Chapter 409 - 224: Ye Xuanzhang

Chapter 409: Chapter 224: Ye Xuanzhang

"Senior Brother Zhang, the Demon Cultivators have retreated."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tingxian looked up at the sky. For miles and miles, the air was clear and blue. But to his cultivated sight, a layer of demonic mist flickered in and out of existence above the drifting white clouds. Though he couldn’t make out their formation, he could faintly discern waving banners and the shadowy figures of demons.

The Demon Sect had long maintained this presence, appearing both real and illusory as they watched with predatory intent. Their threat kept the defenders of this formation gate from daring to reinforce other locations. It was highly probable that the moment this gate revealed any weakness, their feint would become a real attack.

But at this moment, Zhang Tingxian saw the demonic mist recede like a tide. Before long, it had truly vanished over the distant horizon.

Zhang Tingxian was somewhat surprised, but he wasn’t concerned that this was a trick. He cultivated the Great Observation Skill, one of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s most advanced ocular techniques, which specialized in breaking through concealment arts.

With his level of cultivation, seeing for thousands of miles was not difficult. The Demon Sect cultivators could not possibly hide their tracks completely from his cultivated sight.

But this wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Zhang Tingxian pondered for a moment, his expression suddenly growing grave. He called an elder to his side, "Elder Liu, I need to know the current situation at the Life Gate. Quickly send someone to investigate."

He had long known that the Celestial Demon Child was leading over a hundred Demon Cultivators in an assault on the Life Gate. However, he had figured that while their numbers were great, they should still be within a manageable limit.

Although Zhang Tingxian knew only that this Junior Brother Xu had a great reputation, and not the extent of his Divine Techniques, he trusted that the Master had his reasons for the arrangement.

’Is it possible the Demon Sect sent reinforcements, or that the battle is at a stalemate?’ he worried. ’Perhaps the Demon Cultivators here saw an opportunity and have all rushed to join the fight.’

Elder Liu departed with an affirmation. Someone at his side suddenly spoke up, "Senior Brother Zhang, according to the Master’s decree, our only responsibility is to ensure the stability of this formation gate. Whatever the situation at the Life Gate, we are not to abandon our posts."

Zhang Tingxian simply said, "The Master’s arrangements have their own logic, but I am capable of my own judgment."

Zhang Tingxian was the Chief Steward here. The others had only offered a single word of caution and said no more upon hearing his response. Unexpectedly, Elder Liu, who had just left, suddenly returned. He bowed and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, news has come from the Life Gate."

Before Zhang Tingxian could ask, Elder Liu said, "The Celestial Demon Child led over a hundred Demon Cultivators in an attack... Venerable Dao Miao personally engaged the Celestial Demon Child in battle."

This was all information Zhang Tingxian already knew. But seeing the stirred expression on Elder Liu’s face, he did not rush him and simply listened quietly. Elder Liu continued, "Then, Han Fashou of the Bone Sect and Zheng Ah of the Manifestation Sect arrived one after the other..."

Zhang Tingxian’s expression shifted slightly, but he remained patient. It was then that a look of shock and awe finally filled Elder Liu’s eyes. He exclaimed, "Venerable Dao Miao faced all three of them alone! He unleashed his Divine Techniques and slew the Celestial Demon Child, Han Fashou, and Zheng Ah right before the formation—not even their Nascent Souls escaped!"

"With the Celestial Demon Child slain, the Demon Cultivators were routed by our sect’s forces. Fewer than two in ten managed to escape by various means; the rest were all executed."

"What?" Though Zhang Tingxian had an inkling, he was still stunned to hear it confirmed. He pressed, "He fought one against three, not only winning but ensuring that not a single one of them escaped?"

Just as Elder Liu was about to answer, Zhang Tingxian raised a hand to silence him and murmured to himself, "What an incredible Dao Miaozhi... The Master’s judgment was indeed flawless..."

He rose to his feet and gazed once more at the vast blue sky, feeling all his worries evaporate. He laughed. "I never imagined that on the very first day of opening Nanzhan, Junior Brother Xu would pull off something so astonishing. It looks like the remaining seventy-eight days will be a quiet assignment."

The great fog of the South Sea came and went according to the cycles of heaven. There was a time for it to disperse and a time for it to reconvene.

The Tai Su Orthodox Sect was simply acting in accordance with this natural cycle by opening the Nanzhan Treasure Continent. They had never intended to permanently occupy Nanzhan; not only would it be an exhaustive effort, but it would also mean going against the will of heaven.

According to Daochen Zhenren’s arrangements, the great formation would be maintained for a full seventy-nine days. After seventy-nine days, the formation would close. The Nanzhan Treasure Continent might remain clear for a while, or the great fog might quickly regather, but regardless, it would no longer require manpower to guard it.

"After this battle, the prestige of our Tai Su Orthodox Sect will surely reach its zenith." Elder Liu cupped his hands toward the empty air in a gesture of respect. "Our Tai Su Orthodox Sect has the Master planning our every move and is filled with a brilliant generation of disciples. How could we ever worry about not prospering!"

Zhang Tingxian merely offered a faint smile at these words, but another person suddenly interjected, "After this battle, I’d say Junior Brother Xu has thoroughly surpassed both Zhong Shenxiu and He Zaidao. Among those beneath the level of the sect Ancestors, there is no one left who can compare to him..."

He suddenly seemed to remember something and uttered a title that had not been spoken in a long time: "He could be called the First Venerable of the Orthodox Path!"

Zhang Tingxian inwardly shook his head. It wasn’t that he disagreed, but rather that he felt: ’Figures like Venerable Xuan Ying from millennia ago, or Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang today, would never concern themselves with comparisons among fellow Nascent Soul Cultivators.’

’Those with true ambition look not to fleeting glory, but to the long road of the Great Dao that lies beyond immortality... Though I am not their equal, I, too, hold such aspirations.’

Zhang Tingxian was about to close his eyes and tune out the elders’ impassioned discussion when a streak of light suddenly flew toward them. Even before it drew near, Zhang Tingxian recognized the figure as an elder he recalled: Dongguo Yi.

’This man’s cultivation is nothing special, and his duty is simply to watch over a minor formation node. Even if the Demon Cultivators were to attack, a Nascent Soul First Level Cultivator like him wouldn’t be called upon unless the situation became truly critical. So why has he suddenly left his post to come here?’

Dongguo Yi arrived on the Magic Altar, immediately bowing in salute. Zhang Tingxian just waved a hand and said, "Elder Dongguo, do you have something to report?"

Dongguo Yi hurriedly replied, "Yes, Senior Brother! There was a sudden disturbance in the direction of the formation node where Elder Han and I are stationed. I told Elder Han to remain on high alert and rushed here to report."

"Hm?" Zhang Tingxian’s brow furrowed slightly as a sudden premonition struck him.