Changes in the Sword Formation, Calm Amid Chaos

"Yuanjun?"

Zheng Fa listened to the five Dao Fruit experts discussing matters in the main tent when he suddenly noticed Li Sanxian looking at Nishang Yuanjun with a nervous expression. "But what have I forgotten again?"

"Um?"

Nishang Yuanjun looked blank, clearly not understanding the meaning of those words.

"Yuanjun, it seems you've been watching me closely these past few days." Li Sanxian didn't hide anything and spoke frankly, "I thought I had forgotten something important again."

Before Nishang Yuanjun could answer, the Old Monk Zhitong exclaimed in surprise, "So it's not just me who thinks this way."

Even the usually taciturn Xuanding True Immortal chimed in, "Me too."

Nishang Yuanjun looked somewhat embarrassed, her eyes darting around.

The others looked at her with suspicion, but Zheng Fa chuckled inwardly— Nishang Yuanjun had been watching him for days.

This person was clearly playing a game of catching the mole, seemingly suspecting everyone in the tent.

It now appears that Li Sanxian is the prime suspect.

From the perspective of Nishang Yuanjun, it's quite reasonable to doubt Li Sanxian.

Vast Sun Mountain and Thunderclap Temple are enemies of Zheng Fa.

Even if Nishang Yuanjun had the wildest imagination, she would have to be insane to think that Zheng Fa had spies among the high-ranking members of these two factions.

But Li Sanxian was different:

Li Sanxian has been to the Nine Mountains Realm!

If Nishang Yuanjun were to speculate based on her own experience, she would probably think that Li Sanxian, like herself, was doomed to a lifelong fate upon meeting Zheng Fa... no, he needed something from Zheng Fa.

Therefore, in Nishang Yuanjun's view, it is very likely that Li Sanxian was also tipping off others.

Unfortunately, Li Sanxian did have a favorable impression of Zheng Fa and the Nine Mountains Realm, and praised them highly.

The suspicion grew even stronger.

Zheng Fa glanced at Nishang Yuanjun and saw that her brows were furrowed and her expression was troubled. He understood her distress.

If only Nishang Yuanjun secretly transmits information, the initiative lies with Nishang Yuanjun.

She can say whatever she wants, and can even use Zheng Fa against him.

But if there are other people rolling it together, then it's a completely different story.

The information about Nishang Yuanjun has recently become more detailed and its accuracy has greatly improved. She is being honest and dares not hide anything.

Now that he has Nishang Yuanjun and holds a high position on Vast Sun Mountain, he truly has people on both sides, giving him a calm and collected demeanor.

Zheng Fa could even confidently say that he knew more about the current situation of the Tianhe Camp than Xuanding True Immortal.

Seeing that Nishang Yuanjun looked embarrassed and stammered, as if she had something difficult to say, the Old Monk Zhitong simply changed the subject and asked Cloud True Immortal, "Does the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor really need thirty years to refine the four swords?"

Cloud True Immortal nodded, his tone resolute. "Back when Venerable Tianhe was forging the Four Immortal-Slayer Swords, my Vast Sun Mountain also participated."

Zheng Fa was taken aback.

He really didn't know that.

Vast Sun Mountain, did he collaborate with Venerable Tianhe?

"Even if Venerable Tianhe were to be resurrected, it would still take him thirty years to control the four swords."

The Old Monk Zhitong nodded slightly, then frowned and said, "Something's not right."

Nishang Yuanjun recovered from her embarrassment. "What's wrong?"

"I can't explain it either, but today I've been feeling a sense of unease from time to time."

Everyone frowned.

The Buddhist School possesses extraordinary Divine Ability, and the Old Monk Zhitong is True Immortal.

No one can ignore his premonition.

Xuanding True Immortal remained silent for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, then looked at Cloud True Immortal and urged, "Hurry up."

Clearly, he wanted Vast Sun Mountain to speed up the process of refining the array flags.

