67- The Executioner

The members of the Xiao clan had surrounded Gong Jinhai, determined to stop him from casting his hypnotic spell on them. Tensiopn was high as they closed in on him, ready to apprehend him and put an end to his dangerous plan. However, just as they were about to grab him, Gong Jinhai laughed, a sinister sound that sent chills down everyone's spine.

"You have no idea about the real power of this formation," he said, a sly smile spreading across his face.

And with that, he activated the formation, and the people around him were suddenly separated, appearing to be transported to another location. Juanxiu found himself with Elder Li and other members of the Xiao clan, all of them looking around in confusion as they tried to make sense of what was happening.

The new location had an eerie feeling to it, as if they were trapped in some kind of dungeon. Gong Jinhai was also inside the dungeon but in another location, orchestrating everything with a look of triumph on his face. Elder Li spoke up, his voice heavy with concern. "We have to break free from this formation, otherwise, we are sitting ducks here waiting for our death."

Juanxiu felt powerless, lacking knowledge about formation and unable to help in any way. He knew he should have learned more about this subject, especially after being trapped in Master Feng's formation previously. Fear and uncertainty gripped his heart as he wondered what their fate would be in this mysterious location.

On the other part of the dungeon, Liu Peng and Siyi were making their way through a dark hallway of the dungeon formation, led by an elder of the Xiao Clan. Liu Peng was on high alert after witnessing a party member fall victim to a trap that had been set earlier.

The others had been slow to react, and the consequences had been severe. The place is filled with eerie ambiance as the group pushed forward, every step filled with uncertainty. The dimly lit hallways seemed to go on forever, leading them deeper into the unknown. Liu Peng spoke up, breaking the uneasy silence. "Do you know how to break the formation?" he asked the elder.

The elder hesitated before responding, "I'm not sure. This is beyond my expertise."

Siyi spoke up, "We have to do something. We can't just sit here and wait for our demise."

Meanwhile, Xiao Yinjie was transported to another location within the formation. He knew that Gong Jinhai's delay tactics meant he was likely preparing something big, and time was running out. Breaking out of the formation was their only hope to avoid grave consequences. They were thoroughly prepared to deal with Gong Jinhai but they did not account for this scenario.

Back on Juanxiu and Elder Li. Their party along with a few members of the Xiao clan, were traversing through the dungeon. Juanxiu couldn't help but wish that Du Hong or One-Eyed Lily was with him, for they were skilled in detecting even the tiniest of traps. However, he had left them back at the Forgotten Valley, thinking it would be a good opportunity for him to gain more experience. He had not anticipated the dangers that he was to face, and now he regretted not bringing his comrades along.

As they continued walking, the party reached what appeared to be a basement filled with torture equipment. The room was dimly lit, and the air was heavy with the scent of blood and death. The walls were adorned with various instruments of torture such as the rack, the iron maiden, and the guillotine. Chains and ropes hung from the ceiling, and bones littered the floor. It was a gruesome sight, and Juanxiu couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine.

Suddenly, they heard loud footsteps and the sound of a heavy object being dragged. The sound grew louder and louder until it was almost right upon them. The members of the party exchanged wary glances as they braced themselves for whatever was coming their way.

Meanwhile, Elder Li was still focused on the matter at hand, carefully scrutinizing their location. Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization as he scanned the eerie basement. "This is a trap formation," he declared to the rest of the party. "We have to destroy the core if we want to get out. We have to find the core immediately."

The party began to scour the basement for any sign of the trap's core. Every inch of the room was scrutinized for any possible clue, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. The tension in the air was palpable as they knew that time was not on their side.

As they were investigating, a large figure appeared in the shadows.

As the group looked on, the figure came into view. He towered over them, standing at an impressive height of 8 feet. His skin was weathered and rough, with scars and tattoos etched across his massive arms. He wore a hooded cloak, which concealed his face in shadow. But even with his features hidden, there was no mistaking the aura of danger that he exuded.

The man carried a massive hammer, which he had been dragging along the floor, leaving deep gouges in the stone. The group watched in silence as he slowly made his way towards them, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the room.

One of the disciples whispered, "Who is he? What is he doing here?"

Elder Li replied, "He is not real, just an illusion created by the formation. But we must still be careful. His attacks are real, and they will hurt us if we're not cautious."

The group looked on in horror as the massive figure approached, swinging his hammer with ease. They scrambled to get out of his way, but there was nowhere to go. They were trapped in the room with him, with no escape in sight.

Elder Li's words sent a shiver down Juanxiu's spine. The situation was dire, and every second counted. The executioner was closing in on them, his massive hammer dragging on the ground, releasing a deafening sound that echoed through the basement. Juanxiu knew he had to act fast, despite his limited capabilities. His cultivation level was only at the 6th stage of the soldier rank, no match for the executioner's aura, which was similar to that of a third stage general.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He remembered One-eyed Lily's advice: before you look for the hidden things, you have to focus on the obvious aspects. He opened his eyes and scanned the room, searching for anything that could help them break out of the formation. The eerie atmosphere of the torture chamber made it difficult for him to focus, but he forced himself to keep looking.

