Immortal of the Nine Realms

”This...”

Countless cultivators were struck dumb with shock. Even the core disciples of the major sects were awed by the Formation Immortal Arts.

The sky was filled with towering Buddha phantoms, each one vast beyond description. All of them struck out with their palms simultaneously, terrifying immortal essence erupting as brilliant Buddhist light flooded the void.

In that instant, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and many others realized that if they had to face Shao Guangyin themselves, they could never withstand such an attack.

The Black Dragon Formation would surely be shattered!

”Not good, there’s no way to dodge this one. Senior Sister will have to take it head-on!” cried out a core disciple in alarm.

The Thousand Buddha Palm descended from every direction, leaving no space to evade. The only option was to face it. If she countered with her Formation Immortal Art, the devastating backlash would be enough to rupture the formation entirely.

Shao Guangyin’s strike effectively sealed Xie Aman within a confined zone. There was no retreat and no escape.

”Pull back!”

Countless Black Dragon formations instantly pulled back, widening the distance.

At that very moment, when everyone thought Xie Aman would brace herself to take the blow, the colossal Black Dragon blurred for an instant, then vanished. When it reappeared, it was already behind the Thousand Hand Formation.

”Honored One, watch out!” shouted the Rulai Monastery disciples in alarm, disbelief flashing in their eyes.

Shao Guangyin’s Thousand Buddha Palm had never once missed its mark, yet against Xie Aman, it had failed? Not only that, Xie Aman had somehow slipped behind him using an uncanny movement technique!

The unleashed Thousand Buddha Palm exploded outward, a violent wave of energy sweeping across hundreds of thousands of miles. Core disciples from every faction hastily raised defensive formations to withstand the aftershock. Nearby, a planet caught in the impact zone had a massive chunk of its surface blasted away, like a mooncake bitten clean through.

Wang Xuan and the others were utterly stunned.

”This... this is the power of a core disciple!?”

As cultivators on the expedition groups, they had always known that the Formation Immortal Arts of the core disciples were beyond mortal comparison, but never had they imagined such terrifying might. If a being like that wanted to annihilate all life in a region, it would take them no more than a few days!

Fang Chen, though unsurprised, could not help but be in awe.

So this is the level of Ancient Immortals....

He had just endured that shockwave alongside the other core disciples and personally felt its dreadful power. If that Thousand Buddha Palm had been aimed at him, his fate would have been sealed. This was the strength of a true top-tier core disciple.

And this still isn’t his full strength. He’s holding back, that’s why Senior Sister hasn’t used her true power yet.

At that thought, Fang Chen saw Senior Sister suddenly unleash a roaring tide behind the Thousand Armed Formation.

The Black Dragon surged like a dragon returning to the sea, waves of boundless power crashing down and drowning the Thousand Armed Formation.

To all observers, it looked as though an ocean had appeared in the void itself, a sea that functioned like a sealing forbidden art, trapping the Thousand Armed Formation completely and slowing its every movement to a crawl.

If someone were to look closely, they would see that the faces of the cultivators manning the Thousand Armed Formation were filled with panic.

”Xie Aman’s control over spiritual power has reached such a level...” Ye Qingqiu murmured in amazement. ”Each of those drops of water must weigh tens of thousands of pounds.”

The core disciples of Taiyi Immortal Sect’s Xian Yueguan, Wanxing Palace’s Leng Buqi, the Spirit God Sect, and the Killing Spiritual Division all wore grim expressions.

The Great Dao was simple. Though her technique lacked the spectacle of the giant Buddha phantoms, the Thousand Armed Formation’s predicament made it clear that it was in a dire state. It was like a man trapped in a bog. Without external help, it was impossible to escape. In the end, they would be ground to dust by the crushing force of those water currents, leaving not even a trace behind.

Shao Guangyin stared coldly through the surging waves, locking eyes with Xie Aman.

Just when everyone thought he was about to lose, he took out a wooden fish and struck it lightly. Instantly, the brilliant light of the Great Thunder Sound Temple blazed violently, bursting through the waves and surging into the Thousand Hand Formation. The entire formation erupted with light so bright that none could keep their eyes open.

”That’s the Rebirth Wooden Fish?! The 87th-ranked treasure on the Spirit Treasure List!?”

”So it really was in Shao Guangyin’s hands?”

”Then those old rumors weren’t completely baseless after all.”

Shao Guangyin struck the wooden fish again. Empowered by its resonance, the Thousand Armed Formation tore through the tidal prison, countless arms weaving complex seals.

”The Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal?!”

At that moment, every core disciple’s expression turned grave.

Ye Qingqiu, Xian Yueguan, Leng Buqi, and others all knew of the Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal. It was one of Rulai Monastery’s most forbidden secret arts, passed to only a handful. Even Ancient Immortals struggled to perform it; below that realm, no one could form the seal at all. Any Immortal Art, once magnified through a formation, became exponentially more powerful and more difficult to control.

”I didn’t think Shao Guangyin had reached this height... to command his immortal fleet and cast the Lesser Vajra Seal... His strength ranks among the top,” Xian Yueguan muttered to herself.

The nearby Taiyi Immortal Sect core disciples subconsciously nodded. Their standard was exceedingly high. For someone to stand at the level of Shao Guangyin usually meant an eighth-transformation Immortal among the very best.

In their own case, even when directing a full formation, their combat strength would barely match a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal, far below Shao Guangyin’s level.

Nanming Ruyue’s face was tense. ”Senior Sister’s in real danger. One-on-one, she can easily suppress Shao Guangyin, but with this formation, their strength has nearly equalized. At this point, with the Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal in play... he might actually be able to wound her.”

Li Shanzi finally understood the gulf separating him from these top elites. He had only just comprehended his first Formation Art. Compared to Shao Guangyin or Senior Sister, the gap was an uncrossable chasm.

”We should probably end this fight now, Senior Sister,” said Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign, seeing Shao Guangyin’s murderous aura raging skyward.

”No rush. I think he still has another trump card. Let him show everything first.” Senior Sister fixed her gaze on him. ”The Rebirth Wooden Fish and the Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal... these are still not his limits.”

The members of the Divine Seal Expedition Team looked at each other in disbelief.

”Not his limits?”

At Shao Guangyin’s level, he was already among the strongest in the Nine Mortal Realms. Aside from a ninth-transformation immortal, few could guarantee victory over him.

At that moment, the Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal took form! In an instant, the surrounding void filled with countless seals, forming a vast azure storm. The storm’s power far surpassed the Thousand Buddha Palm as it swept toward the Black Dragon Formation like a cataclysmic wave.

”Bald donkey, this is still far from enough!”exclaimed Xie Aman with a laugh.

She did not evade. Instead, she raised her slender hand and pointed lightly toward the Thousand Hand Formation.

”Great Awakening as the Emperor, Great Radiance as the Saint, Enlightenment Heaven Covering Sutra!”

A single shadowy hand brushed gently through the void. The seals created by the Lesser Vajra Demon Slaying Seal, like stains upon the world, were wiped clean. The Qingming fell silent once more.

”One... one hand covering the heavens?” Third Sister murmured in disbelief. ”She’s actually... reached that level...?”