The Burden of a Dao Heart

“Let’s go.” The moment Crimsonleaf Immortal saw the message talisman shatter, a sharp killing intent flashed through her eyes as she gave the order.

Whoosh~~~

Eighteen figures rode a cloud of mist, rapidly flying towards Anchan City. They had been hiding not too far from the city. When they flew to within three thousand li of Anchan City, their expressions all changed.

“Heartforce!”

“There’s a Celestial Immortal in Anchan City using their heartforce to scout.”

“We’ve been discovered.”

All eighteen Celestial Immortals felt a sense of foreboding. They had guessed that the Tonghe Immortal would be very cautious, but they hadn’t expected this. The original ultimatum had been given a full half a year ago. So much time had passed; had the Tonghe Immortal maintained his heartforce scouting the entire time? Even if the Diancai Immortal, the Fire Rainbow Immortal, and the Tonghe Immortal took turns, it would still be extremely draining. That was why the range of the Tonghe Immortal and his companions’ heartforce was not very large, covering only all of Anchan City and the area for three thousand li around it.

To be clear, for a Celestial Immortal, even a very weak one, covering a hundred thousand li with heartforce was not difficult, but that was for a very short duration.

“Although the Tonghe Immortal is very cautious, it is still within our expectations,” Crimsonleaf Immortal transmitted.

“Mm.” The other Celestial Immortals were not flustered either.

“We’ll make our move right here. There’s no need to go any further,” Crimsonleaf Immortal ordered. Immediately, the eighteen Celestial Immortals descended from high in the sky and landed on the wilderness.

Crimsonleaf Immortal released her own heartforce, letting it collide with the heartforce of the Celestial Immortal in Anchan City. Since they had been discovered, there was no need to hide anymore. “Tonghe, the Seamless Gate has arrived. Why don’t you come out and surrender yourself?”

…

Night.

Anchan City.

“The Seamless Gate is here!” Yu Wei’s voice transmission acted as a signal. Instantly, two figures shot into the air and flew swiftly over. One flew out from the Marquis’s estate; it was the Tonghe Immortal. The other figure was the Diancai Immortal. As for Ji Ning… Ji Ning had been with Yu Wei the entire time.

Anchan City was about nine thousand li in length and width. The Marquis’s estate and the Black-White College were close by, and they assembled quickly.

“They’re here?” The Tonghe Immortal landed, his eyes blazing with an astonishing battle intent.

“Mm. Three thousand li east of Anchan City’s eastern gate,” Yu Wei said. “The moment they detected my heartforce, they landed and haven’t advanced any further.”

The Tonghe Immortal laughed, his smile filled with killing intent. “Three thousand li? That’s enough. They’ve already entered the range of the formation.”

“Daoist Tonghe,” the Diancai Immortal said hastily. “This Anchan City itself was forged by the Grand Xia Dynasty. It inherently possesses tremendous power and contains many formation restrictions. If they don’t enter the city, we won’t be able to utilize the city’s own formation restrictions. We can only use some of the formations left behind by the Beishan clan. Their power will be much weaker, at most enough to stall the opponent.”

“Stalling them is enough,” the Tonghe Immortal said with a laugh. “This Seamless Gate is cautious; they won’t be foolish enough to charge into Anchan City. Activate the formation now and take control of it.”

“Mm.”

Yu Wei and the Diancai Immortal both nodded.

They were both Celestial Immortals. With the power of Celestial Immortal法力, the power they could unleash by activating the formation restrictions would be far greater.

…

Eighteen Celestial Immortals, led by Crimsonleaf Immortal, stood on the wilderness, calmly gazing at the majestic city in the distance. Though it was three thousand li away, it was still visible to the naked eye.

“Rumble~~~”

Suddenly, the world changed color.

Though it was deep night, a massive fiery cloud appeared in the sky above Anchan City. Then, the entire earth trembled. First, a huge light shield appeared, directly covering all of Anchan City, as well as the surrounding area for about nine thousand li! This sealing formation had a diameter of a full eighteen thousand li!

