Chapter 493: The Land of Ten Thousand Tombs and the Formation Diagram of the Great Demon Array
The Saint Abyss Continent
After bidding farewell to Ji Ping'an and Qin Tian, Xiao Tiance didn't use the teleportation array to leave. Instead, he traveled eastward on foot.
Over the past fifty years, the Saint Abyss Continent, once the frontline in the fight against the Outer Realm Demon Clan, had changed significantly. The desolation of those days where the land stretched lifeless for thousands of miles was now a thing of the past.
As Xiao Tiance ventured further east, he saw more and more people, their faces no longer clouded with despair. Smiles and hope were beginning to return.
Additionally, many merchant guilds had established themselves in the region, thanks to the dominance the Grand Thousand World had asserted over the Outer Realm Demon Clan. Xiao Tiance couldn't help but feel pleased. Though his strength had reached the Saint Heavenly Supreme Late Peak, he still harbored compassion for ordinary people.
The Mysterious Mist
Three days later, Xiao Tiance arrived at the heart of the Grand Thousand World. Before him lay a thick, impenetrable fog that reduced visibility to just three meters. Even his formidable soul perception could only probe a radius of about a hundred meters.
"This fog is truly strange," Xiao Tiance thought to himself. "It can suppress even my soul detection."
As he walked, his frown deepened. No matter the direction he chose, he couldn't escape the fog.
After pausing to think, Xiao Tiance activated a Grandmaster level Holy Array to shield himself. Then, with a wave of his left hand, golden flames of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame erupted, quickly burning away the fog within the array.
Discovering the Outer Demon Qi
As the flames cleared the mist, Xiao Tiance noticed thin black wisps among the fog. They exuded an eerie and sinister aura.
"So, this fog was tainted by Outer Demon Qi. No wonder it could suppress even my soul detection," Xiao Tiance murmured, surging his spiritual energy. The enhanced Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame thoroughly eradicated the demon qi.
Finally, he arrived at the location Qin Tian had mentioned. Retrieving the black jade pendant, he held it in his hand.
Suddenly, the pendant emitted a soft glow. In the next moment, a massive gate formed of mist appeared before him.
"As expected of the Immortal Emperor's handiwork," Xiao Tiance thought. "Without this pendant, entering the Northern Wasteland Hill would have been nearly impossible."
With that, he stepped through the misty gate.
The Land of Ten Thousand Tombs
When Xiao Tiance's feet touched solid ground, he found himself surrounded by rows of tombstones stretching endlessly in all directions. The air was filled with a chilling black wind that occasionally swept through the area.
In the distance, sitting motionlessly in the wind, was a white haired elder clad in a black robe. His eyes were half closed, as if he were dozing, and his aura was one of withered decay like a candle on the verge of extinguishing.
Yet despite this appearance, the faint pressure emanating from him hinted at unfathomable power.
"Senior, I have arrived," Xiao Tiance said with a smile, addressing the figure.
Meeting the Undying Lord
The elder opened his eyes. In an instant, he appeared just a few meters away from Xiao Tiance, moving so quickly it was as though he had teleported.
The elder's gaze scrutinized Xiao Tiance, and after a long moment, he nodded slowly.
"Ah, Xiao Tiance, we meet again. I must admit, I'm astounded by your progress. In such a short span of time, your strength has reached a level even I cannot fully comprehend. Were we to fight, I might not emerge victorious," the elder the Undying Lord remarked.
"You flatter me, Senior," Xiao Tiance replied humbly.
The Undying Lord waved a hand. "No need for modesty. I don't speak in jest, not even with emperors."
The Heart of the Tombs
Gesturing for Xiao Tiance to follow, the Undying Lord led him deeper into the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs. "Be cautious," he warned. "This is the central area of the seal on the Heavenly Evil God. The surrounding energy has been thoroughly corrupted by Outer Demon Qi. If it seeps into your body, even someone of your strength will suffer greatly."
"Understood, Senior," Xiao Tiance replied with a polite bow.
Thanks to his precautions a defensive array and outwardly projected spiritual energy Xiao Tiance was well protected from the pervasive demon qi.
The Undying Lord noted his thorough preparation with approval before continuing to guide him.
A Tale of Triumph
Inside an ancient tomb, the Undying Lord finally stopped and spoke. "I received Qin Tian's message about how you returned safely from the Outer Realm Demon Clan, despite being surrounded by their top Heavenly Demon Emperors. Could you share the details with me?"
Xiao Tiance recounted his experiences, including the annihilation of sixteen human sects that had defected to the Demon Clan and his battle against three top tier Heavenly Demon Emperors, during which he overwhelmed them with the Grandmaster level arrays he had prepared.
The Undying Lord's expression grew increasingly animated as he listened. By the end of Xiao Tiance's tale, he couldn't help but praise him.
"Remarkable! Truly remarkable! Xiao Tiance, your achievements leave me in awe. To face such odds and emerge victorious your courage and skill are beyond compare!"
Chapter Summary
Xiao Tiance ventures to the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs, the central point of the Heavenly Evil God's seal.
His defensive measures protect him from the pervasive Outer Demon Qi.
The Undying Lord commends Xiao Tiance's remarkable strength and his triumphant return from the Outer Realm Demon Clan.
"Senior, you flatter me. If there had been another option, I wouldn't have taken such a risky approach. Fortunately, the outcome wasn't too bad." Xiao Tiance bowed politely, a gentle smile on his face.
