Inside the cave, there was a world of its own, filled with hidden mechanisms and multiple defensive arrays.
However, none of this could stop Dongfang Chi and Fei Hong—two supreme experts on the verge of breaking through to become Xian Zuns (Immortal Lords).
One by one, the arrays were silently dismantled.
The two immortals arrived at the core of the mountain, standing before a mysterious grand formation.
“Could this… could this actually be the legendary Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen (Heavenly Dipper Four Symbols Formation)?”
Dongfang Chi’s eyes widened in disbelief, mesmerized by the massive glowing formation shimmering with starlight.
Fei Hong exclaimed in shock, “This is unbelievable! Legend has it that the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen requires one hundred thousand magical treasures to construct, countless top-grade spirit stones to power, and at least an Xian Di (Immortal Emperor)-level expert to supervise its operation in order to unleash its full power. This formation was once deployed by Yuanshi Tianzun during an ancient immortal war, killing seventeen Xian Zuns, one hundred thirty-four Xian Wengs, over a thousand Xian Juns, and countless Xian Juniors. Now, all of a sudden, why would Bu Yi set up such a formation? Could it possibly be intended for us?”
Fei Hong was frightened, his voice stuttering.
If Bu Yi had indeed deployed the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen, killing them would be as simple as squashing ants.
“Impossible! What are we even worth? You’re overestimating yourself too much,” Dongfang Chi replied, his eyes darting around. “This isn’t the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen. It must be a formation similar to it. Legend says once you enter the real Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen, all magical treasures would instantly turn to dust. We can test this by tossing a magical item into the formation.”
Dongfang Chi flipped his hand and produced a gourd.
It was a low-grade immortal artifact, empty inside, perfect for experimentation.
“Wu!”
The gourd flew in an arc and landed into the formation. A flash of cold light, and the gourd instantly turned to dust!
“Ahh! It is the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen! This really is the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen!”
Seeing the gourd reduced to powder, Fei Hong screamed in terror, completely losing his composure and dignity as an Xian Weng.
Dongfang Chi also stumbled backward in fear, shaking his head in disbelief, “Impossible! This can’t be! Why would he deploy such a grand formation just for us two insignificant people?”
“Ha ha ha…”
Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed, and the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen instantly expanded, trapping Dongfang Chi and Fei Hong inside.
“Xian Zun Bu Yi, have mercy!”
To everyone’s shock, Fei Hong immediately dropped to his knees, his face pale as paper.
They looked around, but there was no sign of Bu Yi.
Dongfang Chi, though slightly more composed, was also extremely frightened. He scanned with his spiritual sense but detected nothing. He quickly clasped his fists and bowed respectfully, “Xian Zun Bu Yi, your wisdom is vast. We are merely insignificant beings barely surviving in the immortal realm. We were forced to come here out of desperation to investigate your situation. We truly meant no offense. Please, Senior, show us mercy and overlook our trespass.”
Dongfang Chi felt a chill creeping in, his legs trembling with fear.
“Hehe, Fei Hong, get up.”
A surge of starlight gently lifted Fei Hong from the ground, and a hoarse, elderly voice sighed, “Fellow cultivators, I’ve already understood your situation. Both of you are talented but unrecognized, oppressed in the immortal realm. Today, you came here under the orders of your master, Yu Hua Xian Zun. I naturally won’t hold this against you. You are both innocent. Also, our dwarf clan has always been conservative, preferring not to meddle in worldly affairs. If Yu Hua Xian Zun wishes to do business with us dwarves or is in need of spirit stones, let him come personally. I, Bu Yi, will never be stingy.”
Two purple gourds suddenly appeared before them.
Radiating alluring spiritual energy, they were clearly high-grade immortal treasures.
“Since the two of you have honored us with your visit, I, Bu Yi, have little to offer. Please accept these two high-grade immortal treasures as gifts. Regrettably, I cannot personally meet you, as I am on the verge of breaking through to Xian Di in a few days. I hope you both will attend my ascension ceremony then.”
Once the elderly voice faded, the starlight receded, and the Tian Dou Si Xiang Zhen shrank back to its original size.
To their surprise, Bu Yi was truly about to ascend to Xian Di, and he was so merciful and magnanimous. Both Fei Hong and Dongfang Chi were astonished and delighted. They hurriedly bowed in gratitude, deeply moved, and quickly exited the cave. To show sincerity, they even bowed several times at the cave entrance.
As they had said themselves, their status in the immortal realm was indeed as lowly as dung.
The most valuable item they possessed was merely a high-grade protective bead. This gourd was only their second high-grade artifact ever obtained.
※※※
“Senior Brother, they came with ill intentions, greedy and malicious. Why didn’t you let me kill them?”
Inside a stone room deep within the cave, Bu Xiang looked at his elderly Senior Brother, Bu Yi, with confusion. Bu Yi’s beard and hair were completely white, appearing extremely aged.
“Cough cough cough…”
Bu Yi coughed weakly and said, “Bu Xiang, you still don’t see it? If I had allowed you to kill them, wouldn’t Yu Hua Xian Zun bring an entire army of immortals to attack our Xuan Wu Forest? They would slaughter our people and steal all our treasures. My intention was to deceive them! Now that we’ve let them go, they won’t live long. Given Yu Hua Xian Zun’s personality, he won’t easily believe them. He will kill them and later send others to attend my ascension ceremony.”
“Senior Brother, how… how did your body become like this?”
After many years, this was the first time Bu Xiang had seen Senior Brother. Earlier, he had thought Bu Yi was about to ascend to Xian Di, but now he realized that not only had Bu Yi’s injuries not healed, but his life was also hanging by a thread.
“During the last immortal war, my foundation was gravely damaged. I barely managed to return, and I didn’t tell any of you because I wanted to protect our clan. I had no choice but to do this!” Bu Yi coughed again, took a pill, and slowly regained some energy before continuing, “In no time, the two-thousand-year cycle of the immortal war will begin again. Our clan faces only two choices: either cultivate an ultimate expert to protect us, or offer up the immense wealth our people have painstakingly earned through their hard work.”
“Senior Brother, my Second Brother Bu Fa and I have found someone. He is a human cultivator sworn as brothers with Bu Lu. This person is straightforward, loyal, clear on right and wrong, passionate in love and hatred. He also bears a deep grudge against the Yu Xu Sect in the immortal realm for killing his father. Moreover, he has cultivated an inner world within his realm of consciousness—an absolute genius and extraordinary individual.”
Bu Xiang had used over a dozen extremely precious teleportation talismans to rush back so quickly.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have returned this fast.
“An inner world within a realm of consciousness!”
Upon hearing this, Bu Yi suddenly perked up, as if recalling something, and became slightly excited, “Bu Xiang, do you know that during the last immortal war, I encountered a strange person who also cultivated a world within his consciousness…”
“A strange person? What kind of person was he?”
Bu Xiang immediately became curious.
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