Chapter 23: The Seal

Nong Zidao said, “This great formation is called the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation, a legendary formation. Although the Ji clan is only using a simplified human-grade version, it is definitely a top-tier human-grade formation, its power not to be underestimated—comparable to some earth-grade formations. If Uncle-Master Xu Li had charged in, he would only have been trapped inside. Fortunately, he didn’t…”

“That powerful?” Xu Li was startled.

A top-tier human-grade formation, comparable to some earth-grade formations? Xu Li knew well that the value of this formation alone might rival the dharma treasure seal in his hand.

“Brother Zidao, what should we do?”

“Just watch the Ji clan stall for time?”

The other Zifu cultivators asked anxiously, while Nong Zidao replied, “If I hadn’t gone in, I wouldn’t dare say. But I spent a long time inside the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation, deducing it, and I’ve gained some insights. Hmm… no rush. Let me first break the Black Mist Illusion Formation.”

Nong Zidao stepped forward, and Xu Li immediately followed. Among this group of Zifu cultivators, Nong Zidao was the most useful to him—a formation expert… he naturally had to ensure Nong Zidao’s safety.

“The Black Mist Illusion Formation is just an ordinary formation,” Nong Zidao said with a smile. “I had already figured out how to break it when I entered before, but just as I was about to, I was enveloped by the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation.”

“Mm.”

Nong Zidao looked at the black mist covering Oxhorn Mountain, scrutinizing it. “If I’m not mistaken, one of the formation flags is a hundred zhang ahead.” As he spoke, a whisk appeared in his hand. He swung it, and the three thousand white threads shot through the air, swiftly winding around.

Swoosh!

In an instant, a formation flag was coiled and pulled out. The black mist that had covered all of Oxhorn Mountain dissipated at once. Sunlight shone down on the mountain, where a black dragon coiled and entwined. The black dragon’s surface faintly emitted black nether qi, which spread only within the range of the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation—much smaller than the previous Black Mist Illusion Formation.

…

On Oxhorn Mountain.

Ji Ning, Ji Jiuhuo, and the others wore grim expressions. The moment they saw Nong Zidao appear, they knew trouble was coming. The Nong Zidao who had clearly escaped had returned. Having been inside the formation, he was experienced. Now, he had easily broken the Black Mist Illusion Formation from the outside.

“Why is Nong Zidao here?” Ji Jiuhuo’s eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness. “If not for Nong Zidao, even if Xu Li was powerful, once he entered the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation, he would be trapped and unable to get out.”

“Nong Zidao!”

“How could this be!” Every Ji clan member felt grief and anxiety.

Ji Ning also seethed with anger. Nong Zidao’s arrival was like adding wings to a tiger for Xu Li.

…

Nong Zidao and Xu Li both looked at the nether dragon in the distance on Oxhorn Mountain.

“That black dragon is the ‘Nether Dragon’ manifested by the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation,” Nong Zidao said.

“Nether Dragon.” Xu Li looked at the huge black dragon coiled around Oxhorn Mountain and nodded slightly.

Nong Zidao continued, “The Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation also has illusionary capabilities. The emanating aura is called ‘nether qi,’ and the area it covers is the illusion formation. To break the entire Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation… is too difficult. Even I don’t know when I could break it.”

Xu Li frowned. “You can’t break it either?”

“But just dealing with the nether qi is much simpler, and I have some methods,” Nong Zidao said with a smile. “Uncle-Master, don’t worry. The nether dragon and the nether qi are two parts. The nether dragon is for attack, while the nether qi traps enemies. Although I can’t break the entire formation, given some time and your assistance, I can make the nether qi disappear.”

Xu Li exclaimed in surprise, “The nether qi disappears? Without the illusion formation, if they rely on the nether dragon to fight me head-on, the Ji clan is doomed.”

Xu Li wasn’t afraid of a few Zifu cultivators; his earlier hesitation was due to his lack of confidence in formations.

“The Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation has five sub-formations, and the illusion formation is also divided into five parts,” Nong Zidao said. “Earlier, I went to the dragon claw formation and have fully understood the mysteries of the nether qi there. Tong Yu lacked the strength, but with your power, Uncle-Master, using this earth-grade dharma treasure seal, you can cut off the earth’s energy veins and dispel the nether qi.”

“Haha, excellent.” Xu Li was overjoyed.

Though an outsider, he understood that formations drew on the power of heaven and earth…

If a formation expert saw through the workings of the formation, they could disrupt its operation with some techniques in key places. Nong Zidao couldn’t cut off the nether dragon, but he could cut off the nether qi.

“Uncle-Master,” Nong Zidao said with a smile, “when we break the nether qi, the Ji clan will be forced to fight us head-on. With their weak strength, they’ll likely flee immediately. Our ultimate goal is to obtain the Ten Thousand Swords City vassal token from them. If they escape, it’ll be troublesome. So it’s best to set up a sealing formation around Oxhorn Mountain in advance.”

Xu Li nodded. “You’ve thought it through carefully.”

Swoosh!

Xu Li transformed into a streak of light and set up a large formation around the base of Oxhorn Mountain.

“Hummm—”

A light shield like clear water ripples appeared, a huge dome covering the entire mountain. Not only that, but the ground was also sealed by a similar shield.

Heaven and earth, all sealed!

This was a sealing formation!

