Chapter 1608: Transformation God and Inheritance

"Someone is walking out of the lightning!"

"Is that really a person? Am I seeing things?"

"Impossible!"

Screams of alarm rang out continuously from the treasure ships.

Many on board had witnessed Su Zinan open the Hall of No Return, and they felt firsthand that the thunder's might was even more terrifying than the gray tide they had experienced back then. Any single bolt of lightning could blast them into dust. Fortunately, they were at sea; had they been on land, the mountains beneath the lightning would surely have been riddled with holes and completely collapsed. Who could possibly survive in such lightning?

The sound of the wind and waves vanished, completely drowned out by the thunder. A thunderous chasm seemed to open in the sky, as lightning rained down incessantly, growing ever denser. Then, the sea of thunder began to expand outwards.

"Quick! Flee!"

Someone shrieked.

The approaching lightning brought with it the stench of death. Several treasure ships fled in panic, their talisman formations fully activated, weaving through the tempestuous waves. They were buffeted by wind and rain, desperately scrambling to escape. There were no ordinary merchant ships here, only those controlled by cultivators. The treasure ships were of decent quality and had not yet been swallowed by the monstrous waves or capsized.

However, one ship was too close to the lightning, its speed unable to match the expansion of the thunder. It was engulfed by countless bolts of lightning. There were no screams. They couldn't even hear the sound of the treasure ship's protective barrier shattering. When the others looked back, they saw only a blinding silver light. In the blink of an eye, that treasure ship had vanished without a trace. No one on board escaped; all were buried with the ship. That ship had a Core Formation cultivator guarding it!

Everyone was terrified. At that moment, any trace of joy vanished. Even if the Hall of No Return was truly emerging, the place was too terrifying; even Nascent Soul cultivators would perish within it.

Preoccupied with escaping, no one paid attention to the sky. The celestial anomaly was only just beginning. Within the thunder, immense lightning power gathered, forming a silvery-white ring of thunder, both inside and out filled with wild bolts of lightning. Beyond the thunder ring were fierce winds, colossal waves, and the boundless sea. Inside the thunder ring, another space was connected. This place was filled with an aura of destruction. The lightning never ceased, its dazzling bolts blinding, making it impossible to discern the scene within.

Occasionally, there were brief lulls in the lightning, and only then would a corner of the deep space flash into view for an instant. There were rolling mountains and ancient halls like a forest. One could imagine it was once a scene of immortal grandeur. At that moment, the beautiful scenery was being destroyed by the lightning, turning into a thunderous abyss. The surviving ancient immortal formations were also on the verge of collapse. Besides the lightning, wave after wave of gray tide swept across the heavens and earth. In this hellish environment, people actually existed, and more than one!

Inside the thunder ring, two figures stood suspended in mid-air, one to the left and one to the right. They were the ones seen by those on the treasure ships. Lightning enveloped the two figures, obscuring their true appearance. They looked like two humanoid bolts of lightning, pushing against the lightning and gray tide to break free, encountering strong resistance. Their goal was to reach beyond the thunder ring and escape this space!

Just then, amidst the earth-shattering thunder, chanting and sharp shrieks could be heard. The sounds weren't loud, yet the thunder couldn't drown them out. The chanting originated from the figure on the left. As time passed, the chanting grew firmer, and the lightning around this figure was gradually replaced by golden Buddhist light, emanating from within. The sharp shrieks came from the figure on the right. A ray of green light burst forth from within the lightning, piercing through it like a sharp green sword.

The two exerted their combined might, unleashing immense power. Buddhist light and green light burst forth simultaneously, plunging into the thunder ring.

Boom!

The thunder ring shone blindingly bright, then abruptly dimmed and cracked open. Seizing the moment, the two burst out of the thunder ring, returning to the real world. They transformed into two streaks of light, one golden and one green, and instantly vanished beyond the lightning's reach.

After they escaped, the lightning outside not only failed to recede back into the thunder ring but intensified even further. The cracked thunder ring showed no signs of healing, appearing visibly unstable. The thunder ring split into several fragments, which did not re-coalesce but separated and gradually expanded. From the points of rupture, even stronger and wilder lightning power escaped outwards, bringing doomsday to the entire sea.

However, the most violent anomaly occurred within the thunder ring. As the thunder ring tore apart, the space within seemed to lose a certain restriction, gradually returning to the real world and simultaneously triggering spatial tremors, which brought about even more astonishing celestial phenomena. The cultivators steering the treasure ships, sensing something amiss, turned their heads and were stunned by the sight in the sky.

An unparalleled immortal dwelling faintly materialized in mid-air. The immortal dwelling, neither touching the sky nor the earth, slowly 'grew' out of the void. Mountains resembled true dragons lying prostrate, revealing the tip of an iceberg, as ancient halls and immortal mansions manifested.

"The Hall of No Return!"

Everyone was shocked. Nowhere else but the Hall of No Return could possess such grandeur. Both Daoist and Buddhist sects, as well as Su Zinan, had previously opened the Hall of No Return, only to find scattered fragments. Now, they were witnessing the true form of this ancient immortal sect with their own eyes!

