“Senior, when will we activate this formation?” Chu Feng asked the Patriarch of the Dantai Celestial Clan.
“We can’t activate it recklessly. We must wait until the Black-Haired Phantom appears,” the Patriarch replied.
“But how will you know when the Black-Haired Phantom shows up?” Chu Feng asked, then suddenly thought of a possibility. “Could it be… we have to wait for someone to fall victim?”
“Indeed,” the Patriarch nodded, his expression tinged with helplessness. He added, “Though I wish it weren’t so, this is currently the only way to confirm whether the Black-Haired Phantom is within our clan.”
Chu Feng found this approach cruel. No matter who fell victim, it would be a member of the Dantai Celestial Clan.
Yet, he could understand the Patriarch’s position. The formation could only be activated once. If they activated it and discovered the Black-Haired Phantom wasn’t in the clan, clan members would continue to fall victim daily, making the loss even greater.
Though Chu Feng found it harsh, he knew it was a necessary choice under the circumstances.
A man must make decisive choices.
Sometimes, sacrifices are inevitable.
For the leader of a clan, making the right decision in a crisis is paramount.
Though it felt cruel, Chu Feng admired the Patriarch’s resolve.
“How can we know the moment a clan member falls victim? If we can’t detect it in time, it’s all for naught,” Wuming Xingyun said.
“Rest assured, Lord. Our clan has been preparing for this day for ten thousand years. We’ve long set up a formation. Once it’s activated, I’ll know immediately if a clan member falls victim,” the Patriarch said.
“Additionally, though I’ve arranged for the returning warships to delay, they’ll arrive by noon tomorrow.”
“So, tonight is our best opportunity to act. I hope the Black-Haired Phantom appears on time. Otherwise, we’ll have to delay the plan to hunt it,” the Patriarch added.
“In that case, we can only wait. Patriarch, could you first open the formation’s core so we can witness the techniques of a God-robed World Spiritist?” Wuming Xingyun asked.
As a World Spiritist, he knew well that the formations of a God-robed World Spiritist contained mysteries beyond their knowledge. Comprehending them could greatly benefit his World Spiritist techniques.
In the Ancestral Martial Starfield, such formations were exceedingly rare, making this a golden opportunity.
“Lord, I’m truly sorry, but the master who taught us said that only members of the Dantai Celestial Clan may enter the formation’s core,” the Patriarch said.
Hearing this, Wuming Xingyun’s brows furrowed slightly. He could tell the Patriarch simply didn’t want them to enter.
Somewhat displeased, he said, “If you didn’t want us to go in, why bring us here?”
“Lord, we don’t yet know the full extent of the Black-Haired Phantom’s powers. But once the Demon-Slaying Formation is activated, the phantom will surely retaliate. At that moment, this place will undoubtedly be the safest,” the Patriarch explained.
“Fine,” Wuming Xingyun said, still reluctant but with no choice. As the saying goes, guests follow the host’s lead. This was the Dantai Celestial Clan’s territory, and if they didn’t want him entering somewhere, he had to respect their wishes, even if it frustrated him.
Then, the hall’s doors opened, and only the Patriarch and two Supreme Elders entered. The other clan experts, like Chu Feng and Wuming Xingyun, remained outside.
After that, it was a matter of waiting.
For cultivators, time often passes quickly due to their practice.
But today, Chu Feng and the others shared a common feeling: time crawled by.
This waiting was torment.
Fortunately, despite the agony, time continued to pass.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed, followed by the earth trembling violently.
Chu Feng and the others, who had been resting with their eyes closed, snapped them open and looked upward.
Though this was the core of the Demon-Slaying Grand Formation, invisible from the outside, those inside could observe the exterior using their techniques.
Thus, Chu Feng and the others could clearly see a powerful barrier forming in the sky above the Dantai Celestial Clan, sealing off the entire clan.
The barrier was adorned with countless formation runes, like an army of thousands arranging for battle.
“It’s begun,” Chu Feng and Wuming Xingyun exchanged a knowing glance.
Night had just fallen, but indeed, the God-level Demon-Slaying Formation had started to operate.
The formation’s activation was earlier than expected, suggesting the Black-Haired Phantom’s presence had been detected.
*Buzz—*
Suddenly, a beam of light surged from the top of the formation sealing the void. The light was radiant and powerful, like a sharp blade descending straight from the sky, piercing into the northwestern part of the Dantai Celestial Clan.
At the same time, the token above the formation core’s hall, inscribed with *Suppress Evil, Slay Demons*, began to emit a faint glow.
In that moment, the righteous aura emanating from the core intensified hundreds of times over.
Chu Feng knew the Demon-Slaying Grand Formation was now fully operational.
*Roar—*
Suddenly, a piercing sound rang out, its penetrating force so strong that even Chu Feng and the others, deep beneath the Dantai Celestial Clan, could hear the shrill scream clearly.
The scream was eerie, filled with malevolent energy, unsettling the heart and sending chills down the spine, even for Chu Feng and the others.
It came from the direction where the formation’s beam of light had descended.
“It’s the Black-Haired Phantom! It worked—the Demon-Slaying Formation has trapped that monster!” the elders of the Dantai Celestial Clan exclaimed, their faces alight with excitement and relief.
“Something’s wrong,” Chu Feng said, his brows furrowing, eyes wide with alarm.
“What’s wrong?” The elders looked at Chu Feng, puzzled.
“That sound—it doesn’t sound like a scream. It sounds more… like laughter,” Chu Feng said.
