Chapter 375: Ancient Formation Rebooted

However, Ping'er, while you brought back this information, you also made the Pure World Court truly notice the Spirit Realm. In that battle, you killed three of their Void Refinement experts—although they eventually escaped, inflicting heavy wounds on three Void Refinement experts was a major loss for the Pure World Court. They won't let it go.

Wang Ping nodded: 'Disciple understands.'

Jiang Mingyuan turned and looked at him.

'These past three years, the Spirit Realm hasn't been peaceful either.'

Wang Ping's heart tightened: 'How?'

Jiang Mingyuan said slowly: 'Starting a year ago, the Alliance has found traces suggestive of Pure World Court scouting in several remote star fields around the Spirit Realm—some are abnormal spatial fluctuations, some are remnants of minor teleportation arrays, some are corpses of low-level cultivators transformed by "Order-ification."'

He paused, then continued: 'Two months ago, within the mid-sized sect Flame Yang Sect, three Nascent Soul elders suddenly rebelled, attempting to seize control of the sect's core grand formation. After being discovered, they self-destructed and died; their corpses retained clear traces of Order power.'

Wang Ping furrowed his brows: 'They were infiltrated?'

'Not just infiltration.' Jiang Mingyuan shook his head. 'Those three elders had cultivated in Flame Yang Sect for at least three hundred years; they were the sect's pillars. Even at the moment of their self-destruction, their fellow disciples couldn't believe they would betray. This shows the Pure World Court's infiltration is far deeper than we imagined. They may have lain dormant in the Spirit Realm for centuries, never revealing themselves.'

Wang Ping's heart sank.

'Then now...'

'The Alliance is stepping up screening.' Jiang Mingyuan said. 'Every sect, every faction, every cultivator under suspicion must undergo a Dao-heart Examination. This is an internal purge; the pain is inevitable, but we have no choice.'

Wang Ping nodded, saying nothing.

Jiang Mingyuan looked at him, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: 'There is one more thing.'

Wang Ping raised his head.

'It concerns the Immortal Palace Survivors.'

Wang Ping's heart jumped.

Immortal Palace Survivors—Yun Hao, Jiu Er, and those who have held fast in the fragments of the Chaos Immortal Palace.

And Youying.

'What happened to them?' Wang Ping's voice trembled slightly.

Jiang Mingyuan said slowly: 'You know, the Immortal Palace Survivors and the Alliance have maintained regular contact. Although the intervals are long, each contact conveys some information. Three months ago, it was time for contact again. But this time...'

He paused.

'This time, they did not send the signal as agreed.'

Wang Ping's pupils contracted sharply.

'The Alliance immediately sent people to investigate. But because the void where the Immortal Palace fragments lie is too dangerous, it's hard for those below Void Refinement to approach, so only a Void Refinement team managed to go deep a month ago.'

He looked at Wang Ping, his gaze solemn.

'The news they brought back is that the Immortal Palace fragments are still there, and the survivors' settlement remains. However, the outer region of the "Eternal Void Seal" has shown an anomaly.'

'Eternal Void Seal...'

That is where Youying lies in slumber.

It is where she sealed the rift of the Primordial Chaos by casting the Eternal Void Seal, forever imprisoning herself in eternal slumber.

Jiang Mingyuan continued: 'According to the report of the Void Refinement cultivators who scouted, continuous spatial disturbances have been detected at the edge of the Eternal Void Seal. This disturbance is not natural void fluctuation, but... traces of external force forcibly penetrating.'

'External force?' Wang Ping's heart leapt to his throat.

'Likely the Pure World Court.' Jiang Mingyuan said, word by word: 'They seem to have noticed the anomaly in that region and are attempting to infiltrate and break it. Though progress is slow, it is indeed ongoing. According to that Void Refinement cultivator's estimate, at most one year, they will be able to open a crack at the edge of the region.'

One year.

Wang Ping's heart felt as if clenched tightly by an invisible hand.

'What about Yun Hao and them? And Jiu Er?'

Jiang Mingyuan let out a soft sigh: 'They are still holding fast. Yun Hao, that child, truly worthy as chief of the Guardians of the Ruined Clan, leads his people in defending the core area; for now there is no major trouble. But...'

He paused.

'Jiu Er sent a blurred message through a special means.'

'What message?'

Jiang Mingyuan raised his hand; a ray of light flew from his fingertip and entered Wang Ping's brow.

