A simple and ancient cauldron flew into the thirty-third heaven, emanating boundless creation energy towards the Primordial World, stabilizing the void and suppressing the land.
The five sacred beasts of the Five Directions and Five Extremes also awakened from their slumber, suppressing the primal origins of the five worlds.
Two saints engaged in battle, yet it required numerous other saints to stabilize the heavens and earth, the simultaneous appearance of the Five Directions' sacred beasts, and the protection of various great powers and ancestors over nodal points of the world, just to prevent its utter destruction.
The price paid was indeed not insignificant.
Sensing the changes in the outside world, the two saints within the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation involuntarily reduced their power, lest they truly shatter the world and bear infinite karma.
Once their power waned, Yuanshi dared not attack recklessly, and Tongtian could no longer act with abandon. However, the countless disciples of the Jie Sect had no such reservations.
Tongtian's Green Bamboo Sword, a supreme treasure of annihilation, danced with unparalleled grace. Yuanshi, no longer wielding the Pangu Banner, held only the White Jade Ruyi scepter, with the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner above his head emitting strands of profound yellow energy to shield him.
The Five Directional Flags were all top-tier defensive treasures, with the Apricot Yellow Banner being the most adept at defense among them. In Yuanshi's hands, even Tongtian's peerless sword energy found it difficult to penetrate such a defensive artifact.
The White Jade Ruyi scepter stirred up vast seas of clouds, ten thousand acres of white clouds enveloping the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. Each swing and flick unleashed the destructive might of a saint.
Yuanshi, after a brief survey of the great formation, chuckled, "I am fully aware of this formation's intricacies. We shall decide its fate once my elder brother arrives!"
With that, he prepared to withdraw.
Tongtian's voice deepened, "Since you have entered the formation, do not think of leaving."
Saying this, Tongtian raised his sword and slashed. The killing intent of the four Immortal Slaying swords surged like a tide—Immortal Slaying for sharpness, Trapping Immortal for brilliance, Exterminating Immortal for finality, and Absolute Immortal for demise. The primal demonic might of the four swords descended from the heavens, converging once more in the celestial void into a primordial sword light, slashing towards Yuanshi.
Seeing this, Yuanshi brought out the Pangu Banner again, unleashing primordial sword energy. The two primordial forces collided. The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation suddenly activated, its boundless immortal light merging with the primordial sword light. At that moment, it was as if the lord of chaos and demons, shattering the primordial void!
Yuanshi was startled and hurriedly released the Apricot Yellow Banner to shield himself.
The primordial sword light shattered the Pangu Banner's primordial sword energy and slashed directly at Yuanshi.
At this precise moment, a five-colored divine light appeared above the Immortal Slaying Sword. The earth-yellow divine light within it flared brilliantly, sweeping towards the Apricot Yellow Banner.
Yuanshi, unconcerned, ignited the golden lamps above his head. Profound golden light blazed infinitely, protecting the Apricot Yellow Banner.
Tongtian, however, delivered another strike. The Green Bamboo Sword swept away a thousand lamps, and the five-colored divine light flashed. The Apricot Yellow Banner vanished.
Yuanshi froze for a moment, then said, "A fine son of Yuan Feng! I shall deal with you once I leave this formation."
Tongtian replied, "I fear you will not be able to leave."
Yuanshi Tianzun chuckled, "Do you perhaps have some other trick up your sleeve?"
Tongtian gestured, and an object flew from Purple Bamboo Cliff, known as the Six Souls Banner. He then planted this banner on the altar and calmly stated, "The Six Souls Banner, a treasure that slaughters souls and annihilates spirits."
Yuanshi, upon hearing this, chuckled, "Do you truly believe this can affect my saintly primordial spirit?"
Tongtian calmly retorted, "Combined with my own primordial spirit, the Three Pure Ones were once one."
"This is mutual destruction!" Yuanshi exclaimed in alarm. While the Three Pure Ones appeared independent, their fundamental spirits and souls were ultimately deeply intertwined. If Tongtian were to unhesitatingly sacrifice his own primordial spirit, there was indeed a significant chance of gravely wounding him.
Tongtian remained silent for a moment before saying, "I will not let you leave the formation. There are few places that can isolate a saint's primordial spirit and will, but the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is one such place."
Yuanshi's face turned pale, and his tone finally grew cold, "What do you intend to do?"
