Primordial Era: The Great Serpent of Yunmeng

The Three Immortals of Xiqi set up a grand formation, using the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation to directly block the entrance to Xiqi, shouting incessantly as they awaited the arrival of the Twelve Golden Immortals.

The day before yesterday, their senior brother Zhao Gongming was killed by the people of Xiqi. Even the twelve innate Dinghai Pearls in his possession have now fallen into the hands of the Chan Sect.

"What, are you all incompetent fools from Xiqi, just empty talkers who dare not enter my ranks?"

Bixiao's voice echoed outside Xiqi City. The Twelve Golden Immortals were utterly humiliated under the gaze of everyone, and they were seething with hatred for the Three Immortals outside the battle.

Previously, they had set up a scheme. When the Three Immortals of Sanxiao were fighting against Jiang Ziya and others, Yunxiao was injured by Jiang Ziya's God Whip, and Bixiao was injured by Yang Jian's Howling Celestial Dog. Enraged, the Three Immortals of Sanxiao set up the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation.

They never expected that this formation was so formidable; even though they hadn't entered it, they knew how dangerous it was.

Grand Tutor Wen selected six hundred strongmen to be at the command of the Three Immortals. The three of them took them to the rear camp, where they worked together to draw diagrams and cast spells to train the soldiers for more than half a month, which led to today's events.

This formation contains innate secrets and life-and-death mechanisms, arranged according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, encompassing the wonders of heaven and earth. Its winding paths are without straight lines, revealing the wonders of creation and uncovering the secrets of immortals.

The Three Immortals of Sanxiao stood in pairs within the great formation and paid their respects:

"The Yellow River's treacherous formation is based on the three realms; in this calamity, even immortals will suffer."

The winding path holds the secrets of creation, and the steep bends conceal the thunder and lightning.

Those who claim to be cultivators in the celestial garden are merely folly; who says that a sacred embryo is formed in the spiritual realm?

Encountering such a situation always requires a complete transformation, only then will one realize that heretical methods are unsuitable.

This formation is based on the Three Powers and contains the wonders of heaven and earth; within it are the Bewitching Immortal Pill and the Immortal Closing Technique, which can cause immortals to lose their spirit, dissipate their soul, trap their form, damage their energy, lose their original essence, and harm their limbs.

Immortals who enter this place become mortals, while mortals who enter this place perish.

The winding path has no straight lines; it reveals the wonders of creation and unveils the secrets of the immortals.

The formations stretch across heaven and earth, their power rivals the Yellow River. A chilling wind howls, its chill penetrating; a black mist swirls, obscuring the sun and moon.

Vast and boundless, shrouded in darkness. A chilling atmosphere fills the sky, and gloom blankets the earth.

If your soul is consumed and your spirit destroyed, all your cultivation over a thousand years will be in vain; if your spirit is damaged and your energy lost, even if you escape countless calamities, you will still stumble and fall.

Upon seeing this formation, the Vice Leader of the Chan Sect, the Primordial Saint Randeng Daoist, immediately changed his expression and found an excuse not to make a move easily.

Within the battlefield, only the Twelve Golden Immortals and their disciples remained. It wasn't that they didn't want to leave, but that they were now unable to escape.

Just as the outside world was hurling insults, Yang Jian and the others could no longer contain themselves and spoke to the Twelve Golden Immortals:

"Master and Uncle-Master, those outsiders are truly shameless and vicious, and they are extremely ruthless once they gain power. Why don't I lead my fellow disciples to break through the formation together?"

"Please be careful, Master and Uncle, so that you can detect any danger and break his grand formation!"

The Twelve Golden Immortals exchanged bewildered glances, but they were truly helpless against this formation at the moment, so they could only agree:

"At this juncture, this is the only option. We cannot act rashly, lest these three swagger about!"

"It would be best if you went there quickly and returned quickly. We will stay outside this great formation and see what changes it may have made."

After that, Master Guangchengzi stepped forward and spoke:

"However, we cannot let Junior Nephew Yang Jian go alone this time. Jin Zha and Mu Zha, you two should go with Senior Brother Yang Jian."

