Chapter 728: Intruding into the Labyrinth

Even without being a formation master, breaking a formation can be extremely difficult. However, with sufficient power, one can overwhelm it through sheer force. For instance, even if Zhang Xuan were trapped in a Level 3 formation right now, without needing his Eye of Insight, a single punch would cause the formation to collapse. Every formation, no matter how potent, has a limit to what it can withstand. Exceed that limit, and it becomes completely ineffective. In essence, absolute power renders everything else insignificant.

The Illusory Maze Formation, provided by the Master Teacher, was a Level 5 formation, but only in its early stage. It could easily contain cultivators at the Bridge Heaven Realm, but trapping those of higher cultivation levels would be challenging. While the strongest of these spirit beasts were only at the Bridge Heaven Realm, their sheer numbers meant their combined assault could challenge even a Spirit Integration Realm (Seventh Stage Mortal-Transcending) expert. If all that force were directed at the Illusory Maze Formation, it would undoubtedly buckle and shatter at any moment.

"Breaking the formation by force?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present understood the implications, their faces turning pale. They had just felt a glimmer of hope for the rescue, but now the formation was on the verge of collapsing. What were they to do? Were they doomed to watch the formation collapse, sending the Master Teachers back into peril? Would all their previous efforts be in vain?

"Since you understand this formation so well, isn't there any way to fix it?" Luo Xuan couldn't help but ask, and everyone else simultaneously turned their gaze towards him. He had provided the formation and its flags; surely, he knew of a way to stabilize it?

"A remedy?" The Master Teacher shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, there is, but unfortunately, it's impossible to implement!"

"Impossible? Tell us what it is! With so many of us here, we can surely find a solution..." Luo Xuan quickly urged. Among their fifty-plus Master Teachers, several also specialized in formations. If there was a method, they certainly had enough people to execute it.

"Having many people right now... is completely useless!" the Master Teacher sighed. "To be frank, this formation is only a Level 5, early stage. If a 5-star formation master were to personally reinforce it, it could be upgraded to mid-stage, or even late-stage. In that case, even the combined might of these spirit beasts wouldn't be enough to breach it."

"A 5-star formation master? Zhang Shi's understanding of formations isn't inferior to one, is it? Can't he do it?" Young Master Ruohuan couldn't help but ask. Zhang Shi's grasp of formations was astonishing; he could even set up a 5-star formation with ease. Surely, maintaining this one wouldn't be difficult for him?

"You misunderstand," the Master Teacher explained. "When I say '5-star formation master,' I mean someone whose cultivation has reached the Bridge Heaven Realm! While Zhang Shi's understanding of formations is indeed profound, his cultivation is still only at the Spirit Unification Realm! Without sufficient power, he cannot activate the energy imprinted on the formation flags by the original teacher. Any attempt he makes would be futile!"

"This..." Their faces turned grim as everyone clenched their fists. For any other task, their combined efforts would undoubtedly yield better results, but reaching the Bridge Heaven Realm... With the formation threatening to collapse at any moment, it was impossible for anyone to achieve such a breakthrough in so little time. Without that breakthrough, strengthening the formation was out of the question.

"That Brother Yu, who was here earlier, had reached the Bridge Heaven Realm, but it's certainly too late to go find him now..." Luo Xuan gritted his teeth. Among the new students undergoing the assessment, he knew that 'Brother Yu' had reached that cultivation level. However, not only was he nowhere to be found, but he also had a previous conflict with them, making it virtually impossible to ask for his help.

"I suggest you all leave and seek reinforcements to help. Otherwise, if the formation breaks and these spirit beasts escape, we will also inevitably face disaster..." The Master Teacher hesitated, glancing around, but before he could finish his sentence, he noticed everyone suddenly fall silent, staring ahead with an almost frantic intensity.

"What's wrong?" Frowning, he looked up as well. What he saw made his jaw drop, unable to close it.

Zhang Shi, standing on a rock ahead, was observing the unstable formation below that threatened to shatter at any moment. He suddenly took a deep breath, and his aura began to surge dramatically.

*Boom!*

His acupoints opened, frantically drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy. The speed was so immense that it created a thunderous roar. Above his head, a rainbow-like bridge formed, stretching directly between heaven and earth, making him appear tall, majestic, and utterly invincible, like a divine demon.

"He... he's about to break through to the Bridge Heaven Realm?" The Master Teacher's lips trembled, and he nearly burst into tears. Other cultivators at the peak of the Spirit Unification Realm needed a teacher's protection, ample resources, and even countless days of arduous training to break through to the Bridge Heaven Realm. Yet, this guy, seeing the formation about to collapse and requiring a Bridge Heaven Realm expert to suppress it, simply chose to break through then and there... This was simply ridiculous!

As they stood there in trembling shock, Zhang Xuan opened his mouth and swallowed the ethereal bridge into his body. A rumbling sound emanated from within him, and his cultivation surged dramatically. He exhaled a turbid breath, and the young man opened his eyes, which gleamed like lightning. Every movement he made seemed to align perfectly with nature, as if connected by an invisible bridge.

"The Bridge Heaven Realm... he... he just broke through?"

"That was just too... easy..."

