240: Don't disturb my resolve!

The Inner City Area of Heavenly Star Immortal City.

Under Kang Hongci's arrangements, Formation Flags were distributed sequentially to the Cultivators, who were responsible for maintaining the operation of the core Formation Nodes.

As Spiritual Power was continuously poured into the City-Protecting Grand Formation, the rate of the Formation's energy consumption also greatly slowed down.

For the past half-year, everything had been orderly, allowing Kang Hongci to breathe a sigh of relief.

If they could just hold out for another half-year, once True Person Tianxing's injuries healed, everyone would no longer have to live in such fear, worrying that the Ji Imperial Family would attack them one day.

However, what they did not know was that someone in the city did not wish to see True Person Tianxing recover.

On this day, at a Formation Position in the southeast corner, a female Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator sat quietly.

She was fiddling with a cyan Formation Flag in her hand, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes.

"Senior Brother Li promised me that as long as I helped him accomplish this, he would marry me and we would become Dao Companions..."

Yet, she still hesitated. Although Li Guanqi had not explicitly stated what needed to be done, she vaguely sensed that the matter was not simple, and might even endanger the safety of the Immortal City.

But the thought of becoming Dao Companions with Senior Brother Li, turning into the enviable Divine Couple, made her cheeks flush and her heart pound.

Finally, she grit her teeth and made up her mind.

"Senior Brother Li has been planning this for a long time; I absolutely cannot be the weak link. Otherwise, how can I live up to his trust!"

Even if this action might lead to the destruction of the Immortal City, she could no longer worry about it.

Since it was something Senior Brother desired, she could not disappoint him, and Senior Brother must have his own reasons for doing this!

With her mind set, the female Cultivator no longer hesitated, starting to circulate Spiritual Power and slowly inject it into the Formation Flag, secretly altering the flow of the Formation Patterns.

Following the guidance of her Spiritual Power, the Formation Patterns, which had flowed seamlessly, gradually dimmed. A node at the Kan-Li Position slightly twisted, faintly revealing a tiny crack.

With just a few more casts, she would be able to tear open a gap here.

However, just as she was about to activate the Formation Flag again, the spiritual light of the Formation Flag in her hand suddenly paused, and no matter how she urged it, there was no response.

A sense of ominous foreboding immediately surged into the female Cultivator's heart.

Sure enough, right at that moment, an angry roar exploded next to her ear!

"Zhiyun! It was you!"

Kang Hongci stepped out from the shadows, his face filled with shock, rage, and disbelief.

He had long known that the morale in the city was unstable, but he never expected that the first person to betray the Immortal City wouldn't be one of the Guest Elders he was wary of, but Zhiyun!

Zhiyun was not a Personal Disciple under the Immortal Master, but she was a Named Disciple.

Despite this, True Person Tianxing treated everyone equally, and she never lacked various Cultivation Techniques or resources. It could be said that the Immortal City had never mistreated her!

Kang Hongci truly could not understand her reason for betrayal.

Did she not understand the principle that 'if the skin is gone, what can the hair attach to'?

If the Immortal City were breached, those close to True Person Tianxing would be the first to face liquidation!

What could she possibly gain from this?

Zhiyun's heart was in chaos. She hadn't expected to be caught red-handed just as she was making her move.

But she suppressed her panic, forced a smile onto her face, and feigned confusion, saying, "Great Master Senior Brother, what are you talking about? Zhiyun doesn't understand..."

"There's no need to hide it!" Kang Hongci's face was frosty. He interrupted Zhiyun directly, "Seal your Spiritual Power and come back with me to accept your punishment!"

Although he was heartbroken by his Junior Sister's betrayal, he was even more aware that this matter concerned the survival of the Immortal City, and he absolutely could not tolerate it.

What angered him even more was that Zhiyun had been personally assigned by Li Guanqi to manage this Formation Flag.

With such a lapse in judgment, Junior Brother Li could not escape responsibility either!

Wait!

Kang Hongci's heart suddenly clenched, and a chill instantly spread throughout his body.

The Formation Flag Li Guanqi held was one of the core Formation Flags among the subsidiary ones. If the Cultivators below made any abnormal moves, how could he not notice?

"This is bad!"

Kang Hongci suddenly turned to his Second Junior Brother, Chu Yuanfeng, and yelled sharply, "Hurry! Go stop Li Guanqi! He is compromised!"

Chu Yuanfeng was momentarily confused and completely failed to grasp what was happening.

