Chapter 193: Grand Array Formation, Activate!
After hearing this news, Hao Ren stood up immediately with his cell phone in his hand.
Xie Yujia was about to talk to him but blinked instead when she saw the expression on his face.
Through the window, Hao Ren saw the Mercedes-Benz driving toward the Academic Building he was in and rushed out of the classroom without hesitation.
Xie Yujia wanted to call out to him, but it was too late.
Dashing out of the Academic Building, Hao Ren saw that the black Mercedes-Benz had already stopped at the entrance.
Without thinking, he pulled open the door and got in.
Lu Qing, Elder Sun and Premier Xia were already in this car while the bodyguards sat in the car that was following them.
Their expressions were not as grim as Hao Ren had expected, but they didn't seem relaxed, either.
The car drove out of the school steadily and headed toward the direction of the sea.
"Zi and the others are already there, right?" Hao Ren asked.
"Right." Lu Qing nodded.
This Mercedes-Benz was spacious inside. Light music resonated in the car while the drizzle continued outside.
Buzz... Hao Ren's cell phone vibrated.
He picked up the phone and saw a text message from Xie Yujia. "Hao Ren, why did you run out of the class? It is about to begin. Where are you going?"
After a moment of consideration, Hao Ren answered back. "Something happened, and I will probably come back quite late."
Then, he turned off the cell phone to avoid further interruptions.
"How about Linlin and Lili? Are they coming?" Hao Ren asked Lu Qing.
"No. They are not a part of East Ocean," Lu Qing answered him simply.
Probably due to the presence of Fuma, Lu Qing and the others didn't talk. The only sound in the car was the light music.
They arrived at the seaside and got to the huge black rock. Lu Qing and others took Hao Ren into the undersea tunnel.
When they came to the main gate of the Dragon Palace, Hao Ren felt like it was quite different.
All kinds of array formations were activated, and the number of patrolling soldiers had doubled!
As Zhao Kuo's Heavenly Tribulation drew near, the whole East Ocean Dragon Palace looked as if they were preparing for a war. All array formations were being used, and even the patrolling soldiers had all changed into armors.
After passing the heavily guarded main gate, Lu Qing, Hao Ren, and the others entered the Dragon Palace.
The altar for Zhao Kuo's Heavenly Tribulation was situated in the northwest corner of the Dragon Palace. Since they couldn't fly in the Dragon Palace, they had to walk there. On the way, they passed through several checks points. Even though the soldiers recognized Lu Qing and Premier Xia, they still checked their identifications.
Hao Ren looked around and saw that the number of soldiers protecting key places such as the Profound Cultivation Palace and Godly Treasure Palace had doubled as well.
They were impenetrable.
If anyone wanted to take the opportunity to break into the East Ocean Dragon Palace, they would be killed on the spot.
Lu Qing, Hao Ren, and others finally arrived at a huge white altar where more than 10,000 soldiers were guarding on its edge
Each gold-armored general led 1,000 silver-armored soldiers as they stood at one out of the 12 Earthly Branches 1 . There were 12 Earthly Branches, so there were 12 gold-armored generals and 12,000 silver-armored soldiers.
Standing in uniform intervals beside the altar, it looked like a large compass from above.
The altar that was made with one massive piece of white jade was even more majestic than last time Hao Ren saw it.
All kinds of complicated patterns and engravings were put on the altar, glittering brightly. All sorts of complex array formations could be activated at any time.
All the elders in the Dagon Palace were present. The ten Purple-Robed Elders who had the highest cultivation powers stood in the inner circle according to the positions of the ten Heavenly Stems 2 .
Even Hao Ren, who knew nothing about array formations, could tell that it was a very powerful array formation.
At the center of the hill-sized white jade altar, Zhao Kuo, who was in a simple cyan robe, was sitting on the ground cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Except for a black belt, he had no other decorations on him.
On his right, there stood a black tri-point double-edge sword 3 that had a handle of more than three meters long.
Made from Ten-thousand-year Blue-Water Mystic Iron, the tri-point double-edge sword weighed 6,500 pounds. It had a similar shape as a trident, but it was 100 times more powerful than a trident. This was Zhao Kuo's weapon that contributed to his reputation. It was called 'Killing Tribulation'!
Black hair, black beard, and black face!
Zhao Kuo was resting peacefully, and Hao Ren found that this man was extremely magnificent for the first time.
Over ten thousand people stood grim-faced around the altar while Zhao Kuo was alone in the center.
He was ready to embrace the Tribulation of Life and Death with calmness! He deserved the name of the No. 1 Cultivator of the Mortal World!
"Your Majesty."
Hao Ren was woken from his daze by Lu Qing's greeting.
He turned and saw Zhao Guang walking toward them with Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Yanzi.
Zhao Guang nodded. The tension on his face showed his anxiety.
Zhao Hongyu lightly smiled at him, and Zhao Yanzi's big eyes glanced at Hao Ren while she remained silent.
She had a deep bond with her Third Uncle and was very nervous about his Heavenly Tribulation.
"Elder Zhao estimated that the Heavenly Tribulation would come in six hours," Premier Xia stepped forward and told Zhao Guang.
"Ok. Get everyone prepared." Zhao Guang waved his hand.
"Six hours? The East Ocean put so much importance on Zhao Kuo's Heavenly Tribulation that the whole Dragon Palace is getting ready six hours beforehand," Hao Ren thought.
Time ticked away, and everyone was tensed up. Although the Heavenly Tribulation was estimated to come in six hours, no one was sure if it would come earlier than that.
Zhao Yanzi was tired after standing for so long. She wanted to rest for a while but couldn't find anywhere to lean on. Unless she sat on the ground, she couldn't really rest.
However, as the Princess, she would never do such an inappropriate thing. Seeing Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Guang staring at Zhao Kuo in the center of the altar, she silently moved to Hao Ren, clutching onto his clothes as she leaned onto his arm.
Hao Ren had been cultivating the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll, and he stopped and held her when he sensed her movements.
Since Hao Ren had swallowed her Dragon Core, Zhao Yanzi was now like an ordinary girl. It was too much for her to stand for several hours.
However, Zhao Guang ordered everyone to stand ready for the upcoming event, and no one could rest. Even he himself was standing, so Zhao Yanzi couldn't be an exception.
At this moment, the entire East Ocean Dragon Palace had to unite and face the Heavenly Tribulation together. Zhao Guang wouldn't let anything distract them!
Zhao Yanzi sighed in relief when Hao Ren held her; her feet were less sore. However, her glances at him still weren't so friendly.
Boom... Thunder could be heard in the sky.
"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Tribulation will come in half an hour at most!" Premier Xia walked over and bowed as he reported.
"Array Formation, activate!" Zhao Guang ordered.
The altar made of one piece of unique white jade began to move upward slowly.
Zhao Yanzi clutched Hao Ren's arm to steady herself.
Shortly, the altar that was as big as several soccer fields rose above the sea. It was dark all around!
In the boundless darkness of the night, thunder resonated in the sky while lightning flashed.