Chapter 76: Thousand Army Slaughter Diagram

Mu Yuan saw that Bimo had been suppressed again, but he wasn’t in a hurry. He began to shout curses, “Stinky old skeleton! You deserve to be sealed here forever, unable to escape! I’ll go out and set up another layer of spells outside, so you’ll never meet another living soul! Don’t even dream of getting out!”

Bimo remained silent, his entire body glowing with a smooth, jade-like light. A red and a white stream of radiance circled around him, occasionally sending out tongues of fire and ice crystals. These two opposing forces did not clash, but they covered half his body with frost and half with blazing heat. He had no energy to speak!

Mu Yuan yelled for a while but still felt angry. He saw that strange fish still circling nearby. The cave was blocked by the Demon Suppressing Stone, so there was no seawater, but the fish seemed fine with it. Mu Yuan flicked a ring of Sword Qi from his finger. It shot out and exploded on the strange fish, making it shriek constantly. All its bone spines shattered, and it fell to the ground. Mu Yuan then cast another Talismanic Seal—the Brilliant Salvation Curse formed by his Tide True Qi. It swiftly wrapped around the strange fish and absorbed it completely!

“Hmph, from now on, this curse will be called the Northern Dark Water Curse. The one formed by the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force will be called the Purple Lightning Dragon Curse. I want to see just what Divine Abilities I can cultivate!”

The strange fish was completely absorbed by the Northern Dark Water Curse, leaving only a pile of white bones behind. Not even its essence or Soul and Spirit remained. There was also a rope-like object that looked like the tongue that had earlier snatched Mu Yuan’s Sword Pills. But now, its true form was revealed: a strange, foot-long thing that looked like a rope but wasn’t. It was soft and limp. Mu Yuan summoned it from the air and gave it a shake. He felt something inside. He released his Zhenqi, shaking off the outer layer, and revealed a bone whip!

“Old man, this belongs to you, right? Well, I’m taking it today!” Picking up this item, Mu Yuan felt a bit better. The earlier clashes of energy had damaged his recently repaired meridians again, making him break out in cold sweat from the pain. Luckily, the Tidal Flow was gentle and nourishing, and the Longevity Qi was repairing them. He didn’t worry about it but just shook the bone whip in his hand. He saw that it was densely covered with fine curse markings. Mu Yuan studied them for a moment and realized they were indeed very different from the techniques he practiced. They were quite similar to the Witch Clan Sword Formula.

He only read halfway before it stopped abruptly. Mu Yuan was puzzled when he heard the water outside churning violently. Another strange fish dashed in, identical to the previous one. Mu Yuan suddenly understood, “So it’s an incomplete magical treasure!”

Immediately, he pointed the Northern Dark Water Curse and pounced. This strange fish had only its tongue refined from Bimo’s bone whip, which was hard to deal with, but its own power wasn’t great. Sword Qi flashed out, encircling the tongue, and the Northern Dark Water Curse swallowed it just like before. Mu Yuan obtained another piece of the bone whip!

“So that’s how it is!” The two pieces of the bone whip didn’t join together. Mu Yuan sat down, hugging his knees, and reasoned that there must be more strange fish. He waited quietly. The Demon Suppressing Stone didn’t seem like it would stop anytime soon, so he wasn’t in a rush. After about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, seven more strange fish rushed in—nine in total. Mu Yuan killed them all and took their bone whips. Sure enough, they linked together into one piece, glowing brilliantly as if made of jade. Combined with the fine curse markings, it looked quite beautiful. Mu Yuan contentedly put it away and looked at Bimo’s skeleton, still struggling under the Demon Suppressing Stone. He felt very satisfied.

“This old thing probably doesn’t just have one bone whip, right? I’ll look around some more!” Mu Yuan wandered around the cave, spreading out his spiritual sense and scanning the area. He found nothing. Though a bit disappointed, he still felt the trip was worthwhile. The material used to forge this bone whip was unknown, but not only was it extremely hard, it also glowed with a flowing radiance like quicksilver. Even better, it continuously emitted spiritual energy. Mu Yuan followed the inscriptions on the bone whip and activated it. The whip immediately produced a hazy shield of light. Even when Mu Yuan, with his current cultivation, used the Greenwood Divine Radiance, he couldn’t pierce it. He was very pleased!