Cloud True Immortal refused to take the blame and instead complained, "It's not that I'm delaying, but Vast Sun Mountain is truly facing a shortage of resources. Both spiritual materials and manpower are extremely scarce."

Xuanding True Immortal remained silent for a moment, then nodded to Li Sanxian.

Li Sanxian quickly replied, "What spiritual materials do you need? My Supreme Dao can provide them."

No, is that Supreme Dao?

That belongs to my Nine Mountains Sect!

Zheng Fa glanced at Nishang Yuanjun, but saw that she had no objections. Instead, she added, "If that's still not enough, there are plenty of spiritual materials in the Western Continent. We can bring them over with the help of the Hundred Immortals Alliance."

The Hundred Immortals Alliance is unwilling to transport it!

Compared to the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor, Vast Sun Mountain is the greater threat to the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

But to be honest, if Jade Pool and Supreme Dao insist on doing so, there's not much the Hundred Immortals Alliance can do:

To put it bluntly, the spiritual materials weren't even labeled with names. They were transported to the Supreme Dao; what right did the Hundred Immortals Alliance have to interfere?

It's clear that these people are getting a little anxious.

Under the pressure from the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor, they actually showed a willingness to work together.

He looked towards the Tianhe Sect and saw the Immortal-Slayer Formation Diagram in the sky flickering, instilling in him a sense of dread.

Zheng Fa suddenly understood a little about the decision these people made.

Cloud True Immortal stood up and said, "Alright, I'll go back to Vast Sun Mountain to make the arrangements."

He seemed to sense the urgency of the matter and acted swiftly, saying to Zheng Fa, "The Vast Sun disciples here are now in your care."

After saying that, he gave the Old Monk Zhitong a look, as if entrusting him with something.

After giving a few instructions, he lifted the tent flap, set up a purple cloud, and prepared to fly towards Vast Sun Mountain.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a voice called out, urging them to stay.

"Cloud True Immortal, please wait!"

Xuanding True Immortal and the others all changed color and flew out of the tent.

Zheng Fa followed closely behind, and as soon as he stepped out of the main tent, he saw a familiar figure blocking Cloud True Immortal's path.

Sect Master Yan!

He held an ancient, simple immortal Immortal Sword in his hand, his figure appearing and disappearing in the void, his aura terrifying even to Zheng Fa.

"Yan Changge?" Cloud True Immortal's face darkened, and he coldly shouted, "You dare to show yourself!"

Is that Sect Master Yan's name?

Zheng Fa glanced at Sect Master Yan's expression and noticed that she was much more lively than when they had met before.

The expressions on Xuanding and the others' faces were all increasingly grim.

Now everyone can see it clearly:

The Old Monk Zhitong's premonition was absolutely right!

This caught Xuanding and the others completely off guard.

It was too late for Cloud True Immortal to leave!

Looking back now, the sheer scale of the display by the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor was hardly in line with his character.

It should be known that the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor's hidden abilities Wu Shuang in the Xuanwei Heaven.

Their previous high-profile approach was too strange.

Nishang Yuanjun also understood. "The Tianhe Sect is a trap! The Nine Nether Devil Ancestor wasn't refining the four swords, but waiting for us?"

Sect Master Yan smiled, tacitly agreeing.

Zheng Fa also suddenly realized something.

The Four Sects, and even Zheng Fa, had always believed that the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor's goal was to refine the Four Immortal-Slayer Swords.

But when Sect Master Yan appeared and stopped Cloud True Immortal, everyone suddenly realized—

The Four Immortal-Slayer Swords were merely a means to lure people from the Four Sects.

He glanced at Xuanding and the others, whose faces were grim, and felt that the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor's move was truly a calculated scheme.

If the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor were to refine four swords, no one could bear the consequences.

Which of these four True Immortal would dare not come?

The Old Monk Zhitong radiated a powerful Buddhist light and coldly shouted, "Charge out!"

Xuanding and the others were all Dao Fruit cultivators who had experienced a great deal and were not indecisive.

