For two or more formations, the usual practice is to deploy them separately—for instance, setting up an offensive array here, a containment array over there, perhaps with an illusion array added on. These arrays operate independently, and while there are many of them, their overall power doesn't necessarily compound.

Beyond that, there is another method for deploying multiple formations: stacking and linking them. Two or more arrays are positioned together, overlapping to exert a combined effect, which significantly boosts their power.

The interlocking formation before them is precisely this type of stacked, linked array. And it’s not just two arrays; Zhang Yang carefully discerned at least a dozen different formations within it—and this wasn't even the complete count; the true number would only be known after fully discerning the entire grand array.

Stacking even two formations is difficult enough; overlapping this many makes it exponentially harder.

At this point, Zhang Yang was almost certain this was a grand array laid out by a truly top-tier master of the Esoteric Arts (Qimen Dunjia). That master's strength must be above the Fourth Layer, possibly even in the late Fourth Layer, approaching the Great Perfection realm. Only such power could construct an array this formidable.

However, this Qimen master had not reached the Great Perfection realm; otherwise, the array’s utilization of heaven and earth energy wouldn't feel so clumsy. If the array master had achieved Great Perfection, perhaps even the combined might of the Great Perfection experts outside wouldn't be able to do anything against this formation.

As Zhang Yang slowly analyzed every aspect of the array, the crowd around him suddenly erupted in shouts.

Long Shen, who had jumped down to fight the two elders of the Demonic Sect, had returned, retrieved by Long Yi. Long Shen was now spitting up large mouthfuls of blood, yet a savage look lingered in his eyes.

On the Demonic Sect's side, utter chaos had broken out.

Old Man Yang San was mournfully cradling Old Man Liu Si, while Di Ao, standing nearby, urgently pulled a jade vial from his person and poured out a single pill.

The moment the pill emerged, a wave of fragrance spread outward. Merely smelling it confirmed it was a spirit medicine—and a remarkably fine one at that.

Di Ao unhesitatingly shoved the pill into Old Man Liu Si’s mouth, washing it down with the blood already filling his mouth.

"Useless! Struck by my Dragon-Returning Palm, he is certainly doomed! Hahaha!"

Clutching his abdomen and relying on Long Yi to stay upright, Long Shen laughed wildly. Hearing the name "Dragon-Returning Palm" caused the expressions of many people to change drastically.

The Dragon-Returning Palm was a secret technique passed down only within the Long family, something only a Long family member could cultivate.

This cultivation method was incredibly difficult, not impossible, but requiring immense willpower. The Dragon-Returning Palm demanded that one soak their hands daily in a highly concentrated acid solution. After each soak, the skin on both hands would completely slough off, leaving a bloody mess. Afterward, one had to ingest a specific recovery tonic, and within a day, the hands would return to normal, growing a new layer of skin. This was not a pleasure; it was an agony magnified.

Such pain was simply unbearable for ordinary people.

To cultivate the Dragon-Returning Palm, one had to endure this agony daily for at least a year. Forget a year; anyone who could persist for three days was considered exceptionally resolute. Those who endured for a full year were invariably the elite, souls harder than stone.

The Dragon-Returning Palm was hard to master, but its destructive power was immense. Once struck, the heart meridian was instantly severed—it was a ruthlessly effective move guaranteeing death. This explained the expressions on everyone's faces upon hearing the name.

"Fourth Brother!"

Old Man Yang San suddenly cried out in grief. Old Man Liu Si, having swallowed the spirit medicine, gradually ceased moving, his eyes becoming completely vacant. His heart meridian had been shattered; even with the spirit medicine, there was no remedy. He had perished.

Di Ao abruptly lifted his head, staring with icy intensity at the Long family members upon the high platform.

The others from the Five Great Factions exchanged uneasy glances. None had anticipated that after aggressively storming the Long family grounds, one of their own Fourth Layer powerhouses would fall in the very first exchange. Fourth Layer experts weren't common weeds, available in unlimited supply.

Though Long Shen was severely wounded, he was alive. Once he recovered, he would still possess considerable fighting strength. Moreover, achieving this result while being assailed by two opponents made his feat even more terrifying. Crucially, it all happened too fast: three Fourth Layer experts fought, and in less than ten minutes, one was dead and another heavily injured. At this rate, how many Fourth Layer experts could they afford to lose?

The greatest loss fell upon the Demonic Sect, whose members now glared furiously at the Long family members on the platform, wishing they could devour them whole.

The Long family members standing on the platform now showed faint signs of elation. Their previous anxiety seemed to have somewhat receded; killing an enemy elder so quickly was a massive victory.

"Long Shen, give me your life!"

The Second Elder of the Li family suddenly sprang forward, flicking out a yellow object with his finger.

"Bang!"

The object he flicked was swatted aside by a longsword. The Long family's Second Elder, Long Gao, also leaped out.

