Not long after, Ye Yunfei successfully established a connection with this Dragon Cauldron, imprinting it with some of his unique Soul Power markers.
With a single thought from Ye Yunfei, the enormous Dragon Cauldron before him began to slowly rotate.
A massive yellow dragon coiled around the huge cauldron's body let out a thunderous roar. Instantly, the entire underground world of this region—every ley line, all earth energy, and even the earth dragons—began to tremble in resonance with the rotating Dragon Cauldron.
The subterranean world of this area boiled like a pot of seething water. Then, the earth on the surface above this underground region began to heave and undulate like waves.
"What's happening?"
At this moment, countless remnant souls felt profound shock.
"What's going on? Why do I sense some kind of change occurring in the Earth Formation of the underground world?"
Just as Ye Yunfei took control of that Dragon Cauldron, deep within the headquarters of the Divine Sword Sect, Mo Chenzi's heart suddenly stirred with a sense of unease.
He immediately withdrew a Formation Flag from his person. This flag corresponded precisely to the Dragon Cauldron Ye Yunfei had just seized.
It turned out that when Shoudi Laoren had finished deploying the Earth Formation all those years ago, he had refined nine Formation Flags. Each flag corresponded to one Dragon Cauldron. He then handed these nine flags over to Mo Chenzi, allowing him to control the entire Earth Formation through them.
After obtaining the nine flags back then, Mo Chenzi had experimented and found he could completely control the Earth Formation Shoudi Laoren had set up. Feeling that Shoudi Laoren's usefulness had diminished, he conceived a sinister plan. After discussing with experts from the Blade Realm, they decided to move against Shoudi Laoren, imprisoning him deep within the Sword Realm Continent's underground world.
Both the Divine Sword Sect and the Blade Realm believed that the fewer people who knew the secrets hidden in the Sword Realm Continent's core, the better. Moreover, neither the Divine Sword Sect nor the Blade Realm had any intention of letting Shoudi Laoren share in the treasures left behind by the Heavenly Net Sword God and Dao Mo Lao Zu.
"Could it be Shoudi Laoren causing trouble?
That old fellow has harbored deep resentment over the years. Driven to desperation, he might resort to a mutual destruction ploy.
No, I must go and check what exactly is happening."
At this thought, Mo Chenzi could no longer remain calm.
Because the reason the Divine Sword Sect and the Blade Realm had been able to continuously erode the barrier deep within the continent's core was largely due to the auxiliary effect of the Earth Formation Shoudi Laoren had set up.
If something went wrong with that Earth Formation, the difficulty of the Divine Sword Sect and the Blade Realm completely breaking through that barrier would increase dramatically.
Gripping the nine Formation Flags, Mo Chenzi's figure flickered as he plunged into the depths underground.
He then swiftly sped toward the location of the Dragon Cauldron that Ye Yunfei had just seized.
After taking control of that Dragon Cauldron, Ye Yunfei could perceive this entire region with crystal clarity. The smallest grain of dust in this area was now easily detectable to him.
Therefore, the moment Mo Chenzi entered this region, Ye Yunfei knew immediately.
"Ignore him for now. Only after you've taken control of all eight remaining Dragon Cauldrons will it be time to deal with him."
At this moment, Ye Yunfei received a Sound Transmission from Shoudi Laoren. The old man was worried Ye Yunfei might not be able to resist confronting Mo Chenzi.
"Senior, rest assured. I won't make a move against him now."
Ye Yunfei nodded. After speaking, his figure flickered and vanished.
Ye Yunfei merged into a ley line, speeding toward the location of another Dragon Cauldron.
Although Mo Chenzi possessed the nine Formation Flags and could control this Earth Formation, he had never cultivated the Geomancy Technique. Within this underground world, he was utterly incapable of detecting Ye Yunfei concealed within the ley lines.
Soon after, Mo Chenzi arrived before the Dragon Cauldron that Ye Yunfei had already completely seized. Seeing the cauldron looking exactly as before, Mo Chenzi couldn't help but sigh in relief.
