443: Chapter 442 Burning the Golden Core

"Damn it, we've all been deceived by him!" Immortal Master Moyuan gritted his teeth, his old face flushing red, feeling utterly ashamed.

"Hmph, you realized it too late!" Shen Guhong, his face full of cruelty and triumph, abruptly swung his palm down and roared toward the Void Realm, "Master Wang, activate the Great Array! Slaughter all these Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race for me!"

Hearing Shen Guhong's command, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi and the others were greatly shocked, and one after another, they roared as they summoned their respective Lifebound Treasures.

"Fellow Daoists, form a defensive Formation!"

"Fight to the death! We absolutely cannot let this Prodigy succeed!"

In an instant, the colorful light of Magic Treasures lit up in the darkness. The powerful Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race all wore grave expressions, ready to face the destructive blow of the Great Array.

However...

One breath passed.

Three breaths passed.

Ten breaths passed.

Between heaven and earth, apart from the muffled thunder and the howling gale, no substantial attack fell.

The seemingly terrifying black lightning still rolled within the clouds, showing absolutely no sign of striking the Human Race Cultivators.

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi and the others, who had been on high alert and prepared to fight to the death, were stunned.

They looked at each other, completely unable to understand what had happened.

Shen Guhong, in mid-air, felt the cruel smile on his face gradually stiffen.

His brows furrowed tightly as he channeled his true essence again and roared angrily, "Master Wang! Gou Feng! What are you doing?! Why don't you quickly activate the Great Array and kill the enemy?!"

However, the Great Array still had no reaction, just like a huge black cover, firmly clamped over the Flowing Fire Sect, quiet to the point of being eerie.

For a time, the entire Flowing Fire Sect fell into an extremely awkward and puzzled silence.

Meanwhile, near several core hubs of the Great Array.

Master Wang was frantically shaking the black bell in his hand until his wrist was almost broken. He even went so far as to spray a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the bell, attempting to forcibly awaken the killing power of the Great Array.

However, apart from emitting a rapid "ding-a-ling" sound, the bell could not mobilize even a shred of the Great Array's power.

Beside him, Gou Feng and Shen Hu were also covered in sweat, their faces deathly pale, completely bewildered.

"Master Wang! What is going on?! Why is there no reaction from the Great Array?!" Shen Hu roared anxiously.

"I... I don't know!" Master Wang's voice trembled, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief, "The core Formation patterns of the Great Array... it seems that in that instant just now, someone completely changed them with an incomprehensible, heaven-defying method! Now, we cannot control this Great Array at all!"

How could they know that in the face of the passive effect of Qin Changsheng's [Heavenly Dao: Ancestor of Ten Thousand Arrays], any Formation in this world was like a toy.

When Qin Changsheng snuck into the back mountain, he had casually and silently erased the control rights of this Great Array and reset them.

In mid-air, Shen Guhong's face was ugly to the extreme, his eyes filled with frustration and stifled anger.

He had originally held victory in his grasp, and even voluntarily exposed his identity as the Yao King, all to enjoy the miserable sight of the powerful Human Race struggling in despair.

But as it turned out, this "Ten Thousand Yao Soul-Devouring Great Array", which was his greatest trump card, dropped the ball at the most critical moment, directly becoming an "iron turtle shell" that only surrounded but did not kill!

"Damn it! Why on earth is this happening?!"

Shen Guhong roared madly in his heart, but at this moment, the arrow was on the bowstring and had to be fired. His identity had been completely exposed; the Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race would never let him go. Today, it was either you die, or I live!

"Since the Great Array is useless, then we shall tear them apart with flesh and blood!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Shen Guhong's eyes, and he simply stopped counting on the Great Array. He took a deep breath, his voice carrying surging demonic power, resounding throughout the entire Flowing Fire Sect:

"Warriors of the Yao Race! Reveal yourselves! Slaughter the Human Race and unify the Southern Region!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Following Shen Guhong's order, on the various peaks of the Flowing Fire Sect, countless "Flowing Fire Sect Disciples" who were originally watching the ceremony or patrolling suddenly erupted with surging Demonic Qi.

