Chapter 1371: Retreat!

The three battle formations formed by the cultivators of Chiyun City soared into the sky, all charging toward the Abyssal Sea Master!

Though countless Hunyuan lifeforms surged forward in waves to block them, their efforts were largely futile under the soul-dragging influence of the illusory world in this level of battle. Every cultivator’s eyes burned with anticipation and desire. Top-tier experts like Fengyun Yiyi, Wu Xiao, and Dongbo Xueying were especially fervent, eager to seize this chance to “break free from the cage and ascend to Hunyuan.”

“Hahaha, all of you—die!” The Abyssal Sea Master roared, his voice like rolling thunder as his massive hands swept out wildly.

The battle erupted!

…

At the same moment.

Cultivators from the other four cities were en route to Chiyun City. Those from Tianwu City were the closest, while the group from Hanyue City was the farthest. All had formed battle formations, unleashing their fastest speeds in a desperate rush! After all, with over a thousand cultivators united in formation, as long as they avoided the dens of the Hunyuan prisoners, they had little to fear.

Ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms were merely following orders, swarming toward Chiyun City in droves and posing little threat to the four cities’ forces.

The real trouble would come when they reached Chiyun City and faced the endless hordes of Hunyuan lifeforms outside its walls.

“They’ve made their move.”

“The cultivators of Chiyun City are indeed swift to act.”

Among the four cities’ forces, many were Divine Emperor Perfection experts, some skilled in long-range observation. Just as Chiyun City had the “Demon Mirror,” the other cities had their own methods.

All were watching the distant battle unfolding in Chiyun City.

“With Flying Snow Divine Emperor present, those ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms truly pose no threat. Chiyun City’s three battle formations are fiercely besieging the Abyssal Sea Master.”

“If they succeed in slaying him, the war will end, and our journey will have been for nothing!” The cultivators of the four cities watched from afar, murmuring among themselves.

They did not wish for Chiyun City to lose—but neither did they want them to kill the Abyssal Sea Master. In the struggle for the Great Dao, they naturally sought to seize every opportunity for themselves!

The best outcome would be if Chiyun City held the advantage but failed to land the killing blow. Then, upon their arrival, they could join the fray.

“What?”

“The Abyssal Sea Master’s defensive techniques are this formidable?”

“This… this…”

“He’s far stronger than during his last patrol. Chiyun City’s attacks can barely pierce his skin?”

The cultivators of the four cities were stunned.

…

Chiyun City.

The surrounding Hunyuan lifeforms surged like a raging tide, attacking in relentless waves.

Dongbo Xueying and the other two battle formations coiled like three massive dragons, each stretching a thousand miles long, encircling the Abyssal Sea Master in a frenzied assault.

“Xie Fan.” Fengyun Yiyi, the core of one formation, manipulated the entire dragon-like formation and transmitted a message.

“Understood.”

Xie Fan, the Demon God, extended his right claw as the battle formation’s power converged upon him. Around him, other Divine Emperor Perfection cultivators also unleashed their techniques, channeling portions of the formation’s energy. In an instant, over a hundred cultivators attacked simultaneously! Roughly twenty percent of the formation’s power gathered on Xie Fan, while the rest dispersed among the others.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to concentrate all the power into one person—but the combined might of a thousand cultivators was too overwhelming for any single individual to bear.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless attacks rained down on the Abyssal Sea Master, with Xie Fan’s claw tearing open a deep wound.

“Flying Snow.” Fengyun Yiyi immediately called out again.

“On it.” Dongbo Xueying gripped his spear, its surface shimmering with a strange layer of water droplets—a secret technique he had gleaned from the corpse of the Silent Ice Mountain Master. This technique was incredibly sharp, and with his formidable soul and high realm, he forcibly channeled over twenty percent of the battle formation’s power through his spear.

This was his limit. Any more, and the weight of the energy would crush him.

The Divine Emperor Perfection experts under his command also borrowed portions of the formation’s power to launch their own attacks.

“Shhhhk—” The razor-sharp spear sliced across the Abyssal Sea Master’s waist. His skin was unimaginably tough, layered with countless flowing membranes, yet the water-coated spear still carved a gash—ten miles long and over a mile deep. But for a being towering twelve hundred miles tall, this was merely a scratch.

