C946 The First Time He Broke the Formation

Seven palaces, bathed in endless divine light, descended upon the mortal realm as if a kingdom of the gods had arrived.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With each descent of the palaces, the greenish-black wall of the Soulforge Matrix erupted with dazzling demonic light. Intricate and profound glyphs surfaced on the wall, coming into view.

Countless ancient spells and words, aligned with the cosmic order, unleashed power beyond imagination.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Green and black lightning, like dragons and anacondas, wove into formations upon the wall's surface, surging powerfully.

The palaces, emerging from the Mark of the Celestials, landed with the force of giant boulders hitting a spring net, only to be catapulted back towards the heavens by the wall's resilient bounce.

Each of the seven palaces housed Ebon Star cultivators—some in the Unbound Realm, others in the Solar Spirit Realm, and many in the Spirit Walk Realm. The Ebon Star cultivators stationed at the palaces had yet to unleash their powerful spiritual artifacts, instead aiding the Mark of the Celestials in stabilizing the fray.

Above the palaces, Cao Jiaze hovered alone, his expression grave. Despite the presence of numerous Ebon Star experts, including senior cultivators surpassing him in both age and realm, it was he, Cao Jiaze, who commanded authority.

All disciples, elders, and counselors of the Ebon Star awaited his directives. His minor setback in the Land of Terror had not shaken the Sect Master's confidence in him.

Having already demonstrated his capabilities, Cao Jiaze, newly ascended to the Solar Spirit realm, attuned himself to the seven Marks of the Celestials, directing their force against the wall.

Within the greenish-black wall, each glyph that emerged was instantly etched into his memory. The ancient spells, with their wondrous resonance with the cosmic order, were secrets he sought to master.

He was acutely aware that the Sect Master's favor and trust remained steadfast, undiminished by his defeat in the Land of Terror. Yet, within the Ebon Star, factions abounded, and many were discontented with him, reluctant to see him ascend as the next Sect Master.

The chatter had already begun about the debacle in the Land of Terror. Should there be another mishap in the assault on Moonfall Sanctuary, it would undoubtedly impact his standing within the Ebon Star.

"I just hope Yu Yuan doesn't spring any more surprises on me. And with Tian Zang around, I must retrieve the Tears of the Azurefiend that slipped through my fingers," Cao Jiaze mused to himself.

Meanwhile.

Van Heqing of the Sword Sect, Ji Ningshuang, Feng Pu, Mo Baichuan, Tang Zheng, and the Sect Master of the Ethereal Void Sect all hovered in the void, their gazes fixed on the barrier.

They all recognized the formidable nature of the Soulforge Matrix and understood that it wouldn't be easily breached.

They were all contemplating the enigma of the formation, seeking to discern its subtleties and devise a more efficient method to dismantle it.

Elsewhere, the Golden Elephant God was also observing the damage inflicted upon the formation.

After some time.

Seven stately palaces materialized, encircling Cao Jiaze, and the once-turbulent greenish-black barrier regained its tranquility.

"The artifact soul of the Soulforge Pool has awakened," Van Heqing of the Sword Sect noted with a furrowed brow. "This Soulforge Matrix is verging on the seventh level. We must obliterate the Soulforge Pool this time, leaving no potential threats behind! Depending on how things unfold, we may also need to destroy the Domain Channel."

Cao Jiaze smiled and nodded in agreement, "This commotion should have made our intentions clear to every malevolent demon within the forbidden area. I'm curious, though, whether the extraterrestrial visitors and those who have ventured into the forbidden area have come into conflict."

"What do you mean?" Feng Pu asked, puzzled.

"I'm hoping they'll start infighting first," Cao Jiaze continued after a brief pause. "I don't believe their alliance is that solid. If they turn on each other and battle it out within the forbidden area, our task of cleansing the place after we breach the barrier will be much smoother."

Many cultivators displayed looks of approval and silently nodded in agreement.

They, too, had considered this possibility, believing that the extraterrestrial demons within the forbidden area might not be as united against Yu Yuan, Luo Yue, and Xi Quan as they appeared.

On the Dragon Slaying Stage, the onlookers breathed a sigh of relief as the Golden Elephant God's golden mountain charged the Soulforge Matrix seven times to no avail. "The Boulderdawn's array is quite impressive," observed Canli from the Dawnbringers. She had noticed that with each collision, hundreds of glyphs would materialize, effortlessly neutralizing the golden power that would otherwise require a cultivator of the Unbound to exert their full strength.

