Chapter 47: Dragon-Conquering Power Fantasy (46)

Since the unusual turbulence at the Dragon-Falling Peak during the Three Thousand Dao Law Assembly, the Four Symbols Bureau of Jinmo City had dispatched additional patrols to the vicinity of the peak and invited elders proficient in formation arts to investigate why such intense formation-induced fluctuations had appeared in the usually desolate Fallen Mountain Range.

Could there truly be an abnormality in the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation, sealed by the Holy Venerable to bind the Candle Dragon tens of thousands of years ago?

Before any findings could be uncovered here, however, disturbances erupted in both the Demon Domain and the Monster Domain. For reasons unknown, a continuous stream of violent monster beasts and evil fiends began overflowing into nearby villages.

Public grievances boiled, and complaints echoed everywhere. With no other choice, the Four Symbols Bureau had to reassign a portion of their disciples at the Golden Core realm to the borders of the Three Realms to suppress the riots.

On the other front, preliminary conclusions were finally reached regarding the structural layout of the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation.

Venerable Xangu, a prominent grandmaster in the realm of formation arts, was tasked with investigating the matter.

A stern boundary was erected around the Fallen Mountain Range. Venerable Xangu's cultivation had already reached the Great Completion of the Tribulation stage, lacking only a single step to enter the Mahayana realm. Thus, his spiritual sense expanded like a boundless canopy. Even though the Fallen Mountain Range spanned thousands of miles, searching every corner of the mountain range would take him merely an hour or two.

This initial sweep was merely a hasty overview to map the general outline of the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation and locate its eye.

Yet, Venerable Xangu spent a full five days and nights without sleep or rest before he managed to untangle the trends and structure of the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation.

Sect masters from five of the eight immortal alliances were present. Led by Yan Lai, they all held their breath, gazing intently at the crane-haired elder sitting cross-legged in meditation.

This elder was none other than Venerable Xangu.

His brows were tightly furrowed into a deep frown, and endless cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Beneath him were carved countless intricate formation runes, each connecting to the five sect masters so they could channel their spiritual energy in time to lend Venerable Xangu a helping hand.

Venerable Xangu had probed for five days, and they had stood guard here for five days.

The sun sank below the western mountains, and layered clouds massed like mountain peaks, revealing faint specks of moonlight.

Venerable Xangu opened his eyes, his expression grave.

"The God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation is a formation carved by the Holy Venerable with his lifelong spiritual sense and vital energy. The flow of the formation encompasses the entire Fallen Mountain Range, making it immensely vast, and the formation remains hidden rather than manifest."

He sighed, "For this matter, relying on my solitary strength alone is far from sufficient."

"What kind of problem has occurred in the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation?"

Yan Lai asked anxiously.

Venerable Xangu knitted his brows, waved his hand gently, and countless points of light materialized out of thin air to form a vast and boundless formation diagram.

"Although it is called the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation, this formation actually consists of three distinct formations: the Wind-Thunder Sword Formation, the Water-Moon Yin Formation, and the Earth-Flame Yang Formation."

Yan Lai's gaze turned sharp.

A formation within a formation?

"The Wind-Thunder Sword Formation is on the outer layer, serving to contain and obstruct unrelated entities from approaching. The Water-Moon Yin Formation is in the middle, using the power of moonlight to create illusions, radiating outward to bewilder enemies while extending inward to trap the Candle Dragon. Finally, the Earth-Flame Yang Formation is on the inner layer, taking the power of earth and fire as its core, aiming to create absolute containment."

"Therefore, the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation possesses a total of three formation eyes. To investigate what malfunction has occurred, one must find one of the formation eyes and probe one-third of the formation with spiritual sense. Going a step further, if one wishes to repair and even reinforce the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation, one must simultaneously infuse all three formation eyes with spiritual sense and primal chaos energy of heaven and earth that match those of the Holy Venerable when he carved the formation back then."

Venerable Xangu's gaze was complex as he spoke slowly: "This nested formation is ingeniously conceived. I have only roughly estimated the locations of the three eyes, and the internal structure is too intricate. We will need to invite two more elders skilled in formation arts to investigate alongside me."

The matter of the Candle Dragon brooked no delay, so Yan Lai immediately invited two more formation grandmasters at the Tribulation stage to assist Venerable Xangu in probing the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation.

Yet at this moment, another bizarre event occurred at the intersection of the Three Realms.

Millennia ago, during the chaos of the Three Realms, the Realm of Cultivation, the Monster Domain, and the Demon Domain swore an oath by the Heavenly Dao, establishing a non-aggression pact prohibiting monster beasts, evil fiends, and cultivators above the Divine Separation realm from fighting. Those above the Tribulation stage were strictly forbidden from casually crossing the Three Realms.

However, the Monster Domain and the Demon Domain seemed to have coordinated in advance, launching simultaneous invasions into the Realm of Cultivation.

The tripartite alliance pact forged in the past failed to exert any binding force at this moment.

