6: The formation is clear, and the chaos spirit rice is planted

In the northwestern wasteland, the malevolent winds cut like knives.

A staggering figure fled for his life across the dark red sand, each step kicking up a plume of blood-colored dust. He was a young man in tattered grey robes, slender and about fifteen or sixteen years old. His face was ashen, his lips cracked and bleeding, yet his eyes, amidst extreme exhaustion and pain, still burned with an unyielding spiritual light like stars.

From his left shoulder to his back, a deep, bone-visible claw mark gaped open, its edges a strange greenish-black, clearly due to potent venom. Every movement triggered excruciating pain and numbness, and blood soaked half his robe, dripping behind him, tracing a broken, crimson path.

“Chu Xinghe! Don’t run! Hand over the array disk fragment obediently, and I’ll leave you a complete corpse!” Behind him, three blood-shadowed figures pursued relentlessly like maggots on a corpse. The leader, clad in blood-colored leather armor, had a sinister face and wielded a serrated scimitar dripping with viscous green liquid. He was, astonishingly, a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator!

His eyes gleamed with the cruel pleasure of a cat toying with a mouse. With a casual flick of his scimitar, a venom-laced blade light tore through the air, slashing heavily into the ground several feet in front of the young man, blasting open a deep pit and forcing him to tumble clumsily to dodge.

“Cough cough, you Blood Wolf Gang bastards, never!” Chu Xinghe gritted his teeth and roared in a hoarse but exceptionally firm voice. His right hand clutched a tattered beast-skin pouch at his waist, which seemed to hold something extremely important.

“Stubborn fool!” Another lanky assassin, wielding venom-tipped flying needles, sneered, “You’re poisoned with our boss’s ‘Bone Corroding Poison,’ how long can you last? Once the poison reaches your heart meridian, not even immortals can save you! By then, the item will still be ours! But as for you, hehe, you’ll make a good meal for the malevolent spirits of this wasteland!”

“Why waste words with him!” The last burly man, controlling a black chain, roared impatiently. The chain coiled like a venomous snake towards Chu Xinghe’s back. “Take him down, search his soul, and seize his treasure!”

A flicker of despair crossed Chu Xinghe’s eyes. His spiritual energy was long exhausted, and the potent venom, like a cold viper, fiercely gnawed at his meridians and vitality. The aura of death behind him grew closer. He wasn't afraid to die, but… with the last hope bought with his family’s blood, that fragment which might contain ancient array dao inheritance, was it truly destined to fall into the hands of his enemies?

Just as the venom-tipped chain was about to touch his back!

Buzz!

An indescribable will, ancient, vast, and all-encompassing, as if originating from the world's primordial point, descended without warning!

Centered on Chu Xinghe, an area several tens of feet in radius was instantly enveloped by a layer of chaotic-colored airflow, imperceptible to the naked eye yet truly present! The airflow circulated silently, carrying a primordial aura that transcended all laws!

Primary Chaotic Domain deployed.

A cold will echoed in the void.

Hiss!

The venom-tipped chain, capable of piercing fine gold, instantly shattered inch by inch upon touching the Chaotic Domain, as if striking an invisible sighing wall! The attached venom was instantly purified and annihilated like green smoke! The burly man controlling the chain was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood, staggering backward, his eyes filled with horror!

“Who are you?” The Blood Wolf Gang boss’s pupils contracted sharply. He roared furiously, his blood-fiend spiritual energy surging wildly as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings. This power was too strange! Silent, and without warning!

Chu Xinghe also froze, the dazedness of a narrow escape and immense shock leaving him rooted to the spot. He felt as if he were in a viscous, chaotic mire, every movement incredibly heavy. Yet, the rampant Bone Corroding Poison within him was being forcefully suppressed by a warm, majestic aura carrying supreme purification power, and even, slowly dissolving?

A dark figure, like ink spreading across the dim wasteland, appeared silently in front of Chu Xinghe.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his robes gently fluttering. His face was young, but his eyes were as deep as an ancient cold pool, reflecting the startled and uncertain figures of the three Blood Wolf Gang members as if they were three insignificant specks of dust.

There was no powerful spiritual pressure emanating from him, no intimidating aura pressing down. He simply stood there casually, yet it was as if he had merged with this desolate and silent ancient battlefield, or perhaps, was independent of this world.

“Senior… Senior?” Chu Xinghe looked at the tall figure, straight as a lone pine on a peak, his throat dry, and he instinctively spoke.

