**Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array**
“The severed trunk of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree?”
Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan were both startled.
Having come to the Kunlun Realm, they had naturally researched its history beforehand and understood the profound significance of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree to this world.
The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree was once Kunlun’s spiritual root of heaven and earth. Its existence had enabled the realm to produce countless gods across generations.
When the tree was severed, Kunlun entered a godless era, spiraling into decline.
Only when Empress Chi Yao ascended to divinity did Kunlun begin to revive.
If Kunlun were granted another century to develop, it would surely rise again, far surpassing its current state.
“Big Brother, are you saying the tree’s trunk is in Xianji Mountain?” Feng Yan asked.
Zhang Ruochen nodded, saying, “Yes. I discovered this secret many years ago, but lacked the strength to retrieve it then. Recently, I scouted Xianji Mountain and found it vastly changed. The trunk’s location has shifted—it’s now beneath that evil altar.”
“In other words, to retrieve the trunk, we must destroy the evil altar. But if the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree is exposed, all factions will likely vie for it—it’s the body of a mighty god, after all,” Feng Yan said, frowning slightly.
Even among divine remains, the value of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree’s trunk far exceeded that of the divine python corpse.
With its myriad legends, even gods would covet it.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The situation is beyond our control now. We can only adapt as it unfolds. Don’t worry too much—claiming the trunk won’t be easy for anyone.”
“Rest assured, Big Brother. I’ll make sure we secure the trunk. Anyone who tries to snatch it will have to get past me first!” Xiang Chunan declared, pounding his chest.
Feng Yan nodded, adding, “Third Brother’s right. The trunk belongs to Big Brother—no one’s taking it.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but smile. Having two loyal brothers who genuinely cared for him was truly a blessing.
He only hoped tomorrow’s assault on Xianji Mountain would go smoothly. If they couldn’t destroy the Death Altar, all their plans would be for naught.
As a ray of light pierced the darkness, the quiet Northern Region Base erupted into action, with warships rising into the sky one after another.
The new year had begun, and with it, Kunlun’s revival intensified, brimming with vitality that subtly suppressed deathly forces.
This was precisely why Zhenyuan and Xuanyuan Potian chose today to launch the attack.
“Set out!”
At Xuanyuan Liekong’s command, dozens of warships surged like dragons breaking through the sea, tearing across the sky toward Xianji Mountain.
On one warship, Zhang Ruochen stood at the prow, facing the wind, with Ji Fanxin, Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and Pei Yutian by his side.
Having resolved a personal matter last night, his mind was calm, his condition honed to its peak, ready to throw himself fully into the coming battle.
Ahead, towering holy mountains loomed, ethereal and dreamlike, as if they might vanish at any moment.
*Rumble.*
The array shrouding Xianji Mountain was triggered, causing the entire mountain to quake violently.
“Senior Brother Lu has made his move!” Zhang Ruochen murmured, his gaze fixed forward.
The first and most critical step in attacking Xianji Mountain was for Lu Baiming to break the intricate array enveloping it, allowing the army to enter and assault the Death Clan’s eight encampments.
A golden thunderbolt crashed from the heavens, like a radiant star plummeting to earth.
*Boom.*
The deathly aura cloaking Xianji Mountain shattered, scattering in all directions. Strands of golden sunlight poured down, like Buddhist radiance purifying all worldly evil.
“Did it work?”
Seeing this, many Celestial Court cultivators couldn’t hide their excitement.
If the array could be breached so easily, it would greatly boost morale.
The deathly aura had indeed dispersed, but Xianji Mountain itself remained unscathed. A five-colored light shield emerged, enveloping the entire mountain.
“Lu Baiming, I never expected you’d come to the Northern Region. But even you can’t break this Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array. Your efforts will end in failure!” a wildly arrogant voice echoed from within the shield.
Hearing it, Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted slightly. “The Xianji Sect’s former guardian array—the Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array. It wasn’t destroyed after all.”
As the Northern Region’s dominant power in its day, the Xianji Sect had immense foundations, and even its guardian array was renowned.
Legend held that once the Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array was activated, no one could breach it.
Zhang Ruochen had assumed the array would fade into history with the sect’s fall, yet now it had reappeared.
Undoubtedly, a Death Clan array master had restored it to fend off the Celestial Court’s assault.
But even a master array saint couldn’t fully restore the array, or Xianji Mountain would be an impregnable fortress, impervious to all.
“Minggu, since you’re so confident, watch me dismantle your repaired Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array,” Lu Baiming declared, appearing with hands behind his back, standing atop a primordial demonic dragon.
