"Within range."
After a brief moment of thought, Gray-White Pupils drew his pistol. This thing was more reliable than a knife.
Xu Mu's head was turning, he needed to find a place to hide. With so many domain lords present, it wouldn't be convenient for him to make a move.
"Yin Zhongxiu, bring your men and join the formation!"
Twenty meters away in the gray mist, a dozen comrades from the Demon Extermination Division gathered. They stood in different positions, forming what appeared to be a powerful formation that exuded an inexplicable pressure.
Yin Zhongxiu, still stunned by Xu Mu, snapped back to attention when he was called. He hurriedly grabbed the young man's sleeve and ran over.
"Coming, coming!"
"A Demon Subjugation Grand Formation led by domain lords, I've never seen anything like it in my life."
Yin Zhongxiu excitedly rubbed his hands. This formation was a mandatory skill for all Demon Extermination Division ability users in the world. Three months prior, they had divided into different teams to advance into the Western Mountains. One small team, lacking in strength, had used this formation to survive unscathed. He couldn't imagine how powerful the Demon Subjugation Grand Formation would be if composed of domain lords and領主.
"You're not the only one. I haven't seen it either," said the gaunt, withered man with a hoarse voice, looking at the three of them coldly. "However, if I were to preside over it, with this kid's strength, he'd likely be sucked dry in an instant."
Upon hearing this, Yin Zhongxiu's smile froze.
Sensing provocation in his words, the Tree Dwelling Elder felt a surge of anger, but dared not show it. The other man was a fifth-stage cultivator, and killing him would be incredibly easy.
"Is there no other way?"
Yin Zhongxiu pondered for a moment and realized the truth. His face immediately turned pale.
The Demon Subjugation Grand Formation was initially developed for ordinary people, capable of absorbing vital energy from the human body and channeling it into powerful energy to slay ghosts. However, after being modified by a certain formation master who solved the issue of ability integration, the Demon Subjugation Grand Formation became something entirely different. Its principle remained the same, but instead of drawing energy from ordinary people, it now extracted the abilities of ability users.
The higher the cultivation of the person presiding over the formation, the more abilities they could extract and accumulate. This comrade from the Demon Extermination Division, named He He, was a fifth-stage powerhouse. If he went all out, he could even use this formation to defend against attacks from a Human King, even when outranked.
However, all of this was contingent on the ability users within the formation, whose abilities were being extracted, having sufficient reserves. Otherwise, in battles of that magnitude, they would easily be drained dry. Depleted abilities would then lead to depleted vital essence, and ultimately, death.
Yin Zhongxiu thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution. He then clenched his fists and asked with a hint of unwillingness, "Lord He, is there truly no other way?"
"Yes, he just doesn't enter the formation," the man replied indifferently.
Yin Zhongxiu was taken aback. "But if he doesn't enter the formation, what will happen to Xu Mu when the great demon descends later?"
"That's not my concern," the gaunt man said again, his voice already tinged with impatience and even hostility.
Yin Zhongxiu couldn't help but frown. He had a feeling something was amiss. This Lord He seemed to be deliberately targeting Xu Mu. But they had only just met, and they were both comrades. Why would he do that?
The Tree Dwelling Elder beside him was equally perplexed. Perhaps only He He himself knew the reason.
He stood aside, his expression grim. He considered himself to have a good temper, but he acted this way towards Xu Mu because of the Wang family's affairs. He He's heart churned, his thoughts drifting far away.
He recalled an incident five years ago. During a mission, his body was contaminated by the peculiar poison of a domain lord-level great demon, damaging his core and causing multiple organs to fail. He had only survived thanks to rare heavenly treasures, but those were merely external aids and could not cure him. Therefore, he desperately needed something that could completely cure him. For instance, a Blood Coral.
He He's face was pale. The world was vast, and how many people needed Blood Coral for healing? There was only one Blood Coral in existence, and even the Emperor had to wait in line. It was priceless. He had once considered using his authority to pressure them, but to his surprise, the Wang family did not care about him as a domain lord at all. Helpless, he could only approach from an indirect angle, and after years of searching, he found no solution.
Three months ago, the Wang family's ancestor had ventured into Guiye, a golden opportunity. He had been closely monitoring the ancestor's movements, and today, he finally saw a glimmer of hope for establishing contact. However, he did not expect his superior, Lord Bite-Fire, to get into a significant dispute with the Wang family ancestor, whom he desperately wanted to befriend, all because of Xu Mu. This action had effectively pushed all of them to the opposing side of the Wang family. In such circumstances, he could not possibly try to befriend them directly, as it would be considered colluding with the enemy.
The Blood Coral plan had gone up in smoke. He did not know how much longer he would have to prolong his life with heavenly treasures! "It's all this kid's fault!" He He gritted his teeth inwardly, his gaze cold. He intensely desired to kill Xu Mu to vent his hatred.
Gray-White Pupils was unfazed, meeting his gaze with a calm expression. He could naturally sense the animosity, but he didn't care to know the reason. After all, whoever provoked him would eventually die.
"You're right, I don't have to enter the formation."
Xu Mu's body spoke, his eyes calm. He was already looking for an excuse to distance himself from these people. This was perfect, like someone offering a pillow when he was already drowsy.
"You're crazy! This is the core region of the Western Mountains. Unlike last time, even your master and the Tree Dwelling Elder acting together couldn't protect you!" Yin Zhongxiu mistakenly believed Xu Mu's trump card was the protection of others and became anxious.
"Lord He, I know you must have a way. Xu Mu is my benefactor, he cannot die."
"I'm not a god. What way can I have for a second-stage cultivator like him? Who told him to come here looking for death!" The gaunt man's expression was extremely unpleasant. He no longer wanted to argue. Further discussion was meaningless. In his eyes, a second-stage cultivator here was bound to die!
"Although I strongly dislike that old fellow from the Wang family, I agree with one thing he said."
Xu Mu turned his body, looked at the towering black tower, and slowly took a step to its side. "Stop saying I will die, because I won't."
Gray-White Pupils raised his head, his gaze arrogant, just as it was when he met the Wang family ancestor's gaze. "If I hear it a second time." "You, will die."