Chapter 78: The Other Function of the Sevenfold Soul Reaping Formation

“Monster Hunt?” Jiang Yan was slightly surprised. After such a long time, the hunt was finally upon them.

Bailun would soon arrive at Mount Hua. Jiang Yan had to prepare quickly and go meet him. This time, Bailun was coming in anger; a single misstep could turn him hostile. If, because of Bailun, the Foundation Establishment cultivator Baitong developed designs on Mount Hua, things would become truly troublesome.

Jiang Yan’s divine sense swiftly withdrew from the white disc—no, it should now be called the azure disc. Due to his immersion, the once white disc had completely transformed into an azure hue.

Withdrawing his divine sense from the azure disc, Jiang Yan didn’t linger in the blue mists. He quickly exited the haze and drew his consciousness back into the sea of spirit at his brow, rising from the azure marble slab.

Knowing he’d soon face Bailun of the Golden Flame Sect, Jiang Yan thought it best not to let him see the mark of a rune master on his forehead. He casually tore off a strip of blue cloth and tied it across his brow, partially concealing the “wood” character.

Standing atop the azure marble, Jiang Yan surveyed the rune array grounds. All at once, the scene came into focus: the rooms for rune research, which previously only glimmered faintly with blue, yellow, and gold light, now shone with unrestrained brilliance, as though the constraints had been removed. Each chamber radiated intensely, and if not for the azure dome above the array field, the rays might have shot straight into the sky.

On the other side of the platform, the rune array testing ground also blazed with azure light, seamlessly merging with the sky-blue dome above, completely veiling what transpired within.

“Soon, this rune array field will foster Mount Hua’s own rune masters,” Jiang Yan mused, letting his gaze sweep the grounds before leaping from the platform and hurrying out.

Once outside, his body turned into a streak of golden light—the art of traversing ground in a golden flash—as he hurried to the spirit beast enclosure. He planned to take the Golden-Eyed Eagle into the sky and intercept Bailun before he reached the mountain. The less Bailun saw of Mount Hua, the better. If he entered and discovered the unique buildings, and Baitong of Foundation Establishment took notice, Mount Hua’s troubles would be endless.

At the spirit beast enclosure, the moon mink still lay sleeping on the ground, while the Golden-Eyed Eagle flew about exactly as Jiang Yan had seen through the crystal orb: sometimes soaring high, sometimes swooping down, now and then prodding the moon mink with its massive beak, rolling it back and forth...

Jiang Yan cast a spirit-linking incantation, connecting his mind with the eagle. At his command, the eagle flapped its wings and hovered before him. With a leap, Jiang Yan landed on the eagle’s back, issued a silent order, and the eagle ascended into the sky.

“Senior Sister, look, Big Eagle, Senior Brother! Senior Brother!” In the alchemy room, bored little Yunying had been watching the beasts spar. By chance, she looked up, saw Jiang Yan flying above, and jumped with excitement, calling Tang Wan over to look.

Tang Wan frowned. From Yunying’s giddy expression, it was clear she’d neglected her cultivation tasks. Yet as her eyes found Jiang Yan in the sky, a trace of joy flickered in her heart—her senior brother, with a blue cloth around his brow, looked more handsome than ever...

Riding the Golden-Eyed Eagle, Jiang Yan judged the altitude sufficient and halted its ascent, commanding it to circle in place.

“Sevenfold Slaughter Maze, activate!”

Jiang Yan pressed his fingers into a sword gesture, pointing at the mountain from afar, activating the mountain-protecting formation. The sky above Mount Hua shifted with wind and cloud; an azure lid rose swiftly from the mountain gate at the base, and in moments, the whole peak was shrouded.

Standing on the eagle’s back, Jiang Yan continued weaving sword signs, commanding the array to shift its colors and illusions from a distance...

The upgraded mountain-protecting formation, now called the Sevenfold Slaughter Array, could slay even a ninth-level Qi Cultivator. Once seven spirit swords coalesced in the formation, any intruder without an identity token would be doomed; even Meng Lu of Tianshan, a seventh-level cultivator, had perished under its power.

But the Sevenfold Slaughter Array had another potent function—transfiguration. It could reshape the appearance beneath its dome according to the master’s will, perfectly concealing what lay below.

Now, Jiang Yan employed this ability, disguising Mount Hua’s unique structures to present a scene of utter ruin, hoping to fool Bailun, who had come to summon him to the monster hunt.

...

The white-headed wild goose flapped its wings, sending torrents of wind through the air as it hovered above Mount Hua. Gazing down at the battered and desolate scene below, Bailun’s frown deepened. He muttered under his breath, “What a wretched sect—destitute and barren, yet still allowed to join a second-class monster hunt. They’re simply marching to their deaths.”

Inside the mountain-protecting array, Jiang Yan monitored Bailun’s reaction through the Thousand Illusion Crystal Orb. Hearing Bailun’s grumbling, Jiang Yan’s brows relaxed. It seemed Bailun was not strong enough to see through the illusion, and with his obsessive cleanliness, he would never leave his goose.

With this assurance, Jiang Yan guided the Golden-Eyed Eagle out of the array, deliberately emerging from a high branch, and made the eagle fly erratically, zigzagging in the air.

Seeing Jiang Yan approach, riding a ragged black bird, Bailun’s frown grew even deeper. This Hua sect brat, unable to get his own flying artifact to work, had found some unruly bird to ride—an untrained beast, lurching and swerving, a perfect match for such a rundown sect.

Noticing the blue cloth tied around Jiang Yan’s brow, Bailun thought with malicious amusement, “The boy must have been beaten by another sect’s disciple—he’s even injured his head.”

As Jiang Yan drew near, Bailun spoke curtly, not bothering with pleasantries. “Jiang Yan, this year’s monster hunt will begin in five days at Huasheng Temple in Linqing Prefecture. All second-class sects must attend, with at least two participants per sect. No spirit beasts or flying mounts allowed. As for Mount Hua...” He sneered coldly.

Seeing Bailun had taken the bait, Jiang Yan let out a long breath but did not relax his guard. He feigned terror, his face pale with anxiety, and asked, “Young Master Bai, is there... will there be deaths in the monster hunt? Might we die in it?”

Bailun snorted, guiding his wild goose higher, his tone icy. “Jiang Yan, useless sect leaders like you dying is just as well. Don’t hope for anything different. Since you’re participating, and only second-class sects are allowed, you’d best be prepared to lose your life.”

Jiang Yan suppressed his anger, circulating his spiritual power, and replied, “This sect master understands. Does Young Master Bai have any further instructions?”

Seeing the rage on Jiang Yan’s face, Bailun’s own expression turned smug and disdainful. “Don’t think you can escape the hunt. If you refuse to participate, the Golden Flame Sect will wipe Mount Hua from Linqing Prefecture. Hmph!”

PS: Pear Blossom Words, Brother Yu Liang, rewarded again yesterday—my deepest thanks. Today begins a new week—dear readers, seeing how I worked overtime yesterday and still maintained two updates, please send in your recommendation votes...