I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 209 Setting Up the Formation and Refining the Sea
"After going around in circles, I've finally come back."

Zhang Jichuan, who had just emerged from the water, looked at the starry sky, did some quick calculations, and immediately felt a sense of relief.

Judging from the position of the stars, it will take at most half an hour to return to the Nine Paths Land. At that time, I will join the Mysterious Weapon Division and discard this old and frail body!

In high spirits, he was about to plunge back into the water when, unexpectedly, an invisible force suddenly bound his entire body.

As he was horrified, the water beside him rippled, and two celestial soldiers wearing the standard robes of the Celestial Court emerged. One secretly made a hand seal, while the other brought out a chain around his head, locking him up in the blink of an eye.

"Heh heh, bro, you're pretty good at running away, aren't you? It's like you've chosen the path to hell when there's one in heaven!"

The immortal soldiers who had successfully captured their target immediately grinned.

Zhang Jichuan's expression changed drastically upon hearing this: "Fellow Daoist, it's a misunderstanding!"

The celestial soldier sneered, "Misunderstanding? Do you really think we're blind? You think you can hide your blood pact ability to control sea monsters from us?"

"Why waste words with him? Take him away and collect the reward!"

"Yes, yes!"

The two celestial soldiers, too lazy to say more, simply escorted him westward, riding the waves.

Zhang Jichuan secretly lamented his misfortune. Although he had defected from the Eighteen Seas as a rogue cultivator, he had not been willing to destroy his Blood Pact Dao Seed.

Who would have thought that this very path would put him in a passive position?

Not long after, a dark island appeared on the horizon. It grew larger as it got closer. When it came close, it was discovered that the island had been flattened and a stone tablet-like object rose from the ground.

Dozens of cultivators surrounded the stone tablet, carving incessantly, and mysterious runes could be faintly seen shimmering on it.

Zhang Jichuan didn't have time to take a good look before he was sent deep into the island and imprisoned.

This is called a prison, but in reality it is a hollowed-out stone chamber with numerous magic arrays engraved inside, making it impossible for anyone to escape.

A moment later, a second-class cultivator appeared outside the cell.

He looked Zhang Jichuan up and down and said in a deep voice, "The information from the Eighteen Seas is quite good. Tell me, what is their purpose in sending you here?"

Zhang Jichuan's face turned pale, and he suddenly bowed deeply to the ground before the celestial official outside the prison, his throat choked with emotion as he spoke:
"Immortal, please forgive me. I, Zhang Jichuan, was cultivating in seclusion in the Jiangnan East Road when I was misled by treacherous people and, bewitched, ventured into the Eighteen Seas. There, I discovered that the Eighteen Seas were using magical arrays to drain the lifespan of the inhabitants, even going so far as to relocate them to the bottom of the sea..."

At this point, his face showed a look of sorrow: "Such evil arts have terrified me! I have risked my life to escape and am willing to offer my blood oath seed to prove my innocence. I implore the immortals to allow me to serve in the Xuanbing Division. Even if my soul is scattered, I will cleanse myself of this sin!"

As he spoke, he opened his mouth and spat out a seed of Dao.

The second-class cultivator reached out and took it, gave Zhang Jichuan a meaningful look, and then turned and left without saying a word.

After leaving the prison, he went straight to the depths of the island and stepped into a man-made underground cave.

At this moment, the underground cavern, with its flat ground and straight walls, was covered with densely packed runes that seemed to breathe and pulsate incessantly amidst the twinkling starlight.

At the center of the magic array, Di Ting Si Jun Yan Qing sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation.

"Reporting to the Immortal Lord, the patrol team has captured a cultivator who also practices the Blood Pact Path. Judging from his accent, he should be a rogue cultivator from the Nine Paths Land."

"The Eighteen Seas have already noticed?"

Yan Qing opened his eyes and asked in a deep voice.

Right now, he is carrying out a secret mission for the Celestial Court—to set up the Star Locking Spirit Array, refine the East Sea, and suppress the Water Official!

