Chapter 636: Eternal Choice

Inside Cloudwood Immortal City, the cultivators erupted in an uproar at the sight.

Fortunately, since Myriad Immortal Island was attacked and plundered by the Five Elders' Association last time, the rebuilt Cloudwood City's defensive capabilities were higher than those of ordinary regional immortal cities, on par with the central states. After the protective grand formation's surface shimmered with light, the fissure vanished in an instant.

Before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the second streaking fire collided with the protective barrier. This impact was even more violent than the last, causing the cloud-borne city to tremble slightly, as if it would plummet from the sky at any moment.

What chilled everyone even more was that this black streaking fire, after exploding, did not completely disappear. Instead, it left behind a black, viscous, tar-like substance that writhed and corroded the grand protective formation. Even from a distance, the sizzling sound emanating from the formation's periphery could be heard.

"Though Cloudwood City's Primal Genesis Formation is powerful, it won't last much longer," Li Fan, in his capacity as a formation master, quickly assessed.

As the formation stalemated with the black viscous substance, countless black streaks of light continued to hurl themselves at Cloudwood Immortal City. Although purple beams emanated from the Celestial Venerable Statue, striking down some of these streaking fires, the majority still impacted Cloudwood City with unstoppable force.

In an instant, Cloudwood Immortal City truly resembled a leaf swaying precariously in a storm.

Just then, Immortal Lord Hongxi finally demonstrated his decisive leadership as the head of the state.

He transformed into a colossal giant, standing tall between heaven and earth. As he intercepted countless black streaking fires, he coldly commanded, "Activate the Genesis Grand Formation of the entire Cloudwood Sea region. Fully draw energy from surrounding nodes to ensure Cloudwood City remains in optimal condition!"

With that, he cast a spell seal, which flew towards the highest point of Cloudwood City.

At his words, Cloudwood City fell into a sudden silence. While most cultivators didn't understand the implication of Immortal Lord Hongxi's command, the few who did instantly turned pale.

Li Fan, too, narrowed his eyes, observing the resolute expression on Hongxi's face, and inwardly praised, "What courage!"

Having diligently studied formations for several lifetimes, Li Fan was intimately familiar with the general defensive system of the Myriad Immortal Alliance. Every garrisoned city was equipped with a protective formation. Within each state, with the central floating celestial city as its core, hundreds of these smaller protective formations combined to form a medium-sized formation spanning the entire state.

Moreover, within the territory of the Myriad Immortal Alliance, all these medium-sized formations across every state could unite to form an immense and terrifying grand formation, covering nearly half of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Progressing layer by layer, its power was boundless!

The types of defensive formations used by the Myriad Immortal Alliance changed every five hundred years. Previously, on a sunken island, the Ten Thousand Li Mountain and River Formation, which had once been in use, was discovered. Currently, the Myriad Immortal Alliance employed the Primal Genesis Formation.

Although its defensive capabilities were somewhat weaker than the Ten Thousand Li Mountain and River Formation, it possessed an irreplaceable function.

That function was to absorb the vital essence of living beings within the formation to enhance its efficacy!

Therefore, Immortal Lord Hongxi's intention was abundantly clear.

He intended to fully activate the Primal Genesis Formation, drawing the vital essence from living beings on the currently surviving islands of the Cloudwood Sea to maintain the defensive integrity of Cloudwood Immortal City.

Rationally speaking, this choice was sound. After all, in the face of this catastrophe, only Cloudwood City could barely withstand the assault; all other islands were destined to turn to ash in an instant. Using the lives of those inevitably doomed to die to strengthen the formation might even secure a slim chance of survival for the cultivators within Cloudwood City.

However...

Yet, being annihilated by the Soul of Heaven and Earth and being executed by one's own Myriad Immortal Alliance were, after all, two different matters.

Not everyone could bring themselves to commit such a cruel act, treating the lives of their compatriots as inconsequential.

Thus, even after Immortal Lord Hongxi's words had fully circulated, the cultivators of the Formation Strategy Hall remained silent and motionless.

Hongxi himself seemed to lack the courage to repeat the order, watching the crumbling protective barrier with a grim expression, and issued no further commands.

"Let me give you a hand."

A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. His avatar soared into the air and likewise shouted, "What are you waiting for? At this critical juncture, you just need to follow orders! Immortal Lord Hongxi and I will bear all consequences!"

Hongxi glanced at Li Fan with a hint of surprise.

The cultivators of the Formation Strategy Hall exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and finally, under duress, made their decision.

Spell seals flew towards the various nodes of the Primal Genesis Formation, and the protective barrier's light suddenly intensified.

As if time had suddenly stood still, the next moment, boundless vital essence seemed to surge from all directions. The purple barrier instantly solidified, easily repelling the impacts of the black streaking fires.

There were no longer violent tremors, but rather a continuous series of dull thuds.

The crisis was temporarily averted, but there was little excitement on the faces of the surviving cultivators in Cloudwood City. For accompanying the massive enhancement of the Primal Genesis Formation were the incessant wails and curses emanating from the light barrier. Faintly visible too were the horrifying scenes of humans being instantly drained of all vital essence, turning into skeletons.

It truly resembled a living hell, terrifying to behold.

"Though this can provide temporary safety, it's not a long-term solution. All contact with headquarters has been severed; staying here is merely waiting for death."

"I intend to go out and face this Soul of Heaven and Earth. I leave this place to you!" Immortal Lord Hongxi, ignoring the horrifying sights all around, transmitted his message to Li Fan.

Then, gazing towards the site where the black meteor had fallen, he stepped forth.

His form flickered repeatedly, vanishing from everyone's sight in an instant.

Immortal Lord Hongxi's departure caused the previously calmed cultivators to become restless once more. Fortunately, the Secret Emissary remained, allowing them to retain a degree of peace of mind.

Li Fan, however, wore a grim expression, meticulously watching the center of the Cloudwood Sea, waiting patiently.

Time slowly passed. After the initial wave of black streaking fires had all been repelled, the world-ending crisis seemed to have subsided. The Cloudwood Sea's waves gradually calmed, with only the persistent black goo adhering to the protective barrier remaining as a testament to the calamity's past presence.

This unusual calm carried the ominous premonition of a coming storm.

Li Fan also sensed that something was amiss.

"Blackflame isn't there?" Sensing Immortal Lord Hongxi's rapid return, Li Fan's gaze swept across the sky, then down to the deep sea.

In the depths of the sea, some terrifying catastrophe seemed to be brewing.

A bubble suddenly appeared on the surface of the sea. Following it, the carcass of a fish, as if boiled, floated up belly-up.

Then, in an instant, the entire Cloudwood Sea seemed to boil.

Countless bubbles continuously surged, accompanied by an innumerable host of marine creature carcasses.