CHAPTER 923: BLOOD FORMATION, SINISTER PURPOSE

"Search for any Rakshasa-masked men still lurking in the Ember Dune Desert. Be careful." Shenlian Yingyue extended her palm and released five hundred Spirit Bees.

"Yes, Master!" the bees chorused before dispersing in all directions. Now far stronger than before, they could control their size and breath with ease. If needed, they could shrink to the size of ants or grains of dust, making them ideal for stealth missions.

Just then, two hundred and fifty Red Snakes, and two hundred and fifty Thunder White Wolves appeared in human form, kneeling respectfully before her.

"You must be bored inside the Ethereal Small World," Shenlian Yingyue said with a gentle smile. "Go out and explore a bit, but stay alert. If you find anything related to those masked men, inform me right away."

"Yes, Master!" they replied enthusiastically, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Many of them had longed to see more of the Northern Region of the Forgotten Domain, but had stayed behind to protect her.

Now that Shenlian Yingyue had grown so powerful, nearly unmatched within the region, they felt more at ease venturing out. As long as she didn’t encounter any ancient monsters or powerful immortals from major factions, she would be safe.

"Master, should we investigate the blood markings and patterns while we’re out there?" the leaders of both groups asked before leaving.

"Yes," she nodded. "If you can uncover anything useful, it will help us a lot."

"Understood. Leave it to us!" they said with a smile, then took to the sky in a flash of light.

"I still don’t know what these blood patterns are meant to do," Shenlian Yingyue muttered, brows furrowed in thought.

"Master," Xiao Yun said quietly, his small body still leaning against her shoulder, "they’re trying to forcibly awaken an ancient demonic creature buried beneath the Ember Dune Desert. They’re using the Blood Formation to break the seal and capture it."

Everyone’s heart sank. Shenlian Yingyue’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. "Yunyun, please, tell us more," she urged.

"I can sense it. There’s a terrifying demonic presence buried deep beneath the desert. If the Blood Formation is completed and the seal breaks, we’re all doomed. Not just us, everyone in the Immortal Realm will be in serious danger." Xiao Yun lifted his gaze lazily, his tone still as casual as ever, like he was describing the weather.

The atmosphere turned heavy.

Silence fell.

Everyone paled.

"The creature slumbered beneath the desert, bound by an ancient seal. Its awakening hinged on one thing, the success of the Blood Formation. Once completed, the seal would loosen, and the horrors buried for centuries would rise." Xiao Yun, ever the picture of nonchalance, continued his explanation while leisurely indulging in a cream-filled cake he had pulled from his Ethereal Small World.

Between bites, he even crunched on spicy potato chips, as if discussing the potential end of the world was no more concerning than commenting on the weather.

To him, even if the universe collapsed, he would not so much as blink.

Mr. Potato, the ever-suffering spiritual beast, let out an exasperated sigh: "My Great Ancestor, could you at least pretend to take this seriously? If even you are snacking like this is a picnic, how are the readers supposed to feel the tension?"

"And?" Shenlian Yingyue wiped a bead of sweat from her brow.

At times like this, she missed A’Yang’s presence dearly.

He was the formation expert among them, the one who could decipher even the most complex arrays with ease. But Jun Mu Yang was currently off with Xiao Qiu, seeking his own opportunities; leaving them to handle this looming disaster.

Xiao Yun, unfazed by their distress, finally set aside his snack and began explaining in earnest.

To awaken the ancient demonic creature buried beneath the Ember Dune Desert, a dark and forbidden ritual had to be performed, one that utilized the land itself as a catalyst. The Blood Formation required intricate carvings, etched in the blood of powerful or ancestral cultivators, onto the few surviving trees scattered across the barren expanse.

These trees were no ordinary flora. Though rare, they were deeply intertwined with the desert’s spiritual ley lines, their roots drinking from the same ancient energies that had once sealed the creature away. By corrupting them, the formation would spread like a poison, weakening the seal from within.

But the trees were only part of the ritual. Other key locations, crumbling ruins, forgotten altars, the skeletal remains of dried-up oases, had to be marked with additional formations. Each one served as an amplifier, channeling the dark energy through the ley lines in a synchronized assault on the seal.

The activation had to be precise. Some formations required simultaneous triggering, while others needed to follow a strict sequence. A single misstep could cause catastrophic backlash, obliterating the summoners before they even completed their task. And if they succeeded but failed to bind the creature in time?

Disaster.

The moment the seal broke, the creature would emerge, disoriented, ravenous. If a Soul Binding Array was not immediately in place, the beast would consume the essence of those who awakened it, growing stronger with every soul devoured.

The more they listened, the heavier the weight in their chests grew. Such ruthlessness, such disregard for life, all for power.

"These scum!" Xiao Li’s fists clenched, his violet eyes darkening with fury. He struck the nearest tree, sending a tremor through its ancient bark. "Master, when we find more of them, we should not just kill them. We should make them suffer. People like this do not deserve a quick death."

"I am with Xiao Li!" Xiong Zi Ying nodded fiercely, slamming his own palm against the trunk in agreement.

"What is our next move, Master?" Xiao Lan, ever composed, floated gracefully to perch on Shenlian Yingyue’s shoulder.

"Can I help?" Xie Xie, silent but sharp, tilted his head. Though his words were few, his readiness was unmistakable.

"First, we gather information. Xie Xie, can you send more your golden scorpions to scout? We need to know where these formations are, who is controlling them besides those Raksasha-masked men, and how much time we have." Shenlian Yingyue took a slow breath, forcing her racing heart to steady. Fear would not serve them now.

The Ember Dune Desert was massive, and the Northern Domain was even larger, three times the size of Earth. To investigate properly, especially underground, Xie Xie needed overwhelming numbers. Only his golden scorpions could burrow deeply and safely through the terrain.

"I’ll send more." Xie Xie nodded and summoned another wave of scorpions.

"Will this drain you too much, Xie Xie?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes as she watched nearly ten trillion golden scorpions surge out.

"No. Yes." Xie Xie shook his head, then let out a faint, soft smile before pulling her into an embrace.

Everyone: "...."

Shenlian Yingyue: "...."

"Xie Xie, what do you mean, ’No, yes’?" She twitched her lips in confusion.