Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 652 - 646 Taking Advantage of a Crisis, Phoenix Radiance Gigantic Beast Formation?_1

Chapter 652: Chapter 646 Taking Advantage of a Crisis, Phoenix Radiance Gigantic Beast Formation?_1

In the annals of the Lingbao Sect, an Elder surnamed Ling, a Mahayana Realm cultivator, ventured into the Void on a mission to renew a Bizarre Demon’s seal and mysteriously disappeared. The Void is so vast that finding a lost person is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Having not returned for ten thousand years, with no further trace of him, it was certain he had encountered unforeseen danger within the Void. This served as a warning to later generations: even Mahayana Realm Cultivators found it difficult to return safely from the Void.

This matter was not considered a secret and constantly circulated among the Great Sects. Furthermore, subsequent explorations of the Void by top-tier Sects ended with them never returning, and their influence steadily declined. Exploring the Void gradually became taboo. The Great Sects contented themselves with securing their own small territories, no longer venturing deep into the Void.

After a hundred thousand years, a lost branch had returned?!

The likelihood of deception on their part was slim; few in the Lingbao Sect knew of this matter. There was a limited number of Mahayana Stage Cultivators in the Mysterious Realm. They were all familiar faces, their Cultivation Techniques, Cultivation Levels, and Qi signatures perfectly clear. The newcomer was completely unfamiliar, though his Cultivation Technique seemed somewhat familiar—indeed, it was undoubtedly an inheritance of the Lingbao Sect.

"What brings you two Daoist friends to the Lingbao Sect?" Tian Lingzi’s gaze swept over Ling Bozhong and Tulushan, his attention settling first on Tulushan. Tulushan had visited the Lingbao Sect’s territory numerous times and had long been noticed by Tian Lingzi, though his intentions remained unclear. With the Bizarre Person being the great enemy at hand, Tian Lingzi could not afford to concern himself with Tulushan at that time. Tulushan then vanished without a trace. Ten years later, he reappeared, bringing with him Cultivators from another branch of the Lingbao Sect.

Although they belonged to the same lineage as the Lingbao Sect, Tian Lingzi would absolutely not believe that they intended to help the Lingbao Sect and share its fate. He feared the two had other motives in mind.

No sooner had Ling Bozhong and Tulushan arrived than a powerful Bizarre Qi launched its assault. A formidable Power of Curse assailed them, a thick stench of decay spreading. White spots appeared on the two men, transforming at a frightening pace into Bizarre Maggots. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Control!"

A white light emerged from Ling Bozhong’s body, emanating from an object resembling a Jade Seal. It had naturally formed patterns and was clearly no ordinary item. This was indeed a Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure, a supreme treasure born of innate forces. The white light emitted from the Jade Seal enveloped Tulushan as well, completely warding off the full might of the Curse Bizarre, preventing it from advancing even an inch.

Ling Bozhong held the Jade Seal in his palm, unreservedly displaying his strength.

"Aren’t you going to invite me inside, Daoist friend?" Ling Bozhong asked. Seeing that the Breath of Stars Barrier showed no sign of opening to welcome them, he continued, not wanting to waste time, "Then I’ll be direct."

"I share the same lineage as the Lingbao Sect and do not wish to see this ancient Sect perish here. I and my many allies have come from the Wushan Realm. Among us are over a dozen Mahayana Stage Cultivators, all of whom possess the means to deal with the Bizarre Demons. We can definitely help the Lingbao Sect survive this crisis."

Their confidence in facing so many Bizarre Demons attested to their extraordinary strength. Moreover, possessing a Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure was the best proof of that strength.

"And the conditions?" Tian Lingzi asked.

Everything under the heavens is done for gain; all hustle and bustle is for profit. To claim they came only to aid the Lingbao Sect, he would never believe it. Now, it remained to be seen if their demands were excessive. These visitors from an Otherworld were powerful. Could their strength be borrowed to Seal the Strange Beasts and restore peace to the Mysterious Realm?

"The Wushan Alliance takes great interest in the Young Phoenix," Ling Bozhong stated. "Should the Lingbao Sect agree to part with it, the Wushan Alliance will not only help resist the Bizarre Demons but will also provide protection."

