Chapter 1801: Breaking Barriers with One Hand

"Look, that kid is being blocked by Tan Qigong!"

"I told you, offending the Emperor Palace, how can he still be carefree?"

"Have you noticed, there seem to be fewer people from the Emperor Palace!"

"They probably went treasure hunting elsewhere, but with Supervisor Tan here, does he need others to take care of that kid?"

"..."

While the three from the Emperor Palace and Yun Xiao were in a tense standoff, several cultivators who had entered this Murong Tomb Palace arrived one after another. Although not numerous, each was skilled in the power of the soul.

These individuals were either powerful Meridian Refining Masters or had some effective Poison Avoiding Elixirs. Setting aside those cultivators who died inside and outside the Spirit Hall, about twenty remained.

Some cultivators did notice the reduced numbers from the Emperor Palace, but they never thought those people had fallen by Yun Xiao’s hand. At this moment, Tan Qigong was indeed seeking revenge, wasn’t he?

Previously outside Yingrong Lake, these people witnessed Yun Xiao killing the Second Elder of the Emperor Palace, Yue Qizhai. No doubt there was already an undying feud between these two.

Due to previous upheavals in the Spirit Hall, these people dared not enter any more Spirit Halls. This preserved many of the remains of the Murong Family’s past clan leaders.

Quite a few even thought, it seems this Murong Tomb contains no mystical treasures nor heavenly materials and earth treasures to enhance one’s power. It’s really just an ordinary underground palace for burying past Murong clan leaders.

At such a time, witnessing a unique battle was indeed an entertaining prospect for these ordinary cultivators, who found themselves rather disappointed.

A few were even considering, if that young man in coarse clothes were stronger and killed Tan Qigong, the Supervisor of the Emperor Palace, then there would be a good show to watch.

Boom!

Just as the spectators were engrossed in their discussion, Tan Qigong could no longer hold back. A powerful surge of energy erupted from him, causing many to change expression.

Owing to Yun Xiao’s strength in Murong Huchen’s Spirit Hall earlier, Tan Qigong indeed feared the lad might again surprise them by attacking the two elders, leaving him as the Emperor Palace’s only remaining Supervisor.

This time, Tan Qigong didn’t utilize his Water Attribute Meridian Spirit because he knew the miraculous young man likely possessed an artifact to counter it.

The Covering Water Spirit had already been mysteriously taken by this young man, so deploying a Water Attribute Meridian Spirit would likely yield the same result, hence he refrained from further futile actions.

"Water Barrier!"

A deep shout emanated from Tan Qigong’s mouth, and the Half-step Holy Rank meridian qi wrapped around him transformed into streams of water surging towards Yun Xiao.

The onlookers saw clearly that these streams seemed to shift like spiritual snakes or silken bands, and amidst their weaving appeared a faint hint of an array.

"A Water Attribute maze array?"

Seeing the numerous streams rushing towards him and sensing their unpredictable transform, Yun Xiao immediately recognized the nature of this technique.

This could be called a special Water Attribute Array, distinct from typical arrays requiring numerous array flags for setup.

The water created by Tan Qigong’s meridian qi wasn’t ordinary; each drop contained a hint of mind-bending aura, possibly the namesake of the Water Barrier.

Yet how could Tan Qigong know the youngster he used a Water Barrier against was in his past life a Holy Rank Peak Array Master? Employing such an unformed array before him was truly like displaying one’s craft before a master.

The endlessly flowing, illusion-laden water streams rapidly closed within inches of Yun Xiao, prompting many to shake their heads, privately doubting that the young man’s previous methods would work again this time.

Outside, they all watched him poison Yue Qizhai with apparent ease, but on reflection, it was a matter exploiting opportunities in the encounter.

Now, with Tan Qigong forsaking physical assault in favor of such uniquely effective meridian techniques, he countered precisely. This time, the young man adept in poisoning seemed destined never to escape unscathed.

Even Murong Sou in the center of the small square felt the same. In his view, the battle’s gap spanned over one realm, and if Tan Qigong’s water currents entangled this boy called Yun Xiao, he’d be at his mercy.

"To half the array, strike within... uh!"

To prevent Yun Xiao from succumbing to Tan Qigong’s hands, thus endangering his own safety, Murong Sou did not hesitate a moment, and was about to speak out and give guidance.

But before Murong Sou could finish his sentence, he stopped abruptly, as if he had a bone stuck in his throat, because he suddenly saw the young man’s movements, seemingly identical to what he wanted to say, as if this Supreme Saint Realm expert was unnecessary for guidance.

