Chapter 1757: The Trap Behind the Center Gate!
Translated by: Hypersheep325 Edited by: Michyrr
Boom!
It seemed like these Imperial Army soldiers were about to crumble and the Center Gate was about to fall, but at this moment, the earth rumbled, and a violet pillar of energy shot up from the depths of the Imperial Palace, spreading outward in a great wave.
This violet pillar of energy was dazzling in the darkness, causing the world to experience a violet day.
For a moment, everything in the world fell silent. As countless eyes turned to look, they sensed a horrifying power coming from the energy pillar.
“What terrifying strength!”
Even the most ordinary Imperial Army soldier could sense how monstrous this power was, how it reigned above all other things in the world.
But this was only the beginning. This massive energy began to radiate outward, traveling through the ground to sweep over every part of the Imperial Palace and effecting a miraculous transformation.
Clangclangclang!
The Imperial Army force that had been on the verge of crumbling under the vicious assault was engulfed by the violet wave of energy, and a moment later, the halos under their feet began to swell in power, pouring new energy into their bodies.
Not only did the Imperial Army soldiers get stronger, the formation itself began to manifest larger and more complex patterns. The men were now even more united, their connection with each other even tighter.
“Not good!”
“What’s this?! This formation is weakening us!”
Cries of alarm came from the one thousand Wootz Steel cavalry, who saw their halos dim and felt their cultivation levels drop.
“Kill!”
The Imperial Army soldiers, with their renewed strength, now brandished their weapons and began their counterattack.
“Kill!”
But despite all these soldiers charging at them, the one thousand Wootz Steel cavalry remained fearless.
They continued to charge, as the edges of the Wootz Steel weapons were unaffected by these halos.
But even so, it was clear that their advance had been slowed.
Wang Chong silently observed all this from the rear.
“Hmph!”
With a cold snort, Wang Chong stomped forward. There was a great clattering as a massive halo began to spread out from under his feet.
The one thousand Wootz Steel cavalry were engulfed in rumbling waves of energy, and then dazzling halos began to revolve around their feet.
Their strength instantly soared, and not only did they recover their original strength, they became even stronger.
“It’s about ready!”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he began to advance.
His dantian vibrated, unleashing a powerful energy that locked onto the Imperial Army soldiers. He was preparing to strike and clean up the battlefield in one fell swoop.
“Kid, wait a moment!”
A familiar and anxious voice spoke into his ears.
“This formation isn’t completely activated yet! Now is not the time to strike!”
Buzz!
Wang Chong immediately stopped and turned his head to a position far in the back. There, a short old man was observing something from atop a high wall.
In this world, there was but one man with such short stature who called Wang Chong ‘kid’: the Formation Elder.
“What has Senior noticed?”
Wang Chong drew back and immediately shot over to the wall. In order to deal with the First Prince and Hou Junji, Wang Chong had particularly requested the aid of the Formation Elder.
“Wang Chong, I know you’re anxious to attack, but it’s not the right time yet!” the Formation Elder declared, his hair dancing in the fierce winds.
“This enemy is more formidable than we thought. Besides the Center Gate where we’re located, every region around Taiji Palace has been covered by this formation. It’s a very unique formation, one that I’ve never seen despite my life of research. This must be a formation that our foe created through his own diligence and wisdom.”
There was a hint of fear in the Formation Elder’s voice.
Creating a formation was no easy task, and was something that only a genius with intelligence that only appeared once every hundred years could pull off. Even then, creating a formation would require immense time and energy.
Although the Formation Elder had spent his entire life researching formations, he had not even thought about creating one, much less one of such large scale.
To think that there would be such a man in the Imperial Palace…!
The Formation Elder was inwardly shaken.
The people of the martial arts world had always looked down on those of the Imperial Court, but from the current situation, it seemed that the Imperial Palace truly was a den of dragons. Powerful masters and experts could be found here in great numbers.
Hou Junji!
Wang Chong immediately knew who the Formation Elder was talking about. In the Imperial Palace, this was the only man with the ability to create a formation that could leave even the Formation Elder shaken!
The Formation Elder looked forward and said, “The Xun Gate, the Qian Gate, the Zhen Gate, the Dui Gate… the eight gates of this formation have already completely fused with the walls of the Imperial Palace. Wang Chong, use the energy-seeing technique your master taught you to take a look!”
With the onset of the Rebellion of the Three Princes, Wang Chong had been entirely focused on getting to Taiji Palace and saving the Sage Emperor. He simply hadn’t had the time to inspect Hou Junji’s formation. However, Wang Chong knew that the Formation Elder had to have his reasons for this request.
Wang Chong turned to Taiji Palace and found that the Formation Elder had chosen an excellent vantage point. From here, he could see more than half of the inner court.
Buzz!
Wang Chong focused his mind, gathering Stellar Energy at his eyes. A moment later, the Imperial Palace transformed, the walls disappearing, allowing Wang Chong to see an energy source of almost unfathomable size.
“这……”
“This…”
Wang Chong was so shaken by this sight that he could barely speak.
Though the violet pillar of energy had told him that Hou Junji had laid down an extremely powerful formation, it was only through the world of energy that he could see just how gigantic the formation was.
Wang Chong could see a dome of energy, black tinged with violet, that soared several hundred meters into the air and engulfed the entire region around Taiji Palace.
Destructive tides of energy raged within the depths of the dome, radiating in all directions.
Even a Subtle realm martial artist like Wang Chong was insignificant before this vast energy. This was an energy that reigned above all living things.
“You saw it, I’m guessing. This energy was much stronger than we expected, but if you look carefully, we can see that your cavalry still haven’t encountered any powerful resistance. This means that the enemy hasn’t unleashed this energy yet,” the Formation Elder commented.
“Without a doubt, our foe is building up strength and waiting for the right moment, and that moment is you!”
The Formation Elder profoundly glanced at Wang Chong.
Buzz!
Wang Chong said nothing, but his heart began to thump and his mind began to understand.
Swish!
The Formation Elder thrust out a finger, sending out a bolt of energy that he used to score out a line on the wall.
The Formation Elder continued to move his finger around, and a crude formation soon appeared.
Though it was crude, it clearly marked out each of the eight gates, even the formation core.
The Formation Elder was one of the best formation masters in the world, and while he couldn’t see energy like Wang Chong, his many years of research on formations had made him extremely perceptive. With just one glance, he could see sixty to seventy percent of the formation’s true shape.
“…If my guess is correct, the moment you step over the threshold of the Center Gate, the general controlling the formation from the rear will activate it. At that moment, Life and Death will change places, and the shifting of gates will have you swiftly whisked away by the formation’s power!” he Formation Elder gravely said, waving his finger, sending a wisp of energy moving from the Center Gate and traveling through the formation until it eventually stopped at an area near the core.
“You should be instantly teleported here if I’m right. Although I don’t know what they have planned for you, there’s probably at least four experts waiting for you here. Moreover, at that moment, all the energy of the formation will be focused here and used to attack you.”
The Formation Elder stopped here.
If Wang Chong were truly transported to that location and made to take the full brunt of the formation, then even though he was in the Subtle realm, he would find it incredibly difficult to survive.