On his last visit to the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce, Song Changsheng had purchased three [Wutu Divine Thunders] for self-defense. He hadn't expected to be forced to use them so soon.
As the raging thunderstorm slowly subsided, the Taiji Diagram floated steadily in front of him, shielding him as he gripped another [Wutu Divine Thunder] tightly in his hand, his eyes locked on the ruined ground ahead.
Although his opponent had been buried beneath the rubble, Song knew well that for a Purple Mansion cultivator, such weight posed no real threat. What worried him was that his spiritual sense was restricted here; he couldn't gauge what was happening inside.
The safest course would be to hurl the remaining two [Wutu Divine Thunders] all at once, then immediately flee. Even if the old man survived, he would still be grievously wounded.
But though this was the safest option, it wasn't the best. Doing so would only enrage the enemy beyond reason. In that case, they would be locked in a death struggle. And with the Heaven-and-Earth Locking Formation still active, escape was impossible eventually; the other man would catch them.
Right now, the situation was different. The [Wutu Divine Thunder] was powerful, yes, but not necessarily fatal to the old man. That meant there was still room to maneuver.
After all, the enemy had gone to great lengths, even using a great demon as bait, to lay such a trap. This suggested he intended to perform some sort of blood sacrifice ritual.
And many cultivators had already entered this place. Among them, at least three were Purple Mansion experts. Even with the aid of formations, the old man would still have to expend considerable effort to take them all down one by one.
But the longer he delayed, the greater the danger for him. The other cultivators weren't weaklings; they had merely been caught off guard at first. Given time, someone was bound to discover the truth and find a way to counter his schemes.
If even two Purple Mansion cultivators managed to join forces, the old man's plan would likely collapse.
Thus, what he needed most now was speed. He couldn't afford to waste too much time on Song and the others.
And this gave Song another option for negotiation.
For them, this was the optimal choice, though it carried certain risks for Song personally.
A loud boom shattered the silence. The rubble exploded outward, and the old man emerged, holding his Evil Ghost Banner.
He looked utterly disheveled. His robes were torn in several places, and even his scraggly goatee was singed black.
"Boy, I didn't think you'd dare stay behind. What is it? Do you believe you can contend with me?" His voice was chilling as he advanced step by step.
"I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't have something to rely on." Song spread his palm, revealing the [Wutu Divine Thunder] within, his tone calm and steady.
The old man instinctively flinched back a step. Though the cavern was wreathed in black fog, his special methods allowed him to see further than most. At a glance, he recognized the object in Song's hand.
No one knew the power of the [Wutu Divine Thunder] better than he did. Though he had taken a direct hit earlier and appeared unharmed, in truth, he had skirted the very edge of death.
Had it not been for his quick reflexes in deploying his life-bound treasure, the Evil Ghost Banner, that blast would have blown him to pieces.
Even so, the strike had dealt serious damage to the banner itself; its glow was visibly dimmer now. The loss gnawed at his heart.
So when he saw another [Wutu Divine Thunder] in Song's hand, a flicker of apprehension flashed across his eyes.
But it vanished just as quickly.
He was, after all, a mighty Purple Mansion cultivator. How could he allow himself to be cowed by a mere late-stage Foundation Establishment junior?
"Not bad, boy," he sneered. "But should I call you bold or a fool? Had you struck by surprise, you might have truly endangered me. But to reveal your trump card so openly? Hehehe…"
With a chilling laugh, his figure dissolved into the black fog and vanished.
In that instant, every hair on Song's body stood on end. He immediately activated [Flickering Shadows], retreating at full speed.
A moment later, a burst of eerie light detonated at the spot where he had just stood.
"You can run, but how long do you think you can run for?" the old man's sinister voice echoed, his expression cruel as his hands formed rapid seals.
A jet-black phantom tower appeared above his palm, radiating ominous power.
"Minor Divine Ability Nine Nether Soul Suppression."
A chilling aura of the Netherworld surged forth, washing over Song Changsheng and making his very soul tremble.
He knew that whether or not there would be room to negotiate afterward depended entirely on whether he could withstand this strike.
With a thought, the Lu Wu Bell and the Taiji Diagram floated before him as shields. Extending his right arm, a phantom seal inscribed with mountains and rivers emerged in his palm.
"Minor Divine Ability – Mountain-Flipping Seal!"
