Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Chapter 396 The Azure-Clad Emperor, Turning the Tide

The balance of power was reversed in an instant.

The group of immortals and demons who originally intended to kill Qingluan were instead forced into a chaotic and disheveled state by this ancient true spirit.

The lower-level cultivators were also in a rather miserable state. Those with shallower cultivation levels were instantly drawn into a cloud of blood mist when touched by the green vine.

The more alert ones, riding their escape lights, darted around like headless flies, crying and screaming, looking utterly pathetic.

The green cocoon remained suspended, with flashes of lightning within, but there was no sign of it breaking free, leaving only a chaotic killing scene outside.

Within the green cocoon, the flow of energy was as if sealed off.

At first, Chen Jiao only felt that he was surrounded by thick and heavy wood elemental energy, and countless fine and tough wood roots invaded from all directions, trying to lock his meridians and suppress his soul.

He snorted coldly, and with a thought, his body suddenly burst forth with blazing white lightning, like thousands of tiny electric snakes writhing, scorching the woody roots that had invaded his body, causing them to sizzle and retreat.

However, this green cocoon was formed from the green energy of the Jianmu tree, and was further enhanced by the array activated by the Azure Phoenix, making it endlessly regenerating.

As the lightning receded one layer, an even denser layer of primordial energy immediately replenished it, cycling endlessly.

Chen Jiao stood quietly inside the cocoon, his gaze slowly sweeping over the blue light barrier.

He recognized the danger; this formation relied on the very essence of this grotto-heaven, and breaking it by brute force would be twice the effort for half the result.

He raised his hand and pressed it lightly against the cocoon wall, and the thunder patterns on his palm appeared faintly as he carefully sensed the flow of energy within.

However, I felt that although the green aura was vast and heavy, its flow subtly corresponded to the principles of Yin and Yang, and the wood element also contained hidden mechanisms.

"I see."

Chen Jiao understood.

The restrictions of the Jianmu Palace are yin and yang, dragon and phoenix, mutually reinforcing and complementing each other.

Azure dragon palm unleashes a burst of blue thunder, Azure phoenix governs the wood and traverses the impoverished town.

Now that the Azure Dragon has been slain, the balance of Yin and Yang is disrupted. Although the Azure Phoenix has temporarily made up for its deficiencies by being favored by the Jianmu tree, its foundation is still bound by the Wood element, lacking the fierce changes and pivotal operation of the Azure Dragon's thunder magic.

This azure array, seemingly an impregnable fortress, actually suffers from stagnation in its internal energy flow due to the loss of the harmonizing effect of thunder magic. However, this stagnation is concealed by the vast wood energy and is generally difficult to detect.

Chen Jiao was deeply immersed in the art of formations and was able to see through its flaws.

Having already spotted the flaw, the method to break the formation was already clear: simply find an opening, turn the tide, and utilize one's own strength.

Although Chen Jiao had previously sensed the general energy of the palace and the cave's restrictions, this formation was rooted in the Jianmu tree and was extremely profound. He was not yet fully aware of its specific structure and mechanisms.

As he pondered, Chen Jiao's heart stirred, and he reached into his sleeve and took out an item.

It was the leaf of the Jianmu tree that Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun gave to him before his departure.

At this moment, within the Jianmu Cave Heaven, the leaves of the Jianmu tree spontaneously exude a warm and clear radiance, with a continuous flow of blue light within the veins of the leaves, subtly resonating with the vast wood-elemental spiritual energy surrounding them, brimming with Daoist charm, clearly indicating a profound connection with this place.

Chen Jiao held the leaf in his palm, closed his eyes and concentrated, slowly immersing a wisp of his divine consciousness into it.

The moment one's consciousness touched upon it, the scene before one's eyes suddenly changed.

In a daze, I seemed to see a clear and serene world, filled with spiritual energy as if it were the beginning of time.

It seemed as if one could see a clear and tranquil world, where primordial energy swirled like in the beginning of time.

In an ancient courtyard shrouded in mist and clouds.

A small tree, no more than ten feet tall, grows quietly, its vitality seemingly supporting the heavens and the earth. Two figures stand beneath it.

An emperor, dressed in simple blue robes, with an indistinct face but an aura as majestic as the heavens, casually plucked a leaf from the tree.

He handed the leaf to the person in front of him.

It was a Taoist priest in a green robe, his figure shrouded in a hazy Taoist aura, his aura serene and unfathomable.

After the emperor in blue handed over the leaf, he was about to turn around when he suddenly sensed something. He turned his head slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through countless years, and quietly looked over.

