Rain of Swords on the Dragon’s Tail

Surrounded by black mist, the eight Zifu Disciples of Snowdragon Mountain constantly maintained the grand formation as they moved within it.

"This Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation—even Senior Apprentice-Brother Zidao couldn't crack it. What can we do? We'll just walk blindly. Senior Apprentice-Brother Tongyu and Zidao are inside too. Maybe we'll run into them." The eight Zifu Disciples clung to that faint hope as they advanced.

At the same time, each clutched Dao talismans and other treasures, ready to fight for their lives.

Suddenly—

Hua, hua, hua...

A fine, drizzling rain began to fall. The raindrops were like silk threads, soft and gentle. The sudden downpour startled Dongzi Qi and the other seven.

"Hum——" White light appeared around each of the eight, forming a protective barrier that blocked the ordinary rain.

"It's just rain. Stop making a fuss," the hook-nosed black-robed cultivator said coldly.

"How could there be rain inside this formation?" Dongzi Qi frowned.

"Maybe it's raining outside right now. This maze formation is an illusion array; it can't stop rain from the outside world," the silver-haired cultivator added.

Dongzi Qi and the others nodded.

They were cultivators; they could sense that this rain was a natural phenomenon, not some liquid formed by the formation or poisonous water. For a moment, none of them connected it to the 'Dao Domain'. When one reached the Dao Domain, a single thought could transform one's surroundings into a personal realm. The nature of the Dao differed, and the domains differed accordingly.

One person's thought might manifest as endless flames; another's might be surrounded by lightning. And Ji Ning's thought manifested as rain.

"Better stay alert. Don't let that rain touch you," a gray-robed elder said.

"Senior Apprentice-Brother An is right. We're trapped in the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation. We must be careful."

Each Zifu Disciple would rather overreact than take a risk.

...

WHOOSH!

A massive black dragon tail swept across like lightning. Within the tail, Ji Ning stood silently, clad in animal hide. Around him hovered over seven hundred flying swords, nine of which were graded treasures. With these nine graded swords at the core, the sword-light of the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation was condensed to an astonishing level of power.

The Rainwater Sword Domain had been laid down!

With Yuan power stronger than a perfected Zifu Disciple's, he pushed the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation to its ninth layer. Although only nine of the seven hundred-plus flying swords were graded, quantity could lead to qualitative change at the ninth layer!

"Die." Killing intent flashed in Ji Ning's eyes.

Swish!

The condensed sword-light shot through the air, transforming into a single thread of rain. In that moment, Ji Ning held nothing back. The ninth layer of the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation, the amplification of the grand formation, the Rainwater Sword Domain... all combined to push this strike to the absolute peak of his current power.

...

"We're moving," Dongzi Qi said. The eight continued forward, still blocking the rain. They walked calmly.

Then—

"Hm?" The hook-nosed black-robed cultivator's expression changed. In that instant, he sensed an immense crisis—the kind a cultivator only feels when grave danger is imminent. But such premonitions came late, only when the danger was already upon them. Even so, it had saved his life twice.

"Whirlwind Mist Umbrella!" A black umbrella appeared above him, opening and spinning down, fully protecting him.

A seemingly ordinary thread of rain brushed past him and shot straight toward the triangular-eyed cultivator beside him.

The triangular-eyed cultivator was still staring in confusion at his companion's sudden activation of a treasure when disaster struck.

"Wrong!" The triangular-eyed cultivator only felt the ripples of power as the thread of rain drew close. He hurriedly swung his longsword to block, but it was too late.

The thread of rain was too close!

His swordsmanship was too ordinary. Ji Ning's sword-art was supremely exquisite. With a gentle spiral, the thread of rain evaded the longsword and swept across his head.

"Hum——" The originally hazy white light of the Eight Trigrams Formation suddenly flared.

"Under attack!" Dongzi Qi and the others were all startled. This was the formation's spontaneous reaction to an attack.

Plop!

The head of the triangular-eyed cultivator flew into the air, his eyes still filled with shock, spinning in midair.

Of the eight Zifu Disciples, one was dead!

"What—!" Fear crept into the hearts of Dongzi Qi and the rest. One of their number had been slain while they were maintaining the formation. How terrifyingly powerful was their enemy's attack?

"Formation!"

"Deploy formation!"

The survivors shouted in panic. With one dead, their previous formation had vanished. If one could be killed while they were in formation... if they didn't form another, they'd all die for sure.

"Pfft!" That thread of rain, having expended most of its power killing the triangular-eyed cultivator, still had some remaining. With the other seven now unprotected, it lightly flew onward—once, twice—and directly cut through the protective armor of the silver-haired cultivator. His head flew up as well. Then the thread of rain dissolved.

