Chapter 86 - 83: Ancient Emperor Sect, Meeting Dugu Hongyun Again

Chapter 86: Chapter 83: Ancient Emperor Sect, Meeting Dugu Hongyun Again

"Setting up a Killing Array overnight?

"Impossible. This is absolutely impossible! Brother Jiang, don’t try to fool us. That’s simply unachievable. You must have studied the Array Dao before this.

"Brother Jiang, tell me honestly. You’ve definitely studied the Array Dao before, haven’t you?"

The three Array Masters bombarded him with questions, eagerly awaiting Jiang Hao’s response. Setting up an array overnight was far too unrealistic; they simply couldn’t handle such a devastating blow to their pride.

Seeing their agitated state, Jiang Hao sensed their distress. Recalling the incident with ’Brother Duan’, he let out an awkward laugh. "To be completely honest, I have indeed studied the Array Dao before. However, this is my first time delving into it so deeply, and it’s also my first time successfully setting up an array."

Treat others as you would want to be treated. He knew that if he didn’t put it this way, these three brothers would likely develop a Heart Demon.

Despite his reassuring words, Jiang Hao felt even more perplexed. He thought to himself, "Is the Array Dao really that difficult? I don’t think so."

Little did he know that even for these three brothers—who already knew how to sketch Array Patterns—mastering the very Killing Array he had just set up took them half a year.

"I knew it! Brother Jiang must have studied the Array Dao before and already knew how to sketch Array Patterns. Otherwise, how could you have crossed the threshold of the Array Dao so quickly?"

Hearing Jiang Hao’s admission, the three brothers felt significantly relieved. If this truly had been his first encounter with the Array Dao, the blow to their egos would have been catastrophic.

Then again, even if the white-clad youth had been cultivating the Array Dao for a long time, he had unquestionably just laid his hands on that specific Killing Array.

"To deduce the Myriad Leaves Execution Array overnight... Brother Jiang, your talent in the Array Dao is utterly terrifying. The three of us are deeply ashamed of our inferiority.

"With your potential, Brother Jiang, you are destined to become a leading authority in the Array Dao—perhaps even a terrifying saint of the craft!

"Deducing and setting up a Killing Array in a single night is the fastest record I’ve ever seen. Brother Jiang, your name will undoubtedly resound throughout the Array Dao world in the future."

RUMBLE!!!

The three Array Masters’ words struck Ji Qingxue and the others’ hearts like bolts of frantic lightning.

It had to be known that while these three might not be the absolute peak monsters of the Array Dao, they were still leading figures among the younger generation and hailed from an esteemed array family. Such unparalleled praise essentially cemented the white-clad youth’s status as a peerless monster in the Array Dao.

"This is completely unfair. How can he monopolize every kind of talent?"

"Perhaps this is what it means to be the Chosen One. Even the heavens favor him."

Sword Dao, Alchemy Dao, and Array Dao—to reach the absolute pinnacle in all three paths? Was he going to leave any room for the rest of them to breathe?

For a moment, the gazes Ji Qingxue and the others directed at Jiang Hao were filled with intense envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Just as everyone was overwhelmed with shock, a sudden mutation occurred.

BOOM!!!

A terrifying explosion erupted from a certain direction, carrying a force so dreadful that the entire mountain range seemed to shudder. Everyone felt the ground tilt beneath them and nearly lost their footing. It was a literal earth-shattering tremor.

Countless gazes immediately darted toward the source of the sound. At the end of the sprawling mountain range, a blinding column of light pierced the sky. A terrifying residual shockwave swept across the world, instantly obliterating the ancient trees on countless peaks and reducing them to nothingness.

Ji Wufeng, Jiang Hao, and the others swiftly soared into the air, their faces plastered with absolute astonishment.

"What terrifying power! Is that...?"

"The Sect Protection Array! It’s the Ancient Emperor Sect’s Sect Protection Array!"

"The Ancient Emperor Sect ruins have opened! Good heavens, how can there be such a colossal Sect Protection Array?"

The immeasurable, ancient defensive array resembled an inverted glass bowl. It seemed to reach higher than the heavens, encompassing an endless expanse of territory and blocking the path to the sky.

Only at this moment did everyone truly comprehend the terrifying and world-shocking nature of the Ancient Emperor Sect. The name "Ancient Emperor Sect" wasn’t actually the original name of this ancient faction. Rather, it signified a sect that had birthed an Emperor Realm powerhouse—or as they were rightfully called, an Ancient Emperor Powerhouse.

