431: Transaction, Nirvana Realm Intelligence

With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the invisible barrier of distorted space-time around him, and their figures instantly became clear in mid-air, the surrounding light seeming to ripple slightly with their appearance.

Yu Jiao, who was incomparably anxious, immediately detected these two abruptly appearing auras, especially one of them, which, though restrained, caused her Severed Corpse body to feel an instinctive suppression from its obscure fluctuations.

She suddenly looked up, her cold, wary gaze sweeping over Xiao Zhuo and the other person, pausing for a moment particularly on Xiao Zhuo's excessively young face.

Seeing that they were two completely unfamiliar Cultivators—the elder one merely an Initial Stage Quasi-Saint, and the younger one with an ethereal and unmeasurable aura—a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of doubt flashed across her deeply wrinkled face, but it was immediately replaced by a deeper indifference.

She was well aware of the formidable Formation attainments of Tai Xu; even she was helpless against them. What help could these two fellows, who had appeared out of nowhere, possibly offer?

They would merely be watching a joke unfold.

She snorted coldly, no longer paying them any attention, and once again immersed her entire mind in deducing the surrounding Formation diagrams, attempting to find a flaw that was almost nonexistent.

Unexpectedly, in the next moment, the leading young man in green robes simply took a casual step, his figure seemingly disregarding spatial distance, and with the person beside him, flashed, instantly appearing outside the Tai Chi Eight Trigrams Formation diagram that was imprisoning her. So close was he that he was practically pressed against the endlessly circulating Yin and Yang Qi barrier.

"Fellow Daoist," a clear, calm voice rang out again, carrying a unique, reassuring power. Xiao Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at Yu Jiao, who was slightly taken aback within the Formation. "I observe that Fellow Daoist seems to be in a hurry to enter this gate but is blocked by this Formation. Do you require my assistance to break through this barrier?"

Yu Jiao's action of urging the fire lotus abruptly paused, and her wrinkled face could no longer maintain complete indifference; a hint of surprise and doubt flashed in her eyes.

She stared intently at the young face outside the Formation, which bore a faint smile, trying to discern his true nature, but her Divine Thought, upon reaching him, was like a mud ox entering the sea—immeasurably deep.

She opened her mouth, her hoarse voice filled with intense wariness: "You... who exactly are you? This Formation was laid by that old scoundrel Tai Xu, it's indestructible, you..."

Her questioning words were cut short before she could finish them.

Because Xiao Zhuo had already made his move.

He didn't even utter another word of nonsense, merely raising his right hand seemingly casually, his fingers pointed like a sword, and gently tapped the Tai Chi Eight Trigrams Formation diagram, which was as solid as a fortress and had not been shaken even by the power of the Nine Dragons Burning Heaven.

This single tap was light and effortless, stirring not a single ripple of Spiritual Qi, nor creating any earth-shattering commotion.

However, the instant his fingertip touched the endlessly circulating Yin and Yang Qi barrier—

"Buzz!"

A faint hum, yet one that seemed to reverberate deep within the Soul, rang out!

The flawless Formation diagram light screen, which formed a world of its own, was like a calm lake into which a huge rock had been thrown, suddenly rippling with countless violent waves!

Immediately following, the countless runes and Dao marks that made up the Formation diagram flickered and pulsed wildly at an unprecedented speed, as if unable to withstand some fundamental impact, emitting a wail of unbearable strain!

Yu Jiao's pupils suddenly contracted to pinpricks, her face filled with an expression of unbelievable shock!

Xiao Zhuo's single finger strike, like a bolt from the blue, though not fully successful, caused the Tai Chi Eight Trigrams Formation diagram, originally as stable as an ancient mountain, to vibrate violently, its light trembling chaotically, emitting a hum of unbearable strain!

Ripples spread wildly from his fingertip, almost tearing apart the balance of circulating Yin and Yang!

Yu Jiao stared intently at the violently fluctuating Formation diagram light screen, which seemed on the verge of collapsing, her throat as if constricted, unable to utter any sound.

However, just as she thought the Ban was about to break, the violently fluctuating Formation diagram's light suddenly intensified. The eight Dao seals of Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui rotated wildly at an unprecedented speed, connecting with the Laws of heaven and earth, forcefully channeling, dispersing, and annihilating the intrusive destructive power!

In just two or three breaths, the almost Shattered Realm (Cultivation Class) Formation diagram actually stabilized, though its light was slightly dimmer than before and its circulation a bit sluggish, it ultimately held, and was not broken in a single blow.

Xiao Zhuo slowly withdrew his finger, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

This Tai Xu Daoist's Formation attainments are indeed profound, having grasped the mysteries of Yin and Yang creation, forming a self-sustaining cycle, endlessly regenerating. To break it instantly with brute force, even he would need to exert a bit more effort.

Yu Jiao, inside the Formation, let out a long breath of turbid Qi. When she looked at Xiao Zhuo again, her gaze was completely different.

The previous indifference and contempt were completely gone, replaced by immense solemnity.

She could clearly feel that the power contained in that finger strike just now was not immensely vast, but it was refined to the extreme, and it carried an indescribable, peculiar Dao charm that seemed capable of disintegrating the Foundation of all things, which was why it had almost shaken the seal laid by Tai Xu.

This person's strength is unfathomable!

"You... what exactly do you intend?" Yu Jiao's voice was still hoarse, but it had lost some of its coldness and gained a hint of inquiry and caution.

Xiao Zhuo's strength forced her to show due respect. Such strength could not possibly be that of an unknown individual in the Immortal Realm; he was likely an old monster who had hidden his Foundation.

Xiao Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, his face still bearing that calm, unhurried smile, and spoke frankly: "I am quite interested in this Nirvana Realm, but unfortunately, I know very little about it. I observe that Fellow Daoist seems to have a deep understanding of this realm. How about this: you inform me of the information regarding this realm, and as compensation, I will help Fellow Daoist escape this cage. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jiao's eyes flashed with brilliance, and she instantly weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

Information about the Nirvana Realm was not a top secret among their circle of ancient Quasi-Saints. Exchanging this not-so-secret intelligence for an opportunity to escape was definitely a worthwhile deal.

Moreover, the other party's strength was formidable; if he truly resorted to force, her Severed Corpse body would likely be unable to resist. Now, his willingness to engage in an equal transaction was already rare.

She barely hesitated, immediately nodding: "Good! This is fair, This old body agrees! Whatever you wish to know, as long as This old body knows it, I will not conceal it."

"Straightforward." Xiao Zhuo smiled and nodded. "Please, Fellow Daoist, begin from the start. What is the origin of this Nirvana Realm? And what is so special about it that it has attracted so many reclusive Fellow Daoists to appear?"

Yu Jiao organized her words, her speaking speed quickening slightly, clearly also racing against time: "Speaking of this Nirvana Realm, its first appearance was approximately thirteen million years ago, abruptly appearing in the void zone at the edge of the Immortal-Demon Realm. It seems to contain a complete Major Thousand Worlds."

"Seems?" Xiao Zhuo keenly detected the uncertainty in Yu Jiao's words.

"Yes! Because all beings who have entered the Nirvana Realm lose their memories of being inside it!" Yu Jiao's tone carried a hint of solemnity.

Xiao Zhuo's gaze deepened slightly; he simply nodded and did not interrupt further, instead waiting for the other party to continue speaking.

"Although they lose their memories of the Nirvana Realm, everyone who enters returns with a full harvest!" Yu Jiao's eyes flashed with longing and awe. "Everyone!"

Yu Jiao emphasized the last sentence again.

Xiao Zhuo's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.