Chapter 284 — The Great Formation!

The cultivators who had been broken and fled described that company's ferocity in vivid detail; the lingering fear on their faces was the most convincing evidence of all. The news spread swiftly, and then the Outer Hall, abruptly and contrary to all expectation, gathered its strength and began marching steadily on Hengxiao City.

Those of any wit understood at once the hidden connection between this mysterious force and Hengxiao City.

The powers caught between the two withdrew to the rear of Hengxiao City, and everyone waited for the collision of the two great forces.

This collision would be a clash of the two mightiest giants in the Little Mountain Realm.

Of the Outer Hall nothing need be said: though it had lost three thousand men, it still possessed a vast host numbering seven thousand. Such an army was like a behemoth; every power along its path that dared bar the way was crushed to powder beneath its weight.

Hengxiao City had come out of nowhere, and in a few short weeks had leaped to become the only power in the Little Mountain Realm second to the Outer Hall. Golden Crow Fire, the black-refined cushions, the thirty-six rune battle towers, that mysterious company, all at once made Hengxiao City the center of the realm.

Hengxiao City seemed not to notice the Outer Hall's approaching steps, and went on wildly selling its black-refined cushions. This too made it the inevitable route for the retreating cultivators, and everyone did all they could to buy the cushions.

The black-refined cushions were dear, but compared with spirit grain they had far too many advantages.

A number of powers offered to help defend the city, but all were politely declined. This only made people more curious; after buying their cushions they did not leave, but encamped behind Hengxiao City.

As far as the eye could see, behind Hengxiao City the cultivators stood thick as a forest, without end. Half the cultivators of the Little Mountain Realm had gathered here, wanting to witness with their own eyes this exceedingly rare clash of giants.

The outcome would bear directly on how they would live hereafter.

In private, eight in ten cultivators favored the Outer Hall. Seven thousand organized cultivators, such terrifying strength filled all with dread. Even if that mysterious company belonged to Hengxiao City, it was too few in number; good enough for harassment, it could never play a decisive role. And there was still Ancestor Mingxiao, a golden-core cultivator, holding the line.

They were merely curious how long Hengxiao City could hold out.

But then, unexpectedly, the Outer Hall began to slow its advance, and for some reason, though the army's pace slackened, the pressure grew more suffocating still. Those of some insight understood: the Outer Hall was resting and gathering strength before the decisive battle.

Hengxiao City went about its business as usual each day. Many cultivators behind the city sighed that if Hengxiao City truly fell into the Outer Hall's hands, it would be a fine bargain for the Outer Hall. Just how many good things Hengxiao City held, no one could say for certain, but all knew they must be piled mountain-high.

Black-refined cushions were not cheap, after all!

Hengxiao City was the richest place in the Little Mountain Realm.

With the subterranean fire opened, Zuo Yan had leisure, and with the great formation complete, more than half the weight fell from his heart.

With the great battle at hand he was not in the least alarmed, but calm and composed. Seeing their boss so steady, everyone in the city felt the tension ease enormously, and their fervor rose swiftly instead.

So long as the boss was there, they had nothing to worry about.

Zuo Yan flew to the rune battle towers.

The thirty-six rune battle towers were now the busiest place of all; the East Camp and West Camp trained hard before the battle. They all knew that in this defense they were the true main force.

Everyone rubbed their fists and trained like mad. Do well, and one might even be transferred into the Vermilion Bird Camp, the place everyone in the East and West Camps eyed with longing. This battle would be their best chance.

Zuo Yan exchanged greetings with the officers of the East and West Camps, then flew up to the highest level.

He had come this time to look at the Thunder-Sound Walnuts kept in the rune battle towers and nourished with Gang Thunder.