The moonlight was dim, casting its glow over the Black Mountain Stone and making the place seem all the more eerie.
"It's here." Haotian chose a flat spot in the valley and began setting up the formation.
He took a Formation Disk from his robes.
He had improved it over the past three days using Formation Bases seized in the East Sea. The Core Runes remained unchanged, but he had added components to amplify the fluctuations.
Eighty-one Demon Crystals were buried underground at specific points. Zhunti had provided them; they were the West's accumulated stores from many years, filled with pure demonic energy.
Haotian's movements were practiced. In less than half an hour, the formation had taken shape.
Jieyin led eight disciples in setting up the Lotus Seal Demon Formation three miles outside the valley.
Eighty-one Formation Flags were planted according to the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams, then concealed in the void.
Jieyin sat cross-legged at the Formation Eye, with the Twelve-grade Merit Golden Lotus suspended above his head. It rotated slowly, its Golden Buddha Light contained and hidden from view.
Zhunti led the others to scatter in every direction, each guarding a key route. Ksitigarbha stood in the east with his Zen Staff, his expression grave.
Everything was ready.
Haotian stood at the Formation Eye, took a deep breath, and activated his magic power.
"Qi!"
The Formation Disk shone with a dark red light, and the eighty-one Demon Crystals trembled in unison.
The remnant Earth Vein Qi underground was forcibly drawn out and surged into the formation. Transformed by the Core Runes, it became rolling demonic energy.
The demonic energy rose, forming a dark red pillar in the valley that shot straight into the sky.
Haotian circulated the Imperial Great Dao, adjusting his aura until it was that of