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Formless Clan ➡️ Formless Faction
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Black lotuses, like mountains, came drifting slowly, pressing down over all heaven and earth.
Each lotus petal was immensely vast, like a world-destroying millstone blotting out the sky, carrying an aura of annihilation as the Great Dao's essence intertwined, falling from beyond the myriad worlds.
Within each black lotus was cradled a temple wreathed in black mist.
Dense and innumerable believers, like a dark tide, sat cross-legged around the black lotuses in tiered formation. On every tier, there was nothing but devout prayer.
Their mouths chanted obscure and unintelligible words, their gazes fanatical and blazing. Thread after thread of black mist coiled around them, then swiftly converged toward those temples like towering waves.
The heavens themselves changed, black clouds rolling in, accompanied by a torrential black downpour that mercilessly lashed the world.
Cosmic realms shattered, black rain fell, mountain ranges collapsed, and worlds decayed.
Vast expanses of land cracked apart; mountains and rivers withered and dried up entirely. Endless deathly energy rose steaming from every direction.
And this deathly energy, as if drawn by some force, began spreading toward all corners of the Ethereal Sacred Domain, rapidly eroding the surrounding cosmic worlds.
One could even see great swathes of continents crumbling.
Cities were broken, kingdoms wiped out.
No matter the race of the living beings, the instant they were tainted by this deathly energy, they fell into frenzied slaughter, caring for nothing, killing whoever they saw—whether former friends, beloved ones, children, or disciples.
The land was filled with wails of misery. Although the four great families of Ethereal Sacred City had immediately dispatched experts to block and eradicate them, it was utterly useless.
The Black Lotus Cult had been waiting all along. They had not acted during the first few days of the grand assembly, lying in wait, biding their time for this very moment.
Scenes of devastation were reflected in the eyes of the many powerful figures of the Ethereal Sacred Domain.
"Damned believers of the Black Lotus Cult, truly detestable."
"This is deliberately trying to destroy our Ethereal Sacred Domain, turning it into a dead land."
Many native beings and cultivators of the Ethereal Sacred Domain were enraged, and heedless of everything, they charged toward those massive black lotuses, attempting to destroy them.
However, atop those black lotuses sat many blurry black shadows, wreathed in terrifying deathly energy. Their gazes were silent and indifferent, as if they did not regard the living beings of the world at all.
As they watched the figures charging in from across the cosmos, they merely swept a cold glance over them.
Then, they simply pointed a finger, murmuring sacrificial words of the black lotus descending to deliver all beings, and boundless black divine light surged up around them, containing incomparable destructive power. All the charging figures instantly disintegrated and collapsed.
The black lotuses slowly bloomed, each petal demonic and eerie, yet in this moment also carrying a certain holy aura.
It was as if a blurry and supreme figure truly sat within those temples, eyes filled with compassion, intent on delivering all living beings.
From distant universes, some could even already hear the strange and grotesque sacrificial chanting tone, making their entire bodies uncomfortable, their very souls seeming ready to fly out with it.
"The Immortal Dao Alliance grand assembly can only be suspended for now. The urgent matter is to first expel these followers of the Black Lotus Cult."
Many elders and disciples of the Ethereal Sacred Sect transformed into streaks of divine light and joined the battle.
Unfortunately, even within Ethereal Sacred City before their very eyes, chaos had already erupted. In many families, clan members had unknowingly been corrupted and were striking from behind.
Chaos, wailing, grief, fury... all manner of chaotic emotions began to spread throughout the Ethereal Sacred Domain.
The various true world civilizations that had been closely watching the situation in the Ethereal Sacred Domain were likewise shocked and horrified.
If one were to look from outside the Ethereal Sacred Domain at this moment, one would see a thin, mist-like black gas drifting in from all cosmic directions, then growing denser and denser, until finally it formed an endless black fog like surging waves, completely shrouding the region of the Ethereal Sacred Domain, making the scenes within impenetrable to view.
That black fog contained a strange power, capable of blocking divine sense and obscuring the heavens' secrets, so much so that even one's physical body could hardly struggle to enter.
