275: Chapter 273 It's All Your Fault

The entire airspace instantly returned to silence.

Yuan Chen maintained his calm posture of having just flicked his finger, standing quietly on the spot. In his deep, dark eyes, a rare trace of genuine astonishment and surprise flashed by.

Experts were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river, countless in number. Some were arrogant and wild, refusing to retreat even in death; some were cowardly, kneeling and begging for mercy; some were stubborn, putting on a brave face to save their pride. Yet, he had never seen anyone act like Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao.

She got angry quickly, struck ruthlessly, admitted defeat quickly, and ran away very efficiently.

From her angry shout and strike, the hammer shadow breaking through the air, to her technique being shattered by his flick of the finger and realizing the gap in their strength, and finally crushing the teleportation talisman to flee—the entire process took less than two seconds.

There was no hesitation, no wishful thinking or stubbornness, and no entanglement in battle. If she could win, she would strike to punish; if she couldn't, she would turn and run immediately. Her Heart-Nature was steady, her decisions ruthless, and her rationality was almost cold.

Even Yuan Chen, who had seen his fair share of storms, was slightly shocked by her extremely decisive and thoroughly efficient way of running away.

The next instant, that trace of astonishment completely faded, replaced by an increasingly rich, heartfelt amusement.

Yuan Chen chuckled softly, his voice gentle and elegant, carrying a touch of mockery and interest: "Interesting, truly an extremely interesting little girl."

Beside him, Fortune Spirit couldn't help but tug on the cuff of Yuan Chen's brocade robe, shaking its body, and asking incessantly with a confused expression.

"Yuan Chen! Yuan Chen!"

"She ran away! She just vanished like that! Why aren't you chasing her?"

Fortune Spirit opened its pair of clear, pure eyes: "She was just so fierce a moment ago, and clearly couldn't beat you, yet she ran so fast! With your strength, wouldn't it be easy to cross the territory and chase her down to bring her back? Why let her go! You pervert, this doesn't seem like you!"

"..."

"Can't catch her, and no need to chase."

Yuan Chen explained patiently, slowly opening his mouth to clear up the confusion: "She must have crushed a high-level teleportation talisman, a directional cross-territory shift, instantly escaping this fragmented void. Its trajectory is untraceable, and the distance far exceeds my range of instantaneous pursuit."

"Most importantly, there's no need."

Yuan Chen's gaze looked towards the deep void in the distance, his tone carrying a sense of certain control: "It won't be long before we meet again."

"Since we are destined to meet, why should I waste time and effort chasing her across boundaries, only to exert myself for nothing?"

"But... just letting her go like this feels like a loss. She just saw through my weaknesses and played dirty by camping the boundary. I haven't even vented my anger yet."

"There will be opportunities."

Fortune Spirit pouted, still unconvinced: "Fine!"

"She is too smart, camping the boundary without advancing or retreating. I can't hit her, and she can provoke me at any time. I'm so frustrated! Otherwise, with my ability, I could have easily pinned her down with a single palm within the territory. How could it be her turn to be arrogant!"

Yuan Chen listened quietly to its complaints, understanding in his heart.

Fortune Spirit's shackles were, after all, limited by the territory of heaven and earth; there was no solution or way to break them.

He would have to think of a way later.

Putting this matter aside for now, Yuan Chen sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness and opened the latest reward interface left by the System yesterday.

Yesterday, some wife who had left the Imperial Dynasty gave birth to a newborn with excellent Luck, triggering the System's Heavenly Dao reward. However, he had been busy Cultivating yesterday and hadn't checked it in time.

Opening it now, a brilliant golden Formation diagram instantly appeared in his Sea of Consciousness, every word clear, Dao aura flowing, profoundly mysterious.

