Chapter 101: True Friends Are Rare; The White Cloud Sect's Grand Formation Breaks
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The Ten Thousand Miles Soaring Clouds Array trembled incessantly, no longer possessing its former grandeur and stability.
There are countless ways in the world to break a formation—
Some break it with another formation.
Some with overwhelming power.
Some with rare magical artifacts.
And some by exploiting its flaws.
But the most common method, in the end, is just one word: grind.
Endless, relentless grinding—
Ten days, half a month, one year, ten years!
Most major sects’ protective formations have been broken in this way, by persistent siege warfare.
When Liu Jinyun of the Heavenly Sword Sect once attacked the Lu Clan’s Clear Spring City, it was by this very method.
Now, the rogue cultivator alliance besieging the White Cloud Sect—with four Nascent Soul experts, over thirty Core Formation cultivators, more than two hundred Foundation Establishment experts, and sixty thousand Qi Condensation cultivators—was also grinding!
After nearly two months, results were finally showing.
Within the White Cloud Sect, the two Supreme Elders, Jiang Huyuan and Feng Tianxiang, looked grim but showed no fear.
They were mid-to-late Nascent Soul powerhouses, standing at the peak of Eastern Continent. Naturally, they feared no battle.
But if the grand array fell today, the White Cloud Sect would be finished.
Since the sect’s founding by the Divine Transformation patriarch Bai Lingyun, they had once been the number one among the Six Great Sects.
Alas, time changes all. Now they had fallen to the bottom of the six.
Rumors had it even the Heavenly Sword Sect was under siege—yet they’d been holding out for nearly a year, and not only had they not perished, they were even starting to mount a counterattack.
But the White Cloud Sect?
In just two months, they were at the edge of collapse!
The key difference?
They lacked a Nascent Soul powerhouse more, and several Core Formation experts fewer!
Jiang Huyuan, clad in the highest-ranking violet robe of the sect, spoke solemnly while maintaining the array:
“Disciples of White Cloud Sect.
Disaster has befallen us.
As Supreme Elder, I, Jiang Huyuan, shall live and die with the sect.
But you all are still young, your futures bright.
If the grand array breaks, Elder Tianxiang and I shall hold them off—
You must scatter and escape!
And if one day, a disciple among you reaches Divine Transformation and founds a new sect…
Do not forget the White Cloud Sect!
Do not forget today’s blood debt!”
The words struck everyone with a shock.
“Master!” Song Zutian shouted, “This disciple will live and die with White Cloud Sect!”
With his lead, the Core Formation elders followed with cries of:
“We will live and die with the White Cloud Sect!”
Of course, while they shouted these words, how many truly meant it was questionable.
Survival is instinct, after all.
But the hundred-plus Foundation Establishment disciples followed their masters’ lead, shouting together.
And soon, over twenty thousand Qi Condensation disciples were swept up in emotion and roared with blood-pumping zeal:
“Live and die with the White Cloud Sect!!”
Their earth-shaking cries seemed to bolster the formation.
The grand formation, previously faltering, actually began to stabilize again!
It was clear—many disciples had been holding back, fearing for their lives.
But now that they saw the array about to collapse and their own deaths near, they finally gave it their all.
Jiang Huyuan looked upon them with mixed feelings—relief, but also sorrow.
Even so, they could only buy a few more days.
If no miracle occurred, the sect would fall regardless.
This was the fifth generation of Supreme Elders since the sect’s founding.
And he, Jiang Huyuan, would be the one to lose everything…
Feng Tianxiang, the younger of the two elders, appeared youthful and elegant in his white robe.
He remained calm, though he too understood:
Once the battle began, there would be no escape.
Outside, those four Nascent Soul rogue cultivators didn’t trust each other.
They were united only in greed.
But when facing death, they’d scatter like rats.
He and his senior brother had each other.
They had shared a thousand years.
And now, even in death—they would take at least two enemies with them!
In the sect, Xiao Wusheng, now newly ascended to Core Formation, sat in silence.
His once-black hair had turned stark white.
He had used up every ounce of wealth, every bit of potential, just to break through—for the sake of finding his disciple: Yu Xian.
Three failed attempts nearly shattered his foundation, but the fourth succeeded.