Following the opening of the Ancient Emperor Sect ruins, countless Cultivators surged into the air from within the Endless Mountain Range. They were densely packed, their sheer numbers enough to make one’s scalp tingle. Their eyes shone with brilliant light, radiating bursts of anticipation and deep yearning.

"The Ancient Emperor Sect ruins... this will be my first stop in the battle for prodigy supremacy!"

"The legacy of an ancient sect that birthed an Ancient Emperor! Even securing a ten-thousandth of its inheritance would be enough to forge a supreme existence."

"If we can obtain an Ancient Emperor Secret Technique from within, we’ll have no trouble dominating the world!"

To them, the ancient ruins ahead weren’t just a sect too old to trace, but an ultimate inheritance ground exuding a fatal temptation.

"That’s the sect’s defensive array. Although it’s still operating, its power likely isn’t even a ten-millionth of what it was at its peak. As long as we’re careful, getting inside won’t be a problem."

"Hahaha! Mid-level inheritance, here I come!"

Countless Cultivators threw their heads back and laughed wildly, their blood boiling with excitement.

Even though the sect’s origins had been erased by the river of time and no one knew of its former grandeur and brilliance, just a tiny sliver of the inheritances hidden within would be enough to forge a world-shaking genius.

However, they didn’t dare to rashly set foot in the area just yet. They had to wait for the terrifying power to dissipate before advancing. The world-destroying force was simply beyond what the younger generation of Cultivators could withstand; their only option was to avoid its sharpest edge.

As time passed, more and more Cultivators revealed themselves, all of them staring fixedly at the ruins.

Even Jiang Hao felt a surge of excitement. For someone in his current situation, cultivation opportunities were desperately needed. Whether it was Cultivation Techniques, martial skills, or resources, he was essentially penniless, unlike Ji Qingxue and the others who had ancient clans backing them. Even a single Array, an Alchemist Secret Technique, or a high-quality Magical Artifact would be a massive stroke of fortune for him right now.

"Everyone, get ready. We’re entering the ruins! Once inside, try not to get separated. Do not be tempted by petty gains. Remember, only by sticking together will we have a chance to secure the best inheritances and opportunities."

Watching the terrifying power gradually dissipate, Ji Wufeng and the others spoke up one after another. They rubbed their palms together in eager anticipation, their bodies trembling with excitement. Hadn’t they lain dormant here for so long precisely for this very day?

At the exact same moment Jiang Hao and his group were preparing to charge into the ancient ruins, in another direction, terrifying arks slowly emerged from the void.

These were the Celestial Sword Sect’s arks, and three of them had appeared all at once.

On one of the arks, Mo Yan and the others wore expressions of sheer exhilaration, yet they remained highly vigilant of their surroundings.

"Pass down the order! Before entering the Ancient Emperor Sect ruins, everyone must keep a close eye on all the Cultivators. The moment you spot Jiang Hao, you are to suppress and kill him at all costs! Under no circumstances can we allow him to enter the Ancient Emperor Sect!"

It was obvious to everyone that Dugu Hongyun had previously chased that figure to this vicinity, meaning their target definitively wouldn’t miss the chance to enter the Ancient Emperor Sect ruins. Everyone had witnessed the white-clad youth’s talent and potential. If he were allowed to enter the ruins and seize a terrifying opportunity, he would inevitably become a major threat to the Celestial Sword Sect.

However, as soon as these words were spoken, the Celestial Sword Sect disciples on the other two arks shook their heads in disdain.

"Mo Yan, Dugu, it’s just a lowly grunt at the Early-stage Spirit Transformation. To think you actually let him slip right out from under your noses. How embarrassing."

"Hahaha! Senior Brother Dugu has always been unparalleled within the sect. Who would have thought he’d trip up on a molehill and fail to kill a useless fool? If word of this reaches the sect, it will seriously tarnish Senior Brother Dugu’s glorious reputation."

Evidently, even within the Celestial Sword Sect, things weren’t as harmonious as one might imagine. Fierce competition existed among them.

On the ark, even the usually aloof and arrogant Dugu Hongyun couldn’t help but furrow his brows upon hearing their mockery. "I merely got careless last time. I didn’t expect that insect to possess such a potent Concealment Art. If I ever run into that piece of trash again, I will slice his head off with a single sword strike!"

As Dugu Hongyun spoke, boundless killing intent surged in his eyes.

