Chapter 967: Man-Made Disaster, Great Waves Swallow Yunlun

A dazzling light flashed across the cloud sea between Solitary Sound Cliff, signifying Granny Tianling's final struggle as she was dragged down into the abyss by the ghostly hand. But her mournful shriek also revealed her utter helplessness within the sealed forbidden magic barrier.

"There's a ghost here!"

Everyone's blood ran cold. This was truly bizarre. A formidable Grand-Completion realm cultivator was instantly swallowed just for attempting to fly across the cloud sea between the cliffs. Even Granny Tianling, who halted her pursuit at the very last second, was dragged into the abyss by an unknown force simply for getting too close. If this wasn't "ghostly," what was it?

"Forbidden magic barrier... Someone is laying a trap here!"

Mu Lin was considerably shocked by Granny Tianling's inexplicable plunge from the cliff, as even he couldn't discern what power was hidden at the bottom. Mu Lin was well aware of forbidden magic barriers; he knew them better than anyone. This was because forbidden magic barriers existed within the Shengxuan Gate of the Saint Palace. However, precisely because he understood their inner workings, Mu Lin knew even more clearly that under a forbidden magic barrier, no spirit refiner could wield their abilities. Yet, the water-element power that churned the world, the blood-water hand that dragged Granny Tianling into the abyss—these were not true "ghosts," but elemental forces!

"Perhaps the forbidden magic barrier was set up by 'him,' so only 'he' could remain unaffected within it," Bai Lian speculated, both startled and suspicious. He paused, then muttered to himself, as if refuting his own thought: "But who could set up a forbidden magic barrier? I don't even know how; in this world, perhaps only Dao Qiong..."

"Regardless, let's leave this place first!" Xu Xiaoshou interrupted bluntly. He couldn't care less about whether it was a ghost or not. He felt that Solitary Sound Cliff might be a grand vortex in itself, and his arrival had inexplicably linked it to many outsiders, drawing everyone here. Now, this vortex was beginning to churn. And it had barely stirred before two Grand-Completion cultivators vanished. Who could possibly endure this? No matter how powerful a spirit refiner, once they entered the forbidden magic barrier, they would become as helpless as an infant!

"There's no escape," Mu Lin said with a sigh, shaking his head and looking directly into the distance. "Didn't you notice that the fastest runner here has already come to a halt?"

Following his gaze, Xu Xiaoshou looked over and saw Ye Xiaotian, standing still in the distant void. Similarly, behind him, Teng Shan Hai appeared to be fighting against some strange force, struggling to move forward despite his desire to pursue. He swept his gaze in all directions. Whether it was the scruffy uncle, Rao Yaoyao, or the other Grand-Completion cultivators and Path-Severing trial officials in pursuit, every single one was behaving this way. Everyone's state was akin to sleep paralysis while fully awake: their desire to move was obvious, yet the inability to do so was an unyielding reality.

"What are they doing?" Bai Lian froze.

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, then attempted to take a step away from Solitary Sound Cliff. The moment the thought struck him, his foot barely lifted... his blood, his bodily fluids, the weight of his damp clothes, and every droplet of water clung to him, hindering his every action. He had indeed lifted his foot, yet he could only lift it, unable to set it back down. Because if his foot were to land, Xu Xiaoshou could sense that his blood and bodily fluids would be drawn out of his veins and muscles, remaining in place due to a force pulling in the opposite direction. In that event, the self that took a step forward would be nothing more than a desiccated corpse, utterly devoid of moisture. Meanwhile, the blood, fluids, and other vital bodily components essential for life would be forcibly extracted, leading to immediate death.

