“Very well, but before that, we must make some preparations first. Ying’er, tell them to begin the setup.” The mother of the Asura Spider clan nodded slightly and spoke calmly to the blood-robed maiden.
“Yes, Mother. Bring out the items and start modifying the formation,” the maiden replied obediently before turning to issue orders to the other clan members who had arrived with her.
Upon hearing this, the other Asura Spiders immediately soared into the air, flying toward the formation surrounding the ice platform. Some of them retrieved formation disks mid-flight, while others took out formation flags. A few even produced peculiar, unnamed artifacts of unusual designs, all of which they hurled toward the vicinity of the ice platform. As these items landed within the formation, they transformed into multicolored rays of light and vanished into the ground without a trace.
Subsequently, the Asura Spider clansmen began chanting incantations, gesturing with one hand as they repeatedly pointed toward the formation below. The entire formation buzzed incessantly, its glowing spirit patterns shifting eerily. Before long, it had completely transformed into an entirely different, large-scale formation.
As soon as this new formation took shape, a crisp cracking sound emanated from the cylindrical ice platform at its center. Fine white lines appeared on its surface, rapidly thickening until they became finger-width cracks. With a thunderous boom, the entire ice platform shattered into fragments, revealing a miniature pond about ten zhang in diameter.
The pond’s surface was as clear as a mirror. The moment it appeared, a beam of white light shot skyward. However, after rising about a hundred zhang, the beam suddenly dispersed with a “pfft” sound. The surrounding formation flared brightly, and a faint blue light barrier materialized high above, enveloping Han Li and the others, along with nearly half the valley.
When the light beam struck the barrier, it exploded into countless white sparks with a muffled thud. A wave of icy mist unfurled in all directions. Wherever the mist passed, the air hissed, and patches of frost materialized out of thin air, rapidly pressing toward Han Li and his companions.
Yet, Han Li and the others remained unfazed. Their bodies shimmered with protective spiritual light, effortlessly repelling the encroaching frost and preventing it from nearing them.
“The cold here doesn’t seem as terrifying as I imagined,” Blackscale remarked, scanning the mist with his spiritual sense and curling his lips.
“Is that so? Try again, fellow Daoist,” the Asura Spider matriarch said, her eyes flashing with an odd light as she gestured toward the pond.
At the pond’s edge, several red lights flickered, and four clusters of crimson energy soared into the air, hovering motionlessly at a low altitude. These were revealed to be a ruyi scepter, a mirror, a crystal orb, and a ring. Each of these treasures emitted waves of scorching heat, instantly dissolving the surrounding frost.
Meanwhile, the seemingly tranquil pond began to bubble ominously. The light beam it emitted thickened, turning into a solid, milky-white column. In an instant, the cold within the barrier intensified tenfold compared to before.
Under this extreme chill, everyone’s protective spiritual light flickered wildly, barely holding on. Bloodburn, Mo Jianli, and the others were startled. Some raised a hand, while others formed hand seals, summoning protective treasures that swirled around them in radiant halos, pushing back the encroaching cold.
“Indeed, it’s different now. These artifacts must be the pure yang treasures your clan buried here. But if this is all, with your abilities and these treasures, you could have ventured into the pond to retrieve the items yourself, albeit with difficulty,” Han Li remarked slowly.
Though he hadn’t summoned any protective treasures, a faint silver flame flickered around his body. Any cold that touched it was instantly absorbed, unable to approach within several zhang of him.
“If the pond’s cold were only this intense, I would have risked it long ago. But what you don’t know is that for every zhang deeper into the pond, the cold grows stronger. Even I have yet to fathom its depths. Retrieving the treasures at the bottom through conventional means is pure fantasy. Otherwise, why would our clan have left them untouched for so many years?” the matriarch retorted with a cold laugh, though her gaze toward Han Li held a trace of wariness.
Previously, the Elder Yi’s abilities had been on par with hers. If Han Li could cripple his physical form and severely wound his Nascent Soul, then harming or even killing her wouldn’t be too difficult for him.
