Cleverly Setting Up a Doubtful Formation to Confuse the Saints, Secretly Crossing the Chencang to Enter the Heavenly Gate

The ancient battlefield ruins, a gale howled.

Tongtian hovered outside the cave, his robes flapping in the fierce wind. His gaze, however, pierced through ten thousand miles of clouds, looking towards the magnificent, auspiciously-colored Thirty-Three Heavens. Haotian was about to personally lead an expedition to Guixu, leaving the Heavenly Court vulnerable. This was indeed the opportune moment he had long awaited. But the more critical the situation, the calmer he needed to be. The Heavenly Court had been established over countless eons; even with its main forces away, its foundations and defenses were by no means ordinary.

Forcing his way in was the worst possible strategy; he had to use his wits.

His mind raced, and in an instant, he devised a plan. He needed to achieve his objective while also stirring up trouble and diverting any potential attention.

"Wudang."

"Your disciple is here."

"You will depart immediately for the 'Flowing Sand River' at the border of the Western Ox Continent and the Southern Jambudvipa Continent," Tongtian instructed at an extremely rapid pace. "This place is where the Curtain-Rolling General (Sha Wujing) was banished and punished, and it is also a crucial node for Buddhism's eastward spread of destiny. Upon arrival, do not conceal your presence. Make a grand display, use this talisman to activate your magic power, simulate my aura, and create the illusion that I am here to rescue an old subordinate. The bigger the commotion, the better. But remember, strike and leave immediately. Do not linger. After luring the pursuers westward, flee at once and return here."

He handed Wudang a specially made jade talisman, sealed within which was a strand of his pure Chaos Sword Qi and aura, enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing.

Wudang instantly understood this was a feint. She solemnly accepted the talisman. "Your disciple accepts the order! I will not fail Master's trust!" With that, her form transformed into a sword, tearing through space, and she sped towards the Flowing Sand River.

Tongtian watched her depart, then turned to Kui Niu. "Old friend, I have something for you to run an errand for as well. You will quickly go to the former site of the 'Heavenly Demon Hall' in the Northern Continent. It contains remnants of the ancient demon court's formations. Use this scale to activate the residual formations, simulate the commotion of a great demon of the Taiyi Realm attacking a pass, and create the appearance that the demon race intends to take advantage of the Heavenly Court's vulnerability. Once done, flee immediately."

He took out a scale obtained from the Dragon Palace's treasury, imbued with the blood essence of an ancient great demon, and gave it to Kui Niu. Kui Niu let out a low roar, indicating understanding, and his four hooves ignited with fire as he soared into the sky.

With two diversionary forces dispatched, Tongtian himself had to execute the most crucial step—truly infiltrating the Heavenly Court!

He did not act immediately. Instead, he sat down cross-legged, formed seals with his hands, and the Chaos Bead slowly materialized above his head, emitting streams of dark gray energy.

"Chaos Thousand Faces, Myriad Transformations Unfixed!" he roared. His bones crackled, and his face and form rapidly changed under the shroud of Chaos Qi. Finally, he transformed into the appearance of an ordinary-looking Heavenly Court divine general, clad in standard silver armor, with a slightly arrogant expression—exactly the image of the Heavenly Patrol Envoy "Wang Lingguan" he had gleaned from Ksitigarbha's memories, who was responsible for patrolling the outer areas of the South Heaven Gate! Even his aura and magical power fluctuations were perfectly simulated!

This was not a simple transformation technique, but a profound Divine Ability that evolved the essence of all things using the Chaos Dao Fruit. Unless a Saint deliberately investigated, it would be extremely difficult to see through.

With the transformation complete, he did not rush to the South Heaven Gate. Instead, he forced a drop of dark golden blood from his fingertip and rapidly inscribed upon it with his divine sense as a brush. The blood writhed and changed, eventually forming a tiny, almost transparent, peculiar flying insect the size of a grain of rice, with spatial runes naturally formed on its wings.

"Go." Tongtian flicked his finger, and the blood insect instantly merged into the void and disappeared. This was the "Void Blood Mite" he had created by combining the laws of Chaos with the characteristics of the Netherworld Soul-Devouring Mite, capable of traversing space and being extremely stealthy, used for reconnaissance and transmitting micro-information.

Having done all this, Tongtian took a deep breath. His figure flickered, and he instantly appeared in the high sky, riding a silver streak of escape light, unhurriedly flying towards the majestic, golden-glowing South Heaven Gate.

