C901 A Brand New Formation

In the hands of Taoist Chongxiao, "Nether Gold" underwent a startling transformation, morphing into a majestic Five-clawed Golden Dragon. The dragon scales shimmered brilliantly, with the dragon's breath and blood ingeniously sealed within the golden armor. Bathed in sunlight, the translucent scales revealed a delicate golden dragon, its head swaying and tail flicking.

This sword was forged by Taoist Chongxiao from the remains of a Seventh Level Five-clawed Golden Dragon, utilizing its scales for the blade and its hide for the scabbard. The dragon's blood, soul, and breath were all intricately integrated during the crafting process.

"Nether Gold" was once a cherished gift to his dear disciple, Wong Jinlin. Following Wong's death, the sword found its way back to Chongxiao's possession.

The lineage of the slain Five-clawed Golden Dragon, though a notch below Loong Qi's, held a status within the Nagas far surpassing that of the Green Dragon Clan. The Green Dragons were often overlooked, their heritage deemed inferior.

The Five-clawed Golden Dragon that met its end at the hands of Taoist Chongxiao was likely a descendant of Loong Jie, the esteemed former clan leader. Chongxiao's boldness in slaying such an exalted creature, and then refining it into a sword, signaled to Loong Qi that the Spirit Void Sect, much like the upper sects—the Demon Palace and Devil Palace—did not regard Hidden Dragon Lake with any semblance of respect.

Loong Qi let out a heavy sigh. He was acutely aware that Taoist Chongxiao's display of "Nether Gold" above his head was not only a show of force but also an act of oppression, and he dared not express his discontent.

The Spirit Void Sect boasted several cultivators at the Unrestrained Stage, with their current leader rumored to be on the cusp of reaching the Primordial Spirit level. Over the years, the once-dominant Nagas had dwindled in power, now seemingly incapable of withstanding a confrontation with the Spirit Void Sect.

Moreover, the Spirit Void Sect and the three upper sects of the Heavenly Source Continent were known to be in lockstep with one another. Should Hidden Dragon Lake engage in war with the Spirit Void Sect, the combined pressure from the Profound Sky Sect, Sword Sect, and Primordial Yang Sect would leave the mighty dragons of Hidden Dragon Lake struggling to cope with the fallout.

"Taoist Xinshang truly has a generous heart. He not only freed me from the thorns and brambles but also refrained from any haughty airs," Loong Qi thought with trepidation.

"I can rest easy now that you both have arrived."

Taoist Xinshang appeared to settle into the rainbow's luminescent ring, looking as though he was reclining on a circular swing, gently swaying. "Tianjing, Chongxiao, if you're set on avenging your junior apprentice brother, make haste. We're perilously close to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, and I fear a prolonged night may breed further complications."

Chongxiao, clutching the "Nether Gold," held himself with great esteem in Loong Qi's presence, yet he addressed him with a tone and demeanor that conveyed deep respect. "This won't drag on."

"You, head into the valley first," Taoist Chongxiao commanded Loong Qi with an authoritative gaze. "Work with the landscape to shatter the magical barrier of the Evil Cauldron."

"Me?" Loong Qi pointed at himself, incredulous.

Taoist Chongxiao gave a frosty nod.

As an Eighth Level being, Loong Qi's power was comparable to that of the Yang God Stage, but his recent advancement left him aware of his inferiority to Taoist Chongxiao, especially with three Spirit Void Sect Masters in attendance.

Despite his inner turmoil, Loong Qi resigned himself to his task, especially after catching Taoist Xinshang's silent cue.

"Take heed, when you strike the Evil Cauldron, you must reveal your true form. I'm well-versed in the ways of your Nagas; your fighting prowess significantly wanes in human guise. Your strength is at its zenith in dragon form," Taoist Chongxiao added with a final note of caution.

'Damn you to hell!' Loong Qi silently fumed. The Chilly Wind Valley was rife with miasma clouds and treacherous Yin winds. His nearly hundred-meter-long dragon form would inevitably clash with the Evil Cauldron, unable to evade the lurking perils, and injury was certain.

"Fear not, I'll keep an eye on you."

With a dismissive snort, Taoist Chongxiao hurled the Nether Gold sword toward the Evil Cauldron.

The Nether Gold shattered in midair, transforming into a cascade of golden dragon scales that filled the heavens.

These scales, each the size of several acres, blanketed the valley, their radiant golden light complementing the majestic mountain bearing down on the Evil Cauldron.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that with the emergence of the golden dragon scales, the mountain appeared to have sunk manifold.

Beams of golden light, like divine lightning, surged into the mountain forged by Taoist Tianjing's pearl, enhancing its formidable presence.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Above the Evil Cauldron, a layer of frosty crystal ice, unable to bear the immense force, shattered, sending a multitude of icy shards flying.

