Chapter 530: Just a Little Bit More

"I'll set up the formation; you two act as guardians," the spell cultivator surnamed Liu announced.

The two Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators nodded, positioning themselves on either side, their gazes fixed intently on Lu Ye.

The spell cultivator surnamed Liu immediately conjured several formation flags, sending them in all four directions. From his technique alone, it was clear he possessed some skill in formation arts. However, at the Cloud River Realm, even those who specialized in formation cultivation couldn't achieve very high mastery, let alone a spell cultivator who only dabbled in formation arts.

As the formation flags were deployed, the cultivator surnamed Liu began to activate the formation.

Lu Ye remained seated, observing with a cold gaze.

After a moment, he suddenly chuckled, "Brother Liu, you're running out of time."

"Shut up!" the cultivator surnamed Liu retorted, his face flushing with anger. Setting up a formation was not an instant process; it always required time. If the spell cultivator surnamed Liu had sufficient time, he could indeed set up a concealment formation. However, time was precisely what he lacked.

No one knew when Lu Ye might suddenly make a move, which would inevitably expose their location.

Already on edge, and then mocked by Lu Ye, the spell cultivator surnamed Liu made a lapse in concentration, causing the interconnected formation flags to suddenly tremble.

He inwardly cursed, knowing that if he didn't quickly stabilize the flags, he would have to start all over again, rendering all his previous efforts useless. By then, it would truly be too late.

However, he was merely a part-time formation practitioner, not a true formation master. Faced with such a situation, he was powerless to remedy it, even if he wanted to.

As he continued his efforts, the trembling of the formation flags intensified.

The other two watched with furrowed brows. Though they didn't understand formation arts, they could tell something was amiss.

Just as the spell cultivator surnamed Liu was flustered, a formation flag suddenly flew out of nowhere and inserted itself into the formation, instantly stabilizing the trembling flags.

"You're not good at setting up formations," Lu Ye casually remarked.

As Lu Ye spoke, another formation flag flew out, perfectly integrating into the unformed array.

The spell cultivator surnamed Liu was speechless, momentarily unsure whether to stop him. After a moment's thought, he decided against it. He watched as formation flags flew out one after another, and in the blink of an eye, the rudimentary form of a grand formation took shape.

This astonishing speed left the spell cultivator surnamed Liu utterly amazed. He realized that in terms of formation mastery, Lu Yiye was far beyond him.

No wonder this person could cause such a stir in the Spirit Stream Battlefield. He had heard that Lu Yiye could bypass the defensive formations of various sect strongholds, which he had initially dismissed as an exaggeration. But now, it was clear that this person indeed possessed remarkable abilities.

Such a level of formation mastery might even surpass some true formation masters of the True Lake Realm.

Lu Yiye must have visited the Heavenly Evolution Sect and conquered the Hundred Formations Tower, gaining immense benefits from it. Otherwise, there's no logical reason for him to possess such high formation mastery.

It had to be said, the spell cultivator surnamed Liu's conjecture was entirely correct. Lu Ye's current high level of formation mastery was due to two reasons: first, his exceptional talent in the path of spirit patterns; and second, the most crucial reason, the extensive benefits he gained from the Hundred Formations Tower.

His venture into the Hundred Formations Tower had brought about a monumental transformation in his formation mastery, and the lingering effects of that improvement continued to benefit him to this day.

The Hundred Formations Tower of the Heavenly Evolution Sect was a painful sore spot for formation masters of Myriad Demon Ridge, as only cultivators from the Vast Sky Alliance could enter it, forever inaccessible to those from Myriad Demon Ridge.

As the spell cultivator surnamed Liu was lost in thought, a spirit pattern was swiftly constructed. With its core established, the formation immediately took on a concealing effect, enveloping an area of a hundred zhang.

The spell cultivator surnamed Liu's eyelids twitched with amazement. Even though they were enemies, he couldn't help but feel admiration. The mere ability to construct spirit patterns from thin air was an unreachable dream for him.

With the grand formation complete, the weapon cultivator holding a saber spoke in a grave tone, "Is it a concealment formation?"

The spell cultivator surnamed Liu grumbled, "Yes." Then he looked at Lu Ye and added, "Don't think this means you won't die!"

Lu Ye said calmly, "As I said, I just don't want too many people to witness my death. The concealment formation is complete, so let me set up a breath-concealing formation for you. The impending commotion will be intense, and one concealment formation might not be enough to hide it."

With that, regardless of their willingness, he continued to set up formations. Formation flags were deployed in all four directions, and soon, another array took shape.

He stood within the formation, trying not to reveal any flaws, activating his spiritual power to construct a void spirit pattern.

Spiritual power permeated the air, and fundamental Yin-Yang elements swiftly formed and spread.

However, the void spirit pattern was, aside from the Fire Phoenix spirit pattern, the most complex spirit pattern Lu Ye had encountered to date, three times more intricate than the Winged spirit pattern. How difficult it was to construct!

Even though he had constructed void spirit patterns many times before, there was still a risk of failure now.

He silently prayed, his mind focused to the extreme.

His luck held. The construction process was flawless. In a short while, 70% of the void spirit pattern was formed. It wouldn't take long; with just twenty more breaths of time, once the void spirit pattern was complete, he could immediately activate the teleportation formation and leave this place.