"The humans have surpassed our Sky Fiend Clan to become the strongest in the Star River for good reason," Tian Zang remarked with a sneer. "Those old fools aimed to eliminate the pesky Dragon Clan, never anticipating they'd pave the way for an even stronger human race."

At this, the ninth-level Blood Warriors present exchanged uneasy glances, clearly aware of some ancient secrets.

Suddenly, a broad, dark Devil Blade materialized outside the wall. Mo Yan, assuming the form of a middle-aged man, stood atop it. His posture was defiant as the blade swayed.

"Who is that? I can't explain it, but I've taken an instant dislike to him," Quero of the Silverscale Tribe said, his face darkening.

"That's the Shadowblade," Beru of the Starborn interjected with a huff.

"The Shadowblade? So he's Zhu Zhenlin's son, Mo Yan?" Mia from the Shadowkin mused, her expression shifting. "Wasn't he recently gravely injured in the Land of Terror? It hasn't been long, yet he's fully recovered, now in the middle period of the Spirit Walk."

Tian Zang smiled wryly. "Knowing he's Zhu Zhenlin's son and that he practices the dark arts of 'Reincarnation of the Wheel of Life,' it's no surprise. As long as he didn't perish completely, Zhu Zhenlin could easily use his own power and resources from the Devil Palace to bring his son back."

The mention of Zhu Zhenlin, the Devil Palace's second-in-command, cast a shadow over the faces of the Otherkin elites present. Zhu Zhenlin's notoriety surpassed even that of Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian in the remote reaches of the Extraterrestrial Star River. Renowned for his ruthless tactics and strategic mastery, he was responsible for the downfall of countless high-level Otherkin warriors.

Furthermore, Zhu Zhenlin was notoriously brutal. After his passage, many weaker races and Domains were left devoid of life.

"Given that Zhu Zhenlin's son is the one who has arrived, the power that the Devil Palace has placed in the Moonfall Sanctuary must now be aligned with Zhu Zhenlin's faction," Canli of the Dawnbringers said, gazing up at the dark blue firmament. "Those close to Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian, including the Demon Lord himself, are likely in the Extraterrestrial Star River at this moment."

Her statement was met with silent nods of agreement from the crowd.

Aside from Mo Yan, the Devil Palace's visitors remained shrouded within layers of specters, their true faces hidden. Yet the assembled Otherkin experts could make educated guesses about their identities.

Giant dragons, revealing their true Naga forms, encircled the elder patriarch Loong Jie, emitting low, rumbling growls.

"And there are members from the Taintborn and the Binders of Shadows."

Canli's pupils blazed with intense light, her gaze not only penetrating the wall but also illuminating the rear of the group. She recognized the two cultivators, ostracized by the main force, as those from the sects that had recently sent their elite to the Terror Claws mountains for a trade meeting.

"No need to speculate; the Taintborn and the Binders of Shadows have clearly succumbed to fear, submitting to the Devil Palace and the Shadow's Keep," Beru remarked with a sneer. "They've likely even slain those who attended the trade meeting to sever ties with their sects."

The Otherkin experts all subtly nodded, understanding the situation well.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Yu Yuan, seated on the Dragon Slaying Stage, began to exhale forcefully, each breath expelling murky impurities, as if purging the residue settled within his body from his rapid advancement.

Hiss! Hiss!

A soft glow emanated from the pores all over his body.

Tian Zang, overseeing the Blood Altar, squinted and let out a soft "Hmm?" He observed, "He's assimilating the lifeblood you've provided, casting out the refuse that cannot integrate with his flesh and soul. Impressive, young man. You're actually able to endure such an abundance of ninth-level lifeblood!"

As he spoke, the Blood Altar embedded in his forehead emerged silently.

The Spawn of Chaos at the base of the altar morphed into a blue shadow, wrapping around Yu Yuan like a membrane of blue light. "I can't afford to waste this. The impurities he has purged from his body—I'll keep them for later use!"

Tian Zang's eyes gleamed, and a smile spread across his face.

But in a mere moment, his smile stiffened, and he spat out a curse: "Damn it!"

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