Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 174: Fierce Battle

The Five Elements Enemy-Trapping Array was originally designed for hunting demon beasts, but it was robust enough to temporarily plug the breach in the defensive line.

Although it couldn’t hold Foundation Establishment cultivators indefinitely, Wang Hao and Li Derong had no intention of idling. Even if they couldn’t kill one or two enemies, they could buy enough time to repair the Dazzling Light Sky Fire Array.

Wang Hao distributed the array flags. Over a dozen Qi Refining clan members used lightness techniques to reach their positions and cover the breach.

Outside, Ye Jingshan saw the breach in the main array and roared, signaling his forces to flood through.

It was only after they crossed the threshold that they realized their mistake. They hadn’t broken into the compound; they had stepped directly into the maw of the Five Elements Enemy-Trapping Array.

With a sharp wave of his command flag, Wang Hao sealed the entrance behind them. If he had sufficient power at his fingertips, he would have loved nothing more than to slaughter them all right there.

“Lead the repairs. I will keep them busy!” Wang Hao told Li Derong. He released four spirit beasts and two second-rank puppets, then entered the array.

The Enemy-Trapping Array was a nasty piece of work, generating layered illusions and elemental strikes. While these attacks were mere annoyances to Foundation Establishment experts, they were lethal to the accompanying Qi Refining infantry.

A Ye family Foundation Establishment cultivator rushed too far ahead and became separated, leaving only three Qi Refining cultivators with him.

Opportunity.

Wang Hao increased the array’s attack on him, then struck while the cultivator struggled to defend.

The enemy cultivator appeared to be around Wang Hao’s age, a talent at the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment.

Seeing Wang Hao emerge, the Ye family cultivator cried out in surprise, but there was no fear in his eyes. He commanded his flying sword to intercept Wang Hao’s strike.

He assumed that with five Foundation Establishment experts on their side, reinforcements were seconds away. He didn’t need to win; he just needed to hold. He certainly didn’t believe Wang Hao could kill him instantly.

Wang Hao held back his Spirit-Splitting Cone. Using a mental attack so early was risky; if the enemy had defensive countermeasures, the backlash could cripple his Divine Consciousness for the rest of the battle. He had other ways to kill.

Their sword lights clashed in a shower of sparks, Wang Hao holding the upper hand.

The pressure of the duel, combined with the harassment from the formation, made the Ye cultivator stumble for a fraction of a second.

In that fleeting moment, a flash of white light struck him head-on with blinding speed. It was the Phantom Moon Butterfly, which Wang Hao had concealed in the mist.

The butterfly was only Second-Rank Lower-Grade, usually insufficient to affect a mid-Foundation Establishment expert. But taking a blast of hallucinogenic light directly to the face was enough to send his mind into a momentary stupor.

On a battlefield of this caliber, a moment’s distraction was a death sentence.

Wang Hao thrust his sword and, to make certain, launched the Heaven-Dazzling Bowl and White Hair Divine Needle.

He intended to obliterate this man in a single breath.

A fifth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator emerged from the fog and raised a shield before the Ye cultivator. He also hurled an iron ball to intercept Wang Hao’s sword.

Wang Hao sneered. He mentally commanded Yaya and his puppets to swarm the newcomer.

When Yaya and the puppets attacked, the newcomer recalled the shield to protect himself.

The newcomer blocked Wang Hao’s Green Light Sword, but the Heaven-Dazzling Bowl smashed the Ye cultivator’s protective aura. The White Hair Divine Needle pierced his head.

The Ye family prodigy died without ever waking from the illusion.

Wang Hao’s cold gaze shifted to the second cultivator. Judging by the crest on his robes, this man belonged to the He family.

Wang Hao didn’t plan on letting him leave. If this man regrouped with the remaining three invaders, the odds of securing another kill would vanish.

Although Wang Hao—bolstered by his beasts and puppets—could theoretically match the combat power of four ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, he wasn’t arrogant. The enemy wasn’t fighting empty-handed either; they had their own beasts and trump cards. He could handle two. But four? He didn’t have a stomach big enough to digest that meal.

Wang Hao unleashed a flurry of attacks, shattering the He family cultivator’s shield and protective light. Just as he raised his hand to deliver the killing blow, a sudden sense of mortal danger screamed in his mind.

A pavilion-shaped artifact flew toward him.

Wang Hao dodged.

It struck a deep pit where he had stood. He had lost the best chance to kill the He cultivator.

“Fellow Daoist He, do not panic. This old man is here!”

Ye Jingshan stepped out from the rear mist, his hand outstretched. The pavilion artifact shrank and flew back into his palm. He positioned himself in front of the He family cultivator, shielding him.

“Senior Ye! He killed Fellow Daoist Qingle. We cannot let him escape!” The He cultivator steadied at the sight of the late-stage Foundation Establishment elder. He wanted revenge for his own injuries.

“What? Qingle is dead?” Ye Jingshan’s face twisted in shock. Ye Qingle was his chosen successor, a man of both strength and intellect. Dead? Just like that?

Ye Jingshan turned his head, his eyes locking onto Wang Hao with venomous intensity.

“You… deserve to die.”

The killing intent rolled off him in freezing waves.

“Be careful, Senior. He has a spirit beast, two puppets, and many artifacts. Brother Qingle died because he was caught by surprise!” The He cultivator exaggerated to inflame Ye Jingshan.

Ye Jingshan was furious, but not foolish. If Wang Hao could kill Qingle so quickly, ambush or not, his strength was not to be underestimated. He scrutinized Wang Hao, noting the Fifth Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation base.

Strong, but not insurmountable. Ye Jingshan calculated that his experience and higher cultivation would secure the victory.

He attacked immediately, launching two artifacts in a pincer maneuver.

Wang Hao could only keep the two occupied. The array could hold the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators and their Qi Refining companions for a while.

The Array Breaking Talismans’ effects were limited. Given roughly a quarter-hour, Li Derong could repair the main array.

Once it was restored, the intruders could be trapped inside and attacked by the array.

If they retreated before then, re-entering would be a nightmare unless they possessed more Second-Rank Array Breaking Talismans. Such items were rare and exorbitantly expensive; Wang Hao doubted they had a stack of them lying around.

His prediction was accurate. The Burning Heaven Sect had issued eight talismans total. Four were spent on the Lei family, two here. The coalition had only two left.

If the invaders failed to capitalize on this breach, they would have only one shot left.

Ye Jingshan understood this urgency. He couldn’t afford to waste this hard-won opening. Regardless of vengeance for Qingle, he had to kill Wang Hao to shatter the Five Elements Enemy-Trapping Array. Only then could they destroy the main array node and let the rest of the army flood in.

The Five Elements Enemy-Trapping Array was devised for hunting demon beasts, particularly those that could not fly. The attackers could defeat it by flying up once they noticed. Wang Hao needed to buy time until the main array was repaired.

Warned by his ally, Ye Jingshan adopted a defensive posture against Wang Hao’s artifacts while pressing the attack.

After repelling another one of Wang Hao’s strikes, Ye Jingshan sneered. “Wang brat, have you exhausted all your tricks? Surrender now, and this old man will grant you a quick death!”