The Demon Domain lay beyond the Eastern Territory, which was guarded by two major sects: the Kunwu Sect and the Wuji Sect. Disciples such as Pei Yizhou, Yin Xubai, and Jiang Yuyang volunteered to take the lead, barely managing to stem the offensive of the fiends and demonic cultivators.

The Monster Domain lay beyond the northwestern border, where the proximity to the Extreme North made it increasingly barren, to say nothing of the already impoverished Western Territory. The tide of beasts struck overnight. Although the Heavenly Sword Sect resided in the Western Territory, it was situated in the eastern part of the region and naturally failed to react in time. They had expected the northwestern border to become a living hell, but—

Autumn's chill had already arrived, but frost and snow had long blanketed the northwestern frontier. Under the clear moonlight at night, the deep blue ground covered in snow was illuminated.

Ever since the conclusion of the Three Thousand Dao Law Assembly, demons and monsters had occasionally wreaked havoc along the borders, and abnormal phenomena seemed to have stirred once more at Dragon-Falling Peak. Many grandmasters proficient in formations had been invited there. Yet, the chaos caused by demons and monsters could be big or small; in these troubled times, Jinmo City still decided to dispatch cultivators to build sentry towers along the border for defense.

This place did not directly face the Extreme North, but the swirling ice and snow of the Extreme North never melted, and the bitter cold raged unchecked. Occasionally, a chill would drift along with a gust of wind, causing even disciples at the Golden Core realm to feel their teeth chatter.

Standing atop a sentry tower was a white-robed maiden holding a treasured sword.

The sentry tower was built spacious enough to accommodate dozens of people, and a massive bell-chime hung within it.

This bell, named the Eastern Emperor Taiji Bell, was retrieved by Su Bai from Elder Ruogu. When the Eastern Emperor Taiji Bell was struck, the sound would echo for hundreds of miles while simultaneously rapidly forming a defensive barrier that extended as far as the bell's chime.

Yue Nianxin rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn, "Junior Sister, for the past seven or eight millennia, the Monster Domain and the Realm of Cultivation have minded their own business. Will there really be trouble?"

Yun Zhu set up a small alchemy furnace beside her.

Bright red flames rolled nimbly in her palm. While leisurely refining pills, she replied, "Indeed. Since the non-aggression pact was sworn by the Three Realms before the Heavenly Dao, breakers will suffer the cruel punishment of heavenly lightning. By then, we won't even need to make a move; we can just watch the heavenly lightning strike those monster beasts one by one."

Shen Xing sat on the railing of the sentry tower. "Still, the Realm of Cultivation hasn't been very peaceful lately. I heard that the Fallen Mountain Range has been surrounded so tightly not even an ant could crawl through!"

Su Bai pressed her lips tightly together.

The emergence of the Candle Dragon had arrived a full four years earlier than in the original plotline.

The abnormalities at Dragon-Falling Peak were precursors to the Candle Dragon's emergence—or rather, according to the original plotline, a wisp of the Candle Dragon's spiritual sense had already escaped the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation centuries ago. The so-called emergence was merely the Candle Dragon, suppressed beneath the Fallen Mountain Range, finally seizing an opportunity to break through the God-Slaying Dragon-Suppressing Formation.

That wisp of spiritual sense had colluded with the Demon Venerable and Monster Venerable centuries ago. The ancient tripartite war had allowed the Realm of Cultivation to retain this vast expanse of land. Because the Holy Venerable had successfully saved all living beings tens of thousands of years ago, the Heavenly Dao bestowed blessings upon it, making the Realm of Cultivation rich in spiritual energy and rare treasures. The Sword Tomb alone nurtured monster beasts like the Three-Headed Flood Dragon, not to mention housing the world's only Frost-Condensed Ice. Long ago, the Monster Domain and the Demon Domain had harbored deep resentment.

As for why this Candle Dragon made the Heavenly Dao wary—

When heaven and earth were first cleaved apart, the world was dragged from chaos into order. Countless sins lay hidden within the chaos, one of which was named Greed. At the dawn of the world's creation, Greed surrendered to the Heavenly Dao, utilizing the power of the gods to eradicate all other evils. Once all evils were vanquished and all things emerged from the void, the Heavenly Dao rewarded merit. Because of its contribution to world-building, Greed was permitted to remain in this realm and was renamed the Candle Dragon.

The Heavenly Dao dispatched four divine beasts: the Vermilion Bird, the Black Tortoise, the Azure Dragon, and the White Tiger. On the surface, the four divine beasts executed the will of the Heavenly Dao, but in reality, they secretly monitored the Candle Dragon and hollowed out its authority. The Candle Dragon kept a low profile and harbored no outward ambitions, allowing the world to enjoy a period of peace.

However, the four divine beasts and the Heavenly Dao did not know that the Candle Dragon had not annihilated the other evils back then; instead, it had devoured them by relying on the power granted by the Heavenly Dao. Over the years, keeping a low profile not only lowered the vigilance of the four divine beasts but also aimed at digesting the power of those evils. Then, one day, thunderclouds rolled, floods instantaneously deluged the world, mountains collapsed, and the Candle Dragon defeated the four divine beasts one by one, with only the Vermilion Bird narrowly escaping.

