Chapter 987: Wan Chuan Gui Hai Formation

King Bihai and the others naturally sensed the departure of the Grand Elder. However, their attention was entirely focused on Chen Mobai, aiming to achieve their goal in one decisive battle by slaying this One-Yuan Daoist right before them. No one paid any heed to the Grand Elder.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was in complete turmoil along the coast of Dongwu. Chen Mobai's Myriad Sword Dharma Body stood firm in the center. His Violet Lightning Sword struck the Fangtian Halberd, while his Azure Frost Sword slashed at the Twin-Headed Demon King. Additionally, five-element divine lights danced in the air, with fierce enemy offensives assailing him from all directions.

Even the spectating Diao Xianlan, at this moment, drew a blood-red scimitar, her eyes narrowed, as she stealthily aimed a strike at Chen Mobai's true body atop his Myriad Sword Dharma Body's shoulder.

However, under the blessing of the 'Square Inch Book,' Chen Mobai missed no detail on the battlefield. He glanced sideways at Diao Xianlan.

The moment their gazes met, Diao Xianlan's heart suddenly constricted. For some unknown reason, an inexplicable fear surged within her, akin to a sheep being targeted by a tiger.

"I'll let you off for now!" Chen Mobai suppressed the urge to strike and kill Diao Xianlan, recalled his Violet-Green Twin Swords, and transformed into a streak of silver light, vanishing from his spot.

As soon as he left, the Myriad Sword Dharma Body also disappeared.

Amidst a thunderous roar, the attacks from the three demon kings and Diao Xianlan landed on empty air. They instantly blasted a massive void on the sea surface, triggering a monstrous tsunami that surged outwards in all directions.

Four immense and powerful divine senses scoured the sky, sea, and earth, yet found no trace of Chen Mobai.

The Jade Pearl Demon King, with a surprised expression, asked, "A Sky Escape Talisman?" These demon creatures were also aware of these life-saving talismans used by human cultivators. They were also the most popular products from the Grand Void Palace in the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Tianhe Realm, besides their teleportation arrays.

"Impossible, the Sky Escape Talisman requires a prelude to activate; we could easily interrupt it!" Diao Xianlan immediately shook her head. She had three Sky Escape Talismans in her storage bag and had used them multiple times throughout her cultivation to escape life-or-death crises.

As a Tier 4 talisman, the Sky Escape Talisman requires a process of guiding void energy during activation. To prevent interruption, it forms a void protective shield. However, everyone present was at least in the late Nascent Soul stage, and there were even two half-step Divine Transformation realm beings. If Chen Mobai had used a Sky Escape Talisman in front of them, Diao Xianlan alone was confident she could cut through the void shield and dismember Chen Mobai during the void guidance period.

"If cultivators from the Grand Void Palace use a Sky Escape Talisman, there's no prelude." But at that moment, King Bihai uttered a remark that stunned Diao Xianlan.

Other cultivators in the Tianhe Realm, when using the Sky Escape Talisman, require the void guidance and positioning process because they cannot master the use of void energy. However, cultivators from the Grand Void Palace, who cultivate void energy, can indeed omit the prelude.

"Isn't he the One-Yuan Daoist?" Diao Xianlan asked, frowning.

"Are you asking me? Your demonic sect is responsible for intelligence." King Bihai turned to Diao Xianlan, giving her a scrutinizing look. It probably understood why the Young Demon Venerable had died at Chen Mobai's hands. Clearly, there was an issue with the demonic sect as an ally.

After fighting for so long, they were still completely ignorant about their most powerful opponent.

"This is a dereliction of duty on the part of my Jade Mirror Demonic Sect; please don't blame us, Great King." As soon as Diao Xianlan heard King Bihai's tone, she knew it was dissatisfied with the demonic sect. Considering the formidable power of the Myriad Immortal Island side, she temporarily swallowed her pride.

"The One-Yuan Daoist has retreated, and millions of demons from the Barren Sea are coming ashore. Your demonic sect must arrange all kinds of provisions for them, or don't blame me if my subordinates directly devour you."

