Xiao Mu picked up the flag and carefully observed it, trying to find clues about the new flag and flagpole.

A strange feeling surged through his heart. He stared at the Blood Cloud Flag after its variation, his brows slightly furrowed.

Relying on his cultivation of the Power of Life and Death, at such close range, he could sense the existence of the newly born flag and flagpole.

However, because the newly born flag and flagpole had not yet emerged, or were on the verge of emerging, Xiao Mu was unable to see them with his eyes.

"Could it be that a second variation is required?"

Xiao Mu extended his hand toward the Blood Cloud Flag, intending to initiate a second variation.

The Blood Cloud Flag had no reaction.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Xiao Mu retracted his finger, "It actually can't undergo a second variation. No, something feels different. It can undergo a second variation, but because certain conditions are missing, I can't initiate it for now."

"What are those conditions?"

Xiao Mu held the small flag and stared at it for a long time. In the end, he couldn't figure out what conditions were required for the second variation of the small flag.

"Forget it for now. Maybe to initiate the second variation, the conditions have to go back to the materials Zhao Jingyan gave me. I've memorized these materials. Once I reach the Life-and-Death Seal Origin Pool, I'll search for these materials."

Xiao Mu picked up the booklet listing the various materials Zhao Jingyan had prepared for repairing the small flag, skimmed through it, and memorized it with ease.

Afterward, he sat down and resumed his cultivation, hoping to strengthen himself as much as possible before the great battle for the Life-and-Death Seal.

※※※

In the sky, a mass of gray-black cloud mist gradually appeared, converging bit by bit toward an unknown destination.

BOOM!

With a loud roar, a burst of white light suddenly shot out, directly scattering the gray-black cloud mist.

Immediately afterward, the gray-black cloud mist morphed behind it, becoming denser and taking on the shape of a sharp needle.

The needle-shaped gray-black cloud mist charged fiercely toward the white light.

Pop!

It was as if a balloon had been pierced, leaving a small hole.

On the ground, a gray-black road suddenly appeared. Once it appeared, it began extending toward unknown airspace, progressing slowly yet steadily.

"Everyone, be ready. The Heavenly Court's Reverse Creation Divine Array is activating and will soon open the Creation Array. At that moment, Daoist Wu De, Zun, and I will join forces to create an opening and restrain the True Gods of the Heavenly Court, providing an opportunity for all of you to enter the Creation Array."

"You must seize the moment when the Heavenly Court's Mutated Beings enter the array and charge in simultaneously to vie for the Life-and-Death Seal."

Zhou Xuanmen's transmitted voice left everyone feeling involuntarily tense.

Including Xiao Mu.

At this moment, on the Heavenly Court's side, with the activation of the Reverse Creation Divine Array, the Creation Array was beginning to show signs of being breached.

Within the Heavenly Court's formation, everyone could already see the channel created by the Reverse Creation Divine Array leading into the Creation Array.

When the time came, everyone would pass through this channel to enter the Creation Array.

The Creation Array here was fundamentally different in power from the one in the Sealed Land. Its might could not even be compared.

Even with the strength of the Reverse Creation Divine Array, forcefully breaching the Creation Array could only create a small hole, which would remain open for just a brief moment.

Within that fleeting moment, the humans would still have to contend with the Heavenly Court for a chance to enter.

The human side clearly consisted of multiple factions, each standing in different positions.

What was the same, though, was that everyone focused their attention on the passage created by the Reverse Creation Divine Array, ready and tense for entry at any time.

Fortunately, thanks to the arrangements of the Headquarters, the human forces on the scene far exceeded initial expectations in terms of numbers.

Even so, they still paled in comparison to the sheer numbers on the Heavenly Court's side.

Xiao Mu kept his eyes on the Heavenly Court's crowd.

BOOM!

From the Heavenly Court's side, three figures suddenly soared into the sky: Meng Xuantong, Divine Monarch Guobao of Yuan Men, and the Lord of the Nether River, Yu Tong—three openly recognized True Gods.

As these three True Gods ascended, they quickly split off in different directions, immediately guarding all the airspace above the Reverse Creation Divine Array.

With this formation, any attack from Zhou Xuanmen, Zun, or Divine Monarch Wu De would have to face the three Heavenly Court True Gods head-on, making a breakthrough almost impossible.

