The formation, upon being infused with Yin and Yang Qi, changed instantly.
The previously dim pattern gained a luster.
The runes on either side of the Yin-Yang diagram began to light up one by one, forming a circle that spread outwards.
The surrounding crowd exclaimed in unison,
"It's lit up! It's lit up!"
"It's working, the formation has begun to operate."
"Brother Qin, keep it up."
"..."
Everyone spoke with anticipation.
I, of course, did not hesitate and increased the output of Yin and Yang Qi.
However, the conversion of Yin and Yang Qi was immensely draining.
This formation continuously absorbed the Yin Qi I released, as if it could never be filled.
After about five minutes, I was already breaking out in a cold sweat.
But the formation had now been fully activated.
At three meters from the center of the stone platform, formation patterns appeared. As these patterns emerged, the surrounding swamp began to make "sizzling" sounds.
It sounded like stones grinding against each other, or perhaps gears turning.
The sound was harsh, and black bubbles continuously emerged from the swamp.
Before long, someone exclaimed,
"Look over there, what is that?"
Hearing the voice, many turned their heads.
To our front left, a stone pillar appeared. It was entirely crimson, and its material was unknown.
However, it bore a carved image of a Vermilion Bird.
Upon seeing this, Yun Long and Yun Hu used their feng shui compasses to pinpoint the location and then exclaimed with joy,
"It's here, it's here! This is the Vermilion Bird's Gall. Brother Qin, put in more effort. Once it fully appears, we will have succeeded."
At this point, I was already breathing heavily.
The massive release of Yin and Yang Qi for five minutes had taken a tremendous toll on me.
But for the sake of the plan, for the elimination of the Demonic Cult, what was this consumption?
I persisted.
The red stone pillar grew taller and taller, rising upwards.
Finally, the entire pillar stood upright to the front left of the stone platform and then stopped.
Seeing this, Yun Hu immediately addressed Senior Bai Daozi beside him,
"Senior, this stone pillar should be the critical point of the mechanism, the location of the Vermilion Bird's Gall.
If we smash this pillar now, the path to life will appear."
Senior Bai Daozi nodded upon hearing this,
"Alright!"
He then took a few steps forward.
The surrounding crowd dispersed.
Senior Bai Daozi's cultivation was among the top ranks in the Dao Alliance.
Everyone was greatly anticipating his move.
Senior Bai Daozi raised his brows and formed hand seals.
In an instant, Senior Bai Daozi's aura changed dramatically, and streaks of white lightning arced across his body.
Making "crackling" sounds.
Senior Bai Daozi also cultivated lightning techniques.
This made Old Mo widen his eyes, eager to see the distinctiveness of the Maoshan lightning techniques.
Soon, Senior Bai Daozi formed a sword finger with one hand.
He clenched his other fist and, facing the stone pillar, let out a low roar,
"Lightning Technique: Thunderbolt Fist."
With that, Senior Bai Daozi unleashed a punch.
"Boom!" Like thunder from a clear sky, an explosion resounded, causing many to feel a discomforting buzzing in their ears.
However, a thick arc of lightning was visibly shot directly towards the red Vermilion Bird stone pillar.
"Bang!"
Another explosion occurred, sending stone fragments flying and lightning flickering.
The red pillar instantly collapsed, splashing mud everywhere.
"Amazing!"
"Senior Bai is mighty!"
"Such powerful lightning techniques."
"We've opened our eyes, truly powerful. Smashing a stone pillar with a single punch from ten meters away, such cultivation is immense."
"..."
Everyone here was a prodigy, and witnessing a senior from the Dao Alliance demonstrate lightning techniques, they were all in awe.
If ordinary people had seen this, they might have thought it was a science fiction movie.
Senior Bai Daozi, however, remained composed, offering a faint smile without giving it much thought.
The next moment, the Yin-Yang formation cracked.
I could no longer inject Yin and Yang Qi, and the surrounding runes dimmed.
Sensing the anomaly, I quickly got to my feet.
Immediately after, the entire stone platform began to shake.
The stone platform was cracking with "creaking" sounds, splitting apart.
"What's happening?"
"Is it an earthquake?"
"No, it must be that the Vermilion Bird's Gall has been broken. The formation is changing, and the path to life is about to appear. Everyone, be careful!"
Yun Long warned.
I also took a few deep breaths and drank some water.
The consumption over the past few minutes was too great for me; I needed to rest.
As for the spirit-replenishing pill, it was not yet time to use it.
Soon, the stone platform fractured into pieces, like dry, cracked farmland.
But as the Vermilion Bird position within the Four Phases split open, stone stakes began to emerge from the muddy swamp not far away.
These stakes extended deep into the mist, their end unseen.
"The path to life has appeared."
Senior Bai Daozi exclaimed excitedly.
At the same time, he cast looks of approval towards me, Yun Long, and Yun Hu.
Yun Long and Yun Hu's mastery of Qimen Dunjia, as well as my Yin-Yang Yi Qi,
had all played a part in breaking open this Vermilion Bird phase.
Otherwise, even if Senior Bai Daozi could find another way to the path to life, there might have been some trouble or delays.
"Senior, the path to life has appeared. We shouldn't delay; let's set off?"
"Yes, the sooner we reach the Gathering Yin Platform, the sooner we can rendezvous with our fellow cultivators."
"..."
Everyone spoke up.
Bai Daozi understood the importance of time. A surprise attack relied on surprise, and then speed.
He was about to order the advance through the path to life to the next phase.
But at that very moment, a change occurred.
From within the mist, low growls suddenly erupted.
"Woooo, wooooo..."
As these sounds arose, the swamp began to churn, as if something was moving within the water.
This sudden development made everyone present vigilant.
Senior Bai Daozi abandoned his order to advance.
He immediately stated,
"Everyone, be careful. It must be the formation's change that has alerted the surrounding malevolent entities."
However, as soon as Senior Bai Daozi finished speaking.
With a "whoosh," a four-legged corpse monster leaped directly out of the swamp, landing on the cracked stone platform.
It was covered in mud, its forked tongue flicking, and its pair of blood-red eyes stared intently at us.
Its large mouth, like a toad's, squatted on the ground, possessing sharp claws.
It emitted "wuwuwu" growls.
Before we could act, more corpse monsters crawled out from the surrounding swamp.
The "wuwuwu" growls continued.
In the blink of an eye, we found over a dozen corpse monsters crawling out of the swamp.
More corpse monsters were already showing their heads in the swamp, closing in on us.
"Corpse monsters!"
"It's corpse monsters!"
"Everyone be careful!"
"..."
"Bring it on! My great axe is already thirsty."
Old Mo beside me said theatrically, and immediately took down his large, portable axe.
Although I was panting, I still had the strength to fight.
Looking at the heads of corpse monsters continuously emerging from the swamp, the swamp was now densely packed with their heads.
I also drew my peach wood sword, waiting for Senior Bai Daozi's command.
No matter how many there were, we would have to kill them all today...