It was a blurred, intermittent image——

Jiu Er's apparition, face full of anxiety, lips opening and closing repeatedly, as if shouting something. But her words were interfered with by some force, indistinct; only a few syllables could be made out——

'……danger……they……have come……Youying……quick……'

The image ended there.

Wang Ping opened his eyes, fists clenched tight, knuckles whitening.

Youying.

She is in danger.

The Pure World Court is attempting to infiltrate the region where she slumbers.

Jiu Er is calling for help.

'Uncle Master.' He stood, voice low yet firm: 'I must go to the Immortal Palace.'

Jiang Mingyuan looked at him, not surprised.

'I knew you would say that.'

He stood, walked to Wang Ping, and lightly patted his shoulder.

'But you must think it through. That void is inherently extremely dangerous; now with the Pure World Court's infiltration, it is perilous beyond measure. Moreover, you have just broken through to Nascent Soul Perfection, and your realm is not yet fully stabilized……'

'Disciple knows.' Wang Ping cut him off, raising his head, his eyes swirling with chaotic light: 'But I know better—Youying is there. She willingly fell into eternal slumber to save us. Now she is in danger; how could I, as a disciple, stand by and do nothing?'

Jiang Mingyuan looked at him, silent for a long time.

Then he laughed.

That smile was relieved and proud.

'Good. This is truly like my disciple.'

He turned, walked toward the corner of the quiet room, and took a token from the wall.

The token was entirely chaos-colored, its surface inscribed with countless profound runes, emitting a faint light.

"This is a token of my youth. Holding it, you can mobilize all resources of the Ninth Dao Institute. Moreover..."

He then took out a jade slip from his bosom and handed it to Wang Ping.

"This is a divine ability I personally sealed, named Chaos Breaking Void Finger. When faced with an unbreakable seal, invoke chaos power to forcibly rend the void and escape. But it can be used only once; use with caution."

Wang Ping received the token and jade slip, performing a solemn salute.

"Thank you, Uncle-Master."

Jiang Mingyuan waved his hand and let out a soft sigh.

"Go. Remember, come back alive."

Wang Ping nodded, turned, and strode toward the door.

Behind him, Jiang Mingyuan's voice sounded again.

"By the way, that brat Cang Xuan set off three days ago."

Wang Ping's steps halted, and he turned back.

Jiang Mingyuan gave a faint smile.

"He heard the Immortal Palace might be changing, so he left without a word, saying, 'Brother Wang is still in seclusion; I'll go scout ahead.' That kid has a clear sword heart; he's a promising seedling."

Wang Ping stared for a moment, then laughed.

That smile was warm and bright.

"Uncle-Master is right. He really is a promising seedling."

He turned and strode away.

Leaving the quiet room, Wang Ping raised his head to gaze at the sky.

The sky was azure, cloudless for thousands of miles.

But his heart surged with tumultuous waves.

Youying, wait for me.

Brother Cang, wait for me.

Immortal Palace Refugees, wait for me.

I am here.

He drew a deep breath, stepped forward, turned into a stream of chaos-colored light, shot up into the sky, and vanished in the distance.

Fragments of the Immortal Palace, the gathering place of the Guardians of the Ruined Clan.

Wang Ping stood before a ruined hall, gazing at the distant gray-white light curtain. At its edge, silver light crept like poisonous snakes, gradually eroding the seal that Youying had laid down at the cost of eternal slumber.

"At most three months." Yun Hao's voice sounded behind him, low and weary, "At the current rate of erosion, at most three months, that rift will be torn open."

Three months.

Wang Ping's heart felt heavy. He turned to look at Yun Hao, at this young leader who had borne the entire burden of the Guardians of the Ruined Clan alone for three years. Yun Hao's face bore several fine wrinkles, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, clearly he had not rested properly for a long time.

"How have you managed to hold out these three months?"

Yun Hao gave a bitter smile: "Hold? It's just filling with lives. Each time that Void God probes, a clansman falls. In the past three months we have lost seventeen Nascent Soul warriors. If this continues..."

He did not continue, but Wang Ping already understood.

The Guardians of the Ruined Clan were already few in number, and Nascent Soul combat power was especially precious. Seventeen amounted to nearly a third of their strength.

"Why didn't you seek our help earlier?" Yu Liuli's voice trembled slightly.

Yun Hao shook his head: "Seek help? How? That region of void is shrouded by the Pure World Court's order seal; any transmission talisman cannot fly out. Jiu Er exerted all her strength, using the power of the Chaos Azure Sprout to send out that faint message. If you hadn't arrived just in time, we couldn't even have sent that message."

