244: Chapter 244 The Nine Netherworld Universe Formation Displays its Power! Enslaving an Eighth-Level Demon!

Lu Qiu had not yet retreated very far from the area reeking of blood.

"Brother Flood Dragon—!!!"

A howl, extreme in its shrillness, fury, and grief, exploded like thunder from the Nine Heavens from another direction, slightly west of the island's center!

The terrifying Demonic Qi and monstrous hatred contained within the sound caused the seawater within a radius of several dozen miles to ripple, and debris on the cliffs tumbled down with a rustling sound.

Lu Qiu's heart gave a start; he secretly thought, 'Not good!'

His powerful Divine Sense, comparable to the Late Nascent Soul Stage, clearly sensed a terrifying aura—more overbearing, frigid, and ferocious than the Poison-Scaled Flood Dragon at its peak—dashing toward his current location at an astonishing speed, like black lightning tearing through the Void Realm!

It was that Black Water Poison Python!

It had not continued to pursue Daoist Nangong, or perhaps it had pursued for some distance but, whether because it realized it was outmatched, lost the target, or was concerned for its companion's safety, it had now returned to the island!

Moreover, it had clearly discovered the miserable, dissected remains of the Poison-Scaled Flood Dragon!

"I will find you! I will flay your skin and pull your tendons, extract your Soul and refine your Divine Soul, and make you suffer every torture in this world to honor the spirit of my Brother Flood Dragon in heaven—!!!"

The Black Water Poison Python's roar drew closer and closer; the icy killing intent contained within it was almost solid enough to touch, making one's heart and Soul freeze with terror upon hearing it.

Lu Qiu's heart pounded wildly. His Divine Sense clearly "saw" a blurred black shadow, like a ghost merging with the earth, pursuing him frantically at an inconceivable speed, following the faint, lingering scent of Flood Dragon blood in the air and the weak Spiritual Qi fluctuations from when Lu Qiu had departed!

Its speed was far beyond the escape technique it had previously displayed.

"Damn it! This beast's tracking ability and escape speed are actually this formidable!" Lu Qiu cursed inwardly, but he did not panic.

His thoughts raced as he instantly assessed the situation.

The opponent was an Eighth-Rank Transformed Great Yao in peak condition, and now, being exceptionally enraged, its strength might even exceed its usual level.

Although he had many means at his disposal, if he were entangled by it in the wild, even if he could win, it would inevitably be a pyrrhic victory, and it would very likely invite more variables.

He could not outrun it; the opponent was clearly better at concealment and pursuit.

Therefore, his only path to survival was the contingency he had prepared in advance—the Nine Nether Universe Array!

"Want to kill me? We'll see if you have the ability!" A cold light flashed in Lu Qiu's eyes, and a surge of heroic spirit arose in his heart.

He was no stranger to slaying Transformed Great Yao; just moments ago, he had personally finished off the Poison-Scaled Flood Dragon!

Although this Black Water Poison Python was strong, he, Lu Qiu, was not a soft persimmon to be kneaded by others!

He no longer attempted to completely conceal his aura. The Nascent Soul magic power within his body erupted, and he stopped suppressing his cultivation, unleashing the full Spiritual Pressure of the Early Nascent Soul Stage. Simultaneously, he pushed the Crimson Sky Burning Heaven Technique to its limit. Transforming into a dazzling cyan rainbow, he stopped skimming the ground and instead flew directly through the sky, pushing his speed to an unprecedented peak, racing desperately toward the secret valley to the northeast where he had pre-arranged the Nine Nether Universe Array!

"There you are! Damned human, you cannot escape!"

The Black Water Poison Python immediately locked onto the Spiritual Pressure and escape light erupting from Lu Qiu, letting out a shriek filled with resentment. Its speed increased by another thirty percent; wherever it passed, it left a faint black trail of corrosion on the ground, causing vegetation to wither and rocks to become poisoned.

The distance between them was shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"Abominable human Cultivator, I will definitely swallow you alive and flay you, light a lamp with your Soul, and ensure you never reincarnate for all eternity!"

The Black Water Poison Python's roar was like maggots on a bone, following closely behind Lu Qiu and drawing ever nearer; that icy killing intent was almost piercing through Lu Qiu's protective Spiritual Qi light.

Lu Qiu's expression was cold and stern. He turned a deaf ear to the curses behind him, instead frantically driving his magic power to push his escape speed to the limit, even willing to expend a trace of his Origin Essence, just to be a fraction faster!

His Divine Sense remained firmly locked on the familiar area of scattered rocks ahead. Fifty miles... thirty miles... ten miles...