The Abyssal Sea Master didn’t even bother defending against such minor wounds.

Only when Fengyun Yiyi, Wu Xiao, and Emperor Jietian—the cores of the three formations—attacked did the Abyssal Sea Master actively block. The rest of the time, he focused on his own relentless offense.

“It’s useless.”

“He’s developed even stronger defensive techniques. The protective membrane on his skin is far tougher than last time.”

“City Lord, what do we do?”

Many grew anxious.

Though their three formations held the upper hand, they saw no hope of delivering a killing blow.

“ROAR—DIE!” The Abyssal Sea Master bellowed in fury. His two arms vanished as he reverted to his true form—sixteen writhing tentacles sprouting from his body. His appearance remained largely the same, though his face grew uglier.

The transformation strained the chains embedded in his flesh, reopening old wounds and sending fresh blood seeping out.

The minor injuries from earlier had healed instantly, but this reversion to his true form caused genuine damage. Yet it also granted him greater power—power he was unwilling to waste.

“Be careful!” Fengyun Yiyi warned everyone.

“BOOM—” The sixteen tentacles lashed out with terrifying force.

The three dragon formations fought desperately.

What had been an advantage now teetered on the edge of reversal. Yet the cultivators’ flawless coordination—honed over millennia—prevented any missteps.

“Damn it.” The Abyssal Sea Master growled in frustration.

After a prolonged struggle, maintaining his true form only worsened his injuries. The cultivators were content to drag out the fight, but the Abyssal Sea Master, seeing no quick victory, reverted to his two-armed form—a state where he suffered no further harm.

“City Lord, what now? We can’t kill him.”

“It’s impossible.”

“Without his true form active, even an endless battle won’t wear him down.”

Many cultivators seethed with frustration.

Fengyun Yiyi, Wu Xiao, and Dongbo Xueying stared at the colossal Abyssal Sea Master, their hearts heavy with disappointment.

“His strength has improved across the board—not just in offense, but in defense too,” Fengyun Yiyi transmitted. “We retreat.”

“Retreat!”

“Fall back!”

Though unwilling, the three formations swiftly disengaged.

With the Abyssal Sea Master still at a slight disadvantage, withdrawal was easy. They descended rapidly, passing effortlessly through Chiyun City’s protective barrier—a shield that barred enemies but welcomed its defenders.

…

Back within Chiyun City, the cultivators were safe—but far from satisfied.

They had hoped to slay the Abyssal Sea Master in one decisive strike. They had assumed his offensive techniques might have improved since his last patrol, but not his defenses. Yet reality proved otherwise.

“It seems we’ll have to wait for the other cities’ forces,” Xie Fan muttered, gazing up at the towering Abyssal Sea Master. “Chiyun City alone can’t kill him.”

“If three formations failed, even six or nine would likely meet the same fate,” Wu Xiao said calmly. “His new defensive technique is too powerful. Only when Fengyun, Jietian, and I attacked did he bother blocking. The rest, he simply endured. Even with reinforcements, killing him remains unlikely.”

The others nodded grimly.

Dongbo Xueying agreed. Whether three formations or fifteen, the difference was merely quantitative—not qualitative. Against such defenses, the odds of success remained slim.

“There are two ways to kill the Abyssal Sea Master,” Fengyun Yiyi declared. “First, we wait. More cities’ forces will arrive, adding more formations. Our advantage will grow—perhaps enough to overwhelm him.”

No one voiced enthusiasm. This was little more than blind hope.

“The second method is to devise a grander battle formation,” Fengyun Yiyi continued. “Long ago, the cultivators of that era created the ‘Five Elements Annihilation Formation.’ Five gathering points collaborated to refine it, achieving a qualitative leap in power beyond mere formations. With it, they slew their era’s Abyssal Sea Master. We could attempt the same.”

“I know of this formation,” Emperor Jietian said. “But it required the five greatest formation masters of that age as its core. Only two remain in the Sacred Realm today. It demands immense numbers—at least one hundred fifty top-tier experts.”

“Still, the second method offers greater hope,” Wu Xiao remarked.

…