Chapter 616: One Man Becomes the Formation

"……"

The Crown Prince of Ziyang remained seated in his place, his fingertips tapping urgently against the table, clearly unsettled.

From their earlier exchange, Shen Yi was, in his eyes, a ruthless man of meticulous mind and great forbearance, and his greatest advantage was his youth — he still had plenty of time.

He was actually quite looking forward to seeing what means the other would employ to claim the second dragon seal.

But the Crown Prince of Ziyang had never, in his wildest dreams, expected Shen Yi to choose the simplest and most brutal method — transforming from a half-confident chess player into a near-mad gambler.

Had he known this earlier, he would never have agreed to cooperate with him.

Take the simplest point: with Shen Yi's strength, how could he possibly ensure the killing of Qi Shengtao, who was entrenched in the Dragon Lair? And in such a short time, how was this man supposed to fulfill his promise of dealing with Wan Yao Dian?

Nothing had been prepared, nothing discussed with him, and yet he had come swaggering in just like that.

And brought Ye Jiu and the others along with him.

To tell the truth, the Crown Prince of Ziyang truly did not like this sort of person who wagered others' lives for his own future.

Crack, crack.

Just then, a muffled sound cut off everyone's thoughts.

They saw Shen Yi's long boot come down brutally; Qi Zhaowen's mouth snapped open, blood clogged his throat, every bone in his body was instantly shattered by the force of heaven and earth, and the hand that had been desperately clawing at the broken staircase, trying to crawl to his father's feet, finally slid down weakly.

He wanted to say something, but the Crown Prince dream filling his mind, along with his very life, was crushed out beneath that boot in the blink of an eye.

"Gurgle… gurgle…"

The sound of blood bubbling gradually grew faint.

Qi Zhaowen's fall made everyone in the hall suddenly understand one thing.

This lord of General Nanyang had not come to negotiate, nor had he ever intended to use the dragon prince as a hostage — the life of their own Second Prince was the declaration of war the other had delivered.

From the very instant this group stepped into the great hall, they had already prepared themselves to fight to the death!

"You truly are, brazen beyond measure."

If earlier, when Qi Zhaowen was still beneath Shen Yi's foot, the West Long Wang had still held reservations, then now, this young man had personally unshackled every restraint upon him.

Two sons possessed of the makings of a Crown Prince had fallen one after another.

He could not fathom who had given this man the nerve to stand before him and kill his son like that.

What he could not understand even more was—

Under his many years of entrenchment, the West Long Gong had long been deeply rooted, its claws and fangs spread across every stretch of land and water.

Even if this man were a madman, how could he have walked into his great hall!

Does he take this king for aged, his claws dull?!

Then let him try… let him try whether this West Hong is still this king's West Hong!

Qi Shengtao thrust out his dragon claw, tore off his beaded crown, raised his head high, exhaled a long breath of dragon aura, his fangs began to grow rapidly, and the dim scales once again gleamed silver.

As his dragon whiskers streamed, the two antlers like a stag's crown shone brilliantly!

The aura of a perfected Heavenly realm swept out wantonly, making the entire great hall tremble faintly.

After truly feeling such an aura—

Ye Jiu and Qi Yansheng's expressions shifted slightly. Ever since Senior Brother Qin had fallen, all of Yu Nanhong had lacked a single expert of such a realm, nor had they truly seen what the South Long Wang looked like with the full might of the Dragon Lair behind him.

Only now, standing on the opposing side of such a powerhouse, facing killing intent head-on, did they gain a clearer understanding of this realm.

But what was truly terrifying was that the current Qi Shengtao… had not yet employed the power of the Dragon Lair.

The next instant, the entire stretch of water suddenly fell stagnant.

No idle words — the simplest, most brutal straight fist.

The silver-bright dragon body vanished on the spot, its rough dragon claw slamming brutally toward Shen Yi's face.

Cultivators, aided by treasured lands, wielded a force called merging with the Dao.

But the surging demon blood of the demon race was like a rushing great river, a pair of eyes like the sun and moon in the heavens, limbs and frame like endless mountains and rivers — they themselves possessed a might comparable to a lesser heaven and earth!

In the instant this fist was thrown—

Taking the great hall of the West Long Gong as the dividing line, the stagnant waters suddenly parted with a great roar, surging upward as if the Tianhe had descended upon the world.

The flowing-light longsword in Ye Jiu's hand let out an unprecedented hum; Qi Yansheng, meanwhile, darted in front of Ji Jingxi, the Purple-Gold Treasure Mountain suspended over his heart — like a pebble flung about by the river's chaos, his form was forced back several steps in succession.

The Crown Prince of Ziyang reacted swiftly, seizing his sister and raising his palm to block the aftershock.

At the same time his eyelid twitched slightly, and his outlook on today's events grew ever more pessimistic.

This old dragon's strength was somewhat greater than he had imagined; it seemed these years of comfort had not dulled him much. Add the Dragon Lair on top of that, and he was already infinitely close to the Dao realm — no weaker than Qin Jiaoyang by much.

What he was now considering was no longer whether Shen Yi could succeed today.