"Li Lao Er, you attack two-on-one, and now you plan on continuous rotation? What are you thinking?" Long Gao shouted, his sword instantly splitting into three phantom images, targeting the three vital points of the Li family's Second Elder from high, middle, and low angles.

The Li family intended to avenge the Demonic Sect, and another Fourth Layer expert had joined the fray. However, the Long family also fielded one, immediately locking them into a life-and-death struggle using the most vicious techniques possible.

"Everyone, attack!"

Staring coldly at the Long family members on the platform, Di Ao spoke the command. No one paid heed to the entangled fight between the Long family Second Elder and the Li family Second Elder. The remaining Fourth Layer experts charged toward the Long family members on the platform from all directions.

"Counterattack!"

Long Haotian roared. The Long family’s Great Elder, along with the other uninjured Guardian, stepped forward and leaped out to meet them. They could rely on the formations for defense, but perpetual passive defense wouldn't suffice; eventually, the arrays would be breached. Taking the offensive was a necessity.

Long Haotian chose this location to strike, not the main gate, for a reason: the third layer of defense was the strongest, capable of holding out the longest—even a Great Perfection master couldn't quickly shatter it. By attacking proactively here, they had the option to retreat into the formation if things went wrong, allowing them a vital moment to regroup. Being cautious here essentially guaranteed their immediate survival.

"Esteemed guests, are you going to stand by and watch my Long family perish?"

Long Yi, currently engaged in a fierce battle with Di Ao, suddenly shouted. Besides Di Ao, two other early Fourth Layer experts flanked him, putting him at a significant disadvantage and keeping him constantly in danger. He was calling out to those who had come to lend support—including Zhang Yang, Zhang Daofeng, and Ouyang Jiankang.

The Long family members had already leaped out, but these auxiliary forces remained slightly hesitant. They were willing to aid the Long family, but they were reluctant to overly offend the external factions. If the Long family fell, these factions might turn their anger upon the helpers, who couldn't withstand such wrath.

"To sit idly by while an ally suffers is hardly the act of a true man. Gentlemen, let us move!"

Zhang Daofeng sighed lightly and was the first to leap out. Ouyang Jiankang and the other three exchanged glances before following him in unison. One could not come here only to contribute minimal effort; watching an ally perish without acting was a major taboo that would earn the scorn of peers everywhere, ensuring they would find no allies in the future. Such inaction would utterly destroy their reputation and might even invite covetousness from other powers, providing an excuse for attacks. Even if the supreme families maintained their distance due to their status, if a few families of similar standing attacked them together, they would be ruined, and absolutely no one would offer assistance then.

How to protect themselves while simultaneously satisfying the Long family was their critical dilemma. Achieving both was difficult, but contributing nothing was impossible. This time, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and join the fray.

Zhang Daofeng directly engaged the Zhou family Elder, who was also a mid-Fourth Layer expert. The Long family's other Guardian, Long Yuan, clashed with the Li family’s Great Elder. Long Yuan was stronger than Long Shen, having reached the mid-Fourth Layer. As a mid-Fourth Layer expert, he held his own perfectly against the late-Fourth Layer Li Great Elder.

The Third Layer experts from the Five Great Factions also stepped forward. Long Zheng and Long Jian leaped into the fight, and those accompanying their elders, like Ouyang Hao, also rushed out. The great battle had begun; they could not remain spectators.

Long Feng jumped out as well, engaging a mid-Third Layer master from the Li family. Long Feng was mid-Third Layer but cultivated a supreme-grade technique, giving him a significant advantage in terms of martial methods.

The Third and Fourth Layer cultivators were locked in a chaotic melee; nearby palaces were continually shaken apart and blasted into dust as the battlefield expanded.

On the high platform, aside from the injured Long Shen, Zhang Yang was the only one remaining above the Third Layer.

"Brother Zhang, what is the meaning of this?" Long Shen’s brow twitched, and he asked softly, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. At this moment, they were outnumbered, and every capable fighter had gone out to risk their lives. Zhang Yang was the only one remaining here; it looked suspiciously like evasion. Long Shen had tested Zhang Yang’s strength over the past few days and knew he was at the mid-Fourth Layer, stronger than himself. Such power would have been immensely helpful. But that help required action, not hiding here doing nothing.

"Your injuries are not light; let me examine them first," Zhang Yang said, shaking his head gently as he walked over, though bitterness welled up inside him. The melee had begun, but it wasn't that he didn't want to fight; it was that he couldn't. The enemy still had five Great Perfection masters who had not yet moved. Ordinary Fourth Layer experts couldn't perceive their presence, but Zhang Yang knew clearly that within those five wooden platforms, five individuals were constantly watching him. If he remained still, those five likely wouldn't act rashly. But if he moved, someone would surely emerge to stop him. At this moment, Zhang Yang wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could fight five Great Perfection masters alone; facing them, even he would have no choice but to flee desperately. Fortunately, these five Great Perfection masters were not unified right now, not advancing together to deal with him. Zhang Yang felt a slight impatience; he wondered why the Old Man still hadn't entered. (To be continued)