**[MSBISS] Chapter 80**
"This, this..."
The surrounding white mist rose, enveloping the area.
Xin Zhi and the members of the Dianxing Sect disappeared.
The sudden change stunned Xiao Ye and the others.
It was Bian Rourou, a disciple of the great sect, who reacted first.
"Array... formation?"
"It's the Lost Formation!"
"Array?"
Xiao Ye and Fang Xiao were taken aback.
Then Xiao Ye realized it and became excited. "It's second senior brother!"
At that moment, Xiao Ye admired her second senior brother to the utmost. He was simply incredible.
When she wandered here earlier, she had been curious about what her second senior brother was doing. Unexpectedly, he had quietly set up a large formation.
Xiao Ye knew the power of her second senior brother's formations. In this regard, her first senior brother couldn't compete with him.
Xiao Ye exclaimed happily, "It's fine, it's fine! This formation was set up by second senior brother. We are safe now."
Fang Xiao's expression was filled with shock. "Mr. Lu really is amazing."
It was unexpected; no one could have anticipated it.
Bian Rourou, while shocked, remained unconvinced. Was that bastard really that powerful?
She said with disdain, "Sister Xiao Ye, does this formation really have to be his doing? Could it be someone else?"
Xiao Ye shot back, "Sister Rourou, who else do you think can do this?"
"Second senior brother's formation skills aren't as good as first senior brother's."
Fang Xiao was even more amazed. "Could it be that Mr. Lu is a master of formations?"
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to set it up without anyone noticing."
Even while Lu Chen was wandering about, no one detected him. Even a formation master could struggle to stealthily activate a formation.
Bian Rourou found it increasingly hard to accept that that irritating guy was a formation master.
She remarked, "How old is he? He's already a master of formations? Even if he is, that would be impressive!"
"Besides, if he were a formation master, he would certainly be boasting about it."
Bian Rourou still couldn't believe that this formation was arranged by Lu Chen.
Xiao Ye stated, "Sister Rourou, do you remember why I said I came here?"
"Second senior brother secretly asked us to retreat here. Besides him, who else could have done it?"
Xiao Ye's tone brimmed with pride. "My second senior brother is indeed a powerful and low-key person."
Bian Rourou fell silent. She couldn't fully believe it, but she had to accept it.
That realization made her incredibly uncomfortable.
Fang Xiao suggested, "Alright, let's take some time to rest. There may be a fierce battle ahead."
Xiao Ye smiled without a trace of worry. "Sister Xiao, don't fret. Since second senior brother has taken action, there won't be any surprises in this battle."
Xiao Ye had full confidence in Lu Chen. Once he took action, he would offer his opponent no chance.
Bian Rourou felt that she couldn't stand it if she didn't find something to complain about.
She replied, "We should recover quickly. Although the formation is set up, how long do you think a hastily arranged formation can last?"
"Xin Zhi is a master at the Golden Elixir stage, and there are many disciples from the Dianxing Sect. Their talismans are quite formidable."
"The formation won't hold for long."
Xiao Ye shrugged it off. "It's fine; second senior brother will be okay."
Fang Xiao asked, "Sister Xiao Ye, can you sense the situation of the formation?"
Xiao Ye thought carefully and noticed that the spiritual energy around her seemed stagnant. It didn't flow smoothly.
Worried, she said, "Could something be wrong?"
Bian Rourou sneered, "I told you your second senior brother isn't reliable; we'll need to rely on ourselves."
"I don't know how my senior sister is faring."
Xia Yu glimpsed Xiao Ye clutching the hilt of her sword, spitting blood, and flying backward.
Seeing Bian Rourou seemed sluggish and Fang Xiao weak from injury, she felt her calm demeanor crumbling.
Below her were her cousin and junior sister, here to help her.
If something happened to them, guilt would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Xuan Yunxin noted the anxious look on Xia Yu's face and laughed, "Sister Xia Yu, do you want to continue?"
"Stop this."
"Hand over the heart of the secret realm, and nothing will happen to you."
Xia Yu responded coldly, "The same goes for defeating you."
The battle recommenced.
However, this time, Xuan Yunxin noticed that Xia Yu's sword power was different from before.
Xuan Yunxin, keenly aware, decided to avoid the attack.
Xia Yu began to feel confused.
It would be better to evade her and let Xia Yu's mental state continue to deteriorate, thus making it easier to secure victory.
This was Xuan Yunxin's realistic and cunning strategy: seize every opportunity to win.
"What? Are you afraid to fight me?"
Xuan Yunxin's mood brightened at the sight of this. "Sister Xia Yu, why not just admit defeat?"
She continued to press her attack. "As long as you concede, your companions will be safe."