"Could it be they intend to seal off the Ethereal Sacred Domain? They've truly gone mad..."
Some ancient figures felt only heart palpitations and found it inconceivable. This Black Lotus Cult was far too bold. Right now, the Ethereal Sacred Domain held the converging attention of how many true world civilizations?
Not to mention, so many foundational figures were stationed there. This was courting the fate of becoming the enemy of the entire Vast Expanse.
Furthermore, even the current Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, Gu Changge, was inside. How did the Black Lotus Cult dare?
"The Mysterious Dark Divine Fiend Calamity Curse Array Technique once helped me refine a complete Formless Heaven, achieving my Formless name. Today, I shall use your true souls and Dao Fruits to help me refine the Black Lotus Sacred Realm, to recreate the former glory of Formless Heaven..."
Within the dark and unfathomable underground palace, the blood pool churned, a hazy blur.
The figure clad in armor sat cross-legged, breathing heavily as he stared intently at the piece of flesh floating before him like a beating heart.
Before him, black mist interwove, submerging the underground palace. Yet that profound pool clearly reflected the current scenes of the Ethereal Sacred Domain.
Threads upon threads of faith power converged, were polluted and eroded in that pool, then turned into a sky-wide black rain, pouring down in torrents.
He watched the ever-eroding black fog that finally completely shrouded the Ethereal Sacred Domain, forming an immensely vast region like a giant black cocoon, his gaze growing increasingly blazing.
The Black Lotus Sacred Realm was the very foundation for him to now usurp and shape himself into the Lord of the Black Lotus.
The Immortal Dao Alliance grand assembly in the Ethereal Sacred Domain had gathered almost all the true world civilizations in the Vast Expanse that could be named, as well as the foundational figures of all orthodox forces—truly the perfect nourishment.
Not to mention, there was even an existence like the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance within.
"Progenitor Xu is always so cautious. He wants me to deal with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, and also to shift the calamity caused by the Black Lotus Cult onto the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. I wonder what he is thinking?"
"This Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is now trapped in the Black Lotus Sacred Realm, destined only to become my nourishment." His expression was indifferent, yet a cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Beyond the outer region of the Lesser Western Sacred Domain, in a certain void space-time.
An incomparably open great hall was situated in its depths, with no visible end or boundary. Only clouds billowed, as if one had truly arrived at the immortal dwellings of ancient times.
A blurry, indistinct shadow sat cross-legged in the center of the hall. Vast sacrificial sounds swirled around him, as though all the gods and buddhas of the heavens were chanting prayers for him.
This shadow seemed to be reflected across past, present, and future, amidst the destruction of nothingness—both real and illusory, like a bubble, like dew, like lightning.
"Progenitor, on the side of the Ethereal Sacred Domain, Wuxiang should have already acted according to your instructions."
Wu Xu Zi of the Heavenly Decline Faction stood respectfully within the great hall, extremely reverent toward that blurry figure.
The Wuxiang he spoke of was precisely the leader of the Formless Faction among the Eight Tribes of Heaven's Proxy, who had once followed the Lord of Heaven's Proxy. But when Heaven's Proxy collapsed and disintegrated, Wuxiang had also seized a portion of the foundation and fled far away to live in seclusion.
Throughout the long eons, no one knew his whereabouts or news, because Wuxiang (formless) was just like his name: the Five Aggregates of the world and the myriad forms of mortal life could not touch him; he dwelled nowhere, his form was unfixed, making him incomparably difficult to find.
"Wuxiang has always feared the power of the Lord of Heaven's Proxy. Upon learning that he is about to awaken, he certainly will not hold back for long."
"He does not have much time left. If this chess piece is not used soon, it will probably be destroyed by the Lord of Heaven's Proxy very quickly, wasting so many years of my efforts."
Progenitor Xu's face constantly shifted, finally turning into a flat, featureless visage, exceptionally eerie.
