Chapter 1180: 幽晶塔

After years of warfare, cultivators from both domains had been tempered by experience. Streaks of light crisscrossed the entire encampment, yet there was no sign of disorder; everything was orderly.

Soon, the battle formations were perfectly arrayed, standing ready.

The encampment was silent, filled with a palpable sense of grim anticipation.

Every person was a veteran of many campaigns.

From his vantage point in a high tower, Qin Sang overlooked the scene, recalling the Battle of Yun Cang Great Lake from years ago.

Back then, he, like everyone below him, had been merely a pawn.

From the perspective of Nascent Soul Grandmasters, that great battle had seemed somewhat trivial, as the number of Core Formation cultivators dispatched by both sides was very limited.

The cause was even more absurd: so many lives were risked in conflict merely over a wager between Nascent Soul cultivators from the two domains regarding who would provide the spiritual materials for array formation. Perhaps there was also an intention to temper their disciples.

This time was different. Nascent Soul cultivators were personally involved, affecting three domains and the Heavenly Demon Mound. It was a true battle for survival!

As the cultivators assembled, the grand formation also began to change.

The outer cold mist silently rolled inward, and the power of the Cold Bell Grand Formation contracted. Its range was now less than half of what it had been.

Si Di stood at the very front of the battle formation, his gaze stern as he watched outside.

A moment later, he suddenly waved his hand, and the battle formation advanced!

Si Di was the core of the entire battle formation. Other Core Formation cultivators each led a small team, the vast majority of whom were Foundation Establishment cultivators. Teams of cultivators moved in an orderly fashion, flying towards the edge of the Cold Bell Grand Formation.

The configuration of each small team did not simply consider the cultivators' cultivation levels or sects. Instead, it took into account their cultivation techniques and mastery of Five Elements Daoist arts. By arranging them accordingly, they could cooperate closely and unleash their strongest combat power.

Some of these cultivators wore armor, while others manifested various strange artifacts. It was clear that these were all of a unified design, serving special purposes in battle.

Qin Sang had rarely experienced such a spectacle. Furthermore, as he was appearing as an outsider, it was inconvenient for him to ask too many questions, so he simply watched in silence.

Before long, the cultivators disappeared into the cold mist.

This was the battlefield chosen by Si Di. The cold mist was a manifestation of the Cold Bell Grand Formation; their side all wore a type of magic artifact that could shield them from the mist's effects, while their enemies would be subject to various restrictions.

Additionally, by remaining within the grand formation, those controlling it could promptly adjust the formation and provide support.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue, it's time for us to move," Jing Lin whispered.

Qin Sang nodded. He activated a secret technique to conceal his aura and figure, then flew out of the high tower with Jing Lin, quietly moving from the edge towards the center of the battlefield.

For now, it was calm outside the Cold Bell Grand Formation.

The terrain of the Triplefold Pass was low in the middle and high on both sides. Their current position was at the exit above the Triplefold Pass, allowing them to easily detect any anomaly below.

The winter wind was like a knife, especially sharp on the Skyfaring Plateau. As far as the eye could see, the land was covered in a blanket of silver, which might soon be stained red with blood.

Qin Sang and Jing Lin hid on a high ground.

As they had just discussed, because time was short, they could not be too far from the battlefield. For safety, they meticulously set up a concealed spiritual array to hide from enemy perception as much as possible.

Qin Sang noticed that Si Di had sent cultivators out to scout.

There was still no sign of the Sinful Abyss army outside.

However, being cultivators, such cold was nothing significant, and everyone could simply rest in place.

Time slowly passed.

"Is there still no news from Stonebend Mountain?" Qin Sang stared outside for a moment, then turned his head to ask Jing Lin.

Upon discovering the Sinful Abyss's abnormal activity, they decisively withdrew their forces and reported the situation.

Jing Lin nodded. "If the Sinful Abyss attacks, they won't target only our Triplefold Pass. Stonebend Mountain still needs to gather information from various locations and discern the truth, so it can't be this fast..."

