Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

"We're doing all we can, shut it already!"

The other masters yelled back as they walked further into the hallway, deciphering this monstrous formation. The four beasts fluttered throughout the formation, unobstructed by its power. With each step, they marked different points for the formation masters. As helpful as it was, there were over a thousand points to break before dispeling the Immortal Severing Formation. 

For an ordinary formation master, it could take decades to achieve this and that was with the help of a unique treasure like the Heavenly Beast's Mirror. But these several figures were masters in this field, their knowledge was unparalleled. 

For them to work together, breaking this formation wouldn't take very long. But could they break it in time?

Master Qi's aged face wrinkled up as he yelled out once more. 

"Then do more! I don't have many years left in this body of mine! If I die, I'm going to haunt all of you until you join me in the afterlife!"

Indeed, he could feel his life force flow from his body and into the golden mirror. His cranky voice could be heard by everyone, revealing the dire situation.

The Grand Elder's team looked at each other, half wanting to jump in and help and the other half knowing that entering could mean death. 

"If we enter, we may not come out."

"If we don't go, they could very well perish."

"Think about the formations. Should we break one, the others could grow stronger. It could even affect the one they are working on. What if it resets? Then all of their work is in vain."

"Standing here and waiting will do us no good."

"Whatever they've found must be of high importance if this monstrosity of a trap is protecting it."

As they discussed among each other, someone stepped forward. 

"I should enter..."

Hua Xiong stepped forward and made her way towards the formations before being stopped by Ming Yue. 

"Are you sure? This is very risky to do. You might die before finding your sect."

She was surprised, not expecting Hua Xiong to volunteer to step into the formations. 

"I can see his life force already and it is starting to wane. He could very well die in the next few minutes. While I cannot replenish his life force, I could prolong it."

Hua Xiong explained and then prepared to join Elder Kan's group. Her words entered everyone's ears, placing both shock and more pressure on them. 

"Grr, I'll join you as well! There is no point in waiting around and watching."

Tuan joined the young cultivator, gripping his staff in preparation for battle. 

"There is no better option."

"I suppose so."

"I can't just let them die."

One by one, those from the other two groups walked forward. Then the Grand Elder moved and directly entered the three formations, his aura expanded as he exerted more power and suppressed the formations themselves. 

The pressure that Elder Kan's group felt had been cut down by a third. The chains seemed to loosen, the weight on their bodies lightened, and the shadowy warriors weakened. 

"Whatever the Tao Feng's Sect Leader is protecting must be of great importance to his plan. It could very well explain what he has been killing cultivators for", said the Grand Elder, "Not to mention, I'd rather not lose anyone from Heaven's Gate."

All at once, everyone entered and Hua Xiong immediately rushed to Master Qi's side. She supported his back with her hands and began to work, strengthening his life force. While she could not increase his life span, Hua Xiong slowly improved his body. 

"Ah, girl! When did you get here?!"

Bit by bit, Master Qi began to feel better, stronger. Although his appearance has not changed, his complexion was better and he did not seem as feeble as before. There was joy and excitement on his face as he began to pour more of his life force into the Heavenly Beast's Mirror.

"Good! Good! It seems that I'll be alive long enough to break this ancient thing! Watch the full power of a treasure I spent a lifetime strengthening!"

He cackled loudly as the mirror glowed with even more power. Suddenly, the four beasts did not just prance around and mark points of the Immortal Severing Formations. Rather, they seemed to battle it, ripping apart the formation itself with their claws and fangs. 

The other masters paused in awe, watching for just a moment before returning to the task. 

"It won't take long!" said Master Qi, "Give it just a few more minutes."

At this stage, the situation was not as dangerous as before. With the Grand Elder and numerous Sky Realm experts, the three formations that trapped them was only half as deadly. So much so, that even those of the younger generation had actually went on the offensive. From the bladesmen of the Four Swords Region to the warriors of the Xue Mountains, they began to cover the hall, claiming it inch by inch. 

"With a Heaven Realm Cultivator like the Grand Elder, this has become much easier."

Zha Tian Yun moved like light, flicker here and there. Although he was not talented in the Dao of Light like Hua Xiong, he was a skilled swordsman focusing on the Dao of Swords and using the Dao of Light to support it. His style focused on speed and accuracy much like Ming Yue, though his swordsmanship was more rigid and inflexible. 

In front him were five of the Shadows with their weapons ready, his body turned into light and flashed five time. In that moment, all of them dispersed from his attack and he returned to his normal form, looking for the next target. 

In the corner of his eye, he noticed Ming Yue, waving her sword in a strange fashion. Like leaves dancing in the wind, she moved with a beautiful and perplexing manner. It was hard to predict where she would go or even attack. More than that was her lack of aura, which made it even harder to track her when she chose to vanish and reappear elsewhere. 

"She is here?"

He was surprised, not expecting her in the slightest as this operation was kept in secret. His heart seemed to waver as he saw her, but soon he shook it off and felt gratitude instead. 

"If not for you, I would have fallen down the wrong path", he thought. 

Likewise, Yu Hua also noticed Ming Yue and her eyes showed a complex emotion. There was confusion and curiosity but she stayed silent and continued to fight. Whatever she was thinking, no one knew, not even Elder Xiang, her master. 

"Hah! We got it!"

All the formation masters yelled out in unison as this unassuming hallway suddenly glowed. The Immortal Severing Formation trembled and shuddered, affecting the entire mountain before disappearing. 

The three formations stopped as well, the chains dissipated and the shadowy figures vanished. 

"Finally!" 

Master Qi stopped activating the Heavenly Beast's mirror and quickly returned it to his sleeves. Not even moment's later, he stumbled and fell back onto Hua Xiong's hands.

"Ah damn, I must've lost at least twenty or thirty years right there. I wonder if I can get my hands on some life-extending treasures..."

He muttered before standing up and supporting himself with his talisman-wrapped sword. He turned around and looked at the others before shouting.

"Let's go in! Let's see what this crafty bastard is hiding!"

Everyone looked at him, silently having a breath of relief. If he had died while trying to unlock the formation, they would've done all of this in vain and even died too. If that was the end, this would have been a foolish operation. 

As they all collected themselves and gathered, a shadowy blew past them all and entered the hallway, barreling into the depth of the fortress. 

"Oh no! It's Dai Mian! After him!"

The Grand Elder suddenly took flight and chased after the Tao Feng's Sect Leader.