As the executioner drew nearer, Juanxiu's heart raced. He couldn't let his fear consume him, not when so much was at stake. He felt a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead, and he wiped it away, trying to keep his hands from trembling.

He noticed the different torture equipment, the positioning of the littered bones, the portrait that serves as the only decoration. Juaxiu thought that it was out of place. he tried moving it but nothing happened.

The tension in the room was palpable. The other members of the Xiao Clan were on high alert, their eyes darting from side to side as they searched for any clues. They knew that one mistake could cost them their lives.

Elder Li and the Executioner locked eyes, their gazes unwavering as they sized each other up. Juanxiu knew that he couldn't be of much help in this fight, so he decided to continue searching for any clues that may help them escape this trap formation.

The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed throughout the small, cramped space. It was difficult for Elder Li to display his full ability, as he was forced to constantly dodge the Executioner's heavy swings in order to avoid being crushed by his massive hammer.

"Everyone, aim for his joints and weak spots!" Elder Li yelled to the other members of the Xiao clan, as he struggled to hold his ground against the Executioner's relentless attacks. "Don't let him get close to you, or you'll be crushed!"

The other members of the clan responded, their own attacks focusing on the Executioner's exposed joints and weak spots. It was a difficult battle, with the Executioner using his brute strength to overpower them at every turn. But they didn't give up, knowing that their lives were on the line.

Juanxiu's sharp eyes scanned the basement, and his memory took note of every detail. His attention was drawn to the Iron Maiden hanging upside down on the ceiling, the guillotine positioned at the northernmost section of the basement, and the rack located in the middle of the room. He also spotted the spiked chair placed in the southwestern corner, and the branding iron leaning against the wall in the eastern part of the room.

Juanxiu's eyes widened with realization - the positioning of these torture devices must be significant. He remember the portrait once again and realization hit him.

Juanxiu's eyes widened as he realized what he was looking at. "Elder Li, I think I've found something," he called out. "These torture devices, they're arranged in a unique formation. It's like they're part of a puzzle or something."

Elder Li quickly turned his attention to Juanxiu. "What kind of puzzle?" he asked.

"I'm not sure, but we can try moving the torture equipment to make it similar with the portrait" Juanxiu replied. "If we can figure out the right way to position them, it might unlock something."

As they continued to study the arrangement, Elder Li realized that Juanxiu was right. "We need to work fast," he said. "The executioner is getting closer, and we don't have much time."

Elder Li took charge, barking out orders and directing the disciples to work together in moving the devices. He knew that time was of the essence, and they had to move fast.

The group worked frantically to rearrange the torture devices into the pattern that Juanxiu had discovered. They pushed, pulled, and lifted each device, carefully placing them in their new positions. Some of the heavier devices proved difficult to move, but with each member of the team contributing their strength, they managed to get the job done.

Meanwhile, the executioner drew closer and closer, his massive frame filling the cramped space of the basement. Suddenly, he charged forward with his massive hammer raised high. One of the members of the clan was caught off guard and was unable to defend himself in time.

With a sickening crunch, the hammer came down, reducing the unfortunate man to a pulp. The other members of the group watched in horror as the executioner swung his hammer again and again, determined to crush them all.

Elder Li was quick to respond, his body moving with the grace of a seasoned warrior. He shouted orders to the others, instructing them to keep their distance and focus on the task at hand. With his lightning-fast movements, he was able to evade the executioner's deadly strikes, striking back with quick jabs of his own.

The sound of metal scraping against stone echoed throughout the room as the group worked to move the torture devices into their proper positions. Each time they made a successful adjustment, they could feel the trap loosening its hold on them.

With every passing moment, the situation grew more dire. The executioner's attacks were becoming more ferocious, and the group was struggling to keep up. But they refused to give up. They continued to work, their determination driving them forward. And finally, after what felt like an eternity, they are close to completing the task.

"Elder Li, we're almost there!" one of the disciples shouted. "Just a few more pieces to move!"

Suddenly, there was a loud click, and a previously hidden door appeared on the opposite side of the room. "We did it!" Juanxiu exclaimed, relief flooding through him.

But their victory was short-lived as the executioner charged towards them with his massive hammer raised high. "Not so fast!" Elder Li shouted as he charged towards the executioner.

"Everyone, attack from a distance!" he shouted to the other members of the clan.

The disciples quickly obeyed, launching a flurry of ranged attacks at the executioner.

Juanxiu stepped into the room and saw the core, a red circle gem, pulsating with energy. He knew that it was the key to escaping the trap formation. With a swift motion, he drew his blade and slashed it towards the core, splitting it in half. As the core shattered, a blinding light filled the room, making it difficult for them to see.

Just as the group thought they had won, the executioner appeared out of nowhere and raised his massive hammer to strike Elder Li. But as the hammer was about to land, the executioner vanished into thin air, leaving the group in shock and disbelief.