Chapter 410: Ye Xuanzhang (2)

He had cultivated for over eight hundred years, and his spiritual sense was exceptionally sharp. He knew instantly that something was amiss. He rose to his feet and said, “Where is the anomaly? Take me there.”

Although Dongguo Yi felt the matter was strange and should be reported to Zhang Tingxian for a decision, he hadn’t expected the man himself would want to go. He quickly replied, “This way, Senior Brother.”

Zhang Tingxian followed Dongguo Yi, and the two rode a cloud together. They quickly arrived above Dongguo Yi’s post in the array. Before they had even descended, a strange look appeared on Zhang Tingxian’s face. Dongguo Yi was even more startled. “It’s only been a few moments,” he said, “but the disturbance in the Divine Wind has grown much more violent.”

Zhang Tingxian nodded slightly. “Someone has broken deep into the Divine Wind.”

Dongguo Yi’s expression turned grim. He knew it was a possibility, but this grand array had been personally designed by the Master for the Nanzhan plan and laid down by the combined power of eight sect elders. The Divine Wind was so fierce that not even a Nascent Soul Third Level Cultivator could hope to pass through it easily. Anyone capable of breaking into its depths had to be an extraordinary figure.

He was just about to ask what they should do when a glint appeared in Zhang Tingxian’s eyes. “You wait here,” he said. “I’m going in to investigate.”

Without waiting for a response, Zhang Tingxian formed a Spell. A ray of spiritual light shot through the air from an array flag and enveloped him. He then plunged into the Divine Wind.

The world within was a swirl of darkness!

Countless streams of Divine Wind crisscrossed like a flurry of Flying Swords, perhaps even more dangerous than the gales and lightning within the great fog of the South Sea.

Fortunately, protected by the spiritual light from the array flag, Zhang Tingxian could ignore the danger. He sped toward the source of the disturbance. After just two or three thousand li, he suddenly spotted a hazy yellow glow within the Divine Wind.

Zhang Tingxian narrowed his eyes and activated his Great Observation Dharma Eye. He saw a man in a Feather Robe with shoulder-length hair, holding a bamboo staff. Above his head hovered a perfectly round Treasure Pearl, about the size of an egg. It emanated a precious aura that was somehow warding off the Divine Wind.

This man was using a magical treasure to brave the Divine Wind, yet he showed no sign of distress at being in such a perilous place. His expression was impassive as he resolutely pressed deeper inside.

‘What kind of magical treasure has such power?’ Zhang Tingxian’s gaze shifted, then fell upon the bamboo staff. ‘The Eight-Section Purple Bamboo Staff… Ye Xuanzhang!’

‘Who would have thought the current senior disciple of the Innate Demon Sect would look like this—handsome, with a serene, almost scholarly air.’

What Zhang Tingxian expected even less was that, despite the protection of the array flag’s light and the many layers of Divine Wind between them, Ye Xuanzhang seemed to sense his prying eyes. He suddenly turned his head, his gaze locking onto Zhang Tingxian’s position.

For a fleeting moment, their gazes met. Zhang Tingxian knew it was no coincidence and took a moment to think.

‘This place is far from the array’s entrance, and any support is thousands of li away. It’s too late to summon reinforcements.’ So, Zhang Tingxian simply revealed himself and boomed, “Ye Xuanzhang! How dare you trespass into our Tai Su Grand Array!”

Ye Xuanzhang’s eyes flickered. “Zhang Tingxian,” he said. “So it’s you.”

Zhang Tingxian frowned. “You know me?”

Ye Xuanzhang didn’t explain. He said flatly, “I have not come to Nanzhan to make an enemy of the Tai Su Sect. I will spare you today. Leave.”

Zhang Tingxian was stunned for a moment, then he sneered. “Ye Xuanzhang, I know you are the Innate Demon Sect’s greatest talent in a millennium, but you are severely underestimating me!”

Both were cultivators at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm. Within this grand array, however, Zhang Tingxian was protected by the spiritual light of an array flag, while Ye Xuanzhang had to actively cast spells to resist the Divine Wind. Despite being at a disadvantage, the man was still spouting such arrogant nonsense.

Though not easily provoked, Zhang Tingxian couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation at those words. “Enough idle talk,” he sneered. “Let me see these Divine Techniques of yours.”

Zhang Tingxian straightened his headdress. A cloud of Gangyun rose, and dozens of cyan spiritual lights shot out like rainbows, crisscrossing as they formed an attack formation that closed in on Ye Xuanzhang.

Ye Xuanzhuang’s expression remained unchanged. With an upward flick of his wide sleeve, he sent a thick current of Gang Qi surging forth. It tore through the layers of Divine Wind and shot back toward Zhang Tingxian.

With a single thought, Zhang Tingxian directed a dozen of the cyan rainbows to weave toward the incoming Gang Qi. Ye Xuanzhang’s Gang Qi was incredibly dense; even the sword-like Divine Wind couldn’t chip away at it.

But when Zhang Tingxian’s cyan rainbows arrived, they passed through the Gang Qi as if it were nothing. They easily pierced it from every angle, weaving back and forth several times until Ye Xuanzhang’s Gang Qi seemed to lose its cohesion. It suddenly collapsed, and the Divine Wind blew the remnants away.

