Chapter 828: The Blue Moon Illusory Realm

All the Shangqing disciples turned to look at Lan Yaoguang, who asked, "Has the situation been explained to everyone?"

"Not yet," a division leader said.

"Let everyone know now," Lan Yaoguang announced.

"Understood!" the division leader replied. He surveyed the gathered disciples and announced, "Many of you have been wondering why you were recalled. This matter is critical to the future of the Shangqing holy land, so we've kept things secret—until now."

The Shangqing disciples, now intensely curious, listened closely.

"Our new hierarch has received special favor from the Shangqing Grandmaster, who generously bestowed blessings onto her in the green knoll hidden realm. Furthermore, he ordered her to lead the entire sect in establishing the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. This formation is key to entering the blue moon illusory realm; all Shangqing disciples are to be led inside in search of the opportunities that lie within."

Excitement immediately spread among the Shangqing disciples, who took pride in their ten-thousand-year legacy. The Shangqing Grandmaster had once been a hegemon of his era, unmatched in power, and had left them with endless wealth and mysteries in reserve, including the fabled blue moon illusory realm.

Unfortunately, the entrance to the blue moon illusory realm had long been lost, and the Shangqing Grandmaster himself had long since perished.

What they were hearing now seemed ludicrous—the Shangqing Grandmaster was still alive, and he would guide them all into the blue moon illusory realm! The disciples were thrilled beyond measure.

"Quiet! The hierarch will lead us in initiating the formation," the division leader called out.

"Understood!" all the Shangqing disciples shouted in unison.

They trembled with excitement. Any doubts about Lan Yaoguang serving as the hierarch had quickly evaporated. With the Shangqing Grandmaster's endorsement, who would dare object to her?

Lan Yaoguang became the focal point of all the Shangqing cultivators.

"Activate the formation," Lan Yaoguang commanded.

"Understood!" the gathered supreme elders replied.

They removed four massive fog-shrouded formations from the vicinity, revealing the foundations of the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. The foundations glowed a brilliant blue.

Lan Yaoguang raised her hand as the Cursebane and Deathbane Swords flew toward two of the four foundations. At the same time, two other supreme elders directed the Heavenbane and Earthbane Swords toward the remaining foundations.

"Heavens-Extinguishing Formation, activate!" Lan Yaoguang called out.

With a wave of her hand, four streaks of light shot toward the four bases. The four Shangqing swords trembled. Dazzling light emanated from them. The earth shook with a loud boom, and the formation glowed an intense, dazzling blue. Four giant pillars in blue reached toward the sky.

Under the thundering hum of the formation, all the cultivators' swords began to tremble, as if paying homage to a supreme sword.

Blue energy surged upward from the formation, forming a vortex of sword energy that swirled violently around the pillars.

Even the sea surged with massive sword-shaped waves; the clouds in the sky took on the form of swords, all revolving around the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation.

A frightening pressure shook the Shangqing disciples to their core.

The spies that had been stationed around the Shangqing holy land were so shocked by the sudden pressure and phenomena that they lay stunned, not daring to move.

The Shangqing disciples, on the other hand, were ecstatic despite the heavy pressure. This was their formation, after all.

After the initial awe had passed, all eyes turned to Lan Yaoguang, who cautiously retrieved a blue praying mat and placed it before her.

She respectfully bowed toward the praying mat. "Grandmaster, in accordance with your commands, I have prepared the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. Please guide us into the blue moon illusory realm."

The cultivators looked on in anticipation, but the praying mat remained empty.

As everyone watched on curiously, Lan Yaoguang's eyes lit up. "I will follow the grandmaster's orders."

Many disciples were left bewildered. Was the hierarch having a conversation? But with whom?

Lan Yaoguang pointed in a certain direction. "Disperse from that area. The grandmaster will be activating a technique there."

"What?" The disciples were astonished.

Was the hierarch putting on a show for them all? The Shangqing Grandmaster was nowhere to be seen!

From beside her, Xiao Nanfeng called out, "The Shangqing Grandmaster has appeared. Pay your respects!"

Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng, only to see him bow. "I greet the Shangqing Grandmaster."

The disciples were taken aback. Could the grandmaster really be present on the praying mat? Was he visible only to the Shangqing hierarch and Xiao Nanfeng?

"We greet the grandmaster!" Countless disciples bowed in respect despite their doubts.

Then, following Lan Yaoguang's instructions, they moved away from a certain part of the plaza.

