Chapter 343: Turning the Tide
Under the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, Lin Feng lifted his head to look at the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation, which was slowly dissipating. The formation released its last huge crimson red light beam.
It was like the third attack of the formation, but now it tapped on the cosmic powers of Mars. The crimson red light beam contained ferocious flames within it and combined hundreds and thousands of fire formations together.
The fire-type spiritual power within the light beam was concentrated. From Lin Feng's experience, such ferocious flames were sufficient to raze a huge amount of land to the ground and even vaporized it.
The powers of the Seven True Primordial Fires were on a higher level, but the Primordial Fires that he had seen were all limited by their volume. Compared to what he was witnessing now, it was like a difference between a water droplet and an ocean. This caused the destructive powers of the Primordial Fires and the light beam to be of a different magnitude.
Lin Feng grasped the umbrella tighter and tighter with his finger. When he had resisted the third attack of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation, he felt a tremendous tremor and almost lost his grip. Now, a more powerful attack was incoming.
Time and space above the umbrella started to change again. The light beam, with a diameter of around a kilometer, became thinner in the process of changing. It eventually shrank to a diameter of only a foot and converted to a vigorously burning fireball, smashing on the top of the Sky-Shielding Umbrella.
Under the attack of the fireball, there was an earth-shaking tremor and a streak of fire was deflected off the umbrella, but the umbrella was still in working condition. Not only was it not destroyed, there was not even a hint of scratch on it.
The streak of fire that deflected off the umbrella converted itself to a fire shooting star the size of a mountain as it left the boundaries encapsulating the umbrella's powers. The entire surroundings were engulfed by flames instantaneously.
Regardless of Shi Zongyue in the air, the Sword Radiance Swordmaster and the rest, or the Blue Pavilion Holy Man on the ground, they all witnessed Lin Feng resisting the attack of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation. Even after facing the attack, Lin Feng was undisturbed by it.
This left everyone speechless, especially Shi Zongyue.
He knew in his heart that the fourth attack initiated by the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation was much stronger than his combined attack with the Hidden Dragon Gorge.
Even if it was him facing the fourth attack by his own, he could only try to avoid it. Taking it on head-to-head would only result in serious injuries or even death for him.
But now Lin Feng was fine even after such a devastating attack on him. Regardless of whether it was due to the Sky-Shielding Umbrella or Lin Feng's own powers, they only proved that Shi Zongyue was clueless about how to deal with him!
This fact made all the Immortal Soul Stage Elders speechless.
After a while, Shi Zongyue spoke in a deep voice, "This time around, we have to thank Master Lin for turning the tide!"
Firstly, he used his formation to save the collapsing Ancient Huanghai World. After that, he single-handedly resisted the third attack of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation.
Following that, he even managed to overcome the even stronger fourth attack by the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation.
In this battle, Lin Feng disproved the legend of the invincibility of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation.
Before this, the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation destroyed the defensive formation of the Sea of the Northern Wind in the first attack and the second attack had to be resisted with the efforts of a few Immortal Soul Stage Elders.
In the hearts of the Immortal Soul Stage Elders, Lin Feng's defensive abilities were the best among everyone present, which won the respect of everyone.
Although Lin Feng did not attack the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation directly, the effect he brought about in this battle was second to none. It was not exaggerating for Shi Zongyue to claim that he turned the tide.
"You are too kind, Prince Anliang." Lin Feng's voice resonated, "Can we apprehend the other party?"
Shi Zongyue and the rest put out the burning flames and landed on the ground.
"I am ashamed to say this, but the other party has escaped after his formation had collapsed." Shi Zongyue shook his head while saying, "The collapse of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation has caused quite a huge chaos in the surrounding spiritual energy and led to a mess in the entire space."
"The other party's cultivation is not beneath mine. He took opportunity of the chaos to escape. We were unable to stop him."
Shi Zongyue said in a deep voice, "However, I can tell that this was caused by the Qiong Qi demonic tribe by observing the change in the demonic powers. They are a ferocious bunch, but I am unsure of how they got the opportunity to take control of the long-lost Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation and used it to seek trouble."
Lin Feng creased his brows slightly, "This place is very far from the Barren Lands of the demonic world. How did this group of demons rush over to the Sea of the Northern Wind without alerting Prince Anliang and the Great Qin Empire?"
Shi Zongyue was embarrassed and lowered his head, "The Great Qin Empire will investigate this thoroughly and give everyone an explanation."
Regardless of whether it was Lin Feng, Prince Xian of the Left, Sword Radiance Swordmaster, Sun Radiance Swordmaster, Blue Pavilion Holy Man, Huo Xiu or Cao Wei, every one of them was very serious now. The Immortal Soul Stage Elders were furious and the anxious atmosphere seemed to tense up the entire place.
Although the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation was strong, it would still be difficult to hold the Immortal Soul Stage Elders back if they wanted to leave.
But the Ancient Huanghai World was fixed there in place. If it was destroyed by the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation, all the budding talents of the great powers were bound to be killed over there.
