Chapter 221 - 186: Floating... The Fall

Chapter 221: Chapter 186: Floating... The Fall

"SHKIIING!"

A razor-sharp Sword Gang shot toward him, but Zhang Ji had already pulled his hand back.

When he looked closely, he saw it was a Sword Gang from the Seven Tribulation Sword.

Two figures appeared at the entrance to the Celestial Will Hall.

"You shouldn’t be here, Zhang Ji," Ling Xuzi said, his face cold.

By all rights, Zhang Ji should have been leading the others to drive the Spirit-Suppressing Needles into the core of the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations right now, not here in the Heaven of Grand Beginning, inside this Celestial Will Hall.

"Since when is an otherworldly Celestial Demon trustworthy? Ling Xuzi, you’re pathetically naive. Did you really think he would cooperate with you and see your plan through?" Dugu Yunfeng sneered.

"Master Blood Head, let them handle driving in the Spirit-Suppressing Needles. My purpose here is to eliminate a future threat for you!" Zhang Ji said, looking at Ling Xuzi with a smile.

"I don’t need your help," Ling Xuzi said. "Now, leave the Heaven of Grand Beginning at once!"

His eyes held a trace of vigilance.

’He didn’t know how Zhang Ji had learned about the Celestial Intent Seal.’

’It didn’t matter if the Floating City fell. But if Zhang Ji got control of the Celestial Intent Seal and activated it, it would unleash a world-ending calamity.’

’The Celestial Essence Realm couldn’t withstand another upheaval like that.’

Zhang Ji’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning grim.

’He was confident he wouldn’t lose a one-on-one fight against either Ling Xuzi or Dugu Yunfeng.’

’But in this situation, it looked like he was about to become everyone’s common enemy.’

’The other three at the Divinity Transformation Stage weren’t much of a concern.’

’He’d already taken Nangong Zhiqing’s Shennong Cauldron, leaving her with virtually no fighting power.’

’Mo Ye had taken a severe blow from him; even for someone at the Divinity Transformation Stage, it was doubtful he had even fifty percent of his combat strength left.’

’Zhuge Mingyuan posed a slight threat, but his power was a tier lower. If he got involved, he’d be a minor nuisance at best.’

’So, the situation could be summed up as a two-on-one fight.’

’Fighting two top-tier S-rank masters while being out-leveled.’

’This was a little exciting.’

Amidst the silence, Taiyi-Zero’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Done."

The next moment, the warding sigils in the space around the Celestial Intent Seal vanished, leaving it completely exposed.

Did they really think that Sword Gang had forced Zhang Ji to retreat?

He had pulled back because Taiyi-Zero warned him that there were still protective wards in place. If he had touched it and triggered the defensive mechanism, the faint aura emanating from the Celestial Intent Seal could have injured him.

That was why Zhang Ji had retracted his hand.

The Sword Gang, in fact, had only appeared after he had already pulled his hand back.

At that same moment, Dugu Yunfeng and Ling Xuzi also realized something was wrong.

"Damn it!"

"This is bad!"

The two attacked Zhang Ji with their swords almost simultaneously.

The Seven Tribulation Sword’s [Sharp Weapon Tribulation].

And an instantly cast [Destruction Sword Gang] from the Sword Array.

However, instead of dodging, Zhang Ji took both attacks head-on with his physical body as he lunged for the Celestial Intent Seal.

The next moment, both attacks struck him simultaneously. Even with the protection of the Five Elements and Gang Qi, he was sent flying.

"BOOOOOM!"

One side of the Celestial Will Hall was bombarded by the two exploding Sword Gangs, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake that looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Over a thousand meters away, Zhang Ji stood tall. Two sword gashes, deep enough to expose bone, were carved into his chest and abdomen. His flesh was ripped open, tendons severed, and even two of his ribs were sliced more than halfway through.

But the spot where the Celestial Intent Seal had been was now empty.

Zhang Ji broke into a grin, his face filled with a kind of villainous glee.

"Now, what are you going to use to stop me?"

’There was no longer any reason to pretend.’

’Without the Celestial Intent Seal, there was practically nothing left in this world that could directly threaten his life.’

’Even when it existed, the chances of it being used against him were slim, but Zhang Ji refused to think that way.’

’After everything he had been through, he would no longer entrust his life to something as fickle as luck.’

’He’d experienced it too many times: thinking someone wouldn’t make a move against him, only for them to do exactly that.’

’Maybe that fairy was right. Maybe he really did have a tribulation-attracting constitution.’

’He ran into all sorts of things, both good and bad.’

’That’s why he always prepared for the worst.’

’Even after gaining enough power to rival Ling Xuzi, he had continued to hide behind the facade of the Ascetic Order, feigning compliance with Ling Xuzi’s plan.’

’Only now could he finally relax, just a little.’

"You’re starting to look like a villain..." Taiyi-Zero commented dryly.

Zhang Ji ignored Taiyi-Zero. The True Solar Flame and Celestial Silkworm Origin surged within him, and the two sword wounds on his body began to mend at a visible rate. Flesh regenerated, and his body rapidly returned to its original state.

Dugu Yunfeng and Ling Xuzi exchanged a look, seeming to reach an unspoken agreement in that instant.

"We can fight later!" Dugu Yunfeng said.

"I’ll settle the score with you next time, Senior Brother," Ling Xuzi replied.

Their exchange was nearly simultaneous.

As expected of martial brothers, their understanding of one another was perfect.

"They’re teaming up. Time to run," Taiyi-Zero said.

"Heh."

Zhang Ji gave a cold laugh. His left hand reached into the void and grasped the Secret Silver Stele. The Celestial Essence stored inside was rapidly drained. In an instant, his own reserves of Celestial Essence were completely replenished, with plenty still left inside the stele.

"I’ve long heard that the attacks of Sword Cultivators are second to none, and you two are the most gifted and powerful cultivators in this realm. To have the chance to face you both is truly an honor."

A tangible aura erupted from Zhang Ji’s body. Celestial Essence and the Five Elements swirled around him, coalescing into a brilliant flame that burned across his skin. His presence was now even more overwhelming than Ling Xuzi’s had been at the moment he drew his sword. Zhang Ji no longer concealed his aura in the slightest—it was a terrifying level of power, on par with a peak S-rank master.