"What a terrifying ability!" Xu Xiaoshou was terrified. What kind of monstrous ability was this? He had once encountered Yu Lingdi's water-element ultimate ability in the Eight Palaces, an experience that left him with a profound psychological scar. But back then, Elder Sang could still articulate several ways to counter it, showing him that water-element ultimates weren't truly unsolvable or invincible. Yu Lingdi himself had been utterly refined to death by Elder Sang then, and his subsequent resurrection was achieved through unknown means. But the current situation was different. This terrifying, absolute control over water-element power completely defied everyone's preconceived notions of what water-element power should be. It immobilized not only him but also Mu Lin, Rao Yaoyao, the scruffy uncle, and the rest!

"Grand-Ancestor, do you have a solution?" Recalling that Mu Lin was Elder Sang's junior brother, Xu Xiaoshou immediately asked. Perhaps, in this predicament, Mu Lin could step forward and declare that he, like Elder Sang, could turn the tide.

However, the only thing Mu Lin could do was glance at his "disciple-grandson," give a slight shake of his head, and respond evasively: "He is not Yu Lingdi; Yu Lingdi couldn't control me either."

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, his attention diverted. Not Yu Lingdi... Who else could it be?

Bai Lian was attempting to save himself, but despite shattering many protective spiritual artifacts, he remained immobile. He said with a hint of despair, "This irresistible power reminds me of someone."

"Who!" Xu Xiaoshou suppressed the urge to turn his head, knowing such a movement could lead to his immediate demise. A water-element power capable of controlling all Grand-Completion cultivators present, including Mu Lin and Rao Yaoyao—such a person had to be exceptionally rare and globally renowned! As Xu Xiaoshou pondered, an alternative answer occurred to him just as he spoke, but he utterly disbelieved it.

Mu Lin, also sensing their thoughts, said in a deep voice to Bai Lian, "The person you speak of died under the Eighth Sword Immortal's blade decades ago."

"But with such perfect control over water-element power, who else could achieve it besides him?" Bai Lian's face was ashen from his failed attempt to resist the strange force within him, his expression one of utter terror.

Mu Lin fell silent, unable to respond.

Xu Xiaoshou had no time to listen to the master and disciple's back-and-forth at such a critical juncture. He actually possessed a final trump card: to use "Disappearing Art" to instantly erase his presence from this place. Presumably, at that moment, this water-element power wouldn't be able to control someone who no longer existed. But Xu Xiaoshou didn't do so. Firstly, it would reveal his identity. Secondly, he saw that Bai Lian hadn't given up hope of breaking free, steadily accumulating experience for similar predicaments through repeated attempts. And as for Mu Lin... The eyebrow-less master hadn't resisted at all. Though surprised, he seemed completely unconcerned about his own safety?

"Grand-Ancestor, you're so composed, you must have a way to break this!" Xu Xiaoshou asked impatiently, thinking, "If you have a solution, use it! Any longer, and everyone will be finished."

Mu Lin, with some difficulty, turned his gaze back, implying, "Such a strange power hidden within the Cloud Mountain Range will undoubtedly affect the safety of the trial participants. I want to discover who the true mastermind is and what they are plotting!"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. What kind of magnanimity was this? Trapped in this predicament, and you still care for the common folk? For a moment, he felt a pang of shame at his own narrow-mindedness, but then he caught a glimpse of Bai Lian's equally shocked expression and suddenly understood something... "Mu Lin, you're definitely not usually like this, are you! Is it because you've realized I'm Xu Xiaoshou, and you want to leave a good first impression on your grand-nephew, portraying yourself as someone who genuinely cares for the populace?"

"'Grand-Ancestor, never mind others; you're like a clay Buddha crossing a river now, unable to protect even yourself!'" Xu Xiaoshou muttered softly.

Bai Lian was startled by Hua Ying's sudden disrespect. He wanted to reprimand her, but then he glanced at his master's expression... He wasn't angry at all? Something was amiss! Bai Lian still recalled his master's earlier words: "Cooperate with your disciple; she is very clever now." He suspected his disciple might have bypassed him and established some special connection with their master, Mu Lin, so he held back his reprimand and remained silent.

