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For several days, the Spirit of the Plane kept watch but still detected no experts surpassing the Soul Sage level. It seemed the only powerhouse stationed in the hall was the Soul Sage, Chou Zhiyi, from before.
Over these ten days, Bai Xu carved the Five Elements' formation patterns onto five banners. Unfortunately, this method could only serve as a one-time consumable.
The Five Directions and Five Elements Grand Formation required the use of magical treasures—specifically, the Five Directions and Five Elements Banners. This grand formation's power belonged to the fourth layer of divine prohibitions.
The book described it thus:
The Five Elements of Heaven and Earth—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—are the fundamental building blocks of the universe, the most basic yet profound laws.
The accompanying magical treasures, the Five Elements Banners, were renowned throughout history:
- The Central Wuji Yellow Apricot Banner: Ten thousand golden lotuses bloom, rendering it indestructible.
- The Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner: Radiates the light of enlightenment, calming the mind and spirit.
- The Southern Blazing Light Banner: Disrupts Yin and Yang, inverts the Five Elements.
- The Western Misty Cloud Banner: Bizarre phenomena swirl, illuminating heaven and earth.
- The Northern Black Tortoise Banner: Obscures the cosmos, veiling the sun and sky.
When all five banners were gathered, the Five Directions and Five Elements Grand Formation could be deployed. With the Five Elements in endless rotation, the Great Dao flourished perpetually, and all elements within the formation fell under the control of its master.
Of course, given Bai Xu's current strength, he couldn't unleash the formation's true power. He hadn't even refined the magical treasures yet. Still, it would be more than sufficient for this situation.
However, as Bai Xu inscribed the formation patterns, he grew increasingly uneasy. His brows furrowed tightly. Even after completing the inscriptions, he remained immersed in an inexplicable sensation.
[Why do the Five Elements Banners give me a sense of being tarnished?]
[What exactly is the problem?]
[Is my mastery of the Five Elements incomplete?]
[Where does this illusion come from?]
[Is the formation too profound, making me only grasp its surface?]
Bai Xu stared at the banners in his hands, feeling for the first time that he might have taken the wrong path.
"Bai Xu? Bai Xu!"
Na'er's repeated calls snapped him out of his contemplation. She asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Ever since you finished inscribing the formation, you've looked troubled. Did something happen?"
Bai Xu shook his head but didn't hide his thoughts. "It's the banners—or rather, the formation. It feels like I've gone astray… but where exactly?"
Na'er fell silent. Matters of cultivation were beyond her ability to assist with.
After a long pause, Bai Xu sighed. "Never mind. Maybe the formation is just too profound. I'll think about it later. What's the situation inside the hall?"
The Spirit of the Plane replied, "The strongest in the Evil Soul Masters' hall is still that Soul Sage. Occasionally, a few Soul Emperors come and go, bringing captives. Most of the other Evil Soul Masters are low-level."
"Good. Today, we wipe them out."
---
Nightfall
They say the darkest nights and fiercest winds are meant for killing.
Chou Zhiyi still hadn't slept well. His right arm throbbed faintly with pain, and he had no idea how to track down that brat.
The world was vast—how could he possibly locate one person with certainty?
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, an inexplicable surge of soul power rippled through the air, alerting every Evil Soul Master in the hall. Chou Zhiyi flew out and saw the Five Elements formation enveloping the surrounding mountains.
They were trapped.
"Heh… So it's you, brat. I was just worrying about how to find you, and here you are, delivering yourself to me!" Chou Zhiyi ascended, confronting Bai Xu, who stood atop a golden sword.
Only two of the Zhong brothers were present—the third was away on business. The Ant Devourer was also there.
Surrounded by dozens of Evil Soul Masters, Bai Xu felt only exhilaration. Within the Five Directions and Five Elements Grand Formation, he could harness the power of the Five Elements to augment himself. Combined with his Six Viscera Perfection and his reborn physique from the Minor Nirvana, he could now overpower a Soul Sage!
Raising his Geng Gold Sword with one hand, his gaze swept coldly over the enemies below. With a single slash through the air—
A brilliant golden light split the dark sky. The massive hall of the Evil Soul Masters was cleaved in two, along with the low-level practitioners inside.
Only Chou Zhiyi and the three Soul Emperors managed to evade the strike.
