The moment the heavenly gate manifested, over a dozen figures flew out in succession from the warship and the four-colored cloud, lining up at the forefront.
Half were from the Lesser Cold Domain and half from the Heaven-Traversing Alliance, led respectively by Daoist Zhenyi and the Red-Haired Ancestor. Yet standing between the two was a strangely featured man clad in feather robes.
He had a slender build, narrow eyes, and a hooked nose, with a hint of feminine softness in his gaze. He wore an exquisitely patterned robe of vibrant colors, seemingly woven from plumes of beautiful feathers.
Upon his head rested an exquisite crown radiating with the luster of jewels and pearls. Yet a closer look would bring utter shock.
The framework of the crown was actually crafted from the white bones of some unknown demon beast. The stark white, jagged bone fragments were merely veiled beneath the shimmering jewel light.
Such attire did not look like that of a cultivator, but rather resembled that of a mortal prince.
"Now that the heavenly gate has manifested, there is no time to lose. We ask Demon King Yu to utilize your noble clan's supreme treasure to find the weakest point of the immortal formation as swiftly as possible," the Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi said, cupping their hands toward the feather-robed man.
He was actually a Demon King of the Heavenly Demon Mound!
The feather-robed man nodded slightly, took off his crown, and said, "This King shall begin at once. Fellow Daoists, please step back."
The Red-Haired Ancestor, Daoist Zhenyi, and the others withdrew one after another.
Standing alone at the very front, the feather-robed man waved a hand backward.
Two equally strange-looking cultivators—a man and a woman, also Demon Kings of the Heavenly Demon Mound—flew forward. Positioning themselves between the human cultivators and the feather-robed man, they eyed the humans with vigilant gazes.
A moment later, the feather-robed man leapt forward, flying a short distance closer to the eye of the storm until he could scarcely withstand the chaotic force emanating from it. Only then did he halt, raising his head to gaze upward.
After observing for a long while, the feather-robed man suddenly tossed the crown upward. Chanting incantations under his breath, a faint trace of pain flickered across his face, and he abruptly opened his mouth to spew a blast of blood qi.
Accurately and unerringly, it splashed squarely onto the crown and was absorbed clean.
Having devoured the blood qi, the crown erupted in wondrous light.
In an instant, countless beams of multi-colored light radiated in all directions, dazzling with myriad rainbow hues. Not only was the crown itself obscured from view, but even the feather-robed man was enveloped by the wondrous light.
Right then, an exceptionally piercing cry rang out from the center of the light, so shrill that not even the roar of the storm cyclone could drown it out.
Accompanying the increasingly resonant cry, a massive phantasm suddenly emerged from deep within the wondrous light.
The phantasm stood on one leg like a golden rooster, resembling a divine bird. Veiled by layer upon layer of wondrous light, its exact species could not be discerned.
However, the formidable aura emanating from the divine bird could not be concealed by the light. Every person present was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and all of them took on solemn expressions, even the Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi.
*Skreech!*
The divine bird let out a sharp cry and suddenly spread its wings, soaring high as it fearlessly charged into the eye of the storm.
How could the eye of the storm be breached so easily?
The chaotic forces within slashed at the divine bird like countless sharp swords. Powerful as the bird was, it struggled to withstand them; as it hurtled forward, countless specks of light rained down like shredded feathers, trailing behind it like the tail of a comet.
Yet it showed no fear whatsoever, pressing boldly forward, its eyes blazing with exceptional brilliance.
The eye of the storm began to be affected by the divine bird.
Carrying an overbearing power, the divine bird carved into the eye of the storm, stirring the dissipating cloud vapors and sending them radiating outwards.
Yet this could not stave off the divine bird's demise. Its form grew smaller and smaller, on the verge of being shredded completely by the eye of the storm.
Suddenly, the divine bird let out a long cry.
Raging flames ignited across its body.
Even as its spiritual sense actively burned its body away, two tangible beams shot from its eyes like sharp swords, piercing deep into the heart of the eye of the storm.
*Boom!*
The eye of the storm shook violently, and an anomaly suddenly appeared.
Beneath the heavenly gate, mysterious runes manifested out of thin air, lasting only for a fleeting instant before flashing away.
With this strike, the divine bird had actually forced the immortal formation to reveal itself!
With the divine bird's demise, the wondrous light abruptly dissipated, revealing the feather-robed man and the physical crown.
Reaching out to catch the crown, the feather-robed man flickered repeatedly as he retreated at top speed. The other two Demon Kings immediately moved up to support him, flanking him on both sides to escort him back.
The feather-robed man's face was unnaturally pale, and the once brilliantly radiant crown had dimmed considerably.
Evidently, driving that divine bird was no easy feat.
"Every time this treasure is used, it first devours more than half of this King's essence blood. Even with this King's cultivation, I nearly lost control of it, and could only maintain command at the cost of damaging the supreme treasure's origin. Once we return, it will take prolonged nurturing to recover."
The feather-robed man swallowed a green pill. His complexion recovered slightly, and with a soft sigh, he turned and pointed at a spot in the storm's eye. "Fortunately, I have not failed my mission! As fellow Daoists have just seen, that is the immortal formation's weakest point. Within an incense stick's time, it will not shift."
The Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi exchanged a glance and cupped their hands. "Demon King Yu has troubled himself. Your noble clan's supreme treasure is extraordinary indeed! Without its aid, relying solely on the Lesser Beichen Star Element Formation could never break through the immortal formation. This single supreme treasure of yours has saved us countless precious spirit materials!"
Demon King Yu waved his hand and said placidly, "Back when our ancestor led our clan to gain a foothold in the Lesser Cold Domain, helping with all our might to break the Ziwei Palace immortal formation was one of the conditions agreed upon with you humans. We descendants of the Sacred Race will naturally honor the covenant and exert our full strength to aid your breaking of the formation. What is more, entering Ziwei Palace benefits us as well. This King has just taken a healing spirit pill and needs to meditate for a moment to refine the medicinal power. Please proceed as you wish."
Demon King Yu flew back alone toward the multicolored demon mist, while the other two Demon Kings remained behind.
The Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi stepped forward together. At the same time, another person walked out from behind each of their sides—Leng Yuntian of the Yuanshen Sect, and a young Daoist priest clad in dark yellow Daoist robes.
After conferring briefly, the four quickly separated to occupy four directions, sitting cross-legged in the void.
The others also flew forward, forming a ring around the four, likewise sitting cross-legged with eyes closed.
The auras of the crowd of Nascent Soul cultivators linked into a unified whole.
Then, the Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi each took out a pouch and hurled them upward.
"Go!"
Amidst a crisp, chiming clatter, tens of thousands of crystal beads flew out from the pouches, reflecting dazzling light as they surged forth like flowing water and converged into a single stream in midair.
These beads were the Star Element Stones gathered by the two domains.
The Red-Haired Ancestor and Daoist Zhenyi formed hand seals and chanted incantations.
The Star Element Stones, initially scattered in disarray, were guided by the two and flew between the four cultivators, coalescing overhead into a sphere that hovered motionless.
The Red-Haired Ancestor barked softly, "Fellow Daoists, we may begin!"
Leng Yuntian and the yellow-robed Daoist grew solemn. Hurriedly settling into focused concentration, they gave their full cooperation to set up the formation.
For a time, incantation seals formed one after another at the fingertips of the four, flying ceaselessly toward the sphere of Star Element Stones. Each seal drew forth several stones, varying in number.
Chapter 561