175: The grand formation was completed, and the two elders, one black and one white!

Xu Linger, who was acting as Protector from a distance, stared intently at the ball of flame.

Her large eyes were filled with shock and fascination.

In her eyes, her Revered Master was not merely performing Artifact Refining at this moment, but was engaged in a silent game of chess with the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

Every change in the hand seals, every flicker of the flame.

All contained profound and ultimate truth.

As time passed.

That stubborn tai xu realm stone finally couldn't hold out any longer.

"Drip."

The first drop of silver-gray liquid fell from the surface of the stone, and before it hit the ground, it transformed into a stream of pure spatial power.

It was channeled by Chen Xu into the Formation base below.

Once there was a breach, the subsequent process was much smoother.

Chen Xu concentrated fully, his hands dancing like butterflies among flowers, guiding the melted tai xu realm stone bit by bit to fuse with the surrounding void star crystal powder.

Constructing complex and perfect spatial coordinates one after another.

Above the entire plaza, silver light shone brightly, like broad daylight... While Chen Xu was in Tianxuan City refining the Formation in seclusion, the entire Family was busy preparing for the impending rise.

Tens of thousands of miles away, on the other side of the Beiming Wilderness.

The news of the destruction of the Lin Family in Zhenyuan City, after several days of fermenting, finally spread like it had grown wings.

Spreading throughout several surrounding great domains.

This news was too horrifying and unbelievable, so much so that no one believed it at first.

That was the Lin Family!

The Lin Family, which had a Void Refining Stage Old Ancestor guarding it, controlled the Starfall Secret Realm, and was wealthy enough to rival a nation!

How could they be uprooted overnight?

But as more and more Cultivators rushed to Zhenyuan City and personally witnessed the giant sinkhole and the completely vanished Lin Residence, the entire Northern Cultivation World erupted.

"Did you hear? It was done by a mysterious black-robed elder!"

"It is said that the person leveled the Lin Family's millennia-old Foundation using only one move!"

"Too ruthless! This is practically the Reincarnation of a God of Slaughter!"

Fear, awe, speculation... all sorts of emotions spread throughout the Cultivation World.

All major powers were frantically investigating the identity of that mysterious powerhouse.

And this massive wave of shock finally crashed upon the feet of a power that was even more distant and enormous... inside the General Affairs Hall of Tianyu Holy Land.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

An expensive white jade teacup was violently smashed onto the ground.

Shattering into pieces.

Liu Jing, the Hall Revered Master of the General Affairs Hall, was standing in the center of the main hall, his face livid, his chest heaving violently.

He was clearly furious beyond measure.

Kneeling before him were several deacons responsible for intelligence gathering, all trembling and afraid to even breathe heavily.

"What did you say? The Lin Family is gone?"

Liu Jing's voice was chillingly cold, carrying the terrifying pressure of a Body Integration Stage Cultivator.

Echoing throughout the main hall.

"R-reporting to the Hall Revered Master."

A deacon stammered, "It is absolutely true. The entire Lin Family clan was wiped out, and even their headquarters were razed to the ground. It is rumored... that it was an act of vengeance."

"Vengeance? Who has such audacity!"

Liu Jing slammed the table, and the desk in front of him instantly turned to dust.

He wasn't angry about the Lin Family's fate.

In his eyes, the Lin Family was nothing more than a dog he kept in the Barbaric Wilds.

But this dog provided the General Affairs Hall, and him, Liu Jing, personally.

With massive amounts of resources as tribute every year!

Seventy percent of the void Materials produced by the Starfall Secret Realm flowed into his pocket annually.

This was a crucial source of his Cultivation resources.

It was also the capital he used to grease the wheels within the Holy Land.

Now that the Lin Family was destroyed, this source of wealth was completely cut off!

This was practically cutting a piece of flesh from him!

More importantly, the Lin Family outwardly carried the name of an affiliated Family of Tianyu Holy Land.

When beating a dog, one must look at its owner.

Destroying an affiliated Family of the Holy Land on Tianyu Holy Land's territory was not just cutting off a source of wealth.

It was a blatant slap in the face to Tianyu Holy Land!

"Investigate! Investigate for me!"

Liu Jing's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "No matter who did it, no matter what their background is! If they dare touch Tianyu Holy Land's money bag, I will make them regret ever coming into this world!"

"Hall Revered Master, it is rumored that the person is suspected to be a Void Refining Stage Cultivator..."

