Chapter 1360

Splendid! Splendid! Splendid! We have seized control of the World Tree; whether we fight, retreat, or negotiate, we hold the initiative.

Translation: "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! We have already grasped control of the World Tree; whether it's battle, retreat, or peace, we hold the initiative!"

We need to keep the quotes? The Chinese includes quotation marks. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, preserve meaning. The quotation marks are punctuation; we can keep English quotation marks. We'll keep them as is.

Thus: "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! We have already grasped control of the World Tree; whether it's battle, retreat, or peace, we hold the initiative!"

Note: 'grasped control of the World Tree' could also be rendered as 'mastered'; we will use 'grasped control'.

Old Ancestor You Sha's heart was completely at ease.

Old Ancestor You Sha's heart was completely at ease.

We'll output: "Old Ancestor You Sha's heart was greatly settled."

Regardless, we have lost five Dao Jun realm experts to gain time; the Burial Heaven Grand Formation is now complete. It's not us who are panicking—it's Lu Xuan.

Translation: "No matter what, we exchanged the loss of five Dao Jun realm experts for time; now the Burial Heaven Grand Formation is complete. It's not us who are panicking, but Lu Xuan!"

Thus: "No matter what, we exchanged the loss of five Dao Jun realm experts for time; now the Burial Heaven Grand Formation is complete. It's not us who are panicking, but Lu Xuan!"

Numerous elders nodded.

Translation: "Numerous old ancestors all nodded."

The Burial Heaven Grand Formation is imposing; the Heaven of No End will undoubtedly sense it.

Translation: "The Burial Heaven Grand Formation is mighty; the Everlasting Heaven will surely notice."

They no longer need to go on the offensive; they just need to wait passively.

Translation: "They no longer need to take the offensive; they just need to wait passively!"

Actually "waiting by a stump for a rabbit" is "waiting by a stump for a rabbit" meaning passive waiting. So: "They no longer need to take the offensive; they just need to wait passively!"

They are pretty sure Lu Xuan is still alive.

Translation: "They have largely confirmed that Lu Xuan is still alive."

Old Ancestor You Sha's eyes were cold as he stared into the distant star sea, already confident: 'So what if Lu Xuan is alive? The Burial Heaven Grand Formation is finished, we've seized the initiative. Lu Xuan will surely come at once with his army to attack our Deceit Palace, but he has no idea what awaits him.'

Translation: "Old Ancestor You Sha's gaze was icy as he looked toward the distant star sea, already having a plan in mind: 'What does it matter if Lu Xuan lives? The Burial Heaven Grand Formation is complete; we have seized the initiative. Lu Xuan will surely soon lead his army to descend upon our Deceit Palace, but he has no idea what awaits him!'"

We need to keep quotes. We'll output: "Old Ancestor You Sha's gaze was icy as he looked toward the distant star sea, already having a plan in mind: 'What does it matter if Lu Xuan lives? The Burial Heaven Grand Formation is complete; we have seized the initiative. Lu Xuan will surely soon lead his army to descend upon our Deceit Palace, but he has no idea what awaits him!'"

The Xuanji Holy Lord's beautiful eyes glowed with divine radiance, though she was amused inside.

Translation: "The Xuanji Holy Lord's beautiful eyes flowed with divine radiance, yet she wanted to laugh in her heart."

Her undercover days in the Deceit Palace are finally over.

Translation: "The days of undercover work in the Deceit Palace are finally coming to an end."

At last, she could reunite with her master.

Translation: "Finally, I can reunite with my master again."

Then.

Translation: "At this moment."

The Nether Formation Elder stretched out his hand; with a thought, a small image of the World Tree appeared in his palm, slowly turning.

Translation: "The Dark Formation Elder extended his large hand; with a thought, a miniature image of the World Tree appeared in his palm, slowly rotating."

This is the World Tree that has been corrupted.

Translation: "This is the already darkened World Tree!"

Endless formation patterns stream over it, having already permeated every aspect—inside and out—turning everything black; the only untouched place is the realm of the Heaven of No End.

Translation: "Endless formation patterns ceaselessly flow across it, having already invaded every part of its interior; whether surface or interior, all has turned black, the only pure land being the Everlasting Heaven's domain."

