Within the Ten Absolute Heavenly Lamps lie ten desolate regions, sensing the Great Perceptions of heaven, earth, life, death, water, fire, wind, cold, light, and soul, thereby forming a grand array.
Thus, the lamps are named "Ten Absolute," capable of observing the grand tendencies of ten directions and comprehending ten types of calamities.
The Ten Absolute Heavenly Lamps hang high atop the Jianmu tree, and from them emerge the Ten Absolute Regions, which form the foundation of the ten great arrays, bringing them to their full power!
Qing Ling still had not opened her eyes, but her voice resonated across a million miles.
"I request Envoy Bai Xian to enter and preside over the Heavenly Absolute Array!"
Bai Xian was startled. To sense their profound Dao auras and hear their voices from a million miles away indicated a divine ability far beyond the ordinary.
However, he did not refuse. He had come precisely to assist with the array, and would naturally not display arrogance towards a powerful being of heaven and earth.
After offering a distant salute, Bai Xian turned and entered the Heavenly Absolute Array.
The others watched as the Heavenly Absolute Array surged with ethereal energy, a vast clear light sweeping through the void, shifting heaven and earth. Within it, three banners arose, arranged according to the three powers, and the clear energy entered, solidifying the chaotic heavenly mechanisms.
"I request fellow Daoist Shan Kun to enter and preside over the Earth's Fury Array!"
The ancient ape Shan Kun immediately leaped into the Earth's Fury Array. Within the array, the sounds of thunder and fire roared, shaking the earth, and yellow earth churned endlessly.
"I request Envoy Qing Feng to enter and preside over the Wind Roar Array!"
"I request Envoy Han Ji to enter and preside over the Ice Array!"
"I request Envoy Zhu Xue to enter and preside over the Blood Transformation Array!"
"I request Envoy Chi Yan to enter and preside over the Blazing Flame Array!"
"I request Envoy Chi Miao to enter and preside over the Crimson Water Array!"
"I request fellow Daoist Hei Wen to enter and preside over the Fallen Soul Array!"
"I request fellow Daoist Ju Wu to enter and preside over the Red Sand Array!"
Finally, Granny Hua Geng stepped into the Golden Light Array.
Once the ten Great Luo Golden Immortals had entered their respective arrays, the Ten Directional Grand Arrays simultaneously cast their brilliance across the heavens. Ten million snake soldiers roared, and ten billion fierce beasts bellowed incessantly. Endless malevolent energy enveloped the Eastern Wilderness, forming a shield of malevolence that protected all ten directions.
Qing Ling smiled faintly and projected her voice southward, "All you of the Phoenix Clan, if you wish to take the Eastern Wilderness, come and try. I, Qing Xuan Dao Master, have set up the Ten Absolute Grand Array here to welcome you!"
Her voice amplified immensely, like the roar of heaven and earth, scattering countless birds and sending them fleeing in panic.
At this moment, on Mount Tian Jun, Chong Ming asked with a troubled expression, "Senior, what should we do now? With my strength alone, how can I break through the Eastern Wilderness?"
Hong Jun's good corpse sighed, "Your clan's Holy King should not have underestimated your opponents. However, now that the Qing Xuan Dao Master is unable to act, why should you fear ten powerful beings with your own might as a heaven and earth mighty one?
You can try. If the Qing Xuan Dao Master makes a move, I will save you."
Chong Ming gritted his teeth inwardly upon hearing this.
The mere presence of the Qing Xuan Dao Master, even if they did nothing, was enough to send shivers down his spine. How could he possibly have the courage to break the array?
His past imprisonment within the Luosheng Flower had left too deep an impression, a shadow that lingered his entire life.
Qing Ling was the insurmountable obstacle, the lifelong shadow in his heart.
"What if the Dragon Clan intervenes?"
Hong Jun's good corpse shook his head, "They will not. The Dragon Clan cannot divert its attention to the Eastern Wilderness at present. These seven Dragon Envoys are their last assistance, and the strongest among them, the Golden Dragon Envoy, is missing.
