Chapter 2304: Thunder Tribulation Moon Orchid

The battle in Frost Valley quickly escalated far beyond what Elder Yun and others had imagined.

A sword-star hung high above, its light covering the four directions. Meteors fell like rain, endless. Tentacle-like insect bodies stretched out from Frost Valley, thrashing wildly at the sky, attempting to tear apart the stars above, but were mercilessly struck by the meteors.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

When the meteors struck the insect bodies, they didn't erupt in flames, but unleashed terrifying sword intent. It was as if countless invisible sword qi were twisting and slaughtering the insect bodies, pervasive and inescapable.

Confronted by the strangling sword intent, the totems on the insect bodies' armor began to glow, forming a hazy aura on their surfaces. The scene within the aura was indistinct, like a layer of soft armor enveloping the insect bodies. When the sword intent pierced the aura, it was greatly weakened, and even if it eventually penetrated, it could only leave shallow sword marks on the insect armor, which were instantly smoothed over by the totem's power.

The insect bodies surged with power, continued to grow wildly, and strained with all their might towards the sky, vigorously stirring the sea of stars.

Qin Sang stood above the sea of stars, calmly observing the rampaging insect swarm. With a slight thought, a tiger's roar echoed from within the sea of stars.

The tiger's roar was like thunder, brimming with fierce malevolence! Star-light converged within the sea of stars, transforming into a colossal Star Fiend Tiger. Its limbs were thicker than mountains, its body immense, and its tiger claws gleamed with cold light—a single strike could shatter anything on the ground!

"Roar!"

The White Tiger Star Fiend leaped down, its posture fully extended, embodying an eerie beauty beneath its terrifying might.

Struck by this fierce malevolence, the insect bodies paused for a moment, but then charged forward with even greater frenzy. Insect bodies entangled and coiled beneath the White Tiger Star Fiend, forming an insect net that then wrapped around the Star Fiend, aiming to bind it tightly and trap it there until death.

The next moment, the White Tiger Star Fiend passed straight through the insect net. The White Tiger Star Fiend was originally formed from sword intent, not a physical entity; how could an insect net possibly trap it? In contrast, the insect bodies forming the net stiffened, then began to disintegrate from their tops, turning into specks of dust that scattered like snow.

The destruction of these insect bodies immediately created a void in the Frost Valley Grand Array, and a furious roar, filled with monstrous rage, echoed from within the valley.

But Qin Sang showed no hint of triumph, as the White Tiger Star Fiend had become significantly more transparent after destroying the insect bodies. And…

Swish! Swish! Swish!

From Frost Valley, more insect bodies surged out, immediately filling the void.

"This shouldn't be the power of totems, but rather the innate divine ability of the spirit insects..." This thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind, and indeed, he then heard Nine Extinction's telepathic message, confirming it.

With a shift in his thoughts, the sword formation's power changed again. The roars of the White Tiger, the cries of the Vermillion Bird, and the snarls of the Azure Dragon reverberated across the battlefield. Three divine beasts, materialized from sword-intent Star Fiends, were simultaneously summoned by Qin Sang and, without hesitation, lunged towards Frost Valley, drawing the attention of almost all the insect bodies.

Inside Frost Valley, the guards operating the grand array paled at the sight. But with no retreat, they could only trust Elder Wen and grit their teeth, holding firm!

Whoosh!

A breeze stirred across the surface of the Frost Valley Grand Array, and a clear ripple spread out. But before the formation could fully change, it was struck by a fierce assault.

Only Qin Sang himself was leading the main assault on Frost Valley; Master Huixing and the others had been waiting for the opportune moment.

Now, the moment had arrived!

"Attack!" Master Huixing uttered a low command.

