Long Yi and Long Haotian remained silent, their brows tightly furrowed as they stared at the protective barrier animated by the formation ahead.

There were simply too many experts on the opposing side. No matter how formidable the Long Family Grand Array was, it could not withstand such a large number of masters, especially since five Great Perfection experts had yet to make their move.

"Order everyone to retreat, abandon the first layer of defense!"

Long Haotian suddenly commanded. Since they could not withstand a frontal assault, it was better to conserve strength and fall back.

The Long Family Grand Array spanned a vast area, and the larger the scope, the higher the energy consumption. Compressing the range was the only way to maximize the array's true power.

This was precisely why the array could trap Great Perfection cultivators. When confined within the formation, all its power could be focused onto a single point—a concentrated force that even a Great Perfection expert could not break free from.

"Yes!"

The disciple immediately turned and left. Long Yi and the others maintained their tense expressions but said nothing.

Long Haotian’s decision was correct. At this juncture, this was all they could do. The enemy had too many experts. If only the Third Layer experts were attacking, this single protective shield alone would have been sufficient to block them all.

But with so many Fourth Layer powerhouses, it was no longer possible.

The Long Family members began to fall back. Long Haotian and the others descended from the pavilion and walked backward with the retreating forces.

Seeing the Long Family begin to withdraw, the assault from the Fourth Layer experts below intensified even further.

Moments later, the ground shuddered violently. The protective barrier, which had been roaring under their previous bombardment, vanished instantly. Their internal energy strikes now slammed directly against the city walls.

"They broke through!"

Li Wenruo’s face lit up with joy, as did the patriarchs of the Hua and Zhou families beside him.

To breach the Long Family Grand Array so quickly was unequivocally good news for them, and many other disciples began cheering enthusiastically.

However, not everyone shared this elation. The five Great Perfection experts remained completely expressionless.

They, too, were keenly observing the array. Great Perfection masters possessed the deepest connection to the energies of heaven and earth, and a formation capable of drawing upon such power warranted their utmost attention.

In terms of sheer defense, this Grand Array was comparable to a Great Perfection cultivator, especially considering its massive defensive radius—a feat even a Great Perfection master could not replicate.

The five Great Perfection experts felt a pang of envy mixed with jealousy. If such an array belonged to them, their faction’s strength would undoubtedly soar. It was a pity none of them possessed such a potent formation.

With the Long Family retreating and the first layer of the array breached, the forces of the five major factions began to advance.

They were formally entering the Long Family domain. Many had visited before, but today the feeling was distinctly different.

This place was about to belong to them.

"Abandon the second layer of defense immediately and fall back to the third!"

Long Haotian, having retreated, gave the order directly. Long Yi opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately held back his words.

The second layer of defense was situated in the center of the front hall. This barrier was also robust, but it was unlikely to halt the combined might of the five factions for long; at best, it would buy a little time.

It was better to consolidate at the third line of defense, which was far stronger and better suited for their active defense.

The Long Family continued to fall back, finally reaching the Martial Arts Training Ground situated between the front and rear halls.

The training ground was considerably smaller than the previous sparring field in the front hall, but it still featured a platform—a smaller one this time—not used for contests but for demonstrating techniques when instructing disciples.

Behind this platform stood a raised dais, allowing the Long Family elders to observe proceedings.

Long Haotian led his people directly onto the dais and stood there, gazing into the distance.

Before him lay the imposing front hall of the Long Family. The hall itself was largely ceremonial, usually closed except for major events like ancestral rites. Now, the very area where the Long Family Grand Array was deployed was occupied by the enemy. After more than two millennia, the Long Family had been forced into such a desperate position for the first time.

"Patriarch, they are all coming!"

A disciple rushed over quickly. The five factions, numbering nearly a hundred people in total, moved in five distinct currents, sweeping past the front hall and arriving at their location.

They halted before the training ground, fixing their gaze upon the Long Family contingent ahead.

This space was much smaller than the exterior grounds. Once the hundred-plus invaders positioned themselves, there was little open area left, making the atmosphere feel considerably more crowded.

"Long Haotian, I hope you recognize the situation. Don't believe that having the Long Family Grand Array can alter the outcome. You should be clear about the strength of our alliance; you absolutely cannot withstand us,"

Li Wenruo spoke again, still attempting to persuade the Long Family members to surrender directly.

If they surrendered now, they would only lose wealth and territory, but at least the lineage could continue.

Of course, the entire middle generation of the Long Family would have to be wiped out. Eliminating this generation would cripple the family for at least a century, enough time for the Long Family to slowly decline into a second-rate clan.

Against a second-rate family, the invaders would have no real concern, feeling they could strike whenever they pleased.

"There are no surrenderers in the Long Family. Do you truly believe you have us cornered? Then come!"

Long Haotian said calmly. Having retreated this far, there was no further space. Behind them lay the rear hall, the very core of the Long Family. Losing that area would mean the annihilation of the entire clan.

