Chapter 624 343: Inverted Yin Yang Array

Back in the Western Realm, everything was the same as always.

Having been corroded by Crimson Spiritual Qi for so long, the Western Realm had been utterly transformed into a blighted land. Centuries after all life vanished, the air itself had stagnated, and even the clouds no longer stirred. Everything as far as the eye could see was steeped in a deathly stillness.

'I wonder if the Western Realm can be restored to its former state after the Creation Secret Array matures?'

Lü Zhong had no answer to that question.

He walked over to the Underground Palace, where his incarnation had set up a Transmission Array to facilitate trade in the Western Realm. By using this series of arrays, he could quickly reach Black Night City.

A short while later, Lü Zhong appeared at Black Night City. Before he had even gotten close to the pitch-black city walls, a group of cultivators had already come out to greet him.

A squad of seven cultivators appeared before him. Most were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but their leader was a middle-aged, long-bearded man with a Core Formation Stage cultivation, a Sword Box strapped to his back.

He was clearly a Sword Cultivator.

Lü Zhong had made no effort to conceal his presence, so the group spotted him immediately, cheering as they rushed to greet him.

For the cultivators of the Western Border Alliance, the moments when the incarnation appeared with supplies were always their happiest.

At times like these, the dire shortage of supplies in the various underground cities would be greatly alleviated, and their injured comrades could receive treatment with Pills and recover quickly.

However, as the seven of them sensed the newcomer's profound, restrained aura—deep as an abyss—they all froze in place.

The Core Formation Cultivator leading them fared better; he only felt a sense of pressure.

The other six members of the squad, however, were clearly in distress. This was especially true for the two youths at the Late-stage of Qi Refining; their faces went deathly pale and fine beads of sweat instantly dotted their foreheads. A bone-deep terror seized them, as if they were facing an ancient behemoth. Thankfully, the aura only lasted for a moment.

"Greetings, Senior. This junior is Yui Xiaoqing, City Lord of Black Night City of the Western Border Alliance. I am here on patrol under the orders of the Alliance Leader. May I ask what business brings Senior here?" the long-bearded middle-aged man said respectfully, giving a deep bow.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but compare the man's aura to that of his Alliance Leader, Flowing Sword True Monarch. He discovered that this man's aura was even stronger, a realization that sent tremendous waves crashing through his heart.

"This should be enough for me to enter, right?" Instead of answering Yui Xiaoqing, Lü Zhong took out an ink jade token and showed it to him.

"This is..." Yui Xiaoqing's eyes scanned the Jade Token. It was completely blank. He shot another glance at Lü Zhong, and after a moment's pause, his demeanor became even more reverent. "Of course. Since you hold the Nameless Order, Senior, you may naturally travel anywhere within the territories of the Western Border Alliance!"

He then stepped aside, clearing the way.

At the same time, he sent a message to Black Night City to have them open the gate.

Lü Zhong nodded, satisfied.

The Nameless Order in his hand was a gift from Flowing Sword True Monarch, who had once claimed it would grant him unrestricted passage throughout the Western Border Alliance. Lü Zhong had assumed it was an exaggeration, but it turned out to be true.

Once Lü Zhong's streak of light vanished into the distance, the other cultivators in the squad crowded around the long-bearded man.

All six were cultivators of the new generation, having lived underground their entire lives. They had never seen the outside world, their only knowledge of it coming from books and records. Naturally, they were intensely curious about a Nascent Soul True Monarch like Lü Zhong.

And when they learned that this very man was the source of most of the Alliance's supplies, a stir of excitement ran through the group.

...

Passing through Black Night City, Lü Zhong continued his journey downward.

Affected by the corrosion of the Crimson Spiritual Qi, many of the subterranean worlds along his path showed signs of decay.

While low concentrations of the Crimson Spiritual Qi were harmless to cultivators and mortals, it was enough to rot all plant life. This had forced the Western Border Alliance to migrate ever deeper underground, leaving vast, abandoned settlements in their wake.

Occasionally, he would come across Spirit Veins, and each one had a Creation Secret Array established within it.

Converted by this array, the Crimson Spiritual Qi became harmless nature's spiritual energy. As a result, the Spirit Vein Markets protected by the Grand Array felt like secluded paradises. Inside, paths crisscrossed meticulously cultivated land, every inch utilized to its absolute fullest to support the growing population of Western Border Alliance cultivators.

Several hours passed before Lü Zhong reached his destination.

It was an Immortal City just beginning to take shape.

It was called Niyang.

The city was situated atop a newly discovered Tier Four Spirit Vein, built on a scale that rivaled Bihai Immortal City. It was now the heart of the Western Border Alliance. According to information from his incarnation, all the Alliance's research into Spiritual Energy Conversion Technology was concentrated here.

The Western Border Alliance's decision to build Niyang Immortal City was a clear display of the Western Border Cultivators' confidence.

Clearly, they believed a turning point was imminent.

Just as Lü Zhong flew to the city's edge, a streak of light shot out from within to meet him.

"Fellow Daoist Flowing Sword, you needn't have been so formal! To think you'd come out of the city to greet me personally." Lü Zhong recognized the streak of light instantly, so he stopped and sent a voice transmission to its owner.

"You are the one being too formal, Fellow Daoist. Mr. Chen, you have aided the Western Border Alliance immensely and helped us weather many storms. To say nothing of the Creation Secret Array, which has given us hope of restoring our homeland. When an honored guest such as yourself arrives, it would be utterly inexcusable for me not to come out and offer a personal welcome," Flowing Sword True Monarch boomed with a laugh.

He then clasped his hands in a salute and gestured with a smile.

"Simple tea has been prepared in my cave dwelling. Please, join me below, Fellow Daoist."

"Very well," Lü Zhong agreed with a nod.

After all, this was hardly the place for a proper discussion.

Before long, Flowing Sword led Lü Zhong into a newly constructed cave dwelling.