Chapter 1409: Disabled Squad

The Wind Rises in Kyushu

In a single engagement, both assailants were eliminated. They likely hadn't anticipated such an outcome, otherwise, they would never have acted so rashly.

Chu Shen and Invincible Lucky Star remained silent, their gazes fixed on Lu Ye.

Lu Ye clasped his hands within his wide sleeves, pausing for a moment before speaking, "What were we discussing just now?"

Chu Shen immediately replied, "We were discussing letting you take the lead, Dao Brother. I have absolutely no problem with that; we'll follow your every command! How about you?" He turned to look at Lucky Star.

The woman had reverted to her soft and delicate demeanor, her long, top-tier spirit treasure-like nails retracted. She spoke in a gentle voice, "I also have no problem. Either of you can take charge."

Chu Shen nodded, "Then it's settled. Dao Brother Fa, just tell us what to do. We'll listen to you."

"Listening to me is fine," Lu Ye said, "but I hope both of you can place a certain degree of trust in me, because regardless, we'll be working together from now on."

"Naturally," Chu Shen readily agreed, though no one could tell what he was truly thinking.

Lu Ye knew perfectly well that in such a situation, complete trust between allies was impossible, even for those from the same team. This was, after all, a temporary cooperation under the rules of the Star Palace.

He pondered for a moment, then continued, "The rules of this confrontation aren't about who lasts the longest getting the most benefits. The biggest determining factor is the number of enemies eliminated; the duration of survival is secondary. So, even if we manage to hide until the very end, if we can't eliminate enough enemies, we won't gain much. My intention is to proactively attack and strive to eliminate more enemies. Of course, with our three strengths, if we encounter only a few enemies, we can certainly fight. But if we face a complete five-person squad, it might be difficult to handle, and there could be some risks."

As he spoke, he took out the 'Like-Minded Array Disk' he had recently refined. "I have a treasure here that can be perfectly utilized in this situation. You two should familiarize yourselves with it first."

With that, he activated the power of the Like-Minded Array Disk.

In reality, if he wanted to use the 'Like-Minded' ability, he didn't need an array disk at all. The original purpose of refining the disk was to make it convenient for others to use. He himself could easily construct the 'Like-Minded' spirit纹, and its effect was almost identical to the disk, though it required him to constantly maintain it with spiritual power.

The reason Lu Ye chose to bring out the array disk at this time and in this context was naturally based on his own considerations. Whether it would proceed smoothly would depend on the unfolding situation.

As the array disk's power bloomed, enveloping the three of them, Chu Shen and Lucky Star's expressions tightened. Under the array disk's influence, both could roughly perceive the powerful reserves within Lu Ye's body. If the hidden power within an ordinary mid-stage Star Dweller was like a tiny candle flame, then the power within Lu Ye was like a bright lamp.

What amazed them even more was their clear realization that despite being strangers meeting for the first time, under the inexplicable power's embrace, their auras could easily and closely intertwine, with very little resistance or incongruity.

This profoundly shocked both of them, even more intensely than the shock of perceiving Lu Ye's powerful reserves.

This was because they had never before witnessed such a treasure's power.

It was well known that if cultivators' auras could connect closely, they could successfully form an array formation. And once an array formation was established, they could unleash abilities far exceeding their individual strengths.

However, forming an array formation was no easy feat. It required familiar companions who had undergone long periods of practice and coordination.

Connecting auras with strangers met for the first time was completely unheard of. If one's aura was cold and another's warm, they would clash. How could they merge and connect?

Of course, it could be achieved with the help of Array Talismans, but Array Talismans were precious, consumable treasures. Who would casually use them unless absolutely necessary?

Yet, this array disk was clearly not a consumable item; it could definitely be reused repeatedly. This meant that one such array disk was equivalent to many Array Talismans.

In comparison, the function of allowing mutual borrowing of strength seemed insignificant.

Lu Ye's primary reason for refining this array disk was precisely because it could enable cultivators' auras to connect and form arrays at will. Mutual borrowing of strength was merely another secondary function of the array disk.

Star Dwellers all possessed keen insight. Even Lucky Star, who appeared so unassuming and as soft as water, immediately recognized the array disk's greatest mystery, let alone someone of Chu Shen's noble background.

Though young, with a Sunlit Realm powerhouse as his birth mother, he had seen countless treasures and immediately recognized the immense value of this array disk.

He tried to hold back but couldn't, finally asking, "Dao Brother, what is this… called?"

Lu Ye gave him a meaningful look. "The 'Like-Minded Array Disk'!"

"Like-Minded!" Chu Shen savored the name, then praised, "A good name, very fitting!"

With this array disk's assistance, the three of them forming an array formation would have the power to contend even with a complete five-person squad. Lu Ye's decisive method of swiftly dispatching a late-stage Star Dweller earlier had already demonstrated this point.