“Kid, playing tricks! How dare you meddle in the Blood Wolf Gang’s affairs?” Though startled, Blood Wolf’s ferocity did not diminish. He pointed his serrated scimitar at Lin Xuan, green liquid dripping from the blade, corroding the ground with sizzling sounds. “Be smart and get lost! Otherwise, I’ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs too!”

Lin Xuan’s gaze swept over the three, finally resting on Chu Xinghe’s pale but stubborn face. His divine sense had already completely discerned the situation within him—poison invading his body, damaged meridians, depleted spiritual energy, but a clear point of clarity in his spiritual platform remained unextinguished. Deep within his soul, a strange and vast array dao spiritual charm was hidden, bound by a powerful bloodline seal, like a peerless pearl covered by thick dust.

SS-grade aptitude, Array Dao Enlightenment Body! Truly extraordinary! The system did not deceive me!

“I’ll give you three breaths of time.” Lin Xuan spoke, his voice calm and unwavering, as if stating a simple fact. “Leave. Or, die.”

“Arrogant!” Blood Wolf was completely enraged. A mere Great Perfection Foundation Establishment aura, yet daring to speak such boastful words? “All together, kill him!”

The three blood-shadowed figures instantly erupted! Blood Wolf’s serrated scimitar brought forth a foul-smelling green blade curtain, directly cleaving towards Lin Xuan’s head! The lanky man flicked both hands, dozens of venom-tipped needles, like a rain of pear blossoms, sealed off Lin Xuan’s vital points! The burly man, suppressing his injuries, once again unleashed his black chain, which coiled like a venomous python towards Lin Xuan’s legs! The three cooperated tacitly, ruthless and cunning, clearly intent on a single, fatal strike!

Facing this deadly triangular assault, Lin Xuan didn’t even bat an eyelid.

He merely flicked a finger at Blood Wolf, who was rushing to kill him first, from a distance.

The movement was casual, like flicking away a speck of dust.

Buzz!

A condensed, almost invisible chaotic energy shot out silently.

Puff!

Blood Wolf’s charging figure suddenly froze! The sneer on his face solidified as he incredulously looked down at his chest. A finger-sized blood-hole had appeared, its edges smooth as a mirror, with no blood flowing out. Immediately after, an indescribable power of annihilation instantly spread!

“Uh…” Blood Wolf let out a hoarse roar from his throat, his body convulsing violently. He watched as his chest, starting from the blood-hole, silently melted and annihilated like a wax figure thrown into strong acid, revealing stark white bones, which were also rapidly turning into grayish-white powder!

“Boss!” The lanky man and the burly man’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with extreme horror! Their attacks on Lin Xuan froze in mid-air, and a bone-chilling cold instantly froze their marrow!

With just a flick of a finger! Their Great Perfection Foundation Establishment boss was annihilated into ash!

Fear completely destroyed their sanity!

“Run!” The lanky man let out a distorted shriek, turning and fleeing for his life!

The burly man let out a strange cry and followed closely!

Lin Xuan’s eyes were indifferent. He flicked his fingers twice again at the backs of the two frantically fleeing figures.

Puff! Puff!

Two subtle sounds of annihilation rang out almost simultaneously.

The two blood-shadowed figures, along with their terrified and twisted faces, vanished silently into the grey mist of the wasteland as if erased by an eraser, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.

The wind of the wasteland whimpered as it swept through, dispersing the last trace of blood.

Silence once again enveloped the area.

Chu Xinghe stared blankly at the incredible scene before him, his mind a blank. In the flick of a finger, three notorious Great Perfection Foundation Establishment assassins, who had driven him to despair, were turned to dust? What kind of power was this? This Senior in black… was he human or immortal?

Lin Xuan turned around, his gaze falling on Chu Xinghe. That deep gaze seemed to penetrate his skin, directly seeing the sealed array dao spiritual charm deep within his soul.

“Chu Xinghe?” Lin Xuan spoke, calling out his name directly.

Chu Xinghe trembled all over, suddenly looking up, his eyes filled with incredible shock: “Senior… Senior, you… you know me?”

“Array Dao Enlightenment Body, a pearl covered in dust.” Lin Xuan did not answer, merely calmly revealed his greatest secret, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny, “Bearing a blood feud, exiled to this place. Are you willing to join my sect?”

This sudden turn of events left Chu Xinghe completely bewildered. A life-saving grace, without seeking repayment, and then immediately asking to take him as a disciple? And the other party had even seen through his hidden physique, his greatest secret, which even his family elders had difficulty detecting!

