Chapter 1034: I Smashed Him to Death

The power that had always made them fear, that could destroy a thousand li in radius, actually came from here!

Most importantly, it was triggered by the alien spirit clan trying to break the seal.

No wonder the outer barrier hadn't shaken before, but a few days ago something changed... probably these guys started it from then on.

Combined with what Master Wood and Master Wu said earlier... some alien spirit clansmen came quietly, deliberately letting the stay-behind cultivators in the mortal realm discover them...

It was strange before, but now it seems definitely related to the current situation.

They probably knew breaking the seal would cause a huge commotion and bring unknown danger, so they deliberately sent people to be noticed by the Master Hall, then attacked from below...

That way, when the Master Hall discovered the barrier collapsing, they would likely step in to solve it. Although it was to save the people, it actually helped the alien spirit clan a great deal.

This also explains why the released power, though spaced ten minutes apart, wasn't very regular.

Breaking the seal, attacking whenever there's power, is like swinging a hammer to strike iron—there are intervals, but it's impossible to make them exactly the same every time.

"If that's the case, the alien spirit clan must be able to communicate with the outside..."

With a grave expression, Zhang Xuan speculated inwardly.

If so, their entry this time would be very dangerous. Clearly, the alien spirit clan had much more information than they did.

"If we don't attack the seal, the power emitted by the portal will be immense. Over time, it can form an energy storm above the magma. Accumulated in the barrier, it will inevitably push aside the magma above, creating a natural passage. Old Dean and the others can use this storm to enter here..."

After watching for a while, Zhang Xuan finally understood and smiled bitterly.

After all this fuss, the reason they couldn't reach the ruins wasn't that they had the wrong location, but because he had been idle and used a formation flag to release all the power inside... In other words, if he hadn't acted a few days ago, the alien spirit clan below, afraid of being blown up, wouldn't have dared to continue attacking...

Similarly, after they arrived, they could still use the storm to enter smoothly, without all this trouble...

Good intentions led to bad results...

What a mess!

"First, go back and set up a formation to enter here. On one hand, it can stop these guys; on the other, it won't make everyone worry..."

Having figured things out and knowing it was pointless to stay, Zhang Xuan moved his soul and headed back the way he came.

He had been cultivating in the magma for about two hours now; the people above must be getting anxious.

Returning to the spot, he called his clone and went back into the Gold Origin Cauldron.

This time, the clone was very obedient and didn't cause any trouble. He put it into the Thousand Ant Beehive, then let the cauldron fly out.

As expected, everyone outside was extremely anxious, and they all breathed a sigh of relief when he came out.

"I've already scouted the terrain below. Now I'll set up the formation... Everyone, get ready and enter the Golden Source Cauldron to wait. Once it succeeds, we'll set off immediately!"

Zhang Xuan looked around and said.

"Alright!"

Knowing the gravity of the situation, everyone nodded in unison.

Whoosh!

Hearing the command, the Golden Source Cauldron gave a loud shout, and its size instantly increased tenfold, reaching twenty or thirty meters in height. Everyone filed in.

"I won't go in. I'll stay with you!"

Luo Ruoxi did not follow the others inside but came up to him.

"It would be safer inside the cauldron. If you follow behind, I'm afraid it might be dangerous..." Zhang Xuan frowned.

After all, the inside of the cauldron was relatively safer. Outside, if the speed couldn't keep up and the lava closed in, it would still be very dangerous.

"Don't worry, I still have some means of self-preservation..." Luo Ruoxi smiled lightly and didn't explain further.

"Alright!"

Seeing her confidence, and thinking that she might be the heir of the Luo family, a sage clan, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Golden Source Cauldron, follow my orders. Once I tell you to set off, act immediately without delay!"

After giving the instructions, Zhang Xuan shook his body and flew to the sky above the erupting force.

Seven or eight minutes had passed since the last eruption of force, and it was about to erupt again soon.

He flipped his wrist, took out over a hundred formation flags, and suspended them before him. He activated his Pattern Eye and stared intently at the lava below.

Rumble!

After a moment, he felt the magma below begin to boil. Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows, and with a sudden grab of his hand, the many formation flags shot out from before him, flying straight downward, landing at every position corresponding to the Reverse Heaven-Turning Formation.

"Rise!"

In midair, he stomped his foot, sending a wave of air rippling outward like water.

Hum!

The previously stable formation flags were activated in an instant, and a massive formation began to operate.

Whoosh!

Just as the formation was activated, the lava below could no longer withstand the force and was blasted open, like torn brocade, creating a huge fissure as the power surged toward the formation he had laid.

Rumble!

As soon as they made contact, the power immediately accumulated and was gathered by the formation.