Now, he had quite a few magical treasures. The Longevity Sword rarely appeared; he also had the Six Harmonies Sword Pills and the Green Wood Thunderblade. The Six True Word Curses were also very useful. But he didn’t have many defensive treasures. This bone whip was extremely beautiful and its defense was very strong. Mu Yuan wrapped it around his waist as a jade belt—it fit perfectly. With a thought, he activated it, and a colorful glow enveloped his body. When released outward, it transformed into a white dragon-serpent-like energy arc that could pierce rocks and walls. It was even more powerful for binding and capturing people. That strange fish was only at the Channel Passage level, Qi Refining First Layer, and with just one-ninth of the whip, it could seize Mu Yuan’s Sword Pills. Although it caught him off guard, it still showed how powerful it was. Now, Mu Yuan’s cultivation was far beyond that fish’s, and the bone whip was now complete, making it even more formidable!

“I never expected it, you old skeleton! You look unremarkable, but the magical treasures you forge are both clever and beautiful! Luxurious, too! Truly worthy of someone from the Demonic Sect who has achieved an undying body! Since you don’t like to talk, I’ll be going now!”

Mu Yuan flipped the Black Water Gourd. The Mirage Dragon Thousand Illusions Array inside gathered water and lifted crystals, immediately creating a layer of mirages outside the cave. The fluctuations were faint; unless one was specifically looking, it was very hard to detect!

The Mirage Dragon Thousand Illusions Array wasn’t known for its killing power but was an excellent formation for hiding and trapping people. Mu Yuan set it up outside, making it difficult for ordinary people to break in. That old ghost Bimo might be trapped here for a long time!

Just as Mu Yuan was about to leave, two green flames suddenly lit up in Bimo’s hollow eye sockets. He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, “Shameless brat! When I escape, I will definitely seal your soul into my Heavenly Demon Bone-Dissolving Whip, where you will be baked by nether flames day and night, never to reincarnate!”

Hearing Bimo’s gritted words, Mu Yuan couldn’t help but shudder. He forced a laugh and said, “Old ghost, enjoy yourself slowly! You said it yourself—without a superior technique, your Reverse Blood Spirit Transformation Method is only a half-baked Primordial Spirit cultivation method. We’ll see who’s stronger then!”

Then he touched the bone whip at his waist. “So it’s called the Heavenly Demon Bone-Dissolving Whip? What an ugly name. From now on, I’ll call you the Numinous Jade Belt!”

He released Zhenqi under his feet and shot out like an arrow. He had no more attachments in Lingyuan Reef. Mu Yuan ascended straight up. The Heavenly Dragon Seal above his head had already disappeared, but he could still hear thunderous rumbles outside the abyss, deafeningly loud. Mu Yuan hid his form and peeked out. He saw the soldiers led by Ao Lie arranged in a unique nine-grid formation, floating above Ao Lie’s head. Between Ao Lie and the soldiers, there was an extremely wide Formation Diagram. The diagram was hazy and filled with strange, shifting lights, with fish and dragons stretching within. All the soldiers’ Magical Power poured into it, continuously gathering toward Ao Lie. Ao Lie himself seemed to have significantly increased his power. On his arms, a sword and a blade formed of energy shone brilliantly, soaring into the sky and clashing continuously with loud clangs!

Ao Cheng and Ao Jing, the two brothers, didn’t seem to have such methods. They stood side by side. Ao Jing’s silver-white spear had turned into a giant silver-white dragon, spewing fierce light. The Sinking Silver Thunder Evil had transformed into a water band like a river of stars, swirling around them. Ao Cheng’s Heavenly Dragon Seal also circled above, radiating flowing light, as they jointly resisted Ao Lie’s energy weapons.

“This is pretty good! It gathers the power of many for one’s own use. But the key seems to be that Formation Diagram. No wonder Ao Lie dares to challenge these two brothers—he has such a method! In that case, I’ll help you out. Hmm, Ao Jing is too powerful. Better to avoid the enemy’s sharp edge and go for Ao Cheng first!”

