Chapter 2: The World-Binding Grand Formation

At the break of dawn, Wanxiang True Immortals residing in various parts of the Great Xia royal capital and feudal lords from the three thousand six hundred commanderies all surged toward the imperial city.

"So many people." Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and the Slovenly True Immortal were riding clouds side by side, flying directly toward the imperial city gates.

"Junior apprentice-brother, where are the others?" The Slovenly True Immortal, as if just waking up, asked in confusion, "How come Cangjiang and the others are all gone?"

Ji Ning laughed. "Shuo and Senior Apprentice-Brother Cangjiang have gone to join the Anchan commandery contingent. Since His Imperial Majesty is personally hosting the Immortal Destiny Convention, all three thousand six hundred commanderies of the Great Xia Dynasty have sent delegations to pay homage to His Majesty. They must follow Marquis Anchan's group. Otherwise, Shuo and the others wouldn't even be able to enter the imperial city."

"Oh." The Slovenly True Immortal nodded in sudden understanding. "I thought anyone who wanted to watch the battles could just go in and watch."

"Big senior apprentice-brother, you bury yourself in cultivation, but at least look at some intelligence reports." Yu Wei said helplessly. "Do you think the Immortal Destiny Convention is something just anyone can watch? Or that the imperial city is so easy to enter?"

"I've been in secluded cultivation all this time, so..." The Slovenly True Immortal rubbed his head and chuckled.

Ji Ning explained, "Today, there are several ways to enter the imperial city. First, Wanxiang True Immortals like us, who are about to risk our lives in battle, can enter directly. Second, delegations from various commanderies led by feudal lords come to pay homage to His Majesty. Third, some celestial immortal patriarchs, like King Yan, can bring Lady Xiyue directly inside. As for others? Perhaps some formidable figures have their own means to enter, but I wouldn't know."

The Slovenly True Immortal nodded in understanding.

As they chatted, Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and the Slovenly True Immortal flew along the last main avenue. In the distance, they could already see the four ten-thousand-zhang-tall divine demons guarding the imperial city gates.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." Numerous groups of cultivators, in twos and threes or large clusters, flew past them toward the gates.

But the gates were still closed.

Soon, Ji Ning and his companions arrived and landed.

"So many." The Slovenly True Immortal looked around. Outside the imperial city, hundreds of thousands of people had gathered, including participants in the Immortal Destiny Convention and even more spectators. And more cultivators were still arriving from the sky.

"We'll have to wait until the nine bell tolls before the gates open." Ji Ning said.

...

They waited for nearly an hour. The Golden Crow had already risen, and sunlight bathed the entire Great Xia royal capital.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" ...

Nine consecutive bell tolls echoed, as if descending from the Ninth Heaven, silencing the over a million people gathered outside the imperial city.

"Rumble!"

The towering imperial city gates swung open. The four ten-thousand-zhang-tall divine demons looked down upon the million humans. One of them, with flames spewing from its nostrils and fiery red skin, spoke: "Wanxiang True Immortals who wish to participate in the Immortal Destiny Convention may now enter the imperial city. Once you enter, you must take part in the convention; there is no turning back. Now, go in!"

Immediately, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Countless figures, like a swarm of insects, flew toward the imperial city gates.

"How many are there?" The Slovenly True Immortal's eyes bulged.

"In previous conventions, there were usually around twenty to thirty thousand." Ji Ning smiled. "But this convention, hosted personally by His Imperial Majesty, is extraordinary. Estimates suggest around a hundred thousand." Much of this information had been revealed to Ji Ning by his cousin.

"That averages out to about thirty people per commandery?" The Slovenly True Immortal mused. "It seems almost all the elites from every commandery have come."

"This convention is different from the past." Yu Wei remarked.

After flying into the imperial city, they saw a wide passage.

"Those participating in the Immortal Destiny Convention, follow us!" A thunderous voice echoed through the heavens. Ahead, a group of imperial guards led the way in midair.

Following the broad avenue, they soon arrived at an enormous square, so vast that its end was beyond sight. The square was paved with pitch-black stone slabs, covered in extremely complex runic patterns that radiated a chilling aura.

"All participants in the Immortal Destiny Convention, wait in this area." The imperial guards quickly directed them.

The talented youths from various regions, most of whom had never entered the imperial city, obediently landed in the designated area, looking somewhat bewildered.

Swish!

The imperial guards swiftly dispersed, surrounding the area completely, standing motionless with stern faces. They knew that today, the Great Xia Emperor himself would host the convention, and they rarely had the chance to see him; how could they not be serious?

"This square must be ten thousand li across." The chubby Slovenly True Immortal looked down at the runes. "And it contains a terrifying formation, far beyond any I've sensed."

"Mm." Yu Wei nodded solemnly, observing carefully.

