When Zhang Yan said this, the old man burst into loud laughter and said, "Such audacious arrogance from a junior! Here in the outer sea, even the Eighteen Demon Kings dare not provoke Chongyue True Temple casually. And you dare to challenge the prodigies of my sect? You’ll first have to get past me!"
His eyes gleamed brightly as he stared at Zhang Yan and said, "I, Beigong Hao, like you, am a Xuan Guang Practitioner. Let me test you today and see what distinguishes a disciple of the Mingcang Sect."
When Zhang Yan heard this, his expression did not change. Yet, somewhere within his Ancestral Acupoint, his sword ball seemed to stir with a trace of excitement, faintly indicating its eagerness to emerge—something notably out of the ordinary.
Beigong Hao let out a hearty laugh and waved his hand. A blue-colored Xuan Guang rose from beneath his feet, sweeping him into the air. This Xuan Guang resembled a tumultuous waterfall, emitting rumbling and roaring sounds that carried an imposing momentum.
Hovering above, he opened his mouth and spewed out a hazy gray mist that quickly spread across the mountaintop. Then, with another wave of his hand, he flung out a small flag, offering it above his head in tribute. The flag transformed into a man-sized Array Flag gate out of thin air. He chuckled coldly a few times and dove straight into the flag gate, vanishing from sight.
This "Escape tunneling Flag Gate" could protect his form within this Dharma Treasure for up to two hours. While the flag gate remained undamaged, he would remain unscathed.
From within the flag gate, his voice rang out, "Junior, let me show you today the might of Chongyue True Temple’s ’Yin-Yang Flying Daggers.’"
Chongyue True Temple, unlike the Ten Great Sects of Xuanmen, had only a single incredibly potent Mysterious Skill in its repertoire—called the "Leaving Origin Yin-Yang Flying Saber."
Once practiced to mastery, this saber could sever souls, injure Essence Qi, decapitate heads, and claim lives. Its power was nearly comparable to that of a Flying Sword, forming the very foundation of the temple’s courage to challenge the Ten Sects of Xuanmen.
What made it especially perilous was that this saber was formed of pure Essence Qi and operated entirely through will. Cloaked within the surrounding gray mist, it became utterly impossible to defend against effectively.
Although Beigong Hao’s cultivation level limited him to forging only five flying sabers thus far, even so, he remained fearless toward any cultivator of his generation other than Hua Dan Cultivators—and he even disdained bringing along extra Dharma Treasures.
Up until now, Zhang Yan had patiently been searching for an opening. However, Beigong Hao was evidently well-versed in combat. This sequence of actions executed seamlessly left not the slightest vulnerability.
If that’s the case, then let it be a straightforward and honorable battle.
Zhang Yan had indeed heard of the fearsome reputation of the "Leaving Origin Yin-Yang Flying Saber." It was rumored to kill its target before making a sound; with one slash, the Divine Soul would perish, and blood and flesh would dissipate completely. Today, it seemed he had the chance to witness it firsthand.
He was carefully observing when, unbeknownst to him, one black saber was silently condensing in the rolling gray mist all around, flickering in and out of sight behind him.
After wandering stealthily through the mist for several rounds, the saber abruptly flashed like lightning and in an instant was upon Zhang Yan’s back, aimed viciously for his neck. Before the blade even arrived, a chilling aura pervaded the air, piercing into his skin and bones.
Yet at that very moment, a streak of sword light shot forth. With a sharp "shhh," it cut through the black saber. The moment the two collided, the saber shattered into fragments, dissolving into a cloud of black mist. This mist whirled briefly in place before retreating back into the gray fog.
Zhang Yan’s eyes faintly flickered, a trace of astonishment crossing his mind—not because of the saber’s stealthy approach, but because the streak of sword light that had emerged was not controlled by his intent. In the past, once it sprang out to protect him, it would immediately retreat with a single strike, no longer moving.
But today, it did not retreat. Instead, it wandered around him unpredictably, faintly shielding him within, and occasionally emitting a chiming resonance, as if demonstrating its defiance toward the flying sabers. Its liveliness and animation seemed the result of the strengthening of its True Recognition.
From within the flag gate, Beigong Hao let out a startled "Hmm" and said in a grave voice, "Junior, so you’re actually a Sword Cultivator. It seems I’ve underestimated you."
He was quite shaken. Against ordinary cultivators, he’d still maintain his boldness. But it was apparent this was a Sword Cultivator who had cultivated True Recognition—a fact that made all attempts at stealth attacks entirely futile.
Should he fail to defeat Zhang Yan within two hours, once the flag gate dissipated and Zhang Yan counterattacked, he would find himself with nowhere to escape.
Though sitting within the flag gate at the moment, a hint of solemnity found its way to his face. Originally, he had only intended to humiliate Zhang Yan lightly without causing him any serious harm. Now, however, sensing his life was genuinely at risk, he had developed an unmistakable killing intent.
His heart hardened as he began chanting spells, fiercely channeling the saber technique to its fullest extent, intent on slaying Zhang Yan right where he stood.
With his focused efforts, the murky gray mist parted to reveal four black sabers simultaneously manifesting. From four directions, they swiftly converged, targeting Zhang Yan with lethal precision.