The only question now was whether the spell cultivator surnamed Liu could discern what he was truly doing. That individual had some mastery in formation arts, so he might not fail to realize that what Lu Ye was setting up was fundamentally not a breath-concealing formation.

He secretly glanced at the spell cultivator surnamed Liu, only to see a look of utter amazement in his eyes, as if he was completely immersed in the miraculous experience of witnessing a spirit pattern being constructed from thin air.

For him, a spell cultivator who also dabbled in formation arts, witnessing a spirit pattern master construct such a complex spirit pattern firsthand was undoubtedly a rare experience. It might even provide him with profound insights, thereby improving his own skill.

Perfect!

Lu Ye's mind was at ease.

Just as he was thinking this, a whooshing sound suddenly pierced the air. A saber light unexpectedly slashed at the void spirit pattern that was about to be completed.

With a bang, spiritual power erupted chaotically, and the void spirit pattern shattered instantly.

Lu Ye's face darkened. He looked up at the weapon cultivator wielding the saber, wishing he could pounce on him and hack him to death right then.

It was just a little bit away!

"Brother Xia?" The spell cultivator surnamed Liu startled awake from his immersion, looking at Xia Liang in confusion.

Xia Liang asked, "Is he setting up a breath-concealing formation?"

"No," replied the spell cultivator surnamed Liu.

The spell cultivator surnamed Liu shook his head. He naturally recognized a breath-concealing formation. However, even though he saw that Lu Ye wasn't setting up a breath-concealing formation, he hadn't stopped him. From his perspective, whatever Lu Ye did at this point, he couldn't escape death. The main reason he didn't interfere was that Lu Ye's method of constructing spirit patterns was too marvelous, providing him with some valuable insights, so he wanted to watch a little longer.

"I knew it," Xia Liang said, looking coldly at Lu Ye. "If you truly didn't want too many people to see your death, you'd just end your own life. Why bother with all this extra nonsense?"

The other two listened and realized he was right. Lu Ye had just helped them set up a concealment formation, and now he was trying to set up a second one, claiming it was a breath-concealing formation, but in reality, they had no idea what he was truly building. It was clear he had ulterior motives.

This completely contradicted what he had said earlier.

Knowing he faced certain death, yet still acting so sneakily, this was clearly not a mindset of willing sacrifice. He was obviously preparing to make a desperate stand.

Instantly, the expressions of all three became hostile as they looked at him.

Lu Ye remained seated, his eyelids lowered, offering no explanation.

Just then, a faint red glow suddenly appeared on his body. Immediately afterward, the red glow transformed into a towering pillar of light, shooting straight into the sky.

The expressions of the three Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators turned grim.

The concealment formation couldn't possibly hide such a phenomenon! They had wasted half the day with false expectations.

Now that Lu Yiye's location was exposed, a large number of Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators would surely rush to this spot. Although their cultivation wasn't weak, they couldn't expect to have him all to themselves. They couldn't possibly drive away all the approaching Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators, could they? That would incur public wrath.

As expected, only a moment later, a team of Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators from nearby arrived. This team consisted of four cultivators, the highest at the Sixth Layer Realm and the lowest at the Fourth Layer Realm. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be fellow disciples from the same sect.

They had merely come to investigate casually but discovered powerful cultivators from their own faction here. And the one surrounded in the very center was a person radiating golden light, wearing a green-faced, fanged ghost mask.

"This is..." The leading Sixth Layer Realm cultivator was surprised, then quickly realized that Lu Yiye was cornered by powerful cultivators from their own side!

However, what puzzled him was why these powerful cultivators from their own faction were only surrounding Lu Yiye but not killing him, especially since Lu Yiye's life was tied to a huge bounty.

The four didn't dare to get too close, so as not to cause misunderstandings with their powerful allies. They merely observed from dozens of zhang away, their minds filled with doubt.

As time passed, more and more Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators gathered. Most of them were like the first team, completely confused about the current situation.

Some powerful cultivators, however, went straight up to Lu Ye, exchanged a few words with Xia Liang and the others, and even tried to attack Lu Ye. But no matter how powerful the attacks, they could only send Lu Ye's body flying, unable to harm him in the slightest.

Soon, those confused cultivators gradually understood.

Lu Yiye, that fellow, had somehow acquired a Golden Body Token. He was currently protected by the Golden Body, impervious to external forces. Until the Golden Body disappeared, no one could kill him.

Some cultivators knew about Golden Body Tokens, others didn't, but after understanding the situation, all were astonished. That was protection granted by the Heavenly Mystery, and no method could break it until its duration expired.

Such a treasure would make even a Divine Sea Realm cultivator envious. It was unexpected that a mere Third Layer Cloud River Realm cultivator had obtained and even used it.

This was truly a waste of a divine treasure.

After all, Lu Yiye was destined to die anyway, so to waste a Golden Body Token was truly a pity.

However, they finally understood why the powerful cultivators of the Eighth and Ninth Layer Realms were merely surrounding Lu Ye instead of killing him.

This sparked ideas in many. Originally, their cultivation was not high, making it difficult to gain any advantage. But in a situation like this, it might be worth a try.

What if, at the very moment the Golden Body disappeared, they were the one to kill Lu Yiye?