core, controlling the formation to assist you all." Ji Jiuhuo looked at Ji Yichuan beside him, "Yichuan will be the reserve. If any of us die, Yichuan will take over."

Everyone knew that Ji Yichuan had to use forbidden arts to maintain sufficient Zifu combat power.

"Everyone!" Ji Jiuhuo's gaze swept over each one, "All for the Ji clan."

"For the Ji clan." Granny Ying, old servant A Xing, Ji Liuzhen, Ji Yichuan, and Ji Ning all replied solemnly.

"Go, to your respective formation positions." Ji Jiuhuo ordered.

Immediately, Ji Liuzhen, Granny Ying, old servant A Xing, and Ji Ning quickly headed in four directions.

……

At that moment.

On Snowdragon Mountain's side, Dong Ziqi and the other eleven Zifu cultivators cautiously entered Mount Oxhorn, which was filled with black mist. As the inviter, Dong Ziqi naturally took the initiative to deploy the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation! The huge Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation surrounded the twelve Zifu cultivators as a precaution.

Thus, the twelve Zifu cultivators would not be easily separated.

"Black mist illusion formation?" As soon as the twelve entered the endless dense black mist, they quickly began to probe cautiously.

"Everyone, be careful of the Ji clan's ambush." Dong Ziqi even shouted.

Inside the black mist, the atmosphere became tense. They all held their breath, cautious, fearing a sudden terrifying attack from the black mist. As cultivators, they all understood that no matter how much they looked down on the enemy, they must never underestimate any cultivator in a life-and-death battle.

……