Chapter 1623: Advance Notice

Soaring Dragon Cliff.

The altar and the Five Phases Tokens shone brilliantly."Bang! Bang! Bang!"The Five Phases Tokens were unstable, giving the illusion that they could be shaken off at any moment. The altar, too, continuously swayed; while its movements seemed slight, they were imbued with astonishing force.

The five individuals rotated with the altar, their palms pressed firmly against its edge, enduring the immense tremors emanating from it without daring to move an inch. Despite possessing top-tier cultivation in the current age, they began to buckle under the continuous rebound from the altar, risking their hands slipping off or even suffering internal injuries.

This was when the differences in their inheritances became apparent.Su Zinan and the Sword-Bearer were not disciples of the Formless Immortal Sect.A blood talisman flew out of Su Zinan's mustard seed pouch on its own, exploding with a "bang" to reveal a blood-red phantom. The phantom's features were twisted, and it emitted a painful shriek that disturbed the minds of those who heard it, clearly an evil artifact."Whoosh!"The blood phantom turned and lunged at Su Zinan.Su Zinan neither dodged nor evaded, merging with the phantom. A wave of crimson color washed over his face, then immediately subsided, his aura surged significantly, and the tremor in his arms greatly diminished as he pressed firmly onto the altar.

The Sword-Bearer bowed his head slightly, silently activating a blade art. The heavy sword on his back trembled, its hum like a dragon's roar, and suddenly unsheathed itself."Buzz!"The long sword hovered in the air.A boundless blade energy soared to the heavens!The sword blade itself was invisible, only a dazzling saber glow, like a crescent moon, flashed and struck between the Sword-Bearer's two hands. The sword tip silently pressed against the altar, sharing the rebound force with its master.

The other three, to varying degrees, had connections to the Formless Immortal Sect.The White-Robed Figure's ritual robe billowed. The robe, originally not pure white, now revealed intricate patterns, as if a small world of heavy snow existed within it. Visible pale, cold winds surged forth, gathering more and more around the White-Robed Figure. The icy aura accumulated behind the White-Robed Figure, gradually manifesting into an ice mirror. The ice mirror hovered behind the White-Robed Figure's head, its surface pointed at the altar, flickering with cold light.

The Strange-Faced Figure subtly twitched his shoulders. From his shoulders downwards, his arms began to petrify, transforming into two segments of withered wood, his fingers dry as tree branches, gripping the altar so tightly that they would never let go.

Zhu Wudao was the mastermind, but Su Zinan had not yet seen him make a move. From the corner of his eye, through the glow of the Five Phases Tokens, Su Zinan covertly observed Zhu Wudao. Unexpectedly, Zhu Wudao simply turned his eyes into a light gold, and a gaze as tangible as substance shot towards the altar, with no other actions. He appeared to stabilize the situation without displaying any discernible demonic art, seemingly the most at ease among the five.

The five worked together to stabilize the altar, then simultaneously looked upwards.The Five Phases Tokens emitted five-colored light beams. In the center of these beams, the white light grew much larger than before, forming a head-sized orb of light, and the strange fluctuations became increasingly violent. These fluctuations were the source of the tremors. Inside the orb, light waves churned; each surge brought a powerful tremor. This tremor not only affected the altar but also impacted the entire space, shaking the earth, causing the peaks of Taiyue Sect to tremble and rocks to roll down.

On the main peak, both sides ceased fighting, drawn by the six towering light beams.Gold, green, blue, red, and yellow!The five light beams were almost identical in size, encircling the white light beam. Initially, the white beam was smaller, but as the tremors intensified, the white light became increasingly dazzling, subtly showing a tendency to surpass the others. Under the influence of the tremors, the main peak swayed the most, and even low-level disciples had to activate their cultivation techniques just to stand firm, all utterly astonished.

