Chapter 136: Reshaping the Seal

A short while ago.

Amidst the quiet and eerie atmosphere of the Jade Pool Grand Gathering, the Saintess of Jade Pool descended slowly from the sky.

The white veil covering He Pianpian's face fluttered in the breeze, revealing eyes that were exquisitely beautiful—serene and tranquil, much like a mountain stream. Countless gazes turned toward her, and many young disciples seeing her true appearance for the first time found themselves unable to look away.

"Some incidents have occurred in Jade Pool recently, and our hospitality has been lacking. I ask for your understanding."

He Pianpian’s voice was like the sound of a clear spring, carried on a gentle spring breeze. Many people shook their heads with smiles. Jade Pool had always remained secluded from the world. Apart from the nine great holy lands, those invited were chosen based on the closeness of their relationships, never judging by the depth of a sect’s heritage or its size. Many small sects were invited, earning Jade Pool a stellar reputation. If there were difficulties, surely no one present would refuse to help if it lay within their power.

But the problem was that the difficulty Jade Pool faced was something no one here could assist with, save for a very select few.

He Pianpian looked up slightly, sweeping her eyes across the surroundings and lingering for a moment on the three circular platforms. Xi Jiu grinned and patted his chest. The old monk from Lingyin Temple nodded slightly. Su Mo was eating a flat peach, looking quite satisfied. Since the holy lands had sent people for the affairs of Jade Pool, it was naturally because their masters had given them instructions beforehand.

He Pianpian smiled, feeling reassured. "Later, everyone is free to wander within Jade Pool as you please."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a dozen women drifted in from afar, their temperament like orchids in an empty valley, their dresses fluttering as they danced gracefully on the open ground. For a time, the atmosphere became lively—a true banquet of immortals. Yet, it went unnoticed that on the highest and largest circular platform, many people had already vanished.

...

Deep within Jade Pool, three golden mountains stood clustered together. Countless complex runes swirled upon them; some had dimmed into darkness, while others glowed with intense light. This was the world-renowned Demon-Locking Array of Jade Pool.

The mountains were indestructible meteorites from beyond the heavens, naturally formed, while the runes were Demon-Suppressing Talismans, fused by ancient masters of the array using the principles of Yin-Yang and the Four Symbols to combat evil. These mountains had stood here for over several thousand years.

At this moment, on a peak a thousand feet away from the three mountains, a crowd had gathered.

Xi Jiu examined the colossal structure in the distance and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Is this the immortal and indestructible demon beast?"

He Pianpian nodded calmly. Su Mo gazed into the distance, his expression calm, betraying no emotion. The old monk from Lingyin Temple pressed his palms together, pondered for a moment, and said, "Amitabha, the demonic energy is overwhelming; this demon is truly terrifying."

"Because of the passage of time, and because my junior sister Qinghua, who is responsible for maintaining the array, was severely wounded by the Thousand Rivers Land a few days ago, the seal has loosened further. This time, I must trouble you all to help restrain the demon beast while we repair the array, so it does not break free."

After He Pianpian finished speaking, she added, "The people of the Thousand Rivers Land move with strange intent. They severely wounded my junior sister Qinghua, and it is expected they have even greater schemes. Fearing complications, we only invited a few of you to come alone; please do not take offense."

Xi Jiu swore solemnly, "Rest assured. I brought the Dragon-Trapping Stake of Mount Liubo specifically for this trip; even a true dragon could not break free from it."

Su Mo looked into the distance and suddenly asked, "Since Fairy Qinghua is severely wounded, who will be presiding over the array this time?"

"Qinghua originally learned the art of arrays from my junior sister Tianyin. It is a pity that Tianyin has already passed on, so I shall do it."

A cold, clear voice sounded. As a breeze swept by, a dignified and noble middle-aged woman appeared on the peak.

Everyone bowed in salute, "Greetings, Saint Master of Jade Pool."

The Saint Master of Jade Pool wore purple-gold robes. Her perfect, flawless face held a hint of just the right amount of gentle warmth. "I shall trouble you all with this matter; I will keep it in my heart."

Su Mo was the first to speak. "Then let us begin."

With that, he untied the cloth bag from his back and flicked his wrist. The ancient sword Zhutian streaked through the air like a thunderclap.

Boom!

The ancient sword instantly pierced the summit of the three mountains. The mountains began to shake and vibrate, emitting a humming sound. A massive sword aura, like a rushing river or a vast ocean, flowed down the mountains, penetrating the rock to cling to the perimeter of the colossal creature whose form was indistinguishable.

"The ancient sword Zhutian. I didn't expect to see it again after so many years."

A hint of an unreadable emotion flashed in the Saint Master of Jade Pool's eyes. She smiled and said, "Is your master well?"

Su Mo replied, "He is still in seclusion."

Rapid sounds of air being torn apart echoed in the sky again. Xi Jiu had made his move; a huge, crimson pillar burst from his sleeve and traveled through the void. From a distance, it looked like a great red dragon soaring. The dragon pillar consisted of three sections connected by black iron. Xi Jiu held one end, while the other emitted a blinding red light, trapping the demon beast within the stone.

Seemingly sensing something unusual, the colossal beast, which could stand as high as heaven and earth, shifted slightly. The three towering mountains began to shake violently.

The old monk from Lingyin Temple stepped forward, chanting in a low voice, as countless rays of Buddha-light radiated from behind him. Following his murmur, a golden lotus emerged from the sea of clouds in the sky, hovering over the mountains. The Buddha-light shone down, and within that radiance, various Buddha images appeared. There was a Buddha seated high on a lotus throne, with thousands of Arhats beneath his feet; one could faintly glimpse the vajra-fisted Fighting Buddha, the pot-bellied Maitreya Buddha, and a Bodhisattva holding a pure vase, with the Eight Legions of the Heavenly Dragon circling in the sky above.