Terror twisted Chou Zhiyi's face. Now, the enormous barrier in the sky was clearly meant to prevent their escape.
"Martial Soul True Body!"
His massive Netherworld Sword split into countless blades as he roared in panic, "Fight with everything you have! Today, it's kill or be killed!"
The Zhong brothers and the Ant Devourer held nothing back. This was a battle for survival.
"The formation won't last long. Let's settle this now!"
Crackle!
Lightning surged around Bai Xu, turning his eyes a glowing white. The five elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—manifested around him. Finally, he could fight without restraint!
"Scarlet Fire!"
Crimson flames erupted, reducing the Ant Devourer's third soul skill—Ten Thousand Ants—to ashes. A flash of lightning followed, and his head tumbled from his shoulders.
"Azure Wood!"
Whoosh!
At Bai Xu's command, countless slender trees burst from the ground, coiling around the Zhong brothers. Though they shattered the vines with surges of soul power, the tendrils multiplied endlessly, growing tougher with each wave.
The nature of Azure Wood was pliant yet tenacious—flexible yet unyielding. Once entangled, it would persist until the caster's energy was exhausted or the formation's power depleted.
"Elder Brother!" the second Zhong brother cried in agony as the vines tightened.
"Younger Brother, send word to Third Brother!" The two communicated silently. Though their martial souls couldn't fuse, they shared other unique abilities.
Boom!
Their bodies exploded, painting the sky in blood.
"Damn it! How are you this strong?!" Chou Zhiyi was baffled. He clashed with Bai Xu, their colossal swords locking in midair.
Bai Xu seemed to possess a Martial Soul True Body of his own—a golden blade dozens of meters long that held its own against the Netherworld Sword.
"Stop screaming. It's time for you to die!"
Just as Bai Xu gathered strength for a final strike, the grand formation collapsed, dissolving into motes of starlight.
The five-colored radiance faded, revealing the dark night sky once more. Chou Zhiyi realized the formation had been amplifying Bai Xu's power, allowing him to bridge two major realms.
Surveying the devastation, he laughed maniacally. "At this point, even if word of this gets out, I won't survive. After being humiliated twice by a mere Soul King, the higher-ups won't spare me. Come, then—let's end this!"
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul True Body!"
Bai Xu didn't respond. His body shimmered with the glow of the Five Elements, his organs luminous and flawless. The Five Elements' energy was nearly depleted—Azure Wood was potent, but he'd need to use it more cautiously in the future.
"The Five Viscera and Six Bowels are only preliminarily perfected. Sustaining the Five Directions and Five Elements Grand Formation is still too taxing. Once my meridians are fully opened and my Five Elements physique takes shape, it should improve."
Then, he summoned the Five Elements Life Gold from his dantian—a nascent artifact, still in its embryonic form but already resembling a bronze cauldron.
The cauldron pulsed with the radiance of the Five Elements, suppressing all directions.
Holding it aloft, Bai Xu descended like a meteor, smashing it toward the colossal Netherworld Sword.
Boom!
A shockwave rippled outward, startling even Na'er, who watched from afar. Bai Xu's combat prowess exceeded her wildest expectations.
Chou Zhiyi gnashed his teeth, burning through every last ounce of soul power. But Bai Xu wasn't relying on soul power—he was using pure physical strength.
Their eyes met through the clash of energies, hatred burning in both. Then, Bai Xu grinned.
In that instant, Chou Zhiyi knew what was coming and desperately fortified his mental defenses.
But it was futile. Bai Xu's spiritual attack was too sharp, piercing a Soul Sage's defenses with ease.
A momentary lapse—and the Netherworld Sword began to crumble.
"You… you're not a twin-soul master. You have three, maybe even four martial souls!" Chou Zhiyi gasped. "What kind of monster are you?!"
Crack!
His Martial Soul True Body shattered. The cauldron descended, crushing half his torso into pulp.
Chou Zhiyi was left half-dead.
Panting heavily, Bai Xu glanced toward the ruins. Deep within, the Earth Element had formed pillars, supporting a prison where the captives were held.
But he had no time for them now. A realization struck him, and he nearly laughed aloud.
"I understand now! I've only mastered the surface of the Five Elements, not their essence! The Five Directions—all changes within the formation are mine to command. Creation, destruction… To grasp the Five Elements' role in the laws of heaven and earth—that is the true foundation."