Chapter 321

The blood-red mist ahead seemed to be completely severed by an invisible and absolute force barrier, forming a relatively "clear" circular area with a diameter of about a thousand zhang.

This area was like a meticulously wiped mirror surface, forming an extreme contrast with the polluted and chaotic battlefield environment outside.

The most striking thing was the ground of this area.

The ground was as flat and smooth as a mirror, able to reflect the distorted light and shadow of the sky above. And the pattern covering it was even more shocking—it was a naturally formed Taiji Yin-Yang fish pattern with a diameter of over eight hundred zhang, so vast it almost occupied the entire clear area!

This Taiji diagram was not painted on; it was more like the earth itself, after enduring countless ages, had been washed, scoured, blended, and settled by the endless scouring, collision, fusion, and precipitation of the Yin and Yang qi, naturally forming a "Dao mark." Its base colors were deep dark silver and profound, heavy black.

The Yang fish part showed a weathered dark silver luster, not dazzling, but like ancient divine metal that had been refined for billions of years in the long river of time, sedimented with endless starlight and the essence of life, heavy, warm, and containing immense vitality within.

Looking closely, the surface of the dark silver "fish body" was not smooth, but covered with extremely fine and complex natural patterns like the veins of a galaxy, which were now slowly flowing with a milky white warm luster, like blood flowing in vessels, emitting a yang aura that made one feel refreshed and spiritually invigorated.

The Yin fish part, however, was pure, seeming to be able to swallow all light, a profound black.

This blackness was not the emptiness of death, but contained the deepest and most primordial essence of "Yin"—icy, silent, returning to the abyss.

The profound black "fish body" was also covered with patterns, but they were dark red, like solidified lava or congealed blood, within which flowed ice-cold, bone-piercing profound Yin killing qi, capable of freezing the soul, as if connected to the Nine Nether Abyss.

The Yin and Yang fish were not static, but were slowly, almost imperceptibly to the naked eye, intertwining and chasing each other, maintaining a dynamic, perfect balance.

The entire pattern emitted a vast, ancient, and profound artistic conception pointing to the source of the Great Dao; merely standing at the edge and gazing for a moment.

The four felt their understanding of opposing yet unified concepts like "Yin and Yang," "life and death," "purity and turbidity," "movement and stillness" suffered a violent impact, and many doubts in their past cultivation seemed to have found a new direction of interpretation.

But at the same time, more and deeper questions arose. For a Nascent Soul cultivator, this scene that directly revealed the essence of the Great Dao was both a supreme opportunity and a heavy burden; those with weaker minds could easily lose their Dao-heart after just a few more glances.

The fish-eye positions of the Taiji diagram were especially peculiar and also served as the energy hub of the entire balance field.

In the Yang fish's "Yin eye" (the black small dot), it was not black, but a spring eye about three zhang in diameter, continuously gushing out milky white "Yang-heat qi" upward!

This Yang-heat qi condensed into substance, pure beyond compare, emitting a faint fragrance that seemed able to heal all wounds and awaken all vitality, rising upward.

Above the spring eye by three zhang, a small patch of soft and stable milky white light halo formed, like a miniature artificial sun, illuminating and warming the Yang fish area.

In the Yin fish's "Yang eye" (the white small dot), it was a bottomless black hole, continuously rotating inward and absorbing.

Inside the hole was not emptiness, but a continuous emission of extremely pure, ink-black profound Yin killing qi with a faint blue luster.

This killing qi was bone-chillingly cold, as if it could freeze space itself, and at its outlet formed a small, slowly rotating dark vortex, emitting a sense of returning to the abyss and finality that made one's heart palpitate.

The entire Taiji diagram on the ground, along with the "thump-thump" heartbeat sound, underwent extremely weak, synchronized undulations and expansions, as if it were the chest skin of a sleeping giant beast.

The Dao rhyme on the pattern flowed endlessly, and the Yin and Yang qi circulated through specific pathways between the two fish, forming a perfect and closed internal energy circulation system.

And at the very center of the Taiji diagram, about ten zhang above the curved "S"-shaped Yin-Yang dividing line in the void, hovered this group's target—the Balance Key!

It was not a single key, but two phantom shadows of keys, intertwining and slowly rotating!

One was pure white, warm and translucent, like carved from the finest mutton-fat immortal jade, ancient and simple in shape, with smooth and gentle lines, emitting a pure Yang-heat aura that calmed the mind, filled with hope and vitality—this was the "Yang Key."

The other was black as ink, profound and icy, its material like iron yet not iron, like crystal yet not crystal, similarly ancient in shape, but its edges and corners had a natural sharpness, as if forged from Nine Nether profound ice and abyssal demon iron, emitting a chilling intent that froze all things, destroyed hope, and returned to deathly silence—this was the "Yin Key."

