Staring at the protection screen at the end of the tunnel, Shang Ke and Gu Shou forced the water away with their inner qi. They cleared out a path for one of the rank three formation masters of the Tongyou Institution, Chu Jia.
“Are we really going to lay down a formation here?!” Chu Jia grumbled, “There’s no need to rush things. From what I see, the protection formation probably ran into some problems. It should open after some time. We can enter when that happens. If I lay down a formation here, I’ll waste a lot of resources!”
Gu Yuan looked at the expressionless Shang Ke and chuckled. “Just do it. Since we already discovered this place, we should go in and take a look. This might be the key to breaking the stalemate in the Coral Forest!”
Chu Jia sighed dispiritedly and took out an Embroidered Cloud Case. She walked over to the protection screen and observed it carefully. When she looked at the pretty lights flowing on its surface, a trace of obsession appeared in her eyes.
Shang Ke coughed once at the side. “Instructor Chu can rest assured. My Shang Clan will reimburse you for a portion of the materials used!”
However, his words were met with silence, and an awkward atmosphere started building up in the underground tunnel.
“Ahem… Lass Chu… Oi!” Gu Shou smiled apologetically at Shang Ke.
“Huh?! What?! What do you want?” Chu Jia eventually recovered and a look of confusion could be seen on her face. It was clear she didn’t hear anything Shang Ke said.
Gu Shou chuckled dryly. He reminded her softly, “Lay down the formation…”
“Oh right! Yeah! That was what I was doing!” Finally recalling what she had to do, she looked at the protection screen again. “It’s so pretty… The runes along it are so mysterious! It’s definitely created by a super expert!”
Even though she was enthralled by the protection screen again, she didn’t forget what she had to do.
Despite her laziness and unwilling attitude, she took out several materials from her Embroidered Cloud Case. She tossed them to several locations on the protection screen while admiring its beauty.
Gu Shou revealed a bitter smile. “Senior Shang, please forgive her. She might be a little clumsy, but her abilities are real.”
As though she was replying to Gu Shou’s words, she yawned loudly. Her gaze started to turn blurry again.
Gu Shou didn’t need to say anything this time. Shang Ke chuckled in amusement, “Don’t worry about it. Instructor Chu’s talent in the way of formations is matchless in the city! It'd be better if she moved quicker, but…”
“Of course, of course…”
As the one with the lowest seniority among the four, Sun Haiwei didn’t say a word since they entered the tunnel. She was waiting obediently for their orders.
However, she felt that she could understand Instructor Gu’s helplessness when faced with a subordinate like Chu Jia.
All of a sudden, a loud thud came from the other side of the protection screen. It trembled slightly, and the rays of light on its surface became a little brighter.
“Hey! Someone is striking the barrier!” Chu Jia exclaimed.
Stepping forward, Shang Ke couldn’t act relaxed any longer. “Hurry up and lay down the formation! My grandson might be facing great danger behind the barrier!”
“Oh! It’s done! It’s done! Don’t rush me!” Chu Jia snapped while maintaining her speed. It was as though she didn’t hear the anxiety in Shang Ke’s voice.
Even though he had heard of Chu Jia’s personality, Shang Ke couldn’t help but feel a trace of irritation rising in his heart.
Gu Shou quickly stepped between the two of them and muttered, “Senior Shang, please calm down…”
As soon as the words left his lips, Chu Jia’s lazy voice rang through the air. “Alright. It’s done!”
The other three quickly turned to stare at the protection screen.
Chu Jia walked slowly towards the barrier and explained, “Hmph… this barrier is just several layers of protection formation weaved together. We just have to take apart these layers one by one and the protection screen would be gone. When the protection screen weakens, those inside might be able to break their way out even before the barrier is completely gone!”
Gu Shou’s expression turned solemn when he looked at Shang Ke. When their gazes met, they understood what they had to do. The both of them got ready for battle.
Chu Jia didn’t notice the three of them behind her as she continued to ramble on about the workings of the formation. She took out a tiny banner from her Embroidered Cloud Case and approached the protection screen. Slapping it on, several streaks of light started to appear where she laid her formation and struck the barrier.