The intelligence we’ve gathered suggests Jia Ren might possess other Divine Beasts, though this is unconfirmed. Since the Divine Bird Phoenix is valued far more than ordinary Divine Beasts, obtaining it is naturally our priority. If the Lingbao Sect relied on the Wushan Alliance for its continued existence, once they joined the Alliance, they would be like meat in a bowl, to be dealt with slowly at our leisure. Acting too hastily would only backfire, and we would end up empty-handed.

"The Lingbao Sect does not accept this condition! The two Daoist friends are kindly asked to leave," Tian Lingzi responded without hesitation, rejecting the offer outright.

No hint of emotion could be discerned on Ling Bozhong’s face as he indifferently said, "To my knowledge, the Divine Bird Phoenix belongs to Grand Elder Jia Ren. We would like to hear his answer."

"There’s no room for negotiation on this matter!" Tian Lingzi offered no further response and turned to direct the battle.

Not to mention, the Phoenix was the Lingbao Sect’s future and its strongest weapon against the Bizarre Demons. Losing it would render them powerless against those threats. Jia Ren had saved the Lingbao Sect from danger many times; he couldn’t let Jia Ren be disheartened. Did they really think joining the Wushan Alliance would ensure safety? Joining such a powerful faction rashly... they all belong to the same realm and are a monolithic bloc. A ’foreigner’ lacking sufficient strength would merely be relying on their charity, bound to be devoured sooner or later. Furthermore, for them to come demanding the Phoenix while Bizarre Demons were besieging the Sect was no different from looting during a fire. His favorable impression of the two and the Wushan Alliance had plummeted to rock bottom; he was unwilling to waste any more time dealing with them.

"This is an advantage I’ve secured for the Lingbao Sect out of respect for our shared lineage. Daoist friend, do not fail to appreciate it." Ling Bozhong’s voice carried from outside the Breath of Stars Barrier. His composure, honed by years of cultivation, was visibly strained, and his expression turned grim. "Does the Lingbao Sect, lacking even a Mahayana Stage Cultivator and relying on but a single Formation and one Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure, honestly think it can hold back so many Bizarre Demons?"

"Inform the Alliance Master to be ready to come at any moment. Regardless, we must secure the Phoenix." Ling Bozhong’s voice was transmitted secretly into Tulushan’s ears.

The Bizarre Demons attacked with overwhelming force, their intent to annihilate the Lingbao Sect perfectly clear.

The two were no fools; they realized this was a chain reaction triggered by their entry into the Mysterious Realm. The Bizarre Demons must fear us joining forces, so they’re trying to eliminate this persistent problem first. The Lingbao Sect’s destruction itself is trivial; few would care. What matters most is securing the Young Phoenix. It absolutely must not fall into the hands of the Bizarre Demons. Now, we will bide our time, waiting for news and observing the conflict from the sidelines.

The Lingbao Sect had only two choices: accept our terms and offer up the Divine Bird Phoenix, or be annihilated by the Bizarre Demons, allowing the Wushan Alliance to snatch the Divine Bird Phoenix from the jaws of defeat. The first option would at least preserve the Sect’s surviving members. The second meant the Wushan Alliance would pick over the Lingbao Sect’s corpse to obtain what we desire. The Lingbao Sect was given its chance. If they fail to cherish it, they will have no one else to blame.

"The newcomers are hostile!"

"Truly an eventful autumn!"

Once the Lingbao Sect Elders and Peak Masters became aware of this matter, their expressions turned unsightly. With the savage Bizarre Demons at their gates and these treacherous jackals lurking in the shadows, the Lingbao Sect faced an unimaginable crisis. For a moment, everyone looked towards Tian Lingzi, wondering where Grand Elder Jia Ren and the Mixed Primordial Peak Master had gone.

Tian Lingzi did not reveal much, not wishing to create unnecessary complications. Let’s hope we can buy enough time. If we succeed, it will be the Bizarre Demons’ turn to fear the Lingbao Sect.

Everyone could only choose to trust Tian Lingzi and Jia Ren, striving to hold the Formation firm and wait for a miracle.

「Atop the Mixed Primordial Peak of the Lingbao Sect, Formations were densely arrayed, surrounded by profound silence.」

Inside the Formation Hall on Mixed Primordial Peak, dozens of Array Masters were busy at work; Jia Ren was notably among them. He was not in secluded cultivation but assisting the Lingbao Sect in preparing a strategy to break the deadlock. The Bizarre Demons continuously sabotaged and defiled the Secret Realms occupied by the Lingbao Sect. This was a signal that a full-scale Bizarre Demon offensive was imminent.

