Formation Succeeds, Candle Dragon Returns

As soon as they finished speaking, several people got to work. Xuan Qing began guiding Han Xi in refining formation bases, while the Qing Ya Sisters took the Cauldron of Creation to the Dao Field to cultivate Acquired Spiritual Roots. The three of them divided the work between themselves.

After following Xuan Qing for tens of thousands of years, Han Xi had learned how to set up formations. However, to ensure the formation's success, she had pestered Xuan Qing into teaching her many more techniques for arranging formations.

Two Kalpas passed, and the Qing Ya Sisters had cultivated a vast number of Acquired Spiritual Roots. After discussing it, the three of them took Xuan Qing and flew toward the island cluster.

"Brother, stay to the side and guide us. Don't steal our Merit again."

After saying that, Han Xi led the Qing Ya Sisters in planting the Acquired Spiritual Roots according to the formation layout. Xuan Qing watched from the side without saying a word.

Han Xi knew there would be no major problems. Ten thousand years passed, and countless Acquired Spiritual Roots were planted at various Earth Vein Nodes.

Han Xi's formation bases were also placed in their corresponding positions. As the last Spiritual Root was successfully planted, the Earth Veins gave a slight tremor.

Seeing this, Han Xi hurriedly infused it with Magic Power. Before long, a faint trace of Star Power was drawn into the small island. The Earth Vein Nodes expanded somewhat, and the Innate Spiritual Qi grew denser, though the island itself did not increase in size.

A stream of Great Dao Merit descended. Part of it flew toward the three women, while another part fell into the small island. However, there was too little Merit for it to be very noticeable. To Han Xi's Merit Dao Wheel, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

The Qing Ya Sisters were different. They had never received Great Dao Merit before, so this was their first harvest in life. Qing Ling happily flew all over the island, while Qing Ya remained more composed, foolishly grinning alongside Han Xi.

This formation could not transform Innate Spiritual Qi, but it could gather it and attract a small amount of Star Power. That was already very good for most blessed lands.

The Earth Veins had not expanded, but these Acquired Spiritual Roots could purify the Turbid Qi of the earth, strengthening the Earth Veins somewhat. As a result, this island could also increase the density of Innate Spiritual Qi.

The formation had barely achieved its intended effect, but it could be widely implemented. Although the Merit from it was limited, arranging enough of them would still bring a great deal of Merit. The Qing Ya Sisters would have plenty to do.

Seeing that the formation had succeeded, the three women no longer hesitated. They prepared to use up all their remaining materials. Ignoring Xuan Qing, who was inspecting the formation, they continued their grand undertaking of earning Merit.

The three happily flew to other islands. One Kalpa later, their materials had been exhausted, but they had arranged formations across a vast area. Sixteen surrounding islands had been successfully transformed by them. Once the Earth Veins settled, they would become sixteen Cavern Heavens.

The three women happily ran over to Xuan Qing to show off their achievements.

"Master, give this group of islands a name. Otherwise, what will we call them in the future?"

Qing Ling felt that the islands she had transformed needed names. Afraid that anything she came up with would not match the grandeur of Azure Nether Island, she asked Xuan Qing to decide.

"Since they will become Cavern Heavens once their evolution is complete, the one I transformed will be called the Sun and Moon Grotto-Heaven. Your sixteen will be called the Female Immortal Grotto-Heaven."

"That sounds nice, Brother. You're quite talented at naming things. I like it a lot. Qing Ya, what do you sisters think?"

Han Xi thought it was acceptable and turned to look at the Qing Ya Sisters.

"It works, it works. The name Master chose really suits our identities."

The Qing Ya Sisters had no objections, and so they agreed.

Xuan Qing then took out some Spirit Jade and gathered some stones from the island. After refining them a little, two Low-Grade Postnatal Spirit Treasure steles were completed.

Xuan Qing carved the Dao Patterns for Sun and Moon Grotto-Heaven onto one stele, then handed the other to the three women.

"You transformed them, so carve the name yourselves. That way, you'll have a sense of accomplishment."

The three women raised their brows.

"Brother, is this what you call a sense of ritual?"

Han Xi felt that this was like the feeling Old Brother had described in those modern stories.

"Hahaha! Oh, Han Xi, you're pretty impressive. You actually noticed."

Xuan Qing suddenly felt that this kind of life was truly interesting. Could endless bitter cultivation even count as living? Life would need a little sense of ritual from now on.

Just as several people were happily chatting, an angry roar suddenly rang out.

"Roar!"

Several Kalpas ago, Xuan Qing had killed every Dragon Clan member here. After several Kalpas without any Clan Members reporting the situation on the islands to the clan, Candle Dragon sensed that something was wrong and immediately rushed over.

Upon arriving at the Azure Nether Island Sea, he sensed the area and found no trace of the Dragon Clan's aura. He knew those Clan Members were likely dead, and he immediately let out an enraged roar, interrupting the happily chatting group.

"Damn it! You Daoist actually killed members of my Dragon Clan again! You ignored our warning last time, and now you even dare to come out? Today, you will definitely die!"

Seeing several people come out, Candle Dragon no longer hesitated. His draconic body charged directly at them, afraid that they would hide within the formation again.

"Heh. A scholar who has been apart for three days should be viewed with new eyes, let alone after several thousand Kalpas."

Xuan Qing sneered disdainfully and also mobilized his physical body to collide with Candle Dragon.