Everyone swallowed hard. They had seen rapid breakthroughs before, but never anything this quick. In just two or three breaths, he went from the Spirit Unification Realm to the Bridge Heaven Realm. *Brother, are you sure you're not a hidden super expert just messing with us?*

"No time to continue cultivating..." Zhang Xuan murmured, looking down at the constantly shaking formation. Under normal circumstances, now that he possessed the Heavenly Dao cultivation method for the Bridge Heaven Realm, he would push straight to its peak. However, with the formation below threatening to collapse at any moment, he clearly didn't have the luxury of time.

"Stabilize!" Raising an eyebrow, he flicked a finger, sending hundreds of strands of true qi surging into the formation.

*Creak! Creak!*

Nourished by the Heavenly Dao True Qi, the mist below, which had grown somewhat thin, thickened once more. Despite the spirit beasts' frantic assault, the trembling Illusory Maze Formation gradually stabilized.

"He succeeded..."

"It's stable again..."

Everyone's eyes shone with excitement as they looked at the young man nearby, each filled with admiration. He could just casually break through to the Bridge Heaven Realm... Was he even human?! Young Master Ruohuan, Luo Xuan, and the others, in particular, kept swallowing, almost fainting from sheer shock. During the Grand Master Teacher Competition in Myriad Kingdoms City, they had personally witnessed him breaking through from the Yin-Yang Realm to the Pure-Turbid Realm. How much time had passed since then, and he was already a Bridge Heaven Realm expert? They had once entertained the thought of competing with him, but now, their confidence was utterly shattered.

"Alright, the maze formation is stable, preventing the two sides from fighting. Now, let's figure out how to rescue them!" Zhang Xuan said, letting out a sigh of relief as he returned.

"Theoretically, yes, but the formation is still filled with spirit beasts... How do we rescue them?" everyone asked, looking at him. While the maze formation trapped both combatants and theoretically ensured the Master Teachers' safety by preventing further fighting, rescuing them was still not easy. The spirit beasts were merely trapped, not dead. Anyone charging in from outside would easily be surrounded and find escape difficult. Conversely, those inside trying to get out would also encounter them and be forced into another fierce battle. In short, as long as the spirit beasts and Master Teachers remained trapped in their current positions, even the strongest individual would be unable to rescue them. Unless... the people inside could simply fly out! But even if they could fly, they would first need to locate the 'life gate' of the maze formation. Within such an illusory formation, all directions — up, down, left, right — were deceptive. If merely jumping could lead to an exit, it wouldn't qualify as a Level 5 formation.

"It's quite simple," Zhang Xuan stated calmly, his gaze fixed on the maze formation. "You all wait here. I'll go in and rescue them!"

"Zhang Shi, no! Even though you're a formation master, inside the maze, directions are indistinguishable. If you get trapped and surrounded by spirit beasts, it will be disastrous!" everyone exclaimed in alarm. The maze contained not only Master Teachers but also hundreds of spirit beasts. Even if he had just broken through to the Bridge Heaven Realm, facing so many formidable creatures would be overwhelming!

"Trap me?" Zhang Xuan shook his head and offered no reply, simply instructing them, "Prepare yourselves. Once the others emerge, attend to their injuries and provide any necessary treatment!" Before anyone could react, he leaped, soaring directly into the maze formation ahead.

"Zhang Shi..." Everyone's vision swam, and they nearly fainted. Leaping directly into the maze meant that if he were caught in the spirit beasts' encirclement, he would surely perish!

"What are we going to do?" a Master Teacher in the crowd cried out.

"Don't panic," Young Master Ruohuan interjected. "Zhang Shi never acts recklessly. If he dared to jump in, he must have a plan!" Others might not understand Zhang Shi, but he did. Zhang Shi never did anything without a clear strategy. His direct plunge surely meant he had a plan all along.

"Exactly," Luo Xuan added. "Didn't Zhang Shi just tell us to prepare for the rescue? If he said it so confidently, he must have a method!"

"A method? What kind of method could there be? Even with his understanding of formations, he'll still be facing countless spirit beasts; he can't possibly contend with them all..."

"Unless he can bypass the spirit beasts and rescue the people discreetly!"

"Since Zhang Shi can break through to the Bridge Heaven Realm so easily and set up a Level 5 formation with such effortlessness, perhaps he truly can do it..."

After a few hushed discussions, everyone collectively looked down into the mist. Zhang Xuan had landed and vanished into it, leaving no trace. With so many spirit beasts, a direct charge was impossible. The only way was to bypass them and discreetly rescue the others. But... could Zhang Shi truly manage to bypass hundreds of spirit beasts within the maze?

*Roar! Roar! Roar!*

Just as everyone's tension mounted, violent roars suddenly echoed from within the mist, indicating Zhang Xuan had encountered the spirit beasts.

"Oh no, he's encountered them..." An encounter meant immediate danger!

"What do we do?" Everyone was consumed by anxiety, wishing they could immediately rush down to help. However, before they could even move, the roars sounded again, but this time, they were not expressions of rage. Instead, they seemed to convey a bizarre and terrifying realization. They were filled with dread and fear.

*Roar? Roar? Roar?*

This was followed by a series of horrific wails, like pigs being slaughtered, piercing eardrums. It was as if, within the mist, it wasn't Zhang Shi who had encountered danger, but rather... the spirit beasts that had encountered a monster.

"What in the world is happening?" The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, completely stunned.