T/N: Quick heads up: This chapter has a lot of references to Chinese constellations. There are some that overlap with western constellations but not all of them. This is just so that people won't be confused seeing all the names and wondering why I haven't translated any.
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Night fell, and the stars were like the eyes of the heavens, shining through the clouds and reflecting upon the Lake of Life with soft radiance. However, the lakeside that should have been peaceful tonight was actually far from tranquil.
"Four Symbols Star Array, rise!"
Ning Tian held the pagoda in her hands and gave a light shout.
The next second, her torso bone shone with brilliant light, and motes of light diffused like the essence of the sun and moon. These motes intersected, interwove, and merged... transforming into layers upon layers of array patterns.
As they circulated, they evolved into a starry sky-like array chart!
Immediately after, Ning Tian's four limbs were drawn by the array patterns emanating from her torso, beginning to shine with great splendor. Four different energies emerged from her limbs, gradually transforming into four phantom images.
The Sky Azure Bull Python resided in the East, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger in the West, the Cang Yu (Cyan Jade) Fire Dove in the South, and finally the Golden Tortoise phantom in the North.
The directions aligned, and the four phantom images reflected the celestial stars above!
In the heavens, in the four directions of East, West, South, and North, seven stars connected in each direction, seeming to form the shapes of Dragon, Tiger, Phoenix, and Turtle, yet also flashing by in an instant before casting down starlight.
The gift of star power, the bestowal of the essence of sun and moon, caused these four spirit beast phantoms of the Sky Azure Bull Python to undergo complete transformation.
Squirming, they formed four giant cocoons.
And when the cocoons broke, roar—
Dragon's cry, Tiger's roar, Bird's chirp, Turtle's bellow! The simultaneous cries of the four beasts stirred that starry sky array chart. Vast and ancient aura circulated; at this moment, it was as if one stood in primordial chaos, facing the boundless starry sky.
In the East, the Sky Azure Bull Python phantom was gone, replaced by the divine dragon formed from the seven star mansions of Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, and Ji—its horns like a deer's, head like a camel's, eyes like a rabbit's, neck like a snake's, belly like a clam's, scales like a fish's, claws like an eagle's, palms like a tiger's, and ears like an ox's. Truly strange, yet incomparably majestic and divine.
In the West, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger phantom became even more ferocious, draped in the seven stars of Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zui, and Shen. Its body was snowy white without a single stray hair, a foot-long fang hung from its mouth, and when its blood basin-like jaws opened wide, its dominating presence was enough to swallow mountains and rivers. With round tiger eyes and a shake of tiger claws, it could make all beasts tremble in fear. Its roar could summon violent winds, its bellow could thunder across the four fields.
In the North, water elements around the Golden Tortoise phantom condensed frantically, as if a single drop of water was an entire lake—immeasurably heavy, yet also nurturing all things. Upon the turtle shell, the seven stars of Dou, Niu, Nu, Xu, Wei, Shi, and Bi moved about, seeming to come alive as they wrapped around the Golden Tortoise's body. Upon hearing a hiss, a black snake was seen coiled upon the turtle shell, completely transforming it into the Black Tortoise.
In the South, a bird dragged seven magnificent long tail feathers, each imprinted with the seven stars of Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, and Zhen. The fiery-red Vermillion Bird spread its wings, its willow-like beak spitting fire rain, its form like that of a proud phoenix. Sparkling embers flickered, truly a scene of endless vitality.
At this moment, the four spirits guarded the four symbols, and the four symbols moved the stars.
Upon Ning Tian's shoulder, the Beautiful Silk Tulip spirit soul stood quietly. Flower branches drooped, brilliant light and colors sprinkled down, its posture gorgeous, setting off Ning Tian—who held the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hands—like the Mystical Maiden of the Nine Heavens descending to earth.
And at this moment, roar— ×2
Two dragon roars sounded together, and a massive pillar of fire spewed down toward Ning Tian's location, scorching and explosive!