Up ahead, those two steep stone peaks resembling a gateway were already in sight, and between them lay the hidden valley he had carefully chosen.

A sharp light exploded in Lu Qiu's eyes. His figure did not pause in the slightest; like an arrow released from a bow, he swept over the valley and landed with pinpoint precision on the other end, in the pile of scattered rocks that appeared chaotic but was actually the safe zone on the periphery of the Nine Nether Universe Array's eye.

And the moment he landed—

"Hiss! Die!"

The blurred black shadow transformed from the Black Water Poison Python had arrived in hot pursuit, carrying monstrous Demonic Qi and a foul wind. Without a moment's hesitation, like black lightning, it charged directly into the valley, pouncing wildly toward Lu Qiu's location!

It had been blinded by rage, its heart set only on tearing this human who had killed its kin to pieces. It completely failed to notice the subtle anomalies in the environment, and even less did it discover the Formation Flags and the shimmering light of the Formation Plate buried beneath the seemingly randomly scattered stones.

The moment its figure, shrouded in faint black mist, crossed the valley's midline and stepped into the coverage area of the Formation's core—

"Nine Nether Universe Array, rise!"

Lu Qiu's hands had long since formed the hand Seals; he now slammed them downward and shouted sharply!

"Hum—!!!"

A low humming sound, as if coming from the Nine Nether Underworld, suddenly erupted from deep beneath the valley floor! Following that, centered on where the Formation Plate was buried, beams of semi-transparent light, flickering with complex dark blue and dark golden runes, shot into the sky, instantly weaving and connecting above the valley to form a massive hemispherical light barrier that covered an area of several miles!

On the light barrier, runes flowed and dark light flickered, emitting a majestic aura that felt indestructible and capable of isolating the world, firmly sealing the caught-off-guard Black Water Poison Python, along with the central area of the valley, inside!

The complete version of the Nine Nether Universe Array, powered by sixteen intermediate-Rank Spirit Stones, was activated to full power in an instant!

Its power was sufficient to trap and kill a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator; dealing with an Eighth-Rank Transformed Great Yao was more than enough!

"A Formation?! You actually set up a Formation here in advance?!"

Inside the light barrier, the Black Water Poison Python, having just steadied its figure, had its expression change drastically. As it looked around at the light barrier emitting a terrifying sealing power, for the first time, gravity and suspicion appeared in its scarlet snake pupils.

It had never expected that this human Cultivator, who had appeared to be fleeing in a panic, was actually so insidious and cunning, having set such a terrifying trap here in advance!

"Break for me!"

In shock and rage, the Black Water Poison Python shouted sharply. Its Demonic Qi surged wildly, and its right hand was instantly covered in a layer of dark black scales, transforming into a ferocious claw the size of a house. Carrying a shriek that tore through the Void Realm and thick, corrosive poisonous gas, it slammed fiercely against the inner wall of the light barrier nearest to it!

"Boom—!!!"

The loud noise shook the heavens, and the earth trembled! The stone walls on both sides of the valley were cracked by the impact, and debris fell like rain.

However, that seemingly thin, dark blue light barrier rippled violently at the point of impact. The dark blue and dark golden runes flickered wildly, dissolving and dispersing that terrifying force and poisonous gas layer by layer throughout the entire Formation.

The Formation's light barrier did not budge in the slightest! Not even the tiniest crack appeared!

The trace of remaining contempt in the Black Water Poison Python's eyes finally dissipated completely, replaced by unbelievable shock and a hint of unease.

The strike it had just unleashed, while not its full strength, was still enough to severely wound the defenses of an ordinary Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator; how could it not even scratch the surface of this Formation?

"Impossible!"

It roared wildly, and the Demonic Qi all over its body erupted without reservation. Its figure flickered, and it actually manifested a partial phantom of its true form in mid-air.

A phantom of a giant python, pitch-black all over, with a single horn on its head and scarlet eyes, coiled behind it.

It struck out with both palms in rapid succession. Dark black palm prints, condensed to the point of being solid and containing potent poison, slammed like a storm from all angles toward the same area of the light barrier! It intended to break the whole by attacking a single point!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!...

The continuous sound of explosions echoed in the valley, like thunder from the Nine Heavens constantly cracking.

The violent shockwaves and corrosive energy raged wildly inside the light barrier, plowing the valley floor several times over and turning rocks into powder.

However, the light barrier of the Nine Nether Universe Array was like the toughest rubber. No matter how the storm-like attacks landed on it, it only rippled in layered, increasingly violent waves. The dark blue and dark golden runes accelerated their flow to the limit, yet it remained as stable as a rock and as solid as a golden fortress!

