Jiang Chen and the others were sheltered within the guardian formation, with various illusion techniques concealing their true forms. Until the formation was broken through, there was no need to worry about their location being exposed.
Jiang Chen used his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil to observe from a distance. The two Divine Dao cultivators had already positioned themselves on the left and right flanks and begun their assault.
Judging by their manner, they were clearly acting without a shred of caution — the posture of men crushing ants beneath their feet.
Though the area separating them was not particularly wide, they had been split apart from each other. Jiang Chen was quite pleased with this arrangement. If he could open a gap in the formation to lure just one of them inside, he would have every opportunity to pick them off one by one — and the odds of success were far from slim.
Jiang Chen shifted his field of vision back and forth between the two before making his decision: "The one on the right with the fleshy growth on his chin — he seems more reckless. We'll start with him."
In a battle like this, reducing the enemy's fighting strength by taking one out of the equation was naturally the best possible strategy.
And to reduce their numbers, the first step was always to squeeze the softest persimmon.
That cultivator with the growth on his chin was clearly the easier target.
The man brandished a savage mace studded with iron spikes, and every blow he landed sent shockwaves of terrifying force roaring into the edges of the formation. The resulting explosions were deafening enough to make one's eardrums throb with pain.
"Everyone, get ready. I'm going to split open the formation and create an opening to let him in. Then I'll unleash a host of Divine Abilities to restrain him. What you need to do is, in that instant, strike him with your most devastating attacks. Whether or not you can wound him, you must hit him with everything you've got. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The Second Holy Sovereign was somewhat reluctant at heart, but he knew they were fighting for the Eternal Sacred Land. If he dragged his feet or sabotaged the plan and Jiang Chen caught wind of it, the man might wash his hands of the whole affair — and then his own troubles would be far greater. The Eternal Sacred Land's troubles would be greater still.
The others, naturally, had no objections.
Jiang Chen manipulated the formation, and before long the area under assault began to buckle inward. Cracks spread across the surface before the cultivator with the growth on his chin.
The man's face lit up at the sight.
"Break already!" He slammed his mace down once more, and the cracks that had already formed split wide open into a gaping hole.
The cultivator threw back his head and laughed: "I've broken through! Fellow Daoist Zijing, I'm heading in first!"
He was clearly the impatient type — he called out his greeting even as he was already charging through, without the slightest hesitation.
His mace cleared the way, shielding him so tightly that not even the wind could get through.
It was obvious that despite his reckless demeanor, the man was no fool. That seemingly berserk offense was also the most effective form of defense.
However, what surprised him was that after charging inside, none of the attacks or ambushes he had anticipated materialized. The surroundings were completely empty, as though he had suddenly been transported into a bizarre spatial world.
Jiang Chen's hands flew through a rapid series of seals, pushing the Nine Palaces Bewildering Spirit Chart to its absolute limit.
In the past, the Nine Palaces Bewildering Spirit Chart had not fully displayed its greatest potential in Jiang Chen's hands. Now, as his cultivation continued to rise, he had been continually unearthing more of its hidden capabilities.
As its name implied, the Nine Palaces Bewildering Spirit Chart was a treasure capable of bewildering even Divine Dao cultivators — and that was precisely why it deserved its name.
The cultivator with the growth was clearly one of those whose physical offense and defense were both absurdly powerful. Against such a man, a straightforward contest of brute force was something he would never fear.