It was whether he should step in, and at what price he should preserve this young prodigy.

"……"

Facing head-on the fist of a perfected Heavenly realm jade-horned silver dragon—

Shen Yi stood with arms at his sides, at the very center of this towering wave. When that massive fist peak was still less than a zhang from him, he finally turned his body — but not to dodge.

He raised his arm and struck with his elbow!

His wide, ink-colored sleeve billowed like a banner torn by a gale, as if it would be shredded completely in the next breath.

But beneath the sleeve, the elbow stood immovable.

Likewise buffeted by the waters, Qi Yansheng's Purple-Gold Treasure Mountain was but a pebble; but Shen Yi at this moment was more like a towering mountain peak.

No wind or rain could shake him in the slightest.

The parted, upsurled waters were suppressed within a breath by an invisible, colossal force, instantly transforming into a downpour that fell back into West Hong.

A divine mountain had pinned down the blue heavens.

Then within this heaven and earth, no one could raise so much as a ripple.

Two phantom silhouettes of primeval dragon spirits, like golden flowing gauze, overlaid that slender frame. Shen Yi stared straight into the West Long Wang's massive dragon head, mere inches away; the vast force roared and surged between fist peak and elbow, yet neither had retreated a single step.

At this stalemate of mutual struggle.

He slowly turned his head: "Please, elders, guard the four directions for Shen Yi and let not a single living soul escape."

"..."

Ye Jiu, holding the flowing-light long sword and preparing to unleash the third divine art, fell silent upon hearing these words.

Good heavens, this Shen Zongzhu of ours truly listens to advice.

Last time we said he preferred to act alone, leaving the Nanhongqi Sect with no presence; this time he brought us along... damn it, yet the matter still falls to him alone.

Shen Yi did not like to explain too much while fighting; he saw Ye Jiu's thoughts and merely shook his head lightly.

For him, this was actually a very important matter.

If the news leaked out, he would be completely thrown into a passive position, even into a deadly trap.

Because the time was too short; there was simply no time to make thorough arrangements.

The reason for such urgency was very simple...

It was because Hongze Daxian had mentioned the span of over ten years. Apart from himself, anyone involved at the realm of He Dao, whether cultivator or demon, would feel this time span was incredibly short.

The immortal collects merit, and then gains the opportunity to leave Hongze.

For any living being in Hongze, this is a good thing; whether successful or not, it is merely a matter of waiting over ten years, hardly a cost at all.

Of course, except for himself.

Because once Hongze Daxian is promoted and transferred back, he will inevitably take away the Bai Xi treasure, and then discover the theft of immortal power.

And Shen Yi absolutely cannot let anyone know about this matter.

If the people of Donglong Palace received this news, even if the Donglong King was impatient by nature, he would not mind waiting another ten years.

By that time, he would have to face the three Dragon Palaces simultaneously, plus the Liangdaohuang Sect, and Hongze Daxian... that would be a true dead end.

So he must take one more step forward before the Donglong Palace changes its mind.

"One night."

Shen Yi withdrew his gaze, leaving behind a remark with no beginning or end.

The Crown Prince of Ziyang pressed his lips tightly, understanding his meaning.

This Shen Zongzhu saw his distrust yet disdained to argue with words; the other party now only needed one night, to exchange Qi Shengtao's life for the Donglong Palace's full support.

"You dare be distracted while fighting this Prince!"

This aged Jade-Horned Silver Dragon roared, saliva dripping from the corners of its mouth; crimson demonic power oozed from the gaps in its silver scales, forming an impenetrable heavy armor, yet its body remained light and agile, fists raining down like a violent storm.

It could no longer stir the winds and rains of Xihong, for the mighty aura contained in every fist was poured entirely onto this "Divine Peak" suppressing the blue sky.

Facing such a ferocious assault, Shen Yi's eyes were gray and desolate, as if able to see through everything; the Golden-veined Black Blade was gripped in his palm, blocking the dragon claw with the blade itself, his left arm supporting the blade.

The terrifying knuckles of the West Long Wang, capable of tearing the sky, could not make this long sword bend even a fraction.

The Demon Emperor Weapon, formed by gathering so many demon lives, finally displayed its true power before a perfect Heaven Realm dragon demon.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each collision struck the Crown Prince of Ziyang's heart like a war drum; of course he knew Shen Yi had countless ways to avoid these fists and palms, but the other party chose to meet force with force, refusing to retreat a single step, thus showing off his skill to him.

"I give you one day and one night."

Ziyang could have left in silence, but for some reason, he still left these words before carrying his sister out of the great hall.

Indeed, the moment he heard these words, the already furious West Long Wang fell into a brief daze, then his eyes widened roundly and he roared again: "Ziyang! You dare betray the Long Gong!"

As if struck by the greatest provocation.

At the bottom of the entire great hall, wisps of silver-white mist rose up, pouring into the West Long Wang's body.

Its two dragon horns turned into flowing light and fell into its palms, condensing into a pair of frost-white long blades; the aura on its body also began to rapidly approach a terrifying and unfamiliar realm.

"Let your schemes be endless."

"Let your collusion with the Eastern Palace be complete."