Three spirit treasures simultaneously burst forth with dazzling spiritual light, mirroring the starlight in the sky. The precious banner transformed into a thousand-zhang-tall object, smashing fiercely into the Frost Valley Grand Array with a thunderous roar, causing the cultivators in the valley to feel their blood boil. The prayer beads suddenly dispersed, transforming into clusters of Buddha light, from which whispered chants emerged. Each cluster of Buddha light seemed to house a Bodhisattva. Fairy Huajing's phoenix hairpin, on the other hand, was the most imposing treasure, manifesting as a stunningly beautiful fiery phoenix, trailing a long, fiery tail as it flew towards Frost Valley.

And before they acted, the tree formation manifested by the wooden disk had already exerted its power. The tree branches, like countless long whips, lashed furiously at the Frost Valley Grand Array, and the tree roots climbed onto the formation, resembling parasites attached to it, drawing power from the array to nourish themselves.

They specifically targeted areas where the insect bodies had been cleared by the sword formation, launching fierce attacks before new insect bodies could emerge, overwhelming Elder Wen.

These heavy blows were undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the Frost Valley Grand Array. Elder Wen was fighting a losing battle; the Four Symbols Sword Array alone felt like facing a formidable enemy, and coupled with the tree formation and the attacks from Master Huixing and the others, the situation for Frost Valley grew increasingly precarious, yet reinforcements were nowhere in sight.

Nine Extinction, hidden in the shadows, frowned. Elder Wen's performance was beyond expectations; the insect bodies seemed immortal, new ones immediately growing where others were cut down, like grass in spring. The intelligence they had gathered indicated that the insect bodies' regeneration should be limited, but they still couldn't see Elder Wen's limit.

Nine Extinction glanced at the sword-star hanging in the sky and secretly felt relieved. Given Elder Wen's performance, even if their previous plan could be completed and achieve Wuyan's objective, Nine Extinction's intention of sneaking into Frost Valley amidst the chaos would have been ruined, a complete waste of effort. Fortunately, they had brought "this one" (referring to Qin Sang). Looking at how effortlessly this person was performing, it seemed they hadn't used their full power yet.

Nine Extinction gritted his teeth, sent a telepathic message, and added some more stakes.

Qin Sang, within the sword formation, a slight smile played on his lips. He secretly chanted an incantation, and immediately, a true rain of fire descended from the sky. This was the Flowing Gold Fire Bell Lightning Summon!

Frost Valley was illuminated by starlight and lightning-fire. Flames blazed furiously on the surface of the Frost Valley Grand Array, as sword intent and lightning power raged, harvesting insect bodies. At this point, the grand array's protection could offer Elder Wen little security; the lightning-fire was relentless, and the sword intent ceaseless. The insect bodies repeatedly died and resurrected within the sea of fire, yet it seemed like their death throes.

As the insect bodies were suppressed, the pressure on the Frost Valley Grand Array suddenly intensified. Under the continuous onslaught, the constantly trembling Frost Valley seemed to be cracking under the strain.

Master Huixing's eyes lit up; he acutely perceived this change. After the battle began, control of the tree formation had been handed to him. Without Qin Sang needing to remind him, he made the most appropriate tactical arrangements.

On the west side of Frost Valley, the ground suddenly bulged. The thickest tree roots from the tree formation were summoned here, tightly intertwining to form a mountain-like giant tree. Concentrating the power of the entire tree formation, it slammed fiercely into the Frost Valley Grand Array.

Boom!

The light barrier above Frost Valley shone brightly.

Simultaneously, three streaks of light arrived together. The precious banner, prayer beads, and phoenix hairpin struck the same spot immediately after the giant tree, producing a sound like shattering porcelain.

"Pffft!"

The Frost Valley guards operating the grand array felt a surge of stifling pressure. The person in charge of the array seemed to have suffered a heavy blow, spitting blood and falling forward. The guards were alarmed, but fortunately, they were well-trained. One immediately moved to the main position, replacing the injured individual.

This impact also caused the insect bodies in Frost Valley to pause. Then, a bloody insect body shot out, desperately rushing towards the point of impact. A small crack visibly appeared on the light barrier!

