Chapter 161
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Chapter 161: Ancient Formation of Heaven
Qin Huai Yuan stepped aside, avoiding Ming He’s formal gesture. With a serene expression, he handed her several long swords, their edges honed to a sharper brilliance by the Phoenix Fire. After a slight bow, he spoke earnestly, "On the battlefield of the central pavilion, I owe my life to the young leader of the human race for casting the sword to save me."
At that moment, drained of spiritual energy and overwhelmed by the Tian Yan Tribe’s onslaught, had Ming He not thrown the Jing Ying Sword, his fate would have been grim.
Ming He accepted the Xuanyuan swords, securing them with care. Her gaze met Qin Huai Yuan’s, bright and fervent, her smile radiant. "Saving you, elder brother, was my duty. There’s no need for thanks."
"…Who is your elder brother?" Qin Huai Yuan hesitated, unable to suppress his thoughts, his eyes narrowing slightly as he scrutinized her.
Ming He’s smile remained unwavering, her sincerity deepening. "You are my Senior Sister’s brother, so naturally, you are my brother as well."
Qin Huai Yuan’s brows furrowed slightly, clearly unprepared for the audacity of the young leader of the human race.
His expression cooled as he retorted, "You have neither established a contract with little Yi nor entered into marriage. It doesn’t count."
Though the battlefield of the heavens and the Tianwu Continent were distant, news still traveled between them. He was well aware of the events in Tianwu City.
It was indeed the Imperial Palace’s scheme, but both Ming He and Qin Chu Yi were entangled in it, and his sister had nearly sacrificed her life for the person before him.
No matter how exceptional she was, as an elder brother, he could not bring himself to treat Ming He with warmth.
After all, she had stolen his precious sister.
Ming He remained unshaken, her composure unbroken.
In the Tianwu Continent, she had heard of the bond between the Young Master of the Qin Clan and the Young Master of the Qin Clan. Moreover, in the original tale, this seemingly refined nobleman had nearly beaten Su Cheng Feng to death, a testament to his ferocity.
Though that narrative was crafted by the heavens to ensnare her, it was rooted in the characters’ true nature.
Thus, it was clear that Qin Huai Yuan was no ordinary man.
But as long as her Senior Sister held her in her heart, what did the opinions of others matter?
She was not like Su Cheng Feng, whose talents were modest and demeanor mild. She admired Qin Chu Yi and would rise to match her Senior Sister’s brilliance, proudly declaring to all that Qin Chu Yi was her Dao partner.
Ming He’s lips curved into a confident, dazzling smile. "I will establish a contract with my Senior Sister in due time. Whether I address her differently now or later makes no difference."
Qin Huai Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to counter her reasoning. Then Ming He smoothly shifted the conversation, "Where is Dao partner Nineteen?"
Dao partner Nineteen?
Qin Huai Yuan was momentarily puzzled before realizing whom she meant. After a brief pause, he replied gently, "She is on the city wall, defending against the enemy."
The Tian Yan Tribe’s forces assailed the walls relentlessly; the Four Cities of Tianwu required constant vigilance from human cultivators, day and night.
Ming He nodded. "I need to speak with her. Would you guide me, elder brother?"
Her casual address left Qin Huai Yuan at a loss.
In terms of status, he was the Young Master of the Qin Clan, yet she was the young leader of the human race. In cultivation, he was at the eighth level of the Human King stage, while she was at the seventh.
Yet, he knew well that on the battlefield of the central pavilion, he was no match for Ming He.
Even without the forces of nature, she could defeat an entry-level Earth Emperor Realm cultivator.
To fight beyond one’s level was the mark of a true genius.
Well, who could fault little Yi for being captivated by such a person?
He only lamented his sister’s unwavering devotion, though it seemed her feelings were reciprocated.
As for Ming He being a woman, though he hailed from an Ancient Clan and upheld its traditions, such matters were of little concern to him.
Qin Chu Yi paid no heed to her own well-being, so who were others to concern themselves on her behalf?
The Young Man clad in heavy armor gave a nod and strode toward the city wall, with Ming He following quietly behind, a faint smile playing on her lips.
The walls of Tianwu East City loomed dark and battered, where armored guards brandished their spears, channeling their energy to fend off the advancing Tian Yan Tribe.
Ming He encountered Nineteen at the most fiercely contested section of the crumbling wall, where the Tian Yan Tribe’s assault was relentless.
The woman in black had discarded her heavy armor, draping it over a wounded armored guard. In each hand, she clutched a small flag, and as she moved them in unison, an ancient, profound aura emanated from her. Her once rosy complexion paled as the aura intensified.
Upon spotting Ming He, her eyes brightened, and her crimson lips parted to utter a single word: "Go."
The Tian Yan Tribe members scaling the wall collapsed instantly, their bodies disintegrating into black fog before they could even touch the blood pooling below, temporarily alleviating the crisis.
Such moments of peril erupted ceaselessly across the battlefield of the heavens.
Qin Huai Yuan had already led his team of ten out of the city—whether to slaughter the Tian Yan Tribe as usual or to carry out some other mission assigned by the commander remained unclear.
