Muu Guibai, meanwhile, had been searching for the whereabouts of the Six-winged Dragon Snake.
Just yesterday, with the help of Celestial Sword Master and Master Wuxin from the Golden Crow Sect, Muu Guibai had managed to catch a trace of the Six-winged Dragon Snake and used the opportunity to trap it on the Canglan Riverfront.
As a bearer of a True Dragon Bloodline, the Six-winged Dragon Snake was naturally extremely powerful, but it couldn’t stir up much trouble against the combined might of three Golden Core Masters.
But unexpectedly, the Six-winged Dragon Snake used some unknown Secret Treasure to conjure a Grand Array out of thin air. Not only did it trap the three Golden Core Masters inside, but it also summoned the remaining Demon Beasts to converge on the Canglan Riverfront.
This was the reason the Beast Tide had retreated.
Now, Luoxia City, the Golden Crow Sect, and the Celestial Vein Sect had joined forces, seeking a way to break the Array.
After listening to the message Zhan Tianxia left in the Communication Flying Sword, Song Changsheng’s expression changed slightly.
The power of three Golden Core Masters was undeniable; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they stood at the apex of the Daqi Cultivation World. But for an array set by the Six-winged Dragon Snake to trap all three of them simultaneously, it had to be a Grand Array of at least the Tier Four Level.
However, as far as Song Changsheng knew, there wasn’t a single Array Master in the entire Daqi Cultivation World who had reached the Tier Four Level.
Setting aside how the Six-winged Dragon Snake managed to deploy a Tier Four Level array, just breaking it was the issue. How could a Tier Four Level array be so easily broken? After all, not a single Tier Four Array Master could be found in all of Daqi.
’What about Teacher...?’ A sliver of worry rose in Song Changsheng’s heart.
This Demon King was no ordinary foe, and its intelligence was unfathomable. From the very beginning, every move the Six-winged Dragon Snake had made was unexpected. It seemed random, yet one couldn’t say it was entirely without a pattern.
Song Changsheng had always believed that the Six-winged Dragon Snake, as a Demon King, wouldn’t go to the great trouble of launching a Beast Tide for no reason.
The current turn of events seemed to be proving his suspicions correct.
"I wonder how the Masters plan to break the array," Song Changsheng murmured, his heart heavy with worry.
He was powerless in this situation. A Tier Four Array was beyond his capabilities. Even if he rushed over now, he would just be another spectator on the Canglan Riverfront.
Besides, he was still needed at Five Elements Peak. He couldn’t just leave.
However, the world was always full of twists. Song Changsheng didn’t want to go and cause more trouble, but he couldn’t stop someone from wanting him there...
The next morning, Song Changsheng suddenly received a communication from Zhan Tianxia. He had left a message in the flying sword: Golden Sun Master Su Ding of the Golden Crow Sect had already found a way to break the array. However, putting the plan into action required the help of a large number of Array Masters.
At present, all Tier Three Array Masters in the Daqi Cultivation World had been summoned.
Since Song Changsheng and Song Xianming were both Tier Three Array Masters, they naturally couldn’t stay out of it. Thus, Zhan Tianxia requested that they head to the Canglan Riverfront immediately.
Upon hearing Su Ding’s name, Song Changsheng felt an unconscious resistance. After all, their previous unpleasantness was still fresh in his mind. There was no telling if this trip would lead to new complications.
If anyone else had been trapped in that Grand Array, he could have come up with ten thousand excuses. But Muu Guibai was in there—his elder, his teacher. He had no reason to back down. He had to go.
"Grandfather..."
"I know what you’re going to say, so don’t bother," Song Xianming said with a wave of his hand. "The Great City Lord is in peril. Both my duty and my personal feelings compel me to go. I never expected the situation to change so quickly. There has just been far too much about this Beast Tide that is baffling and bizarre."
"Lutong."
"I’m here."
"Sheng’er and I are heading to the Canglan Riverfront. The safety of Five Elements Peak is in your hands. Remember, stability comes first in all things. Don’t be reckless, and always prioritize the safety of our clan.
If it comes to a critical moment, do not hesitate to abandon even Zhangye County. Do you understand?" Song Xianming said gravely.