The immense influx of information and the dazedness of surviving a near-death experience left him at a loss for how to respond.

Lin Xuan did not rush him, simply watching him calmly. His divine sense, however, had already communicated with the system: “System, use the Primary Divine Beast Growth Accelerator on the Lie Tian Cub! And guide it to space-jump here!”

Primary Divine Beast Growth Accelerator used successfully! Target: Lie Tian Cub in its infant stage! Growth progress +5%!

Guiding Lie Tian Cub to perform a space jump, locating current coordinates!

Buzz!

The air next to Chu Xinghe rippled like water.

Immediately after, a fluffy, round, snow-gold tiger cub, slightly larger than a domestic cat, appeared out of thin air! Its body was covered in soft, silvery-white fur with noble pale gold tiger stripes, and the chaotic 'King' character on its forehead was clear and solid. Its amber eyes darted around curiously, first glancing at the stunned Chu Xinghe, then immediately locking onto Lin Xuan, letting out a joyful “Awoo!” It transformed into a streak of snow-gold light and “whoosh”ed into Lin Xuan’s arms, its small head affectionately rubbing against his chin, emitting contented purrs from its throat. It was Lie Tian Cub, who had just devoured a large amount of Geng Metal energy and received a bottle of growth accelerator!

“Spatial teleportation? A divine beast?” Chu Xinghe’s eyes nearly popped out! The shocks he received today were more than he had experienced in his past sixteen years combined!

Lin Xuan held the small tiger, which was playfully nuzzling and rolling in his arms, and a barely perceptible smile touched the corner of his lips as he looked at Chu Xinghe’s shocked, almost petrified expression.

“This is Lie Tian Cub, the guardian divine beast of our Invincible Sect of the Heavens.” Lin Xuan casually introduced, then his gaze returned to Chu Xinghe, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable power, “Your answer?”

Chu Xinghe looked at Lin Xuan, at the snow-gold divine beast nestled in his arms, playfully rolling around yet possessing the power to tear space; he then thought of the terrifying method used to instantly annihilate a powerful enemy and the insight that saw through his greatest secret—an unprecedented mix of awe, shock, and a desperate joy, like grasping a life-saving straw, instantly washed away all his hesitation and confusion!

Thud!

Chu Xinghe knelt without hesitation, his forehead hitting the cold gravel with a heavy thud, his voice trembling from excitement and weakness, yet filled with a resolve akin to burning his bridges:

"Disciple Chu Xinghe! Greets Master!"

The moment his voice fell!

Ding! Elite Disciple Chu Xinghe confirmed for enrollment!

Disciple binding successful!

Master and disciple's luck are intertwined! Sect's luck slightly increased!

Array Dao Enlightenment Body resonates faintly with the sect's foundation!

Urgent Mission: Heavenly Chosen in the Urn! Completed!

Reward obtained: Junior Sect Training Ground! Random Small Geothermal Spiritual Eye! Disciple exclusive cultivation technique lottery chance one!

System notifications flooded the screen.

"Rise," Lin Xuan's voice remained calm. He raised his hand in a gentle gesture of support, and a soft force lifted Chu Xinghe. "Your injuries are severe, and the poison is not yet cleared. Follow me back to the sect first."

"Yes, Master!" Chu Xinghe struggled to stand, his eyes filled with the excitement of finding a home and infinite hope for the future.

Lin Xuan said no more, his thoughts stirring.

Buzz!

The Chaotic Domain enveloped Chu Xinghe and Lie Tian Cub, and space twisted slightly!

The next moment, the figures of the two people and one tiger had disappeared from their original spot.

Within the Chaos Reversion Grand Array.

The violent energy storm had subsided. A massive chaotic light shield, like an overturned giant bowl, stood silently at the center of the basin. Inside the light shield, the landscape had undergone a world-shattering transformation!

A colossal barrier, a hundred zhang tall, radiating a profound chaotic aura and sharp Geng Metal keenness, had already begun to take shape! The barrier was entirely dark profound black, its surface flowing with chaotic runes like living things, its edges embedded with countless sharp array patterns condensed from pure Geng Metal energy, emanating a heart-palpitating defensive and offensive aura! This was precisely the main structure of the sect's protective barrier, the Chaos Geng Metal version, transformed from the energy of the collapsed Sword Mountain!

