Translator: CinderTL

Even before the colossal foot landed, Song Wen felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon him.

The oppressive force weighed upon him like a ten-thousand-zhang mountain collapsing, threatening to crush his very soul.

He felt as insignificant as a speck of dust, gripped by a primal fear—an instinctive terror born of utter helplessness against irresistible power.

This dread paralyzed him, stifling any thought of resistance and leaving him only with the urge to flee and cower.

Just as Song Wen was about to activate the Life Substitution Art to escape, a massive black hole suddenly materialized within his Sea of Consciousness, spanning its entire expanse.

Instantly, his mind cleared, the oppressive fear vanished without a trace, and the descending foot no longer seemed menacing.

In fact, Song Wen could detect not even a hint of threat from it.

He stood motionless, allowing the colossal foot to slam into him.

Yet the monster seemed to exist in another dimension. Its foot passed through Song Wen's body, leaving him completely unharmed.

"An illusion! This creature is merely a construct of the Illusionary Formation—it's not real at all," Song Wen realized inwardly.

Of course, Song Wen had recognized that the monster was merely a construct of the Illusionary Formation. Had he failed to see through the illusion, he would have believed himself crushed to dust beneath the monster's foot, his soul departing his body in death.

Song Wen leaped into the air, charging toward Xu Geng.

"You actually saw through my Illusionary Formation! And Divine Sense attacks are useless against you!" Xu Geng stared at the advancing Song Wen, a flicker of horror in his eyes.

His greatest strength lay in his Divine Sense, honed to the Divine Transformation Realm. His Divine Sense attacks had made him virtually invincible in this realm.

But now, finding his Divine Sense attacks utterly ineffective against Song Wen, Xu Geng felt like a toothless tiger, his menace severely diminished.

Xu Geng swiftly channeled several magic seals into the Array Disk.

Instantly, a dense mist billowed forth, enveloping the surroundings in a blinding white shroud.

Song Wen frowned. The mist not only obscured his vision but also interfered with his Spirit Sense, severing his connection to Xu Geng's location.

Activating the Blood Sea Seal, Song Wen transformed it into a crimson cocoon that enveloped him.

Simultaneously, dozens of tendrils erupted from the cocoon, piercing through the mist and stretching outwards in all directions.

To prevent Xu Geng from escaping the Formation, several tentacles rapidly extended towards the Formation Barrier, spreading across its surface and solidifying into a crimson shield on its inner side.

The remaining tentacles swelled, transforming into surging rivers of blood that raced through the air. These rivers grew increasingly vast, eventually converging into a single, immense Blood Sea. Song Wen intended to fill the entire interior of the Formation Barrier with this Blood Sea, leaving Xu Geng nowhere to hide.

Yet, even as the Blood Sea engulfed the entire barrier, Xu Geng's presence remained elusive. Song Wen lowered his gaze, peering through the layers of blood towards Xidong Mountain below.

Their fierce battle had long since ravaged Xidong Mountain, leaving only its base, a mere hundred feet high, and piles of scattered rubble. This was now Xu Geng's only possible hiding place.

The blood seeped into the cracks and fissures of the mountain, penetrating deep into its core. Finally, within the mountain's depths, Song Wen discovered a concealed cave. The cave was protected by a Formation, impervious to the invading blood.

The omnipresent Blood Sea surged violently, compressing against the mountain's crumbling remains. The weakened mountain shattered into dust, revealing the hidden Formation beneath.

Song Wen recalled the Blood Sea, ascended to the top of the Formation, and peered inside.

The Formation's area of influence was small, only a few hundred zhang in diameter. As expected, Xu Geng was trapped within.

With Xu Geng's escape routes severed, Song Wen wasn't in a hurry to attack. He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Xu Geng, there's nowhere left for you to run. Surrender quietly."

Xu Geng looked up at Song Wen, his expression a mixture of shock and suspicion.

"You know my true name?"

"The infamous Vice Sect Leader of the Divine Blood Gate? How could I not?" Song Wen replied.

Xu Geng scrutinized Song Wen for a moment, then a flicker of recognition appeared in his eyes.

"I remember now. We met before, years ago in the Endless Desert outside the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall. You survived my Focused Spirit Stab and fled. I never imagined you'd follow me from the Tianyuan Continent to this Chaotic Sea. I thought my true identity would be safe here. Why did you go to such lengths to approach me?"

"The Teleportation Array you used to reach the Chaotic Sea," Song Wen answered.

"You want to return to the Tianyuan Continent?" Xu Geng asked.

"Exactly," Song Wen confirmed.

"What about the Teleportation Array you used to get here?" Xu Geng countered.

"It's been destroyed," Song Wen said after a pause. "Tell me the location of the Teleportation Array and hand over the Array Disk, and I'll spare your life."

Xu Geng asked, "Is this truly your word?"

"There's no animosity between us," Song Wen replied. "There's no need for a life-or-death struggle."

Xu Geng pondered for a moment before agreeing. "Very well, I accept your terms."

A blood-red Array Disk suddenly materialized in his hand. "This is the Array Disk for the Teleportation Array," Xu Geng explained. "The array itself is located at the bottom of a deep sea in the Southern Region. I can take you there."

Song Wen's face lit up as he examined the Array Disk. Having possessed an Array Disk himself, he easily recognized that Xu Geng's disk was undoubtedly genuine.

"Had I known Senior Xu Geng was so reasonable, I would have approached you directly instead of barging into your esteemed domain. My impetuousness was entirely my fault. Please forgive my intrusion."

Xu Geng chuckled. "Sometimes it takes a clash to forge a connection. Fellow Daoist, there's no need for self-reproach. By the way, may I ask your name?"

"I am Ji Yin," Song Wen replied.

"I seized Mi Hai's body, merging his soul and memories with my own. Through him, I learned of your formidable reputation, Ji Yin. Mi Hai held you in absolute awe. In the Divine Blood Hall Secret Realm, you managed to severely injure Gou Jun, a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator, despite only being at the Early Stage Nascent Soul realm. I never imagined 'Ji Yin' was you, Fellow Daoist."

"Senior Xu Geng, you flatter me," Song Wen said. "As the Vice Sect Leader of the Divine Blood Gate, you were a top-tier powerhouse tens of thousands of years ago. In your presence, I'm merely a junior disciple and wouldn't dare claim any 'renowned reputation.'"

Their mutual flattery fostered an unexpectedly harmonious atmosphere. Were it not for the surrounding devastation, it would have been hard to believe they had been locked in a life-or-death struggle moments before.

"Now that our misunderstanding has been resolved, Senior Xu Geng, would you please deactivate the formation?" Song Wen gestured toward the Formation Barrier before them.

"Just a moment," Xu Geng replied. "I'll shut it down right away."

As he spoke, Xu Geng cast several magic seals into the ground beneath his feet. An extremely intricate Formation Pattern was etched into the earth, within which a mercury-like liquid flowed. With the activation of the magic seals, the silvery fluid gradually receded into the Formation Pattern. The Formation Barrier began to fade, growing increasingly transparent until it vanished completely.

Xu Geng slowly levitated upward, rising toward Song Wen above. "Ji Yin, to demonstrate my sincerity, I'll hand over the Array Disk for the Teleportation Array first." He tossed the disk toward Song Wen.

"Then I thank you, Senior Xu Geng," Song Wen said as he descended to catch the disk.

The instant Song Wen's fingertips were about to touch the Array Disk, a chilling glint flashed in both men's eyes.

(End of the Chapter)

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