Chapter 48: Array Masters

Chapter Eighteen

Luo Feng arrived at the Zhu Clan's dwelling with Moluosa. Since both were located in the 'Chaos Alpha Zone,' the journey was short.

"This truly is the Zhu Clan. The cost of this formation alone must have been immense," Luo Feng remarked, gazing at the powerful, sprawling formation in operation. It was the strongest formation he had ever seen in Huyang City. Such a formidable formation meant that the assassin Ying Cang couldn't possibly break in. Even Luo Feng, who had significantly advanced his cultivation realm over more than twenty epochs, would likely need to burn his divine power to tear through the formation and force an entry.

"Nearly a hundred million core members of my Zhu Clan reside here, so we cannot afford to be careless," Zhu You explained with a smile, walking alongside him. "My Zhu Clan expended significant karma to establish this formation in the first place."

Luo Feng nodded. Unlike the five great families, which were merely branches, the Zhu Clan was deeply rooted here and had naturally fortified their dwelling to be impenetrable.

Soon, Luo Feng saw a slender old man with green mystical patterns covering his skin. The old man smiled as he looked at Luo Feng and greeted him, "Divine Lord Luohe."

"Clan Leader Zhuhu," Luo Feng replied courteously. Clan Leader Zhuhu's reputation in Huyang City was as formidable as that of Molixiao and Xueyun.

"Please, come in," Clan Leader Zhuhu invited, leading them into a small building. Zhuhu, Zhu You, and Luo Feng took their seats, and exquisite food and fine wine were served.

"Only today do I have the honor of meeting Divine Lord Luohe," Clan Leader Zhuhu said, looking at Luo Feng with admiration. "Although you haven't been in Huyang City for long, your reputation has quickly become the most prominent here."

"That's merely an empty reputation," Luo Feng replied.

"Divine Lord, you are too modest," Clan Leader Zhuhu said, with a wave of his hand. A jade-green bottle flew and landed on the table before Luo Feng. "Two million cosmos sand. Please feel free to verify."

Luo Feng's divine power permeated the bottle, confirming there were indeed exactly two million cosmos sand, not a single grain less. Luo Feng was secretly impressed, realizing that the native power represented by the Zhu Clan was quite unfathomable, effortlessly producing such a vast sum of wealth.

"This is the Interspatial Sword," Luo Feng said, handing the mechanical secret treasure, the Interspatial Sword, to Clan Leader Zhuhu. Clan Leader Zhuhu quickly inspected it before putting it away.

With the transaction complete, the atmosphere grew even more congenial. After they had finished their meal, Luo Feng bid farewell to Clan Leader Zhuhu, with Zhu You personally seeing him off.

"No need to escort me further," Luo Feng said. Outside the main entrance of the Zhu Clan's dwelling, Luo Feng and Moluosa departed in their flying craft.

Clan Leader Zhuhu stood before the small building, watching the flying craft disappear into the distance. A gentle woman appeared by his side.

"Divine Lord Wei, here is your Interspatial Sword," Clan Leader Zhuhu said, handing the sword to the woman. "Divine Lord Wei, you observed him covertly. Did you ascertain Divine Lord Luohe's true abilities?"

"He gives me a unique impression," the gentle woman said with interest. "Having traveled to various cities across Yu Nation since leaving the royal capital, I feel that Divine Lord Luohe is the most remarkable individual I've encountered."

Clan Leader Zhuhu was surprised. "The most remarkable?"

"Just a feeling," the gentle woman replied immediately. "This transaction was troublesome for you, Clan Leader Zhuhu. Since I have the Interspatial Sword, I will take my leave now."

"It's merely a small matter," Clan Leader Zhuhu replied, still eager to be of service. In terms of strength, he was no less than Divine Lord Wei. However, Divine Lord Wei's background was far more influential than even the five great families, so he naturally needed to keep her pleased.

In the following days, Luo Feng sold some of his past 'trophies' to various merchant guilds in Huyang City, converting all of them into cosmos sand.

"I currently possess 3.3 million cosmos sand. However, three body refinements are estimated to require 3.6 million cosmos sand in materials, and with potential unexpected losses during the process, I need to prepare a bit more," Luo Feng mused. "I'm short by over three hundred thousand cosmos sand. What should I do?"

He temporarily had no desire to sell either the Life Blood River or the Myriad Worlds Escape Token, both mechanical secret treasures. He still possessed some Eternal True God-level armor, weapons, and exotic beast materials, among other things, which collectively amounted to three to four hundred thousand cosmos sand. More than half of the 'Ye Beast Blood' gifted by the City Lord's Mansion also remained, valued at five to six hundred thousand cosmos sand. However, Luo Feng was reluctant to sell any of these items.

"Since I'm short by over three hundred thousand cosmos sand, I'll simply take on another bounty mission," Luo Feng nodded slightly. "I haven't taken action in so long that I fear I might no longer intimidate those savage individuals."

"I'll choose one who deserves to die," Luo Feng decided, beginning to browse the assassination missions in the Yanfeng Guild's Dark Hall, carefully making his selection.

Suddenly—

"Brother Luohe, quickly go to the Heavenly Flame Sect," Mo Limeng messaged Luo Feng.

"What's wrong with the Heavenly Flame Sect?" Luo Feng asked, slightly puzzled. The Heavenly Flame Sect was a crafting sect founded by his friend, Shang Tianyan.

"Forces from the Food Nation have captured several formation masters, and it's highly probable they intend to capture Shang Tianyan as well," Mo Limeng's message read.

