Sky Deer City's Formation Core—The City Falls Today
Sky Deer City’s Formation Core—The City Falls Today
Rumble!
Above the Aether Abyss, a boundless fog stretched out endlessly, accompanied by all manner of chaotic auras—mottled and terrifying beyond measure.
This place was vast and turbulent, filled with all kinds of shattered Force of Law, enough to easily burst an ordinary cultivator’s body into a mist of blood, destroying both body and soul.
Yet at this moment, in this otherwise silent place, a radiance suddenly emerged. An altar hidden in the darkness began to glow, emitting spatial fluctuations.
Two figures materialized from within it—a man and a woman, both looking quite young.
The man had an ordinary, proper face and a medium build, exuding an air of perseverance and unyielding will.
The woman beside him was dressed in white, holy and transcendent, shrouded in a hazy radiance.
They were none other than Lin Wu and Song Chan.
“That was close. We were almost discovered. Leaving the city at a time like this is bound to make people suspicious and draw criticism.”
Song Chan looked around the area. Seeing that they had left Sky Deer City and arrived at the Aether Abyss, she couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Having made this decision, there was no turning back—it was eternal damnation.
But at this point, she had no other choice.
After she and Lin Wu left through the secret passage of that pavilion in Sky Deer City, they had been carefully concealing their figures the whole way, worried about being seen by the others in Sky Deer City.
Fortunately, they had been cautious along the way and left Sky Deer City without incident, teleporting through the route Lin Wu had prepared long ago to the Aether Abyss outside the city.
After the great battle some time ago, there were now hardly any traces of Ox Spirits here. It was very quiet.
“After today, they probably won’t have the chance to criticize us anymore.”
“Without its Grand Array, how can Sky Deer City possibly resist the Beyond’s army?”
Compared to Song Chan’s sighing, Lin Wu let out a long breath, feeling as if a stone had finally been lifted from his heart.
In his hand, he was holding the Bronze Box containing Sky Deer City’s Formation Core.
Wisps of worldly intent flowed around it, hazy and mysterious, enough to make one’s heart palpitate—it felt as though an ancient world was contained within.
Lin Wu felt that he had completed the task Gu Changge had assigned him within half a year.
His little life was safe for now, and taking this opportunity, he could also save the life of his beloved, Lu Luo.
“Are you really that certain Gu Changge will honor the agreement?”
Song Chan’s voice carried some doubt, and the scene she had witnessed back in Sky Deer City couldn’t help but surface in her mind.
She had personally witnessed the terrifying scene of their realm’s invincible figure, the number one of his generation sixty million years ago, Zhao Yunze, being suppressed and killed twice by Gu Changge.
The feeling Gu Changge gave her was one of mystery and coldness, exuding unparalleled terrifying power—simply not something any human could contend with.
Even her master, the Sky Deer Goddess, whom she regarded as invincible in the world, had ultimately fallen into Gu Changge’s hands, her life and death no longer her own.
If it weren’t for the need to save her master, she probably wouldn’t have dared approach such a figure for the rest of her life.
“Gu Changge may be despicable and ruthless, but sometimes he does keep his word...”
Lin Wu gritted his teeth as he explained, comforting himself at the same time.
Back then, in that land of nothingness at the Boundary Marker Sea, Gu Changge had indeed promised to spare them—but he had never promised to spare Lu Luo.
So in the end, Lu Luo was still captured by Gu Changge.
“Sometimes?” Song Chan was clearly taken aback.
Just as the two were talking, ripples suddenly spread through the void not far away, then grew blurry.
A wave of spatial fluctuation came.
The next moment, a tall, handsome figure in white walked out. His face had been blurry at first, but as he approached the two, the layer of mysterious mist shrouding him slowly dispersed.
Song Chan looked at the young man before her, who possessed an immortal bearing and divine bone structure like a banished immortal, and was slightly dazed, unable to react for a moment.
If she hadn’t personally witnessed Gu Changge’s terrifying power, she would never have connected this man before her—wreathed in immortal qi, exuding an otherworldly air—with him.
