Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

Yu Changsheng sat cross-legged at the core of the array. His imperial robes had long since turned to ashes, revealing his torso covered with spiderweb-like purple-gold cracks. Each crack was so deep that bone could be seen, and what flowed inside was not blood, but viscous, mercury-like, chaotic imperial blood that shimmered with a faint purple-gold light.

He is the "pillar" of this Guixu Wall Formation, the only anchor point maintaining this temporary pure land.

The Sword of Annihilation was stuck diagonally in front of him, its blade cracked and its dark red divine runes dull and lifeless. Only the core of the Returning Void Star Orbit Compass, which was refined from the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Secrets Disc, was still pulsating extremely weakly, like the heartbeat of a dying beast, resonating with the entire Returning Void Enclosure Array and the thin chaotic essence drawn from the depths of the earth.

The evil beast huddled in a shadowy corner, the aura of the Eternal Night Sea thinning out. The Flame Dragon lay low beside Chen Xueqing, its scales dull, the Chaos True Fire flickering weakly as it guarded her warily. Scattered around were fewer than a hundred Annihilation War Puppets, their surfaces riddled with wounds, their runes flickering intermittently. The cultivators of the Returning Ruins Camp had suffered heavy casualties, with the survivors all bearing wounds and their auras weakened.

“Your Majesty…” Wang Cheng’s throat bobbed, and his hoarse voice broke the deathly silence.

He saw the shocking cracks on Emperor Yu Changsheng's body and the tragic state of the Annihilation Sword on the verge of shattering.

Yu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes, which once contained the chaotic starry sea and looked down upon the universe, were now filled with bloodshot veins and fatigue, but deep in his pupils, a point of purple-gold light, like an ancient star, had never been extinguished.

“It’s alright.” His voice was hoarse and low, yet it carried a strange, steady power that echoed within the formation. “The Ruins of Return are now complete. Although the chaotic essence here is thin and violent, it contains the most primordial creation of life. My imperial blood is the medium that can be used to heal my wounds.”

He said no more and closed his eyes again.

This time, he actively guided the chaotic essence painstakingly drawn from the depths of the earth and from the void rifts, filtering and transforming it through his own cracked imperial body and flowing purple-gold imperial blood. It was no longer simply about maintaining the formation, but about infusing the faint life force and creative power contained within it into the array patterns of the Returning Void Formation.

The effect was immediate. The hazy light membrane within the array seemed to solidify slightly, and the deathly stillness that constantly eroded life was weakened. Even more miraculously, the array patterns, imbued with the Emperor's blood, began to emit a warm, purplish-gold luster, spreading across the glazed floor like veins.

Wherever the purple-gold veins touched, the pain of the injured seemed to be soothed, and a very slight flow of energy returned to the parched sea of ​​qi.

Wang Cheng felt that at the broken bone, in addition to the growth of flesh buds nourished by the Emperor's blood, there was also a domineering power originating from the source of chaos growing and reorganizing deep within the bone, bringing a tearing pain, but also bringing a more powerful new force.

He let out a low roar and actively activated the Bloodthirst Heart Technique, guiding this power. The regeneration speed of the Chaos Bone Arm suddenly accelerated, and the newly formed bones showed a deep bronze color, with faint chaotic runes flowing under the periosteum.

The illusory image of the blue lotus on Chen Xueqing's chest trembled slightly.

The wisps of chaotic primordial vitality transformed by Yu Changsheng were like timely rain after a long drought, nourishing her depleted essence.

The illusory image of the Pure Lotus greedily absorbed the energy, and the cracks on the lotus petals healed at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. Although still fragile, it was no longer like a candle flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

A faint, almost imperceptible trace of color finally returned to her paper-white face. The fragments of the jade lotus platform beneath her emitted a soft glow, echoing the illusory image of the blue lotus and slowly gathering the dissipating purifying power.

Mo Heng felt the infusion of life force, and a faint spark appeared in his withered array soul. He struggled to raise his head, his cloudy eyes fixed on the Wanhua Guixu Furnace not far away, which was also damaged but still had its core intact. It was the culmination of his life's work and a crucial weapon of war for the Divine Dynasty.

“Materials…repair…war puppet…” he whispered hoarsely, raising his fingers with difficulty to graze the remains of the furnace.

The few remaining cultivators skilled in weapon crafting in the Guixu Camp immediately understood. Despite their injuries, they collected the scattered wreckage of flying boats, shattered crystals, and even fragments of the Annihilation War Puppet within the formation and brought them to the furnace.

Using the remaining array spirit as a guide, Mo Heng painstakingly activated the remaining power of the furnace, and a faint trace of the Pure Flame of Returning to the Void ignited inside the furnace, beginning the smelting of materials.

He wants to repair the war puppets that can still be salvaged, and more importantly, he wants to utilize the unique environment and materials of this place to give them new possibilities.

The evil beast and the fire dragon also felt the nourishment.

The shadow of eternal night surrounding the evil beast seemed to solidify a bit, the charred cracks on the flaming dragon scales slowly healed under the influence of the Emperor's blood aura, and the Chaos True Fire also brightened slightly.

