Chapter 2451: Array Eye

"But why did you assign Yun Dan Yue Shu and that human boy to guard those two Heaven-Grade artifacts? From what I know, the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array is an immortal realm formation left by our ancestors, and its core doesn't require any human guards. If a true immortal were to truly breach it, the formation would have already collapsed and dispersed." The shadowy figure added, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Heh heh, I naturally have my reasons for doing so. Keeping them at the core might even save their lives in the end," Ming Zun chuckled, not directly answering.

"Forget it. As the Shadow of this Alliance, I've never been interested in your secretive plans. However, if a True Soul Pill can be obtained from this true immortal, it must be given to me. With this pill, I'll surely be able to truly cultivate the Nine Tribulations True Extinction and have hope of ascending to the Immortal Realm. But even if this matter succeeds, the price this Alliance pays will still be considerable," the shadowy figure said nonchalantly.

"If a True Soul Pill can truly be found, you will certainly receive one. As for the cost, there must be an outlay to gain. I believe that the treasures an immortal who managed to descend to the lower realm possesses will absolutely be enough to compensate for these losses," Ming Zun said calmly.

"I hope so. Well, they've all set off, so I'll be going too. Ming Zun, make sure you don't even fail to withstand the true immortal's first wave of attack, as I will absolutely not intervene to help before the right moment arrives," the shadowy figure said with a low chuckle. With a twist of his body, he strangely vanished into the void once more.

From beginning to end, the person's face was never revealed in the slightest.

"Won't intervene to help, huh? Those words apply equally to you. If you fail to land your blow when the time comes, I'm afraid it will be quite difficult for you to escape either," Ming Zun murmured, a strange expression on his face, his voice almost inaudible.

At that moment, guided by the armored guard, Han Li flew away from Heaven Beyond Heaven and plunged into the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array, which was not far below.

According to Ming Zun's previous introduction, this formation barely succeeded after employing over 36,000 array flags, formation plates, and other setup tools. Tens of thousands of top-grade spirit stones were embedded throughout, which allowed it to envelop most of the Mingsha Land.

The two core points of the array, however, were located far apart, one in the south and one in the north.

Han Li sped along under the armored guard's guidance. After approximately the time it takes for a meal, he arrived near the core of the array he was responsible for.

From a distance, this so-called array core was formed by eight enormous golden pillars encircling a tall altar.

Shimmering light enveloped the golden pillars, while layers of restrictive fluctuations flickered in and out of sight around them. Rows of armored guards were clustered in attendance.

The altar was triangular in shape, entirely milky-white, and smooth as jade. Its upper half was enveloped by a seven-colored light screen, and something at its very peak faintly shimmered.

"Senior, this is the activation token for the array core, and these personnel are entirely at your command. However, the altar's concealment restriction has been activated to prevent premature detection by the enemy, so you cannot ascend it," the armored guard who had led Han Li here said respectfully as he and Han Li landed together. He immediately took out a silver token and offered it with both hands.

"That is natural. Although I am quite interested in the Heaven-Grade artifacts above, I would not act so disregardful of the overall situation," Han Li said calmly. With a wave of his hand, the token was instantly pulled into his grasp from thin air.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior. This junior will take his leave now," the armored guard said. After taking a few steps back, he once again rose into the air and shot back towards where he came from.

Han Li then lowered his head to examine the silver token in his hand. The object in his grasp shone with a brilliant silver light, its surface inscribed with countless tiny runes arranged in an exceedingly mysterious pattern that made one feel dizzy just by looking at them.

After toying with the token for a moment, he flicked his wrist and put it away, then strode towards the altar.

"Greetings, Lord!"

As Han Li approached, nearly a thousand armored guards immediately bowed in unison.

"Rise. Since I have taken over this place, I have only one command: 'Those who disobey orders shall be killed!' Now, resume your vigilance." Han Li swept his divine sense over these armored guards and found that most were at the Transformed Deity and Refined Void stages, but there were also eight cultivators at the Integration stage, each seemingly leading a team to guard one golden pillar. After a thought, he spoke expressionlessly.

"Yes, sir!"

These armored guards felt a chill in their hearts, but all agreed without hesitation. They then rose and remained motionless around the golden pillars.

Han Li's figure flickered, and he passed through the armored guards as if an incorporeal entity, appearing directly beneath the milky-white altar at the center. After a faint glance upwards, he directly sat down cross-legged.

"This appears to be the Two Poles Mote Array from the Immortal Realm," Crab Daoist's voice suddenly echoed in Han Li's divine sense, tinged with surprise.

"Shouldn't it be the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array?" Han Li's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he immediately used his divine sense to ask in return.