Their faces twisted as they tore off their human Disguise, transforming into massive, ferocious Yao Beasts and half-human, half-Yao powerhouses.

A dense army of the Yao Race swarmed out from all directions, their roars shaking the heavens and the earth. At a rough glance, there were thousands of them, and among them, there were no fewer than twenty Yao Managers and Yao Generals equivalent to the Golden Core Stage of the Human Race!

Seeing this scene, although the Human Race Cultivators were shocked, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi keenly discovered a clue.

He looked at the barrier in the sky, which, although pitch black as ink, had yet to unleash its thunderous killing tribulation. Inspiration struck him, and he shouted loudly:

"Fellow Daoists, do not panic! This Yao Race Great Array has a problem and cannot move at all! It is just an empty shell! Follow me and let us slay this Yao King first!"

"Kill! Slaying Yao and eliminating demons is for today!"

Immortal Master Moyuan also let out a long whistle. The ancient cyan sword in his hand soared into the sky, transforming into a hundred-foot giant sword, carrying the momentum to cleave mountains and split seas, and headed straight for Shen Guhong in mid-air.

"Hmph, die, Prodigy!"

The other powerful Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race also reacted one after another, their Aura greatly bolstered. Since there was no longer the threat of the terrifying Great Array, facing the same number of the Yao Race, they, the Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race, had absolutely nothing to fear!

In an instant, the light of Magic Treasures filled the sky.

Flying Swords, divine Seals, precious mirrors, magic talismans... countless Magic Treasures emitting destructive fluctuations tore through the Void Realm and collided fiercely with the roaring Yao Race powerhouses rushing up.

Rumble—!

The violent aftermath of magical power instantly turned countless halls of the Flowing Fire Sect into ruins. The most tragic war between humans and Yao in the Southern Region for hundreds of years erupted at this moment!

And in the Void Realm at the very edge of the battlefield, Qin Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, quietly overlooking the chaotic battlefield below.

"It's about time!" Qin Changsheng slowly raised his right hand hidden in his sleeve, pointed his fingers like a blade, and tapped lightly toward the Void Realm.

The power of [Heavenly Dao: Ancestor of Ten Thousand Arrays] roared into operation!

Hum—!

In an instant, the black barrier, which had been as quiet as stagnant water, began to tremble violently.

The rolling black clouds above the sky seemed to be frantically stirred by an invisible giant hand, forming a huge vortex.

A boundless Pressure, ten or a hundred times more terrifying than before, carrying a destructive Aura, crashed down from the Nine Heavens!

Feeling that this heaven-destroying and earth-shattering power had finally revived, the previously somewhat anxious Yao Race powerhouses immediately showed expressions of wild joy.

"The Great Array has been activated!"

"Haha, Master Wang has finally succeeded!"

Shen Guhong in mid-air couldn't help but laugh wildly at the sky, his face full of triumph and a cruel smile: "Sect Leader Xuanyangzi! Immortal Master Moyuan! Your death day has arrived! Under this Ten Thousand Yao Soul-Devouring Great Array, you will all turn into nourishment for my Breakthrough!"

However, the smile on Shen Guhong's face had not yet fully bloomed before it suddenly stiffened.

Because he discovered with terror that the terrifying Pressure falling from the sky, heavy as ten thousand mountains, had perfectly avoided all the Human Race Cultivators.

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi, Immortal Master Moyuan, and the other Golden Core powerhouses, apart from feeling the gale blowing on their faces, had their internal magical power circulation unimpeded, and not even a single strand of hair was bent by the Pressure.

On the contrary, that boundless Pressure, as if precisely targeted, slammed solidly onto all the Yao Race powerhouses!

"Pfft—!"

"What's going on?! My magical power has been sealed!"

"Ah! My bones are about to shatter!"

