571: I swear in the name of the Lord of Chaos

"Then, this independent consciousness of mine will dissipate with the completion of my obsession; perhaps, it will transform into a wisp of pure moonlight to nourish the lotus root."

Total annihilation of body and soul.

This is the price.

Ye Xuan's gaze fell upon the lotus root, then swept over the three remains that seemed to be watching him silently.

He needed this section of the lotus root to refine the nine revolutions soul returning pill for Jiang Li, and also to comprehend the deeper mysteries of the Chaos Dao for himself.

But if it meant exchanging it for the disappearance of Yue Xuan, he would rather never be able to refine the Medicinal Pill.

"Is there another way?"

Yue Xuan shook her head gently: "This Formation was set up by three supreme powerhouses at the cost of their lives, with the intention of living and dying together, guarding until the end. Unless one possesses power exceeding the combined strength of the three of them, one cannot forcibly break the Formation without harming the lotus root in the slightest."

She looked at Ye Xuan and said: "Ye Xuan, although you are strong and have touched the dao source, this Formation connects to the Origin they left behind and the Foundation of this space-time. Forcibly breaking it involves too many variables, and it is feared the lotus root would be hard to preserve."

Ye Xuan naturally understood.

He could feel the terrifying power contained within the Formation diagram; the three powerhouses who were infinitely close to the dao source had long since merged their life essence and guarding obsession with the lotus root and this stretch of earth veins.

Forcibly breaking it would lead to unpredictable results.

He looked at Yue Xuan, this woman as cold and clear as the moon, who had accompanied him through countless paths. At this moment, her eyes were firm, waiting to fulfill her mission.

"Your mission is to guard the lotus root and wait for someone to come and take it."

Ye Xuan suddenly spoke, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable power.

"Then, if the one who takes the lotus root promises to continue the fortune of the chaos green lotus, benefit the common people, and spread the deeds of you four to make them immortal—would that count as fulfilling the duty of guarding?"

Yue Xuan was stunned, a light of contemplation flashing in her eyes.

The Formation diagram also seemed to fluctuate slightly.

"Promise, continue the fortune, spread the immortality."

She repeated softly, looking at the three remains.

The blood-red light of the Formation seemed to soften for an instant. Within the silent pressure of the three remains, it seemed as if a trace of an extremely faint fluctuation of consciousness emerged, carrying inquiry and scrutiny.

"I can do it."

Ye Xuan took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the remains and the Formation diagram. His voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry the sound of the Dao, echoing in this special space-time cave.

"I, Ye Xuan, swear in the name of the Chaos Dao Lord: If I obtain this lotus root, I will surely make good use of its power of fortune to benefit my clansmen and all beings of the Star Alliance, and to explore the true meaning of the Dao. You four guardians, having sacrificed yourselves to protect the chaos green lotus, possess a spirit worthy of praise and deeds worthy of commendation. I shall have the annals of the Star Alliance engrave this, spreading it to the heavens so that your heroic names will be immortalized forever!"

As soon as the oath was uttered, the chaos qi in the cave suddenly became active!

The clear radiance around the lotus root flared up, as if in response.

The silent armor on the three remains actually emitted an extremely faint humming sound, like a sigh, all at once!

The light of the Formation also slowly turned from a piercing blood-red to a relatively gentle dark gold.

"They... have acknowledged your oath!"

Yue Xuan's voice carried a sense of disbelief.

A sudden turn of events; Yue Xuan looked at Ye Xuan, he seemed to truly be the person of destiny.

Inside the cave, the dark gold light of the Formation flowed softly and solemnly.

The vast pressure remaining on the armor of the three remains, which had been silent for eternity, did not dissipate, but it shed its previous resolute ferocity and instead transformed into a faint clear Qi.

The clear radiance of Chaos flowed.

Yue Xuan stood at the edge of the Formation, feeling the echoes transmitted by the Formation and the remains, the last trace of resolution in her eyes turning into excitement.

Ye Xuan could perceive that the heart-palpitating, destructive backlash force was rapidly subsiding.

"Then, what should we do next?"

Ye Xuan asked.

Yue Xuan took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and walked to the vacant vertex in the Formation that corresponded to the position of Taiyin.

She sat cross-legged and formed the ancient hand seal again. The moonlight around her was as cold and clear as silk, but instead of opposing the Formation, she was actively merging with it.

"I need to guide the Formation to complete the final Four Symbols resonance and thoroughly activate the Formation."

Yue Xuan explained.

Her gaze looked towards Ye Xuan, carrying solemnity.

"During my guidance, the Formation will be extremely sensitive to external forces. Ye Xuan, please use your power of the Chaos Dao to wrap around the lotus root. The moment the Formation is completed will be the best time to take it."

She paused, then added: "This process requires absolute precision. If I deviate, or if your power is too rigid and fierce, it may re-trigger the destructive Dao of the Formation. We only have one chance."

Ye Xuan's expression was calm as he walked to the side of the white jade pool, only a few feet away from the lotus root in the center.

He could feel that behind the gentle barrier was the extremely pure Origin of Chaos, which was generating a strong attraction with the Dao laws within his body.

"Let's begin."

Ye Xuan said.

Yue Xuan said no more, closed her eyes, and her entire aura seemed to merge completely with the Formation and the three remains.

Cold and clear moonlight flowed out from her body, pouring into the dark golden lines of the Formation. At the same time, the Formation also fed back three forces that were different in nature but equally vast.

Fiery like the sun, noble like an emperor, and stern like soldiers—that was the residual Origin aura of the three guardians: Sun, Ziwei, and the northern dipper deity.

The four forces intertwined and resonated within the Formation, emitting a low and grand humming sound. Four ancient stars were re-lit in the Void Realm, moving according to some profound trajectory.

The entire underground cave began to vibrate slightly, and the light from the crystals on the dome flared up, reflecting the Formation.

Ye Xuan stood quietly by the pool, as if in meditation.

He did not act immediately, but instead slowly extended his Divine Sense and insights into the Chaos Dao toward the gentle barrier, and toward the chaos green lotus root behind the barrier.

At first, the barrier resisted slightly, and the halo of the lotus root flickered unsteadily.

But as the Four Symbols resonance guided by Yue Xuan became increasingly stable and strong, and as Ye Xuan's inclusive and firm intention continued to penetrate, the resistance gradually weakened.

It was unknown how much time had passed; perhaps it was just an instant, or perhaps it was long ages.

When the humming of the Four Symbols resonance reached a certain harmonious peak, Yue Xuan suddenly opened her eyes and shouted clearly: "Now!"

At almost the same moment, the Chaos light in Ye Xuan's eyes flared up. His fingertips were wrapped in a wisp of pure, condensed, and extreme chaos qi. Without haste, he gently tapped toward the layer of the barrier that had become almost transparent, wrapping around the crystalline lotus root behind it.

There was no earth-shattering sound, nor were there any magnificent phenomena.

The instant his fingertip touched the barrier, the barrier rippled like water and quietly dissolved.

That wisp of chaos qi gently wrapped around the ninth section of the lotus root.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The entire lotus root shook, erupting with an unprecedented, brilliant, and clear radiance!

In the light, a phantom of a giant lotus supporting the Chaos could be vaguely seen flashing and disappearing!

At the same time, the dark golden light of the Formation also shot into the sky, merging with the clear radiance of the lotus root!