340: Chapter 34 The Great Formation!

East World.

A secluded valley shrouded in dense, swirling mist.

A slender figure stood silently among the jagged rocks, her entire body enveloped in a faint red halo.

It formed a strange contrast with the surrounding lush ancient trees and gurgling streams.

Liu Ruyan was draped in a magnificent Phoenix Feather Raiment; the golden-red feathers upon it were lifelike, flowing with a sacred and scorching aura, as if real flames were dancing within them.

In her hand, she held a longsword that was crimson throughout, its blade faintly revealing phoenix patterns.

At this moment, she was completely different from her usual cold and aloof self.

Between her brows flowed a natural air of nobility and majesty. When her eyes opened and closed, it was as if a phantom phoenix flickered past, and her body radiated a massive, sharp aura.

She raised her head slightly, looking at the emerald formation diagram's grand silhouette in the sky, and parted her red lips slightly:

“The Hidden Dragon Assembly has ended. The karma of this place is temporarily concluded.

I need to continue my secluded cultivation to refine the true blood within my body. The remaining matters are left to you.”

As her voice fell, the suffocatingly massive pressure around her receded rapidly like a tide.

The noble divine light burning in her eyes quietly faded, and the majesty between her brows melted away like ice and snow.

In its place was that familiar, cold temperament, carrying a hint of detachment and tenacity.

In just a single breath, her temperament shifted, making her seem like a completely different person.

“Phew...”

Liu Ruyan gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling that scorching and vast power deep within her body submerge once more, returning to tranquility.

She looked down at the crimson longsword gripped in her hand; a slight warmth came from the hilt, as if in response.

Immediately after, she turned her gaze toward the depths of the valley.

There, an unremarkable blue-gray stone tablet stood silently. Its surface was mottled, carved with four large characters—Tomb of Cang Yue.

Liu Ruyan paused before the tablet, falling silent for a moment.

“Cang Yue,”

“The Fire Lizard of the Fire Lizard Clan, I have slain him for you.

He was wounded by Long Yin's hand, and I took advantage of the situation. It wasn't glorious, but in the end, I made him pay with his life.

You helped me find the Ancient Phoenix Essence Blood; this time... we are even.”

Liu Ruyan bowed slightly to the stone tablet as a final farewell.

“The grievances are settled.”

Liu Ruyan murmured softly.

Suddenly, the purification ring on her wrist grew slightly warm, emitting a soft emerald-green light.

Following that, the green light from the formation diagram's phantom in the sky fell like rain, enveloping her body.

Liu Ruyan did not resist, letting the green light wrap around her.

Soon, her figure gradually faded in the valley, finally vanishing without a trace.

Only that solitary grave remained, standing silently in the valley.

...

Northern World.

Qin Yan looked up at the emerald formation diagram covering a hundred miles in the sky. Rain of light fell rustlingly, staining his lapels.

“The Hidden Dragon Assembly has finally ended.”

He sighed deeply, his tone lacking much sentiment, instead carrying a sense of calm as the dust settled.

For him, these three months were far more than just a trial.

It was an awakening, a struggle, a scheme, and a harvest.

From the cautiousness when first entering Canglin Ancient Peak to the strategic dominance in the later stages;

Obtaining Xiao Hei, gaining the supreme grade blood pill, and reforging his constitution;

Taking the Holy Grail, gaining Profound Truth, acquiring spirit weapons, fighting the True King Descendant, and killing Feng Jin...

Every step was taken on the edge of a blade.

Every step was accompanied by a leap in strength.

He had gained a basic understanding of the Indestructible Blood Demon Scripture, his constitution was growing steadily, he had Xiao Hei—a natal demon plant with infinite potential—six growth-type Blood Puppet, the massive resources left by Feng Jin, and the staggering 1.55 million points on his wrist...

The harvest was truly too great.

So great that he needed time to digest and settle it all.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Xue Ye, who was still unconscious beside him.

He lifted him with one hand and walked toward the center of the clearing.

The green glow, like gauze, gently wrapped around the two of them.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only the gentle hum of spatial laws.

...

The Elf Clan Ancestral Land!

Qin Yan's vision blurred, and immediately after, the sensation of treading on solid ground returned.

Focusing his gaze, he saw that he was standing in an extremely vast clearing.

Fresh air rushed toward him, mixed with the unique fragrance of soil and spiritual plants.

It was completely different from the bloody and primitive aura that permeated Canglin Ancient Peak.

In the sky, a complex and profound emerald-green great array was slowly rotating high above.

The great array shone brilliantly, scattering countless shimmering green lights, like the gentlest spiritual rain in spring.

As each green light touched the ground, it transformed into a returning prodigy.

At this moment, the clearing was already crowded with figures as the prodigies of various clans appeared one after another.

Their faces bore the relief of surviving a disaster, the joy of a bountiful harvest, or the sorrow of losing companions; all the varied states of life converged here.

“I'm finally out.”

Just as Qin Yan steadied himself and prepared to find the Elf Clan team's location.

The purification ring on his wrist suddenly vibrated slightly, letting out a low hum.

Then, it detached from Qin Yan's wrist on its own, as if pulled by an invisible thread, transforming into an emerald light that floated lightly toward the sky.

Qin Yan's gaze sharpened, and he looked up.

He saw thousands of similar emerald lights rising from the clearing.

Like raindrops flying backward, or a hundred rivers returning to the sea, they all converged toward the great array high in the sky.

Those were the purification rings of all the returning prodigies!

Densely packed spots of light intertwined and circled in the air, forming a spectacular sight.

After all the purification rings flew to a certain height below the great array, they hung suspended in mid-air.

Then, every jade ring began to vibrate slightly, and wisps of black aura, some thick and some thin, rose from their surfaces.

These auras were full of evil, and one could even vaguely see bloodiness and baleful energy.

The green light of the great array in the sky flowed, pouring down an even denser purification light, like an invisible waterfall washing down.

When that turbid air escaping from the purification rings touched this pure green light, it made a faint 'chi-chi' sound.

It was rapidly washed, purified, and dismantled.

Ultimately, it transformed into the purest spiritual energy and green light, feeding back into the great array itself, making the formation's light more solid and its flow ceaseless.

“So that's how it is.”

Qin Yan's eyes flickered with understanding.

“It seems this purification ring isn't just for recording points; it can also absorb the 'evil energy' or demonic energy left behind when the prodigies kill Evil Spirits in Canglin Ancient Peak?

Finally, they are collected and recycled to feed back the energy that maintains the great array's operation. What an ingenious design, killing multiple birds with one stone.”

The Elf Clan holding the Hidden Dragon Assembly and inviting prodigies from all clans to compete in Canglin Ancient Peak was likely not as simple as just selecting talents.

This interlocking design must have deeper considerations and exchanges of interests behind it.

However, these were not things he needed to look into deeply for the moment.

“Ugh... where am I?”

Beside him, Xue Ye finally opened his eyes slowly.

He felt his head was groggy, and his memory was still stuck at the moment before he was knocked unconscious by Qin Yan.

He subconsciously touched the back of his neck, where a trace of slight pain seemed to remain.