Ming He unsheathed her sword, her blue clothes billowing like a sea breeze as she moved gracefully through the chaos, her blade slicing through the air and severing heads with precision.
Once the siege was repelled, she sheathed her sword and approached Nineteen. “Friend Nineteen,” she greeted.
Nineteen gave a slight nod. “Have your injuries healed?”
Ming He nodded, anticipating her question, and spoke first. “I’m ready.”
Thus, the plan Nineteen had spoken of could now be set into motion.
Nineteen paused briefly before breaking into a radiant smile. “I’ve made all the necessary preparations as well.”
“Over these past days, I’ve crafted numerous array flags. They should suffice to manage the situation in the Four Cities of Tianwu.” She was determined to prevent a repeat of the previous incident.
“The arrangements at the central pavilion are also complete. Other powerful allies in the Earth Emperor Realm will support our efforts. Lord Fu has approved our plan, and she, along with Senior Qing Long, will lend their Earth Emperor powers from the Imperial Palace on the Tianwu Continent to aid us.”
The woman in black spoke calmly from within the swirling black fog.
Ming He nodded.
Senior Qing Long must be the young woman dressed in green she had seen atop Canglan Mountain, the formation master stationed at the Imperial Palace on the Tianwu Continent.
“When do we depart?” Ming He asked Nineteen.
“At nightfall,” Nineteen replied, a sharp glint in her eyes. “The black fog will be at its thickest then. The stronger the sunlight we encounter, the more the Tian Yan Tribe will suffer from its scorching effects.”
Though the battlefield of the heavens knew no day or night, the Tianwu Continent still followed the cycle of light and darkness.
As human cultivators from the Tianwu Continent, even amidst the fog that obscured the passage of time, their hearts remained attuned to the rhythm of day and night.
Many human race cultivators on the battlefield of the heavens, enveloped in the pitch-black silence of night, often found themselves thinking of those they cherished back on the Tianwu Continent, wondering where they were and what they were doing.
Ming He remained silent, her gaze lingering on the bloodstained walls as thoughts of Qin Chu Yi surfaced.
Her Senior Sister must be refining her inheritance at the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb. How far had she progressed? Was she in any life danger?
Would the process of refining the inheritance be painful?
When Ming He had accepted the Heavenly Dao inheritance, it had not hurt, but that was because she had endured the trials of being opposed by the entire world.
Senior Sister.
Ming He murmured softly, her longing deepening until it became an inescapable ache that clung to her.
She lifted her gaze toward the fog beyond the city wall, where the black mist churned ceaselessly. Even with her spiritual energy enhancing her vision, the world she could see remained shrouded and indistinct.
Behind the black fog loomed a mysterious and perilous fierce beast, crouched low with its gaping, blood-stained maw devouring the sun, moon, and stars, while mountains crumbled beneath its claws, leaving only an endless, desolate crimson plain.
Ming He straightened her posture, brushing her sleeve against the tip of the Xuanyuan Sword, its sword energy swirling around her. She then gripped the weapon tightly and declared, "It’s time to move."
She glanced at Nineteen. The cultivators of Tianwu East City each had their own missions, but the most critical task of setting up the Ancient Formation of Heaven fell upon her and Nineteen. Only they needed to return to the central pavilion now.
"Before we leave, there’s something I must tell you," Nineteen said, her tone serious as she looked at Ming He.
Though Ming He likely already knew, this moment felt different.
Ming He raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
Nineteen bowed slightly, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence with a resounding clarity: "I am Li Fusheng, a successor of the Sword Pavilion in the central region, a direct descendant of Sword Master Li Xuantian, ranked nineteenth in my family. I greet the young leader."
Ming He paused, finally understanding Nineteen’s intent.
She was revealing her true identity.
In the ancient cave dwelling, Ming He had once asked Nineteen about her origins, but the woman had only smiled and said it was not the right time, introducing herself simply as Nineteen.
A ray of light cold across nineteen states—Nineteen.
Now, she was telling her that her name was Li Fusheng, a successor of the Sword Pavilion and a descendant of the Sword Master.
The fleeting, dreamlike Li Fusheng.
The name that had appeared on the golden curtain she and Qin Chu Yi had seen beneath the Deep Sea in the Donghua Realm.
Once distant strangers, they now stood beneath the same sky, blades in hand, ready to face life and death together.
The distance between them had vanished.
A golden Sword Breaking Talisman flashed by.
The person before her had once called them friends.
Now, they were comrades in arms.
Ming He smiled faintly and bowed in return. "I am Ming He, a true disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect in the Eastern Region, inheritor of the Sword Master’s legacy, recognized by the Imperial Palace as the young leader."
"Greetings, Dao friend Li."
"Don’t," the girl in black interrupted, waving her hand with a surprisingly lively expression. "Just call me Nineteen."
"Between us, it’s best to keep things as they were when we first met."
To her, Ming He was not just the young leader.
She saw her as a comrade with whom she could share life and death.
After all, their first collaboration had been seamless, and Nineteen had never doubted their tacit understanding.
