While waiting, Yang Chan asked many questions about setting up arrays—not just the Taixuan Sacrifice Array. Since he was going to learn, he figured he should learn as much as he could.
But the Black Dragon wasn’t exactly a scholar on the subject and hadn’t researched it extensively, so the information Yang Chan received was limited.
Most of it was still related to the Taixuan Sacrifice Array.
"Master, it’s about time!"
The Black Dragon spoke up when it sensed the time was right.
The main reason was the pressure from Yang Chan. He had asked so many questions that toward the end, the Black Dragon could no longer answer them.
The Black Dragon had only begun studying arrays in-depth after researching the Taixuan Sacrifice Array. As a result, it specialized only in that one array and was far less knowledgeable about others.
Naturally, its later answers became problematic, and some questions it couldn’t answer at all.
There was a vast difference between mastering the art of arrays and merely studying how to set up a single one.
"Then begin."
Yang Chan saw the Black Dragon’s predicament but didn’t point it out, simply giving the command.
’The arrays aren’t urgent; I can take my time with them,’ he thought. ’I still have plenty of time to learn. The priority right now is to achieve my goal: to connect to the Taixuan Realm, attract the Taiyuan Qi, and have it descend upon the Taiyu Divine Continent. Then I can absorb it and cultivate the Taiyuan Sword.’
That was Yang Chan’s current objective. Everything else could be set aside.
Upon hearing the command, the Black Dragon’s Soul Body flew into the Taixuan Sacrifice Array. Yang Chan, meanwhile, moved away from the Taixuan Sacrifice Array to the edge of the larger Concealing Breath Array. If anything felt wrong, he could flee immediately.
Although he sensed no malice from the Black Dragon, it had admitted this was its first time performing the ritual. The effects of activating the array were therefore unknown. Yang Chan, for his part, valued his own safety above all else and decided it was best to keep his distance.
’The unknown often harbors danger.’
Yang Chan knew this well, so he made sure to have an escape route ready.
Though Yang Chan backed away, his gaze never left the Black Dragon. He kept the Profound Yin Hanging Bead in his hand. Even without detecting any malice, it was always wise to be prepared.
He watched as the Black Dragon’s Soul Body flew into the Taixuan Sacrifice Array. A powerful aura erupted from the Black Dragon, then merged into the Grand Array, transforming into streams of divine light that poured into its core.
As this energy poured in, the Taixuan Sacrifice Array began to shimmer. A powerful aura erupted from it, only to be contained by the Concealing Breath Array, preventing it from leaking out.
Seeing this, Yang Chan was thankful for his extra preparations. Otherwise, the situation would be very different.
As the Taixuan Sacrifice Array activated, streaks of ethereal light materialized above the Grand Array, causing the energy within to change dramatically. Wisps of a hazy mist seemed to rise from it.
Yang Chan frowned at the sight but sensed no danger.
This mist was not the Taiyuan Qi; the presence of the Taixuan Realm had not yet descended. Instead, it was the essence of the Spiritual Materials within the array—Spiritual Qi being extracted, apparently for the sacrifice.
To make the Taixuan Realm descend required offerings. This Spiritual Qi, along with the items placed at the center, served as that sacrifice. The Black Dragon, carrying the scent of Taiyuan Qi, acted as a conduit, even fusing a portion of its Soul Body’s essence into the process.
’The sacrificial process is even more complex than I imagined.’
As the mist of Spiritual Qi rose, the Black Dragon’s Soul Body weaved through it, shaping the vapor into a series of special channels.
Guided by these channels, the mist converged, no longer dispersed. The hazy scene quickly vanished, and the array returned to its original appearance.
Within the mist, a dark light began to shine, tainting the vapor with its hue.
Yang Chan watched from the edge, a breeze stirring around him, poised to whisk himself away at a moment’s notice.
In mid-air, the Black Dragon wore a pious expression, chanting words Yang Chan had never heard. Under the influence of its chant, the dark light coalesced into a pillar that shot toward the heavens as if trying to ascend.
"Open!"
The Black Dragon suddenly bellowed, finally shouting a word Yang Chan could understand.
At the Black Dragon’s word, Yang Chan’s brow furrowed. He sensed a powerful presence appear high above.
His gaze was fixed on the pillar of light. It ascended to a certain height and then stopped, rising no further. It just hung there.
And at the point where it stopped, the void tore open.
A desolate, cold aura seeped out from the tear in the void.
"Master, that is the aura of the Taixuan Realm! The Taixuan Sacrifice Array was a success!"
The Black Dragon had already returned to Yang Chan’s side, watching the new presence manifest from the void.
The aura of the Taixuan Realm was vastly different from that of the Taiyu Divine Continent. The two appeared to be merging, but they were in fact in two separate spaces.
This situation was merely a temporary manifestation of the Taixuan Realm within the Taiyu Divine Continent, made possible by the Taixuan Sacrifice Array.
"Is this desolate, cold energy the Taiyuan Qi?"
Yang Chan frowned, his eyes fixed on the streams of cold energy emerging from the sky. This wasn’t what he had expected.
"No, that’s the Breaking Realm Gang Wind. It’s the energy released when the two realms are torn open."
"If the Taiyuan Qi were like this, it would be strong enough to scatter a Soul Body!"
The Black Dragon shook its head, explaining the danger of the Breaking Realm Gang Wind. This was precisely why it had returned to Yang Chan’s side so quickly.
"The Breaking Realm Gang Wind can scatter a Soul Body, but it has no effect on a physical body. You’re perfectly safe here, Master. It won’t affect you at all!"
The Black Dragon, seeming to understand Yang Chan’s apprehension, quickly added.
In its current state, it was somewhat fearful of this energy. It was, after all, long past its peak. Otherwise, it would have simply ignored it.
’Back in my prime,’ it thought, ’I could have blown this Breaking Realm Gang Qi away with a single breath.’
"Soon, once this Breaking Realm Gang Qi dissipates, the Taiyuan Qi will begin to flow out from the Taixuan Realm!"
"Based on this sacrifice, the connection should hold for about a quarter of an hour. Please wait a little longer, Master," the Black Dragon continued, standing beside Yang Chan.
If the gang wind were to blow its way, all it needed to do was hide inside the Profound Yin Hanging Bead to protect itself.
Now that it was an Artifact Spirit, it was bound by the bead, but in a way, the Profound Yin Hanging Bead also served as its protection.
As long as the Profound Yin Hanging Bead remained intact, it could hide within and ignore other dangers.
’Pros and cons are always relative.’
"Master, that’s the Taiyuan Qi! Quick, use the Profound Yin Hanging Bead to collect it!" the Black Dragon suddenly exclaimed.
Within the void, the Breaking Realm Gang Wind was slowly subsiding. In its place appeared flickering motes of light, like faint, dim-blue glimmers. This was the cause of the Black Dragon’s outcry.