194: Chapter 194 Be Cautious Again

Black Water Marsh, a place of extreme peril.

Dark green miasma shrouded it year-round, and the decaying swamp bubbled with toxic gas, swallowing any living creature that stepped in carelessly.

The towering ancient trees were twisted like ghost claws, their branches and leaves black as ink, exuding an ominous aura. Though rich in resources, producing highly toxic spiritual plants and rare minerals, it was also infested with fierce fourth and fifth-rank Yao Beasts, making it a famous chaotic region in southeastern Cangwu.

Due to its danger and its special location bordering several cultivation nations, it had never been truly controlled by any single power.

Now, however, this deathly silent swamp had gained a rare sense of "human" activity. In the peripheral areas filled with toxic miasma, small squads of Cultivators from fifth and sixth-rank cultivation nations could be vaguely seen, forming defensive Formations, clearing out rampaging Yao Beasts, or repairing damaged purification Formation bases.

Further away, a few small Sect Cultivators plagued by the devilish disaster were cautiously setting up warning Formations, their faces filled with exhaustion and vigilance.

Lin Xiwei hovered above a relatively dry black rock plateau, her moon-white shark-silk dress fluttering in the breeze. Her cold, clear eyes were fixed on the spatial rift ahead, her brows knitted.

Lu Changning stood slightly behind her, her lotus-colored dress looking somewhat dim in the miasma. She looked at Lin Xiwei, her small face filled with worry: "Junior Sister, this rift..."

Lin Xiwei did not answer. Her fingertips were unconsciously calculating, and deep within her eyes, countless star-track silver patterns seemed to be rapidly flowing and deducing.

Having been immersed for too long in the peaceful, paradise-like environment of the Moonshadow Sect—the Sect's powerful protection, the omnipotent image of her Revered Master, and the unreserved trust of her fellow sisters—had almost made her forget this instinct engraved deep within her Soul.

That extreme caution born from being hunted to death in her previous life and remaining constantly wary of unknown dangers after her Rebirth.

But at this moment, facing this spatial rift connected to another world full of malice, that vigilance numbed by comfort surged forth once again!

A world! Opposite this was an unknown, hostile world! Any negligence could lead to absolute ruin!

"Changning, stay alert."

Lin Xiwei's voice was as cold as ice. Then, she spread the fingers of her right hand, and her Lifebound Treasure, the "nine palaces talisman array disk," instantly appeared in her palm. Runes swirled on the disk's surface, and its light flared brilliantly!

"Assemble!"

With a clear shout, the nine palaces talisman array disk suddenly disintegrated, transforming into nine streams of light that shot out in all directions. Lin Xiwei's hands moved like butterflies, her fingertips sketching spiritual patterns containing the supreme principles of the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

With the spatial rift as the center, within a radius of several miles, countless invisible Formation base nodes were instantly lit up and connected.

The nine streams of light suddenly erupted with blinding radiance, transforming into nine phantoms of Formation Flags of varying shapes. Runes jumped across the flag surfaces, drawing upon the Earth's Evil Qi and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, instantly forming the first layer of the "nine palaces devil-locking Formation."

The fluctuations of Spiritual Qi were forcibly suppressed, and the rift's expansion seemed to come to a standstill.

But this was only the beginning!

Lin Xiwei's movements did not stop. Her slender hands waved continuously, and Formation Plates, Formation Flags, and jade talismans flashing with various spiritual lights flew out from her storage ring like a torrential rain.

Massive amounts of spiritual power were crazily injected; the earth shook, and the Void Realm hummed.

Departing Fire Burning Heaven Formation! Ice Prison Absolute Formation! Wood Binding Dragon Formation! Geng Metal Breaking Evil Formation! Thick Earth Mountain-Suppressing Formation! ...

Layer upon layer, interlinked fifth-rank Soul Transformation-level Formations were crazily stacked and nested outside the nine palaces devil-locking Formation as if they cost nothing.

Runes transformed into roaring fire Dragons, screeching ice Phoenixes, entangling giant vines, sharp sword rain, heavy mountain phantoms...

The spiritual light of various Formations intertwined and flashed, illuminating the entire area in a bizarre and colorful way. The terrifying pressure made the poisonous insects and Yao Beasts in the distant swamp tremble and flee in panic.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Xiwei had single-handedly set up a full thirty-six layers of Soul Transformation-level composite Formations around the spatial rift! The precious Formation base Materials consumed were enough to bankrupt several fifth-rank Sects.

Lu Changning watched from the side, dumbfounded, her small mouth slightly agape, almost wide enough to fit a spiritual fruit.

She looked at her Junior Sister's cold, focused side profile, and the dazzling, layered Formation light that seemed to want to lock down the very heavens and earth, with only one thought in her mind:

Junior Sister... isn't this a bit... a bit too exaggerated? This setup is enough to deal with a Body Integration True Saint, right?

"Jun... Junior Sister?"

Lu Changning spoke cautiously, "Is... is so many Formations, won't it..."

"Not enough."

Lin Xiwei did not turn her head, her voice resolute. I should set up a few sixth-rank Formations first...

Suddenly, her eyes locked onto the spatial rift shrouded by the layers of Formation light, and a warning sign flashed in her heart.

"Something... feels wrong."

Before the words left her lips!

Boom—!!!

The spatial rift, heavily suppressed by thirty-six Soul Transformation Formations, suddenly erupted with a terrifying devilish might far exceeding the Soul Transformation level! Purple-black Devilish Qi surged out like a tangible giant wave, instantly crashing against the innermost layer of the nine palaces devil-locking Formation!

Crack! Crack-crack!

Several Formation Flag phantoms shattered upon impact! The entire composite Formation group swayed violently!

A massive figure shrouded in thick black-purple Devilish Qi forcibly tore through the spatial rift and descended aggressively.

It was nearly three zhang tall, its devilish body covered in hideous bone armor, with curved single horns on its head, and a pair of eyes burning with dark purple flames sweeping across this world enveloped by Formations.

"Heh, not bad preparations, actually setting up so many Formations... Pity, useless!"

As the words fell, the pressure, enough to freeze the Divine Soul of a Soul Transformation Cultivator, swept out like a tsunami.

A Body Integration-realm Devil Saint!