Chapter 9 Ji Ning! Ji Ning!

"With the Bixia Formation, we can definitely block them." The Violetgrass Celestial Immortal urgently transmitted, "Let's attack too, fight him, kill him!"

While the Tonghe Celestial Immortal was executing his sword technique, the eighteen Celestial Immortals simultaneously activated their own magic treasures. At this moment, they deployed the 'Bixia Formation', merging their dharma power into one, causing their strength to soar once more. Each Celestial Immortal could now unleash power comparable to what Ji Ning had before he was wreathed in karmic fire.

In midair, a dazzling array of colors appeared. Various magic treasures and spells, like a swarm of meteors, streaked across the sky, attacking the Tonghe Celestial Immortal.

"The five elements as root, the Supreme Ultimate as guide—this is the Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm." The Tonghe Celestial Immortal's eyes shone with tangible divine light, his voice clear and resonant. At the same time, the enormous Absolute Annihilation Sword in the sky began to press downward. The moment it descended... the Supreme Ultimate cloud cluster above and the five-element light pillars in the distance instantly connected with it.

In an instant, a sword realm spanning a hundred li took shape!

The Absolute Annihilation Sword rapidly pressed down, and the sword realm shrank swiftly, contracting from a hundred li to ten li in an instant, colliding with the magic treasures and spells unleashed by the eighteen Celestial Immortals.

"Bang bang bang~~~"

A series of rumbling sounds.

The Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm trembled slightly, seeming to weaken.

But the distant Tonghe Celestial Immortal merely urged his celestial dharma power, and the moving five-element light pillars and Supreme Ultimate cloud cluster once again surged with power, pouring into the 'Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm', restoring its might.

"Our combined attack can't break through. This Tonghe Celestial Immortal's ultimate technique is actually this kind of sword realm attack. There's no escape; it truly makes one despair. No wonder he's called the Absolute Sword Immortal." The eighteen Celestial Immortals changed color. Although each of their magic treasures and spells had greatly increased in power, their attacks were scattered and chaotic, unable to叠加 with each other, so they were firmly blocked by the Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm.

The Absolute Annihilation Sword pressed down rapidly!

The entire sword realm shrank madly, soon crushing down onto the enormous 'Bixia'.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals also frantically urged their celestial dharma power, making the Bixia Formation even more stable. The Bixia Formation was originally the best defensive formation, and these eighteen Celestial Immortals were also relying on it.

"Boom~~~" Accompanied by a thunderous roar.

The Absolute Annihilation Sword stabbed into the Bixia's turtle shell.

The runes on the Bixia's surface swirled, resisting with all its might.

"Hmm?" The Tonghe Celestial Immortal's expression changed slightly.

"We blocked it, we blocked it."

"Haha, after all, he's just a Celestial Immortal. Even if his techniques are more powerful, he's only close to a Pure Yang True Immortal."

"Breaking this Bixia Formation—how could it be that easy?"

The eighteen Celestial Immortals were suddenly full of confidence.

"Descend." The Tonghe Celestial Immortal pointed from afar, once again executing the 'Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm', intending to break the enemy's defensive formation through repeated strikes.

...

Watching the battle scene in the distance, the Tonghe Celestial Immortal, using the Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm, completely suppressed the side of the Palace of Nothingness. The Palace of Nothingness side had strong defenses, but their offensive means could not harm the Tonghe Celestial Immortal at all.

"The situation is completely under Senior Tonghe's control." The Diancai Immortal smiled, "It's truly formidable. Senior Tonghe's sword strike perfectly integrates the mysteries of the Supreme Ultimate Dao and the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, forming this sword technique. I'm afraid even a Pure Yang True Immortal might not have such a powerful technique."

Ji Ning nodded.

For a Celestial Immortal to have strength close to a Pure Yang True Immortal required a high level of Dao attainment and even stronger execution. This 'Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm' was probably a perfect combination of several Daos. Although none of the Daos were fully realized, this perfect fusion was already comparable to sword techniques created after completely comprehending a 'Dao'.

"Look!" Yu Wei beside him suddenly changed expression.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning's expression also changed.

In the distance, the eighteen Celestial Immortals who had formed the Bixia Formation all withdrew their magic treasures, and around them began to appear cyan runes. Gritting their teeth, the eighteen Celestial Immortals exerted all their strength. Soon, countless threads flew out, spreading throughout the entire 'Bixia Formation'. From the tail of the Bixia's turtle shell emerged a giant cyan serpent. In an instant, the turtle and serpent coiled together, their aura clearly surging.

