Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lan Hua said that Radish hung out at the rear mountain the most. Its aura could still be sensed there. That was why it was most appropriate for them to set up the array there. Yu Hong followed his instructions and place Radish’s dandelion in the pit that it always laid in before. Lan Hua set cross-legged atop the rear mountain, conjuring different spells with his hands. Huge amounts of black demonic Qi filled the entire rear mountain in a very short span of time. Shreds of black condensed to form a huge black array formation.
They watched as everything around them turned darker and darker. The dandelion was filled with spirit Qi before, but now it looked slightly wilted under the dim lighting. The other immortal herbs scattered around the field also began to look listless as the demonic Qi filled the air.
But Radish remained motionless in the pit. It did not even look like it was going to transform into a human anytime soon. Lan Hua, on the other hand, began to perspire. Drops of perspiration formed on his forehead and the demonic Qi in the air seemed to get weaker.
“The immortal Qi here is too strong,” Biao Ting suddenly said, as if sensing something. “The demonic Qi is being suppressed. Let me try to help him.”
He conjured a spell. There was a flash of golden light. Among the immortal herbs on the rear mountain, a faint golden meridian formed. It pushed Lan Hua’s demonic Qi aside. Biao Ting quickly conjured another spell and withdrew a long rectangular jade box. He quickly retracted the spell that he cast. The golden light turned into sparks of gold that flew straight into the box.
“Exalted Goddess, I’ve temporarily sealed the immortal meridian on this land,” Biao Ting said as he handed the box over to Shen Ying. “Without the immortal meridian suppressing it, Celestial Emperor can set up his array more easily.”
Shen Ying nodded. “Thank you for your hard work!” She took the box and handed it over to Yu Hong, then turned toward the Radish field in the rear mountain. Indeed, after Biao Ting kept the meridian, the faint demonic Qi became much richer. All the immortal herbs were now collapsed on the ground, looking wilted.
The Heart Entrapping Array was almost complete. The array looked almost whole. What looked like a dense spiderweb enclosed the entire rear mountain. Radish began to glow red as it lay in the pit. The red glow became brighter and brighter, and looked like it was condensing to form something.
They’re going to succeed!
————
At the same time.
Lonemoon’s face fell as he sat within the array.
“Radish, have you discovered anything?”
“No!” Radish retracted its long leaves and shook its head. “My leaves can’t stretch out of this place. The moment it touches something, it bounces back.”
Lonemoon’s expression turned uglier. They had been stuck within the array for a couple of days now. All the immortal power in his body had been suppressed. He could not even move. What’s worse was that the array under his feet was extremely strange – he had not even seen it before. It looked like it could stretch out for miles and miles in all directions, but he could see no further than a two feet radius. Everything else was covered in a white fog.
That was why he could not tell where exactly they were trapped. Even Radish, who was sprawled out on his legs, was limited. Only two of its leaves could move. At first, Lonemoon wanted to make use of Radish’s leaves to find out about the array, but now even Radish’s leaves couldn’t stretch out far enough.
“Little Big Sister will surely come and rescue Radish,” Radish assured Lonemoon. “Don’t worry.”
Lonemoon frowned. Even if Shen Ying wanted to rescue them, she had to first find out where they were. Given the way that they were captured, Lonemoon guessed that it would be extremely difficult for Shen Ying to find clues as to where they were. He was just thinking about how to send a message out to Shen Ying when a blinding white light shot out from the array underneath them. Even the white fog began to dissipate. They saw a figure somewhere nearby.
“Radish, quick, hide!” Lonemoon called out. He turned to focus on the man on his right.
Beside him, the figure was becoming clearer and clearer. A moment later, he could make out a man in blue robes. He looked extremely familiar.
“Tao Shu!” Why was it him!
Hearing Lonemoon’s cry, the man jumped. “Lonemoon, what are you doing here?”
Lonemoon just started to explain, but a familiar voice came from his left. “Lonemoon? Its Young Emperor Lonemoon!”
He turned and his eyes widened. “BIrd! Ah pui… Celestial Emperor Blackbird, why are you here too?”
“I don’t know!” He shook his head. “When I opened my eyes, I found myself here. I think there are others!”
Lonemoon scanned his surroundings. Indeed, there were a couple more figures in front of him now, not far away. Only after the white fog completely cleared did he recognise everybody.
Needless to say, Chen Ge was there. There were four others and they were all the Celestial Emperors of various continents: Lan Yu, Ying Zhi, Ji Zhe, and even Chu Xuan. Six out of ten of the Celestial Emperors were here. They were just like him – there was an array underneath each of them. All of them were trapped at different spots, and they formed a circle. The arrays connected with one another to form a huge array that he never saw before.
“Brother Lonemoon, you’re here too!” Chu Xuan’s eyes brightened when he spotted Lonemoon. He looked around and asked, “Where’s the Exalted Goddess? Is that Exalted Goddess here as well?” Ji Zhe, Blackbird and Tao Shu began to look around the place as well.
“She’s not!” Lonemoon shook his head. “I got transported here all of a sudden as well. She could not stop me in time and she doesn’t even know where I am.” He tried to get up to scan the surroundings.
“This is the Emperor Ascension Stage,” Chen Ge suddenly said. There was panic in his eyes.
The few of them paused and looked at him. One by one, they studied their surroundings.
“It really is the Emperor Ascension Stage!” Ji Zhe exclaimed. “Who would set up an array here?”
“Celestial Emperor Chu Xuan, you’re the most experienced in arrays. Can you tell what array this is?” Chen Ge asked.
“I’m not sure either,” Chu Xuan shook his head. “I have never seen an array like that in my life. What’s more… this array doesn’t look like it’s just meant to trap us. The person who trapped us here is likely only at stage one of his plan. I don’t know what he’s up to!”
“Who cares what he’s up to!” Blackbird exploded. “This array has trapped me here for a couple of days now. Do any of you know how to break out of this array?”
They all fell silent.
“None of you have a plan?!” Blackbird’s expression darkened. “What kind of array is this? Why is it so freaking powerful?”
“This is not an array!” A voice announced coolly from on top of them.
At the next moment, a few figures landed in the middle of the Emperor Ascension Stage. There were two men and one woman. Right in front of the group was an immortal with a long white beard. The immortal Qi in his body was much richer than that of all of them combined. He looked extremely benevolent and righteous. He looked just like those high and mighty divine beings that Lonemoon always saw on the television
“Celestial Emperor Zi Chen!” Everyone exclaimed.
“Who?” Lonemoon paused.
“He is the Celestial Emperor of the Bo Sea, Celestial Emperor Zi Chen,” Tao Shu explained in a low voice.
Lonemoon suddenly understood. So it was him. He looked closely at the people behind Zi Chen. It was no wonder that he informed Chen Ge there was no phenomenon spotted at the Bo Sea when the few of them wanted to go there. They were in cahoots! The two people behind him were Xin Han and Hui Ling.
“Master!” Hui Ling shouted.
“Little Ling?” Chen Ge was obviously shocked as well. “What are you doing here?”
Hui Ling walked toward Chen Ge, but Xin Han pulled her back. “Little Xuan, you forgot what I said to you earlier.”
“But… But…” Hui Ling looked at Chen Ge, clearly tortured. Alas, she had no other choice.
