Within the shifting and rotating eight portals of the array, Zhang Yan relied on his Star Positioning Plate to deduce the directions. After several trials, he avoided the portal with the weakest Evil Qi and instead chose one that unleashed fierce beasts roughly equivalent to Xuan Guang Practitioners in strength. Navigating through twists and turns, he gradually approached the northern Array Corner.
As he progressed forward, dozens of Demon Flood Dragons with black phosphorescent bodies and hornless heads suddenly appeared ahead. Zhang Yan, unperturbed, had already slain hundreds of similar demons formed by condensed Evil Qi during his journey. He unleashed sixteen streams of sword light, sweeping them down like a spinning wheel of destruction. The Demon Flood Dragons disintegrated into the purest Spiritual Energy, which was meticulously absorbed by the Mountain and River Qi Map beneath his feet.
If the monsters had been flesh-and-blood cultivators, Zhang Yan would have faced a greater challenge. However, these creatures lacked consciousness and spiritual wisdom. When confronted by his sword ball, they neither defended nor evaded, allowing themselves to be shredded in the blink of an eye, much to the delight of the Mountain and River Qi Map as it greedily devoured their remains.
It was only when Zhang Yan slew the final Demon Flood Dragon that he noticed something unusual. This particular beast’s eyes seemed to glimmer with an unsettling hint of spiritual wisdom. As the sword light descended toward it, instead of recklessly charging forward like its predecessors, it nimbly darted to the side, evading the attack with cunning precision.
The sixteen sword spheres moved as one with Zhang Yan’s heart and spirit, adapting almost instantly to the demon’s maneuver. They shot forward like arrows, piercing its body with dozens of blood-spattered holes before twisting and shredding it into nothingness.
Zhang Yan’s expression grew heavier. This demon formed from Evil Qi had abruptly elevated its Daoist Cultivation to a level matching the Third Realm of Xuan Guang Practitioners—suggesting that another Hua Dan Cultivator had perished, and fragments of their cultivation power had infused the beast, granting it faint spiritual wisdom.
If all three Hua Dan Cultivators protecting the array were slain, the defenders’ focus would inevitably shift to him. Furthermore, the demons would grow increasingly formidable, which would make his task exceedingly more difficult.
Just then, the turbulent clouds churned dramatically, and a surge of demons suddenly burst forward, this time numbering over a thousand. Each measured ten zhang in size, forming an overwhelming tidal wave that blotted out the blue sky.
Zhang Yan flicked his robe sleeve and let out a long, thunderous cry. Without bothering to count how many demon beasts fell to his sword spheres, he drove all sixteen sword balls like a silver tempest to carve a path forward. Above him, a blazing golden fire spun radiantly within his Xuan Guang, while beneath his feet, the Mountain and River Qi Map stretched over a hundred zhang long, rippling like ocean waves as he charged deeper into the array.
The fierce demons that surged toward him either disintegrated under the twisting sword balls or were swept up by the Golden Fire Xuan Guang, transforming into streams of Spiritual Energy. Yet, unlike before, the demons no longer simply faded into energy upon destruction—flesh and bones rained down like torrential storms, while blood and scales scattered across the skies as if the beasts had taken on lifelike forms.
Zhang Yan pressed onward at full speed for a while longer, but by then, the approaching demon beasts had shockingly advanced further in cultivation, now bearing the strength of Hua Dan Cultivators. Each one glared at him with fierce aggression and unleashed earth-shaking roars. Instead of blindly charging, they spread out in all directions to encircle him completely.
Zhang Yan remained calm, knowing he had drawn close to the array’s crucial point. He could no longer afford to hesitate. With a commanding shout, he activated the Harmony Carrying Cover, pushing it upward to shield himself. Ignoring the distinctions between Life and Death Gates, he charged headlong into the depths of the formation.
As soon as the Harmony Carrying Cover materialized, the array’s guardian sensed its presence. A streak of luminous light pierced through the labyrinthine channels, enveloping Zhang Yan. Within moments, an uncountable number of portals shifted, disorienting the barrage of attacking demons and causing them to strike at nothing but empty air.
When Zhang Yan’s figure stabilized, he raised his eyes to survey his surroundings. He found himself in a boundless, desolate expanse. Not far from him stood a three-tiered platform, upon which sat an Old Daoist with crane-gray hair and a youthful face, clutching a horsetail whisk. Upon seeing Zhang Yan, the Daoist rose and performed a respectful bow with his clasped fists, smiling faintly as he spoke, "Daoist Zhang, I have been awaiting your arrival. I seek liberation. There is no time to delay—today, take my head as you please."
Zhang Yan solemnly returned the gesture, then shouted a sharp command and pointed with his fingers. The Star Sword Ball ascended into the air before plunging directly toward the Daoist’s head.
On Bamboo Island, yet another beam of light rose to the summit. With a sharp "clink," it transformed into a jade token that dropped onto a desk. True Master Meng picked it up, glanced at it, and sighed, "It is Junior Brother Jin."
True Master Yan shook his head slightly and said, "With all three lost within the array, breaking the formation is surely impossible now."
True Master Zhu shook out the folds of his sleeves, his voice icy as he declared, "Lingering here any longer serves no purpose."