They growled and faithfully guarded Yu Changsheng and Chen Xueqing.

Time lost its meaning in the chaos of the void.

Within the array, only painful groans, the faint sounds of materials melting, the low hum of the array in operation, and the increasingly clear buzzing emanating from the resonance between Emperor Yu Changsheng's body and the array patterns. This was a race against time, a rebirth struggling for survival on the edge of death.

Seven days felt like seven cycles of reincarnation.

The scene inside the Guixu Yuan Formation has changed dramatically.

The gray light membrane completely transformed into a pale purple, with clear purple-gold veins flowing across it, exuding a resilient and sacred aura, firmly resisting the tearing of the external turbulent currents of the Ruins.

The chaotic source matter within the array was absorbed and transformed more efficiently, forming a relatively stable and vibrant "oasis".

Wang Cheng stood proudly in the center of the formation.

His chaotic bone arm has been completely regenerated. Not only has it been restored to its original state, but the chaotic runes naturally engraved on the bronze-colored bones are even more complex and profound, with faint chaotic energy flowing around them, giving it a power far greater than before.

He casually swung his bony arm, and the resulting gust of wind even left shallow marks on the glazed floor.

The blood of dominance surged within him like a dragon, his aura deep and powerful, surpassing even his peak.

He was commanding the remaining hundred or so elite members of the Demon Slayer Army and the cultivators of the Returning Ruins Camp, coordinating with the newly formed forces, to practice an even more refined and powerful spearhead battle formation.

At the heart of the formation, Chen Xueqing was already able to sit cross-legged.

The fragments of the jade lotus platform beneath her were reassembled, and although they were covered with traces of repair, they shimmered with a warm, emerald light.

The illusory image of the Pure Lotus hovering above her chest became much more solid, no longer translucent, but possessing a translucent jade-like texture. Although the fine cracks on the lotus petals still remained, like exquisite porcelain weathered by time, they added a resilient beauty that had endured hardship. Her aura had completely stabilized, even more restrained and pure than before her injury, subtly merging with the life cycle of the entire Returning Void Array.

A faint emerald light occasionally flickered at her fingertips as she attempted to gather purifying power. With each attempt, the light of the illusory lotus shone a little brighter.

The most striking feature was an "army" standing solemnly in the center of the formation.

Mo Heng still looked emaciated, and the depleted array spirit could not be replenished in a short time, but the light in his eyes was exceptionally bright.

Before him stood over two hundred battle puppets, neatly arranged. Their appearance was similar to the previous Annihilation Battle Puppets, but their materials were completely different.

The main body is made of fragments of Guixu glass and the remains of a flying boat. The surface no longer has a metallic luster, but a deep grayish-purple color, like solidified stardust.

His body was covered with array patterns that Mo Heng had painstakingly inscribed, combining the remaining laws of the Myriad Transformations Returning to the Ruins Furnace with the runes of the Returning to the Ruins Array—these were the "Returning to the Ruins Barrier" runes! This gave them extremely strong resistance to the erosion of the power of the Returning to the Ruins, and they could even absorb the dissipated death energy to a limited extent and transform it into a shield.

Their core driving force is replaced by a small fragment of the Annihilation Sword, containing a faint trace of the Origin of Return to the Void, and the chaotic source matter flowing in the array. Although their power is far less than the original version directly infused by the Annihilation Sword, they can operate independently in the Origin of Return to the Void environment for longer, and their attacks also carry a trace of the characteristics of Origin of Return to the Void.

They were named "Guixu Barrier War Puppets" by Mo Heng, and were new spears and shields forged by the Divine Dynasty in dire straits.

The Myriad Transformations Returning to the Void Furnace itself has been mostly repaired. Although the furnace body is riddled with cracks and the core Returning to the Void Pure Fire is far less intense than in its prime, it can now operate stably, providing maintenance for the war puppets and slowly melting the materials collected within the array in preparation for future consumption.

All eyes were eventually focused on the core of the formation.

Yu Changsheng remained seated cross-legged. The cracks on his imperial body had not completely disappeared, but those terrifying, deep wounds that revealed the bone had been filled and healed by newly grown, resilient flesh that shimmered with purple-gold light.

The crack itself transformed into purplish-gold patterns, like the ancient battle markings naturally present on his body. Instead of appearing terrifying, it exuded a majestic aura, bearing the weight of countless tribulations and the great Dao.

His aura was no longer weak and fleeting as it had been when he was severely injured, but rather like an unfathomable abyss, restrained yet powerful. The most crucial change lay in his connection with the entire Guixu Enclosure Formation.

He is no longer just a "pillar," but more like the "soul" of the formation. The formation is his extension, and he is the core of the formation.

With a slight thought, the chaotic essence within the formation moved as if it were his own arm.

This means that he cannot leave this formation for the time being, but within the formation's range, his power will be amplified in an unimaginable way, and his control over the laws of the Void will reach a new level.

His gaze fell on the Annihilation Sword in front of him.

