Chapter 259: “You Also Go by Black Lotus?”
As a horde of monster beasts stormed into the array, disciples from various sects and holy lands rushed to the array’s perimeter for support. Although they managed to stabilize the front temporarily, it was clear this wouldn’t last long.
And this time, the enemy had no intention of hiding; once the demon energy entered their bodies, it would immediately erupt, disrupting the flow of spiritual energy. Any disciple who got injured would need to retreat to the camp for treatment; otherwise, they would end up just like those monster beasts—becoming puppets of the enemy.
“Something feels off here.”
Bai Feng, who was busy tweaking the array, frowned slightly. The pressure from the monster beasts was intense, but it was practically impossible for them to break through his carefully arranged defenses. The enemy must have an ace up their sleeve.
He turned to Zuo Qiu beside him. “If the monster beasts break in or any unexpected situation arises, just stand here.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Zuo Qiu nodded, not asking why.
At that moment, Bai Feng noticed part of the outer array malfunctioning. He quickly jumped to a higher vantage point and glanced at the perimeter.
That section was on the verge of collapse, with numerous monster beasts charging forward. The bodies of beasts that had fallen in combat were releasing demon energy, tainting the ground, trees, and even the white mist with a layer of blackish-purple.
Bai Feng’s brow furrowed; he hadn’t expected the enemy to use the corpses of monster beasts to spread demon energy, gradually eroding the surrounding environment and disrupting his array.
It was a tricky situation to deal with, especially in the middle of a dangerous fight—who could reasonably ask soldiers to cleanup monster corpses?
Fortunately, he had anticipated the enemy might try something like this and had prepared a backup plan.
“Array transformation.”
Bai Feng snapped his fingers, causing the mist to dissipate and fiery flames to surge from the ground, incinerating the demon energy in the air.
This was the proper way to use ‘Thousand Arrays,’ inserting various formations within a single array to adapt to different circumstances.
Just then, the ground trembled violently, and the camp’s surroundings began to collapse.
At the same time, the monster beasts outside the array let out a series of furious roars. They abandoned their immediate foes and dashed straight for the camp. A horde of beasts got shredded into chunks and ground into mush, with the flowing black-red bl**d absorbed by the earth.
“Was everything before a feint?”
Bai Feng stared at the crumbling ground, sensing the demon energy below expanding and swirling.
He also noticed something pushing its way up from beneath the surface.
Just as Bai Feng was about to change the array again, the ground shook once more, and a white-furred beast claw thrust up from the depths.
“You all… have done well.”
A voice echoed in everyone’s ears, and with it came rumbling demon energy surging from underground.
“Transformation!”
Bai Feng quickly shifted to a defensive formation. A semi-transparent shield appeared above the camp, engulfed in flames, blocking the incoming demon energy.
After finishing up, he looked toward the white beast claw’s location, where a massive fox head slowly emerged from the ground. One eye appeared to be scarred by a sharp object, with a deep gash running from its chin down its neck, and wisps of demon energy oozing from the injury.
Its lone bl**d-red eye scanned the assembled group, lingering on Zuo Qiu for a second longer.
“You little rascals are quite the surprise to me.” The fox opened its mouth, producing a rather hoarse voice. Then its expression twisted into a grimace as a wave of demon energy erupted from its body. “I wasn’t planning on using this backup body, but look at this—old, crippled, ugly! It’s all your fault!”
It raised its sharp claw and struck downwards, causing the formation to ripple violently. The Holy Son of Tai Chu quickly drew his sword and charged at it, aiming the blade for its head.
But the fox merely lifted its gaze, its savage red eye boring into him as it raised the claw wrapped in dark demon energy and swiped at the Holy Son.
Clang!
The sword collided with its claw, creating a metallic clash, and a massive force surged down the blade, slamming into the Holy Son.
Boom!
The Holy Son crashed into a wooden structure, shaking his head and slowly getting back on his feet. “This guy’s tough.”
“Oops, sorry about that, my bad.” The fox glanced at its claw, now sporting a faint scratch, then lowered it, its ferocity suddenly calming. “Ever since I fought that guy, I’ve had trouble controlling my emotions.”
As it spoke, it continued to emerge from the ground, revealing various scars covering its body. Its tail, which appeared to have been partially severed, was left with just two halves.
“Let me introduce myself; what did they used to call me again?” The fox seemed a bit off its rocker, laying on the ground lost in thought. “Oh right, they called me Black Lotus Fairy.”
“You go by Black Lotus too?”
Bai Feng couldn’t help but mutter quietly, instantly recalling the Demon Path’s Black Lotus who once tried to take him out. Was this organization also filled with immortals like the holy lands?
He instinctively glanced at Yun Yue Yao beside him, but she shook her head. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Oh? There’s another Black Lotus out there?” The Black Lotus Fairy suddenly directed her gaze at them. “Looks like our leftovers have been found!”
Noticing her bizarre mental state, Bai Feng cautiously asked, “What did you leave behind?”
“Hehe, not telling you.” The Black Lotus Fairy flashed a smile. “Or you could come be my servant, and if I’m feeling generous, I might spill the beans.”
“I think I’ll pass.”
Bai Feng shook his head; clearly, even if the Black Lotus was mentally unstable, he wouldn’t get any useful info out of her.
He then glanced at Little Jiu, who was frightfully hiding behind him. Unable to resist, he asked, “You don’t feel anything seeing this big fox?”
Little Jiu tilted her head. “Is fear considered something?”
“But it looks like its body is like your ancestor’s! Don’t you feel sad or angry about that?”
Little Jiu thought for a few seconds before shaking her head. “But I haven’t seen my ancestor. What if it’s just a coincidence? After all, there were plenty of us Nine-Tailed Foxes back then.”
“…You’ve got a pretty good mindset.”
Bai Feng commented before turning his attention back to the massive fox, which was eyeing them with a mocking expression.
That look seemed like it expected to have them at its mercy.
‘What are they up to? Stalling?’
Bai Feng slowly spread his divine consciousness around, suddenly turning his gaze to the outer array, where the monster tribe was still relentlessly battering against it.
The bl**d spilled from dead monsters and the flesh crushed by the array had begun to undergo subtle changes under the influence of the demon energy, as if they were coming to life and slowly eroding the ground.
“Hehe, have you realized? But it’s too late.”
In an instant, an eruption of demon energy surged from below, completely surrounding their camp.
The Black Lotus Fairy slowly stood up, strands of demon energy winding around her, and some of it flowed to her tail area, completing her previously mangled tail, raising nine tails: two white, six black, and one half-white, half-black.