One black, one white, the two key phantoms each emitted energy fluctuations of the late Nascent Soul level; they were not still, but followed a mysterious trajectory completely synchronized with the rotation of the Yin-Yang fish below the Taiji diagram, slowly circling and chasing each other in the void.

Like the eternal chasing "pupils" of the Yin-Yang fish, they together formed the most core and also most fragile "array eye" and "keyhole" of the entire vast balance field.

They seemed within easy reach, but careful sensing revealed a strange "sense of separation" from the surrounding space, as if they were located on another superimposed dimensional layer, unreachable by ordinary means.

"The Balance Key…… turns out to be Yin-Yang twin keys! One must obtain both Yin and Yang keys simultaneously to truly gain the recognition of 'Balance' and qualify to open the Immortal Palace gate!" Cangxuan's eyes flashed with starlight, unable to hide his excitement and sudden realization.

"No wonder this place is called the 'Yin-Yang Realm,' no wonder such extreme balance is needed! Yin and Yang united form the foundation of Chaos; this is the correct path to the Chaos Immortal Palace!"

Yuliuli, however, frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes growing more wary: "Such a supreme treasure pointing directly to the Great Dao, just hanging here unprotected? Even with the regional balance power guarding it, it's too…… candid.

Unreasonable for the ancient Immortal King's test. This place must have some more dangerous guardian mechanism we haven't noticed yet."

Youying's figure in the edge's shadow almost completely vanished, breath perfectly blended with the surroundings, only transmitting an extremely faint yet exceptionally clear spiritual fluctuation directly into the other three's seas of consciousness:

"There is something…… 'below'…… 'watching' us.

Not the frenzied malice of a demon soul…… more like…… this 'region' itself has a 'will'…… or rather, this perfectly balanced region, over its long ages, has naturally nurtured a 'guardian spirit'…… It is sleeping, but our arrival, especially our 'craving' for the keys, is 'disturbing' it."

Wang Ping's mind and spirit were almost entirely focused on the center of the Taiji diagram and the two slowly rotating key phantoms above it. The chaotic five-element Nascent Soul in his dantian transmitted an unprecedented strong resonance and longing, and the rotation speed of the Star Whirl in his chest almost wanted to synchronize with that heartbeat sound.

He could clearly feel that the Yin-Yang primordial power contained in these two keys would be of immeasurable benefit to him in perfecting the Chaotic Dao and condensing true Chaotic Immortal Essence.

But at the same time, his superhuman spiritual awareness and the Chaotic domain's sensitivity to energy also allowed him to detect the abnormality mentioned by Yuliuli and Youying.

This area was too "perfect," perfect like a carefully laid trap, or rather, a stage full of crises prepared for a specific "guest."

That low heartbeat sound now, upon listening, seemed less like the natural pulse of the earth's veins and more like the deep, powerful…… snore of a colossal slumbering beast.

"The guardian…… perhaps is not an external demon soul or immortal beast." Wang Ping spoke slowly, his voice low and certain.

"It is very likely one with this Taiji diagram region itself, a 'regional spirit' nurtured by this extreme balance environment over endless ages, or rather, the Dharma construct left by the Immortal King who set this up, remaining here to maintain balance and test those who come after."

It, is the manifestation of this region's will. Any attempt to touch or destroy the balance (including taking the keys) will inevitably wake it completely from its slumber or hiding.

"Regional spirit…… Dharma construct……" Cangxuan chewed on these two words, his expression heavy to the extreme.

This meant their upcoming opponent might not be an independent creature that could be killed or driven away, but this thousand-zhang region itself! Fighting it here would be almost equivalent to battling Heaven and Earth rules strengthened countless times!

"No matter what, the keys are ahead, no retreat allowed." Cangxuan, after all a worldly-experienced peerless prodigy, soon suppressed his palpitations, his eyes regaining sharpness and determination, "but we need to plan long-term, devise a foolproof strategy.

First, the Yin-Yang twin keys must be obtained simultaneously, and likely cannot be taken by brute force or sealed, otherwise it would instantly destroy the Yin-Yang balance maintained here for myriad ages, triggering uncontrollable destructive consequences like energy runaway and spatial collapse.

Second, to deal with the guardian…… if it truly is one with this place, its power probably far exceeds ordinary Nascent Soul perfection, and could even temporarily invoke part of the region's origin power to reach the threshold of Deification power.

We must find its weakness, or…… create an opportunity to let it temporarily detach from the region's support."

Just as the four were rapidly communicating and rehearsing counter-strategies, that seemingly eternal low heartbeat sound, without warning, suddenly ceased!

The entire thousand-zhang clear area fell into a heart-palpitating absolute silence!

Immediately after, the anomaly erupted like a volcanic explosion!

"Om——!"

