parentshiftbook Chapter 1992 Dragon Ball
Chapter 1992 Dragon Ball
Chapter 1992 Dragon Ball
In mid-air, before the runes of the new formation had fully manifested, other changes had already occurred.
On the outermost edge, the Void Reversal Array, which had always shrouded the entire area like a thin veil of mist, distorting light and shadow and confusing perception, began to emit fluctuations that rapidly diminished like the receding tide.
The energy patterns that made up the array broke and dissipated inch by inch. In just a few breaths, the carefully arranged illusion array had quietly vanished without a trace.
It wasn't an attack, but rather Chen Fei deliberately dispelled the barrier.
Since the decision has been made to set up a teleportation array, the strategic value of this illusion array, which is mainly used to deceive people, disguise the reality of the place, and delay the enemy's judgment, is greatly reduced.
With the magic circle now capable of moving over long distances, fixed camouflage has become largely meaningless.
Of course, the deeper and more crucial reason lies in the meticulous calculation of spiritual power.
Although Chen Fei's spirit was strengthened by the newly acquired lotus seeds, he was still far from being able to handle things with ease.
Maintaining each formation requires a continuous expenditure of mental energy. As a formation with unique functions, the Tai Xu Reversal Formation requires a considerable amount of soul power to maintain.
To attempt to forcibly nest a completely new, technically extremely difficult long-distance teleportation array without dismantling any existing arrays is nothing short of a pipe dream.
Even in its rudimentary form, it was enough to completely crush Chen Fei's already tense spirit, causing the entire formation system to collapse.
You must give up something in order to gain something!
Dispersing the illusion array and freeing up precious spiritual power is a necessary prerequisite for successfully setting up a teleportation array. Only in this way can there be enough spiritual power to accommodate and control this new core function that concerns strategic mobility.
The idea of moving a massive, stationary formation a long distance sounds like a myth to laymen, and it is indeed extremely difficult in practice.
The biggest challenge lies not in the movement itself, but in how to maintain it after the movement.
The essence of formations lies in leveraging momentum, using the power of heaven and earth for one's own benefit.
Every successful fixed formation is a product of deep harmony with the geomantic veins, spiritual energy flow, and even microscopic rules of the place where it is set up, making it a model of adapting to local conditions.
Once the formation is uprooted and moved to another location, the natural order there will inevitably differ from the original location, to varying degrees.
Different ley lines may have different spiritual energy attributes and varying degrees of spatial stability. These subtle differences can be fatal to an extremely sophisticated array structure.
Those who lack mastery of formations will not only face a reduction in power after relocation, but the entire formation will also collapse and disintegrate due to energy conflicts and structural disorder caused by its incompatibility with the new environment!
Therefore, each long-distance array relocation involves a massive amount of preliminary calculations, instantaneous environmental adaptation and adjustment, and precise energy docking. This places unimaginable demands on the array cultivator's calculation ability, understanding of rules, and on-the-spot adaptability.
This most basic, and most fatal, point is precisely the least of Chen Fei's problems, given that he has cultivated the Myriad Paths of Heavenly Decree to the Great Perfection.
In Chen Fei's view, although the natural forces of different regions have their own characteristics, the basic laws governing their operation are the same.
He can quickly analyze the rules of a new environment and drive the formation to make fine adjustments to adapt it.
Therefore, the chasm that stands between most array cultivators is just a small hurdle that Chen Fei needs to step over.
The bigger problem facing Chen Fei is which teleportation plan is the most cost-effective and best suited to the current situation, given a limited soul power budget.
The Dragon Vein Path Formation.
The core of this formation is to compress and condense the entire interconnected formation to the extreme, transforming the massive into the minute, and finally forming a core similar to a "Dragon Ball" or a "formation seed".
Then, this "seed" is attached to the flowing earth veins, and with the help of the natural flow of the veins, it moves silently deep underground, like a dragon of the earth veins that lies dormant and roams the nine lands.
Chen Fei's previous short-distance array relocation actually borrowed some principles from this array, but not to such a thorough extent.
The advantages of this formation are obvious: it moves by relying on the power of the earth's veins, consumes relatively little energy, and is extremely well concealed, making it difficult for enemies above ground to detect it.