Elder Tianyuan walked over from the side, lightly brushing his duster, his face extremely solemn.

"I just went to inspect that ancient formation. The situation... is not good."

Wang Ping looked at him: "What ancient formation?"

Yun Hao replied: "Deep in the Immortal Palace lies a cross-border transmission array left by the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers. Our ancestors once used it to escape from the corridor to here. However... it has been abandoned for thirty thousand years."

Elder Tianyuan nodded: "I roughly inspected it; the foundation is still intact, but the core components are severely damaged, requiring large amounts of rare materials to repair. Moreover, even if repaired, precise spatial coordinates are needed to activate it; otherwise, it would only send people into the void turbulence."

Wang Ping remained silent.

He understood Elder Tianyuan's meaning— to break the Immortal Palace's siege, they must seek aid. But seeking aid takes time, and what they lack most is time.

"If I now return to the Spirit Realm to seek aid, how long would it take?" he asked.

Yun Hao gave a bitter smile: "Riding the Realm-Breaking Shuttle, the fastest is seven days. Seven days later, when you reach the Spirit Realm, then organize personnel, repair the ancient formation, re-determine coordinates... round trip, at least one month. One month later, this place would already..."

He did not finish, but everyone knew the outcome.

One month later, the Eternal Void Prison Domain will surely be torn open. Youying will either be captured by the Pure World Court or, in his slumber, be transformed by "Orderification." Meanwhile, the Guardians of the Ruined Clan will face the wrath of that Void God.

Wang Ping's fists clenched, his knuckles whitening.

"No." He suddenly spoke, his voice low yet firm, "We do not need the Realm-Breaking Shuttle."

Everyone was startled.

Wang Ping looked at Elder Tianyuan: "Senior, if that ancient formation is repaired, can it directly transmit to the Spirit Realm?"

Elder Tianyuan stared, then a flash of light appeared in his eyes: "In theory... yes. The Myriad Phenomena Stargazers' transmission array is inherently cross-border. As long as we can repair the core components, fill it with sufficient energy, and precisely locate the Spirit Realm's coordinates... instant transmission can be achieved."

"Good." Wang Ping turned to look at Yun Hao: "Brother Yun, among the refugees, is anyone skilled in refining?"

Yun Hao nodded: "Yes. Our clan's great elder is a descendant of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers, versed in the Primeval Refining Technique. However, he is advanced in years, and his cultivation is only late Nascent Soul..."

"Enough." Wang Ping interrupted him: "Now we split into two groups. Elder Tianyuan, you and the great elder together will fully repair the ancient formation. Whatever materials are needed, draw from the refugees' stores; if insufficient, I still have immortal materials brought back from the Law Corridor."

He turned to Yu Liuli: "Liuli, stay and assist the refugees in defense. That Void God may launch new probes at any time; we need someone to hold the fort."

Yu Liuli nodded: "Understood."

Wang Ping finally looked at Yun Hao: "Brother Yun, give me the most precise coordinates of the Immortal Palace, as well as the spatial disturbance data you have observed during this period. I will take it back and have the alliance synchronize positioning. The moment the ancient formation is repaired will be when reinforcements arrive."

Yunhao gazed at him intently, then suddenly bowed.

"Brother Wang, a great kindness needs no thanks."

Wang Ping supported him, shook his head, and said: "What thanks? Youying is my comrade-in-arms, the survivors of the Immortal Palace are my friends. Saving you is saving myself."

Half a day later, Wang Ping boarded the World-Breaking Shuttle and silently departed from the fragments of the Immortal Palace.

He startled no one, not even the Soul Formation powerhouse that was eroding the region. The World-Breaking Shuttle, in utmost stealth mode, followed a winding route, skirted the warning range of the Pure World Court, and plunged deep into the void.

Inside the shuttle, only he was present.

Venerable Tianyan and Yuliuli remained in the Immortal Palace, while Cangxuan's whereabouts are still unknown—he set out three days early, and by rights should have arrived long ago, yet Wang Ping found no trace of him near the Immortal Palace. This made Wang Ping feel a faint unease, but he now has no leisure to dwell on it.

He sat cross-legged before the observatory platform, urging the World-Breaking Shuttle forward at full speed. Outside the porthole, the stars streamed backward like flowing water, but his heart had already flown back to the Spirit Realm.

