A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 314 - 274: Seven Stars of the Dipper

The four floating battleships shook simultaneously and soared into the sky!

Lu Qian cupped his hands towards Ning Songzhi and flew up. Ning Songzhi snapped out of his shock, admired Lu Qian’s effortless command of everyone with great admiration.

He thought, since there’s no rule on when I should return, why not stay here for a few more hours to see how Lu Qian defeats the enemy.

So Ning Songzhi returned the salute and shouted loudly, "Wishing Sect Leader Lu great martial fortune and a victorious banner!"

The Moon Palace had just begun to rise, its cool light reflecting with the remnants of snow on the mountaintops, filling the world with bright radiance.

In this silvery glow, the four floating battleships quietly departed, flying towards Lingsha City.

Lingsha City is built by the riverside, unlike typical cultivator spirit mountains, isolated from the world and far from mortals. The Shahe Gang only designated a ten-mile restricted area around Lingsha City, beyond which lay vast mortal towns and villages.

In the towns, there was a bustling noise, and in the villages, paths crisscrossed.

Wu Yan looked at the endless lights below, listening to the sound of the river in the distance. Despite her tension about the impending battle, she couldn’t help but have her thoughts wander.

It’s so prosperous down there. If we fight up here, will it hurt the people below?

The Sect Leader said that if we win, this place will become Yunshan Sect’s territory, our new home.

In this view, it’s much livelier than Bichao Mountain.

The voice of the Primordial Pearl quietly sounded, "Wow, there are so many people here. Once the battle is over, let’s go play."

It turned out the Pearl Spirit had never seen so many people either and found it very novel.

Jiang Qingfeng saw Wu Yan standing dazedly by the ship’s railing, thinking she was scared, so he held her hand, "Little Yan, stand by my side later, I’ll protect you."

Although Lu Qian never told Jiang Qingfeng the truth, Qingfeng could guess that Wu Yan was exceptionally gifted, and Lu Qian favored her highly, so several elders would naturally look after her.

Wu Yan nodded gratefully, looking at the approaching Lingsha City, and asked anxiously, "We will win, right?"

Jiang Qingfeng glanced at Lu Qian standing at the head of the ship and said in a deep voice, "Yes, we will definitely win."

Suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded inside Lingsha City!

Cultivators from Sanshan County flew into the air and saw the four floating battleships slashing through the moonlight and speeding towards them!

The flags of the Yunshan Sect flapped fiercely in the wind.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! It’s Yunshan Sect!"

Yuchi Hui abruptly opened his eyes from meditation, hearing the cultivators’ panicked reports, he couldn’t help but bitterly smile.

Yunshan Sect Lu Qian is truly not an easy foe!

After the great victory, without even pausing, they continued the assault and initiated a decisive battle.

Oh master, it seems we won’t be receiving your reinforcements.

He took a deep breath and stood up, "Beat the drums for encouragement, hold the fort and meet the enemy!"

Yunshan Sect, if you want Mingsha Bay, exchange it with your lives!

The thunderous sound of drums echoed through the city. Under Yuchi Hui’s command, the cultivators of Sanshan County, though panicked, quickly formed formations, ascended in tiers, and entered the great array.

In an instant, the grand array shone brightly, with seven points of light flickering in the formation, connecting into a star chart.

The Big Dipper!

The four floating battleships of Yunshan Sect were already approaching, the two forces arrayed against each other, each stopping just outside the range of the Spiritual Power Cannons.

Yuchi Hui’s somewhat weakened voice called out remotely, "Yunshan Lu Qian, do you recognize my formation?"

Lu Qian glanced up and understood immediately. This grand array wasn’t completely unfamiliar, as the Chaosheng Sect’s Mountain Protection Grand Array, the Seven Stars Moon Closing Formation, was a simplified variation of this formation. Back then, due to a shortage of Spirit Stones, Lu Qian even sold a set of Array Bases and Array Maps to meet urgent needs.

With his current expertise in array formations, although he hadn’t systematically studied this formation, its intricacies were clear to him.

This formation is not for blocking or trapping enemies, but for strengthening the defenders. It draws on the power of the Seven Stars, providing the defenders with an extremely tenacious Starlight Shield, a formation indeed beneficial for a firm defense.