If you delay in conquering the Eastern Wilderness, and instead advance into the Eastern Sea's great Dao, there will be those within the Phoenix Clan who will hold you accountable."
Chong Ming hardened his heart and said in a deep voice, "Then have Senior provide support, and I shall go and test it myself!"
Outside the Ten Absolute Array, a multitude of flying birds approached.
Behind Chong Ming followed four Great Luo Golden Immortals, all vassals of the Phoenix Clan.
The malevolent energy of the Ten Absolute Array billowed towards the sky, its killing intent boundless, so much so that even ignorant birds dared not approach.
On Jianmu, Qing Ling closed her eyes and smiled, "Why have you returned? Have you gained confidence in my array?"
Chong Ming's heart trembled slightly, but his expression remained composed. "Daoist, you overestimate yourself. I may not be your match, but ten Great Luo Golden Immortals should not be too difficult for me."
"Oh? So you are determined to enter the array?" Qing Ling said. "You said it yourself, so that the elders of the Phoenix Clan will not accuse me of bullying the young."
Chong Ming's expression showed a fleeting anger, which then vanished. He turned his gaze towards the Ten Absolute Array, his mysterious twin pupils piercing into the depths of the formation.
Chong Ming examined it for a long time. With the illumination of the Ten Absolute Heavenly Lamps and the power of the heaven and earth augmented, even his Chong Ming Divine Eyes, capable of discerning all laws, struggled to fathom its secrets.
After a prolonged inspection, he could only discern one detail – the Red Sand Array, presided over by Ju Wu, the weakest among the ten!
Chong Ming transmitted his voice for a while before speaking loudly, "Feng Xia, go and probe the strength of this Red Sand Array. Remember, act as I instruct!"
A woman dressed in red nodded, stepped forward, and said coldly, "Feng Xia has come to break the array!"
Ju Wu transmitted from within the array, "Fellow Daoist, please enter!"
Feng Xia, seeing that the other party remained motionless, let out a cold snort and barged into the great array.
She was clad in the Feng Xia Divine Robe, a seven-colored treasure pearl adorned her head, and she trod upon a thousand clouds of mist. In her left hand, she held a Flowing Cloud Treasure Fan, and in her right, a Phoenix Flame Long Sword. Her defenses were impenetrable, indicating a powerful being with extensive combat experience.
As Feng Xia entered the array, she was met by a sky full of flying red sand. Each grain and particle of red sand was imbued with killing intent, darkening the heavens and earth, and creating a storm of flying sand and rocks, rendering vision impossible.
Ju Wu and the other nine were already in the array, having received Qing Ling's instructions and grasped the array's secrets.
Standing on the high platform of the array, he observed that the entrant was a master of the eighth level of Great Luo Golden Immortal. Not daring to be careless, he boomed his voice to all corners of the great array.
"A pinch of red sand holds infinite power, a profound technique within the Eight Trigram furnace. All-encompassing, it gathers into one, and one knows the Primordial Chaos within the array.
Since fellow Daoist has entered, do not hope to leave!"
Feng Xia chuckled, "Your tone is rather boastful. I shall have to experience it for myself."
As her words fell, she waved her Flowing Cloud Fan, and clouds rose and fell, drifting and surging in all directions.
The pristine sea of clouds held back the swarms of red sand, and visibility within the array was restored.
Ju Wu chuckled lightly, picked up a gourd from the altar, and tilted it, letting red sand cascade down. The sand transformed into countless blades that sliced through the air.
Simultaneously, the divine banners stirred. The red sand, supported by the clouds, transformed into blades that slashed through the void, causing the sea of clouds to collapse instantly.
Feng Xia sneered, tossed her long sword, which multiplied into thousands of divine swords that clashed with the blades.
"Clang, clang, clang..."
The blades and swords shattered.
But an endless stream of blades followed. The red sand rolled on, relentless. This time, the blades were even vaster, and wherever they cut, red sand remained, preventing the formation of a protective shield.
Feng Xia remained calm and unhurried. She pointed a finger at the seven-colored pearl on her hand. Seven-colored clouds, like silken ribbons, and seven silk ribbons of different colors entangled the countless flying knives.