“A seal?” Crimsonleaf Immortal’s gaze swept across the area. This massive light shield also covered a vast expanse of wilderness, even forests and mountains. Since they were only three thousand li from Anchan City, they were naturally within its range.

“Whoosh~~”

A thick fog began to spread.

The space around them began to twist.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals remained very calm. Crimsonleaf Immortal was a being of high status with extensive knowledge, while the other seventeen Celestial Immortals were veterans who had campaigned in other major worlds, possessing incomparably rich experience. They could tell at a glance that this formation could at most hinder them slightly; it wouldn’t affect them much. In truth, a clan like the Beishan clan of Anchan was unlikely to possess any truly heaven-defying formations.

“There’s no need for us to force our way in right now,” Crimsonleaf Immortal transmitted. “Given the Tonghe Immortal’s pride, now that we’re trapped here, he’ll definitely take the initiative to attack. If he really is a coward and refuses to show his face, then we’ll use that formation, break through with raw power, and forcibly shatter this one.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t worry.”

These Celestial Immortals were not at all impatient or flustered.

Their goal this time was to kill the Tonghe Immortal, so they naturally had a detailed plan. But at their level… in the end, strength was what mattered. That was why the Seamless Gate had gathered eighteen of them, to use absolute power to kill the Tonghe Immortal and prevent him from escaping.

…

Atop the walls of Anchan City.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Four figures descended. They were the Tonghe Immortal, the Diancai Immortal, Ji Ning, and Yu Wei. Through their control of the formation, the eighteen Celestial Immortals within it could not tell north from south, but Ji Ning and his three companions could clearly see those eighteen Celestial Immortals in the distance.

“Only eighteen Celestial Immortals?” the Diancai Immortal said in surprise, then looked at the Tonghe Immortal. “Daoist Tonghe, you defeated a coalition of thirty-six Celestial Immortals last time. Now, knowing that my disciple Ji Ning has also returned, they’ve only sent eighteen. It seems these eighteen Celestial Immortals are definitely not ordinary ones.”

Ji Ning then said, “Daoist Tonghe, the Seamless Gate’s troops are ill-intentioned. You and I should work together separately—I’ll engage in close combat, and you attack from a distance. If the two of us join forces…”

“There’s no need,” the Tonghe Immortal interrupted, shaking his head.

When Ji Ning first met the Tonghe Immortal, he had called him ‘senior.’ But now, Ji Ning was famous for his exploits; he had single-handedly resisted nine Celestial Immortals and killed two, proving his strength was comparable to a peak Celestial Immortal. Furthermore, since the Seamless Gate’s attack involved the Black-White College primarily as a helper, the Tonghe Immortal naturally didn’t want Ji Ning and the others to keep calling him ‘senior.’

Nevertheless, Ji Ning and the Diancai Immortal still held great respect for the Tonghe Immortal in their hearts.

“No need?” Ji Ning was surprised.

“This grudge is primarily between me and the Seamless Gate,” the Tonghe Immortal said. “Your Black-White College has already helped me greatly by maintaining the heartforce scouting for half a year, and now you’re controlling the formation to support me. I am very grateful. As for this battle against the Seamless Gate… there’s no need for you to make a move. If the Seamless Gate dares to come at me, they must have some powerful methods and a certain level of confidence in dealing with me. As for dealing with you all… I won’t mince words. If you go, there’s a very high chance you’ll die.”

The Diancai Immortal and Yu Wei quietly nodded.

It was true.

They were all very clear about the Tonghe Immortal’s strength. He was almost at the level of a Pure Yang True Immortal. For the Seamless Gate to kill such an existence, their side would definitely be very strong. If they went, they indeed might die in a careless moment.

“Then doesn’t that mean you’re in great danger, Daoist?” the Diancai Immortal said hastily.

“Haha, do you think they’re the only ones with tricks?” the Tonghe Immortal said confidently. “They’ve never pushed me to my absolute limit before.”

