Chaos Bell

Di Jun stood in the air, his burning gaze fixed on Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain below, where the power of the Heavenly Stellar Formation had gathered. Then he said to Kunpeng beside him, "Demon Master, you make the first move!"

Kunpeng nodded slightly without wasting words. He looked down coldly, then instantly transformed into an enormous divine Kunpeng bird.

With a boom, Kunpeng dove downward like a supersonic aircraft, his wings like hanging clouds slashing fiercely at Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain like heavenly blades.

In an instant, the starlight above Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain boiled, and a miniature starry sky appeared within the violently trembling void.

At the same time, a seemingly transparent barrier, faintly flowing with mysterious divine patterns, shielded the stars that formed the Heavenly Stellar Formation above Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain.

As the void shook, those stars seemed to become one whole, as though embedded in space itself.

"Hmm?" Seeing that even his full-force strike had failed to shake the Heavenly Stellar Formation, Kunpeng's eyes flashed with surprise. Immediately afterward, his massive claws raked down fiercely again.

With a whoosh, atop Eight Treasures Peak, Shi Mo waved his hand and sent out the Wind-Fixing Pearl, drawing upon the power of the Earth Vein Formation to form a dazzling pillar of light that shot into the sky.

With a thunderous crash, the rapidly contracting Heavenly Stellar Formation blocked Kunpeng's claw before scattering apart. At the same time, the dazzling earthen-yellow pillar of light, together with the Wind-Fixing Pearl, passed through the Heavenly Stellar Formation and collided fiercely with Kunpeng's sharp claws.

Kunpeng's entire body shuddered violently, and he was sent flying. He transformed back into human form somewhat awkwardly and retreated to Di Jun's side.

Almost at the same time, Donghuang Taiyi, who had remained silent as though resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes. With a wave of his hand, an ancient giant bell radiating terrifying power appeared out of thin air.

The instant the bell appeared, heaven and earth lost their color. Yin and yang seemed to reverse, the void trembled as though unable to bear the strain, and space at the bell's mouth collapsed and twisted as if it contained a black hole.

"The Chaos Bell? So this is the innate supreme treasure, the Chaos Bell?" Feeling its power, Shi Mo's pupils constricted and his expression changed.

As the Chaos Bell came crashing down, Shi Mo's heart sank. Without hesitation, he activated the earth vein network spanning a vast area centered on Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain.

With a hum, surging earth vein power converged on Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain like galloping armies, forming a visible web of energy that rose from the earth to meet the Chaos Bell.

With a muffled boom like thunder, the Heavenly Stellar Formation's foundations contracted and gathered once more, only managing to slow the Chaos Bell slightly before being crushed by its terrifying power. They turned into scattered stars that flew in all directions.

As earth vein power gathered, the earth vein energy network surrounding Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain stretched and expanded. With stars being embedded into its nodes in an orderly fashion, its power immediately grew even more surging. The power of the Heavenly Stellar Formation circled around the Chaos Bell and gathered, forming a massive vortex of starlight.

Just as the earth vein energy network embedded with stellar formation foundations was about to collide with the Chaos Bell, faintly visible Innate Chaos Restrictions merged into it, and an illusory layer of earth membrane quietly covered it.

With an earthshaking roar of energy, the ground shook and mountains swayed, heaven and earth trembled, and a terrifying energy storm swept outward. Yet the earth vein network, bolstered by the Heavenly Stellar Formation, the Innate Chaos Restriction, and the Earth Book, merely trembled slightly.

Replenished by endless earth vein spiritual energy flowing continuously along the network, the earth vein network remained as solid as a rock beneath the Chaos Bell's assault. It steadily protected Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain and dissipated the Chaos Bell's surging power.

Pfft. Donghuang Taiyi, who was controlling the Chaos Bell with all his strength, felt the impact of the surging, terrifying earth vein power below, as though it came from the entire land of the Primordial World. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his aura became somewhat disordered.

The Chaos Bell was an innate supreme treasure, and a terrifyingly powerful offensive one at that. How could it be so easily controlled?

Donghuang Taiyi was only at the Great Luo level. Controlling it was like a child swinging a huge club—one careless move, and he could easily strain himself!

"Second Brother!" Di Jun was startled and looked at Donghuang Taiyi nervously.

Donghuang Taiyi had no choice but to wave his hand and withdraw the Chaos Bell. He spat out another mouthful of blood, making Kunpeng's expression change as well.

"How is this possible? How can Shi Mo's cave abode possess such formidable defenses?" Kunpeng and Di Jun both turned in disbelief to look at the still-intact earth vein network, inwardly shocked.

"It's earth vein power! Shi Mo can draw upon the immense earth vein power of the Primordial World. I sensed the aura of the Earth Book. Zhen Yuanzi must be helping him," Donghuang Taiyi said after letting out a breath, still shaken.

"Zhen Yuanzi? Damn it! I never expected him to dare oppose our Monster Clan as well." Di Jun's face darkened.

Donghuang Taiyi said solemnly, "It isn't merely earth vein power. That seems to be a formation—a powerful formation capable of mobilizing earth vein power. It is absolutely no weaker than the Heavenly Stellar Formation, perhaps even more terrifying. With that formation's aid, Shi Mo is almost invincible within his cave abode on the land of the Primordial World."

"A formation even stronger than the Heavenly Stellar Formation? How is that possible?" Di Jun could no longer remain calm.

Even the always cold and arrogant Kunpeng was visibly shaken. "This Shi Mo is actually so troublesome? Demon Emperor, what should we do now? Even the Eastern Emperor's Chaos Bell cannot break that formation. Are we supposed to return empty-handed?"

"We have stirred up such a great commotion. If we fail to achieve our goal, how will I, Di Jun, maintain a foothold in the Primordial World? What face will I have to remain the Demon Emperor?" Di Jun clenched his fists, his aura growing increasingly violent.

Just as they found themselves in an awkward position, Bai Ze suddenly came over and said, "Demon Emperor, a direct assault will not work. If we want to obtain the method for setting up the Heavenly Stellar Formation, it seems we must sit down and speak properly with Shi Mo."

"Talk? How are we supposed to talk? Do you think he would still be willing to negotiate with us now?" Di Jun asked with a frown.

Kunpeng's expression shifted slightly. "Demon Emperor, I believe Bai Ze is right. If Shi Mo does not wish to form an irreconcilable enmity with our Monster Clan, then he cannot remain hidden forever at Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain, perhaps even missing another chance to hear the Dao at Purple Heaven Palace. He can only lower his head and make peace with us."

"Fine. Bai Ze, you will handle it. Go negotiate with him again. So long as we can obtain the secrets of arranging the Heavenly Stellar Formation, it will be worth paying some price," Di Jun ordered with a slight nod. "Since he possesses an even more powerful Earth Vein Formation, he presumably does not care much about the Heavenly Stellar Formation. Didn't Bai Ze say before that he gathered stellar power only to cultivate innate spiritual roots?"

"Yes, Demon Emperor!" Bai Ze answered, then flew once again toward Eight Treasures Peak on Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain.

Meanwhile, atop Eight Treasures Peak, Hongyun, who had hurried over together with Zhen Yuanzi, could not help complaining, "Shi Mo, why did you not inform Brother Zhen Yuanzi and me sooner when Di Jun and the others came?"