"Bang!"

The crisp sound of the collision spread throughout the sea. The two separated as soon as they struck each other. Xuan Qing was knocked far away and suffered minor injuries to his body, but they healed on their own shortly afterward.

"Hmm? Grand Luo Golden Immortal! You broke through to Grand Luo Golden Immortal? But why didn't they report it? Did you take the opportunity to kill them and block the news?"

Candle Dragon grew even angrier. This was the first time anyone had treated the Dragon Clan this way. But Xuan Qing had only just broken through to Grand Luo Golden Immortal—what use was a strong physical body? Candle Dragon could deal with him easily.

Candle Dragon no longer hesitated. Opening his enormous mouth, he fired an attack imbued with the characteristics of the Law of Time at Xuan Qing.

"Boom!"

Xuan Qing pulled out the Jade Bamboo of Creation and shattered Candle Dragon's attack with a single strike. A tremendous boom resounded through half the East Sea.

"Who is fighting? Such terrifying pressure—is it a battle between great powers?"

"Which great power of the Dragon Clan is fighting someone?"

Countless living beings discussed it among themselves, wondering who was so formidable as to dare fight the Dragon Clan in the East Sea.

"A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, and your strength... You are no ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal."

He could recognize the aura of a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, but Xuan Qing's strength made his heart tremble. Suddenly thinking of something, Candle Dragon cried out in alarm:

"An anomaly appeared in the River of Destiny some time ago. You are the one who comprehended the Law of Creation!!!"

That was it. Only someone who had produced such an anomaly upon breaking through to Grand Luo could possess such strength. With only a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, Xuan Qing could contend against him. Candle Dragon had no way to deal with him now.

"Heh. Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon has sharp eyes indeed. You even managed to guess that. But wasn't killing your Dragon Clan members only natural? You tried to seize my Dao Field. Was I not allowed to resist?"

Xuan Qing was no longer afraid to trade words with Candle Dragon face-to-face. So what if he mocked him to his face? He could not deal with them now, but after the Three Tribes War, would they still dare be so arrogant?

"Fellow Daoist, the Prehistoric Era is a world where the strong devour the weak. Without strength, one does not deserve the Right to Speak. Now that you possess such strength, we admit defeat."

Candle Dragon was no fool. Although the two sides had become enemies, those had merely been a group of ants. Dead was dead. The loss of an Early Stage of Grand Luo Golden Immortal was still acceptable.

If Xuan Qing were determined to become enemies with the Dragon Clan, they could not do anything to him with the grand formation alone. Combined with the strength he had just displayed, continuing the fight would bring the Dragon Clan no benefit.

"May I know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"

"This Poor Daoist is Xuan Qing. So, Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon, state your terms."

Candle Dragon curled his lip. This Daoist was truly shameless. He held a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and still called himself Poor Daoist. Even Candle Dragon's own Spiritual Treasures were inferior to that one.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Qing, how about we let bygones be bygones and turn hostility into friendship?"

"Not a chance. You blocked our door for so many years and threatened us, and now you want to let it go just like that? Do you take me for a nobody? Hmm?"

Xuan Qing would not let the Dragon Clan off so easily. They could not skimp on the compensation they owed him. It was the perfect chance to obtain Innate Spiritual Treasures for Qing Ling and Bai Yu.

"Fellow Daoist, you killed so many members of my Dragon Clan, including one Grand Luo Golden Immortal. That is an enormous loss to my clan."

Candle Dragon was cursing inwardly. This fellow was definitely a sly old fox, far too petty. He would have to guard against him carefully in the future.

"They brought it upon themselves. You cannot blame that on me. If anyone is to blame, it is your own side. Let's discuss compensation. If I'm satisfied, I'll let it go."

"Fellow Daoist, this... Fine. Consider it my Dragon Clan taking a loss. How about compensating you with two Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures?" Candle Dragon thought it was merely a matter of saving face, so a token gesture would suffice.

"What? Are you dismissing a beggar? At least three Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures."

Xuan Qing would not be polite. This was compensation he was demanding for Qing Ling and the others; everyone should get a share.

"Impossible! My Dragon Clan only has a few Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Besides, that is far too excessive. Why don't you just rob us?"

Candle Dragon was nearly smoking with rage. Was that any way to bargain?

"Robbing you wouldn't be this fast. Besides, isn't this robbery already?"

Xuan Qing grinned. Trying to argue with me? I didn't learn all that Chinese culture for nothing. That had been a classic line in my previous life, and now I actually got to say it myself.

"Impossible. At most, two mid-grade ones." Candle Dragon could only bargain again.

"Heh. At least three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. That is my bottom line. If you bargain again, pretend I said nothing. We'll continue—the fight from earlier isn't over yet."

Xuan Qing would not lower his standards. This was already his final bottom line. If Candle Dragon dared bargain again, he would fight him.

Seeing Xuan Qing's posture of being ready to fight if he bargained again, Candle Dragon fell silent. It seemed he could only agree, or they really would have to fight again.

"Very well, then we will do as Fellow Daoist Xuan Qing says. I hope Fellow Daoist keeps your word. Let the matter from last time end here."

With great pain, Candle Dragon took out the only three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures he possessed and handed them to Xuan Qing. Xuan Qing looked them over. They were acceptable. Though they had fewer than thirty-six restrictions, he could improve them after taking them back.