Chapter 8: Tonghe the Celestial Immortal

"Let's go." The moment Zicao the Celestial Immortal saw the talisman shatter, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she immediately gave the order.

Whoosh~~~

Eighteen figures rode clouds and swiftly flew toward Anchan City. They had been hiding not far from Anchan City. When they flew to within three thousand li of Anchan City, their expressions all changed.

"Mind sense!"

"Anchan City has a Celestial Immortal probing with mind sense."

"We've been discovered."

The eighteen Celestial Immortals all sensed trouble. They had guessed that Tonghe the Celestial Immortal would be very cautious, but they hadn't expected... that after issuing the ultimatum, half a year had passed. Such a long time—had Tonghe the Celestial Immortal maintained his mind sense probing all along? Even if Diancai the Immortal, Huohong the Immortal, and Tonghe the Celestial Immortal took turns, it would still be very exhausting. So the range of Tonghe the Celestial Immortal's mind sense was not large, only covering the entire Anchan City and the area within three thousand li around it!

It must be known that with the strength of a Celestial Immortal, even a very weak one could easily cover a hundred thousand li with mind sense, but that was only for a very short duration.

"Although Tonghe the Celestial Immortal is very cautious, it's within our expectations." Zicao the Celestial Immortal transmitted.

"Mm." The other Celestial Immortals were not flustered.

"We'll make our move here, no need to advance further." Zicao the Celestial Immortal ordered. Immediately, the eighteen Celestial Immortals descended from the high sky directly onto the wilderness.

Zicao the Celestial Immortal even released her mind sense, colliding with the mind sense of the Celestial Immortal in Anchan City. Since they had been discovered, there was no need to conceal further: "Tonghe, our Myriad Gates Sect has arrived. Why don't you come out and surrender?"

...

Night.

Anchan City.

"The Myriad Gates Sect is here!" A mind-sense transmission from Yu Wei. Immediately, two figures soared into the sky and flew swiftly toward this spot. One flew out from the Marquis's residence—it was Tonghe the Celestial Immortal. The other was Diancai the Immortal. As for Ji Ning... Ji Ning had been with Yu Wei all along.

The entire Anchan City was about nine thousand li in length and width. The Marquis's residence and the Black-White College were even closer. They quickly gathered.

"They're here?" Tonghe the Celestial Immortal descended, a fierce battle intent in his eyes.

"Mm, three thousand li east of Anchan City's east gate." Yu Wei said, "As soon as they detected my mind sense, they descended and didn't advance further."

Tonghe the Celestial Immortal smiled, his smile full of killing intent: "Three thousand li? Enough! They've already entered the formation's range."

"Fellow Daoist Tonghe." Diancai the Immortal quickly said, "This entire city of Anchan... was built by the Grand Xia Dynasty. It inherently possesses great power and contains many formation restrictions. If they don't enter the city, we cannot invoke the city's own formation restrictions. We can only use some formations left by the Northmont clan. Their power is much weaker, at most enough to hold the enemy back."

"Holding them back is enough." Tonghe the Celestial Immortal laughed. "The Myriad Gates Sect is cautious; they won't foolishly charge into Anchan City. Now, activate the formations and control the grand formation."

"Mm."

Yu Wei and Diancai the Immortal both nodded.

Both were Celestial Immortals, possessing Celestial Immortal magic power. When they activated the formation restrictions, the power was significantly greater.

...

Zicao the Celestial Immortal and the other seventeen Celestial Immortals stood on the wilderness, all calmly gazing at the majestic city in the distance. Although it was three thousand li away, it was still visible to the naked eye.

"Boom~~~"

Suddenly, heaven and earth changed color.

Though it was deep night, a huge fiery cloud appeared above Anchan City. Then the entire earth trembled. First, a massive light shield appeared, directly covering the entire Anchan City and the surrounding area nearly nine thousand li! This sealing formation had a diameter of a full eighteen thousand li!

"Sealing?" Zicao the Celestial Immortal swept her gaze. The huge light shield also covered vast wilderness and even forests. They were only three thousand li from Anchan City, naturally within the covered range.

"Whoosh~~"

Mist spread.

Space began to shift.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals were very calm. Zicao the Celestial Immortal, due to her high status, had extraordinary knowledge, while the other seventeen Celestial Immortals had fought in other major worlds and had extremely rich experience. They could tell at a glance that such a formation could at most slightly hinder them, having little real impact. In fact, a clan like the Northmont clan of Anchan was unlikely to possess any truly heaven-defying formations!

"We don't need to force things now." Zicao the Celestial Immortal transmitted. "Given Tonghe the Celestial Immortal's pride, now that he has trapped us here, he will definitely take the initiative to attack. If he truly fears death and never shows himself, we will then deploy that grand formation, using force to break the law and forcibly shatter this formation."

"Mm."

"Don't worry."

These Celestial Immortals were neither arrogant nor impatient.

This time, to kill Tonghe the Celestial Immortal, they naturally had a detailed plan. But at their level... ultimately, strength spoke. So the Myriad Gates Sect had gathered eighteen of them to kill Tonghe the Celestial Immortal with absolute power, not allowing him to escape.

...

On the city wall of Anchan City.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Four figures descended—Tonghe the Celestial Immortal, Diancai the Immortal, Ji Ning, and Yu Wei. Through controlling the formation, the eighteen Celestial Immortals inside could not tell east from west, but Ji Ning and the other three could see the eighteen Celestial Immortals from afar.