Furthermore, under the continuous energy supply of the sixteen intermediate-Rank Spirit Stones, the brightness and stability of the light barrier seemed to be slowly increasing!

"This... what kind of damned Formation is this?! How can it be so sturdy?!" The Black Water Poison Python became more alarmed the more it fought; the unease in its eyes gradually turned into a hint of panic.

It was an Eighth-Rank Transformed Great Yao, stronger than a human Cultivator of the same Early Nascent Soul Rank, and it even had the confidence to contend with a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Yet, facing this bizarre Formation, it actually felt a deep sense of powerlessness, like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, with no way to proceed!

The defensive power of this Formation was simply beyond imagination!

Lu Qiu hovered in the safe zone outside the Formation's light barrier, coldly watching the figure inside the Formation attacking frantically like a trapped beast. The last trace of worry in his heart was completely dispelled, and a strong sense of confidence surged up.

"Ruyin is truly a prodigy of the Dao of Formations. This complete version of the Nine Nether Universe Array, powered by intermediate-Rank Spirit Stones, is indeed terrifying in its power! With this Formation here, this beast is already a turtle in a jar; it cannot escape even with wings!"

He no longer hesitated. His hand Seals changed, shifting from a purely "trapping" Formation to a "killing" Formation!

"Nine Nether God-Slaughter, activate!"

Following Lu Qiu's low shout, the scene inside the Formation changed abruptly!

Inside the light barrier, which had originally been purely defensive, countless dark blue and dark golden runes seemed to come alive, beginning to move and combine rapidly along profound trajectories.

A terrifying murderous intent, like the arrival of winter, instantly filled the entire space of the Formation. The temperature plummeted, and even the light seemed to dim slightly.

"Hum!"

A giant energy sword, condensed entirely from pure Formation energy, over ten zhang long, deep dark blue in color, with dark golden thunder patterns coiled around the blade, condensed out of thin air directly above the Black Water Poison Python's head without any warning!

The giant sword had not yet moved, but that terrifying, sharp aura capable of tearing through the firmament and annihilating the Divine Soul already made the Black Water Poison Python's scalp tingle, and its scales stood on end all over its body!

"Slash!"

Lu Qiu's mind stirred. The dark blue giant sword emitted a sword hum that shook the Soul, carrying the power to destroy the heavens and the earth, and slashed down toward the Black Water Poison Python below!

Wherever the sword edge passed, the space rippled slightly.

"Hiss! Nether Python Poison Evil!"

The Black Water Poison Python was terrified, sensing the horror of this sword strike, and dared not show the slightest negligence.

He opened his mouth abruptly, and a jet-black beam of light—as thick as a bucket, condensed to the extreme, deep as ink, and emitting a pungent, fishy odor and terrifying corrosive fluctuations—shot up into the sky like the breath of a poisonous dragon, slamming fiercely into the descending giant azure sword!

"Boom-crack—!!!"

The giant azure sword and the jet-black beam of light collided solidly in mid-air!

There were no fancy techniques, only the purest clash of energy!

In an instant, a blinding blue-black light erupted, illuminating the entire canyon in an eerie glow, followed immediately by a terrifying, deafening explosion that seemed to tear at the eardrums!

The violent turbulent energy swept outward like a tsunami, slamming viciously against the inner wall of the Nine Nether Universe Array's light barrier, causing the barrier to shake violently and the runes to flash wildly, yet it remained solid.

After the strike, the giant azure sword and the jet-black beam of light vanished simultaneously, their energies canceling each other out.

However, before the Black Water Poison Python could even catch its breath—

"Hum!" "Hum!"

Two more giant azure energy swords of the same size and power materialized almost simultaneously, one from the left and one from the right, and slashed toward him in a cross-pattern again!

The angle was tricky, sealing off most of his room for evasion.

"Damn it! This Formation's attacks can actually be continuous?!" The Black Water Poison Python's expression was extremely ugly as it had to forcibly circulate its Demonic Qi again, spewing two slightly thinner jet-black beams of light to block them separately.

Boom! Boom!

With two more loud bangs, the giant energy swords were blocked again, but the Black Water Poison Python clearly felt that the consumption of its Demonic Qi within its body had intensified, and its aura had become a bit chaotic.

And this was merely the beginning!

Following that, the third wave, the fourth wave, the fifth wave... The giant azure energy swords seemed endless, one after another, slashing down continuously toward the Black Water Poison Python in the Formation from different directions and at different angles!

Sometimes three or four would even appear simultaneously, forming a simple sword Formation, their power stacking, making them even harder to block.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all!"

