Chapter Ninety-Eight: Seven Infants Descend

Upon learning that Star Observation Valley had once again revealed itself to the world, many people felt that Gu Xingyuan's decision to rebuild the valley at this time was extremely unwise. Word had already spread that the Dao Alliance was beginning to assemble its forces to launch an attack on the valley, and some people even adopted an attitude of watching the drama unfold with relish—like those forces within the valley's territory that had just been suppressed by Chen Mu.

During this period, Chen Mu remained in seclusion at Star Observation Valley, while Gu Xingyuan organized the remaining members to rebuild the sect, with the Chen father and son occasionally lending a hand with the labor.

Outside, news of the Dao Alliance's impending assault on Star Observation Valley had already begun to spread like wildfire. This matter could not be hidden, after all, since it had been initiated by reports from the various city lords within the valley's territory. They certainly knew that the Dao Alliance would view the valley's reconstruction as a provocation to the Biluo Dao Gate, making an attack on Star Observation Valley an inevitability.

These people were petty villains enjoying their moment of glory, proclaiming their "great achievements" everywhere until the news spread far and wide, ultimately causing the entire Great Xia to buzz with talk that the Dao Alliance's first move was to carve up Star Observation Valley.

The members of Star Observation Valley had also caught wind of the rumors. Their nerves immediately tensed up, and the atmosphere became oppressively heavy. Only Chen Mu sneered coldly. He wished these people would come attack. The sect-protecting grand formation and entrapping-killing formation he had obtained from Rou'er could even trap a Primordial Spirit stage cultivator—how could he possibly fear these Nascent Soul stage fellows?

Chen Mu trusted Rou'er unconditionally, yet he still found himself somewhat astonished by the audacity of the Dao Alliance led by the Biluo Dao Gate. Apart from Star Observation Valley, all the other sects had joined the alliance, which meant this was the single greatest force on the Yuanyao Continent. Was there any power on the entire continent that could boast nine Nascent Soul stage cultivators, let alone a Primordial Spirit stage elder recovering from injuries stationed at the Biluo Dao Gate's headquarters?

Dwelling on it further was useless. Chen Mu told everyone not to worry and revealed the true power of the two grand formations laid out within the valley, which finally allowed the others to relax somewhat. However, the fact that they were opposing the combined strength of all of Great Xia still weighed heavily on their hearts, making it hard to breathe. After all, it was no different from making enemies of the entire world, for no one stood on their side. Their unease was only natural.

Finally, two days later, the flying warships of the various sects and factions of the Dao Alliance came sailing in grand procession, surrounding Star Observation Valley so tightly that not even a drop of water could escape. They would not permit a single member of the valley to slip through their fingers.

At this time, Chen Feng's mood was also complicated, for among the forces participating in the siege of the valley was the Qingyun Mountain Sect, and its sect master was personally leading the charge. Although he knew the Qingyun Mountain Sect had been forced into this by circumstances and had no choice, Chen Feng was nonetheless utterly disillusioned with them.

The leader of the attacking forces, Gu Daoyan of the Biluo Dao Gate, declared with righteous indignation to the people of Star Observation Valley below: "Rebellious dogs of Star Observation Valley, the Dao Alliance hereby formally notifies you that your collusion with and harboring of the heretic demon Chen Mu has shattered the bounds of morality. Therefore, the Dao Alliance shall impose sanctions upon you. If you lay down your weapons and surrender, and dismantle your defensive formation, we may consider sparing your lives."

The people of Star Observation Valley remained silent, glaring with rage and hostility at these so-called Dao Alliance members. However, Gu Daoyan and his cohorts in the sky cared little for the display and, too lazy to waste words, directly ordered the assault on the valley.

Because the Nascent Soul stage cultivators had not yet stepped into the range of the entrapping-killing formation, Chen Mu only activated the defensive formation. The warships and the masses of cultivators launched their attacks, which crashed against the light barrier of the defensive formation like torrential raindrops falling upon a lake's surface—ripples spread, and then all vanished without a trace.