Mu Lin was clearly taken aback by Xu Xiaoshou's remark, his eyelids twitching slightly. He remained silent for a long time. After a moment, seeing the young man's persistent, questioning gaze, Mu Lin realized he couldn't equivocate any longer. He glanced away and replied: "'Saving face is actually the least important thing. If you can't win, you have to learn to call for help. As an envoy of the Saint Palace, I am concerned for the safety of the trial participants and wish to uncover the identity of the instigator. As for the rest of you... hm, in a critical moment, I... no, *you* can, call upon the Saint's name.'"

Xu Xiaoshou froze at his words. His face quickly darkened. That's it??

Drip, drip, drip... Time was ticking by. Water droplets dripped from the drenched, open-backed gown, splashing onto the rocky ground. Rao Yaoyao could already feel the humidity in the air; her dress clung completely to her skin, becoming faintly translucent. Even her hand gripping the Profound Azure Divine Sword was now slick with droplets, whether sweat or condensation from the humid air, tracing paths down to the sword's tip before dripping onto the ground.

"Water..." Rao Yaoyao struggled to resist the strange force within her body, and her first thought was also of Yu Lingdi. But Yu Lingdi wouldn't attack her own people, and after venturing deep into the Sky City, she hadn't yet returned, so it was unclear if she had encountered other troubles. Yet, setting Yu Lingdi aside, how could such an overwhelming water-element power exist in this world?

"Great Devil King Yu Mo?"

"Impossible, he's dead!"

"But besides Yu Lingdi and Yu Mo, and this Ye Xiaotian from the Saint Palace, could there truly be reclusive spirit refiners who have mastered ultimate abilities and stand in opposition to the Holy Divine Temple?"

Rao Yaoyao felt the situation was becoming precarious. She had already watched numerous trial officials on Solitary Sound Cliff, unable to resist the strange force within them, wail in protest even as they involuntarily stepped towards the cloud sea between the cliffs and then plunged down. In a short span of time, Path-Severing and Grand-Completion cultivators hadn't sustained significant losses. However, all the Throne Dao Realm trial officials, except for Situ Yongren who was still shattering protective spiritual artifacts, chose to leap from the cliff amidst screams of agony. This scene was too bizarre and terrifying, making Rao Yaoyao realize that if they continued to resist in this manner, while she might remain unscathed, the Holy Divine Temple's forces would certainly suffer severe depletion.

"Profound Azure!" Rao Yaoyao looked at the Profound Azure Divine Sword in her hand. "Lend me your power!"

The usually arrogant Profound Azure Divine Sword seemed to sense the peril of the situation. It didn't refuse. Through palm contact, it transferred a surge of boundless fortune power into Rao Yaoyao's body, instantly dissolving the strange force within her.

"Buzz!" The sword hummed. The instant the strange force within her was temporarily dispelled, Rao Yaoyao's eyes flashed with brilliance, and she regained her mobility. She rose, her gown dried by the furious wind, yet she paid no mind to the immobilized trespassers. Her Qi Sea spiritual energy surged, and suddenly, the surrounding world echoed with the sound of wind.

"Wind..." Rao Yaoyao closed her eyes, immersing herself in her own world. From the vast, boundless expanse of water elements, she located her own wind element.

"Whoosh—" At this moment, the demonic winds of Solitary Sound Cliff were guided, sweeping violently towards those at the cliff's edge, attempting to scour away all the dampness and humidity.

"The wind gathers momentum, raging without cease!" Rao Yaoyao swept her sword diagonally upwards. With a booming sound, the dampness and moisture on the mountain ground by the cliff were replaced by fierce winds. The biting howl completely swept away the strange force that had entrapped everyone.

"I... I can move?" All the law enforcement officers and trespassers instinctively clenched their fists, receiving the signal that their bodies were finally mobile. Just as they began to move, but the very next second, that strange force assailed them once more. Everyone moved for only a breath before they were all brought to a halt, as if a pause button had been pressed.

