Qingwu’s face darkened, fully aware that Sima Xin had let something slip.
However, even if Sima Xin hadn’t said it, with Nanli’s sharp mind, she would’ve certainly guessed that the Chu family was in danger.
He wasn’t in a hurry, but asked, "Did she tell you, or was it your own guess?"
Sima Xin replied, "Naturally, she said it herself."
Qingwu quickly made up his mind, snorted softly, and wore a look of someone who understood the situation, "She’s truly devious. Knowing she can’t break my formation, she deliberately misled you, trying to make us guard the weakest point of the formation. Then, she can naturally escape from Jiuzhou Town."
Sima Xin’s heart shook, "So that’s it?"
"That’s right. I’ve been tricked once before, but this time, I won’t fall for her scheme!" Qingwu said angrily.
"But... what if she’s telling the truth?"
"If it were true, then why would she tell you? Letting you lead people to lay a trap to catch her? She’s trying to draw us away!" Qingwu said with certainty.
Sima Xin thought for a moment and agreed that Qingwu had a point.
However, there was no need for all of them to stay stationed in Jiuzhou Town.
She said, "But the Venerable Master also said she’s devious, so we can’t be sure she’s not planning something. We have the advantage in numbers; we can station one group in Jiuzhou Town, while the other group can patrol and guard, not giving Nanli any chance to escape!"
Qingwu stood with his hands behind his back, nodding, "Lady Sima, your thinking is thorough. Let’s do it this way."
And of course, he himself would stay in Jiuzhou Town.
He alone could face thousands of enemies.
No, ten thousand would be more appropriate.
Sima Xin and Ji Chengyi would each lead a team to patrol the weakest areas of the formation.
At present, they weren’t sure of Nanli’s true strength, so they didn’t dare act alone.
Qingwu had inspected the area earlier and pointed out several locations.
He also drew a few talismans and said, "These are talismans for repairing the formation. Nanli will need time to break the formation. If you spot her, use these talismans to repair it. She won’t be able to succeed then."
Sima Xin and Ji Chengyi took the talismans.
She quickly left the room, glancing up at the faint glow on the dome, and sneered coldly, "Jifeng Celestial Sovereign, didn’t you expect this? The formation you painstakingly set up is now trapping your beloved."
She turned back and called to the elders of Penglai Island and House Sima, "Follow me!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
A dozen people answered and followed on flying swords or other magical tools.
Ji Chengyi stepped out with a solemn face.
He didn’t dare take things lightly and called for the Peak Master and disciples of Seven Peaks Sect to join him.
The two teams set off in different directions.
The people of Upper Realm and scattered cultivators, seeing such a large procession, were stunned.
For the first time in thousands of years, this was happening.
Some sighed, "I thought that Evil Girl could hold on for a while longer, but now all the powerful cultivators are attacking. Where can she escape?"
They thought that the three major sect leaders would soon capture Nanli, and Upper Realm would return to calm.
Indeed, whether it was Qingwu, Sima Xin, or Ji Chengyi, they were all confident.
As long as Nanli didn’t leave today, the Chu family would be dead tomorrow!
Even if Nanli chose to keep hiding, they could still vent some of their anger with the Chu family’s destruction.
But Sima Xin had lost so many family members in such a short time. She still hoped to catch Nanli this time and wipe out the Chu family entirely.
Everyone with her were elder-level cultivators, so their strength was considerable.
Even if they couldn’t kill Nanli, they could probably engage her for a while.
They had Talisman Cultivators who would draw symbols to warn them when they spotted someone, and they would gather to assist.
Using Telestones was too slow.
Sima Xin gave a final reminder, "Nanli is ruthless and adept with talismans. Don’t underestimate her, or she’ll find an opportunity to kill you."
They had all seen Nanli’s abilities at Divine Buddha Sect and knew that Yan Rui, Sima Lei, and Sima Hui had died under her sword. At this moment, they dared not be careless.
A dozen people dispersed, heading to guard their designated areas.
Sima Xin was full of confidence, her eyes burning with hatred and murderous intent.
Today, Nanli must die!
By the time they arrived at their posts, it was already nearly noon.
But they waited and waited, and by evening, there was still no sign of movement.
Even Sima Xin was puzzled. Could it be that Nanli chose to attack Jiuzhou Town instead?
She then took out a Telestone and contacted Qingwu.
"Venerable Master, is there any movement on your side?"
"No," Qingwu replied, his own doubt growing. He was starting to feel impatient.
"Could it be that she’s waiting for the right moment?" Sima Xin looked up at the sky.
If night fell, it would be easier for Nanli to escape under the cover of darkness.
Qingwu’s expression grew even more serious, "It’s possible! Be extra cautious!"
Sima Xin acknowledged and reminded the people around her.
As they suspected, Nanli was indeed waiting for the right moment.
But she was waiting for the change in day and night.
She had realized that the strength of the formation’s barrier varied at different times of the day.
Qingwu hadn’t noticed this, or else Sima Xin and the others wouldn’t have been stationed at different locations.
The formation’s barrier visibly weakened in front of them.
Everyone was stunned, their eyes wide open.
It really was just as Nanli had said.
But even so, it wasn’t easy to break the formation’s barrier here, was it?
After all, Jifeng Celestial Sovereign had set this up with his immortal cultivation.
And Nanli was only in the early Nascent Soul stage.
Everyone was worried, unable to do anything but watch as Nanli prepared.
Cinian, even more so, feared that if she failed this time, it would affect his Dao heart and hinder his future cultivation.
"Nanli, Venerable Master..." He tried to advise her.
"Let’s talk later," Nanli said, lifting her eyes. "I’m about to break the formation’s barrier."
But doing it by herself was really straining her, so she asked Cinian to use the Sky Plough Pearl to help summon the formation.
"Huh? Doesn’t that make the formation’s barrier even stronger?" Cinian was confused.
Nanli shot him a surprised look and said, "Don’t you know? The Sky Plough Pearl can make the formation stronger, but it also makes it easier to break."
Cinian scratched his smooth head, embarrassed, "I... didn’t know that."
They had obtained the immortal artifact, but only knew how to use it in isolation, not understanding its full capabilities.
This was clearly due to the sudden fall of the immortal and the disruption of the inheritance.
Cinian asked again, "So, how does it work?"
Nanli taught him the spell and incantation; both were necessary.
Cinian carefully watched, frowning. "Hmm... I was distracted earlier and didn’t see clearly. Please demonstrate again, Venerable Master."
He muttered to himself, thinking, this spell was so difficult!
Doing it would make his hands cramp!