As the Spirit Ship gradually approached, the full view of Wu Ling Star became clearer and clearer.
This planet was not as green and vibrant or dazzling as Li Mu had imagined; instead, it presented a unique desolate beauty, entirely black, a planet shrouded in night, shimmering with a deep, mysterious glow under the illumination of the stars.
The surface of Wu Ling Star was covered with pits and gullies, traces left by hundreds of millions of years of geological changes, also indicating that it contained abundant underground mineral deposits.
As the Spirit Ship slowly descended, a chill different from other planets swept over them, mixed with the unique cold scent of Ore, surrounded by vast, boundless mineral veins and rocks, occasionally revealing traces of mining, showing the presence of precious Ores like black gold stone, filled with an aura completely different from the Spirit Realm.
Li Mu's Divine Sense scanned the surroundings, only to see that the surface of Wu Ling Star was covered with a thin layer of black sand, with occasional exposed Ores shimmering with a dim light, which were Artifact Refining Spirit Materials—fourth-grade black gold stone and other rare Artifact Refining Materials.
The Breaking Heaven Spirit Ship, under the control of Sword Master Feng, rapidly descended towards a Spirit Ship docking port of a magnificent building, which was the Xuantian Sword Sect's outpost on Wu Ling Star—Xuantian City.
Xuantian City was built against the mountain, cleverly utilizing the unique terrain of Wu Ling Star. The city walls were cast from indestructible black gold stone mixed with special Spirit Materials, emitting a faint black glow, providing astonishing defense while remaining aesthetically pleasing. Above the city walls, flags fluttered, embroidered with the Xuantian Sword Sect's Sect emblem, dancing in the wind, declaring the ownership of this planet.
A large Floating Skyport was located above Xuantian City, where several seven-grade large Spirit Ships similar to Breaking Heaven were docked, along with hundreds of smaller Spirit Ships of varying sizes, shuttling through the Floating Skyport, transporting collected high-grade Ores.
Inside the Floating Skyport, Disciples in uniform were busy and orderly, some responsible for directing the Spirit Ships' takeoffs and landings, others for loading and unloading cargo, swiftly and accurately transporting collected high-grade Ores, rare medicinal herbs, and other valuable resources into the city... a bustling scene.
Besides the Xuantian Sword Sect's Disciples, Li also saw many Disciples from other organizations, including children of the Eight Great Families, as well as Wanbao Pavilion, Sihai Manor... In a corner of the Floating Skyport, a trading area was also set up, gathering merchants and forces from different Spirit Domains, who brought specialties and treasures from their respective planets to trade here, bustling with activity, forming a prosperous immortal city.
It seems the Xuantian Sword Sect had been operating on Wu Ling Star for quite some time, even sending affiliated forces here to develop Wu Ling Star.
"Elder Li, let's go down!" Sword Master Feng walked out of the ship's cabin, smiling as he called out to Li Mu.
Li Mu retracted his Divine Sense, nodded, and followed Sword Master Feng out of the Spirit Ship's hatch, descending into the Floating Skyport.
The two walked through the busy Floating Skyport, with Disciples occasionally saluting them. Sword Master Feng held extremely high prestige within the Xuantian Sword Sect and even throughout Wu Ling Star. They ascended a winding stone staircase, flanked by strange plants that emitted a faint luminescence in the night, adding a touch of mystery and vitality to the dim environment.
"This Wu Ling Star indeed lives up to its name; even in its desolation, it contains endless mineral Materials and vitality." Li Mu's first impression of Wu Ling Star.
Soon, under the guidance of Sword Master Feng, they entered the heavily guarded inner city and arrived before a hidden and solemn stone chamber.
The stone door of the chamber was tightly shut, adorned with complex runic patterns, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
"The platform for the Ancient Teleportation Array is prepared inside the courtyard, Elder Li, next, I'll have to trouble you!" Sword Master Feng introduced, looking at Li Mu and gesturing.
"Sword Master is too polite! This is Li's duty!" Li Mu smiled slightly, responding.
Subsequently, Sword Master Feng nodded, and with a gentle wave, conjured a token from his storage ring. With a flash of spiritual light, the tightly shut door slowly opened, revealing a stone staircase leading underground. On both sides of the staircase, candlelight flickered, illuminating the path ahead and adding a touch of mystery.
"Elder Li, please follow me." Sword Master Feng led the way, and Li Mu followed closely, stepping into this hidden underground space.
The underground space was exceptionally spacious, with a circular platform standing in the center, enormous in size, dozens of feet in diameter, clearly designed to accommodate and secure the Formation Materials. On the surrounding walls, various glowing gemstones were embedded, illuminating the entire space as brightly as day.
"Sword Master, this place is indeed suitable for setting up a Teleportation Array, however, I need to concentrate fully during the Formation process and cannot be disturbed in any way!" Li Mu looked at Sword Master Feng and said seriously.