The Reversal Heaven Formation was a powerful formation used in battle to defend against an opponent's attack and counterattack. If used well, it could completely absorb the opponent's attack and reflect it back intact like a mirror.

In other words, this formation not only provided defense but also rebounded the opponent's attack.

Of course, everything has two sides. This formation required extremely high skill from the arranger, and if it couldn't withstand the force, not only would those inside the formation be harmed, but the arranger would bear the brunt and might even die on the spot.

Watching the power gather without any sign of the formation breaking, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

He hadn't been a hundred percent sure whether the formation could withstand the force from below. Fortunately... he had learned the Heaven-grade formation of the Seven Stars; otherwise, even if President Han had set it up, it would likely have been shattered by the violent impact and unable to hold.

"Dean Zhang... has such an incredible understanding of formations!"

The people in the Golden Origin Cauldron each released their spiritual sense to observe everything. President Han's pupils contracted.

Originally, he had some complaints about Zhang Xuan making them hide while he set up the formation himself. Seeing this, he realized that it was fortunate he had followed the instructions. If he had insisted on doing it himself, he might not have entered the ruins and would have been blown to pieces on the spot.

Although this Reversal Heaven Formation was a peak Seven-Star formation, in Zhang Xuan's hands it produced the effect of an Eight-Star formation. Every part was perfectly coordinated, not only adapting to the terrain but also using the heat of the lava below to sustain its operation, unleashing unimaginable power.

Amidst his shock, the power finally finished surging, and the formation had accumulated enough energy. Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows, and another formation flag appeared in his hand, which he threw straight.

Zzzt!

Just like when he had dealt with the restriction earlier, it seemed to pierce a flaw in the formation. A surging force shot out fiercely along the direction of the formation flag.

Whoosh!

The lava below, bearing this force, was forcibly torn open, creating a fissure.

"Quick, go!"

Knowing the time had come, Zhang Xuan shouted. The Golden Origin Cauldron did not hesitate and rushed straight into the fissure.

Glancing at Luo Ruoxin, Zhang Xuan followed behind and entered.

Knowing time was tight and the lava would only split open for an instant, he circulated his true qi, activated the Heaven-grade movement technique, and used his fastest speed.

During this period of cultivation, he had also been experimenting. Now he had finally perfectly integrated the Heaven-grade movement technique with the Red Dust Heaven-Stepping Steps. Combined, his speed was like lightning, no slower than the Golden Origin Cauldron at the peak of the Fourth Layer of the Saint Domain.

"Luo..."

Afraid the girl couldn't keep up, he turned his head to look, only to see her following behind, just three or four meters away. No matter how fast he went, he couldn't increase the distance.

"As expected of someone from a great clan... terrifying speed!"

Zhang Xuan nodded to himself.

To be honest, he still hadn't seen the girl's exact strength, but from her speed, she was no weaker than him when he fully exerted his Heaven-grade movement technique. Moreover, judging by her calm demeanor, if she went all out, she would probably be even faster.

Boom!

The hundreds of meters of lava passed in the blink of an eye before the Golden Origin Cauldron and Zhang Xuan. With a rumble, they all landed inside the ruins.

"Everyone, come out quickly! There are alien clansmen, be careful..."

With a roar, Zhang Xuan shielded the girl and quickly retreated.

He had clearly seen just now that there were at least dozens of alien clansmen below. Although most were only at the First Layer of the Saint Domain, their numbers made them formidable.

If they took the opportunity to ambush, it would be impossible to defend.

"Alien clansmen?"

The people who had just flown out of the cauldron all assumed defensive postures and warily looked around. But after one glance, they all froze.

"Master Zhang, is this the ruins you mentioned? Didn't you say there were pavilions? Why... is it all ruins?"

Master Wu looked over.

"Ruins?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

He looked around and indeed saw that the previously exquisite and magnificent buildings had all collapsed into ruins, piles of them emitting white smoke, as if they had just fallen not long ago.

"Could it be... those alien clansmen, knowing we were coming, deliberately destroyed the ruins?"

Raising his eyebrows, Zhang Xuan couldn't help saying.

"Cough, cough... It wasn't them who destroyed it, but... the force just now was too great. When it surged over, it not only tore the lava apart but also shook this place into this state..."

Seeing his indignation, President Han said.

The force Zhang Xuan had just created with the formation was so immense that it not only split the lava but also completely destroyed this place.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched, and he was full of embarrassment. Just now he was thinking that his clone had been obedient this time and hadn't caused any destruction, but he hadn't expected to create this situation himself...

What kind of mess was this!

"By the way, where are those alien clansmen? Could they have run away?"

Just as he was looking around, searching for the figures he had seen earlier, the Golden Origin Cauldron's slightly shy voice rang out.

"Master, they... seem to have been... crushed to death by me!"