Chapter 340: Zhang Fan's Strength! Impregnable as Metal and Boiling Water!

The magic skiff flew steadily, gradually approaching the barren mountain range at the border between Profound Moon Prefecture and Greedy Wolf Prefecture.

The spiritual qi here was thin, the terrain treacherous, and human presence exceedingly rare.

Just as the magic skiff was about to pass over a canyon shrouded in gray mist year-round.

A sudden anomaly occurred!

Two clusters of pitch-black demonic qi, so dense they seemed solid, abruptly appeared in the void ahead!

Within the demonic qi, two silhouettes slowly materialized.

The person on the left wore a loose dark red demonic robe embroidered with twisted Asura totems.

His stature was exceptionally tall, standing at nearly three meters.

His exposed skin exhibited an unhealthy greenish-gray hue, covered in bizarre blood-red patterns.

His exact appearance could not be seen.

Only a pair of ghostly green eyes flickered beneath the shadows of his hood, his gaze cold and dead.

"Heh heh... Xu Mingxian, we finally caught you leaving Profound Moon City. It seems the months we spent waiting in Profound Moon Prefecture were not in vain."

The Avici King's voice was hoarse and grating, dripping with mockery and cruelty.

"End this quickly. Capture them and head to the Profound Moon Sect to exchange them for Tianluo,"

the Rakshasa King stated coldly, devoid of any emotion.

"Understood, big brother."

As soon as his voice faded, the Avici King extended his withered, ghost-like right hand from beneath his cloak and grabbed at the magic skiff from afar!

Boom!

A giant hand of pitch-black demonic qi, spanning hundreds of meters, condensed out of thin air.

Countless phantoms of agonizing human faces churned on the surface of the giant hand, making it look incredibly bizarre.

It ruthlessly grabbed down at the magic skiff, blotting out the sky and covering the sun!

Wherever it passed, space itself emitted groans as if unable to bear the heavy burden!

Inside the magic skiff, the expressions of Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling drastically changed.

This was a might comparable to a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator!

They had both seen early-stage and mid-stage Nascent Soul experts, and they were absolutely not this terrifying!

'Grandfather guessed correctly. It really is another Nascent Soul stage expert formed by an Ancient True Demon's possession!'

Xu Deling thought to herself, 'This presence feels even stronger than Demon Lord Tianluo.'

Under this lock and pressure comparable to a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator, they found it difficult to even breathe. The magic skiff's protective light screen trembled violently like paper, flickering uncertainly!

Just at this moment of hanging by a hair—

"Vile spawn! How dare you commit such atrocities!"

An angry shout, like thunder from the ninth heaven, explosively rang out from the distant horizon!

Before the voice had even faded, a vast moon-white streak of light tore through the sky, crossing thousands of kilometers in an instant to brazenly descend!

It was precisely the Ancestor of Profound Moon.

He had previously left a strand of divine sense on Xu Mingxian.

Sensing the pressure of the true demon now, he immediately flew over at full speed.

Within the streak of light, the Ancestor of Profound Moon's figure could faintly be seen, his hair and beard flaring out and his eyes glaring fiercely!

He formed his fingers into a sword and slashed through the air at the descending pitch-black demonic hand!

"Profound Moon Demon-Slaying Sword—Slash!"

A three-hundred-meter golden sword light, condensed to the absolute limit, struck first despite being launched later, slashing flawlessly at the wrist of the demonic hand!

Slash!

Like a hot knife cutting through butter, the terrifying demonic qi giant hand was forcibly severed by this sword!

The demonic qi at the severed part frantically evaporated and dissipated, while the remaining portion disintegrated in an instant!

"What?!"

"Zhang Fan?! Why is he here?!"

The Rakshasa King and the Avici King exclaimed simultaneously.

They clearly had not expected the Ancestor of Profound Moon to be following secretly and arriving so quickly!

"Second brother, go quickly and capture those two! I will hold him off for now!"

The Rakshasa King reacted extremely fast.

A fierce glint flashed across his scarlet vertical pupils. With a sway of his body, he blocked the space between the Ancestor of Profound Moon and the magic skiff.

His dark red demonic robe billowed around him. Behind him, a massive Rakshasa phantom vaguely emerged, possessing three heads and six arms, with bared fangs and holding various bloody weapons.

The demonic might of this phantom was monstrous, and it actually managed to temporarily withstand the vast aura of the Ancestor of Profound Moon.

