Chapter 104: He Seems to Be at the Core Formation Stage
Leading the group was a slender woman.
She was clearly the core of the team.
The other three were Core Formation cultivators.
The four approached a certain distance from the Heavy Weapon Hall and then stopped.
They gazed at the heavy, tightly shut main gate of the hall.
Two disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage stood guard at the entrance, looking tired and yawning.
"When do we make our move, young sect master?" one of them asked.
Pang Ziyu replied confidently, "No rush, we'll wait until they switch shifts in half an hour."
Sure enough, after half an hour, the gate cracked open, and two new disciples emerged to replace the previous guards.
One of the Core Formation cultivators behind Pang Ziyu asked, puzzled, "Young sect master, those two earlier were exhausted. We could have rushed in and killed them before they even reacted. Why wait until now, when they've been replaced by more alert guards?"
Pang Ziyu smiled without answering, as if to say they would soon understand.
The three Core Formation cultivators stared intently at the gate.
They immediately noticed that the two new guards were quietly opening the gate wide.
After opening it fully, they lit a torch, seemingly signaling something.
The three Core Formation cultivators quickly realized the truth.
Those two were moles Pang Ziyu had placed inside the Heavy Weapon Hall!
The gate of the Heavy Weapon Hall was extremely heavy, made entirely of white iron.
In a closed state, it would take at least two Core Formation cultivators to force it open, consuming a significant amount of spiritual power.
Having someone inside to open the gate was a fortunate turn of events, saving them a lot of trouble.
"Young sect master, your foresight is impressive; we are in awe!" the three praised.
Pang Ziyu smiled slightly and then asked softly, "Do you remember what I said before we came?"
One quickly replied, "Yes, we must end this quickly! Our only target is Shen Mo!"
Pang Ziyu nodded, "Capturing Shen Mo and ending his future prospects is our greatest success."
She then lamented, "It's a pity that the Stormy Rain Sect suddenly reinforced Thorn Forest, forcing us to send most of our Core Formation cultivators there as well."
"Otherwise, I would have brought two more Core Formation cultivators to capture Shen Mo."
The three cultivators chuckled.
"Young sect master, isn't that being overly cautious? You seem to forget, Shen Mo is only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Indeed, he must be aiming for a perfect core, but I doubt he's gathered the necessary treasures for it."
"The young sect master mentioned earlier that there's only one Core Formation cultivator guarding the Heavy Weapon Hall. With four of us here, capturing Shen Mo should be effortless."
Pang Ziyu shook her head, "It's still necessary to be careful. I don't think Shen Mo will be so easy to capture, but there's no need to worry; I have contingency plans if things go awry."
The three praised her again, "Young sect master, you're truly exceptional. Despite being much younger, you're more far-sighted and thorough in your planning."
"Alright, let's begin." Pang Ziyu said with a light smile.
The four figures moved swiftly along the ground, reaching the gate in moments.
One of the gate guards was Li Tie.
Seeing Pang Ziyu, he immediately knelt respectfully, "Greetings, young sect master."
Pang Ziyu nodded, "Stay here and be ready to activate the formation at my command."
"Understood!" the two guards responded.
The four then proceeded deeper into the Heavy Weapon Hall.
At that moment, Elder Li, feeling uneasy, left her room for a patrol.
She quickly spotted the intruders.
Pang Ziyu immediately commanded, "Kill her! She's a staunch follower of Murong Yue!"
The four Core Formation cultivators surrounded Elder Li.
Elder Li shouted angrily, "Damn you! Pang Ziyu, the Flying Frost Sect is despicable, launching a sneak attack!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The clash of five Core Formation cultivators created a massive commotion.
Many disciples were awakened, but the shockwaves from the battle between Core Formation cultivators were too terrifying for them to intervene.
Shen Mo also strode out of his room, alerted by the commotion.
Elder Li roared, "Young Sect Master, run! I will hold them back with my life!"
Pang Ziyu's eyes flashed. "Don't let him escape!"
"Understood!"
One of the blue-robed cultivators attacking Elder Li shouted and struck out with a palm, pushing Elder Li aside.
He then leaped into the air, his right hand forming a claw aimed directly at Shen Mo's throat.
Of course, since Pang Ziyu had instructed them to capture Shen Mo alive, he only used about thirty percent of his strength.
Instead of running or dodging, Shen Mo faced the oncoming attack head-on.
Elder Li closed her eyes in pain. She never expected Pang Ziyu and her group to launch a surprise attack on the Heavy Weapon Hall at this time.
And judging by their actions, they were clearly targeting Shen Mo specifically.
This was a meticulously planned operation!
Elder Li felt a deep sense of guilt for being unable to protect Shen Mo.
However, the next moment, a fierce flame burst forth from Shen Mo's palm.
In an instant, it coalesced into a small fire phoenix, heading straight for the blue-robed cultivator's hand.
Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, First Form!
Boom!
Their attacks collided.
The blue-robed cultivator's right arm was instantly engulfed in flames.
"Ah!"
He screamed in pain as the flames consumed his sleeve, turning it to ash in an instant.
His skin sizzled under the intense heat, the searing pain reaching deep into his bones.
But even through the excruciating pain, the blue-robed cultivator didn't withdraw his hand. He continued to reach for Shen Mo's throat.
He thought this must be Shen Mo's last resort, a life-saving technique given to him as the Young Sect Master of the Azure Profound Sect by Murong Yue, capable of unleashing an attack equivalent to that of a Core Formation cultivator.
However, he was wrong again.
In a blur, Shen Mo was suddenly behind him, and a cold voice came from behind.
"Stop looking, I'm here."
Boom!
Shen Mo's palm slammed into the blue-robed cultivator's back.
Another fierce flame erupted, instantly penetrating the blue-robed cultivator's body!
Bang!
Caught off guard, the blue-robed cultivator had no chance to defend himself and was sent flying.
Shen Mo quickly followed up, delivering a series of rapid punches aimed at vital points like the throat and heart.
Within ten breaths, the blue-robed cultivator was lifeless, killed on the spot!
To everyone watching, it was as if a rabbit had kicked an eagle to death, or a kitten had scratched a tiger to death.
How could this be possible?
A cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, killing a Core Formation cultivator?
Even if Shen Mo was exceptionally talented, capable of fighting above his level, it shouldn't be possible to overcome such a vast gap in cultivation stages.
The divide between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation was an insurmountable chasm!
Foundation Establishment cultivators could only use their own spiritual energy, while Core Formation cultivators could draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, using the momentum of the world itself!
The white-robed and black-robed cultivators beside Pang Ziyu frowned slightly. "Is that a life-saving technique given by Murong Yue?"
Pang Ziyu murmured, "No... it's not that... It seems he's already at the Core Formation stage."
🌟 Unlock Exclusive Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers!
Join my Patreon community to enjoy:
📚 Daily Updates: Never wait for new chapters—get your story fix every day!
📖 20 Chapters Ahead: Access new chapters far in advance of RoyalRoad releases.
Support the creation of the stories you love and dive deeper into my world!
Patreon.com/Alex_Cruise