Countless Yao Race powerhouses screamed. Under this terrifying Pressure, the weaker Yao soldiers were directly pressed to the ground, unable to move, revealing their original forms;

And those Yao Generals at the Golden Core Stage were also deathly pale, trembling all over, their internal demonic power circulation extremely sluggish, their strength instantly reduced to less than one-tenth.

"This... this is impossible!" Shen Guhong felt his shoulders were incredibly heavy, and his whole body was forced down several zhang from mid-air. He stared fixedly at the black clouds above his head, his eyes filled with confusion and horror, "Why is the Great Array targeting us?! Master Wang! What exactly are you doing?!"

Before he could figure it out, in the next instant, the Great Array's counterattack had already arrived!

Boom boom boom boom boom!

From the black vortex in the sky, countless black lightning bolts and Formation runes converged into a destructive rain of light, sweeping down and covering the sky and the earth.

Not a single one of these attacks fell on the Human Race, but instead transformed into the scythe of the Grim Reaper, frantically harvesting the lives of the Yao Race.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a series of dense explosions, clusters of blood mist rose in the center of the battlefield.

More than a dozen Yao Race powerhouses, who were usually majestic and equivalent to the Golden Core Stage of the Human Race, did not even have time to scream before they were instantly crushed under this terrifying Formation attack, turning into a sky full of blood rain and flesh, their Divine Souls completely destroyed!

A pungent smell of blood instantly permeated the entire Flowing Fire Sect.

Watching this absurd and terrifying scene before them, the Human Race Cultivators were stunned, and the surviving Yao Race powerhouses were also completely terrified.

This "Ten Thousand Yao Soul-Devouring Great Array", originally intended to slaughter the Human Race, had now actually turned into a ruthless meat grinder for the Yao Race!

"Fellow Daoists, Heaven does not intend to destroy our Human Race!"

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi was the first to wake up from the shock. He looked at those Yao Race members struggling bitterly and drenched in blood under the black thunder, inspiration struck him instantly, and he shouted in a voice like a booming bell:

"It must be that a reclusive Senior expert of our Human Race is hidden in the dark, having taken control of this Yao Race Great Array! Now that the offensive and defensive positions have reversed, everyone follow me, let us slay the Yao Race and eradicate the evil completely!"

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi's words were like a shot of adrenaline, firmly striking the hearts of all the Human Race Cultivators present. The originally oppressive and desperate atmosphere was swept away, replaced by monstrous Battle Intent and wild joy!

"Kill! With a Senior presiding, what do we have to fear!"

"Slaying Yao and eliminating demons is for today!"

Immortal Master Moyuan let out a long whistle, pointing his fingers like a sword. That hundred-foot cyan giant sword erupted with blinding light, slashing down from the sky, instantly shredding two Yao Race Golden Core Generals who were suppressed by the Great Array and unable to move.

The remaining powerful Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race also fiercely attacked one after another. Various Lifebound Treasures roared out, turning into streams of light that filled the sky, ruthlessly pouring into the Yao Race camp.

The Yao Race, whose strength had already been greatly damaged by the Pressure of the Great Array, instantly collapsed in the face of the Human Race Cultivators' tidal wave of frantic attacks.

"Ah—!"

"Help! Sect Master, save me!"

Screams rose one after another, and severed limbs flew everywhere. In just one round of attacks, several more Great Yao at the Golden Core Stage and hundreds of low-level Yao were killed on the spot. The ground of the Flowing Fire Sect was almost stained dark red by Yao blood.

"Damn it! Pfft—!"

In mid-air, Shen Guhong was desperately resisting the joint siege of Sect Leader Xuanyangzi and Immortal Master Moyuan. Under the suppression of the Great Array's Pressure, his internal demonic power circulation was sluggish, and his movements were half a beat slower. He was directly struck in the chest by Sect Leader Xuanyangzi's horsetail whisk, and immediately afterward, his shoulder was grazed by Immortal Master Moyuan's Sword Qi.

Shen Guhong violently spat out a mouthful of scorching hot Yao blood, his figure flying backward in a sorry state for several tens of zhang, his face deathly pale as paper, his breath instantly wilting away.

"Father! Quickly retreat!"