As the light grew brighter and brighter, Sun Haiwei had to squint her eyes slightly. Of course, that was because of her lack of cultivation.
Gu Shou and Shang Ke were able to see everything that was going on.
Like what she said, the protection screen separating them from the Coral Forest was made up of several layers of restrictions. As long as she separated them, she would be able to control the protection screen however she liked.
Of course, separating the layers wasn’t easy. Everything was left up to Chu Jia’s abilities.
Another loud thud came from the other side of the protection screen before she could try anything.
“Hey! They’re getting closer and closer! Oh shit!” Chu Jia seemed to have realized something and she turned around with a panicked expression.
A loud blast echoed through the tunnel all of a sudden and the light that the protection screen emitted disappeared. Her formation sucked up the last of the power, saving her the trouble of chipping away at the protection screen’s power. Cracks started to form on the screen’s surface and a hole soon appeared. As water poured out of the opening, Chu Jia screamed as she was swept away by the torrential current.
Soon after, Shang Xia’s sorry figure was washed out of the Coral Forest.
Luckily for him, he knew what was on the other side. As soon as he crossed the protection screen, he stabilized himself. Getting to his feet, he looked around cautiously. The instant he saw Shang Ke, he heaved a sigh of relief.
“There are two Martial Intent Realm cultivators up there! One of them is a formation master!” That was all he got to say before he was interrupted by sounds of violent coughing.
“Senior Sister Chu!” Sun Haiwei yelled as she held Chu Jia in her arms. She nearly burst out laughing. “You’re also at the Martial Intent Realm! If you drown to death, you’ll become the joke of the century!”
Chu Jia finally regained consciousness after some time and she circulated her inner qi to expel all the water in her body. She coughed awkwardly, “This… I didn’t think the current would be so strong! I was so afraid that I nearly forgot to circulate my inner qi!”
“What do you mean you nearly forgot?! You clearly forgot!” Sun Haiwei was struck speechless.
All of a sudden, voices came from behind the protection screen. “It’s the Fantasy Spiritual Pearl! The brat doesn't know how to use formations! He’s the one spying on us! Hurry up! The pearl and core diagram has to be on him!”
A surge of energy tore through the water and it smashed into the ground behind Shang Xia.
Even though he wasn’t injured by the sudden attack, his expression changed greatly when he heard their voices.
He touched his sleeves and heaved a sigh of relief when he felt that the Mountain and Sea Fantasy Diagram was still there. However, he didn’t understand how the formation master managed to see that he was in possession of the Fantasy Spiritual Pearl.
“Ouyang’s Third Fist!”
“The other person has to be Bai Luming!”
“It’s going to be a difficult battle. Screw it! Let’s give them hell!”
Gu Shou and Shang Ke recognized the two of them immediately.
Turning to glance at Sun Haiwei and Chu Jia, Gu Shou frowned slightly. He knew that Ouyang Zhaiyuan wasn’t someone easy to deal with and he wanted them to stay behind. Since it was going to be a difficult battle, their victory would lay in the hands of Chu Jia!
Sun Haiwei wasn’t a rookie either. She understood what Gu Shou meant when he looked over. She nodded quickly and dragged Chu Jia towards the location where she laid down the formation earlier.
Shang Ke and Gu Shou started moving quickly. Shang Ke approached the gap in the protection screen while Gu Shou hid close by.
As for Shang Xia, he knew what to do. Stumbling about, he ran towards the hidden Gu Shou.
Two figures appeared from the gap in the protection screen and the instant they landed, the two Martial Intent Realm experts from the Tongyou Institution leaped into action.
A black spear with intricate carvings stabbed towards the chest of the first person who emerged.
At the same time, a melon-sized mace appeared in Gu Shou’s hand and he smashed it down at the same person.
Ouyang Zhaiyuan never expected that he would be faced with two sneak attacks from Martial Intent Realm experts the moment he emerged.
Roaring with all his might, the entire tunnel trembled.
His body twisted to the side as he punched both weapons!
Brute force! That was how he planned to survive the ambush! He used his hands to block the weapons coming his way!
A huge explosion ensued.