In the market island of Lyon City, under the occasionally seen glimpses of a threatening formation dome lay a golden pavilion, decorated with regal balustrades and artisanal carvings. It was a rather majestic construction. However, its majesty was downplayed by the hundreds of soldiers surrounding it.

The soldiers were arranged neatly among the other similar looking pavilions, but rather haphazardly around the edges of the nearby forest. But the sounds of the gathered soldiers were unhidden as their armor and weapons clanked threateningly showing off their power. This was an army filled with people ranging from core formation to soul transformation, and their combined aura was very formidable.

Suddenly a powerful shout rang from outside, "In the name of the Lyon and Turnbull Market Hall the guests inside this pavilion have been ordered to come out!"

Zhen Shi ignored this shout and the soldiers outside and grinned widely as he replied to Myne, "Bro, Your words speak true. Enemies in the open are definitely better, in fact, their more fun! Besides I've been quite curious about your current power. Seeing you go all out might actually be worth being surrounded by hundreds of soldiers."

Myne patted his chest and bragged out with a laugh, "I disagree. You are several millennia too early to understand this great mage's true power!"

But suddenly a light cough rang out with an underlying menacing tone...

Myne and Zhen Shi hurriedly turned around to realize that it was Vivienne appearing through her conflicting dragon flame of red and white. She was frowning in displeasure at them as she whispered threateningly, "We're completely surrounded and yet you two remain here joking around?"

Myne immediately shook his head and spoke out with a witty grin, "No, No! Dear Wife, we were... planning strategies. Yes! Planning strategies," while eyeing Zhen Shi.

Zhen Shi hurriedly spoke out in 'serious' contemplation, "Oh yes. So as I was saying, why don't we just leave with your flame teleportation skill?"

Myne playfully slapped Zhen Shi's head and frowned as he spoke, "Are you an idiot?' He pointed up as he spoke, "As long as the formation above stays intact we are limited to short ranges of movement."

Zhen Shi grimaced at his words as he mentally sent out, "Why the hell did you hit me? I was helping you!" Myne grinned and sent back in 'respect', "Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the team... And I will remember yours forever!" causing Zhen Shi to gawk at his shamelessness.

Finally, Vivienne was unable to hold back as she started laughing at their idiotic antics. Moments later Zhen Shi and Myne looked at each other and started laughing in amusement as well. Within a few seconds, they were laughing uproariously, almost oblivious of what was going on in the outside. And the joyous laughter rang out...

But what did the soldiers that were closest to the pavilion hear? They heard the sound of relaxed calm talking, almost as if they were joking around, quickly followed by loud and joyous laughter heard by almost everyone.

Those soldiers couldn't help but shiver in fear at these people who were apparently 'fearless' in face of trouble and even death.

But who was in the worst position right now? That would be Lieutenant John that had commanded and shouted out for these guests to come out. He was a rather proud person who took pride in his job and the power he wielded. Honestly, he wasn't that powerful by himself, being only an ordinary Spirit Formation cultivator despite his old age. In fact, there were many fellow guards stronger and younger than him. But he had been luckier than them to be chosen as a lieutenant due to his years of service! So with soldiers under his command and the Market hall to support him, he was able to act as if he was truly powerful!

But today he was standing speechless as his usual fear-inducing command was answered with joyous laughter.

FUCK! Do these people enjoy being in trouble? But even if they are, must they ignore by awesome commands so bluntly?

Rather embarrassed by this turn of events, he attempted to shout out and try once more, "I will not repeat again, come out now!"

But his command fell on deaf ears as the joyous laughter continued unbidden and unprovoked.

The poor lieutenant was completely caught off guard at this point, his face beginning to show his helplessness. He was used to being obeyed due to his power and had never been refused. But he couldn't order the guards to enter the pavilion either. The pavilions were set out for very important guests, and common guards including lieutenants would usually be in huge trouble if they dared enter or damage anything.

But his helpless face didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the soldiers. In fact, seeing their superior so helpless caused a sliver of fear to arise in their hearts. And as the laughter that was previously thought to be joyous, rang on... their fear led them to imagine tinges of malice, murderous intent, and even horror hidden within the laughs. In their fearful minds, the joyful laughter became tolling bells signaling their upcoming death.

