Chapter 1040 High-Grade Immortal Array, Red Dragon(ENEMY) Attacks

Having obtained this Mystic Heart Journal, Eldrin (Person Name) felt as if he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure. Although the journal contained no specific alchemical recipes or records of the 100 Arts of Cultivation, the insights within were exceptionally precious.

Eldrin estimated that if he could fully master it, his proficiency in the 100 Arts of Cultivation would see a tremendous leap forward.

At this thought, Eldrin said delightedly, "With this journal in hand, it shouldn't be long before the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss advances to mid-grade immortal rank."

"Hmm."

Lyra nodded, her expression turning grave as she added, "But before that, we must reforify the grand formation to prepare for Eldrin’s assault."

"I understand."

Eldrin gave a slight nod, retrieved the golden scripture to make a copy of the 3 ancient scrolls, and handed them to the Void-Refining Immortal.

After completing this step, he finally looked beyond the Green Abyss Immortal Isle and remarked, "I sent a message to Qian Xuande before I returned."

"He is a Formation Master at the upper Immortal Tier. With his assistance in rearranging our Mountain Protection Array, it would suffice to withstand the Red Dragon Master."

Chapter 1 1 100 years had passed. Lin Xuan stood atop the Cloud-Scraping Peak, gazing at the sea of clouds churning beneath his feet. His azure robes fluttered in the wind, yet not a single speck of dust clung to them. "After a century of secluded cultivation, I've finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm's middle stage." He murmured to himself, a faint smile gracing his lips. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary office worker; in this life, he was a cultivator treading the path of immortality. Having transmigrated into this world for over a decade, he had long grown accustomed to this reality. The Cloud-Scraping Peak stood over 3,000 meters tall, wreathed in swirling spiritual mist all year round. This was the sect's territory of the Azure Cloud Sect, where Lin Xuan served as an outer court disciple. "Senior Brother Lin! Senior Brother Lin!" A frantic cry echoed from the mountain path. Lin Xuan turned to see a young man in green robes stumbling toward him, his face pale with panic. "What happened?" Lin Xuan frowned slightly. "Not good! The Demon Beast Tide has erupted at the foot of the mountain! The sect has issued an emergency mission, requiring all outer court disciples to gather at the main hall immediately!" Lin Xuan's heart tightened. The Demon Beast Tide erupted once every few decades, and each occurrence claimed the lives of countless cultivators. He had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm's middle stage, but facing the Demon Beast Tide, his cultivation level was still far from sufficient. "Let's go." Without further hesitation, Lin Xuan summoned the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. The fiery-red longsword materialized out of thin air, hovering steadily before him. The green-robed disciple stared wide-eyed. "Senior Brother Lin, you... you can already wield a flying sword?" Lin Xuan offered no explanation, grabbing the disciple's arm and leaping onto the sword. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss transformed into a crimson streak of light, shooting straight toward the main hall at the mountaintop. Wind howled past their ears. The green-robed disciple, trembling with fear, tightly clutched Lin Xuan's sleeve. Below, mountain peaks and ravines flashed by in a blur. In less time than it takes to burn a stick of incense, the 2 had arrived at the main hall's square. Over a 100 outer court disciples had already gathered, all wearing grave expressions. Standing at the front of the hall was a white-robed elder, his gaze sharp as lightning as it swept over the crowd. "The Demon Beast Tide has erupted. This is both a trial and an opportunity for all of you. The sect has decided that all participants in this mission will be rewarded with 1,000 spirit stones. Those who slay more demon beasts will receive additional rewards!" A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. 1 1000 spirit stones were equivalent to an outer court disciple's several months' worth of resources. Lin Xuan, however, remained calm. He knew that while the rewards were substantial, the risks were equally great. Just then, a system prompt suddenly echoed in his mind: [Ding! Host has triggered a system mission: Survive the Demon Beast Tide. Mission reward: 10,000 spirit stones, 1 Heaven and Earth Pills (Elixir)] Lin Xuan's eyes lit up. The system had finally activated!

Eldrin was still speaking when a streak of light soared across the distant sky, emerging from the void itself.

The newcomer was none other than Qian Xuande. Upon seeing Eldrin (Person Name), he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, since you've invited me to set up the formation, I presume this journey has yielded considerable gains for you?"

"Just a modest gain."

Eldrin smiled faintly, dispensing with excessive pleasantries. He set aside the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) divine spear and produced the dragon-patterned black gold cauldron, saying, "I beseech you, fellow Daoist, to employ this artifact to erect a mountain-protecting grand formation for me."

Supreme Immortal Treasure!

The moment he laid eyes on the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron, Qian Xuande’s face instantly paled with shock and disbelief.

In the blink of an eye, a flicker of greed arose in his heart, yet when his gaze swept past the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) divine spear, he instantly reined in the thought.

Qian Xuande had attained the Dao for many years, spending most of his time in secluded cultivation within the mountains. He rarely involved himself in worldly affairs, let alone provoked powerful adversaries.

Although this supreme immortal treasure was excellent, Qian Xuande was unwilling to take risks for it.

He cast a meaningful glance at Eldrin, took a deep breath and said, "Fellow Daoist, your methods are truly remarkable. To think you've even acquired the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) – the very treasure the Divine Eagle Emperor guards with his life."

"Just a stroke of good fortune, nothing worth mentioning."

