Xu Taiping turned his head and saw it was Xu Ziyan.

“Senior Sister Ziyan.”

Xu Taiping stood up and walked towards Xu Ziyan.

“How is the formation barrier coming along?”

He asked Xu Ziyan.

“It’s almost done.”

Xu Ziyan nodded with a smile.

“The formation barrier we set up this time is called the Golden Scale Formation. It uses seven precious Kylin bones as the core, combined with seven magical treasure-level formation flags, and supplemented by over a hundred spirit stones and gems to replenish the barrier’s spiritual power. Once the formation is activated, even a Flying Zombie won’t be able to break through. It will hold until the barrier can be reopened.”

In high spirits, Xu Ziyan happily explained to Xu Taiping.

“Thank you, Senior Sister.”

Hearing this, Xu Taiping secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The completion of the formation meant that this mission was nearing its end.

It wasn’t that he was in a hurry to go back, but the half-month period for the Ghost-Sealing Talisman was approaching. If it acted up here, it could cause problems.

“The only downside of this formation is that it’s too complex to set up and takes too long to activate. So it’s fortunate you were here this time. Otherwise, like yesterday when two Hairy Zombies appeared suddenly, we would have had to stop setting up the formation.”

Xu Ziyan gratefully thanked Xu Taiping.

“Senior Sister Ziyan, you’re too kind.”

Xu Taiping shook his head and then honestly said, “The Sixth Peak originally asked me to come for this very reason. Besides, if anything happened to you, how could I explain it to Second Senior Brother?”

To him, in a critical moment, Senior Sister Ziyan’s safety was more important than the Sixth Peak’s mission.

“Explain what to him?”

Senior Sister Ziyan’s face reddened slightly, then she changed the subject.

“Taiping, you don’t need to keep watch outside tonight. The formation will be fully activated by tomorrow morning at the latest. Junior Sister Lu has prepared some food and drink. You’ve been keeping watch for three days; come inside and rest tonight.”

Hearing this, Xu Taiping thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head.

“Senior Sister, even though it’s the last night, we can’t be careless.”

Hearing this, Xu Ziyan didn’t immediately refute him but thought seriously.

“Second Senior Sister.”

At this moment, the Seventh Junior Brother of the Sixth Peak, Zhou Ao, suddenly walked quickly towards them.

“Seventh Junior Brother, why are you out here?”

Xu Ziyan looked at Zhou Ao in confusion.

“Second Senior Sister, I’ll keep watch tonight. Let Junior Brother Taiping go back and rest.”

Zhou Ao scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

Xu Ziyan didn’t immediately agree but turned to Xu Taiping and asked, “What do you think, Taiping?”

Xu Taiping also didn’t immediately answer but looked at Zhou Ao and asked, “Can you handle it?”

If it were before, Zhou Ao would have definitely gotten angry at this question.

But after spending time together, he understood Xu Taiping’s character and knew that he was just confirming his capability, not questioning him maliciously.

Moreover, during this trip to the Cloud Dream Marsh ruins, Xu Taiping had saved his life twice.

“Don’t worry, Junior Brother Taiping. My swordsmanship and martial arts may not be as good as yours, but I can handle one or two White Zombies. If a Hairy Zombie shows up, I’ll alert you immediately. Even if I can’t defeat it, I can hold it off for a while.”

Zhou Ao answered seriously.

It had to be said that after this experience, Zhou Ao’s previously arrogant nature had indeed been tempered, making him much more composed.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you tonight.”

Xu Taiping thought for a moment, then handed a communication talisman to Zhou Ao.

Since Zhou Ao had said so, it would be unreasonable for Xu Taiping to refuse.

Besides, he wanted to go back to wash up and change his clothes.

…

That night.

Nothing happened.

After eating and bathing, Xu Taiping continued to refine his meridians and acupoints using the pressure point method until dawn.

“Junior Brother Taiping.”

When he stepped out of his room, several Senior Sisters were already busy in the courtyard.

Some were counting the gains from this trip to the secret realm, some were organizing the items needed for the next few days, and others were checking the formation cores.

“Taiping, why not sleep a bit longer?”

Xu Ziyan, who had just walked by with Lin Buyu, asked.

“No need, I’ll go outside and relieve Senior Brother Zhou Ao.”

Xu Taiping shook his head.

“Alright, you can let him come back. The Golden Scale Formation’s cores have fused successfully and can be activated at any time.”

Xu Ziyan nodded.

“Want some? Sixth Senior Sister made them.”

Lin Buyu, expressionless, handed a bun to Xu Taiping.

“Thank you, Junior Sister Buyu. I’ll try Sixth Senior Sister’s cooking.”

Xu Taiping smiled and took the bun without thinking much.

“Boom!!…”

Just as he was taking a big bite of the bun and walking towards the courtyard gate, a violent tremor came from outside.

At the same time, Zhou Ao’s voice exploded above the courtyard through the communication talisman—

“Senior Sister, it’s demonic cultivators! Activate the formation, activate the formation, activate the formation!”

His voice was filled with terror and urgency.

After a brief moment of shock, Xu Ziyan grabbed her sword and unsheathed it with a “shing” sound, shouting, “Activate the formation!”

As soon as she spoke, a sword aura shot into the sky.

Simultaneously, the seven formation cores they had set up in the courtyard glowed with golden light. Seven golden pillars of light shot up, and under their guidance, a massive golden barrier instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

“Bang!”

Almost at the same moment the formation activated, a figure crashed heavily into the top of the barrier.

The Senior Sisters of the Sixth Peak immediately recognized the figure—Seventh Junior Brother Zhou Ao.

At the same time, a burly man with long golden hair, a rugged face, and a towering build, standing on a demonic serpent wreathed in black mist, appeared above the formation.

“It’s a demonic cultivator!”

Having encountered demonic cultivators before, Xu Ziyan instantly recognized the man’s identity.