"It's there!""What is that?"Someone pointed at the orb and shouted.Hua Chenzi reprimanded, "Why aren't you meditating quickly?"The disciples were awestruck, then remembered their predicament; escaping danger was paramount. The invaders' incessant attacks had left them all exhausted, so they quickly put aside distracting thoughts to gather their strength.

The light beams soared into the sky, penetrating the black firmament. Within the firmament, black clouds converged towards them, locking down the light beams. Otherwise, the phenomenon would be visible a thousand miles away, and news of the Formless Immortal Sect's emergence would spread with astonishing speed, reaching various factions prematurely.

Hours later, the five-colored light beams stabilized, but only the white light beam continued to expand. The orb gradually swelled, seemingly containing a deep passage within. Inside the passage, chaos reigned; multicolored light rays twisted into a tangled mass, filled with chaotic power.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"The origin of these light rays was unknown, but they crashed into each other, exploding ceaselessly. The power of spirit formations and restrictions reached an extreme frenzy, even intermingling with spatial turbulence. Su Zinan and the others were extremely close to the orb, and seeing the scene inside, their expressions hardened. If they were to be swept in at this moment, even they couldn't guarantee emerging unscathed.

"We have to enter the Formless Immortal Sect from here?" Su Zinan's brow furrowed, feeling the immense danger."Back then, the great turmoil came suddenly, and our sect's ancestors were caught unprepared. They forcibly sealed the Formless Immortal Sect, leading to spatial fluctuations and chaos. We have no other choice but to force our way in. But don't worry, everyone, once the passage stabilizes and the immortal abode emerges, there will be room to maneuver." Zhu Wudao said, looking up at the sky and subtly nodding, confirming that the phenomenon was indeed locked down by the Sky Shrouding Profound Formation.

Although the phenomenon was not outwardly visible, the fluctuations caused by the Formless Immortal Sect's emergence grew increasingly violent. The Sky Shrouding Profound Formation gradually failed to contain them, and the tremors spread beyond the Taiyue Sect.Some time after the passage opened, on a distant mountain, Qin Sang sensed the fluctuations and awoke from his meditation."Finally!"He waved his sleeve, collecting the Sun God Tree, then rushed out of his cave dwelling, concealing his tracks, and stopped a certain distance outside the Taiyue Sect.

From his vantage point, everything appeared normal at the Taiyue Sect. However, Qin Sang was certain this was an illusion; a drastic change was occurring within the Taiyue Sect!"To seal off a top sect, what a grand scheme!" Qin Sang murmured to himself, concerned that the great formation might have anti-scouting measures. He didn't let his Heavenly Eye Butterfly spy, choosing instead to quietly observe. Hidden in the shadows, he searched other areas but found no trace of True Immortal Zilei, unsure if Ghost Mother's judgment was correct, but caution was always prudent.

Two days later, the orb of light vanished. During these two days, the orb had slowly risen, and the power from inside the passage manifested outwardly, revealing a spatial vortex above the Taiyue Sect. The vortex's scope could already cover almost half of the Taiyue Sect, its terrifying power capable of destroying anything at any moment, bringing a heart-palpitating, dreadful pressure.

Just then, a thunderous crash, shaking heaven and earth!Everyone looked up at the sky in alarm. The passage had contacted the black firmament, and the edge of the turbulence finally collided with the Sky Shrouding Profound Formation.In an instant, turbulence obscured the sky, and the black firmament tore apart. All sorts of forces collided, forming a storm that swept across the entire Taiyue Sect. Vegetation was uprooted, halls collapsed, the earth swayed, and the Taiyue Sect's main peak seemed on the verge of toppling, leaving utter devastation.Finally, the black firmament shattered completely!At this moment, Zhu Wudao could no longer prevent the phenomenon. Strange light shot straight into the heavens, spatial fluctuations suddenly dispersed, and the celestial phenomena underwent a drastic change.

