Chapter 307 - Breaking the Array (1/2)

The 36 pylons created a sealed space, trapping everyone within its borders and preventing any outsider from looking into it.

Not even the audience watching the water National Elemental Stone could pierce the veil. All they saw were the beams of light, mounting their unrest. Regent Estate’s side was the calmest of the bunch, going by their broad and sinister smiles.

Within the bushes just ahead of the pylons, Chu Qingcheng’s team, a late arrival, was looking at the scene in bewilderment.

They couldn’t make heads or tails of this recent change. Why did Zhuo Fan have them come here?

“A 3rd grade array?” Chu Qingcheng squinted.

Luo Yunhai nodded, “It also comes with a hidden army. For the ambush to succeed, the easiest would be an array with multiple controllers. Being slow on our way here had worked in our favor. For the trap to be sprung already, someone must’ve fallen for it. “

“What? Are you saying Zhuo Fan had us walk into a trap?” Chu Qingcheng cried in disbelief.

Luo Yunhai nodded, “Although brother Zhuo’s every scheme has come to fruition and is unlikely to make such a mistake, our pressing matter at this point is to break the array!”

Chu Qingcheng nodded after a pause, then shouted, “Men, on me. We will break the array core and get them out!”

“Understood!” The men cupped their hands and charged alongside her.

Grandmother’s side was extremely worried. But Chu Qingcheng’s sudden arrival promised hope. At least the other two teams wouldn’t suffer total defeat.

Boom~

Chu Qingcheng struck the glowing pylons several times, until it was shuddering and flickering. But when there were 36 of them, each lending support, stabilizing the weaker link.

As such, Chu Qingcheng’s powerful Yuan Qi spread evenly among them. They were shaken but far from breaking.

The rest assaulted the other beams, however pointless it was.

Grandmother’s side was by themselves with worry. They were in a race against time. The longer they took the heavier the casualties to the ones trapped inside.

In the trap, Long Xingyun and company were driven into a corner by the encroaching plague. When they ran out of places to retreat, some random subordinates were even pushed in front to make space.

[You are our vassals. Sacrificing yourself for your lord is downright honorable of you!]

They understood this logic as well and stepped forward without their master’s urging. They braved the impending miasma, only to end up a festering pool of blood.

Xue Ningxiang was wrecked with sadness, tears streaming down.

[Aren’t we all humans? Why must they sacrifice themselves?]

Therein laid the cruelty. If not them, who? The seven houses? No matter how willing Long Xingyun and the rest were, which they weren’t, the vassals would never accept it either.

It was easy to guess why. If they escaped this hell by the grace of their master’s sacrifice, what future would their clans have?

Extermination!

So while this act looked quite virtuous and dauntless on the surface, at its core it all came down to saving their bloodlines. And who knew if their masters in their infinite mercy, would perhaps look kindly upon their clans.

The stream of sacrifices was endless, but the miasma forced them into a corner, with no way out.

Long Xingyun turned glum. He turned to the dozen scattered men with a heavy heart, “Any further sacrifices are pointless. It will hardly give us more room. Will we find our end here?”

His words made others lower their heads in grief.

The earth, soaked in blood, only added to their sadness.

Thousands of people came here, only to end up with barely enough to count on two hands. They couldn’t deny their fate, certain to end up another bloody smear on the ground, joining the others. [Oh, the tragedy!]

Boom!

The sky shook at the sudden sound and the bloody images around them dimmed some more. In Long Xingyun’s eyes a faint hope blossomed, “Someone is attacking the array!”

“Yes, but what good will it do? By the time the array is broken, we won’t even have bones left!” Xie Tianshang looked at the sky, sombre and dejected.

His words cut at the others’ expectation, at their hope.

Long Xingyun waved him off, “Don’t say that. They might succeed.”