Gongsun Xin said coldly, "Are they already this close? That’s about enough. Activate the level-five Killing Array."
A level-five Killing Array could slay experts in the Demon Spirit Realm. Such an Array consumed a tremendous amount of resources. In just fifteen minutes, it could burn through one hundred thousand Demon Soul Crystals. But in the face of a crisis threatening the Gongsun Family, no one cared about the cost. Soon, the Martial Arts Killing Array was activated.
"Report! Ten thousand members of the He Family in the north have been trapped in the level-five Killing Array. Many Demon Spirit Realm experts have already fallen!"
"Report! The Yun Family has fallen into the level-five Killing Array, and two hundred of their Demon Spirit Realm experts have already been killed..."
Reports of victory came in one after another. The formidable power of the Array was finally on full display. However, the more people the Four Great Clans lost, the more frenzied they became. Because no matter what, they had to take down the Gongsun Family.
Just two hours later, a scout exclaimed in alarm.
"Young City Lord, this is bad! The level-five Killing Array has been destroyed. The Patriarchs of the Four Great Clans—including the Sun Family—personally led the charge and shattered all the Arrays with sheer, overwhelming force.
"Young City Lord, the Four Great Clans are now only five hundred meters away from us!"
Gongsun Xin did not speak. He had already heard the commotion around them. The main courtyard was completely surrounded by smoke and dust. Billowing clouds of dust filled the sky. A light breeze blew past, carrying a nauseating stench of blood mixed within the dust.
"Gongsun Xin, they’re about to surround the main courtyard. It’s time for us to make our move, isn’t it?" Gongsun Ancient Formula’s voice came again. Over the past few days, he had been constantly requesting to fight. But Gongsun Xin had not agreed. At this moment, Gongsun Xin finally nodded.
"All members of the Direct Lineage, hear my command! Take the initiative to meet the enemy! Second Uncle, lead your branch, along with Gongsun Qingyue’s branch, to fend off the He Family.
"Third Uncle, go and hold off the Yun Family.
"Fourth Uncle, go and stop the Qiu Family."
"We finally get to make a move! Let these ants know the true gap in our strength!"
"There are only three days left! Let’s make sure none of them return alive!"
"Anyone who offends our Gongsun Family shall be killed without mercy!"
The members of the Direct Lineage were all seething with excitement. They had cowered for four days, all for this very day.
"Xuan’Er, stay close to me later," Gongsun Yanran spoke up to remind Ye Xuan. Led by an old man, they hurried toward the south to fight against the people of the Qiu Family. Just as they left the main courtyard, a terrifying pressure descended from the distant sky. Ye Xuan looked up and saw a giant turtle. This was the Ghost Crocodile Turtle, an intermediate-level Fierce Beast Soul.
"That location... is the resource vault!" Ye Xuan did not know whose Beast Soul this was. But beside the Beast Soul was a Big Mountain. That was exactly where the resource vault was located. "Mother, I’m going to take a look!"
Without another word, Ye Xuan sprinted toward the resource vault. As soon as Ye Xuan moved, Hua immediately followed.
"Xuan’Er!" Gongsun Yanran couldn’t stop him no matter how hard she called out. She looked at the old man and said, "Fourth Uncle, the Ghost Crocodile Turtle is the Supreme Elder’s Beast Soul. Could someone from the Qiu Family have breached our defenses and rushed in ahead of time? Fourth Uncle, should we send someone to check?"
"There’s no need. With the Supreme Elder’s cultivation, no one is his match. With him standing guard over the resource vault, no one can get inside. I know you’re worried about Ye Xuan, but leave him be. Going there is actually the safest option for him. Alright, let’s hurry."
The old man led the Direct Lineage of the Ye Family, rushing toward the south. Gongsun Yanran did not chase after him in the end. Fourth Uncle was right; the Supreme Elder’s location was indeed the safest. She turned around and cast a glance at Liu Ruoxi. "Stay close to me later."
Liu Ruoxi said coldly, "If you are truly worried about my safety, let me go right now."
Liu Ruoxi was actually the happiest about the Gongsun Family suddenly being besieged. Because she finally had a chance to escape. The more chaotic the scene, the greater her chances. However, Yanran kept a close eye on her.
"Ruoxi, I know what you are thinking, but our Gongsun Family will not lose."