"Hum——" White light flared again. The six surviving Zifu Disciples formed a new grand formation.

"BOOM!"

A massive dragon tail swept toward them.

"Kill!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill!"

When the six Zifu Disciples saw the dragon tail, they all exploded into action, like animals with their fur standing on end. Vines, lightning, flames, a phoenix... all of it flew out at once, crashing into the sweeping tail.

"They've gone mad!" Ji Ning was shocked.

"Retreat!" The black wings on Ji Ning's back flapped once, carrying him in an arc far away. Only the lightning and the homing fire phoenix still struck him. The collision of lightning and phoenix illuminated his face for the others to see...

Dongzi Qi's eyes widened in shock. He recognized this person at once—the Ji Clan genius, 'Ji Ning'!

BOOM! The powerful blast sent Ji Ning tumbling away, deep into the black mist and darkness.

The six Zifu Disciples were all terrified.

"Hurry!"

"Deploy the formation!"

"Fight!"

Around Dongzi Qi, a massive Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation appeared, with eight blood-colored flood dragons swimming within it.

The hook-nosed cultivator threw out three formation flags around the outer perimeter of the Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. The flags floated and coalesced into a hazy white light, forming a triangular pagoda that enveloped the six.

"Grow!"

Vast amounts of green vines shot up, growing wildly and intertwining to fill the area.

"My little ones, go!" Dense swarms of venomous insects buzzed into the air, blotting out the sky and surrounding the area.

"Come!"

The gray-robed elder produced a large blood-red cloth banner. From it flew massive figures—some four-legged beasts, some birds of prey. Nine enormous shapes lumbered around the perimeter.

Cold sweat beaded on the foreheads of the six Zifu Disciples. They had thrown out all their tricks, protecting their position as tightly as they could...

They exchanged glances, all seeing the terror in each other's eyes.

"We're not moving. We wait here."

"Can't move."

"Hold the line."

Almost all of their techniques were defensive. The growing vines, the protective formations—none of them could be maintained while moving!

"Who was that? Who attacked us? He looked young," the gray-robed elder said, clutching his blood-red banner and looking at Dongzi Qi.

"Right, who was that? How was he so strong? We've already been attacked by the dragon's head and claws before... this time it was the tail, but how could it be this powerful?" the hook-nosed cultivator asked, also fixing his gaze on Dongzi Qi. The others stared at him too.

They were furious.

They had thought this would be an easy excursion. How could they have run into such a tough nut? First, there was the 'Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation'—not even Nong Zidao had heard of it before. But that formation's power depended on its users; the previous pair had used it, and they weren't afraid. But that boy with the delicate features... he was terrifying. Even while they were maintaining their formation, he had killed two of them...

Dongzi Qi hurriedly said, "The Ji Clan has six notable figures: Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, an old servant, Ji Yichuan, Ji Liuzhen, and Ji Ning! Among them, Ji Ning is the Ji Clan's genius. When he was eleven or twelve, he already killed Junior Apprentice-Brother Beisheng."

"Eleven or twelve, killed Beisheng?" The others were stunned.

"This year he should be sixteen," Dongzi Qi continued. "The one who attacked us just now was this Ji Ning. But I've fought him before—he couldn't do anything to my Eight Trigrams Blood Dragon Formation. He's only a little stronger than Ji Jiuhuo or the others, so I never took him seriously. Now, with the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation amplifying him, his strength has become this terrifying."

"He's only a little stronger than Ji Jiuhuo—why is he suddenly so powerful?"

"A monster who could kill Junior Apprentice-Brother Beisheng at eleven or twelve can't be judged by normal rules. He must have had a breakthrough," the gray-robed elder said hoarsely. "Against a freak like him, even in formation we lost two brothers. Now we can only hold our ground."

...

Ji Ning was sent tumbling through the air, crashing into rocks and grass.

"Good heavens." Ji Ning climbed to his feet with a wince. The wounds on his body rapidly closed, not even leaving scars.

"Those Zifu Disciples went berserk. They just threw their most powerful Dao talismans right at me! Especially that fire phoenix—it actually chased me. And it hit the hardest. Tore a big hole in my stomach. Wonder what kind of talisman that was." Ji Ning grinned, full of confidence. "But I already killed two of them. Eight Zifu Disciples, and I took down two. Only six left now. I'll kill them all."

"Ji Ning!" A voice suddenly reached him.

"Patriarch." Ji Ning was startled.

"Good job! Hahaha, Ji Ning, you're amazing! Two in one breath! Only six left now. But don't rush in yet—let me finish explaining before you act." Ji Jiuhuo sent a transmission. "Dongzi Qi and his five survivors are terrified. They've used every trick they have and are hunkering down. Let me tell you exactly what they've set up. After you hear me out, you decide."