A thunderous explosion tore across the skies, as two streams of Xuan Guang clashed in midair, reverberating with a force akin to a tempest’s roar.
Zhang Yan and the Bald Old Demon brushed past each other, each standing atop opposing peaks of Bamboo Island, their gazes wary, both taken aback by the other’s strength.
Having cultivated the Taiyin Golden Fire Xuan Light, Zhang Yan had consistently triumphed in combat. Whether facing the Demon Cultivators of the Blood Essence Sect or the Demon Cultivators of Bixue Pond, his Xuan Guang would shred and obliterate all flesh and bone. Against this Xuan Guang Third Realm Cultivator, while he wasn’t expecting an instant kill, he had at least aimed to inflict severe injury.
Yet, to his surprise, in the instant their energies collided, what seemed initially unyielding and extraordinary—the Purgatory Xuan Light—was torn into a black and red misty cloud. Zhang Yan instantly realized it wasn’t his Xuan Guang tearing it apart; rather, the opponent, recognizing the overwhelming force of the Golden Fire Xuan Guang, had deliberately dissolved their own attack. That energy then shifted and fluctuated, resisting layer by layer, even obstructing the corrosive onslaught of his Golden Fire Xuan Light as they crossed paths.
In truth, Zhang Yan’s Taiyin Golden Fire Xuan Light was refined using subterranean heavy evil energy, making it incomparably pure. When unleashed, it resembled the blazing sun, its oppressive might causing evil spirits and foul entities to retreat instinctively. Such filth could not even come close, let alone endure it. If not for the difference of two entire cultivation realms between them, Zhang Yan might have subdued his opponent in one decisive strike.
Adjusting his mindset, Zhang Yan mused internally, "Though the Taiyin Golden Fire Xuan Light is domineering, this demon’s Xuan Guang cannot be underestimated. Without a precise opportunity, it will be difficult to harm him."
He also discerned that the destruction of the Ruyi Divine Shuttle and the Star Sword Ball earlier was no coincidence—it was a maneuver his opponent intentionally invited, sacrificing the artifacts to guard against a true breach in their defenses.
Simultaneously, the Bald Old Demon experienced his own shock. His Purgatory Xuan Light wasn’t designed to kill outright but to corrupt the very essence of his opponent’s Xuan Guang.
The Xuan Guang, being the Qi Essence itself, could be regenerated, provided the cultivator’s core reservoir of eighty-one streams of Spiritual Energy remained intact. However, a mere touch of Purgatory Xuan Light would corrode that very source, contaminating the Spiritual Energy and rendering the cultivation entirely void—a nefariously destructive technique.
Earlier, had the Bald Old Demon not reacted swiftly, Zhang Yan’s counter could have severed half his body. Though he appeared fearless under duress, a direct sweep of that Xuan Guang would leave him incapacitated. One follow-up strike, and he would disintegrate entirely, no different from being outright slain.
The Bald Old Demon reflected with a chill, "How is it that a Xuan Guang First Realm Cultivator wields Xuan Guang of such potency? If not for my Purgatory Xuan Light’s fluidity and the life-giving properties of Qi Blood Essence within, I might have suffered a severe setback."
Nonetheless, he understood that Zhang Yan wasn’t an average Xuan Guang Practitioner. Without absolute certainty of victory, reckless aggression would be unwise. If his avatar were to be destroyed, his True Body’s mana would immediately be diminished by two to three-tenths—a price he could ill afford.
Thus, for a time, both sides silently contemplated their strategies, rendering the stalemate unbroken.
After a long moment, the Bald Old Demon let out a hearty laugh, forcing a hint of amicability into his expression. "Little fellow Daoist, let’s speak plainly. As it stands, your six Hua Dan Cultivators and three to four hundred Xuan Guang Practitioners have already fallen into our trap. They’re now being relentlessly attacked by my Bixue Pond cultivators, and their destruction is only a matter of time. I came here merely to reclaim Bamboo Island—nothing more. Soon, my comrades will arrive, and I’d rather not share credit with them. So, I won’t demand your Prohibition Token. I’ll let you leave of your own accord. What do you say?"
His true intent, of course, was to leave no survivors on Bamboo Island to prevent word from spreading. Should Zhang Yan agree, he planned to abandon his avatar the moment Zhang Yan exited the Prohibition, allowing his True Body to descend and crush Zhang Yan without hesitation.
Zhang Yan, however, remained unmoved, his lips curving into a calm smile. "Even if what you say is true, fellow Daoist, how do you plan to stop me if I wish to leave? My being here is only to kill you."
His voice was tranquil, devoid of any heated undertones, yet his words brimmed with murderous intent. Like a guillotine suspended overhead, silent but inexorable, his calm demeanor exuded a finality that left no room for retreat.
The Bald Old Demon’s pupils contracted, only now realizing that this young cultivator possessed a cultivation level far exceeding his peers and a Dao Heart as unyielding as a cliff face. Unshakable and resolute. Before someone , even with his advantage in realm, the Bald Old Demon felt a creeping fear. Internally, he thought grimly, "For someone at the Xuan Guang First Realm to be this formidable, in another ten years, this child will surely rival Ning Chongxuan—how will people like us have anywhere to stand then? This old ancestor must eliminate this threat today!"