Eldrin shook his head, gazing at Qian Xuande as he remarked, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Qian's mastery of formations is profound enough to deploy a grand array using this cauldron?"

"Of course, it is possible."

Qian Xuande's expression shifted slightly before he nodded. "Theoretically speaking, with the power of a supreme immortal treasure, 1 could indeed arrange a supreme immortal formation."

"It is a pity that my mastery of formations is insufficient, allowing me to only barely construct a top-grade immortal array."

"An upper-grade immortal array?" A flicker of light passed through Eldrin's eyes as he immediately smiled. "An upper-grade immortal array will suffice."

Hearing this, everyone broke into smiles. The power of the supreme-grade immortal formation had surpassed the limits of the Ascension Realm.

Generally speaking, with a supreme-grade immortal formation providing protection, even an Earth Immortal Patriarch would find it difficult to breach it within a short period of time.

Moreover, to set up a supreme immortal formation, 1 must even establish it upon a blessed land of Earth Immortals as its foundation. Otherwise, even if successfully deployed, there would be insufficient immortal spiritual energy to sustain the formation.

So this was well within Eldrin's expectations, and in his view, it was more than sufficient.

Since the power of a top-grade immortal formation would be truly astonishing—even 2 or 3 Ninth-Level Ascension cultivators joining forces would be unable to breach it—it would be more than sufficient to deal with Chi Longzi (Person Name).

At this thought, Eldrin quickly said, "Please set up the formation, fellow daoist. I shall lend you a hand."

"Very well…"

Qian Xuande nodded without further inquiry and immediately began setting up the formation.

Due to the haste, the preparations for setting up the formation were insufficient, so this time it was arranged with utmost simplicity.

Led by Qian Xuande, with support from Eldrin (Person Name), Lyra (Person Name), and others, the group began deploying the Mountain Protection Array.

5 Immortals worked together to set up the formation, completing it in merely 7 days.

It is done.

Gazing at the formation before him, Qian Xuande smiled faintly and said, "This formation uses the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron as its core array eye, unleashing the formidable power of the cauldron. It is a superior immortal formation capable of both offense and defense."

"With this formation guarding the immortal island, we wouldn't fear even the most supreme celestial beings."

Qian Xuande explained in a measured tone, a hint of regret in his voice, "It's a pity this formation's power hasn't yet reached its peak."

"To unleash its full potential, over 30,000 formation flags must be forged as secondary array eyes. By then, its power should increase by another 30 percent."

"This level of power is more than sufficient for now."

Eldrin smiled faintly. For him in his current state, possessing a single high-grade immortal formation was already a cause for immense delight.

He repeatedly expressed his gratitude, then retrieved an Incense Merit Silver from his bosom, his face lighting up with joy as he said, "Please accept this as my token of appreciation."

Qian Xuande glanced at the Incense Fire Silver, his pupils involuntarily flickering slightly.

Setting up a superior-grade immortal formation was an immensely challenging task. As a top-tier immortal formation master, Qian Xuande's services were undoubtedly worth a single piece of Faith Silver.

However, Qian Xuande did not reach out to take it. Instead, he smiled and declined, "For an old man like me, setting up an array is but a trivial effort. How could I possibly accept this incense heavenly silver?"

"This..."

Eldrin (Person Name) froze momentarily, noticing the resolute glint in his eyes, and couldn't help but reveal a puzzled expression.

Qian Xuande, however, shook his head and said with a smile, "In another 60,000 years, the next great tribulation will erupt."

"Consider today’s matter as this old man lending a hand. Should I ever seek your aid in the future, I hope you won’t turn a blind eye, Fellow Daoist."

Hearing this, Eldrin understood implicitly.

Qian Xuande was most likely impressed by him and wanted to seize this opportunity to deepen their connection.

At this thought, Eldrin smiled and said, "You flatter me, Fellow Daoist. Had it not been your assistance that day, my Verdant Chariot Mountain would have faced grave troubles on its founding ceremony."

"Now you've done me such a great favor, how could I ever turn my back on you in the future?"

"Ha ha ha."

Qian Xuande burst into hearty laughter, but then his gaze abruptly stilled. Rising swiftly to his feet, he explained, "There are still trivial matters awaiting my attention within the family, so I shall not linger here any longer."

"Fellow Daoist, may your journey be slow and steady..."

As Qian Xuande departed, a faint glimmer stirred in Eldrin’s eyes.

His gaze pierced the depths of the void, where he spotted several immortal phoenixes soaring through the skies, pulling a magnificent war chariot in their wake.

Upon the war chariot stood a towering figure, none other than Chi Longzi, the mightiest immortal of the Crimson Dragon Sea.

Seeing Qian Xuande immediately retreat as soon as Chi Longzi charged, it seemed he genuinely had no desire to provoke a formidable foe.

Seeing this, Lyra (Person Name) couldn't help but shake her head and said, "He wants to owe us a favor, yet refuses to make an enemy of Eldrin (Person Name). This Qian Xuande has such an eccentric temperament."

"Wishing to scheme for his own tribulation, yet wavering when facing a formidable foe—this Qian Xuande is far too cautious in temperament."

The Void Refining Immortal also shook his head, his gaze tinged with regret as he remarked, "Such a temperament will not provoke truly mortal enemies."

"But once the great tribulation arrives, there will be no room for hesitation. I doubt this individual can walk far on this path."