Dou Kun, Sang Luohe, Tao Yaoyao, Li Dongtao, Yun Mei, Gu Lei, Huo Ming, Song Qingyuan as well as Dao Yuting were all elite disciples of the powerful sects. Even if these sects had a huge array of talents, it would be devastating to lose these group of talents.
As they matured, they would become the pillar of their respective sects and leave their name in history. If they were killed here, it would cause a huge uproar within their own sects internally.
To the Great Qin Empire, the same logic applied to Shi Xingyun and Shi Shaogan.
Not to even mention the Celestial Sect of Wonders, where all of Lin Feng's Immediate Disciples except Xiao Yan were stuck in the Ancient Huanghai World. If someone were to wreak havoc, Lin Feng and Xiao Yan would be clueless about how to proceed in the future.
To have been played by someone, this group of Immortal Soul Stage Elders were in low spirits.
Cao Wei was speechless and crushed a piece of the Voice-Projecting Crystal. He used his mana to communicate with Wu Qingrou.
As he got through to Wu Qingrou, he criticized, "This is your so-called 'another change'?"
Wu Qingrou replied calmly, "The Qiong Qi demonic tribe has laid a move? Mm, what method did they use?"
Cao Wei answered coldly, "You do not know?"
"I knew about it beforehand." Wu Qingrou said, "But it was just intelligence. As for the details, I am unsure of them."
After hesitating for a moment, he followed with, "I did not orchestrate the plan. Speaking of it, I am not even the person who initiated or supported it. I was just someone who knew about it."
Cao Wei was silent for a moment before he started to describe the entire proceedings calmly.
"Oh? So it was the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation. This is indeed a surprise." Wu Qingrou was interested about what happened, "But the powers of the leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders were within my expectations."
Cao Wei creased his brows, "You wanted to exploit the attack by the demonic tribe to test Lin Feng's true abilities?"
Wu Qingrou replied, "It was not the main plan, but the rewards have been fulfilling. I am satisfied."
He muttered to himself, "His formation can stabilize space. Even though the Middle World is so huge, stabilizing the boundaries of space is manageable."
"But then, if his Sky-Shielding Umbrella can withstand the attacks of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation, then what are its limits?"
Cao Wei interrupted him and said monotonously, "We can talk about all this later. What I want to know now is the person who provided the Qiong Qi demonic tribe with the convenience to enter the Divine Lands?"
Wu Qingrou laughed, "If your powers were greatly undermined, who will benefit the most from it?"
"I have said it, I did not plan this entire thing. I am just a bystander."
Cao Wei said, "You decided to watch without helping even though you know the entire situation. That is because you can benefit from all this."
"You are right, that is the case." Wu Qingrou admitted steadily and laughed, "But this matter has caused your disciples to be affected. I will make amends for that."
Cao Wei was silent and ended the communication between the both. He pondered for a moment and turned his gaze towards Lin Feng. Many ideas flashed across his mind suddenly.
Lin Feng started to think about a lot of things too, "Those who are participating in this spiritual conference have a pretty close relationship with the royal family of the Great Qin Empire. For something this big to happen, I suspect three parties."
"The Great Zhou Empire, the Great Qin influential families and the royal family itself."
Lin Feng raised his brows, "The question is which side is Wu Qingrou on?"
Was he loyal to the orthodox royal family of the Great Qin Empire, or was he more towards the side of the influential families?
Previously at Xingyun Peak, was his actions of making Prince Chongyun lose face a true representation of his intentions or was he projecting a false image?
"The difference in this is very big." Lin Feng sighed, "If he is gathering the influential families, then he would be sure to assist the Shi family secretly and support Shi Tianyi. If Xiao Budian wants to deal with Shi Tianyi in the future, then he will be big problem."
"But if he is on the side of the royal family, then he will be of a great help to Xiao Budian. Even if they just want to play with the emperor's mind, I will also receive a lot of freedom to control things."
Lin Feng thought of a lot of things, but could not figure out some things. He could only shake his head and forget about them temporarily.
As the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation was destroyed and the Qiong Qi demonic tribe had retreated, everyone was more relaxed. Shi Zongyue allowed the group of people that were stuck in the Ancient Huanghai World to leave.
In the first instant of facing the attack of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation, this group of people were protected. Some of them were even unaware, but as they saw the devastation around them, they could not help but feel frightened.
After this ordeal, the Ancient Huanghai World had become extremely unstable. All the elders were using the Voice-Projecting Crystal to communicate with their disciples.
Many of them who had stayed at in the Ancient Huanghai World for a few days were disappointed when they finally left as they felt that the rewards they received were too little due to the time constraints.
As the Celestial Sect of Wonders' disciples left the Ancient Huanghai World, they were in pretty good spirits as they saw Lin Feng.
But as they first met, Xiao Budian used his mana to communicate with Lin Feng.
"Master, Mu Jihai wanted to attack me secretly, but I took care of him."