Chapter 58: Regroup and Retaliate (2)
Boom! Boom!
With just a few exchanges, Xia Fu’s group found themselves under immense pressure. The two false Core Formation Cultivators remained relentless, their attacks overwhelming the Xia Family Cultivators despite their numerical advantage.
In the heat of the skirmish, Xia Fu faced a critical decision. He needed to weigh his options carefully, knowing that each choice came with its own risks and potential rewards.
Option One: Retreat
Xia Fu could choose to retreat, withdrawing his group from the battlefield to regroup and strategize. With Shangguan Yi’s assistance, they could potentially avoid casualties and plan a more effective counterattack. However, retreating would mean losing the immediate advantage and potentially leaving the battlefield to the enemy.
Option Two: Fight with Strategy
Alternatively, Xia Fu could decide to fight on, using the 15 Cultivators to create a distraction while he sought an opening to strike directly at the false Core Formation Cultivators. This approach required precision and timing, with Xia Fu needing to capitalize on any mistakes the enemies made. The risk here was significant, as the distraction might not be enough to neutralize the threat without substantial losses.
Option Three: Sacrifice and Distract
The third option was to make a calculated sacrifice. The idea was to use a portion of Xia Fu’s group as a diversion, drawing the attention of the false Core Formation Cultivators and creating an opportunity for Xia Fu to strike decisively. This choice would likely result in significant casualties, but it could open the chance for a critical strike that might turn the tide of the battle.
As the chaos of battle swirled around them, Xia Fu considered these options carefully. Each choice had its merits and drawbacks, and the outcome would depend on how well he and his group could execute their plan under pressure. Shangguan Yi, observing from afar, was prepared to provide support as needed, but the immediate decisions lay with Xia Fu and his group.
The weight of the decision hung heavy in the air, as the Cultivators braced themselves for the next phase of the confrontation.
However, suddenly, Shangguan Yi ordered them to retreat immediately.
Without hesitation, Xia Fu and his group left the scene.
Not only Xia Fu’s group, but also Xia Feng’s group, who were still hunting the remaining Cultivators that had attacked the west, were instructed to retreat.
At this moment, Tie Tu and Xie Xie had regrouped with Yuan Family Ancestor’s group and were now hunting Xia Zu’s group. Shangguan Yi had to pay attention to this development. He used the serpents to disrupt their pursuit so that he couldn’t afford to divert his attention from Xia Fu’s group, as three Core Formation Cultivators and around thirty other Cultivators were engaged in hunting Xia Zu’s group. He instructed Xia Zu’s group to enter the defensive array immediately.
Tie Tu’s rage was palpable as he charged forward, his eyes blazing with fury. His face was a mask of seething anger, and each step he took seemed to shake the ground. “Those Xia dogs dare to defy us!” he roared, his voice echoing through the battlefield. The moment he spotted Xia Zu’s group, he unleashed his full power, the sheer force of his attacks obliterating the serpents summoned by Shangguan Yi within seconds. His anger and frustration were almost tangible, and the enemies who stood in his path were swept away by his wrath.
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The Xia Zu group was in a desperate situation. Xia Zu himself, with a grim expression etched on his face, fought fiercely to buy time. His eyes were sharp, focusing on the enemy's movements while he barked orders to them. “Hurry up! We’re almost there!” he shouted, his voice strained but determined. The defensive array was just a minute away, and the urgency of their situation was clear in the tense faces of his fellow Cultivators.
Xia Zu’s heart pounded with a mixture of fear and resolve. He glanced over his shoulder to see Xia Family Cultivators scrambling towards safety, their expressions a mix of relief and dread. As Tie Tu’s rage bore down on them, Xia Zu felt the weight of their collective struggle. He defended with everything he had, his movements sharp and decisive, trying to draw the enemy’s attention away. “Stay focused! Don’t let them through!” he urged, sweat pouring down his face as he held the line.
Despite his efforts, the relentless pressure from Tie Tu and his group was overwhelming. Xia Zu knew he was running out of time. With one last, determined push, he ensured that Xia Family Cultivators made it within the protective barrier of the defensive array. His sacrifice had bought the crucial time needed for the rest to reach safety, and his heart, though heavy with the burden of their escape, swelled with a grim sense of accomplishment.
