As Zhou Huan currently stood, he had consolidated all the Zhenqi he had obtained from the four high masters outside the formation. Every position within the Tianmen Array was bolstered by Zhou Huan's internal energy, causing their power levels to surge wildly. He watched as the Celestial Gods fighting against Gui Tai flew erratically, realizing the old Gui Tai was putting up quite a struggle against the uppermost deity. What he hadn't anticipated was Zhou Huan deploying the move called Tianshen Huanwei—the precise swapping of positions according to a fixed pattern, a pattern involving trillions of variations, ensuring that no matter where Gui Tai fought or which Celestial God she engaged, the same rule applied.

Dongzi remained deeply engrossed in writing within Xiao He’s room, oblivious to the fierce battle raging just outside. Inside, Xiao He’s breathing was gradually slowing, her internal Zhenqi beginning to circulate smoothly. The initial sense of unease had completely vanished, replaced only by a profound, inexplicable comfort. Even the bloating in her stomach had subsided, and her complexion had shifted from a deathly blue-purple to a healthy, rosy glow.

Zhou Huan's internal power was currently divided among his three disciples and Xiao He. For several days straight, Zhou Huan’s energy had been continuously flowing, channeling Zhenqi into Xiao He to give her body the recovery it was now experiencing.

Within the array, Gui Tai aggressively pressed her assault. Leading the charge was Ghost Child, carrying Zhou Huan's offspring, she advanced step by step. Remarkably, Gui Tai actually had a way to harass the Celestial Gods above until they were panting heavily. Meanwhile, Ghost Child’s primordial spirit clashed fiercely with the lower Celestial God. Both spirits showed a flicker of exhaustion on their faces, their breathing and spirit no longer as sharp as when the fight began.

Seeing this, Zhou Huan immediately sensed that Gui Tai's true strength surpassed what was apparent. To control the Celestial Gods both above and below to this extent was no small feat, yet Gui Tai had managed it.

“This Nine Palaces array of yours, let me tell you why it fails. First, your Nine Palaces lacks a true nine; though a position is left open, this is something where gods and men dance together, so even immense power cannot be fully maximized when gathered. Second, you chose the gods of the Tianmen; naturally, they cannot grasp the deeper meaning of your formation and cannot execute its mysteries to the utmost. Therefore, this array will be broken.”

“Hmph, it’s not as simple as you think. Let’s just keep fighting and see!” Zhou Huan knew the Achilles' heel of the Tianmen Array in his heart, just as Gui Tai had stated, but even so, he had to make her exert more effort to break it. The only thing Zhou Huan hadn't predicted was how quickly Gui Tai would discern the array's fundamental weakness.

Gui Tai's two massive hands manifested into hanging ropes, which she whipped out violently, instantly catching the necks of the upper Celestial Gods. With a sharp tug backward, she prepared to drag the deity down from the platform.

Zhou Huan would never allow her to remove a Celestial God so easily. Immediately, he swapped positions with Tian Xiong. All ten positions in the Tianmen Array shifted simultaneously, including the positions of the deities engaged in the upper and lower skirmishes. Ghost Child’s primordial spirit followed the lower deity, relocating to the southeast, while Gui Tai and Ghost Child’s avatar above saw a Celestial God switch in from the northwest. The deity she had just ensnared with the hanging rope was now frustratingly out of reach.

Gui Tai became momentarily furious. With one hand gripping Ghost Child’s avatar, she tied the hanging rope around Ghost Child’s body with the other. Whatever game they were playing was unclear, but it seemed to involve some specialized maneuver. Watching Gui Tai tether Ghost Child to the rope and hurl her high into the air, the floating Ghost Child suddenly borrowed some external force from an unknown source and shot rapidly toward her own primordial spirit. Upon colliding with her spirit, the avatar and the spirit merged. A long, snake-like tongue lashed out toward the adjacent Celestial God, and a potent, venomous gas began to permeate the air.

This Celestial God had already wrestled with Ghost Child’s primordial spirit for a good while and was now trapped by this toxic mist, rendering him utterly helpless. His divine power could not be unleashed, and with a violent lurch, he fell from the southeastern platform, slowly ascending towards the heavens along with the wisps of incense smoke.

Up to this point, Zhou Huan’s Jiu Gong Tianmen Array, considered an unparalleled divine formation, had suffered the breach of one corner, which immediately weakened the array’s overall power.

Zhou Huan instantly shifted his position to the southeast, leaving a trace of his essence behind, before returning to his original seat, his hands ceaselessly drawing talismans and flinging them toward Gui Tai as he worked.

Gui Tai laughed maniacally while holding Ghost Child mid-air, then resumed her assault. The next target was the upper Celestial God they had dealt with earlier. In less than two exchanges, Gui Tai unleashed a move called Diaosi Chang She (Hanging Death Long Tongue) and pulled this deity down from the platform as well.

