"What do you mean by that!" the pretender's face turned completely grim.
"If the gate truly had an Annihilation Formation, then what you did was fine," Zhao Yelu seemed to be getting into character, and was no longer as scared. "But look closer!"
The remaining pretenders subconsciously looked towards the gate.
What's wrong with it?
It's the same as what's described in the incomplete manuscript!
"Look closely," Zhao Yelu continued, following Ye Fan's instructions. "Thirteenth node, fifth formation line."
This time, even the leading pretender looked at the gate.
Because Zhao Yelu's words no longer sounded like those of a complete layman who knew nothing about formations.
After just a few glances, the pretenders still couldn't make heads or tails of it.
The fifth formation line of the thirteenth node looked normal, with absolutely no issues?
The first reaction of several people was that Zhao Yelu had probably learned a bit of superficial knowledge from somewhere and was just bluffing now.
He had blurted it out in a moment of impulse, and now he was stuck and had to see it through!
Yes, that must be it!
How could a mere extra who wasn't even cannon fodder understand formations?
It seemed they were too nervous and couldn't think clearly!
After all, they only had a fifty percent chance of success, so it was impossible to say they weren't nervous at all.
However, what Zhao Yelu said next completely shattered their assumption.
"If you had paid a little attention, you would have noticed that this superimposed energy convergence is a backflow," Zhao Yelu's voice gradually gained a bit of arrogance. "If you can't even notice this, calling you trash is overestimating you."
As soon as he said this, the faces of several pretenders instantly changed!
Because Zhao Yelu was absolutely right!
They had already noticed that this place had a slight discrepancy with what was recorded in the incomplete manuscript.
Although they couldn't be sure of the specific effect of this minor change, based on formation principles, they could infer that it was used to guide the transmitted energy.
Such a function was typically used to prevent potential dangers caused by excessive energy transfer, meaning this function was beneficial and posed no risk.
But now this extra was saying it was an energy convergence backflow?
An energy convergence backflow was used to gather energy, which directly contradicted the guiding function!
This made no sense!
"Look again!" Zhao Yelu simply closed his eyes and put his hands behind his back. "If it were truly an Annihilation Formation, then starting from the thirteenth node would indeed be correct."
"But have you ever thought about why a guiding pattern for energy was set up here?" Zhao Yelu questioned sternly. "Was it to reduce the formation's power? Do you believe that yourself?"
"Look at the fifteenth node again. It seems to have an added energy source circuit," Zhao Yelu continued. "But the Annihilation Formation itself consumes very little energy. Is there really a need for such an unnecessary addition?"
Zhao Yelu's words made the pretenders break out in a cold sweat...
Because what Zhao Yelu was saying was true!
If they had been more attentive just now, they could have discovered these issues.
However, they had prematurely assumed it was an Annihilation Formation, and their thinking had become trapped...
Adding an energy source, which increases energy output, to a formation that itself consumes very little energy seemed completely wrong!
"Look at the seventh node again. The energy regeneration pattern itself is not a problem," Zhao Yelu was now fully engaged. "But if energy regeneration is combined with an energy source, and considering this is an Annihilation Formation..."
Zhao Yelu paused here and glanced coldly at them.
"Do I need to say what would happen then?!"
Zhao Yelu's finishing blow left the pretenders dumbfounded...
Cold sweat started to pour from their heads!
According to the incomplete manuscript, the Annihilation Formation itself was not very stable.
The effect of energy regeneration was to increase power, but it would also make the formation even more unstable!
Now, adding energy regeneration and an energy source to an unstable ninth-order formation...
This was like lighting a fire in a gunpowder keg!
The moment they had tried to decipher it, this balance would have been immediately broken!
"Look again," Zhao Yelu seemed to have no intention of stopping. "The eighth formation line of the fifteenth node, the sixth formation line of the seventh node, the first formation line of the twenty-first node..."
One by one, locations were named by Zhao Yelu.
At this moment, Zhao Yelu felt no fear or panic. He even started to believe himself!
He now felt like a formation master lecturing a few formation novices!
With every location Zhao Yelu mentioned, the pretenders subconsciously followed his gaze.
The more they looked, the more cold sweat appeared on their heads...
These were all guiding formation lines!
A formation could not possibly have so many guiding formation lines, otherwise, it would have no power whatsoever!
The most terrifying thing was that these formation lines seemed to have some connection...
That's right!
When viewed together, these formation lines formed a huge energy convergence backflow!
Using a pile of guiding formation lines to construct a new hidden formation, and layering it on top of the original Annihilation Formation...
This...
Was this something a human could do?!
At this moment, the pretenders finally realized the seriousness of the situation!
What Zhao Yelu said was true!
This meant that Zhao Yelu's formation skill was far superior to theirs!
Coupled with the fact that this was a lost ninth-order formation...
If they dared to think bolder, perhaps Zhao Yelu had already mastered the lost formation knowledge?!
And this was not the worst part.
The most critical thing was that after today, Zhao Yelu would definitely become the rising star of formations in Geshan City, with a boundless future!
And they, at this moment, seemed to have angered this rising star...
Their lives... might be forfeit...
The others present finally realized that something was wrong.
Especially when they saw the changing expressions of the pretenders, they realized that this sudden appearance of a person was not simple at all!
When even the formation masters were so terrified, wasn't the power of this formation even more...?
Even though they were all outsiders, they knew that these formation practitioners usually had many life-saving means.
Now that even they were on the verge of peeing themselves, their own fate was surely sealed!
"It seems you finally understand," Zhao Yelu opened his eyes and said calmly. "Now tell all your fellow cultivators loudly, what would have happened if you had tried to decipher it just now."
"It would..." the pretenders' imposing aura was gone, leaving only the pretense. "It would have completely detonated the formation... everyone present... would have perished..."