Clusters of ice-blue flames, too, were agitated by the golden light, breaking into minuscule ice crystals.

At that moment, the Ice Concubine had taken flight from the Evil Cauldron, engaging in an aerial battle with the notoriously ruthless Taoist Tianjing.

With the mountain's weight bearing down and the golden dragon scales as his armor, Yu Yuan, standing within the cauldron, looked up to see nothing but a dazzling expanse of gold.

The dark miasma of demonic energy continued to contract into the cauldron.

"Yu, Brother Yu..."

Lulu set aside the old woman's body and clutched the Dragon Head Staff, her voice quivering, "I need a moment to grasp the marvels of this necklace."

The necklace, shaped like a leaf and having deflected one of Tianjing's Soul Blades, clung to her pale neck, emanating a gentle, silvery glow.

Her very essence, a delicate thread of lifeblood, was now flowing into the necklace.

The intricate craftsmanship of the silver necklace, now intertwining with her Dark Elfkind lineage, seemed to be the key to its true assimilation.

"This Dragon Head Staff, crafted by my Wen family, is modeled after the form of Loong Qi. Using the staff as a conduit, I can direct my spells against Loong Qi," Lulu rapidly explained, "But I require more time."

Yu Yuan watched the leaf-shaped necklace intently, a look of surprise crossing his face as his "Life Altar" resonated in response.

He instantly recognized the necklace's uniqueness, suspecting it to be a special legacy from Lulu's father.

"Tianjing, Chongxiao, and Loong Qi, two Yang Gods, an Eighth Level green dragon, and Taoist Xinshang of the Unrestrained Stage, are all positioned above us," Yu Yuan silently acknowledged, resolving to hold nothing back. He issued a command to the cauldron soul before declaring, "I will give it my all!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Out of nowhere, thousands of sinister demons in various shapes burst forth from the cauldron, quickly inundating the entire Chilly Wind Valley, seemingly omnipresent.

These devilish demons, being spiritual entities, feared neither poison nor miasma, nor did they shrink from the chilling gales.

The Blood Moon served as the nucleus, commanding hundreds of demons to align into a formation. Once the dark figure emerged, she positioned herself at the heart of the formation, creating yet another array.

The Yellow Light Demon, Rend Armor, and Silver Lock, three formidable demons on par with the Blood Moon, each summoned hundreds to a thousand demons to construct aerial formations.

The Blood Moon orchestrated the "Soul Split" formation, while the dark clouds wove the "Soul Prison" array.

The Yellow Light Demon resembled a glowing yellow lantern, its core ablaze with dusky yellow flames. The surrounding demons transformed into a fog teeming with a myriad of negative energies.

This array, known as "Magic Mist," was a confluence of the demons' malevolent thoughts from their final moments, capable of invoking the inner demons of their enemies, sowing discord and disrupting concentration during combat.

Silver Lock, encircled by silver chains, used extended links to bind numerous bizarre corpses, creating a formation dubbed "Mountain of Corpses."

Each corpse that contributed to the Mountain of Corpses had been transmuted by the devilish demons.

Elsewhere, the demons morphed into an ocean of dead souls, their collective consciousness solidifying in the water, amidst which floated a ragged, green armor.

Within the armor, numerous eyes of matching hue eerily opened.

Magic Mist, Mountain of Corpses, and Sea of Death were three innovative formations that the Evil Cauldron could deploy following the Soul Split and Soul Prison.

The five Ice Concubines, a notch below in rank and akin to Soul Wandering Stage cultivators, arrayed themselves into five formations at Yu Yuan's command, hovering around the Evil Cauldron.

Loong Qi, with his Eighth Rank bloodline, defied Taoist Chongxiao's advice. Retaining his human guise, he navigated through the lethal toxins to reach the valley.

Confronted with the sight of the Mountain of Corpses, shackled by silver chains, he experienced an odd sensation—a feeling as though his dragon blood was being stifled, its circulation impeded.

As he drew near the Demonic Mist, it was as if he could hear an endless stream of murmurs.

These murmurs echoed the tumultuous voices of his own heart during bouts of irritability, rage, and fear. They also resembled the agonized wails of dragons in their final moments as the Nagas faced decline.

Loong Qi's head was pounding, the pain intense.

Under the subtle influence of the Demonic Mist, he cast aside the caution he had exercised upon his arrival. With a ferocious roar, he shed his human guise and transformed into a massive green dragon, stretching dozens of meters in length.

Aooo!

As the formidable dragon materialized, the toxic clouds and miasma settled upon his draconic form, penetrating his flesh through the crevices of his scales.

…