Chapter 1347: Please, fellow cultivator, think twice

"How dare you!"

Jade Bone returned to the blood-red altar, and the scene before him plunged him into a furious rage.

Above the blood-red altar, the sky was dim. The void appeared to be torn apart by immense force, filled with visible spatial turbulence. A mysterious formation diagram, glowing with green light, slowly rotated. The blood-red altar itself was affected, as chaotic energy formed a storm with the formation diagram at its center.

Old Demon Ye hovered beneath the formation diagram. Even with his powerful cultivation, he seemed precarious against the storm's onslaught. Strange lights flickered around him, requiring him to activate a protective secret art to maintain his footing within the tempest.

At that moment, another figure appeared opposite Old Demon Ye, precisely where Jade Bone had been just moments before. It was Bai! This time, he was no longer lurking in the shadows; he had revealed himself openly!

Bai floated in mid-air, seemingly oblivious to Old Demon Ye, attending to his own affairs. His fingers moved like fluttering butterflies, and incredibly intricate and previously unseen seals flew from his hands, flowing like water into the blood-red altar. With his actions, strange phenomena frequently appeared on the altar.

The most striking change was the formation diagram. Its green light grew more dazzling, illuminating every detail of the surroundings. Ghostly mist and spirits were tinged with a layer of blue-green, and the diagram spun rapidly, its runes becoming increasingly clear and complete.

It was grand and mysterious! A vast, ancient aura emanated from the diagram, soaring directly into the heavens!

Bai tilted his head slightly, watching the diagram, his eyes filled with growing surprise. Old Demon Ye stood motionless, showing no intention of acting, quietly observing Bai's movements.

Witnessing the changes in the formation diagram, Old Demon Ye’s eyes flickered with a strange expression, filled with profound astonishment. He scrutinized the mysterious newcomer from head to toe.

He had never imagined that, in the present age, apart from that lingering demon, anyone else would know how to activate the restrictions on the altar.

Bai did not conceal his aura. Old Demon Ye easily discerned that Bai was a Corpse King. Bai’s cultivation seemed inferior to his own, yet for some unknown reason, Old Demon Ye vaguely sensed a threat from Bai, instilling a hint of apprehension in him.

He racked his brains but could not recall when such a person had appeared in the Northern Star Realm. While there were a fair number of demonic cultivators of the Corpse Dao in the Northern Star Realm, very few had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, as orthodox cultivators had previously dominated the major regions. Old Demon Ye had dealt with most of them, but he couldn't connect this individual to anyone he knew.

"How did a Corpse King suddenly appear out of nowhere? Could it be another ancient being from ages past? How many more such existences are hidden in the cultivation world, biding their time in seclusion?"

For the first time, Old Demon Ye realized that the Northern Star Realm harbored many secrets, of which he was completely unaware. Jade Bone had used this to force his compliance. If Bai could activate the altar, it might not be a bad thing. Old Demon Ye pondered this, then did nothing, allowing Bai to proceed while he quietly observed the situation.

However, Old Demon Ye’s peripheral vision remained fixed on the direction Jade Bone had departed. As expected, Jade Bone sensed Bai the moment he began his actions.

"Die!" Jade Bone roared in fury, lunging towards the altar with ferocious intent.

Bai unhurriedly withdrew his gaze from the formation diagram, glanced at Jade Bone, and then looked at Old Demon Ye, saying meaningfully, "I urge you, fellow cultivator, to think twice!"

These words were clearly a warning to Old Demon Ye, urging him to recognize the situation. Old Demon Ye sneered. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Old Demon Ye truly did not intervene, cupping his hands in a gesture of neutrality.

After warning Old Demon Ye, Bai shifted his gaze, looking coldly at Jade Bone. *Whoosh!*

Jade Bone's entire body was enveloped in purple light, like a luminous cocoon. Although his true form was obscured within the purple glow, his aura grew increasingly tyrannical, and an astonishing pressure erupted from the cocoon. In an instant, Jade Bone closed in, unleashing a massive purple palm strike violently towards Bai.

Bai seemed paralyzed by fear, standing motionless without making any move to defend himself. Old Demon Ye frowned slightly, wondering if his judgment had been mistaken. Even if Bai had concealed his strength, he shouldn't be so arrogant when facing Jade Bone. Otherwise, why would he himself be so wary of Jade Bone?

In a flash, Jade Bone was already within striking distance. Suddenly, an ethereal starlight cluster burst forth beneath the altar.

Initially dim, this starlight instantly erupted into a colossal pillar of light, shooting skyward. Jade Bone, who had just flown into that spot, was engulfed by the light pillar. Within the column of light, countless specks of starlight shimmered, resembling a miniature starry sky.

These shimmering points were indeed Star Origin Stones. At the base of the light pillar, amidst the Star Origin Stones, a slender figure solidified from translucence, finally revealing her true appearance: it was Qing Jun, who had been missing for a long time!

Qing Jun's eyelids were lowered, and her jade-like fingers connected strands of light, arranging the stars! The Star Origin Stones became like chess pieces in her hands, moving back and forth like real stars, seemingly chaotic but secretly containing a unique pattern.

These very Star Origin Stones were those Qin Sang had retrieved from Pointing Heaven Peak. The Yuan Shen Gate had collected numerous ancient formations, some of which required Star Origin Stones to set up, and this spiritual formation was one of them. It could be said that Qing Zhu's tragedy also originated from the Star Origin Stones.

Qing Jun, having taken over the Yuan Shen Gate, studied various ancient texts and comprehended this spiritual formation. When Bai flew onto the altar and activated the diagram, she had hidden herself there, secretly deploying the formation, waiting for Jade Bone to return. Enraged by Bai and caught off guard, Jade Bone indeed fell into her trap!

*Boom!* The starlight pulsed. Inside the light pillar, streaks of starlight intertwined, forming a cage that firmly trapped Jade Bone. This formation possessed the power to imprison!

Unfortunately, Qing Jun's opponent was too powerful. Trapped by the spiritual formation, Jade Bone counterattacked furiously. The dense purple light even threatened to overwhelm the starlight, which continuously dissipated. It was clear the cage wouldn't hold much longer.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Star Origin Stones shattered one after another under the impact. Jade Bone's demonic flames soared to the heavens.

A flicker of surprise crossed Qing Jun's calm eyes. She hadn't expected Jade Bone's strength to be so formidable, nor his experience so rich. He consistently found the spiritual formation's weak points, leaving her no time to reinforce them. At this rate, Jade Bone would likely break through the cage in mere breaths.

*Boom!* A section of starlight extinguished, and the purple energy surged even more fiercely. Qing Jun, who needed to personally direct the spiritual formation from within, might not have time to escape.

Just at this critical moment, a chain shot through the air, instantly entering the spiritual formation and piercing through the purple energy like a spiritual serpent. *Whoosh!*

Qin Sang followed closely, arriving just in time, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Despite his utmost effort, he had nearly missed the opportune moment, but fortunately, he made it just in time. Without hesitation, he formed a hand seal, and a formation diagram for the Demon Binding Rope appeared above his head. With a flick of his finger, it floated through the air to hover above Jade Bone.

*Whoosh!* The purple light dispersed, revealing Jade Bone's true form. Around him, numerous chains were tightly coiled—it was the Demon Binding Rope! The rope constricted inwards, firing countless tiny black lightning bolts, like fine needles, at Jade Bone.