As he spoke, a hurried streak of light suddenly streaked into the grand formation. Then, from various directions, either more streaks of light appeared, or communication talismans and spells flew in like snowflakes.

Seeing this, they knew something was happening without even looking.

Qin Sang and Jing Lin exchanged glances. They fully activated their concealed spiritual array, holding their breath.

He secretly roused the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, instructing her to activate her Heavenly Eye divine ability to constantly monitor the approaching enemy. If the Sinful Abyss was hiding any treasures or people, encountering the Heavenly Eye Butterfly would be like encountering their nemesis.

"Boom... boom..."

At Si Di's command, war drums suddenly boomed.

The drumbeats were deafening.

They even used such methods common in mortal warfare, but one had to admit the effect was excellent. Hearing the magnificent drumbeats, everyone's spirits were greatly lifted, and their blood boiled with excitement.

Just then, some dark figures suddenly appeared at the edge of their vision.

The scouting cultivators sent out by both sides encountered each other first. After a brief skirmish, a few streaks of light flew back into the grand formation. The Sinful Abyss cultivators stopped a distance away from the grand formation, gazed from afar for a moment, then turned and retreated.

After this brief skirmish, more and more dark figures appeared in everyone's sight.

A vast, dark army pressed forward.

They could faintly discern the figures at the front.

The Minor Cold Domain, Skyfaring Alliance, and Sinful Abyss, in comparison to the Northern Star Realm, roughly occupied the northern and eastern parts. With almost no desert in between them, they formed a long, narrow region.

The three forces were originally connected, all human. Many years ago, they might even have belonged to a single entity, without such a distinct separation.

The methods used by both sides were largely similar.

Sinful Abyss cultivators all wore similar armor and carried similar artifacts. The biggest difference was that at the center of the Sinful Abyss formation stood three towering black crystal towers.

The crystal towers were made of a substance resembling black crystal. Each tower had only three layers and no actual doors or windows, though there were carvings resembling them.

At the top of each crystal tower, there was a spherical crystal ball, also made of the same material.

Each crystal tower was nearly three *zhang* tall and looked identical from the outside.

Perhaps due to the material, it was impossible to discern any runes on the crystal towers from the outside.

Marching through snow, and with the crystal towers being so tall, they were very conspicuous among the masses. Beside each crystal tower were several cultivators, specifically supporting it as they advanced with the army.

The Sinful Abyss clearly placed great importance on the crystal towers. The three crystal towers were all positioned well within the formation, heavily guarded.

Upon seeing the crystal towers appear, Jing Lin's expression darkened. "Three Gloom Crystal Towers!" he exclaimed. "When there are three such Gloom Crystal Towers, they must be personally controlled by Nascent Soul cultivators. Old Demon Tan and Old Demon Pei have indeed come out with their entire force!"

The two individuals he mentioned were precisely the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Sinful Abyss. These two had previously led armies, confronting them and frequently harassing their side, yet neither side could truly overcome the other.

Jing Lin did not have a pleasant tone when speaking of his enemies.

"These are the Sinful Abyss's Gloom Crystal Towers?" Qin Sang gazed at the three crystal towers.

Although he had seen descriptions of these items in the information he received earlier, this was his first time seeing them in person.

Seeing is believing.

Facing the Gloom Crystal Towers directly, Qin Sang immediately felt a sense of unease, though he wasn't sure why.

The information recorded that these treasures were different from other magic artifacts, as they were special artifacts specifically used in battle formations.

"Yes, these are the Gloom Crystal Towers!" Jing Lin affirmed. "Fortunately, these Gloom Crystal Towers have many restrictions, so the Sinful Abyss cannot use them recklessly. Otherwise, we'd be running ourselves ragged; I truly don't know how we would fight..."

Jing Lin's face was filled with relief, and he let out a long sigh.