Chapter 178 - 177: Besieged on All Sides

Chapter 178: Chapter 177: Besieged on All Sides

"A military formation inheritance!!!"

Seeing the countless pale chains spreading out from behind the Martial Artists on Fangcun Mountain, the Martial Artists watching from the Great Yan Imperial Palace couldn’t sit still, getting to their feet instinctively.

Almost instinctively, their gazes turned hostile as they looked toward the royal party in the direction of Jinluan Hall. Buried memories began to resurface.

It hadn’t been long since the imperial conquest of the martial world a century ago.

Some of the Sect Leaders present had participated in that war, witnessing the brutal slaughter firsthand.

Faced with a military formation inheritance comprised of several million imperial guards, even experts as strong as Fourth Turns would fall before such overwhelming numbers.

Being stared down by these experts, the Great Yan royal family felt sharp prickles on their backs.

Just then, Prince Qing stood, bowed, and said, "Everyone, please don’t panic. This must be a conspiracy by Great Chu. The principles of military formation inheritances are widely known and not some great secret. It is not difficult to imitate them."

"Furthermore, the size of the Great Yan army is strictly controlled by treaty. Even our imperial guard numbers no more than one hundred thousand. You can all rest assured, it will pose no threat to the safety of the great Sects."

Prince Qing’s tone was extremely deferential.

Ever since the emperor gambled away the nation’s destiny a century ago, the empire had been forced to sign a humiliating treaty stripping it of power. Since then, the Sects had utterly suppressed imperial authority, ensuring it could never rise again.

It was only because the Sects controlled the imperial court—even interfering in the appointment and dismissal of emperors—that the martial world tolerated the continued existence of the Great Yan Empire.

Otherwise, even at the risk of reviving the Great Derivation Divine Monarch, they would have razed this imperial court to the ground.

Meanwhile, atop the Twin Imperial Tower of Great Chu, Emperor Xiang Hongtu gazed at the scene unfolding on Fangcun Mountain, his expression impassive.

"Your Majesty, when did you develop a military formation inheritance?" the white-robed scholar at his side asked in amazement.

"Merely a small experiment. Back then, I personally watched how the Great Yan Empire went from being the strongest of all nations to a state of decline."

"Against enemies below the Fourth Turn, military formations are nearly invincible. How could I not seize such power for myself?"

Xiang Hongtu observed the state of the battlefield, his eyes glinting with greed. ’If an emperor doesn’t want to expand his territory and cast a tiger’s gaze over the world, then what’s the point of being emperor at all?’

Back then, Great Yan tried to conquer the world relying on its seven Fourth Turn experts. If not for the united front of the other nations, they might very well have succeeded.

The great decline of the Martial Dao in this age was a direct result of this. Back then, it seemed as if the Great Yan Empire was merely suppressing an internal rebellion, but in truth, it was fighting all the nations of the known world.

It was like Konoha Village trying to purge the Uchiha clan, only to provoke a joint siege from the four other great nations.

In the end, although Great Yan was defeated, its profound foundations had taken a heavy toll on the other nations, leaving them severely weakened. The older generation of experts was almost completely wiped out.

Within the Great Yan Empire alone, hundreds of sky-ascending experts perished, wiping out nearly several generations worth of talent. The other nations also fell dormant, licking their wounds and recuperating.

"But might this action provoke the other nations..." The white-robed scholar stopped mid-sentence when he saw a pair of eyes brimming with Evil Qi, and he wisely shut his mouth.

"Do you think Great Chu is the only one involved in something like this?"

"Jiejian Mountain’s Sword Tomb, the Buddhist Kingdom’s Fangcun Mountain... they’re all just military formations with different purposes. When it comes to this, whose hands are clean?"

Xiang Hongtu sneered, "They all put on a good show, but none of their foundations are clean. What are they pretending for in front of me? I’d like to see which of those thick-skinned major powers has the gall to call me out."

