Only a evil cultivator would set up such a cruel formation in the mortal realm. Jian Dan's expression darkened as she quickly ran through her options. This array couldn't be allowed to continue functioning.
"Young friend, don't try to break it by force. With your current cultivation, it's beyond your ability."
A young monk stood not far from them, dressed in gray robes. His clean-shaven head gleamed under the light, a string of burn scars clearly visible. He was a Buddhist cultivator, his aura already at the early stage of Golden Core.
"Greetings, Master." All four bowed in the Buddhist fashion.
"No need for formality," the monk replied with a calm smile. "I am Luo Kong of the Buddhist Sect. I arrived here three days ago but have been unable to break the formation. I've already sent a message for support from my sect."
"I'm afraid we don't have that much time," Jian Dan replied, frowning.
"This formation is viciously designed. If we forcefully break it, the azure dragon inside will be released. If we fail to contain it, it will bring devastation to all living things nearby. But if we don't act, then by midnight tomorrow, the array will fully take shape. The dragon will have devoured all the trapped souls by then and will manifest into the real world, becoming a weapon for the one who created it."
"Amitābha," Luo Kong murmured solemnly. "This is the Azure Dragon Blood Ritual. The cultivator who created it is likely in the Nascent Soul stage."
"When the Azure Dragon rises, it scours the heavens and earth. Yang energy surges, and all evil is swept away. But this formation—once completed—turns that sacred power into slaughter. Especially in the mortal world, there will be no stopping it once it's triggered."
"With blood and soul as offerings, the array will continue feeding on flesh and spirit, and the dragon it births will only grow stronger. By then, we'll lose all control."
"Quite knowledgeable, aren't you, little girl?"
A man in light gray robes layered with a white cloak strolled lazily out of the woods near the village entrance.
"Amitābha. Daoist Yan, I trust you've been well?" Luo Kong greeted him without emotion.
"Luo Kong, what brings you here to join the fun?" Yan Su gave a half-hearted salute.
Jian Dan instantly saw through him. This man was a demon cultivator, his cultivation no lower than Luo Kong's. His sickly pale skin and smiling eyes might seem gentle, but he radiated danger beneath the surface.
As the one in charge, He Jintang now found himself with a headache. What was supposed to be a simple recon mission had somehow attracted a Buddhist cultivator, a demon cultivator, and both of them were stronger than his entire group. He was starting to wonder whether the mission was even still salvageable.
In the end, all he could do was turn to Jian Dan. Among them, her cultivation was the highest, and this was her homeland—her judgment mattered most.
Jian Dan didn't hesitate. She bowed to both cultivators and stated clearly, "Seniors, we can't break this array with brute force. But I will attempt to open a gap. As for containing the dragon and freeing the trapped souls—"
"I'll take care of binding the dragon," Yan Su said, smiling with narrowed eyes.
"I can temporarily hold the souls," Luo Kong added, "and find a way to guide them into the cycle of reincarnation later."
"Thank you, Seniors," Jian Dan said with a respectful nod.
She then gathered her companions and spoke plainly, "I'm going to break through to Golden Core here. You three will protect me."
"You're insane," Kong Yu blurted out.
"Senior Sister Shan, this is the mortal realm. The spiritual energy here is so thin it's practically nonexistent. How can you form a Golden Core like this?" Cao Chenfeng asked.
"It's unwise," he added flatly.
"I know. But it's the most direct method. Only the dual-nine heavenly tribulation triggered by a Golden Core breakthrough has a chance of destroying the array."
"And if it doesn't work?" He Jintang asked.
"Then we work together with the seniors to defend Luoxia Village and wait for reinforcements."
"Fine," he said at last.
"Then let's begin."
Jian Dan didn't waste another word. She sat down cross-legged at the village entrance. The others had no choice but to take up formation around her and stand guard.
She wasn't entirely sure she could do this. But she had to try.
This was the true homeland of Shan Yunzu. She couldn't allow the souls of her people to be trapped inside this formation, devoured, and turned into fuel. They deserved peace in death.
Jian Dan cleared her mind and began stacking a wall of spirit stones around her, burying herself almost entirely in a mountain of lower-grade stones.
After all, she'd robbed enough bandits and cultivators on her journey here. She had more than enough spirit stones—though she dared not bring out any top-grade ones. Not while two Golden Core experts were watching. Better to rely on quantity than quality.
The three guarding her felt they'd truly broadened their horizons today. It was the first time any of them had seen someone attempt to form a Golden Core using only low-grade spirit stones.
Jian Dan held one spirit stone in each hand, but secretly she was also letting spiritual spring water flow into her mouth. It transformed into purified spiritual power and coursed through her meridians. The Primordial Chaos Art moved through a full cycle, drawing energy into her dantian. On the Yang side of the Taiji diagram, her core solidified. Then the power transitioned to the Yin side, forming a liquid core at the center.
"Bold, isn't she?" Yan Su said with a smirk. "She's not even worried the backlash from insufficient energy might ruin her foundation."
"This young cultivator has true courage," Luo Kong replied, rotating his prayer beads slowly. "I believe she can succeed."
Now completely surrounded by spiritual energy, Jian Dan was silent. The spirit stone wall around her had turned to powder as the qi was drained away. At last, a single drop of energy solidified within the Yin side of the Taiji core.
It formed into a perfect Golden Core, flashing with five-colored light.
Jian Dan opened her eyes sharply and spoke to the three around her, "Move!"
At the same moment, dark clouds gathered overhead. Winds howled. Thunder rolled across the heavens.
Without warning, a violet bolt of lightning descended from the sky.
Jian Dan didn't flinch. Still seated atop the Azure Dragon Blood Ritual, she let the lightning strike her. Its energy coursed through her meridians, tempering her body. Then it surged toward her dantian and slammed into her newly formed Golden Core.