A deacon cautiously reminded him.

"What if they are in the Void Refining Stage?"

Liu Jing sneered, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes: "In this territory, a Dragon must coil for me, and a Tiger must crouch for me! As long as he is not a Body Integration Stage Old Monster, offending Tianyu Holy Land only leads to a dead end!"

He pulled a golden token from his Robe and threw it to the kneeling deacon.

"Take my token and go invite the The Black and White Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall to come out."

Hearing the name "The Black and White Elders," the deacons on the ground shuddered.

Deep fear appeared in their eyes.

Those were notorious fiends within the Holy Land, two powerhouses in the Void Refining Stage Middle Stage.

Specifically responsible for handling those troublesome "issues."

"Furthermore, issue an order to all Families surrounding the Barbaric Wilds."

Liu Jing said sinisterly, "Seal off all teleportation arrays leading to the outer domains. Even if you have to turn the ground upside down, you must find that damned old thing for me!"

"Understood!"

Just then, a set of steady footsteps came from outside the hall.

The Disciple guarding the entrance tried to stop him but was pushed away by a gentle force.

Immediately after, a middle-aged man strode in.

This man's aura was restrained, yet subtly gave off a heavy, mountainous sense of oppression.

He was precisely the Hall Revered Master of the Mineral Hall of Tianyu Holy Land.

Chen Qiao, who possessed the terrifying Cultivation base of the Body Integration Stage.

"Old Liu, I heard you smashing things from a long distance away."

Chen Qiao glanced at the mess on the floor, raising an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "How big of a deal can it be that you're getting so angry? Aren't you afraid of scaring the subordinates?"

Seeing that the visitor was Chen Qiao, the savage expression on Liu Jing's face slightly subsided.

Although he and Chen Qiao managed different halls, they had a strong personal relationship, and their interests were intertwined in many areas.

They were essentially grasshoppers tied to the same string within the Holy Land.

"All of you, scram!"

Liu Jing impatiently waved his hand at the deacons on the ground.

The few people retreated from the main hall, scrambling away as if granted a great pardon.

And closed the heavy hall doors behind them.

After the irrelevant personnel had withdrawn, Liu Jing finally let out a long sigh and plopped down onto the chair that had survived the destruction.

Rubbing his throbbing temples.

"Brother Chen, you don't know, but someone really cut a piece of flesh from me this time."

Liu Jing said through gritted teeth, "Just a few days ago, the Lin Family in Zhenyuan City was annihilated."

Hearing this, Chen Qiao's hand, which was reaching for his tea, paused slightly in surprise: "The Lin Family? That affiliated Family that supplies you with a lot of void Materials every year?"

"Who else could it be!"

Liu Jing fiercely slapped his thigh: "Although the Lin Family Old Ancestor was a half-dead Void Refining Stage Early Stage Cultivator, he was still a local tyrant who watched over the Starfall Secret Realm for me."

"You know how many benefits I've extracted from that Secret Realm over the years."

"But now, everything is gone overnight!"

A cold light flashed in Liu Jing's eyes: "Even their residence was leveled, and the entrance to that damned Starfall Secret Realm collapsed along with it. This wasn't just destroying the Lin Family; this was clearly cutting off my source of wealth and slapping the face of my General Affairs Hall!"

After listening, Chen Qiao's expression also became serious.

He wasn't bothered by the loss of the Lin Family; a mere affiliated Family.

In the eyes of Tianyu Holy Land, they were nothing more than consumables that could be replaced at any time.

But the timing of this incident was truly subtle.

"Old Liu, have we both been unlucky lately, offending the God of Age?"

Chen Qiao put down his teacup and gave a wry smile, "Don't just focus on your anger; I'm not doing much better."

Liu Jing was startled: "What? You have trouble on your side too?"

"Have you forgotten that incident half a year ago?"

Chen Qiao sighed, a trace of gloom appearing on his face: "A mine under my jurisdiction was raided."

When this was mentioned, Liu Jing recalled having some impression of it.

"Are you talking about the group of guys who led the riot and killed the supervisor?"

Liu Jing asked, "What, they haven't been caught yet?"

"Don't even mention it. That group of people vanished as if they evaporated from the world."

Chen Qiao shook his head, a flash of irritation in his eyes: "I sent out several waves of search parties, but didn't even see a ghost. The territories under Tianyu Holy Land were plastered with notices, but it was still useless!"

