Shua! Shua! Shua!!
The surrounding mountain peaks began to tremble violently in unison. Suddenly, divine radiance burst from each peak, revealing countless mystical formation patterns etched into the terrain. Runes surged out from within the mountains, as if they had long since been fused into the very rock itself—completely integrated with the natural structure.
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy swirled thickly around each mountain.The densely packed runes quickly converged, reaching a critical threshold. Beams of divine light shot skyward from the peaks, piercing the heavens like colossal pillars. Within each beam, runes shimmered and transformed in constant motion—radiating a profound sense of mystery.
There were more than a hundred such beams. As they rose into the void, their energies interconnected, abruptly forming a massive array diagram in the sky. The diagram was so vivid it seemed alive, with endless Daoist rhythms flowing through it, outlining an ancient and divine aura.
Looking up, one could vaguely perceive five towering divine mountains rising in the void.Each emitted a unique spiritual resonance: majestic, perilous, steep, secluded, and elegant. The awe they inspired was ineffable—anyone who beheld them would instinctively feel utterly insignificant.
"The Five Sacred Peaks Formation Diagram!!"Qing Yunzi's eyes lit up with fervor. This was the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation of the Qingshan Immortal Sect.
"These are the Five Sacred Peaks?"Zhuge Zhengwo's eyes gleamed, murmuring to himself.
"The majesty of Mount Tai in the east, the peril of Mount Hua in the west, the steepness of Mount Song in the center, the seclusion of Mount Heng in the north, and the elegance of Mount Heng in the south… They truly live up to their name. If even the phantasmal forms evoked by the formation are so astonishing, I can't imagine what it would be like to see the real ones."Jia Xu's eyes sparkled with awe.
In the Eternal World, the true Five Sacred Peaks were undoubtedly peerless divine mountains and ideal sacred lands for cultivation. Based on available information, these legendary peaks most likely existed in the Primordial Continent at the center of the Eternal World. What was displayed now were merely illusions conjured by the formation—a fraction of their full essence, not even one ten-thousandth of their true grandeur.
Even so, the display was utterly stunning.
"Formation Diagram!!"Qing Yunzi gave a commanding shout. With a sweep of his sleeve, a scroll unfurled in mid-air, revealing five towering divine mountains—not the real Five Sacred Peaks, but their primordial true forms.
This was the Five Sacred Peaks Trueform Diagram, the Qingshan Sect's most treasured protective artifact, classified as an Innate Spirit Treasure. As it appeared, it seamlessly merged with the formation diagram in the sky.
In an instant, the divine radiance in the void faded away.
Even for Qing Yunzi, the power he could draw from this Innate Formation Diagram was barely a fraction of its full might—perhaps less than one percent. Without matching cultivation, even the greatest of treasures were hard to wield fully. Only a lifebound treasure could be wielded freely; otherwise, restrictions were inevitable.
At the same time, white mist began silently rising across the Qingshan mountain range, billowing outward from underground. In mere moments, the entire mountain range was shrouded. The sect grounds were completely engulfed.
Seeing the mountain no longer meant seeing the mountain, and seeing the water no longer meant seeing the water.
Anyone who entered would immediately lose their sense of direction—even cultivators were not immune.
Escape became nearly impossible.The terrifying potency of the mist was self-evident.
"The Five Sacred Peaks Formation isn't just about this mist."Jia Xu mused silently. What had been revealed so far was only the tip of the iceberg—not even one ten-thousandth of its true power. Otherwise, how could it serve as the Qingshan Sect's great mountain guardian?
Outside the Qingshan Mountains:
A five-meter-tall, burly warrior stood proudly. His body was clad in crystalline ice armor, and in his hand he held a gleaming frosted war spear, its surface carved with runes and radiating intense cold. Dropped into a river, it could freeze the entire flow.
His aura was terrifying, and his murderous intent thick as a stormcloud.
"General, the full army has arrived. We've completely encircled the Qingshan Mountains. Our forces number thirteen million, and more are still on the way."A subordinate reported swiftly.
"Excellent. Pass the order—our goal is simple: exterminate the Qingshan Immortal Sect, and slaughter every last human. Leave no one alive. This land belongs to the Ice Crystal Clan. No other powers may remain."The towering general replied coldly.
This was the Flying Frost General (Feishuang), one of the core military commanders of the Ice Crystal Royal Court. Known for his ruthless and cold-blooded nature, he left devastation in his wake. His hatred for other races was absolute.
He was personally commanding this invasion.
"Reporting, General! A white mist has risen within the Qingshan Mountains. It appears they've detected our presence and activated a defensive measure."A scout rushed over.
"Hmph. Let them try. We've come to crush them openly. Begin the advance. Into the mountains—move out."Flying Frost gave a decisive order, utterly unafraid.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!The Ice Crystal warriors surged forward like a tide. Each was rugged and imposing, wielding weapons like frosted war spears and ice-forged greatswords. The ground trembled beneath their march.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"Their advance brought a biting cold. Snow fell from the sky. Frost overtook the ground. Even ancient trees were frozen solid into ice sculptures.
"The mist isn't affecting them… They're advancing as if nothing is there."Tie Shou said in shock.
"Of course. The eyes of the Ice Crystal Clan can pierce through most illusions and falsehoods. Mist and illusion are useless against them. Monsters, the lot of them."On a distant peak, Fairy Miaoyue's face was pale.
Indeed, the eyes of the Ice Crystal Clan had many supernatural traits. They feared the sun, but illusions and spiritual veils had almost no effect on them. The mist that baffled most beings was completely useless against them.
"But if they think they can simply walk into the Qingshan range, they're sorely mistaken. This mist is called the Thousandfold Heavy Mist. Anyone entering it bears the weight of a thousand mountains."Qing Yunzi's expression remained calm as he activated another incantation.
Immediately, the mist thickened visibly, wrapping around everything.
Suddenly, the Ice Crystal warriors began to react. Their faces changed drastically as an overwhelming force pressed down on them. Some, in mid-step, had arms snap. Others, while lifting a leg, collapsed to the ground under invisible weight.
Many trembled violently, as if crushed by invisible mountains. Some even felt internal organs begin to rupture under the pressure.
"Something's wrong! This mist isn't just an illusion—it's crushing us from all sides! I can barely breathe!"
"I can't move! It feels like a mountain's pressing on my chest!"
Crack!Boom!
Mass casualties began.Those barely at the Aperture Realm suddenly shattered as their bones gave way. Bloodless cracks split across their bodies, and they burst like glass.
But from their remains, something strange happened: the fragments began to shrink and compress into ice crystal eggs—each brimming with life essence. New life was gestating within.
Each dead warrior birthed dozens, sometimes hundreds, of such ice crystal eggs, littering the ground like eerie frozen pearls.
"This mist is dangerous! All troops—form the war formation! I'll form the head!"Flying Frost General barked the order. Even he felt the immense pressure and couldn't afford delay.
With a flash of light, he transformed into a gigantic crystalline head, identical to his own—just magnified.
"I'll form the arm!!"Soldiers followed suit. Their bodies turned into white light, then into crystalline liquid, merging together to form gigantic arms, attaching to the massive head.
Piece by piece, the Ice Crystal Clan was forming a colossal war avatar.