"Brother Cang, you must absolutely not come to harm……"

Seven days later, the Ninth Dao Institute.

When Wang Ping's figure appeared in the headmaster's quiet chamber, Jiang Mingyuan was in conference with several Soul Formation-stage elders. Seeing Wang Ping's dust‑worn appearance, everyone's expressions shifted.

"Ping'er? How did you come back? The Immortal Palace side……"

Wang Ping wasted no words, directly took out the jade slip Yunhao had given him, and presented it with both hands.

"Uncle-master, the situation is urgent. The Pure World Court already has a Soul Formation powerhouse stationed outside the Immortal Palace, eroding the Void Eternal Seal region. At most three months, Youying will fall into enemy hands. The Guardians of the Ruins have suffered heavy losses and desperately need reinforcements."

Jiang Mingyuan received the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and after a moment his face darkened like still water.

He passed the jade slip to the other several Soul Formation cultivators and said in a low voice: "Everyone, please take a look."

The several Soul Formation cultivators examined it in turn, and each of their faces grew graver.

A white-haired old woman slowly spoke: "Three months... the time is too tight. After the cross-boundary transmission ancient array was overloaded last time, its core components were severely damaged and have not been fully repaired to this day. Even if we now repair it with all our strength, it will take at least a month."

Another middle-aged man said: "Moreover, re-locating the Immortal Palace's coordinates requires precise spatial disturbance data. The fragments of the Immortal Palace have been drifting in the Void, their coordinates constantly changing. Without precise positioning, transmission is suicide."

Jiang Mingyuan looked at Wang Ping: "Over at the Immortal Palace, is there a way to pinpoint it precisely?"

Wang Ping nodded: "Yes. Tianyan Senior is leading the survivors to repair an ancient array of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazer deep within the Immortal Palace. Once repaired, we can establish a link with the transmission array here in the Spirit Realm via that array, achieving two-way positioning. But the premise is—this side's ancient array must be repaired first."

Jiang Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then slowly rose to his feet.

Issue the order: gather all rare spatial materials from the alliance's reserves and repair the cross-boundary transmission ancient array with all our strength. Since Tianyan is absent, several Formation Dao alliance masters will take turns day and night, with no room for error.

He looked at the several Void Gods: "Everyone, please return to your sects and summon Nascent Soul cultivators skilled in spatial formations to assist. At the same time, inform all major powers—this concerns the survival of the Spirit Realm; no one may shirk responsibility."

The several Void Gods rose together and departed after receiving the order.

Jiang Mingyuan turned to Wang Ping, his eyes deep.

"Ping'er, you've been rushing about; go rest first. I'll personally oversee the ancient array's repair. But you must prepare yourself mentally—even if everything goes smoothly, it will take at least twenty days."

Wang Ping shook his head: "Uncle-master, I'm not tired. I want to participate in the ancient array's repair; one more person means more strength."

Jiang Mingyuan gazed at him for a long time, then slowly nodded.

"Good. Then go. Remember, you are the mainstay; don't wear yourself out."

In the following days, Wang Ping hardly slept.

He shuttled between the ancient array repair site, the Formation Dao alliance's council hall, and the material allocation points of various sects. Wherever manpower was lacking, he went there; wherever there were problems, he went to coordinate. His chaotic divine sense was extremely perceptive of spatial laws, and several times he detected minute deviations in the array deductions, avoiding serious consequences.

After the news spread, Cangxuan was the first to arrive.

He indeed came to no harm—earlier he had set out early, encountering a wave of Void turbulence midway and being trapped for three days. When he escaped and rushed to the vicinity of the Immortal Palace, he happened to see Wang Ping's Realm-Breaking Shuttle depart. He did not rashly barge in, but hid in the shadows to observe, confirming Wang Ping's safe departure before quietly returning to the Spirit Realm.

"Wang brother." When he found Wang Ping, his expression remained stern, but a rare flicker of concern flashed in his eyes: "How is it over at the Immortal Palace?"

Wang Ping briefly explained the situation.

After listening, Cangxuan fell silent for a moment, then said: "I'll go with you."

"You..."

"I owe Youying a life." Cangxuan's voice remained stern, but with added resolve: "Back in the Chaotic Immortal Palace, if she hadn't sealed the rift with Void Eternal Imprisonment, we would have long been devoured by chaos. This debt must be repaid."

Wang Ping looked at him and slowly nodded.

"Good."