It turned out that Zhang Tingxian was a master who had cultivated the Tai Su True Form Scripture to a profound level. Not only was his own Magical Power versatile and ever-changing, but he could also perceive the flow of others’ Magical Power and the transformations of their Divine Techniques as clearly as the lines on his own palm. He could find an opponent’s weaknesses with ease. In a true battle of techniques, he excelled at dismantling attacks and maneuvering, and was even capable of using the small to overcome the great and the weak to defeat the strong.

A man like that was undoubtedly a difficult opponent to face, especially for someone like Ye Xuanzhang, who was currently trapped inside the grand array.

Ye Xuanzhang’s brow finally furrowed. He had no time to get entangled with Zhang Tingxian. In that instant, killing intent stirred in his heart.

Facing the dozens of cyan rainbows closing in for the kill, a fierce glint flashed in Ye Xuanzhang’s eyes. He suddenly pointed his Eight-Section Purple Bamboo Staff at Zhang Tingxian. “Withered Wood Divine Light!”

An incredibly fast, gloomy beam of divine light shot forth. Zhang Tingxian spat out a stream of Tai Su Genben True Qi, but the moment it touched the Withered Wood Divine Light, its life force seemed to drain away. It dissipated in an instant.

Zhang Tingxian reacted with extreme speed, using an illusion technique to escape. But his face showed no relief; on the contrary, he was drenched in cold sweat. He raised his hand and saw that half his palm had taken on the color of rotted wood. It was completely immobile, and even more terrifying, it had lost all signs of life.

Worse, the decay was spreading rapidly. In the blink of an eye, only two of his five fingers could still move, and his wrist had become rigid and dead. Gritting his teeth, Zhang Tingxian fled into the Divine Wind.

‘He’s not dead?’ Ye Xuanzhang’s expression flickered for a moment before vanishing. ‘Forget it,’ he thought.

‘Those who obstruct my path deserve to die, but back when I was traveling the Divine Continent disguised as a Loose Cultivator, we did share a brief camaraderie.’

Besides, this was hardly the time or place for a pursuit. Ye Xuanzhang calmly withdrew his Magical Power and continued onward, deeper into the grand array.

Nanzhan Treasure Continent was close!

—

The Celestial Demon Child, eager for a quick victory, had failed to gather enough Demon Sect cultivators to begin with. After Xuzhuang’s thunderous assault, not only were their numbers cut by more than half, but their morale was completely shattered.

How could such a rabble be a match for the disciples of the Tai Su Sect? Even with a few powerful individuals among them, they couldn’t make any real trouble with Feng Yuanliu and Yue Junlan holding the line.

The battle was reaching its conclusion. Many Tai Su Sect disciples were now mopping up. Xuzhuang returned directly to the Magic Altar. Just as his feet touched the ground, two beams of sword light arrived, one after the other. Sword Step Master was the first to appear.

The one following her was the white-haired, sharp, and cold-faced Yue Junlan. He had cultivated for a century in the Yue Family’s ancestral Grotto Heaven, and his cultivation base was quite profound. However, he was still some way off from the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

Unwittingly, he had already fallen behind Xuzhuang.

Regardless, they were all true disciples of the same generation. Xuzhuang didn’t put on airs; he cupped his hands in greeting first. “Senior Brother Yue, Senior Sister Bu.”

Sword Step Master gave a slight nod. Her elegant eyes flickered, seeming to scan over Xuzhuang, but she remained silent.

Yue Junlan, however, spoke, a rare occurrence. “Xuzhuang,” he said, “your progress in the Daoist arts has truly exceeded my expectations.”

Xuzhuang was slightly taken aback. When he looked, however, Yue Junlan’s expression was as impassive as ever. That was just his nature—no jealousy, no sentimentality. He simply said, “I saw your Swordsmanship earlier. We should spar if we get the chance.”

Yue Junlan was the Swordsmanship prodigy of their generation in the Tai Su Sect. In terms of pure Swordsmanship, he had been slightly superior to Xuzhuang back when they were in the Golden Core realm.

Exchanging pointers on Swordsmanship with a man like that would be immensely beneficial, so Xuzhuang was naturally willing. However, though they had repelled the Demon Sect’s attack, it was not yet time to relax. He replied, “Please rest first, Senior Brother. I look forward to learning from your Swordsmanship in the future.”

Yue Junlan nodded slightly. Without another word, his sword light flared, and he returned to the Magic Altar below.

He had just departed when Feng Yuanliu suddenly appeared. He met Xuzhuang’s gaze, his own eyes flickering slightly, and took the initiative to salute. “Junior Brother Xu.”

Xuzhuang smiled and returned the gesture. He assumed Feng Yuanliu had come to report on the battle, but instead, the man began, “I have some news that Junior Brother Xu should probably be aware of.”

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed slightly. “Please speak, Senior Brother.”

Feng Yuanliu said grimly, “A message came from the other array gates. Ye Xuanzhang of the Innate Demon Sect has passed through the Divine Wind alone and entered Nanzhan Treasure Continent.”