However, with Zhang Yang protecting the outside, the Heavenly Gate Formation remained stable for the time being. As the Eaglets were completely annihilated, the scene before Chu Yuntian shifted once more, reverting to a swamp.

This was a genuine mire, filled with pools of mud before him. Though illusory, falling into these pools would carry real danger.

These mud pits, in effect, possessed a degree of aggressive capability.

Beyond the mire, the most terrifying aspect was the hundreds of crocodiles lurking within. Every single one of them gaped its jaws open toward Chu Yuntian. Facing so many crocodiles simultaneously sent a prickle of unease, even through the heart of a demonic powerhouse like him.

Dozens of crocodiles surged toward Chu Yuntian in a truly spectacular charge.

It was precisely under these circumstances that Wind Chaser finally struck true, landing two fierce kicks squarely into Chu Yuntian’s body.

This kick sent Chu Yuntian flying back several steps.

Wind Chaser was not a strength-based spirit beast, but it was a spirit beast nonetheless, and the most devastating attack it possessed lay in its hooves. Even Chu Yuntian could scarcely endure such an impact.

Not to mention, Wind Chaser’s hooves had been augmented, making their power even greater.

Blasted backward, Chu Yuntian had no time to examine his injuries before springing back up. Crocodiles surrounded him, but worse, other attacks were woven among them.

Dragon Wind and Lightning, seeing such an opportune moment, naturally would not let it pass.

For a moment, Chu Yuntian appeared slightly harried, the Flame Blade in his hand constantly sweeping, sending the corpses of slaughtered crocodiles flying away, only to vanish instantly.

Whether the earlier wolves, the Eaglets, or the current crocodiles, none left behind any blood upon death, adding to the profound eeriness.

The blow from Wind Chaser also bought Zhang Yang a significant reprieve.

If Chu Yuntian were allowed to continue wreaking havoc within the formation unchecked, the formation might not hold. Without the formation, the thought of trapping a master like Chu Yuntian with just the few of them was pure fantasy.

Once most of the crocodiles were gone, Chu Yuntian spared the last few, not rushing to dispatch them.

He used this chance to finally assess his condition.

Shadowless’s internal energy strikes had only inflicted minor hurts, akin to being hit hard in the back during a brawl—painful, but ultimately inconsequential.

It was Wind Chaser’s kick, however, that nearly knocked the breath out of him.

The two tusks adorning Wind Chaser’s hooves had certainly played their part this time. Chu Yuntian’s golden vest was actually scored and scraped in places, testament to the tusks’ terrifying sharpness.

Had it not been for the golden vest, that single strike would have severely wounded Chu Yuntian; the protection of his internal energy could not withstand those keen ivory points.

This was the most potent weapon of a fourth-layer spirit beast.

After checking himself over, Chu Yuntian felt a degree of calm settle.

Wind Chaser’s strike had caused some internal injury, but it was not grave. His golden vest had absorbed a considerable amount of the force.

It was an excellent defensive divine weapon, acquired after much effort, worn constantly over the years, and today it finally served its most crucial purpose.

His heart had not quite stabilized before the scenery before him morphed again.

Once all illusory beasts were slain, the illusion automatically shifted; if not all were killed, the formation master could change it at will. Seeing Chu Yuntian hesitate to finish off the last crocodiles, Zhang Yang decisively swapped the illusory scene.

This time, a plain emerged, stretching as far as the eye could see, covered only in very low scrub that offered no obstruction to vision.

Chu Yuntian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Surrounding him now appeared nearly a thousand elephants.

Elephants were not carnivorous, but their sheer power and destructive potential were immense. However, these were not Chu Yuntian’s primary concern; his deepest worry lay with the attacks hidden among them, launched by concealed humans and spirit beasts.

The elephants’ massive size made them perfect for concealment.

Zhang Yang guided the formation, and some of these elephants began to stir, all charging toward Chu Yuntian.

Around a hundred elephants charged at once, pouring in from all directions. The momentum was staggering; Chu Yuntian could even feel the earth tremor beneath his feet.

Watching the distant, stationary elephants, Chu Yuntian’s expression grew heavy.

The power of this formation exceeded his expectations. He had not anticipated the young man being capable of setting up such an array. A man in his early twenties, possessing fourth-layer strength, who also commanded the arcane arts of Formations—Chu Yuntian’s prior amusement and lightheartedness vanished. This young man was undoubtedly a formidable foe capable of matching him.

His focus shifted entirely from how to slay Zhang Yang to how to break the present formation and escape his immediate peril.

The elephants closed in, their combined presence overwhelming.

Chu Yuntian suddenly leaped. This jump carried him twenty to thirty meters into the air. Elevated so high, the elephants below lost their targets, all looking up in confusion.

Though the elephants lacked targets, this did little to ease the plight of Shadowless and the others. A leaping Chu Yuntian was at his most vulnerable, making him an easier mark for their attacks.

Shadowless struck first, spewing internal energy that shot straight toward the airborne Chu Yuntian.