The enemy commander is no ordinary person, well-versed in battle arrays, calm and decisive in action.

Come to think of it, I still don’t know his name?

Lu Qian laughed loudly, "It’s just the Seven Stars Beidou Formation, nothing special."

He paused and added, "Two armies in contest, a match between equals, how delightful. May I know your honored name?"

Yuchi Hui was slightly taken aback, then replied, "I am the Sect Leader’s Disciple of Liyuan Sect, Yuchi Hui. Presently my Sanshan County’s army holds the upper hand, soon we will flatten Zhongming. Sect Leader Lu, a hero like you, why must you accompany them? If you surrender now, I am willing to pave the way for you. After this battle, this Spirit Vein of Mingsha Bay will be yours, how about it?"

Lu Qian chuckled, "Brother Yuchi, why make such empty statements? Today my troops surround Lingsha City, you have no chance of victory. Why not lay down your arms and surrender? We can drink and rejoice together, wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

Yuchi Hui swallowed, replying coldly, "Too much talk is useless. If Sect Leader Lu wants Lingsha City, see if you have enough heads to take it!"

In the blink of an eye, within the grand array of Lingsha City, the Seven Stars were arranged according to the Big Dipper’s positions. Seven points of light transformed into brilliant orbs, each garrisoned with troops, shining resplendently and thrusting skyward, masking the moonlight.

"Since you recognize my formation, do you dare to come and try?"

Lu Qian observed closely, his Divine Sense surging, carefully discerning the battle formations, seeing that each arrangement within the array corresponded to the star chart.

A floating battleship carried fifty Qi Cultivation Elites taking the position of Dubhe. One hundred Qi Cultivation Elites took the position of Merak. One Early-Stage Foundation Establishment assumed the position of Phecda. One Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment assumed the position of Megrez, forming the Pleiades as a group.

Another Early-Stage Foundation Establishment assumed the position of Alioth. Another floating battleship carried fifty elites taking the position of Mizar. Finally, one hundred elites assumed the position of Alcor, forming the Handle of the Dipper.

Within the Big Dipper, Megrez has the lowest luminosity yet sits at the crucial junction between Pleiades and the Handle, thus undertaken by the strongest Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, with Alioth, the mainstay of the Handle, taken by the second-strongest Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

The combat forces at the seven star positions, bolstered by the power of the Big Dipper and the Starlight Shield, were significantly enhanced.

Additionally, the Seven Stars Gang Dipper is highly flexible, capable of launching proactive assaults as well as responding defensively. If the enemy counterattacks, striking the head, the tail responds; striking the tail, the head responds; striking the waist, both ends respond, securely trapping the enemy within the formation, continually wearing them down and breaking them apart, ultimately annihilating the enemy forces.

This formation differs from ordinary formations.

Ordinary formations, once set up with sufficient Spiritual Power and Qi supply, each have their own potent and mysterious abilities. However, this formation’s attacks are all launched from the seven star positions’ combat forces, necessitating not just Array Maps and Array Bases but also a coordinated effort from the garrisoned star positions. Without extensive drills and practice, its intricacy cannot be realized.

Due to the difficulty in setting it up, simplified and altered versions like the "Seven Stars Moon Closing Formation" emerged later.

Observing the layout from afar now, it’s indeed a top-tier military formation! To set up this formation, Yuchi Hui undoubtedly possesses rare talent as a commanding officer!

He was previously defeated by me due to misinformation, but this battle might be the toughest since Yunshan Sect was reestablished.

However, without weathering storms, how can you forge greatness?

All along, favored by celestial mandate and protected by the ancestors, with meticulous planning and efforts, Yunshan Sect has developed smoothly, and the disciples have not suffered any major setbacks.

But if everything goes smoothly, how can you cultivate a strong, resilient character and hone solid skills?

It’s essential to use this Lingsha City, this battle of blood and fire, to dispel the arrogance and complacency among the disciples!

Many will die, but many will emerge reborn. As the Sect Leader, it’s time to be firm.

"All troops heed the flagship’s command, follow me into the formation to defeat the enemy!"