237: Isolated and helpless!

Yunmo Market, core area.

Lu Ming sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, beginning to set up various measures such as Formations and Talismans, making the entire cultivation chamber as solid as a fortress.

Doing these things was merely a precaution, as he was, after all, on someone else's territory.

However, his greatest confidence, besides his strength, came from the golden book's warning function!

As long as Mo Ningxin harbored ill intentions, he would be able to detect it immediately.

At that time, he would have no choice but to ruthlessly destroy the flower!

"That's about it!"

Having finished everything, Lu Ming collected his thoughts, calmed his mind, and entered a meditative state.

Now, with everything prepared, he only needed to polish his Realm to Perfection, and then he could, in his best state, charge through the Bottleneck and attain the Golden Core Dao!

—

Heavenly Star Immortal City.

Two years had passed, and the outer city had long been reduced to ruins by Cultivator battles.

Even the majestic city walls, which had once withstood the beast tide's impact, had completely collapsed after losing the protection of the Grand Array.

The Loose Cultivators who had remained in the outer city either died under the Immortal Dynasty's pursuit or fled.

Of course, many of them were pragmatic and chose to surrender to the Immortal Dynasty Imperial Family.

Even if it meant being branded with slave marks and losing their freedom, it was still better to live a wretched life than to die a good one!

As for the inner city, although it was still enveloped by the Third-Rank Grand Array, looking out, the surroundings were now a flat expanse.

It stood alone on the plains, like a desperate isolated island.

The current situation was like a slow death, just waiting for the Ji Imperial Family to gradually devour it until it was completely annihilated.

This desperate isolation spread through the inner city like a plague.

It was even exploited by some opportunists, leading to several riots.

Although these were quickly suppressed by Sikong Ming leading the Black Armor Guard, stabilizing the situation, it was ultimately a temporary solution, and people's hearts remained uneasy.

There was no other way; since True Person Tianxing went into seclusion to recover from his injuries two years ago, he had not appeared again.

This naturally led many to wonder, was this Golden Core True Person really still alive?

Fortunately, the True Disciples, led by Senior Brother Kang Hongci, appeared in time and barely managed to stabilize the situation.

However, beneath the surface calm, undercurrents surged.

It was like a powder keg, just waiting for a fuse to completely ignite!

..."Senior Brother, can we really hold out? Revered Master, he..."

By a window in a pavilion, True Person Tianxing's second Disciple, Chu Yuanfeng, was full of worry.

Though only middle-aged in appearance at this time, he looked particularly weathered.

He looked at Kang Hongci, who stood silently by the window, his tone filled with concern.

Not to mention the other Cultivators in the city, even he felt a sense of confusion about the future.

"Don't worry, we definitely will!"

Kang Hongci's tone was firm, but a hint of hidden worry flashed in his eyes.

Not to mention that Revered Master was still severely injured and had not yet recovered; even at his peak, facing the encirclement of two Golden Core Cultivators of the same Realm, how much advantage could he gain?

Furthermore, with the inside and outside now isolated, he knew nothing of the outside situation.

However, he could not voice these words, otherwise, if even he, the Senior Brother, showed signs of wavering, it would be difficult to lead the team!

After a slight pause for thought, Kang Hongci took out a sound transmission jade Talisman, pondered for a moment, and sent out a few messages.

Before long, three figures successively entered the pavilion; they were the other Personal Disciples of True Person Tianxing, and Li Guanqi was among them!

"Senior Brother, why have you called us here? I was cultivating at a crucial point!"

Li Guanqi said impatiently as soon as he entered.

Kang Hongci frowned but said nothing more.

Originally, Li Guanqi had been ordered to be confined due to the incident of harming the Immortal City Guest Elder, with the intention of having Revered Master decide his fate after the beast tide.

However, the unforeseen change came too suddenly, and Revered Master was severely injured and retreated from the Immortal City, so the matter was delayed.

Later, due to a severe shortage of manpower, coupled with Li Guanqi's good attitude in admitting his mistake, he was exceptionally released.

But after he came out, he did not help manage the Immortal City's affairs; instead, he silently went into seclusion.

Kang Hongci was quite helpless about this and could only comfort himself, thinking that it was good for Li Guanqi to be so well-behaved and honest, as long as he didn't cause trouble.

Suppressing his thoughts, Kang Hongci looked at everyone present and spoke solemnly.

"All Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, you only need to persevere for a while longer, and the crisis will surely pass..."

The usual opening remarks, the usual pep talk.

However, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by an untimely voice.

"After all this talk, Senior Brother, why don't you give us a direct answer: when exactly will Revered Master come out of seclusion?"

Li Guanqi impatiently interjected, "You should know that the Third-Rank Grand Array consumes Spirit Stones every moment. If this continues, we will be exhausted to death before those outside even break in!"

Interrupted, Kang Hongci felt a little displeased, but he kept his face impassive and used this opportunity to reassure everyone!

"Revered Master's injuries have recently improved, and the time for him to emerge from seclusion is not far off."

As expected, upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened slightly, and even Li Guanqi fell silent.

And his words were not entirely false; True Person Tianxing had sent him a message a few days ago, stating that his injuries had improved.

However, a strange Devilish Qi still lingered in his body like a parasitic bone, constantly eroding his Meridians and Dantian. Only by completely eradicating it could he fully recover!

So now, what they lacked most was time!

As long as they dragged it out, there was hope!

Thinking of this, Kang Hongci took out more than ten Formation Flags, shimmering with spiritual light, and spoke in a deep voice to everyone.

"Junior Brother Li's words just now are not without reason; the Grand Array's consumption is indeed enormous. Therefore, to reduce the burden, Cultivators will now need to use their magical power as the Formation base to transmit energy and maintain the Formation's operation!"

"And these Formation Flags are the auxiliary flags of the 'Tianxing Forbidden Domain Array', granting permission to control part of the Formation's power."

"Each of you take a few and entrust them to your trusted subordinates!"

At this point, Kang Hongci's gaze swept over everyone, and his tone became very stern.

"Remember, the Guest Elders we originally recruited can no longer be trusted lightly. The chosen individuals must be reliable, preferably supervised by yourselves. If anyone among them harbors malicious intentions... they will be executed without mercy!"

"Just hold on for a few more months, and when Revered Master's injuries recover, the predicament will resolve itself!"

Kang Hongci's words were resolute, imbued with immense confidence.

Afterward, he distributed several Formation Flags to each person, and everyone dispersed with their own thoughts.

Upon returning to his Immortal Cave, Li Guanqi's expression immediately turned grim.

"I didn't expect that old fellow to recover so quickly!"

The matter of his Dao path inexplicably reconnecting and his cultivation skyrocketing was something that simply couldn't be avoided.

If True Person Tianxing recovered and quelled the chaos, then the most severe interrogation would surely await him.

At that time, some of the things he had done would not be able to be hidden!

He didn't know if Revered Master, upon learning of this, would show leniency out of Revered Master-Disciple affection, or if he would uphold justice and righteousness, eliminating him to cleanse the sect!

He dared not gamble, and he could not afford to gamble!

"However..."

Li Guanqi toyed with the Formation Flag in his hand, a strange smile suddenly curving his lips, and a faint glint of dark light flashed in his eyes.

"This truly is, heaven helping me..."