Shortly afterward, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

From the depths of the Heavenly Court's great formation, dozens of escape lights simultaneously lit up as dozens of Divine Spirits—including those in the True God Realm, Divine Spirit Realm, and other strong figures—rushed out together.

Once these strong figures emerged, they split off to the left and right, standing on either side of the gray-black channel.

Clearly, the Heavenly Court forces were also fully prepared to enter the array the moment the channel opened.

"The Heavenly Court's setup is rather strange!"

On the human side, the three True Gods exchanged divine sense transmissions as they studied the Heavenly Court's formation.

Zun scrutinized the Heavenly Court's arrangement and then transmitted to Divine Monarch Wu De and Zhou Xuanmen.

"Strange? Zun, what did you notice?" Divine Monarch Wu De turned his head to look at Zun.

Zhou Xuanmen did not speak but also glanced inquisitively at Zun.

Zun extended his hand, pointing toward the Heavenly Court's great formation in front of them. "Both of you, look. The Heavenly Court's formation—this channel is about to open. Yet, do they have any defenses in place for the channel?"

"Meng Xuantong, Yuan Men, Yu Tong—all of them are stationed in the high airspace. Their defense is directed at us, not at the ordinary Mutated Beings of our human side."

"Now look again—those ordinary Mutated Beings of the Heavenly Court. After emerging from their formation, they scattered and stood lined up on either side of the channel. Are they setting up defenses?"

"Still no. The Heavenly Court's Mutated Beings only prepared for entry into the array, not for defense. This means they aren't worried about our side's Mutated Beings seizing the opportunity to enter the channel."

Zun's sharp observations prompted deep thought from Divine Monarch Wu De and Zhou Xuanmen as they carefully considered the issue.

Before long, Zhou Xuanmen spoke, "Could it be that you're overthinking it? The Heavenly Court undoubtedly knows we intend to follow them into the array. Preventing us entirely would be impossible."

"Knowing it's impossible, they might simply choose not to bother stopping us. That's not unreasonable, is it?"

"No, it's unreasonable. Completely unreasonable!"

Zun shook his head, his tone solemn. "Old Zhou, have you thought this through? If you were in charge on the Heavenly Court's side and knew we were planning to infiltrate the array, wouldn't you assign forces to block some of our people?"

"You must understand—even blocking one of us reduces our side's strength within the array by a fraction."

"As our presence within the array diminishes, the pressure on the Heavenly Court's Mutated Beings inside also reduces. Consequently, their chances of obtaining the Life-and-Death Seal increase."

"Given that they know this, why wouldn't the Heavenly Court block us? I have every reason to suspect they've prepared a terrifying setup that makes them indifferent to our infiltration."

"Maybe they've calculated everything, believing that after our forces enter the array, they have absolute means to annihilate us completely."

"That can't be, right?" Zhou Xuanmen was stunned.

Divine Monarch Wu De, on the other hand, let out a dry chuckle. "So devious, so ruthless! But it does sound exactly like something the Heavenly Court would do."

"If that's the case, then our people are in danger!"

Zun's expression grew grave as he reached his conclusion.

Hearing this, Zhou Xuanmen's face involuntarily shifted, showing a complex mix of emotions. After a long pause, he abruptly transmitted a message through divine sense.

"Xiao Mu, once you're inside the array, ignore everything else. Remember the task I gave you. After the battle for the Life-and-Death Seal, regardless of whether we secure it or not, delivering the jade token to the stone statue is your top priority."

Xiao Mu suddenly heard Zhou Xuanmen's voice in his ear.

It came so unexpectedly that he could even detect tension—possibly even a hint of panic—in Zhou Xuanmen's tone.

"Elder Zhou, understood," Xiao Mu replied via transmission. Although he didn't understand what Zhou Xuanmen had realized to make him shift from composure to unease, Xiao Mu himself instinctively grew more cautious.

"Remember, the Life-and-Death Seal can be lost, and the battle can be forfeited. For you, staying alive is the top priority. Do everything possible to keep yourself safe and complete the task I assigned you. If necessary, everything else can be abandoned."

Zhou Xuanmen transmitted again, his tone all the more solemn.

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