Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The military formation that had disappeared from this land for many years once again appeared before the eyes of the world. Terrifying power was released from the Long Spear, instantly tearing apart the Yin Soldiers blocking Chen Xiong and transforming them into a ghastly miasma.

The immense force even left a deep ravine in the earth. Chen Xiong, gasping for breath, watched this scene unfold in front of him—the power of the complete formation far exceeded his imagination.

This was merely an army of less than two thousand men, and due to terrain restrictions, the truly mighty formations could not be deployed. He dared not imagine the power of a formation composed of tens of thousands of soldiers—it could indeed force Ghost Deities to retreat.

However, what followed was an extreme weakness in his body; this strike seemed to have drained all the strength from him. It was then he understood why military formations could not be learned by non-generals; not everyone could endure such a physical burden. One must be in complete accord with one's troops and earn their genuine adoration to achieve it.

"So this is the legendary military formation, truly impressive. No wonder Great Chu was able to conquer mountains and temples, causing our ancestors to flee this land," a gloomy voice rang out from the darkness, recognizing Chen Xiong's tactic and remarking with amazement.

Chen Xiong, fighting off the fatigue in his body and holding the Long Spear, warily watched the deep darkness. He could feel that something terrifying was lurking within this sinister darkness; just those eyes filled with malice made his hair stand on end.

"What exactly are you, why not come out? Are you afraid to show yourself in the darkness?" Chen Xiong shouted loudly.

"A fine army indeed, now that you've killed my Yin Soldiers, I'll use your Soul and Spirit to replenish their numbers. As for you, I will make you my Chang Gui, and together we will witness the rise of the Demon King," the voice whispered, as a tall figure gradually emerged from the darkness.

The newcomer was nearly three meters tall, his body bursting with explosive muscles, thick fur covering his bare upper body, and his head that of a huge tiger. A character for 'king' glowing purple faintly shimmered in the darkness, and his crimson eyes were filled with cold murderous intent.

"Demon, demon!" a soldier cried out in horror, associating the creature that appeared before them with the man-eating demons of legend, instantly feeling a surge of fear, his words trembling.

With a roar, the Mountain Lord unleashed a tempest, whipping up sand and stones, blinding everyone and startling the horses. In an instant, the formation was thrown into disarray, beyond recovery.

The demon had struck right at Chen Xiong's weak point—the effectiveness of the military formation depended on maintaining the proper arrangement. Though his troops were well-disciplined, they were a new army and had never faced such a scene. In their panic, the formation collapsed, making it fanciful for Chen Xiong to even think about re-asserting the formation's might.

At that moment, Chen Xiong's heart sank. It was clear that this Tiger demon possessed great intelligence; otherwise, it would not have chosen such a tactic. He had been caught off guard, losing control of the situation.

"Do not fear, it's just a Tiger demon, not something we haven't seen before. Steady the formation!" Chen Xiong's voice rang out in the ears of his soldiers, carrying a steadying power that gradually calmed the already panicked troops—a trust built during training and combat.

The steadied soldiers, through the habits formed in past training, began to find their comrades and restore their formation. Within moments, the formation was presentable again. Chen Xiong could feel the power from his men returning, he stood tall and straight, the Iron Spear in his hand emitting a faint glow, even causing the Mountain Lord to glance sideways.

"Star Force?" the Mountain Lord muttered to himself, looking at the faint silver light on Chen Xiong's Long Spear. Being of demonic origin, absorbing moonlight was essential for every demon, so he was deeply familiar with the starlight that accompanied the moon.

It was then he recalled the legends of the mortal realm, that during great upheavals, the Star Lord from the heavens would bestow his Star Force, selecting children to be the pioneers of the era, referred to by the mortals as the Heavenly Star's decrees or the Star Immortal descending. And such individuals, if they fulfilled their destiny, would align with the Heavenly Star, and even highly cultivated Greater Demons like him would have to retreat three steps.

At that thought, the Mountain Lord's eyes flickered with a glint of cold light. Such an opponent could not be left alive, else he would become a significant threat eventually.

The intent to kill surged, and Chen Xiong immediately felt a bone-chilling coldness ascend from his feet, enveloping his entire body as if a vivid tiger was opening its massive jaws to devour him.

Cold sweat continuously flowed down Chen Xiong's face, his will struggling against this soul-originating fear. If he failed, it would implant the shadow of defeat deep within him, dooming him to fall.

Fortunately, Chen Xiong had been trained by a renowned teacher and had honed his spirit repeatedly. Having lived in Mountain Luoxia for a time and accustomed to demons and ghostly entities, his experiences became key in breaking through this crisis. With a light within his heart and boundless courage and rage bursting forth, he instantly shattered his fear.

"Ha!" Chen Xiong roared, his eyes clear and battle spirit high as he faced the imposing Mountain Lord not far away and said, "If you wish to fight, then fight. Why resort to such tactics?"

The Mountain Lord appeared quite surprised; he had not expected Chen Xiong to so easily shake off the influence of the murderous aura and elevate his spirit, and he grew even more cautious of Chen Xiong.