Upon hearing this, they set aside their past grievances and each used their own methods to attack Sect Master Yan.

Zheng Fa was worried for Sect Master Yan.

Now that he is the master of the Immortal-Trapping Sword, he naturally understands the limits of the Celestial River Method:

If Zheng Fa only relies on the Immortal-Trapping Sword, he would probably be equivalent to Loose Immortal.

Only by combining various methods can one be considered worthy of being True Immortal.

Even if Zheng Fa were to face so many True Immortal, he wouldn't be able to escape.

Sect Master Yan chuckled softly, seemingly very confident, and pointed his Immortal Sword towards the sky.

The Immortal-Slayer Formation Diagram in the sky instantly expanded to thousands of miles in length and width, like a thin black and white blanket covering the entire camp.

Zheng Fa felt his vision blurring, and when he looked again at Sect Master Yan, he saw that his figure had vanished.

Only Xuanding and the others remained, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Sect Master Yan's voice echoed in the void once more, "Founder Nine Nether invites everyone to appreciate the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Fa felt as if the space in front of him was a kaleidoscope, rapidly shattering and changing.

Turning around, he couldn't see Xuanding True Immortal and the others at all.

Using his Void-Piercing Spirit Eye, he surveyed his surroundings and saw numerous rifts in spacetime.

I felt like I was in a spatial vortex, spinning helplessly.

Even though it was already Corpse Liberation, the taste still made him feel nauseous and want to vomit.

The Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation took a full half hour to stop changing.

Zheng Fa looked around, but could only see a faint light; he could not see the sun, moon, or stars, and could not tell where he was.

Zheng Fa slowly landed on the ground, and his Divine Sense probed into the Creation Jade Disc, where he saw a Spirit Message from the Nishang Yuanjun:

"Please send a message to the Four Sects, Alliance Leader: We are trapped in the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation!"

Should he deliver the message?

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then took out a Communication Talisman and threw it into the air.

The Communication Talisman spun in the air and miraculously returned to Zheng Fa's hand.

It seems the Communication Talisman is no longer usable; no wonder Nishang Yuanjun had to ask him for help.

The Zizhi Comprehensive Mirror is a new thing, so why wasn't there any defense against the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation?

Zheng Fa was also confused about the situation.

He thought for a moment and replied, "Where is the Primordial Lord trapped?"

Nishang Yuanjun exclaimed happily, "The Comprehensive Mirror is indeed useful! I couldn't quite explain where I was either, but since I was with Li Sanxian of the Supreme Dao, I'm not in any danger."

It seems the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor only wanted to keep them here?

It's unclear whether he simply lacked the strength to kill anyone at that moment.

Or perhaps they have other plans.

Zheng Fa asked a few more questions and discovered that Nishang Yuanjun was in a similar situation to him, not knowing where she was, but she had encountered a group of disciples from the Four Sects.

Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of Nishang Yuanjun, Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then simply picked a random direction and started walking forward.

I don't know how long we walked, but suddenly some light appeared ahead.

His spirits lifted, but a sense of vigilance also rose within him. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was none other than the Old Monk Zhitong.

The Old Monk Zhitong was accompanied by a group of people, disciples from various sects, with the largest number naturally being from the Supreme Dao and Vast Sun Mountain.

They gathered at the foot of a cliff, with a small tree sticking out diagonally overhead.

The group of people were looking around nervously, seemingly quite alarmed.

The Old Monk Zhitong had also seen him long ago and looked in this direction.

Zheng Fa quickly took two steps forward, bowed, and said, "Master Zhitong."

The Old Monk Zhitong nodded, but his gaze was fixed on the surrounding darkness, his brow furrowed, as if he had little interest in talking to him.

"The Venerable Shi!"

"The Venerable Shi!"

The disciples of Vast Sun Mountain, on the other hand, were shouting loudly, their voices filled with excitement.