"This Xihong is still this Prince's Xihong!"

Qi Shengtao finally unleashed the power of the Dragon Cave, feeling the surging demonic power he had not experienced for so long.

He fiercely swung his blade; two huge Jade-Horned Silver Dragon phantom shadows coiled and howled out, occupying the entire great hall, causing this Long Gong nurtured by dragon qi for many years to be utterly destroyed in an instant!

Almost everything was annihilated in the blink of an eye.

This was a power nearly akin to the Dao.

In all of Hongze, only three people had reached the end of the He Dao realm; with these three absent, the current Qi Shengtao was truly invincible.

"Dodge!"

Even though this blade's target was not the three Zongzhus of Nanhong.

Qi Yansheng still reacted swiftly, pushing out the Purple-Gold Treasure Mountain, which transformed into a thick stone wall a thousand zhang high, attempting to block for a moment.

However, before the dragon shadow arrived, the stone wall already trembled with a rumbling boom; the purple-gold mountain body cracked like fragile glass.

Fortunately, a golden dragon soul leaped out in advance, swelled violently against the wind, and fiercely bit down on the silver dragon's neck; though both were formed of aura, they seemed like real ferocious creatures fighting desperately!

With a flick of its tail, it sent the three Zongzhus flying out.

"Wait—"

Ye Jiu stared fixedly at that dragon soul; he knew Shen Yi had gained the strength to fight the West Long Wang head-on thanks to this divine art; now the dragon soul was separated from the body, and Shen Yi was facing those two long blades directly!

Everyone thought of this point and turned back in horror.

At the same time, Qi Shengtao's sinister laughter rang in their ears.

Concealed by the Jade-Horned Silver Dragon phantom shadow, its muscular dragon body clad in crimson heavy armor had quietly appeared above Shen Yi.

A pair of frost-white long blades, carrying the power of overturning rivers and seas, crashed down heavily!

"Die for this Prince!"

Without the protection of the Azure Dragon Primordial Spirit Body, Shen Yi, with only the Divine Peak Suppressing the Blue Sky supporting him, suddenly appeared somewhat fragile under those two blades.

He gently raised his palm, as if intending to catch the blade with that fleshy hand.

His five long fingers spread open.

The two long blades hung in the air in this bizarre manner.

Within that palm, a peach blossom outlined by points of light bloomed silently, rotating slowly.

Shen Yi stared into the West Long Wang's blood-red eyes and shook his head seriously: "No."

Accompanying his words, he casually vibrated his palm.

That peach blossom instantaneously rose, spreading at a speed barely visible to the naked eye, covering nearly the entire expanse of water; beneath the dark, gloomy waters, it transformed into a clear starry sky.

The Greedy Wolf Star Array for Executing Immortals!

This was an immortal array famous throughout Hongze; appearing on a "disciple of the Liangdaohuang Sect who had gone astray" at this moment did not seem entirely strange.

However, Ji Jingxi and the others had already fallen into complete stupor.

They had watched Shen Yi emerge from the General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi with their own eyes, which was why they were so certain he had no connection to the Liangdaohuang Sect.

But for an array like this, let alone obtaining it from elsewhere, even a true disciple of the Liangdaohuang Sect could only access it as a Branch Sect Master... No, to be precise, even a Branch Sect Master could not obtain the complete array diagram.

Beyond that.

Crown Prince Ziyang, who was guarding outside the hall, also looked up at the Greedy Wolf Star Map in the sky with disbelief.

Even if it were an immortal map, how many powerful cultivators would be needed to serve as array stones to make it effective against a cultivator on the verge of the Dao Realm?

He swept his gaze around as if he had seen a ghost.

None! Not a single one!

The surroundings were empty; there was absolutely no presence of any living being.

Shen Yi held no communication treasure for controlling the array in his hand either.

"One... one person forming an array?"

The scene before his eyes undoubtedly shattered Ziyang's understanding.

Even as the Crown Prince of the East Long Gong, he had never witnessed such a bizarre matter!

"Hah."

Shen Yi's figure slowly floated upward; he reached out to undo his collar, and while adjusting his breathing, he looked down at the many dragon demons covered by the great array, his gaze settling on Qi Shengtao, whose face was solemn.

It was not a case of one person forming an array.

The reason he felt this Greedy Wolf Star Map suited him well and was willing to cultivate it at the cost of nearly being tortured into madness was that he could place the array stones within the sea of consciousness between his eyebrows... within his Wan Yao Dian!

At this moment, led by Ke Shisan, who had reached the peak of the Heaven Realm, plus the three Hall Masters excluding Wu Jun, and Shen Shan Laozu, there were exactly five Heaven Realm anchors; the rest were all filled by the strongest Earth Realm great demons, making a total of seventeen.

Only then did this current great array come into being!

Of course, to assemble this great array, the price Shen Yi paid was the loss of control over West Hong.

"These are mine."

He glanced sideways toward the distance, clasped his hands lightly, and said: "As for the rest, I will trouble the several elders."

This was the most critical step, and also the only time Shen Yi entrusted his life to others after leaving Hongze.

(End of this chapter)