"But if you persist in this, your companions will surely be at risk."
Xia Yu retorted, "Don't be too arrogant. Winning is still not guaranteed for you."
"They won't let me down, either."
"Yeah?"
Xuan Yunxin muttered to herself, "The situation is what it is; do you have any backup plans?"
"Your companion has been injured. Are you depending on that man?"
"It's unfortunate he's gone."
However, before she could finish, shouts erupted from the disciples of the Dianxing Sect.
"What happened?"
"I can't see anything!"
"Where is this?"
"Help, help!"
Xuan Yunxin's expression shifted as she hurried to investigate the commotion.
What she discovered was a white mist that enveloped both sides of the battle.
Even Xin Zhi had vanished into the mist without a trace.
"This..."
The astute Xuan Yunxin quickly pieced things together.
"Array?!"
"But this..."
Shock filled her expression.
"Yes, it's him?"
She recalled Lu Chen, who had been wandering there earlier.
Had he been setting up a formation at that time?
Back then, she had thought Lu Chen was merely strolling about, an ordinary citizen not worth consideration.
But now it seemed she had misjudged him entirely.
The silently deployed formation had obliterated her side's numerical advantage.
Her strategy against Xia Yu had crumbled.
She had intended to use Xiao Ye and the others to pressure Xia Yu and confine her, ultimately leading to Xia Yu's defeat.
Now, her plan lay in ruins.
"Who is he?"
Xuan Yunxin looked directly at Xia Yu.
Panic gripped her.
She had carelessly underestimated Lu Chen.
Xia Yu wore a sly smile, her inner peace restored.
She teased, "He announced his identity; have you forgotten?"
"Brother Zhang Conglong? Or junior brother Ji Yan?"
Xuan Yunxin, intelligent but self-complexifying, recalled Lu Chen claiming to be Zhang Conglong's younger brother and later a junior brother to Ji Yan.
However, based on her observations, Xuan Yunxin concluded that Lu Chen was neither Zhang Conglong's younger brother nor Ji Yan's junior brother.
She thought him a pretender—an insignificant person unworthy of attention.
But now this Lost Formation had emerged, and Xuan Yunxin realized she had severely misjudged him.
That meant Lu Chen's self-identifications might indeed hold truth.
Was he truly Zhang Conglong's younger brother or Ji Yan's junior brother?
Xuan Yunxin's frown deepened.
Suddenly, a cold light flashed.
Xia Yu said calmly, "You don't seem to be taking me seriously?"
Xuan Yunxin quickly dodged, her gaze fixed on Xia Yu's slightly murderous expression.
"It seems today is the day I must completely defeat you."
Xia Yu replied, "Now that no one will interfere, show your true skills and let me see your capabilities."
Xuan Yunxin produced a magic talisman.
The green talisman emitted almost invisible air currents.
Suddenly, Xia Yu felt an immense pressure descend upon her.
Xuan Yunxin said, "This is a fourth-grade spiritual talisman. Once activated, it wields power akin to a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator's blow."
"Even if you're at the late Golden Elixir stage, you might not withstand it."
"Within a ten-mile radius, everyone will suffer devastating consequences."
"Are you certain you wish to continue this fight with me?"
"Your companions are sheltered by the formation, but I doubt it can endure my fourth-grade talisman."
Xuan Yunxin's expression was grave; she wasn't lying.
She chose to reveal the truth to Xia Yu, but she was loath to part with the talisman.
In fact, it was the only one of its kind she possessed.
Her intention was to use it to force Xia Yu into submission.
However, the unexpected shift had left her feeling unsettled.
Having underestimated Lu Chen, now that he was absent, uncertainty gnawed at her.
Thus, she hesitated to act change impulsively, hoping to persuade Xia Yu to concede.
Xia Yu, her expression solemn, was not an easy target.
Although a fourth-grade spiritual talisman was immensely lethal, it didn't imply she couldn't counter it; she had her own trump card.
Xia Yu wouldn't be intimidated by Xuan Yunxin's words.
Calmly, she said, "You can try to see if you can defeat me."
Seeing Xia Yu unyielding, Xuan Yunxin's voice turned icy.
"It seems you're truly unafraid of your companions' fates."
"So what if you win?"
"Our side still holds the advantage, and having that person create a formation changes nothing."
"My junior brother is at the Golden Elixir stage. Once he joins in, the outcome will remain the same."
Xia Yu reiterated, "You can try."
"Good!"
Unable to convince Xia Yu with mere words, a glint of determination flashed in Xuan Yunxin's eyes, and she prepared to act.
Just as she poured spiritual power into the talisman, a powerful spiritual consciousness struck her.
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(End of this chapter)