Dragon Wind whipped out his Snow Whip, and Lightning resumed spewing its toxic mist—its mist had been saturating the formation all along, and increasing the density naturally constricted Chu Yuntian’s maneuvering space.

Wind Chaser stomped the ground, seemingly frustrated; it lacked any capability to strike targets in the sky.

“Not good!”

Zhang Yang inwardly cursed and frantically used his mental link to warn Lightning and Shadowless.

Chu Yuntian had intentionally jumped high to expose himself—it was a calculated move to lure them out. Though he couldn't see them, Chu Yuntian could sense the location of their attacks.

Previously, the phantom beasts had served as perfect cover, preventing him from discerning their true positions. Now, with Chu Yuntian airborne and temporarily safe from the elephants, their concealment was gone.

Zhang Yang’s warning came a moment too late.

The instant Shadowless’s internal energy manifested, Chu Yuntian sensed its location. Two streaks of blade light flashed from the Flame Blade in quick succession. Not only did Shadowless’s internal energy fail to dissipate the strikes, but the blade beams closed in on Shadowless’s presumed location.

Fortunately, Shadowless was perched on Wind Chaser’s back. Sensing danger, Wind Chaser immediately erupted with its terrifying burst speed, leaping aside. Where they had stood moments before, the blade light carved a distinct indentation into the ground. Shadowless shuddered, offering silent thanks to Wind Chaser.

Shadowless’s narrow escape allowed Zhang Yang to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

The airborne Chu Yuntian began his descent. Zhang Yang commanded the formation, intensifying the assault. Just as Chu Yuntian landed, he was instantly enveloped by a hundred charging elephants.

The Flame Blade swept out once more. The elephants’ bodies could not withstand a single blow; one after another, they fell and vanished. In moments, Chu Yuntian had slaughtered that hundred-strong herd.

Fixing his gaze on the next wave of incoming elephants, a savage glint flared in Chu Yuntian’s eyes.

He suddenly pulled two long, crimson strips from his person and tossed them onto the ground. The objects he threw swelled upon meeting the wind, rapidly expanding until they formed small figures, about half a meter tall.

These small figures were entirely blood-red, their surfaces seemingly slick with fresh, vivid blood.

The two red strips ultimately materialized into two little blood-men. As soon as they appeared, the blood-men bolted rapidly toward the approaching elephants.

“Blood Puppets!”

Zhang Yang gave a slight start, a chill creeping over him.

Blood Puppets were a branch of Puppet Art, and a highly sophisticated one at that.

Puppets were mechanical constructs that had enjoyed a period of brilliance long ago, sometimes even utilized in conjunction with the Qimen Dunjia school.

Puppets could perform tasks beyond the capability of ordinary men, such as guarding tombs or standing watch. Even internal energy cultivators could not maintain constant vigilance twenty-four hours a day; yet, these constructs could.

But the age of puppets was fleeting. Once it became clear that they were clumsy, inflexible, and weak in combat, the number of puppet masters dwindled. Forging a puppet required significant resources and was inherently difficult, with low success rates. After the final results failed to meet expectations, most practitioners abandoned the art.

Furthermore, many puppets possessed negligible combat strength, useful only for intimidating common folk.

In time, few were willing to accumulate such obsolete artifacts.

However, not all puppets were useless; some sophisticated designs retained considerable fighting power.

The Blood Puppet was one such variant, and its forging process was notoriously difficult.

As its name implied, the Blood Puppet was intrinsically linked to blood—specifically, the blood of cultivators.

The blood of an internal energy cultivator contained substantial energy, and without this essence, the Blood Puppets could not achieve such potency.

Beyond blood, Blood Puppets required another primary ingredient: human skin.

A single human hide was insufficient; hundreds were needed for a successful forging. In essence, Blood Puppets were constructs crafted directly from human material.

Spirit beasts provided materials for divine weapons; humans could do the same, though few could stomach using human bodies as raw components.

The sudden deployment of two Blood Puppets implied that the number of people Chu Yuntian had personally killed—ordinary folk alone—numbered at least several hundred.

In addition, at least dozens of cultivators had perished under his blade, their blood drawn to forge these puppets.

One could say that behind these two Blood Puppets followed a mass of weeping, vengeful spirits.

Though small in stature, the two Blood Puppets possessed formidable power. Charging into the elephant herd, not a single elephant could withstand one of their blows. Aided by the puppets, many elephants died swiftly, allowing Chu Yuntian some breathing room. He resumed wielding his Flame Blade, intent on shattering the formation through sheer force.

Watching the two raging Blood Puppets, Zhang Yang’s expression slowly turned glacial.

Previously, he knew the demonic path was cruel, but his understanding was abstract, his need to defeat Chu Yuntian driven solely by a mission requirement.

But seeing these two Blood Puppets, his perspective fundamentally shifted. This time, he was determined to see Chu Yuntian utterly annihilated, if only for the sake of the hundreds of souls crying out behind those puppets.

Second update: An old friend from out of town came home for the New Year, and I was forcefully dragged out drinking tonight. My condition isn't great right now, so Xiao Yu will rest, and today’s third update will be postponed until tomorrow morning. RQ