"Turtle and serpent?"

"Black Tortoise!"

Ji Ning, Yu Wei, the Diancai Immortal, and even the Tonghe Celestial Immortal all changed expression greatly.

The turtle and serpent held a special status in the Three Realms. Every qi refiner, upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, would form a 'Turtle-Serpent Nascent Soul'. The Black Tortoise... was a truly powerful existence in the ancient Pangu World, now known as the illustrious 'Black Tortoise Great Emperor'. This Turtle-Serpent Coiling Formation was far more profound and complex than the Bixia Formation.

"The Bixia Formation has extremely strong defense. This Turtle-Serpent Formation is an improvement based on the Bixia Formation." The Tonghe Celestial Immortal understood upon seeing the other side deploy the Turtle-Serpent Formation, "The Turtle-Serpent Formation possesses defense comparable to the Bixia Formation, while also having extremely strong offense."

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

The giant cyan serpent that had been coiled there suddenly shot out, opening its massive maw. In an instant, the serpent's body swelled, its head becoming a hundred li in size, as if it would swallow the entire world. The Tonghe Celestial Immortal hurriedly used the Absolute Annihilation Sword to block, but the serpent's head seemed illusory, swallowing even the Tonghe Celestial Immortal in one gulp. The Tonghe Celestial Immortal quickly controlled the Absolute Annihilation Sword to transform into six sword beams, returning to his side to protect him.

"What!"

"This, this..." The Diancai Immortal and Yu Wei were both shocked.

"Swallowing Heaven?" Ji Ning frowned. This was an innate ability of the Black Tortoise Great Emperor. That this Turtle-Serpent Formation could also execute it showed that the creator of this formation had evolved it to a level very close to the true turtle and serpent.

"The Turtle-Serpent Formation: the turtle formation focuses on defense, the serpent formation on offense." The Violetgrass Celestial Immortal and the other eighteen Celestial Immortals were extremely pleased. The turtle formation's defense was actually equivalent to the Bixia Formation. This formation was indeed perfect, with astonishing power. However, executing it was extremely difficult; the eighteen top-tier Celestial Immortals could barely manage it.

"Kill!"

The Tonghe Celestial Immortal, completely trapped inside the cyan serpent's body, once again executed the 'Absolute Annihilation Sword Realm', this time within the serpent's belly. Inside the cyan serpent's body, another serpent head appeared, attacking madly. The serpent head appeared and disappeared, mysterious and unpredictable, causing the Tonghe Celestial Immortal to be in a sorry state, seemingly unable to hold out much longer.

"Once the Turtle-Serpent Formation is deployed, all below Heavenly Gods and True Immortals are swept away." The Violetgrass Celestial Immortal and the others were all confident.

...

"It's over."

"This Turtle-Serpent Formation—even the Tonghe Celestial Immortal can't break it. The cyan serpent's attacks are even more bizarre and unpredictable." The Diancai Immortal, standing on the walls of Anchan City, showed a look of despair. Yu Wei's face was also pale. They were powerless. Seeing the might of the coiled turtle and serpent, they understood the gap was too great.

It would probably take a true Heavenly God or True Immortal to break it.

"Damn it." Ji Ning's expression changed as he watched. He could see that the Tonghe Celestial Immortal wouldn't last much longer.

"Swoosh."

Ji Ning immediately activated the Ninefold Wind Annihilation divine ability and flew into the distance.

"Ji Ning!" The Diancai Immortal's expression changed drastically, "Ji Ning, don't go! Stop!"

"Junior apprentice-brother." Yu Wei also panicked, even trying to manipulate the formation to affect Ji Ning and intercept him.

But Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and the Diancai Immortal were all familiar with this formation's restrictions. They had even left their own imprints on the formation's core. Ji Ning, the three of them, and the Tonghe Celestial Immortal could all control it. This formation could intercept others but could not intercept Ji Ning.

"Junior apprentice-brother, this formation is extremely powerful. Even the Tonghe Celestial Immortal is no match for it. Don't be reckless." Yu Wei urgently transmitted with her mind.

