Chapter 28: The Great Formation Collapses

Endless spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged into the great blue-gleaming axe, making it ever more crystalline, frigid, and fierce. At this moment, the axe resembled a blue crescent moon, radiating an icy chill that transformed half the darkened domain into a blue-lit sky. Meanwhile, the blackwater serpent spear was like a black sun, emanating boundless darkness, plunging the night into even deeper shadow.

Countless rivers of spiritual power flowed inexhaustibly into the blue moon and the black sun, each drawing energy ceaselessly. But, because the blue moon and black sun absorbed the world's spiritual power too greedily, the forces they invoked grew dangerously strong. Now, the endless spiritual energy was no longer under control, surging spontaneously toward the blue moon and black sun. The forces of both sides had fallen into a strange and fragile balance. Whoever ceased absorbing the spiritual power of the world first would shatter this precarious equilibrium—and be ravaged or even torn apart by the ensuing tidal wave of wild energy.

Neither the blue moon nor the black sun dared make a reckless move. They could only continue absorbing the world’s spiritual energy in helpless silence, maintaining this eerie, delicate balance. However, this fragile equilibrium was about to be disturbed by a single, small orb of chaotic spirit—a Chaos Pearl.

To avoid detection by the powerhouses of the Nether Serpent clan, the Chaos Pearl did not enter the heart of the Serpent Slaughtering Formation, but instead drifted to the edge, settling by one of the rivers of spiritual power. The river shimmered with myriad colors, flowing with mysterious, beautiful energy. Stealthily, the black Chaos Pearl slipped into the rainbow river like a black sheep suddenly appearing among a flock of white—impossible not to notice.

Quickly, the endless power within the river discovered this intruder. The divine serpent kings, who manipulated the formation to absorb the world’s spiritual energy, sensed the disturbance at once and noticed the tiny, pitch-black Chaos Pearl. The Seventh and Ninth Elders exchanged a look of despair, resigned to the inevitable destruction.

“It’s finally here,” the Seventh Elder gazed hopelessly at the Chaos Pearl within the spiritual river, his heart heavy with sorrow. He and the Ninth Elder had long anticipated that the river would be disrupted, but had not expected it would happen so quickly.

“Who is it? What bastard dares oppose my Xuanming Black Serpent clan?” The Ninth Elder, usually calm and composed, was now red-faced with rage, cursing furiously.

The Seventh Elder looked outward, expressionless, though his heart bled. “There are so many races in this world. Is it so strange that one or two should oppose our Xuanming Black Serpent clan? In the end, all debts must be repaid.”

“But who could destroy our spiritual rivers in such a short time? It must have been a Sovereign-level power!” The Ninth Elder seethed, trying to deduce their enemy.

“Enough!” snapped the Seventh Elder, his face impassive as he chided the furious Ninth Elder. “Now is not the time to investigate the culprit. The formation is about to be destroyed. Take the army and withdraw at once.”

Ordinarily, if the Serpent Slaughtering Formation was broken, it would be of little consequence; the serpent kings would remain unharmed. But now, the balance between the blue moon and black sun depended on the formation’s supply of spiritual energy. With its impending collapse, the equilibrium would be shattered and the blue moon and black sun would release their full power. Before this force, far surpassing an ordinary divine sovereign’s might, all living beings within the formation—save for Nanluo and Heidi—would be annihilated.

Thus, the Seventh Elder insisted the Ninth Elder withdraw with the serpent kings. “What about you?” The Ninth Elder eyed him grimly, an ominous feeling rising in his heart.

The Seventh Elder smiled faintly. “The plan to capture Nanluo has failed. I must bear the full responsibility. I will face Nanluo in a final battle.”

The Ninth Elder cast a deep look at the Seventh Elder, said nothing more, and led the serpent army swiftly out of the formation. From the moment the Chaos Pearl entered the river to its eruption took but a breath, and by then the Ninth Elder had already evacuated the army, avoiding the coming storm of death.

A thunderous explosion erupted as the Chaos Pearl detonated, unleashing a force of utter chaos that churned the river of spiritual power. The rainbow river was instantly thrown into turmoil and burst apart, its spiritual energy scattering in all directions. One after another, the countless rivers of colored light detonated, affected by the chain reaction.

All the races watching from outside saw the spiritual rivers of the Serpent Slaughtering Formation explode one by one and could not help but marvel. Only the Xuanwu Clan sneered coldly, while the Qilin Clan looked on grimly as the formation they had guarded was destroyed.

A shout like thunder suddenly rang in Nanluo’s ear: “Kill!” The Seventh Elder, assuming his true serpent form, became a streak of black lightning, charging madly toward Nanluo.

“So, you think to break the balance and wound me? Ridiculous.” Nanluo slowly opened his blue eyes, gazing upon the Seventh Elder now transformed into the Xuanming Black Serpent. Twin beams of blue axe-light suddenly appeared within Nanluo’s eyes, shooting forth to freeze the space in their path with an endless, bone-chilling cold, cleaving toward the serpent.

With a crack, the blue axe-light flashed like a bolt of lightning, swift and unstoppable, slicing through the Xuanming Black Serpent in an instant—leaving nothing but a bisected body whose eyes would never close in death.

Heidi watched the blue axe-light as it passed through the serpent, a strange light flickering in his eyes. Uncertain and wary, he asked Nanluo, “That axe-light just now—what battle technique was it?”

“Are you not concerned for your loyal serpent?” Nanluo did not answer, but instead inquired after the now-destroyed Seventh Elder.

“Heh.” Heidi laughed softly, his face expressionless as he looked at Nanluo. “Don’t try to shake my resolve. Do you think I would care?” Of course not. For those as powerful as Nanluo and Heidi, the lives of the weak meant nothing. Such was the law of the wild: the strong survive, the weak perish.

“That was the Pangu Axe Radiance,” Nanluo abruptly replied, pride and arrogance in his voice.

“Pangu Axe Radiance?” Heidi murmured, a strange light glimmering in his eyes. He regarded Nanluo with calm envy and spoke helplessly, “Nanluo, do you know? I envy your Primordial Gods and Demons. You are born noble, innately powerful, capable of anything.”

“Is that so?” Nanluo regarded Heidi, hiding his surprise behind a calm exterior.

“Take this Pangu Axe Radiance for example. You Primordial Gods and Demons witnessed the Great God Pangu cleaving open the heavens and inherited the three mighty axe strikes of creation. Can you deny you are the children of fate, blessed by heaven and earth?” As he spoke, Heidi’s heart twisted with pain, but his expression suddenly grew passionate.

“Indeed! We Primordial Gods and Demons are truly blessed, the chosen of heaven and earth.” Nanluo, seeing Heidi’s agitation, could not help but wear a hint of pride.

Suddenly, the sky was torn by bolts of lightning, the mountains below began to crumble, ghostly winds howled, and flames roared unchecked. As the rivers of spiritual power outside dissipated, the Serpent Slaughtering Formation could no longer withstand the forces of the blue moon and black sun, and began to collapse at last.