"You truly court death!" Seeing that the opponent still dared to split their forces to capture people, the Ancestor of Profound Moon's rage burned even hotter.

He held nothing back anymore, and the aura surrounding him explosively surged!

"Dharma Idol, manifest!"

Following his low shout, the void behind him abruptly tore open. A giant phantom hundreds of meters tall majestically surfaced. It was entirely crystalline moon-white, and its face bore a seventy percent resemblance to the Ancestor of Profound Moon!

The Dharma Idol phantom wore battle armor condensed from the radiance of stars and the moon. Its right hand grasped a giant golden sword of equal height, radiating tremendous pressure and Dao Rhyme.

It was actually several times more solid and vast than the Rakshasa King's Rakshasa phantom!

"A Dharma Idol phantom condensed from four divine abilities at divine ability perfection?!"

The Avici King, who was just about to pounce on the magic skiff, sensed the terrifying aura and abruptly halted his movement. For the first time, a look of shock appeared in his ghostly green eyes.

"Second brother, let's attack together and stop him!"

"Yes, big brother!"

The Avici King similarly condensed a True Demon Dharma Idol phantom. However, just like the Rakshasa King's, it only integrated three perfected divine abilities.

"Both of you shall stay and keep Demon Lord Tianluo company!"

The Ancestor of Profound Moon's voice shook the universe.

The Dharma Idol phantom behind him raised its giant sword high into the air. Wind and thunder surged violently. The edge of the giant sword was sharp enough to tear the sky as it brazenly cleaved down toward the area where the Rakshasa King and Avici King stood!

Before the sword had even fully descended, the terrifying sword pressure had already split the earth into deep ravines!

Rumble!

The giant sword violently clashed against the twin demonic phantoms!

It was as if heaven and earth were collapsing!

An indescribably terrifying energy storm instantly swept across an area hundreds of kilometers wide!

The blinding light and destructive shockwaves completely shredded the clouds in the sky. The mountain range below seemed to have had a layer wiped away by an invisible giant hand, turning countless massive boulders and vegetation into fine dust!

Bearing the brunt of the impact, Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling, even with a wisp of mana the Ancestor of Profound Moon had preemptively separated to protect them, were still sent flying along with the magic skiff like fallen leaves in a hurricane.

They were violently hurled dozens of kilometers away by the frenzied aftermath!

The light screen of the magic skiff was utterly shattered, and the hull was covered in cracks.

The qi and blood within the two surged wildly. Their internal organs were shaken, blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, and their eyes were filled with horror.

The lingering shockwaves of a battle between Grand Cultivators were actually this terrifying!

In the center of the storm.

Under the Ancestor of Profound Moon's giant sword, the demonic phantoms condensed by the Rakshasa King and the Avici King only lasted for a few breaths before emitting overwhelmed wails, largely collapsing with a massive bang!

Their main bodies suffered heavy blows as well. With a muffled groan, they spewed mouthfuls of demonic blood!

"Impossible!"

The Rakshasa King's face turned ghastly pale. His mind shook violently as he cried out in disbelief, "Zhang Fan! You are absolutely not an ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!

You... You've reached Nascent Soul Perfection?!"

A strong sense of unease immediately welled up in his heart.

He had underestimated him!

He had severely underestimated this man's strength!

He originally thought Zhang Fan was merely a newly advanced Great Nascent Soul Cultivator. Even with hundreds of years of growth, he would at most be at the eighth or ninth layer of the Nascent Soul stage.

Nowadays, the Heavenly Dao was abnormal. It not only ruthlessly suppressed Ancient True Demons like them, but cultivators of this world were also subjected to suppression.

Nascent Soul Perfection was nearly the limit of this world.

Let alone breaking through the Divine Transformation bottleneck, just cultivating from the ninth layer of Nascent Soul to the Perfected Realm of Nascent Soul was immensely difficult.

Not all Grand Cultivators could achieve it!

Not only had Zhang Fan cultivated a Dharma Idol phantom with four divine abilities, but he had also broken through to Nascent Soul Perfection.

Coupled with a Spirit Treasure in hand, he could likely rank in the top five among all Great Nascent Soul Cultivators in the entire Heavenly South!

As for why not the top three, it was naturally because the thousands of years of heritage of sects like the Qingyun Sect and the Feather Transformation Sect were extraordinary; they definitely had Nascent Soul Perfection cultivators as well.