For this mission, the Celestial Court mobilized its entire force, with seven top-tier experts guarding the seven islands.

He was also assigned one.

To be honest, this mission was incredibly crazy, but the moment he saw the magic circle, he realized that the situation was already set in stone.

This magic array is too complex; it is definitely not something that a master of the Nine Paths Earth Array Masters could master.

The fact that Master Lu was able to set up this arrangement was most likely due to guidance from the Underworld Emperor behind the scenes.

With the help of the Underworld Emperor, he did not believe that Master Lu would fail.

Given this, he could not allow any problems to arise on the island he was guarding. This was the best opportunity to make a name for himself.

If you do well, you'll be on your way to becoming one of the Three Officials; if you can catch the eye of the Underworld Emperor, your future will be limitless.

"They probably already suspect something, but this person has offered up the Blood Pact Dao Seed in the hope of restoring order."

As the second-grade cultivator spoke, he raised his hand and offered the Blood Pact Dao Seed.

Yan Qing narrowed his eyes, raised his hand to summon the Blood Pact Dao Seed, glanced at it briefly, and asked, "What is his cultivation level?"

"Twenty years of cultivation!"

"Master Lu once said that if there are those who abandon darkness and turn to light, they can be recruited to increase our own prestige and weaken the enemy's strength. In that case, let's just take in this rogue cultivator with twenty years of cultivation and incorporate him into the Trapped Camp."

The second-class cultivator bowed in acknowledgment and turned to leave.

Yan Qing put away the Blood Pact Dao Seed and issued several orders in one breath, urging the array master to complete the array setup as soon as possible.

Yan Qing was mentally prepared for the magic array to be exposed.

Rumor has it that Lu Jun has already refined the East Sea, and since the Seven Star Island's arrangements had to be placed in the East Sea, it was certain that they would be discovered.

He just didn't expect it to happen so quickly!

……

"This is what makes a celestial weapon?"

Looking at Zhang Jichuan, who had completed the name registration, it still felt like a dream.

Is it enough to just hand over the Blood Pact Seed?
The Celestial Court is far too easily trusted!

"This is your robe. Change into it quickly and come with me!"

Urged on by the celestial official, he changed into his robes, received his token, and stepped into a courtyard filled with wind and fire.

As soon as he landed in the courtyard, dozens of eyes turned to him. With just one glance, Zhang Jichuan, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, felt a chill run down his spine.

These groups of two or three, some sitting and some standing, all exuded the air of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) bandits, with unfriendly eyes.

'It seems the Celestial Court isn't entirely trusting after all!'

Zhang Jichuan sighed and, guided by the celestial official, paid his respects to Shi Ruihe, the commander of the Trapped Camp.

The officer seemed gentle and refined. He politely accepted the documents and saw the celestial official off before turning to Zhang Jichuan and saying, "Now that you have joined my Trapped Camp, you should serve with peace of mind. Since our camp is named Trapped Camp, we will be at the forefront of the battle. When the time comes, you will surely achieve great things."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "At that time, any disgrace will be a merit in the face of achievement."

Zhang Jichuan was shocked upon hearing this.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a hysterical roar came from outside the island.

"Enemy attack——"

Zhang Jichuan and his superior Shi Ruihe exchanged a glance and immediately rushed out of the palace.

Looking around, there were figures moving about on the island, but no signs of an enemy attack.

About two breaths later, countless sea monster heads emerged from the surrounding sea, attacking from all directions.

Where is the Trapped Camp?

Shi Ruihe gave a low shout, and all the cultivators in the courtyard responded in unison, "Present!"

"We eat the king's food and bear the king's worries. The time has come to make our mark and achieve great things. Why don't you hurry and follow me to kill the enemy and make a name for yourself!"

With a fierce shout, countless cultivators rushed out of the island, a vast and chaotic mass, their formations scattered and disorganized, yet their momentum was overwhelming, and they were ready to die!

(End of this chapter)