The massive black dragon drew closer and closer with its terrifying fluctuations of immortal essence exerting a heavy pressure on everyone present. Many initially believed it to be a true black dragon, but as it neared, they realized it was an Immortal Boat Formation.

The experts of Lone Light Star looked on with bewildered eyes. They had never heard of any power in the Taicang Realm whose Immortal Boat Formation took the form of a black dragon. Only Core Disciple Wang and Core Disciple Xuan realized that the Black Dragon Formation belonged to the Enlightenment God Palace.

Core Disciple Xuan said with a bitter smile, "Our reinforcements have arrived, though they may be a bit late..."

With this Black Dragon Formation arriving at Lone Light Star now, it was essentially unable to influence the direction of the battle. Had her Lotus Formation still possessed residual strength to join forces, there might have been a slim chance of victory. But in a true clash, how could two ordinary Immortal Boat Formations possibly resist the opponent's Formation Immortal Technique?

Currently, she didn't even have the strength to activate her own formation, leaving her with no chance at all.

"Reinforcements...?"

The cultivators of Lone Light Star looked at one another, their eyes similarly filled with bitterness. They had come too late. If they had arrived just a few days earlier, perhaps the situation wouldn't be this dire.

"Enlightenment God Palace, Black Dragon Formation."

Core Disciple Wang suddenly chuckled. "I often saw ancient records regarding the Enlightenment God Palace back at the Study. I never had the opportunity to travel to the Fangcun Realm. Seeing you here today can be considered a stroke of fate."

Having said that, he glanced at Core Disciple Xuan. "Your sect must be truly desperate. Otherwise, the Enlightenment God Palace wouldn't have appeared in the Taicang Realm. After all, you used to care deeply about your reputation."

Core Disciple Xuan said coldly, "Do not celebrate too early. Once the cultivators from the Fangcun and Shenwang Realm arrive in Taicang, your plan to sweep through this domain will likely be shelved. Even if Lone Light Star falls under your control today, our generation will fight our way back in the future. Don't even dream of advancing another step!"

Core Disciple Wang smiled. "Is that so? Perhaps."

He then directly cast aside the boat where Core Disciple Xuan was at. He maneuvered the Eight-Legged Formation, slowly moving to intercept the Black Dragon Formation.

The two great formations came to a halt only when they were a hundred miles apart, neither side acting rashly.

"Core Disciple Fang, the situation on Lone Light Star... is very bad."

Ji Gang looked down. He spotted the Boat Core Disciple Xuan was on, the White Lotus, a boat that only Core disciples of the Wandao Immortal Sect could command. Since there was no Lotus Formation in sight, it was clear proof that the Wandao core disciples had been decisively defeated.

Fang Chen murmured softly, "The formation in front of us should be the Eight-Legged Formation of the Grand Wei Study."

Before arriving, these Core disciples and the members of the expedition teams had all received a briefing on the situation in the Taicang Realm, which included descriptions of its various major powers.

The Eight-Legged Formation was a formation unique to the Grand Wei Study. "Does your Excellency hail from the Enlightenment God Palace? I am Wang Zhanqi of the Grand Wei Study."

Within the Eight-Legged Formation, Wang Zhanqi cupped his hands from a distance.

"Jiang Chen of the Enlightenment God Palace," Fang Chen replied, likewise cupping his hands.

Jiang Chen?

Wang Zhanqi searched through his memory but found no corresponding information so he assumed that he was likely an insignificant minor character.

He smiled. "Daoist Jiang, you may have arrived a step too late. Lone Light Star has already fallen to us. How about you return to wherever you came from?"

Fang Chen asked casually, "Are the Daoists of the Wandao Immortal Sect guarding this place still alive?"

Wang Zhanqi glanced at Core Disciple Xuan and then replied, "Alive, yes. But you cannot take them with you. I can let you leave, but they must stay."

He smiled at Fang Chen again. "The reason I'm letting you go is simple: I hope you'll go back and tell the Enlightenment God Palace something. It's best not to interfere in the affairs of the Taicang Realm, lest you draw fire to yourselves, that wouldn't be good. Although we plan to visit the Fangcun and Shenwang Realm eventually, it won't be so soon. You still have a few years of peace left."

Core Disciple Xuan spoke up. "Daoist, you should return. Everything is already too late; there's no need to stay here and wait for death with us."

Fang Chen looked at Core Disciple Xuan and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Wang is letting me leave clearly because he feels that keeping me here would cost too much. If I truly left, wouldn't I just be doing exactly what he wants?"

Xuan was momentarily stunned, and then gave a bitter smile. "Daoist, if you had come a few days earlier, the situation might have been better. Core Disciple Wang of the Grand Wei Study has already mastered a Formation Immortal Art. Ordinary formations cannot withstand for long."

She was tactfully hinting for Fang Chen to escape while he could.

"Core Disciple Fang, the cultivators below seem to be imprisoned by a special power. I suspect it is the Heavenly Net, one of the more famous Formation Immortal Arts of the Grand Wei Study," whispered Ji Gang.

Wang Zhanqi's eyes lit up. "You know of the Heavenly Net? It seems the Grand Wei Study does have some reputation in the Fangcun Realm."

Ji Gang replied honestly, "We only learned of the Grand Wei Study right before we set out."

"Is that so..."

Wang Zhanqi chuckled and then changed the subject. "Well? Since Core Disciple Xuan has already told you that I possess a Formation Immortal Art, will you still remain here to be buried alongside Lone Light Star?"

At that moment, the two-seventh transformation Ancient Immortals nearby seemed to have entered the final stage of their duel and a victor was about to emerge.

Ji Gang reminded him, "Core Disciple Fang, if those two decide the victor, it will be too late for us to act."

Wang Zhanqi said with slight displeasure, "Wait, Core Disciple Fang? You weren't honest... you gave a fake name?"

The response he received was a brilliant, dazzling sword light.

In a mere instant, the Eight-Legged Formation was sliced clean in half, including the very Immortal Boat beneath Wang Zhanqi's feet.

"Old Sheng, Old Ji, capture this man alive. He has a sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal by his side, be careful," instructed Fang Chen. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Then, he steered the Black Dragon Formation to pounce toward the two seventh-transformation Ancient Immortals.

Ji Gang and Sheng Ning reached Wang Zhanqi's side immediately. Thanks to Fang Chen's warning, they remained on guard against the sixth transformation Ghost Immortal while capturing Wang Zhanqi. But the Ghost Immortal didn't show themselves at all.

The air grew quiet.

Core Disciple Xuan stared blankly at the scene. Shock covered the faces of those around her.

How had the situation flipped in the blink of an eye?

How could the Eight-Legged Formation, a Formation Immortal Boat, be destroyed in a mere instant?!

The realization hit everyone, causing them to gasp in shock, followed immediately by wild ecstasy!

Core Disciple Xuan was stunned. "The Enlightenment God Palace actually sent a Core disciple who has mastered a Formation Immortal Art to reinforce Lone Light Star!? Did they know in advance that Wang Zhanqi would master one!?"

In the brief moment she was dazed, Wang Zhanqi was brought before her by Ji Gang and Old Sheng.

Core Disciple Xuan said with a strange expression. "Core Disciple Wang... the situation appears to have changed."

Wang Zhanqi finally regained his senses, his face looking quite ashen. Deep within his eyes, a flicker of horror was hidden.