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Jinzha and Muzha both had resolute expressions. Although their skills were not as good as Yang Jian's, they still had the courage to follow him into the formation.

Unexpectedly, the three had just emerged from seclusion when Bixiao used the Hunyuan Golden Bucket to capture Yang Jian, Jinzha, and Muzha in succession, and threw them into the "Yellow River Formation".

Upon seeing this, the Twelve Golden Immortals were immediately enraged. After exchanging glances, they ultimately decided to join forces.

It would have been better if they hadn't intervened; their intervention, however, utterly humiliated the entire Chan Sect, and the reputation of the Twelve Golden Immortals was completely ruined.

Yunxiao first used the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron to capture Chijingzi, Guangchengzi, and the other twelve Golden Immortals of Yuxu Palace, trapping them all in the formation.

Within the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, the twelve Golden Immortals had their three flowers on their heads removed, their five qi in their chests extinguished, their heavenly gates on their heads closed, and their thousand-year-old Dao fruits lost, turning them into mortals!

Seeing that the situation was not good, Daoist Ran Deng used earth magic to transform into a gentle breeze and leave.

The Three Immortals of Sanxiao captured the Twelve True Immortals of Yuxu Palace and reduced them to mortals.

However, his disciples Yang Jian, Jinzha, and Muzha were less affected.

The reason is simple: the Three Immortals of Sanxiao believed that, in any case, they were ultimately elders of Yang Jian and the others, and it was never right for the older to bully the younger.

Although they have been disrespectful to me, I will let them suffer a little today.

But the Twelve Golden Immortals are different. As peers and disciples of the Three Pure Ones, it is only right for them to retaliate against the other party for not holding back first!

Meanwhile, in the Jade Void Palace of Kunlun Mountain, after witnessing the changes in the Twelve Golden Immortals, the Primordial Celestial Venerable sighed and said:

"It's only because the Three Corpses haven't been severed and the Six Qi haven't been absorbed that countless years of effort have been wasted!"

After thinking for a moment, Yuanshi Tianzun sighed deeply:

"These three went too far this time. If we let them continue like this, how can this great calamity be sustained? This disciple is incompetent, and we will have to trouble them again."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure slowly disappeared into the Jade Void Palace.

When Yuanshi Tianzun arrived at the front of the battle, he saw the White Crane Boy flying over to report, "Master has arrived!"

Randeng and his disciples went forward to greet him.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable alighted from his sandalwood chariot and sat upon the Eight Treasures and Nine Dragons Sandalwood Throne.

Yunxiao and the other two stepped forward, bowed slightly by the roadside, and said, "Senior Uncle, your disciple has been extremely rude. Please forgive me!"

Yuanshi simply said:

"The three of you have set up this formation, which is what my disciples should do. However, there is one thing that even your master dares not do, so why do you disregard the rules and act against the will of Heaven, thus incurring the punishment of violating the teachings? You may enter the formation now, and I will enter myself."

Upon seeing this, the Three Immortals immediately turned and entered the formation.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat on the throne, with Ran Deng standing in attendance, surrounded by the Twelve Golden Immortals.

Yuanshi's face remained calm as he spoke:

"Today, the three religions are united in their determination to overcome this calamity. Breaking the Yellow River Formation is not something I can do alone, but as the leader, I must first obtain permission from my teacher before proceeding."

Then Yuanshi looked at the White Crane Boy and slowly said, "Please invite your master here."

The boy accepted the order and went to Xuandu.

Before long, the Sage Taiqing arrived riding an ox.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable led his disciples out of the camp to greet him. The Supreme Pure Sage dismounted from the ox, entered the tent, bowed to the Primordial Celestial Venerable after exchanging greetings, and sat down.

Yuanshi explained to him:

Today, the Three Immortals have set up this Yellow River Formation, trapping my twelve disciples within it, causing them to have their three flowers on their heads cut off and their five vital energies extinguished. Now, by the decree of our Master, I specially request my elder brother to join me in breaking this formation.