Furthermore, their number of Great Nascent Soul Cultivators was more than what was superficially revealed.

They wouldn't lack things like Spirit Treasures either!

"Damn it! Second brother, use the True Demon Disintegration and let's flee separately!"

The Rakshasa King roared furiously. He and the Avici King no longer dared to hold back in the slightest. At the same time, they stimulated their source true demon qi, executing a true demon secret art.

The figures of the two instantly transformed into two streaks of black demonic light. Their speed surged to an unimaginable degree, directly breaking free from the Ancestor of Profound Moon's lock.

Like two black shooting stars, they shot off to the left and right. In the blink of an eye, they were thousands of kilometers away, completely impossible for even the Ancestor of Profound Moon to intercept.

However, the True Demon Disintegration secret art was highly unorthodox.

After executing it, the two would likely suffer severe damage to their vitality. Without ten or twenty years of recuperation, they would not fully recover.

The Ancestor of Profound Moon frowned slightly and withdrew his Dharma Idol phantom.

Gazing in the direction the two vanished, he coldly snorted, "The life-saving secret methods of Ancient True Demons... quite slippery indeed."

Immediately after, his gaze shifted, turning toward a certain cloud layer hundreds of kilometers away. He spoke indifferently, "Your Excellency has been watching in secret for a long time. It's time to come out."

Hundreds of kilometers away, Moyue, who was concealed within the clouds and desperately suppressing his aura, was startled!

He was discovered even from over two hundred and fifty kilometers away?

Just how powerful had Zhang Fan's divine sense become?!

What alarmed him even more was the terrifying strength the Ancestor of Profound Moon had just displayed.

Moyue mused to himself that if they were enemies, he would likely be pinched to death as easily as catching a bug!

Since he was called out, Moyue no longer hid.

A streak of deep blue light arrived within seconds, stopping a short distance away from the Ancestor of Profound Moon.

At this moment, Moyue was in his half-human, half-dragon form. His dark golden dragon pupils held a grave expression as he cupped his hands and said, "Grand Elder of the Xu Family, Moyue, greets Daoist Friend Profound Moon."

"So it is you."

The Ancestor of Profound Moon scrutinized Moyue, a strange glint flashing across his eyes. "I thought it was some great demon trailing behind, wanting to harm my disciple.

It seems Daoist Friend Xu came prepared."

At this moment, Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling flew over. They cupped their hands to the Ancestor of Profound Moon, "Honored Master."

Immediately after, they bowed to Moyue, "Grand Elder."

Xu Deling followed suit.

"Daoist Friend Moyue, since you are here, please escort them back to Cloudstream City for the rest of the journey. Although those two demons fled, they are heavily injured and should not block the way again.

I have matters to arrange back at the sect."

"I understand." Moyue nodded. He had already witnessed the Ancestor of Profound Moon's strength, so he naturally had no objections to his arrangement.

"Please go ahead, Daoist Friend. Leave the rest of the journey to me."

The Ancestor of Profound Moon said no more.

He immediately turned into a streak of moon-white light, racing off toward the Profound Moon Sect and disappearing into the horizon in an instant.

"This is not a place to stay for long. Let's go too."

Moyue wrapped a gentle wave of demonic power around the two and transformed into a deep blue streak of light, departing at full speed.

In less than a day's time.

The three of them returned to Cloudstream City, landing in Xu Chuan's courtyard.

"You're back," Xu Chuan opened his eyes and said plainly.

"Xu Chuan, you have no idea. I almost didn't make it back!" Moyue exclaimed indignantly. "What kind of garbage assignment did you give me!"

"Oh? Didn't you just go out for a walk?" Xu Chuan asked with a teasing smile.

Moyue choked on his words, his face flushing to the color of pig's liver out of anger!

He just had to bring that up!

Xu Mingxian cupped his hands and bowed to Xu Chuan. "Father, your son has returned."

"It's good that you returned safely." Xu Chuan smiled faintly and nodded. "Go see Deyue, Chongfei, and the others."

"Deyue accepted a disciple, the little girl from the Tang family. She has one of the top ten ancient Cauldron Physiques and is highly compatible with the Maiden Grand Yin Scripture."

"A Cauldron Physique?" Xu Deling was shocked. "Grandfather, are you planning to take a concubine?"

"Don't speak nonsense. It is merely a transaction. The Xu Family will nurture her to Golden Core Perfection. At a critical moment, she will willingly contribute a wisp of Connate Supreme Element Qi from her body.

