Chapter 36 The Four Symbols Demon-Subduing Formation
Chen Yun exclaimed in surprise, her face full of worry.
Shen Lian staggered back seven or eight steps before regaining his balance. His chest heaved with blood and qi. He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared intently at the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the straw hat sneered, "You little brat from the Demon Suppression Division, today I'll make you die here. It's your honor to become my sacrifice."
Immediately, the man in the straw hat closed in on Shen Lian again, his five fingers digging fiercely at Shen Lian's crown.
"Senior Brother Shen, get out of the way quickly!" Chen Yun hurriedly reminded him.
Shen Lian took a deep breath, and the martial arts mark between his eyebrows suddenly lit up. His blood and qi surged throughout his body. He stomped his foot and dodged the attack from the man in the bamboo hat.
The Broken Mountain Style!
Shen Lian slashed at the man in the bamboo hat with his sword, using the "Demon-Subduing Sword Technique".
The man in the straw hat snorted coldly, then struck Shen Lian's longsword with his palm. A powerful force suddenly erupted and slammed into the blade.
Bang!
Shen Lian was thrown backward by the shock, his back slamming heavily against the old locust tree, causing the withered leaves to fall.
"Brother Lian, we're here!"
Li Hu's roar came from afar. He and Wang Lin rushed over and surrounded the man in the straw hat.
"Brother Lian, are you alright?" Li Hu asked worriedly.
Shen Lian shook his head in acknowledgment.
Sun Yan held his knife and looked at the man in the straw hat, his eyes flashing with coldness: "You've committed multiple crimes in Qinghe County, yet you still dare to show up at the lantern festival. You're truly lawless."
To enhance his strength, the man in the straw hat did not hesitate to kill and rip out hearts, setting up the "Five Yin Gathering Array," his methods were extremely cruel.
Now that the Qinghe Lantern Festival is being held and the entire city is gathered here, the man in the straw hat appears at this time, clearly intending to kill someone and rip out their heart.
The man in the straw hat glanced around at the Demon Suppressors and sneered, "Looks like everyone's here. Saves me the trouble of searching for them one by one."
After saying that, he suddenly swayed and pounced straight at Sun Yan.
Sun Yan, being a seasoned junior officer with extensive combat experience, immediately lowered himself from his horse, swung his long sword, and unleashed a "Mountain-Splitting Strike" to meet the enemy head-on.
The wind howled, and the force was fierce.
Facing Sun Yan's slashing longsword, the man in the straw hat immediately clenched his right fist and threw it forward to meet the blade.
clang!
The man in the straw hat slammed his fist down, and Sun Yan felt a force coming from the blade, forcing him to retreat repeatedly, his hand holding the long sword trembling slightly.
[Combat Strength]: 31~42
[Combat Strength]: 28~36
These are the combat power data of the man in the straw hat and Sun Yan. The man in the straw hat is stronger than Sun Yan, as can be seen from their clash just now.
"Let's attack together and capture him!"
Wang Lin roared and, together with Li Hu, attacked the man in the bamboo hat from the left and right. The two men's swords flashed, and they used the "Mountain Splitting Style" and "Wave Slicing Style" at the same time. The sword energy spread and they slashed towards the man in the bamboo hat.
Facing the combined attack of Wang Lin and Li Hu, the man in the straw hat looked disdainful, lightly stomping his foot to easily dodge their strikes.
He then moved swiftly, throwing a punch at Wang Lin and sweeping a leg at Li Hu.
Bang!Bang!
Two consecutive sounds of collision rang out, and Wang Lin and Li Hu were forced back by the man in the straw hat. Their expressions turned somewhat ugly.
"Such immense power!"
Wang Lin and Li Hu both felt a chill run down their spines. The man in the bamboo hat had clearly not used his full strength, but even so, it was still something they couldn't withstand.
Sun Yan said coldly, "This beast is already at the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm. We are no match for it in a one-on-one fight. Let's form a formation to deal with it."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lian and the others tacitly dispersed and took their positions according to the Demon Suppression Division's basic "Four Symbols Demon Subduing Formation," surrounding the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the straw hat glanced at the group and said disdainfully, "The combined attack formation of the Demon Suppression Division? I'd like to see if it's truly powerful or just all talk."
Sun Yan, brandishing his knife, said, "You won't leave here alive today."
Immediately, Sun Yan took the first step forward, his blade flashing like a green dragon emerging from the sea, and slashed fiercely down towards the head of the man in the straw hat.