Seeing how seriously Song Xianming was speaking, Song Lutong’s heart tightened, and he quickly bowed to accept the command.
After settling matters at home, Song Changsheng and Song Xianming rushed to the Canglan River at top speed...
"Changsheng, Elder Song, you’re here." Niu Dazhuang, who had hurried over to greet them, sounded somewhat downcast.
"Second Brother," Song Changsheng said, pressing his lips together. He knew Niu Dazhuang was worried for Muu Guibai’s safety, but he didn’t know how to comfort him, because he was just as worried himself.
"Brother, what’s the situation now?"
Niu Dazhuang shook his head slightly. "Not good. The Demon Beasts that were rampaging across the land have all started to regroup and enter that array.
As these Demon Beasts gather, the array’s power is growing stronger and stronger. We’ve already lost contact with First Senior Uncle."
"But didn’t you say Golden Sun Master has already found a way to break the array?" Song Changsheng’s face fell.
"He has a method, but we don’t have enough people.
Besides me and my master, the Tier Three Array Masters who have arrived so far are Master Ming from the Golden Crow Sect, and Master Feng and Master Bai from the Celestial Vein Sect. With the two of you, that makes seven people. But we need at least nine to break the array."
Nine Tier Three Array Masters—that was already a terrifying number. But they were about to face a Tier Four Grand Array capable of trapping three Golden Core Masters. In that context, nine wasn’t that many at all.
"Who are the two we’re missing?"
"Sword Master from the Celestial Sword Sect and Master Chen from Fulong Mountain."
Hearing their names, Song Changsheng understood. The Celestial Sword Sect was simply too far from Tuo Province; it was normal that they couldn’t arrive right away.
As for Master Chen, he was notoriously elusive. Although he had agreed to come, who knew where he was at this moment.
"Three days. We can wait three more days at most. Whether they make it or not, we have to try to break the array," Niu Dazhuang said suddenly.
Song Changsheng and Song Xianming glanced at each other and nodded silently.
Time waited for no one. The longer they delayed, the more danger the trapped Masters would be in.
In the entire Daqi Cultivation World, there were only six Golden Core Masters. The loss of any single one would be a devastating blow to the Daqi Cultivation World. What’s more, three were trapped this time—and they were the three youngest Masters.
That was why even Su Ding couldn’t sit still this time and had rushed over at the first opportunity.
If those three were to perish, the very sky over Daqi would truly fall.
"Brother, please take us to see the situation first."
"Alright, follow me."
Following Niu Dazhuang, they arrived at the place where the three Masters were trapped.
Niu Dazhuang pointed to a cloud of gray mist not far away. "That’s the array trapping First Senior Uncle. It can block Divine Sense, making it impossible to see the situation inside."
Song Changsheng nodded slightly and activated his Eye of Truth, gazing toward the cloud of mist. Densely packed Array Patterns appeared before his eyes, and after just one glance, he felt a stinging pain in his eyes.
His heart tightened, and he quickly withdrew his gaze, not daring to look again.
’What a powerful array,’ Song Changsheng thought, his expression grave. No wonder it could trap three Golden Core Masters. This array was truly extraordinary. He just couldn’t figure out where the Six-winged Dragon Snake, a Demon Beast, had managed to get such a powerful array.
Niu Dazhuang lowered his voice. "Golden Sun Master and Master Celestial Spirit from the Golden Crow Sect, as well as Wutian Master from the Celestial Vein Sect, are all here. I’ll take you to pay your respects first."
"All three Masters are here?" Song Changsheng was shocked. This meant that all six of the Daqi Cultivation World’s Golden Core Masters had now gathered.
A scene like this hadn’t occurred in over a hundred years.
Following Niu Dazhuang into a temporarily constructed palace, he felt a gaze fall upon him the moment he stepped inside.
Lifting his head, he saw a white-haired elder seated in the main seat of the hall, watching him quietly. Although the elder made no movements, his presence exerted immense pressure on Song Changsheng.
’Could it be him?’ Song Changsheng instantly had a guess about the elder’s identity, but on the surface, he remained impassive and followed Niu Dazhuang in bowing.
"These juniors pay their respects to the three Masters!"
...