Tongtian turned away, unwilling to look at Yuanshi, "Since this is a matter of the disciples' grievances, let them resolve it."
Tongtian shifted aside, his four avatars transforming into the gates of the four Immortal Slaying swords to guard them. The Six Souls Banner stood in the center of the altar. The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation merged with the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. Tongtian's figure vanished, and another white figure appeared.
"Greetings, Uncle-Master."
Yuanshi's expression turned grim, "How did you come to be here?"
The white-robed woman remained expressionless and did not answer his question, merely saying, "Yunxiao wishes to seek guidance from Uncle-Master."
The Nine Bends Yellow River roared, ten thousand mystic paths of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation converged, the primal demonic power of the four Immortal Slaying swords descended, and today, one saint is sealed.
Tongtian exited the formation, a sense of desolation in his heart. It was not that he could not outwit Yuanshi, but rather that he was unwilling to scheme and plot. However, this did not mean he would forever be outmaneuvered.
Tongtian looked up towards the distant horizon, where purple energy surged from the east, vast and unfathomable. He let out a low chuckle, "Elder Brother, you have arrived."
Laozi rode his green ox to Jie Pai Pass and glanced at the terrifying Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, saying, "Tongtian, cease your actions."
"I will cease, but not now." Tongtian shook his head, a hint of sadness in his voice, "Elder Brother, are you also here to attack me?"
Though he asked, his tone was already one of certainty.
Laozi's heart felt a pang of guilt, but he did not show it. He dismounted his ox. The void beneath his feet rippled like a lake, and with the benevolence of water, a tide surged forth, rolling towards Tongtian.
Tongtian once again drew his Green Bamboo Sword. Sword qi sliced through the air, carving away thirty thousand miles of weak water. The Green Bamboo floated on the water, a single green leaf giving rise to ten thousand lotuses. Ten thousand sword lotuses bloomed at the water's edge. The water remained undisturbed, the sword edge sharp, the green lotuses deadly.
A golden bridge rose beneath Laozi's feet, impervious to all laws and eternally supreme, gazing afar alone.
At this moment, Laozi's gaze flickered, and he shouted, "What are you doing?" The disciples of the Chan Sect in front of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation were about to enter.
Hearing Laozi's reprimand, the Antarctic Immortal翁 led the others in a bow, "We implore Elder Uncle-Master to grant our wish! Our Master is trapped before us; as disciples, how can we stand idly by and hide behind our elders?"
Laozi shook his head, "Entering the formation in such a manner is akin to moths flying into a flame. Alas, the bond of master and disciple, the flowing water of Sangshui."
Heaven's will is like a knife, so changeable. Since this is the case, you may go."
"Many thanks for your fulfillment, Uncle-Master!"
The Antarctic Immortal翁 led the Twelve Golden Immortals in thanks, then bowed to Tongtian as juniors before entering the formidable immortal-demon array filled with killing intent.
The Twelve Golden Immortals were no longer the formidable figures of their prime. Their cultivation and magical powers had long since dissipated within the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, along with their three flowers and five qi. Now, they were merely Da Luo cultivators sustained by a golden core, but their hearts remained unchanged, their respect for their master unwavering.
Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the Jie Sect's myriad immortals vibrated the altar. Formation flags moved like a weaving loom, a thousand formations and a hundred formations lit up, and the killing intent of the ten thousand absolute formations surged towards the heavens.
The Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect feared the primordial demonic might, but they could overcome their fear, fighting for their master. They feared death for themselves and were cunning for personal gain, but for their master, they were brave, never forgetting their original intentions.
Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, countless immortals, their gazes like stars, defied fate. This was in accordance with the teachings of the Jie Sect, to slay the Chan Sect to overcome their own tribulation.
Outside the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the Golden Immortals displayed a sense of tragic heroism, yet felt no fear. They followed heaven's will and their master's decree, in accordance with the teachings of the Chan Sect, to use killing to end killing, to save themselves and their destinies.
Within and without the formation, they were enemies. They had ten thousand reasons to love each other, but only one reason to be enemies.
Laozi watched Tongtian in silence and said, "After heaven's will is like a knife, do you know what comes next, junior brother?"
Tongtian smiled faintly, "The human heart is unfathomable."
"Indeed, the human heart is unfathomable, as is fate and time." Laozi looked up at the sky, a cold glint in his eyes.