Chapter 526: Yin-Yang Confrontation

Within the Five Directions Great Formation, flames surged upward as blazing fire lotuses erupted with a thunderous roar, completely submerging a vast area of the eastern region.

Crimson fire shot into the sky while heatwaves churned and swept in all directions, carrying a sacred pressure and supreme dominance capable of incinerating all things.

Layer upon layer of lotus petals unfolded sequentially and spread outward, shielding all human cultivators within and transforming into an unbreakable crimson barrier.

The sudden appearance of the fire lotus, even viewed from outside the Five Directions Great Formation, stained the sky above the auction venue entirely crimson with its towering flames.

Outside the great formation, silence reigned as deep as an abyss; whether Nine Nether creatures or mortal realm cultivators, all held their breath and focused their minds.

Inside the great formation, a brief silence first fell as if time itself had stagnated, but an instant later, panic and frantic flight erupted.

All human cultivators rushed toward the center of the fire lotus, with the hope of survival dancing in their eyes.

Yes, at this moment, every trapped human cultivator saw hope for staying alive.

There was no other reason; the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, just like them, was trapped within the Five Directions Great Formation.

Furthermore, the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall had previously stated she would break open the great formation and lead them all to escape.

Had anyone else made such 'bold claims,' everyone would surely have maintained a skeptical attitude, yet these words came from the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall.

Although many among them had never had any interaction with the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, her 'glorious' deeds and formidable reputation had long spread across the Central Continent, making her a household name within cultivator circles.

This was truly a capable and ruthless figure who had suffered heaven's condemnation yet still survived the calamity!

No matter how high-grade the Five Directions Great Formation was or how difficult it might be to break, at this very moment, the human cultivators were filled with confidence.

In contrast, the crowd of Nine Nether creatures all wore expressions of terror as they retreated in panic, desperately moving away from the radiation range of the fire lotus and its flames, eventually huddling together in the far western corner of the Five Directions Great Formation.

Yet even so, some Nine Nether creatures of lower strength found their bodies beginning to disintegrate little by little under the scorching of the raging fire filling the interior of the great formation.

"Crown Prince Cangming, save us..."

Countless Nine Nether creatures scrambled over one another to cry out to Cangming for help.

According to past conventions, they were still in the phase of a team battle between the Nine Nether and the mortal realm.

Since a powerful expert had appeared on the mortal realm side to protect the human cultivators, the Nine Nether side ought to produce a powerful expert to protect them as well.

And this expert could be none other than Cangming.

Only he possessed the strength to contend with the female cultivator bathing in fire who hovered above the fire lotus.

At this moment, Cangming's expression was a mix of shock and gravity.

To venture deep into the fifth layer of the Nine Nether...

To dare ride a Nether Deer and stroll boldly beneath the eyes of the various Nine Nether experts...

Although he had long guessed this human's strength would not be low, her power still exceeded his expectations.

Even less had he expected her to be the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall who had burned the Ghost Infant River with fire and split Ghost Mother Mountain with her sword!

As the cries for help from the Nine Nether creatures grew louder and louder, Cangming found himself forced into a corner.

One must not lose face even if losing ground!

For himself, and for the Nine Nether!

Cangming's gaze sharpened as the origin force of the Nether River within his body poured out like a flood breaching a dam.

In an instant, thick, yin-cold, ink-green water mist rolled forth in layers and spread out, rapidly creating a vast expanse of Nether River waters on the western side of the great formation.

Layers of biting, gloomy Nether River vapor formed a barrier that forcibly withstood the sky-scorching heatwaves leaking from the fire lotus, blocking the erosion of the flames and steadily protecting the crowd of Nine Nether creatures on the verge of being burned.

Thus, the Five Directions Great Formation was forcibly split into two completely opposing worlds.

In the east, a red lotus hung over the world with blazing flames and scorching air enveloping all directions; in the west, the Nether River stretched across with surging black waters and gloomy cold vapor filling heaven and earth.

Fire evil-qi and Nether cold opposed each other, the yin-yang barrier was clearly defined, and the human race and the Nine Nether faced off across separate domains.

For a time, solemn energy churned throughout the entire great formation with undercurrents of killing intent.

Outside the great formation, beings from all sides gazed from afar at the scene within the formation.

Whether Nine Nether creatures or mortal realm cultivators, all turned their heads and held their breath, their minds firmly seized by the shocking sight of the bipolar confrontation inside the formation.

On the walls of Duimen Pass City, Chu Junyi currently felt extremely complex emotions.

He had actually lured the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall into the Five Directions Great Formation!

Yet, because of the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall's presence, the human cultivators inside the formation might truly have a hope of survival.

Mencius stretched his neck to look, and upon spotting Hua Hongyi within the Demon-Suppressing Army ranks, he immediately transmitted his voice to Sheng Pengyun.

"We've finally seen the real Hall Master of Lingguang Hall!"

"Let's go ask Hua Hongyi."

Sheng Pengyun looked over, knowing what Mencius wanted to ask, but did not move.

Seeing this, Mencius spoke again: "What, don't you want to know whether the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall is actually Hua Changxi?"

Sheng Pengyun: "...Hua Hongyi may not know."

Mencius rolled his eyes: "Even if the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall has concealed her identity from her family, one's behavior and mannerisms cannot be changed; if it really is Hua Changxi, Hua Hongyi should be able to detect something."

Sheng Pengyun thought for a moment: "Asking now would be too conspicuous; let's find Hua Hongyi to ask after things disperse later."

Only then did Mencius say nothing more, continuing to watch that figure bathing in fire within the Five Directions Great Formation.

At the same time, not far away within the Demon-Suppressing Army, Hua Dalang, whose face showed no emotion, already had turbulent waves churning in his heart.

Previously, when rumors spread that his family's Ninth Lady was the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, he had scoffed, thinking those spreading such rumors were brainless.

But now, looking at the red-clad female cultivator standing with arms crossed atop the fire lotus, he felt his soul tremble, nearly collapsing.

That defensive posture of the red-clad female cultivator was exactly the same as his memory of that stubborn and arrogant younger sister!