However, its limitations are also obvious: it relies too much on ley lines, and its movement routes are basically bound to the direction of the ley line flow, lacking autonomy.
A floating array with a thousand mechanisms and ever-changing shapes.
This formation has a completely different approach. Instead of taking the route of condensation, it goes against the grain and breaks down the overall formation into multiple core array flags.
Each array flag is carried by a specially made puppet or a floating unit formed from the power of the array.
These units, like well-trained soldiers, maintain a specific relative position through exquisite coordination and synchronization during movement, thus preserving the overall formation's effectiveness in a dynamic manner.
The advantage lies in the fact that this method of breaking down the whole into parts can save some of the massive amount of computation and mental energy required for overall relocation, because each unit only needs to deal with changes within its own small scope.
However, its most fatal flaw is that it is too flashy.
One can imagine that an array supported by hundreds or thousands of luminous units, emitting powerful energy fluctuations, moving across the sky or plains, would be like a torch in the night. It would be detected by demonic cultivators from a great distance, offering almost no concealment and making it extremely easy to be besieged.
In addition, Chen Fei also needs to make significant modifications to the existing chain array structure to adapt to the decomposition, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Void Imprint Instantaneous Movement Array.
This formation is not moved, but replaced.
It is necessary to set extremely discreet spatial imprints at multiple selected coordinate points in advance.
When a relocation is needed, the formation is activated, instantly dismantling the spatial structure of the current location. Simultaneously, at the preset spatial imprint point, the formation is instantly reconstructed using the imprint coordinates and the formation blueprint.
It's similar to a long-distance, fixed-point teleportation, but it teleports the entire array.
Its advantage lies in its extreme suddenness, almost like teleportation, which can catch the enemy off guard and even allow you to flash in front of the enemy, catching them off guard.
However, its drawbacks are also extremely prominent. First, it is the most difficult to set up. Second, the moment the formation reappears at the target location, it will inevitably generate violent spatial ripples, which can be easily detected by a keen-sense opponent in advance, allowing them to escape quickly and causing the tactics to fail.
Chen Fei chose a path of fusion, taking the stillness and concealment of the Wandering Dragon Earth Vein Array and the movement and speed of the Void Imprint Instantaneous Movement Array, and merging the essence of the two to create an Earth Vein Void Array that is unique to his current situation!
In normal circumstances, the chain array is extremely condensed, transforming into a dragon ball. Relying on the power of the earth's veins, it moves silently, maintaining a high degree of concealment and conserving soul power. This is the silent period.
When needed, Chen Fei can be used as the core coordinate to activate the characteristics of the Void Imprint, allowing the entire condensed dragon ball to instantly break through the earth's vein constraints and complete the formation reproduction at Chen Fei's location, achieving a seamless switch from stealth to burst.
The merged magic array possesses both dynamic and static beauty.
When it is normally stealthy, it makes very little noise and is difficult to detect. However, when it reappears at a critical moment, it mainly relies on the preset Dragon Ball state and core coordinates, so the spatial ripples are greatly reduced compared to a pure Void Imprint Array.
The only, and also the biggest, drawback of this formation is that it places a peak on the continuous pressure on the soul and the instantaneous calculation ability required!
It requires simultaneously maintaining the condensed state of the Dragon Ball, the attachment to the earth veins, the sensing of spatial coordinates, and the preparation for instantaneous reconstruction, which far exceeds the burden of a single formation.
This is precisely why Chen Fei had to disband the Tai Xu Reversal Array and free up every bit of his soul power. If his soul power were abundant, keeping the illusion array would naturally be beneficial, but at this moment, he had to make a choice.
"melt!"
Driven by Chen Fei's thoughts, the new cluster of runes representing the Earth Vein Void Array in mid-air suddenly dispersed, as if it had a life of its own, and precisely targeted the key nodes of the existing linked array, silently merging into them.
"Buzz... Rumble..."
The massive complex array that had been guarding this place for so long suddenly emitted a deep rumble and tremor, as if it originated from the depths of its foundation!
On the array's light barrier, the originally smoothly flowing energy patterns began to twist and fluctuate irregularly, and in many places, wrinkles appeared as if fabric had been forcibly stretched.