The Black Water Poison Python roared repeatedly, its heart filled with extreme frustration and anger.

Despite possessing formidable strength and bizarre Divine Abilities, it was now like a tiger trapped in a cage, forced to passively endure the bombardment from all directions, its Demonic Qi draining away rapidly like floodwaters breaching a dam.

It had tried to conceal its form, but this Formation seemed to have the effect of interfering with Divine Sense and breaking concealment, rendering its concealment Divine Ability greatly diminished here.

It had also tried attacking specific nodes of the light barrier, but the structure of this Formation was incomparably exquisite, and its defense was seamless, making it impossible to find any obvious weak points.

Lu Qiu hovered outside the Formation, calmly controlling the great array.

He did not attempt to open a gap in the Formation to attack from the outside; although doing so could increase the frequency of attacks, it would also introduce a trace of instability to the great array. Given the cunning and escape techniques of this Black Water Poison Python, if it seized that fleeting opportunity to escape, the situation would reverse in an instant.

He would rather spend more time and Spirit Stones to ensure there were no mishaps, thoroughly exhausting and grinding this poisonous python to death within the great array!

The continuous, violent attacks lasted for nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

Inside the Nine Nether Universe Array, it was already a dead zone where energy raged; the ground had been blasted into countless deep pits, and the residual energy of poisonous gas, Sword Qi, and thunder-fire was mixed together. If an ordinary Core Formation Cultivator were to step inside, they likely wouldn't last three breaths.

And those sixteen mid-grade Spirit Stones were still shining brightly, providing what seemed like an inexhaustible source of power for this killing machine.

The Black Water Poison Python in the Formation was in an extremely poor state.

The protective demonic light around its body had long since shattered and vanished under countless bombardments, and the black robe it wore had turned to ash, revealing a body covered in fine, jet-black scales, yet riddled with wounds.

Wounds of all sizes covered its entire body, some deep enough to see bone, oozing dark green poisonous blood and emitting a foul, fishy stench.

Its breath was weak, its face pale, and its scarlet snake pupils were filled with exhaustion, anger, and... a trace of increasingly intense fear.

What kind of hellish Formation is this?!

The power is terrifying, the energy seems endless; where did this human Cultivator get such a Heaven-Defying Formation?!

For the first time, regret arose in its heart; it shouldn't have been so impulsive in giving chase, perhaps it should have reunited with Brother Flood Dragon first, perhaps it should have been more cautious...

"This Formation... could it be that I am truly going to perish here today?!" The Black Water Poison Python's voice, for the first time, carried undisguised fear and despair.

It could feel that its Demonic Qi was nearly depleted, and its injuries were becoming increasingly severe. If this continued, it would be completely torn apart by these continuous attacks within at most half a cup of tea's time!

Lu Qiu also sensed that the Black Water Poison Python was at the end of its rope, but he still did not let his guard down. Great Yao of this level were often most terrifying when making a final desperate struggle before death.

"It is time. One final strike to thoroughly cripple its Divine Soul!"

A fierce look flashed in his eyes, his hand Seals changed again, and the Formation's attacks suddenly became even more violent and dense!

At the same time, the invisible power of his Divine Sense between his brows condensed and compressed to a high degree!

"Nine Nether Absolute Kill, Three Origins Unified!"

Following Lu Qiu's loud shout, the remaining energy above the great array gathered crazily. No longer attacking in a dispersed manner, it condensed into an unprecedentedly huge sword of light!

This sword was over thirty zhang long, its entire body a deep, dark gold, with azure flames burning on its surface and thick, dark purple thunder winding around it. The destructive fluctuations it emitted caused the entire light barrier of the Nine Nether Universe Array to tremble slightly!

"Slash!"

The dark golden giant sword let out a roar that seemed to come from the Nine Nether, carrying the supreme majesty of judging life and death and destroying all things, as it slashed down onto the dying Black Water Poison Python below!

This strike had almost drained most of the remaining Formation energy from all previous attacks, and its power was terrifyingly unmatched!

"No—!!!"

The Black Water Poison Python let out a desperate and unwilling hiss. It could feel that it could not block this sword! Under such heavy injuries and with its Demonic Qi exhausted, it couldn't even manage a decent defense!

It could only exhaust its last shred of Demonic power, its body suddenly twisting and shrinking violently—

"Hiss!"

A jet-black light flashed, and the scale-covered humanoid body disappeared from the spot. In its place was a slender python, only a few zhang long, with a body as jet-black as ink, fine and smooth scales, a small single horn on its head, and scarlet, blood-red eyes!

This was the true form of the Black Water Poison Python!

Compared to those massive Yao Beasts that were often tens or hundreds of zhang long, its size could be called "petite," but as it appeared now, it emitted an even more condensed, sinister, and dangerous aura. This was a manifestation of concentrating its entire Demonic power and talent to the extreme.

However, heavily injured and near death, even after revealing its true form, its strength remained less than one-tenth of its peak.

Facing the descending dark golden giant sword, only despair remained in the Black Water Poison Python's scarlet snake pupils.

Just at the moment the giant sword was about to strike—

"Spirit Shocking Thorn!"

A silver light flashed in Lu Qiu's eyes. Having been poised and ready, the six Spirit Shocking Thorns had long since silently lurked near the Black Water Poison Python's Divine Soul, and now they launched fiercely!

Six intangible yet incomparably sharp Divine Sense spikes, aimed directly at the Origin of the Divine Soul, instantly plunged into the Black Water Poison Python's defenseless Sea of Consciousness!

"Ah—!!!"

The agony of its Divine Soul being torn apart, a hundred times more intense than physical pain, caused the Black Water Poison Python to let out an indescribably shrill, Soul-piercing howl!

Its revealed small true form twisted and convulsed crazily in mid-air, its scarlet snake pupils instantly losing focus, and its Divine Soul defense dropping to freezing point at this moment.

"That's it!"

This was the opportunity Lu Qiu had been waiting for!

His figure flashed, and he actually passed directly through the Nine Nether Universe Array's light barrier, appearing above the Black Water Poison Python's true form, which had temporarily lost the ability to resist due to the excruciating pain in its Divine Soul.

His hands rapidly formed Seals, and he began chanting ancient, obscure incantations that contained a strange binding power.

Between his brows, a point of brilliant golden light emerged, rapidly spreading and intertwining to form a complex and profound phantom of a three-dimensional Talisman, seemingly composed of countless golden chains.

This was the secret technique he had obtained in his early years, specifically for enslaving the Divine Souls of Yao Beasts, the "Dragon Imprisonment Seal"!

This Seal was particularly effective against Dragon-type and snake/python-type Yao Beasts.

"Imprison the Heaven, Lock the Earth, Dragon Seal Suppress the Soul! Decree!"

Lu Qiu's eyes widened, he shouted violently, and pressed his hands downward fiercely!

The golden "Dragon Imprisonment Seal" phantom between his brows, as if pulled by an invisible force, suddenly detached and flew out. Growing as it met the wind, it transformed into a huge three-dimensional Talisman with a diameter of a zhang, shining with brilliant golden light and constantly flowing patterns. Exuding the supreme majesty of suppressing all things and imprisoning Divine Souls, it slammed down fiercely onto the head of the jet-black python that was still convulsing in pain below!

The golden Talisman entered the Black Water Poison Python's brow without any obstruction, reaching deep into the very center of its Divine Soul Origin!

"Roar—!!!"

The Black Water Poison Python's remaining Divine Soul let out a final hiss, filled with unwillingness and anger, yet mixed with a trace of irresistible submission. The light in its scarlet snake pupils flickered and struggled violently, and in the end, it was gradually covered, eroded, and assimilated by the patterns of the golden "Dragon Imprisonment Seal"...

After a few breaths, the Black Water Poison Python's small body stopped convulsing and floated quietly in mid-air.

Its pair of scarlet snake pupils opened again, and when it looked at Lu Qiu, there was no longer any ferocity or hatred, only a dazed submission, as well as an absolute awe and an irresistible sense of binding toward the person before it, originating from the depths of its Soul.

Dragon Imprisonment Seal, enslavement successful!

Lu Qiu let out a soft sigh of relief. Looking at this eighth-Rank Great Yao before him, with its weak aura and covered in wounds, yet now completely under his control, an indescribable sense of accomplishment and excitement surged in his heart.

"Retract!"

With a thought, the floating jet-black python's body rapidly shrank, eventually turning into a streak of black light that vanished into a Spirit Beast bag he had long prepared. The sealing Talisman at the mouth of the bag lit up, completely sealing it away.

Lu Qiu raised his hand in a beckoning motion, retrieving the Formation Flags and Formation Plate buried in various places, as well as the sixteen mid-grade Spirit Stones that had consumed nearly half of their Spiritual Qi.

The light barrier of the Nine Nether Universe Array slowly dissipated, and the canyon returned to calm, leaving only devastation that told the tale of the thrilling siege that had just taken place.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay." Lu Qiu's Divine Sense swept across the surroundings, confirming that no other powerful auras were approaching. Without further delay, his figure transformed into a green rainbow, speeding away toward the deeper northern sea, far from the desolate island.