"Elder Li, please rest assured. I will personally guard outside for you and will never allow anyone or anything to disturb your Formation setup." Sword Master Feng smiled and nodded, replying.
With that, Sword Master Feng moved, like a gentle breeze, instantly disappearing at the entrance of the stone chamber, leaving only a firm promise echoing in the empty underground space.
Seeing this, Li Mu immediately composed himself, as if all the clamor of the outside world had nothing to do with him, immersing himself wholeheartedly in this vast and boundless Formation work.
Li Mu slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, allowing his spiritual power to achieve a subtle resonance with the surrounding Origin Qi of heaven and earth. When he opened them again, stars seemed to revolve in his eyes, scanning the huge circular platform, a perfect Formation plan already formed in his mind.
Li Mu had set up the Ancient Teleportation Array many times, but this time, to perform cross-Star Domain teleportation, it required the Fusion of more array patterns, involving star positions, spatiotemporal locations, and many other array patterns.
Li Mu's Divine Sense entered the nine storage spiritual pearl, and immediately nine gold-element Spirit Swords appeared out of thin air, hovering around him. Their blades shimmered with dazzling golden light, each containing powerful spiritual energy fluctuations, like nine golden swimming Dragons, poised to strike.
"With the sword as a brush, with spirit as ink, draw the map of space and time!" Li Mu murmured, forming hand seals, spiritual power surging.
As Li Mu's spiritual power was injected and his Divine Sense attached, the nine Spirit Swords seemed to be imbued with life. Their tips glowed, transforming into nine dazzling golden streams of light, cutting through the air, accurately and unerringly entering the circular array platform, beginning to outline complex and mysterious array patterns on the hard Heavenly Spirit Stone.
These array patterns, like the most exquisite brushstrokes between heaven and earth, contained the deepest mysteries of the Universe. Some were winding and meandering, like the Milky Way spanning the sky; others were straight as swords, pointing directly to the zenith of the firmament. The star positions were precise and accurate, every single line seemed to follow some ancient and mysterious Law, driving the purest spiritual power between heaven and earth. They intertwined and were intricately arranged, forming breathtaking patterns, like stars moving in the vast night sky, or rivers rushing across the boundless earth, displaying a magnificence and harmony that transcended the mundane world.
As Li Mu continuously injected spiritual power, the nine Spirit Swords seemed to gain self-awareness. They danced flexibly in the air, sometimes crossing and shuttling, weaving complex spiritual power nets; sometimes moving side by side, jointly opening up channels to the unknown. Every touch of a sword tip would trigger a violent surge of spiritual power, and the entire underground space would tremble, as if even time slowed down at that moment.
The Teleportation Array platform, cast from Heavenly Spirit Stone, was gradually carved into intricate and complex patterns under Li Mu's operation. The Heavenly Spirit Stone itself contained pure and powerful spiritual power, now stimulated to emit bursts of spiritual light.
Li Mu's Star Cloud Contemplation Method operated to its extreme. His Divine Sense was like an invisible net, tightly locking onto every inch of space on the array platform. He meticulously carved every array pattern, striving for perfection in every detail, as if performing an artistic creation spanning time and space.
Under his control, the nine gold-element Spirit Swords were like nine perfectly synchronized dancers. They cooperated and intertwined, and wherever the sword light passed, array patterns instantly formed, as if naturally created. Sometimes the sword momentum was grand, sweeping in like a storm; other times it was soft and delicate, with a light touch of the sword tip, the array patterns interlocked at subtle angles, forming exquisite spiritual power circuits.
Time flowed away quietly like water, and fine beads of sweat gradually seeped from Li Mu's forehead, a testament to the immense consumption of his Divine Thought. However, he showed no slackness or relaxation, because he knew that every single moment at this point was crucial.
Li Mu quickly took out several bottles of precious Spirit Pills from the nine storage spiritual pearl. These Spirit Pills contained abundant Divine Sense and spiritual power. He swallowed several Spirit Pills without hesitation, simultaneously activating the Spirit Devouring Body Nourishing Art to quickly refine them, feeling the rapid recovery of spiritual power in his body and the gradual replenishment of his Divine Thought, and continued to immerse himself in the intense Formation work.
As time passed, the array patterns on the platform became more and more numerous and dense. They intertwined and nested, forming a vast and precise Teleportation Great Array, which not only crossed the boundaries of time and space but also involved various Domains such as stellar movement, spiritual energy flow, and the mysteries of life, demonstrating the complexity and profoundness of the Ancient Teleportation Array Formation.
...
Two days passed in a flash, and Li Mu remained fully immersed in the Formation setup.
At this moment, Sword Master Feng, guarding outside the secret chamber, furrowed his brows, his powerful Divine Sense seemingly having detected something severe in advance.
