Eruption, Primeval Blood Eye
Only half a month after the events in Northern Spirit Province subsided, everyone was still busy repairing the ley lines and resettling refugees. No one expected that the final outbreak of the God-Destroying Calamity would come so suddenly.
At that moment, the entire Tianyuan Dao Realm suddenly trembled slightly, as if the heavens and earth were shaking.
Immediately afterwards, black Tribulation Qi surged from all parts of the earth.
Like a flood bursting its banks, it gushed forth from every crevice in the earth's veins and every deep valley spring, surging and roaring as it spread toward the surface.
In the Central Divine Province, the protective array of Heaven-Soaring City activated on its own, its golden light flickering amidst the calamity.
The alarm bells at the Immortal Alliance headquarters rang all night long, their sound echoing throughout the entire city.
In the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Qingyang Province, all the major sects closed their valleys, and the earth vein runes were activated at full power, forming a green light curtain that firmly blocked the impact of the Tribulation Qi.
Even so, the protective shields of several small sects on the periphery were still breached by the Tribulation Qi. Overnight, the souls of the entire sect were devoured, turning them into walking corpses.
In the Southern Continent, the yellow sand was stained black by the Tribulation Qi. Amidst the sandstorm, countless berserk beasts roamed about, chasing after the fleeing crowds.
In an instant, the situation became critical in all directions.
Messages from all the states flew to the Immortal Alliance like snowflakes, each word filled with panic.
However, the chaos only lasted for a short time.
In no more than three hours, the situation gradually stabilized in various places.
Thanks to the Luozhen Province system promoted by Li Yunjing, the earth vein barrier weakened the Tribulation Qi, the divine spirit branch hall suppressed the soul, the early warning towers transmitted warnings layer by layer, and the cultivators organized themselves to wipe out the berserk creatures.
Although the losses were heavy, with cities falling and lives lost in every state, the tragedy of Northern Spirit Province was not repeated, and no state was lost.
Cultivators everywhere were relieved that they had made preparations in advance.
In Luozhen Province, the situation was even more stable.
The solidified ley line runes at the nine major ley line nodes within the state lit up simultaneously, weaving a massive ley line light net that protected the entire Luozhen Province.
The ten branch temples of the gods within the state were activated simultaneously, weakening the Tribulation Qi by nearly 60%.
Along the border, three lines of defense are progressively advanced, with patrol teams crisscrossing the area day and night.
Occasionally, a few waves of berserk beasts would rush over, but before they could even get close to the city, they would be blasted to pieces by the fleet's spirit cannons.
Within the Luozhen City, order was maintained.
The market remained open as usual, the Spirit Field continued to be cultivated, and the disciples continued their cultivation and patrols as needed.
The pedestrians on the street walked a little faster, and the sales of healing pills and soul-suppressing talismans in the market increased by 30%, but there was no panic whatsoever.
Having experienced the chaos of Haoyang and the calamity of Northern Spirit Province, the Luozhen Sect.
Inside the Luozhen Grand Hall, Li Yunjing stood before the map, listening to Mo Xuan's report.
"Sect Leader, the latest reports from various states indicate that the calamity has been stabilized. Casualties are still being tallied, but a rough estimate suggests nearly a million mortals have died or been injured, and hundreds of thousands of cultivators have perished." Mo Xuan's expression was grave.
"Even so, this result is still much better than expected, thanks to the previously promoted ley line barrier system."
Li Yunjing nodded slightly, his fingertip tracing the map. "What about Northern Spirit Province?"
"The Tribulation Qi is heaviest in Northern Spirit Province, but after the Tribulation Pearl was destroyed, the source has been cut off and it is slowly dissipating. Dao Lord Hanzun is leading people to clear out the Calamity Puppets and settle the survivors."
Li Yunjing pondered for a moment and said, "Yes, send someone to deliver a batch of pills and grain to support the reconstruction of Northern Spirit Province."
"Disciple understands."
As we were talking, the sky outside the window suddenly darkened.
Li Yunjing suddenly looked up.
Not only him, but everyone in the Luozhen City raised their heads.
High in the sky, at an extremely high altitude, space began to distort.
Click.
