Inside the Formation, everyone, including Zhang Bin, was shouting desperately in their minds. Hurry up and come in! Come on, get in here and die!

They had no time to waste, as Zhou Tianyu could only hold off the pursuers for five minutes at most. If they delayed too long, Zhou Tianyu would be forced to retreat into the Formation, allowing the enemy to join forces. After all, they were facing seventeen SSS-class Genetically Enhanced Humans. Their combined strength was terrifying, far beyond what Zhang Bin's group could handle.

Even the Formation wouldn't be of much help. It required Spirit Stones to operate, and without a sufficient supply, it couldn't exert its full power or hold out for long. Furthermore, this was just a small-scale Formation with a rudimentary Array Plate, nowhere near as formidable as the one in Sanchahe Village. Even the powerful Array Plate in Sanchahe Village could barely kill a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

Therefore, their plan was to use this small Array Plate, combined with one Nascent Soul Stage Master and over a hundred Golden Core Realm experts, to launch a surprise attack. They hoped to eliminate one or two of the pursuers; with any luck, they might even kill three. The ideal outcome would be to kill all three Nascent Soul Stage Master-equivalents at once. Then they wouldn't be attacked from both sides, and they might finally have a chance to escape alive.

But things didn't go as planned. Just as Ava was about to enter, Jack suddenly grabbed her arm. "Wait a moment."

"What's wrong?" Ava scoffed. "Are you telling me we're afraid of a Formation that's been here for billions of years?"

"I've studied Cultivator Formations," Jack said. "For example, the sect-protecting Formation of China's Kunlun Sect is incredibly powerful. We might not gain any advantage by rushing in. More importantly, Formations consume Spirit Stones. This couldn't possibly be a Formation that belongs to the base. After so many eons, any amount of Spirit Stones would have been completely exhausted by now."

"What are you trying to say?" Ava asked, stunned.

"I suspect our enemies set up a Formation here to assist the person we're chasing," Jack explained. "Their goal is to lure us inside and kill us."

"How is that possible?" This time it wasn't just Ava; Sandra was also taken aback, hardly believing her own ears.

Based on the footprints, the scent, and various other observations, they had concluded that this was Zhang Bin's first time entering the underground base. That being the case, how could he have accomplices waiting inside?

"Don't forget, he's very familiar with this base," Jack said gravely. "He can control most of the mechanisms and traps, and he can even operate the fortress cannons. I suspect this base has another entrance. He's probably been here many times and even brought his companions with him. It's entirely possible they've set up a Formation here."

Zhang Bin cursed inwardly in frustration. Damn it... Jack is too clever. He's managed to guess the truth, even if by accident.

The others were just as helpless and anxious. The situation was growing increasingly dire, and escaping today seemed nearly impossible. With their current strength, they didn't dare leave the Formation, as they were no match for the three overwhelmingly powerful SSS-class Genetically Enhanced Humans. They could only wait.

"This is terrible!" Sandra said anxiously, her face paling. "Our secret is in danger of being exposed."

"We have to break the Formation quickly and kill them all," Ava added urgently.

"But this could be a terrifying trap," Jack said, his expression turning grim as he began to hesitate.

"The three of us will enter fully prepared. I refuse to believe we can't break this Formation," Ava insisted. "In such a confined space, it can't be that formidable."

"Perhaps they're just using this Formation to stall us and buy time to escape," Sandra suggested.

"Regardless, we should break the Formation from the outside, not enter it," Jack said decisively. "Let's attack it directly. A Formation in a space this small should shatter quickly."

With that, the three of them unleashed terrifying attacks. Jack's mouth opened wide, and he spewed a torrent of surging flames into the white mist.

An azure Gourd materialized in Zhang Hangkui's hand. It instantly swelled to an immense size, emitting a terrifying devouring force. With a great WHOOSH, it sucked in all the flames Jack had unleashed, neutralizing them completely.

"What's going on?" Shock appeared on the faces of Jack, Ava, and Sandra. They couldn't believe their eyes.

"Break!" Sandra roared, spewing an overwhelming flood from her mouth that surged into the mist.

However, it was just as useless. The deluge was swallowed whole by Zhang Hangkui's Gourd, leaving the trio even more baffled.

"I don't believe this!" Ava roared. Her ears twitched madly as she fired countless terrifying bolts of Thunder, strafing the mist like a machine gun. The attack produced a cataclysmic roar, as if the very heavens were splitting apart.

Zhang Hangkui remained perfectly calm. With a mere thought, the Array Plate emitted a strange power that simply redirected the incoming lightning. The bolts were sent flying in another direction, striking the ground and erupting in a dazzling white light. In the end, Ava's Thunder attack had no effect at all.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hangkui, Zhang Bin, and the others remained utterly silent, making no sound at all. Their goal was to make Jack's group feel uncertain and suspect the Formation was empty. Only then might they be tempted to enter and investigate, giving them the chance to kill them.

"It seems to be the Formation's automated defenses. There's no one inside; they must have already fled," Ava said anxiously. "We can't let our secret get out!"

"Alright, we'll go in," Jack said grimly. "But only two of us. One will stay outside to provide cover."

Zhang Hangkui laughed triumphantly in his heart. Hahaha... Finally! They took the bait! With only two coming in, it will be much easier to eliminate them.

Zhang Bin was also secretly delighted. Zhang Hangkui's coordinated efforts had paid off, successfully luring two of them inside. This time, they had to kill both. The one remaining outside would be no threat.

And so, Sandra remained outside to provide backup while Jack and Ava prepared to enter. Their bodies erupted with a powerful aura, their skin glowing as brightly as gold. Clearly, they had activated their most powerful Defensive Abilities. At the same time, they both raised their Magical Treasures. Ava wielded a sharp Longsword, and Jack held an ink-black saber.

With a single stride, they stepped inside. They immediately found themselves in a disorienting, misty space where even their Divine Sense couldn't penetrate the surroundings. Heaven and Earth seemed to spin, and they couldn't see another soul.

"They really are gone!" Ava exclaimed excitedly, rushing forward. "Let's find the Array Plate! It's a Treasure of immense value!"

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