Chapter 1441: Battle Yueyao

Lu Ye believed the Skeleton General was not in peak condition; otherwise, it wouldn't have only exhibited the aura of a Constellation cultivator. A short blade had pierced its left eye socket, extinguishing a cluster of ghost fire, so its diminished power was likely related to this injury.

If the opponent were a Lunar cultivator at full strength, even with their formation, the three of them could at best only briefly hold it back. Killing it would be impossible unless Lu Ye was willing to use the red talisman. However, against a Lunar cultivator with compromised strength, their combined formation might just offer a chance for a kill.

The grand hall's doors were closed, preventing any escape. The situation, as Pu Ke had said, left them with no choice but to fight to the death.

The Skeleton General was now very close. Lu Ye was only grateful that the creature seemed somewhat disoriented and hadn't used any ranged attacks. Otherwise, despite the hall's size, the three of them would have nowhere to hide.

As he thought this, the Skeleton General raised its massive sword, a surge of spiritual energy evident, and an astonishing light erupted from the sword's tip. Lu Ye's eye twitched; his fears were coming true.

The next instant, the Skeleton General swung its massive sword, unleashing a pale golden, sky-shattering sword light. Lu Ye immediately moved to dodge, and under the formation's guidance, Pu Ke and You Ling moved with him. The sword light sliced past You Ling, and the accompanying gust of wind sent chills down her skin. With a thunderous boom, the hall trembled. The sword light had struck the wall behind them, yet despite its immense power, it left not a single mark on the hall, whose construction material was unknown.

No sooner had Lu Ye and his companions steadied themselves than another sword light struck, followed by the Skeleton General's continuous barrage of attacks. After struggling to evade for a moment, Lu Ye realized this approach wouldn't work. If the three moved in unison, their maneuvering space would be limited. The Skeleton General's attacks were fast and fierce; while they could dodge for a short time, prolonged evasion would inevitably lead to mistakes.

"Disperse!" Lu Ye commanded in a low voice. Pu Ke and You Ling immediately moved away from him. Though separated, their energies remained tightly connected.

The "Common Breath, Shared Branches" formation disc's range was now considerable, easily covering the entire hall. Thus, as long as all three remained within the hall, they could maintain the formation. However, unlike before, where Lu Ye led the formation and Pu Ke and You Ling merely provided support, this was now a true trinity, with no one taking precedence. This was a flexible adaptation of the formation. All three were seasoned in battle and instinctively knew what actions would best benefit their current situation.

Although their three figures were dispersed, the Skeleton General seemed to have fixated on Lu Ye, directing all its sword lights at him, forcing him into a state of extreme disarray. Seizing the opportunity, Pu Ke cast his fishing rod, and a long line of spiritual energy flew out, resembling a long needle, heading straight for the Skeleton General's right eye socket. The Skeleton General, currently launching a furious assault on Lu Ye, didn't even glance at Pu Ke. It merely raised its left hand and casually swiped, catching the spiritual energy line in its bony grasp. With a slight tremor, Pu Ke's spiritual energy dissipated.

The Skeleton General abruptly turned, its massive sword descending with the force of thunder. In the direction of the sword's strike, You Ling's ghostly figure appeared, promptly floating backward with a gasp of surprise.

Lu Ye finally freed himself, his Crimson Dragon Blade now replaced by the Mountainbreaker Blade. Although the two long blades were nearly identical in shape, length, and weight, a weapon master's profound reliance on their chosen weapon was an undeniable factor. Lu Ye always felt a slight awkwardness when wielding the Crimson Dragon Blade. While its impact on his overall strength wasn't significant, it still accounted for roughly ten percent. In other words, Lu Ye, even exerting his full strength with the Crimson Dragon Blade, could only achieve ninety percent of his usual power. Facing such a formidable foe, he dared not hold back anything and had to switch to the Mountainbreaker Blade.

During the brief moment the Skeleton General attacked You Ling, he lunged forward, instantly appearing behind the General. The next moment, a dazzling blade light erupted fiercely, like a blazing sun. As the light burst forth, it resembled a lotus slowly blooming, each petal a convergence of sharp, refined blade energy. The moment the lotus shattered, Lu Ye was sent flying backward, the Skeleton General's massive sword missing his waist by mere inches.

Upon closer inspection, the Skeleton General was completely unharmed, a sight that gave Lu Ye a massive headache. He knew that Lotus Sun was his strongest blade technique to date. The fierce burst of power it unleashed should have been irresistible to any Constellation cultivator, yet the Skeleton General seemed completely unaffected. Even if this creature only displayed the aura of a Constellation, it was ultimately a Lunar.

