Yang Hong was unaware that a group of fifth-tier Nascent Soul cultivators were questioning their very existence because of him.
He stopped before the deep blue passage.
Always cautious, Yang Hong wouldn't recklessly step into a dangerous place, not without first ensuring the passage posed no threat to him.
"This formation... it seems to have reached the level of a fifth-grade formation?"
Under Yang Hong's divine sense scan, the guardian formation of Guangyou Island felt like only a fourth-grade formation. But upon approaching this passage, he realized the formation's fluctuations surpassed his imagination.
"Fellow Daoist Yang, have you become timid?"
Yang Hong intended to thoroughly study the formation, but Ni Zhennan didn't want to give him time. Seeing Yang Hong hesitate to enter the formation passage, he taunted him.
"Haha... timid? Not at all. I merely wished to study Fellow Daoist Ni's island protection formation thoroughly. Are you afraid I'll learn your island's formation, Fellow Daoist Ni?"
Facing Ni Zhennan's provocation, Yang Hong retorted unceremoniously.
"..."
Ni Zhennan was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected Yang Hong to be so shameless, openly admitting to trying to steal his knowledge.
"Fellow Daoist Yang jesting. How could one learn this formation just by looking? However, it's getting late. Please enter swiftly."
Ni Zhennan shed all pretense of dignity and urged him forward.
"Heh, Fellow Daoist Ni seems anxious. What if this isn't a passage but a trap?"
"Is it a trap or a passage? Won't Fellow Daoist know once you enter?"
"Very well!"
Yang Hong had seen enough and no longer procrastinated, directly entering the deep blue passage. Ni Zhennan was right; formations couldn't be learned just by looking, but a personal experience could reveal some of its mysteries. Thus, Yang Hong stepped into the deep blue formation passage.
"Whoosh... whoosh..."
As soon as he entered the blue passage, deafening sounds of waves assailed him from all directions. Simultaneously, immense pressure slowly began to bear down from all sides, as if the entire ocean were pressing down on Yang Hong.
"Interesting."
Despite the immense pressure from the ocean, which continued to increase, Yang Hong could still stride forward with ease. As long as he dispersed his true essence outwards, the oceanic pressure from the formation was isolated. A formation was just a formation, not the actual sea.
"However, this design principle is worth studying. The formations I set up are still too crude and direct. Formations that borrow natural power like this are indeed much more ingenious."
Yang Hong's current formation mastery was only at the fourth grade, and his understanding of formations was still lacking. He stopped again, carefully perceiving the oceanic pressure. The formation was drawing upon the power of the surrounding seawater to suppress enemies.
Within the formation passage, with the rushing sound of tides, the pressure rapidly intensified. From ten thousand jin, a hundred thousand jin, to a million jin, and finally exceeding ten million jin.
"Ugh!"
When the formation's pressure reached ten million jin, even Yang Hong couldn't remain unfazed, his body bowing slightly. His true essence shield could no longer protect him.
"Gentle Water Armor!"
Yang Hong performed a hand seal, and a pale blue protective shield instantly materialized around him.
"Heh, it's indeed formation power. As long as it's isolated, the pressure vanishes instantly."
Yang Hong chuckled. It wasn't true natural pressure, and it could be neutralized by magic. Since he had largely comprehended the origin and basic workings of the oceanic pressure, Yang Hong didn't linger. He gradually quickened his pace, moving deeper into the formation passage.
After taking five more steps, the sound of waves vanished, and the blue before him turned fiery red, with waves of heat assaulting him.
*Swish~*
An orange fireball, about the size of a human head, suddenly appeared and shot directly towards Yang Hong's face.
*Bang~*
Yang Hong's senses were constantly heightened, so he immediately noticed the orange fireball's appearance. With a casual punch, he extinguished it.
"Whoa! The temperature is quite high. Interesting, very interesting."
Yang Hong raised his hand and examined the back of it, which was slightly reddened. He estimated the temperature exceeded a thousand degrees. This was a spell directly triggered by the formation, empowered by both formation power and pure magical energy.
*Swish~ Swish~*
Orange fireballs rained down from all directions, instantly engulfing Yang Hong. He could no longer punch them all away. He could only increase his true essence output and strengthen his defenses.
"Blazing Fire Shield!"
While water could extinguish fire, when the heat was too intense, the water would evaporate. Seeing his Gentle Water Armor thinning, Yang Hong immediately changed to a new protective shield. A fiery red, blazing shield, under Yang Hong's control, transformed into an energy barrier that completely enveloped him.
The orange fireballs caused Yang Hong no harm. Instead, as they attacked, his Blazing Fire Shield grew thicker. Even as the fireballs' color faded and their temperature rose, even exceeding ten thousand degrees, they couldn't harm Yang Hong. They instead became a boon to his defensive shield.
"Heh... Is that all?"
Yang Hong chuckled and quickened his pace again. As Yang Hong advanced, the scenery kept changing: golden blades, green vines, colossal stones, and various other attacks appeared; the five elements—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—took turns, with increasing power. However, the intensity of these attacks only reached the early stage of the sixth tier. This felt wrong to Yang Hong.
"Fellow Daoist Ni, your formation's attack strength is only sixth tier? Too weak!"
"You~ Hmph!"
Ni Zhennan wanted to retort, but the attacks in the formation passage were indeed only at the early sixth tier. Only by unleashing the full might of the island's guardian formation could it reach the mid-seventh tier. But if its full power was unleashed, the guardian formation would temporarily dissipate. If the unleashed power couldn't kill Yang Hong, not only would Guangyou Island face Yang Hong's attack, but it would also be unable to activate the guardian formation for the next year. However, seeing Yang Hong walking leisurely, Ni Zhennan had no confidence in killing him. Therefore, Ni Zhennan truly dared not go all out. Furthermore, the two sides had not yet completely fallen out, maintaining a facade of friendship, so there was no need to fight to the death.
In the formation control hall at the center of Guangyou Island, Ni Zhennan's face was ashen, and the other Nascent Soul cultivators looked grim.
"This scoundrel must be at the seventh-tier Body Integration stage! He's toying with us!"
"Island Master, unleash the full might of the guardian formation and eliminate this scoundrel!"
"Yes, Island Master. Eliminate this scoundrel."
The Nascent Soul cultivators were furious and clamored, appearing ready to perish together. Ni Zhennan's face grew even more grim, and he roared, "Silence!"
"Are you sure unleashing the formation will kill him?"
"Have you forgotten that Chaolan Island is watching us with covetous eyes?"
"If Chaolan Island attacks, what means do we have left to resist?"
"Do you remember how many demon kings Chaolan Island has?"
Ni Zhennan's words silenced everyone. Compared to Yang Hong, whose intentions were unclear, Chaolan Island was an absolute enemy, a rival force that had always sought to destroy Guangyou Island. Relatively speaking, they wished to reconcile and become friends.
"Then, shall we deactivate the formation's attacks and let him in?"
Someone softly proposed, and the others nodded silently.
"Alas... it can only be this way."
Ni Zhennan sighed heavily, performed a hand seal, and adjusted the formation.
"Hmm? Giving up already?"
In the formation passage, Yang Hong noticed the change and chuckled, then accelerated his flight. In a flash, he exited the formation passage.
He reappeared within Guangyou Island.