"The main thing is that the Clan members of those guys in the Lower Realm didn't fall for our trap, and we can't go down to the Lower Realm."

Speaking of this, Chen Qiao seemed to recall something and looked at Liu Jing: "Speaking of coincidence, the mine supervisor who was killed back then, I remember his name was Lin Feng, right?"

Liu Jing nodded: "That's right, he was a collateral Disciple of the Lin Family who was assigned there because he made a mistake."

"Seeing that the Lin Family was fairly diligent in paying tribute every year, I spoke to you and arranged a lucrative supervisor position for him."

As soon as the words fell, the air in the main hall suddenly quieted.

The two men exchanged glances.

Both saw a hint of surprise and doubt in the other's eyes.

This was simply too much of a coincidence.

Half a year ago, Lin Feng, a Disciple of the Lin Family, was killed at the mine, and the killer vanished without a trace.

Half a year later, the main branch of the Lin Family was annihilated and uprooted.

"Old Chen, do you think..."

Liu Jing narrowed his eyes, his finger gently tapping the tabletop: "Could these two incidents have been carried out by the same group of people?"

Chen Qiao pondered for a moment, his brow deeply furrowed, seemingly weighing this possibility.

But soon, he shook his head and laughed wryly: "Old Liu, you must be confused by anger. How could that be possible?"

"Why is it impossible?"

Liu Jing countered, though his confidence was clearly lacking.

"Think about it, the leader who escaped from the mine was, at most, in the Early Stage of Soul Transformation, or perhaps had just recently made a Breakthrough."

Chen Qiao analyzed: "Moreover, that person Ascended from the Lower Realm, their Foundation is unstable, and they don't have any decent Magic Treasures."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sea of clouds in the distance: "And who destroyed the Lin Family?"

"That was a ruthless character capable of breaking the Lin Family's Protective Clan Formation, slaying the Lin Family Old Ancestor, and even causing the Secret Realm to collapse, all overnight!"

"Such methods would require a mighty figure in at least the Void Refining Stage Middle Stage, or even the Late Stage."

Chen Qiao turned around, looked at Liu Jing, and held up a finger: "How much time has passed? At most, just over half a year. Even if that person was a Reincarnation of a Heavenly God, it's impossible for them to jump directly from the Early Stage of Soul Transformation to the Void Refining Stage in such a short time, right?"

"This kind of Cultivation speed, let alone within our Tianyu Holy Land, is unheard of even among the top Prodigies in the Central Continent of the Spirit Realm."

After hearing this analysis, Liu Jing's previously tense nerves finally relaxed.

Indeed, this does not conform to the common sense of the Cultivation World.

Which one of them, when crossing a major Realm, especially a chasm-like barrier like Soul Transformation to Void Refining, doesn't require hundreds or even thousands of years of bitter cultivation and accumulation?

Half a year? That's simply a fantasy.

"You're right, I overthought it."

Liu Jing gave a self-deprecating smile, "I probably got the wrong idea and forced two unrelated incidents together."

"However, we still cannot be careless."

Chen Qiao reminded him, "We still need people to keep a close eye on things. We must find that mysterious person who annihilated the Lin Family. No matter who he is, anyone who dares to touch our cake must pay the price."

"That is natural."

Killing intent flashed in Liu Jing's eyes: "I have already invited the The Black and White Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall to come out. As long as that person is within the jurisdiction of the Tianyu Holy Land, even if he hides in a crack in the ground, I will dig him out!"

The two discussed the details further before parting ways.

They never realized that it was precisely this deeply ingrained “common sense” and arrogance.

That caused them to perfectly miss the only truth.

The so-called darkness under the lamp, nothing more... Time flowed like water, fleeting in an instant.

A month's time might be long for a Mortal, but for a Cultivator.

It is merely the time taken for a few sessions of Meditation and Breathing.

But this month was a world-changing month for Tianxuan City.

Since Chen Xu returned with massive resources, the entire Chen Family was like a shot of adrenaline, operating at an astonishing speed. The cultivation of the Family Disciples advanced by leaps and bounds with the piling up of Medicinal Pills.

The City Protection Grand Formation was completely renewed under Zhao De's non-stop work, and the runes on the city walls flickered day and night.

Emitting a reassuring spiritual light.

And the most eye-catching feature was the colossal structure gradually taking shape in the center of the plaza.

This was a giant Altar a Hundred Zhang high, covered densely with silver Formation Patterns.

