After Xiao Yichen deployed the Heaven-Mending Art, the fissure widened further and reverted exactly to the state it had been in after Qi Tian’s strike, provoking gasps of astonishment from the crowd.
“As expected of the Butian Sect’s foremost divine son. Remarkable!”
“I had long heard that the Butian Sect’s Heaven-Mending Art can reverse time itself. Seeing it today is truly breathtaking.”
“With so many divine sons acting together, the grand formation is certain to break.”
“…”
“Little brat, what do you make of it?” Elder Longbrow transmitted his voice.
Ye Qiu smiled. “How else would one look at it? With one’s eyes, of course.”
Elder Longbrow said, “You know perfectly well that is not what I meant.”
Ye Qiu glanced at the golden mountain and replied, “Breaking the formation is actually quite simple, but their approach will not work.”
“Oh?” Elder Longbrow was surprised and asked, “Have you seen something?”
Ye Qiu said, “In short, brute force cannot possibly breach it, not unless several of them are Saint Kings.”
Elder Longbrow was inwardly startled and asked, “Little brat, just what is this formation?”
Ye Qiu countered, “Did you not claim to be versed in heterodox arts, proficient in geomancy, and well-acquainted with formations? How is it that you cannot tell?”
If I could tell, I would not need to ask you.
Elder Longbrow rolled his eyes and pressed, “Hurry and tell me. What formation is it?”
Ye Qiu said, “You need only know that this is an inauspicious formation. To break it, human blood is required.”
Far from being frightened, Elder Longbrow laughed upon hearing this. “With so many people present, slaughtering a few will suffice to break the formation.”
“Let those divine sons expend their strength first.”
“When they are utterly exhausted, we shall eliminate them and use their blood to open the grand formation.”
“Then the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance will be ours…”
At this point, noticing Ye Qiu’s gaze sweep over him, Elder Longbrow hurriedly corrected himself. “No, the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance will be yours, all yours.”
“This poor daoist is noble and upright. I would not contend with you for it.”
“Heh heh.”
Ye Qiu ignored Elder Longbrow and raised his head to look at the six divine sons standing in the void.
“Brother Xiao, I admire your technique,” Wu Qinghao said, cupping his hands towards Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen smiled. “Brother Wu need not be polite. Your primordial chaos qi is also formidable.”
Wu Qinghao’s lips curved in pride. “Indeed, primordial chaos qi is formidable, but regrettably, the amount remaining in our Chaos Holy Land is now very scant. Many years ago, the Eternal Azure Heaven Great Emperor seized thirty-three thousand strands.”
“This time, coming to the Dragon Burial Nest, the Holy Lord feared I might encounter trouble, so he bestowed upon me a single strand.”
“Nevertheless, Brother Xiao’s Heaven-Mending Art is extraordinary in power. Even with a strand of primordial chaos qi on me, I must concede inferiority.”
Xiao Yichen laughed. “Brother Wu, why not gift me that primordial chaos qi, and I shall impart the Heaven-Mending Art to you? How about it?”
At these words, both Chen Tianming and Qi Tian’s eyes flickered.
They instantly realised that the one coveting Wu Qinghao’s primordial chaos qi was not only themselves, but Xiao Yichen as well.
Chen Tianming said, “Wu Qinghao, I saw your strike earlier. The power was impressive. To become the second divine son of the Chaos Holy Land, your talent must be considerable.”
“How about this: give me the primordial chaos qi, and I shall allow you to follow me as a subordinate general.”
“When the day comes that I prove the Dao and become Emperor, sweeping across the four seas and eight wildernesses, unrivalled under heaven, I shall appoint you my foremost general, second only to myself, above tens of thousands. How does that sound?”
Chen Tianming’s tone was arrogant, his gaze sharp, as though he were already a Great Emperor. Wu Qinghao nearly exploded with rage upon hearing this.
“Follow you? What do you mean? Become your servant?”
“I am the second divine son of the Chaos Holy Land. Why should I serve as anyone’s servant?”
“Chen Tianming, do not be too arrogant. Arrogance shortens life.”
Wu Qinghao’s expression darkened as he cursed inwardly.
At that moment, Xiao Yichen spoke. “Chen Tianming, I was merely joking with Brother Wu. Why are you butting in?”
“Moreover, Brother Wu is the second divine son of the Chaos Holy Land, a genius the Holy Land is cultivating with great care. How could he become another’s servant?”
“Chen Tianming, I advise you to abandon that notion…”
Before Xiao Yichen could finish, Chen Tianming began cursing outright.
“Cut the bloody nonsense.” Chen Tianming shouted, “Xiao Yichen, stop pretending to be virtuous. It makes me sick just looking at you. Do not think I am unaware that you have long coveted Wu Qinghao’s primordial chaos qi.”
At this, Wu Qinghao’s gaze towards Xiao Yichen grew warier.
Xiao Yichen laughed loudly. “Well said, Chen Tianming. I never expected you to stoop to sowing discord.”
“I understand now. You fear that the five of us will join forces against you, so you attempt to drive a wedge between Brother Wu and me.”
“Chen Tianming, I can only say your methods are too crude.”
“As everyone knows, our five factions are allies, our bond stronger than gold. Your attempts to sow discord can only earn you two words: daydreaming!”
Wu Qinghao felt Xiao Yichen’s words made sense, and the wariness in his eyes lessened somewhat.
Then Xiao Yichen continued, “As for the primordial chaos qi, yes, I do want it.”
At this, the wariness in Wu Qinghao’s eyes intensified again.
Xiao Yichen declared loudly, “The world knows that primordial chaos qi is the supreme treasure upon which the Chaos Holy Land was founded. Furthermore, besides tempering supreme physiques and refining artefacts, primordial chaos qi has many other wondrous uses.”
“Who would not desire such a treasure?”
“Not only me, but everyone in the entire cultivation world dreams of it.”
“However, a gentleman loves treasure but acquires it honourably.”
“If I require primordial chaos qi, I shall personally visit the Chaos Holy Lord and request that he bestow a strand upon me, rather than, like you, Chen Tianming, absurdly trying to take Brother Wu as a servant. Truly outrageous.”
“And Chen Tianming, I warn you: our five factions are allies. If you dare lay a hand on Brother Wu, I, Xiao Yichen, will be the first to spare you none.”
Hearing this, Wu Qinghao felt a surge of warmth and thought to himself, “Brother Xiao is young yet already possesses the bearing of a sect leader. If he becomes the leader of the Butian Sect one day, the sect will only grow stronger under his guidance.”
Chen Tianming looked at Xiao Yichen and sneered coldly. “Keep pretending.”
“Others may not know you, Xiao Yichen, but I do.”
“You call yourself a gentleman. Indeed, you are a gentleman, but a thorough hypocrite.”
“Seeing scum like you makes me want to vomit.”
Xiao Yichen’s expression darkened. “Chen Tianming, if you continue speaking insolently, do not blame me for being impolite.”
“Afraid of you? Come on, one-on-one.” Chen Tianming’s killing intent surged.
“One-on-one it is.” Killing intent also rose from Xiao Yichen.
A great battle seemed imminent.
Just then, Wang Cong’s voice rang out. “Everyone, look quickly.”
Following the direction of Wang Cong’s finger, the crowd saw that on the golden mountain, the fissure that had widened was suddenly contracting again, and at an extremely rapid pace. In the blink of an eye, the fissure had completely closed.
Everyone stood stunned.
“How can this be?”