Before the second wave of attacks arrived, the blood worm pressed tightly against the light barrier. Its body melted, and its blood seeped into the crack in the light barrier. With a flash of crimson light, the barrier was restored to its original state.

Unexpectedly, the enemy seemed to have anticipated this and did not continue attacking that spot. While the blood worm was repairing the array, the second wave of attacks struck a different location. This also severely injured the person in charge of the array and left another crack in the light barrier.

The Frost Valley guards sank into deep powerlessness. Each heavy blow meant losing a comrade; how much longer could they hold on? However, seeing the blood worms desperately patching the holes stirred their underlying resolve. Elder Wen hadn't given up, hadn't abandoned them!

Unbeknownst to them, a deep sigh echoed from underground. Elder Wen had exhausted all his strength, but the enemy was too powerful. Without the grand array's assistance, he was no match for the master of that sword formation alone. He could only try his best to stall for as much time as possible.

Yet, the more chaotic things became, the more vulnerabilities appeared.

Elder Wen anxiously monitored the direction of Master Huixing and the others' attacks, but failed to notice that, before the newly blasted crack could be repaired by the blood worm, a butterfly, shrouded in mystic light, had effortlessly slipped inside.

Nine Extinction, hidden in the shadows, also revealed a joyful smile. He cast a glance into the distance, observing the Frost Valley Grand Array, which was clearly on its last legs, and thought to himself, "The time is almost right."

He took out a bamboo hat and put it on, then quietly approached the Frost Valley Grand Array. Waiting for Master Huixing and the others to blast open a crack in front of him, he activated a carefully prepared spirit talisman, which, like a wisp of shadow, seeped into the crack, brushing past the blood worm.

Beyond the sky.

Two streaks of escaping light arrived together, none other than the elder and the young man who had received Frost Valley's distress call.

Though their speed was swift, they hadn't unleashed their most powerful escape arts, waiting for other fellow Daoists to rendezvous with them.

"Who dares to be so audacious as to launch a sneak attack on Frost Valley!" Elder Yun's eyes flashed with cold light, brimming with chilling killing intent.

Suddenly, Elder Yun's expression subtly changed.

"Hmm?" The young man also noticed something amiss.

The two gazed into the distant sky. Heart-pounding fluctuations emanated from Frost Valley, containing immense power...

"No good! Frost Valley is in danger!" Elder Yun cried out in alarm, his escape speed surging.

The young man could no longer persuade Elder Yun. The enemy's strength surpassed their expectations, and Frost Valley was on the brink of collapse. Waiting any longer would be too late!

The young man spread his arms, his hair and beard wildly swaying as if he were consumed by a demonic transformation. A colossal shadow manifested behind him.

The young man's eyes were tightly shut, his mouth wide open, yet the sound he emitted was incredibly sharp and high-pitched. Immediately after, the demonic shadow behind him also opened its enormous mouth. The high-pitched sound instantly became ear-piercing, carrying an unsettling quality.

Strangely, the scream only seemed to originate from the young man's mouth; no sound could be heard even right beside him. Instead, it was transmitted to distant locations through mysterious means.

"What is this?"

Within the sword formation, Qin Sang suddenly lifted his head, his gaze directed precisely at Elder Yun and the young man's location.

The enemy reinforcements were too slow, still some distance from Frost Valley.

Qin Sang then suddenly lowered his head again, staring intently at the ground beneath him.

Just now, he had heard a sound, its origin unknown, appearing seemingly from nowhere. It was as if someone had plucked an invisible string in the void, sending a strange power through means unfathomable to ordinary people.

"This is... a witch's curse? The power it contains seems to be... entrapment!" As this thought surfaced in Qin Sang's mind, a patch of shadow appeared above the Frost Valley Grand Array. A vortex within the shadow spun rapidly, generating a powerful suction.