Though both techniques were classed as minor divine abilities, Song's was fueled by the Primal Chaos Qi within his body, while his opponent's was powered by pure mana. The difference in force was immeasurable.
The moment the giant seal collided with the phantom tower, a blinding light burst forth. The cavern, already unstable, collapsed violently under the force of the explosion, only to be blown open again an instant later as the phantom tower bore down directly upon Song.
Clenching his jaw, Song braced himself, pushing the Taiji Diagram and Lu Wu Bell upward to meet it.
"I must hold on!"
Under his desperate gaze, the Taiji Diagram and the phantom tower slammed together without flourish. The glow on the Taiji Diagram flickered violently, but in the end, it successfully blocked the attack.
Seizing the instant when the phantom tower dispersed, Song hurled the Wutu Divine Thunder in his hand. It streaked away in a yellow flash, aimed straight at the old man.
The smile on the elder's face froze. Instinctively, he tried to raise the Evil Ghost Banner to defend himself, but he was a heartbeat too late.
The thunderbolt exploded less than a yard from his body. Lightning raged in all directions, tearing a massive hollow in the underground cavern as the old man was blasted backward, his entire body wreathed in crackling arcs.
Yet a Purple Mansion cultivator was no ordinary foe. With countless trump cards at his disposal, this strike left him only lightly wounded.
Even so, the humiliation cut deep. For a lofty Purple Mansion master to stumble at the hands of a mere late-Foundation junior? If word spread, he would become a laughingstock.
Even heretics cared about face!
"You wretch! You deserve to die!" the elder bellowed, livid with rage. The black fog around him churned violently.
Just then, Song slowly drew out his final Wutu Divine Thunder, his voice cold:
"If you're not afraid of mutual destruction, then come and try me."
The veins on the old man's forehead bulged as madness flickered in his eyes. What in the hell is this brat's background? Does he think Wutu Divine Thunders grow on trees? He just pulls them out like cabbages in the market!
For a long moment, the cavern fell into an eerie silence.
Were this battle taking place in the open, he wouldn't fear even if Song had more thunder hidden away. But here, in the cramped confines of the underground cavern, his movements were restricted; he had no choice but to endure them head-on.
Worse, that bizarre Taiji Diagram could even withstand a minor divine ability. Against such a defense, he found himself helpless.
Of course, if he were willing to pay a heavy price, he could still crush Song. But he had three other Purple Mansion cultivators yet to deal with. To carry out his blood ritual, he needed to remain at his peak at all times.
Looking at the bigger picture, wasting time on Song now would be sheer folly.
Time is running short. The ritual is what matters most.
Suppressing his fury, the elder snarled coldly:
"You do have some skill. This seat will grant you a few more moments to cling to life."
With that, he melted into the black fog and vanished.
Song blinked, stunned. He had expected a lengthy argument, yet the old man had retreated so decisively.
Still, it worked in his favor.
He put away the Taiji Diagram, gazing at its faintly dimmed glow. Though it pained him, he felt even greater surprise.
Since the day he obtained the Taiji Diagram, he had never ceased trying to refine it. Every attempt failed. Strangely, though it resisted refinement, it never hindered his ability to wield it.
He had always known its defenses were strong, but not this strong. To withstand the minor divine ability of an early-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, even at some cost, was no small feat.
The thought deepened his curiosity. How could the insignificant Ling clan, a family without even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, possibly possess such a treasure?
But there was no one left to answer his question, and he had no time to ponder.
The old man was certainly off hunting the others now. If they didn't break the Heaven-and-Earth Locking Formation before his plot was completed, they would all perish.
With that, Song hastened toward Xu Yunhe and the others.
...
Meanwhile, Xu Yunhe carried the unconscious Zhuang Yuechan on his back, weaving through the cavern tunnels. Before long, he had lost all sense of direction, but he remembered Song's words Just keep moving forward.
The oppressive black mist frayed everyone's nerves. Even the slightest sound might spark a bloody clash.
Xu Yunhe had already been ambushed several times along the way.
Fortunately, his combat prowess had been tempered in fire and blood. Though dangerous, each encounter ended with him surviving intact.
After one such skirmish, he leaned wearily against a wall to rest.
Suddenly, faint footsteps rustled nearby. Xu Yunhe tensed immediately, hand gripping his sword hilt.