That is a tremendous blessing!

It can save someone near death from heavy wounds, repair a cracked divine soul, mend a damaged Dao foundation, help overcome an Inner Demon Tribulation, and break through bottlenecks of major realms.

The higher her realm, the more miraculous that wisp of Connate Supreme Element Qi will become!

As for whether she will marry into our Xu Family, we will leave that to predestined affinity.

Nowadays, our Xu Family has no need to act in such a manner.

Otherwise, Grandfather would have married you off first, little girl."

Xu Deling looked flustered and offered an awkward smile.

Shortly after, Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling stopped disturbing him and took their leave.

One of them was about to get busy with the formations for Cloudstream City and the Xu Residence, while the other had a large number of Dharma Tools to forge. Neither of them had any free time.

After the two left.

Moyue immediately said, "Xu Chuan, this son and granddaughter of yours almost didn't return this time. They were actually intercepted by two Demonic Dao Grand Cultivators.

Fortunately, Zhang Fan arrived in time!

Even from two hundred and fifty kilometers away, I could clearly sense the shocking shockwaves of their battle!

And yet, Zhang Fan actually overpowered the two of them!

He is absolutely not an ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator!"

Pausing, Moyue sighed lightly. "I originally thought that since I could fight evenly with that old geezer Qi Tianxiong, I would be considered a top-tier expert.

Now it seems, my path to true power is still a long way off!"

"I didn't expect our Lord Moyue would take such a blow!" Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "Compared to you demonic beasts, our human lifespan is naturally short.

If we couldn't take the upper hand in cultivation speed, wouldn't the Heavenly South have belonged to the demonic beasts long ago?"

"What you should be thinking is that in a thousand years, Zhang Fan will have long passed away, but you will still be roaming the world freely, perhaps with even greater strength."

"That's not wrong," Moyue turned to look at Xu Chuan, "but the point is that when I advanced to the Fourth-Tier, my lifespan only increased by fifteen hundred years."

"Uh, pretend I didn't say anything." Xu Chuan closed his eyes once again to cultivate.

Xu Mingxian went to see Xu Deyue. Overjoyed, she immediately sent messages for Ye Fan and Xu Chongfei to come and pay their respects.

The three generations of the family spent the better part of a half-day together.

"Grandfather, Chongfei is now at the Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment stage. He has even comprehended Extreme Yang and Extreme Cold True Intent, an ability recorded in the Flame-Cold Nine Heavens known as the Flame-Frost Divine Ability.

It's much more formidable than ordinary divine abilities."

"Grandfather, the Connate Secret Realm appeared a while ago. Lian'er and I were among the very first to witness it. You must not have seen it, right? The scene was simply too astonishing."

Xu Chongfei chattered on continuously.

He also recounted a few interesting people and amusing incidents he had encountered during his travels in Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Xu Mingxian listened quietly, a faint smile hanging on his face.

"Father, our Xu Family also gained two more guest elders. One is Chen Changge, and the other is a Tier 3 Array Master, Perfected Person Green Cliff. He is the one who currently arranged the inner and outer arrays of Cloudstream City.

I am currently the City Lord of Cloudstream City.

However, the primary affairs are being managed by Chen Changge and the Ancestor of the Tang Family, Tang Yuanli.

Also, Deyue and I have each taken in a disciple."

"I heard Father mention this," Xu Mingxian smiled faintly. "However, I haven't met your disciples yet. Call them both over so I can take a look."

Xu Deyue and Ye Fan immediately complied.

A short while later.

"Grand-disciple Ye Feng (Tang Qianqian) greets Grandmaster!"

Ye Feng and Tang Qianqian cupped their hands and bowed to Xu Mingxian.

"No need for formalities. These are meeting gifts for the two of you."

Xu Mingxian tapped his Storage Pouch, and two streams of light—one yellow, one azure—flew out and landed before the two, revealing themselves as Array Disks.

"These are two little trinkets I made in my spare time. The one radiating yellow light is a Tier 2 Low-Grade Defensive Array Disk, and the azure one is a Tier 2 Low-Grade Offensive Array Disk.

Choose one for yourselves."

The two examined the Array Disks before them. Ye Feng immediately cupped his hands and said, "Qianqian is the junior sister. Let Junior Sister Qianqian choose first."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Then Qianqian will choose the azure Offensive Array Disk."