Hearing these calls, the Old Monk Zhitong came to his senses, glanced at Zheng Fa in surprise, and said, "I didn't expect that what Benefactor Yun said was true."

It's clear that Zheng Fa is so popular among Vast Sun's disciples, which puzzles the Old Monk Zhitong.

Zheng Fa nodded to the Vast Sun disciples, then looked at the Old Monk Zhitong and asked for guidance:

"May I ask, Master, where are we now?"

The Old Monk Zhitong thought for a moment, then said, "Within the sword formation."

"Maybe you can go out?"

The Old Monk Zhitong slowly shook his head and said, "I don't know, but what kind of person is the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor? Since he has set up this scheme, how could he allow us to leave so easily?"

Although they were enemies, Zheng Fa also felt that the monk was right.

The previous Four Sects were planned very well.

What is this "Inverted Five Elements Formation"? It's used to suppress the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation.

They each used their own methods to search for the Tianhe Legacy Treasure.

The plan was well-thought-out, but now it seems it was all a dream— the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor's control over the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation far exceeded the Four Sects' expectations!

Upon hearing the words of the Old Monk Zhitong, the disciples of the Four Sects around him stirred.

Zheng Fa then asked, "Could the master have made contact with other High Immortal?"

The Old Monk Zhitong sighed, "No, I can't sense the presence of the other benefactors."

Zheng Fa glanced at the Old Monk Zhitong, and a guess formed in his mind:

Were all True Immortal deliberately separated?

Nishang Yuanjun and Li Sanxian are together.

He met Zhitong again.

Therefore, it's very likely that Cloud True Immortal and Xuanding are not in the same place.

The Nine Nether Devil Ancestor seemed unconcerned about the whereabouts of the Four Sects disciples; he simply deliberately scattered the four True Immortal, for reasons unknown...

But clearly, he didn't intend to treat us to a meal.

No, is the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor specifically waiting for the Four Sects True Immortal?

So, Sect Master Yan only appeared when Cloud True Immortal wanted to leave?

In other words, the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor probably doesn't care about cultivators below the True Immortal level. For example, when Li Sanxian left, Sect Master Yan didn't show up.

Zheng Fa's mind was in turmoil, but he remained outwardly calm, as he couldn't reveal his connection with Nishang Yuanjun.

The Old Monk Zhitong seemed to have realized this as well. His expression grew even more grim, and he said in a deep voice, "You stay here and protect this disciple. I will try to find a way out."

Zheng Fa nodded and watched Zhitong fly into the sky.

He emanated boundless light, his Buddha-light like countless fine needles piercing the deep darkness.

The pitch-black void, illuminated by this Buddha's light, revealed every detail.

Zheng Fa looked up and saw that the Talisman Diagram in the sky were connected, like a birdcage.

These people are like caged birds, rarely able to break free.

The Old Monk Zhitong did not give up, but instead chanted Buddhist mantras in a low voice, and a Buddha Dharma Aspect materialized behind him.

This Buddha has a kind and benevolent face, and holds Wisdom Sword.

Upon seeing the Buddha, Zheng Fa suddenly felt a surge of reverence.

Looking at the disciples of the Four Sects around him, he saw that their faces showed some respect, longing, and even fanaticism.

Not to mention the expectation in her eyes.

Behind Zhitong, the Buddha raised his eyelids, brandished his Wisdom Sword, and slashed at a point in the void, shouting, "Open!"

Even though the sword wasn't aimed at him, Zheng Fa could still feel the power of this True Immortal's full-force attack.

To be fair, if he were facing that sword alone, he probably wouldn't have been able to stop it.

Even the talisman cage seemed unable to stop it.

Before everyone's eyes, two "railings" formed from condensed runes were forcefully severed by this Wisdom Sword!

Not only him, but all the disciples of the Four Sects here were overjoyed.

The Old Monk Zhitong glanced at them, said nothing, and simply flew out of the cage.

Zheng Fa's mind raced, and he silently followed. The disciples of the other Four Sects naturally followed closely behind, intending to escape.

