Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Profound Black Celestial Star Array

Riding his Cloud Escape, Yang Jing chose not to rescue Song Min, who was trapped by swarms of Blood Shadow Mosquitoes.

The Blood Shadow Mosquitoes were, after all, just tools used by the Dark Spring Demon Sect to collect lifeblood. Their reproductive speed was astonishing, and when dormant in their egg stage, not even Bright Qi Talent could detect them. Naturally, they also had their flaws. Namely, due to the limits of their innate Talent, their Demon Power was extremely weak before their Third Transformation.

A single Blood Shadow Mosquito had practically nonexistent Demon Power.

This meant they were almost incapable of breaching the defenses of a Tier One Upper Grade or higher Defensive Spiritual Artifact. This flaw wasn’t a problem when dealing with mortals or Independent Cultivators, but it made them highly ineffective against Sect Cultivators.

Defensive Spiritual Artifacts were typically much more expensive than other Magical Artifacts. Even a wealthy Independent Cultivator would usually only possess a single Magical Artifact for offense. For their own protection, Golden Light Talismans and Armor would suffice.

An encounter with Blood Shadow Mosquitoes, however, was a devastating catastrophe.

Song Min’s Defensive Spiritual Artifact was likely only Tier One Middle Grade, but holding out for an hour would be no problem at all.

Beneath the plaque that read “Justice and Integrity,” the County Magistrate had been drained completely of his Essence Blood.

The County Deputy, Historian, and constables were also there, all reduced to piles of white bones, their Brocade Official Robes scattered across the floor.

Yang Jing was only able to identify them by the clothing still clinging to their skeletons.

In the Nine Heavens World, those without a Spirit Root were ultimately adrift with no foundation. To become the head of a county was already an incredible stroke of luck. At the State Mansion level, the position of Prefect had to be filled by a Cultivator.

The foundation of the County Yamen’s main hall was the Array Base for the entire Grand Array. It was forged from various types of Spiritual Gold and embedded deep underground, where it connected to the Spirit Vein. The base was stable and practically indestructible.

When first establishing the Array, the Array Master who designed it had considered that the person activating it would likely have no knowledge of the Array Dao. Thus, they made the activation process incredibly simple: one only had to pour Magical Power into the Array Base to activate the Restrictions in sequence.

A Grand Array activated in such a manner would be quite rigid without an Array Master’s manipulation, but it was more than enough to defend against Demon Beasts.

Most Demon Beasts were completely clueless when it came to Arrays.

Yang Jing had to thank that lust-addled Yu Yingwu. By not guarding the Array Base in the County Yamen, he had given Yang Jing the perfect opportunity to activate the Grand Array.

As he poured in his Magical Power, the Restrictions on the Array Base lit up one by one. Using his Bright Qi Talent, Yang Jing could clearly sense the Spiritual Qi from the underground Spirit Vein being constrained by the Array, its flow redirected to pour into and activate each of the Grand Array’s nodes.

The torrent of Spiritual Qi was so astonishing that even the rock-solid Array Base began to tremble. A beam of Profound Light shot up from the ground, spreading out like a canopy to envelop the entire county seat in its protection.

Even through the countless Restrictions and the Array Base, Yang Jing could feel the immense power of this torrent. Compared to it, his own Magical Power was but a drop in the ocean.

“Profound Black Celestial Star Array!”

It was an Array that excelled in both offense and defense, and the light barrier formed by the Profound Light was exceptionally tough.

At that moment, Yu Yingwu was growing annoyed with Song Min’s stubborn resistance. However, he didn’t dare use his specialty, Fire Techniques, to attack her Protective Spirit Light. He knew his own situation best; he was merely a fox borrowing the tiger’s might. If one of his Magic Spells accidentally harmed the Blood Shadow Mosquitoes, the Demon Mosquitoes would not spare him either.

The sudden activation of the Grand Array made his heart leap into his throat. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and a chill washed over him as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss.

“There’s still a rat alive in Huashan County!”

Yu Yingwu’s voice was so sharp it was as if someone had grabbed him by the balls.

Trapped within the swarm of Blood Shadow Mosquitoes, Song Min’s tense expression relaxed. She looked at Yu Yingwu, a sneer on her face.