This is the most fundamental attribute of the formation, and it is being forcibly altered, causing a violent rejection reaction. It is being forcibly branded with the mark of movement from a purely defensive position.
Every part of its internal structure is undergoing difficult adaptation and reconstruction; energy circuits are being adjusted, and rule connections are being reshaped.
Chen Fei's expression was solemn, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest. His hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, leaving behind afterimages as he cast a series of harmonizing, guiding, and coercing array seals, doing his best to guide the rampaging energy within the array and resolve the endless compatibility issues.
Deep within Chen Fei's eyes, countless black runes representing the profound mysteries of formations flickered and died at an unprecedented frequency, a manifestation of his divine soul being pushed to its limit.
"Setting up this long-distance teleportation array, especially this kind of innovative and integrated array, is far more difficult than expected..." Chen Fei thought to himself with a chill.
The key lies not only in the complexity of the formation itself, but also in the fact that Chen Fei had never before had the experience of arranging and adjusting a series of interconnected formations with teleportation capabilities at such a high density and intensity while his soul was restricted.
Every tiny adjustment is like walking on the edge of a cliff, requiring immense mental effort to calculate and balance.
Beyond the Thousand-Petaled Demon Lotus Realm, in that place of surging, dense demonic clouds.
Liao Ruiheng stood facing the wind, his wide, brightly colored robes swaying slightly in the breeze of invisible energy. He looked down at the Demon Lotus Realm below, taking in the fierce battle taking place within.
Above the sky, six enormous, scarlet, and dazzling blood-red demonic spots grotesquely suppressed the three remaining patches of radiant golden light, rendering them dim and lifeless.
The overwhelming advantage displayed by the demonic cultivators kept a charming and satisfied smile on Liao Ruiheng's handsome, almost demonic face.
Deep within that smile lies a sense of composure, as if everything is under control, and a playful and amused air, like discovering an interesting toy.
Liao Ruiheng's gaze shifted, once again landing on the jungle area he had previously paid attention to.
The cultivator had already removed the outermost illusion array used to confuse perception and distort light and shadow, and was now concentrating on constructing a completely new magic array.
With just his gaze, Liao Ruiheng keenly captured a subtle yet exceptionally pure spatial charm.
Liao Ruiheng chuckled softly, his scarlet tongue casually licking the corner of his lips, his heterochromatic eyes showing even greater interest.
"Brother Kuang..."
Liao Ruiheng slowly turned his head, his heterochromatic eyes—one black and one red, seemingly able to see through people's hearts and souls—looking at the figure opposite him who exuded an aura of extreme yang and strength.
Liao Ruiheng's voice was a melodious and gentle female voice, as if it could penetrate directly into one's soul. It carried a hint of undisguised curiosity and a touch of teasing as it softly rang in Kuang Yezhou's ear:
"Look at that interesting little fellow down there. He seems to have other ideas. This subtle spatial fluctuation is quite ingenious. Is he planning to put a few wheels on his sturdy tortoise shell and no longer stay in one place?"
Kuang Yezhou's aura, as bright as the sun, rippled slightly. Hearing Liao Ruiheng's words, he turned his gaze to the jungle below, taking in all of Chen Fei's actions clearly.
However, Kuang Yezhou's resolute and dignified face showed no emotion whatsoever. He simply watched silently, his deep eyes reflecting the scene within the realm, yet revealing no thoughts whatsoever.
At this moment, within the Thousand Lotus Demon Realm, the overall situation of the Tianhaiguan cultivators is already precarious.
The gap in top-tier combat power was widening, leading to growing signs of defeat, with the tragic aura of cultivators falling resounding everywhere. If this trend continued, the cultivators' defeat in this gamble concerning vital interests was almost inevitable.
The cost of failure is far beyond what the original wager could measure; it is that the lives of all the Tianhai Gate cultivators who have entered the Demon Lotus Realm at this moment will likely be wiped out!
Kuang Yezhou's brows furrowed involuntarily, but his posture remained as upright as a pine tree, showing no sign of his brow furrowing.
"Hehehe..."