In front of the barrier, the previously chaotic basin had been smoothed out, transforming into a stretch of dark profound black fertile soil. Upon this fertile soil, the Lie Tian Cub was sprawled on a huge metal hill, condensed from pure Geng Metal sharp energy, comfortably purring. Its small belly was round, clearly having devoured a large amount of pure Geng Metal energy, its snow-gold fur was even brighter, and its aura had grown significantly stronger.

Yun Qingyao sat cross-legged beneath the barrier, fully circulating her Moonlight spiritual power to assist in maintaining the grand array's final stability. Moonlight circulated around her, making her exquisitely beautiful, forming a strange harmony with the profound and chaotic environment.

Buzz!

Space fluctuated, and Lin Xuan appeared before the barrier with Chu Xinghe and Lie Tian Cub.

"Master!" Yun Qingyao immediately rose and bowed respectfully. When she saw the unfamiliar young man beside Lin Xuan, covered in blood and weak, a hint of understanding flashed in her eyes.

"Qing Yao, this is your second junior brother, Chu Xinghe," Lin Xuan introduced simply. "He is heavily poisoned and severely injured. Use your Moonlight spiritual power to stabilize his injuries and suppress the poison first."

"Yes, Master!" Yun Qingyao immediately stepped forward, and cool Moonlight spiritual power flowed towards Chu Xinghe like a sweet spring. The gentle, pure, and purifying spiritual power surged into his body, instantly suppressing the rampant poison and bringing a long-lost coolness and comfort. Chu Xinghe gratefully looked at his senior sister, whose temperament was as cool and clear as the moon and whose cultivation was clearly far superior to his own, and weakly thanked her: "Thank you, Senior Sister."

"Awoo?" The Lie Tian Cub was also startled, leaping down from its "metal hill" and walking with elegant small steps to Chu Xinghe's side. It curiously sniffed the scent of blood and residual poison on him, wrinkling its small nose as if somewhat displeased, but still extended its pink little tongue and gently licked Chu Xinghe's injured arm.

A warm and vital, strange energy flowed into Chu Xinghe's body through the lick, complementing Yun Qingyao's Moonlight spiritual power, accelerating the healing of his wounds and the suppression of the poison! Chu Xinghe looked at this magical little tiger in shock.

"Alright, little fellow, don't cause trouble." Lin Xuan called Lie Tian Cub back to his side, his gaze sweeping over the colossal, nascent barrier and this new fertile land, a plan already forming in his mind.

He communicated with the system: "System, use the Small Random Geothermal Spiritual Eye! Designated location: the core of the fertile soil directly in front of the barrier!"

Random Geothermal Spiritual Eye successfully used! Drawing now!

Drawing complete! Obtained: Micro Chaos Spiritual Soil!

Micro Chaos Spiritual Soil: A special spiritual soil containing a faint trace of Chaos Origin power, capable of accelerating the growth of spiritual plants and having a certain chance of causing spiritual plants to undergo beneficial mutations! Adaptability: extremely wide!

As the system prompt faded, the central area of the profound black fertile soil in front of the barrier, an area about ten zhang in radius, suddenly emitted an extremely faint, almost imperceptible chaotic glow! The color of the soil became deeper and more subdued, subtly revealing an indescribable vitality and profoundness.

"Chaos Spiritual Soil?" Lin Xuan's eyes lit up slightly; this was an unexpected pleasant surprise! He immediately retrieved items from the sect construction resource pack.

"System, use the Basic Main Hall Blueprint, Chaos Edition! Construction location: in front of the barrier, at the edge of the Chaos Spiritual Soil!"

"Use the Low-Grade Spirit Gathering Array Discs (upgradable)! Placement location: the three corners of the barrier, to construct a basic spirit gathering network!"

"Use Low-Grade Spiritual Plant Seeds: Spirit Nurturing Grass, Solid Essence Flower, and other seeds! Sowing area: Chaos Spiritual Soil!"

As he issued command after command.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Three streams of iridescent light, array discs, flew from Lin Xuan's hand and landed respectively at the three corner points of the massive barrier, instantly merging into its main body! The chaotic runes flowing on the barrier's surface brightened slightly, and an invisible suction force emanated, beginning to slowly and steadily draw in the nascent spiritual energy, transformed by chaotic power, from the air of the Fallen God Wasteland, forming a preliminary spiritual energy circulation network within the barrier and the fertile soil area in front!