And the fearful soldiers began to speak amongst themselves in hushed whispers,

"SHIT! Even the Lieutenant looks helpless. What have we provoked over ourselves now?"

"And that laughter... how scary! If I survive this, I don't think I'll be able to have a good night's sleep ever again!"

"Indeed! This is the first time that honored guests from the pavilion have been ordered to be put under arrest."

"You know, I think that these crazy people were bored and we were sent to just keep them entertained."

"FUCK! You might actually be right. In fact, I'm sure I heard someone inside saying that, 'being surrounded by hundreds of soldiers is worth it'!"

"Yes! I heard it too!"

"No way! How scary is that? These people must be lunatics!"

"Yes. Our paychecks aren't worth provoking demons like these. Especially if we were purposefully sent over to just alleviate boredom!"

"Let's just leave..."

"But isn't it cowardly to run away from battle?"

"Pish-posh. It isn't cowardly if you leave before the battle begins!"

And as such, the majority of the soldiers reached a unanimous agreement to retreat. So unknown to the speechless lieutenant who was staring forwards, the soldiers behind him, slowly and silently retreated into the nearby forest. Within a few moments, only the few who were aware of the truth of the matter and were truly loyal to the Turnbulls were left. But they too had been fearful of the tales of the 'demons' inside and in their jumbled thoughts, were late in informing the retreat to their lieutenant.

The Poor Lieutenant who had been completely out of ideas had been planning to gather his courage and follow orders, by sending forth soldiers into the pavilion itself. But now turning around while listening to the tale of the 'demons' inside, and seeing the desolate ground with only a couple of soldiers remaining, he almost fainted in fear.

But suddenly the laughter stopped giving way to an eery silence. And then he saw the shadows, on the roof of the pavilion...

🏯🏯🏯

Zhen Shi, Myne, and Vivienne stopped laughing momentarily. Myne grinned as he spoke out, "I think I heard some guy shouting out. We shouldn't leave them waiting after all. Let's go!"

Zhen Shi smiled and said, "You're right. They just might leave if we don't go quickly," while walking towards the door.

Myne hurriedly grabbed onto his shirt sleeve and pulled him back saying, "What are you doing? The first thing to know about being surrounded... is to always be cool. And the best way to do that," and pointed upwards, "is going out through the roof!"

Zhen Shi grimaced and defended himself saying, "I knew that. I was just testing you," and immediately dashed through the central garden on to the roof. Myne laughed in happiness as he followed Zhen Shi. Vivienne smiled lightly and followed the duo with a hopeless shake of her head...

🏯🏯🏯

Under the red morning sunlight, three figures appeared suddenly on the roof. To the Lieutenant and the remaining few soldiers, these figures were blurred and even appeared to be bathing in the red sunlight as if in blood, causing them to shiver involuntarily.

Similarly, Zhen Shi, Myne, and Vivienne were speechless at the sight that had awaited them."What the hell? Were we being pranked? Was the sound and presence of the hundred-fold army made by these few spineless soldiers?" spurted out Zhen Shi in the end.

Myne grinned uncomfortably and spoke out while scratching his head, "I didn't realize since I was distracted by our conversation. It seems that the bewildering-formation I set up worked too well."

Vivienne smiled rather happy at being able to be free from a useless fight, while Myne explained for the sake of Zhen Shi who continued to look rather confused, "A bewildering formation has the basic purpose of tricking the senses. But at higher grades, they can even affect thoughts and feelings, so that any type of emotion can be artificially created within the minds of those who are weak and suggestible enough.

Myne scratched his head in embarrassment as he continued, "Of course, this formation wasn't particularly powerful since I made it just for fun. And I honestly didn't think it'd chase most of them away, leaving only these pathetic few," while gesturing at the remaining Lieutenant and the few others. He spoke in thought, "Since the formation wasn't too powerful, perhaps... they were already fearful for some reason and the formation enhanced those emotions?"

Zhen Shi curtly nodded his head in understanding while Vivienne smiled.