It was obvious that the half-month pursuit had been an absolute humiliation for him. As a renowned figure on the Celestial Sword Sect’s ranking of the Seventy-Two Peerless Monsters, he possessed the strength of the Spirit Transformation. Yet, while hunting down a Cultivator merely at the Early-stage Spirit Transformation, he had somehow let his prey escape alive.

If word got out, he would become the biggest laughingstock in the world.

What infuriated Dugu Hongyun the most was that word *had* actually gotten out, and more and more people were learning about it. After all, countless eyes had witnessed him chasing after Jiang Hao, and it wasn’t just Cultivators from the Celestial Sword Sect who had been present.

As soon as he made his declaration, the expected happened. Many non-Celestial Sword Sect arks and a vast multitude of nearby Cultivators began whispering among themselves.

"Isn’t that Dugu Hongyun from the Celestial Sword Sect’s Seventy-Two Peerless Monsters ranking? To think someone actually managed to escape from his grasp, and a Cultivator who had just stepped into Spirit Transformation at that!"

"Who was the one who escaped? To retreat completely unscathed from the pursuit of a Spirit Transformation peerless monster... could they also be a terrifying existence?"

"I heard it’s a peerless genius from Xingyue City named Jiang Hao. He was once considered a useless fool who missed the optimal time to awaken his martial spirit."

"Hiss... Dugu Hongyun actually let a useless fool escape from his hands alive?"

"At the Spirit Transformation, suppressing and killing a Cultivator who just entered the Spirit Transformation Realm should be as easy as taking something out of one’s pocket. It should happen in the blink of an eye! Even I could do it. Could it be that this peerless monster of the Celestial Sword Sect is nothing but an undeserved reputation?"

"Is there any possibility that this Jiang Hao is just too freakishly strong?"

"Impossible. No matter how freakishly strong a Loose Cultivator without a solid background might be, they could never contend with a top talent nurtured by a Divine Sect."

"He’s nothing more than someone who was chased until he fled in sheer panic. Are you all really putting him on the same level as Dugu Hongyun?"

"Exactly. He’s just a mere jumping buffoon, no need to pay him too much mind. Among the newly risen terrifying figures, there’s absolutely no one by that name."

"Still, letting a nobody escape... Lord Dugu really embarrassed himself here! Hahaha!"

Hearing the mocking murmurs all around him, Dugu Hongyun nearly coughed up blood in pure anger. "Jiang, you’d better pray I don’t run into you again! If I don’t kill you in this lifetime, I will never be able to wash away this monumental humiliation!"

"Everyone, keep your eyes peeled!" Mo Yan ordered loudly. "The moment you spot Jiang Hao, report to Senior Brother Dugu immediately!"

"Yes!"

Following Mo Yan’s command, nearly all the proud sons and daughters of heaven on the ark began scouring the area for Jiang Hao. Even Cultivators from the Xingyue City Earth Realm, like Ye Xiaotian and Wang Jiang, widened their eyes and looked around intently.

Little did they know, at this very moment, Jiang Hao and over thirty Spirit Transformation powerhouses from Nanling were hiding in the mountain range directly beneath their ark.

Hearing the voices drifting down from the ark above, Ji Qingxue and the others exchanged bewildered glances before turning to look at Jiang Hao, a trace of shock flickering in their eyes.

He had actually evaded the pursuit of a Spirit Transformation peerless monster—and not just any ordinary peerless monster—using only his Early-stage Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation!

He truly was a peerless freak who couldn’t be judged by common sense.

Right as everyone turned their gazes toward him, Jiang Hao was frantically retracting his aura. He even activated his Concealment Art, instantly turning himself into a nearly invisible presence amidst the group.

Watching Jiang Hao’s smooth execution of this maneuver, the corners of Ji Wufeng and the others’ mouths twitched slightly. Wasn’t this peerless freak being a little *too* low-key? But on second thought, the more low-key he acted, the more intimidating it felt, sending a sudden chill down their spines.

Just as Jiang Hao concealed his aura...

"The power has dissipated!"

"Let’s go!"

SWISH SWISH SWISH!!!

In an instant, an overwhelming swarm of Cultivators took to the skies, flying toward the Ancient Emperor Sect ruins. The grand spectacle was akin to an army of millions marching across the firmament.

Jiang Hao quickly advanced alongside Ji Wufeng and the others, heading straight for the region.

However, just as Jiang Hao and his group had traversed more than half the distance across the void, a pair of eyes noticed their incredibly terrifying lineup of monstrous talents, and more importantly, locked onto that distinct white-clad figure.

"Jiang Hao! It’s Jiang Hao!"