Seeing that Kuang Yezhou remained silent, Liao Ruiheng couldn't help but let out a lighter laugh. The laugh started as a soft, feminine laugh, but then suddenly became rough and unrestrained, full of masculine energy.
Liao Ruiheng, with that eerie laughter that blended masculine and feminine qualities, said as if to offer solace:
"In gambling, there are wins and losses, which is perfectly normal. Brother Kuang, you are too concerned about the outcome of this moment, which makes you attached to the result and lose your peace of mind. Isn't it true that you are happy to win, but you can also be happy to lose? The most important thing is to have a wonderful process!"
Upon hearing this, Kuang Yezhou finally glanced at Liao Ruiheng again, his eyes remaining indifferent, and he still did not speak.
At this moment, the demonic cultivators held an absolute advantage, so Liao Ruiheng could naturally speak these trivial words with such ease.
Kuang Yezhou turned his gaze back to the Demon Lotus Realm, calmly assessing the situation. The only hope to reverse this almost hopeless battle might lie with the few cultivators at the fifteenth level of the limit within the realm.
Hopefully, one of them will be able to turn the tide.
Deep within the Thousand Lotus Realm, in the heart of that jungle that had witnessed countless battles.
"Buzz!"
As Chen Fei unleashed the final rune from his fingertip, perfectly integrating it into the massive composite array system, the entire interconnected array, which had been in a state of violent turbulence and energy ripples, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment, suddenly emitted a deep yet magnificent resonance.
In the next instant, all the unstable fluctuations subsided, the violent energy became docile and orderly, and the array's light barrier, shimmering with color, became as stable as a rock.
A profound and harmonious artistic conception, seamless and flawless, permeated the air.
"Success!"
A smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. The nesting of this earth vein void array was far more difficult than expected, and the burden on his soul reached its limit, but in the end, he succeeded in completing the task.
Without hesitation, Chen Fei formed a profound and complex hand seal in front of his chest with one hand.
In an instant, the massive composite array burst forth with dazzling light, and then rapidly contracted inward at a speed visible to the naked eye. Countless array patterns and energy nodes were highly condensed, and in an instant, it transformed into a "dragon ball" only the size of a fist, with a thick earthy yellow and mysterious silvery white luster flowing throughout its body!
The "Dragon Ball" paused slightly, then trembled gently, and like a fish entering water, it silently sank into the earth below, instantly merging with a flowing earth vein. Following the natural flow of the earth vein, it began its silent, stealthy journey.
Chen Fei stood alone in place, closed his eyes, and focused all his mind on his sea of consciousness, carefully sensing the situation of the linked array within the earth veins. After a moment, Chen Fei opened his eyes and found that the array was functioning without any problems within the earth veins.
Having achieved his basic objective, Chen Fei waved his hand, and the thirteen Origin Lotus Seeds from his sleeve shot out and hovered in front of him. Chen Fei extended his right hand and touched one of the Origin Lotus Seeds.
Soon, a faint yet exceptionally clear sense of resonance, like ripples stirred up by a pebble thrown into a calm lake, came from all directions.
The fluctuations were most intense and frequent, especially in the southeast direction.
"As expected, the more lotus seeds you collect, the clearer your senses become about other lotus seeds, just like magnets attracting each other."
A glint of light flashed in the depths of Chen Fei's eyes. Although the gathering of a large number of Origin Lotus Seeds would attract the attention of other powerful individuals, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Relying on these Origin Lotus Seeds, Chen Fei could also take the initiative to pursue other demonic cultivators.
The next moment, Chen Fei's figure suddenly blurred, transforming into a swift, lightning-fast azure rainbow that tore through the air and sped off towards the southeast direction from which the fluctuations originated.
Thousands of miles away, on a scorched black land soaked in dark red blood and exuding a strong, pungent stench.
The demonic cultivator Dai Qingcang stood proudly, his body burly and his face fierce, his body shrouded in a bloody aura that was almost solidified.
At this moment, he took a deep, blissful breath, as if savoring fine wine, inhaling every last drop of the pure, primordial energy of the cultivators emanating from the surrounding air, his face displaying an expression of extreme satisfaction and intoxication.