"Stubborn fools, attack!"

Di Ao snorted coldly. The two early Fourth Layer Demonic Sect Elders beside him immediately lunged forward, both brandishing divine weapons.

They had some understanding of the Long Family array’s defenses; this layer was purely defensive, possessing no offensive capabilities, so they harbored no caution.

"Old Third Yang, Old Fourth Liu, do you two still remember me?"

Suddenly, a figure leaped out from the Long Family ranks, placing himself squarely between the two attackers, and spoke with a cold edge.

The one who stepped forward was Long Shen, a Protector of the Long Family.

Protectors usually returned secretly only once every few years. For the rest of the time, they cultivated in perilous environments across the world—not just domestically, but in dangerous overseas locations as well.

Having been forged in real combat, they were far stronger than those raised in the sheltered environment of the Long Family grounds. This was precisely why they held the title of Protector.

"Who are you?" The two from the Demonic Sect paused, both looking somewhat puzzled.

"Ten years ago, in the Ten Thousand Family Valley of the Southern Frontier, do you recall the person you hunted down?"

Long Shen asked softly, a burning, furious indignation coloring his eyes. At his words, the eyes of the two opponents widened slightly.

"It's you. You are from the Long Family?"

Old Third Yang among the two exclaimed. Mentioning the Ten Thousand Family Valley finally jogged their memory, identifying the person before them.

A decade ago, neither of them had reached the Fourth Layer realm. They were searching in the Ten Thousand Family Valley when they stumbled upon a young internal energy cultivator.

"Young" was relative; he was only slightly younger than them. This youth had reached the late Third Layer and had just finished a fierce battle, having killed a spirit beast, the Great-Eared Monkey, which was also at the late Third Layer strength.

The two men grew greedy when they saw the young man extracting useful essence from the slain beast, especially since he appeared injured. They decided to attack and plunder. The youth, having just fought a spirit beast whose power far exceeded that of a human cultivator, found the battle grueling. Already exhausted and wounded, he was then confronted by two experts of equal strength. Naturally, he could not resist.

He fled continuously, finally abandoning the spirit beast's essence blood to escape their pursuit and save his own life.

That incident had branded the two men clearly into his memory. Now, facing them again was a reckoning of old foes, and his eyes were filled with intense hostility.

"Long Shen of the Long Family, today I will take both your heads!"

Long Shen snarled, and suddenly, gauntlets appeared on both his hands. He flashed forward, instantly positioning himself in front of Old Third Yang.

The incident ten years prior was the most humiliating moment of Long Shen's life. He had noticed the two men earlier but felt constrained from acting outside. Now that they were inside the compound and had stepped forward, he could no longer restrain himself and moved first.

Long Shen had grown up in life-or-death situations since childhood. His practical combat experience surpassed even that of the Demonic Sect members. This was why he dared to challenge two opponents at once, unafraid of their numbers, and moved forward directly.

"Overestimating yourself. We let you run last time; this time you will certainly die!"

Old Third Yang scoffed and met the charge. His divine weapon was a Ghost Claw, forged primarily from fine iron, making it exceptionally hard.

"Let's attack together!"

Old Fourth Liu called out from the side. They had seen Long Shen in the Ten Thousand Family Valley, but at that time, Long Shen’s face was covered in blood, which is why they hadn't recognized him immediately.

Although Long Shen had been the one fleeing last time, his latent strength had left a deep impression on them. Wounded and facing their combined assault, he had still nearly inflicted harm upon them—such a person was far from ordinary.

It could be said that neither of them took Long Shen lightly. Now that their strength was equal, and their opponent was uninjured, relying on just one man would likely not be enough to defeat him. Thus, Old Fourth Liu disregarded propriety and opted for a coordinated pincer attack.

"Despicable! I'll go help him!"

Second Elder Long Gao, standing on the high platform, shouted and was about to leap down when Long Yi pulled him back.

"Come back. Have faith in Long Shen; he can handle two of them!"

Long Yi said softly. Long Gao paused for a moment but ultimately nodded.

As they spoke, the battle in front of them had escalated into a white-hot confrontation. Long Shen, a powerhouse honed in mortal combat, aimed every strike and maneuver toward a killing blow, forcing the two Demonic Sect members to fight with extreme caution.

Long Shen’s fighting style was even fiercer than that of the Demonic Sect.

While the three were locked in combat, everyone else paused, watching them intently.

For many, such a life-and-death struggle between Fourth Layer experts was a rare spectacle, and the fight offered considerable insight.

Especially for those who had already reached the Fourth Layer, their eyes remained fixed without blinking.

Zhang Yang was not among this observing group.

At this moment, Zhang Yang was focusing his concentration entirely on the Long Family Grand Array. His interest in the formation far outweighed the fight beside them. The array was incredibly marvelous. Zhang Yang had already discerned that it was not a monolithic structure but rather numerous smaller formations interwoven to create the greater array.

This could be described as a Consecutive Array—an exceptionally powerful interlocking formation.