Xu Mingxian smiled faintly and waved his hand lightly.

The azure Array Disk fell into Tang Qianqian's hands, while the yellow Defensive Array Disk went to Ye Feng.

"These are the incantations to operate them. Memorize them well."

Xu Mingxian transmitted instructions directly to their minds via divine sense, teaching them how to control the items.

"Thank you, Grandmaster!" The two immediately bowed in gratitude again.

They were both only at the Qi Condensation Stage, yet Xu Mingxian had just gifted them Tier 2 Array Disks that even Mid Foundation Establishment cultivators would covet. They were far more precious than Top-Grade Magical Artifacts.

"Your cultivation is still low. You must practice diligently in the future and never tarnish the prestige of our Xu Family.

Fellow disciples should treat each other with harmony and respect. Do not clash over petty interests.

The reason our Xu Family has come this far is entirely due to the united efforts of everyone top to bottom."

"Thank you for your teachings, Grandmaster. We will remember them by heart and never forget!"

"You may step down."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

Once they left, Xu Mingxian said, "Deyue, Ye Fan, you both should go cultivate as well. Chongfei, lead Grandfather to find Perfected Person Green Cliff.

I need to discuss the current City Protection Great Formation of Cloudstream City with him."

"Father, you just returned. It wouldn't be too late to rest for a few days before dealing with the City Protection Great Formation," Xu Deyue advised out of concern.

"It's no matter. A Golden Core Stage Cultivator isn't that fragile. Regulating my breathing for an hour or two tonight will be enough."

"Then Grandfather, follow me."

Inner City.

Array Hall.

The Array Masters recruited by the Xu Family practically all lived in the Array Hall, including Xu Mingxian's disciple Feng Ming and the guest elder, Perfected Person Green Cliff.

As soon as Xu Mingxian and Xu Chongfei entered the hall, they happened to run into an honest-faced young cultivator wearing a simple azure robe.

It was precisely Feng Ming!

Seeing Xu Mingxian, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him and rubbed them vigorously.

Xu Chongfei chuckled. "Senior Brother Feng Ming, you're not seeing things. My grandfather has returned."

"Honored Master, it truly is you! You've returned!"

Feng Ming's voice trembled, and the Array Disk in his hands almost dropped.

He hurried forward, lifting his robe and bowing. "Disciple Feng Ming greets Honored Master! Congratulations on your safe return!"

He looked up, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"First, take me to Elder Green Cliff. Afterward, I'll test your progress in the Array Dao."

"Yes, Honored Master."

"Chongfei, you can head back first," Xu Mingxian turned and instructed his grandson.

"Understood, Grandfather." Xu Chongfei cupped his hands and bowed before leaving the Array Hall and returning to the Xu Residence.

Feng Ming guided Xu Mingxian to Perfected Person Green Cliff's room.

Hearing Feng Ming's voice, Perfected Person Green Cliff waved his sleeve to open the room's restriction. Seeing another person alongside Feng Ming, he asked in confusion, "And this Daoist Friend is...?"

Feng Ming smiled and introduced him. "Elder Green Cliff, this is my Honored Master."

"So Elder Mingxian has returned. Forgive this old man for not greeting you at the gate!" Perfected Person Green Cliff immediately cupped his hands in respect.

"Daoist Friend Green Cliff, there is no need for such formalities," Xu Mingxian raised his hand with a smile.

"Please sit, Elder Mingxian."

After sitting down, Xu Mingxian didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Daoist Friend Green Cliff, I've come this time to understand the specific layout details of Cloudstream City's current inner and outer City Protection Great Formations.

Specifically, the positioning of the core formation bases and how they interconnect, among other things."

Upon hearing this, Perfected Person Green Cliff's expression turned serious.

He understood that everything Xu Mingxian asked pertained to the most core secrets of an array. If leaked, and enemies discovered the base locations and operational mechanisms, even a high-grade formation risked being systematically dismantled.

But facing Xu Mingxian, he held unreserved trust.

"Elder Mingxian, this jade slip contains everything regarding the grand array I set up. Feel free to inspect it." Perfected Person Green Cliff immediately pulled out a specially made jade slip and handed it to Xu Mingxian.

Xu Mingxian probed it with his spiritual sense.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he already understood the grand array like the back of his hand.

"Elder Green Cliff, although this Profound Azure Mountain-Suppressing Array you arranged is only Tier 3 Low-Grade, its layout is quite exquisite. Was it deduced and modified from another Tier 3 Low-Grade formation?"

