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The three individuals were actually seated in meditation on high platforms. Occasionally, one would open their eyes, raise their hands, and unleash a powerful spell that struck the magic array with a thunderous impact. Afterward, they would close their eyes again, focusing to restore their energy. It seemed that this single strike was already their limit.
This spell was far superior and sharper than those cast by other Yin Soul Beasts. While the spells from others merely ignited the yellow light of the array, this particular spell pierced through the yellow light and targeted a tall tower at the center of the array.
This tower appeared to be an exceptionally powerful magical artifact. When this piercing spell hit it, the tower only swayed slightly, showing no signs of damage.
Within this magic array, there were six sides, each featuring a three-story tower. Currently, three of these towers had been destroyed and were mostly collapsed. The remaining three towers had circular rings of varying colors rotating slowly atop them. With each complete rotation, a beam of white light shot out towards the outside of the array, aimed at the three seated individuals.
The three did not employ any defensive measures; when the white light struck near them, it suddenly veered off to the side. It seemed that those high platforms possessed some form of teleportation spell.
Inside the array, dozens of cultivators occupied each side, surrounding the six towers to channel the power of the array. Although spells that penetrated the array's defenses could not destroy the central tower, wherever those spells passed through resulted in instant death for any cultivator who touched them. Consequently, the ground was littered with severed limbs and disembodied heads.
Xunuo and his companions found themselves within this array, beside the tall tower. The moment they appeared, both sides were taken aback, resulting in a brief pause. However, upon seeing that these individuals posed no significant threat due to their cultivation levels, both sides quickly resumed their fierce battle.
Xunuo and his group had no time to assess the situation or react. From within the central tower came a voice: "Mei Sanli, if you wish to survive, quickly join the array and fight against the foreign invaders."
Mei Sanli reacted swiftly and decisively. He quickly deduced that this was a trap set by Yama Palace and Zhu Xiu orchestrated by Yin Soul Beasts. Among the cultivators within this array were clearly those who had previously attempted to ambush them in the passage but had retreated midway. Moreover, only Yama Palace had sent a large group of cultivators into this unknown area beneath Underground City.
It seemed likely that this betrayal by Limitless Merchant Alliance regarding news of Foundation Pills was part of a larger scheme. Given the current situation within the array, it appeared that Yama Palace had mobilized all its forces. The outcome of this fierce conflict was uncertain.
However, Mei Sanli had no other choice but to temporarily align himself with Yama Palace's faction. First, they needed to defeat the army of Yin Soul Beasts before finding a way to escape. Thus, Mei Sanli fixed his gaze on the tower and said, "It is truly an honor for my humble name to reach your ears, esteemed senior. In light of our current predicament with foreign invaders, I shall certainly heed your commands."
As soon as Mei Sanli finished speaking, Xunuo interjected: "We possess some unique methods that can connect our powers together to enhance the strength of the array further. We request permission to jointly defend one of the towers in Thousand Machine Formation."
After a moment's hesitation within the tower, this request was granted. Subsequently, several cultivators stationed at one of the damaged towers stepped back. Xunuo quickly entered that damaged tower and instructed Mei Sanli and others to surround it and take their positions.
Xunuo's decision to enter the tower was strategic. Each side of this six-sided magic array could be considered a sub-array. Each sub-array's tower served as both an attack point and a crucial hub connecting it with the entire magic array. Therefore, its defenses were strongest within that sub-array. Additionally, being inside allowed for better control over information regarding the entire sub-array.
Because Xunuo and Mei Sanli had somewhat different plans regarding this matter. Mei Sanli still had the idea of first repelling the Yin Soul Beast and then finding a way to escape. Xunuo had no intention of helping either side. In Xunuo's view, regardless of which side won, they would all be sacrifices to the victors. There was absolutely no reason for either side to spare their lives. This chaotic situation, especially the formation, was precisely the opportunity Xunuo could use to escape.
Xunuo could tell at a glance how to manipulate this formation. If it were another formation, Xunuo wouldn't have much confidence in making subtle changes that the owner of the formation would not notice. But this formation was different. Xunuo was very familiar with it. This formation was a simplified version derived from the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation.
Although the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation had faded into history, countless simplified versions based on it still existed. The Thousand Machine Formation was one of them.
Any simplified version derived from the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation would inevitably bear its shadow. However, how much essence remained within was hard to say.
For instance, the Thousand Machine Formation should be a Defensive Array. In fact, this formation had already abandoned the essence of the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation. The original formation focused on trapping and killing, which it held in disdain for defense. However, the Thousand Machine Formation inherited the essence of movement and transformation from the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation.