Shen Bing did not know when she had rushed to Shen Guhong's side, covered in blood, and grabbed him to support him. Her face was filled with terror and despair, completely unable to understand why it had turned out like this.

It was clearly a foolproof, desperate killing game, it was clearly the infinitely powerful Ten Thousand Yao Soul-Devouring Great Array, why did it suddenly turn against them at the most critical moment, and instead become a meat grinder slaughtering their Yao Race?!

"Retreat? Where to retreat..."

Shen Guhong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled miserably. The Great Array had locked down the entire Flowing Fire Sect, and now even he, the "former master", could not open it. They had become turtles in a jar.

However, watching his kin falling one after another around him, and the powerful Human Race experts approaching step by step, a flash of determination suddenly crossed Shen Guhong's eyes.

He grabbed Shen Bing's wrist tightly with his backhand, lowered his voice, his tone extremely grave and urgent:

"Bing'er, the situation is lost, but the hope of our Yao Race cannot be extinguished! You must immediately take the 'Empress' and leave!"

"I will stay here, burn my Yao Core, and hold off these Human Race members for you!"

"Father!" Shen Bing's whole body trembled, her pupils suddenly shrinking.

"Go quickly! If you don't leave now, it will be too late!" Shen Guhong roared, violently pushing Shen Bing toward the back with one palm, and at the same time, a strange blood-colored flame ignited all over his body. That was the sign that he had begun to burn his Origin Yao Core!

"Roar—!"

Accompanied by a violent roar that did not sound human, the Yao Core inside Shen Guhong's body shattered with a bang, turning into a stream of nearly liquid blood-colored flames that completely enveloped his entire body.

Burning the Yao Core! This was the final life-risking method for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, using life and Divine Soul as the price in exchange for short-lived and terrifying, transcendent power. At this moment, the Pressure on Shen Guhong soared crazily, and it faintly broke through the shackles of the Golden Core Late Stage, infinitely approaching the Nascent Soul Stage!

"Human trash, come to Hell with me!"

Shen Guhong's eyes spat out blood-colored flames. He pushed his hands violently, and the raging flames filling the sky transformed into nine huge fire Dragons, carrying a destructive Aura, and frantically charged toward Sect Leader Xuanyangzi and Immortal Master Moyuan.

Shen Guhong's strength after burning his Yao Core was incredibly formidable, and every move he made had the power to collapse mountains and split the earth. Sect Leader Xuanyangzi and Immortal Master Moyuan's expressions changed drastically. They dared not resist with their Physical Body and hurriedly summoned their strongest defensive Magic Treasures, retreating repeatedly.

Boom boom boom!

The violent aftermath of energy exploded in mid-air, and the entire sky was dyed blood-red.

For a time, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi, Immortal Master Moyuan, and several powerful Human Race Golden Core experts were actually firmly suppressed by Shen Guhong alone, unable to spare a hand to do anything else.

Watching her father's back, who looked crazy and was fighting with his life, Shen Bing bit her silver teeth until they almost shattered, her eyes brimming with hot tears. She knew this was the last chance her father had won for her with his life.

"Father..."

Shen Bing cried out in sorrow, then no longer hesitated. She turned around violently, transformed into an afterimage, and ran desperately toward the direction of the Forbidden Ground in the back mountain.

"Not good, that Yao woman is going to escape!"

"Stop her!"

Several Human Race Cultivators on the periphery discovered Shen Bing's intention and immediately summoned their Flying Swords, wanting to intercept her.

However, before their Flying Swords could fly very far, Shen Guhong laughed wildly, enduring a sword strike from Immortal Master Moyuan in his back, and forcibly mobilized the sea of flames filling the sky, transforming it into a huge flame barrier, which melted those intercepting Flying Swords into molten iron.

"Your opponent is me!" Shen Guhong's face was ferocious as he blocked firmly in front of everyone.

Just in this moment of delay, Shen Bing's figure had completely disappeared into the rolling black fog of the back mountain. Although everyone wanted to pursue her further, it was already too late.