The Diancai Immortal nodded gently. It was true. The Tonghe Immortal had been in seclusion for countless eons, so long that the Three Realms had almost assumed he was dead. In that endless stretch of time, just how much had the Tonghe Immortal’s strength grown? Probably no one except the Tonghe Immortal himself knew.

“Daoist Tonghe, even a lion must use its full strength when hunting a rabbit,” Ji Ning said hastily. “My master and the others are Ki Refiners, but I am a Fiendgod Body Refiner…”

“There’s no need.”

The Tonghe Immortal frowned. Seeing Ji Ning’s persistence, he said, “If you go, you’ll probably just hold me back.”

Ji Ning was momentarily speechless.

“Everyone from the Black-White College, just watch me destroy them,” the Tonghe Immortal said, then transformed into a streak of white light and flew into the distance.

“Ji Ning, Senior Tonghe spoke heavily because he doesn’t want you to go,” the Diancai Immortal said. “Senior Tonghe is proud and aloof at heart. We’ve already helped him a great deal; he doesn’t want us to help any further.”

“I understand. How could I be angry?” Ji Ning watched the distance. “Let’s see how the battle between Senior Tonghe and the Seamless Gate goes. If Senior Tonghe is in danger, we can still make our move later.”

“Junior apprentice-brother, don’t be rash. Watch carefully,” Yu Wei also stared into the distance. “Let’s see just how strong they really are. If the Seamless Gate is too strong, there’s no need for us to rush in and court death.”

“I know,” Ji Ning nodded.

…

Crimsonleaf Immortal and the other seventeen Celestial Immortals completely ignored the surrounding fog and spatial distortions. Suddenly, Crimsonleaf Immortal frowned slightly.

“Form up,” Crimsonleaf Immortal transmitted. “The Bixia Formation!”

Instantly, the positions of the eighteen Celestial Immortals shifted. Six floated in midair, while the other twelve remained standing on the wilderness. Simultaneously, they used their immortal magic to condense black runic symbols. Soon, countless threads connected, and the black runic symbols floated upwards, forming a hazy, shadowy light that enveloped all eighteen of them. This hazy light coalesced into the shape of a massive black turtle, lying on the ground, raising its head, and letting out a roar.

ROAR~~~

A sound like a dragon’s cry shook the land, and the surrounding fog scattered.

“The offspring of a dragon? Bixia?” A clear, resonant voice rang out. The fog parted ahead, and space solidified. A long-haired man stood in midair. He was no longer the low-key, ordinary-looking person he usually was. He was like a sharp sword, having finally revealed his edge. The long-haired man laughed heartily, “The Bixia Formation. This is an ancient divine beast formation. Its power is formidable, and it is best at defense. It seems perfectly suited to countering me.”

“Tonghe, it’s not too late for you to surrender to our Seamless Gate now,” Crimsonleaf Immortal said coldly.

“Oh?”

The Tonghe Immortal shook his head. “I dislike being forced by others. I would rather die standing than live on my knees. Now, receive my sword art.”

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!!!!!!

Six streaks of sword-light flew out from the top of the Tonghe Immortal’s head. As they flew through the air, these six streaks of sword-light began to merge with each other. Countless runic symbols swirled with light, and the six Immortal-ranked flying swords completely combined, fusing into a single, enormous, wide blade. The broadsword radiated a white light that chilled the heart. It was the famous ‘Extermination Immortal Sword.’

“Rise.” The Tonghe Immortal’s face was cold as he executed a sword technique he had never used in battle before.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Suddenly, five pillars of light shot up from the ground, spanning a hundred li. These five pillars of light were, respectively, gold, green, blue, crimson-red, and earthy-yellow. Above the massive Extermination Immortal Sword, two enormous clouds appeared—one black, one white. The two clouds chased each other, resembling a Taiji fish.

The sheer scale of this power caused even the eighteen Celestial Immortals, including Crimsonleaf Immortal, to change color.

“Our intelligence never mentioned he had such a powerful sword technique!” one Celestial Immortal transmitted, unable to conceal his shock.