Faced with such a barrage of attacks, the great formation stood firm and unbroken. The seven Nascent Soul stage cultivators fell into contemplative silence. It seemed Star Observation Valley still had some tricks up its sleeve; this defensive formation was clearly no ordinary commodity. Though they could not discern its strengths and weaknesses, they felt in their hearts that even a good defensive formation like this could not withstand the combined assault of seven Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

Seeing that these low-ranking cultivators could not breach the defensive formation, the seven Nascent Soul stage experts grew tired of dragging things out. One by one, they flew out from their warships and approached the defensive formation, preparing to launch their own attacks.

Chen Mu had been waiting precisely for this moment. As long as those Nascent Soul stage cultivators set foot within the domain of the entrapping-killing formation, he could sweep them all up in one net and make sure they never returned.

Chen Mu grinned savagely and instantly had Gu Xingyuan activate the entrapping-killing formation. Suddenly, a light barrier beyond the outermost layer of the defensive formation enveloped those Nascent Soul stage cultivators, and a thick mist flooded the entire space.

At first, these Nascent Soul stage cultivators thought nothing of it, merely believing that Star Observation Valley was stalling for time with a mist-based trapping formation. But before long, killing intent filled the space. Regular bands of sword-light howled through, and in an instant, one of the Nascent Soul stage cultivators was severely wounded.

And that had only been the result of a light graze from one of those blades of light. The people who had entered the entrapping-killing formation were thrown into utter panic and immediately dared not move. The low-ranking cultivator army trapped inside had already devolved into chaos, shredded into broken remnants by the sword-light, their ranks collapsing completely.

The smell of blood pervaded the formation, making one want to vomit. Yet they had no choice but to stay vigilant and avoid rash movement, for a single careless step would have them minced into a spray of blood mist.

The seven Nascent Soul stage cultivators all wore grim expressions. So this was the terrifying entrapping-killing formation that Star Observation Valley relied upon. Who knew where they had obtained such a horrific array? The severely wounded Nascent Soul stage cultivator dared not act rashly either. He swallowed some healing medicine and simply stayed put, waiting to see how events unfolded.

The sword-light followed a pattern, but they did not know what that pattern was, so they could only suffer the attacks passively.

The reason the formation's sword-light had a pattern was mainly because Gu Xingyuan was not yet fully proficient in its control. If he could master the formation completely, he could make it ever-changing and unpredictable, slaughtering any enemies within at will.

Chen Mu knew that letting things continue this way would not do, so he told Gu Xingyuan to pay close attention. In a moment, he would lead the demon beasts into the entrapping-killing formation to kill the enemies, and Gu Xingyuan should try not to alter the formation's layout.

Chen Mu and the other demon beasts were themselves familiar with the internal structure of the entrapping-killing formation, because they had anticipated this very situation, and Rou'er had accordingly told them the formation's Life Gate. Now, although the Dao Alliance's army had suffered countless casualties, only one of the seven true Nascent Soul stage cultivators had been severely wounded, so they would still need to personally make a move to finish off the enemies.

Leading the demon beasts charging into the entrapping-killing formation, Chen Mu instructed them to hide within the Life Gate and ambush the Dao Alliance's Nascent Soul stage cultivators, warning them not to foolishly engage in head-on clashes.

After all, if they got entangled by the enemies, they would not be able to return to the Life Gate, and if they were then caught by the formation's sword-light, it would not be a mere matter of bleeding or scraped skin—they might very well lose their lives beneath those blades.

By now, Gu Daoyan had begun to curse loudly: "Gu Xingyuan, you old bastard! If you've got any guts, stop hiding in your turtle shell and come out to face me one-on-one!"

Gu Daoyan was getting desperate now, which was why he resorted to using words to provoke Gu Xingyuan.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xingyuan sneered and replied, "One-on-one, I naturally have no fear. My only worry is whether it will be seven against one? I have seen the shamelessness of your Biluo Dao Gate before, so spare me such foolish talk. I will not be fooled by your provocations."