The Taiji diagram ground suddenly burst forth with a deafening hum! The dark silver and profound black radiance, like a volcano suppressed for myriad ages, shot up into the sky, forming two intertwined light pillars that instantly dispersed and purified the lingering blood-colored mist above! The sky was illuminated, half bright and clear, half deep and dark, a scene of bizarre and unparalleled wonder.

The ground began to violently tremble and rise! On that mirror-smooth surface, countless extremely complex ancient runes, like awakened fish schools, surged up from the "earth's depths" one after another, lighting up!

Half of these runes showed warm, bright gold, white, and jade colors, flowing with the artistic conception of yang, creation, and order.

The other half showed dark, icy black, dark red, and deep purple, emitting the aura of Yin killing, destruction, and chaos.

They interconnected, instantly forming a vast composite array covering the entire Taiji diagram area, so vast it made one dizzy! At the moment the array activated, space itself seemed to solidify and grow heavy, an invisible pressure like a mountain of millions of jin pressing down on the four's shoulders.

The milky white Yang harmony qi in the Yang Fish Spring's eye surged violently like boiling water, transforming into a towering white qi wave—scorching and pure, bearing the sacred majesty that purifies all things.

The Xuan Yin killing qi in the Yin Fish cavity, meanwhile, was like opening the gates of hell: a torrent of black killing qi surged forth, icy and deathly silent, containing the terrifying power to freeze souls and erode all things.

The two torrents of opposing energy wildly intertwined and collided in midair, yet no expected annihilation explosion occurred; instead, under the regulation of that ancient formation, they resembled two tamed primordial ferocious dragons.

They began to spiral and merge along a specific trajectory, emitting a more dangerous, more primal violent aura approaching the state of "undifferentiated chaos"!

"It has awakened!" Youying's mental warning was razor-sharp.

Under the gaze of four solemn eyes, at the center of the Taiji diagram, the ground at the "S"-shaped yin-yang dividing line rippled and bulged violently like water!

The special substance composing the ground—crystallized yin and yang qi condensed to the extreme, settled immortal-demon bone powder, and the purest earth-stone essence—seemed to have gained life and will, gathering upward and shaping!

First to burst from the earth was a skull outline as large as a house, ferocious in appearance. Its shape defied reason: the left half bore the features of a sacred dragon's head, covered in fine silver-white scales, with smooth, graceful lines.

The left eye resembled two miniature white suns, burning with pure, fierce yang flame yet containing boundless vitality.

Wherever its gaze fell, it seemed to dispel all yin evil and grant vitality to all things. The right half of the skull, however, resembled a demon from the abyss, covered in thick, heavy black bone armor and ferocious exoskeleton, muscles knotted and bulging, the right eye two jumping clusters of inky "yin fire" that seemed able to devour light, icy and deathly silent, its gaze holding only termination and void.

Upon the skull's crown, the left side bore a crystalline, translucent horn like carved white jade, branches spreading like an ancient tree or deer antlers, its tip wrapped in milky auspicious clouds; the right side bore a twisted, ferocious horn, as if forged from the darkest demon crystal and metal, bristling with barbs and strange runes, its shaft entwined with black destructive lightning.

Next, the massive, mountain-like body slowly "grew" from the ground.

The left torso was covered in silver-white scales like god-metal forged through a thousand tempers, each scale flowing with warm yang light, appearing sacred, majestic, and inviolable, as if containing the primordial source of life from the creation of heaven and earth.

The right torso presented a completely different aspect, covered in thick, ferocious black bone armor, the gaps filled with dark red, lava-like slowly flowing muscle tissue, exposed bone spurs sharp as spears, entwined with unextinguished black killing qi flames, brimming with the most primal violence, destruction, and chaos.

An incredibly thick tail swayed slowly behind it, its tip forked—one white, one black—like two spirit snakes with independent consciousness; the white tip entwined with yang purifying flame, the black tip exhaling and inhaling Xuan Yin poisonous qi.

This colossal beast exceeded fifty zhang in length, towering like a moving mountain; it was not entirely flesh and blood, with over half its body in a semi-transparent energy state, within which pure yang harmony qi and Xuan Yin killing qi flowed like rivers.

These energy currents were closely connected to the Taiji diagram on the ground below and the yin-yang energy torrents spiraling above, endless and cyclical. It is this land, this land, which is it!

The colossal beast—the Yin-Yang Chaos Beast—slowly lowered its head; its eyes, containing absolutely opposing wills, were icy and indifferent, glancing over the four "ants" who had intruded upon its eternal slumber as if they were dust.

A vast, mighty pressure, simultaneously containing creation and destruction, vitality and death, order and chaos—two extreme contradictory wills—pressed down like the heavens and earth overturning!

This pressure acted not only on flesh and spiritual power but directly probed the intruders' Dao-heart and souls, as if asking: By what right do you tread this land of balance? By what right do you covet this key of chaos?