Although King Bihai appeared peaceful, having presided over Myriad Immortal Island and confronted the Myriad Star Alliance for so many years, it was also a decisive and ruthless individual. Unlike the situation between the Young Demon Venerable and Diao Xianlan, where Du Mengyun acted as a mediator, King Bihai had absolutely no trust in the demonic sect.

Hearing this, Diao Xianlan met King Bihai's gaze, and the aura between them surged dramatically. The Twin-Headed Demon King and the Jade Pearl Demon King, with tacit understanding, positioned themselves to Diao Xianlan's left and right. The demons and devils were only allied because of their common enemy, the Righteous Dao.

"I will have my disciple, Wen Buyue, coordinate with you on this matter." Diao Xianlan did not wish to engage in a fight with the three demon kings here. After leaving this remark, she directly transformed into a streak of moonlight and vanished from the spot.

"Senior Brother..." Seeing Diao Xianlan leave, the Twin-Headed Demon King, who had reverted to human form, licked his lips and made a subtle, somewhat tempted gesture.

"Forget it, her strength is no weaker than mine." King Bihai shook its head. Although it hadn't directly fought Diao Xianlan just now, it had subtly probed her and confirmed that this renowned demonic cultivator lived up to her reputation. It had led the demons from Myriad Immortal Island this time for the purpose of achieving Divine Transformation. Before the Righteous Dao of Dongzhou fell, there was no need to fall out with the demonic sect.

After all, once they landed, they knew nothing about Dongzhou and still needed the demonic sect to guide them.

After Chen Mobai used Void Walk to leave the battlefield, he returned to Xiaochingling, where he was stationed, at the fastest possible speed.

Three days later, the Grand Elder also returned. Under Chen Mobai's command, both grand formations were fully activated, enveloping the most vibrant spiritual vein plains of Dongwu. He personally oversaw the Grand Heaven Demon Refining Array, while Mo Douguang was in charge of the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array.

Since the covered area was vast and the setup time was shorter than in Donghuang, Chen Mobai adjusted the defense priorities of the grand formation.

Nascent Soul realm beings, due to their immense internal energy, would be identified by the formation and directly isolated and blocked from entry. Core Formation cultivators or Tier 3 demon creatures could pass through, but their power would be partially suppressed by the formation, preventing them from exerting their full strength once inside the formation's range.

Tier 2 demon creatures from the Barren Sea would also experience some suppression from the formation; only Tier 1 creatures could pass through unimpeded.

Although the opponent had a million demon creatures, Chen Mobai and Mo Douguang could unleash their full power within the formation.

However, to stop the Barren Sea demons in Dongwu and prevent them from destroying the Donghuang land he had developed over a century, Chen Mobai was also doing his best to gather all available forces and converge them on the front lines covered by the two grand formations.

Among these preparations, because Dongyi was also retreating, Beiyuan City also needed to reserve a sect army to guard against demon beasts that might emerge from the desolate ruins.

Therefore, Chen Mobai's idea was to motivate the cultivators in Dongwu.

All the major families were easy to deal with; their ancestral foundations were here. With the Five Elements Sect willing to help, they were immensely grateful, and as long as there was hope of holding the line, they would go all out.

Only the rogue cultivators, after being closed off and sent back from Donghuang, while some of them hid in desolate mountains and wilderness, many more were sensible and followed the main forces. There were even many rogue cultivators who, by undertaking tasks for the Five Elements Sect, earned spirit stones they could never have acquired in a lifetime in the Dongwu cultivation world.

However, while these rogue cultivators could be made to work, 99% of them would refuse to go to the battlefield. Chen Mobai even estimated that if the demon creatures attacked, they would be the first to flee in all directions.

Chen Mobai fully understood this: it was because rogue cultivators lacked motivation.

Therefore, if their enthusiasm could be mobilized, the 100,000 to 200,000 rogue cultivators following in Xiaochingling and Jinfengpo could at least help alleviate some of the Five Elements Sect's pressure.

