In the melody, the night wind gradually grew cloyingly sweet.
The sprites, while singing soft songs, observed Song Qianji with cold and sticky gazes, calmly assessing the danger level of this newly arrived cultivator.
Sprites delighted in consuming the flesh and blood of cultivators, but with intelligence close to humans, they were cunning and suspicious, not mere low-level beasts driven by instinct. Seeing him shatter the protective array, they hesitated to approach immediately.
"He's not the same person as before," one sprite spoke in a sharp, thin voice, like long nails scraping across solid ice. "Look at his eyes—he's not afraid of us."
After the protective array shattered, remnants of formation materials and bases littered the ground. Song Qianji used his long blade to pick out usable pieces, supplemented by a few items from Xian Jianchen's storage bag, and haphazardly assembled a new array.
A rough voice sounded from behind: "So Fellow Daoist Song is a Formation Master! This array looked like it was about to crack, and I was worried it wouldn't last two days. With you repairing the protective shield, we don't have to worry about idle matters anymore."
"I know a little," Song Qianji replied, turning to see six people: the rogue cultivator who had spoken, a clan elder, two Fairy Sound Sect female cultivators, and two Huaxi Sect female cultivators.
The six greeted Song Qianji and introduced themselves, but exchanged cold and hostile glances among each other.
There was no need for further introductions—except for the two from the Fairy Sound Sect, he had already dealt with these people in his previous life.
The highest in cultivation was the clan elder, at the late Nascent Soul stage, with long eyebrows and beard, a sallow complexion, and a lifebound magical artifact of black and white maces. Older and proud of his status, he called himself "Old Zheng," and in his previous life, Song Qianji had referred to him as "Lao Zheng."
The rogue cultivator was a dark-faced man, built like an ox, with a gruff voice, wielding a purple-gold axe. Among the rogue cultivators, there were four surnamed Liu, and Song Qianji couldn't distinguish their names, so he called this one "Liu San."
The two Huaxi Sect female cultivators wore double buns, one in rouge red and the other in willow green—a pair of twin sisters. The elder was named Yin Zhu, the younger Han Bi. They used identical soft swords and practiced the same cultivation method, so Song Qianji could only tell them apart by their clothing colors.
The remaining two Fairy Sound Sect cultivators wore plain dresses and veiled hats. One had introduced herself as Mu Xia earlier.
The other was tall and slender, remaining silent when introduced by her junior sister, only stating her name at the end: "He Yun."
Song Qianji paused in surprise—among the Fairy Sound Sect female cultivators, was there really someone willing to use such a simple name?
The experienced clan elder, Old Zheng, stroked his long beard: "This old man observes that this array doesn't resemble the previous protective array. Could it be an entrapment formation?"
"It's a maze-type entrapment formation, but its range isn't large..." Before Song Qianji could finish, the sprites on the surrounding hills could no longer restrain themselves and launched their first wave of attacks.
Hundreds of sprites lifted their toes from the ground, their black hair flowing like a dark cloud blotting out the sky and moonlight, flying toward the ice cave.
The group gathered around Song Qianji, their expressions relatively calm.
They had held out this long, each with their own methods to resist the sprites' songs and illusions, as long as they didn't engage these things head-on...
"Ah!" Liu San cried out in agony, "Where did it come from?!"
A pale, eerie beautiful face suddenly appeared close, nails over three inches long nearly scraping his eyelids. He swung his axe but was still clawed by the sprite, tearing his magic robe and leaving three bone-deep wounds on his right arm, blood gushing out.
Another sprite, drawn by the scent of blood, pounced but was struck away by a black scabbard.Song Qianji said, "Be careful. Out of hundreds, there are always a few that stumble upon the maze exit by chance."
Old Zheng summoned his twin maces, fuming, "This isn't a limited range—it's no range at all!"
"Since the formation isn't working," Liu San's eyes darted, "everyone, hold out for a moment. I'll quickly fetch Courtyard Overseer Ziye!"
With that, he turned and dashed toward the cave entrance.
As sprites surged in relentlessly, no one wanted to stay and wait for death.
Only one person could hold his own against them.
Ziye Wenshu, due to his combat prowess far surpassing others, had been fighting alone and retreating solo.
Even Nascent Soul attendants of the same cultivation level dared not claim they could last twenty moves against him, let alone fight alongside him and appear inferior to a junior.
