He let out a mocking laugh, shrugged his shoulder, and unleashed a sphere of Xuan Guang spanning over sixty zhang above his head. Within the sphere, three streams of radiant energy intertwined—blue mist roiled like ethereal fog, golden light gleamed like dazzling clouds, and fiery brilliance burned like crimson haze. Though the three streams twined together, they remained distinct and unconflicted.
As the two Flying Swords approached, the sphere of Xuan Guang surged upward and enveloped them in a single sweep.
A loud crackling rang out, and within the Xuan Guang, Star Fire exploded and fierce flames roared. In just the blink of an eye, the two high-grade Flying Swords were reduced to a heap of scrap metal. After spinning a few rounds within the light, not even the slightest remnants remained.
These two Daoists had relied heavily on their Flying Swords to strike down opponents, confidently believing their swords could pierce through barriers like Xuan Guang without exception. But they hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming power of Taiyin Xuan Guang. One careless misstep cost them their life-bound Flying Swords, inflicting devastating trauma to their Heart and Spirit, leaving them screaming miserably in unison before collapsing to the ground, bleeding from their seven apertures and convulsing, death hanging on the verge.
Even Yu Consort, who considered herself well-traveled, had never witnessed Xuan Guang destroy a Dharma Treasure outright. Her almond-shaped eyes opened wide in shock as her lips parted slightly, her expression brimming with disbelief.
The people behind her, upon seeing the fate of the two Daoists, also wore expressions filled with horror.
Zhang Yan’s release of Xuan Guang was utterly domineering, leaving the entire group frozen in place.
Brother Feng also stared in amazement and thought grimly, "What is this Daoist Skill? How can it be so powerful? To destroy Magic Artifacts with Xuan Guang—this is no trivial Loose Cultivator’s ability. Either this person hails from a Great Xuanmen Sect or has gained extraordinary Immortal fortune."
He had initially planned to test Zhang Yan’s capabilities by gathering some individuals, including the impulsive yet not entirely clever Yu Consort, to confront him, suspecting Zhang Yan was Guo Lie’s ally in the struggle for the Immortal Palace Token.
If Zhang Yan proved lacking, Brother Feng could feel at ease. If Zhang Yan displayed skill and angered Lady Yu, it might provoke Demon King Xuan Tong to intervene and eliminate him.
Contemplating internally, Brother Feng deduced, "It seems my prior concerns were justified. This man’s origins must be extraordinary; he’s clearly an unpredictable factor. I must promptly inform my master and prevent any mishaps during the Immortal Palace’s opening."
Having gauged Zhang Yan’s fearsome potential, Brother Feng decided it would be wise to pull back rather than suffer needless losses. Thus, he said, "Lady Yu, this individual’s Daoist Cultivation is deep; today is not suited for conflict. None of us possess potent Dharma Treasures to contend with him. Why not retreat for now and summon Child Demon King to claim justice on your behalf?"
Faced with Zhang Yan’s overwhelming aura, Yu Consort felt a pang of panic, her resolve faltering. But she was used to imposing her will and had never endured such humiliation. Pointing at Zhang Yan, she lashed out, "You Daoist, just you wait! When I return, you won’t escape my wrath!"
A sharp and cold glint flashed in Zhang Yan’s eyes as he bellowed, "Leave? Not so easily!"
He once told Fu Hongyu that he wouldn’t interfere with others as long as they didn’t provoke him. But if anyone dared challenge him, he wouldn’t hold back in retaliation!
He reasoned that letting this woman escape would inevitably invite Demon King Xuan Tong to confront him. Since conflict was unavoidable, it would be better to handle matters here and gain the upper hand.
With this thought, a shadow of killing intent arose in his heart. The sword ball hidden within his Ancestral Acupoint was energized by his murderous intent. With a resonant hum, it leapt from the center of his brows, transforming into a startling beam of brilliant sword light that surged upward like a streak of lightning. Sword Intent erupted like waves, filling the air with radiant brilliance and an overwhelming chill.
Brother Feng saw Zhang Yan unsheathe his sword with such menacing grandeur and commanding presence that it clearly conveyed the heritage of a True Sect Sword Cultivator. Sensing his intense killing intent, Brother Feng instantly felt alarmed. Hesitating only briefly, he quickly withdrew a few steps before hastily activating his tunneling light to escape into the clouds.
Summoning his Divine Intent, Zhang Yan spurred the Star Sword Ball into action, transforming it into sheer sword light that bridged the void with astonishing speed, streaking tens of zhang in an instant toward Yu Consort.
Stunned, Yu Consort froze in terror—accustomed to wielding influence and benefiting from Demon King Xuan Tong’s reputation, she had never encountered someone bold enough to attack her. For a moment, she failed to react.
Suddenly, the Green Jade Bracelet on her wrist slipped off and flew into the path of the sword light. The clear sound of its shattering rang out as the bracelet broke into two halves. However, this brief reprieve jolted her into awareness. Screaming sharply, she frantically grabbed a token. In an instant, her Flying Carriage enveloped her in a haze of light and ascended into the air, ready to flee.
But before she could reach the clouds, Zhang Yan unleashed all three hundred and sixty-five drops of You Yin Heavy Water.
With a commanding stroke of his fingers, the Heavy Water merged into a torrential surge that swept upward, catching Yu Consort’s party in its embrace within moments. The water swirled like a relentless tempest, muffled screams and cries issuing from within. Yu Consort and her companions—flesh broken and bones crushed—fell from the skies to the ground, their life or death uncertain.
Brother Feng didn’t witness the gruesome fate of Yu Consort’s group. He assumed Zhang Yan’s attention had been fully absorbed by them, granting him safe passage. Feeling confident, he glanced back inadvertently, only to be struck with terror—a singular, unmatched sword light sliced through the expansive clouds toward him.
It was only then that he understood the mortal peril of challenging a Sword Cultivator. The speed of sword escape defied reason, closing the distance within mere breaths.
Zhang Yan’s gaze was chilling and resolute. Since he had already made his move, he intended to carry it through to the end, leaving no escapees behind.
As Zhang Yan approached with increasing speed, Brother Feng cursed inwardly, "Why is this man chasing me instead of Yu Consort? Could he somehow know I was the one orchestrating this whole affair?"
Little did he realize that Yu Consort’s party hadn’t survived long enough to report back.
But now was no time for idle musings. Gritting his teeth, Brother Feng pushed himself to his limit, fleeing desperately. If he could just cross the mountain ahead, he’d reach the Qingyu Sect’s cultivators’ retreat. There, he refused to believe Zhang Yan would dare pursue further.
...(To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with your recommendation tickets and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)