The Supreme Sage frowned. He had not wanted to get involved in this mess, but now it seemed he had no choice but to get involved.

"Just break it already, why wait for me?"

As if oblivious to the Taiqing Sage's resistance to this matter, Yuanshi continued speaking:

"Although this teaching is under my tutelage, I still have a teacher. I must consult my elder brother before proceeding."

The Sage Taiqing frowned even more deeply, but simply refused, saying, "We are both from the Xuanmen sect, so why should we be like this? It is only your disciples who are destined to suffer this calamity."

But before the Sage Taiqing could finish speaking, Yunxiao shouted loudly:

"Senior Uncle, we have already paid our respects to you since you arrived today, so why haven't you begun breaking the formation yet?"

Seeing this, the Supreme Sage could only sigh helplessly and say:

"You may all step back. I will break this formation myself and will not keep you waiting long."

Seeing this, the Three Immortals retreated back into their formation.

The Sage Taiqing entered the formation with the Primordial Heavenly Venerable and arrived at the Eight Trigrams Platform. Seeing his many disciples lying haphazardly on the ground, the Sage Taiqing sighed:

"It's a pity that a thousand years of achievements have all turned into nothing but a pipe dream!"

When Qiongxiao saw Laozi enter the formation to observe, he released the Golden Dragon Scissors. The scissors bent straight in the air like scissors, their heads intersecting and their tails intersecting, before falling down.

The Sage Taiqing saw the Golden Dragon Scissors descending from the back of the ox. He raised his sleeve to meet them, and the scissors instantly became as insignificant as a speck of dust entering the ocean.

Bixiao then raised the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, and the Taiqing Saint threw the Wind and Fire Futon into the air. Without any obstruction, he put the treasure into his bosom.

He then summoned the Yellow Turban Warrior and said, "Take this bucket to the Jade Void Palace."

The Three Immortals were furious when they saw their treasures taken away, but they also knew that their day was numbered.

However, thinking of his tragically deceased senior brother and many disciples, Bianyi could only stride forward, sword in hand, shouting as he charged towards the location of the Imperial Physician Saint.

This act was so childish that even the Supreme Sage of Taiqing couldn't help but laugh:

Even a grain of rice can shine brightly!

The Supreme Sage casually unfolded the Qiankun Diagram and then commanded the Yellow Turban Warriors:

"Wrap the clouds up and press them down under the Qilin Cliff."

Qiongxiao arrived wielding a sword. Yuanshi Tianzun ordered the White Crane Boy to offer the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in the air, which struck Qiongxiao directly on the top of her head. Instantly, her heavenly spirit opened wide, and a soul went to the Investiture Platform.

Seeing her sisters fall into such a state, Bixiao was deeply moved and couldn't help but sigh:

"It is pitiful that we have cultivated ourselves for so long, diligently cultivating morality and magical power every day, yet in your hands, we are not even as good as a child."

Bixiao's face showed sorrow, both lamenting that her sincere cultivation had only brought her this state of affairs, and expressing her helplessness in the face of the two saints, as well as that of herself and her sisters.

Although she knew she was doomed, Bixiao still used her flying sword to attack Yuanshi Tianzun, but Baihe Tongzi manipulated Ruyi and knocked the flying sword into the dust.

Yuanshi took a box, opened the lid, and threw it into the air. He put Bixiao, along with the bird, into the box. After a moment, Bixiao turned into blood, leaving only a soul that flew to the Investiture Platform.

Seeing that the great formation had been broken and the matter had come to an end, the Supreme Sage then gently pointed his middle finger at the ground.

Instantly, a thunderous sound resounded from underground, shaking the mountains and rivers. The disciples were suddenly awakened, jumped up, and prostrated themselves on the ground in gratitude.

Upon seeing this, the Supreme Sage, while maintaining a calm expression, also showed a hint of doubt. He slowly asked:

"Today, all disciples have shaved off the three flowers on their heads and eliminated the five qi in their chests. They have encountered a calamity, which they cannot escape."