Just as he prepared to strike first, a warm voice called out:
"Brother Xu?"
"Brother Song! We're here." Relief washed over Xu Yunhe's face as he broke into a smile.
"Brother Xu, it's a blessing you're unharmed. How is Daoist Zhuang?" Song asked, his own heart settling. He had seen too much chaos along the way to feel truly at ease until now.
Although Xu Yunhe was a capable fighter, he was still only at mid-Foundation Establishment. Among those present, aside from the Qi Refining juniors who were basically just bystanders, his cultivation was among the weakest.
"Daoist Zhuang has been unconscious this whole time. Her injuries are severe. I gave her a Rejuvenation Pill, but it had no effect," he explained.
Song Changsheng frowned, gently laying Zhuang Yuechan on the ground. He then grasped her wrist and channeled the Light of Rejuvenation.
A verdant glow bloomed, and the tight furrow between her brows slowly eased. Before long, her eyelashes quivered, and she awoke from her coma.
She could not see Song Changsheng's face, but the familiar aura around him filled her heart with calm.
"So it wasn't an illusion after all…"
"Daoist Zhuang, you're awake. How do you feel?" Song propped her against the cavern wall, his voice warm with concern.
Feeling the steady warmth of the hand supporting her waist, a faint flush rose beneath her veil. Her voice was soft as a mosquito's buzz: "I… I feel much better."
Relief washed through Song Changsheng, though his questions came swiftly: "Why weren't you with Daoist Yin and the others?"
At his words, the starry brilliance of Zhuang Yuechan's eyes dimmed. In a low voice, she said:
"We received word that the great demon lurking in the Griffon Mountains was none other than Golden Armor, the one who attacked Luoxia City but fled wounded.
Second Uncle ordered us to eliminate him once and for all, to prevent future disaster.
Using a tracing secret art, we tracked him to the mouth of this cavern and went deep underground, into a subterranean chamber.
There, we saw Golden Armor. He was bound to the ground by countless chains of cold iron and sealed within a formation. Though his cultivation was formidable, he could not muster any strength.
That was when we realized we had walked into a trap, but it was already too late. That old man appeared and activated the formation within the hollow.
At the critical moment, my senior brother shoved me clear, while they were all trapped inside. I had meant to escape and call for help, but this accursed mist led me astray…"
Song's brow knitted tighter. Her account matched what he had suspected, but how had she sustained such grievous wounds?
When he voiced the question, a flash of anger lit Zhuang Yuechan's eyes. Her voice turned cold: "It was that bastard Hai Dongping!"
"Hai Dongping?" Song frowned. The name rang a bell.
Suddenly, an image surfaced in his mind, a face more beautiful than a woman's.
"Isn't he the personal disciple of Master Hanhai?"
"Yes. You've met him before," she confirmed.
At that, understanding dawned on Song. Back at Tianyin Mountain, that man had openly coveted Zhuang Yuechan. Simply walking alongside her had been enough to draw his hostility. Song had dismissed it then, since Hai Dongping had kept quiet afterward.
But to hear his name again here, of all places…
"He tried to take advantage of you?"
Zhuang Yuechan's expression shifted, and she gave a faint nod.
"The City Lord has already advanced to Golden Core. Would Master Hanhai let that beast run rampant?" Xu Yunhe exclaimed in disbelief.
"What's so impossible about it?" Song's face darkened. "Hanhai's reputation is foul to begin with. And here, in a place like this, with Daoist Zhuang separated from the others if she died, who would bear witness?"
Given what he knew of Zhuang Yuechan, Hai Dongping alone could never have harmed her so badly.
Sure enough, her next words confirmed it.
"It was Master Hanhai himself who struck me. I only escaped by using a treasure gifted to me by my teacher. Otherwise, I would have fallen right there." Her eyes burned with hatred. Had it not been so, she never would have been chased down by that old man afterward.
"Hmph! A pack of degenerates!"
Xu Yunhe slashed his sword in fury against the stone wall, sparks flying. Turning to Song, he demanded, "Brother Song, what should we do now?"
Song lowered his gaze, lost in thought. After a long moment, he raised his head, eyes resolute, and pointed in a direction.
"We must immediately break the Heaven-and-Earth Locking Formation. But there's no time to dismantle each formation node one by one.
At this point, we have only one choice: strike at the very root!"
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