Fifth-Corner Emperor Formation

The moment Ren Xiaoyao stepped into the Boundary Sealing Gate with Zhao Lie, the hairs on his body stood on end like steel needles. A hidden yet persistent murderous intent seeped into his limbs and bones, sending chills down his spine and making his breathing difficult. In the shadows inside the city gate, three auras lurked like venomous snakes—they deliberately concealed their cultivation fluctuations, yet with each breath they revealed the heavy pressure of early-stage Heavenly Immortal. That pressure was as solid as a mountain, carrying the chilling aura of someone who had fought countless battles, far from the mixed and scattered auras of ordinary law enforcement officers. Ren Xiaoyao knew perfectly well: the undercover elder codenamed "Shadow" was meticulous and ruthless, and the central command tent was a trap tailor-made for him, likely already filled with "witnesses" and "evidence." Zhao Lie was focused solely on the front-line battle. His dark cloak fluttered in the bloody winds of war, his armor still stained with undried demonic blood, the mottled bloodstains bearing witness to the fierce battle that had just taken place. Completely oblivious to the lurking danger, he strode towards the central command tent. The spears held by the guards gleamed coldly in the sunlight, their tips like the flicking tongues of venomous snakes, aimed at every approaching figure. The atmosphere was tense to the extreme. Ren Xiaoyao's heart pounded like a drum, his fingertips trembling slightly with tension, his knuckles turning white. He could imagine the scene that awaited him upon entering the tent: countless accusing gazes, the tampered Message Jade Slip, the fragments of clothing stained with demonic energy—these "ironclad evidence" would instantly nail him to the pillar of shame as a traitor, leaving him no chance to defend himself, only the cruel punishment of the Immortal Alliance.

Just ten paces from the central command tent, the scrutinizing gaze of the guarding cultivators was already upon him, scrutinizing even the scorch marks on his robes from the fierce battle with the enforcement team. Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao stopped abruptly, feigning a stumble, his right hand clutching his chest. His body tilted uncontrollably to the left, as if he were about to collapse. His face instantly drained of color, turning ashen white, and fine beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his temples and clinging to his cheeks, making him appear utterly disheveled. "Commander Zhao, I... I just fought fiercely with the enforcement team. Old wounds haven't healed, and new ones have been inflicted. My dantian's Emperor Power suddenly became chaotic, and my meridians are faintly..." "It hurts! If I don't regulate my breathing in time, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will damage my Dao Foundation!" His voice trembled, filled with undisguised pain. Combined with his contorted expression, veins bulged on his forehead, and he even bit his tongue so hard that a trickle of bright red blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, dripped down his chin, and splashed onto the gravel on the ground, blooming into a small, glaring blood flower—a rather realistic depiction of someone on the verge of death. Zhao Lie turned around at the sound, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He instinctively reached out to probe Ren Xiaoyao's aura. Ren Xiaoyao quickly dodged, panting, "No... when the Emperor Power is in disarray, external contact will exacerbate the backlash! Just..." "Just meditate behind the rock for a moment, and you'll be able to steady your breathing!" Seeing that his breathing was indeed rapid and disordered, and his chest heaving violently, Zhao Lie no longer suspected anything and said in a deep voice, "Then meditate behind the rock on the right. Don't wander around. I'll go report to the Alliance Leader and return in a moment." After saying that, he turned and strode into the central military tent. The heavy tent curtain slowly fell behind him, blocking the view inside and outside, and temporarily isolating him from the suffocating pressure. Ren Xiaoyao looked at his back and sighed inwardly, "Excuse me." Then he crouched down and darted into the shadow of the tent where military rations were piled up next to him like a cat. The tent was filled with the fragrance of spirit rice, mixed with the blood outside. The stark contrast of the stench slightly eased his tense nerves. Using the chaotic flow of people at the Boundary Sealing Gate —stretcher teams carrying wounded soldiers hurried past, their groans rising and falling; cultivators carrying heavy magical artifacts rushed about; scouts relaying military intelligence rode swiftly on horseback, kicking up dust—and under the cover of the clashing spiritual light and surging demonic energy from the magical artifacts, he quickly activated the <Breath Concealment Art>, suppressing his aura to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. Even his breathing became light and long, like a forest breeze. He slipped away silently through the gaps in the tent like a ghost, his toes barely touching the ground, leaving only a faint afterimage.