Within every pattern flowed liquid Spiritual Power transformed from void star crystals.

Emitting an ethereal, deep blue glow.

At the very top of the Altar, a fist-sized gray stone floated in the air, rotating slowly.

It was like a black hole, greedily devouring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

While simultaneously releasing waves of pure Spatial Fluctuations, twisting and folding the surrounding Void Realm.

tai xu realm stone!

On this day, the originally clear weather above Tianxuan City suddenly turned gloomy.

It was not ordinary dark clouds, but a suffocating lead-gray color.

The heavy cloud layer seemed ready to crush the earth, hanging low above the tip of the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

There was no thunder in the clouds.

Yet, a muffled sound, similar to the low roar of some Giant Beast, faintly emanated from within.

That oppressive feeling made everyone in the city feel as if a large stone was blocking their chest.

Even breathing became difficult.

"What... what is going on?"

Ba Dao, who was commanding the Guards on patrol, stopped, looked up at the sky, his Tiger Eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

He was a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase.

His perception of the Heavenly Dao's Qi Mechanisms was the sharpest.

This was definitely not an ordinary change in weather, but... Heavenly Wrath!

"Those who act against The Heavens will inevitably face Heavenly Retribution."

Chen Daoxuan stood on the high building of the City Lord's Mansion, looking at the figure in the center of the plaza, his palms covered in sweat: "Father is forcibly breaking through the Two Realm Barrier; he is challenging the rules of this world."

Establishing an Inter-Realm Teleportation Formation was inherently a Heaven-Defying act that stole Heavenly Secrets and pierced through the Realm Boundary.

If it were a Holy Land guarded by Old Monsters at the Body Integration Stage or even Mahayana Stage.

They might still be able to use Sect Luck and top-tier Magic Treasures to Conceal Heavenly Secrets.

But the Chen Family was only a small Family that had just gained a foothold in the Barbaric Wilds.

What Chen Xu was doing was equivalent to openly challenging The Heavens: If you won't open this path, I will open it myself!

In the center of the plaza.

Chen Xu was still sitting cross-legged, his Green Robe fluttering without wind.

He seemed completely oblivious to the impending Catastrophe about to descend upon him.

All his attention was immersed in the final procedure of the Formation.

Beside him, Xu Linger's small face was pale, but her eyes were exceptionally determined.

She held a Formation Plate in her hand, constantly injecting her Star Spiritual Power into it.

Assisting Chen Xu in stabilizing the violent Spatial Nodes.

"The final step."

Chen Xu suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of Divine Light shot out, soaring straight into the sky.

"Merge!"

Following his low shout, the tai xu realm stone floating in the air suddenly shone brightly, transforming into a streak of light.

And slammed fiercely into the central groove of the Altar.

"Rumble—!!!"

The moment the tai xu realm stone settled into place, the Tribulation Clouds in the sky finally could no longer hold back.

An immensely thick bolt of Crimson Lightning tore through the heavy clouds, carrying an aura capable of Destroying the Heavens and Annihilating the Earth.

It struck directly down at Chen Xu, and at the newly formed Teleportation Formation!

Before the lightning bolt even landed.

Countless tiny cracks had already been shaken out of the surrounding space.

"Patriarch!"

"Father!"

The Chen Family Clan members in the distance cried out in alarm simultaneously, and many timid ones even closed their eyes.

Daring not to look at this tragic sight.

Facing such a terrifying attack, Chen Xu neither retreated nor dodged.

"A mere Heavenly Dao of the Barbaric Wilds dares to obstruct the path of my Chen Family?"

Chen Xu rose tall, and the terrifying cultivation base of the Void Refining Stage erupted without reservation at this moment.

"Grandmist Dharmic Image, manifest!"

Accompanied by a Soul-shaking roar, a Purple-Gold Giant Phantom, reaching up to The Heavens and standing firm on the earth.

Instantly condensed and took shape behind Chen Xu.

The giant's face was blurred, yet it exuded a Vast and Ancient Aura from the Primordial Era.

It was clad in the sun and moon, with its feet treading upon the stars.

As if it were the only True God between heaven and earth.

Facing the descending Crimson Heavenly Punishment, the Grandmist Dharmic Image merely made one movement.

It raised its enormous palm and slapped fiercely toward the bolt of lightning!

"Bang!"

A tremendous sound echoed, shaking the entirety of Tianxuan City.

That fierce Crimson Lightning bolt was actually forcefully shattered in mid-air by the giant palm.