They finally understood why Fa Wuzun had suggested taking the initiative. With the array disk's help, merely hiding would be a tremendous waste.

With the plan decided, a moment later, the three figures soared into the sky, forming a simple Three Talents formation. Each occupied a position of Heaven, Earth, or Man, their auras grand and conspicuous as they swept through the air.

Since they were initiating an attack, there was naturally no need for concealment. They aimed to be as noticeable as possible, not fearing enemies ambushing them, but fearing that enemies wouldn't show themselves.

Lu Ye took the lead, with Chu Shen and Lucky Star assisting. In the cultivation world, the strong were revered; this was a deeply ingrained concept for everyone. Although Chu Shen considered himself exceptional, he still had a significant gap compared to Fa Wuzun, who was ranked among the top on the Accumulation Chart. Lower cultivation was, after all, a hard truth.

In just about a quarter of an hour, Lu Ye sensed the commotion of a clash in the distance to their side.

Based on the current intelligence, there were at least three teams in this confrontation. Whether there were more was still unknown.

Though this desolate star was large, it wasn't exceedingly vast for Star Dwellers. With so many Star Dwellers gathered here, encounters, collisions, and friction were inevitable.

A clash indicated that at least two teams of cultivators were engaged in battle.

Moments later, as they closed the distance, Lu Ye clearly saw the situation. Indeed, two teams of cultivators were fighting, and they were two complete teams, totaling ten people!

This meant there was at least one other team on the desolate star, because their trio had previously dealt with two Star Dwellers, reducing one team's numbers by two.

The battle ahead was intense, with both sides trading blows.

The rules of the Star Palace had no explicit explanations, but they possessed many underlying patterns, the greatest characteristic being relative fairness.

In other words, regardless of the form of engagement, under the operation of the Star Palace's rules, the strength of each side was generally similar.

Take Lu Ye's previous arena battles, for instance. He initially encountered only mid-stage cultivators, but as he progressed, the probability of encountering late-stage cultivators increased. Because he consistently won, even though he was only mid-stage, the Star Palace had recognized that he possessed late-stage strength and would try its best to arrange late-stage opponents for him.

Of course, this fairness was only relative; the Star Palace could not achieve absolute perfection.

This fairness was also reflected in the personnel configuration. For example, the two teams currently clashing both had body cultivators charging at the front, blade cultivators assisting in killing enemies, sword cultivators raining down flying swords, ghost cultivators with elusive movements, and spell cultivators casting spells from afar.

It could be said that the clash between these two complete teams was a prime example of standard team cooperation, each with their designated positions and a degree of coordination.

If Lu Ye's team hadn't been short two members, it would undoubtedly have been an excellent team, not an anomaly in terms of configuration.

Such clashes appeared intense but rarely yielded significant results unless one side took a radical approach. This was likely why the two teams were fighting so fiercely without any casualties.

With similar configurations and similar strengths, they were naturally evenly matched opponents.

The two sides had been fighting for an unknown duration when the auras of Lu Ye's trio intruded near the battlefield, immediately alerting everyone present.

The cultivators from both teams simultaneously slowed their movements, vigilantly observing. In the cultivation world, it was common for a third party to profit from a struggle between two others. As they were engaged in a heated battle, they naturally had to guard against such an occurrence.

However, when they realized that only three people were approaching, and that they comprised two mid-stage and one early-stage cultivator, they didn't pay much attention.

Each of their teams had a late-stage cultivator leading and were at full strength with five members. No one feared such a "crippled" team.

They presumptuously assumed that the newcomers were merely there to watch the spectacle.

But to their utter astonishment, this seemingly crippled and not-so-powerful three-person team showed no intention of stopping. They charged directly into the most intense part of the battlefield.

Before they even arrived, an overwhelming surge of spells swept towards them.

The cultivators from both sides were furious. Someone shouted, "How dare you!"

This scene was like two male lions fighting, and suddenly a rabbit ran in and urinated on them. The damage was insignificant, but the insult was extreme.

However, an utterly astonishing sight unfolded. As the furious spells engulfed them, a mid-stage Star Dweller, who bore the brunt of the attack and was specifically targeted, screamed. His protective spiritual light shattered, blood splattered, and he plummeted through the air.

The individual, holding onto a last breath, cried out "I surrender!" and vanished before even hitting the ground.

Both groups of people stared wide-eyed. They now realized that this "urination" was highly insulting, and its destructive power was surprisingly significant.

To eliminate a mid-stage cultivator in a single encounter was no ordinary feat. Their two sides had been fighting for quite some time, evenly matched, with no casualties. Yet, this inexplicably intruding "crippled" team had eliminated one of them in their first move. What kind of situation was this?