Jiujian Zhenjun and Tianhua Zhenjun led the way, with hundreds of Golden Core realm cultivators following behind them, heading towards Earth in a mighty procession.
According to their strength, these over a hundred Golden Core cultivators were divided into four echelons.
The first echelon naturally consisted of the two leaders, Jiujian Zhenjun and Tianhua Zhenjun.
Although Tianhua Zhenjun was not ranked on the Heavenly Ranking of the Wushan Starfield, his title of Zhenjun was enough to show his significance within the Golden Core realm.
The second echelon comprised Daozun, Wenhou, and the other nine who had cultivated a second-grade high-quality Golden Core and reached its peak. Their strength placed them as the strongest beings below the Heavenly Ranking.
The third echelon consisted of ordinary second-grade Golden Core cultivators, numbering over forty, forming the core of this treasure-hunting group.
Neither Daozun and Wenhou nor Jiujian Zhenjun dared to overlook this force lightly. Fortunately, these over forty second-grade Golden Core powerhouses were not acting as a single unit. They were collaborating in groups of four or five second-grade Golden Core cultivators, forming nearly ten smaller teams.
As for the remaining nearly one hundred third-grade Golden Core cultivators, they were merely subordinates to the second-grade Golden Core cultivators. In this situation, they were only to obey orders and had no decision-making power.
Over a hundred Golden Core realm powerhouses, traveling at speeds far exceeding the speed of sound, quickly pierced through Earth's atmosphere, transforming into streaks of multicolored light. Like shooting stars, they descended upon the Central Siberian Plateau.
"What is that?"
On the live broadcast screen, hundreds of people in strange attire suddenly appeared, descending at extreme speed onto the icy plateau, immediately causing a stir among the global audience watching the broadcast.
"Could these be reinforcements brought by that one-armed swordsman who escaped earlier?"
"Over a hundred aliens, each looking formidable. I wonder if Master Zhang can handle them?"
The ordinary viewers watching the broadcast felt a sense of wonder, but Lin Haotian and Wuchen Jianxian in the Half-Moon Cave Mansion, upon witnessing this scene, turned extremely grim.
The arrival of over one hundred and fifty Golden Core realm powerhouses on the Central Siberian Plateau made Lin Haotian and the others realize that this was likely the treasure-hunting army from the Wushan Starfield.
"Master..."
Lin Haotian clenched his fists, filled with unwillingness. If his strength were not so weak, why would he be holed up in this cave mansion?
Wuchen Jianxian could only sigh and gently pat Lin Haotian's shoulder in comfort.
Even Wuchen Jianxian, who had always found Zhang Fan unfathomable, now had little confidence in Zhang Fan and was filled with worry.
...
In the icy winds and snow, this place on Earth was a forbidden zone for life. However, for this group of Golden Core cultivators, it had no impact whatsoever.
"Tianhua Zhenjun, please lend us your strength to break this illusion array."
Daozun walked to the forefront of the crowd. Although there was still an endless expanse of snow ahead of them, everyone present could sense an unusual fluctuation emanating from before them.
Tianhua Zhenjun's eyes seemed divine. He stared at a patch of snowy ground for a full three minutes before nodding. He retrieved seven luminous jade beads from his storage artifact.
The beads were only the size of eyeballs, made of pure glass. Tianhua Zhenjun casually tossed them forward, and the glass beads were thrown into the illusion array, disappearing from sight.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Fan and Lin Yun, enveloped within the array, were cultivating, but Xue Jing was not. He clearly saw seven shimmering, multicolored beads entering the array.
"Are those… Array-Breaking Beads?"
Seeing the seven beads, Xue Jing felt a flicker of unease.
Although Xue Jing was not skilled in array formations, he understood some basic information about them.
Array-Breaking Beads were made by array masters using their divine sense and special materials. They were specifically designed for breaking arrays, hence their name.
Array-Breaking Beads had no offensive power. Their main function was reconnaissance, acting as the eyes of an array master to enter an array, avoiding powerful attacks or getting trapped within.
In the Golden Core realm, cultivators who specialized in array formations were extremely rare, not only because the path of array formations was incredibly difficult but also because setting up arrays was a very costly endeavor.