"No. Although the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array is also a formation from the Immortal Realm, its function is relatively simple, primarily used for exterminating enemies. In terms of profundity, it's far less than one or two tenths of the Two Poles Mote Array," Crab Daoist said without hesitation.

"Oh, then what mysterious uses does this Two Poles Mote Array possess?" Han Li's eyes flickered slightly as he asked slowly.

"The Two Poles Mote Array primarily has three major functions: trapping enemies, weakening them, and self-detonation. Any one of these is enough to cause great trouble for an ordinary immortal, especially the final self-detonation power. As long as the sacrificed treasures or living beings at the core are powerful enough, even a high-level immortal could be buried within it," Crab Daoist explained.

"Living sacrifice, self-detonation?" Han Li's heart immediately tensed upon hearing this.

"That's right. The sacrifices for this array core can be treasures, rare materials, or powerful living beings. Generally, once a sacrifice begins, everything within a hundred-mile radius of the array core will directly be refined into ash by the formation's power, serving as offerings," Crab Daoist said unhurriedly.

"So that's it. I somewhat understand why Ming Zun wanted Yun Dan Yue Shu, me, and the other person to guard the array core and not leave easily," Han Li said with great anger in his divine sense, though his face showed no unusual expression.

"However, logically speaking, even the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array is not easy to set up in the lower realms, let alone the Two Poles Mote Array, which is far more complex. From the look of this array core, it seems slightly different from the Mote Array I know," Crab Daoist added.

"Materials in the lower realms naturally can't compare to those in the Immortal Realm. Probably, many parts of this Immortal Realm secret formation were barely set up using substitutes. But if that's the case, its functions and power should also be weakened and altered. Can you find the differences?" Han Li asked suddenly after a moment of contemplation.

"I am merely a pseudo-immortal automaton specialized in combat, not a dedicated formation puppet. Being able to recognize some Immortal Realm formations is already my limit; finding the specific differences is beyond my capabilities," Crab Daoist replied candidly.

"This could be troublesome. Although I intend to deal with that true immortal, I don't wish to be sacrificed and perish together with him," Han Li said coldly, his eyes flickering a few times.

"If Fellow Daoist merely wishes to protect himself, I do have a method," Crab Daoist said slowly after a moment of silence.

"What method?" Han Li's spirits naturally lifted upon hearing this.

"I can make some minor adjustments to this array core, so that when it activates its final sacrificial function, your location will be designated as an exempt area," Crab Daoist stated calmly.

"Is there such a method? Is it reliable?" Han Li asked with a slight hesitation.

"Alright, let's do that then," Han Li said decisively after a brief consideration.

"Very well, but I will need the Gold Devouring Beetle King to cooperate with me. Only that insect king can accomplish this silently," Crab Daoist replied.

"That's not a problem. Golden, from now on, do everything exactly as Brother Crab instructs, without any errors," Han Li readily agreed, and immediately used his divine sense to give another instruction to the Gold Devouring Beetle King within his spirit beast bracelet.

In the following moments, Han Li appeared to be sitting motionless in place, but a finger concealed within his sleeve subtly flicked. Instantly, a golden speck shot out, vanishing into the nearby void in a flash.

The next moment, near one of the golden pillars, a faint fluctuation undetectable even by Integration Stage cultivators arose, and a grain-sized golden beetle materialized out of thin air.

After a brief blur, the beetle adhered itself to the pillar and then began to silently crawl, leaving behind tiny spirit runes almost imperceptible to the naked eye wherever it moved.

At the same time, Crab Daoist's cold commanding voice continuously echoed within the golden beetle's divine sense, and complete formation patterns kept emerging in its mind.

All of this happened without the slightest detection from the armored guards of the Merchant Alliance who surrounded this golden pillar, completely unaware of these subtle changes to the object they were guarding.

Not only this golden pillar but over the following period, the other seven pillars were also similarly tampered with by the vastly shrunken Gold Devouring Beetle King.

Elsewhere in the high skies above Mingsha Land, Grand Ascension cultivators such as Yin Gangzi and the bald burly man were concealed within a patch of void. Some stood upright, while others sat cross-legged with closed eyes, but all remained silently solemn.

Suddenly, a ripple appeared nearby, and Ming Zun materialized directly, as if from an invisible form.

"Brother Ming! Are you alone? Where are Fellow Daoist Han and Yun Dan Yue Shu?" Lady Wuling asked, her brows furrowed as her gaze swept over Ming Zun.

A hint of surprise also flickered across the faces of the other Grand Ascension cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Wuling, there's no need to worry. I have already sent Fellow Daoist Han and the other two to guard the core of the Two Poles Dust Extermination Array. This way, as long as the formation remains intact, we can focus on dealing with that immortal without any lingering concerns," Ming Zun said, his expression unchanged.