The dragon, hundreds of zhang long, radiated dense demonic qi, its aura rivaling Sky-Connecting Realm warriors.
Only a once-in-millennia array genius like Lu Baiming could tame such a formidable primordial beast.
Within Xianji Mountain, an altar materialized. Minggu, clad in black, sat cross-legged upon it, locking eyes with Lu Baiming, a mocking smile in his gaze.
As a fellow array master, he hardly took Lu Baiming seriously.
Especially on his home turf, with full geographical advantage, Lu Baiming posed no threat.
“Let’s see how you break my Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array,” Minggu sneered.
Without such confidence, how could he call himself an array master?
On the warship, Feng Yan pulled out the *Ten Clans of Hell: Chronicles of Evils*, flipping to a page about Minggu.
“Minggu, danger level nine, fifth son of the Daming Sea Lord, array master, and divine disciple of the Fane of Destiny.”
Reading the entry, Feng Yan’s expression grew grave.
No doubt, if Minggu’s martial cultivation was also exceptional, his danger level could reach ten.
Of course, the *Chronicles* might be outdated, and no one could say how fearsome Minggu was now.
Lu Baiming stood atop the demonic dragon, his demeanor unruffled by Minggu’s taunts.
With a wave, 108 ancient array flags soared forth.
His potent spiritual power activated them, and countless intricate array patterns emerged, linking together to form a vast net enveloping the five-colored shield.
*Boom.*
Blinding holy light surged skyward, coalescing into 108 colossal holy swords, each over a thousand zhang tall, like sword-shaped holy mountains piercing the heavens.
Arranged in a precise formation, the 108 swords voraciously absorbed the world’s forces, as if draining the region’s power dry.
As they gathered more energy, the swords grew sharper and more solid, their edges gleaming.
Countless sword qi slashed at the five-colored shield.
Though immensely sturdy, the shield trembled, its five elemental forces growing unsteady.
Minggu’s eyes narrowed, and he acted, focusing on controlling the Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array.
Four massive divine beast phantoms appeared, guarding the mountain’s four directions.
The Azure Dragon coiled in the east, radiating vast wood-attributed power.
The Vermilion Bird blazed in the south, exuding fierce fire-attributed power.
The White Tiger prowled in the west, emanating sharp metal-attributed power.
The Black Tortoise anchored the north, projecting deep water-attributed power.
The four beasts wielded the four elemental forces, merging with earth to form the five elements, interweaving and transforming endlessly.
Such an exquisite array spoke to the brilliance of Xianji Sect’s ancestors, who masterfully harnessed the mountain’s environment.
To the east lay a vast primeval forest, to the west a metal mine, to the south an active volcanic belt, and to the north a massive lake—five elemental forces thrived here.
Only in such a setting could the Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array reach its peak.
Whether this environment was natural or crafted remained unknown.
*Roar.*
A tiger’s roar shook the forests.
The White Tiger swiped its claws, golden light tearing through the void, striking the 108 holy swords.
The Four Symbols Heaven-Locking Array wasn’t merely defensive—its offensive power was terrifying.
*Clang.*
Thirteen swords shuddered, faint cracks appearing, but they held.
“Hm?”
Minggu frowned.
Among the four beasts, the White Tiger ruled slaughter, its attacks unmatched. He’d expected to shatter some swords outright, yet failed.
He immediately directed the Vermilion Bird to attack.
Its wings, like heavenly blades, sliced through space itself.
Targeting the same swords as the White Tiger, Minggu was certain another blow would break them.
Lu Baiming remained composed, calmly controlling his array.
The 108 swords blazed with golden light, swapping positions at blinding speed while maintaining their formation.
*Bang.*
The Vermilion Bird’s wings struck twelve swords but failed to sever them, halting abruptly.
Countless secret runes surfaced on the swords, erupting with sharp qi that shattered the Vermilion Bird into fragments.
The fragments, mere flames, sped back to the five-colored shield, coalescing into the Vermilion Bird anew.
Formed by the array, it could reform endlessly as long as the array held.
Then, the sword array shifted. Pairs of adjacent swords fused.
In a blink, the 108 swords became 54, the formation adjusting accordingly.
Yet the array still enveloped Xianji Mountain, its gathered power visibly stronger. Each sword now felt tangible, like high-tier Ten Thousand Pattern Holy Weapons, capable of felling stars with a single slash.
“What array is this?”
Minggu’s brows furrowed, a flicker of unease stirring within.