A few days later, Jade Liuli's transmission talisman flew in—she, using Jiu'er's chaotic cyan sprout power, successfully established temporary contact with the Immortal Palace's survivors. Over at the Immortal Palace, Tianyan Senior and the Grand Elder's repair work proceeded smoothly, expected to finish in another ten days. At the same time, she sent over the latest spatial disturbance data for the alliance here to use for precise positioning.

With these data, the Formation Dao masters treasured them as if they were a priceless jewel, deducing day and night, and finally, after three days, locked the drifting trajectory of the Immortal Palace's fragments within an extremely small margin of error.

"That's enough." The elder master presiding over the deduction let out a long breath, his eyes full of fatigue yet also relief: "The error is no more than a hundred li. For cross-boundary transmission, this precision is sufficient."

Wang Ping was overjoyed, bowed deeply: "Thank you, senior."

The elder master waved his hand, then suddenly grabbed him and whispered: "Young man, let me add one thing—this trip of yours is more perilous than promising. That Void God is only the surface; there may be more hidden hands around the Immortal Palace's outskirts. You must make it back alive."

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

"Junior will remember."

On the fifteenth day, the cross-boundary transmission ancient array was fully repaired.

When the final rune lit up, the entire grand array burst forth with brilliant chaotic light. The light shot straight up, illuminating the entire sky above the Ninth Dao Institute.

The news spread, and countless cultivators rushed to watch. They gazed at this legendary ancient array capable of crossing the endless Void, their eyes full of awe and curiosity.

But Wang Ping had no time to pay attention to these.

He stood before the array, with four people standing behind him.

Cangxuan, dressed in a black tight-fitting outfit, his sword hanging at his waist, his aura restrained to the utmost, like a peerless divine sword about to be unsheathed.

Jade Liuli, wearing a moon-white immortal's robe, cradling an ancient zither, the fairy-tone bell restored to its original state, hanging from the zither's head, emitting a faint silver glow.

There were also two elders.

One was thin-built, with white hair and beard, a kind face, surrounded by a faint green light—the aura of the wood element. He is the Spirit Realm-renowned "Green Wood Venerable," a Nascent Soul Grand Completion cultivator specializing in healing and protection, who has many times saved wounded teammates in cross-boundary missions.

The other was stalwart, with a square face, thick brows and big eyes, his muscles knotted like twisted ropes, a faint earth-yellow light flickering over him—the extreme of the earth element. He is the "Diamond Senior," likewise a Nascent Soul Grand Completion cultivator specializing in defense, famed as "invincible in defense among peers," having once withstood a blow from an early-stage Void God with his bare flesh and survived.

Both were elite picks carefully selected by the alliance, experienced and deeply cultivated, making them the most suitable reinforcements.

Jiang Mingyuan walked up to Wang Ping, gazing at this disciple he had personally nurtured, his eyes filled with complex emotion.

Ping'er, remember, your mission is to save lives, not to fight to the death. Rescue Youying, preserve the source of chaos, and retreat immediately. Do not linger in battle.

Wang Ping nodded: "Disciple understands."

Jiang Mingyuan raised his hand and patted his shoulder.

"Come back alive."

Wang Ping looked at him and suddenly bowed deeply.

"Martial Uncle, I will definitely come back alive."

He turned and looked at the other four.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

Cangxuan nodded, Yuliuli nodded, Venerable Qingmu and Elder Jin'gang exchanged a smile, then all nodded together.

"Good."

Wang Ping took a deep breath and stepped into the ancient formation.

The four behind him followed closely.

Outside the formation, Jiang Mingyuan raised his hand and cast a spell seal into the formation.

In an instant, the chaotic light surged, completely engulfing the five figures.

When the light faded, the five had vanished without a trace.

Jiang Mingyuan gazed at the empty ancient formation and let out a soft sigh.

"Take care, children."

In the void, five figures were speeding through.

Around them was endless darkness; occasionally, starlight shot from afar, only to vanish instantly. In the spatial passage, time and space were distorted, making it impossible to tell direction or speed.

Wang Ping opened his Chaos Divine Sense, perceiving everything around him.

He could sense the aura of the Immortal Palace Fragments drawing nearer.

That familiar spatial fluctuation, that faint chaotic aura, and—

that faint trace, yet the call that made his heart tremble

That was Youying's aura.

Although she was sealed in the Eternal Void Prison, and though separated by endless distance, he could still sense her presence.

"Youying, wait a little longer…"

He muttered, clenching his fists.

"I'm coming."