Chapter 418
In a manifesto spanning ten thousand words, cultivator Gu Xinghan revealed to the world:
Using formations to replace Heaven, stealing its authority.
Like a shadow that follows, monitoring the world.
Draining cultivation, to nourish Tianxuan.
The masses are like cattle and horses, the Dao has no path forward.
...
The manifesto enumerated the evils of the Spirit-Locking Formation, pointing out that the core of the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation was actually the former Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's treasure, the Tianxuan Mirror.
The Tianxuan Mirror, seeking to attain Dao transcendence, was using all the cultivators in the world as sacrifices.
Gu Xinghan called upon all cultivators to unite, shatter the Spirit-Locking Formation, and restore the Xuanhuang Realm to its former glory.
Although the Heavenly Alliance immediately issued a denial, refuting the claims and issuing a "Heavenly Execution Order" against Gu Xinghan.
But over the past hundred years, the strange changes that had occurred in the world since the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation became widespread were undeniable.
The Heavenly Alliance's denials could not silence the voices of the cultivators.
For a time, cultivators were stirred with anger.
However, the Heavenly Alliance had ruled the Xuanhuang Realm for thousands of years, its authority still strong.
Those who responded to Gu Xinghan's call and dared to truly stand up in resistance were few and far between.
They were like scattered stars, quickly suppressed by the Heavenly Alliance's dispatched Sky Warlocks.
But Gu Xinghan was never caught.
His efforts were not entirely in vain.
The seeds of doubt had been sown.
Cultivators became more wary of the Tianxuan Mirror and the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation.
Cultivators across the Xuanhuang Realm began to secretly research methods to avoid the Tianxuan Mirror's surveillance.
The Heavenly Alliance itself began to experience internal divisions.
News spread of Heavenly Alliance officials privately expressing dissatisfaction with the Spirit-Locking Formation, only to be subsequently arrested and severely punished as a warning to others.
In year 268, an image was projected onto the green sky of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although it was quickly blocked, preventing any further viewing, the brief moment it appeared before everyone was enough to completely ignite a wave of resistance among the cultivators.
A towering wall, its location unknown, piercing the clouds.
Countless cultivators were suppressed and slumbered within its walls.
On the wall, only faces with tightly closed eyes and eerie smiles were visible.
"Fellow Daoists, this is the Eternal Immortal Wall. All the cultivators who have gone missing over the past hundred years have been imprisoned here by the Heavenly Alliance..."
The voiceover, slightly urgent, abruptly ended.
It was only a fleeting glimpse, but the countless faces on the Eternal Immortal Wall were enough to send chills down the spines of all surviving cultivators.
To be trapped in an illusion, eternally suppressed, was no different from death.
The Heavenly Alliance's actions were truly appalling, exceeding the limits of what cultivators could tolerate.
For a time, cries to overthrow the Heavenly Alliance and shatter the Spirit-Locking Formation echoed throughout the Xuanhuang Realm.
Within the Heavenly Alliance, the opposition faction, which had been dormant since the Spirit-Locking Formation became widespread, also launched their attack.
Warfare instantly engulfed the Xuanhuang Realm.
Xiao Heng's Rebirth Immortal was one of the many resistance organizations.
Han Wuyou, along with Xiao Heng, Su Xiaomei, and other former companions from the other realms, reunited and began their war against the Heavenly Alliance.
The combined strength of almost all cultivators in the world was formidable.
But the number of Heavenly Alliance Sky Warlocks far exceeded everyone's expectations.
The great war continued for three full years.
The cultivators suffered constant losses, while the number of Sky Warlocks never seemed to decrease.
If the Sky Warlocks had not focused on capturing cultivators alive and held back their full strength, the cultivators would have been defeated long ago.
The situation was dire, with no sign of victory.
The cultivators gradually retreated.
The war slowly devolved into a one-sided pursuit and capture.
In year 273, the Sky Warlocks discovered the Rebirth Immortal's base.
Zhang Haobo and Su Xiaomei, in order to cover the retreat of their companions, fought valiantly and died.
But they could not prevent the destruction of the Rebirth Immortal.
At the crucial moment, Su Changyu broke through his cultivation limitations, perishing alongside the Sky Warlocks who came to capture him.
Xiao Heng and Han Wuyou escaped with their lives.
In year 274, Xiao Heng, gravely injured, died.
Before his death, he entrusted the Rebirth Immortal legacy to Han Wuyou.
Han Wuyou accepted, tears in his eyes.
Relying on his "One Hand Covers the Sky" technique and "Crucible of Ten Thousands Forms" cultivation method, Han Wuyou evaded capture, constantly on the move.
In year 290, few cultivators remained in the world.
The Heavenly Alliance's pursuit slowly relaxed.
In year 304, the Heavenly Alliance issued a general amnesty. Any cultivator who was willing to return to the Heavenly Alliance and practice the "Mending the Heavens" according to their assigned quota every year would be forgiven for all past transgressions.
Cultivators began returning to the Heavenly Alliance from the wilderness.
In year 315, it was discovered that the cultivators who had returned previously were not in any danger, and more cultivators chose to return.
In year 324, the Heavenly Alliance commenced an unclear construction project in various provinces. Immense golden obelisks rose from the ground, standing tall in the center of each province.
In year 369, Han Wuyou broke through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Under the alias He Buyou, he returned to the Heavenly Alliance and went into hiding again.
Han Wuyou discovered that the Heavenly Alliance was now led by Sky Warlocks.
The Heavenly Alliance continued to provide cultivation resources to those who surrendered.
The price, however, was the requirement to practice the "Mending the Heavens" even more.
In year 370, Han Wuyou temporarily halted his own cultivation and began to immerse himself in studying the "Mending the Heavens."
In year 393, due to his consistent and focused practice of the "Mending the Heavens" for twenty years, contributing a large amount of "Celestial Dew Points," Han Wuyou was rewarded by the Heavenly Alliance.
He was granted the rank of 4th-grade Sky Warlock and appointed as a "Sky Official," responsible for managing and supervising the "Mending Heaven" work of over a thousand cultivators.
In year 404, across the Xuanhuang Realm, massive beams of light erupted from the tops of the obelisks, shooting straight towards the heavens.
The earth and the sky trembled.
The obelisks' energy burst lasted for seven days.
In year 412, after nearly forty years of research, Han Wuyou, combining the knowledge of formations he had gleaned from the Breaking Formation Disc, deciphered the function of the "Mending the Heavens."
The Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation, stealing Heaven's authority, was attempting to usurp its place.
But the core of the Spirit-Locking Formation, the Tianxuan Mirror, had overestimated its abilities.
It could only barely maintain the normal operation of all the Spirit-Locking Formations while in an overloaded state.
Therefore, it needed external assistance to share some of the burden.
Only cultivators could establish a connection with "Heaven and Earth."
This was why the Heavenly Alliance required cultivators to practice the "Mending the Heavens," while Sky Warlocks could not.
Han Wuyou vaguely saw a glimmer of hope in overthrowing the Spirit-Locking Formation.
But he also had some concerns.
Because if the Tianxuan Mirror achieved transcendence and completed its transformation.
It would no longer need cultivators to practice the "Mending the Heavens."
Without making a fuss, Han Wuyou kept this matter to himself, continuing to lie in wait, biding his time.
In year 434, Han Wuyou was assigned, along with a team of Sky Warlocks, to investigate a "strange" incident in Tianpan Province.
During casual conversation, Han Wuyou learned that strange occurrences had been spreading in the world in recent years.
In year 459, the obelisks once again emitted beams of light.
Roaring sounds continuously echoed from the heavens.
( )