Mu Yuan wanted to test the wonders of the Numinous Jade Belt. He pointed with his right hand, and the jade belt turned into a bright arc, swift as lightning. It directly pierced through the Heavenly Dragon Seal’s dazzling light, wrapped around Ao Cheng once, and bound him tightly!

Ao Jing shouted loudly and shot out a sharp energy ray from his hand. It spun around Ao Cheng, trying to cut the jade belt. But the jade belt shone with intense white light, and Ao Jing’s energy ray couldn’t break through. Mu Yuan laughed heartily. The Numinous Jade Belt had already carried Ao Cheng back and slammed him heavily onto the ground!

“Truly wonderful and versatile! As expected of something used by the old man!” Mu Yuan was very pleased with himself. Ao Jing now stood alone against Ao Lie’s great formation. Though he still held his ground, he was struggling. At this moment, all of Ao Lie’s soldiers had joined the Formation Diagram. Ao Jing’s subordinates, seeing their lord in trouble, swarmed forward. Mu Yuan casually released Sword Qi all around, and the Northern Dark Water Curse transformed into a dark black light, flowing back and forth, formless and intangible, devouring everyone’s Magical Power!

With Mu Yuan covering him, Ao Lie grew even bolder. The glow of his energy weapons became increasingly dazzling, pressing down on Ao Jing’s Sinking Silver Thunder Evil, making it surge and explode continuously. Ao Jing also exerted his full strength. The thunder evil surged upward and exploded together. The huge recoil force was transferred by Ao Lie entirely to the Formation Diagram and soldiers. Constantly, soldiers either vomited blood and collapsed or exploded into pieces. Ao Lie’s whole body shook violently, and Ao Jing was in even worse shape. He forced himself to drive his silver spear, blocking Ao Lie’s energy rays, and then retreated gracefully!

Ao Lie didn’t pursue. His energy weapons still pulsed continuously. His aura was as majestic as a mountain and as vast as the sea. He was triumphant and high-spirited. This Formation Diagram was called the Thousand Army Slaughter Diagram. It was a rare type of Formation Diagram treasure in the Dragon Palace, best at gathering others’ Magical Power for one’s own use. It was most suitable for the Dragon Clan descendants like him in battle. Ao Lie was different from Ao Jing and the others; he belonged to an isolated group in the Dragon Palace. Unlike orthodox Dragon Clan descendants like Ao Jing who stuck together, Ao Feng had given him this Formation Diagram to greatly enhance his own power so he wouldn’t be bullied. Ao Lie had only recently mastered it, and this first trial proved it was truly powerful!

Ao Jing’s eyes burned as he stared at the Formation Diagram above Ao Lie’s head, flickering uncertainly. It was unclear what he was thinking. After a long while, he finally said, “Brother Ao Lie, Father King indeed values you highly. He even gave you this Thousand Army Slaughter Diagram. This time, my brother and I admit defeat. We withdraw from Lingyuan Reef and will not invade again. Please, fellow Daoist, release Ao Cheng!”

Mu Yuan looked questioningly at Ao Lie, who nodded. Mu Yuan then casually formed a hand seal, and the Numinous Jade Belt turned into a ball of white light and shrank back to his waist. Ao Cheng roared angrily, leaped up, and had the Heavenly Dragon Seal fly back from afar, landing in his hand. His eyes blazed with fury, as if he wanted to throw the seal and crush Mu Yuan to death, but Ao Jing pulled him away.

Watching as Ao Jing and his brother’s soldiers slowly retreated, Ao Lie finally put away the Formation Diagram, his face full of relief and joy. He smiled at Mu Yuan and said, “Today, I finally vented my anger! Fellow Daoist, you fell into Lingyuan Reef—were you harmed?”

Mu Yuan smiled slightly. “It’s nothing, nothing! I was just caught off guard by those two, and my energy got disrupted for a bit. I just meditated below for a short while and was fine.”

Seeing Ao Lie relax, Mu Yuan thought to himself, “I collected most of the sinking silver below and even got that old ghost Bimo’s Heavenly Demon Bone-Dissolving Whip. I gained so many benefits—I really should thank you!”