The members of Star Observation Valley watched from the core of the formation as the Dao Alliance members were ruthlessly slaughtered by the array, and the heavy, tense weight upon their hearts began to ease. They knew the enemy could no longer do anything to them, and the resurgence of Star Observation Valley was no longer a mere fantasy.

Gu Daoyan continued to hurl insults, but Gu Xingyuan remained unmoved, merely watching the formation coldly. It could be seen that Chen Mu and the demon beasts had begun to quietly close in on their targets, preparing to launch the fatal strike.

Chen Mu, of course, had locked onto Gu Daoyan of the Biluo Dao Gate. His grudge with Gu Daoyan had been festering for a long time—from the initial attempt to control the Chen family through Chen Wuhen, to the Great Xia Heroes' Gathering where Gu Daoyan and Liu Zhongdao, the sect master of the Brightmoon Blade Sect, had hunted him down. Naturally, Chen Mu hated Gu Daoyan to the bone.

Gu Daoyan was still spouting all manner of foul language to insult Gu Xingyuan when, suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had been locked onto by something dangerous. The next instant, from behind his back, Chen Mu's full-powered strike came crashing down.

Gu Daoyan had no time to dodge, so he turned and raised his arm to block with the side of his body. His physique, already comparable to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator's, was further enhanced when he activated the Bloodburn Transformation secret art, directly boosting Chen Mu's combat power to the late Nascent Soul stage. Violent yang-attributed energy swept across Gu Daoyan's side, engulfing his entire flank in the ferocious shockwave.

Gu Daoyan let out a miserable scream, but it did not last long, for the damage he had sustained was far too severe. Half his body had already been turned into minced flesh, and multiple bones throughout his frame were shattered into fragments as he was sent flying backward by the impact.

Moreover, the other half of his body that flew out also happened to collide with the sword-light that was circling through the formation, receiving a second devastating blow that churned his flesh into a bloody pulp. It could be said with certainty that Gu Daoyan's physical body was completely ruined.

Gu Daoyan's Nascent Soul escaped from his body and watched as his other half was ground into gore. Terror and venom churned within his tiny soul-form as he scanned his surroundings savagely. Since these people wanted him dead, then when the enemy drew close, he would self-detonate his Nascent Soul and take them all down with him in mutual destruction.

But Gu Daoyan's wishful thinking was too good. Chen Mu appeared before him in a bold, swaggering manner. When Gu Daoyan saw that his opponent was Chen Mu, his tiny Nascent Soul face contorted with fury, eyes splitting at the corners: "Chen Mu! It's you!"

Chen Mu grinned cruelly. "That's right, it's me. Gu Daoyan, who would have thought you'd end up like this today. Truly, every cause has its effect. Back then, you and Liu Zhongdao hunted me down and destroyed half of my body. Now you, too, have had half your body destroyed by me, and the other half was ground to nothing by the formation's sword-light. There's no denying your fate is pitiful. But for me, it's quite satisfying. Because now you're like a stray dog—and a stray dog without even a physical body, no less."

Gu Daoyan said venomously, "Don't celebrate too early, you demon whelp! Once my elder brother finishes acclimating to his newly seized body, he will avenge me!"

"Your elder brother? Gu Daozhen? So your elder brother's Nascent Soul has seized a new body? And what if he has? He was at the late Nascent Soul stage originally, wasn't he? After soul-seizing, he'd be lucky to maintain the mid Nascent Soul stage. My combat power is already at the late Nascent Soul stage now—do you think I'd still be afraid of him?" Chen Mu laughed disdainfully.

Gu Daoyan, upon hearing this, bitterly regretted not having truly killed Chen Mu back then. Without another word, he charged at Chen Mu, intending to self-detonate his Nascent Soul and deal heavy damage to Chen Mu, so that his elder brother would have an easier time dealing with him later.

But how could Chen Mu allow that to happen? He summoned the Soul Suppressing Tower, and a beam of light descended, directly drawing Gu Daoyan's Nascent Soul and spirit into the tower, rendering him immobile and writhing in agony.