The closer he got to the South Heaven Gate, the more he could feel the majesty of the Heavenly Court. Auspicious clouds paved the way, immortal cranes soared, golden-armored warriors stood at attention with swords drawn, and patrols of heavenly soldiers were endless. Powerful divine senses intertwined like a net, covering the void in all directions. Although the entire Heavenly Court was slightly busy due to the main forces preparing for the expedition to Guixu, it was orderly and heavily guarded.

Tongtian's expression remained unchanged, even carrying a hint of the arrogance befitting a Heavenly Patrol Envoy, as he rode his escape light directly towards the heavenly gate.

"Halt! Identify yourselves!" bellowed King Virupaksha Mo Liqing, the gatekeeper, his voice like a thunderous bell. He held a green, glowing sword and blocked the path. Three of the Four Heavenly Kings were on duty here today, indicating the high level of alert.

Tongtian stopped his escape light, took out Wang Lingguan's token, and injected a trace of simulated magical power. The token immediately emitted a pure immortal aura and identity information. At the same time, he said impatiently, "Mo Liqing, you don't even recognize this King Officer anymore? Hurry and get out of the way. I've just returned from patrol and have important matters to report to King Li!"

Mo Liqing carefully examined the token and sensed the pure Heavenly Court divine general's aura. It was indeed Wang Lingguan, but out of duty, he asked, "General Wang, why is your return from patrol slightly late today?"

Tongtian had his explanation ready. He frowned. "Hmph! It's all because of the anomaly in the Flowing Sand River in the lower realm! It seems demons are gathering, and the energy fluctuations are bizarre. I investigated for a bit longer and was almost injured by a hidden strand of Chaos Sword Qi! This matter is strange and needs to be reported immediately!" He deliberately mentioned the Flowing Sand River and Chaos Sword Qi, subtly diverting the suspicion.

Upon hearing "Flowing Sand River" and "Chaos Sword Qi," Mo Liqing's expression changed slightly. He had clearly heard some rumors. Seeing that "Wang Lingguan's" aura was stable but his tone was urgent, not feigning, he no longer doubted and waved to clear the passage. "So that's how it is. General, you've worked hard. Please proceed!"

Tongtian snorted coldly and rode his escape light, unhurriedly flying into the South Heaven Gate.

Upon entering the gate, a dense innate spiritual energy washed over him. Looking around, he saw towering heavenly palaces, magnificent treasure halls, and rainbow bridges spanning the sky, a scene of supreme immortal grandeur. However, Tongtian could keenly feel that beneath this serenity lay countless powerful restrictions and formations. Many palaces harbored hidden but potent auras, clearly indicating that the remaining forces were still not to be underestimated.

He dared not be careless. Relying on Ksitigarbha's memory of the Heavenly Court's layout and "Wang Lingguan's" scope of authority, he flew towards his intended target area—the "Record and Registry Department," responsible for managing some lower-level divine officials. This place was not a core area, its defenses were relatively lax, and it was possible to access some information outside the Investiture of the Gods. It was the first stop in his plan.

However, just as he flew over a cluster of palaces shrouded in immortal clouds, his heart suddenly gave a violent jolt without warning! An extremely subtle, yet supreme, cold, and indifferent will swept across the entire Heavenly Court like an invisible breeze, silently and without a trace!

This will far surpassed Haotian's! It was even more ancient, profound, and closer to the Heavenly Dao than the Saintly Might he had felt from Yuanshi and Zhunti!

It was the Grand Supreme Elder Laozi! Or rather, a strand of the Grand Pure Saint's avatar or contingency left in the Heavenly Court!

Tongtian's hair stood on end. He instantly activated the concealment power of his Chaos Dao Fruit to its limit. The simulated Wang Lingguan aura was flawless, even the hint of arrogance in his eyes was maintained perfectly. His heartbeat and blood flow showed no abnormalities. He moved forward like the most precise puppet, continuing according to Wang Lingguan's behavioral patterns, while his heart churned like a stormy sea.

Laozi's will seemed to sweep by as a mere formality, not lingering on him, this "insignificant divine general." It slowly passed by, continuing to scan elsewhere.

Just as Tongtian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to accelerate away from the area—whoosh! A golden light suddenly shot out from a palace below, blocking his path. As the golden light dispersed, a Daoist priest wearing an eight trigrams immortal robe, holding a whisk, and with an ancient face appeared—it was Grand Master Xuandu!

Grand Master Xuandu looked at Tongtian with calm eyes and spoke indifferently, his voice betraying no emotion. "General Wang, you seem to be in a hurry. Where are you headed?"

Tongtian's internal alarm bells were ringing! Why would Grand Master Xuandu suddenly stop a Heavenly Patrol Envoy? Was it a coincidence, or had that strand of Grand Pure will discovered something?