Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 746 - 740 Xiezhi, Nine Dire Purgatorial Fire Formation_1
"Get back here!"
Female Immortal Wu completely lost her composure, her fingers forming a claw as chilling power and the Power of Laws circulated between them. In an instant, the temperature within the cave plummeted as if it had entered a domain of extreme cold. Female Immortal Wu vanished, cold air swirling between her fingers, freezing everything. She didn’t unleash an overly astonishing power; to prevent her aura from leaking, she merely intended to freeze the unruly fellow solid.
The Wu Witch suddenly disappeared, shooting past Jia Ren and pouncing toward the distant Formation area. "Don’t even think about escaping!"
The Formation’s light screen flickered, outlining a dark shadow in the white light. Female Immortal Wu realized something. Her Cold Jade Claw swept past Jia Ren. The observer, who had been watching from the sidelines, fell to the ground, already transformed into a piece of green Immortal Jade.
Jia Ren had no interest in entangling with someone who seemed to have a split personality. He decisively seized the opportunity of their internal strife to slip away.
The witch indeed had a means of perceiving him; the disguise he had created hadn’t fooled her.
Without dealing with her, it seemed impossible to leave safely.
Black jade hues emanated from Jia Ren’s body, his aura as profound as an abyss. Secret power glimmered in his palm as he swung it down heavily. A powerful suction force was suddenly born within his palm, which unknowingly transformed into Kunpeng’s Beak, unleashing Swallow Heaven and Devour Earth. Once the Ten Thousand Transformations True Spirit Form reached the Performance-Magic Level, myriad transformations were at his command; an ordinary-looking palm strike now contained incredible techniques. His palm transformed into the gaping maw of an abyss, unleashing a tremendous suction force.
The approaching Wu Demon Immortal’s expression changed drastically as her form turned into black smoke, retreating backward. However, she was a step too late. The distance between them was too short; the terrifying suction force was about to draw her into his palm.
"Integrate!"
Female Immortal Wu reacted quickly, already merging with the black smoke. The two entities twisted on the spot, merging into a towering figure three zhang tall, its head touching the cave ceiling. The left side was the Cold Jade body, holding a Cold Jade Immortal Sword, her eyes icy and merciless. The right side was a body engulfed in burning black flames, tightly grasping a Black Whip ablaze with Devil Flame, her eyes flickering with shock and fury.
The three-zhang giant rapidly shrank, flying toward the shadowy palm. The sword image and the Devil Flame Whip lashed out, both distorted and warped by the colossal suction force. Both women strained to control their Immortal Artifacts, each striking the boundary between the palm and the black hole. Jia Ren’s palm was unknowingly coated with a layer of frost, bone-chillingly cold, as if it would be frozen solid. The Devil Flame was swallowed into the black hole in his palm, with only a small amount crawling up his arm.
"Burst!"
The surging chill exploded at that moment, yet his arm remained unscathed, its physical resilience beyond imagination.
"Why are you so heartless, my lord?"
A sultry woman’s voice whispered in his ear as black patterns crawled over Jia Ren’s body, then coalesced behind him into the form of the Wu Witch. Her scorching, supple body pressed tightly against his back. The astonishing elasticity transmitted was distracting, making it difficult to focus and maintain Swallow Heaven and Devour Earth.
"Transform!"
Jia Ren’s eyes remained clear, unmoved by the succubus’s charms. The Thousand Transformations Rule coalesced, forming the complete Kun State’s power of the Devouring Rule. In the next moment, the suction force surged more than tenfold. The merged form of Female Immortal Wu could not resist the formidable suction force and was abruptly sucked into the dark, bottomless abyss. The Wu Witch disappeared, and the exquisite figure behind him dissipated along with her.
"Junior Sister Wu, what on earth has happened?"
Several Talismans flew into the cave as over a dozen powerful auras arrived. Although the cave had formations to conceal it, they could not perfectly hide the fluctuations of battle. The Immortals of Ming Luo Hall were no fools and sensed the anomaly instantly. If there was no response from the cave, they would forcefully break in.
Jia Ren’s figure flickered, already taking on the appearance of Female Immortal Wu. "What brings my senior martial brothers and martial uncles here?"
Imitating Female Immortal Wu wasn’t difficult; all he had to do was maintain a cold demeanor and keep everyone at a distance.
There were eleven arrivals, the weakest among them a Golden Immortal. Leading them was a bare-chested elder, a Supreme Jade Immortal Realm Immortal Monarch. He had integrated some unknown Power of Laws into his jade-like body, which radiated inscrutable divine might. Golden light flashed in his eyes as he scrutinized ’Female Immortal Wu,’ verifying her identity. Although the newcomers were of high cultivation realms, they lacked special methods to see through Jia Ren’s disguise.
"’The Profound Spirit Ice Body Immortal Body is difficult to advance, so I had to use external means to force a breakthrough. I apologize for disturbing everyone’s cultivation,’" Jia Ren said, unaware of their identities and using this as an excuse.
"Forgive this Martial Uncle’s rashness, Junior Niece Wu!"
The group, finding no anomalies, withdrew one after another. However, the sense of distant surveillance did not dissipate, lingering nearby for a long time. Although no flaws were spotted, he still aroused suspicion.
In this state, sneaking into the Ming Luo Hall Treasury would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Should he leave? Jia Ren had a premonition of looming disaster, his Linghuan True Heart frequently issuing warnings.
He returned to the cave, transformed into Kunpeng, and delved into the shadowy space of Swallow Heaven and Devour Earth. Female Immortal Wu and the Wu Witch had already separated and were quarreling incessantly.
"If it weren’t for you, would this disaster have happened?"
"If we had notified the Sect earlier, we wouldn’t be in this perilous situation!"
SWOOSH!
