The golden figure’s eyes flashed with a cold light as two icy beams shot out, severing the golden fingers gripping it in an instant. With a leap, it transformed into a dazzling rainbow and shot into the distance.
“Marvelous! To think a mere lower realm could produce a Gold Devouring Immortal cultivated to such a level. If I can subdue and bring it back to the Immortal Realm, it would be a tremendous asset.”
The giant form of Ma Liang revealed a look of delight. With a single hand, he pointed toward the distant rainbow, causing golden specks to coalesce around it, forming several massive golden hands that reached out to grasp the fleeing light. Simultaneously, a wave of law force enveloped the area.
A sharp cry emanated from the rainbow as it spiraled, unleashing countless invisible sword energies that slashed wildly in all directions.
Amidst the explosions, the golden hands were shattered by the sword energies, but more emerged nearby. Meanwhile, the small figure within the rainbow was weighed down by the law force, its speed drastically reduced.
On the ground, the golden volcanoes rumbled and transformed into dozens of towering golden-armored warriors. With a whoosh, they charged expressionlessly toward the rainbow.
Under such circumstances, the Gold Devouring King’s chances of escape were nearly nonexistent.
From afar, the giant Ma Liang smiled faintly, though his aura had weakened significantly. The heavy injuries and repeated use of powerful techniques had drained much of his immortal spiritual power.
—
“Almost time.”
Far away beneath an altar, Han Li gazed at an ancient green mirror floating before him, murmuring strangely.
The mirror displayed the Gold Devouring King transformed into a massive golden insect dozens of feet long, spewing crystalline beams as it battled the golden warriors. Its presence there was no accident—Han Li had orchestrated it to monitor the situation and prevent unforeseen mishaps.
“It’s time to act. I never thought I’d have to resort to this final measure. After this battle, the Wind Origin Continent will be severely weakened, but for the sake of the Spirit Realm, it must be done.”
In a dim, empty hall high above, a figure seated within a colossal formation sighed. With a flick of the wrist, a silver disk in their palm erupted with light, releasing countless silver runes that surged into the formation below.
Under the blinding silver light, the figure’s face was revealed—another Ming Zun.
—
The two Great Ascension cultivators, Yun Dan and Yue Shu, who had been meditating at their assigned formation nodes, suddenly sensed a disturbance in the surrounding spiritual energy. The eight pillars and the massive altar emitted a terrifying wave of law force.
Startled, they opened their eyes. The nearby thousand-strong merchant alliance guards also sensed the anomaly, growing restless and fearful.
“Why has the energy here become so chaotic?” Yun Dan stood abruptly, his voice filled with alarm.
“Could there be an issue with the Two Polarities Dust Annihilation Formation?” Yue Shu hesitated.
“Something’s wrong. This law force is gathering above us—it’s targeting us specifically. We must leave!” Yun Dan’s expression darkened as he scanned the sky.
Trusting her brother implicitly, Yue Shu wasted no time. With a flick of her sleeve, a black light shot out, transforming into a sleek, six-winged flying vehicle.
But before they could board, the altar and pillars trembled, shooting five-colored beams into the sky.
A thunderous boom echoed as a massive formation, miles in diameter, materialized overhead. A swirling vortex formed at its center, from which a blood-red radiance descended, enveloping the area in a hemispherical barrier.
Trapped within, Yun Dan and Yue Shu found their magic power nearly immobilized.
“Escape underground!” Yun Dan roared, dragging Yue Shu into the flying vehicle, which dove toward the ground—only to rebound off an unseen barrier.
Enraged, Yun Dan summoned a golden halberd and struck the ground with all his might. The resulting explosion sent nearby guards flying, but the barrier remained intact.
“How is this possible? Your Spirit Light Halberd can pierce anything!” Yue Shu gasped.
“Don’t you see? We’ve been deceived by Ming Zun. This isn’t a formation node—it’s a trap set specifically for us!” Yun Dan’s face twisted in fury.
“But why? What does he gain from trapping us here?” Yue Shu demanded.
“He doesn’t need to trap us forever—just long enough. As for why…” Yun Dan’s eyes gleamed as he hurled the halberd at the altar, obliterating it in a blast of golden light.
“No… He never placed an Xuan Heavenly Treasure here. He intends to use us as substitutes!” Yun Dan spat.
“Then we must leave at once!” Yue Shu panicked.
“Fear not. I came prepared.” Yun Dan produced a dark orb and hurled it at the barrier—only for it to dissolve into smoke as a crimson wave swept through, reducing the guards to bloody mist.
The siblings, now desperate, unleashed all their remaining treasures and magic, but the wave consumed them. Moments later, their bodies burst into blood vapor, sucked into the vortex above.
—
Elsewhere, Han Li stood within a yellow barrier, watching as the massive formation in the sky absorbed the last of the merchant alliance guards. With a final flash, the formation vanished into the void.
Meanwhile, the golden figure was pinned down by golden warriors as purple-gold threads materialized, binding it tightly.
“Ha! Within my Spirit Domain, even your greatest skills are useless. Where will you flee now?” The giant Ma Liang laughed as he floated closer.
But then, a colossal formation spanning most of the land erupted beneath him, centered precisely on his position.
“No!” Ma Liang’s face paled as he scanned the formation. A crystalline thread shot from its center, piercing the heavens in an instant.
At the sight of it, Ma Liang recoiled as if facing a venomous serpent, transforming into a golden streak as he fled in terror.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage