"Is this the Great Perfection Array of Buddhism?" Nangong Sheng raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. This array was so complex that even Nangong Sheng couldn't understand it at a glance, at least not in a short period.
"Buddhism? Hmph!" The Mirror Demon Master sneered.
"Is it not?"
"This is the Ten Absolute Formation, the formation that guards the Ageless Realm. If you can break it, I'll grant each of you an intact corpse," the Mirror Demon Master said arrogantly.
"Ten Absolute Formation?" Nangong Sheng raised an eyebrow, evidently unfamiliar with it.
However, Zhong Shan's pupils contracted. Ten Absolute Formation? Why did it sound so familiar?
Suddenly, Zhong Shan recalled some mythological records he had read in his youth on Earth. Ten Absolute Formation? Could it be that Ten Absolute Formation?
"Nangong Sheng!" Zhong Shan called out solemnly.
"I'm here!"
Everyone looked towards Zhong Shan, knowing that he might issue crucial orders. Even the Mirror Demon Master showed a hint of curiosity.
"I will describe a 'formation' to you. Use it as a reference and lead everyone out of here!" Zhong Shan instructed.
"Yes!" Nangong Sheng responded immediately.
The Mirror Demon Master raised an eyebrow, watching Zhong Shan. Describe a formation? What could you possibly say? The Ten Absolute Formation is the Ageless Realm's ultimate guardian array. Did he really think he could break it?
"I know of a 'Ten Absolute Formation' that requires ten powerful individuals to set up. It comprises ten sub-formations: Sky Annihilation, Earth Split, Wind Howl, Ice Freeze, Golden Light, Blood Transformation, Blazing Flames, Soul Fall, Red Water, and Red Sand. My memory is vague, but I recall the Golden Light Formation, which resembles this one. The Golden Light Formation absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, conceals the energy of heaven and earth, and contains twenty-one magic mirrors, each suspended atop a high pole. If anyone, mortal or celestial, enters the formation, the golden light from the mirrors will shine upon them, instantly turning them into pus and blood." Zhong Shan recited his memory.
The Mirror Demon Master's expression changed, a look of surprise crossing his face. The others also looked at Zhong Shan curiously. How did the emperor know this?
"Are you a formation master? What I said is just for reference. I cannot confirm its accuracy. Now, take everyone and leave quickly. Wait for me outside the Ageless Realm!" Zhong Shan ordered sternly.
"Zhong Shan, are you staying behind?" Nian Youyou asked, worried.
"Go, I'll be fine!" Zhong Shan reassured.
"Yes!" The others bowed and obeyed. Nian Youyou seemed reluctant but eventually nodded.
The Mirror Demon Master continued to glare at Zhong Shan, ignoring Nangong Sheng and the others as they left, seemingly confident that they couldn't break the formation.
In the golden mist, Nangong Sheng and his group quickly disappeared from view.
"Are you Zhong Shan?" the Mirror Demon Master asked in a deep voice.
"Do you never concern yourself with the world's affairs?" Zhong Shan responded coldly.
"My duty is only to protect the Ageless Realm; everything else is irrelevant to me. Zhong Shan? Ye Qingcheng has mentioned you several times. You indeed have courage!" the Mirror Demon Master said, taking a deep breath.
"Thank you," Zhong Shan said, unhurried.
Zhong Shan aimed to buy time for Nian Youyou and the others to escape. The Ten Absolute Formation's intricacies were unclear, but if it was the same as in his memory, it was terrifying. Once the formation activated, he might be the only survivor. Therefore, he needed them to leave first.
"How do you know about the Ten Absolute Formation?" the Mirror Demon Master asked, puzzled.
"So it is the Ten Absolute Formation?" Zhong Shan's hairs stood on end.
From the Mirror Demon Master's words, Zhong Shan discerned the connection between the two Ten Absolute Formations. The Zhu Xian Four Swords alone were not enough to confirm anything, but with this Ten Absolute Formation, what was the true identity of the hidden ancient monster in the Longevity Realm? Zhong Shan's mind was in turmoil. If these were indeed the powerful figures from Earth's mythological stories, how should he confront them in the future?
The Mirror Demon Master squinted at Zhong Shan. "If you didn't know, how could you describe it so accurately?"
Indeed! Zhong Shan felt even more burdened.
"Naturally, it was a friend from the Longevity Realm who told me!" Zhong Shan replied with a smile. Despite the heavy weight on his heart, he maintained his calm exterior.
"Impossible. Besides the master, only the God Crow Daoist knows this formation. He wouldn't tell you!" the Mirror Demon Master said sternly.
"If he didn't tell me, how could I possibly know?" Zhong Shan replied with a faint smile.
"It must be information from the Great Thousand World. That skeleton just now proves it!" the Mirror Demon Master said coldly.
"What do you think?" Zhong Shan replied.
"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
A loud explosion suddenly came from the distant south.
The Mirror Demon Master's face changed. "How is that possible? They found a weak spot in the formation?" His expression shifted, and he moved to rush towards the sound.
"Whoosh!" Zhong Shan suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Seeking death!" The Mirror Demon Master halted and struck at Zhong Shan with his palm.
Just as he was about to strike, he felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, targeting his very soul. This immense pressure came from Zhong Shan's eyes, a pair of green pupils.
Reincarnation Eyes, activate!
Instinctively, the Mirror Demon Master retreated, his face filled with lingering fear!
Staring at Zhong Shan, the Mirror Demon Master hesitated. He couldn't gauge Zhong Shan's depths and didn't know how to proceed. Suddenly, Zhong Shan's presence exerted tremendous pressure on him.
