Chapter 132: Breaking the Array at the Immortal Abode

"A tribulation of the Dharma Aspect Realm? Don't we cultivators only face three Heavenly Tribulations from the Origin Pulse Realm to the Flying Immortal Realm? The Four-Nine Tribulation, the Eight-Nine Tribulation, and the final Nine-Nine Ascension Tribulation—what kind of tribulation did this Daoist Fuchen face at the Dharma Aspect stage?" Chen Mu asked, stunned by the woman's words.

"Hehe, you know quite a lot, little brother, even the most obscure Nine-Nine Ascension Tribulation. The reason Daoist Fuchen faced a tribulation at the Dharma Aspect stage is that he committed an act defying the Heavenly Dao not long ago. When he ascended to the Dharma Aspect Realm, lightning descended as punishment. Don't be fooled by his title; he was actually a wicked and vicious arch-fiend. You know, the rules of our cultivation world forbid harming mortals, but Daoist Fuchen went around collecting the souls of the living, slaughtering countless mortal cities to refine a forbidden artifact, the Soul Jade Bead, using hundreds of millions of souls. The creation of this bead prevented those millions of souls from entering the cycle of reincarnation, upsetting the balance of the Heavenly Dao, and thus drawing down the tribulation."

As Chen Mu listened to her detailed explanation, his expression turned dark. He hadn't expected Daoist Fuchen to be so vile. While he didn't consider himself a saint, he would never slaughter mortals without cause. To think someone would kill hundreds of millions of people just to refine a single artifact—such a deranged individual deserved to die, and indeed, he had perished under the heavens' judgment.

Xue Tian stood by, smiling silently throughout the story. The other four, seeing him remain so composed after hearing such a harrowing tale, felt a chill and grew wary, distancing themselves from him. In contrast, they felt more favorably toward Chen Mu for his grim expression; that was how a normal person should react. After all, who wouldn't feel something upon hearing of the slaughter of hundreds of millions? If one were a high-level cultivator who had attained the path of heartlessness, that would be one thing, but any human with a shred of spirit would feel cold-blooded if they remained indifferent to such an atrocity.

With that, Chen Mu and the group of four exchanged introductions. The woman who had explained the situation was named Huo Mingyan, a cultivator at the early stage of the Origin Pill Realm. The other three were Liu Chengyun, who looked like a scholar; Lu Gao, a burly man wielding a hammer; and Li Beihang, an expert in formations. Liu Chengyun was aloof and remained silent, Lu Gao was boisterous and chatted with Chen Mu alongside Huo Mingyan, while Li Beihang seemed arrogant and well-connected, clearly disdaining conversation with Chen Mu.

However, all three of them were at the late stage of the Origin Pill Realm. Chen Mu found it puzzling that they would include Huo Mingyan, who was only at the early stage, in their group. Perhaps Huo Mingyan possessed some hidden talent that made her valuable to them despite her average appearance and strength.

When Lu Gao and Huo Mingyan noticed that Chen Mu’s companion remained silent, they curiously asked for his name. Chen Mu didn't hide it and told them, "Xue Tian." Upon hearing the name, the four felt even more certain that Xue Tian was a villain. Who would give themselves such a chilling name? "Blood Sky"? Was he intending to dye the entire heavens in blood? Such a rebellious name suggested a cruel and vicious nature. They wondered how a man like Chen Mu, who still possessed a conscience, could associate with such a monster. Perhaps Chen Mu was also a hidden villain? Yet, looking at his age and conduct, he didn't fit the mold, leaving them deeply confused.

In truth, if they knew of Chen Mu's past, their opinions would surely change. The slaughter he had caused in his quest for revenge was beyond counting. He would often wipe out entire sects, a brutal act that normal cultivators could not accept. Even if one had a grudge, destroying the relevant parties should have been enough; why annihilate every disciple? During that period, Chen Mu had been blinded by inner demons, becoming vengeful and ruthless, ensuring no future threats could arise. He believed that to protect those around him, he had to cut the weeds and dig up the roots.

Was the current Chen Mu a good person? Certainly not. But his actions remained true to his heart; he only killed those who showed him hostility and never harmed the innocent. This was his code.

After traveling for about half a week, Chen Mu and the group finally arrived at the so-called Hengtian Plain. It was situated in a basin, covered in lush green grass, with no trace of a hidden dwelling. Yet, at a certain spot, a crowd of cultivators had gathered, staring at a patch of ground that looked slightly different from the rest. This was clearly the entrance to Daoist Fuchen’s cave. While it seemed normal at first glance, subtle, unnatural distortions appeared when viewed from different angles, likely due to a concealment formation.

The cultivators who had arrived earlier were busy trying to break the barrier, hoping to be the first to loot the treasures inside. Despite their long efforts, the barrier held firm. They grew increasingly irritated as more people arrived, yet they gained nothing. There were now hundreds of Origin Pill Realm cultivators and several Origin Infant Realm experts, but strangely, no Origin Spirit Realm masters were present. Chen Mu wondered where they had received the news, perhaps from a source where no high-level masters existed, leaving this opportunity to them. Still, something felt wrong, though he couldn't put his finger on it.

As they approached the barrier, the crowd looked gloomy; even the Origin Infant experts were at their wits' end. Just then, Li Beihang stepped forward and declared, "Move aside, let me try to break this formation."

The crowd was taken aback, and seeing he was only at the late Origin Pill Realm, they shook their heads in doubt. Someone sneered, "If those Origin Infant seniors couldn't do it, what can a late-stage Origin Pill kid do? Don't make a fool of yourself."

Li Beihang’s face darkened. "Hmph! If you are incompetent, don't drag me into it. I am Li Beihang of the Qiao Yuan Formation Sect. Although this is an Origin Spirit level formation, with the Small Qiao Yuan Array Disk bestowed by my master, it is not impossible to break."

When the crowd heard he was a disciple of the Qiao Yuan Formation Sect—and the new closed-door disciple of their Grand Elder—their skepticism turned to hope. Li Beihang was a rising genius in the region, and since his sect specialized in formations, they dared not offend him. They quickly began to flatter him, which Li Beihang clearly enjoyed.

Chen Mu watched silently, having guessed early on that Li Beihang came from a prestigious background. Lu Gao grumbled, "Hmph, he loves to show off. Since he rose to prominence, his nose has been in the air. Don't mind him, Chen Mu."

Li Beihang had already begun his work, setting up the array disk and planting formation flags. He looked grave, his hands weaving complex seals. With a final shout, he completed the sequence. Suddenly, there was a deafening boom. Li Beihang was sent flying backward, his array disk shattered, and blood spilled from his lips. His expression was mortified; he had boasted so confidently, only to be struck down by the formation's backlash. What face did he have left to remain here?