The stronger he was, the more useless others felt. The more silent he remained, the more others took it for granted.
Coupled with his naturally pale complexion and perpetually expressionless face, even if he were severely injured, those around him wouldn't notice any change.
Most people in the cave were still waiting for him to recover and lead them to break through the siege.
Upon hearing this, Song Qianji let out a soft "ah" and said regretfully, "A good idea. Unfortunately, it's too late."
He swung his black scabbard, raising and lowering it swiftly: "When I said I know a little, I meant I'm not skilled. I intended to set up an Entrapment Formation, but who knew that once activated, it would lock tight—allowing entry but no exit."
"Song Xun, what do you mean?" Liu San cursed loudly, "Are you trying to get us killed?If not for the sprites entangling, his axe would have already struck Song Xun.
The two female cultivators from Huaxi Sect drew the ornaments at their waists, transforming them into two gleaming silver soft swords.
Yinzhu said, "If he wanted to harm you, why would he be here too? The priority now is to find a way out and contact Fellow Daoist Ziye."
Hanbi added, "Fellow Daoist Song set up the formation, so he must know how to dismantle it."
The Entrapment Formation completely covered the cave entrance. Any sprites outside wanting to enter had to break through the formation.
Meanwhile, the seven inside the formation bore the brunt of the attacks.
Millennium-old sprites were top predators in the secret realm. Their floor-length black hair was tough as serpent bodies, capable of strangling a cultivator's neck; their sharp fangs could crush tempered bones, and their long nails, like blades, could shred Magic Robes embroidered with runes as easily as tearing paper.
Song Qianji said, "We're at the center of this formation, surrounded by a constantly shifting maze. The sprites are already inside, encircling us tightly. If we dismantle the formation..." He didn't need to finish.
—How would they fight their way out after removing the formation?
The Huaxi Sect female cultivators fell silent, standing back-to-back as their soft swords wove an impenetrable, semicircular barrier of sword light.
"Going out means death," Liu San swore, "Staying here just means dying a few moments later!"
Stirred by despair, the others stopped holding back, summoning their Magical Artifacts and offensive Talismans to throw outward.
They only hoped to buy a little more time, praying that Ziye Wenshu would grow concerned and come to investigate.
For a moment, explosions rang out continuously, streaks of colorful light flashing.
"There is one more way," Song Qianji said.
"Then what are you waiting for? Waiting to offer sacrifices at my grave?" Liu San snapped.
"Please enlighten us, Fellow Daoist," Muxia stood beside her sectmate He Yun, covered in countless protective Talismans, focused solely on dodging awkwardly.
Liu San glimpsed such lavish resources and instantly burned with envy.
He Yun wielded a white silk ribbon dancing through the air, blocking sprite attacks. But this wasn't her Lifebound magical artifact, so her movements were slightly stiff."This formation is called the 'Big Dipper Entrapment and Killing Array.' It can both trap and kill, but it was previously missing some formation materials, making the killing array part difficult to complete. Coincidentally, there are seven of us. If everyone follows my arrangement and stands at one of the seven star positions to stabilize the formation, coordinating with the changes in my array, its power can multiply sevenfold. Holding out until dawn shouldn’t be a problem this way," Song Qianji said.
Everyone was overjoyed.
Yin Zhu laughed, "You fool, why didn’t you mention such a good method earlier?"
"Once the killing array is formed, the auras of the seven individuals will connect, doubling the power, but any injury will be shared by all," Song Qianji added.
Liu San interjected, "I knew there’s no such thing as a free midnight snack. Still, it’s better than waiting to die."
Old Zheng said, "We’re all trapped here tonight, like grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
He Yun stated, "The two of us from the Celestial Sound Sect are willing to follow your lead, fellow Daoist."
Han Bi, hearing her "calm and dignified" tone, found it pretentious and felt goosebumps. "Enough talk, our priority is to fight for survival."
"Then let’s give it a try," Song Qianji said. "Fellow Daoist Zheng will take the Celestial Pivot position, Fairy Yin Zhu the Celestial Rotating Jade position, Fairy Han Bi the Celestial Shining Pearl position, and I’ll take the Celestial Balance position. Fellow Daoist Zheng will take the Jade Sight position, and the two fairies from the Celestial Sound Sect will take the Sunlit Yang and Flickering Light positions respectively. How does that sound?"