"Master, this is the list I compiled after inventorying the sect's treasury. Please take a look?" That day, Liu Wenbai handed Chen Mobai a jade slip.

It contained numerous elixirs, cultivation techniques, artifacts, and formations, and even obscure puppets and spirit beasts. Accompanying this list was an announcement that was about to be issued.

It divided demon creatures into four tiers and twelve grades. For example, if a cultivator slew a Tier 1 demon beast of low, medium, or high grade, they could claim 1, 5, or 10 merit points from the Five Elements Sect. These merit points could then be exchanged for any item on the list from the Five Elements Sect. Even if an item was out of stock and couldn't be exchanged immediately, the Five Elements Sect guaranteed to provide it after the war.

To motivate rogue cultivators, Chen Mobai had Liu Wenbai procure a thousand sets of Foundation Establishment Triple Treasures and twenty Foundation Establishment Pills from the Danxia Pavilion. Furthermore, to incentivize the Dongwu cultivation families to exert more effort, they also added the Water Element Gold Condensation Pill and the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill from their inventory.

However, exchanging for Core Formation spiritual medicine required 100,000 merit points. Slaying a peak Tier 3 demon beast, or one at Core Formation perfection, would yield precisely this amount.

Chen Mobai could foresee how frenzied the cultivators in Dongwu would become once this announcement was issued. After all, previously in this area, due to the monopolies of the major cultivation families, it was very difficult for rogue cultivators to obtain breakthrough pills.

To prevent the strong from preying on the weak, Chen Mobai stipulated that merit points could not be transferred and specially opened a reporting channel. If anyone cheated with merit points, the Five Elements Sect would execute them with swift, decisive force.

On the list drafted by Liu Wenbai, all the Five Elements Sect's accumulated inventory over the years was included. Some were even nearing discard. For example, flawed magical artifacts produced by the Artifact Refining Department, outdated versions of puppets from the Puppet Division, spirit beasts with impure bloodlines or unsightly fur from the Spirit Beast Department, and so on.

In Donghuang, selling these would invite criticism. But in Dongwu, according to Liu Wenbai's observations, they were still good, inexpensive items for rogue cultivators.

"Remove these," Chen Mobai said after reviewing it. "As a renowned great sect, our Five Elements Sect cannot damage its reputation just to clear inventory."

However, after Chen Mobai finished reading, he took his brush and crossed these items off the list. "There's a rather good Jin family in Dongwu. Go talk to their family head and have them represent our Five Elements Sect to sell these items to the rogue cultivators and clear them out!"

Just when Liu Wenbai thought he had messed up, Chen Mobai suddenly spoke again, making Liu Wenbai's expression instantly clear with understanding.

The flawed inventory still needed to be dealt with, but not directly by the Five Elements Sect. They needed to ensure that items exchanged with merit points were of good, unproblematic quality. This way, rogue cultivators in Dongwu would have no worries and would fight desperately against the Barren Sea demons for their own future.

"Your disciple has learned much!" Liu Wenbai said with an expression of admiration.

"On the list, add this item..." After reviewing it, Chen Mobai took his brush and wrote another line at the end: "Each year, select ten Dongwu cultivators with the most outstanding merit points and grant them Donghuang household registration."

Liu Wenbai took it and, after reading it, prostrated himself in admiration for Chen Mobai. Compared to the vague and uncertain Foundation Establishment Triple Treasures, whose success was unknown, this Donghuang household registration was a tangible ticket that allowed immediate escape from the bloody battlefield of Dongwu.

As expected, as soon as this announcement was released, it instantly caused a stir in Dongwu. Many rogue cultivators at the Qi Condensation perfection stage, who had originally intended to remain hidden, no longer concealed themselves. Upon seeing the announcement, they immediately revealed their identities, and even openly began forming groups, preparing to jointly slay the approaching Barren Sea demons.

It wasn't just rogue cultivators; even the major families of Dongwu were incredibly excited. They understood the value of the Five Elements Sect's Core Formation spiritual medicine better than anyone.