Chen Jiao's mind jolted, and he instantly detached himself from that scene. The image dissipated like ripples, and his consciousness returned to himself.

The leaf of the Jianmu tree in the palm shone brightly, and countless fine veins emerged from the leaf, creating a mysterious resonance with the majestic Jianmu tree outside and even with the primordial energy of this entire cave.

Within Chen Jiao's spiritual platform, the previously vast, complex, and unfathomable network of restrictions within the Jianmu Palace and the vital energy flow within the cave were now clearly imprinted in his mind, as if he were looking at the lines on his palm, without any trace of obscurity.

With the structure of the Jianmu tree now clear, the opportunity to break the deadlock is at hand.

Chen Jiao immediately focused his mind and followed the mysterious energy, using himself as the pivot to silently reverse the stagnant Yin and Yang of the Wood element within the green cocoon.

Outside, the sky was completely obscured by endless green vines, like a curtain hanging from the heavens.

The blue phoenix circled among them, stretching its neck and crying out. Strands of blue flames fell from its wings and ignited upon contact with the vines. Far from harming the vines in the slightest, they were like oil added to fire, causing the green vines to blaze with a fierce blue flame. The fire borrowed the power of the wood, and the wood amplified the power of the fire, burning the sky and boiling the sea.

Even powerful demons and immortals like Peng Demon King and Lion Camel King were forced to defend themselves and were in a sorry state. Not to mention those with slightly less cultivation, who were already in grave danger and had their robes stained with blood.

The Roc Demon King struggled to weave through the gaps between the vines and the azure flames, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead. He transmitted his voice to the crowd, saying, "#"

"If this continues, our magical power will be exhausted! We will both perish here!"

Lion Camel King shook off several vines that were binding his feet, his expression solemn, and replied telepathically, "This flat-haired creature has taken advantage of the Jianmu tree's terrain, and the wood element is inexhaustible. Forcing its way in is not a good idea; we need to find the array's core."

While using his iron rod to deflect the surging blue flames, the Monkey King transmitted his voice, "The array's core? Could it be the Azure Phoenix itself? But it's currently perched high in the center, and with this overwhelming vine fire as a shield, how can we get close?"

"Master Ziyang, you are proficient in Xuanmen formations, do you have a good plan?"

Master Ziyang waved his whisk, sweeping away a swarm of fiery vines that were attacking him, his brows furrowed.

Upon hearing the telepathic message, he scanned the surroundings with his divine sense and replied in a deep voice, "This formation borrows the essence of the Jianmu tree and has merged with the grotto-heaven. Its energy is perfectly harmonious and virtually flawless."

Unless—with a superior cardinal force, one can forcibly disrupt the flow of the wood element, there might be no chance.

However, this is something that only those with profound knowledge of formations and the principles of wood can accomplish.

This humble monk is powerless to do so.

A celestial demon king, hidden within the demonic wind, couldn't help but exclaim anxiously, "Is this how we're going to waste our time? Our magical power is rapidly depleting, and this wood energy is constantly eroding our foundation! It's practically a death trap!"

Another True Immortal cultivator also transmitted his voice, his tone urgent: "That Azure Curved Qi is still rising! If this drags on any longer, we may all become its fuel, refined by this Azure Flame!"

"Observing the operation of this formation, I believe it subtly aligns with the innate life-giving energy of the Wood element. The vines extend endlessly, even connecting to the very source of this entire grotto-heaven! Forcing its way through would likely be futile!"

Another aged voice responded, tinged with anxiety.

"Even if we see through the formation's life-or-death points, if we remain trapped like this, our magical power will eventually be exhausted!"

"Difficult! Difficult! The energy of this formation is perfectly integrated, with yin and yang flowing subtly. The blue phoenix's figure is elusive, and the formation's core is constantly shifting."

Unless a highly skilled expert specializing in array formations calmly deduces it, otherwise—”

"Don't mention it again! Let's deal with the present! That Azure Flame is here again!"

The messages were chaotic, filled with alarm and anxiety.

Everyone knew they were in a predicament. This Wood Element Formation seemed gentle, but in reality, it was full of lingering killing intent, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water. Moreover, the Azure Phoenix was elusive and could manipulate azure flames, making it impossible to defend against.

With no way to break through the formation and no way to escape, a sense of restlessness and frustration gradually spread through the hearts of the cultivators.

At that moment, the green cocoon suspended in mid-air suddenly lit up with blazing white lightning.

The Azure Phoenixes, who had already taken control of the grotto-heaven, suddenly changed color and cried out in alarm.