However, all of this was within Zhu Wudao's expectations. Everything was unfolding according to his plan. The top experts from various Central Plains sects were gathered in Jinyu State; even if they received the news and rushed over, it would be too late to stop them.

The vortex's expansion accelerated. Through the vortex and the passage, one could occasionally glimpse mirage-like scenes: a section of a mountain range, a pavilion, or a patch of forest. These were clearly projections from within the Formless Immortal Sect, indicating that the sect had not been destroyed but remained perfectly preserved!

Just then, an unexpected change occurred. The altar suddenly began to sway violently; the cultivators found themselves losing their grip, especially as the two imitation Five Phases Tokens clattered, on the verge of collapse. A mishap at this point could very well lead to all their efforts being in vain."No good!" Zhu Wudao's expression suddenly changed drastically, and he let out a long howl.With the phenomenon now revealed, there was no longer a need to seal off the Taiyue Sect. Upon hearing the howl, Mo Xingdao and the others immediately withdrew their troops, rushing over to form a circle around the altar, each displaying their unique divine abilities.

On the northern foothills of the Taiyue Sect, Yue Lingtian returned, escaping into the valley to rendezvous with True Immortal Zilei. Everyone hidden there looked up at the sky. True Immortal Zilei, meanwhile, was searching for traces of Zhu Wudao and his group.

West of the mountain gate, Qin Sang stood under a tree, waiting patiently for a long time. He gazed intently at the celestial phenomenon, and with a flash between his brows, he summoned his external avatar.

In a barren mountain southeast of the Taiyue Sect, not far from Mount Taiyue, a figure concealed within a strange mist drifted through the forest, moving erratically, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, as if searching for something.When the phenomenon appeared, the figure abruptly stopped, then snapped his head up, revealing a pale face—it was Old Devil Fan, the Grand Elder of Tianhao Tower. His face was pale and beardless, utterly devoid of color, and his aura was chilling. First astonished, he then seemed to recall something, a mix of shock and delight appearing on his face. "Old Ghost Zhu, I wondered why your Quyang Mountain lineage had been so secretive! So, you are remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect! Fortunately, this old man tracked you here, otherwise, wouldn't I have missed a monumental opportunity?" He let out a sinister chuckle, and with a flicker, he vanished.

Further away, in a market town, low-level cultivators, not daring to travel long distances to attend the grand Dharma Assembly, had playfully organized a small-scale Daoist discussion assembly there. Some even offered prizes, and the participants were all disciples from nearby minor sects.On the stage, two individuals were engaged in a magical duel, and the crowd watched intently.Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. Several people who went out didn't return. Startled cries continued, and the others, unable to contain their curiosity, rushed out of the venue; even the two combatants on stage couldn't resist. The streets were packed with people, all staring in astonishment towards the Taiyue Sect."That place... it looks like Mount Taiyue.""What's happening at the Taiyue Sect?""Impossible, who would be so foolish as to attack the Taiyue Sect? It looks like a rare treasure is emerging, let's go!"Just as this person moved, he was grabbed by a companion. "You dare to seize treasure from the Taiyue Sect? Are you out of your mind?""What's there to be afraid of?" The person retorted, pulling his companion along. "This celestial phenomenon is so conspicuous; surely, we're not the only ones who saw it. As the saying goes, 'the law doesn't punish the masses.' If the Taiyue Sect gets the meat, can't we at least have the soup? Let's go see the situation first!"His companion's heart was swayed by these words.Soon after, figures flew out from the market town, soaring on their artifacts towards Mount Taiyue. Similar scenes played out in various places near the Taiyue Sect.

