"Isn't this just a book? How did it become an Emperor Artifact?" Zhang Ruoxi hadn't seen much of the world, and she spoke without restraint. When something puzzled her, she simply asked aloud.
Duan Yuanshan smiled and explained, "Artifacts come in countless forms — they don't have to be swords, spears, staffs, or any of those things. But the more unusual an Artifact's form, the more extraordinary its power tends to be. I've heard of this Two Formations Record before. Apparently, it really was originally a book, but after absorbing the Emperor's Might and Emperor's Intent of numerous Emperor Realm powerhouses, it gradually transformed into an Emperor Artifact. It came into Lord Lou Chi's possession and possesses tremendous power."
Zhang Ruoxi listened without fully understanding, unable to grasp the true gravity of what was described.
But several Dao Source Realm martial artists all wore solemn expressions, their gazes fixed on the Emperor Artifact in Lou Chi's hand, hearts secretly stirred with excitement. Each one was thinking that if only they could one day advance to the Emperor Realm and possess an Emperor Artifact of their own.
High in the sky, Lou Chi's expression was grave as his hands formed spirit seals, striking the Two Formations Record several times in rapid succession.
With a sharp whistle, the massive Two Formations Record shot outward and hovered above the Spirit Lake. A profound, mysterious aura rippled outward from it. Lou Chi's body surged with Emperor's Might, imperial pressure radiating in every direction, his hands shifting through spirit seals continuously as he chanted in a low voice: "From the Great Ultimate arise the Two Formations, the Two Formations generate the Four Symbols, the Four Symbols extend into the Eight Trigrams, and the Eight Trigrams return to the Ten Directions..."
As his chanting grew louder, the Two Formations Record suddenly flipped open of its own accord, pages rustling rapidly. With each turn of a page, vast swathes of golden light shot outward, cascading in every direction like drooping willow branches.
Within that golden light lay fluctuations of power too profound for words — as if it could seal away an entire stretch of heaven and earth, transforming it into a prison.
Lou Chi's hand seals grew ever faster, his expression increasingly solemn.
Abruptly, he withdrew his seals and shouted in a low voice: "Grand Perfection!"
BOOM...
Golden light erupted, so blinding that no one could keep their eyes open.
In that instant, every martial artist gathered around the Spirit Lake was pushed back by an invisible yet gentle force, stumbling retreat by retreat without suffering a scratch. They were forced back a hundred zhang before they could finally steady their footing.
Once the golden light dissipated, everyone looked up and their jaws dropped.
Above the Spirit Lake, a golden hemispherical barrier of light now hung, inverted like a dome, sealing the Spirit Lake completely so that not a wisp of spiritual energy could leak out.
The entire Spirit Lake spanned ten thousand zhang in circumference, yet Lou Chi had sealed and suppressed it single-handedly. And afterward, he didn't even look flushed or winded — as if he'd done something utterly trivial.
Every Dao Source Realm martial artist's eyes gleamed with awe and longing, fantasizing about the day they might wield such immense power.
Only after completing everything did Lou Chi turn around and cup his fists toward Xiao Yuyang, saying, "I have completed my task!"
Xiao Yuyang nodded. "Well done."
With that, he stepped forward and swept his gaze over the crowd below.
All the martial artists gathered there instinctively straightened their backs. Each one felt as though Xiao Yuyang's sweeping gaze had settled directly on them.
When a Silver Star Envoy of the Star God Palace was watching, who dared not stand properly?
Xiao Yuyang spoke in a clear, resonant voice: "The appearance of a Spirit Lake in Maple Forest City is a blessing — a blessing for this place, and a blessing for our Southern Domain. However, though the Spirit Lake is rich in spiritual energy, if left unattended it will surely wither and dry up one day. Therefore, it must be sealed first. As for how exactly this Spirit Lake should be used to benefit all living beings... that will require careful discussion between myself and the other honored experts."
As he spoke, he suddenly looked toward Duan Yuanshan with a warm, amiable expression. "City Lord Duan, you are the City Lord of Maple Forest City — come and join us in the discussion!"
Duan Yuanshan was immediately overwhelmed with flattery, his face flushing with color. He cupped his fists and replied, "It is my honor to receive the Lord's invitation!"
Xiao Yuyang nodded, then announced in a ringing voice: "But let me put everyone at ease — since this Spirit Lake has appeared in Maple Forest City, no one can take it from you. Nor will we forcibly claim it for ourselves. Once our discussions are concluded, it will certainly be opened for everyone to use. Just wait for good news."
"What? The Spirit Lake will be opened to everyone?"
"Really? Did I hear that right?"
"Those words came from Lord Xiao himself — there's no way they're false!"
"Lord Xiao is truly magnificent! The Star God Palace really is the supreme Sect of our Southern Domain — generous and open-hearted!"
The crowd of martial artists had originally assumed they would never get a chance to use this Spirit Lake. But upon hearing Xiao Yuyang's words, they erupted in excitement, faces lighting up with joy.
Yet quite a few people wore thoughtful, contemplative expressions.
Xiao Yuyang held a position of supreme dignity and status — there was no way he would lie in front of so many people. If he said it would be opened in the future, then it certainly would be.
But... in the future, if martial artists wanted to enter the Spirit Lake sacred ground for cultivation, it probably wouldn't be so simple. At the very least, they would need to meet certain conditions or pay a certain price. Otherwise, any random person off the street could waltz in, and a Spirit Lake spanning ten thousand zhang simply couldn't accommodate them all.
One could imagine that within a month at most, news of the Maple Forest City Spirit Lake would spread across the entire Southern Domain. When that happened, countless independent martial artists with no Sect and no background would swarm here, fighting for a spot to cultivate within the Spirit Lake.
Maple Forest City was destined to become the focal point of the entire Southern Domain, attracting powerful experts from far and wide.
As the City Lord of Maple Forest City, Duan Yuanshan presided over what had been a small, overlooked city that nobody cared about — yet now it was on the verge of becoming the most coveted prize in the Southern Domain. His heart was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions — excitement and worry intertwined.
He was excited because with the Spirit Lake here, Maple Forest City was bound to grow whether it wanted to or not. As long as it could attract a certain number of talented individuals, the city would surely expand rapidly and become a top-tier power.
But he worried that his own strength was insufficient — that he wouldn't be able to keep the incoming experts in check.
For the moment, he couldn't help but feel anxious and torn.