Flashes of restrictive light frequently appeared within the Hall of No Return. Under the impact of incredibly violent lightning and gray tides, the restrictive lights flickered out one by one. Each extinguished light signified the destruction of an immortal hall. The Hall of No Return was already riddled with holes, almost a ruin, teetering on the brink of destruction. Now, to add insult to injury, as all surviving ancient halls were annihilated, the mountains began to crumble, and eventually, the entire immortal dwelling!

Under everyone's gaze, the immortal dwelling's manifestation and subsequent destruction took only a dozen breaths of time. The space, filled with lightning and gray tides, continued to crush the fragments of the immortal dwelling until the entire edifice was reduced to dust.

The two who had escaped with their lives gazed at the scene behind them, silent for a long time.

One of them was an old monk with white eyebrows and a white beard. The old monk's face was covered in wrinkles; he wore an ancient kasaya and held Buddhist beads. Though appearing as an octogenarian, his eyes were exceptionally bright, seeing through to people's hearts.

"Amitābha," the old monk intoned, performing a single-palm salutation as he watched the immortal dwelling's destruction.

Beside the old monk was an enchanting woman of peerless beauty. The woman possessed a graceful figure and an ethereal beauty. Her eyes, shimmering like water, could intoxicate anyone with a single glance. Every gesture she made was filled with innate charm, utterly natural and unfeigned. She was clearly not human, as three fluffy fox tails sprouted from her back. Yet, they didn't seem out of place at all, instead adding an exotic allure.

"The Hall of No Return is completely destroyed," the woman lamented, a hint of exasperation in her voice, which was equally captivating. "What a pity for the treasures inside, and many important artifacts of my clan that we couldn't retrieve."

The old monk was unmoved by the woman's beauty. Gazing at the familiar world, he sighed, "I never expected to be trapped in the Hall of No Return for three hundred years! No wonder Old Demon Lu, after finding the Hall of No Return back then, hesitated multiple times and gave up on entering its core. Thanks to your help with that supreme treasure, fellow Daoist, otherwise, I would have faced dire consequences undergoing tribulation in the Hall of No Return!"

"We're all in the same boat; Your Majesty must also consider her own interests."

"It was I who implicated you, fellow Daoist," the old monk said sincerely.

The woman crossed her arms, pushing her chest high, and said languidly, "It's not entirely your fault, old monk. Who could have foreseen the sudden appearance of the Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound midway through, catching us off guard and severely injuring us both? Otherwise, even if our combined efforts couldn't break the core ancient restriction, we wouldn't have been trapped in the Hall of No Return for three hundred years..." As she spoke, she looked around, her tone grave. "The Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound hasn't vanished. It's truly not a power of the Hall of No Return, but a celestial anomaly!"

"The Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound!" the old monk uttered like a somniloquist, and a ripple appeared on his otherwise serene face. He glanced towards the South Sea. "Back then, the South Sea Immortal Palace rose from the earth and ascended. Fellow Daoist Danyu ventured too deep and couldn't retreat in time, carried away by the palace. I was fortunate to have acted quickly, but I never expected the Immortal Palace to trigger a celestial anomaly, trapping us like caged beasts... That time might have been the last chance for ascension."

"True ascension?" The woman looked disbelieving. "That old Daoist's whereabouts are still unknown, whether dead or alive! Old Demon Lu, on the other hand, was lucky. He went to the Ruins before the celestial anomaly, likely found the Gate of Guixu, and escaped this calamity."

"Whether it's truly an anomaly of the Heavenly Dao is still unknown; it's merely our conjecture and requires verification," the old monk said cautiously.

"What more verification do we need? Just look at them!" The woman pointed to the sea, selecting one of the treasure ships, and subtly beckoned with her jade-like finger.

The treasure ship was battling the wind and waves, attempting to escape the area. Suddenly, the seawater beneath the ship surged wildly, erupting into a colossal water pillar that lifted the entire treasure ship from the surface and into mid-air. Finally, the treasure ship, encased in a bubble of water, floated before the two figures. The cultivators in the cabins, caught off guard by the sudden anomaly, were confused and uncertain about what was happening. They rushed out to investigate, then stood frozen in place, their eyes glazed over. Regardless of gender, their eyes saw only the woman, not the old monk. The woman's fox tails swayed gently, the tips of their fur trembling slightly, as if teasing their very hearts, making them restless and unable to control themselves.

"Late Core Formation," the woman observed, glancing at one of the white-robed scholars. The white-robed scholar's proudly held mental fortitude shattered with that single glance. His face flushed crimson, and only one thought occupied his mind: *She looked at me!*

"He's unaffected by the Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound, and it's highly probable that Nascent Soul cultivators are the same. Only cultivators like us, at the Soul Transformation stage, who can perceive heavenly secrets, are able to 'hear' the Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound!" The woman expressed her annoyance. "It seems now that the celestial anomaly won't be confined to the Central Continent; it's likely to encompass an entire realm! Even if it's not an anomaly of this realm's Heavenly Dao but manipulated by someone, such terrifying divine power is indistinguishable from the Heavenly Dao for us. If the Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound doesn't cease, whether you and I can even reach the Ruins is questionable, let alone talk of ascension!" Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "Without becoming immortals, you and I are ultimately just ants!"