A crisp, yet resounding, shattering sound.
A crack appeared in the sky.
Black, void-like gales poured down from the crack, instantly dissipating the clouds and even blowing away the Tribulation Qi.
Immediately afterwards, countless black dots poured out from the crack.
At first, people thought it was a meteorite, but they could see it clearly when they got closer.
Those were tall figures.
Each of them was over three zhang tall, with bronze skin, covered in bone plates, sharp bone spurs on their shoulders and elbows, and a vertical, blood-red eye between their eyebrows.
Wielding bone blades and riding equally armored behemoths, they swooped down towards the ground like a black torrent.
"What is that?!"
"Enemy attack! It's an enemy attack!"
The alarm bells rang out instantly Luozhen Mountain.
On the city wall, the defensive array automatically lit up.
However, those monsters were extremely fast. The leader was a hundred feet tall, with blood-red light emanating from his body, clearly displaying the aura of Tribulation Transcendence Stage.
He punched the city's protective array.
Boom!
The entire Luozhen City shook.
Cracks instantly covered the walls of the formation.
As the alarm sounded, the Luozhen Sect mobilized with lightning speed.
"All disciples, take your positions!"
"Charge the Spirit Cannon!"
"Formation team, reinforce the formation base!"
"..."
Commands and orders echoed one after another.
Li Yunjing immediately stepped out of the Luozhen Grand Hall, his eyes cold as he gazed at the approaching army of monsters in the sky.
"Sect Leader, they are beings from beyond the realm." Wangshu flashed to his side, her expression grave. "Their aura is unfamiliar, unlike any race from our world. Moreover, they carry a faint Tribulation Qi, yet it's not berserk; it's more like they use Tribulation Qi as their source of power."
"The source is the Tribulation Qi?" Li Yunjing raised an eyebrow.
He immediately thought of the Calamity-Birth Array in Northern Spirit Province, and the mastermind behind it all.
"It seems the person in question has finally shown up."
Li Yunjing took a step forward and rose into the air.
"I'm going to meet the leader; you guys hold the position."
"Sect Leader, be careful!"
Li Yunjing's figure flickered, transforming into a streak of azure light that shot straight into the sky.
The hundred-foot-tall monster leader was punching the formation when it saw this and let out a roar like thunder.
"A tiny insect dares to block the way?"
His voice was booming, and he spoke a human language, though his accent was obscure and stiff.
"Who are you?" Li Yunjing asked coldly, hovering in mid-air.
"I am the Primeval Blood Eye Vanguard Commander," the monster commander grinned, revealing sharp fangs. "I have come to claim this land on the orders of Dao Lord Qingxu."
"Dao Lord Qingxu."
Li Yunjing's eyes narrowed.
Who is this? Li Yunjing had no recollection of him whatsoever.
He did know about Immortal Lord Qingxu, but wasn't Immortal Lord Qingxu in the Upper Realm?
This Dao Lord Qingxu shares the same Dharma name with him; could there be some connection between them?
"Enough with the nonsense, die!"
With a roar, Blood Eye unleashed a massive fist, glowing with crimson light, as it slammed down.
Before the force of the punch arrived, the oppressive aura preceded it.
His strength at the Tribulation Transcendence Second Stage was fully revealed.
The disciples below held their breath.
Li Yunjing neither dodged nor evaded, but instead made a move with his left hand.
Buzz.
A crystal-clear spirit banner floated out, covered with Dao patterns, exuding a gentle yet majestic aura.
It is indeed Semi-Immortal Artifact, the Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner.
"Go."
Li Yunjing uttered a single word softly.
The Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner spun rapidly, its glass-like light curtain spreading out like a giant umbrella.
Boom!
The Blood Eye Commander's fist slammed into the light barrier, unleashing a blinding burst of blood-red light.
The light screen shook violently, yet remained completely still.
A glint of greed flashed in the Blood Eye commander's eyes. "Semi-Immortal Artifact!? Perfect, I'll offer it to the Dao Lord!"
His body blazed with crimson light, and his vertical eye between his brows opened to its fullest extent.
"Blood Eye - Shattered Realm!"
A crimson beam of light shot out from the vertical eye, distorting the very space it scorched.