Immediately after, a colossal architectural phantom, composed of chaotic currents, slowly emerged and solidified directly in front of the barrier, at the edge of the Chaos Spiritual Soil! The phantom quickly outlined the hall's contours—ancient, profound, with simple lines yet possessing an indescribable Chaos Dao charm! Though merely a basic hall, being constructed with chaotic power as its foundation, it immediately became one with the barrier behind it and the spiritual soil beneath its feet, exuding a steady and vast aura!

Finally, twenty packets of spiritual plant seeds transformed into specks of green light, scattering evenly over the ten-zhang spiritual soil that glowed with a chaotic aura. The moment the seeds touched the spiritual soil, they seemed to be injected with vital energy, breaking open their husks at a visible speed and sprouting tender green tips! Wisps of pure chaotic spiritual energy were greedily absorbed by these tender shoots, exuding vibrant vitality!

Chaos Reversion Grand Array transformation complete!

Sect Protective Barrier (Junior Chaos Geng Metal Version) condensed complete!

Basic Main Hall (Chaos Version) constructed complete!

Basic Spirit Gathering Network (Triangle) constructed complete!

Micro Chaos Spiritual Soil activated! Low-grade spiritual plants (Spirit Nurturing Grass, Solid Essence Flower) successfully sown! Growth accelerating!

Invincible Sect of the Heavens' core area initially established!

The cold system prompts, accompanied by the rapidly forming scene before their eyes, filled Yun Qingyao and Chu Xinghe with surging emotions! In such a short time, a desolate, deadly land was forcibly transformed by their Master into the prototype of a sect, complete with a sturdy barrier, a magnificent hall, and fertile spiritual fields! What a heaven-and-earth-altering method this was!

Lin Xuan stood before the nascent core of the sect, his profound robes fluttering. Behind him were the partially formed Chaos Barrier and the Main Hall; before him was the ten-zhang spiritual field, glowing with a faint chaotic aura and sprouting tender shoots; beside him were the cool-tempered Saintess Senior Disciple and the array-dao Second Disciple, covered in wounds yet with bright eyes; in his arms was the Lie Tian Cub gnawing and grinding its teeth on his finger.

The wind of the wasteland swept over the barrier, emitting a low hum, like the sound of a newborn horn.

Lin Xuan's gaze swept over this nascent foundation, landing on Chu Xinghe, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Chu Xinghe."

"Disciple is here!" Chu Xinghe endured his pain, bowing in response.

"You possess the Array Dao Enlightenment Body, making you the core of the sect's foundational construction." Lin Xuan's palm flipped, and a jade slip emanating an ancient and profound aura appeared—it was the reward from the disciple exclusive cultivation technique lottery! "This is the 'Nine Evolutions Chaos Array Decipherment: Initial Scroll,' perfectly suited to your physique. After your injuries heal, immediately comprehend it and cooperate with me to perfect the sect's grand array!"

Chu Xinghe looked at the jade slip, which flowed with Chaos Dao charm, and felt the yearning and throbbing from the sealed array-dao spiritual charm deep within his soul, trembling with excitement: "Disciple... disciple obeys! I will not fail Master's high expectations!"

Lin Xuan then looked at Yun Qingyao: "Qing Yao."

"Disciple is here!"

"You are responsible for tending the spiritual fields, guiding the spirit gathering, and assisting your junior brother in stabilizing his injuries." Lin Xuan's gaze fell upon the Chaos Spiritual Soil where tender shoots were just emerging, his eyes deep. "The mutated products of this chaos spiritual rice, Spirit Nurturing Grass, and Solid Essence Flower under the catalysis of the Chaos Spiritual Soil will be the first cornerstone of our sect's rise."

Yun Qingyao looked at the tender shoots in the spiritual field, which emitted a strange chaotic vitality, and nodded solemnly: "Disciple understands!"

Finally, Lin Xuan lowered his head, looking at the Lie Tian Cub in his arms, which was earnestly gnawing on his finger with its incomplete baby teeth, leaving wet saliva marks.

The little fellow seemed to sense his gaze, raising its fluffy small head, its amber eyes looking at him innocently, letting out a confused "Awoo?" milk-like sound from its throat.

Lin Xuan flicked its small nose with a bent finger.

"As for you..." Lin Xuan's voice carried a hint of an imperceptible smile, "Once you're full, it's time to work."

"Go, fly a few circles around our territory."

"Let all the neighbors of this wasteland know..."

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly penetrating the barrier, cast towards the vaster, more perilous depths of the Fallen God Wasteland, a cold and domineering arc forming on his lips.

"This place has a new owner."