Immortal-Slaying Formation Shattered

Within the Chaos Spring Eye, purple qi swirled around Lu Chen. He had refined more than half of the Primordial Violet Qi.

A hundred years of arduous cultivation had passed, while only one year went by in the outside world.

His cultivation had soared from the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage to Early Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and his foundation was terrifyingly solid. The Five Qi in his Chest had converged toward his crown, and three flowers had blossomed above his head, each as solid as if cast from gold, with faint Daoist melodies ringing from them.

"The Law of Strength has taken shape..."

Lu Chen opened his eyes. A fleeting vision of Sky-Opening and Earth-Splitting appeared in his gaze. He raised a hand and clenched it in the air; the space in his palm twisted and warped like mud. It was a manifestation of pure strength brought to its utmost limit.

Just then—

"Buzz!"

The entire Demon Abyss shook violently. The cavern roof crumbled, the demonic river flowed backward, and countless Demonic Creatures fled in panic.

Luohu's remnant soul sent a message with unprecedented urgency. "Kid, come out! That bastard Jieyin's gone mad!"

Lu Chen flashed into existence at the Demon Abyss palace.

Luohu's remnant soul stood before the hall, staring toward the entrance to the Demon Abyss, his face dark as water. Behind him, the remnant phantoms of Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Shi Qilin stood on guard.

"Senior, what's going on?" Lu Chen asked.

"Look." Luohu raised a hand, and demonic qi gathered into a mirror.

The mirror showed the scene outside the entrance to the Demon Abyss—

Four towering sword pillars stood amid Chaos, each radiating one of four destructive sword intents: Zhu, Lu, Xian, and Jue. Together, they formed an unparalleled killing formation spanning ten thousand li. At its center, Jieyin, Zhunti, Minghe, and Kunpeng each held one of the four positions, their auras linked as one. All four were clearly Early Quasi-Saints!

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation? A copy?" Lu Chen's pupils contracted.

"A copy, but it still has thirty percent of the original's power." Luohu sneered. "Jieyin got the blueprints for refining the Four Swords of Zhu Xian from Treasure Distribution Cliff. He joined forces with Zhunti, Minghe, and Kunpeng, and spent a hundred years forging this formation. They think I still have half a wisp of violet qi, so they're here to seize it."

Lu Chen's heart tightened.

The half wisp of violet qi he had was indeed obtained from the Demon Abyss. If Jieyin and the others discovered it, he'd be in serious trouble.

"They're not the only ones." Luohu suddenly pointed beyond the sword formation. "Look over there."

The mirror turned, revealing the Chaos at the formation's edge.

A faint phantom of violet qi hovered there. It was inconspicuous, but Lu Chen knew that boundless, heaven-like Saintly might all too well—Dao Ancestor Hongjun!

"Dao Ancestor is watching too?!" Lu Chen's voice went dry.

"He's not watching. He's giving tacit approval." A mocking glint flashed through Luohu's eyes. "Jieyin and Zhunti are, after all, disciples of the Daoist Tradition. Dao Ancestor needs them to test how many trump cards I have left. As for Minghe and Kunpeng... they're nothing but pawns."

Lu Chen fell silent.

So this is how Saints play their game? All living beings are pawns.

"What do you need me to do, Senior?" he asked.

"Enter the formation and break it." Luohu spoke each word slowly. "The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation requires four Saints to break, but this copy has a flaw: the four swords' intents can't fully harmonize. You're an outsider, and you're only at the Great Luo level, so they won't be too wary of you. Just sneak into the formation, find the core nodes connecting the four swords, and smash them with your Chaos Brick. The formation will break on its own."

"And then?"

"Then, take something while they're in disarray." Luohu pointed at Minghe in the mirror. "See that Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus? It was formed from a seed of the Chaos Green Lotus, and shares the same origin as Jieyin's Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit and my Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus. I need it to complete the World-Destroying Black Lotus and restore my demonic body."

Lu Chen's heart raced.

The Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus, Minghe's companion spiritual treasure, had peerless defenses and could burn away all karma. It was one of the Primordial World's top Innate Spiritual Treasures!

"Senior, that's Minghe's lifeblood. What if he fights to the death?"

"He won't." Luohu was certain. "Minghe is selfish by nature. He won't die as long as the Sea of Blood remains, so he values his life above all else. Once the formation breaks, his first thought will be to escape, not protect the lotus pedestal. Just take the red lotus before he can react, then flee into the Demon Abyss."

"What about Jieyin and the others..."

