Chapter 2253: Collapsing Formation

Unaware of just how large of a disturbance the collapse of the ancient formation in the Yellow Peak Region had ended up causing throughout the continent, Xuan Hao didn’t waste any time after learning about the ancient formation and made his way towards the Western Central Region far faster than anyone from the different major powers from the Southern Central Region. Becoming one of the first few powerful figures arriving at the site of the ancient formation, though still behind the local figures from the Western Central Region, who had learnt about the situation almost the instant Qing Yi and Chun Hua had escaped from the collapsing formation.

After all, while his two disciples wouldn’t have spread the information, the people that had travelled alongside the two of them would undoubtedly inform their close friends about the situation- and with the Yellow Peak Region being under the different major temples sphere of influence, they were the first to learn about the situation.

Even if they hadn’t learnt about it, the collapse of the ancient formation had already reached the point where its collapse was obvious from the outside, as hovering only a few thousand meters from the ancient formation, Xuan Hao could immediately sense the violent spatial fluctuations that washed over him the second he arrived.

Spatial fluctuations so powerful that they would easily tear apart anyone below the Dao Seed Realm, as even the few powerful figures above the Dao Seed Realm that had arrived at the scene had decided to remain at least five or so thousand meters away from the collapsing formation to avoid having to constantly keep an eye out for any abnormal changes that might cause the deadly fluctuations to surge with power far beyond the Dao Seed Realm.

The only reason why Xuan Hao knew this, being because he found himself facing off against one such powerful spatial fluctuation; the second he was forced out of the void by the chaotic spatial environment around the ancient formation.

Sure, the spatial fluctuation itself wasn’t something threatening to someone at the Star Creation Realm that had also managed to reach the Origin Realm in the Dao of Space, but for anyone other than him, this kind of terrifying fluctuation possessed the strength to threaten someone in the Land Creation Realm. Making it a bit more understandable why the people surpassing the Dao Seed Realm gathering around the collapsing ancient formation had decided to stay so far away while waiting for the formation to slowly collapse on its own.

As for someone at the Star Creation Realm who would have more than enough strength to resist this kind of spatial fluctuation on their own without relying on their comprehension of the Dao of Space? He saw none.

In fact, the strongest person around the ancient formation in the process had at most reached the Land Creation Realm, something that was rather odd given the fact that the Star Creation Realm figures from the nearby temples and even the nearby major powers on the side of the Southern Central Region, should have had more than enough time to rush over the second news of the collapsing ancient formation spread.

"Hmmm... I guess with their strength, they should have already rushed inside the ancient formation. After all, if they can resist those spatial fluctuations, the collapse of the ancient formation and the spatial fluctuation it stirs up poses no real threat to them..." Thinking about it for a bit standing before the collapsing formation taking in the profound formation symbols rapidly fading in and out of existence across the surface of the ancient formation, Xuan Hao quickly concluded that the Star Creation Realm cultivators that should have been waiting around for the ancient formation to collapse, had already rushed inside ahead of time.

Deadly as it was to rush into a collapsing formation. Especially one like the one before him. It also presented a unique opportunity, as the original formidable might of the ancient formation that might have deterred them from entering in the past was fading rapidly.

If they could reach the core of the ancient formation before it fully collapsed and take advantage of the collapse to break the final layers of defense around core of the formation, they would be able to seize whatever was hidden within the depths of this ancient formation before any of the other powerful figures rushing over had the chance to show up and compete for whatever it was that was hidden within the depths of this ancient formation.

And given how this was inside the Western Central Region, there was a good chance that most of the powerful figures comparable to the Star Creation Realm currently inside the ancient formation, were monks belonging to the different temples that controlled the Western Central Region.

A best-case scenario in his eyes, as it meant there was a good chance that the people from the Southern Central Region wouldn’t be in a superior state. Able to utilize their vast numbers to suppress everyone else.

Strong as he might be now that he had broken through to the Star Creation Realm, he still felt a bit uneasy facing off against the Star Creation Realm cultivators from the Southern Central Region. Knowing that every single one of their Star Creation Realm cultivators would have countless tricks up their sleeve to ensure their own survival in case things went wrong.

Who would know if the first Star Creation Realm cultivator he ended up fighting had chanced upon some ancient inheritance in the past and managed to obtain some powerful offensive talisman left behind by a senior in the Venerable Realm? Not to mention, the ability of those religious figures to potentially draw upon the power of the god behind them, a being whose actual strength undoubtedly reached the Venerable Realm.

Because of all these uncertainties, it would be best if the monks could bear the brunt of that attacks from these powerful figures from the Southern Central Region while he himself quietly observed from the side to get a better idea of how strong the Star Creation Realm cultivators of the Ewaria Continent were. Having no real idea about how they compared to the figures of similar strength he had faced in the ascension realm tower.

After all, while he had faced beings with strength equal to what he considered the Star Creation Realm, he had no real idea how to compare it against someone from the Ewaria Continent who had broken through to the Star Creation Realm. Knowing that strength could vary wildly depending on the cultivation path one followed.

Even if the immortal cultivation path and the other cultivation paths on the Ewaria Continent had declined to varying degrees following the end of the ancient era, they were still superior to any of the other cultivation paths he had encountered within the ascension realm tower. Meaning the Star Creation Realm equivalent on the Ewaria Continent should be stronger than the void-based cultivation path he had faced back at the fragmented continent.

Still, though his mind went through countless different calculations regarding the strength of the cultivators that had already entered the collapsing ancient formation, he didn’t hesitate for a second as he followed behind these senior figures and similarly rushed inside the collapsing formation.

Knowing that it would not only allow him to analyze the ancient formation in far greater detail compared to what he could ever hope to accomplice from observing the formation from the outside, but it would also give him a chance to join the struggle for whatever treasure those people already inside were aiming for-

[Greetings, Temporary Elder. The current guardian formation is unstable and will collapse in approximately fifteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds. Please vacate immediately to avoid being swallowed by the impendent self-destruction procedure.]

Or that was at least what he intended to do before the familiar voice of what was clearly some kind of automated message was transferred to him through the barely functioning formation that was already on the brink of collapsing completely.

This... This ancient formation is related to the Mirage Sect!?

And this one thread of information ringing out in his head immediately made him realize that the collapsing ancient formation he currently found himself inside of was related to the Mirage Sect.

Not just that, but he also managed to find out just how much time was left before this ancient formation was going to fully collapse in on itself- or rather, initiate some kind of self-destruction procedure before the formation ended up fully collapsing on its own. Likely something that had been set up to ensure whatever was hidden within the ancient formation had no way to reach outsiders.

In other words, the powerful figures who had rushed ahead and entered the collapsing formation would soon be in for a rude awakening as the ancient formation decided to use the last bit of its remaining strength to drag them down along with it, something he doubted they would be able to survive given the strength of this formation existed above the Profound Immortal Realm.