However, Gu Changge merely swept a glance at her and paid her no further mind.
He looked at Lin Wu, who was watching him warily, and smiled faintly. “Have you completed the task I gave you?”
Every hair on Lin Wu’s body stood on end. He had been about to contact Gu Changge through the brand on his soul.
But he never expected Gu Changge to suddenly appear in person—as if his every move had been in Gu Changge’s grasp from beginning to end.
This feeling sent chills down his spine.
“It’s done. But Sky Deer City’s Formation Core has eight pieces in total—I only obtained one.”
Lin Wu said, gesturing at the Bronze Box in his hand.
At this point, anyone with eyes could tell this Bronze Box was no ordinary object, exuding a world-like heaviness, ancient and weighty.
“Only one piece? Well, no matter.”
Gu Changge raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded.
Sky Deer City’s Grand Array had more than one control point—of this he had no doubt. And with one piece taken, the Grand Array would become incomplete, its defensive might greatly reduced.
However, Lin Wu did not hand it over directly. Instead, he continued staring at Gu Changge warily.
“I hope you’ll keep your promise—spare Lu Luo and remove the brand on me. Otherwise, I’ll open this box right now, and the Formation Core will fly back to Sky Deer City on its own.”
“If you don’t agree, then even if I die, I won’t let your scheme succeed.”
“Also, she’s Song Chan, the disciple of the Sky Deer Goddess. She wants to see her master safe and sound.”
Lin Wu was very cautious as he continued, pointing at Song Chan beside him and laying out his conditions.
Although rumors now said the Sky Deer Goddess had betrayed the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains and become Gu Changge’s Concubine...
Whether it was true or false, no one knew. None of the experts of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains had seen the Sky Deer Goddess with their own eyes.
So Song Chan was worried, afraid something had happened to her master.
Or perhaps those rumors were deliberately spread by the Beyond to strike at the morale of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
“Rest assured, what I, Gu, have promised, I never go back on. It’s a good thing you weren’t too slow—otherwise, a certain prodigy of my clan had taken a fancy to that beloved of yours and planned to take her as a maid.”
“I was considering whether to bestow her upon him.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled faintly, his words laced with contempt, not taking Lin Wu’s threat to heart at all.
“You...”
At these words, Lin Wu’s expression turned ugly, his fists clenched tight. He knew Gu Changge had the means to make Lu Luo’s life a living hell.
He wasn’t afraid of death, but at the thought of Lu Luo suffering such torment, his heart twisted like a knife, unbearable.
“I understand. I hope you’ll keep your word.”
He gritted his teeth and reluctantly handed the Bronze Box to Gu Changge.
“Gu Changge, where is my master?”
“I want to see my master.”
Seeing that Gu Changge was ignoring her, Song Chan grew anxious and couldn’t help asking.
After taking the Bronze Box, Gu Changge glanced at her, then smiled. “Your disciple wants to see you. Won’t you show yourself and meet her?”
As his words fell, a soft sigh sounded from the void behind him.
A stunningly beautiful woman appeared—tall and graceful, with an exquisitely flawless face, three thousand strands of dark hair dancing in the wind, holy and otherworldly, like a divine lotus standing alone apart from the world.
“Master...”
Song Chan looked at the Sky Deer Goddess who had appeared, nearly frozen in shock. She had never imagined the Sky Deer Goddess was truly by Gu Changge’s side now.
She wasn’t, as Song Chan had imagined, imprisoned by Gu Changge or locked away somewhere.
“Little Chan, you shouldn’t have come here.”
“Master, I wanted to save you, that’s why I took Sky Deer City’s Formation Core...”
The Sky Deer Goddess looked at her disciple, her gaze deeply complicated, her words laced with sighs.
Song Chan thought the Sky Deer Goddess was sighing because she had stolen Sky Deer City’s Formation Core, and hurried to explain.
However, the Sky Deer Goddess waved her hand, interrupting her. “But since things have come to this, you need not return to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains anymore.”
