045. Protracted Battle

The talisman array continued to activate, consuming spiritual talismans at an astonishing pace. Compared to a true formation, a talisman array was much easier to set up and operate, requiring almost no knowledge of yin-yang arts or numerology as a foundation. However, it lacked the profound mysteries of a proper formation and relied entirely on spiritual talismans; once the talismans were depleted, the array became useless.

Dantai Yu watched the array with growing anxiety, concerned that the talismans were being used up too quickly and fearing they would not be enough to repel the wolf pack.

At last, Sheng Yangqiu spoke up, “Fellow disciples, if you have spiritual talismans on you, bring them out and use them. If we lose our lives here, all our worldly possessions will be worthless.” With that, he pulled a small bundle of talismans from his robes. “These are mine.”

Zhang Qingshu hesitated briefly, then drew out a thick stack of talismans from his chest. “These are Fire Talismans. They should last us a while.”

Next was Yu Xiyin, who tossed out a heap of Profound Water Talismans. “I’m not as wealthy as Brother Qingshu, so this is all I have.”

Then Dantai Yu said, “Mine are all here.”

Ling Yu observed them, and judged that even if they hadn’t brought out everything, it was close enough. She produced her own talismans. “You all know I’ve consumed a lot of pills these past few years, so I’m not very well-off. These are all I have, but they’re Wavecrest Talismans.”

Zhang Qingshu was pleasantly surprised, “Wavecrest Talismans? Those are high-grade water talismans! Sister Cheng, you’re too modest.”

Sheng Yangqiu nodded. “That’s enough. With these talismans, we should be able to wipe out most of the wolf pack.”

Outside the mountain hollow, wolf carcasses littered the ground. At first, the wolves only launched probing attacks. The group responded with a sudden barrage from the talisman array, catching the wolves off guard and killing seven or eight demon wolves in an instant. Wolves were creatures prone to grudges, especially since they had become demon beasts. At the head wolf’s command, more than a hundred wolves surged forward, throwing the group into chaos.

Zhang Qingshu and Yu Xiyin operated the talisman array, while Ling Yu, Sheng Yangqiu, and Dantai Yu guarded the gaps, dispatching any wolves that slipped through.

Ling Yu focused intently on the gaps in their defense. Each time her sword flashed, a shower of blood followed. Her vigilant gaze swept over the wolf pack, seeking the perfect angle and moment to strike.

The talisman array consumed talismans rapidly. Though they had a fair number, it was impossible to eliminate all the demon wolves, especially with the head wolf at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. After slaying another wolf, Ling Yu glanced at the head wolf, who glared at them with ferocity, its savage nature clearly stirred.

“Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!” With the Fire Talismans exhausted, the array began to activate Gale Talismans. Ling Yu glanced around—their talisman supply was more than half depleted, yet only thirty or so wolves had been killed. Fire Talismans were the most powerful, and cultivators carried the most when traveling. With the remaining talismans, they could only take down another thirty or forty wolves before the array was spent.

The situation was dire. Ling Yu frowned. Even when the array failed, at best they could kill half the pack, not counting the strongest head wolf. Then they would face a siege by seventy or eighty demon wolves. If they were seasoned cultivators, perhaps they could break out, but only days ago they could barely hold a sword...

Ling Yu wasn’t the only one who recognized the severity of their predicament. As talismans dwindled and the array neared collapse, all their faces grew grim.

“Awooo—” As the array spat out fewer and fewer talismans, the head wolf seemed to sense their plight and raised its head in a long, commanding howl.

The wolves echoed the howl, filling the air with a thunderous chorus that chilled the heart.

Yu Xiyin trembled, glancing at the others.

Sheng Yangqiu’s expression was grave as he gripped his sword tightly. “This won’t do. Dantai, Cheng, the three of us will charge out and kill as many as we can. Yu, Zhang, you two hold the line with the array; pace the talismans, just keep them suppressed.”

The group nodded. With the array, they could contain the wolves; once it failed, they would be forced into close combat, which would be perilous.

“Dui, Kan, Gen—stop those three points,” Sheng Yangqiu commanded. Zhang Qingshu and Yu Xiyin slowed the activation of talismans, opening three positions in the array.

“Dantai, Cheng, let’s go!” Sheng Yangqiu shouted, sword in hand as he charged forward.

Ling Yu and Dantai Yu followed closely, each taking a position and plunging into the wolf pack.

These demon wolves were larger and stronger than ordinary wolves, their breath foul and reeking, their eyes fierce, their fangs as sharp as blades. Seeing Ling Yu rush forth, two wolves leapt at her together, jaws snapping.

Ling Yu’s gaze sharpened. She flicked her Kan-Li Sword, sending a burst of sword energy between the two wolves, forcing them to dodge in opposite directions. The opening left one wolf exposed to the array’s attack.

“Spurt—” Blood sprayed as a wolf’s howl sounded. The Gale Talisman struck true, crippling one wolf’s leg. The other fared little better; the Kan-Li Sword flared, slicing a razor-sharp arc that pierced its right eye.

Once wounded, these demon wolves retreated. Ling Yu seized the moment, finishing off the crippled wolf, while the blind one managed to escape.

With one wolf dead and another wounded, the head wolf howled again, sending two more wolves forward.

Ling Yu soon sensed something was amiss. They had changed tactics, and so had the wolves. No longer did the wolves fight to the death; now, two would attack at a time, swiping once before retreating, replaced by others. Though her sword injured several, killing them became increasingly difficult.

Sheng Yangqiu and Dantai Yu faced the same challenge. After half an hour, Sheng Yangqiu called out, “This won’t work; we’ll be worn down. Brothers and sisters, any ideas?”

Dantai Yu glanced at the array—Yu Xiyin and Zhang Qingshu looked pale, their supply of talismans nearly gone, able to hold out only a short while longer. He looked at the wolf pack; under the head wolf’s command, the wolves suffered injuries but fewer deaths, unlike the earlier chaos under the talisman array.

The head wolf’s intelligence was not to be underestimated.

At that thought, an idea formed in his mind. He raised his voice, “Capture the king to defeat the thieves—what do you think?”

“Brother Dantai, isn’t that too risky?” Zhang Qingshu’s face changed. Not only was the head wolf deep within the pack, but its cultivation far surpassed the others, making it a formidable foe.

“No!” Ling Yu’s eyes lit with determination. “If we keep dragging this out, we’ll be worn down. It’s better to take a risk—perhaps we can carve out a path to survival!”

Sheng Yangqiu hesitated only a moment before deciding, “Sister Cheng is right. The plan is risky, but it’s the most straightforward!”

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