It hangs like a massive fruit.

Translation: "Like a large fruit hanging down!"

The potent strange force tries to intrude, but is held back by the intricate Dao patterns.

Translation: "The rich, eerie power seeks to invade, but is blocked outside by the profound Dao patterns."

The Xuanji Holy Lord blinked, startled: 'This is the immense formation the Deceit Palace has been preparing for ages!'

Translation: "The Xuanji Holy Lord blinked slightly, her heart involuntarily shocked: 'This is the grand formation that the Deceit Palace has laid out for endless ages!'"

One must admit, the Nether Formation Elder's formation skill is extraordinarily powerful!

Translation: "One cannot deny that the Dark Formation Elder's attainment in formations is incredibly strong!"

Through the Dao of formation patterns, invading the World Tree opens a new way to fully dominate it.

Translation: "By the way of formation patterns, invading the World Tree can be said to open a new path to completely control it."

The Nether Formation Elder turned to the Xuanji Holy Lord and said, 'Bai, you still have much to learn about formations! This formation is fully activated, bound to the World Tree—so long as the Tree stands, the formation stands. I've poured my lifelong effort into it; even if Lu Xuan himself comes, he cannot break it.'

Translation: "At this moment, the Dark Formation Elder looked at the Xuanji Holy Lord and said, 'White, in the way of formations you still have much to learn! This formation has been fully activated, existing together with the World Tree; as long as the World Tree is not destroyed, the formation will not perish. This formation has exhausted my lifelong painstaking effort; even if Lu Xuan himself arrives, he cannot crack it!'"

Note: "Bai" likely refers to the Xuanji Holy Lord's name? Actually "Bai" could be a nickname "Bai". We'll keep as "White"? It's a name? It's a single character used as a name? Probably it's a nickname "Bai". According to rule, if it's a nickname used as a name, we keep pinyin: "Bai". So we should output "Bai". So: "'Bai, in the way of formations you still have much to learn!...

Thus: "At this moment, the Dark Formation Elder looked at the Xuanji Holy Lord and said, 'Bai, in the way of formations you still have much to learn! This formation has been fully activated, existing together with the World Tree; as long as the World Tree is not destroyed, the formation will not perish. This formation has exhausted my lifelong painstaking effort; even if Lu Xuan himself arrives, he cannot crack it!'"

The Xuanji Holy Lord nodded outwardly, but inside she scoffed; her master's formation skill is beyond measure—how could you match it?

Translation: "The Xuanji Holy Lord nodded on the surface, but in her heart she felt contempt; her master's attainment in formations is unfathomable—how could you compare?"

The Nether Formation Elder gave the secret to command the Burial Heaven Grand Formation to Old Ancestor You Sha, who inspected the patterns and exclaimed: 'Nether Formation, after you kill Lu Xuan and take the Primordial Original Seed, you will earn the top credit!'

Translation: "The Dark Formation Elder handed over the secret technique to control the Burial Heaven Grand Formation to Old Ancestor You Sha, who, upon examining the formation patterns, couldn't help but exclaim repeatedly: 'Dark Formation, in this operation to slay Lu Xuan and seize the Primordial Original Seed, you shall take the chief merit!'"

'Not at all, not at all!' laughed the Nether Formation Elder.

Translation: "'I dare not, I dare not!' the Dark Formation Elder said with a smile."

Old Ancestor You Sha shifted tone: 'If it weren't for Butterfly Moon killing many of our Deceit Palace's Dao Jun realm experts, we wouldn't be in such a passive state!'

Translation: "Old Ancestor You Sha changed the subject: 'If it weren't for that Butterfly Moon slaughtering many of our Deceit Palace's Dao Jun realm experts, we wouldn't be so passive now!'"

Originally there were dozens of one-star Dao Jun realm experts.

Translation: "Originally there were indeed dozens of one-star Dao Jun realm experts!"

Now fewer than ten are left.

Translation: "Now fewer than ten remain!"

Old Ancestor You Sha turned to Chen Shou and said, 'Once we kill Lu Xuan and take the Primordial Original Seed, the World Tree will collapse; the power of time will go to you, and the power of the Great Dao to us. We'll use the World Tree's power to restore our cultivation, cross the Reverse Flow River, pass through the Butterfly World and Giant Palm World, and depart this remnant realm.'