No, it wasn't just suction; it was as if space itself was collapsing.

The sky-filling lightning-fire was swallowed by the vortex. The three Star Fiends, which had been slaughtering insect bodies and displaying their might, nearly plunged headfirst into the vortex. They strained desperately at the vortex's edge, resisting the suction, roaring continuously.

Elder Wen in Frost Valley suddenly felt a great reduction in pressure, and a look of joy appeared on his face. Reinforcements had finally arrived!

Regardless of the witch's curse's strength, its sheer manifestation astonished Qin Sang. He had once received a witch's curse infusion, but that was an ancient relic, not something performed by a witch cultivator in his presence. The enemy was still far away, a distance beyond what a normal Void Refining cultivator could reach, yet the witch's curse could affect the battlefield without warning, making it difficult to guard against. If it had directly targeted him, he might have been hit as well.

"The rumors are true; witch's curses are indeed hard to defend against." Qin Sang became a little more cautious about his upcoming journey.

Observing the black vortex, Qin Sang silently activated a sword art. The three Star Fiends suddenly ceased struggling, instead using the vortex's power to lunge towards each other, merging into one at the vortex's center. In an instant, the three Star Fiends vanished, replaced by an incredibly brilliant sword light!

On the horizon, the shadow behind the young man stiffened, then silently dissipated like a flickering candle in the wind. The young man opened his eyes, his gaze shifting before fixing intensely on Frost Valley, letting out a cold snort.

"Though witch's curses are eerie, they are not unresolvable!" Qin Sang observed the dissipating vortex and commented.

Immediately after, Qin Sang looked towards the horizon again, only to see a golden lightning bolt tear through the air, moving at astonishing speed. It was a golden eagle!

"A demonic beast? No!" Qin Sang saw at a glance that it must be some kind of transformation art. Unfortunately, his Celestial Eye Butterfly had already been sent into Frost Valley and was not with him.

"This Daoist will face this fiend; fellow Daoists, continue your assault on Frost Valley!" Elder Wen was at the end of his tether; it was only a matter of time before the Frost Valley Grand Array was breached.

Qin Sang took a step. As the sword-star flickered between light and shadow, the sea of stars already enveloped the golden eagle's head.

Nine Extinction infiltrated Frost Valley, heading straight for its forbidden grounds.

The cultivators in Frost Valley only knew it as a place for raising insects, unaware that it also nurtured rare species cherished by the Yao Clan. These rare species required meticulous care, and with the sudden arrival of the enemy, there was no time to relocate them.

Upon arriving at the forbidden grounds, Nine Extinction sensed around briefly, a smile appearing on his face. With Elder Wen preoccupied, he easily slipped into the forbidden area, saw through the Yao Clan's illusion, and located the insect eggs.

He swept away all the insect eggs, but his steps didn't falter. He then successively broke into several halls and pavilions within Frost Valley, emerging almost beaming with delight.

With the items in hand, he still couldn't leave immediately. He needed to set up several deceptive formations in Frost Valley to mislead the Yao Clan's judgment.

Nine Extinction immediately moved through Frost Valley, carefully selecting locations and dropping spirit talismans one after another.

Suddenly, Nine Extinction paused, his expression one of surprise as he gazed at the flower patch ahead.

It was a patch of spirit flowers growing in the void, with silver blossoms in full bloom. Electric currents seemed to flow between their petals; it was a type of lightning flower. The spirit insects in Frost Valley should have all been scared into hiding, yet a butterfly was gracefully dancing among the lightning flowers. The butterfly landed on the flower's pistil, appearing to draw nectar, but then the entire lightning flower was swallowed.

"This is the Lightning Strike Moon Orchid, and the patterns on this butterfly's wings... could it be...?" Nine Extinction's heart tightened. He felt the butterfly glance towards his hiding spot, then 'eat' the last lightning flower, and gracefully fly away, vanishing from his sight in an instant.