After informing the martial siblings about a large number of vampires gathering at the Saros border, Chi Ling asked them a question in a tone that sounded more like a consultation than an order. —Fei Yu, Bu Yu, what do you two think we should do next? Wang Sheng smiled helplessly. What ideas could I possibly have? All I can do is follow the organization's arrangements. "I'm not sure," he replied. "If we can win, we fight. If we can't, we run. Either way, we've already made a profit today." A corner of Chi Ling's mouth twitched. Since she was still in the middle of a video conference with influential figures, she couldn't show too much expression. Hence, she instead issued a calm reminder. —Be mindful. Many eyes are watching you two. Wang Sheng swiftly straightened his posture, putting on a more composed demeanor. In a steadier, more forceful, and lower tone, he solemnly answered, "We're in the Saros Empire's territory. No matter how the battle turns out, it will not harm us directly. However, we cannot avoid harming the interests and feelings of the Saros people. "Following the spirit of humanitarianism and the teachings of our forefathers, I believe shifting the battlefield deep into the enemy's rear would be the best outcome." "Select a few experts skilled at controlling objects to fly at high speed, and send them straight in," Wang Sheng calmly suggested. "The moment those foreign cultivators ambushed our rescue team, they essentially declared war on us. "The more we weaken them now, the fewer problems we will face later. Waiting for death is worse than striking first. If there are political concerns, we can simply frame this as a conflict between our cultivation world and foreign cultivators." —This is not the most urgent matter. What's important now is the vampires' large-scale counterattack against you and Bu Yu. Wang Sheng nodded. "Mistress, as I've said earlier, whatever the Hua Republic needs me to do, I'll execute it to the best of my ability." —From a strategic standpoint, the deterrent power we have already built in this battle is enough. But right now, we need you to decide. Our suggestion is for you and Bu Yu to withdraw first. Once we've planned out our next step, we'll launch a counteroffensive. —If you have a plan in mind, though, feel free to let us know, and we'll give it some serious consideration. You're already strong enough to act independently, Fei Yu. Your perspective will also naturally differ from ours. "A plan…" Not wanting Mu Wanxuan to feel bored, Wang Sheng drew her into the conversation. "Senior Sister, what do you think?" Caught off guard, Mu Wanxuan blinked, then typed on the projection screen. Yin and yang give birth to all things. Too much yang will make things too rigid to last. Use yin to counterbalance it, turning rigidity into flexibility. Wang Sheng was speechless. —You mean we should strike from behind the Blood Race's lines, rally their natural enemies, and use them to tie down the vampires instead of engaging them head-on? Mu Wanxuan nodded. "That's right." Chi Ling smiled softly. —That is a very valuable suggestion. We should really focus on how you two will deal with the vampires that have already gathered for now, though. Wang Sheng, whom Mu Wanxuan had unconsciously led off track, turned serious. "Mistress, I have three plans in mind. The best one is to strike while they're unprepared, but we can also borrow the power of heaven and earth. My least preferred plan is to wait for reinforcements before engaging them in combat." Chi Ling was momentarily speechless, but she kept her composure. "If we go with the first plan, we'll hit them while they're still gathering, catching them off guard. Afterward, we'll lure them deeper into allied territory, separating their experts from the main force. My master and the Daoist elders with him can then ambush them. "The second plan revolves around creating a defensive position here. Senior Sister has the Yin-Yang Grand Formation, and I can set up something akin to a heavenly tribulation. I just don't know how effective it would be." —The first plan carries too much risk. This is not ancient times with slow communication. To truly catch an enemy off guard, you'll require absolute superiority in intelligence. It's best for you and Bu Yu to set up there and then withdraw quickly. Wang Sheng agreed without hesitation. "Alright." Still worried, Chi Ling gave him a reminder. —Your master and the Daoist elders are still on the way. You have already done a great deal today; you don't have to force yourselves further. Even if you withdraw now, you'll still have accomplished your mission. Wang Sheng laughed. "Mistress, don't worry. Senior Sister and I are both very fond of staying alive." —Good. I'm still in a meeting, so make sure you stay in touch with the Special Investigation Unit. She reminded Wang Sheng again not to underestimate the enemy or act rashly. Wang Sheng solemnly nodded in response. Once Chi Ling hung up, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan both sighed in relief. Having powerful figures watching from the shadows did create some pressure. "It's a pity Big Sister Xi Lian isn't here," Wang Sheng said as he examined the surrounding terrain. "With her, we could have set up some restricting formations and killing formations. No matter how many vampires come, we wouldn't have