Chapter One: A Decade's Promise
Dayan Sacred Land.
Tongtian Peak, main hall.
A dazzling golden light descended into the hall. As the radiance faded, a dignified man dressed in white appeared, his gaze fixed coldly on a black-clad youth lying on a meditation mat. He said sternly, “Ye Xinghe, tomorrow marks the ten-year deadline. If you cannot recruit any disciples by then, I will have no choice but to expel you!”
The black-clad youth sighed deeply, nodding helplessly.
Recruit disciples? What a joke!
Since his transmigration, his so-called master had been ambushed and killed, dragging him down as well. His meridians had been destroyed, leaving him crippled.
Up to now, Ye Xinghe’s cultivation level was effectively zero.
Though he was nominally the peak lord of Tongtian Peak, he possessed no real power. Even novice disciples could easily defeat him.
As a result, many disciples looked down on him with contempt, not taking him seriously at all.
Throughout the entire Dayan Sacred Land, from the Holy Lord down to the disciples, all regarded Ye Xinghe as a disgrace and had long wished to see him gone.
Ye Xinghe, licking his wounds, said, “Holy Lord, my master and I were guarding the sacred spirit mine for the land. We were ambushed by treacherous foes and nearly perished. Though we have no great accomplishments, we have suffered much…”
“Enough! I’ve heard this a hundred times already! I’ve already given you ten years out of mercy. Tomorrow, you will leave on your own accord!”
The Holy Lord, tired of his excuses, turned and vanished.
“Without the protection of the sacred land, I, an ordinary man, can’t even defeat the lowest-grade spirit beast. Leaving here would be a death sentence…”
Ye Xinghe was helpless, yet utterly powerless.
“Ding! Divine-level disciple recruitment system is now binding…”
“Binding successful!”
“Newbie gift package delivered. Congratulations, host, on acquiring the innate divine skill ‘Path of Formation Marks’ and the ‘Demon-Slaying Formation’!”
“Damn!”
“System, you’ve finally arrived!”
Ye Xinghe’s emotions were a mix of sorrow and joy.
Ten years… do you know how I have spent these ten years?
Without hesitation, he quickly opened the system interface to examine the gifted divine skills.
“Comprehend the way of all things, master countless formations in this world, Demon-Slaying Formation…”
“Sounds powerful!”
As Ye Xinghe marveled, the divine skills fused into his mind.
After a moment of dizziness, he stepped out of the main hall and gazed over the sea of clouds and blue sky, the mountains and lakes, realizing that everything bore traces, foundations of formation arrays.
Countless formations of the world were now under his control and mastery!
No exceptions!
“This world is the most exquisite formation itself!”
“Mountains, rivers, streams, and lakes—all are within my command!”
In an instant, Ye Xinghe gained profound insight. He paused lightly, and a brilliant light radiated from beneath his feet.
The Demon-Slaying Formation was activated!
Swish!
Under his will, the vast formation enveloped the entire main vein of Tongtian Peak. Everything within the formation—life and death—was at his command.
“With this Demon-Slaying Formation, I can contend with experts at the Tribulation stage!”
“If perfected, even the supreme true immortals or the Nine Nether Demon Gods themselves would find no escape from death!”
Who would have thought that just fifteen minutes ago, he couldn’t even defeat the lowest-grade spirit beast?
Harnessing the power of formations, he could easily eliminate cultivators below the peak Tribulation stage. In this era without ascenders, few could pose a threat to him!
“Ding! System has issued a disciple recruitment task. Host, please pay attention!”
“Task time limit: two hours. Rewards: Void Eye! Nine Radiance War God Body!”
“What are those?”
Ye Xinghe did not know what the Void Eye or Nine Radiance War God Body were.
But judging by the names, they sounded incredibly formidable!
No matter. The system’s gifts never disappoint. First, recruit a disciple.
Ye Xinghe eagerly descended the mountain.
…
At the foot of the back mountain of Tongtian Peak.
Bang!
Zhao Changsheng, covered in wounds, staggered desperately as he fled here. Behind him, a sword light struck swiftly. Unable to dodge in time, he was hit and thrown violently against the cliff, coughing up blood.
He dared not linger, struggling to rise and flee again!
Soon, he saw a stone stele ahead.
Carved on it were four powerful characters: Dayan Sacred Land, Tongtian Peak, Outsiders Forbidden!
Swish, swish, swish!
At the same time, three streaks of light came racing, surrounding Zhao Changsheng!
The three wielded magical implements, their auras terrifying and murderous, clearly formidable experts!
“Zhao Changsheng, exactly one year from today will be your death anniversary!”
The leader, a middle-aged man named Lin Qingmu, gripped a massive axe crackling with purple thunderlight, sneering cruelly.
“Not necessarily!”
The injured Zhao Changsheng leaned against the stele, raising a hand to point at it. “This is Dayan Sacred Land. If you dare to commit murder here, you will not escape death yourselves!”
“Heh heh, this is indeed Dayan Sacred Land, but it’s Tongtian Peak.”
Lin Qingmu laughed contemptuously. “You probably don’t know that Tongtian Peak is infamous throughout Dayan Sacred Land as a useless place, and its peak lord Ye Xinghe is the worst of the worst!”
“Enough talk. Kill him!”
With a wave of his hand, Lin Qingmu signaled his two companions to rush in fiercely!
At that moment, an inexplicable force suddenly descended. The two assailants were instantly frozen midair, unable to move!
Time seemed to stand still!
Lin Qingmu felt his own body restrained by an unseen power. His vast true essence felt as if frozen, impossible to mobilize even a bit!
“What’s going on?”
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