"Alright, the long-prepared Spirit Gathering Array can finally be put to use today!"
Zhu Zhiyuan was overjoyed as he took a jade talisman from his waist and made a hand seal.
Immediately, a mysterious pattern appeared on the ground, and in the next moment, the spiritual energy from the surrounding world began to gather into the Mountain God Temple!
As the core base, Zhu Zhiyuan had spent decades laying out powerful formations around Ming Mountain Village, with layers upon layers, making it impenetrable.
Even if the entire Chongwu Guard attacked, with these powerful formations he had set up, combined with the Mountain God's combat power, he could easily stop them!
This was the confidence that the "Formation Heart Communication" gave Zhu Zhiyuan!
At the urging of his lover, the Mountain God began to act. She sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array and began her breakthrough into the Fifth Realm.
Surging spiritual energy poured into the Mountain God's body. Unlike humans, demons have their own cultivation methods, and they absorb spiritual energy from the heavens and earth more simply and directly.
There was no need to open major acupoints or establish spiritual channels. With their strong bodies, demons could forcibly absorb and digest spiritual energy.
Zhu Zhiyuan silently waited beside her, his eyes glowing with excitement. If the Mountain God successfully broke through this time, his lifespan would naturally increase as well.
At that time, he would stay youthful and live for hundreds of years... Hehe, now that's a life worthy of a god!
Indeed, his initial choice was not wrong!
However, the next moment, as Zhu Zhiyuan was daydreaming about his bright future, his brows suddenly furrowed.
There was a slight fluctuation in the detection array he had set up at the entrance of the valley.
The fluctuation was very faint, which meant someone had passed through the array and was coming toward the Immortal Village!
It wasn't a group bringing offerings. The aura on this person was unfamiliar!
"Which blind fool dares to barge into my Immortal Village without permission!"
Zhu Zhiyuan snorted coldly. He wasn't panicking, but instead took out another jade talisman from his waist:
"Let me teach you a lesson with the Flame Fire Formation!"
He channeled his true essence, and the jade talisman began to glow. Just as a mocking smile appeared on his face, the talisman suddenly exploded!
Boom!
"Huh? The formation was broken?!"
Zhu Zhiyuan's face was filled with astonishment. The Mountain God, who was in the middle of her breakthrough, also opened her eyes: "Husband, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Zhu Zhiyuan quickly regained his calm expression and waved his hand.
"It seems like an interesting little mouse has arrived... But I can deal with him. You continue your cultivation, my dear."
"Okay..." The Mountain God obediently closed her eyes again. Zhu Zhiyuan then took out another jade talisman from his waist:
"Not afraid of fire attacks? Then let's try my Ice Formation!"
Boom!
As soon as the words left his mouth, the jade talisman shattered!
Hiss...
Zhu Zhiyuan's expression became serious: "This person's got some skill... Let me show him my Soul-Confusing Formation!"
Boom!
The talisman shattered again!
Zhu Zhiyuan's face tightened: "Something's wrong, something's wrong... What about my Iron Barrel Formation?"
Boom!
The talisman shattered again!
Zhu Zhiyuan was now drenched in sweat. He quickly took out one jade talisman after another from his waist, channeling his true essence into each one, but every time he took one out, it exploded!
For a moment, the entire Mountain God Temple sounded like a string of firecrackers going off!
This wasn't right, this wasn't right at all!!!
Zhu Zhiyuan's face turned pale with fear.
Who was this person? How could they be so powerful? Breaking his formations was as easy as eating or drinking!
The dozens of formations he had painstakingly set up over the years were completely useless. Not only were they ineffective, but they couldn't even hold up for three seconds!
Could the intruder be a master of formations as well?!
"Husband, do you need me to make a move?" The Mountain God asked with concern from the side.
"You should focus on breaking through to the Fifth Realm first!" Zhu Zhiyuan immediately responded.
His sense of unease grew stronger:
"My dear, the one who's come isn't friendly. I fear that with your current realm, you're no match for them!"
The Mountain God also noticed Zhu Zhiyuan's unprecedented fear. She immediately nodded seriously:
"Okay, I'll go all out with my breakthrough!"
With that, she increased her absorption of spiritual energy, and her body began to undergo a profound transformation!
At that moment, a follower hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple:
"Report, High Priest, someone... someone has intruded into our village!"
Zhu Zhiyuan knew that this was the person who had broken his formations. He immediately inquired:
"Who is it? What do they look like?"
"A young man dressed in white, looks about fifteen or sixteen years old..." The follower answered, "He claims to be from Jianghai Palace!"
"Jianghai Palace, fifteen or sixteen... How could he be so young?"
Zhu Zhiyuan was stunned. At that age, could he be from the Talented Youth Camp?!
"You all go and hold him off. Use your lives to delay him. Don't let him get any closer to here!"
After a moment of thought, Zhu Zhiyuan immediately ordered:
"Tell him that if he dares to take another step forward, you will all commit suicide in front of him!"
Zhu Zhiyuan's tone suddenly became severe:
"This is not a performance, this is real suicide. I want you to give your lives to the Mountain God. Do you understand?!"
"Understood. It is our honor to give everything for the Mountain God!"
The follower didn't question Zhu Zhiyuan's orders at all. Instead, he excitedly shouted and immediately took his leave.
Soon after, the sound of the fanatical followers chanting outside the temple was heard:
"Give everything for the Mountain God!!!"
Zhu Zhiyuan didn't care at all about the followers' loyalty. He was pacing around the Mountain God Temple in a frenzy, like an ant on a hot pot:
"Calm down, calm down. It's actually easier to deal with someone from Jianghai Palace!"
He comforted himself:
"Jianghai Palace values the lives of the common people the most. They won't act recklessly. If I threaten him with the suicide of my followers, it should be able to delay him for a while!"
"Yes, that's it! This will definitely buy enough time for the Mountain God to break through to the Fifth Realm!"
Zhu Zhiyuan was becoming more and more confident in his plan, but the next moment, his anxious pacing suddenly stopped. A look of terror reappeared on his face!
Because he saw it—he saw a tall and handsome young man in white standing at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple!
"How absurd. Are all the people here idiots? Trying to threaten me with suicide? You've really made me laugh..."
The young man flashed a brilliant smile at Zhu Zhiyuan, as if telling an insignificant joke.