Tie Tu, watching the fleeing Xia Zu, sneered. “Oh, what a brave one,” he said mockingly. Without hesitation, he raised his hand, and the Sand Prison technique began to take form. Core essence swirled around him, coalescing into a vast, shifting wall of sand. With a flick of his wrist, the prison expanded rapidly, aiming to ensnare Xia Zu and the remaining Cultivators. The immense pressure of the sand threatened to crush everything in its path, showcasing Tie Tu’s ruthless determination to capture his enemies.
In response, Xia Zu activated his own most powerful technique, Earth Golem. His body expanded to a colossal ten miles in height, a towering figure of earth and stone. Despite the imposing size and strength of the Earth Golem, the Sand Prison proved too formidable. The sand began to overwhelm the massive form of Xia Zu, eroding and breaking through his defenses. The crushing pressure of the sand continued to press down on him, rendering his tremendous size and power ineffective against Tie Tu’s relentless assault.
In the end, despite his immense size and power, Xia Zu was overpowered and captured. The crushing force of Tie Tu's Sand Prison rendered his Earth Golem technique futile. Tie Tu stood over the defeated Xia Zu with a cruel satisfaction, his gaze shifting towards the Xia Family and then focusing on Shangguan Yi's direction.
“Looks like we have a little more to deal with,” Tie Tu said, his voice laced with malice. He turned to Xie Xie, who was already scrutinizing the array with intense concentration. “Old Xie, find out what you can about his array. We need to know what we’re up against.”
Xie Xie nodded, his brow furrowed as he examined the intricacies of the Great Turtle Shell Array. “I’ll do my best. This array is complex, but I’ll figure it out.”
Half an hour later, the Tang Family led their group of Cultivators to regroup with Tie Tu and Xie Xie. The air was thick with tension as they gathered. The Tang Family Ancestor, visibly agitated, spoke first. “We’ve gathered our forces, but we need to address the dire situation we’re in. The losses have been significant.”
Here's the revised scene:
Tie Tu, still standing over Xia Zu, looked up with a grim expression. “Yes, the casualties have been heavy. We’re in trouble to break this damned defensive array, and that demonic Cultivator is still out there, ready to strike at any moment.”
Xie Xie, having completed his investigation, joined the conversation. “The array is indeed formidable. His control over it is precise. We need to be careful; a direct assault may not be the best approach. We have to find a way to counteract it.”
The atmosphere grew more tense as the Cultivators exchanged worried glances. The weight of their predicament was palpable. The Tang Family Ancestor, with a worried expression, spoke up, “Not only can we not break the defensive array, but we’re also trapped in his another array. Our numbers have dwindled, and we can neither advance nor retreat. What’s our plan now?”
“Hm? What do you mean by another array?” Tie Tu asked, his interest piqued.
Tang Family Ancestor took a deep breath before saying, “Lord Tie, you might not know this, but I once tried to send someone back to report the situation. Unfortunately, he was intercepted multiple times and soon lost contact. I had to investigate personally, but I faced numerous obstructions. In the end, we were even ambushed, though fortunately, they were just weak Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Sadly, when the situation became dire, they managed to escape. I continued my investigation, but to no avail. My knowledge of arrays is limited, so I had to regroup with you and seek help from Fellow Cultivator Xie.”
Hearing this, Tie Tu's expression grew grim; this information was a severe blow to him. Meanwhile, Xie Xie also wore a hardened expression, he was unable to even decipher the defensive array yet, let alone deal with another.
“This is not good! I have a bad premonition,” Xie Xie said, his voice tense. “The enemy has prepared too well. The next wave of attacks could be even more dangerous. We must stay together, or the situation will worsen. Old Xie, if you have a method to counter this array, even a preventative array would help. We can’t just sit here.” Tie Tu spoke his thoughts clearly, his concern evident.
…
Meanwhile, Shangguan Yi, while keeping an eye on the situation, was focused on replenishing his core essence to the fullest. He also extracted the white flame from a level 2 Core Formation Cultivator he had obtained from the City Manor Lord. The situation was urgent, and he had to split his attention to absorb this white flame wisps as well.