Within the Formless City Restricted Zone, a Flood Dragon and an Evil Self were breaking through, while an iron hammer overflowing with deathly intent was being reforged in divine fire.
It was unclear which of the three had caused it, but along the edge of this pseudo-restricted zone, inherited from an unknowable age, talismans thicker than mountain ranges began slowly appearing in the boundless void.
Their powerful, sweeping strokes, gnarled like azure dragons, were branded into the void, releasing a terrifying aura as vast as the sea, capable of destroying heaven and earth.
A figure emerged soundlessly from the darkness, wearing a purple-gold crown, magnificent black robes, and the Black Pixiu Boots. His features were indistinct, yet an air of supreme majesty faintly emanated from him.
He gazed ahead, his eyes seemingly piercing through the Heaven and Earth Absolute Formation laid down by the ancestors.
After a long while, he nodded slightly and raised a hand. Outside this pseudo-restricted zone, the mountain-thick ancient talismanic characters actually responded, moving with thunderous rumbles. Once they shifted into a particular arrangement of formation runes, a ravenous gulping sound rang out, and endless spiritual essence from heaven and earth began pouring into Formless City.
Having done all this, the figure took a step and vanished.
Within the restricted zone, light and darkness interwove. As his breakthrough progressed, Tie Zhu's aura grew increasingly powerful. He was probably close to completing his breakthrough.
Just then, however, an immense volume of spiritual essence descended from beyond the sky and poured entirely into his body. Tie Zhu froze, then erupted in a furious roar.
"Who's scheming against your Master Zhu!?"
His aura grew stronger, but his nearly completed breakthrough halted. His body, as tough as divine iron, began to crack, great swathes of flesh and blood sloughing off