The cracks on the sword remained, but the dark red divine patterns were no longer lifeless. Like a lurking ferocious beast, they slowly flickered with the pulse of the Guixu Star Orbit Compass at the sword's edge.

Yu Changsheng reached out, his fingertips gently tracing the cold spine of the sword. A faint but clear intent emanated from the sword, no longer a violent backlash, but a strange... dependence and resonance?

It was as if this malevolent sword, which had devoured too much of the origin, had finally found a delicate balance with Yu Changsheng's broken Dao Foundation, which also bore the laws of chaos, the void, and the imperial way, after it was on the verge of shattering, like twins in one body.

"Your Majesty, the soldiers have recovered to a basic level, the war puppets have been repaired, and the supplies have been sorted out."

Wang Cheng stepped forward, his voice booming with barely suppressed fighting spirit, “Your Majesty, please give your instructions: when shall we break camp, point our swords at Zhongzhou, and wipe out the Rift Sky Alliance’s headquarters!” His newly formed chaotic bone arm clenched into a fist, the joints cracking.

Chen Xueqing also opened her beautiful eyes. The jade lotus platform lifted her up slowly, and the illusory image of the Pure Lotus slowly rotated behind her, radiating a tranquil yet powerful purifying force: "The power of the lotus has been restored, and it can protect the army." Her gaze swept over the purple-gold patterns and the Annihilation Sword on Emperor Yu Changsheng's body, carrying a trace of barely perceptible worry, but more so, a firm resolve.

Mo Heng manipulated the Myriad Transformations Returning to the Void Furnace, loading the last batch of repaired small Returning to the Void crossbow components into a storage artifact, and hissed, "Your Majesty, what is the core status of the Returning to the Void Star Orbit Compass? It is indispensable for traversing the deep Void turbulence and anchoring the coordinates of the Central Plains."

Yu Changsheng slowly rose to his feet. With his movement, the entire Guixu Enclosure Array trembled slightly, its purple-gold light flowing as if echoing its sovereign. He grasped the hilt of the Annihilation Sword.

In an instant, an indescribable pressure emanated from him. It was not the majestic imperial might of his prime, but a complex aura that blended the weight of chaos, the deathly stillness of the void, the dignity of the imperial way, and the vicissitudes of surviving a calamity.

The Sword of Annihilation emitted a deep hum, and the core of the Returning Void Star Orbit Compass on the hilt suddenly lit up, projecting a beam of light composed of countless intricate star orbit runes. The beam rotated and intertwined within the array, rapidly constructing an extremely complex three-dimensional star map coordinate system that leads to the unknown.

The core of the coordinates pointed to a chaotic and distorted vast star field—the very same core region of Zhongzhou where the Rift Heaven Alliance was entrenched, as described in the intelligence that Ling Wuying had risked his life to send back!

The core of the compass pulsed stronger and more powerfully, gradually synchronizing with Yu Changsheng's heartbeat and the rhythm of the formation.

"The Rifting Heaven Alliance, using the remains of the Buried Gods as fuel, attempted to steal the power of the Gate, summon the Chaos Origin Core to descend upon the world, and wreak havoc on all heavens. The remains of the Buried Gods Ancient Ruins and the pseudo-gods and demons of Rifting Heaven City are all its henchmen."

Yu Changsheng's voice was calm, yet it contained an iron will and blood-bound resolve, clearly reaching the ears of every soldier: "We fought and bled, shattering their foundation in the Eastern Region and destroying their key projection. However, the culprit has not been eliminated, the secret of the gate remains unsolved, and the covetousness of the Chaos Origin Core has not been quelled. This battle is not for revenge, but to sever the source of calamity and restore order to the universe!"

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over every resolute face in the formation, over the solemn battle puppets of the Ruins of Return, over the swirling fire dragons and the lurking evil beasts, and finally settling on the star map coordinates guided by the Sword of Annihilation.

"The Guixu Wall Formation has become our temporary barrier and source of strength. However, sitting and holding on is not a long-term solution, and the powerful enemy will not give us a chance to breathe."

He raised the Annihilation Sword, its tip pointing directly at the core of the star map. "The 'Central Plains Spiritual Pivot Myriad Domains Map,' which Ling Wuying retrieved with his life, has pointed to the enemy chieftain's lair—the Burial God Ridge! The Rifting Heaven Alliance's headquarters is located there! They are sacrificing countless lives in an attempt to completely control the last and most crucial piece of the Burial God Remains—the ultimate key to the 'Gate'!"

"Soldiers!" Yu Changsheng's voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharp edge that seemed to tear through the void. "The wounds have healed, the swords have been sharpened! This body and this soul are but firewood, to be burned in annihilation, to be forged in the void! Our target—the Burial God Ridge of Zhongzhou! We will sever the Heavenly Leader, reclaim the key, and end this calamity! As long as the Divine Dynasty endures, our path will prosper forever!"

"As the Emperor commands!"

"As long as the Divine Dynasty endures, our Way will prosper forever!!" (End of Chapter)