Though the Western Buddhist Kingdom was flashy, it already possessed a nascent form.

He Pianpian of Jade Pool looked surprised. The old monk’s cultivation level seemed unremarkable, yet he already possessed the attainments of an Arhat.

The Saint Master of Jade Pool took a step forward, about to say something, when she suddenly stopped. A light cough was heard. A frail woman with a pale face appeared.

"Qinghua?"

He Pianpian was surprised. She stepped forward to support the woman and asked, "Why are you here?"

The delicate-faced woman smiled slightly, turned, and said, "Master, let me handle the reshaping of the seal this time. After all, I am most familiar with this place."

The Saint Master of Jade Pool frowned slightly. "Your injuries?"

Fairy Qinghua shook her head with a smile. She lacked He Pianpian’s peerless beauty, but her entire demeanor was fragile, like an orchid in an empty valley.

Su Mo looked at her for a long time before smiling. "Fairy Qinghua, why were you ambushed by the Thousand Rivers Land back then?"

Seeing his gaze, Fairy Qinghua subconsciously looked into the distance and gave a gentle, warm smile. "I do not know. Perhaps they felt my cultivation level was the lowest."

Su Mo gave a light "oh" and said with a smile, "It seems the Fairy’s luck was truly not very good."

Fairy Qinghua remained composed.

Suddenly, a roar that shattered the sky erupted from deep within Jade Pool.

He Pianpian turned back, frowning. "It’s the Immortal Burial Mound. Not good, its soul is sealed there."

"Qinghua, take my place and continue. Reshape the seal as quickly as possible. I will go and see."

The Saint Master of Jade Pool made a swift decision, and as soon as she finished speaking, she vanished from the spot.

Qinghua walked slowly to the front of the group, her hands moving constantly, weaving an arcane seal. Wisps of spiritual energy emerged from her body, transforming into countless strange runes that hung silently around her. She pointed into the void with both hands, and her presence underwent a complete transformation; in an instant, the neighborly girl became a grandmaster in control of everything.

The runes that passed through her slender fingers seemed to turn into an indestructible force, forcibly embedded into the three great mountains. The mountains, which had been shaking slightly, instantly quieted down and ceased to tremble at all.

Seeing this, Xi Jiu clicked his tongue. "A grandmaster of arrays at such a young age... truly terrifying."

He Pianpian also smiled with relief. "Junior Sister Qinghua’s talent for arrays is the greatest in our Jade Pool in a thousand years."

The girl stood in front of the others, bowing her head slightly. A strange, subtle smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, and a flicker of black light flashed in her eyes and vanished.

...

A massive roar echoed through the forbidden ground of Jade Pool, known as the Immortal Burial Mound. A monster wreathed in billowing black energy erupted from the ground.

Its entire body was masked in black mist, making it impossible to discern its true shape. Countless portals of light atop the mountain peaks emitted astonishing auras, only to fall silent again in an instant. The many sages of Jade Pool qualified to be buried here chose not to act.

It was not out of fear.

Rather, this seemingly ferocious demon did not require them to move. Just as Shen Yu had said, the Ghost was actually just an ordinary sea beast that had absorbed the filth of the world to gain great power, but it remained timid by nature, hence why it morphed into such a powerful form.

Shen Yu stepped out of a portal of light. Almost instantly, he said, "Do not let it get close to the Nightmare’s soul."

The Nightmare was the demon that Jade Pool had suppressed for thousands of years, yet it remained immortal and indestructible.

Roar!

The Ghost’s fierce aura of black mist grew thicker, its voice violent and chaotic. Seemingly greatly provoked, it rushed toward Shen Yu.

Fairy Linghua stepped through the air, blossoming peach flowers appearing beneath her feet with ripples of energy, covering a hundred feet in the blink of an eye. She waved one hand lightly.

The monster, whose form was invisible behind the black mist, was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the ground. At this moment, countless powerful auras rushed toward this side. Besides the Saint Master of Jade Pool, there were two old women with unfathomable auras and numerous disciples.

Seemingly stimulated, the Ghost curled its body slightly.

The next moment.

An eerie song echoed in the surroundings, and a circular gate, like a mirror, appeared in mid-air.

The Ghost's Heart-Eye supernatural ability.

The Saint Master of Jade Pool frowned slightly. This ability was extremely strange; it did not care about the level of one’s cultivation, only the state of one’s heart. Anyone with a flaw or a crack in their inner state, no matter how high their cultivation, would fall into their own inner demons and find it difficult to pull themselves out.

The Saint Master of Jade Pool commanded, "Elder Water, Elder Wood, suppress it!"

The two old women with unfathomable auras struck simultaneously. Elder Water struck her sleeve into the gate in the sky. Elder Wood struck her sleeve directly at the monster’s main body.

Bang!

The gate shattered instantly without suspense, and the Ghost let out a shrill, agonizing wail at the same time.

Shen Yu subconsciously raised his hand, then lowered it. He always felt that something bad was about to happen. The Ghost was not originally strong, but the Thousand Rivers Land had specifically brought it here—for what purpose?

Shen Yu looked over.

The black mist dissipated, and the Ghost finally revealed its true form. Its body was crystal clear, with narrow eyes and several long whiskers.

The disciples of Jade Pool were all surprised. The Ghost, quite famous in the Spirit Wasteland, was actually just an unremarkable jellyfish?

A tiny cluster of black mist emerged from the top of the jellyfish’s head, floating slowly in the air. The black mist was extremely small, yet it felt immense and chilling. Countless people subconsciously felt their bodies grow cold.

Seeing this, Shen Yu’s pupils contracted.

The next moment.

A gale howled, and his figure, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder from his sword, lunged forward to strike.