In Ji Ning's mind, the voice of the Yellow-Bristled Bear sounded: "It seems the Great Xia Dynasty has deep foundations. Judging by the runic formation on this square... it's a formation diagram! This formation diagram connects to at least three Pure Yang treasures and over a thousand immortal-rank treasures. With a single thought from the Great Xia Emperor, a massive formation composed of at least three Pure Yang treasures and a thousand immortal-rank treasures would activate. Such a formation, made of so many treasures, should be an ultra-large-scale defensive formation for their lair—in other words, the formation guarding this major world. Impressive, impressive, truly remarkable. To set up such a formation, even an ordinary Pure Yang True Immortal couldn't do it. The one who set up this World-Binding Grand Formation must be a top-tier great power in the Three Realms, likely on par with my master!"

"What?" Ji Ning was startled.

On par with San Shou the Daoist? Even an ordinary Pure Yang True Immortal couldn't set it up?

World-Binding Grand Formation?

Guarding a major world?

Ji Ning didn't know that the spirit of the water manor's guess was indeed correct. Although this ancient World-Binding Grand Formation wasn't set up by the Great Xia Emperor's master, it was set up by another great power of similar stature, truly guarding a major world and serving as the foundation of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"If your Great Xia Emperor is a Pure Yang True Immortal, with such a formation, there are very few in the Three Realms who could harm him. Even those great powers who could, upon seeing this World-Binding Grand Formation, would show face to the being who set it up." The Yellow-Bristled Bear sighed. "Impressive, impressive. To control a major world, your Great Xia Emperor has no small background."

The spirit of the water manor, with its high insight, immediately recognized the Great Xia Emperor's formidable background.

"Will His Imperial Majesty discover you?" Ji Ning asked.

"Rest assured. Even the supreme great power who set up this World-Binding Grand Formation might notice the water manor's peculiarity, but they won't be able to peer into it. After all, this is my master's inheritance treasure, crafted with all his heart." The Yellow-Bristled Bear was extremely confident.

Ji Ning nodded.

...

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

Ji Ning and all the other Wanxiang True Immortals about to participate in the convention turned to look. In the distance, orderly teams flew in, disciplined and clearly familiar with etiquette. In contrast, Ji Ning and the other talents had swarmed in haphazardly.

"The three thousand six hundred commanderies and the four seas." Ji Ning could clearly distinguish the teams, each representing a commandery, as they landed on the square.

"Anchan commandery." Yu Wei pointed into the distance.

Ji Ning and the Slovenly True Immortal looked over.

At the head of the Anchan commandery team was a tall, thin man in a black robe, with a vigorous aura and impressive bearing—Marquis Anchan. Behind him were members of the Beishan clan, including Beishan Baiwei, who was obediently mixed in the crowd. Further back were over a dozen people from the Black-White College, and members of major Anchan tribes like the Lielong and Mulan clans. The entire Anchan commandery team numbered several hundred.

The teams from the three thousand six hundred commanderies and the four seas landed in perfect order.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several figures shot straight into the sky, flying high.

"Cousin." Ji Ning saw among those ascending figures King Yan, who brought Wei Chi Xiyue and flew straight into the clouds above.

"Junior apprentice-sister Jiulian?" The Slovenly True Immortal exclaimed in surprise.

Ji Ning also saw her.

Jiulian was following a man in blue robes, also flying into the sky. Ji Ning had heard from his cousin that only celestial immortals could fly directly to the main hall of Tianmang Hall to meet the Great Xia Emperor; others wouldn't get to see him. Celestial immortals could bring one or two attendants. That man in blue must be a celestial immortal patriarch.

As Ji Ning looked up, Jiulian was also searching below. Suddenly, their eyes met.

A familiar yet unfamiliar feeling echoed in both their hearts.

Both involuntarily averted their gazes.

...

At the highest main hall of Tianmang Hall.

The Great Xia Emperor, in a black robe, sat high on his throne. Below, two rows of people stood. Closest to the emperor were the celestial immortal princes of the Xiamang clan, followed by celestial immortal patriarchs from across the Great Xia Dynasty. Although there was no strict order for celestial immortals to come, many had keen senses and sensed something unusual about the emperor personally hosting the convention, so quite a few had arrived.

At a glance, there were nearly a thousand celestial immortals standing below.

"We pay homage to Your Majesty."

As Prince Qi led the respectful bow, all the celestial immortals bowed, while the attendants behind them knelt directly.

At the same moment.

In the vast square surrounding the base of Tianmang Hall, whether it was the over a hundred thousand talents participating in the convention or the over a million people from the three thousand six hundred commanderies and the four seas, all knelt in unison, heads to the ground, and said in unison: "We pay homage to Your Majesty!"

The sound rumbled, shaking heaven and earth.

"Rise!" The Great Xia Emperor's voice also resounded through heaven and earth.

...