The pure energy fluctuations it emitted had indeed reached the pinnacle of Nascent Soul—Nascent Soul Great Perfection!

More terrifying still, because it shares origin and symbiosis with this thousand-zhang Taiji region, as one entity, in this land it nearly possesses endless energy supply and can draw upon the region's yin-yang laws to empower itself.

Its true combat power absolutely surpasses that of ordinary Nascent Soul Great Perfection, enough to make even early-stage Divine Transformation cultivators feel hard-pressed!

"Yin-Yang Chaos Beast… indeed it is!" Cangxuan's voice carried a hint of dryness, his star-like eyes filled with solemnity and unprecedented battle intent.

"Endowed with dual yin-yang origins, innately close to the Great Dao of Chaos, a darling of the Land of Balance, a near-invincible terrifying existence of equal rank… I never expected it to be the ultimate guardian of this 'Balance Key'! Fellow cultivators, a life-or-death battle lies before us!"

Yuliuli drew a deep breath; the seven-colored halo on her gauze robe solidified into substance, immortal music-like bell chimes naturally flowed around her, forming an invisible sonic domain striving to resist the omnipresent terrifying pressure; her face paled slightly, but her gaze remained clear and resolute:

"It shares origin with the Taiji diagram of this land, its energy nearly infinite, and offense and defense are unified, leaving almost no weakness. Fighting it here puts us at a great disadvantage."

Youying's form struggled to remain hidden in the violent energy storm, his black robe rustling; his voice remained ethereal yet carried a resolve of icy cold:

"Weakness… only by breaking the balance, causing its yin-yang to lose equilibrium and trigger energy backlash. Or… attack its 'nodes' connected to the land, forcing it to temporarily lose the land's empowerment."

"In theory, yes, but easier said than done." Wang Ping stared at the colossal beast slowly stretching its body, as if stretching, his internal chaos Nascent Infant and chest-star Xuanxuan spinning at unprecedented speed, battle intent and vigilance like two volcanoes about to erupt, colliding fiercely in his heart.

"It itself represents a dynamic, stable balance; to break it from outside requires a single-attribute force impact far beyond its tolerance limit—nearly impossible. As for the nodes…"

His gaze swept over the beast's semi-transparent energy body and the flickering light bands at its connection points with the ground.

"Those connection points are scattered across the entire body and constantly shifting; defense must be extremely strong. Perhaps… only by using a higher, encompassing and transcending yin-yang 'Chaos' power to forcibly interfere, infiltrate, or even temporarily seize its partial control over this land's yin-yang energy can we create an opening!"

The latter is precisely the path he can attempt, bearing the chaotic Nascent Infant and chaotic Immortal Essence embryonic form, and in this seemingly lopsided battle, it may be their only chance to win! Of course, this is also the most dangerous option, imposing the greatest burden on Wang Ping.

The Yin-Yang Chaos Beast clearly had no interest in giving intruders more time to devise tactics. Its left pure-white yang-flame eye flashed once, without any emotion.

"Roar——!"

Not a sound of roar, but a pure tremor of energy and law!

In the Yang Fish Spring's eye, massive amounts of yang harmony qi were instantly extracted and shaped into countless scorching white blazing spears, like solid crystal, each several zhang long, their tips burning with purifying white flame, like divine rain of judgment descending, covering the entire area in density, shooting violently toward the four's position!

The spears tore through the air with a sharp hiss; wherever they passed, space was scorched with faint scorch marks; though the immense vitality they contained normally nourishes living beings, here the concentration and intensity were too high, turning into the most domineering purifying and destructive force!

Simultaneously, the beast's right black yin-fire eye glowed with shifting light. From the Yin Fish cavity, pure Xuan Yin killing qi surged forth silently, not condensing into solid form but like a living dark tide, rapidly spreading, permeating the ground, air, and even light around the four!

The next moment, countless black chains forged of extreme cold and erosive energy shot out like ghostly hands from the Nine Abysses, without warning, from the edge of Wang Ping's chaos domain, from beneath the four's feet in shadows, even from the inner side of their spiritual power shields, bizarrely drilling out to entwine their ankles, wrists, and necks!

These chains were bone-chillingly cold; they not only bound the flesh but also carried strong erosive and soul-freezing effects—once entangled, the consequences are unimaginable.

One yang, one yin; one light, one dark; one scorching, one icy; one purifying, one erosive; one frontal assault, one eerie sneak attack!

The offensive launched without warning, coordinated seamlessly, nearly sealing off all conventional evasion and defense paths, displaying the Yin-Yang Chaos Beast's exquisite mastery of power control and its seasoned, ruthless combat instinct.

Battle erupted with a thunderous roar in this land of yin-yang junction that had lain silent for myriad ages! And Wang Ping and his companions would, on this near-desperate battlefield, fight a desperate struggle unprecedented for that sliver of life and opportunity!