The Divine Bird Phoenix and the Vermilion Bird cannot mature quickly enough to play a decisive role in the immediate future. I’ve never liked being passive, perpetually on the knife-edge between life and death. This feeling, like having one’s nerves stretched taut as a bowstring, is far from pleasant. It’s crucial to find a permanent solution, one that will eliminate the Bizarre Demon threat for good. For instance, obtaining mature Phoenix Flame is essential to counter the Bizarre Demons. Divine Beasts grow slowly, through their juvenile and lengthy growth stages, before finally reaching adulthood. Even the Duosheng Demon Mosquito, which absorbed the origin of an adult Golden-Winged Peng Bird, couldn’t possibly reach maturity in mere decades, or even centuries. External aid is the only option! And then I thought of... the Azure Dragon Spiritual Treasure Colossus Formation! The Lingbao Sect once used the skeleton of an Azure Dragon, combined with Formations and numerous Spiritual Treasures, to construct a colossus with combat strength comparable to the Mahayana Realm. So, could we replicate this method, enhance the power of the Phoenix Flame, and create a Phoenix Radiance Gigantic Beast Formation? A Phoenix with power comparable to the Mahayana Realm, unleashing a perfected Phoenix Flame—its destructive force against the Bizarre Demons would be beyond imagination. This is the solution I’ve come up with. It could genuinely resolve the crisis facing the Lingbao Sect.

Long before the Bizarre Persons attacked, Jia Ren had discussed feasible Formations with the Mixed Primordial Peak Master and a group of Array Masters. To prevent the Bizarre Persons from getting wind of their plans and launching a preemptive full-scale attack, the matter had to be kept strictly confidential. He had left an avatar in his Cave, simulating his aura, which was why Sound Transmission Talismans had been congregating there. The information was kept extremely secret and had not been leaked. However, the arrival of visitors from an Otherworld became an unforeseen variable, prompting the Bizarre Demons to advance their assault on the Lingbao Sect.

Everyone was still engrossed in recording designs and refining Formation Plates and Flags, working at a feverish pace. They had thought of several corresponding Formations.

The first was to stimulate the Phoenix’s potential, prematurely unlock its power, and briefly use the fully-realized Phoenix Flame. This Formation was the simplest to arrange, wouldn’t require much time, and existing Formations could be adapted for it. However, the downside was damage to the Phoenix Origin, depleting its potential. This method could only be sustained for a short period and couldn’t be used multiple times; it was hardly a sound strategy.

The second was to use secret elixirs to exhaust the Phoenix’s potential, forcibly boost its growth, and ultimately refine it into the Phoenix Radiance Gigantic Beast Formation. A Phoenix in its growth phase, combined with numerous Formations, would undoubtedly meet the requirements. But to destroy a Divine Bird Phoenix this way, exchanging it for a lifeless Formation construct with no growth potential, was not a worthwhile trade.

The third option was a Formation that used a large number of Spiritual Treasures to amplify the Phoenix—fire-attribute and evil-warding Spiritual Treasures being the most compatible—thereby enhancing the Divine Bird Phoenix’s power. The power of the Formation was limited by the Phoenix, and Feng Wu’s strength was ultimately too weak to guarantee the Formation’s efficacy. However, this was the Formation with the fewest drawbacks.

The Mixed Primordial Peak Master and the Array Masters were currently busy working on and improving a Formation similar to this third option. Regrettably, with limited time, the power of the Formation fell short of expectations.

"I’ve just received a secret transmission from the Sect Master," the Mixed Primordial Peak Master said, a note of concern in his voice. "The defensive Formation can last at most two more days. We don’t have much time left." He couldn’t help but shake his head; the remaining time was insufficient to completely overhaul their new Formation. "The version of the Formation we refined last time was merely passable; I’m afraid it won’t meet expectations."

"Then let’s proceed with setting up this Formation!" Jia Ren declared. "Today, we will completely resolve the Sect’s crisis with the Bizarre Demons! The stabilization of the Mysterious Realm’s troubles is also on the horizon!"

Jia Ren, as if struck by an insight, strode out of Mixed Primordial Peak.