[Formation Name: Equalizing Boundary-Suppressing Array]

[Formation Grade: Heavens-Top-Tier Territory-Suppressing Array]

[Formation Core Effect: Seal Heaven and Earth, Level Realms, Unify Combat Power! Within the range of the active Formation, it forcibly suppresses the cultivation of all Cultivators. Below the Immortal King Realm, all Realm gaps are leveled, and combat power is unified according to the levels defined by the Formation area. No one is an exception, no one can transcend it.]

[Formation Characteristics: Absolute Fairness, Rule Locking, Seal Rifts, Isolate Outer Domains. Can freely define Formation area levels based on provided resources, and can suppress Realms by zone.]

[Formation Drawbacks: The consumption of resources for setting up the Formation is terrifyingly huge; massive amounts of Heaven And Earth Treasure, Origin Spirit Stones, and Luck Essence are all indispensable.]

The moment he saw the effects of the Formation, even Yuan Chen, with his calm Heart-Nature and experience with storms, had a flash of brilliance in his eyes, and a feeling of extreme joy and satisfaction surged in his heart.

It was truly a timely help!

This was exactly the Heaven-Defying Formation he needed most right now, and the one most suited to the current situation in Canglan Domain!

Now that the chaotic times had descended upon Canglan Domain, spatial rifts from outside the domain were emerging one after another, and there was always the risk of foreign Cultivators and foreign demons invading across boundaries. The biggest hidden danger was that the levels of foreign experts were unknown and their combat power was uncertain. Once a high-level master broke in, the local Prodigies of Canglan Domain would be unable to resist, and the defensive line of heaven and earth would instantly collapse.

But if this Equalizing Boundary-Suppressing Array were set up, all hidden dangers would be completely eradicated!

By setting up the great Formation outside the rifts, whenever anyone from outside the domain stepped across the boundary, they would instantly have their Realms leveled and combat power suppressed by the Formation's rules. Regardless of whether you are a Peak Dou Emperor, a Heavens-level master, or a Void Realm overlord, once you enter the Formation, you will fight on equal terms!

At that time, the advantage of the foreign experts' superior levels would be completely nullified. The local Prodigies of Canglan Domain could utilize the Formation's venue to train freely, polish their combat power, and accumulate combat experience. This would not only resist foreign invasions and Cultivate top-tier local combat power, but also completely protect the Foundation of the Canglan Domain plane, preventing high-level foreign enemies from destroying the world and the land!

The only drawback was that setting up the Formation consumed massive amounts of resources, enough to empty the entire Foundation of an ordinary Great Thousand plane.

But for Yuan Chen, who ruled the Daming Imperial City, possessed the entire Luck of Canglan Domain, and had accumulated endless resources, this was not a shortcoming at all; it was completely not worth mentioning.

"A good Formation, truly a magnificent Formation!"

Yuan Chen secretly praised in his heart, his mouth unable to help but curl into a satisfied smile.

He immediately calmed his mind, devoting himself entirely to the study of the Formation diagram. The mysterious Dao aura, the layout of the Formation, the structural framework of the rules, and the arrangement of the points of the Heavens' top-tier great Formation were all spread out, dismantled, and mastered in his mind.

Yuan Chen was already proficient in the Formations of heaven and earth and the rules of planes, with a deep Foundation and Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability. Aided by the perfect Legacy of the System's diagram, in just a short while, he had completely grasped all the essence of the Equalizing Boundary-Suppressing Array. The techniques for setting up the Formation, the arrangement of the Formation Eyes, the division of levels, and the locking of rules were all completely understood.

Yuan Chen's gaze was firm, and he had already decided on the plan in his heart: "I will set up this great Formation entirely around the periphery of all spatial rifts in the Eastern Wasteland, sealing the entrances and exits of the rifts in all directions. The next time a rift opens, as soon as someone from outside the domain steps across, they will be directly trapped by the Formation, their Realms locked, and their combat power leveled."

"From then on, there will be no danger of high-level crushing from outside the domain, and the locals will have a place for Prodigies to train. It kills two birds with one stone."