Translation: "Saying this, Old Ancestor You Sha looked at Chen Shou: 'After slaying Lu Xuan and seizing the Primordial Original Seed, the World Tree will collapse; the power of time will belong to you all, while the power of the Great Dao will belong to us. We need to borrow the World Tree's strength to restore our cultivation, traverse the Reverse Flow River, cross the Butterfly World and the Giant Palm World, and leave this remnant realm.'"

Chen Shou nodded, 'Of course. Still, just in case, I've already reached out to other experts of my clan.'

Translation: "Chen Shou nodded: 'That is natural. However, just in case, I have already contacted other experts of my clan.'"

'Excellent!'

Translation: "'Excellent!'"

Everyone in the Deceit Palace was overjoyed.

Translation: "All the members of the Deceit Palace were overjoyed."

Chen Shou continued, 'But due to the Luo Water Oath with the Past Sect, my clan cannot send forth experts above three-star Dao Jun realm.'

Translation: "Chen Shou added, 'However, because of the Luo River Oath with the Past Sect, my clan cannot deploy experts above three-star Dao Jun realm.'"

'The Luo Water Oath?' Old Ancestor You Sha furrowed his brows.

Translation: "'The Luo River Oath?' Old Ancestor You Sha frowned slightly."

The Past Sect—of course they've heard of it.

Translation: "The Past Sect, they naturally have heard of it."

It is an immensely powerful sect, a dominant power beyond the Giant Palm World, whose members roam the River of Ages and cooperate with many major forces.

Translation: "This is an extremely powerful sect, also a hegemon outside the Giant Palm World; its members up and down all wander the River of Time, cooperating with many major powers."

The Deceit Palace's arrival at the World Tree involved no prior contact with the Past Sect here.

Translation: "The Deceit Palace's descent upon the World Tree has had no dealings with the Past Sect here."

Chen Shou said, 'The Reverse Flow River splits into many branches; Luo Water is one of them. Long ago, my clan's warriors and the Past Sect's warriors swore a Dao oath at Luo Water, granting my clan the right to freely draw the power of time from the Reverse Flow River, but forbidding us to cause turmoil in the River of Ages.'

Translation: "Chen Shou explained, 'The Reverse Flow River has many branches; Luo River is one of them. In the past, my clan's experts and the Past Sect's experts swore a Dao oath by the Luo River, among which there was an agreement: my clan may freely draw the power of time from the Reverse Flow River, but must not stir up waves in the River of Time.'"

'What does that mean?' the Deceit Palace elders asked, bewildered.

Translation: "'What does that mean?' many Deceit Palace elders asked in confusion."

Chen Shou went on, 'The Reverse Flow River buries several great worlds. Know that this remnant realm once lacked a World Tree, Butterfly World, and Giant Palm World—it suffered a horrific war that destroyed the original great worlds, leaving only shattered worlds adrift in the Reverse Flow River.'

Translation: "Chen Shou continued, 'Within the Reverse Flow River lie buried several great worlds. Know that this remnant realm once had no World Tree, Butterfly World, or Giant Palm World! Here a terrible war took place; the original great worlds were destroyed, leaving only fragmented worlds drifting in the Reverse Flow River.'"

'Meanwhile, the Past Sect roams the River of Ages, seeking the past's secrets. The great river flows; different stretches have different strengths; the World Tree's location is already the far end of the Reverse Flow River, where the current calms. If a high-star Dao Jun realm expert acted, they would surely raise massive waves.'

Translation: "Meanwhile, the Past Sect wanders the River of Time, probing the secrets of the past. The great river rolls on; different river regions have different powers, and the place where the World Tree resides is already the end of the Reverse Flow River; the river flows here, becoming tranquil. If a high-star Dao Jun expert acts, it will surely stir up tremendous waves."

'If that's the case, it would break the Luo Water Oath!'

Translation: "If so, that would violate the Luo River Oath!"

The Deceit Palace elders frowned, 'There's actually such a thing?'

Translation: "The Deceit Palace members frowned, 'There actually is such a thing?'"

It appears this remnant realm also conceals a great secret!