The Zhu family had relied on this to gain an additional Core Formation cultivator, stabilizing their situation after their previous Core Formation ancestor passed away.

For a time, the Dongwu cultivation world, which had been somewhat stagnant due to the war, erupted with unprecedented vitality because of the Five Elements Sect's merit point exchange list.

To ensure they could kill the Barren Sea demons, these Dongwu cultivators brought out their life savings.

Cultivation families with deep foundations naturally purchased the best pills, artifacts, and formations directly from the Five Elements Sect. Rogue cultivators with insufficient funds, however, acquired the Five Elements Sect's inventory through various overt and covert channels.

These rogue cultivators knew they were flawed items, yet they were still highly sought after. This was because their price was only 30-40% of what they would cost in the Five Elements Sect's stores, yet their effectiveness was 70-80% of the genuine articles.

Items like magical artifacts and puppets, which could greatly enhance combat power, were even more in short supply. Only those rogue cultivators with connections could obtain goods from the Jin family.

This single move not only helped the Five Elements Sect clear out decades of accumulated inventory but also recouped tens of millions of spirit stones. After checking the accounts, Liu Wenbai deeply felt that he still had much to learn from Chen Mobai in business.

Half a month later, King Bihai's figure appeared above Jinfengpo. Upon receiving the news, Chen Mobai immediately rushed there via a teleportation array.

After they gazed at each other across the grand formation for a long time, King Bihai's figure retreated. Subsequently, swarms of Barren Sea demons appeared before the grand formation. To the surprise of King Bihai and its fellows, the cultivators inside the opposing formation looked at their million-strong army with gleaming eyes and faces full of greed.

The highest grade of the four tiers and twelve grades, which meant slaying a demon beast of the same rank as the three demon kings, would directly yield ten million merit points. If one had protagonist's luck, as in mythical novels, and happened to kill one, they could instantly achieve financial freedom and spend the rest of their lives comfortably in Donghuang Immortal City.

This time, upon landing, King Bihai did not divide its forces. Instead, it gathered all the demons under its command and assembled them before Jinfengpo.

The Barren Sea demons, organized by their respective demon kings, formed somewhat disorganized ranks and set up camp. At the same time, the three demon kings, leading the remaining ten Tier 4 demon beasts, charged towards the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array!

Chen Mobai personally presided over the formation, holding the most crucial formation plate, and commanded the cultivators from the Five Elements Sect's formation department to activate the formation flags within the various spiritual veins.

Amidst a tremendous roar, thirteen immense demonic auras, like meteors, struck a translucent light barrier and were repelled.

King Bihai, with the highest cultivation, was the first to steady its figure. It frowned, took out its Fangtian Halberd, and slashed at the translucent light barrier that seemed to envelop the entire sky and land before it. Its cultivation was close to Tier 5. With this strike, even the top-grade Tier 4 Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array felt the pressure.

The translucent light barrier was cut by the Fangtian Halberd, opening a slight, narrow, arm-length crack, but it immediately healed in an instant.

Seeing this scene, King Bihai frowned. It could use shapeshifting techniques to instantly slip through the opening into the grand formation. However, doing so would mean directly confronting Chen Mobai. It knew the Young Demon Venerable's strength best; since Chen Mobai could slay him, it certainly wouldn't fare well in the opponent's home territory. Thus, for prudence, it chose not to force its way into the formation.

At this moment, the Twin-Headed Demon King, the Jade Pearl Demon King, and the other Tier 4 demon beasts also used their respective methods to attack the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array. Terrifying and vast demonic energy surged, causing lightning, thunder, and torrential rain in the sky. Such might also sobered the Dongwu cultivators, making them realize that merit points were not so easily acquired. They decided it was better to honestly target Tier 1 demon beasts; by accumulating small amounts, they could at least exchange for one of the Foundation Establishment Triple Treasures.

Boom! Thirteen Barren Sea demon kings, equivalent to Nascent Soul cultivators, relentlessly bombarded the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array, causing this top-grade Tier 4 formation to shake violently. The translucent water barrier even felt as if it was about to twist, deform, and rupture.

