Zhang Yu watched as the two systems and Xu Xinwu huddled together, enthusiastically figuring out how to seduce Number Nine's sister and aunt on Earth. He felt a chill run down his spine, thinking these people were courting death.
That's Daluo Golden Immortal!
Don't you realize that the Rebellious Dao Seed Vessel is an ordinary person on Earth?
But once it leaves Earth and gets blocked by the carrier of Number Nine, it won't be as simple as breaking three legs.
He silently took two steps back.
Having made up my mind, I will absolutely not get involved in this mess during my trip to Earth; I'll stay as far away as possible.
Goodbye, Earth, my fellow countryman.
I also have matters to attend to at court, so I won't chat with you any longer.
After the discussion ended, Xu Xinwu his hand, his figure flickered, and he transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.
Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the Soul Refining Sect.
In the main Great Hall of the Main Peak, Zhou Wentao and Zhang Lingyun had been waiting for a long time.
"Senior, what are the plans for the next step?"
Zhou Wentao bowed and asked.
"Seclusion."
Zhang Yu spoke succinctly, his gaze sweeping over the still-ruined and dilapidated Soul Refining Sect below, before slowly saying:
"The Soul Refining Sect will still be under your full control."
Within three months, stabilize the situation, reorganize resources, and await my return from seclusion.
"Yes!"
Zhou Wentao nodded emphatically, a heavy sense of responsibility flashing in his eyes.
Zhang Yu said no more, took a step forward, transformed into a stream of light, and disappeared into the secluded cultivation Secret Chamber deep within Crimson Flame Peak.
Watching his departing figure, a complex emotion flashed in Zhang Lingyun's eyes. She had silently made a decision in her heart and murmured to herself:
"Okay, wait two days, then we'll make our move."
"..."
The Secret Chamber was dark and silent.
Zhang Yu sat cross-legged, and with a thought, all 108 mountain peaks roared simultaneously!
"Buzz--!!"
The Earth Vein churned, and Spiritual Qi surged.
Countless mysterious Runes rose from the depths of the earth, weaving together to form a vast Formation Diagram that covered thousands of miles and connected heaven and earth!
Within the Formation Diagram, yellow sand filled the sky, the Yellow River flowed swiftly, and its nine bends were interconnected.
The Killing Intent was so palpable, it seemed to devour, crush, and reduce all things in heaven and earth to Void.
Zhang Yu has incorporated Simplified Nine Bend Yellow River Formation into the Formation Diagram, making it even more powerful in actual combat.
Zhang Yu closed his eyes, his Spiritual Sense spreading like a tide, merging into every mountain peak, communicating with every Formation Runes, and sensing every Earth Vein Qi and the Heaven and Earth Principle.
He formed hand seals, and the Formation Disk in his palm shone brightly, frantically absorbing the Grand Formation Spiritual Qi, Earth Vein Power, and Principle Fragments gathered by the array.
"Boom--!!"
The earth shook violently, and the sky changed color!
108 Peaks of the Soul Refining Sect simultaneously erupted with soaring, mysterious light.
The pillar of light, like a colossal pillar supporting the sky, tore through the clouds and pierced the void, turning the entire world into a dazzling ocean of Principle!
For the next period of time, the entire Soul Refining Sect was shrouded in this strange phenomenon every day.
All the disciples of the Soul Refining Sect were dumbfounded, their eyes filled with shock.
"This... this is Senior refining Formation Disk?"
"Such terrifying power, it's enough to overturn the heavens and earth."
"Our Soul Refining Sect... is about to rise!"
Zhang Yu, at this moment, was completely immersed in the profound mystery of the Formation.
Under his Spiritual Sense control, the 108 Grand Formation merged perfectly, as if they were his own limbs.
"Condensation..."
With a shout from Zhang Yu, one of the Grand Formation suddenly contracted.
Runes flowed and Principle intertwined, eventually transforming into a palm-sized, dark gold Formation Disk Runes flowing runes, which floated in his palm.
The Formation Disk slowly rotated, and with each rotation, its power increased dramatically, its aura became more refined, and its Daoist essence became more complete.
Then came the second, the third, the fourth...
One hundred days later.
When the 108th Grand Formation transformed into Formation Disk, hovering before him—
"Buzz--!!"
One hundred and eight Formation Disk simultaneously erupted with soaring mysterious light.
The beam of light, like a galaxy rolling backwards, tore through the sky and pierced the void, illuminating the entire Secret Chamber as if a divine kingdom had descended!
Zhang Yu slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the 108 Formation Disk floating and swirling like stars around him, a cold smile slowly curving his lips.
It's done.
