He was just about to stand up when Master Sun suddenly stretched out his hand to stop him and sternly shouted, "Wait! Zhang Yan is still in the array; we might as well wait a bit longer!"
Master Zhu let out a cold snort and sat back heavily.
Master Meng glanced at the sky, silently calculated again in his heart, and shook his head, "Zhang Yan being able to persist until now is due to his understanding of the array’s changes. However, with three junior brothers already dead, even if he chooses the portal with the weakest Evil Qi, it will be difficult to take a step forward. Fine, we’ll wait until the hour of Wei. Once noon passes, the array changes again, and even if he manages to break into the array corner and throw the magic artifact, we won’t have enough time to proceed."
Master Sun knew there was little hope left at this point, but this wager concerned the rise or fall of the sect’s lineage. As long as Zhang Yan hadn’t been destroyed, there remained a glimmer of hope.
The hundreds of disciples on both sides of the slopes showed varied expressions—some anxious, others despondent, and yet others wore dark, brooding faces. Most believed that the sect’s lineage wager was surely lost, with only a few clinging to the hope of breaking the array, though they knew it was extremely remote unless a miracle occurred.
Every moment passing felt like agonizing torment.
Ning Chongxuan sat silently on a peak to the south, staring solemnly at the Four Symbols Formation in the distance.
On an island in the east, Zhuang Bufan paced back and forth, rhythmically tapping a bamboo branch in his hand. His eyes glimmered with a mysterious light—mocking, taunting, and sneering all at once.
"The hour of Wei has arrived." Master Meng sighed, gathered the talismans on the table, and suddenly stood. As he was about to leave, he seemed to think of something, turned back, and said, "Child, once Zhang Yan’s Primordial Spirit flies out, you must safeguard it properly and send it for reincarnation in due course."
Master Sun, seeing there was no hope left, also sighed and stood up.
True Master Yan, who had been sitting with closed eyes, slowly opened them and lightly remarked, "Junior Brother Sun, do fewer futile things in the future." He too stood in no rush.
Master Zhu coldly snorted once and rose.
Yet, as they were about to turn and leave, an earth-shattering noise suddenly erupted from the northern section of the Four Symbols Formation—a sound as if the heavens were rending and the earth collapsing, mountains roaring, and seas surging.
The four True Masters were visibly shaken and turned sharply to look. They saw that a corner of the vast sea of clouds spanning thousands of miles had inexplicably crumbled. The entirety of Perch Eagle Land was split apart, mountains shattered, rivers overflowed, and the Spiritual Energy within a thousand-mile radius was thrown into chaos.
From the distant horizon came a long, piercing cry, "Zhang Yan of Mingcang Sect claims the head of Demon King Gui Congyao here!"
The cry swept out for a thousand miles like a raging wind and violent waves, shaking the four True Masters with shock. Even the disciples of Mingcang Sect on Bamboo Island seemed unable to stand stably upon hearing such news.
True Master Qin, who had been meditating since she arrived on the island, suddenly opened her phoenix eyes, her beautiful face registering an expression of utter disbelief.
The renowned True Masters exchanged glances before leaping into the air and flying urgently toward the already-collapsed Four Symbols Formation.
At this moment, the skies were gathering clouds, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. Ominous dark clouds loomed overhead, and in an instant, torrential rain poured down.
The Nameless Daoist guarding the western corner of the array was meditating when he suddenly noticed the collapse of the formation. He couldn’t help his astonished expression. By casually pulling in a trace of aura and calculating with his fingers, he immediately understood what had gone wrong. Infuriated, he let out a bitter laugh and roared, "Audacious youth, dare to ruin my grand plan!"
His body shook, and an awe-inspiring dharma form appeared—a towering structure that reached heaven and earth, consisting of ninety-nine levels, surrounded by thunder and storm. As the high tower lifted into the sky, boundless power erupted from it, pressing down directly toward Zhang Yan’s location. Before the suppression even arrived, the water surface of Nandang Swamp sank downward and surged outward in all directions, forcing the disciples on Bamboo Island to activate their magic artifacts and tunneling light, flying into the air. For a time, hundreds of diverse lights flashed across the sky.
A bolt of lightning illuminated the heavens as if it were broad daylight, and for a split second, the Nameless Daoist’s dharma form suppressing Zhang Yan came into full view—not only to the five Cave Heaven True Masters but also to the hundreds of disciples above Bamboo Island.
Yet, facing this overwhelming dharma form, Zhang Yan, under hundreds of gazes, showed no intention of dodging or retreating; instead, he held the severed head aloft and stepped forward. Just as he was about to be crushed under the dharma form, a black rainbow suddenly shot out from the center of his brow. The moment the rainbow appeared, it transformed into a boundless sword light that seemed to cover heaven and earth, forcing even the five True Masters to halt their advance.
A hearty laugh rang in Zhang Yan’s ears from an old man’s voice, "Zhang Yan, come and cleave this world open with me!"
In that instant, Zhang Yan felt a surge of unrestrained energy filling his chest—a spirit of unmatched determination and supremacy. As this moment reached its peak, he let out a long cry and leapt forward, merging with the sword light to charge upward without hesitation!
Like a flash of lightning tearing through the void, a deafening roar echoed. Not only was the dharma form towering like a mountain split in half, but the dark-cloud-covered heavens were also torn apart!
A mournful cry echoed in the air, "Qin Mobai, you’ve destroyed my millennia of cultivation! I swear to never forgive you!"
Amid the scattered and chaotic clouds, a red tunneling light fled desperately westward.
Witnessing this scene, the four True Masters were simultaneously stricken with astonishment. Master Meng pointed a trembling finger, his voice shaky, "The Beiming Dutian Sword? Could it be... the sect’s sacred sword being used here? Is this..."
Master Sun also stared blankly, exclaiming, "So that’s why... no wonder..."
True Master Yan’s expressionless face betrayed slight trembling fingers. "This junior has actually gained the favor of the Beiming Tiandu Sword. Doesn’t this mean that Sect Leader Master..."
Just then, rumbling sounds came from the heavens. The murky clouds suddenly parted, and a boundless Heavenly River appeared, suspended upside down without visible start or end. Floating in the sky, the river swiftly subdued the chaotic Primordial Qi between heaven and earth, and suddenly, the storm cleared, restoring a sky of boundless blue.
The four True Masters hurriedly bowed deeply and respectfully said, "Disciple welcomes Sect Leader Master."
A warm and mellow voice descended from the heavens, "Zhang Yan, you’ve accomplished a great feat. Come quickly to the Floating Palace to see me."
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)