147: Chaos

"Form a Formation! Back to back, do not face the enemy alone!"

Chen Linsheng's sharp shout pierced through the chaotic din within the blood-colored light barrier. He grabbed the limp Yan Chen and threw him toward three nearby Yangwei Martial Arts Hall Disciples— "Protect him! Blazing Sun True Energy has a restraining effect on the Blood Puppets!"

The three Disciples were startled but not panicked, quickly forming a triangular Formation to protect Yan Chen in the center. Yan Chen struggled to prop up his upper body; though the fire in his eyes was dim, it still burned with an unwilling fury: "I... can still fight!"

"Save it," Chen Linsheng said coldly. "In your current state, going up there is just seeking death and will only drag down your fellow Disciples."

Before his voice had even faded, three Blood Puppets roared as they broke through the crowd and lunged straight at them!

These Blood Puppets had dark red skin, and their veins bulged and writhed like earthworms. Their eyes were a solid blood-red, and saliva mixed with dark blood dripped from their mouths, corroding the ground with sizzling white smoke. Though their movements were stiff, their strength was immense, and a single punch thrown actually carried a dull sound of wind!

"Watch out for the blood's corrosion!" While Chen Linsheng warned them, he had already moved to meet the one in the middle.

With his right arm's injury not yet healed, he met the enemy with his left palm. Using the "Suppressing the Mountain" form of the Hunyuan Palm once again, his palm force was vigorous and heavy; he didn't seek to penetrate, only to knock the enemy back!

*Bang!*

The palm force collided with the Blood Puppet's fist, producing a dull thud like striking tough leather. Chen Linsheng felt a surge of tyrannical, immense force, and his body swayed slightly, while the Blood Puppet was shaken back two steps, its knuckles shattered and dark red corrosive blood splattering!

Chen Linsheng was prepared; he sidestepped to avoid the corrosive blood droplets while simultaneously deploying the Crane Ape Illusory Wind Steps, circling to the Blood Puppet's flank and swiftly striking its temple with a finger!

Pale gold energy condensed at his fingertip; though not as sharp as Sword Qi, it was superior in its concentrated solidity—this was precisely the manifestation of his further advancement in force control after just having achieved a Breakthrough into the Jiaojin Realm.

*Puchi!*

His finger pierced through, and the Blood Puppet's head snapped back before it froze in place. The red light in its eyes quickly faded, and it fell to the ground with a thud.

Chen Linsheng's brow furrowed slightly—this single finger strike had actually consumed more of his mental energy and force than expected. Not only were these Blood Puppets strong, but their skulls were also exceptionally hard, and there seemed to be some kind of Yin-evil energy protecting their vital points within.

"Blazing Sun Incinerates Evil!"

A roar came from the left; it was Yan Chen, who, disregarding the advice, forcibly activated the last trace of True Energy in his body and slammed his left palm into the back of a Blood Puppet lunging toward the martial arts hall Disciples!

Although the crimson True Energy was weak, it was like a spark hitting oil, instantly igniting within the Blood Puppet's body! Amidst "chi-chi" sounds, the clothing on the Blood Puppet's back turned charred black, and thick black smoke billowed from its flesh. It let out a shrill, inhuman howl, frantically clawing at its back to no avail, and in just three breaths, it turned into a pile of burning, charred remains.

After striking with his palm, Yan Chen spat out another mouthful of blood and slumped to the ground, his aura even weaker, but a hint of morbid satisfaction flashed in his eyes: "Did you see... Chen Linsheng... Blazing Sun True Energy... is the real way to deal with these damn things..."

"Idiot." Chen Linsheng didn't even look at him; with a backhand palm strike, he sent the third Blood Puppet flying and shouted to the three Disciples, "Take him back and regroup with the Hall Master! Don't let him strike again!"

His gaze swiftly swept across the entire field.

Four blood-colored light pillars shot into the sky, and an inverted bowl-shaped light barrier covered the entire Drill Ground. Inside the barrier, Yin winds howled, and sounds like the wailing of vengeful spirits were no illusion but were truly affecting the minds of the Martial Artists on the field. Many spectators or examinees with weaker cultivation had already begun to lose focus in their eyes, their attacks becoming disorganized, and even signs of fratricide were appearing.