With a thought, the 108 Formation Disk suddenly flew up and rapidly arranged and combined in a mysterious order that was incomparably profound and in accordance with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.
Ultimately, it transformed into a perfect Formation Diagram!
"Now that the Formation Disk is complete, unless we provoke those Old Monsters, the world is our oyster."
Zhang Yu slowly stood up and waved his hand.
The Formation Diagram converged like flowing water, transforming into an ancient, weathered, dark gold Formation Disk that disappeared into his brow.
"Next, it's time to claim the system reward."
A cold smile curved his lips, and a hint of anticipation flashed in his eyes.
In the past few days, Xia Hongjue, along with Feng Ping and four others, has completely emptied the coffers of the Crimson Flame Sect Cold Soul Gate, the Heavenly Saber Gate Ten Thousand Poisons Cult Ghost Spirit Gate Sect, and even the dozen or so affiliated forces under their "Five Sect Alliance".
A vast amount of Spirit Stone, Pills, Spirit Material, and Law Treasure converged on Crimson Flame Peak like rivers flowing into the sea.
Zhang Yu, under the guise of "supervision and verification," brazenly embezzled eleven million High-Grade Spirit Stone.
Only the remaining resources were used to barely maintain the daily operations of those sects.
Naturally, no one dared to utter a single word of "no".
But strangely--
After embezzling the money, Zhang Yu "donated" the eleven million High-Grade Spirit Stone to the Soul Refining Sect in his "personal capacity."
"..."
Zhou Wentao, Xia Hongjue, and the others looked at each other, their eyes filled with bewilderment.
Your Majesty's actions... I don't understand!
They naturally didn't understand.
"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully embezzled eleven million High-Grade Spirit Stone!"
"Cultivation: eleven million days!"
"..."
Eleven million days!
That's equivalent to about 30,000 years!
"Exchange!"
Without hesitation, Zhang Yu's mind raced.
"Boom--!!"
A Cultivation power, not particularly powerful, and even somewhat thin, slowly flowed into his body, cleansing his limbs and nourishing his meridians Dao Seed.
"Buzz--!!"
His aura rose slightly, and finally, it steadily stopped at the peak of the Early Heavenly Immortal!
"..."
Zhang Yu frowned, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
"System, what's wrong?"
"It took over 30,000 years of Cultivation to reach the peak of the Early Heavenly Immortal?"
"This efficiency is different from before?"
"..."
The system remained silent for a moment, its cold voice carrying a hint of helplessness:
"I used hacking-like techniques to steal the power of the Heavenly Dao of this realm and convert it into Cultivation rewards."
"But now, the Heavenly Dao has split in two, and most of its Origin are trapped by Zilu."
The quality and quantity of the Heavenly Dao power I can steal are greatly reduced.
"The actual effect of the annual Cultivation rewards is less than half of what it should be."
"..."
Zhang Yu's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart sank.
Less than half?
No wonder he's only improved this much Cultivation!
"Furthermore, if Zilu completely refines most of the Heavenly Dao power, the quality of future Cultivation will likely be even weaker."
Zhang Yu's face instantly darkened, and a sense of despair, as if the system had been completely destroyed, welled up in his heart.
Don't panic.
The system offered a rare word of comfort:
"Once you break through to the Supreme, we'll leave this world and choose a more powerful one."
"Then, I'll hack into its Heavenly Dao system again, and the rewards will be restored."
"..."
Zhang Yu remained silent, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Leaving this world, heading to a more powerful one...
That is one way.
"Furthermore, not only was my Cultivation reduced, but the Divine Ability I was rewarded with has also been turned into a support skill?"
He gritted his teeth, his tone filled with dissatisfaction:
"The Divine Ability rewards given every ten years are all insignificant auxiliary skills—such as alchemy, weapon crafting, Formation, and talismans..."
"What use is this to my current Combat Power?"
"That's beyond my control; it's random."
The system's voice was calm, but its tone carried a hint of shifting blame:
"It's better to draw a support skill than 'postpartum care for sows'."
"..."
Zhang Yu's lips twitched, and veins throbbed on his forehead.
Could this system be any more unreliable?
"That's enough."
He took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration in his heart, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
With the Formation Disk in hand, the Zhuxian is within reach.
Next, it's time to go to the Li Family and meet those blood relatives.
He took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the Secret Chamber like a ghost.
Outside the Secret Chamber—
"Zhang Yu, I... I brought you some soup..."
Zhang Lingyun held a steaming bowl of "Tenfold Tonic Soup," her pretty face slightly flushed, her eyes "flirting," and her voice barely audible, as she "just happened" to be blocking the doorway to the Secret Chamber.