Having made up his mind, Yuan Chen withdrew his consciousness and turned to look at Fortune Spirit, who was still muttering and full of frustration on the side, and ordered in a calm tone: "I am going to the Eastern Wasteland rifts to set up the Boundary-Suppressing Array. It will take more than ten days. I leave the internal affairs of the territory to you; do not leave your post without authorization."

Fortune Spirit was furious when it heard this: "Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't, alright!"

Yuan Chen nodded slightly and said no more. With a wave of his hand, the Imperial City treasury opened, and endless Origin Spirit Stones, Heaven And Earth Treasure, Boundary-Suppressing rare materials, and Luck Essence surged like a roaring river, gathering before him, piling up like a mountain, with spiritual light soaring into the sky.

Massive amounts of resources floated in the void, the brilliant golden light illuminating the sky for ten thousand miles. The majestic Foundation of resources was enough to shock all Cultivators in the world.

The next instant, Yuan Chen moved, carrying the endless Formation resources with him, transforming into a golden stream of light, speeding through the air, heading straight for the locations of the spatial rifts throughout the Eastern Wasteland.

The Eastern Wasteland was vast, with rifts everywhere and hidden dangers lurking. There were dozens of foreign spatial rifts of various sizes scattered across the entire Eastern Wasteland.

Over the next ten-plus days, Yuan Chen worked day and night, personally overseeing the process, traveling to every rift point in the Eastern Wasteland.

Surveying the terrain, locking the Formation bases, arranging the Formation Eyes, carving Dao patterns, integrating resources, and locking the rules.

Around the periphery of every rift, he carefully set up the Equalizing Boundary-Suppressing Array, and according to the size of the rift and the degree of danger from outside the domain, he finely divided the different levels of the Formation area.

The Formation was inverse; the lower the suppressed Realm, the higher the level of the Formation. The levels were distinct, the rules clear, and it possessed both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Massive resources were consumed frantically, countless Heaven And Earth Treasure were smelted into the Formation bases, and endless Luck Essence solidified the Formation patterns. In just over ten days, the resources consumed were enough to bankrupt ten top-tier Sects instantly.

But the effect was also immediate and incredibly Heaven-Defying.

All foreign rifts in the entire Eastern Wasteland were completely sealed and covered by the great Formation. It looked calm and normal, but in reality, the rules inside were strict, combat power was locked, and traps were everywhere.

Yuan Chen, in his simple brocade robe, was spotless, his expression calm and indifferent. He walked back from the sky of the Eastern Wasteland, crossing a thousand miles of void in an instant, and landed steadily in the Zichen Hall of the Daming Imperial City.

Inside the hall, the burly, honest, and steady Niu Dadu was already waiting there. Seeing Yuan Chen return, he immediately stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, you have returned."

Yuan Chen nodded slightly, his tone flat, and directly ordered: "The Boundary-Suppressing Array for all rifts in the Eastern Wasteland has been completed. From now on, all foreign rifts in the Eastern Wasteland have become exclusive training grounds for local Prodigies."

"Immediately, in my name, announce this to the world. Send messages to all Sects, noble families, and Imperial Dynasty forces throughout the Eastern Wasteland of Canglan Domain, and publicly display the Formation rules, training levels, and restricted areas to the world."

Niu Dadu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly replied: "As you command, Your Majesty!"

Yuan Chen slowly added the details, clear and comprehensive: "Tell the Cultivators of the world that all rift training grounds will suppress Realms by zone..."

"Allow all Prodigies in the world to spontaneously go there to train, challenge levels, kill, and accumulate combat experience against those from outside the domain. Anyone who kills an enemy in the rifts can record their battle merits and exchange them with the Imperial Dynasty for high-level resources, Cultivation Technique treasures, and Imperial Dynasty titles."

"You should also establish the Merit Pavilion while you're at it."

Niu Dadu was stirred by what he heard and hurriedly bowed to accept the order: "This subordinate will immediately announce it to the world!"

