Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 378 - 378 377 Pincer Attack

378: Chapter 377: Pincer Attack 378: Chapter 377: Pincer Attack Tan Xiao did not rashly make a decision, his Divine Sense transmitting to someone, “What do you say?”

Hou Niao said matter-of-factly, “Form the formation, head west!”

Tan Xiao was a wise man, he knew this Sword Cultivator had intentionally delayed everyone here for a reason, although he was not clear about it, his intuition was never wrong.

Under his arrangement, the travel group formed the most common Four Phases Formation in the Cultivation World, slowly moving westward; the Flying Boat carrying mortals, however, headed back to the island, as it was inappropriate for them to remain suspended in the air.

The black dots quickly approached, more than thirty densely packed individuals, and among the leaders, besides Yuan Xizhi’s Luo Guanyu whom they had seen before, there were several unfamiliar faces, presumably fresh recruits.

Being able to come and go in such a short time and bring so many people could only mean one thing, the initial retreat of the Cang Pirates was merely a tactical withdrawal—they had gone to seek reinforcements.

This was the pirates’ way—they seldom faced the few with the many, preferring instead to overwhelm with numbers.

The leader, cloaked entirely in black and even covering his entire head, was unusually tall and thin, towering over normal humans as if he was a bamboo pole.

The group of more than thirty spread out unabashedly encircling the travel group in the middle, the black-robed leader’s voice scraping like metal on stone,

“Ignorant fools, since you have waded into these muddy waters, we cannot allow you to leave so easily; daring to kill my people from the Cang Pirates means you must be prepared to pay the price.”

Tan Xiao ignored him, these men had gathered not for a friendly tea or to make acquaintances; the previous battle had deepened their enmities, with casualties on both sides, and this account was not easily settled.

Only addressing Hou Niao through Divine Sense, “Attack or defend?”

Hou Niao, impassive, “Defend.”

“Have you found help?

How many people?”

“Don’t know, actually, whether they even came or not, I’m not sure…”

Tan Xiao was frustrated, having never encountered someone so unreliable, treating the travel group of more than twenty as pawns so naturally and matter-of-factly.

He had no choice but to make arrangements like this, feeling unbearable being led by the nose, it was clearly this guy’s mischief, yet he had to wave the big flag and paint big pies,

“Everyone, hold your positions, just hold on for a while, and reinforcements will arrive!”

Hope filled the members of the group, “Is it Lihai Jiedu Mansion seizing this opportunity for a roundup?”

These travelers from various parts of the continent did not fully understand what a Jiedu Mansion truly was, but their ignorance did not mean everyone was foolish.

Old Cai and Old Peng shared uneasy rumors, “Jiedu Mansion?

How could it be?

It would take them days just to verify the news and make decisions, then mobilize and dispatch would take even longer, and finally, only after dragging their feet and attended to minor details would they appear, not less than a month, and that’s if nothing goes wrong…”

No one responded to them because no one had the correct answer, including the instigator.

But Tan Xiao had his own theory, “Their leader, that must be the God of Sea Posters Yu Daoguang, right?

Renowned across the Outer Sea for over a hundred years without a single defeat; Daoist Hou’s swordsmanship is divine, truly top-notch among our peers, he’s all yours to handle.”

Hou Niao was unsatisfied, “Why the hell do I have to exert so much effort?

The island isn’t mine, nor is the travel group…”

Tan Xiao, teeth clenched, “Because it was your rotten idea that made everyone stay here for half a month!

If not you, then who?

Without restraining him, I fear this formation won’t last even a hundred breaths!”

The formation was not broken, but the people were somewhat cowardly; the more individuals in a formation, the more coordination and tacit understanding were required among them.

Or, if they achieved a higher realm, reached Golden Core or Nascent Transformation, and gained a deeper understanding of the Dao’s nature, they could each perform their roles without interference.

But not now.

The Tongxuan Realm was just barely stepping into the path of cultivation, and those within it were still partially ignorant and confused about the future; not understanding the essence, they could not each hold their responsibilities, the more people, the greater the chaos.

However, Tan Xiao had no other choice, as this was determined by the very nature of the travel group.

The pirates were pragmatists with little nonsense.

Having no conditions to discuss in their act of reprisal, once they surrounded their targets, they commenced their assault.

In an instant, techniques crisscrossed the sky, the wind and clouds transformed, and the battle involving less than a hundred people erupted with a spectacle more breathtaking and shocking than a mortal battle of ten thousand.

Initially, it was merely exploratory attrition.

For the Cang Pirates, after discerning the reality and bluff in their enemy’s formation, they would organize a strike force.

Once the formation was broken, and chaos ensued, that would be their moment to reap lives.

Both sides were well aware of this.

Tan Xiao clenched his teeth in anger, “Where is the reinforcement you spoke of?

Let me tell you, with the cohesion we have right now, once the formation breaks, it’ll be every man for himself—no one here will lay down their life for Bamboo Island!”

Hou Niao dodged a spell, he had sought assistance, but was ignorant of what followed.

Half a month really was a bit short; it was brief enough that reinforcements might not arrive in time.

“Head west!

Stay together!

I don’t need to tell you what happens if we get separated, you all understand.”

The travel group and several Bamboo Island cultivators began to advance in formation, surrounded by the relentless Cang Pirates.

As they moved, the Cang Pirates ceased their probes, and some leaders joined in the assault, suddenly increasing the pressure.

Hou Niao and Tan Xiao no longer held back.

As the two with the highest combat power in the Four Phases Formation, it was imperative they tackled the greatest threats.

They hadn’t traveled a few dozen miles when, after several shifts between attack and defense, although the Four Phases Formation did not break, its composition of strength had already been laid bare.

The Cang Pirates finally identified the culprits who had stealthily dealt them blows in the last battle—a Sword Cultivator and a Chu Sect Daoist.

With the main culprits now evident, there was no need to further waste time.

Their probing was indeed to identify these two; otherwise, breaking through the Four Phases Formation and causing disruption from the start would likely allow these two to escape amidst the chaos.

The leading black-robed, bony individual let out a fierce cry, and the pirates’ spell attacks suddenly intensified, putting the Four Phases Formation in imminent danger.

Just then, the robed figure leapt forward, completely disregarding the formation’s defenses, using merely his powerful aura to forcibly break through.

Countless spells hit him but seemed utterly unfelt; in the next instant, he extended his hand, manifesting a gigantic spectral hand that fell from the sky towards Hou Niao.

Simultaneously, Yuan Xizhi and Luo Guanyu rapidly followed, but their targets were Tan Xiao.

With their three-person assault, the already precarious Four Phases Formation instantly fell into disarray; the travelers scattered, like birds frightened by the shot of an arrow, yet the pirates didn’t let them escape—no one was lucky enough to break free, with almost each traveler entangled by one or two pirates, this time numerical advantage was on the Cang Pirates’ side.

Hou Niao faced the giant hand without any intention to dodge; such a concentration of mana, so instilled with agility and will, could not be avoided by any Escape Skill.

On the contrary, he charged directly towards the robed figure, Flying Sword leading the way, holding the sword behind him, as if the opponent before him was not an Upper Cultivator two realms higher, but a mere ordinary rival.

The robed figure looked disdainful—how could such close combat bother him?

But suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned his head to the west, where from above the clouds, a dozen sword lights fiercely plunged!

The leading figure bellowed earth-shatteringly, “Yu Daoguang!

I’ve searched for you for years, why do you hide?

They say ‘below a Godly Golden Core, none can defeat,’ yet I, Duanmu Chai, do not believe.

Let’s settle our scores today, to fight until death do us part!”