Song Chan was stunned. She hadn’t expected the Sky Deer Goddess to say such a thing. Could it be true, as the rumors said, that the Sky Deer Goddess had willingly submitted to the Beyond?
She had thought her master would blame her. But now, it seemed the relationship between Gu Changge and the Sky Deer Goddess was rather close, leaving her mind in chaos.
Meanwhile, atop the walls of Sky Deer City, towering black figures stood, all shrouded in Chaos Energy, incomparably lofty.
As their eyes opened and closed, terrifying golden light spilled out, as if scenes of world-creation were emerging within.
Great stars rose and fell, revolving one by one, as if primordial chaos itself was evolving within them.
It had to be said, at this moment their auras were unprecedentedly powerful. Behind them followed the many experts now within Sky Deer City—rogue cultivators as well as experts of other races unwilling to leave. At this moment, almost everyone gazed at the figures on the wall, their eyes filled with reverence.
“Truly worthy of the Four Powerful War God Clans. In the end, the only ones remaining are them,” an old Sacred Emperor Realm expert couldn’t help but sigh. “All the other clans and forces have already withdrawn and abandoned Sky Deer City.”
The other experts nodded as well, deeply respectful.
At this point, still unwilling to leave Sky Deer City, still wanting to battle the Beyond and shed their last drop of blood—this determination and perseverance, who in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains today could match it? How could they not be respected? One could only say they were truly worthy of being called the four War God Clans.
“The army remaining in Sky Deer City is now less than half. For the rest to fight the Beyond would be a pointless waste of lives.”
“Better to let us old bones burn away our last remaining warmth.”
“If we lose this battle as well, then the rest of you should withdraw from Sky Deer City like the others.”
At that moment, the ancient existences atop the wall spoke one after another.
Some of them even sighed, seemingly carrying deep helplessness and grief.
Boom!!
Radiant light shot skyward from their bodies, auspicious qi rising, threatening to pierce through the heavens.
At the same time, their auras grew ever stronger. Surging qi and blood power manifested from their heavenly crowns, transforming into terrifying rivers of blood qi that swallowed the eight directions.
At this moment, they seemed intent on returning to their peak condition to battle the Beyond.
Hearing these words, everyone before Sky Deer City felt their hearts surge with passion, blood boiling—yet powerlessness, guilt, and unwillingness intertwined within them.
Especially hearing these ancient existences call themselves old bones, about to burn their last warmth—it was more than many could bear.
Some people’s eyes reddened, fists clenched deathly tight.
“We are willing to go forth and fight alongside you, Qianbei!”
Someone roared low, eyes red, teeth gritted.
“Even if none return from this battle, we are willing to share life and death with you all.”
The others spoke up one after another, infected by this emotion, their faces filled with resolute acceptance of life and death.
For a time, before Sky Deer City’s walls, the crowd was roused to fervor, killing intent soaring, all heedless of everything.
“No need. Your strength is too weak—even if you joined the battle, you’d be throwing your lives away for nothing.”
“We old bones are not worth regretting in death. You are all still young, with bright futures ahead.”
“All of you stay in the city. If you see us fall shortly, then flee at once. Every extra survivor counts.”
“At this point, no one will blame you. That you’ve held on until now is already remarkable.”
Hearing this, the ancient existences seemed moved as well. One sighed and waved a hand to stop them.
Yet hearing these words, like heroes departing never to return, everyone’s emotions grew even more tragic and heroic. Some young women couldn’t hold back their tears.
Their admiration for the noble integrity of these True Daoists of the Four Powerful War God Clans deepened further.
And just then, beyond Sky Deer City, from beyond the distant horizon, a terrifying commotion suddenly came.
It was as if thousands of troops and horses were galloping forth to kill.
“Dong!”
A muffled sound abruptly emerged at the edge of heaven and earth, as if some terrifying Supreme Treasure was reviving there, about to smash the world itself down.
Dazzling, resplendent light suddenly rose, like a magnificent great sun that could illuminate the eternal skies.
