Within the Congyun Immortal City, the cultivators were instantly thrown into an uproar upon witnessing the scene.
Fortunately, ever since the last time Ten Thousand Immortal Island was raided and taken by the Five Elders Association, the defenses of the rebuilt Congyun City had been reinforced to a level far superior to that of ordinary state-level immortal cities. Its protection was now comparable to that of several central state capitals. As the defensive grand formation shimmered with flowing light, the crack in the barrier vanished in an instant.
Before the people could even breathe a sigh of relief, a second meteorite of flowing fire crashed into the protective barrier once more. This impact was even more intense than the previous one, causing the floating city in the clouds to tremble violently, as if it were about to plummet from the sky at any moment.
What truly filled the crowd with dread, however, was that this black meteorite did not fully dissipate upon impact. Instead, it left behind a viscous, tar-like substance that wriggled and corroded the protective grand formation. Even from a great distance, one could hear the eerie sizzling sounds coming from the outer edges of the array.
“Although the [Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation] of Congyun City is strong, it won’t hold out for long,” said Li Fan, who quickly made his assessment as a formation master.
While the grand formation struggled against the corrosive black , countless more streaks of black fire rained down upon Congyun Immortal City. Though the Immortal Ancestor Statue continuously emitted bursts of violet radiance to intercept some of the incoming fire, many of them still managed to bombard the city unimpeded.
In an instant, Congyun Immortal City swayed like a lone leaf caught in a violent storm, teetering on the brink of destruction.
At that moment, Immortal Lord Hongxi finally displayed the decisiveness expected of a ruler of an entire prefecture.
He transformed into a towering giant, standing as high as the heavens, and intercepted the countless black fireballs. At the same time, he issued a cold, commanding order:
As he spoke, he cast a mystical seal, sending it soaring toward the highest point of the city.
For a brief moment, silence fell over the entire Congyun Immortal City. Most cultivators did not understand the full implications of Immortal Lord Hongxi’s words, but those who did turned pale in an instant.
Li Fan, too, narrowed his eyes as he looked at Hongxi, who had a resolute expression on his face, and silently praised him:
“Such boldness!”
Having studied formations for countless lifetimes, Li Fan had an in-depth understanding of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s defensive system. Each guardian city was equipped with protective formations. Within each state, a floating celestial capital served as the core, linking together hundreds of smaller defensive formations into a vast state-wide formation.
Moreover, throughout the territory of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, the state-wide formations were interconnected, forming an immense and terrifying array that covered nearly half of the Xuanhuang Realm.
A layered system—endlessly intricate, immeasurably powerful!
The defensive formation of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance was replaced every five hundred years. In the past, Li Fan had once seen the remnants of an older array, the “Ten Thousand Mile Rivers-Mountains Formation,” on a sunken island. However, the alliance was currently using the “Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation.”
Although its defensive strength was slightly weaker than the previous formation, it possessed an irreplaceable ability—
It could absorb the life essence of all beings within the formation to enhance its power!
Thus, Immortal Lord Hongxi’s intent was crystal clear.
He planned to fully activate the Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation, drawing in the life essence of all living beings still surviving on the remaining islands of Congyun Sea area—sacrificing them to maintain the protective barrier of Congyun Immortal City.
From a purely logical standpoint, this decision was not wrong. After all, in the face of such a catastrophe, Congyun Immortal City was the only place that could still barely hold out, while all other islands were doomed to be reduced to ashes in an instant.
By sacrificing those who were already destined to perish, the formation might be strengthened just enough to grant the cultivators within Congyun Immortal City a sliver of hope for survival.
But…
Being annihilated by the Wrath of Heaven and Earth and being slaughtered by one’s own people were two completely different things.
Not everyone had the resolve to make such a cold and ruthless decision—to treat the lives of their fellow brethren as nothing more than expendable fuel.
So, after Immortal Lord Hongxi’s words spread, the cultivators of the Formation Hall remained silent and motionless.
Hongxi himself also seemed to lack the courage to repeat the order. His expression was grim as he watched the protective barrier on the verge of collapse, yet he did not issue another command.
“I shall lend you a hand.”
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes. His clone soared into the air and shouted loudly, “What are you all waiting for? This is a matter of life and death! Just follow orders! All consequences will be borne by Lord Hongxi and me alone!”
Hongxi glanced at Li Fan with some surprise.
The cultivators of the Formation Hall also exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and finally made up their minds.
One after another, talisman seals flew toward the various nodes of the Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation. The protective shield suddenly erupted with brilliance.
It was as if time had frozen for an instant. In the next moment, endless spiritual energy surged in from all directions. The purple barrier instantly became as solid as a tangible entity, effortlessly blocking the impact of the black firestorm.
The violent tremors ceased, replaced by continuous muffled explosions.
For now, the crisis was averted, yet the surviving cultivators of Congyun City showed little joy on their faces. Because along with the drastic enhancement of the Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation, the air was filled with agonized wails and curses. On the glowing barrier, horrifying scenes were faintly visible—humans being drained of all their vital energy in an instant, reduced to skeletons.
It was like a purgatory on earth, chilling to the bone.
“Though we can protect ourselves for now, this is not a long-term solution. All contact with headquarters has been severed. Staying here is nothing more than waiting for death.”
“I intend to go out and confront this Spirit of Heaven and Earth. I leave this place in your hands!”
Immortal Lord Hongxi paid no heed to the terrifying spectacle surrounding him and transmitted his voice to Li Fan.
Then, he gazed into the distance toward the impact site of the black meteor and took a step forward.
His figure flickered rapidly, vanishing from everyone’s sight in the blink of an eye.
With the departure of Immortal Lord Hongxi, the cultivators who had just regained their composure became anxious again. Fortunately, Lord Secret Envoy was still present, allowing them to retain some measure of reassurance.
Li Fan, however, maintained a cold expression, staring intently at the center of Congyun Sea, patiently waiting.
Time passed slowly. As the first wave of black firestorm was completely repelled, the apocalyptic crisis seemed to have subsided. The once-raging Congyun Sea gradually calmed, leaving only the thick, sticky black substance clinging to the protective barrier—evidence of the catastrophe that had just unfolded.
Yet, this unnatural calmness carried the ominous tension of an approaching storm.
Li Fan sensed something was amiss.
“Ink Flame isn’t there?”
Sensing the rapid return of Immortal Lord Hongxi, Li Fan swept his gaze across the sky, then toward the deep sea.
It seemed as though some terrifying calamity was brewing beneath the waves.
Plop!
A single air bubble suddenly surfaced.
Then, a fish corpse—its belly upturned as if it had been boiled—floated to the surface.
And then—
In an instant, the entire Congyun Sea seemed to boil.
Countless bubbles surged violently, accompanied by the floating corpses of innumerable sea creatures.