Chapter 39: Charging Toward the Pavilion of Profound Waters

The Profound Water Pavilion is situated atop Profound Ice Peak, on the eastern side of the capital city. The entire mountain is shrouded in eternal ice that never melts, resembling a hibernating ice dragon when viewed from afar.

A streak of azure light tore across the horizon at an astonishing speed, reaching the mountain gate in the blink of an eye.

"Who goes there? How dare you intrude upon our Profound Water Pavilion!" a middle-aged deacon bellowed. He brandished the token at his waist, instantly activating the mountain-protecting formation. He was a cultivator at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage, holding a position of some authority within the pavilion.

In an instant, the ice covering Profound Ice Peak shattered violently. Countless dark blue water ripples surged from the depths of the earth, weaving together before the gate to form a massive curtain of light. The surface of the curtain shimmered with flowing waves, within which the phantom images of ten thousand surging tides were faintly visible. This was the pride of the Profound Water Pavilion: the Thousand Wave Heaven-Locking Formation.

Built upon the foundation of the entire mountain’s water-attribute spiritual veins, it was rumored that even a cultivator at the Soul Formation stage would struggle to shake it. It was widely recognized as one of the most formidable defensive formations in the capital.

Ye Chen did not even lift his eyelids; he simply flicked his finger. A wisp of immortal essence, condensed to the absolute limit—a mere ten-thousandth of an Immortal Emperor’s pressure—shot forth.

*Sshhh—*

A faint azure gleam swept past. The supposedly impenetrable Thousand Wave Heaven-Locking Formation was pierced through like paper, creating a hole a full yard in diameter.

"My heavens! That was the Thousand Wave Heaven-Locking Formation!" the disciple in charge of the formation screamed, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the control disc. "During last year’s Immortal Alliance trials, three cultivators at the ninth level of the Void Refinement stage attacked it for three hours without leaving a scratch. Today... today it was broken just like that?"

The elder standing beside him trembled uncontrollably. He was at the ninth level of the Void Refinement stage and had participated in the formation’s maintenance; he knew its durability better than anyone. "The formation’s core was reinforced with ten-thousand-year Profound Ice Heart! That is a supreme treasure capable of freezing the spiritual energy of a Soul Formation stage cultivator! How could it... how could it be pierced by a mere flick of a finger? This level of power—could he have already reached the Soul Formation stage?" As this thought crossed his mind, his teeth began to chatter.

The outer sect disciples at the edge of the plaza were in an uproar. Most were at the Nascent Soul stage; some collapsed to the ground, their legs giving out as they stared at the hole, murmuring, "If that hit a person... there wouldn't even be渣 left, would there?"

"It’s Ye Chen!" an observant inner sect disciple recognized the figure in the azure robe, his soul nearly leaving his body in terror. "It’s that Ye Chen who wiped out the Purple Firmament Holy Land!"

Panic erupted among the disciples. Some turned and fled toward the inner gates, while others were so paralyzed by fear they could not move. His reputation was that of a descending god of slaughter; to these Nascent Soul cultivators, he was no different from an ant.

Ye Chen waved his sleeve, and a surge of majestic spiritual energy swept out like a tidal wave. The dozen Nascent Soul disciples at the front were instantly blown away, slamming into the rock face of Profound Ice Peak with dull thuds. By the time they slid down, they were already devoid of life.

"Xuan Kongzi, get out here and die!"

His voice exploded in the valley like a thunderclap, echoing repeatedly. The sound shook the accumulated snow on Profound Ice Peak until it cascaded down, threatening an avalanche. This was the prestige of an Immortal Emperor; mortal cultivators simply could not withstand it.

Inside the inner hall of the Profound Water Pavilion, Xuan Kongzi was discussing matters over tea with two elders. In an ice basin at the center of the hall burned rare "Ice Soul Incense," used to focus the mind and aid cultivation.

"Pavilion Master, we have yet to receive word from the Clear Void Sect. Could something have gone wrong?" asked Elder Xuan Xu, seated on the left. He was at the peak of the Void Refinement stage, specializing in water-attribute defensive techniques, and was said to be capable of tanking a full-strength strike from a peer.

Xuan Kongzi lifted his teacup and gently blew the foam away. "What could go wrong? It is only to deal with a crumbling Luo family. Wei Tong is more than capable of handling Luo Zhennan." As a Soul Formation stage cultivator, he held the Luo family in total contempt.