The others agreed, but Old Zheng urgently interjected, "Fellow Daoist Song, wait! My formation knowledge is poor, but I can still count stars. With the highest cultivation here, I should take the Celestial Balance position, the most critical and dangerous spot where the Big Dipper’s handle and bowl connect. The two fairies from the Celestial Sound Sect specialize in musical techniques and have the weakest combat strength—they should be placed separately. And your Snow Blade has the fiercest killing intent, so you should take the Jade Sight position, the star of slaughter..."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood the implications.
He Yun said, "Fellow Daoist Song should consider how to maximize the formation’s strength, not worry about our interpersonal dynamics! I’m willing to stand adjacent to the two fellow Daoists from the Flower Stream Sect."
Yin Zhu added, "Life or death hinges on tonight. Our Flower Stream Sect is also willing to join forces with the Celestial Sound Sect against the enemy."
"Good." Song Qianji let out a "relieved" sigh and rearranged the positions.
The seven moved like birds returning to the forest, each taking their place.
As the formation activated, energy flowed through it, and seven points glowed simultaneously like shimmering starlight, instantly reducing the pressure on everyone.
Mu Xia transmitted a message across the distance, "Senior Sister, this is suspicious. What a coincidence that we seven are bound to share injuries—is he doing this on purpose?"
He Yun watched Song Xun’s back. "How could he have known exactly seven of us would come? If he intended harm, he could have placed himself outside the formation."
Song Qianji hadn’t lied.
However many people came tonight, he could adjust the formation accordingly. Without the Big Dipper Seven Stars Array, there were still the "Eight Gates Golden Lock," "Nine Characters Chain," or "Ten Directions Rakshasa" formations. Even with twenty people, he could arrange everything clearly.
Unless someone’s formation mastery surpassed his, his plans wouldn’t be disrupted.
As for those truly stronger than him, they were still at Purple Cloud Temple drinking life-extending medicine.
The good times didn’t last long. As more sprites poured into the formation, the seven broke out in cold sweat.
Suddenly, He Yun heard Song Qianji’s voice—not directed at her, but at cultivators in other star positions.
He was actually instructing them on combat techniques and tactics.
The other positions’ morale soared, as if tigers had grown wings.
Consequently, the two weakest links dragging them down were the Celestial Sound Sect positions.
He Yun frowned slightly.If they survived this night and these people returned to teach their gains to their sectmates, everyone would soon compete to join the night watch in the formation.
In the long run, only the Celestial Sound Sect would gain nothing.
Though their survival tonight remained uncertain, her thoughts stretched far ahead, already envisioning the shifting circumstances days from now.
“You two fairies need not expend any more defensive Magical Artifacts. Please take out the musical instruments you are most skilled with,” Song Qianji said.
He Yun’s voice, muffled through her specially crafted veil hat, was indistinct: “Fellow Daoist Song, this thing is not human. The Celestial Sound Techniques we practice have limited effect on it. Even if all our sectmates in the cave played together, it would be like trying to extinguish a burning cartload of firewood with a cup of water.”
Song Qianji replied, “If you have a spare instrument, toss one to me.”
An object flew through the air toward him—a short purple bamboo flute. Compared to the wealth the two women possessed, it was truly crude and simple.
Song Qianji did not disdain it. “I will play a tune. Pay no mind to their singing; just harmonize with my melody.”
Mu Xia and He Yun remained motionless, still holding their defensive shields.
Old Zheng urged anxiously, “Don’t hesitate, you two. This formation is led by Song Xun. If we employ our Cultivation Methods, he can sense where the flaws lie. Fellow Daoist Song’s knowledge is vast and varied. Following his advice will surely bring you benefits.”
Mu Xia cautiously glanced in He Yun’s direction, thinking to herself, How can the methods of you martial and spell cultivators be the same as those of us Sound Cultivators?
Do you even know who this ‘He Yun’ before you is?
How dare you claim to understand the way of music in her presence?
“Fellow Daoist Song understands the way of music?” He Yun’s tone was somewhat peculiar.
“I know a little,” Song Qianji said, bringing the bamboo flute to his lips.
A clear, melodious flute sound drifted out, like birds singing in empty mountains.
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