Indeed, above Xuantian City, battle had already erupted. Experts from the Nether Sect and Xuanxiao Sect descended like dark clouds, carrying destructive power, launching a fierce assault on the Disciples of the Xuantian Sword Sect.
"Disciples of the Xuantian Sword Sect, heed my command! Hold your positions, activate the city's protective great array, and fight to the death!" Sword Master Feng's voice echoed over the battlefield, inspiring the hearts of the Xuantian Sword Sect Disciples, who firmly resisted the enemy's attack with unwavering conviction.
Above Xuantian City, Sect Master Xin Tiansen of the Xuanxiao Sect and Sect Master Gao Hong of the Nether Sect stood side by side in the Void Realm, surrounded by dense spiritual energy fluctuations, like two insurmountable peaks, overlooking the chaotic battlefield below.
Xin Tiansen, in a black robe, had a stern face and bloodthirsty eyes, clearly determined to succeed in this joint operation, while Gao Hong, in a dark green robe, wore a sinister smile, his gaze penetrating the Xuantian City's protective array, fixed intently on Sword Master Feng.
"Sect Master Xin, it seems the Xuantian Sword Sect is nothing more than this. After today, there will be no place for them in the outer Domain, and Wu Ling Star will be divided equally between us." Gao Hong's voice carried a hint of triumph as he looked at Xin Tiansen, seemingly waiting for a response.
Xin Tiansen curled his lips into a cold smile, cautiously gesturing, "Sect Master Gao, it's too early to discuss this now. We must not be careless. After all, the Xuantian Sword Sect has deep foundations, especially that Sword Master Feng, whose strength should not be underestimated. Moreover, he personally brought that Great Master Li here this time, perhaps with other intentions."
"Hmph, the outer Domain is our territory. Even if the Xuantian Sword Sect is a True Dragon, it has to coil up. With our two Sects united, who in the world can contend?" Gao Hong scoffed, his words filled with confidence. His eyes gleamed with greed as he asked with concern, "Are you sure Great Master Li is in this city? Don't lie to me!"
Xin Tiansen let out a cold laugh, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, as if he had anticipated Gao Hong's skepticism. He gestured, "Sect Master Gao, rest assured, my intelligence source is absolutely reliable. It came from an insider of our Sect planted in the Xuantian Sword Sect. That Great Master Li indeed followed Sword Master Feng to this city, however, I don't know why he came, and that makes me a little worried!"
"Worried! What's there to worry about? It's just a bit more trouble. Whatever their intentions, today they will become the stepping stones for us to flatten the Xuantian Sword Sect." Gao Hong sneered repeatedly, showing impatience with Xin Tiansen's worries, urging, "Sect Master Xin, let's act quickly, lest things change. Once the Xuantian Sword Sect recovers, or that Great Master Li completes his arrangements, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to take this city again."
Upon hearing this, Xin Tiansen's gaze deepened. He knew Gao Hong's words were true. He scanned his surroundings, seeing that although the Xuantian Sword Sect Disciples were fighting fiercely, the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable, and the light of the city's protective array was gradually weakening, clearly unable to withstand their combined attack.
"Let's join forces and first break this city protection array, kill Sword Master Feng. As for that Great Master Li, he will naturally be easily captured then. How about we discuss it further then?" Xin Tiansen nodded, looking at Gao Hong and gesturing.
"Alright! Remember to tell your people to be careful and not hurt Great Master Li!"
With that, Gao Hong moved, his spiritual power boiling, transforming into a dark green mist, and he lunged towards the Xuantian City's protective great array.
Xin Tiansen was not to be outdone, his black robe billowing like a dark night eagle spreading its wings, following closely behind.
As the two Sect Masters attacked simultaneously, the world changed color, and winds and clouds surged. The Xuantian City's protective great array began to tremble violently under the combined assault of the two powerful individuals, its light flickering unsteadily, as if it could collapse at any moment.
At this critical moment, Sword Master Feng remained exceptionally calm. He knew he could not withstand the combined attack of the two Sect Masters alone, but he also understood that he could not retreat now.
"Elder Li, the Xuanxiao Sect and Nether Sect have launched a joint attack. How much longer until the Teleportation Array is ready?" Sword Master Feng's voice, transmitted through the communication Formation inside the secret chamber, clearly reached Li Mu's ears.
"Sword Master, the Teleportation Array is almost complete, but it still needs a moment. Please, you must hold off the enemy and buy me time!" Li Mu responded in a deep voice, simultaneously quickening his movements. The nine gold-element Spirit Swords danced even more swiftly in the air, and with each flash of sword light, the array patterns were perfected at an astonishing speed.
Upon hearing this, a look of determination flashed in Sword Master Feng's eyes. To successfully overcome this calamity, the completion of the Teleportation Array was key. He took a deep breath, summoned his Qingyuan Dao Sword, and soared into the air, heading straight for the Xuantian City defense line. (End of Chapter)