As Lu Ye retreated, Pu Ke and You Ling's attacks arrived. Pu Ke continued to cast his fishing rod, seemingly treating the Skeleton General like a fish he was trying to hook. Long lines of spiritual energy repeatedly struck from various angles, targeting the enemy's weaknesses, but they achieved nothing, all effortlessly countered by the Skeleton General. It wasn't that Pu Ke was cowardly or afraid to advance; it was simply his inherent fighting style. Forcing a close-quarters engagement would only add unnecessary risk. You Ling, however, persistently attempted to ambush, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get within three zhang of the Skeleton General. She was often repelled as soon as she drew near.

Both immediately understood that victory in this battle would depend on Fa Wuzun. He was a true weapon master, most adept at close-quarters combat. Against an enemy like the Skeleton General, only such direct engagement offered a chance of defeating it. Therefore, the only thing they could do now was to restrain the enemy and create opportunities for Fa Wuzun to strike. They thought so, and they acted accordingly.

Their three energies remained constantly connected, and the Trinity Formation was maintained. The leadership shifted unpredictably; whoever attempted to strike could instantly borrow the strength of the other two, amplifying their own offensive. Although it was their first time cooperating, after a brief period of adjustment, their coordination became seamless and flawless. Inside the grand hall, the battle raged fiercely.

However, the situation was dire for Lu Ye and his companions. Pu Ke's fighting style limited him to long-range containment, and forcing close combat would only increase risk. You Ling couldn't get close at all. While Lu Ye occasionally had opportunities for close engagement, he was mostly repelled before even getting near.

They needed to devise a plan. Under such high-intensity combat, they needed to end it quickly. Prolonging the fight would inevitably lead to errors. Moreover, the dilapidated armor on the enemy was a significant hindrance. Whenever Lu Ye managed a rare chance to get close, his attacks were blocked by the tattered armor. If the Skeleton General was a true Lunar at its peak, then this armor was undoubtedly a treasure of the Lunar tier. If it were intact, Lu Ye wouldn't have any ideas, but now that it was dilapidated, it seemed possible to break it.

With a thought, waves surged, and a tide rose!

Pu Ke and You Ling both looked astonished. Amidst their busy defense, they glanced at Lu Ye, and what met their eyes was a bloody red expanse. In an instant, that redness spread, filling a section of the grand hall. The Blood River Art of the Blood Race, normally manifesting as a single blood river, transformed into a sea of blood in Lu Ye's hands. This was due to both his own surging vitality and the potent power of his holy blood. The holy blood of the Blood Race was a remarkable thing; the stronger the holy blood, the greater the enhancement to their secret arts.

Pu Ke and You Ling had no idea Fa Wuzun possessed such an ability. They didn't think too much of it, assuming it was just a common blood art, albeit one on a larger scale than they knew. Turbulent currents surged within the Blood Sea, obstructing vision, and even divine sense was greatly affected. However, due to their energetic connection with Lu Ye, the Blood Sea's hindrance was no issue for them. Even though both were now enveloped by the Blood Sea, they remained clear-sighted and unaffected.

Then, they witnessed an utterly astonishing sight: Lu Ye, who had been dozens of feet away from the enemy, now appeared spectrally beside the Skeleton General, his long blade thrusting directly towards its right eye socket. This attack was so sudden that even the Skeleton General was caught off guard. However, its reaction was incredibly fast. Just as the Mountainbreaker Blade was about to pierce the flickering ghost fire in its right eye, it suddenly tilted its head. A harsh screech of friction filled the air as the long blade scraped off the Skeleton General's horned helmet, sending sparks flying.

The Skeleton General's massive sword was already sweeping horizontally. Pu Ke and You Ling's hearts leapt to their throats, as they noticed Fa Wuzun seemed to have no intention of dodging. But just as the giant sword was about to strike him, Fa Wuzun's figure vanished spectrally again, reappearing directly behind the Skeleton General and delivering a heavy downward slash. This strike landed directly on the Skeleton General's back, and the immense force caused the General to stumble.

You Ling nearly cheered aloud. Because, since the start of the battle, this was arguably the first time their combined efforts had truly struck the Skeleton General without being blocked! Fa Wuzun was indeed Fa Wuzun! However, You Ling quickly reminded herself that if she ever had to face Fa Wuzun in the future, she must never allow herself to be enveloped by his blood art. From her perspective, Fa Wuzun seemed to have no movement restrictions within this Blood Sea, appearing wherever he wished. Such mystical means were truly beyond imagination. As an enemy, if one were to fall into such a Blood Sea, they might not even know how they died.

Utilizing the tactical advantage provided by the Blood Sea, Lu Ye's figure moved erratically, repeatedly appearing behind the Skeleton General. Each strike further shredded the already tattered armor. He also tried to target the enemy's weak points, but the eye sockets were ultimately not easy to hit. After several missed attempts, Lu Ye simply stopped wasting his efforts on that.

Thirty breaths later, Lu Ye, having once again appeared behind the Skeleton General and about to raise his blade for a strike, suddenly felt an ominous premonition. Without hesitation, he instantly vanished from his spot, reappearing dozens of feet away. As he retreated, he also sent a telepathic message to Pu Ke and You Ling, urging them to retreat quickly!