But while they were having this enlightening casual conversation, Lieutenant John and the soldiers were shaking their heads clear of the effects of the bewildering formation. The fear of the unknown is very great, but now seeing their targets as three ordinary-looking individuals their fear began to dissipate. They were now considering how misplaced their fear had been and how easy it would be to capture these young cultivators gaining great merit!

But suddenly two figures dashed nearby revealing themselves to be a familiar old man dressed in a perpetually clean-white robe with a sharp look on his face and a similarly familiar beautiful girl dressed in an elegant dress of purple and blue. This was old elder Hao Lei and Laura Lyon!

They arrived with worried faces but were replaced with confusion as they looked at the empty surroundings and lack of the expected army.

But that confusion turned to relief as they saw the trio safe and sound on the top of the pavilion roof. Laura grinned as she waved her hand happily and shouted, "You guys, what're you doing on the roof?"

But before anyone else could reply Zhen Shi proudly crossed his arms over his chest and muttered teasingly, "Hmph! What does that matter? First, you should explain what your soldiers were doing by surrounding us."

Laura gasped in surprise. While she had been surprised at the lack of an army, she had figured that they had arrived before those guards had made their move, leaving plenty of time to explain the situation.

But now noticing the confused and fearful remaining soldiers and the tell-tale tracks of hundreds of soldiers she gasped in horror as she shouted, "Good god. Did you turn all the attacking soldiers into dust or something?"

The remaining Lieutenant and the few soldiers gasped at these words as they shivered in fear... Their fear increased as their minds filled with doubt. Was she speaking the truth? Were the rest of the soldiers killed without them even knowing? Perhaps some sort of illusion had been cast to hide that? Perhaps they had been left by these demons as dessert?

Ignorant of them, Zhen Shi was flabbergasted at Laura's reply as she continued to speak, "I apologize on behalf of the Lyon family," she bowed along with Hao Lei. Hao Lei remained silent as he allowed Laura to continued speaking, "It was a sudden order from Lord Turnbull and we didn't even have time to protest. Lord Lyon has been away since yesterday and without him, stopping Lord Turnbull would be very difficult."

Suddenly she paused in worry and shouted out, "Wait did you kill him as well?"

Zhen Shi had been confused at first, but now seeing a chance to brag, how could he not! And as such he spoke out confidently, "Of course. You're totally correct!"

But that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The poor Lieutenant and the remaining soldiers screamed as they ran away. Instead of Zhen Shi what they saw was a 'demon' nonchalantly pleading guilty for 'man-slaughter'. Thus they dashed away while squealing like pigs while occasionally tripping and falling on to the ground. Under the surprised gazes of Zhen Shi and the group, they finally ran into the forest.

After all, their fellow colleagues were 'killed' and their boss had been 'killed' without them even noticing! With the effects of the bewildering formation, their minds couldn't help but accept this almost impossible conclusion...

Zhen Shi coughed awkwardly at that and spoke out, "I was just joking Laura. It was all this Myne's fault!" Myne gasped at his betrayal while Vivienne was very amused. On the other hand, Laura and Hao Lei were very confused.

But under everyone's questioning gazes, it was now Myne's turn to cough as he shamelessly muttered while scratching his head, "Hey, don't look at me, I'm the one who chased away the evil soldiers! And we all learned a very valuable lesson, bewildering formations are much more powerful than any weapon!"

But suddenly...

CRACK!

A large oak exploded into splinters falling down with a loud thus a few steps away from the pavilion. The earth shook as the wide stem collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud a few steps away from the pavilion causing a large cloud of dust to arise.

A splintering sound emerged lightly like the tinkling of a bell. Suddenly ten rather large formation talismans appeared around the pavilion but cracked and dissipated immediately. Just like that the bewildering formation was broken!

And amidst the dust, a bull-like silhouette emerged with a terrifying metallic aura and a growl came out, "You join sides with my opponents and threaten the power of my family, chase away my soldiers with trickery, and even made me waste a totem. But now... are you ready for the repercussions?"

Zhen Shi grimaced as he whispered, "Myne, I think he's talking to you!"