Outside the cage, it was pitch black, even darker than before.

Even the Old Monk Zhitong, a True Immortal, walked with extreme caution.

This speed is so fast that even a random Nascent Soul from one of the Four Sects could keep up with it, let alone Zheng Fa.

A group of people huddled together, flying for half a day, their hearts filled with anticipation.

After walking for an unknown distance, the Old Monk Zhitong suddenly stopped and looked up.

A small tree grows diagonally off the cliff, right above their heads.

Everyone was stunned; no one dared to speak.

The cliff face, the tree branches, the veins on the leaves—everything tells everyone clearly:

They're back.

"Leader, we are trapped by a lake. No matter which way we go, we will return to where we started!"

The information about the Goddess of the Creation Jade Disc Nishang Yuanjun Tablet reveals a hint of impatience.

Zheng Fa shook his head and looked up at the Old Monk Zhitong beside him.

The monk didn't even look at Zheng Fa. A flash of Buddhist light appeared on his feet, and he stepped outwards, disappearing in an instant.

Zheng Fa knew that this was Secret Method Buddhist School technique called "Divine Feet."

Legend has it that if you cultivate to the highest level, you can traverse the Xuanwei in a single step, but that sounds like bragging.

It is, however, an extremely powerful Movement Method.

But a moment later, the figure of the Old Monk Zhitong, who had disappeared, reappeared before Zheng Fa and the others.

His face was ashen, as if he was unwilling to give up. He changed direction again, took a step out, but came back in an instant.

Zheng Fa watched him try it about ten times, and then he felt like watching him again.

The Old Monk Zhitong tried several more times before finally giving up in despair, and landed beside the crowd with a gloomy expression.

It was clear that he was at his wit's end and couldn't find a way out.

The Old Monk Zhitong's fruitless return was a blow to all the disciples of the Four Sects.

Cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul have long lost their appetite and will not starve even if they do not go out.

But no one wants to waste their lifespan in this place.

Seeing Zhitong even the True Immortal was unable to escape, these disciples realized they were in a deadly situation, and naturally, they were all filled with fear and despair.

In this way, Zheng Fa's behavior became somewhat unusual:

While the Old Monk Zhitong was at a loss and his face was clouded with worry, everyone saw that this Venerable Shi was still cultivating step by step.

He would also occasionally invite a few Vast Sun disciples to discuss weapon-refining techniques, and when they came across something interesting, they would chat and laugh together.

There wasn't a trace of anxiety in him.

Seeing his calm demeanor, even Zhitong couldn't help but glance at him a few more times before asking, "Do you have a way to get out?"

Zheng Fa said, "No, I just feel that there's nothing I can do if I'm anxious."

Seeing his sincere expression, the Old Monk Zhitong looked at him suspiciously for a few moments, then shook his head, as if he felt that even he had no other options, and that Zheng Fa, with his level of cultivation, probably really couldn't think of any solution.

He let out a soft breath and exclaimed in admiration, "No wonder you were able to obtain the Sacred Blood Seal; your resolve is indeed firm."

Upon hearing this, the Vast Sun disciples, looking at Zheng Fa's expression, showed even more respect.

These Vast Sun disciples were initially panicked and frightened upon being there.

But Zheng Fa's genuine calmness made these people quiet down without them even realizing it, and they seemed to feel inexplicably at ease.

Zheng Fa smiled, his expression humble, showing no pride whatsoever despite the Old Monk Zhitong's praise.

He sank his Divine Sense into his sea of consciousness and looked at the Nine Nether Talisman Edict within.

Whether one's Daoist heart is stable or not is hard to say; the main thing is that relationships are stable.

My fellow countrymen are everywhere.

In the Sect Leader hall of the Tianhe Sect, Sect Leader Sect Master Yan, carrying the Immortal-Slayer Sword, entered and bowed to the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor, saying:

"Founder, everyone is here."

(End of this chapter)