"Elder Mingxian truly has eyes like torches. This old man is in awe."

A sharp glint appeared in Perfected Person Green Cliff's eyes.

To be able to see through the foundations of the formation so quickly proved that Xu Mingxian's mastery in the Array Dao far exceeded his own.

"This is sufficient for an ordinary Golden Core family, but for the current Cloudstream City, it falls slightly short."

"This old man understands. Regrettably, my skills in the Array Dao are limited. I can only arrange a defensive grand array of this level," Perfected Person Green Cliff sighed softly.

"No matter. The purpose of my return this time is to reconstruct the inner and outer city arrays. That's why I asked you to walk me through the current array system."

"So that's how it is."

Perfected Person Green Cliff's spirit roused as he quickly asked, "May I ask what grade of grand array Elder Mingxian plans to set up? This old man will definitely assist with everything I have!"

"Both the inner and outer city arrays will be half-step Fourth-Tier formations with integrated offensive and defensive capabilities.

In addition, restrictions must be engraved directly onto the city walls to merge everything into a seamless whole."

"Half-step Fourth-Tier?!"

Perfected Person Green Cliff cried out in shock, his eyes filled with sheer disbelief!

He knew full well that the gap between the Third-Tier and Fourth-Tier was a massive chasm.

Even if it was just a "half-step," the sheer complexity, the required resources, and the demands on the array master's skills far surpassed those of normal peak Third-Tier grand arrays!

How long had it been since Xu Mingxian broke through to the Golden Core stage?

Had his Array Dao attainments reached such a terrifying level already?

Feng Ming, standing off to the side, was equally dumbfounded.

The gaze he cast upon his master was brimming with unparalleled reverence and pride.

Noticing their shock, Xu Mingxian smiled faintly and explained, "Elder Green Cliff, do not be alarmed.

Speaking purely of my own Array Dao cultivation, I am currently only at the peak of the Third-Tier. I haven't truly touched the threshold of the Fourth-Tier yet."

Perfected Person Green Cliff grew even more confused. "Then this half-step Fourth-Tier..."

"It's just a special method to elevate the grand array's power to the half-step Fourth-Tier level." Xu Mingxian spoke downplayed it, but his words sent Perfected Person Green Cliff's mind reeling with fascination.

"Elder Mingxian possesses truly brilliant ingenuity. This old man is in awe!"

Right after, Perfected Person Green Cliff couldn't help but ask tentatively, "The construction of such a grand array must be a massive undertaking. I wonder if this old man might be thick-skinned enough to act as Elder's assistant and observe the process to learn a thing or two?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingxian

remembered his father, Xu Chuan, mentioning that Perfected Person Green Cliff's Array Dao talent was actually quite good. Coupled with his straightforward disposition and wholehearted devotion to formations, he was a promising talent.

Having just seen his modified Profound Azure Mountain-Suppressing Array, Xu Mingxian knew that if given the proper Formation Dao Inheritance and guidance from an expert, he possessed the potential to reach the level of a Tier 3 High-Grade Array Master.

"You're being too polite, Elder Green Cliff. Having your help is something I find hard to find, but eagerly sought."

Xu Mingxian laughed, then turned to Feng Ming. "Feng Ming, I will test your Array Dao proficiency shortly. If you can satisfy me, you may join Elder Green Cliff."

"Thank you, Honored Master!"

Feng Ming bowed hurriedly, overwhelmed with excitement.

"However, this array is of critical importance, concerning the safety of my Xu Family. The two of you must swear an oath not to reveal the grand array's information to anyone. Violators will have their divine soul shattered!"

"That is only natural!" Perfected Person Green Cliff replied.

Feng Ming also guaranteed, "Please rest assured, Honored Master!"

"Let's go then. Find a spot so your master can evaluate your Array Dao."

"Yes!"

The next day.

Based on the grand array information provided by Perfected Person Green Cliff, Xu Mingxian personally inspected the Profound Azure Mountain-Suppressing Array. It was exactly as recorded in his jade slip.

A few days later.

Xu Mingxian began setting up the formation. As for the Profound Azure Mountain-Suppressing Array, he left it alone for the time being. It wouldn't be too late to remove it after the new grand array was completed.

He first arranged a Fourth-Tier Mid-Grade Wood Spirit Vein and five elements' Tier 3 High-Grade Spirit Veins in specific locations across the Inner City.