But seeing the fiery look in his Great Master Senior Brother's eyes, he knew something terrible might have happened, so he didn't dare to delay and immediately turned to rush toward the Xun-Gen Formation Position where Li Guanqi was located.

"Stop! Do not disturb Senior Brother Li!"

However, when Zhiyun saw that they were going after Li Guanqi, she panicked immediately. While shouting sharply, she summoned a Light Silk Veil and lunged straight toward Chu Yuanfeng.

"Zhiyun, you are confused!"

Kang Hongci was both shocked and furious, realizing that Zhiyun was still stubbornly misguided at this critical moment. He immediately prepared to intervene.

However, Zhiyun at this moment could no longer care about anything else.

The thought that her mistake might put Senior Brother Li in danger filled her with intense guilt and self-reproach.

Furthermore, if this matter wasn't handled properly, wouldn't the chance to become Dao Companions with Senior Brother Li also fall through?

She absolutely would not allow it!

Thinking this, she looked at Kang Hongci, who was blocking her way, with icy eyes.

That's right, she had even started to hate Kang Hongci for repeatedly obstructing her!

If it weren't for him, she would have completed Senior Brother's task long ago, and there wouldn't be so many subsequent troubles!

Thus, Zhiyun, who was gradually sinking into obsession, even began to burn her Foundation Establishment Origin, attacking the two of them with all her might.

"Hmph, since you are stubbornly misguided, I will Clean Up The Sect on behalf of Revered Master!"

Kang Hongci's patience was completely exhausted, and he no longer held back.

He immediately summoned a Crimson Spiritual Seal, intending to unleash massive energy and suppress and kill Zhiyun in one blow.

However, right at this moment!

"Boom!"

The entire City-Protecting Grand Formation shook violently. The Formation Patterns on it flickered erratically, and spiritual light scattered wildly.

A crack began spreading rapidly from the Xun-Gen Position. Wherever it passed, Runes continuously shattered and spiritual energy dissipated.

"Feinting To The East While Attacking The West! Damn it, we fell for the trap!"

Kang Hongci's eyes immediately bulged with rage. He quickly tried to abandon Zhiyun and rush to the Xun-Gen Position.

However, Zhiyun still clung tightly to him, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Senior Brother succeeded!"

Kang Hongci, who was blocked again, had veins throbbing on his forehead. He roared at Zhiyun, "Idiot! Can't you see it even now! You are just a discarded pawn being utilized!"

Zhiyun was unmoved: "Impossible! Do not disturb my Dao Heart! Senior Brother would never treat me like that!"

Kang Hongci suddenly fell silent. He felt utterly exhausted.

He couldn't be bothered to explain further. The Crimson Spiritual Seal in his hand smashed down, instantly crushing the idiot into a mist of blood.

Immediately, he transformed into a streak of light and frantically rushed toward the source of the tremor.

However, when he arrived, he saw a handsome young man standing in mid-air, waiting silently before the gap in the Formation, like a servant.

This person was none other than Li Guanqi.

Yet, the arrogance of the past was gone from his face, replaced only by blankness and reverence.

Kang Hongci ignored the urge to question Li Guanqi and hastily tried to manipulate the Main Formation Flag to close the rift.

However, at that moment, an icy gaze swept in from outside the rift. Kang Hongci, a Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator, felt as if he had been struck heavily, immediately spitting blood and flying backward.

"Senior Brother!"

The Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters who arrived afterward were instantly horrified by the sight and rushed forward to help.

"Don't mind me, run!"

Kang Hongci ignored his injuries and quickly reminded everyone in a hoarse voice.

But how could Foundation Establishment Cultivators be faster than a Golden Core True Person?

"What touching sect loyalty..."

As the faint voice sounded, two figures stepped across the Formation rift and entered the Inner City!

Shen Yuan looked at their panicked appearance and sneered.

Immediately afterward, a Soul Devouring Flag shrouded in black mist was summoned by him. Several chains, like Soul-Hooking Ropes, shot straight toward Kang Hongci and the others.

Just at this critical moment, a soft sigh came from the depths of the Immortal City.

"Alas—"

An invisible ripple spread out, and the pitch-black chains snapped instantly, dissolving into nothingness.

Everyone looked over and saw a figure, wearing a Star Robe and crowned with a Cyan Jade Coronet, stepping out of the void. Behind him, a phantom image of the Great Heaven Stellar Array Phantom slowly emerged.