As the words fell, Niu Dadu turned and stepped out of the Zichen Hall, letting people quickly spread the news.

"Proclaim to the world!"

"His Majesty has personally set up the Heavens-level Boundary-Suppressing Array, sealing all foreign spatial rifts in the Eastern Wasteland! From now on, the rifts will be free from the threat of high-level foreign enemy invasions, and the entire region has become a Holy Land for local Prodigies to train!"

"Inside the Formation, Realms are forcibly unified, layered suppression is applied, and fair competition is enforced!"

"Anyone who slays foreign races from outside the territory or clears out foreign threats within the Formation will be credited with Imperial Dynasty battle achievements. They may proceed to the Merit Pavilion to exchange them for Heaven And Earth Treasures, Supreme Cultivation Techniques, and rewards from the Supreme!"

"Private duels and damaging the Formation are strictly prohibited; violators will be severely punished without exception! All Prodigies under heaven, whether Loose Cultivators or from Sect forces, may voluntarily go there to train and compete!"

The Imperial Edict spread by word of mouth across every territory, every city, and every Sect of the Eastern Wasteland!

The entire Eastern Wasteland was instantly in an uproar of excitement, celebrating across the land!

The inter-territorial rifts were like swords hanging over the heads of all Cultivators, with the constant threat of cross-border invasions, demonic chaos, and powerful beings slaughtering worlds.

Everyone lived in fear day after day, terrified that the rifts would open wide and powerful enemies would descend.

Now, the Supreme has personally laid down a Heaven-Defying Formation, leveling the playing field of Realms, locking down foreign enemies, turning disaster into Opportunity, and transforming the deadly rifts into a training ground for Prodigies. This can be called an unprecedented act of great virtue and a massive blessing!

In an instant, the Prodigies of the Five Regions were all stirred up. Forces everywhere spread the news and discussed it fervently; the entire Canglan Domain was bustling with noise and excitement.

"My god! The Supreme is too Heaven-Defying! He actually turned the inter-territorial rifts into a training ground? I wouldn't even dare to dream of such a move!"

"In the past, my legs would go weak just hearing the word 'rift,' and I would hide far away, terrified that some foreign expert would pop out and swallow me whole! Now it's great; the rift has become a monster-grinding dungeon!"

"The key is that the Realms are leveled, brothers! Absolute fairness! No need to fear those old monsters crushing us across levels anymore! Competing within the same Realm is all about technique, movement, and tactics! This is the true battlefield for Prodigies!"

A chubby Pill Sect Disciple rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement: "I have bitterly cultivated the Golden Core Realm for many years, and I am almost invincible within the same Realm! Before, there was nowhere to fight, and I dared not provoke strong enemies. Now, I'll rush straight to the rift! Grinding foreign forces, saving up battle achievements, and exchanging them for high-grade Medicinal Pills—it's going to be wonderful!"

The Senior Brother beside him laughed and teased: "You call that bitter cultivation? You just lack the strength to advance further."

Elders and Sect Masters from all the top Sects gathered to discuss, feeling both happy and worried.

"In the past, the inter-territorial rifts were world-ending disasters, but now they are Holy Lands for nurturing soldiers and Prodigies. If this continues, one day we will launch a counter-attack, and the resources then—tsk tsk tsk!"

"Quickly pass the order to all the Prodigies in the Sect to go train in batches. Do not be greedy for success or act rashly; steadily accumulate battle strength and deepen your Heart-Nature!"

"It's just that... in the future, Prodigies might only know about the Imperial Dynasty's Merit Pavilion, and their sense of belonging to the Sect... well, never mind, such is the trend."

In that moment, Prodigies from all sides flexed their muscles and prepared themselves, waiting only to rush to the Eastern Wasteland rifts and begin a new path of training and competition.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in the ruins of Shuibo, the atmosphere was the exact opposite of the bustling Canglan Domain prosperity; it was heavy and oppressive.

