Chapter 652: Biyuan Island, Preparation (Merged and Updated)_2
In the end, the formation was broken due to internal sabotage.
This time, the Taiqian Shark Tribe clearly did not have Formation-breaking Talismans; they relied on their sharp Sword Intent.
"Senior Lin." Several beautiful female True Persons waved toward Lin Shiming.
"Ladies, you flatter me. I am merely at the Golden Core stage and can hardly be called a senior!" Lin Shiming shook his head with a bitter smile.
After a brief exchange of greetings, they each entered the Transmission Formation. This formation was large-scale and could transport three hundred people at once. For the Lin Family, it required two cycles to transfer everyone.
As the Lin Family prepared for their transmission, Profound Mechanism True Person and Zhao Fuling, along with Zhao Yulin, also approached. They all seemed somewhat keen.
"Daoist Lin," they greeted in a familiar tone, no longer treating him as an outsider, given their acquaintance. Lin Shiming, not being in the Nascent Soul stage, naturally refrained from any airs.
"Today, we are also heading there," Profound Mechanism True Person remarked.
Meanwhile, Zhao Fuling and Zhao Yulin stayed silent.
"Red Leaf True Person is already waiting on Biyuan Island; we'll rendezvous with her," Profound Mechanism True Person added, seeing Lin Shiming still examining the details.
Apart from the Lin Family, the remaining eight major forces under the Golden Core factions took turns with guarding duties.
Each Great Sect sent at least three Golden Core factions each time. This time, the designated factions included Red Leaf Island and Tianjiu Island among others.
"Let's accompany one another, much preparation is required. This defense will not be simple," Lin Shiming replied meaningfully.
He wasn't certain if the others grasped his implications.
But all he could do was provide limited hints.
The arrangements made by the various Nascent Soul True Monarchs were not conveyed down to the True Persons.
Only at the moment of execution would anyone truly understand the plan.
For this group of cultivators sent in advance, it would be the same as previous engagements; only when the enemy showed a weakness could they give their all to deliver a fatal blow to the Taiqian Shark Tribe.
As the transmission light flared, Lin Shiming felt a whirl of disorientation. The next instant, a massive island appeared before him.
Above the island floated a giant blazing sun, surrounded by over a dozen Red Cloud Fen Birds.
These Red Cloud Fen Birds were familiar to Lin Shiming, having encountered them while guarding Coral Island previously. They were all firebirds.
Emitting an intense heat, these birds could suppress the spread of the Taiqian Mist. Although it wasn't a permanent solution, it still served as a partial mitigation for the Southern Sea.
On the island, an iron fortress was established. While its walls weren't as grand as Nanxian City's on Yunyue Immortal Island,
they were nearly eighty zhang tall, capable of withstanding tsunamis. Layered with terrifying formations, the spirit patterns on the walls stretched like cobwebs into the horizon.
A considerable number of cultivators were on the walls, gathered in small groups and battle formations. Within the fortifications, large-scale Gathering Spiritual Battle Formations were also present.
These formations were designed for Qi Cultivators to maximize their abilities.
While the spiritual energy of a single Qi Cultivator may be insignificant,
the combined power of a thousand Qi Cultivators during warfare was entirely different.
This calamity brought together sects from all six major oceanic regions, fueling a massive assembly of Qi Cultivators.
Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators were scarce in the Cultivation World, but Qi Cultivators were always abundant.
On the walls, apart from Red Leaf Island's cultivators, Lin Shiming spotted Nine Dragon Island's cultivators feeding the Flood Dragons and Spirit Snakes with blood meals.
Most of the blood meals consisted of Taiqian Shark or common Spirit Shark flesh, strengthening the beasts' ferocity to increase their chances of victory in the battles ahead.
In contrast to Nine Dragon Island's beast feeding, nearby Chi Lan Sect cultivators wore crimson robes and wielded artifacts like crimson banners or red swords. Fire Attribute cultivators were abundant.
These cultivators forced out their natal Spiritual Flames, which momentarily merged atop the walls.