What Murong Sou originally intended to say was "Form half an array, strike the midstream," a strategy commonly used in warfare, originally phrased as "Cross the river halfway, strike the midstream," suggesting that when the enemy is halfway across a river, launching an attack will surely ensure victory.

In Murong Sou’s eyes, it’s clear that the so-called Water Barrier Formation is perfecting as it assaults from Tan Qigong’s vicinity, until Yun Xiao is trapped within the water formation; this is when the Water Barrier Formation reaches its great success.

Thus, if one wishes to break the array, or to avoid being confined by this Water Barrier Formation, one must strike the array core point before it fully forms, so it breaks without attack.

However, the Water Barrier Formation deployed by Tan Qigong has reached the Heavenly Rank Advanced level, and contains his Half-step Holy Rank meridian qi, making it extremely difficult for a young man at the Heavenly Realm Late Stage to strike the midstream to break the array.

At least Murong Sou had never thought Yun Xiao could easily break the array, even if his moves seem to have pinpointed the array core point of the incomplete Water Barrier Formation, it is not easy to break the array.

Tan Qigong is a Half-step Holy Rank expert, and the technique of breaking the array by striking the midstream at half-array is not a secret. If the Water Barrier Formation were so easily broken, would he readily deploy it?

Now Tan Qigong would no longer underestimate Yun Xiao; facing this peculiar youth, if not cautious, his lifetime of fame might end up in the gutter.

"Ignorant child, do you truly think my Water Barrier Formation is just an ordinary array?"

Seeing the coarse-clothed youth clumsily reach toward the center of the Water Barrier Formation, Tan Qigong sneered coldly, and as his seal changed, the core point of the Water Barrier Formation subtly shifted.

Whoosh!

However, at this moment, Tan Qigong saw the young man, who was reaching toward the center of the water formation, suddenly shift his right hand several feet to the side, and that position was precisely the transformed core point of the water formation.

"This is impossible!"

Seeing this scene, Tan Qigong almost roared out loud, he had confidence in his Water Barrier Formation, which contained many deceptive changes, yet didn’t expect to be seen through at a glance by the opponent.

Moreover, Yun Xiao’s movements at this moment didn’t seem to be influenced by Tan Qigong’s transformation, but rather as if he anticipated it, which is rather extraordinary to think of.

In fact, Tan Qigong didn’t know that given Yun Xiao’s current strength, combined with the Long Xiao Battle God’s experience and insight from a previous life, the changes in the Water Barrier Formation were already well mastered at first glance.

When Yun Xiao made the first move just now, his gaze—or rather soul sensing—wasn’t on the Water Barrier Formation, but continuously monitored Tan Qigong’s hands, observing each change in his finger movements.

From Tan Qigong’s seal change to the water formation’s alteration, a little time is needed; within this brief moment, Yun Xiao made a move instantly, appearing to act later yet arrive earlier, achieving success directly.

Splash!

Yun Xiao didn’t have as many considerations as Tan Qigong; since he unexpectedly found the core point of the array, he wouldn’t give any opportunity for further transformation, but directly reached out to grasp.

The sound of a water stream bursting came, and everyone clearly saw the Water Barrier Formation, seemingly mighty and executed by Half-step Holy Rank expert Tan Qigong, explode with a bang.

With water splashing everywhere, it reflected Tan Qigong’s extremely unsightly expression, leaving the distant spectators momentarily unable to react.

Could it be that the Half-step Holy Rank Emperor Palace Director Tan Qigong seemed like a mere silver gun wax head, with his Water Barrier Formation utterly defeated by this coarse-clothed youth?

"Oh? It seems I’ve indeed underestimated this youth!"

Contrary to the spectators’ peculiar thoughts, Murong Sou in the plaza center’s eyes also revealed a tinge of amazement, especially at Yun Xiao’s earlier sweeping arm movement, leaving him quite impressed.

Even Murong Sou himself only realized the array point’s shift after Yun Xiao crushed it.

On this point alone, Murong Sou admits that in the mastery of array formation, he might not compare to that young man, as the Murong Family isn’t an array-focused clan, limited merely to knowledge of arrays.

If Murong Sou acted himself, naturally he could crush the Water Barrier Formation with considerable meridian qi, but couldn’t achieve Yun Xiao’s effortless ease; it would merely be a result of brute force.

Murong Sou even believes, if he were at the young man’s Heavenly Realm Late Stage, he might have fallen victim to the altering Water Barrier Formation.