Behind him came the stern shouts and the sounds of a search operation by law enforcement officers. "Where did that traitor Ren Xiaoyao go?! The elders have ordered that he be captured at all costs. Any resistance will be met with death!" "Search quickly! He can't have gone far. The Alliance Leader has ordered a reward for capturing him alive—a great merit!" The footsteps were chaotic and rapid, like a dense drumbeat striking the heart; the sharp, piercing sounds of magical artifacts cutting through the air; the roars of cultivators intertwined, making one's heart clench like a bowstring about to snap. Ren Xiaoyao dared not delay for a moment, activating his Cloud Treading Steps to its limit, his figure transforming... As a pale golden afterimage, it moved swiftly along the ground, like a gliding ghost, speeding along the edge of the cliff on the west side of the Boundary Sealing Gate. This cliff was extremely steep, almost perpendicular to the ground, with only a few drought-resistant Black-Mark Spirit Vine growing sparsely on its surface. The vines were as tough as steel but covered with sharp barbs, like the scythe of Death God. Below lay the infamous Blackwind River, a dangerous place in the Immortal Realm. The river water, constantly mixed with the turbid energy of the Demon Realm and the Spiritual Qi of the Immortal Realm, had an eerie gray-black color. Huge whirlpools, several meters in diameter, churned on the surface, spinning extremely fast and generating a powerful suction force. Even cultivators flying at low altitudes were swept up in it; countless lives had been swallowed by the riverbed. The whirlpool carried fragments of immortal Immortal Demonic Soldiers —shards of immortal swords, broken blades of demonic blades, and severed limbs of cultivators—a gruesome sight, reeking of blood. Energy Turbulence floated on the river's surface, twisted black, swirling like venomous snakes, corroding even the hardest rocks with fine holes, emitting a pungent odor that made one want to vomit. Ren Xiaoyao leaped off the cliff, his right hand precisely grasping a Black-Mark Spirit Vine, bearing his weight, creaked and groaned as if they might snap at any moment. Ignoring the bloodstains on his hands from the thorns, the blood dripping down the vines and into the Blackwind River below, instantly swallowed by the whirlpools. He scrambled down, using both hands and feet, his fingernails embedded with rock fragments, burning with pain, yet he dared not slow down. The sounds of the search behind him were gradually drowned out by the roar of the river and the wind howling against the cliff, until they completely disappeared from his ears, leaving only the sounds of the wind and the flowing water echoing like the fury of nature.

After speeding downstream along the Blackwind River for half an hour, Ren Xiaoyao finally escaped the Immortal Alliance's search area, but also arrived at a strange place he had never set foot in before. The sky here presented an extremely contrasting and fantastical scene: to the left, it was a clear, deep blue, with fluffy white clouds swirling around it, as soft as cotton. Sunlight shone through the clouds, warm and pure, making the spiritual herbs on the ground glow, and even the air had a sweet fragrance, making one feel refreshed with every breath; to the right, however, it was pitch black, with thick, fog-like demonic energy churning within it. Purple and crimson lightning flashed intermittently, emitting a hissing sound like the whispers of demons, exuding a chilling and pungent aura that made the air smell of decay. A single breath made one feel heavy-hearted and icy cold. Two completely different forces collided and tore at each other on the horizon, forming twisted Energy Vortex. At the center of these vortexes, tiny Space Cracks could be seen, shimmering with a ghostly blue light, like gateways to the unknown, radiating a mysterious and dangerous aura that made one afraid to approach. Nearby, the scene on the ground was even more starkly contrasting, bordering on the bizarre: to the left were lush, verdant spiritual herbs and spiritual trees radiating a soft, spiritual light. The branches of the trees bore translucent spiritual fruits, emitting an alluring fragrance that attracted colorful Spirit Butterflies Spirit Butterflies that fluttered around them, scattering specks of spiritual light with each flutter of their wings; to the right, however, were withered, blackened thorns and strange rocks emitting wisps of black smoke. The rocks were covered in jagged cracks, resembling the faces of demons, and constantly oozed black, sticky liquid. The liquid dripped onto the ground, corroding small pits and holes. Black bubbles were rising from within; and at the boundary between the two, some strange hybrid plants grew—some spiritual herbs had wisps of demonic energy swirling around the edges of their leaves, yet their flowers were pure white, exuding a contradictory aura; some thorns were covered in spiritual light, yet they bore black fruits that emanated Evil Qi, with tiny Demonic Runes dancing on their surface, as if they were alive. They seemed to be deformed products of a forced fusion of immortal and Demonic Power, inspiring awe and making people hesitant to touch them, fearing the backlash from that eerie power.