“What’s the matter? And here I thought you were so sure of your victory.”

Yu Yingwu’s eyes filled with venomous hatred as he shrieked hysterically at Song Min,

“You think activating the Grand Array means you’ve won? I’ve already used a Blood Evil Six Demon Talisman to corrupt the Demon Alarm Bell! It won’t ring, so what’s the point of holding out? I’m going to kill your little helper right now, then I’ll shut down the Grand Array. I can’t wait to see the look of despair on your face!”

“The Blood Evil Six Demon Talisman? You’re actually working with the Dark Spring Demon Sect? That’s like making a deal with the devil! Aren’t you afraid that in the end, not only will you lose all your Essence Blood, but they’ll skin you alive to make a banner out of you!”

Song Min said coldly.

The Blood Evil Six Demon Talisman was a notorious Talisman from the Dark Spring Demon Sect. It used corrupted blood to summon the Six Blood Evil Demons, who excelled at defiling Magical Artifacts. If even a Tier One Upper Grade Magical Artifact were to be tainted by them, its Restrictions would shatter, its Spiritual Materials would be corrupted, and it would be rendered completely useless.

Although the Demon Alarm Bell was a Tier Two Magical Artifact, once corrupted by the Blood Evil Six Demon Talisman, it would become useless.

Yu Yingwu’s eyes turned bloodshot.

“From the moment I helped them kill that first Independent Cultivator during the Autumn Defense, I’ve had no way out! All I want is to reach Foundation Establishment! What’s so wrong with that?!”

As he spoke, he activated a Circular Jade Pendant, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

With a surge of his Magical Power, a crimson-gold flame roared from the Jade Pendant, transforming into a Fire Flood Dragon that shot straight toward the County Yamen. He intended to burn the entire yamen—and the “rat” inside it—to cinders.

Yu Yingwu’s reputation as a master of Fire Techniques was well-earned. The Fire Flood Dragon he summoned was terrifyingly lifelike and possessed astounding power. If its full might were unleashed, the entire County Yamen would be razed to the ground.

Song Min’s expression changed. She guessed the person who activated the Array was Yang Jing. He was only at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation; if he were so much as grazed by the Fire Flood Dragon’s power, he would be gravely wounded.

Her hands formed a seal for a Spell.

A Water Sword shot forth. Though summoned after the dragon, it arrived first, slashing directly at Yu Yingwu.

With no other choice, Yu Yingwu was forced to command the Fire Flood Dragon to block the attack. The Water Sword slammed into the fiery beast. The clash of water and fire triggered a violent explosion, and billowing steam instantly shrouded the entire area.

A fierce gust of wind howled, instantly sweeping away the view-obscuring steam.

Yu Yingwu tossed aside the used Wind-Calling Talisman. He was a battle-hardened Cultivator, after all. Although he didn’t know the identity of the other person, anyone who could survive the swarms of Blood Shadow Mosquitoes and activate the Array without him noticing had to be proficient in some sort of stealth technique.

’If I hadn’t dispersed that steam quickly, I would’ve been at a complete disadvantage.’

Under the cover of the obscuring steam, Yang Jing had dashed out of the County Yamen. Protected by a Golden Light Talisman, he scurried behind Song Min.

“Fellow Daoist Song! I barely managed to activate the Grand Array, but what now? It only defends against outside threats, not what’s already inside! There’s no way the two of us can deal with all these Demon Mosquitoes!”

He looked utterly terrified, his face a deathly shade of pale.

Spotting a new target, the sky full of Blood Shadow Mosquitoes swarmed him, biting at the light shield generated by his Golden Light Talisman. After only a moment, the once-stable shield began to flicker violently.

Yang Jing frantically activated several more Talismans, creating bursts of Red Fire that incinerated a dozen or so Blood Shadow Mosquitoes. He then slapped another Golden Light Talisman on himself for protection.

“Fellow Daoist Song, help!”

Song Min sighed in resignation. She expanded the Spiritual Light from her Defensive Spiritual Artifact, pulling Yang Jing into its protective embrace.

“How did you manage to evade all these Blood Shadow Mosquitoes?”

“I cultivate a Body Refinement Technique on the side. It’s good for concealing my lifeblood, and I never expected it would be so effective against these Demon Mosquitoes.”

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