…

On Oxhorn Mountain, Ji Ning, Ji Jiuhuo, and the others saw the huge light shield appear out of nowhere, completely isolating the mountain from the outside world. Every Ji clan member’s face turned grim.

“A sealing formation,” Ji Jiuhuo said hoarsely. “And personally set up by Xu Li. To break through it by force… one would need strength comparable to his.”

“Mm.” Shadow Mother’s eyes also held a look of resolve.

“We can’t get out,” Ji Liuzhen said softly. “Our strength is insufficient to break the sealing formation. We can’t even flee… So let’s fight. Fight this Wanxiang cultivator to the death!”

Ji Yichuan also nodded. “I thought we had survived this calamity, but a Wanxiang cultivator has come. For a Wanxiang cultivator to target our Ji clan, we can be proud.”

“Ji Ning, remember: once you engage Xu Li and sense danger, leave immediately,” Ji Jiuhuo said, looking at Ji Ning.

“You are our clan’s hope. Remember,” Shadow Mother also looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Liuzhen and the old servant A Xing looked at Ji Ning.

His father Ji Yichuan added, “Don’t be foolish.”

At this moment…

Ji Ning felt the resolve of his elders. The moment the sealing formation descended, the Ji clan had no retreat. Only he, with the Ten Thousand Li Evasion Talisman, could escape; the others had no way out.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded heavily.

“Xu Li!” Ji Ning looked down, through the nether qi at Xu Li and Nong Zidao in the distance, his eyes filled with killing intent. “Wanxiang cultivator? Let me see just how powerful a Wanxiang cultivator really is.” At this moment, Ji Ning’s deepest desire was to kill this Wanxiang cultivator who posed the greatest threat to his clan!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

…

At the foot of the mountain.

The sealing light shield enveloped them, and Xu Li, Nong Zidao, and the others were also inside it.

“There’s one more thing I need to remind you of, Uncle-Master,” Nong Zidao said.

“Oh?” Xu Li looked at him.

Nong Zidao continued, “The Ji clan has only a few Zifu cultivators; the rest are not worth worrying about. But there is one person to be wary of: the Ji clan’s prodigy, only sixteen years old—Ji Ning.”

“Sixteen? We need to be wary of him?” Xu Li was astonished, and the other Zifu cultivators were equally shocked.

“Mm.” Nong Zidao said solemnly, “His strength is terrifying. Earlier, when we nineteen Zifu cultivators and two Zifu spirit beasts entered… with our combined formation, we could contend with the nether dragon. The Ji clan couldn’t kill us. But then Ji Ning struck, and his strength was overwhelming.”

“Many of our fellow disciples, including Senior Brother Tong Yu, died at Ji Ning’s hands,” Nong Zidao said.

“He’s only sixteen and killed Tong Yu?” Xu Li’s eyes widened.

Even the entire Snow Dragon Mountain had no such prodigy!

The other Zifu cultivators were dumbfounded.

Could such a prodigy appear in a native tribe like the Ji clan?

“You’ll see when you meet him,” Nong Zidao said gravely. “Ji Ning cultivates both qi and divine body refinement, and he is exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, having even comprehended the ‘Dao Domain.’”

“Dao Domain!” Xu Li’s heart clenched.

He, a Wanxiang cultivator, had not yet reached the level of ‘Dao Domain’ in his understanding of the Dao. The other Zifu cultivators were completely stunned. Dao Domain? It was far beyond them. Sixteen? A Dao Domain at sixteen? Was this real?

“His Dao Domain is a Rainwater Domain,” Nong Zidao said. “Once rain falls, be careful—it means Ji Ning is about to strike.”

“Mm.” Xu Li nodded.

He considered himself a Wanxiang cultivator with an earth-grade dharma treasure and high cultivation, confident he surpassed this prodigy. But the fact that the other had comprehended a Dao Domain was enough to make him take the threat seriously.

“Also, I only escaped earlier thanks to a Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman,” Nong Zidao said. “This Ji Ning makes me uneasy. If he fights you, Uncle-Master, and then uses some means against me, it could be dangerous. So I’d like to borrow a Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman from you to ensure my safety. That way, I’ll have the confidence to enter the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation and safely investigate the nether qi’s flow to cut off the energy veins.”

Xu Li hesitated briefly.

Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman?

This talisman was a life-saving item, extremely precious. Although he was a Wanxiang cultivator, the sect had only granted him one, and he had later traded for two more with treasures. Each Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman was very valuable—though against certain fearsome opponents or in special places, even they might not ensure escape.

But for typical Wanxiang-level fights, a Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman was usually enough to flee.

“Alright, I’ll lend you one.” Xu Li nodded. He understood that without lending it, Nong Zidao, who had just escaped a great calamity, would not enter again.

Taking the Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman, Nong Zidao’s confidence surged. He said confidently, “Uncle-Master, rest assured. Ji Ning fought Tong Yu for a long time before killing him only when Tong Yu’s divine power was exhausted… This time, with you accompanying me, we will surely annihilate the entire Ji clan and seize the vassal token.”

“Good.” Xu Li nodded with a smile.

“Come, let’s go in together.” Xu Li’s gaze swept over the other Zifu cultivators.

The remaining seven Zifu cultivators exchanged glances but dared not refuse. They followed Xu Li and Nong Zidao toward the nether qi emanating from the huge nether dragon in the distance. Soon, the group entered the range of the nether qi.

…