Seeing this, Chen Mobai knew he couldn't afford to be frugal. He took out five Water Elemental Profound Stones and inserted them into the five core spiritual nodes of the formation. These Water Elemental Profound Stones were equivalent to top-grade spirit stones, but the little Yellow Dragon Maiden in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode could produce them continuously. Chen Mobai didn't need this kind of water spirit energy; Qing Nü had always kept them. The last time she visited, Chen Mobai had asked her for thirty pieces.

The Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array deployed this time used three Tier 4 water veins on the Dongwu plains as its energy source, supplemented by hundreds of other Tier 3 and Tier 2 water veins, making it virtually the pinnacle of water-element formations.

However, there was a certain delay in the formation's extraction of spiritual vein energy. Facing the bombardment of thirteen Nascent Soul demon kings, Chen Mobai, holding the formation plate, sensed that another half-day of bombardment would push the formation to its limit, causing it to break under the strain.

Although it was still early, a cautious Chen Mobai still inserted five Water Elemental Profound Stones to replenish the formation's energy when its "health bar" dropped by 30%.

In an instant, the translucent water barrier, which had begun to twist and falter, immediately surged with crystalline waves, becoming perfectly round and full once more, dissipating and scattering all demonic energy, lightning, water blades, and ice frost that struck it.

"Hmph!" King Bihai seemed to have discovered something. Its gaze fixed on the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array, and its vast divine sense extended out, carefully probing.

Before long, it discovered that its demon kings' attacks, after dissipating into water spiritual energy, gathered and dispersed in mid-air, and were actually being absorbed by the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array.

In other words, as long as they didn't break this grand formation in one go, every one of their attacks would actually strengthen the formation's power.

"Stop!" After realizing this, King Bihai called a halt.

"What do we do now?" After hearing what it said, the Twin-Headed Demon King rubbed one of its bald heads, asking with some difficulty.

"The grand formation cannot possibly cover all of Dongwu. Why don't we split our forces and go around, letting our subordinates eat their fill first?" One of the Tier 4 demon kings, with a fish head and human body, proposed a method based on its understanding of formations.

"That's the only way. I'll lead half the army to block the Five Elements Sect and the Dongwu cultivators here, and you all take turns eating all the humans on this land." King Bihai nodded, agreeing to this method.

Hearing its words, all the remaining demon kings showed joyful expressions. Hadn't they come ashore precisely for the blood food?

Especially cultivators, who inherently possessed high-purity spiritual energy within them. Consuming more of them could purify their bloodlines, evolving them increasingly towards true spirits.

"Junior Sister, contact the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect and have them figure out a way to break the formation." Once only the three demon kings remained, King Bihai spoke to the Jade Pearl Demon King, who immediately nodded.

Although the Demon Venerable had also taught them about formations, they had no talent in this area and could not find any good way to break the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array for the time being.

However, even if the Demon Venerable were to come, against this formation from an immortal sect, they could only rely on brute strength.

"Break the formation?" After Wen Buyue received the Jade Pearl Demon King's summons and arrived, hearing this, he couldn't help but show a troubled expression.

He was a genius, and had some involvement in formations. This time, the thirteen demon kings charged the array but could do nothing against the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array. He had also been secretly observing from not far away using a Jade Mirror secret art, knowing that the formation's power was beyond his ability to resolve.

But Diao Xianlan had ordered him to satisfy all demands of the Barren Sea demons, and he could not refuse.

"What? Can't you do it?" The Jade Pearl Demon King saw Wen Buyue's expression, looked at his handsome face, and said with a hint of amusement.

"I have a friend from the Xuanji Sect; I'll invite him to come and take a look." After Wen Buyue finished speaking, he immediately bid farewell.

The Jade Pearl Demon King, seeing him so uncooperative, let out a bored snort, yet did not prevent him from leaving.

The Xuanji Demonic Sect was the foremost in formations among the demonic path. Its most famous Divine Transformation True Monarch was Wang Xuanji, the former Imperial Advisor of the Eastern Land Imperial Court. He was most skilled in deploying military formations and setting up magical arrays, having once led the Eastern Land Imperial Court's army to obliterate a Sacred Land, shocking the Five Continents and Four Seas.

