The most secure job in Dajin

Before the Five Directions Grand Formation was activated, the world was in turmoil.

After the Five Directions Formation was activated, all was silent.

An inverted bowl-shaped five-colored light curtain unfolded in mid-air, completely enveloping the entire auction hall.

East of the light curtain, human cultivators gathered at the city wall of Duimen Pass; west of the light curtain, in the dark sky, powerful beings from the Nine Netherworlds stood suspended in mid-air.

Both sides focused their attention on the light screen in the middle.

The battle within the Five Directions Formation, though a 'contest' agreed upon by the Nine Netherworlds and the mortal realm, clearly encountered some mishaps compared to previous encounters.

On the other side of the Nine Netherworld, the crown prince of the Styx Clan was trapped in the great formation. This can be said to be the first top-level figure in the Nine Netherworld to be trapped since the revival of spiritual energy.

In addition, many of the powerful beings from the Nine Netherworlds, including Guiche, were also trapped in the formation.

The situation on the human side was similar. First, there were about a dozen members of the Chu royal family who had been trapped in the formation by Ghost King Su Mingyue.

Furthermore, direct disciples from various holy lands, guardian families, Taisu Palace, Sanqing Palace, Xiangguo Temple, and other top forces were trapped inside the formation.

Of course, the main group trapped in the Five Directions Formation are cultivators at or below the Core Formation (Lieutenant Realm) level from both the Nine Netherworld and the Human Realm.

On the city wall of Duimen Pass, Chu Junyi walked expressionlessly to Wei Zhenjie's side under the gaze of cultivators from all sides.

"Master!"

Wei Zhenjie didn't want to speak to Chu Junyi in public, so he patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction and then turned his gaze back to the Five Directions Formation.

Chu Junyi stood beside Wei Zhenjie, first reassuring Meng Ziyu and the others with his eyes, and then nodding to the other forces in greeting.

During this time, he noticed that the monk Jingliao from Fusheng Pavilion kept his gaze fixed on him.

"Master Jingle, do you have any instructions?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Jingliao, including Wei Zhenjie, who turned to look at him.

Jing Liao's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled sheepishly: "General Junyi, you flatter me. This humble monk has no advice to offer, but..."

"Is that a Bodhi seed rosary hanging on the general's sword?"

Upon hearing this question, Chu Junyi's right hand gripping the sword tightened suddenly, and he looked at Jing Liao with a bright gaze: "Master Jing Liao, do you recognize this Buddhist prayer bead bracelet?"

Jing shook his head: "This humble monk does not recognize it, but Bodhi seeds are rare, especially golden-veined Bodhi seeds, which can only be formed from Bodhi trees that are over 100,000 years old. The Bodhi prayer beads on the general's sword have already shown golden veins."

Such a treasure should be carefully preserved; how could it be used to decorate a sword!
Chu Junyi was clearly disappointed by Jingliao's answer.

He desperately wanted to find the owner of the Buddhist prayer beads, but unfortunately, he had no leads.

He was naturally aware of the preciousness of the Buddhist prayer beads.

The reason I hung it on my sword was to motivate myself.

He always felt that he had a high talent for cultivation and that his cultivation speed was unmatched by others. However, the owner of the Buddhist prayer beads was even more powerful than him.

Every time he thought he could erase the mark on the Buddhist prayer beads, the mark would always become stronger again.

Since he began his cultivation practice, the greatest frustration he has felt has come from this Buddhist prayer bead bracelet.

Normally, he would carefully preserve his Buddhist prayer beads, but this time, because he was in a hurry to 'transform' and leave the auction, he hadn't put them away. Chu Junyi immediately took the prayer beads from his sword and then put them into the Sumeru jade at his waist.

The other cultivators, though somewhat envious that Chu Junyi's accessories were all high-grade treasures, all shifted their gazes and turned their attention back to the Five Directions Formation.

Inside the Five Directions Formation, once the trapped people realized they had nowhere to escape, their first reaction was to gather together in their respective camps.

Based on past experience, although only one person can survive in the final five-way formation, the initial battle is a group battle between Jiuyou and the human race. Only after the two sides have determined the winner will they enter into individual combat.

Even Cangming stood on the side of the beings of the Nine Netherworlds at the very first moment.

Thus, on the west side of the great formation, beings from the Nine Netherworlds gathered, their turbid energy filling the air; on the east side of the great formation, cultivators from the mortal realm gathered, their spiritual light shining brightly.

In the previous five-way battles that followed the auctions, only these two forces had ever clashed.

However, this time, there was an exceptionally conspicuous figure in the formation.

A rogue cultivator from the Nine Netherworlds stood alone between the two factions, neither siding with the Nine Netherworlds nor the human world.

Her figure stood out starkly amidst the clash between turbid and spiritual energy, like a rift tearing apart the boundaries between opposing factions, adding an indescribable eeriness to the already tense situation.

Both the Nine Netherworld experts and the mortal realm experts were somewhat baffled by the three-way division within the great formation.

Wei Zhenjie glanced at his disciple beside him and transmitted his voice, "What exactly is the situation with that rogue cultivator from the Nine Netherworlds?"

Chu Junyi also found it hard to understand the behavior of the Nine Netherworld rogue cultivator: "This disciple is not quite sure either, but she has been following me."

While the powerful figures of the Nine Netherworlds and the mortal realm were discussing Hua Changxi, inside the great formation, Hua Changxi was frowning as she examined the five flagpoles in the five corners of the formation.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—one element corresponds to one flagpole.

"Hey, you rogue cultivator, are you scared out of your wits? Hurry up and come over here."

Among the Nine Netherworld faction, a demon cultivator saw Hua Changxi standing still and immediately shouted a rebuke.

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi shifted her gaze from the flagpole, first looking at the human faction, and then at the Nine Nether faction.

She ignored the demon and stared directly at the Styx man who was staring at her and trying to grab her.

Why are you targeting me?

Before Cangming could speak, a cultivator from the Styx Clan spoke up: "How dare you be so disrespectful to Crown Prince Cangming!"

Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow: "Cangming, so you're the crown prince of the Styx Clan!" Then, she spoke again, "Why are you keeping an eye on me?"

Cangming did not answer, but instead asked in a gloomy tone, "Why don't you come over?"

Hua Changxi: "You were supposed to arrest me in the past?"

Cangming was in a terrible mood at the moment.

The reason was simple: after seeing that Hua Changxi refused to stand with the Nine Netherworlds, his heart sank to the bottom.

That guy might actually be a human, just as the Nightmare Eater said! (End of Chapter)