In Jingning’s pair of clear, compassionate eyes there was pity: "The great calamity draws near, all living things suffer. This poor monk has come to ferry the world."

At these words, the atmosphere turned a little cold and solemn.

But Qin Liuxi laughed aloud: "The Evil seek to use all living things as sacrifice, ascend to the heavens and become a god. Yet, to disregard the spirits of all living things, to use them to sacrifice to the heavens and thus become a god, is to be an Evil God. The Evil must be slain!"

Her expression turned cold as she said, "If I am to slaughter gods, dare you go with me?"

"We dare advance and retreat together with True Monarch." The thunderous response resounded through the forest, startling countless birds and beasts into flight.

Feng Xiu folded his arms, his gaze sweeping past that large crowd of hot-blooded people, finally landing on the one at their head. She was like a ray of light, burning, blazing.

No, she was the light of the Righteous Path, able to sweep away all darkness.

Feng Xiu spread out his Divine Sense, pushing the approaching demon things farther away. Yet even so, those with deep cultivation still subconsciously looked toward the direction of the demon things, their expressions grim.

It was the aura of demon things.

Feng Xiu gave a light cough, and his voice carried over: "Relax, they’re our own."

No, that wasn’t right, our own demons—also not quite right, forget it.

In the sky, it was as if Thunder Light flashed, wind and cloud surged, the wind hissing through the forest.

Everyone lifted their heads, brows furrowing; this sight was inauspicious.

Qin Liuxi walked forward, sending her Divine Sense outward, and also transmitted to everyone an account of Si Luo’s plan. She did not know when Si Luo’s appointed time would be, but she could not sit and wait for the east wind to rise, so she had struck first with the intent of seizing the initiative.

Everyone’s hearts gave a chill.

The God Formation would truly appear in an era barren of Spiritual Energy.

And that Evil Buddha, for his own selfish desire, had plundered the Qi Fortune of countless clans, and even seized several Spirit Veins, all just to nurture a divine Spirit Array.

This Evil was truly terrifying.

No wonder the divination had shown omens of a Destructive world-ending calamity; if he truly succeeded, would this world not become just like that divination, with a vast heaven-sent cataclysm descending?

The closer they drew to that God Formation, the more Qin Liuxi felt something was off, as if she had overlooked something.

It was too quiet.

Having broken the Mysterious Formation, they had come all this way without encountering any real attacks, making one suspect they were merely strolling at leisure, here on an expedition.

Yet she had forcibly broken the Protective Formation, Si Luo could not possibly be unaware, for that Barrier was his work; for it to be broken by force—given his cultivation—how could he not know?

The Barrier was broken and he did not appear; the Mysterious Formation was broken and he still did not appear.

Now this entire group of them had barged into his domain, drawing ever closer to that great formation, and he still showed no reaction.

Something was wrong.

Qin Liuxi halted mid-step, no longer moving forward, her mind racing: just what was wrong, what had she miscalculated?

Seeing her stop, everyone couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled. Feng Xiu was already at her side, so he asked, "What is it?"

"Something’s off." Qin Liuxi said, "It’s too quiet. There’s no reason we could break in and he remain oblivious. We’re about to get close to the great formation and he’s still silent. Don’t tell me he’s dead?"

Feng Xiu frowned. His Divine Sense surged outward, demonic power stirred, and he instantly realized something was wrong. He said, "It’s a spatial domain."

As soon as he spoke—

a loud laugh rang out from the air.

"As expected of the Demon Emperor. When it comes to constructing a spatial domain, these mortal cultivators can’t compare to you. Hahaha, you’ve discovered it."

It was Si Luo’s voice.

Everyone was shocked. Before they could react, the scene before their eyes vanished in a blink, and in the next instant, the place they stood became a Magic Altar.

Space folding.

He actually knew this—Feng Xiu’s brows and eyes darkened.

Everyone gripped their Magic Artifacts, looking around. Upon the altar, several Heavenly Flag Poles stood, and upon the one belonging to Azure Dragon, a person was bound with a soul-locking chain.

"Qi Qian." Qin Liuxi saw him, and her pupils contracted.

Qi Qian’s blood had been let, running down the Dragon Pillar, converging into a strange pattern.

And Si Luo sat upon the Xuanwu pillar, clad in a Xuanjin Robe. One leg was slightly bent, one hand resting on his knee, looking down at them from on high.

He was peerlessly handsome, his gaze full of contempt, as if looking at ants, devoid of any emotion—only when his eyes fell on Qin Liuxi did they shift.

Mockery, delight, and a touch of malicious triumph at a scheme succeeded.

"My thanks to you, little thing, thank you for helping me bring them all here." Si Luo stood up and stepped down, one step at a time, into the Void.

His movements were elegant, like an untouchable Emperor. He stopped in midair, hands clasped behind his back, and smiled: "If not for you, I couldn’t have gathered so many Cultivators for my use. You’ve rendered great service. Rest easy—once I ascend and become a god, there will be a place for you among my Divine Servants."