A brand-new primordial lotus seed, radiating a soft glow, slowly coalesced before him, a recognition and reward from the rules of this world for his hunting achievements.
Just as Dai Qingcang was feeling smug and preparing to reach out and collect the lotus seed, and continue to savor its delightful taste, his brows furrowed suddenly, as if stung by a poisonous bee. He abruptly turned his head, his sharp, hawk-like gaze instantly shooting into the distance.
A figure appeared from the void at an extremely fast speed, and a strong primordial lotus seed fluctuation, which resonated with the lotus seed in his sleeve, rushed towards him like a tide.
Dai Qingcang's expression instantly became extremely solemn. The surging demonic energy around him instinctively contracted and condensed, and he adopted a posture of full defense, as if facing a formidable enemy.
However, when Dai Qingcang focused his attention and clearly saw the appearance of the newcomer, and clearly sensed the cultivation fluctuations emanating from the other party, which were only at the late stage of the fifteenth level, the solemn expression on his face relaxed slightly.
"Hmph, barely reached the late stage of the fifteenth level, and you dare to..."
The moment the thought of underestimating him arose, Dai Qingcang's expression suddenly changed again!
"No! Before entering this realm, I clearly remember that this person's cultivation level was only at the mid-stage of the fifteenth level. Now, not only has he broken through, but he has also stabilized his realm?"
"Furthermore, why is the lotus seed energy emanating from him so intense? How many fellow cultivators must he have killed?"
Something unusual must be going on. Dai Qingcang has cultivated to this point and survived countless battles, so he is definitely not a reckless and brainless person.
Almost the instant he realized something was extremely wrong, Dai Qingcang made the wisest decision, one that best suited his survival philosophy: escape!
Without any hesitation, Dai Qingcang grabbed the Origin Lotus Seed in front of him, and his figure suddenly transformed into a dark shadow, like a startled night owl, retreating backward at top speed!
Never take on any potentially high-risk endeavor without being certain of your safety!
"Brother Dai, don't panic, I, Hong, am here!"
Just as Dai Qingcang was on edge, pushing his speed to the limit and flying away at full speed, a familiar voice rang clearly in his ears.
Dai Qingcang's brows twitched slightly as he turned to look. Not far away, a figure dressed in a dark red demonic robe, with an aura as heavy as a mountain, quietly appeared. It was none other than Hong Yanyu, a demonic cultivator of similar cultivation level to him, who was also at the late stage of the fifteenth rank.
The next moment, Hong Yanyu's figure flashed slightly, as if he had teleported, and he appeared next to Dai Qingcang, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. A powerful demonic aura emanated from him, merging with Dai Qingcang's aura.
"Brother Hong!"
A smile appeared on Dai Qingcang's face. His previous concerns were instantly swept away. With Hong Yanyu here, it was two against one. The opponent was just a newly advanced level 15 cultivator. What was there to fear?
"There are quite a few primordial lotus seeds on this prey. Everyone who sees them gets a share. Brother Dai and Brother Hong, don't forget my share when we get our hands on them!"
Just as Dai Qingcang calmed down, another voice, soft yet sharp, like a venomous snake hissing in the dark, suddenly rang out from another direction on the battlefield.
Before the words had even faded, a blurry figure, like a ghost, slowly materialized on the open ground behind Chen Fei, silently and without a trace, as if he had always been there.
The newcomer was tall and thin, wearing a dark green robe embroidered with bizarre, writhing vine patterns that looked as if they were alive.
His face was pale and bloodless, his eyes were slightly sunken, and his narrow eyes gleamed with a shrewd, greedy, and cold light, fixed on Chen Fei without blinking. A chilling smile hung on the corner of his mouth.
Lin Yuebin, a demonic cultivator at the late stage of the fifteenth rank.
His appearance was extremely abrupt, and he concealed his aura very well, clearly skilled in stealth and escaping techniques. He had been lying in wait until he was certain that the situation was completely in his favor before revealing himself, intending to get a share of the spoils.
Dai Qingcang and Hong Yanyu didn't seem surprised by Lin Yuebin's appearance, but they both frowned slightly, as they were somewhat reluctant to give up an extra share of the Origin Lotus Seeds they had just acquired.
(End of this chapter)