"I won’t call you young leader from now on," Nineteen said, her eyes gleaming with a spirited light. Her laughter broke through the heavy black fog, and she looked at Ming He’s smiling lips, gathering her spiritual energy. Her voice was sharp and commanding: "Hold on tight!"
Ming He glanced down to see a black flag unfurling beneath her feet, lifting her into the sky. They soared over the bloodstained, crumbling city walls and into the dense black fog above.
The wind howled around them as the flag fluttered, its remnants disappearing into the darkness, merging into the void.
It reminded her of the Flying Sky Ribbon used by her senior brother from the Floating Cloud Sect.
A faint smile curved her lips as she exchanged a glance with Nineteen. Their smiles deepened, and they laughed together, the sound carrying a clear, unshakable spirit, unbothered by the possibility of alerting the Tian Yan Tribe below.
The black fog in the central pavilion was slightly thinner than that over the Four Cities of Tianwu, yet the oppressive silence it carried was even more heart-pounding.
Ming He followed Nineteen’s steps into the spacious heart of the central pavilion, facing a group of Earth Emperor Realm experts whose eyes were sharp and profound.
"Greetings, young leader," said a white-haired youth in white robes, cupping his fists toward Ming He. His smile was gentle, exuding a refreshing calmness.
"Greetings, young leader," the other experts echoed, pausing briefly to give Ming He a deep look before following the white-haired youth’s lead in greeting her.
On the Tianwu Continent, the weak were prey to the strong. As Earth Emperor Realm experts, they were not obligated to bow to Ming He.
But she was the inheritor acknowledged by the Great Path and the young leader appointed by the Imperial Palace. Thus, she could not be treated as ordinary.
Three years ago, Qin Chu Yi had used blood reversal to channel the power of the heavens, reducing the alien race’s blood essence by a third, alleviating a crisis on the battlefield of the heavens.
Three months ago, Ming He had drawn upon the fortunes of the human race, gathering the scattered energies of her people and subtly loosening the bindings placed on human cultivators in the battlefield.
Moreover, the recent sweep of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array through the Tian Yan Tribe had been witnessed by all.
Ming He pressed her lips together. "There’s no need for such formalities."
She turned her gaze to the youth who had first greeted her. His white hair and robes seemed vaguely familiar.
She felt as though she had seen him before.
"I am Dong Jian Ping, the Domain Lord of the Eastern Region," the youth said with a mild smile. "It was close; you almost became my disciple."
After the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings, Ming He had visited the Domain Lord’s mansion in the Eastern Region. At that time, it was his avatar who had appeared, considering taking her as his student. However, he hesitated due to Qu Lingyun’s past.
His avatar had not known that Qu Lingyun was the Master of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, hence his indecision.
But he knew Ming He was the chosen inheritor of the Star Lock and the Imperial Palace. As the Domain Lord of the Eastern Region, he was not qualified to be her Master.
Besides, the young leader of the human race needed only one Master.
Qu Lingyun was indeed the perfect fit.
Ming He lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
"Speaking of which, this Young Master originally intended for Ming He to inherit the title of Young Master of the Sword Pavilion," Nineteen interjected with a smile. "But I couldn’t compete with the Imperial Palace."
Ming He remained silent.
"The night is deep, and this is the perfect moment," Nineteen said, her expression turning serious. "I ask everyone to lend their strength to Fu Sheng."
"Yes," Dong Jian Ping replied, leading hundreds of Earth Emperor Realm experts in a solemn nod.
Outside the central pavilion, the human race’s armored guards tightened their grips on their spears, fighting fiercely to drive the Tian Yan Tribe back for hundreds of miles.
Amidst a sea of blood-red and ink-black, a storm swirled through the black fog. The girl in black merged into the darkness, nodding at Ming He. She formed hand seals, drawing upon the profound and mysterious aura of the Great Path. A faint light flickered within the black fog, barely visible in the haze.
Hundreds of Earth Emperor Realm experts sat cross-legged, their eyes closed. The grand aura of the Great Path rose steadily, and golden light visibly drew away from them, swaying in the storm before settling onto Nineteen.
The black clothes of the girl fluttered as she rose into the air on that faint light, her bright eyes reflecting the soaring eaves of the ancient pavilion above.
That was their target.
In that very moment, roars from the Tian Yan Tribe on the battlefield of the heavens echoed one after another, like a giant beast awakening, opening its bloody maw to devour all living beings.
Every living being seeks to benefit and avoid harm; it is not a privilege reserved for human cultivators alone.
Setting up the Ancient Formation of Heaven would undoubtedly alert the Tian Yan Tribe.
It might even draw the attention of their royal family, a force capable of challenging the Earth Emperor Realm, and their nearly reclusive leader, who had almost touched the threshold of emperorhood.
Ming He and Nineteen both knew this.
As the Tian Yan Tribe’s army surged like a tide, even if the human race could hold their ground as before, it would be nearly impossible for her and Nineteen to escape unscathed.
The Alien Race Hunting Hall and the leader of the Tian Yan Tribe would stop at nothing to hunt them down.
Because only Nineteen could set up the Ancient Formation of Heaven.
And only Ming He could wield the Star Lock.
This was a gamble where failure meant death.
They both knew this, yet they did not waver in their choice.
