Chen Jianmei’s gaze landed on Shen Lian. It had been ten years since they last met and Shen Lian had overtaken him in the road of cultivation.

　　He was glad that things turned out to be as Zhang Ruoxu’s expectations.

　　He was not jealous or envious of Shen Lian. He was genuinely happy that he had found an intimate friend on this lonely path of Dao.

　　Chen Jianmei smiled and nodded.

　　The murderous aura had locked on the two Doyens of Qinshan, causing them to be immobilized out of fear.

　　They were also regretful of their actions as they never expected Shen Lian to be so frightening. Authentic Xuanmen, worldly prodigy, he sure lived up to those names. People could not help but wonder that perhaps this was his destiny and that was why he was able to accomplish so much at such a tender age.

　　The thousands of bystander cultivators had their eyes fixed on Shen Lian as their hearts could not contain the excitement. Although they were nothing compared to Xuanmen sects, they had a feeling that they would witness the birth of an immortal Zhenren tonight.

　　This feeling was not vague and was clearly carved in the minds of the bystanders.

　　This was because Shen Lian’s form has exceeded the level of the nine states of cultivation and reached a mysterious point which people longed to achieve. That sort of worldly independent charisma was etched deeply in everyone’s soul.

　　Their hopes and cheers reflected their new-found faith towards Dao and that was the dream of all cultivators.

　　Shen Lian’s Daoist robe swayed with the wind and he looked stunning. He took a step out and landed on the ground.

　　He looked ahead and all he saw was a vast stretch of yellow fog.

　　He stepped on the soil and the yellow fog started to vanish as if an invisible black hole absorbed it. The path cleared up and a Daoist in a red robe appeared at the canopy.

　　There was only a fresh aroma in the soil, no hints of filthiness.

　　The red-robed Daoist walked from the canopy and kowtowed, “Greetings, Zhenren Shen.”

　　He was as steady as a mountain even though Shen Lian was right in front of him. There were wreaths of yellow gases around his body and a colorful cloud was concentrated above him. This showed the depth of his mana and his solid foundation, and that he was a person of Dao.

　　The red-robed Daoist stood up, placed his palm vertically in front of him and said, “My name is Chicheng.”

　　Shen Lian nodded and smiled, “It’s great to see a successor to Daoist Dengfeng’s Taiyue Real Shape Incantation.

　　Chicheng sighed, “Zhenren Shen, you are only a heartbeat away from achieving immortality. You should have stayed in solitary to become a primordial spirit. Why get yourself involved in the filth of the secular mortal world?”

　　Shen Lian calmly replied, “Even when temptation knocks, you can resist it. There is no difference between me and the mortal world. When you lecture me about Dao, it sounds like a summer bug talking about winter.

　　Chicheng was instantly displeased. He thought to himself, “Although your level of cultivation is higher, you did not need to insult me like that.”

　　But he was always afraid, as out of the Five Ultimate Formations, Shen Lian would target him first.

　　Apparently, the Five Ultimate Formations were classified as gold, wood, water, fire, and earth.

　　He was in charge of guarding the earth and was also the foundation of the Five Ultimate Formations as he has the strongest mana. In other words, if the earth formation was broken, it would be a piece of cake for Shen Lian to solve the remaining four.

　　The five elements would intergenerate. Once the Five Ultimate Formations started running, it would be run endlessly. Even a celestial being or Buddha would not be able to break it so easily.

　　There was nothing much left to say.

　　Chicheng replied coldly, “Then we will have to see how deep is Zhenren Shen’s Xuan techniques.”

　　A loud thunderous sound could be heard as the atmosphere became blurry again.

　　Chicheng could be heard reciting the mantra orally, “Indigenous, indigenous, indigenous within indigenous; abstruse, abstruse, abstruse and more abstruse. All verbal actions are performed in speeches and the celestials are silent. On the palm, it looks like a strange pearl; in the sky, it looks like the moon. Success exceeds material objects, it goes straight to the heaven of Daoism.”

　　The mantra did not stop even as Chicheng disappeared into the formation. Shen Lian’s eyes were in full focus as his spirit flowed vigorously.

　　He could see that the yellow fog transitioned into clouds and its form was ever-changing.

　　He clearly knew that this is the formation of the earth element. Once he fell into the morass, it would be difficult for him to come back.

　　Shen Lian was calm despite being in a dangerous situation. A flock of clouds that radiated five different colors could be seen above his head. The clouds broke through the formation and the audiences saw it crystal clear.

　　The formation was somber with a pressure that could suffocate anyone. It kept everyone quiet.

　　As the five colored lights dashed through the barrier, people could see a stream of clear light radiating from Yuhua Stage and Jimo Peak. The bystander cultivators could not help but be amazed by the depth of Shen Lian’s Xuan techniques.

　　The earth formation received endless Qi from the thickness of the soil of the ground. It could be easily transformed into unlimited murderous auras.

　　Although Shen Lian’s divine Qi was able to break through the formation, he was actually greatly affected by it.

　　He could not relieve the mountain-like pressure on him.

　　Shen Lian then started tapping his feet on the ground and the thick yellow earth then began to crack. It was as if all Shen Lian did was lightly tap on the ground and yet the earth crumbled so effortlessly.

　　Chicheng groaned as he did not expect Shen Lian to discover the node of the formation.

　　His effortless tap was spot on the weakest part of the formation. It triggered the Qi of the earth and it gave Chicheng a taste of his own medicine.

　　That was the frightening part of the Taixu Strategy. The four-word incantation of Interpromotion and Interrestraint, ‘Sheng Ke Zhi Hua’, was the nemesis of most of the methods in the world. With Shen Lian’s talent, all he needed was the one-word incantation of ‘restraint’, ‘Ke’, and he could see through the changes of the formation.

　　There was no need for someone like Shen Lian to delay the fight.

　　In a split second, the strong aura of the sword broke open the yellow fog and charged towards Chicheng.

　　Chicheng remained composed despite seeing the feisty sword aura charging towards him and having his true form revealed. He had a strong heart of Dao and stayed calmed despite being on the brink of death.

　　He put his palms together and like lightning, he produced a thick earth gleam and went head-on with Shen Lian’s sword aura. Soon enough, the two forces collided and started fighting against each other.

　　The thick earth gleam was not strong in attacking but was extremely well in defending.

　　As their methods and techniques went against each other, loud explosions could be heard while the impacts shook the formation.

　　Onlookers could only see the shaking yellow light that was filled with Qi of vitality.

　　Chen Jianmei stood up with his sword in his chest. He was not concerned about Shen Lian and had full confidence in him.

　　Qingyin, on the other hand, could not help but look worried. She kept looking up at the sky as if she was expecting something to come.

　　Meanwhile in Lingxiao Palace of Mount Taicang, an old Daoist and a young girl stood outside of the palace. The vigorous fire stove triggered the Qi of vitality in the void as it displayed terrifying fluctuations of energy.

　　The five Daoists in the Lingxiao Palace fixed their gaze on the old Daoist.

　　Among them was Yuming the Honored Celestial. He said, “Senior, feel free to let us know if you need anything. There’s no need for you to block the doors.”

　　Daoist Dengfeng had a complicated expression as he stared into the stove. He was extremely embarrassed that the fellow who ate at his place was forcefully taken away. However, this elderly was able to use the Yin and Yang to start the True Samadhi Fire and make phenomenal elixirs. As an elixir enthusiast and master, he could not help but feel impressed.