The combined Spiritual Flames of ten Chi Lan Sect cultivators might be negligible, but when gathered from one hundred or one thousand of them, the resulting aura was entirely different.
As the flames reached a critical stage, they transformed into various mystical beasts.
Evidently, this technique bore similarities to the Heavenly Fire Secret Technique seen previously at Nanxian Hall, a signature ability of Chi Lan Sect.
Besides Chi Lan Sect, nearby stood Qinghua Sect, Five Poisons Sect, and Heavenly Sun Sect.
These three sects had distinct traits: Qinghua Sect primarily consisted of female cultivators, each summoning Spirit Plants in front of them.
The Spirit Plants varied, including massive carnivorous Spirit Flowers, razor-sharp Golden Spearwood, and various Thunder Strike Wood.
While the carnivorous flowers restrained cultivators, the Golden Spearwood and Thunder Strike Wood creatures were highly effective against Taiqian Sharks.
Qinghua Sect had an astonishing number of Wood Element creatures—far more than those on Tianliu Island.
Lin Shiming suspected they must have a secret treasure or legacy.
Otherwise, how could Qinghua Sect manifest so many Wood Element creatures?
Heavenly Sun Sect's Sword Cultivators also caught Lin Shiming's attention, as the sword auras emanating from their backs grew steadily stronger, even as they stood on the walls.
While most lacked Sword Intent, the power they wielded was still remarkable, prompting Lin Shiming to observe them closely.
"Shijie, you all take a closer look too!" Lin Shiming turned to Lin Shijie, Lin Zeli, and the others.
They were skilled Sword Cultivators themselves. Though they might not discern the essence of the Secret Techniques, any insights gained could prove beneficial.
Aside from watching, the rest of the clan adhered strictly to defensive protocols.
The Lin Family maintained their "three-three policy," with one defense-specialized cultivator at the front and two offense-specialized cultivators in the rear.
In front of the defensive cultivators often stood Spirit Beasts or puppet corpses controlled by Spirit Controlling Seals.
The Lin Family's policy effectively formed a "three-one-two battle formation," ensuring high survival rates.
At this moment, Lin Shiming no longer needed to make further deployments as Lin Shiyuan handled everything.
As the Wind Spirit Root cultivator of the Lin Family, Lin Shiyuan had undergone considerable training recently.
With Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng absent, Lin Shiyuan naturally held the highest command.
On the walls, positioned at the far ends were Myriad Buddhas Island and the Blood Cultivation Sect. Even now, they had yet to fully set aside their grudges.
Still, Lin Shiming couldn't deny their underlying strength.
Myriad Buddhas Island cultivators used scrolls of Buddhist illustrations, surrounded by Buddha Eagles, wooden fish, and Precept Rulers, among other artifacts.
In contrast, the Blood Cultivation Sect's martial prowess was sheer brutality—some wielded Demon Banners or coffins before them, while others unveiled Ghost Banners or sacrificial Demon Swords and artifacts.
In ordinary times, other sects would never permit such displays, but during urgent crises, failing to adapt would result in the Southern Sea's obliteration.
Another surprise for Lin Shiming was the Five Poisons Sect. On their section of the walls, countless holes had been carved, revealing eerie eyes embedded within.
A multitude of poisons and Spirit Insects had infiltrated the walls, lying in wait for the Taiqian Sharks to approach.
Lin Shiming recognized several of the insects, including Devouring Ants. Though most were inferior grade, third rank specimens, they paled in comparison to his two fourth-rank Devouring Ants, whose formation-devouring capabilities were far superior.
Beyond these, Lin Shiming also spotted numerous Mantis Spirit Beasts, Flying Centipede Spirit Beasts, and various Spirit Snakes and Spirit Frogs.
After a brief glance, Lin Shiming turned away and began setting up formations in front of their section of the walls.
The grand formation on Biyuan Island was a supreme-grade fifth rank formation, designed not to interfere with other formations. Thus, additional formations could still be arranged directly on the walls, though they couldn't draw power from the island's Spirit Veins, requiring their own Spirit Stones.
Otherwise, draining the supreme-grade fifth rank formation's Spiritual Power would pose additional risks.