Seeing that the red sand could not harm her opponent, Ju Wu raised his hand and pointed north, saying, "I request the master of the Crimson Water Array for assistance!"
Feng Xia's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. This was a two-on-one situation! There was an ambush!
One should not fear the unlikely, but rather the possibility. Being within the opponent's array, caution was paramount.
She immediately turned to leave.
Ju Wu laughed, "My song just now was not mere boasting. Once you enter the array, the Ten Absolutes are intertwined. If one array is not broken, all ten remain.
If the ten arrays are not broken, there is no escape!"
Feng Xia's heart tightened. No wonder they did not leave the array; it turned out this array only allowed entry, not exit!
To the north, Dragon Envoy Chi Miao entered the array through the water. Crimson water surged forth, its ebb and flow accompanied by drifting red sand, and the killing intent in the sky shattered the cosmos.
...
Outside the great array, over ten days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Chong Ming's expression grew anxious. "Feng Xia entered the array seventeen days ago, and there has been no movement. I wonder if she has won or lost."
Behind him, a young man with a dark complexion asked, "Clan Uncle, why don't I go and investigate?"
Chong Ming pondered for a moment and nodded. "Very well. You are skilled in the arts of spatial escape. If you wish to flee, even heaven and earth mighty ones cannot stop you.
In that case, you shall also investigate the Red Sand Array and see Feng Xia's fate."
The young man with the dark complexion agreed, turned, and flew into the Red Sand Array.
As soon as he entered the great array, he was met with rolling red sand, a sky full of red mist obscuring the sun, and malevolent energy surging towards the heavens.
The moment the young man with the dark complexion entered the array, a mocking voice was heard.
"Dragon Envoy Chi Miao, Dragon Envoy Chi Yan, we have another one!"
Subsequently, two voices, tinged with excitement, approached from a distance. "Hahaha, come, come, let me have a go at him and throw him into my Blazing Flame Array to burn him!"
"Certainly, fellow Daoist, take this!"
The young man with the dark complexion's expression changed. So the arrays were connected. Entering the array meant facing ten opponents. How could anyone possibly fight this?
Immediately, he activated his escape light, intending to flee.
But a black light permeated the entrance, and all illumination vanished.
The void around the young man with the dark complexion rippled. He was a powerful being who had cultivated the Great Dao of Space!
The void churned with waves. Light shot from his eyes, searching for a weak point in space.
But just then, a clear energy surged from the east, accompanied by the sound of thunder. A heavenly lightning bolt suddenly appeared three inches above his head, leaving no room for reaction before striking him down.
Within the Heavenly Absolute Array, Dragon Envoy Bai Xian shifted the three banners, displacing the young man with the dark complexion, and said with a smile, "This person has spatial divine abilities. It is best for me to face him!"
Dragon Envoy Chi Yan could not help but exclaim, "Nonsense! These Ten Absolutes are self-contained spaces. If the ten arrays are not broken, where is the exit? You are just trying to steal my prey!"
...
Outside the great array, another half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Chong Ming's expression was grim. He looked at the sky full of birds behind him and the two Great Luo Golden Immortals.
The two Great Luo Golden Immortals instinctively shrank their bodies. This array was too bizarre.
Feng Xia, the most powerful among them, entered and disappeared without a ripple. The spatial Great Luo, skilled in escape arts, also vanished without a trace.
The two of them, if they went, would likely be fodder.
Seeing this, Chong Ming sighed helplessly, "I suppose I must test the array myself. I shall see what methods are hidden within this great formation!
You two, if by some chance,
I say by some chance, if I too do not return, you two must quickly lead the bird army back to your clan without any delay!"
The two Great Luo Golden Immortals exchanged glances and nodded heavily. "We obey your command, Clan Uncle. You must be careful."
Chong Ming glared, "What are you two looking at me like that for? I said by some chance, a one in ten thousand possibility, a situation that will almost certainly not occur."
The two Great Luo Golden Immortals nodded in agreement, "Yes! Clan Uncle is right, it is only a possibility."