145: Chapter 145 Zhou Tian Star Array

Facing Lan Huaying's curious and expectant gaze, Ji Taichang's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "I come from a hidden Sect, the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect."

"I cannot reveal too much information about my Sect; it is an ancestral rule."

"I am out wandering the world to temper myself. My Sect elders once said that everything depends on myself, and they will not intervene unless it is a matter of life and death. So even if I were to ask for help, it would likely be futile."

Ji Taichang's words left Lan Huaying slightly stunned.

Thoughts flashed through her mind as she quickly pondered the famous hidden Sects in the Eastern Desolate Region, but she could not recall the name Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect at all.

Ji Taichang said, "If you could summon experts from the Shuiyue Holy Land, that would be enough to save yourselves."

"Perhaps," Lan Huaying replied with a bitter smile, filled with anxiety.

Not to mention whether the experts from the Shuiyue Holy Land could arrive in time.

Once a gap is torn in the Heaven-Refining Blood Slaughter Array, the Black Thorn Cult will surely dispatch terrifying experts to blockade and suppress it. Whether these people can hold them off is still an unknown!

That is the greatest crisis!

After chatting a few more sentences, Lan Huaying left the side hall and began directing the experts who had come to reinforce from various dynasties, arranging for them to guard the various nodes of the Formation.

The Zhou Tian Starry Sky Array relies on the massive Dragon Vein Power beneath the royal capital. It has 36,000 Formation nodes, each requiring a Cultivator to guard it.

The higher the cultivation of the guarding Cultivator, the stronger the power the Formation can exert!

Especially for the 360 central nodes, at least a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator is needed to hold them; a Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be drained dry instantly!

Several hours passed in a flash.

The blood-colored light above the sky grew increasingly intense. In the darkness, it gave people an invisible sense of oppression, making them feel panicked and stifled.

Lan Huaying's expression grew increasingly ugly because there were still not enough Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators in the royal capital!

The Black Thorn Cult not only funded the Blood Lotus Sect, but Demonic Path Sects in various dynasties had also received funding from the Black Thorn Cult, causing their strength to skyrocket. They took the opportunity to engage in rampant burning, killing, and looting across the dynasties!

Consequently, most Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators from the various dynasties were busy fighting Demonic Path evil Cultivators, so very few could be sent to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Ji Taichang also noticed this problem and asked in a deep voice, "Miss Lan, can the Souls of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and Yao Beasts guard the Formation nodes?"

"Yes," Lan Huaying nodded. "But guarding a Formation node requires absorbing massive power, and if the Formation is attacked, it will suffer backlash. Without a Physical Body to share the pressure, a Soul can hardly withstand it."

"Moreover... we are still short of 108 Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators. Where are we supposed to find so many Souls of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and Yao Beasts?"

Lan Huaying sighed deeply, filled with worry.

But Ji Taichang's next sentence caused her body to stiffen, her eyes widening slightly.

"I have them."

"You, what did you say?" Lan Huaying somewhat doubted if she had heard correctly.

Ji Taichang did not speak, but silently took out the human emperor flag. It began to "spew" out black Devilish Qi. That terrifying aura of Evil Qi made even Lan Huaying's hair stand on end, feeling a sense of dread and fear!

Ji Taichang formed a seal with his hands. As the Devilish Qi surged, one hideous and shrill vengeful Soul after another rushed out from it.

There were hideous demonic creatures, and Demonic Path Cultivators with soaring Killing Intent...

Among them, there were over a hundred demonic creatures at the Nascent Soul Stage alone!

Especially Venerable Blood Bone, who had Soul Transformation Stage cultivation, which made Lan Huaying's eyes widen even more, greatly shocked!

"You... gasp!!"

"Fellow Daoist Ji, why... why do you possess such a vicious Demonic Path weapon as a ten thousand soul banner!?"

Lan Huaying's face was filled with vigilance and uncertainty, and the way she looked at Ji Taichang had changed.

The ten thousand soul banner is too cruel and terrifying, violating the harmony of heaven. Historically, only those notorious Demonic Path evil Cultivators would refine one!

Coupled with Ji Taichang's reluctance to reveal his true identity and background, this made Lan Huaying instantly vigilant.

"I picked it up," Ji Taichang said calmly. "Mine is called the human emperor flag, not a ten thousand soul banner."

"Weapons and Magic Treasures have no distinction of good or evil; only people do."

"Although I hold a vicious weapon, I have never killed innocent people. The vengeful Souls in the human emperor flag are all demonic creatures and Demonic Path evil Cultivators. Using a Demonic Path evil weapon to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, what is wrong with that?"

"If Miss Lan finds it objectionable, then shall I leave?"

Ji Taichang retracted the Souls of those Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and demonic creatures, looking as if he were about to turn and leave.

"Fellow Daoist, wait!"

Lan Huaying's heart jumped, and she hurriedly stopped Ji Taichang. "I... I do not find the human emperor flag objectionable; I was just a bit surprised. I did not mean anything against you, Fellow Daoist, please forgive me."

She stood in front of Ji Taichang and bowed deeply to him. At the neckline of her exquisite golden Phoenix robe, a patch of snowy white scenery was suddenly revealed, causing Ji Taichang's eyes to widen slightly.

Ji Taichang was moved by her broad-mindedness and chose to forgive Lan Huaying.

Soon, Ji Taichang activated the human emperor flag, forcibly controlling these Nascent Soul Stage vengeful Souls to guard the Formation nodes.

Lan Huaying held a golden Dharma seal, inscribed with countless starlight; it was indeed the core of the Formation!

Lan Huaying formed seals with both hands and chanted true incantations. Her loose golden Phoenix robe fluttered without wind, emitting a massive surge of spiritual power!

"A Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage?" Ji Taichang sensed the change in Lan Huaying's cultivation and raised an eyebrow, but he was not too surprised.

When they last met, she was already at the Peak of the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Stage. As a third-generation Disciple of the Holy Lord of Water Moon Holy Land, her talent was definitely not weak, so it was normal for her to achieve a Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage.

Boom—

Under Lan Huaying's guidance, the Zhou Tian Starry Sky Array roared into operation. Countless Formation patterns flashed on the ground, and runes crisscrossed the sky, turning into one brilliant star after another, emitting a grand and majestic aura!

Countless starlight condensed into a giant sword of light. That grand and boundless power seemed to exceed the limit of the Soul Transformation Stage; it was too astonishing, slashing straight toward the sky!

Accompanied by a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar, the giant sword of light slashed onto the Heaven-Refining Blood Slaughter Array. The power of the two Formations collided continuously, annihilating each other and bursting forth with halos of light, causing even space to slightly distort!

Fortunately, this strike landed in the sky. If it had landed on the ground, the entire royal capital would likely have been reduced to ashes!

Amidst the nervous and expectant gazes of Ji Taichang and the others, the sword of light forcefully tore a gap in the Heaven-Refining Blood Slaughter Array!

Lan Huaying was overjoyed and immediately crushed a jade pendant, sending an urgent plea for help to the Shuiyue Holy Land!!

"Elder Ye!" She did not forget to turn her head and shout to Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan immediately soared into the sky, his Soul Transformation Stage cultivation erupting. His speed was incredibly fast as he rushed toward the gap in the Heaven-Refining Blood Slaughter Array.

This was the plan everyone had agreed upon long ago. Ye Yuan would rush out to scout the path; if there were no Devil Heads from the Black Thorn Cult blocking the way, the others would immediately follow and evacuate the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If a Devil Head intervened, Ye Yuan would immediately retreat, and the group could also rely on the Zhou Tian Starry Sky Array to contend with the Black Thorn Cult!