"This Formation is absorbing blood, Qi, and fear..." Chen Linsheng's Tracking Perfection perception fully expanded, discarding the noisy surface to capture the flow of the Formation's energy.

He saw that the dark red blood flowing from the slain Blood Puppets did not completely seep into the ground; instead, wisps of blood Qi were drawn by an invisible force, merging into the blood-colored patterns faintly appearing on the ground that covered the entire Drill Ground, eventually feeding into the four light pillars.

Because of this, the light pillars became increasingly solid, and the Yin-evil energy they emitted grew thicker.

And the intense emotions like fear, anger, and madness emitted by those who had fallen into panic and were attacking each other were also silently absorbed by the Formation, becoming nourishment.

"I must destroy the light pillars, or at least block the energy supply!" Chen Linsheng's thoughts raced.

But around the four light pillars, the Blood Puppets were most dense, and several dark figures with heavy auras were faintly hidden among them—clearly elites of the White Lotus Sect, waiting for an opportunity to hunt down Martial Artists or military guards attempting to approach the pillars.

*Chiii—!*

A clear, resonant sword hum rose above the chaotic din.

Chen Linsheng followed the sound and saw Mu Qingxue twenty zhang away, her body moving like a startled swan, her "Hanyi" sword unsheathed by three inches as ice-blue Sword Qi crisscrossed. She didn't use any flashy sword techniques, but performed simple stabs, points, parries, and slashes, each strike precisely hitting the Blood Puppets' joints or vital points in their heads.

The Sword Qi was icy cold; wherever it passed, the Blood Puppets' movements slowed significantly, their wounds froze, and the corrosive blood was temporarily sealed by the cold. She fought as she moved, her direction clear—straight toward the Viewing Platform. Several Academy classmates and two Martial Artists from the Prefectural Governors Mansion spontaneously gathered by her side, forming a simple Formation and pushing forward with difficulty.

"Form a circular Formation! Long weapons on the outside, short weapons on the inside! Guard your minds and do not look directly into the Blood Puppets' eyes!" Han Tie's coarse roar came from the other side.

He and four military comrades formed a back-to-back Formation, all five using standard military sabers. Their saber techniques were simple and ruthless—chopping, hacking, and slashing—specifically targeting the Blood Puppets' necks, knees, waists, and other supporting parts.

Although no flashy True Qi was released, their cooperation was seamless, and every strike was powerful and heavy, actually managing to force seven or eight Blood Puppets to a halt outside the Formation.

But the Blood Puppets knew no pain and feared not death; if a leg broke, they crawled forward, and if an arm was lost, they lunged with their heads. Though Han Tie and the others were brave, they were forced back step by step, and their Formation began to scatter.

"Pojun Guards! Attack the southeastern light pillar!"

Ling Feng's voice was like cold iron striking the ground, resounding throughout the field.

Following his command, dozens of Martial Artists wearing mysterious black light armor and black iron masks suddenly rushed out from various parts of the Drill Ground; these were the personnel secretly deployed by Army Breaker Manor. In groups of three, they formed Arrowhead Formations and boldly charged toward the thickest blood-colored light pillar in the southeast corner!

However, just as they were within ten zhang of the light pillar, dozens of poisoned hidden weapons, flying needles, and toxic sand were suddenly shot from the chaotic crowd in the spectator stands! At the same time, seven or eight figures dressed as ordinary commoners but possessing cold auras suddenly attacked, their weapons aiming straight for the Pojun Guards' vital points from behind!

"As expected, there's an ambush!" Ling Feng's eyes were cold. With a flicker of his body, he appeared behind an attacker like a ghost, his fingers together like a sword, and lightly tapped.

A blood hole exploded in the person's back, and they fell to the ground without even a groan.

But the other Pojun Guards had their charging rhythm disrupted by the sudden sniping and had to divert their attention to deal with the assassination attempts from the shadows, greatly reducing their speed toward the light pillar.

On the Viewing Platform, Eunuch Cao remained seated.

The two attendants behind him had heavy, settled auras, as immovable as mountains.

Four Inner Court Imperial Guards stood guard in front with sabers, slaying any stray Blood Puppets or out-of-control Martial Artists who lunged within a zhang.