"Disciple, I order you to come back." The Diancai Immortal was even more anxious.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The two, both anxious, flew directly out of the city walls, chasing after Ji Ning.

Although they believed in Ji Ning's strength, they had just witnessed the terror of the Turtle-Serpent Formation. In terms of defense, even the Tonghe Celestial Immortal's strongest sword strike couldn't break it. In terms of offense, the cyan serpent was mysterious and unpredictable, even able to swallow the world itself. The Tonghe Celestial Immortal was about to die. If Ji Ning were also trapped inside the cyan serpent, wouldn't he surely die?

"Swoosh." Ji Ning didn't stop at all.

"Ji Ning, the cyan serpent of the Turtle-Serpent Formation is clearly best at binding. Your body is invulnerable like a magic treasure, but it just happens to counter you. If you go, you'll die!" Yu Wei was frantically flying toward Ji Ning, chasing after him, but with the Ninefold Wind Annihilation divine ability, Ji Ning's speed was far beyond what Yu Wei could match.

By then, Ji Ning had already reached the Turtle-Serpent Formation.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals of the Palace of Nothingness were fully controlling the Turtle-Serpent Formation, intending to kill the Tonghe Celestial Immortal. At this moment, they also noticed Ji Ning flying over.

"Ji Ning?"

"He dares to come even after seeing our Turtle-Serpent Formation?" The eighteen Celestial Immortals were all astonished.

"Good that he's come. Let's first go all out with the serpent formation to kill the Tonghe Celestial Immortal. Once he's dead, we'll kill Ji Ning! Pick them off one by one! As for Ji Ning... the turtle formation will be enough to block him." The Violetgrass Celestial Immortal transmitted.

"Yes." The other seventeen Celestial Immortals agreed.

After all, if they had to deal with both Ji Ning and the Tonghe Celestial Immortal simultaneously, it would be very taxing. So they ignored Ji Ning for now, focusing on killing the Tonghe Celestial Immortal first. Then dealing with Ji Ning would be much easier. Besides, the Turtle-Serpent Formation's defense was comparable to the Bixia Formation.

Whoosh!

The moment Ji Ning appeared, his right hand formed a sword finger. Whoosh! The sword finger instantly swelled to a thousand zhang, like a giant sword spanning heaven and earth, with a silver-white gleam on its edge. In that instant, Ji Ning had activated the fourth turn of the Star Picking Hand, pouring all his heart force into the sword finger.

Star Picking Hand, Sword Force, Heart Force—all deployed!

"Junior apprentice-brother."

"Ji Ning." Yu Wei and the Diancai Immortal were flying desperately toward him, watching anxiously.

"Whoosh~~~"

The giant sword finger descended with unfathomable might.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals only changed expression when the sword finger touched the formation, but it was too late. Riiip~~~ The Turtle-Serpent Formation could not withstand Ji Ning's terrifying sword finger; it was torn apart directly. As the thousand-zhang sword finger swept through, the Celestial Immortals were like mountains colliding. In that instant, six Celestial Immortals died!

"This..." The surviving Celestial Immortals, including the Violetgrass Celestial Immortal, were stunned, "Impossible! This Turtle-Serpent Formation is invincible below Heavenly Gods and True Immortals."

True, normally, with this Turtle-Serpent Formation, they were indeed invincible below Heavenly Gods and True Immortals.

But Ji Ning was different.

When Ji Ning fought the Shaoyin clan, he was already at the peak of Celestial Immortals. Later, in the Extinction Domain, he broke through to the seventeenth level of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens. With just the breakthrough in divine power, he had combat power close to a Pure Yang True Immortal, on par with the Tonghe Celestial Immortal.

Moreover, Ji Ning's heart force had reached the third level, and he possessed Sword Force.

The third-level heart force consumed one-fifteenth of its total in an instant, adding astonishing power. Coupled with Sword Force, Ji Ning, who was already close to a Pure Yang True Immortal, made a leap, reaching the true Heavenly God or True Immortal level in attack power.

The Violetgrass Celestial Immortal and the others stared at the distant Ji Ning in terror, completely stunned by that sword finger. The power of that sword finger was too terrifying. They immediately began to flee, losing all will to resist. But at that moment, Ji Ning shouted, "Three Heads, Six Arms!"

Whoosh.

Where there had been only one sword finger, now six sword fingers pierced through the void, attacking.

...