"I'll hold them off." Demonic qi surged around Luohu. "Don't worry. With Dao Ancestor watching, he won't let Jieyin and Zhunti die at the entrance to the Demon Abyss. What would that do to his reputation? So this battle may look dangerous, but it's actually safe. After you take the red lotus, Dao Ancestor will secretly help you escape. He needs me to keep certain people within the Daoist Tradition in check."

Lu Chen understood.

What a deep-laid scheme!

Luohu would use him to break the formation and seize the treasure, while Dao Ancestor would use Jieyin and the others to test the Demon Abyss. And Lu Chen himself was the most crucial pawn in their game—at risk, yet also the safest.

"I'll do it, Senior!"

"Wise choice." Luohu tossed him a black talisman. "This is a Demonic Escape Talisman. It can teleport you back to the Demon Abyss instantly. Use it as soon as you succeed."

Lu Chen caught the talisman, took a deep breath, and gripped the Chaos Brick.

"Senior, send me into the formation."

"Go!"

Luohu swept out his sleeve. Demonic qi formed an invisible passage and sent Lu Chen into the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.

At almost the same moment, amid the Chaos outside the formation, the phantom of violet qi stirred slightly.

A trace of an almost imperceptible smile appeared in Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes.

"Little fellow, let's see... just how far you can go."

Inside the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.

As soon as Lu Chen appeared, boundless sword qi locked onto him.

Four towering sword pillars stood guard in the cardinal directions, each with one person seated beneath it:

Eastern Immortal-Slaying Sword Pillar—Jieyin, his face filled with sorrow. The Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit above his head cast down golden light, making him impervious to all techniques.

Southern Slaying Immortal Sword Pillar—Zhunti, his severed arm restored, held the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, brushing away all manner of divine abilities.

Western Trapping Immortal Sword Pillar—Minghe, standing atop the Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus, with the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords suspended at his sides.

Northern Absolute Immortal Sword Pillar—Kunpeng, his wings blotting out the sky as demonic qi surged around him.

"Lu Chen?!" All four opened their eyes at once, startled and furious.

They hadn't expected Luohu to send Lu Chen into the formation!

"Good! Good! Good!" Jieyin said, his killing intent surging as he repeated the word three times. "I was just lamenting that I couldn't find you, and you've delivered yourself to my door! Today, you'll be buried here!"

"Why waste words? Kill him!" Kunpeng hated Lu Chen more than anyone. He beat his wings, and the Absolute Immortal Sword Qi became a ten-thousand-zhang black gale that swept toward him.

Lu Chen stayed calm and held the Chaos Brick horizontally.

"Gravity Brick!"

The gravitational field around the brick distorted. As the black gale neared, it veered aside on its own and swept past him.

"That brick is strange. Attack together!" Zhunti swept the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, sending seven-colored divine light toward the Chaos Brick.

Minghe moved as well. The Yuantu Abi Twin Swords became streaks of blood-red light and shot straight for Lu Chen's brow.

Jieyin activated the Golden Lotus of Merit. Golden light wrapped around Lu Chen's limbs like chains.

A combined strike from four Quasi-Saints would spell doom not only for a Great Luo, but even for a Quasi-Saint at the peak!

But this was exactly what Lu Chen had been waiting for.

"Now!"

Instead of retreating, he charged toward the center of their four attacks.

At the same time, he drove the Chaos Brick's third ability to its limit—

"Brick Clone!"

"Buzz!"

The Chaos Brick split into nine. The nine smaller bricks became streaks of dark light, shooting toward the four core nodes of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation—the places where the four swords' qi intersected, and the formation was at its weakest!

"Not good! He's trying to break the formation!" Jieyin's face changed drastically.

But it was too late.

Lu Chen's true body took the full brunt of the four attacks' aftershock. The protective light barrier of the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner shattered, and the small world inside the Qiankun Diagram collapsed. He spewed blood and flew backward, his physical body nearly disintegrating.

But the nine smaller bricks had already struck the four nodes!

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Four deafening booms rang out, and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation shook violently.

The four sword pillars dimmed all at once, and the sword qi's circulation stalled for a split second.

That split second was enough!

Lu Chen forced out one last breath of strength and activated Brick Escape!

His mind locked onto the Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus beneath Minghe.

In the next instant, he appeared above the red lotus and brought the Chaos Brick down hard—

"One Brick Breaks All Laws!"

Dark light surged from the brick. The red lotus's defensive seals shattered like paper.

"Wretch, how dare you!" Minghe's eyes nearly bulged from rage as his twin swords swung back at Lu Chen.