"Buzz!"
Near the Wanxiang Mirror Tower, another figure shot out, another Mirror Demon Master racing towards the direction where Nangong Sheng was breaking the formation. But as he moved less than a mile, he abruptly stopped.
The second Mirror Demon Master looked forward in shock. Another Zhong Shan stood before him.
Another Zhong Shan? A clone?
The Mirror Demon Master encountered something bizarre for the first time. Clones were his prerogative. Could someone else in the Small Thousand World have this ability?
But no matter how many clones you have, can they outnumber my 'Crystal Clan'?
Near the Wanxiang Mirror Tower, a white light flashed again, and ten more figures shot out towards Nangong Sheng's direction.
"Whoosh~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
The ten figures abruptly retreated in terror.
Because before them, ten more Zhong Shans appeared.
Moreover, these ten Zhong Shans moved as fast as the Mirror Demon Masters. How was this possible? Who was he?
"Who are you?" one of the Mirror Demon Masters asked in terror.
"I am just myself," Zhong Shan replied with a smile.
"Clones? Let's see how many clones you have!" The Mirror Demon Master, in a state of panic, became frantic.
From the Wanxiang Mirror Tower, more and more Mirror Demon Masters emerged rapidly, soon numbering over three hundred. As all 361 Mirror Demon Masters appeared, the Mirror Demon Master's expression went beyond shock, shifting to sheer terror, as if he had realized something incredibly frightening.
As the Mirror Demon Master's clones increased, Zhong Shan also rapidly created more of himself.
One to one, there was not a single discrepancy, not a single missing clone.
"Who are you really?" the Mirror Demon Master cried out in shock.
"What do you think?" Zhong Shan replied.
"The Crystal Clan? Are you also from the Crystal Clan? Have you come to capture me?" The Mirror Demon Master became extremely fearful.
Zhong Shan's mind raced, and from the Mirror Demon Master's words, he quickly deduced something.
"You traitor of the Crystal Clan, we've been searching for you for so long and finally found you here!" Zhong Shan shouted.
"I am not a traitor! I am not a traitor!" The Mirror Demon Master became infinitely terrified.
All 361 bodies of the Mirror Demon Master quickly scattered in different directions.
All 361 Zhong Shans followed closely, each one shouting, "You are a traitor!"
The more Zhong Shan pursued, the more terrified the Mirror Demon Master became.
If it came to a real fight, Zhong Shan might not yet be a match for the Mirror Demon Master, but he had identified the Mirror Demon Master's weakness: his fragile psyche. Zhong Shan aimed to exploit this with verbal attacks, not to defeat the Mirror Demon Master directly, but to buy time. He just needed to delay long enough for Nangong Sheng and the others to escape the array.
During this time, the Mirror Demon Master was too frightened to manipulate the array, giving Zhong Shan the time he needed. As long as he could hold on and ensure that those he cared about could leave the formation, he could later devise a strategy against the Mirror Demon Master.
"I am not a traitor!"
"You are a traitor!"
Each Zhong Shan kept chasing, not allowing the Mirror Demon Master a moment to think or calm down.
Zhong Shan had found the Mirror Demon Master's Achilles' heel, similar to how Kui'er was his own weakness. There was something that made the Mirror Demon Master infinitely fearful.
"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
A super loud noise echoed from the distance, shaking the entire space.
This loud noise caused the Mirror Demon Master's terrified mind to suddenly focus. He looked at Zhong Shan with a mix of realization and anger.
"You are not from the Crystal Clan?" The Mirror Demon Master finally emerged from his fear.
However, Zhong Shan didn't mind anymore. He knew that Nangong Sheng had already led the others out.
"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
A loud noise came from in front of the Wanxiang Mirror Tower, where another Zhong Shan struck the tower with his palm. However, the tower remained unscathed.
The Mirror Demon Master's eyes tightened as he swiftly moved towards the Wanxiang Mirror Tower.
Zhong Shan immediately blocked his path.
"Seeking death!" one of the Mirror Demon Master clones shouted in rage, ignoring Zhong Shan's Reincarnation Eyes this time and striking out with his palm.
At this moment, Zhong Shan did not activate his Reincarnation Eyes. Instead, he rapidly retreated, quickly evading the attack. Just as he cleared the way, another Zhong Shan appeared to take his place.
Zhong Shan avoided using the Reincarnation Eyes because he couldn't sustain it.
With 361 Mirror Demon Masters, the shadow clones couldn't open 361 Reincarnation Tunnels—it would consume too much energy. Opening even half would exhaust Zhong Shan to death. Trying to open one large tunnel was also futile, as it would only destroy one Mirror Demon Master while the others could easily escape with their terrifying speed.
For now, the Reincarnation Eyes could only be used for intimidation, not direct combat.
Hundreds of Zhong Shans were now blocking 361 Mirror Demon Masters. The Mirror Demon Masters were becoming increasingly frustrated as they struggled to maneuver.
Near the Wanxiang Mirror Tower, one Zhong Shan coldly observed it. The tower had to be destroyed; every moment's delay benefited the Mirror Demon Master. Zhong Shan had noticed earlier that when he struck the tower, it wasn't the tower's durability but some strange force within that reflected his attack back.
"A precious treasure? Let's see how you reflect the power of the Reincarnation Tunnel!" Zhong Shan's eyes grew cold.
A small Reincarnation Tunnel suddenly appeared below the Wanxiang Mirror Tower.
The powerful suction drew the tower in without resistance. The blue light around the tower vanished as it was sucked into the Reincarnation Tunnel.