Elder Xuan Yun, on the right, scoffed, "Perhaps Wei Tong obtained the source of the spiritual vein and wants to keep it for himself? That old man has always been greedy."

Just then, rapid footsteps sounded outside. A disciple stumbled in, pale as a sheet. "Pavilion... Pavilion Master! It’s bad! Ye Chen has attacked! The Thousand Wave Heaven-Locking Formation has been broken! The mountain... the gate cannot be held!"

"Ye Chen?" The teacup in Xuan Kongzi’s hand shattered into pieces as it hit the floor. "Why would he come here? Wasn't the matter with the Clear Void Sect handled in total secrecy?" Even as a Soul Formation cultivator, he had heard of Ye Chen’s terrifying reputation.

"The Thousand Wave Heaven-Locking Formation broken? That’s impossible!" Elder Xuan Xu stood up abruptly. "That formation is the foundation of our pavilion! Even a Soul Formation cultivator could not break it so easily!"

"What are you panicking about!" Xuan Kongzi forced himself to remain calm. Though his heart was in turmoil, he could not lose his composure as the Pavilion Master. "He is merely a junior who rose by luck. Does he really think he can turn the world upside down? Let’s go, and meet him!"

He charged out of the inner hall, followed closely by the two elders. Upon reaching the gate, they saw corpses strewn across the plaza and a gaping hole in the light curtain. Ye Chen stood before it with his hands behind his back, his azure robes fluttering in the cold wind.

"Ye Chen! You have quite the audacity!" Xuan Kongzi glared at him, though his eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension. "Do you know who stands behind the Profound Water Pavilion? The Imperial Family and the Immortal Alliance both show us respect. By destroying our gate and harming our disciples, you are making an enemy of the entire Great Qian Dynasty!" He tried to use his influence to suppress him, unaware that the man before him cared nothing for such things.

"You incited the Clear Void Sect to plunder the Luo family’s spiritual vein source, and now you speak of 'respect'?" Ye Chen’s lips curled into a cold sneer. "Xuan Kongzi, stop the chatter. Make your move." Dealing with a Soul Formation cultivator like this, he was too lazy to even use his immortal essence; his remaining mortal spiritual energy was more than enough.

Xuan Kongzi was shocked—how could he know so much? It seemed something had indeed gone wrong with the Clear Void Sect. Since things had come to this, there was no point in talking; he would have to rely on raw power.

"You seek death!" Xuan Kongzi roared. He formed hand seals, and a massive surge of water-attribute spiritual energy surged from his dantian. The temperature around him plummeted, and a thick layer of solid ice instantly formed on the ground. The pressure of the Soul Formation stage rippled outward, forcing the surrounding Nascent Soul disciples to their knees.

"Profound Ice Cauldron, emerge!"

With a low shout, a three-foot-tall ice cauldron flew from above his head. Carved with dense, intricate runes and emanating an intense, frigid chill, it was his life-bound treasure—a peak-grade spiritual artifact. This cauldron had once helped him withstand the combined assault of three ninth-level Unity stage cultivators; it was one of the pavilion’s greatest treasures.

"Ten Thousand Water Banner!" Elder Xuan Xu also struck, brandishing a black flag a yard long. As he waved it, the water-attribute spiritual energy within a hundred miles converged, transforming into a water dragon dozens of feet long that lunged at Ye Chen with claws bared.

"Profound Ice Palm!" Elder Xuan Yun struck with both palms. Where the wind of his palms passed, the air crystallized into ice, forming an ice wall that cut off Ye Chen’s retreat.

The three coordinated perfectly—one attacking, one defending, and one pinning him down—clearly a killing formation they had practiced countless times.

The surviving disciples of the Profound Water Pavilion cheered:

"The Pavilion Master is mighty! Once the Profound Ice Cauldron is out, even ten Ye Chens would be frozen into ice sculptures!"

"Ye Chen is finished! Did you see Elder Xuan Yun’s ice wall? That’s the 'Profound Ice Soul-Locking Wall'—it can freeze the spiritual energy of a Void Refinement cultivator! He won’t be able to escape today!"

"With the three elders working together, even a Soul Formation cultivator would have to retreat! Don't forget Elder Xuan Shan’s Ten Thousand Water Banner can draw on a hundred miles of spiritual veins. Even with all his god-like abilities, Ye Chen will leave his life here today!"

The nearby disciples watched with excited, glowing eyes.