The blue praying mat floated toward the vacant area.

Everyone eyed the praying mat and confirmed that no one was using a technique on it; it was moving of its own accord.

As the praying mat reached the area, a tremor ran through the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation.

An incredible burst of sword energy converged on the blue praying mat, forming a giant portal that radiated with blue light.

"Is this really the blue moon illusory realm?"

"The grandmaster is truly with us!"

"Our hierarch really must have the grandmaster's favor. She's the only one who can see him!"

A chorus of awe rippled through the crowd, silencing any doubts the Shangqing disciples had about the supposed existence of the Shangqing Grandmaster. Their respect for Lan Yaoguang deepened considerably.

"The grandmaster commands that all disciples enter the blue moon hidden realm in an orderly fashion," Lan Yaoguang announced.

"Understood!" all the Shangqing disciples shouted in unison.

One by one, the disciples entered the blue moon illusory realm, led by their respective division leaders.

The blue moon illusory realm was particularly special; despite being an illusory realm, cultivators could enter with their physical bodies. The first division quickly entered, followed by the second, and then the third. The disciples stepped into the realm in an orderly procession.

Not only that, the islands of the Shangqing holy land were likewise extracted from the seabed, stored in specialized storage treasures, and taken along for the expedition.

All the Shangqing cultivators would be taking part in this expedition; they had no intention of leaving the holy land vacant and unguarded. All valuables would be taken into the blue moon illusory realm with them, leaving nothing of value behind.

Powerful cultivators from nearby forces witnessed the spectacle from afar, all of them left in awe by the formation's incredible might.

No one dared interfere; doing so would surely draw reprisal from the entirety of the holy land.

Some cultivators from forces on good terms with the Shangqing holy land attempted to inquire about the situation, but they were quickly deflected by a group of elders.

Bit by bit, the entirety of the Shangqing holy land was packed up for the excursion into the blue moon illusory realm.

After a day, when all the Shangqing disciples had finally entered, leaving only a few supreme elders and Lan Yaoguang behind, Lan Yaoguang turned to Xiao Nanfeng. She looked toward him with deep longing. Xiao Nanfeng clasped her hand and said, "I'll wait for you to return."

"Wait for me," Lan Yaoguang nodded, her eyes flush with emotion.

After a tender embrace, she finally led Xiao Nanfeng's black-robed subordinates into the blue moon illusory realm.

Once everyone had entered, the four massive blue pillars of the formation vanished, and the foundations of the formation were destroyed. The four Shangqing swords let out a resonant hum before following the praying mat into the blue moon illusory realm.

The portal trembled, then sealed shut. A ripple of blue energy was sent outward before the sea and sky calmed down once again. Only Xiao Nanfeng remained alone on the now-barren land.

The cultivators who had witnessed the Shangqing exodus were left dumbfounded.

"What just happened? The Shangqing holy land is no more!"

"Could they have entered the blue moon illusory realm? That fabled realm is said to possess countless opportunities. All the Shangqing cultivators have entered it en masse!"

"Aren't they intending on coming back? They've taken the entire holy land with them!"

Many cultivators were astounded, though the most astute of them knew or could guess what was going on.

Even so, they didn't know about the details of the operation.

"Perhaps he knows." Someone suddenly pointed toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Isn't that Xiao Nanfeng?" One of the cultivators immediately recognized him.

Many were conflicted about approaching him. Those who knew or knew of him remained where they were; those who didn't rashly flew forward.

As he hovered in the air, Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the approaching crowd with a frown. He waved a hand, causing several cultivators in black robes to fly quickly toward him. They gathered respectfully behind Xiao Nanfeng.

"He has reinforcements?" Those unfamiliar with Xiao Nanfeng were taken aback.

Xiao Nanfeng ignored the onlookers. He had made a name for himself in the vicinity of the Shangqing holy land; he assumed anyone who didn't recognize him was unimportant.

"Lad, who are you? What just happened to the Shangqing holy land?" a voice called out from the crowd.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't respond. One of the black-robed subordinates behind him struck the speaker with a palm, sending him hurtling away like a shooting star.

A hush fell over the crowd. Someone murmured in disbelief, "His subordinate's a Golden Immortal..."

Realizing their mistake, the crowd quickly backed away. "Apologies, Senior. We were just passing by."

They hastily retreated, fleeing from Xiao Nanfeng.

Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn't let down his guard. There was still a threat in the vicinity.

"Come out. I know you're there," he said coldly.