Luo Feng's heart clenched. Over the past two decades, Brother Shang had always shared everything he knew regarding Luo Feng's body refinement questions. After such a long acquaintance, Shang Tianyan was arguably his only true friend in Huyang City. As for Black Butcher, Mo Yuhu, and others, their relationships were not truly equal, thus falling short of genuine 'friendship'.

"Qingyan, remain and guard the dwelling," Luo Feng instructed. Then, he and Moluosa quickly departed the dwelling in his flying craft.

"What's happening?" Mo Yuqingyan wondered, watching the scene from afar. "The master seems quite anxious."

At the Heavenly Flame Sect.

"Brother Luohe," Shang Tianyan's robust figure stepped forward to greet him, watching Luo Feng and Moluosa emerge from the flying craft.

"Mo Limeng messaged me, saying you were in danger?" Luo Feng asked.

Shang Tianyan shook his head. "Just tonight, eight formation masters in Huyang City were simultaneously apprehended and taken away by a mysterious force. These eight masters were all Eternal True Gods, and not one of them could resist."

"Captured at the same time?" Luo Feng was greatly surprised. Capturing Eternal True Gods alive was no easy feat. For a force to split into eight groups simultaneously, each capable of capturing an Eternal True God, that force must be incredibly powerful.

"Yes, most of these eight formation masters were in their own dwellings," Shang Tianyan confirmed with a nod. "They were all captured alive and taken away, and the City Lord's Mansion couldn't even trace them. Only the Food Nation forces possess such power and would act in this manner."

"Why were they captured?" Luo Feng pressed.

Shang Tianyan explained, "The entire formation system of Huyang City is incredibly vast, a perfect combination of numerous individual formations that have been maintained and repaired by many masters over long ages. There are nine individuals who both repair these formations and reside in Huyang City. Eight of them were captured tonight! I am the last one."

"They captured eight, but spared me," Shang Tianyan shook his head. "The City Lord's Mansion probably suspects I'm colluding with the Food Nation forces now."

Luo Feng understood. "Those eight formation masters all served the City Lord's Mansion. Won't the City Lord's Mansion try to rescue them?"

"I've already inquired with the City Lord's Mansion," Shang Tianyan said, sighing as he looked at the night sky. "The City Lord's Mansion responded that the moment the eight formation masters were captured, their karmic communication tokens were destroyed, making it impossible to pinpoint their locations."

"The City Lord's Mansion should possess the karmic imprints of these eight formation masters," Luo Feng suggested. "With these imprints, it should be possible to deduce their locations."

"Deducing their locations purely from karmic imprints?" Shang Tianyan shook his head. "That sounds like a method only accessible to a Chaos Master."

"The Yanfeng Guild can achieve that," Luo Feng stated.

"The Yanfeng Guild charges one million cosmos sand to deduce locations using karmic imprints," Shang Tianyan shook his head. "The City Lord's Mansion would never be willing to pay that much. Based on past experience, once someone is taken by the Food Nation forces, their fate, whether life or death, is entirely up to them."

Luo Feng nodded subtly.

"That's why we can't get entangled in their conflicts; if we do, we could be crushed at any moment," Shang Tianyan shook his head. "Yet, we, who are proficient in formations, are commanded by the City Lord's Mansion to repair damaged formations. And we have no right to refuse."

Shang Tianyan looked at Luo Feng. "I have no collusion with the Food Nation. The reason they didn't capture me this time, I suspect… is because they don't want to offend you."

"Out of nine, they spared only me," Shang Tianyan said. "The eight who were taken are all my friends, with whom I often discussed formations. I don't know if they will survive this."

Within a secret treasure dimension.

Divine Lord Xueyun, Yu Tianhu, and Yu Tianyi stood there, while more than ten Eternal True Gods conducted interrogations within various independent spaces.

The Food Nation forces maintained two teams within Huyang City: a weaker one led by President Zanyun, and a powerful one commanded by Divine Lord Xueyun. President Zanyun could only communicate with Divine Lord Xueyun directly, not with his numerous subordinates.

"Answer obediently, and you will live. Refuse, and you will die, and your clan will be annihilated," the Eternal True Gods threatened. They employed various menacing methods, ensuring these formation masters would be unable to live or die by their own will.

Before long, all the captured formation masters had confessed. In truth, what they knew was only the tip of the iceberg regarding Huyang City's formations.

"Of these eight formation masters, one was already aligned with us, and the other seven finally confessed," Divine Lord Xueyun said with a smile.

"How should these formation masters be dealt with?" Yu Tianhu inquired.

"Release five, execute three," Divine Lord Xueyun said casually. "Firstly, this will let everyone in Huyang City know that serving the City Lord's Mansion leads to no good end. Secondly, it will demonstrate that our Food Nation is merciful and will spare some obedient Eternal True Gods."

Yu Tianhu frowned. "We just need to complete the mission. In my opinion, we should kill them all."

"Do as I say," Divine Lord Xueyun said, glancing at Yu Tianhu. He then finalized the list of five survivors, which included the formation master who had defected to them.

That same night.

The five surviving formation masters were sent back.

Inside the Heavenly Flame Sect.

Luo Feng and Moluosa sat facing each other, drinking wine. Shang Tianyan drank his wine, gazing anxiously at the night sky. Suddenly, his expression changed as he pulled out his karmic communication token.

"What's wrong?" Luo Feng inquired.

"Of the eight friends who were captured, the karmic connections of three suddenly vanished," Shang Tianyan said, staring at his karmic communication token. "Their karmic connections are gone, meaning all three of them are dead. They were utterly defenseless, yet the Food Nation forces still killed them."