Jia Ren arrived abruptly, his palm landing on Female Immortal Wu. The next moment, she vanished. The Wu Witch realized something was amiss, but it was too late. Before she could touch Jia Ren, the spot where he stood was empty.
The witch who knew his identity must be kept here. Only after ensuring his own safety would he consider letting her go.
Female Immortal Wu appeared inside the cave, her gaze icy as she searched incessantly for the concealed Jia Ren, the previous words echoing in her ears: "If you want her to live, act as if nothing has happened."
Female Immortal Wu wouldn’t care about the life or death of an ordinary avatar, but she and the Sentiment Corpse shared a linked fate; if one died, she too would perish. For her own life, she had no choice but to comply.
Before Female Immortal Wu could compose herself, the bare-chested elder returned. Beside him appeared an exotic beast with a single horn on its head, resembling a kylin, covered in black fur.
A Xiezhi?! Jia Ren had encountered an exotic treasure with similar abilities in the Lingbao Sect. This rare exotic beast could distinguish truth from lies. Ming Luo Hall knew its own shortcomings; the Xiezhi was their countermeasure. Even Immortals most adept at disguise couldn’t hide from it.
"Could you repeat what you said before?" The elder’s eyes were like lightning, sweeping over Female Immortal Wu, judging truth from falsehood. The strange feeling from before was gone.
Female Immortal Wu, realizing something was wrong, hurriedly said, "Martial Uncle Yan, I made a small error while practicing my Divine Skills, causing a bit of a commotion. I’m sorry to have worried you and my martial brothers."
The Xiezhi stood in place, without reaction. Female Immortal Wu focused on recounting the truthful parts, avoiding any mention of Jia Ren. This was somewhat related to the mishap with the Ruthless Immortal-Slaying Sword; if she hadn’t discovered Jia Ren, this complication wouldn’t have arisen.
"Are you Martial Niece Wu?" Yan Yuanwu voiced his deepest doubt. The previous Junior Sister Wu had shown no flaws, yet an instinct told him something was amiss.
Female Immortal Wu responded to each question, and the Xiezhi showed no reaction throughout.
"I previously doubted your identity. Please forgive my earlier suspicion, Martial Niece." Yan Yuanwu turned and walked away. Female Immortal Wu thought she had bluffed her way through. But before she could sigh in relief, the man suddenly asked, "Who were you fighting earlier?"
The Xiezhi’s eyes glimmered strangely, focusing on Female Immortal Wu. The next moment, she seemed to lose the ability to lie and, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, confessed everything she knew.
"The Ruthless Immortal-Slaying Sword severed a Desire Corpse?"
"Martial Nephew Qi was enchanted by a witch thousands of years ago—it was your handiwork!"
"Infiltrating Ming Luo Hall with nefarious intentions? And you even dared to threaten her?! Utter disregard for Ming Luo Hall!"
"’Breaking through two Mysterious Barriers using only strength?!’ ’Such talent shouldn’t be buried! He should join our Ming Luo Hall! Where is he?!’"
Yan Yuanwu listened silently, never imagining so many secrets were hidden here. The art of severing the Desire Corpse paled in comparison to this genius who could break through with sheer strength.
Jia Ren, transformed into an inconspicuous speck of dust, observed silently. He hadn’t expected to be exposed after all. His dealings with the Qianhuan Sect had gone smoothly. He’d thought a Profound Immortal sect like Ming Luo Hall would hardly detect him, yet a problem had arisen here. Jia Ren no longer plotted how to infiltrate the Ming Luo Hall Treasury; he only thought of how to safely escape.
"Regardless of your origins or your intentions for infiltrating Ming Luo Hall," Yan Yuanwu’s gaze swept around, his eyes flickering with a red light as he searched for any potential hidden targets. "I offer you an opportunity, fellow Daoist. Show yourself, become a disciple of Ming Luo Hall, and all past grievances will be forgiven!"
Looking around, the concealed Jia Ren remained unseen. The terms offered were generous, but Jia Ren didn’t dare to gamble, unsure if it was a trap. Without a basis of trust between them, he dared not entrust his life to the other party.
His words echoed, but there was no response for a long time. The calm in Yan Yuanwu’s eyes gradually gave way to ferocity, and his booming voice rang out.
"I understand your choice, fellow Daoist!"
Ming Luo Hall’s grand Formation activated. Immortals and disciples of Ming Luo Hall received the message, flew into a palace, and then vanished. Jia Ren dared not change his form under the Immortal Monarch’s watch and instead flew into a distant palace. Besides, no one knew what dangers lay hidden within the palace.
"Nine Dire Purgatorial Fire Formation!"
"Refine Heaven and Earth!"
Yan Yuanwu’s body turned crimson as if communicating with the Formation, merging with it. Surging blackish-red flames condensed, then separated into different colors. The nine dire flames were Short-lived Fire, Sickness Fire, Wealth-destroying Fire, Reputation-destroying Fire, Enemy-disarraying Fire, Terror Fire...
As the nine dire flames united, they transformed into a fiery purgatory, incinerating this part of heaven and earth. Each dire flame possessed peculiar power: Short-lived Fire reduced lifespan; Sickness Fire gathered illness, infecting even an Immortal Body with sickness; Wealth-destroying Fire affected one’s fortune, making treasures easily damaged...
With the nine dire flames converging, Ming Luo Hall itself was set ablaze.
Jia Ren, caught within the Nine Dire Purgatorial Fire Formation, lasted only a moment before his body was ignited by the flames. His body began to decay, his luck waned, his lifespan shortened—all signs of severe damage to his vital energy. If the nine dire flames continued to burn, he was destined to die here.
A pair of crimson wings unfolded as Jia Ren transformed into a vermilion bird. All malicious flames and corrupting powers were instantly purified by the pure white flames circulating around him.