With his level of perception, he couldn't tell that this Dragon Cauldron before him had been tampered with and was now under Ye Yunfei's full control.
Mo Chenzi raised one of his Formation Flags and sharply pointed it at the massive treasure cauldron.
Although Ye Yunfei had already moved far from this cauldron, he could still perceive everything happening around it with perfect clarity. Seeing Mo Chenzi's action, he naturally understood Mo Chenzi wanted to test if the Dragon Cauldron was functioning normally.
Boom…
The Dragon Cauldron immediately trembled, releasing powerful earth energy.
"This Dragon Cauldron is completely normal. Was I mistaken in my earlier perception?"
Mo Chenzi gazed at the massive Dragon Cauldron before him, speaking in confusion.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei had already arrived before another Dragon Cauldron at astonishing speed. He sat down cross-legged and began using the method taught by Shoudi Laoren to take control of this cauldron before him.
"Why do I still have this uneasy feeling? Could the Earth Formation really be malfunctioning?
No, I must go inspect the locations of the other Dragon Cauldrons."
Seeing the cauldron before him appeared exactly as before, showing no abnormality, yet still harboring a vague sense of unease he couldn't shake, Mo Chenzi swiftly headed toward the location of another Dragon Cauldron.
Not long after, Mo Chenzi arrived before another Dragon Cauldron. Everything still appeared normal, with no sign of change.
Mo Chenzi could sense no alteration in this cauldron before him because Ye Yunfei was currently working to seize a different cauldron. The cauldron Mo Chenzi was inspecting indeed had not yet been altered.
Next, Mo Chenzi hurried toward the location of the third Dragon Cauldron.
In the time that followed, Mo Chenzi proceeded to inspect all the remaining Dragon Cauldrons in one go, but he couldn't spot any abnormalities.
With two master Geomancers—Shoudi Laoren and Ye Yunfei—orchestrating everything from the shadows, it was impossible for Mo Chenzi to discover anything.
"No, I still feel something is off. I need to find that old fool Shoudi Laoren and ask him what exactly is going on."
Having inspected all nine Dragon Cauldrons one by one without any discoveries, Mo Chenzi then sped toward the underground palace where Shoudi Laoren was imprisoned, soon charging into the hall.
"Shoudi Laoren, why do I keep feeling the Bound-World Dragon Vein Formation seems to be undergoing some change? What is going on? Are you playing tricks?
I warn you, if you dare tamper with this Earth Formation, I have ten thousand ways to make your existence infinitely more painful."
The moment Mo Chenzi saw Shoudi Laoren, he immediately questioned him in a threatening tone.
"Look at the state I'm in now, imprisoned by you in this underground palace, unable to leave even half a step. How could I possibly tamper with the Earth Formation?"
Shoudi Laoren seemed to have anticipated Mo Chenzi's interrogation. He lifted his head, expressionlessly looking at Mo Chenzi, replying in a weak voice.
"Shoudi Laoren, you were once the foremost Divine Geomancer in the Chaotic Void Sea. Throughout the entire Void Sea, few Geomancers could match your mastery of the Geomancy Technique.
With your skill, surely you have methods to tamper with this Earth Formation, don't you?"
Mo Chenzi stared at Shoudi Laoren with scrutinizing eyes as he spoke.
"Don't try to pry information from me.
Mo Chenzi, you've imprisoned me here, subjecting me to endless humiliation and torture all these years. If I had the ability to tamper with the Bound-World Dragon Vein Formation, I would have done so long ago. Why would I wait until now?
Furthermore, if I truly had the power to tamper with this Earth Formation, would I have allowed you to imprison me here all these years, enduring a life worse than death?
If you want to torture me, just do it. There's no need for such laughable excuses."
Shoudi Laoren's gaze held no emotional fluctuations, his expression numb, his voice utterly flat. After speaking, he closed his eyes and refused to look at Mo Chenzi any further.
Shoudi Laoren understood perfectly—he couldn't reveal anything unusual now. Otherwise, Mo Chenzi would immediately become suspicious and certainly take action to investigate.