“I see. So, how do you propose we assist?” Han Li nodded, his expression unreadable.
“It’s simple. This formation was conceived by our clan’s formation masters over centuries. With six or more Great Ascension cultivators channeling their power into it simultaneously, we can activate its full potential and extract the treasures directly from the depths. Before, our clan lacked enough Great Ascension cultivators, so the plan was shelved. But with your help, it’s now within reach,” the blood-robed maiden explained with a light laugh.
“Great Ascension cultivators? Even including Fellow Daoist Luo, there are only five of us here,” Han Li said, a hint of surprise in his voice.
“No need to worry about that, Brother Han. I possess a secret technique that can temporarily elevate my cultivation to near-Great Ascension levels, allowing me to serve as the sixth,” the maiden said with a charming smile.
“You have such a technique? Is it also related to time-space powers?” Han Li’s heart skipped a beat at her words.
“Brother Han is indeed knowledgeable about time-space laws. This technique does rely on time-space energy to function,” the maiden replied after a brief pause, giving Han Li a deep look.
Han Li smiled but didn’t press further.
“Since everything is ready, let’s begin. This place is freezing, and I’d rather not stay longer than necessary,” Blackscale grumbled impatiently.
“Agreed. I, too, wish to proceed without delay. Fellow Daoists, please take your positions within the formation. Given your expertise, you can surely tell this formation poses no threat,” the matriarch said expressionlessly, forming a hand seal and pointing toward the four pure yang treasures above the pond.
With a boom, the four treasures transformed into blazing fireballs, their flames surging wildly as they expanded. In moments, they became four crimson suns suspended in the air, their scorching waves radiating outward. Wherever the red waves passed, the frozen surroundings melted away.
Simultaneously, the formation around the pond rumbled as six stone pillars, each several zhang tall, slowly rose from the ground. Covered in intricate spirit patterns and topped with small silver formations, they shimmered with radiant light.
“Fellow Daoists, simply stand atop these pillars. When I give the signal, channel your full power into them. My clansmen will handle the formation’s operation. Ying’er, go ahead,” the matriarch instructed, dispersing her hand seal.
By having the blood-robed maiden enter the formation first, she aimed to reassure the others. The tactic worked—seeing the maiden float gracefully into position, Bloodburn and Blackscale exchanged a glance before claiming two other pillars without hesitation. Mo Jianli hesitated briefly but soon followed suit.
Han Li swept his gaze over the six pillars, then smiled faintly. With a hand seal, his figure blurred and vanished, reappearing instantly atop another pillar via teleportation.
Seeing everyone in place, the matriarch wasted no time, swiftly taking her position on the final pillar. She then commanded the clansmen outside the formation, “Begin the ritual. We must succeed this time.”
“Yes, Matriarch!” A male Asura Spider responded solemnly before signaling the others. They quickly assumed positions around the formation’s edge, sitting cross-legged and chanting incantations.
The formation’s spirit patterns began flowing mysteriously once more, while countless runes emerged from all directions, gradually converging above the pond to form a hazy, spherical construct.
The Asura Spider clansmen either activated artifacts or channeled pure spiritual power directly into the formation. The entire structure buzzed loudly, its glowing patterns becoming translucent as the number of emerging runes surged dramatically.
Soon, the runic sphere above the pond grew to about a zhang in size, its form solidifying as if made of tangible matter.
The matriarch watched intently. When the sphere could expand no further, she commanded sharply, “Now! Fellow Daoists, begin channeling your power!”
As she spoke, her body erupted with spiritual light as torrents of energy surged from her feet into the pillar below. The other five, though harboring their own thoughts, complied without delay, each activating their techniques.
Instantly, the six pillars blazed with light under the immense power infusion, their surfaces glowing brilliantly as dense clusters of runes surged upward to merge with the sphere above.
A deafening roar echoed as the sphere swelled rapidly, soon reaching the size of a pavilion and enveloping the entire pond.
The matriarch’s face lit up with joy. Pointing toward the pond, she opened her mouth and spat out a green silk net…
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