Chapter 58: What Kind of Firepower?

Four Core Formation stage cultivators stood at the very center of the formation array, their hands forming hand seals at a dizzying speed.

Meanwhile, the disciples took up specific positions around them, gripping long swords and moving rapidly within the array, anchored by the Core Formation masters.

"Blazing Sun Array!"

As they shouted the name in unison, faint golden glows began to emanate from all of their bodies.

Viewed from the outside, the entire formation array appeared to be enveloped by a raging inferno.

Even separated by the barrier, the terrifying oppressive force caused the expressions of the White Sword Sect disciples to pale.

"It is an Earth-grade formation array!" Liu Ruyan recognized its origin instantly. "I heard a while ago that an Earth-grade formation array had surfaced and was bid up to a million spirit stones. I never expected it to be won at auction by the Sun-Rising Sect!"

It was said that while this formation array possessed relatively weak defensive capabilities, its offensive and killing power was extraordinarily terrifying. Furthermore, because it was a collective formation array, all counterattacks and defenses were anchored around the Core Formation masters, making the array vastly more powerful.

What was most ingenious about this array was that even when struck head-on, half of the disciples would share the brunt of the pressure. When the frontline disciples grew fatigued, others could immediately step in to take their place, allowing the array to be sustained for a much longer duration.

"Senior Sister, perhaps we should try to persuade the Sect Master?"

Gazing at the menacing enemy, Huang He could not help whispering his inquiry.

In truth, he felt the Sun-Rising Sect was not all that bad. Although the treatment certainly could not compare to that of the White Sword Sect, it was at least a major sect, and it undoubtedly possessed superior cultivation techniques. Most importantly, it meant everyone could survive.

It was not that he particularly wanted to surrender; rather, he genuinely felt this was an exceptional choice. After all, they would remain inner sect disciples, and leaning against a giant tree provided good shade.

Before Liu Ruyan could reply, Peng Shan let out a disdainful cold laugh. "Could it be that you brat are afraid of death?"

"What kind of nonsense is that!" Huang He stiffened his face, glaring back in dissatisfaction. "I am simply not a man afraid of death, and besides, am I not even allowed to ask?!"

"Very well then!" Peng Shan cast his gaze back toward the Sun-Rising Sect and the others outside the sect grounds. "We have no need to consider such matters whatsoever. Those are things for the Sect Master to ponder. What we must do is strictly obey the Sect Master's commands!"

Actually, he knew very well that this was an immensely difficult ordeal for the disciples who had just joined the sect.

Precisely for that reason, however, he all the more hoped these disciples would place their absolute trust in Liang Chuan.

Ever since he began following Liang Chuan, he had witnessed far too many unimaginable miracles.

He even harbored an inexplicable conviction that the White Sword Sect would not perish, but would instead rise to become the greatest sect in this world!

Liu Ruyan, too, hesitated slightly at the side, but seeing that Liang Chuan remained silent, she could only shake her head. "Do not lose your focus! We must hold our ground at all costs!"

The directive given by Liang Chuan was for everyone to monitor the consumption of spirit stones, while the Qi Condensation stage disciples stationed in the rear should help alleviate the pressure on the spirit stones as much as possible.

As for the Foundation Establishment stage disciples, they were stationed near the sect entrance, awaiting the enemy's assault on the formation.

The purpose of this strategy was to exhaust the enemy's spiritual Qi to the greatest extent possible. The more spiritual Qi they depleted, the greater their chances of victory!

Just at that moment, the disciples of the Sun-Rising Sect had already shifted positions swiftly within their array, violently colliding with the sect-protecting formation.

The moment the blazing crimson Blazing Sun Array collided with the azure sect-protecting formation, a deafening, chaotic buzzing sound instantly erupted.

The point of contact between the two began to twist violently, the red flames appearing as though they wanted to burn right through the protective barrier.

Although the ripples across the sect-protecting formation surged continuously, it managed to barely hold its ground.

After all, this time Liang Chuan had invested a massive quantity of spirit stones, supplemented by the spiritual Qi of the Qi Condensation disciples; the enemy would not be able to break through in a short span of time.

"All disciples, obey the command! Ten Thousand Flames Incinerate the City!"

At that instant, Dai Xiao's icy voice echoed across the field.

The disciples of the Sun-Rising Sect began rapidly altering their respective positions.

The Blazing Sun Array transformed into something resembling the tip of a flaming blade, poised to pierce straight through the sect-protecting formation.

At that moment, countless ripples surged across the surface of the barrier, and a tiny aperture the size of a fingertip was actually torn open upon its surface!

"How can this be?!"

The expressions of the White Sword Sect disciples shifted drastically.

One had to realize that this was a sect-protecting formation continuously maintained by burning spirit stones; it was far more powerful than the one during the Blood Moon Sect's invasion.

Yet even so, the enemy was still capable of breaching it. Judging by the current situation, it would not take long for the protective array to completely shatter.

"Damn it, it's breaking way too fast!"

Liu Ruyan could not help cursing inwardly.

She had originally anticipated it could withstand at least an hour or more, yet in less than a quarter of an hour, the protective array was about to be broken by the adversary.

In the distance, the Qi Condensation disciples responsible for logistical support also wore grim expressions.

Nevertheless, they could only follow Liang Chuan's instructions, placing the pre-prepared spirit stones directly into the core of the sect-protecting formation.

Yet every single time they placed them down, those spirit stones could be seen withering away like frost under a blazing fire, rapidly reducing to ashes!

In the span of just a short moment, the reserve of spirit stones Liang Chuan had entrusted to them had already bottomed out.

"Quickly, go report this to the Sect Master!" one of the disciples gritted his teeth and shouted.

When the news reached Liang Chuan, he remained entirely calm as he commanded, "First Squad, prepare to fire!"

In truth, the enemy piercing through the protective array was an inevitability. Although it was slightly faster than he had anticipated, his true trump card remained the firearms in the hands of the First Squad.

Each of those bullets carried the impact equivalent to a full-powered strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. While he might be short on many things right now, he had plenty of ammunition to give the enemy a thorough taste of suffering.

The First Squad disciples drew their firearms instantly, taking aim and standing at the ready outside the sect hall.

The Second Squad disciples blocked the front, drawing their long swords one after another, glaring at the enemy ahead with eyes filled with killing intent.

*Click, click, click...*

At that moment, the triangular Blazing Sun Array violently smashed through the sect-protecting formation.

The protective array dissolved into countless blue starlight fragments, drifting slowly downward with the gentle breeze.

"It seems your sect-protecting formation cannot save you after all!"

Dai Xiao sneered as he spoke. "Surrender. Continuing to struggle is nothing more than a dead end for all of you, and only by following our Sun-Rising Sect can you have a brighter future!"

Before he could finish speaking, a massive volley of roars resembling explosive firecrackers suddenly filled the air.

Countless bullets rained down rapidly upon the Blazing Sun Array.

In a single instant, he acutely perceived that his spiritual Qi was plummeting at a staggering rate!

"How is this possible?!"

Dai Xiao's expression changed dramatically. At this rate of depletion, it was equivalent to facing the full-frontal assault of eighty Foundation Establishment cultivators simultaneously!

"Everyone, take your medicinal pills immediately!"

He made his decision without hesitation; even if they could hold on, they certainly could not sustain it for long!