The appearance of the Heavenly Spirit Heavenly Venerable

Lu Xuejing did not know the specific dangers that awaited in Tianling State.

However, while speaking with her mother, Lu Xichan, she noticed a slight wrongness in the cold expression her mother wore whenever Tianling State's affairs were mentioned.

In the past, every time Chief Lu showed such an expression, it meant a bloodbath was soon to follow.

“Could it be that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is going to cast aside their helpers so soon?”

Li Fan felt somewhat doubtful in his heart.

If that were truly the case, it would seem a bit too rushed.

After the Lock Spirit Array was completed, were they too lazy to even keep up appearances and pretend to reward them?

Or was there some other hidden reason behind this?

“Regardless, I still cannot go to Tianling State.”

“Based on the power I saw in the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven that day, the might of the Lock Spirit Array is likely even beyond the Dao Integration stage.”

“Entering a dangerous situation when the circumstances are unclear is truly unwise.”

“Moreover, to find out exactly what will happen in Tianling State, I don't need to go personally.”

A faint, imperceptible light flashed in Li Fan's eyes as he began to stake out this Dharma Transmission Plaza.

This was a necessary transit point for traveling to Tianling State.

Most of the Formation Masters who received invitations would likely pass through here.

Sure enough, before long, Li Fan spotted a suitable target from a distance.

Le Wan, a Golden Core Formation Master and one of the participants in the Lock Spirit Array competition.

Unaware of the hidden Li Fan, he hurriedly activated the teleportation array, intending to head to his destination.

Before he left, the Formless Killing Intent had already quietly locked onto him.

Trailing far behind while maintaining the maximum distance possible for the Formless Killing Intent, Li Fan followed him in secret.

After half a day's work, Le Wan arrived at Tianling State.

From afar, he saw a giant crossing dust boat suspended in the sky.

From time to time, Cultivators would fly toward it from all directions.

Le Wan's face was filled with excitement as he flew forward, arriving outside the crossing dust boat shortly after.

Holding a black-gold invitation, a streak of light swept over his body.

Le Wan was able to pass through the protective light shield and land on the crossing dust boat.

“Fellow Daoist Le!”

As soon as he landed, an acquaintance greeted him.

Le Wan responded to each one in turn.

Many Cultivators had already gathered on the ship.

They were all familiar faces.

Besides the participants of the Formation competition, many front-line construction and support personnel who had made great contributions during the popularization of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array were also invited onto this crossing dust boat.

They gathered together in a lively atmosphere.

“The Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array is complete. Facing this aggressive offensive from the Five Old Men Association, it will show its edge for the first time. It is truly a blessing for our generation that Chief Lu invited us to witness this.”

“Indeed, to finally see the Divine Might of the Lock Spirit Array makes my years of hard work worthwhile.”

“I just wonder if the Five Old Men Association will be too cowardly to fight and simply not show up. Wouldn't our preparations go to waste then?”

“Hehe, don't worry. Based on my understanding of the Five Old Men Association, they will surely think we are just bluffing as before. Little do they know…”

“Fellow Daoist, watch your words! Watch your words!”

…

Everyone waited for the arrival of the Five Old Men Association Cultivators in a cheerful atmosphere.

It wasn't until ten days later that the target finally arrived.

Without any warning, a beam of white light descended from the sky.

It shone near the border of Tianling State.

It locked onto a hidden Cultivator who was moving rapidly.

“Is this your Immortal Alliance's Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array? It doesn't look like much to me.”

“It's just making me visible; what else can you do to me?”

Unexpectedly, the person did not panic. Instead, he stopped and began to mock the crossing dust boat in the sky loudly.

For a moment, everyone on the crossing dust boat was filled with righteous indignation.

“He's just a minor Soul Transformation Cultivator, yet he dares to be so insolent?”

“Since he dares to lead the charge, he's probably not as simple as he looks.”

“Why hasn't the Alliance reacted yet? What are they waiting for?”

…

Seeing that the Immortal Alliance made no move despite the provocation, the Five Old Men Association Cultivator let out a cold snort.

In front of everyone, he threw an apricot-yellow Formation Flag upward.

Muttering incantations, one hundred and eight monsters of various shapes suddenly flew out of the Formation Flag.

The monsters' bodies seemed to be composed of blue starlight, and a hint of divinity was revealed within their ferocious features.

“That is…”

“The Lesser Zhou Heaven Star Shifting Array?”

The people on the crossing dust boat were all skilled in Formations, and they instantly recognized the array the Five Old Men Association Cultivator was using.

Cries of surprise rang out one after another.

One hundred and eight Star Beasts arranged themselves in a celestial circle.

They spat out brilliant starlight from their mouths, converging toward the center.

At the point where the one hundred and eight beams of light collided, a starry gate slowly opened.

Thousands of Cultivators instantly poured out of the star gate.

They were all wearing the battle robes of the Five Old Men Association.

And the beams of light falling from above their heads further confirmed their identities.

“How could they just let them open the teleportation gate?”

“What's going on? What exactly are our people doing?”

“Everyone, please be calm. This must be a plan to lure the enemy in deep.”

…

Faced with the invasion of the Five Old Men Association, the Immortal Alliance's prolonged inaction caused an uproar among the people on the crossing dust boat.

However, the Immortal Alliance did not disappoint them.

Soon, the Lock Spirit Array in the sky began to move.

Among the thousands of light pillars locking onto the Five Old Men Association Cultivators, streaks of golden light suddenly appeared.

The golden light was extremely thin, following the light pillars and falling rapidly from the sky.

Like sharp Flying Swords, they were about to behead the Five Old Men Association Cultivators in public.

However, the members of the Five Old Men Association showed no panic at all.

Just as the golden light was about to descend upon their heads,

they were all forced to stop, suspended in mid-air.

The golden light surged, emitting an unwilling hum as it tried to break free from the restraint.

But on the battlefield, it was as if a pair of invisible giant hands were holding them down firmly.

The golden light could not move an inch.

“This…”

On the crossing dust boat, there was a sudden deathly silence.

The young Formation Masters watched as the attack of the Lock Spirit Array was easily blocked, all showing expressions of disbelief.

Some Cultivators even seemed to have thought of something, their faces suddenly turning pale.

Their eyes were frantic as they looked around left and right.

They looked exactly as if they wanted to flee the scene immediately.

Just then, a low voice rang out across the battlefield.

“Celestial Venerable Yixin, please retreat.”

“According to our agreement, you should not be here.”

Amidst the words, Ji Hongdao's figure slowly emerged.

He stood before the Five Old Men Association Cultivators.

“Oh?”

A silver bell-like laugh echoed between heaven and earth.

“In this world, is there any place I cannot go?”

Only the voice was heard, no person was seen.

But all the Immortal Alliance Cultivators present had expressions of terror.

“Eternal…”

“Celestial Venerable?”

The expressions of the over a thousand Five Old Men Association Cultivators did not change in the slightest, as if they had long known that Eternal Celestial Venerable would take action.

They all wore the same expression on their faces.

Coldly watching the scene ahead.

Watching this scene through the perspective of the world from several states away, Li Fan's mind was shaken to its core.

“This voice is…”

“Senior Sister Zhao?”