“Master, be careful! Gui Tai has gone mad!” Shi Bingyuan worried constantly about Zhou Huan.

Gui Tai glared fiercely at Shi Bingyuan: “Stop your shouting. You’re the next one I’ll take down!”

As soon as Gui Tai’s words fell, she—with Ghost Child sticking out a long tongue on her back—flew toward Shi Bingyuan. When Gui Tai arrived before him, she froze, stunned. A tremendously powerful wave of energy appeared from nowhere, instantly interrupting Gui Tai’s offensive and hurling her violently backward, a great distance away.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Huan burst into laughter: “Gui Tai, didn’t expect that, did you? The benefit of the Jiu Gong Tianmen Array is that it can be layered. Even if only I remain, it is still the Tianmen Array.”

Zhou Huan wasn't afraid to reveal his hand to the enemy; he knew how his formations were meant to be broken, and he assumed Gui Tai understood as well. This was a path she had to walk, so Gui Tai leaped high, swiftly shattering the four remaining positions guarded by the Celestial Gods in just a few moves. Thus, Zhou Huan’s Jiu Gong Tianmen Array was reduced to only four people.

“You said it yourself. Now that we are all gathered, our combined strength must be immense, no? I hadn't thought of this method until you reminded me just now.” Zhou Huan said, provoking Gui Tai by wiggling his index finger at her, clearly implying she wasn't capable enough.

Gui Tai was genuinely enraged now. She and Ghost Child charged toward the four-person formation like missiles. Outside the formation, a layer of golden aura enveloped them. Every time Gui Tai slammed into the light shield, black smoke erupted from the point of contact, leaving behind black-green scorch marks where the smoke cleared.

Shi Bingyuan and Zhou Huan sat back-to-back, while Tian Xiong and Hong Kun sat back-to-back. Now, the four of them leaned closely together—this was the secret genius of this array. Every position was designed with contingencies; whenever a problem arose, the true essence of the humans immediately reinforced it, ensuring the array functioned correctly.

What the four of them achieved was also within Zhou Huan's plan: four individuals acting as if they had eight arms, perhaps even more formidable than Nezha. Each held their favored implement. When the attack came, their first action was always to block. For over a dozen rounds, Zhou Huan and his people fought Gui Tai and Ghost Child without yielding a decisive victory.

This time, Gui Tai was truly frightened, uncertain of her own standing. She secretly tried to retreat beyond the formation’s boundary, but she couldn't escape. Gui Tai, clutching Ghost Child, was completely enveloped by the surrounding light—it seemed extremely difficult to break out.

Gui Tai’s eyes glazed over. She looked at Ghost Child before her but couldn't conceive of another move. In that moment, Zhou Huan and his three disciples prepared to concentrate their energy, then struck out violently, blasting Gui Tai far away, nearly scattering her primordial spirit.

Even after that, Gui Tai returned to the air with Ghost Child. A foul odor began emanating from her body, a scent utterly repulsive to ordinary people. This wasn't her ultimate move, but a frequently used tactic. Following this, Gui Tai performed an astonishing feat: she secured her hanging rope and threw it toward the already ruined deity platform. She intended to cleave the grand formation entirely apart, ensuring she had no lingering concerns afterward.

Sensing danger, Zhou Huan immediately warned his disciples that they absolutely could not be wounded, or they would turn into zombies, because Gui Tai’s underlying aura carried the distinct scent of a zombie.

“I ask you, Gui Tai, how many formations have you fought through? Aren't you tired? Why are you still showing off with that broken flesh of yours?” Zhou Huan said, deliberately speaking against his true feelings. In reality, this was exactly what he dreaded: a meticulously arranged formation, only to have the deities destroyed with little effort by the first arrival. The next target was him. What should he do? Zhou Huan's immediate goal was to stall for time, allowing him a full opportunity to devise a strategy against Gui Tai.

Hearing Zhou Huan’s words, Gui Tai instead laughed: “I’m fine, don’t worry. I will definitely fight you, Zhou Huan, as long as you don’t run.”

Zhou Huan realized this night wouldn't end until one side was utterly destroyed; it was certain to be a final confrontation. With Xiao He still unconscious at home, as a man, a true tough guy, he couldn't possibly flee when danger loomed.

Shi Bingyuan’s internal energy began to glow red, and this color rapidly spread to Hong Kun beside him. Tian Xiong’s Buddhist internal power mixed with the worldly martial arts energy of the other three disciples at this moment. Tian Xiong felt nothing else; the only sensation was warmth, kindness, power, and aspiration.

Zhou Huan loudly roared at Gui Tai: “I have one final line of defense here. If you can break through the formation of us four, then I can face you directly. I’ll be waiting for you!”

Gui Tai wouldn't fall for such a taunt. She and Ghost Child flew forward, their weapons swinging wildly as they fought around the four bodies. The aura that had previously been impenetrable now allowed them passage all the way through.