This old Taoist wore a white robe embroidered with water patterns, a blue silk ribbon around the waist, and cloud boots, exuding an aura of immortality.
This man was none other than the Peak Master of the eighth peak of the Sword Alliance’s Thirteen Peaks — the Verdant Water True Man.
The Flying Saber and Flying Sword exploded with terrifying energy, but it only burst into ripples of dark ghostly light on the surrounding array shield.
The ripples spread in circles, seemingly grand in momentum, yet all energy was restrained within the array shield.
Of course, besides Blood Shadow Arhat and the Verdant Water True Man, Qiu Baiwei was also present here. Among the remaining experts, scattered together, there were actually seven Divine Infant levels.
Everyone thought their relationship was that of mortal enemies, at least before entering the "Tingsong Cliff Soul Threshold," they indeed were.
However, as they delved deeper, Blood Shadow Arhat suddenly backstabbed the Formless Clan Leader who entered with them.
As for the reason...
It was very simple.
The intentions of the Formless Clan Leader could be seen through by anyone with a bit of cunning.
That was to indiscriminately massacre and indiscriminately gather the dead into his mysterious blood banner. Be it from the Sword Alliance, bandits, or even his kind, as long as they died... they were added to the banner.
For such a person, even bandits couldn’t leave him alive, hence the backstab was formed.
It’s just, upon entering the place, the Formless Clan Leader seemed to have eyes on his back, dodging at the moment of the backstab, then a scene occurred that astonished and terrified both the Sword Alliance and bandits alike.
The ground array of the Tumor Realm Snowfield suddenly rose, as if the Nether Hall descended, a black light pillar, surrounded by several people, shot skyward and blocked the heavens, rotating rapidly, transforming into a powerful sacrificial array.
And the Formless Clan Leader tore off his outer robe, his limbs transformed into claws, his body elongated, transforming into a mysterious and terrifying black and white dragon — the Yin Yang Profound Dragon.
The Yin Yang Profound Dragon bared its fangs and danced claws, directly entangling the Yin Mansion Sacrificial Array, one claw grasped the billowing black energy of the array shield, while another claw held a blood banner.
This blood banner was marked as Tang Xiaoxuan of the Formless Clan Leader.
Banners, there are tiers.
A powerful soul banner can automatically nurture the divine soul within, allowing its power to double and even triple, eventually elevating from a Purple Mansion Soul to a Divine Infant Soul.
But such a soul banner is extremely demanding on material.
Coincidentally, the blood banner pole in the Yin Yang Profound Dragon’s hand was made of an exceedingly special material, which was... Dragon Bone.
Dragon Bone Blood Banner!
Its holy dragon head turned malevolent in an instant, the dragon eyes wickedly glancing at the "food" within the array.
Originally, with the effort of these seven Divine Infants, they might still have shattered the Yin Mansion Sacrificial Array, but with the support of the Yin Yang Profound Dragon, the array became exceedingly hard.
The Profound Dragon entwined and danced, sacrificing earth qi.
Within the array, everything was sealed.
At this moment, a Purple Mansion level cultivator could no longer endure, collapsed exhausted, raised a hand moaning only to drop it soon after, then transformed into a stream of life energy, conveyed to the sacrificial array.
The Yin Yang Profound Dragon opened its bloodthirsty maw, devouring the life energy in one gulp.
This scene, everyone understood.
The Verdant Water True Man shouted sharply, "Celestial Demon!!"
The Yin Yang Profound Dragon snorted with a heavy nasal sound, its pupils displaying a human-like greed, it did not speak, merely clinched its coils tighter.
Blood Shadow Arhat squinted at this eerie dragon and said, "Something’s wrong, it was supposed to be Tang Xiaoxuan who entered the soul threshold with us, when did it become you? Where is Tang Xiaoxuan?"
The Verdant Water True Man said, "Did you control Tang Xiaoxuan, taking everything from him? Or... the Formless Ancestor?"
The Yin Yang Profound Dragon suddenly spoke with a human voice, "Not that stupid after all, you still know it’s the ancestor. Just still stupid. Because... I am genuinely the Formless Ancestor, Tang Changsheng, to survive, long ago offered himself together with the immortal position to my Sea of Suffering Dragon Race."
With these words, within the array, that giant meat mountain who had been charging left and right foolishly along with them suddenly turned more turbid in his eyes, his whole body swelled as if filled with air, and sword qi burst from the fat in his large body, turning him into a sword qi hedgehog, suddenly rolling over to hit the unsuspecting Blood Shadow Arhat from behind, then fiercely attacked the Verdant Water True Man to the side.
The Verdant Water True Man quickly blocked.
The dazzling energy explosion caused both sides to separate.
The Verdant Water True Man looked at this traitor of the Ancient Race of Swordcrafting.
He certainly knew about "Qiu Baiwei."
This Qiu Baiwei was particularly filial, respecting his teacher, and after his teacher’s death, he was stimulated, wholeheartedly pursuing a deeper Sword Dao, thus entering the Heart Demon Sword Prison, opening that door, then he passed through that door and returned from "beyond the hall," just... his intellect had faded a lot, hence he acted mad indeed.
Yet just at this moment, the Verdant Water True Man suddenly recalled there were also Celestial Demons in the Heart Demon Sword Prison.
Outer Realm Evil Thought and such things fit wonderfully.
Qiu Baiwei, having entered it, came out deranged, why couldn’t it be possible he was completely controlled by the Celestial Demon?
"Sea of Suffering Dragon Race... Sea of Suffering Sword Prison... I see..." The Verdant Water True Man murmured.
He looked up again, meeting the mocking gaze of the Yin Yang Profound Dragon.
The dragon’s mouth slightly opened, uttering, "You realized too late."
...
...
Tingsong Cliff Soul Threshold entrance.
Shing!
A flash of blood light passed by, cutting the incoming cultivator into two halves with a slash of sword light.
Whoosh!
Another cultivator swooped in from afar.
Ghost-faced Tang Ningxin took a light step, releasing the flying sword with a gentle point, piercing through the forehead of that cultivator, ending his life and dao.
The blue-clad Divine Maiden glanced left and right, returned to Tang Changsheng’s side, and said, "Clan Leader, it’s quiet for now."
Ghost-faced Tang Changsheng scanned the numerous corpses around, standing silently.
And right then, an exceedingly abrupt expression appeared on his omnipotent face, followed by a sound of surprise and shock, "Eh?"
...
...
Yu Xuanwei and An Li suddenly felt the shadow shackles on their wrists split apart.
The two women were surprised, turning their heads to see the Formless Ancient Race disciple escorting them smiling at them.
Yu Xuanwei was stunned for a moment, then thanked, "Thank you."
An Li followed with, "Thank... thank you..."
The Formless Ancient Race disciple wiped his face, revealing the smiling face of Song Yan, and said, "Long time no see."