The bloody light of the teleportation slowly landed, and a figure in a green dress quietly appeared. Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao stepped out of the teleportation passage, her cool and aloof face still covered in a layer of faint frost, with lingering anger and solemnity hidden in the depths of her eyes.

As soon as she landed, the people of Shuibo immediately swarmed around her, their expressions urgent and filled with worry.

Chieftain Song He stepped forward quickly, cupping his hands and bowing, his tone full of concern and probing: "Senior Ling Tianjiao, you have returned! Did it go smoothly? Did you find any clues about your father? Is that Yuan Chen of the Daming Dynasty dead?"

Mei Yong also hurried forward, asking in a low voice: "Senior, Yuan Chen is unfathomable. Did you encounter any danger? Did you suffer any losses?"

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao's eyes were cold as she swept them over the crowd, speaking indifferently. Her voice was calm and waveless, yet carried an unquestionable certainty: "My father is still alive, held under house arrest by Yuan Chen in the Daming Imperial City."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was slightly stunned, then immediately cheered.

"That's great! Elder Ling is safe and sound; this is truly wonderful news!"

"How fortunate, how fortunate! As long as he is alive, there is hope for everything!"

But before their joy could spread, Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao's next sentence instantly caused the atmosphere to freeze.

"But Yuan Chen's strength is unfathomable, far exceeding my estimates. With my current individual battle strength, I am simply unable to contend with him, let alone rescue anyone by force."

Chieftain Song He's expression changed slightly, and he hurried forward, probing: "Senior... what do you mean?"

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao nodded slightly: "I will return immediately to seek reinforcements."

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao's eyes turned cold: "As for you all..."

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao had already raised her hand and flipped it; a pile of Medicinal Pills, black as ink, with strange spiritual light and a chilling aura, instantly appeared in her palm.

The Medicinal Pills were pitch black with sinister patterns, emitting a faint aura of death. Just being near them made one's whole body cold and their Meridians sting.

"This is the Heart-Locking Bone-Eroding Poison Pill."

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao's voice was cold and piercing, each word icy: "It is non-toxic if you do not act up. If you behave and stay here, you will be safe. But anyone who leaves the territory of Shuibo without authorization or spreads the news that there is a rift here, wait for death."

"If one person violates this order, everyone will be buried with them."

When these words fell, everyone present instantly turned pale, their bodies icy cold, and an extreme chill shot from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads.

Chieftain Song He's pupils contracted, his face instantly turning deathly pale, and he waved his hands in refusal: "Senior! No! You absolutely cannot do this!"

"We have already sincerely submitted and sworn to follow you to the death; we have no disloyal thoughts! Why is there a need to take poison to swear an oath? Senior, doing this is too distrustful of us!"

Mei Yong also hurried forward to persuade her: "Senior, we all surrendered in desperate circumstances and have long entrusted our lives to you; we would never dare to have any disloyal thoughts! The poison pills are dangerous, so please take them back! We will swear an oath with our Divine Souls never to betray you!"

Qilin frowned tightly and said in a deep voice: "Senior! Taking poison is too harsh; please withdraw this order, otherwise!"

Slap! A palm struck out: "Otherwise what?"

Qilin lowered his head and said nothing.

"I do not believe in verbal oaths. Either take the poison and wait, or all of you will be executed right now and perish on the spot. Choose one; you choose for yourselves."

Chieftain Song He's face turned green and then white. In his heart, he was both fearful and angry, feeling all sorts of grievances, yet he dared not offer the slightest resistance.

The Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao before them possessed battle strength that crushed them all. Her nature was cold and hard, and she was decisive in killing—she was definitely not someone to be trifled with. If they truly angered her, they would all surely die here today, without a doubt.

Chieftain Song He gritted his teeth and pleaded: "Senior! We have sincerely submitted, with absolutely no disloyal thoughts! Your approach is too overbearing!"

"Then will you eat it or not?"

"We will eat!"

