A million soldiers in golden armor bore engraved halberds; a thousand tower ships crossed through the night.
Black banners snapped in the wind, and ancient horns sounded their mournful calls.
The army sent to quell the rebellion advanced like a blade splitting bamboo, pursuing and rounding up rebels as it swept toward the Four Commanderies.
Everywhere it passed, vast shadows fell. Black clouds loomed over cities, blotting out the sky and sun. The spectacle was magnificent, morale soared like a rainbow, and its oppressive might was overwhelming.
Upon receiving the news, the Three Powers Golden Lock Formation that had besieged the cities of the Four Commanderies for so long was withdrawn. The Peaceful Heaven Sect's four Guardians led their remaining disciples and subordinate forces in retreat toward Azure Dragon Mountain.
The young man in embroidered robes and the white-robed Daoist, who had spent over a year contending with each other, called a temporary truce and headed toward Azure Dragon Mountain without prior agreement.
The Truth-Seeking Abbey was no longer what it once had been, and Xuanxu and the others had become far more perceptive. Shortly after Fengyang Commandery's city was unsealed, the abbey activated its mountain-protecting formation, enveloping all of Floating Cloud Mountain.
Even the three-thousand-li stretch of Azure Dragon Mountain near Floating Cloud Mountain was protected by an immense formation. Runes circulated and formation light rose. Though inferior to the Truth-Seeking Abbey's mountain-protecting formation, it was still formidable.
This defensive line had originally been established to guard against the True Dragon's return. Later, events took unexpected turns, one twist following another, and the Daoists made slight adjustments, converting it into a formation that protected the mountains, rivers, and earth veins.
Great Spirit Refining cultivators were beyond their ability to oppose. Xuanxu immediately burned a talisman and sent a voice