"Gurgle... gurgle..." The demonic winds of Solitary Sound Cliff vanished, replaced by the gentle gurgle of water. The water's sound was soft and light, yet amidst the raging storm, it stood out with startling abruptness.

"Useless?" Rao Yaoyao froze for a half-breath. Her wind-element power could only grant everyone a momentary burst of mobility, which was then immediately stolen back by her opponent. This meant that, in terms of pure spirit refining mastery, the opponent's control over the water element far surpassed her own mastery of the wind element.

"Ultimate power! This is absolutely ultimate power!" Speculation was never as precise as practical experience. With just this single sword probe, Rao Yaoyao pinpointed the hidden "ghost"—who, like Yu Lingdi, had mastered the ultimate power of the water element!

"Gurgle... gurgle..." The sound of water grew increasingly clear. This time, Rao Yaoyao clearly heard where the sound originated—from the bottom of Solitary Sound Cliff!

"Rumble!" In just a moment, the gentle water sound suddenly became violent. It was as if a gentle breeze had instantaneously transformed into a tornado, its thundering roar deafening. Everyone's heart pounded wildly in their chests with the thundering water sound, as they stared intently at the empty cloud sea between Solitary Sound Cliff, as if something was about to leap out from within!

Shortly after, a "whoosh" sound erupted. A single wave broke through the cloud sea, crashing onto the cliff's edge from Solitary Sound Cliff, entering everyone's view.

"A wave...?" This was a genuine wave. Not merely the sound of water. Nor a simulated anomaly. It was truly real, having broken through the limits of distance from the abyss and reached the surface!

Rao Yaoyao froze. The law enforcement officers froze as well. Everyone was dumbfounded. Ye Xiaotian strained to turn his head, his face contorted in horror. He vividly recalled a prior test when he arrived at Solitary Sound Cliff: he had thrown a small stone down the cliff. Using the 'stone-in-the-well' method, Ye Xiaotian hadn't reached the bottom, but he had learned that beneath Solitary Sound Cliff lay an endless abyss. And now, above that endless abyss, waves suddenly surged. Where did this wave come from? It couldn't possibly have originated from the very bottom of the cliff, transcending the limits of distance to rush into the sky, could it!

"Boom, boom, boom..." As everyone stared in stunned silence, following that single wave in the cloud sea between Solitary Sound Cliff, a towering, monstrous wave surged upward amidst a thunderous roar of water. It completely defied the natural law of 'finite spiritual energy' in the spirit refining world. Under the manipulation of an unknown force, it seemed to draw an unending supply of spiritual essence, rolling upward layer by layer. Even as it ascended from the deep abyss, spanning the entire height of Solitary Sound Cliff, this colossal wave showed no signs of weakening.

Under the gaze of supreme powerhouses like Rao Yaoyao, Mu Lin, Teng Shan Hai, and the scruffy uncle, this tsunami-like colossal wave swiftly tore through the clouds between the cliffs and then pierced the sky above the Cloud Mountain Range. Rising tens of thousands of feet above everyone, it hovered in the heavens, poised to crash down upon the entire Cloud Mountain Range, which stretched for tens of thousands of miles.

"Damn it all!" Xu Xiaoshou lifted his gaze in horror, silently staring at the monstrous wave that nearly blotted out the entire sky, his heart filled with nothing but a desperate frenzy. He had experienced Grand-Completion cultivators firsthand, and had even teamed up to kill an anomaly. But even the layers of Heavenly Dao principles demonstrated by Old Ancestor Wuji, which could encircle and confine an entire space, paled in comparison to the sheer grandeur and despair-inducing power of the tsunami now before them. In the face of such a force of nature, even a nine-foot giant was but an ant in the vast expanse, utterly powerless to change their fate. How could a spirit refiner possibly conjure such a monstrous wave? This was a natural disaster!