Wu Xu Zi asked in puzzlement, "Progenitor, if that is the case, why still have this Wuxiang act against the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Are you not already very certain of his identity?"
Progenitor Xu's eyes were a silvery white, without pupils, within which the passage of time flickered.
He looked toward the void ahead and calmly said, "I need this chess piece of his to confirm one thing for me."
"The Master of Fate made a deal with me. He does not know the identity of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's Alliance Leader, but being ever cautious, he is unwilling to easily appear in person. So he wants to borrow my hand to test the depth of the Alliance Leader's strength, and thereby make his decision."
Hearing this, Wu Xu Zi suddenly understood and said with admiration, "That mere Master of Fate, nothing but a cowardly wretch afraid of death, dares to make a deal with the Progenitor. Is he truly not afraid of ending up backlashed, his soul dispersed and bones obliterated?"
Progenitor Xu calmly said, "The Master of Fate is a bold man, but now he does not have much time left either. If he still does not enter the field, waiting for the waters of the Vast Expanse to be completely muddied and certain things to jump out, he will have no chance. So now he is also very anxious."
"It is a pity that his path was wrong from the start. No matter how he walks it, he is only going further down a wrong road, never to return, until he reaches the end."
Wu Xu Zi revealed a mocking look. "That path of the Master of Fate was already walked by someone before. Progenitor, you once kindly told him, yet he still insisted on going down it. Is that not courting his own death?"
Progenitor Xu instead fell into thought, then shook his head. "If he were willing to give up some things, there should be a place willing to accept him, and he would not end up with his Dao destroyed and body perished. Yet he persists, I fear he is still scheming for authority..."
"Authority..." Wu Xu Zi's expression changed. He secretly glanced beyond the heavens, and seeing no abnormality, breathed a sigh of relief.
But how much authority remained in the current Vast Expanse?
Almost all the known authority was either being held onto or had already been abolished.
No matter how long the Master of Fate schemes, if he truly seeks authority, he would probably die without a burial place in an instant.
"Progenitor, I still have one matter I do not understand. On the Black Lotus Cult side, we need not interfere much, right? For now, are we just waiting for the Master of Fate's side to make a move, and then decide whether to act?" Wu Xu Zi asked.
Progenitor Xu closed his eyes, the aura around him seeming to return to silent nothingness.
"I gave him that piece of flesh as a token of sincerity for him to serve me, precisely for this day. Wuxiang's temperament is unruly; he will submit to no one, only fearing the Lord of Heaven's Proxy. After knowing that piece of flesh came from the Lord of Heaven's Proxy, he will only become more reckless and fearless. After so many years, he should have understood how to use the power within it."
"I also happen to want to see, just what level the Lord of Heaven's Proxy's strength has reached now."
"Has he truly encountered a problem, or is he waiting to fish?"
On Ethereal Peak, it had long since descended into a scene of chaos. The grand assembly being disturbed in such a way left the faces of the guests from all sides unsightly, especially since many of their disciples and followers had more or less been corrupted by the Black Lotus Cult.
They had thought this grand assembly would proceed smoothly, with no further accidents.
Yet accidents always come unexpectedly. Everyone had previously worried that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would meddle, paying no heed to the other orthodox forces in the Vast Expanse.
The rapid rise and spread of the Black Lotus Cult, though partly due to the current chaotic situation in the Vast Expanse, led many to speculate that it absolutely had the Dark Clans backing it from behind.
Otherwise, it would not be so utterly reckless.
"Just what is the origin of this Black Lotus Cult? Knowing full well that we are holding a grand assembly here, they still deliberately cause trouble. This is simply a naked provocation."
"I say today, rather than all of us joining forces, let us first wipe out this so-called Black Lotus Cult completely."
"The Dark Clans have grown used to their recklessness. Do they truly think we fear them? Now, seeing that we are about to establish the Immortal Dao Alliance and jointly settle accounts, they are probably finally afraid..."
A foundational figure from a Supreme True World spoke.