to be afraid." "Mm…" Mu Wanxuan pursed her lips and pulled out a stack of rough papers from her Crane-Spirit Treasure Pouch 3.0. "Allow me." When Wang Sheng took the papers, he immediately exclaimed in praise multiple times. Grand Yin-Yang Convergence Formation Diagram, Detailed Method of the Yin-Yang Millstone Formation, Heaven-Battling Dual Polarity Formation, Explanation of the Ninefold Heavens of Water and Fire… ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net They were all books about formations tied to the Great Dao of Yin and Yang! Mu Wanxuan had worked out these formations during her idle time in the Small Nether Realm. Some came from the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll, while others she had obtained through Chi Ling's influence from other Daoist heritages. After a quick look, Wang Sheng immediately spotted a problem: the formations were powerful, but they were extremely cumbersome to set up and required many special materials. With the vampire army already gathering to attack, it wouldn't be realistic to find those materials and arrange such formations now. "Let me do it," Yaoyun telepathically offered. Wang Sheng's spirit lifted, his expression showing a hint of relief. Mu Wanxuan also relaxed slightly. With the immortal taking action, they had little to worry about. Setting up a Daoist grand formation normally required precious materials. Even though Yaoyun was a Celestial Immortal and once a princess of the Heavenly Court, even the most skillful could not cook without rice. She could not produce a peak-level formation instantly. However, if it were merely for concealment, setting up a formation with a maze as the main body and a restricting effect wouldn't be a challenge. Under Yaoyun's guidance, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan quickly marked out a circular area three li in diameter to define the formation's range. Wang Sheng then buried spirit stones in the ground. Mu Wanxuan wrapped them in yin-yang qi for a simple refinement, linking them together through the earth so they could skip making the formation flags[1]. Once they had buried every spirit stone they had, Mu Wanxuan formed a few hand seals, instantly linking the formation. Afterward, primal qi gathered in thick clouds, forming layers of white mist that then faded into nothing. Curious, Wang Sheng flew outside the formation and looked back. The vast land looked empty, with no sign of the formation. He flew forward cautiously when white mist suddenly blocked his vision. He felt as if his spiritual consciousness had sunk into a swamp, and he lost all sense of direction. A sword hum echoed within him. Starlight flashed in his eyes, and the mist before him parted. Mu Wanxuan stood nearby, curiously looking back at him. So this is a Daoist sect's formation? Wang Sheng silently marveled. It truly had the power to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. "The Ninefold Spirit-Trapping Formation is not a profound formation. It only serves to restrain enemies," Yaoyun impatiently explained as if telling him not to be so surprised. She then added, "You can add many more arrangements on this foundation." "That depends on what you need. You can add a killing formation or enhance the restraining effect." "Killing formation," Wang Sheng answered without hesitation. "The stronger the better. The more enemies it can kill, the fewer losses we will suffer later." "The heavens cherish all life." "My morality hasn't reached that level yet," Wang Sheng replied. "I only know that mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself. Since they are already our foes, matters of virtue can wait until we have defeated them. We can talk about guiding them onto the right path afterward." Yaoyun quieted down for a while, then sighed softly. "You're not wrong. Ask Hua Qing to help you as well. Your sword intent and her Dao of Yin and Yang can merge into this formation. Later, we will add illusions so those who come after will not see what happened to those who entered first. "If you want this formation to reach its full power, it will require a core. If we use your flying sword as its core, we'll be able to merge your Sword-Controlling Art with it too." "Alright, I'll leave it to you." "There's no need for such courtesy," Yaoyun replied. Right after, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's minds were filled with precise, step-by-step instructions. Following her direction, the two began to implement further modifications. A trace of Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent was buried here; two streams of yin-yang qi were concealed there. Flying Haze was linked to every part of the formation, becoming the core that drove it. Setting up a formation usually took great effort. However, with Yaoyun guiding them, the two merely had to handle simple physical tasks. It didn't tire them out in the slightest. An hour later, the grassy field still looked unchanged, yet everything within it had already been altered. Wang Sheng soon received a report stating that five to six hundred vampires had crossed the Saros Empire's border, surging toward them in great numbers. He and Mu Wanxuan stopped what they were doing, moved the dozen or so "hostages" into the formation, and sat cross-legged nearby, quietly meditating to replenish their enchanted power.