Turning into arcs of free-floating Electric Arcs that scattered everywhere.

"If I want to open a path, even The Heavens are forbidden to block me!"

Chen Xu's voice was like rolling Heavenly Thunder, echoing in everyone's ears.

He held up the sky with his hands, standing alone.

Enduring the most violent will between heaven and earth.

Seemingly enraged by Chen Xu's provocation, the Tribulation Clouds in the sky churned even more violently, and the thunder sounded as dense as War Drums.

This time, it was no longer a single bolt, but dozens, hundreds of lightning bolts descending simultaneously, turning into a Sea of Thunder.

Seeking to completely obliterate this Ant daring to defy The Heavens.

"A fine sight!"

Chen Xu laughed loudly, and the Grandmist Dharmic Image behind him surged with light, forming an ancient Dharma Seal with its hands.

Transforming into a purple-gold Sky Curtain, covering the entire plaza.

Firmly protecting the Teleportation Formation below.

Allowing the Sea of Thunder to churn and the Heavenly Might to rage.

The purple-gold figure remained standing firm.

Like an eternal monument.

Under Chen Xu's protection, the Teleportation Formation below finally completed its final Fusion.

"Buzz—"

A clear, resonant hum drowned out the thunder filling the sky.

A brilliant silver Light Pillar shot up from the giant Altar.

It ignored the distance of space and the obstruction of the Tribulation Clouds.

Like a sharp sword, it directly pierced the Firmament!

Under the impact of the silver light, the originally heavy Tribulation Clouds rapidly melted away and dispersed.

Sunlight once again shone upon the land of Tianxuan City.

The wind stopped, and the thunder ceased.

The silver Light Pillar lingered for a long time before finally transforming into a massive swirling Light Gate.

Steadily suspended above the Altar.

Inter-Realm Teleportation Formation, complete!

In the plaza, Chen Xu slowly retracted his Dharma Idol, his face slightly pale.

But his eyes were filled with joy.

He looked at the slowly rotating Light Gate, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Starting today, Tianxuan City is no longer a Barbaric Wilds Isolated Island."

Meanwhile, in Zhenyuan City.

The news that the Lin Family had vanished overnight not only shook the surrounding Cultivation World but also made every Cultivator in the city feel their scalp tingle.

The streets, which were originally bustling and lively, now looked somewhat desolate.

The Loose Cultivators who used to talk loudly now spoke in hushed tones, afraid that a wrong word might bring about Disaster.

The former site of the Lin Family, a massive Deep Pit several miles in circumference, lay across the center of the city.

A few wisps of black smoke carrying a burnt smell occasionally emerged from the bottom of the pit.

That was the lingering heat from the Spatial Turbulence, which persisted for a long time.

Ordinarily, this place was listed as a Forbidden Ground by the City Lord's Mansion, and no one was strictly allowed to approach.

But today, this ruin welcomed several Uninvited Guests.

Two streaks of Escape Light, one black and one white, like meteors streaking across the sky, recklessly tore through the Sky Restriction Formation above Zhenyuan City and landed directly on the edge of the Deep Pit.

"Who goes there! How dare you..."

The few City Lord's Mansion Guards responsible for guarding the area were about to shout a reprimand, but before they could finish, their throats were frozen by an invisible chill.

They realized in horror that they couldn't even move a finger, and could only watch helplessly as the two figures landed.

They were two extremely bizarre-looking Old Men.

The one on the left was wearing a ghastly white Mourning Robe, tall and thin like a bamboo pole, his face so white it looked like it was covered in a thick layer of white powder, and he held a mourning stick in his hand.

The one on the right was wearing a wide, ink-black Robe, and was short and stout.

He wore a Mask on his face that seemed to be smiling yet not smiling.

In his hands, he rotated two Beads polished from the Skulls of unknown creatures.

The moment these two stood there, the surrounding temperature dropped instantly.

It was as if the air itself was filled with the Stench of Decaying Corpses.

"Cough, cough..."

A slight coughing sound came, and the Current City Lord of Zhenyuan City, a powerhouse at the Middle Stage of Refinement Void.

Appeared from the Void Realm.

The Lord City Lord, usually profound in majesty, now had cold sweat covering his head.

He quickly walked up to the two men, bowed deeply, his tone revealing an unconcealable sense of awe.

One could even say fear.

"Zhao Wuji, City Lord of Zhenyuan City, greets the The Black and White Elders."