But immediately after, the Vermillion Bird phantom danced, blocking before Ning Tian. Its wings crossed like a shield, blocking the pillar of fire. The explosive flames burst apart, yet could not harm Ning Tian in the slightest; instead, they caused the Vermillion Bird's might to suddenly surge!
Screech—
The bird's cry broke through the night sky. The Vermillion Bird spread its wings and soared straight into the clouds, revealing its hook-like sharp claws. As its seven long tail feathers danced, they dragged out crimson starlight. Spotting Wu Feng's transformed Crimson Dragon True Form, it dove straight for her pair of dragon wings. That awl-like willow beak was pointed directly at the Crimson Dragon's eyes.
Seeing this, the Crimson Dragon True Form's might suddenly surged.
Even facing Ning Tian, when bearing the responsibility of testing the "Four Symbols Star Array," she would not hold back in the slightest at this moment.
Opening the Crimson Dragon's blood basin-like mouth, she was about to bite down...
Roar—
The Azure Dragon phantom extended its claw, merely grasping at the air.
Sky Azure Slowing Claw!
Hum—
The Azure Dragon, transformed from the Sky Azure Bull Python, naturally possessed the proud skill belonging to the Sky Azure Bull Python. In just an instant, the slowing effect fell upon the Crimson Dragon True Form, leaving it able only to hold its mouth open and watch helplessly as the Vermillion Bird phantom's assault arrived.
Want to stop it?
She herself simply couldn't react in time.
And at this moment, whoosh—
A sound of tearing through the air suddenly erupted!
The void behind Ning Tian was instantly pierced. Without Ning Tian detecting any warning whatsoever, a massive bone dragon's tail swept across the air, directly exploding the atmosphere.
Success seemed imminent, clang—
The Black Tortoise phantom appeared behind Ning Tian at some unknown time, as if by instantaneous movement. With merely a lift of its steady eyes, the black snake coiled behind it had already flicked its tongue, poised to strike.
The bone dragon's tail wanted to withdraw—this was like a signal.
The black snake suddenly shot out, directly coiling around the bone dragon's tail, not letting it escape easily. And along with it came the White Tiger phantom. With a tiger's roar, wind and thunder moved together!
Blood-filled jaws opened and closed, exposed fangs gleamed, and a pair of tiger palms suddenly raised, fiercely striking toward the bone dragon true form's direction.
Spine, skull... all places that could cause maximum damage.
But just as the attack landed, whoosh—
A human-like confusion seemed to appear in the White Tiger phantom's eyes. Its body fell to one side, as if completely unable to understand why.
Clearly it had struck, so how did it pass through?
And this was due to Gu Tianchen's domain.
The domain was named: Grand Void Domain! And this domain had only one function—to strengthen Gu Tianchen's spatial abilities by onefold.
This also allowed Gu Tianchen to transfer part of his body to a different space, thereby making his body ethereal.
However, regarding the tail and black snake that were already entangled, Gu Tianchen was helpless. He could only focus on dealing with the White Tiger phantom, instead circling around in an evenly matched... no, it should be said that Gu Tianchen even held the advantage, which allowed him to gauge the great array.
As for Wu Feng, she constantly collided between a dragon and a bird.
The Azure Dragon phantom seemed to be the main controller, sharing pressure for the Vermillion Bird phantom while also occasionally striking the back of Wu Feng's head!
Facing this scene, Di Tian couldn't help but nod.
He looked at Chen Junting beside him and asked, "Aren't you going to deploy your Immortal-Slaying Sword Array and give them some tempering as well?"
"Xiao Tian's Four Symbols Star Array is sufficient."
Chen Junting said: "My Immortal-Slaying Sword Array's power is too great. Once deployed, it cannot be easily stopped. Moreover, when my four divine swords are unsheathed, they must return stained with blood."
"You're rather arrogant."
Hearing this, Di Tian couldn't help but laugh and scold.
"Not arrogance."
Chen Junting raised one finger. "It's confidence!"
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