Since this formation was derived from the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation, Xunuo had ways to make some adjustments. Therefore, as soon as Xunuo entered the tower, he began to carefully study this formation. Mei Sanli and others realized that their companion had some calculations in mind the moment Xunuo spoke up; after all, formations were Xunuo's area of expertise.
Mei Sanli and others naturally cooperated fully with Xunuo to take this gamble. If they won, they would gain a glimmer of Vitality; if they lost, their situation wouldn't be worse than it currently was. Mei Sanli similarly held no illusions about their lives after the two sides determined a victor.
When Xunuo was pondering improvements to the Heaven and Earth Four Killing Formation, he had systematically comprehended the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation and its several simplified versions. Thus, Xunuo had a systematic understanding of many formations evolved from the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation.
After a moment, Xunuo gained a general understanding of the entire Thousand Machine Formation. This formation did not exceed Xunuo's knowledge; however, compared to the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation, it contained less essence and more dross. What Xunuo found most objectionable was that this formation had actually evolved into a Defensive Array.
As a result, some of this formation's essence could not be utilized; for example, its movement function. While its transformation function could be employed, using it for defense contradicted the original intent of trapping and killing inherent in the Reversal of Heaven and Earth Five Elements Formation.
Moreover, through observing this formation, Xunuo concluded that Yama Palace's scheme for this matter would not be short-term. No one would spend great resources for no reason to forge a massive Defensive Array comparable to a protective formation imbued with Yin attributes. Yama Palace must have long harbored plans to enter unknown areas of Underground City.
However, this formation had a fatal flaw: its central pivot—the tall tower—was not hidden away.
In principle, the eye of a protective formation should never be exposed. Even if it were as solid as an artifact, standard practice would involve hiding it within some space in the formation; some even placed the central pivot outside the formation altogether. In any case, it should be made impossible for opponents to locate or attack it.
This formation had forged its eye into an artifact. It appeared impregnable; however, if the opponent's methods were sharp enough and they had an attack target, it would eventually be breached. In reality, revealing the eye of the formation indicated an inability to find materials for concealing it or lacking means for crafting spatial formations.
The six Sub-Arrays of this formation had already lost three towers. These three damaged towers had merely lost their top-level offensive capabilities. The functions of maintaining the formation's operation and communicating with the main formation were still intact. However, the attacking power of these three Sub-Arrays was not completely lost.
Xunuo took a closer look at the tower he was in and felt confident that he could restore about seventy to eighty percent of its attacking capabilities. Yet, the cultivators from Yama Palace did not take such action, indicating that there was no Array Master among them, or that their Array Master had fallen.
After a brief calculation, Xunuo grabbed the Main Array Flag of this Sub-Array and shook it. Three incomplete Formation Flags appeared before him. Xunuo inserted these three Formation Flags into different positions in front of him and slowly infused his Divine Sense into them to refine them.
From his earlier exploration, Xunuo knew that these three Formation Flags had lost their master's Divine Consciousness Mark due to direct attacks. Similarly, these three Formation Flags were no longer very useful. What Xunuo needed to do now was gradually seize control over this Sub-Array.
Although these three Formation Flags could not control the Sub-Array, they could cause some changes in its operation, giving Xunuo an opportunity to make some moves. Once he finished refining the three Formation Flags, he tossed them out. After a slight sensation, Xunuo smiled wryly and nodded.
This Sub-Array consisted of a total of eighteen Formation Flags and one Main Array Flag. The damage to these three Formation Flags was severe; their ability to control this Sub-Array was less than that of a single intact Sub-Formation Flag. However, it was enough for Xunuo to influence the operation of this Sub-Array.
Having set up this initial move, Xunuo leaped up to the top level of the tower that had sustained the most damage. As soon as he appeared on the top level, he immediately caught the attention of both sides engaged in battle. Upon reaching the top level, Xunuo began repairing the attack formation. His actions caused great surprise among a Blue-Eyed White-Haired Practitioner within the central tower of the formation.
This cultivator recognized from Xunuo's utterance of the formation's name that he must be an Array Master. However, he did not expect Xunuo to possess means for repairing formations. If Xunuo could restore even part of the damaged formation, their side would have a significant advantage in this battle.
However, the expressions of the three men on the other high platforms turned grim. They had already expended too much energy in destroying those three towers and were currently unable to pose any substantial threat to the central tower of the formation. Now they were merely using Yin Qi and endless low-level Yin Soul Beasts to wear down the power of this formation.
If they allowed their opponent to repair the other three towers, the balance of power would shift dramatically in an instant.
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