"This... is actually the Yin-Yang Two Forms Boundary Gap between the Immortal and Demonic Realms?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart surged with shock, his steps involuntarily halting, his eyes filled with astonishment. He had once read in the ancient Immortal Realm text, <The Two Forms Boundary Records>, that there existed an unstable boundary between the Immortal and Demonic Realms, called the "Two Forms Boundary Gap." Here, Spiritual Qi and demonic energy intertwined Primordial Chaos, the Heaven and Earth Laws were in utter disarray, sometimes Space-time Distortion, teleporting cultivators to unfamiliar places billions of miles away, or directly throwing them into the Space-time Turbulence, leaving them forever lost; at other times, energy would run rampant, forming world-destroying Energy Storm, mixed with Law Fragments, which even Golden Immortal had to avoid, for the slightest carelessness would result in being sliced into Void by the Law Fragments. Very few cultivators dared to set foot here, and even those who did often never return, becoming lonely ghosts in the boundary gap. Their remnant souls wailed within the rift, forming mournful sound waves that echoed endlessly throughout the heavens and earth. He never imagined that in his attempt to escape pursuit, he would stumble upon such a perilous place, a place where survival was a near certain death. Just as he frowned, stroking his chin as he pondered his next move—whether to hide here temporarily, using the chaos of the rift to evade pursuers, or risk everything to find a way out and quickly send a message to the Alliance Leader —a powerful tremor suddenly surged within his dantian, more intense than ever before, like his heart pounding wildly. The four Emperor Formation Fragment seemed to be summoned by some mysterious force, trembling violently within his dantian, emitting an increasingly bright light that seemed about to break free from its constraints and fly into the distance. The pulling force grew stronger and stronger, involuntarily drawing his gaze towards the direction the light indicated.

Ren Xiaoyao was overjoyed and immediately examined his dantian: he saw four Emperor Formation Fragment rapidly rotating around the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl, forming a small vortex that emitted a dazzling purple-gold light. The light, like a precise compass, pierced through the dantian barrier, firmly pointing towards the depths of the rift. Without hesitation, he followed the direction indicated by the Emperor Formation Fragment, proceeding cautiously with each step, avoiding the cracks in the ground and the energy bubbles floating in the air, fearing to trigger the unknown dangers within the rift. The deeper he went, the more intense the collision of Spiritual Qi and demonic energy became, and the more bizarre the surrounding scenery grew: huge cracks began to appear in the ground, several feet wide and bottomless, constantly spewing out hot currents mixed with Spiritual Qi and demonic energy. These hot currents were extremely hot, turning into white mist upon contact with the air, carrying faint energy fluctuations that stung the skin upon touch; countless translucent energy bubbles floated in the air, varying in size, some as small as a fist. The larger bubbles, some over ten feet in diameter, sometimes reveal Immortal Realm shrouded in mist—pavilions and towers arranged in a harmonious pattern, cascading Spirit Spring and flowing springs, Immortal Crane soaring through the air; at other times, they manifest a Demon Realm Purgatory of overwhelming Rune Imprint —mountains of white bones piled high, seas of blood churning endlessly, demons roaring within, a truly horrifying scene. These bubbles explode at the slightest touch, unleashing powerful Energy Impact that shatter the surrounding rocks, sending debris flying. Scattered across the ground are ancient runes, etched into the massive rocks. One half is a pure gold, flowing with the radiance of Immortal Dao Principle, its lines ancient and fluid, containing the Supreme Principles of Heaven and Earth; the other half is a deep black, entwined with Demonic Dao mist, its runes twisted and eerie, radiating an evil aura. The two types of runes intertwine and interweave, forming a peculiar balance, as if telling the secrets of the ancient war and fusion between the celestial and demonic realms, inspiring endless imagination about ancient history.