"Only eighteen Celestial Immortals?" Diancai the Immortal was surprised, then looked at Tonghe the Celestial Immortal. "Fellow Daoist Tonghe, last time you defeated a coalition of thirty-six Celestial Immortals. Now, knowing that my disciple Ji Ning has also returned, they only send eighteen? These eighteen Celestial Immortals are definitely not ordinary."

Ji Ning then said, "Fellow Daoist Tonghe, the Myriad Gates Sect has come with ill intent. You and I should act separately—I'll engage in close combat, and you attack from afar. The two of us combined..."

"No need." Tonghe the Celestial Immortal shook his head.

Back when Ji Ning first met Tonghe the Celestial Immortal, he still called him 'senior.' But now Ji Ning was famous, having withstood nine Celestial Immortals and killed two, showing strength comparable to top-tier Celestial Immortals. Moreover, this time the Myriad Gates Sect attacked, the Black-White College was mainly helping, so Tonghe the Celestial Immortal naturally didn't want Ji Ning and the others to call him 'senior' anymore.

But Ji Ning, Diancai, and the others still deeply respected Senior Tonghe.

"No need?" Ji Ning was surprised.

"This time, it's mainly my grudge with the Myriad Gates Sect." Tonghe the Celestial Immortal said, "You of the Black-White College helped me, maintaining mind sense probing for half a year, and now you're controlling the formation and backing me up. I'm very grateful. As for this battle with the Myriad Gates Sect... you don't need to intervene. The Myriad Gates Sect dares to target me, so they must have formidable methods, confident they can deal with me. As for dealing with you—not to sound harsh—if you go, the chance of death is high."

Diancai the Immortal and Yu Wei both nodded slightly.

Yes.

They were both well aware of Tonghe the Celestial Immortal's methods—he was nearly at the level of a Pure Yang True Immortal. To kill such an existence, the Myriad Gates Sect would certainly be very strong. If they went, they might indeed die carelessly.

"Then aren't you in great danger, fellow Daoist?" Diancai the Immortal quickly said.

"Haha, they have their methods, but don't I have mine?" Tonghe the Celestial Immortal said confidently. "They've never pushed me to the brink."

Diancai the Immortal nodded slightly. Yes, Tonghe the Celestial Immortal had gone into seclusion and disappeared for countless eons, to the point where the Three Realms almost thought he was dead. In that long time, how much his strength had grown—probably no one but Tonghe himself knew.

"Fellow Daoist Tonghe, even a lion uses its full strength against a rabbit." Ji Ning quickly said. "My master and the others are qi refiners, but I am a divine body refiner..."

"No need."

Tonghe the Celestial Immortal frowned. Seeing Ji Ning's persistence, he said, "If you go, you might actually hold me back."

Ji Ning was taken aback.

"All of you from the Black-White College, just watch how I destroy them." Tonghe the Celestial Immortal immediately transformed into a beam of white light and flew into the distance.

"Ji Ning, Senior Tonghe spoke harshly because he doesn't want you to go." Diancai the Immortal said. "Senior Tonghe is proud at heart. We've helped him a lot, and he doesn't want us to help further."

"I understand. How could I be angry?" Ji Ning looked into the distance. "Let's see how Senior Tonghe fights the Myriad Gates Sect. If he's in danger, we can step in then."

"Junior apprentice-brother, don't be rash. Watch more." Yu Wei also stared into the distance. "Let's see their true strength. If the Myriad Gates Sect is too strong, we don't need to rush in and die."

"I know." Ji Ning nodded.

...

Zicao the Celestial Immortal and the other seventeen Celestial Immortals completely ignored the surrounding mist and the shifting space. Suddenly, Zicao the Celestial Immortal frowned slightly.

"Form formation." Zicao the Celestial Immortal transmitted. "Bixia."

Immediately, the eighteen Celestial Immortals shifted positions—six hovered in midair, twelve stood on the wilderness. At the same time, as they condensed black runes with their immortal magic power, countless threads connected, and the black runes floated. Soon, a hazy light shadow enveloped the eighteen of them. This hazy light shadow formed a huge black turtle, lying on the ground, lifting its head, and letting out a roar.

Roar~~~

A dragon's cry resounded in all directions, and the surrounding mist scattered.

"One of the nine sons of the dragon? Bixia?" A clear voice rang out. In the distance, the mist parted, space solidified, and a long-haired man stood in midair. He no longer seemed ordinary and low-key as usual, but like a sharp sword, revealing his edge. The long-haired man laughed heartily, "The Bixia Formation—this is an ancient divine beast formation, formidable in power, and best at defense. It's just the thing to counter me."

"Tonghe, it's not too late for you to surrender to our Myriad Gates Sect now." Zicao the Celestial Immortal said coldly.

"Oh?"

Tonghe the Celestial Immortal shook his head. "I hate being forced by others. I'd rather die standing than live on my knees. Now, receive my sword art."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!!!!

Six sword lights flew out from the top of Tonghe the Celestial Immortal's head. As they flew through the air, the six sword lights began to merge with each other, countless runes shimmering. The six immortal swords completely combined, transforming into a single huge broadsword. The broadsword emitted a white light that chilled the heart—it was the famous 'Juexian Sword.'

"Rise." Tonghe the Celestial Immortal, his face cold, executed a sword strike he had never used in battle before.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within a hundred li, five pillars of light suddenly shot up into the sky. These five pillars were gold, cyan, blue, crimson, and loess-yellow. Above the huge Juexian Sword appeared two massive clouds—one black, one white. The two clouds chased each other like a Taiji fish.

The immense pressure made even Zicao the Celestial Immortal and the other seventeen Celestial Immortals below change color.

"The intelligence didn't mention he had such a powerful sword art!" a Celestial Immortal transmitted.

...