His strength was at the Ancestral Dao Realm level. Seeing this scene, his gaze was icy. He directly stood up, his true body brilliant like rosy mist, instantly inflating to far beyond tens of thousands of zhang, blotting out the sky.
With a single thought-driven shout, a grand and majestic divine sword, like a towering mountain, manifested behind him, severing star rivers and annihilating universes, directly slashing toward a massive black lotus in the far distance.
"This Black Lotus Cult is incredibly strange. I'm afraid it won't be easy to deal with."
On Ethereal Peak, many guests watched this scene from afar, their hearts slightly shaken.
Many people's faces darkened even further. The imagined scene of destroying that massive black lotus in one strike did not occur.
Amid the sky-wide black light, a terrifying black hand, covered in scales, simply caught the slashing sword just like that.
The residual waves obliterated the surrounding cosmos and countless stars, yet did not have the slightest effect on that black lotus. All the believers gathered within were completely oblivious, their expressions still devout and fanatical.
Where the black lotuses drifted past, torrential rain poured, carrying a corrosive and eerie aura, polluting this world.
Such a scene made the faces of all the native clans of the Ethereal Sacred Domain extremely ugly.
"Alliance Leader, the Black Lotus Cult's choosing to strike at this moment—could it be that they intend to wipe us all out in one fell swoop?"
Several high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, watching this scene, were also shaken inwardly, very puzzled.
A perfectly fine grand assembly, but because of the Black Lotus Cult's interference, it had to be prematurely ended.
In truth, no one had initially cared about this suddenly emerged evil cult, but who could have imagined it would have such tremendous audacity.
Within the vast and expansive great hall, many ancient existences frowned at the scene in the far distance. They did not act, nor did they make any declarations, planning to wait and see first.
Although the Immortal Dao Alliance had been established, it did not mean they would help the Ethereal Sacred Domain resolve this trouble. This Black Lotus Cult had a strange and mysterious origin; before clearly understanding it, rashly intervening would only invite unnecessary losses.
Especially on the Ethereal Sacred Domain's own territory, when that Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain had yet to even make a move—why should they be anxious?
"The Black Lotus Cult has no small courage, but it doesn't have that great an ability."
Gu Changge, in white robes with wide sleeves, sat upright on a jade immortal platform, speaking casually.
He had long anticipated this and was therefore not surprised. If the Black Lotus Cult made a move, then the Master of Fate's side should also soon be unable to hold back.
But from the current situation, the Black Lotus Cult was merely a chess piece pushed to the front; the true players were still hiding behind.
Both the Master of Fate and Progenitor Xu were still hiding, wanting to use this to force him to appear? Or to probe his true strength?
"The calculations of these two are indeed in unison. It's a pity that my current target is not them." Gu Changge saw through everything with clarity, his gaze indifferent.
"Hmph, this Black Lotus Cult truly has outrageous audacity. Do they truly treat this Ancestor as non-existent?"
At this moment, a cold snort rang out, shaking the firmament of the Ethereal Sacred Domain into rumbling, causing the stars to tremble and the cosmos to dim.
The Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain had already accumulated quite a bit of resentment during this grand assembly. Now he directly flung his sleeve, striking at a massive black lotus in the far distance.
Within his sleeve, myriad heavens and universes emerged, countless starlight shining, as if myriad Daos were evolving. Endless chains of law and order interwove, like a waterfall of laws, pressing down and submerging.
"The Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain's strength is truly unfathomable, already far surpassing the ordinary Ancestral Dao Realm."
"With him presiding here, perhaps even without the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance making a move, the calamity of the Black Lotus Cult can be resolved..."
"I wonder just what the mastermind behind the Black Lotus Cult is planning. Not even the Dark Clans have appeared."
The foundational figures present, sensing this fluctuation, all felt their hearts tremble slightly.
As the foundational beings of various true world civilizations, their strength was naturally not to be underestimated. The weakest among them had survived at least six Heavenly Decline Tribulations.
The vast majority were at the Ancestral Dao Realm. This force, looking across the entire Vast Expanse, could be said to overlook all living beings, with very few rivals.