The pitch-black Medicinal Pills flew into the air and landed with perfect precision at the lips of the nine people, sliding down their throats into their stomachs.

"Ugh!"

Everyone groaned simultaneously. A bone-chilling cold instantly surged through their bodies, their Meridians felt slightly numb, their Divine Souls were faintly locked, and a fatal sense of crisis instantly enveloped them.

Once the poison pills entered their bodies, they instantly merged into their Bloodlines and took root in their Divine Souls, lurking silently within. They did not take effect immediately, but everyone clearly perceived that their lives were henceforth completely in the hands of Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao.

The spiritual power restriction dissipated. Everyone staggered and steadied themselves, each face pale and eyes dim. They were filled with grievance, unwillingness, and fear, yet no one dared to speak out in resistance again.

Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao swept her cold eyes over the crowd and warned in a deep voice: "Behave yourselves. On the day I return, I may grant you the antidote, lift the shackles of the poison pills, and restore your freedom."

The crowd lowered their heads in silence, their faces gloomy, their hearts filled with grievance but daring not to speak.

After finishing all this, Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao had no more worries.

She took one last look in the direction of the Daming Imperial City, a trace of solemnity and determination flashing in her eyes.

Yuan Chen's strength was too terrifying; it was definitely not something she could currently contend with. To rescue her father, she must return to the outside territory, seek reinforcements from the Sect, and gather experts before she could come back to Canglan Domain to break the situation head-on, confront the Supreme, and rescue him.

"You all stay here and wait for my return."

Leaving behind this final instruction, Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao did not linger. She turned and stepped away, crushing another high-grade teleportation talisman. The blood-colored light instantly enveloped her, and with a flash of her figure, she headed straight toward the direction of the rift.

Not until that cool, green-dressed figure had completely disappeared and the teleportation fluctuations had completely dissipated did the entire Shuibo ruin return to silence.

The tense atmosphere completely relaxed, and the crowd, having been suppressed for so long, could no longer hold back. They instantly exploded, their faces full of grievance as they complained madly.

"This is bullying! This is truly going too far!"

Yu Qi had the fieriest temper and was the first to explode in rage, his face full of grievance and hatred: "We have already sincerely submitted and bowed down to her! Yet she still forcibly fed us poison!"

Rong Geer sighed softly: "We were seeking Opportunity, but now it's great; we didn't get the Opportunity, but instead, we've completely thrown our lives away..."

Wu Yang clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he said in a deep voice: "What a humiliation! It would have been better to fight her to the death. If it weren't for you holding me back, Brother Yang Chi, I would have died to tear a piece of flesh off her!"

Yang Chi: "???" Did I hold you back? I suppose I must have?

Yu Er sighed and shook his head: "I originally thought that by latching onto the thigh of a foreign Prodigy, we could make a comeback, but look at the result..."

Yu Wu smiled bitterly: "The most ridiculous thing is that we don't even have the qualifications to resist. We can't beat her, and we can't escape. We can only obediently accept our fate and be at her mercy; it would have been better not to come back."

Mei Yong forced a smile: "Don't be too pessimistic. Didn't she say she would come back? When she returns, we'll be fine. And since we submitted early, the people of Xuan Continent shouldn't take action against us either."

Chieftain Song He stood at the very front, his face as gloomy as water.

After a long time, Chieftain Song He let out a deep breath of stale air, his voice hoarse and heavy: "Stop complaining, all of you."

"Things have reached this point, and the die is cast. The poison pills are in our bodies, and our Divine Souls are locked. Complaining or being unwilling is of no use."

"The only way to survive right now is to behave obediently, guard this place to the death, and wait for her to return so we can try to get the antidote. If anyone dares to disobey even a little, you will only end up with your Divine Souls destroyed and no corpse left."

"It's all your fault!"

Just as everyone was sighing, a low voice of complaint rang out from the crowd.

Chieftain Song He turned his head abruptly, his gaze piercing: "Who was it? Stand out."