For example, to set up a high-grade Earth-tier array, an array master would need to craft a set of high-grade Earth-tier array discs. While the price of high-grade Earth-tier array discs might not rival a high-grade spirit treasure, they would still cost more than a mid-grade spirit treasure.
Furthermore, the loss rate in crafting array discs was not small, and not every array master could easily craft a set of high-grade Earth-tier array discs.
For instance, the Sect Master of the Wenxin Sect, as the leader of a sect with seven third-grade Golden Core realm cultivators under his command, only possessed two sets of mid-grade Earth-tier array discs, despite his wealth, as discovered by Zhang Fan.
After Zhang Fan's modifications, these two sets of mid-grade Earth-tier array discs were elevated to the high-grade Earth-tier level.
...
Although Xue Jing detected an array master manipulating Array-Breaking Beads into the formation, he was helpless.
This was because he was not skilled in array formations, and after Zhang Fan had set up the Tiangang Snow Ape Array and the Disha Phantom Fox Array, he had not imparted the intricacies of the arrays to them. Thus, while trapped within the arrays, they dared not move carelessly.
"I wonder when Master will finish cultivating!"
Xue Jing was anxious. Previously, even though these extraterrestrial cultivators had attempted to break the array several times, Xue Jing had not been too worried. This was because none of the powerhouses attempting to break the array were skilled in array formations. Their bombardment attacks had little effect against the 'Disha Phantom Fox Array.'
But now, it was different. There was an array master manipulating Array-Breaking Beads to break the array. Even if he were just a very ordinary Earth-tier array master, given enough time, he could definitely break through this unmanipulated array.
...
The Array-Breaking Beads continuously explored within the array, as if Tianhua Zhenjun were wandering within the formation. In the illusion array, he kept losing his direction.
On several occasions, Tianhua Zhenjun thought he had found the pattern of the illusion array and was about to approach what he believed to be the array disc. However, the Array-Breaking Beads would then directly dart out of the array.
Several days passed. Over a hundred Golden Core realm cultivators stood outside the array, waiting patiently.
"Hoo!"
Tianhua Zhenjun suddenly recalled the Array-Breaking Beads and let out a soft sigh of relief.
"Zhenjun, how is it?"
Daozun quickly asked. Everyone fixed their gaze on Tianhua Zhenjun. If he could not break this illusion array, then the cultivators of their Wushan Starfield would truly have no chance of obtaining the opportunity of the True Immortal.
"The cultivator who set up these two arrays has a cultivation in array formations no less than mine. However, fortunately, this array is not being manipulated. After seven days of exploration, I have located the positions of the seventy-two array discs of this outer illusion array."
Tianhua Zhenjun spoke, his face slightly pale from the intense concentration.
"No less than Zhenjun's?"
Daozun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He had initially thought that with Tianhua Zhenjun's intervention, it would be an easy matter to break the array.
After all, even within the entire Wushan Starfield, below the Nascent Soul realm, Tianhua Zhenjun's attainment in array formations was undoubtedly the best.
That Master Zhang not only had a formidable physique and could suppress him in Qi cultivation, his strength was likely infinitely close to the Heavenly Ranking. Yet, he also possessed such heaven-defying talent in array formations. Where did such a monstrous prodigy emerge from?
"Since that's the case, let's go!"
Jiujian Zhenjun nodded at Tianhua Zhenjun and said.
"I can lead you all into the illusion array to find the array discs and break the formation. However, I hope that none of you will damage the array discs. To be able to set up such a high-grade Earth-tier illusion array, these array discs are very precious."
Tianhua Zhenjun said.
"Naturally. Tianhua Zhenjun is breaking the array for us. Afterwards, we will certainly collect the array discs and hand them over to Zhenjun."
No one present had any objections to Tianhua Zhenjun's words.
Firstly, although these array discs were precious, they only commanded a good price when collected as a complete set. With over a hundred Golden Core realm cultivators present, if everyone tried to snatch them, it would be impossible to assemble a complete set.
Secondly, given Tianhua Zhenjun's status, no one would antagonize him over a mere set of array discs. After all, while Tianhua Zhenjun's general strength might be ordinary, his achievements in array formations commanded the respect of everyone present.
...