Liu Ruoxi remained silent. Although the Gongsun Family had lost quite a few people, their core strength remained untouched. But no matter what, as long as she found an opportunity, she would definitely run away. She believed that, this time, she would successfully escape!
Ye Xuan rushed all the way to the foot of the mountain.
By the time he arrived, two old men were engaged in a fierce battle. One was the old fisherman from the other day, and the other was Jing Zhiyuan. Both Jing Zhiyuan and the old fisherman had unleashed their Beast Soul Power. The old fisherman’s Beast Soul was the Ghost Crocodile Turtle. Jing Zhiyuan’s Beast Soul was the Five-Colored Bird. The Five-Colored Bird was also an intermediate-level Fierce Beast Soul.
At this moment, Jing Zhiyuan’s entire body erupted into flames. He looked like a giant of fire, pushing his Fire Attribute Spiritual Qi to its absolute limits. His figure, like a Shadow, appeared beside the old fisherman, relentlessly attacking him from all directions. But the old fisherman sat as steadily as a mountain, without moving his body in the slightest.
"Impossible!" Jing Zhiyuan was utterly astonished. He had used his full strength! His cultivation was at the 4th Layer of the Earth Spirit Realm. After utilizing his Fire Attribute, his combat power reached the 5th Layer of the Earth Spirit Realm. Yet he could do absolutely nothing against the old man.
Looking closely, he finally realized that the object on the old man’s back wasn’t a bamboo hat, but a turtle shell. Spots had also appeared on the old man’s face.
"This is... Beast Soul Transformation!"
Beast Soul Transformation was a skill that ordinary people simply could not master. Only a true genius could grasp it.
The old fisherman said indifferently, "Jing Zhiyuan, you are quite good at biding your time. You waited until today to come to the resource vault. I thought you would show up here on the very first day the Five Great Clans launched their siege."
Jing Zhiyuan did not answer at all. His hands rapidly performed a Sealing Technique. "So what if you know Beast Soul Transformation? Water Dragon Slaying!"
The calm lake water suddenly began to boil and churn. Then, all the lake water surged high into the sky and transformed into a colossal Water Dragon. The Water Dragon glared fiercely like a tiger, radiating majestic awe. This was the formidable might of the Earth Spirit Realm. At this realm, having comprehended the Dao, they could harness all creations in heaven and earth for their own use. The Water Dragon was enormous, resembling a true awakened dragon. This was undoubtedly an Earth-tier Martial Technique.
The Water Dragon struck at the old man. It moved incredibly fast, like a bolt of lightning.
BOOM!
A massive explosion echoed. Water splashed everywhere, filling the sky. These water droplets acted like peerless, lethal weapons, sweeping violently in all directions.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The ground instantly became riddled with countless holes.
"Not good!" Ye Xuan’s expression changed drastically. A barrage of water droplets was hurtling toward him like deadly projectiles. Without hesitation, he immediately took out an Earth-tier weapon and blocked in front of himself.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The immense backward force sent his body skidding away rapidly. It wasn’t until Hua appeared behind him that he managed to stop. Looking closely, the webbing between Ye Xuan’s thumb and index finger was already dripping with blood. A battle between Earth Spirit Realm experts was this terrifying, even if it was merely the aftershocks.
"Trying to break into the resource vault is one thing, but disturbing my fishing is an unforgivable sin. You deserve to die!" The old man suddenly grew furious. He stood up. Holding his fishing hook, he looked half-human and half-beast, much like the Turtle Minister from myths and legends.
In the next moment, he flicked the fishing hook. This seemingly effortless movement actually tore rifts into the surrounding space. There were two spatial rifts in total: one on his end, and the other right beside Jing Zhiyuan’s head!
The fishing hook entered the rift on the old man’s side and subsequently flashed out from the other rift. A spray of blood bloomed in mid-air.
Ye Xuan’s pupils contracted repeatedly. He saw it crystal clear—the straight fishing hook had pierced directly into Jing Zhiyuan’s head. A small hole appeared in Jing Zhiyuan’s skull. Without even being able to let out a cry of alarm, Jing Zhiyuan’s body fell stiffly to the ground. His brain had already been shredded to pieces by Spiritual Qi. Jing Zhiyuan was instantly killed in a single strike.