Almost simultaneously, Wang Lin approached from the right, sweeping his long sword to block their retreat.
Shen Lian, Li Hu, and Chen Yun rushed towards the man in the straw hat from different directions, slashing down with their long swords.
The man in the straw hat's eyes turned cold as he instantly locked onto Li Hu, the weakest of the five, undoubtedly making him his target.
"Tiger, be careful!" Shen Lian quickly warned.
The man in the straw hat moved like a ghost, instantly closing in on Li Hu. His right hand gleamed with a chilling light as he reached for Li Hu's throat.
The attack was as fast as lightning. Li Hu only had time to parry with his sword. The sword and claw collided, and sparks flew.
clang!
A tremendous force struck, causing Li Hu's tiger's mouth to tremble violently. He was shaken and staggered backward, his chest heaving with blood and qi, and a metallic taste filling his mouth.
At the same time, Sun Yan, Wang Lin, and Chen Yun arrived.
Sun Yan's long sword swung like a green dragon's tail, slashing down towards the head of the man in the straw hat.
Wang Lin used an unorthodox approach, unleashing a series of three consecutive "wave-cutting" strikes to seal off the man in the bamboo hat.
Chen Yun let out a sharp cry, and her blade flashed like lightning, piercing straight for his back.
Although it was the first time the five of them had used the "Four Symbols Demon Subduing Formation" in actual combat, they coordinated very well because of their regular training.
The "Four Symbols Demon Subduing Formation" is the basic battle formation of the Demon Suppression Division.
It emphasizes coordinated action from all sides and a unified approach to offense and defense.
The man in the straw hat spun around quickly, a three-foot-long sword appearing in his hand. The sword light flashed like a venomous snake's tongue, striking out several cold stars in succession.
The sound of metal clashing was incessant.
The man in the bamboo hat used cunning swordsmanship to deflect the attacks of several people in succession, but the continuous sword strikes of Sun Yan and his five companions, with their strengths and weaknesses shifting, eventually trapped him firmly in the formation.
"This formation... has some intricacies."
A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the man in the straw hat, but it was quickly replaced by a cold glint. "Unfortunately, your skills are too shallow to unleash the true power of the formation."
He suddenly inhaled, his blood and energy surged, and his sleeves fluttered even without wind.
The longsword suddenly increased in speed, aiming straight for Sun Yan's face.
Sun Yan swung his knife to block the attack, but his entire arm went numb from the shock, and he groaned as he staggered back several steps.
The formation suddenly showed a slight flaw.
Just as the man in the straw hat was about to take the opportunity to break through, Shen Lian's pupils suddenly contracted, his blood and qi surged wildly, he stepped on the Xuan Step, and the long sword in his hand trembled.
Immediately, the longsword transformed into a thunderbolt, slashing out diagonally from the side—the most ferocious "Mountain-Splitting Style" of the "Demon-Subduing Sword Technique."
This strike isn't meant to severely injure the enemy, but rather to force them to defend themselves.
The man in the straw hat was about to pierce Sun Yan with his long sword, but he had no choice but to parry.
Swords clashed, producing a piercing clang.
Using the momentum, Shen Lian turned around and unleashed a second series of "Wave-Slicing" strikes, the blade energy spreading and tightly binding the man in the bamboo hat.
The flashing blades, like waves, pressed towards the man in the straw hat.
The man in the straw hat's eyes flashed with a fierce light. His long sword suddenly spun around, blocking Shen Lian's three consecutive strikes. At the same time, his left palm flipped up and struck Shen Lian's chest.
"Shen Lian, retreat!"
Sun Yan steadied himself, and upon seeing this, he shouted loudly, raising his long sword again and slashing towards the left side of the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the straw hat twisted his body to avoid Sun Yan's knife, but his left palm continued its momentum, still aimed at Shen Lian.
Shen Lian's pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly tapped the ground with his toes, his body floating backward.
At the same time, the longsword was swung back, and a "Mountain Splitting Strike" was used to slash down from above, the wind of the blade howling as it struck the opponent.
The man in the straw hat slapped his left palm on the long sword, deflecting Shen Lian's sword.
Shen Lian staggered back several steps, but fortunately, he had solid qi and blood to support him, otherwise he would not have been able to withstand the attack from the man in the bamboo hat.
Seizing the opportunity before Shen Lian could regain his footing, the man in the straw hat thrust out his long sword again, intending to kill Shen Lian first.