Afterward, the Holy Venerable received the command of the Heavenly Dao to seal the Candle Dragon, leading to the events that followed.

As an evil entity within the chaos, the Candle Dragon was nevertheless willing to be confined to this realm because it knew that a towering tree in a forest would be battered by the wind. It behaved prudently and followed the will of the Heavenly Dao to build the world, yet no one knew that its power was no longer what it used to be. Before the Candle Dragon devoured all power, this world served as a sanctuary that shielded it from the gaze of the Heavenly Dao; once it devoured all power, however, the world would transform into the Candle Dragon's prison.

Therefore, the Candle Dragon intended to drag all creation back into chaos.

The Monster Domain and the Demon Domain were utilized by the Candle Dragon in their quest to invade the Realm of Cultivation. The Monster Venerable and Demon Venerable had long detested the Heavenly Dao's favoritism toward the human race, and thus they willingly revered the Candle Dragon as their master, secretly helping it recover its strength to erase the non-aggression pact and the restrictions on their domains. Afterwards, taking advantage of the critical moment of the anomaly at Dragon-Falling Peak, the Monster and Demon Domains launched a rebellion, launching a surprise attack on the eastern border and the northwestern frontier.

Yet whether it was the Monster Venerable or the Demon Venerable, they merely believed that the Candle Dragon wished to replace the Heavenly Dao, remaining utterly unaware that the Candle Dragon also sought to shatter the prison that had confined it for tens of thousands of years, sacrificing all living creatures to return to chaos and unite with all evils to confront the true Heavenly Dao.

The moon shone over the western mountains, and the surroundings were completely silent. Amidst the howling wind whipping up particles of snow, they suddenly heard a rumbling sound of footsteps.

Then, a tide of beasts, pitch-black like dark clouds, surged forward from the distance.

Su Bai's gaze turned sharp: "They're here!"

Shen Xing hurriedly scrambled down from the railing.

Cultivators possessed exceptionally sharp senses. He muttered, "A flock of Red-Crested Flaming Birds leading the way, double-headed griffins, four-pupil spirit foxes, golden-winged rocs..."

Every single one of them was a renowned monster beast from the Hundred Monsters Codex!

Yue Nianxin rose in panic, struggling together with Yun Zhu to lift the bell striker.

The Eastern Emperor Taiji Bell rang, its tolling echoing far and wide, blending with the bitter cold of the northwest. Melancholy and desolate, it instantly spread across the entire northwestern border.

"Good grief! It's a monster beast tide, the beast tide is coming!"

"Take defensive positions! All hands on defense!"

"Are they... truly unafraid of the Heavenly Dao's retribution?"

The Supreme Elder stood atop the sentry tower, his eyes filled with shock: "There are actually... monster beasts at the Tribulation stage!"

Monster beasts at the Tribulation stage could quietly cross the borders of the Three Realms—what did this mean?

The non-aggression pact explicitly forbade monster beasts and fiends above the Tribulation stage from casually stepping into the Realm of Cultivation. Now that monster beasts at the Tribulation stage had appeared within the beast tide...

It meant they had long since ceased to be bound by the non-aggression pact!

Days ago, the Four Symbols Bureau had drawn manpower toward Dragon-Falling Peak, but the Carefree Sword Immortal had suddenly sought out Yan Lai, stating that Dragon-Falling Peak had remained calm and undisturbed for tens of thousands of years, yet now suddenly gave rise to variables. In these troubled times, the Eastern Territory adjacent to the Demon Domain and the northwestern frontier bordering the Monster Domain were likely to breed trouble.

Back then, the Carefree Sword Immortal had taken Su Bai in as a sparring partner for swordsmanship. Although half of it was on a whim and out of a desire to tease the Heavenly Dao, he genuinely appreciated her extraordinary talent in the Dao of the Sword. As they discussed swordsmanship more and more, he increasingly discovered the uniqueness of this disciple.

Her comprehension of the Dao of the Sword was by no means inferior to his, and perhaps even surpassed it.

Anecdotes and legends were dime a dozen in the Realm of Cultivation, and the Carefree Sword Immortal did not care what fortuitous encounters she had obtained. At present, he only knew that he had no rivals left in the Realm of Cultivation, yet he had suddenly acquired someone with whom he could discuss swordsmanship on equal footing, bringing great joy to his heart.

Therefore, when Su Bai stated that border troubles might arise and asked the Carefree Sword Immortal to inform Yan Lai to reinforce troop deployments, the Carefree Sword Immortal agreed without hesitation.

And since the Carefree Sword Immortal held immense weight in the Realm of Cultivation, Yan Lai did not hesitate for a second, immediately reinforcing troops along the borders of the Three Realms.

The beast tide surged menacingly. Before they had even reached within several miles of the sentry tower, countless snow spirits were seen surging from the northern expanse.

The Supreme Elder's pupils constricted: "Snow spirits have always stayed in the Extreme North. Although they belong to the Monster Domain, they have never taken orders from the Monster King. Now that the Realm of Cultivation is facing turmoil and ruin, are they also coming to meddle and grab a share of the spoils?"