The old monk was silent for a moment, then said, "There is still a difference. If it's not an anomaly of the Heavenly Dao, then perhaps one day, the demonic sound will no longer be endless madness. It might recover its clarity, allowing for communication, and no longer constantly assault our minds. If it's a change caused by the Immortal Palace's ascension, continued investigation into the South Sea Immortal Palace might uncover the reason."

"I remember you said that, as far as records go, the Hall of No Return was the first to control the South Sea Immortal Palace. Which force came after them?"

"After the conflict between humans and demons erupted in the Hall of No Return, leading to a brutal civil war and its eventual demise, the South Sea Immortal Palace was masterless for a time, until the Formless Immortal Sect rose in the Southern Marches. We can only start by investigating the Formless Immortal Sect..." The old monk was intimately familiar with these details, recounting all the forces that had controlled the South Sea Immortal Palace throughout history.

The woman sneered, "Wasn't the Formless Immortal Sect carved up by you all?"

The old monk seemed not to notice the woman's sarcasm. He said, "The calamity of the Formless Immortal Sect originated from a demonic disturbance, which released a brutal ancient demon from the Immortal Palace. The ancient demon came from the Immortal Palace, and the Immortal Palace's ascension triggered the celestial anomaly. The Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound might be connected to that ancient demon! The Formless Immortal Sect's mountain gate vanished from the world back then, its whereabouts unknown, but there should be ancient texts preserved within it."

"An ancient demon capable of triggering a celestial anomaly is not something a mere Formless Immortal Sect could suppress!" The woman didn't think much of the old monk's plan. Remembering the white-robed scholar who had been left hanging, she asked, "In the past three hundred years, has any Immortal Palace descended upon the South Sea?"

"Immortal Palace?" The white-robed scholar looked bewildered, unable to recall any major event, yet desperate to impress the goddess. He was visibly agitated.

The woman's smile vanished, her expression turning ruthless. She struck the treasure ship with an open palm. With a rumble, the water bubble burst. A spectral palm print rapidly expanded in everyone's vision. Facing imminent death, the cultivators finally awoke from their stupor, their faces filled with terror. Screams rang out from the ship.

Suddenly, a golden light enveloped the treasure ship, deflecting the palm print and lowering the ship back onto the sea. Faint, ethereal Zen sounds resonated in their ears, making everyone drowsy and weak-limbed, collapsing to the ground and forgetting their recent ordeal. The woman glanced at the old monk, her expression unchanged, not dwelling on such a trivial matter.

The old monk flicked his sleeve, sending out several streaks of treasure light. "Though three hundred years have passed, they were not wasted. These treasures will be of great use in the future. How do you intend to deal with them, fellow Daoist?"

The woman unceremoniously took two, her gaze falling upon two other clusters of treasure light. Among them were a square cauldron and a strange, multicolored pill. "Human artifacts, keep them yourself! However, before using them, you must have this King's permission!"

The old monk acknowledged with a "Good," and tucked them into his sleeve. At this moment, a waxy yellow color suddenly flushed his face, adding a touch of sickliness. His aura fluctuated violently. He clasped his hands together and silently chanted a scripture before calming down.

Once the old monk recovered, the woman asked, puzzled, "The Heavenly Dao's Demonic Sound constantly assails our ears, continuously affecting us. Aren't you afraid of further injuring your Dao foundation and making things worse by risking injury now? According to our original plan, we could have escaped unharmed within five years. We've been trapped in the Hall of No Return for three hundred years; why rush out so forcefully now?"

The old monk looked north, towards Jinyu Prefecture, and said, "The Ullambana Festival is happening soon."

"The Ullambana Festival?" The woman had to think for a moment before remembering this quinquennial human religious ceremony. She said thoughtfully, "You think the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect will appear at this time? Heh, with Soul Transformation cultivators disappearing, if we don't show ourselves, the world will descend into chaos. For them, it truly is a golden opportunity, which could conveniently help us locate the Formless Immortal Sect's mountain gate. You're quite cunning..."

"That's one reason." The old monk looked back once more, seeing the storm abate as the Hall of No Return was completely erased from the world, leaving no trace. He set off, flying towards Jinyu Prefecture. "Going east to the Ruins, life or death is uncertain. Before I depart, I must eliminate all the hidden malevolence."

Hearing this, the woman looked at the old monk incredulously. "Old monk, you can barely protect yourself, yet you're still thinking about that dilapidated monastery? If ascension fails, one's Dao will dissipate and die. The path of cultivation in this realm has been blocked by the demonic sound; it's probably impossible to even reach the Soul Transformation stage. What meaning does a sect's inheritance have, even if it lasts for tens of thousands of years?"

"Amitābha! Inheritance itself is meaning."

The old monk ascended northward, his steps resolute.

"The sect forged me; I shall forge the sect!"