"Shen Lian!"
Disregarding her own safety, Chen Yun approached from the side with a knife, holding it horizontally to firmly block the longsword of the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the straw hat flicked his wrist, unleashing a powerful force that sent Chen Yun's longsword flying, and his back slammed heavily against the bluestone on the riverbank.
"Junior Sister Chen."
Shen Lian's blood and qi surged, and the martial arts mark between his brows shone brightly. He stepped into the "Tiger Subduing Stance" stance, and his long sword transformed into a streak of lightning.
They abandoned defense and launched a full-scale attack on the opponent.
This strike was imbued with the full force of Shen Lian's blood and energy, its momentum fierce and unparalleled.
The man in the straw hat was clearly not expected that Shen Lian would fight so desperately. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he held his long sword horizontally in front of him to block. A tremendous force struck him, causing his arm to go numb and several cracks to appear in the bluestone slab beneath his feet.
"This kid's energy and blood have become much stronger than before."
The man in the straw hat narrowed his eyes and his gaze turned fierce. His blood and qi surged, and he thrust his longsword several times, each strike aimed at Shen Lian's vital points.
Shen Lian unleashed several slashes in succession, barely managing to block the attack from the man in the bamboo hat.
Sun Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood in his chest, and joined the battle with his sword.
The "Four Symbols Demon Subduing Formation" was attacked several times by the man in the bamboo hat, but the five of them, with their tacit cooperation, managed to trap the opponent in the narrow space.
Unable to break through the man in the straw hat after a long struggle, the ferocity in his eyes intensified.
Suddenly, his swordplay changed, and his speed increased by 30%, heading straight for Wang Lin.
The sword strike was too fast. Wang Lin's expression turned serious, and he quickly parried with his sword.
clang!
Wang Lin, along with his knife, was thrown several meters away and crashed heavily onto the riverbank pebbles.
Shen Lian swung his sword and slashed at the back of the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the straw hat snorted coldly, stepped to the side, and swept his long sword out horizontally.
"You scoundrel, stop your rampage!"
At the critical moment, a loud shout came from afar.
Several figures flew over, the leader being Zhao Shan, followed by Zhou Wu, Qin Feng, and several other veteran Demon Suppression Envoys.
The man in the straw hat's expression changed drastically. He was confident in his strength, but he also knew Zhao Shan's reputation and that his strength was far beyond his ability to defeat. He immediately stopped fighting, made a feint with his longsword, and retreated quickly, intending to use the complicated terrain of the riverbank to escape.
"Trying to escape?!"
Zhao Shan's eyes were sharp. He stomped his foot and shot out like an arrow. His long sword turned into a streak of light and slashed straight at the back of the man in the bamboo hat.
The sharp blade aura made it hard for the opponent to breathe.
The man in the straw hat was forced to turn around and block. He groaned and staggered back seven or eight steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Zhou Wu, Qin Feng, and others seized the opportunity to encircle and completely block all escape routes.
Zhao Shan stood with his knife in hand, his gaze coldly fixed on the man in the bamboo hat: "You used evil formations to harm people, your methods were ruthless and vicious. Tonight is the night you will face justice!"
The man in the straw hat looked around and then at the group of demon-suppressing envoys led by Zhao Shan. The riverbank lights reflected on his pale face, and a madness flashed in his deep-set eyes.
"Commander Zhao, what a grand operation! You've mobilized most of the Demon Suppression Division's elite forces just to capture me," the man in the straw hat said hoarsely.
Zhao Shan pointed his long sword diagonally at the ground and said coldly, "You used the 'Five Yin Gathering Fiend Formation' to harm five lives. Today you must pay with your life."
The man in the straw hat threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter tinged with madness: "In this world, the strong prey on the weak. I merely want to become stronger, what's wrong with that?"
A cold glint flashed in Zhao Shan's eyes: "Using innocent lives as sacrifices to practice evil magic and harm people, what right do you have to say such things? Today, you must die!"
The man in the straw hat committed several crimes in Qinghe County, killing five people in succession. He even dug out their hearts to set up a formation to enhance his strength. Such methods are appalling.
Only by eliminating the enemy can the safety of the people of Qinghe be protected.
Zhao Shan took a step forward, his figure suddenly rushing forward, the long sword in his hand emitting a resounding sound, and a layer of light blue energy emanating from the blade.
