The sky was getting darker and darker, reaching the point where you couldn’t see your hand in front of you.
Although the Tie Family said they gave the Skeleton Sect three days, none of the martial artists in the Skeleton Sect could sleep. Such a night was the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack; would the Tie Family forgo this chance?
However, the night passed peacefully, and the Tie Family really didn’t attack under the cover of darkness. Maybe they simply didn’t regard the Skeleton Sect as worth their attention.
Ding Fan also didn’t sleep all night, ditating and cultivating. Just before dawn, Elder Wu Ren quickly rushed back. Before people saw him, he let out a long howl from afar.
"They finally ca."
Elder Wu Ren, who managed the Scout Cavalry Hall, made it clear with his howl that the Tie Family had made their move. It looked like they had already landed on the island.
The Tie Family had stood strong in the Tianmu Sea for over ten years, and they certainly weren’t fools. Choosing such a ti to attack proved they wanted to capture the Skeleton Sect with minimal cost.
On the beaches around Xinkai Island, a dozen warships silently approached. Each warship was filled with people, and except for those guarding Tie Family Island, Tie Hualong had mobilized almost all their strength—almost four thousand n, leaving fewer than a thousand on Tie Family Island.
The dozen warships didn’t imdiately attack. Reaching the outer islands, they dispersed directly, quietly surrounding the entire Xinkai Island in the darkness before dawn. Five Divine Realm Third Level experts guarded five directions, determined to leave no one from the Skeleton Sect alive.
On one of the warships, Tie Hualong donned ink-colored battle armor, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Once his subordinates reported that everyone was in position, he waved his hand and said, "Pass on my orders, attack as planned!"
As the orders were conveyed, warships from several directions landed simultaneously. From each direction, hundreds of people rushed ashore from the warships, with over two thousand advancing toward the island.
Tie Hualong didn’t move. As the commander of the three armies, he naturally needed to command from the ship. Even the five Divine Realm Third Level experts only sent two; in the eyes of the Tie Family, the Skeleton Sect was nothing but a few rotten garlic cloves. They had no Divine Realm Third Level experts, and even fewer than twenty Divine Realm Second Level experts. Sending so many people, along with two Divine Realm Third Level experts, to deal with a small Skeleton Sect was more than enough.
The elders of the Tie Family initially thought there was no need to send so many people, but Tie Hualong’s goal was to prevent even one person from the Skeleton Sect from escaping. He had to obtain the formula for cultivating the supre Crimson Fla Bodhi, so they had to leave everyone behind. If they rely wanted to destroy the Skeleton Sect, it would be too simple—sending those two Divine Realm Third Level experts alone would suffice.
Watching the Tie Family army advance toward the interior of Xinkai Island, Tie Hualong’s face bore a cruel smile, his eyes showing a bloodthirsty excitent. He even began to fantasize that once the formula for cultivating the Crimson Fla Bodhi was in his hands, the Tie Family would rise rapidly, and in just a few years, it could beco a Fourth Grade family power in the Tianmu Sea.
"Ah...""Ah..."
The miserable cries pulled Tie Hualong back from his fantasy. Hearing those desperate screams in the night sky, his expression changed, and he asked his subordinates, "What’s happening? Are those our people screaming?"
Before his subordinates could speak, there was a "whoosh" sound as a scout rushed back, bowing to Tie Hualong and saying, "Reporting to the family head, an unknown strong magical tool restriction has been set up on Xinkai Island. Our attacking forces have suffered dozens of deaths and over a hundred injuries."
"What, so many have died!"
Hearing the scout’s words, Tie Hualong felt a pang in his heart. This was only the casualties from one direction; how many casualties would there be in five directions? It was impossible that the Skeleton Sect only set up restrictions in one direction. A forceful attack would likely result in enormous losses.
"Convey my order, everyone retreat for now."
Upon hearing Tie Hualong’s words, several scouts imdiately took action, rushing in all directions to pass on Tie Hualong’s command.
Tie Hualong originally intended for a sneak attack, but since the Skeleton Sect was prepared with such strong magical tool restrictions, they might as well retreat and launch a frontal attack when daylight fully breaks. Could the small Skeleton Sect withstand the Tie Family’s thunderous rage?
Once daylight broke, everyone would easily see many of the restrictions. Now that Xinkai Island was surrounded like a fortress, he didn’t believe anyone from the Skeleton Sect could escape.
In this short ti, over a hundred n were lost, making Tie Hualong furious. He told the Head of the Scout Cavalry Hall, "Once it’s daylight, have the Great Elder act personally. Except for the Skeleton Sect Master Wu Qingxia and Second Elder, kill everyone else without exception!"
Tie Hualong was truly angry. When had the Tie Family suffered such a loss, losing so many people in the blink of an eye? The Skeleton Sect had to pay the price.
As the sky slowly brightened, turning a pearly white, a red sun rose over the eastern horizon. Not a cloud was in the sky, indicating another fine day.
The Tie Family samurai surrounding Xinkai Island stood up slowly. Two Divine Realm Third Level elders drew their weapons, each accompanied by seven to eight hundred n. Tie Hualong changed tactics, having these two Tie Family Divine Realm Third Level elders lead their n to attack from two sides, while he and the other two Divine Realm Third Level experts patrolled the periter, rcilessly killing anyone from the Skeleton Sect trying to break through.