"Hahaha! If such a result is merely 'not too bad,' then for you, Xiao Tiance, nothing short of completely expelling the Outer Realm Demon Clan from the Grand Thousand World would count as a perfect conclusion." The Undying Lord chuckled. Then, his tone turned serious. "Let's set that aside for now. Qin Tian mentioned your extraordinary mastery of arrays. He said you've reached the later stages of Grandmaster level Holy Array mastery. Is that true?"
"Yes, Senior. My skills in arrays have indeed reached the late stage of Grandmaster level Holy Array expertise," Xiao Tiance replied truthfully.
"Excellent! That's truly wonderful. Finding someone with both the power and the array mastery at your level is no easy task."
Suddenly, the Undying Lord appeared excited. He took a scroll from his storage pouch, unrolled it, and laid it on the stone table before him. "Xiao Tiance, take a look at this array formation diagram. Can you comprehend it?"
Examining the Diagram
Nodding, Xiao Tiance moved closer to the table and sat down. The moment his eyes fell on the diagram, his expression shifted. He gasped, "Senior, this array is beyond the late stages of Grandmaster level arrays!"
"Indeed," the Undying Lord affirmed, his tone grave. "This is no ordinary formation. It's a fusion of an array and a sealing technique, known as the Great Demon Array. It was created when the Immortal Emperor sacrificed his life to seal the Heavenly Evil God."
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance nodded. He had suspected that his visit to the Undying Lord would be related to the Great Demon Array. With the diagram now before him, it was clear something significant had occurred.
This wasn't just any place it was the central point of the seal containing the Heavenly Evil God. Even allowing him entry into the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs was a sign of the gravity of the situation.
The Immortal Emperor's Sacrifice
Xiao Tiance recalled how the Immortal Emperor had sacrificed himself to seal the Heavenly Evil God. The Undying Lord, despite being a Saint Heavenly Supreme Late Peak, had chosen to remain here for tens of thousands of years to guard the seal.
In the original Great Ruler, the Undying Lord never left the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs except during the final battle when the Heavenly Evil God broke free. Even in this lifetime, with changes brought about by Xiao Tiance, the Undying Lord had only left once to deal with the fallout from the deaths of Futuo Ancestor and two Supreme Saints of the Taeling Ancient Clan.
All of this underscored how terrifying the Heavenly Evil God truly was far beyond Xiao Tiance's expectations.
"Senior, this array diagram is incredibly intricate. I'll need at least half a month to study it thoroughly. Will that be acceptable?" Xiao Tiance asked, his tone cautious.
"That's perfectly fine," the Undying Lord replied with a smile. "You can stay here and study it at your leisure. This area happens to be my personal retreat my future grave, actually. It's the only place in the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs without a burial."
A Grave for the Living
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance raised an eyebrow, momentarily stunned. A grave prepared for oneself? It was his first time encountering someone who had gone to such lengths. But upon reflection, it made sense.
The Undying Lord had been stationed here alone for countless years, and loneliness was the true enemy in such a long existence. After all, even the fiercest battles eventually ended, leaving long stretches of solitude in their wake.
With time, friends and loved ones passed on, either lost to war or the inexorable march of time. Xiao Tiance recalled stories from Perfect World and Shrouding the Heavens, where figures like Shi Hao and Ye Fan were ultimately left alone, their companions claimed by mortality.
While immortality might seem appealing, without loved ones, it became a hollow existence.
"I understand, Senior," Xiao Tiance said with a nod. "In that case, I'll make use of this place and inform you once I've deciphered the array."
"Very well," the Undying Lord replied before leaving the tomb to let Xiao Tiance work undisturbed.
Deciphering the Array
After the Undying Lord left, Ling'er emerged from Xiao Tiance's body, her ethereal form hovering beside him. As her Origin Force scanned the diagram, her small face scrunched in frustration.
"This is so complex, Little Sir! I don't think even half a month will be enough to understand it."
Xiao Tiance chuckled. "Don't worry, Ling'er. We'll work together. This might be the most advanced array in the entire Grand Thousand World, combining both array and sealing techniques. Studying it will be worth the effort. Who knows? We might even improve our skills in the process."
Encouraged, Ling'er nodded and returned to his body. Together, they began the painstaking process of deciphering the Great Demon Array.
Progress Through Study
On the first day, the duo was completely lost.
By the second day, they started to glimpse its intricacies.
Day by day, their understanding deepened, until they were fully engrossed in their research. Even occasional tremors that shook the ground outside failed to distract them.
Finally, after half a month, the tomb door opened, and the Undying Lord entered, looking weary. When he saw the glowing spiritual seals floating around Xiao Tiance, his eyes lit up with joy.
"Well? How did it go?" he asked eagerly.
Xiao Tiance turned to face him and nodded. **"It's done, Senior. I've deciphered the array. However, I must say, arranging such a formation requires an immense amount of spiritual energy. Additionally, the array's activation demands the caster to willingly sacrifice their life.
Even then, any unforeseen disruption could lead to the array's failure. I must ask what kind of resolve did the Immortal Emperor possess to lay down his life for this Great Demon Array?"**
The Immortal Emperor's Resolve
Hearing this, the Undying Lord sighed deeply. "You're right, Xiao Tiance. The Emperor activated the array only when there were no other options left when everything hung by a thread. He..."
[To Be Continued...]
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