But Lu Chen was faster.

The Qiankun Diagram unfurled and swept up the Karma Red Lotus, along with Minghe on its lotus pedestal—whether it was a clone or not, he'd take it first and ask questions later!

"Demonic Escape Talisman, activate!"

The black talisman burned, and space warped.

"Stop him!" Jieyin, Zhunti, and Kunpeng attacked at the same time.

Three Quasi-Saint attacks struck the spot where Lu Chen had vanished, shattering only his afterimage.

Lu Chen had already escaped back to the Demon Abyss!

"Pfft—"

The moment he returned to the Demon Abyss, Lu Chen collapsed to the ground. Blood streamed from his seven orifices, his body was covered in cracks, and his Primordial Spirit had dimmed.

Taking the brunt of attacks from four Quasi-Saints—even just their aftershock—had nearly cost him his life.

"Impressive." Luohu's remnant soul appeared beside him and sent a stream of pure demonic qi into his body, stabilizing his injuries. "Where's the red lotus?"

Lu Chen struggled to point at the Qiankun Diagram.

Luohu probed inside with his Divine Sense, then burst into laughter. "Good! Good! You didn't just take the red lotus—you even captured Minghe's Blood God Son clone! That clone contains thirty percent of Minghe's vital essence, enough for me to refine a temporary demonic body!"

He looked toward the outside of the formation. "Jieyin, the formation's broken. Do you still want to fight?"

Outside, the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation had already collapsed almost entirely.

Jieyin and the others wore grim expressions.

They'd never imagined that a formation they'd spent a hundred years painstakingly refining would have its core smashed apart by a single brick wielded by a Great Luo Golden Immortal!

Worse still, Minghe's Karma Red Lotus had been stolen!

"Luohu! Hand over the red lotus and Lu Chen, or today we fight to the death!" Minghe's true body roared from the Sea of Blood, his voice piercing through the void.

"Fight to the death?" Luohu scoffed. "Minghe, if you've got the guts, come into the Demon Abyss and take it."

Minghe fell silent.

Enter the Demon Abyss? That was Luohu's lair. Going in would mean certain death.

Jieyin looked into the depths of Chaos. The phantom of violet qi was still there, but showed no sign of intervening.

He understood. Dao Ancestor was watching, but wouldn't interfere.

The outcome had already been decided.

"Let's go." Jieyin gritted his teeth and put away the damaged Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.

Zhunti was reluctant. "Senior Brother, the red lotus..."

"We'll deal with it another day." Jieyin gave the Demon Abyss a long look, then turned into a streak of golden light and left.

Zhunti and Kunpeng followed close behind.

Minghe was the last to leave, throwing out a threat. "Luohu, Lu Chen, I'll make you pay for this!"

Peace returned outside the Demon Abyss.

Luohu turned his gaze back to Lu Chen. "Kid, you did even better than I expected. Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Lu Chen managed to sit up. "What you promised me before..."

"The God-Slaying Spear Refinement Method and the list of covert agents?" Luohu nodded. "I won't go back on my word."

He flicked a finger, and two jade slips flew into Lu Chen's hands.

"To refine the God-Slaying Spear, you'll need at least three fragments. You already have one; the jade slip contains clues to the whereabouts of the other two. As for the list of covert agents... destroy it once you've read it. Don't let it get out."

Lu Chen put them away solemnly.

"Also," Luohu continued, "now that you've reached the Great Luo stage, you should consider severing a corpse. The Three Corpses path isn't the orthodox way, but it can raise your combat strength quickly. I suggest you use this half wisp of violet qi to sever your Good Corpse."

"Use the violet qi to sever a corpse?" Lu Chen asked, startled.

"That's right." Luohu's words were laden with meaning. "Primordial Violet Qi is the foundation for becoming a Saint. The Three Corpses severed with it will naturally possess a trace of Saintly nature, increasing your chances of success when you achieve Three Corpses Unity in the future. Besides... you have too many karmic entanglements. Severing a corpse with violet qi can temporarily transfer some of that karma to your Good Corpse and ease the burden on your true body."

Lu Chen was intrigued.

That really was a good idea.

He was indeed burdened with too many karmic ties: the Three Clans, the Demon Clan, the Western Teachings, the Devil Dao... If he could transfer some of them, his true body would be much safer.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior."

"No need to thank me. We each get what we need." Luohu waved a hand. "Rest here in the Demon Abyss. There's no hurry to sever your corpse until you've fully recovered."

Lu Chen nodded, found a quiet chamber, and entered seclusion to heal.