"Your Majesty’s words are wise," the white-robed scholar said, cupping his fists.

...

While the various powers were reeling in shock at the reappearance of a military formation, Fang Can found himself locked in a bitter struggle inside Fangcun Mountain.

Dozens of Martial Artists had formed up, completely surrounding Fang Can. The illusory chains extending from them resembled Dragon-Binding Locks, threatening to entrap and kill him.

These Martial Artists had all specialized in Horizontal Training Cultivation Techniques long before entering Fangcun Mountain.

At this moment, their skin was as hard as steel. They had even used secret elixirs to fortify their weak points—the eyes, groin, and ears—to the extent that not even a steel needle could pierce them.

For Fang Can, any one of them could be individually smashed into pulp with a single punch, but he was not facing a lone opponent now.

Inside the formation, Fang Can pressed his right palm forward, sending out a surging gale, while his left hand shot out and clamped around the neck of the Martial Artist before him.

The man struggled, but how could he possibly resist a force nearly ten times his own?

BOOM—

As he smashed his right fist into the Martial Artist with all his might, Fang Can felt like he had just punched a block of iron, a numbing jolt shooting up his arm.

Aside from some slight redness and swelling, the Martial Artist’s cheek was completely unscathed.

Just as he was about to throw another punch, the dozens of men behind him leaped forward, striking at him.

Slightly irritated, Fang Can spun around and unleashed a full-power palm strike.

The sharp force of his palm sent the Martial Artists staggering back, but four arms sliced through the air, pressing down on him.

"You’d better be careful, handsome. My brother here hates you to the bone."

At the sound of the female head’s voice, Fang Can had no choice but to forcibly enlarge his right arm with the Heaven-Supporting Skill and viciously strike Xiang Longtao’s cheek.

"Young Hero Fang, your power is being channeled through these 73 people and split into dozens of shares. Your original strength of seventy thousand has been reduced to less than one thousand per share."

The pale-faced Martial Artist chuckled. "And my Martial Artists have each activated a Burst Secret Skill, making their individual strength nearly seven to eight times yours."

"With Prince Xiang lending his aid, I guarantee you have no chance of escape."

"Since you can’t escape, it’s a case of many ants biting an elephant to death. We will simply wear you down."

’Compete with me in endurance? You want to wear me down?’

Looking up at the brilliant, simulated sun of Fangcun Mountain, Fang Can found the notion laughable. ’Can their Burst Secret Skills even last an entire day?’

"In Great Chu’s sky, the wind howls madly; ten thousand miles of dark clouds smother the sunlight."

The next moment, as the white-robed maiden softly recited the verse, the entire sky above was shrouded by a sheet of black clouds.

The view, brilliantly sunlit just a moment before, was now obscured by oppressive, dark clouds, plunging the world into a state like night.

"I’m not clear on the specific effects of your Great Sun Undying Demon Body, but the name of a Cultivation Technique doesn’t lie."

The white-robed maiden smiled placidly. "For miles around, all light has been snuffed out by my poem. You are now trapped in a hopeless siege."

"I must admit, Young Hero, you are a heaven-sent prodigy. Not a single one of us who temporarily broke through to the First Turn could have reliably defeated you alone."

"We studied how to counter you at great length."

Feeling the light his skin could absorb weaken drastically, Fang Can’s movements faltered for an instant.

All around was now dim, yet Fang Can’s fair skin still emitted a faint glow in the darkness, making him a conspicuous focal point.

This light was a sign of his abundant energy. If the glow from his skin were to dim, it would mean he was completely spent.

In his current state, even without any further "recharging," he had enough energy to fight for four hours and throw hundreds of thousands of punches.

But Fang Can had to admit, the current situation was indeed not in his favor.

So...

Fang Can’s expression faltered. He looked at the ravenous predators circling him, and his smile faded slightly.

"Fine. I admit it, you’ve actually managed to pose a bit of a threat. So, to ensure a clean victory, I suppose I’ll have to get a little more serious."