The spiritual qi within the entire Inner City could only be described as skyrocketing.

The City Lord of Ancient Nether City, residing in the Cultivation Tower of the Inner City, also sensed it.

He had already reached divine ability perfection and was attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage. With this surge of spiritual qi, it would lend him a perfect helping hand.

More than four months passed by in a flash.

With the assistance of Perfected Person Green Cliff and his disciple Feng Ming, the upgrade of the City Protection Great Formation, led by Xu Mingxian, concluded over a month earlier than anticipated.

This grand array used the five Tier 3 High-Grade Spirit Veins—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—possessed by the Xu Family as its core foundation bases.

Xu Mingxian inscribed profound array patterns at the core of these Spirit Veins.

He constructed a cyclic network based on the principle of Five Elements Mutual Generation.

This allowed the spirit power to endlessly circulate through the earth veins, naturally forming a majestic wellspring.

It provided power to the Five Elements Heavenly Dipper Array that enveloped the entire city.

The core of the formation was located in the secret chamber of the Xu Residence, connecting to the five foundation bases through subterranean spiritual conduits, allowing for seamless control.

At this moment, inside the secret chamber, a five-colored swirling crystal orb hovered above a jade pedestal, serving as the central hub.

Xu Mingxian stood with rapt attention, while Green Cliff and Feng Ming stood by his side.

Xu Mingxian's hands rapidly formed seals, his ten fingers blurring into phantoms as exquisite five-colored magic seals were sequentially cast into the crystal orb.

Hum!

The crystal orb trembled slightly. The swirling clouds inside suddenly accelerated, and its radiance steadily grew brighter.

Immediately after, the concealed five-colored array patterns on the ground lit up one by one.

Crimson, gold, azure, blue, and yellow—the intertwined lights filled the entire room.

Following the spiritual conduits, the energy surged like a tidal wave, instantly transmitting to the five formation bases across the city!

Hum—!

A deep yet clear humming vibration echoed from deep within the earth veins, sweeping across the entire city in a split second!

It wasn't a violent earthquake, but rather the rhythmic pulse of the city's veins connecting and awakening.

"An earthquake?" a Qi Condensation cultivator asked in alarm as he jumped up.

"No! These are fluctuations of spirit power originating from the earth veins!" an elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator remarked, concentrating his senses with a look of astonishment.

"Look quickly at the cracks on the ground, there seems to be light!"

Before they could inspect it closely, an anomaly suddenly occurred!

Magnificent five-colored light screens erupted simultaneously from the edges of Cloudstream City's Outer City and Inner City!

Starting as a single line, the light screens rapidly shot upwards and closed toward the center. Within the span of a breath, they condensed into two massive five-colored energy domes—one large and one small—resembling inverted giant bowls in the sky!

The outer dome was incredibly vast, while the inner dome was densely thick. Runes representing the Five Elements faintly flowed across their surfaces.

Visions of golden halberds, azure wood, water ripples, leaping flames, and towering mountains alternated continuously. They emanated an endlessly majestic and boundless pressure that left observers trembling with awe.

"Look at the sky! Is that a formation light screen?"

"That's not right! The grand array's light screen wasn't five-colored, was it?"

"Wait, could that five-colored light screen be a new City Protection Great Formation?"

"The Xu Family upgraded the formation!"

Every cultivator in the city, regardless of their cultivation base, looked up in utter shock as a tide of Widespread Discussion swept through.

The five-colored light screens only remained visible for a dozen breaths before restraining their brilliance and fading into the void, as if they had never existed.

However, the spiritual qi in the air became noticeably more ordered. The entire city inexplicably gained a profound sense of weight and security, as if an invisible domain had quietly unfurled.

"The light screen vanished! It really is a new array!"

"What an incredible display by the Xu Family! What grade is this array?"

"Judging by the circulation of the Five Elements and the faint pressure it emits, it's likely higher than Tier 3 Mid-Grade..."

"Could it be Tier 3 High-Grade? Or even..."

"Regardless of what it is, the stronger the formation, the safer we are. This is fantastic news!"

"Indeed! If the Xu Family is strong, Cloudstream City remains unshakeable, and we all reap the protection."

In taverns and alleyways, discussions were widespread.

Many low-level Rogue Cultivators felt a strong sense of reassurance.

Those with slightly more insight were secretly astonished by the Xu Family's heritage and began re-evaluating the true weight of Cloudstream City.

