Chapter 521: Tripartite Standoff

Before the Five-Directions Great Formation activated, heaven and earth were in an uproar.

After the Five-Directions Great Formation activated, all sounds fell silent.

An inverted bowl-shaped curtain of five-colored light unfolded in midair, firmly enveloping the entire auction grounds.

East of the light curtain, human cultivators gathered on the walls of Duimen Pass; west of the light curtain, in the dim high sky, powerful beings from the Nine Netherworlds stood suspended in midair.

The gazes of both forces focused entirely on the area within the central light curtain.

Although the slaughter inside the Five-Directions Great Formation was a long-established 'contest' agreed upon by the Nine Netherworlds and the Human Realm, compared to previous instances, this time clearly presented some complications.

On the Nine Netherworlds side, the Crown Prince of the Nether River Clan was actually trapped within the great formation; this could be said to be the first 'top-tier' figure from the Nine Netherworlds trapped since the resurgence of spiritual energy.

Beyond that, numerous powerful beings from the Nine Netherworlds, such as Gui Che, were also trapped within the formation.

The situation on the human side was similar; first, there were the ten or so members of the Chu imperial clan who had been struck into the formation by the Ghost King Su Mingyue.

Furthermore, direct disciples from top powers such as the various Holy Lands, the Dao-Protecting Families, the Tai Su Palace, the Three Pure Palaces, and the Prime Minister's Temple were all trapped inside the formation.

Of course, the main group trapped within the Five-Directions Great Formation consisted of cultivators at the Core Formation realm (Commandant realm) and below from both the Nine Netherworlds and the Human Realm.

On the walls of Duimen Pass, under the gaze of cultivators from all factions, Chu Junyi walked expressionlessly to Wei Zhenjie's side.

"Master!"

Wei Zhenjie could not speak openly with Chu Junyi in public; he merely patted his shoulder in gratification before turning his gaze back to the Five-Directions Great Formation.

Standing beside Wei Zhenjie, Chu Junyi first soothed Mencius and the others with a glance, then nodded in greeting to the other factions.

During this time, he noticed that the gaze of Monk Jing Liao from the Talisman Saint Pavilion remained tightly fixed on him.

"Master Jing Liao, do you have some instruction?"

At these words, everyone looked toward Jing Liao; even Wei Zhenjie turned to look at him.

Jing Liao's expression stalled, then he offered a shy smile: "General Junyi exaggerates; this humble monk has no instruction, it is just..."

"Are those Bodhi prayer beads hanging from the General's sword?"

Hearing this question, Chu Junyi's right hand gripping his sword tightened sharply, his eyes burning bright as he looked at Jing Liao: "Does Master Jing Liao recognize this string of Bodhi beads?"

Jing Liao shook his head: "This humble monk does not recognize them; it is just that Bodhi seeds are rare, especially Golden-Vein Bodhi seeds, which only condense from Bodhi trees over a hundred thousand years old; that Bodhi prayer bead on the General's sword has already revealed golden veins..."

Such a treasure ought to be carefully preserved; how could it be used merely to decorate a sword!

Hearing Jing Liao's answer, Chu Junyi was clearly somewhat disappointed.

He very much wished to find the owner of the prayer bead string, but unfortunately, there had never been any clues.

As for the preciousness of the prayer bead string, he naturally knew it well.

The reason he hung it on his sword was to motivate himself.

He had always felt his cultivation talent was extremely high, his cultivation speed unmatched by others, yet the owner of the prayer bead string was even more formidable than him.

Every time he felt he could erase the imprint on the prayer bead string, the imprint would inevitably grow stronger again.

Since beginning his cultivation, the greatest frustration he had felt came from this prayer bead string.

Usually, he kept the prayer bead string carefully hidden; this time, because he was in a hurry to 'transform' and leave the auction site, he had not put the prayer bead string away.

Chu Junyi immediately removed the prayer bead string from his sword and stored it in the Sumeru Jade at his waist.

Seeing this, although other cultivators felt some envy that even an accessory of Chu Junyi's was a high-grade treasure, they all shifted their gazes away, once again focusing their attention on the Five-Directions Great Formation.

Inside the Five-Directions Great Formation, once the trapped individuals realized there was no escape, their first reaction was to gather toward their respective camps.

According to past experience, although only one person could ultimately survive inside the Five-Directions Great Formation, initially, the Nine Netherworlds and the Human Realm would engage in a team battle; only after one side emerged victorious would individual slaughter commence.

Even Cang Ming immediately positioned himself on the side of the Nine Netherworlds beings.

Thus, on the western side of the great formation, Nine Netherworlds beings converged, their miasma sinister; on the eastern side, human cultivators gathered, their spiritual light shining.

In the slaughters within the Five-Directions Great Formation following previous auctions, there had always been only these two opposing forces.

However, this time, an exceptionally conspicuous figure appeared within the formation.

A rogue cultivator from the Nine Netherworlds, joining neither the Nine Netherworlds camp nor the Human Realm camp, stood alone in silence between the two forces.

Her figure was strikingly out of place amidst the confrontation of miasma and spiritual energy, like a rift tearing through the boundaries of the camps, adding an indescribable eeriness to the already tense situation.

Regarding the tripartite standoff within the great formation, whether powerful beings from the Nine Netherworlds or the Human Realm, all were somewhat baffled.

Wei Zhenjie glanced at the disciple beside him and transmitted his voice: "What exactly is the situation with that Nine Netherworlds rogue cultivator?"

Chu Junyi also found the rogue cultivator's behavior difficult to understand: "This disciple is not entirely clear either; it is just that she has been following me."

Just as the powerful beings of the Nine Netherworlds and the Human Realm were discussing Hua Changxi, inside the great formation, Hua Changxi was frowning as she examined the five flagpoles in the five corners of the formation.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—exactly one attribute per flagpole.

"That rogue cultivator, have you been scared silly? Hurry over here!"

Within the Nine Netherworlds camp, seeing Hua Changxi standing motionless, a demonic cultivator immediately shouted a rebuke.

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi shifted her gaze from the flagpoles, first looking toward the Human Realm camp, then turning to the Nine Netherworlds camp.

She ignored that demonic cultivator, instead staring directly at the Nether River man who had been fixated on her and attempting to capture her.

"Why are you targeting me?"

Before Cang Ming could speak, a cultivator from the Nether River Clan shouted: "How bold, daring to be rude to Crown Prince Cang Ming!"

Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow: "Cang Ming... so he is the Crown Prince of the Nether River Clan!" Then she spoke again, "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Cang Ming did not answer, but instead asked back with a gloomy expression: "Why do you not come over?"

Hua Changxi: "So I can come over and let you capture me?"

At this moment, Cang Ming's mood was extremely foul.

For no other reason than that upon seeing Hua Changxi refuse to join the Nine Netherworlds camp, his heart had plummeted to the bottom.

That fellow might very well be a human, just as Yan Mo had said!