Upon reaching a massive fissure several meters wide, the resonance of the Emperor Formation Fragment reached its peak. Its pulsation within his dantian accelerated rapidly, almost leaping out, and the pulling force intensified, causing his body to lean slightly forward. The fissure, as if cleaved by High Antiquity Giant Axe, stretched straight into the depths of the earth, seemingly bottomless, like an abyss leading to hell. The rock walls on either side of the fissure were covered with multicolored crystals formed by the chaos of the Principle. These crystals varied in shape; some were as regular as prisms, others bloomed like flowers, shimmering with captivating light yet radiating a deadly aura. Touching them would result in being torn to shreds by the power of the Principle, leaving even the soul vulnerable. Energy Turbulence, a mixture of Spiritual Qi and demonic energy, surged continuously from the fissure, spiraling upwards at incredible speed, forming a black and white tornado. The swirling air currents possessed a powerful suction force, attempting to draw everything in their path into it. The turbulent currents were mixed with tiny Space Fragments, hissing as if trying to devour everything. Ren Xiaoyao cautiously approached the edge of the crack, crouched down, placed his hands on the ground, and peered down—at the center of the bottom of the crack, a palm-sized fragment floated in mid-air, unaffected by the Energy Turbulence, as stable as a pillar stabilizing the Sea-Calming Needle. The fragment displayed a peculiar yin-yang duality; one half was a dazzling gold, flowing with pure Emperor Power, as warm and gentle as sunlight; the other half was a deep black, entwined with faint demonic energy, as mysterious and unpredictable as the night sky. Its surface was engraved with intricate Emperor Mark, interwoven with wisps of black and white energy, flowing endlessly like the yin and yang Emperor Mark, radiating an aura that was both majestic and eerie—it was the fragment of the Fifth-Corner Emperor Formation he had been searching for! The moment he saw the fragment, he was filled with immense excitement; his years-long search was finally coming to an end.

Just as he was about to circulate his Emperor Power, conjuring a thick Golden Shield around himself, and leap into the crevice to retrieve the fragment, a low roar suddenly echoed from within. The roar reverberated like muffled thunder, layer upon layer, causing the surrounding rock walls to tremble violently. Small pebbles tumbled down the cliff face, crashing to the ground with a crackling sound, like a countdown to Death God. Then, a colossal monster slowly rose from the depths of the crevice, bringing with it gusts of wind that whipped Ren Xiaoyao's robes wildly, his hair billowing backward, and slightly distorting the muscles on his face. This monster resembled a tiger, but was several times larger than an ordinary tiger, over three zhang long and about ten zhang tall at the shoulders, exuding an aura of oppression. It had nine thick tails, each ending in different sharp claws; some were like eagle claws, sharp and gleaming with a cold light; others were like bear claws, heavy and powerful, brimming with destructive force. Its entire body was covered in black and white scales, shimmering with a metallic luster, like the most solid armor. Faint halos of energy seeped from the gaps between the scales, flowing endlessly. Its eyes were even more eerie—the left eye was pure gold, its pupil reflecting a vortex of Spiritual Qi, flowing with a soft light, yet carrying a hint of greed; the right eye was deep black, its pupil churning with waves of demonic energy, exuding a violent aura, full of killing intent. The pressure emanating from its body had reached the Mid-stage Heavenly Immortal, even stronger than the Ghost Bone Immortal Venerable it had encountered before! "It's the Two Forms Demonic Tiger!" Ren Xiaoyao instantly recognized the monster. Ancient texts recorded that it was a unique Strange Beasts of the Boundary Rift, capable of simultaneously manipulating Spiritual Qi and demonic energy, containing chaotic power of Principle within its body, combining offense and defense, extremely difficult to deal with, one of the overlords of the Boundary Rift, feeding on cultivators and Strange Beasts that trespassed into the rift, using cruel methods.

Upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao, the Two Forms Demonic Tiger's golden left eye flashed with a greedy glint of prey, its tongue licking its lips, revealing sharp fangs still stained with the blood of an unknown creature. Its black right eye flashed with a ferocious rage towards the intruder, its pupils contracting sharply to pinpoints. It opened its massive jaws, a guttural rumble like rolling thunder, before unleashing a beam of black and white energy. The beam carried an aura of chaotic Principle, subtly distorting space and emitting a buzzing sound. The Spiritual Qi and demonic energy in the air was drawn by the beam, forming two thin streams of air that coiled around it like two small snakes, hurtling towards Ren Xiaoyao's face with lightning speed. Ren Xiaoyao dared not confront it head-on, and instead stepped onto the Cloud-Treading Cloud Treading Steps. Cloud Treading Steps with ghostly speed, shifting several feet to the left, his movements so fast they left a faint afterimage. He narrowly escaped being struck by the beam of light. The beam grazed his shoulder and struck the rock behind him. With a soft "hiss," the hard rock instantly disintegrated into countless tiny particles, as if weathered for millennia, leaving not a trace of dust—a testament to its terrifying power. He knew he couldn't delay; he had to retrieve the fragment as quickly as possible. Otherwise, things could get complicated. If the Immortal Alliance pursuers arrived, coupled with the Two Forms Demonic Tiger, he would be caught in a pincer movement, and his survival would be in jeopardy, let alone retrieving the fragment. So he shouted to Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix beside him, "Purple Lightning, Phoenix Senior, hold it back with all your might! I'm going to retrieve the fragment. Let's finish this quickly!" His voice was filled with urgency and determination.

Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix responded immediately, unleashing their powerful battle force. Purple Lightning raised its head and let out a dragon roar that shook the heavens and earth. The roar contained the majesty and domineering aura of the Dragon Clan race, spreading out like a sonic weapon, impacting the Two Forms Demonic Tiger. The Two Forms Demonic Tiger's movements faltered slightly, and a trace of fear flashed in its eyes, clearly indicating its fear of the Dragon Clan's pressure. Then, it spewed out a purple lightning bolt as thick as a bowl from its mouth. The lightning bolt coiled around the Two Forms Demonic Tiger's limbs like a nimble snake. The surface of the lightning bolt was also covered with the mark of Emperor Power, attempting to restrict its movements and render it immobile. The Undying Phoenix spread its crimson-gold wings. With each flap of its wings, countless Golden Flame feathers shot out like a dense rain of arrows towards the Demon Tiger's eyes and the gaps in its scales—these were its relatively weak points. The fiery feathers carried the power of Nirvana Flame, specifically designed to counter evil spirits and demonic energy. Once they struck, they could burn its body and soul. The Two Forms Demonic Tiger roared, its voice filled with rage and... Unwilling to accept defeat, all nine tails lashed out simultaneously, unleashing bursts of Energy Storm. Within these storms were scorching flames of Spiritual Qi, burning everything around them and distorting the air; and chilling ice blades of demonic energy, freezing the energy in the air and forming icicles. The two forces intertwined, scattering the purple lightning and fiery feathers. The lightning was shredded by the storm, transforming into countless electric snakes that dissipated into the air; the fiery feathers were frozen by the ice blades, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces with a crisp sound. Taking advantage of this brief respite, Ren Xiaoyao leaped into the crevice. His Emperor Power Emperor Power surged wildly within his dantian, forming a thick golden shield around him. Runes flickered on the shield, radiating powerful defensive capabilities to resist the erosion of the Energy Turbulence within the crevice. His body flew towards the remnants of the Fifth-Corner Emperor Formation like an arrow released from a bow, the howling of the Energy Turbulence his ears like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, the remnants constantly approaching before him, his heart filled with anticipation and tension.

Just as his hand was about to touch the fragment, the Two Forms Demonic Tiger suddenly broke free from the restraints of Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix. Its massive body lunged towards the rift, its nine tails whipping through the air like nine black whips, cracking the surrounding air with tremendous force. Its enormous claws, carrying the power to Sky-Rending Strike, aimed straight for Ren Xiaoyao's back, their tips already condensed with black and white energy, radiating a deadly aura that sent chills down his spine. Even before the claws arrived, Ren Xiaoyao felt a bone-chilling cold, as if the skin on his back was about to be torn apart, his hair standing on end, the shadow of death looming over him. His eyes hardened, disregarding life and death, his mind focused on only one thought—get the fragment! This was the key to his fight against the Demon Realm and exposing the spy; he couldn't give up! Ignoring the deadly attack from behind, his right hand flashed out, grabbing the fragment of the Fifth-Corner Emperor Formation. The moment the fragment touched his hand, a cool yet warm sensation washed over him, like a clear spring flowing into his heart. The four fragments within his dantian simultaneously flew out, as if summoned, converging in mid-air with the fifth fragment. The five beams of light instantly intertwined, forming a complete illusory Emperor Array —a illusory array over ten feet in diameter, its purple-gold Emperor Mark flowing ceaselessly, radiating a majestic High Antiquity imperial Emperor's Might. That Emperor's Might was like the descent of Ancient Emperor, its majesty inviolable. At the center of the Emperor Array, it seemed as if an Ancient Emperor was slowly opening his eyes, his gaze majestic and cold, overlooking all things in the world, inspiring awe in all who beheld him. The Emperor's Might spread out like a tide, instantly pushing the Two Forms Demonic Tiger back several feet. Its massive body crashed heavily against the cracked rock wall with a deafening roar, creating a huge crater in the rock wall. Debris flew like rain, and dust filled the area around the crack, obscuring the view.