Meanwhile, hidden spies from other factions frantically sent messages back to their master families detailing the five-colored grand array.

Inside the secret chamber of the Xu Residence, Xu Mingxian slowly retracted his power, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Perfected Person Green Cliff clapped his hands and praised, "The Five Elements Mutual Generation, harboring the Heavenly Dipper within the array! With this formation present, Cloudstream City is as Impregnable as Metal and Boiling Water!

This old man is entirely convinced of Elder Mingxian's Array Dao mastery!"

Feng Ming struggled to contain his excitement. "Honored Master is extraordinary!"

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly. His gaze seemed to pierce through the secret chamber and land upon the invisible barrier outside as he murmured, "The array is set. I wonder who will be the first to test its might."

"Nowadays, no one should easily dare provoke the Xu Family." Perfected Person Green Cliff stroked his beard and smiled. "If anyone does, this old man can guarantee that they will suffer a miserable fate!"

"Thank you for your hard work this time, Elder Green Cliff. Both of you should go rest for a few days."

"Yes, Elder Mingxian."

"Understood, Honored Master."

The two replied simultaneously.

As for Xu Mingxian, his work didn't end there.

The grand array of Cloudstream City protected all the factions within it, but the Xu Residence possessed its own defensive formation system. This system, including the upcoming Grand Teleportation Array, were top secrets of the Xu Family.

Even guest elders and his own disciple, Feng Ming, lacked the qualifications to know about them.

Xu Deling, Xu Deyue, and Ye Fan were naturally allowed to know, but they never interfered with formation matters; they only needed to trust him completely.

Generally, Xu Mingxian would only discuss and explain the details with Xu Chuan.

Within the Xu Residence.

The Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array, the Bewildering Tracks Array, and others all required upgrading.

The restrictions in every courtyard, such as sound isolation and divine sense blocking, also needed to be updated.

Every single one of them had to be brought up to at least the Tier 3 High-Grade level.

Once all of this was completed, the entire Xu Residence would practically become a fortress of formations.

If no one led the way, a single misstep would trap an intruder in the Bewildering Tracks Array.

Touching certain core areas would even trigger killing formations, Illusory Arrays, and Confinement Formations.

Beyond that, the formations protecting the Xu Family's various businesses also had to be replaced with ones at least at the Tier 3 High-Grade level.

Compared to Xu Mingxian, Xu Deling's tasks were much lighter.

Formations were a matter of the family's survival, so naturally, they had to be top-tier!

This was also why the materials for the formations cost millions of Spirit Stones, whereas the Artificing materials Xu Deling purchased only required a few hundred thousand.

If she wasn't forging Dharma Tools, but rather refining dozens or hundreds of Mid-Grade Magic Treasures, the value of the consumed materials would be no less than that of the formation materials—perhaps even more.

Heavenly Plume Sect.

Xu Deling sensed a ripple of spiritual qi. She walked out of the Sect Master's grand hall and looked up.

"A five-colored light screen. It seems the Five Elements Heavenly Dipper Array that Fifth Uncle mentioned has been completed."

"Cloudstream City is secure!"

Aside from her, True Lord Fierce Sun, True Lord Yanzhen, the Ancestor of the Yan Family, and many other Golden Core cultivators all emerged from their cultivation spaces to observe the changes in Cloudstream City.

The next day.

Perfected Person Green Cliff removed the Profound Azure Mountain-Suppressing Array to prevent it from interfering with the Five Elements Heavenly Dipper Array.

Naturally, the Tokens of the Cloudstream City defense guards were collected and embedded with new restrictions allowing passage through the new grand array. The Tokens for Cloudstream residents and temporary residents received the same treatment.

This was no small undertaking and was handled by all the Array Masters of the Array Hall.

These restrictions only granted entry and exit privileges; they held no ability to control or influence the array.

As for higher-tier ones, which could open gaps in the formation, they were exclusively held by guest elders and members of the Xu Residence.

The rest of the factions in Heavenly Azure, large and small, quickly learned of Cloudstream City's new formation.

Many people came specifically to take a look.

Observed from afar, even without the formation light screen visible, the entirety of Cloudstream City resembled a slumbering behemoth, giving them the distinct feeling of a beast hiding its fangs and claws in the dark.

As for provoking Cloudstream City, even the Heavenly Azure Sect no longer possessed the courage to do so.