Chapter 104: Where the Deity Hides

The ancient cave was deep, secluded, and vast. Sitting cross-legged within was a withered, ragged figure in grey robes, his true form obscured by swirling grey mists, shrouded in profound mystery.

His eyes emitted a brilliant, piercing light, like two lanterns that could seize a soul.

"I have waited for four epochs. In the past, Buddha Shang dared to contest the throne of the Star Sea, only to narrowly lose to the Nine Sages by a single move. The Saint’s Mansion of the Star Sea remained as glorious as ever, while my Shang Sect fell into the abyss from that day forth..."

The grey-clad man’s voice was filled with a faint, weary regret. It seemed the lineage to which he belonged had once produced a supreme being who had clashed with the Nine Sages, nearly overturning the immortal order.

These words were staggering.

If they were to reach the Aether Universe, he would likely be dismissed as a madman! For since time immemorial, the majesty of the Nine Sages had been absolute; who would dare to profane or provoke them?

"The one foretold in the prophecy is finally coming."

"Walk across the ninety thousand meteor mountains, drink from the Tai’a River, kowtow to the head of Buddha Shang, inherit the mandate of heaven, and restore the glory of my Shang Sect."

The grey-clad man muttered, gazing at the nine tortoise shells for a long, long time until the divinations upon them faded and finally vanished. A flash of brilliance surged in his eyes as he stood up and bowed toward the depths of the ancient cave.

Looking closely, it was not the cave he was bowing to, but the meteor mountain itself.

Starting from this grey-blue meteor mountain where the man resided, it connected to the other ninety thousand, forming a mysterious, ancient path that stretched into the distance.

These ninety thousand meteor mountains had stood for far too long; almost no one knew their true origin. Most only knew that this place was filled with ancient ruins, opportunities, and possibilities.

It was rumored that successive Domain Lords had come here to explore, and even a Saint had once arrived, only to leave abruptly after discovering something midway.

"Wu Cang, the final disciple of the Shang Sect, swears by the path of the cosmos: today, I shall fulfill the ancestor's long-cherished wish."

At some unknown moment, an ancient stick of incense appeared in the man's hand. As it burned, curling smoke rose, and when it turned to ash, a ripple of will surged outward.

Boom.

The ancient cave filled with misty light, and the aura of the cosmic path manifested. Simultaneously, the grey-blue meteor mountain shuddered, as if a faint ray of light had flickered across it.

...

"Hmm?"

Inside the Hurricane World, a woman in white stood alone in the starry sky, her temperament ethereal and tranquil, when her beautiful eyes suddenly stirred.

"Was there an anomaly in that primordial meteor mountain just now?"

Her divine senses were keen. Currently stationed at the heart of the Heaven-Sealing Extinction Array, her consciousness covered hundreds of billions of miles, allowing her to perceive the state of the meteor mountains.

"Fairy Xia, how much longer must you delay? This array is not easy to comprehend; if you don't explain it quickly, when will we ever grasp it? I’ve agreed to help you eliminate your target, but I have other important matters to attend to."

On the other side of the array, the Daoist Yellow Toad yelled boisterously, picking his ear in boredom while his small, round eyes kept roving over her curvaceous and stunning figure.

"Yellow Toad, there is no need for such impatience; your enemy isn't going anywhere."

The boy Huozhu chuckled from the side: "In my opinion, it is your comprehension of the formation that is lacking. Fairy Xia has already stated the key points, and you still don't understand after all this time—who else can you blame?"

Daoist Yellow Toad snorted, "Even though I am a Domain Master, this kind of array cannot be mastered by merely cramming. Unlike you, Huozhu, who has studied it for years, I need to hear the explanation a few more times to grasp it."

Seeing this, Huozhu laughed, thinking that the toad’s real interest lay not in the array, but in seizing the chance to listen to Fairy Xia’s melodic voice.

Glancing faintly at the primordial meteor mountain, Xia withdrew her gaze and looked not far away.

Domain Master Guchu sat there, silently recuperating. A three-foot sword of rotted wood lay flat across his knees, his aura merged with heaven and earth, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

The Heaven-Sealing Extinction Array had three centers. Xia presided over one, Huozhu and Yellow Toad over the others, while Domain Master Guchu hid in the shadows, responsible for the ambush.

He would not strike easily, but when he did, it would be a pinnacle blow, thoroughly annihilating both body and soul.

"Did you not perceive it, sir?" Xia asked.

Guchu seemed to have known all along, saying calmly, "There is indeed a deity hiding within that primordial meteor mountain. The previous Domain Master stated that we should not disturb it and should focus on our own task."

Hearing this, a flash of light crossed Xia's beautiful eyes. She pondered for a moment and nodded.

"This world is full of ancient disasters and the void is turbulent, making it perfect for the Heaven-Sealing Extinction Array. I didn't expect a deity to be hidden here. I hope it does not become a variable..."

Half a day later, the Heaven-Sealing Extinction Array was successfully completed.

Over six hundred boundary stones floated with divine runic light, and profound array patterns circulated, forming a perfect void-sealing zone across trillions of miles of the star sector.

Hum...

An invisible wave, like a tidal ripple, spread from the center of the extinction array in all directions.

The billions of star-cultivators adventuring in the Hurricane World vaguely sensed something and looked up in confusion, but finding nothing, they continued their cautious exploration.

The Great Void Path now covered the entire Hurricane World, meaning that once anyone stepped inside, they could be shifted into the array at any moment.

With four Divine Lords presiding, even the strongest First Divine Lord of the Flower Sea could not easily break through.

"Tsk tsk, what a terrifying display."

Huozhu sighed, his frost-cold eyebrows knitting together. Looking down at the trillion-mile star sector, he felt the supreme murderous intent hidden within, which made even him feel a tremor of fear.

Objectively speaking, if he were to fall into this array, with the rotted wood sword lurking in the shadows, he would have a nine-in-ten chance of death.

"It's quite horrifying. In our Killing Alliance, I fear only a Ninth-Rank God-Slayer could claim a certain chance of escape," Daoist Yellow Toad said solemnly.

Having said that, he took another look at Xia.

Saying a Ninth-Rank God-Slayer would definitely escape was, strictly speaking, problematic. Yellow Toad had been treating Xia as an average Domain Master, and he had reached this conclusion by considering the capabilities of all parties involved.

But he knew nothing of Xia's true strength; she might possess hidden trump cards that could make it a perilous struggle even for a Ninth-Rank God-Slayer.

"It's excessive. Such a grand display to deal with a small fry who hasn't even reached the Light Realm—even I, a dignified Domain Master, don't get to enjoy such treatment."

Huozhu muttered. This killing trap was too ruthless. With three Domain Masters presiding and the hidden threat of Guchu’s rotted wood sword, who could survive this?

"If you want to enjoy it, why not ask Guchu to take your place and experience the array yourself?" Daoist Yellow Toad snorted mockingly.

"Wait quietly. I have already monitored the three entrances to the Hurricane World. As soon as that group arrives, I will shift them into the array for a clean and decisive execution."

Cold light flashed in Xia’s beautiful eyes. With a wave of her fair hand, three mirrors appeared, flowing with clear, water-like light and reflecting three different patches of the starry sky.

At the entrances, countless star-cultivators came and went, while starships and treasure vessels flew by incessantly.