In the southern part of Mount Taiyue, the Poison King and Master Huaiyin were searching for the Strange-Faced Figure in the wilderness. They were now accompanied by Elder Ming of Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain. While the Poison King and Master Huaiyin tracked the Strange-Faced Figure, Elder Ming was also leading experts from Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain to search for traces, ensuring nothing was overlooked.As they moved, the Poison King and Master Huaiyin suddenly stopped, seemingly sensing something. Their expressions changed, and they exchanged glances before their speed abruptly surged, their figures like streaks of lightning. Elder Ming, baffled and bewildered, quickly followed but could only see their backs.After a brief chase, Elder Ming finally caught up with the two who had landed on a mountaintop. He also saw the intensifying celestial phenomenon in the sky."What is that?" Elder Ming paused, "It seems to be in the direction of the Taiyue Sect."Master Huaiyin turned his gaze to the Poison King. Coming from the Western Lands, he knew little about the Central Plains and was unclear about what such a phenomenon signified.The Poison King remained silent, pondering for a moment."Southern Wastelands, immortal abode..." The Poison King suddenly understood. "The Formless Immortal Sect! No wonder this scoundrel lingered in Southern State. With Soul Transformation experts disappearing, it seems petty scoundrels are indeed stirring up trouble during the Dharma Assembly!""The Formless Immortal Sect?" Master Huaiyin asked, puzzled.The Poison King briefly explained the situation to him.Master Huaiyin nodded, and was about to move forward when the Poison King stopped him.After a moment of thought, the Poison King turned and said, "They dare to act now, and they chose Mount Taiyue to make their move. Their influence is likely considerable. If all of them have cultivation levels like this scoundrel, it might be difficult for us alone to control the situation. The Daoist and Buddhist sects know the Formless Immortal Sect best. Elder Ming, quickly return to the sect and send a message to Ganlu Zen Temple. Have them contact Master Xingji immediately to clarify the situation!""Understood!"Elder Ming acknowledged the order and departed.The Poison King and Master Huaiyin then entered Mount Taiyue.

Somewhere at the border between Barbarian State and Southern State, the environment was completely different from the Southern Wastelands; there were no poisonous miasmas for a hundred miles around. The mountains were beautiful, with morning mist flowing through the forests and birds chirping in the secluded mountains, even more serene than the Central Plains.Deep within the mountains lay an ancient temple named Moon-Veiling Nunnery. Scattered throughout the forested mountains, only a few temples deeply understood the essence of tranquility, blending seamlessly with nature. Moon-Veiling Nunnery was only slightly larger than the Eightfold View Temple.Leaves fell into the nunnery. Several bhikkhunis swept away the fallen leaves with their brooms, everything appearing just like a mortal temple. In their hands, the brooms felt weightless, and each stroke was natural and imbued with a sense of serenity—clearly, this was also a form of cultivation.

Inside a meditation room, an old bhikkhuni was meditating, counting beads in her hand, with sandalwood incense smoke gently rising before her. Suddenly, a young nun rushed in, flustered."What's all this fuss about?" the old nun asked softly.The old nun's voice seemed to possess a calming power, as the young nun's agitation subsided considerably. She bowed and reported, "Reporting, Master, a pagoda in the pagoda forest suddenly began to glow."The old nun's fingers paused. She rose and stepped out of the meditation room, heading to the pagoda forest."Master, it's right there," the young nun said, pointing to a pagoda in the very center of the pagoda forest, which was indeed emitting light. This pagoda's design was distinctly different from the others.Seeing this, a ripple finally appeared on the old nun's face. She instantly appeared directly in front of the pagoda. The old nun raised her hand to lightly touch the pagoda, and the astonishment in her eyes deepened. She murmured, "Formless Immortal Sect...""Master, why is this happening? What is the Formless Immortal Sect?" the young nun carefully inquired. She had guarded the pagoda forest for many years and had never witnessed such a strange occurrence.Buddhist light shone in the old nun's palm, merging with the pagoda's glow. Then, her hand reached into the pagoda, seemingly grasping something. After sensing for a moment, the old nun did not answer, but instead instructed, "Go and call your martial uncles and aunts out of seclusion. Yes, include your Martial Aunt Liuli.""Yes!"