Accompanied by thick mist, several godlike, demonic figures walked out from there, crossing a distance of millions of miles.
Billions of strands of radiant light interwove brilliantly, like giants propping up heaven and earth, striding forward continuously, shaking the entire universe, making heaven and earth tremble.
“Not good!!”
“The Beyond is attacking the city again!”
On the walls, many soldiers roared, faces pale, sensing that this assault’s might was even more terrifying than before. The Beyond seemed to have brought out some extremely terrifying Supreme Treasure. A pitch-black light emerged at the edge of heaven and earth, like a burning black sun, its majestic might impossible to look upon directly, everything around it collapsing.
“The Beyond has come again!”
“None of you leave the city. We shall go meet them in battle and fight them!”
The ancient existences’ faces shook with fury, as if provoked by the Beyond’s actions. Their figures flashed and vanished from Sky Deer City’s walls.
Then, with a surge of light from the altar, they appeared outside the walls.
Watching this scene, the remaining experts couldn’t help but clench their fists, hating their own weakness and powerlessness, unable to go fight alongside these Qianbei to protect the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains!
“Sky Emperor Mountain even brought out their Supreme Treasure, the Sky Emperor Wheel. They hadn’t brought it out before.”
“In that case, this saves me some effort.”
A golden great road extended down from the edge of the sky, descending like a heavenly avenue.
Upon it stood a blurry, slender figure, emanating surging, boundless pressure, causing the suddenly appeared ancient existences of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains to change expression, feeling an indescribable pressure.
Their original plan had been to battle the Beyond for a while, and regardless of victory or defeat, find an opportunity to return to Sky Deer City and lead their clansmen away from this place.
At this point, no one was a fool willing to throw away their life here.
What did Sky Deer City’s destruction have to do with them?
But they hadn’t expected Gu Changge to appear here as well.
None of them wanted to fight Gu Changge. Though each was shrewd and deeply hidden, they didn’t want to invite excessive trouble.
So they were decisive, charging almost immediately toward the other Beyond supreme experts on the other side, intending to battle them.
To those watching from within Sky Deer City, this scene was even more stirring. Everyone clenched their fists.
Clearly, the ancient existences had struck out in fury, taking the initiative against the Beyond—unlike the passive stance of before.
“So eager to come out and die. What a pity—you’ll regret this today.”
“Daring to take the initiative against us? You court death.”
The several shadowy, demon-like figures all came from Sky Emperor Mountain, and were not of the Human race. Every gesture stirred boundless qi surging between heaven and earth.
They felt provoked—the mere Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains dared to strike at them first?
Boom!
Divine light shot skyward one after another, giant hands sweeping across the sky, continuously striking down the various radiances of the land.
All manner of Transcendent techniques and spells were enacted, throwing this place into chaos.
In an instant, the most terrifying great battle erupted here—several True Daoists clashing.
The phantoms of True Dragons, Vermilion Birds, White Tigers, and other terrifying great fiends seemed to come alive, crossing over from ancient times to revive here, erupting with unparalleled divine might.
“Rather clever—not daring to fight me.”
“Picking the soft persimmons instead.”
Gu Changge’s gaze carried keen interest. After descending here, he did not join the battle.
After all, he had already obtained that piece of the Formation Core from Lin Wu. Today, Sky Deer City was certain to fall, so Gu Changge was in no hurry.
He rather wanted to see what tricks these Four Powerful War God Clans were playing.
Boom!!
At that moment, at the edge of the horizon, a terrifying black light rose, like a sun.
But it was pitch black, carrying fluctuations like a thousand suns. From its appearance, it looked like a wheel disc cast from immortal black gold, incomparably ancient, with countless runes swirling and blooming around it.
This was none other than one of Sky Emperor Mountain’s Supreme Treasures, called the Sky Emperor Wheel, containing countless profundities. The moment it manifested, it began suppressing this stretch of sky.
Wisps of black light began to hang down, like Chaos Energy, submerging down toward Sky Deer City!