Chapter 1074: The Black Shadow at Level Seven

“That wasn’t true space collapse?” Jing Yingli immediately realized someone had simulated it. Had she simply fled, she would be dead. Ye Mo had quickly seen through the deception and deployed the octagonal cauldron to block the attack.

“Thanks for saving me again,” she said. She hadn’t seen what Ye Mo had burned away, but it clearly wasn’t benign.

Ye Mo nodded. “You saved me before; don’t worry about it. But I think this Truth Fall Palace, level seven, isn’t simple. It seems to have been overtaken by something. It must not have always been like this.”

“I feel it too,” Jing Yingli shivered. “Let’s go quickly—” She trailed off. Where could they go? Level eight? Back to six?

Ye Mo said, “We’re stuck. We don’t know the stairs to level eight, and even if we find them, can we ascend? We can’t go back down, so we wait for teleportation.”

“Okay,” Jing Yingli said, accepting their predicament. She immediately summoned her round shield, knowing Ye Mo would set up a formation.

As expected, Ye Mo used hand signs on the octagonal cauldron and began deploying formation flags. To their surprise, even after two defensive formations were complete, nothing happened.

“Are we being too cautious?” Jing Yingli asked.

Ye Mo shook his head. “No. My intuition is rarely wrong. It’s best to stay here; we’re near the level seven entrance, not the most dangerous area. Use these flags to reinforce the formation. If it weakens, deploy a flag according to its position.” He gave her a handful.

If he weren’t so preoccupied, he’d investigate the True God Chamber, but he sensed danger.

“What about you?” Jing Yingli asked.

“I need to make more flags. Give me any materials you have.” Ye Mo sat within the formation and began forging.

Jing Yingli readily provided her supplies. Ye Mo worked tirelessly. He wasn't a master forger, but his experience creating formation flags gave him considerable skill. He even contemplated becoming a master forger.

“Huh, Grandmother?” Jing Yingli gasped, seeing a figure outside. She’d never met her grandmother, yet she was certain of it.

She instinctively wanted to approach, but a chilling coldness swept through her sea of consciousness, a sensation akin to paralysis.

Before she could react, the level five formation flashed white, ejecting something. Jing Yingli shuddered, seeing a large section of the formation destroyed. Another attack would cripple it completely.

Her grandmother was gone. “So close,” she muttered. “It affected my sea of consciousness like a heart demon.” She swiftly repaired the breach with formation flags.

Still shaken, she looked at Ye Mo. “I think I know how Duan Jiuyang died.”

Ye Mo glanced at her. “I do, too. Be careful. Don't let the formation break; otherwise, we die. We stall until the time is up.”

Jing Yingli nodded awkwardly. Her usual quick thinking seemed inadequate compared to Ye Mo's calm efficiency. She internally scoffed, Why belittle myself? How many Ye Mos are there in the world?

Ye Mo forged flags with increasing speed, a growing pile accumulating before him.

Their respite was brief. A faint shadow, clearly visible to Jing Yingli's spirit sense, relentlessly attacked their formation. The formation shook violently; even the space wind blades and chaos flows intensified.

The formation light flickered as the attacker was repeatedly repelled. Jing Yingli furiously deployed flags and spirit stones, unaware of her assailant.

Rumble rumble rumble.

The formation strained under the assault. Jing Yingli anxiously watched Ye Mo, who continued forging, seemingly oblivious.

Crack. The first formation shattered! Jing Yingli glimpsed a dull face, vanishing instantly.

“Ye Mo?” She felt a growing dread. Another breach would be catastrophic.

Crack. The second formation weakened.

Ye Mo rose, saying, “Rest. Leave this to me.” He flung out formation flags like petals.

“You’re not repairing it?” Jing Yingli realized he was creating a new formation.

“Right,” Ye Mo said. The level five formation wouldn't hold until the Truth Fall Palace opened, so he used the high-level materials to construct a level six formation.

Jing Yingli diligently repaired the level five formation.

Four hours later, as the level five formation neared collapse, Ye Mo tossed out four extreme-grade spirit stones and dozens of spirit crystals. The space shuddered, and a massive new formation materialized.

“A level six formation?” Jing Yingli exclaimed, staring at Ye Mo with newfound awe. His genius stunned her. To erect a level six formation under these conditions? Sects spent fortunes on such endeavors. If Ye Mo improved one more level, he'd be unmatched in the cultivation realm.

She also noted his astonishing supply of extreme-grade spirit stones and crystals—he was wealthier than she was! Was he truly a solitary cultivator?

Ye Mo sighed. “We just need to defend now. A pity we gained nothing, and I wasted so many materials.”

“What is this place?” Jing Yingli asked.

Ye Mo paused. “I’m not sure, but the shadow seems like a ghost cultivator, controlled by someone.”

“Probably not,” Jing Yingli countered. “The shadow lacked will yet invaded the sea of consciousness.”

She looked at Ye Mo, worry etched on both their faces. They both suspected external control, likely by someone who’d resided in level seven for a considerable time.