However, it was precisely for this reason that the Xuanji Sect was ostracized by all Sacred Lands in Dongzhou. After the Eastern Land Imperial Court disintegrated, the sect was immediately cast into the ranks of the demonic path.

After leaving the Barren Sea demon's camp, Wen Buyue immediately went to see Diao Xianlan and reported the matter.

"I'll contact the Xuanji Sect. The situation on the Eastern Land battlefield is in a stalemate anyway, so I imagine Kuang Jiyuan would be willing to leave the dangerous Divine Transformation battlefield and spend some time in Dongwu."

Kuang Jiyuan was the highest cultivated individual in the Xuanji Demonic Sect, and also the most exceptionally talented among all the demonic path's holy sons and daughters of the previous generation. Before reaching five hundred years old, he had already attained the late Nascent Soul stage and was a Tier 5 formation master, rumored to potentially become the second Wang Xuanji.

"Then I'll trouble Master." Wen Buyue breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Diao Xianlan was going to invite Kuang Jiyuan.

Although he knew the current generation of holy sons and daughters from the Xuanji Demonic Sect, their relationship was very casual. He had only claimed to be a friend earlier to the Jade Pearl Demon King as an excuse to escape.

Compared to the demon race, it was much easier for the demonic path to gather intelligence. Among the rogue cultivators in Dongwu, many who had been driven to desperation long ago were their informants.

Soon, Wen Buyue learned the general situation of the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array and the Grand Heaven Demon Refining Array through his secret contacts. He discovered that the formations would only unleash their full power when blocking Nascent Soul realm beings, and those below Tier 4 could directly enter without hindrance.

Wen Buyue then relayed this intelligence to the Myriad Immortal Island side. Soon, the Jade Pearl Demon King dispatched a Barren Sea tribe it disliked to charge the formation, verifying the intelligence.

They also learned that the higher the cultivation, the stronger the formation's suppression, while Tier 1 demon beasts could pass through unimpeded.

Knowing this, King Bihai, without hesitation, immediately commanded the demon beasts under its control to begin gradually probing the defensive capabilities within the formation.

Although they had learned from the demonic path that the combined forces of the Five Elements Sect and Dongwu cultivators at Jinfengpo amounted to 200,000 to 300,000, this number still needed to be verified through their own probing before they could feel at ease.

The first large-scale engagement between the two sides erupted in the middle of the night. A total of ten thousand demon creatures were divided into one hundred squads of one hundred demons each. They surged in from various points of the formation, attacking the Five Elements Sect's grand camp from all directions.

At the same time, King Bihai also led the Tier 4 demon beasts to bombard the formation from above, attempting to see if this method could reduce the formation's suppression on the demon creatures entering it.

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised to see this, realizing that King Bihai had actually thought of this tactic.

The Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array had an upper limit to its power. Under the priority of resisting Tier 4 forces, it naturally focused on blocking King Bihai and its cohorts first.

Upon entering the formation, the demon army, which had originally moved with difficulty, suddenly felt their steps become much lighter.

The feeling of relief greatly invigorated the leading Tier 3 demon beast, which swung its large saber, forged from undersea cold iron, towards Ning Leshan, who flew up to meet it.

"Walrus King, Lightning Star King, send your troops in as well." After King Bihai verified its idea, it simultaneously suppressed most of the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array's power while commanding the two demon kings stationed in the camps below to send the second wave of demon army into the formation.

This wave consisted of a hundred thousand demon creatures who, upon receiving the command, roared and charged into the formation.

Observing from high above with a void illusion, Chen Mobai felt as if dense swarms of ants were spreading up the hillside.

"Brothers, now's our chance to fight for it and change our fates!" At this moment, from the ranks of the Dongwu rogue cultivators, a leading Foundation Establishment youth, gripping a mixed-iron staff, roared and charged first towards a Tier 2 demon beast.