Translation: "It seems this remnant realm also hides a great secret!"

A brief silence fell.

Translation: "A moment of silence passed."

Old Ancestor You Sha and his companions collected their thoughts, ceasing to worry about the Reverse Flow River; they will surely have to leave this remnant realm sooner or later.

Translation: "Old Ancestor You Sha and the others gathered their thoughts, no longer pondering the Reverse Flow River; they will inevitably have to leave this remnant realm."

'No worries! Everything is set, we just need the final push! Fellow Daoist Chen Shou, our Deceit Palace forces are battle-ready; we only wait for Lu Xuan to arrive so we can destroy him.'

Translation: "'No problem! All preparations are complete, only missing the final breeze! Fellow Daoist Chen Shou, our Deceit Palace army is ready for battle; we only await Lu Xuan's descent to slaughter him!'"

At that moment.

Translation: "Just then."

'Boom!'

Translation: "'Boom!'"

'Crack!'

Translation: "'Crack!'"

At the edge of the Deceit Palace's star sea, the void ripped open and space warped.

Translation: "At the edge of the Deceit Palace's star sea, the void rended, space twisted."

Lu Xuan donned a white robe, a faint divine glow shimmering over him, cradling little Nannan; her large eyes blinked as she gazed at the surrounding star sea, widening in surprise as she exclaimed, 'It's so dark here!'

Translation: "Lu Xuan wore a white robe, faint divine radiance flowing over him; in his arms he held Xiao Nian Nian, her big eyes blinking as she looked around the star sea, revealing a look of surprise, her mouth wide open: 'It's so dark here!'"

We need to keep quotes. So: "Lu Xuan wore a white robe, faint divine radiance flowing over him; in his arms he held Xiao Nian Nian, her big eyes blinking as she looked around the star sea, revealing a look of surprise, her mouth wide open: 'It's so dark here!'"

Behind Lu Xuan stood Yang Ling'er, Qi Chunsheng, Ye Chen, Fang Yuan, and others; then the No End Army surged out like a golden flood from the void rift, mighty and vast.

Translation: "Behind Lu Xuan were Yang Ling Er, Qi Chun Jing, Ye Chen, Fang Yuan, and others; then the Everlasting Army poured forth like a golden torrent from the void rift, mighty and vast."

'Rumble rumble rumble!'

Translation: "'Boom boom boom!'"

The No End troops raised their spirit weapons, shining divine light that blazed and lit the void like a river of divine radiance pouring into darkness.

Translation: "Many of the Everlasting Army brandished their Spiritual Weapons, divine light blazing, illuminating the void like a river of divine radiance falling into darkness."

They could barely hold back their excitement.

Translation: "They could hardly contain their excitement."

Today they actually intend to storm the Deceit Palace's star sea.

Translation: "Today they actually are going to charge into the Deceit Palace's star sea!"

They had always been on alert, bracing for wave after wave of Deceit Palace experts' attacks; now the tide has turned, and they go on the offensive.

Translation: "They have always been on guard, awaiting wave after wave of assaults from Deceit Palace experts; now the situation has reversed, and they take the offensive."

In an instant, immense battle intent welled up, shaking the heavens.

Translation: "In an instant, towering battle intent coalesced, shaking the heavens."

'Huh?' In the Dark Palace, many elders snorted coldly: 'Speak of Lu Xuan, and here he arrives.'

Translation: "'Huh?' In the Dark Palace, the many elders all gave a cold chuckle: 'Indeed, speaking of Lu Xuan, here he comes.'"

Their divine sense reached out, sweeping over Lu Xuan, Qi Chun Jing, and the others.

Lu Xuan looks like this—how could he possibly be injured?

Yousha Old Ancestor's face was ice-cold, full of resentment toward Gu Yue Laozi: 'This old guy, mysterious and secretive for endless ages, in the end didn't even injure a single hair of Lu Xuan—truly stupid!'

Chen Kang knew the inside story of Gu Yue Laozi, but did not refute.

Wait!

Suddenly a Dao Jun Realm old ancestor pointed at Fang Yuan and exclaimed in surprise, 'Isn't that Fang Yuan? How did she break through to the Six-Star Dao Xu Realm? Her aura…… this is a ten-transformation gu creature!'

……