However, Tie Hualong felt confident. In his view, with two Divine Realm Third Level experts attacking, it was unlikely anyone from the Skeleton Sect would break through.
It’s important to note that among the Tie Family’s people, there were two Divine Realm Third Level elders and nearly a hundred Divine Realm Second Level experts. In contrast, the whole Skeleton Sect—including all newcors and the old, weak, sick, and won and children—amounted to only three to four thousand people. Of those, fewer than four hundred could fight, and there were just over ten Divine Realm Second Level experts. With such strength, how could they contend with the Tie Family?
Even if the island set up strong magical tools and restrictions, they wouldn’t significantly impact the overall situation. In the face of powerful Divine Realm Third Level experts, those restrictions were virtually useless. The magical tool restrictions, bought with Black Obsidian, couldn’t be strong enough to withstand Divine Realm Second Level martial artists, let alone hold any weight against the two Divine Realm Third Level elders.
Not to ntion that Tie Hualong thinks this way, even the two leading Great Elder and Third Elder think the sa. They lead the Tie Family samurai to attack from two sides, easily breaking those magical tool restrictions, and for those they couldn’t break, they had people go around them.
Martial artists of the Third Level in the Divine Realm have powerful souls, which are so much stronger than those of Second Level experts, and their perception ability is heightened to a great extent. Thus, those magical tool restrictions are as good as nonexistent to the two of them.
The difference of just half a level can be overwhelming, let alone since they are Third Level experts in the Divine Realm, where it’s rare to find cultivators who can kill across levels. Of course, legacy warriors are exceptions, like Ding Fan, who are definitely rare.
The sky is fully bright now, and the samurai from the Tie Family have penetrated deep into the island. Almost all the magical tool restrictions they encountered have been destroyed. Just a little more forward, and they can reach the Skeleton Sect’s headquarters.
As they are about to breach the Skeleton Sect, the two elders from the Tie Family beco cautious, because dense forests appear ahead, surrounding the main altar of the Skeleton Sect, which they were already aware of.
As the saying goes, one should avoid entering forests. Although the Skeleton Sect does not have many people now, it’s always smart to be cautious to ensure safety.
The two walk ahead, diving into the forest, thoroughly investigating the area, and only when they find nothing amiss do they lead their team further inside.
"Huh! Sothing’s wrong."
After a short while, they simultaneously realize sothing is amiss. They don’t know when, but a fog has arisen. Initially, it was a small mist, thought to be morning fog in the woods, but later it grew substantially. Eventually, the fog beca so thick that their vision was limited to re tens of feet.
"Everyone, be cautious; this fog is suspicious. Gather around , don’t get trapped in their ambush."
The Great Elder and Third Elder, from two different directions, quickly react, almost simultaneously instructing everyone to gather around them.
Although they haven’t seen it before, they know this fog is likely the mist magic array they’ve heard about.
This type of array formation and restriction isn’t rare. It’s seen outside larger sect powers, usually to shield internal affairs from outsiders.
But this array is quite costly, requiring a large amount of Black Obsidian stones; the cost can be astronomical. Plus, it doesn’t serve any major purpose, rely imparting a sense of unfathomable mystery, with no other utility. It doesn’t trap enemies, nor does it harm.
Hence, most sects would avoid spending on such a needless expense. Unexpectedly, the Skeleton Sect is so extravagant, spending tens of thousands of Black Obsidian stones to set up such an array.
However, the two elders of the Tie Family aren’t foolish; no matter how wealthy Skeleton Sect is, they wouldn’t squander Black Obsidian aimlessly. This mist must be serving so purpose.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
Suddenly, indistinct sounds erge from the front, with a barrage of crossbow arrows taking advantage of the mist, shooting towards the Tie Family martial artists.
The Great Elder instinctively senses danger and shouts to his group: "Beware of hidden weapons!"
But his warning cos too late; amidst cries of agony, his n are thrown into chaos.
"Ah, not good, there are arrows."
"Quickly retreat, those are crossbow arrows."
"Oh no, these arrows are poisoned!"
"Everyone stay calm, be cautious of falling into the enemy’s trap."
"Retreat, everyone, retreat."
The Great Elder’s shout has little effect; within the mist, his n are struck down one after another by arrows, screaming, while the barrage of crossbow arrows continues to rain down, pervasive, and all these arrows are poisoned. They are fast and powerful, able to easily pierce through the battle armor of ordinary martial artists trailing behind these skilled elders.
In an instant, chaos ensues among the seven or eight hundred people; cries of agony erupt everywhere, creating utter turmoil. What’s crucial is that the fog obscures their view of the surroundings, leaving the Tie Family martial artists feeling uncertain, instinctively fearful of what might happen next.
Almost simultaneously, the sa scene unfolds on the Third Elder’s side, with an arrow rainstorm overwhelming his subordinates.
"Everyone, don’t panic, follow and charge forward!"
The Great Elder roars angrily, having sensed earlier that each wave of arrow rain includes seventy or eighty arrows, aning that a considerable number of Skeleton Sect’s martials are lying in ambush; once they charge through, the enemy won’t stand a chance.
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