That was the Azure Dragon Blade Technique of the Demon Suppression Division!
Only those at the rank of General Flag Commander are allowed to cultivate this skill.
The man in the straw hat's expression changed drastically. He retreated hastily, his long sword flashing as he created layers of sword screens in front of him, attempting to block the thunderous strike.
Zhao Shan slashed down with his sword, forcing the man in the bamboo hat back. The impact caused the man's tiger's mouth to split open, blood streaming from his palm, and he staggered backward several feet.
"Such powerful blade force!" The man in the straw hat thought in horror.
Zhao Shan pressed his advantage, closing in on the man in the bamboo hat once more. He swept his long sword horizontally, the sword energy flowing continuously, transforming into a blue dragon that enveloped the man in the bamboo hat.
Zhou Wu, Qin Feng, and other veteran demon-suppressing envoys intercepted them. With their extensive experience, they worked with Zhao Shan to surround the man in the bamboo hat.
Click!
With a single stroke, Zhao Shan severed the man in the straw hat's longsword, half of the blade sinking into the muddy riverbed.
The moment the longsword shattered, despair filled the man in the straw hat's eyes.
The next moment, Zhao Shan's long sword pierced through the chest of the man in the bamboo hat.
The man in the bamboo hat trembled violently. He looked down at the blood gushing from his chest: "The Azure Dragon Blade Technique... truly lives up to its reputation..."
The man in the straw hat fell backward, his life force rapidly fading away.
Zhao Shan sheathed his sword, staring expressionlessly at the corpse lying on the ground. He then instructed the Demon Suppressor behind him, "Examine the body and see if there are any clues."
Zhou Wu and Qin Feng stepped forward and carefully searched the corpse on the ground.
"Commander, this was found on him."
Qin Feng presented all the items he had taken from the man in the straw hat: a yellowed booklet, a palm-sized compass, and several iron caltrops.
Zhao Shan took the booklet and began to examine it. The first half of the booklet contained the key points for setting up the "Five Yin Gathering Fiend Array," while the second half contained a heretical mental technique called "Blood Fiend Skill."
According to the manual, cultivating this skill requires using the heart of a living person as a guide, combined with an array to absorb essence and evil energy, resulting in a rapid increase in power in a short period of time.
Zhao Shan closed the booklet and said in an icy tone, "This person has already mastered this evil skill to a minor degree. If we hadn't arrived in time, something terrible would have happened."
Zhou Wu said in a low voice, "Commander, the investigation at the fire site has confirmed that someone deliberately poured oil and set the fire. The arsonist escaped in the chaos."
Zhao Shan nodded, his gaze sweeping over Shen Lian and the others.
"You did a good job," Zhao Shan said in a deep voice. "Qin Feng, take them to the clinic to get their injuries bandaged first, and let them rest well for the next few days."
"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison.
……
The clinic was brightly lit.
The old doctor examined Shen Lian's internal energy and then looked at the laceration on his hand. He clicked his tongue in amazement: "You lad have abundant qi and blood, and a solid foundation. You withstood several blows from a master at the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm, and yet you only suffered a surge of qi and blood and slight damage to your meridians. Apply this 'Blood-Activating Powder' and rest for two days, and you'll be fine."
Shen Lian thanked the doctor and accepted the ointment. On the other side, Li Hu and Wang Lin were grimacing as their apprentice bandaged their wounds, while Chen Yun's arm was also carefully immobilized.
"Brother Lian, what's the background of that man in the straw hat?" Li Hu asked, taking a deep breath. "He practices evil arts and has committed a series of crimes in Qinghe County. Could someone be behind him?"
Shen Lian pondered and said, "Judging from the items on his person, this person is meticulous in his actions and has studied formations and evil arts. He doesn't seem like a rogue cultivator without any foundation. However, the book doesn't record his lineage, and the compass is a common model on the market. We can't see any clues for the time being."
As they were talking, footsteps came from outside the clinic.
Sun Yan entered with two demon-suppressing envoys, carrying several food boxes.
"Commander Zhao asked me to bring you some food." Sun Yan placed the food box on the table. "You've worked hard tonight, so fill your stomachs first and get some rest. The commander has ordered people to strengthen patrols in the city, and security for the remaining two days of the lantern festival has also been rearranged."
The food box was opened, revealing steaming hot meat porridge, steamed buns, and side dishes.
After a long night of fighting, everyone was starving, so they sat down and ate without any hesitation.