But that success had come at a price—his spirit now burned only for one thing:
“I must find my disciple. Even if it costs me my life.”
Outside the sect, Yu Xian and Zheng Huo were rapidly approaching.
After five days of cautious advancement, they had now reached within 4,000 li of the White Cloud Sect.
They saw the immense tide of rogue cultivators, like dark clouds crushing the mountain.
Zheng Huo sighed:
“Ah… the world is in chaos. These rogues are fools, easily misled. Even if they destroy the Six Great Sects, a new power will rise. What’s the difference? All for ambition, they become cannon fodder.”
Yu Xian’s eyes were cold:
“It’s all for gain. If they survive, and capture the White Cloud Sect’s heritage—they ascend in one leap.”
Zheng Huo nodded in agreement, then suddenly pointed:
“Eh? Look—the formation’s stable again!”
Indeed, the Soaring Clouds Array looked to be recovering.
Yu Xian smiled with hope:
“Good! Ancient sects have deep foundations. These rogue cultivators won’t break it so easily.”
Zheng Huo asked:
“Shall we wait here, or…?”
Yu Xian replied:
“Let’s get a little closer.”
As they moved forward, Zheng Huo suddenly hesitated.
“Dao brother… I hope you don’t mind me asking something.”
Yu Xian: “Speak freely.”
Zheng Huo hesitated, then said:
“These past ten days, I’ve seen your nature—true, fierce, and loyal. Yet, you seem to have no deep ties to White Cloud Sect… is there someone very dear to you within?”
Yu Xian paused, then nodded.
“My master… is inside.”
Zheng Huo was stunned. He had assumed it was a parent… or lover.
A master?
Masters in the cultivation world were often… transactional. Tools.
But Yu Xian…
“Then your master must treat you exceptionally well,” Zheng Huo said, moved.
Yu Xian gazed ahead:
“My master is… the kindest person I’ve ever known.”
He had once had three such people.
Now, only one remained.
Even if he had to die—he had to find him.
Then Yu Xian turned to Zheng Huo:
“You have no such bond. No need to follow me. Stay here.”
Zheng Huo’s expression turned solemn.
“Dao brother, I consider you a friend. If you go—I go. Do you not think of me as one?”
Yu Xian was stunned. “Friend…”
He saw no deceit in Zheng Huo’s eyes. Only sincerity.
His mother once warned him—Never trust anyone in the cultivation world. They’re all liars.
He had believed that for years.
Until now.
Zheng Huo said earnestly:
“If you still doubt me, that’s fine. Time will prove all. But I follow you—even into death.”
Yu Xian said nothing, only nodded—and walked on.
Zheng Huo followed, eyes shining.
“A friend like this… is Heaven’s greatest blessing.”
As they advanced, patrols vanished.
The rogue alliance had clearly given up on guards this close to the front.
Soon, they were within 1,000 li of White Cloud Sect.
And again—the grand formation trembled!
Inside, the sect’s 20,000 Qi Condensation disciples were pale, drenched in sweat.
Even with the array boosting their power 2-to-1, they were outnumbered threefold.
Their limit had been reached.
Even some rogue cultivators outside were exhausted—though their numbers helped carry the load.
Only the Nascent Soul cultivators remained unfazed, their power self-replenishing.
Within the White Cloud Sect, Jiang Huyuan and Feng Tianxiang shared a look.
They understood.
It was time.
“White Cloud Sect disciples!” Jiang Huyuan suddenly roared.
“When the formation breaks—run! Do not look back! You owe the sect nothing. The world is vast. Live well.”
The remaining elders were shocked.
The array stopped drawing power from the disciples.
And then—it twisted.
Golden-robed Jin Huang suddenly realized:
“No! They’re going to detonate the array!”
Wan Hun, the soul-banner wielder, roared:
“RETREAT!!”
Core Formation cultivators turned and fled.
Foundation Establishment cultivators stopped their techniques and began pulling back.
But the 60,000 Qi Condensation cultivators were too slow, too clustered…
Just ten breaths later—
BOOM!!!
Heaven and earth trembled.
The Soaring Clouds Grand Array—shattered in a blinding, earth-splitting explosion!