"You are all people who have attained the first stage of enlightenment, and you have cultivated for a long time. In the past, you each obtained wonderful methods. Why do you not protect yourselves today?"

Upon hearing this, the disciples were immediately filled with shame and remained silent for a long time.

Faced with the questioning of the Supreme Sage, one of them finally could not hold back and spoke up:

"We have come here on the orders of our teacher. As his disciples, how could we possibly disobey him?"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable remained calm, uttering not a single harsh word against the person before him. He simply spoke with a hint of helplessness:

"Although I am in charge of this religion, you are all reaping what you sowed today."

Seeing that none of his disciples spoke, including the Twelve Golden Immortals, and that some even had unusual expressions, he realized that none of them had expressed any opinion.

Unfortunately, the Primordial Celestial Venerable paid no attention to this at the moment, and instead began to explain the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation to his many disciples.

After everyone understood the effect, origin, and method of breaking the formation, Yuanshi Tianzun finally spoke:

"You are facing misfortune today, and you should leave quickly. It is not advisable to linger in this mortal world."

Then, Yuanshi Tianzun commanded Yang Jian, Jinzha, and Muzha: "The three of you should quickly go to the reed hut and retrieve the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron."

Yang Jian and the others accepted the order and left.

After giving his instructions, Yuanshi Tianzun then spoke to the Antarctic Immortal:

"Since Xiqi is still facing obstacles on the other side, with the disciples of the Jie Sect setting up the Red Sand Formation there, how about you go and break it?"

The Antarctic Immortal accepted the order, left the Yellow River Formation, and headed directly to the location of the Red Sand Formation.

Meanwhile, the Sage Taiqing and the Primordial Heavenly Venerable returned to the tent, where Jiang Ziya specially came out to greet them and express his gratitude to his two teachers.

Upon seeing the person before them, the two, Yuanshi Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun, spoke:

"Ziya, you can rest assured now. The three religions will work together to break the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation and complete this calamity."

He then turned to the Taoist Ran Deng and commanded him, saying:

"You must also take a trip within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, otherwise you will not be able to command respect within the sect."

The Taoist Ran Deng accepted the order, seemingly having no objection to the matter whatsoever. His calm and sincere demeanor pleased the Primordial Heavenly Lord.

He disliked this person, even though he was born with a divine body and had once entered the Zixiao Palace to listen to lectures. Yet, he actually lowered himself and wanted to become his disciple.

Originally a person of noble status, with the opportunity to study together, he is now so shameless as to willingly submit to others. How could the Primordial Heavenly Venerable be pleased with this?

However, considering that he seemed sincere at the time, and that there was no one else in the Chan Sect besides himself who could take on the responsibility, Yuanshi Tianzun gave him the position of vice leader.

Although he could not learn all the Jade Purity Immortal Techniques, he was still greatly compensated in terms of status. In the eyes of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, this was a generous treatment.

However, when facing the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation, Daoist Ran Deng felt fear and abandoned the Twelve Golden Immortals, disregarding the bonds of kinship within the sect.

How could the Primordial Celestial Venerable tolerate this? That's why he gave that reprimand just now.

After the Daoist Ran Deng left, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable looked at the Supreme Pure Sage beside him and slowly spoke:

"Elder brother, the only remaining calamity is the trip to Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island. After this, the difficulty of the Investiture of the Gods can finally be resolved."

"Perhaps this time on Golden Turtle Island, I will have to trouble you again, brother. Otherwise, with the power of the Spirit Treasure, I'm afraid this calamity will not be so easily overcome."

"Back then, in the chaos, I'm sure you, elder brother, were aware of Lingbao's abilities. I'm afraid the primordial world couldn't withstand such turmoil."

The Supreme Sage remained calm, his expression revealing nothing of his inner thoughts.

Faced with the invitation from Yuanshi Tianzun, Taiqing Shengren did not give a clear answer, but simply declined:

"Let's discuss this matter later; how can we decide what will happen next today?"

(End of this chapter)