After all, Mo Chenzi's true form was that of a Chaos Deity, with vast and profound divine abilities. It was entirely possible he could detect Ye Yunfei moving within the underground world.
"Shoudi Laoren, you truly haven't tampered with this Earth Formation? Then why do I always feel something is off?
It's as if someone is altering this formation."
Mo Chenzi fixed Shoudi Laoren with a piercing gaze, slowly asking.
As he spoke, a terrifyingly powerful surge of Soul Power energy erupted from his Soul Sea, crashing directly into Shoudi Laoren's Soul Sea.
Then Mo Chenzi's Soul Power energy transformed into an energy hand that viciously seized Shoudi Laoren's Soul Body and squeezed.
Instantly, Shoudi Laoren's Soul Body was overwhelmed by immense agony. Countless fissures spider-webbed across his Soul Body, spreading densely.
As the energy hand squeezed tighter, the pain Shoudi Laoren endured grew increasingly excruciating.
Soon, Shoudi Laoren's bloodcurdling screams echoed throughout the underground palace.
"Shoudi Laoren, I advise you to be honest. Explain to me now why the Bound-World Dragon Vein Formation seems to be changing.
Give me a satisfactory explanation. Otherwise, I have many more methods to make you experience far greater suffering."
Mo Chenzi's icy voice resonated within the palace.
Yet Shoudi Laoren only continued to emit agonized screams, offering no explanation.
Since being imprisoned in this palace by Mo Chenzi, over the long stretch of years, Shoudi Laoren had endured this kind of torturous torment too many times to count.
All this time, in his quest to obtain Shoudi Laoren's Geomancy Technique inheritance, Mo Chenzi would come to this underground palace at regular intervals to torture and interrogate the old man.
Sometimes, when Shoudi Laoren felt he could no longer endure the torment, he would fabricate false Geomancy techniques and pass them to Mo Chenzi.
After obtaining these techniques, Mo Chenzi would immediately have more talented disciples of the Divine Sword Sect cultivate them.
When Mo Chenzi eventually discovered the techniques were fake, he would return to the underground palace to torture Shoudi Laoren again. This cycle repeated over and over, causing Shoudi Laoren's tolerance for such torment to grow stronger and stronger.
Now, having glimpsed hope of escape, Shoudi Laoren naturally would not reveal the truth under these circumstances.
"Elder Mo, we've just received word. Experts from the Blade Realm have arrived!"
At this moment, Mo Chenzi suddenly received a Sound Transmission.
"Shoudi Laoren, I'll give you some time to think it over, then honestly tell me what has happened to this Earth Formation.
I will return shortly. If you maintain this attitude when I come back, I guarantee every single moment of your upcoming existence will be spent in excruciating agony."
After receiving the transmission, Mo Chenzi thought for a moment before addressing Shoudi Laoren coldly. Having spoken, his figure flickered and he departed the underground palace.
Soon, Mo Chenzi reappeared within the headquarters of the Divine Sword Sect.
At that moment, dozens of figures radiating sharp blade auras suddenly appeared in the skies above the Sword Realm Continent. These were all blade cultivators from the Blade Realm. One after another, they strode through the heavens above the Sword Realm Continent with arrogant swagger, utterly without restraint.
The dazzling blade light they released illuminated vast stretches of the sky, making them impossibly conspicuous.
Of course, these blade cultivators were doing this intentionally. They had received a message from the Divine Sword Sect instructing them to enter the Sword Realm Continent with high-profile, ostentatious flair this time.
"Blade cultivators! Blade cultivators from the Blade Realm!"
At this moment, countless remnant souls across the Sword Realm Continent noticed the blade cultivators swaggering through the continent's skies, roaring out in fury one after another.
The downfall of the Sword Realm Continent had been caused precisely by an invasion from the Blade Realm army.
Every remnant soul still remembered vividly the scene from that ancient war—countless blade cultivators descending from the heavens, burning, killing, looting, and pillaging across the Sword Realm Continent.