Zhang Yan charged into the clouds, his large sleeve swirled in a sweeping motion, and the streams of water he had brought up instantly turned into a vortex resembling a dragon. Without a word to the green-clothed youth, he flipped his palm and directed the surging torrent downward with fierce force.
Above the green-clothed youth floated a mass of green clouds over sixty zhang in size, smooth and flawless, resembling a dense jade embedded in the drifting white clouds from afar. When he saw Zhang Yan descend from above to attack him, he cursed angrily: "Arrogant brat!"
He channeled his Mana, propelling the green cloud upward to meet Zhang Yan’s attack. When the two forces collided, a thunderous rumble echoed through the sky. In an instant, smoke dispersed, rain scattered, green energy sprayed everywhere, and the green cloud was shaken apart by nearly half.
Zhang Yan felt a stream of abnormal Qi invading his palm. Unlike the previous encounter’s covert infiltration, this time it attacked openly, surging like waves, eager to flood into his body as if desperate to push him to the brink of bursting.
He laughed aloud, stepped back swiftly, steadied his Heart and Spirit, and unleashed the Yang Fire within his Qi Sea. As the fiery blaze rose up instantly, it devoured and extinguished the immense abnormal Qi rushing into his body. With a flicker of flame, it also absorbed the remnants of spiritual breath left behind. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
In a flash, like pouring scalding oil onto a fire, the flames roared fiercely, seemingly searing through his Mud Pill Palace and attempting to burst out from the crown of his head.
Zhang Yan had not expected that the mere contact of the two forces would spark such an explosive reaction, akin to dry wood igniting instantly. Fearing even the slightest leakage from his acupoints that might hinder his future cultivation, he urgently performed a spell to regulate the chaotic energies and suppress the blazing flame. Yet, he secretly rejoiced within: "With the assistance of this energy, my Inner Acupoint Yang Fire is bound to flourish. If I can experience this several more times, I might just fully ignite all thirty-six acupoints within these three years on Qingcun Mountain."
The green-clothed youth had exchanged blows with Zhang Yan twice before, both times ending up at a disadvantage—the first time he intended to subdue Zhang Yan and withdrew shortly after the clash, and the second time, caught off guard during a relentless chase, he suffered a significant setback. Consequently, neither encounter had allowed him to unleash his full power.
Now, however, as the shell of the Ganoderma Ancestor was vital to his Avoiding Tribulation, he resolved to give it his all and capture Zhang Yan on the spot.
Yet he was well aware that close combat with someone of Zhang Yan’s level as a Power Cultivator would be unfavorable to him. Thus, he extended his body, ascending above the high clouds. With a shake of his shoulder, countless chaotic clouds gathered overhead once more, and in moments, the mass of green clouds restored its form.
He glanced at Zhang Yan’s face and noticed an unusual expression, assuming it was caused by the invasion of his Xuan Guang Jing Qi. Feeling secretly delighted, he shouted loudly: "Li Yuanba, you don’t know your place! Time and again, you oppose me. Today, I’ll show you my might!"
Silently, he retrieved the "Five Spirit White Carp Shuttle" into his hand, chuckled coldly, and summoned the Dharma Treasure into the air.
As soon as the treasure materialized, it radiated a shimmering brilliance, its colorful waves reflecting in the sky. Like a playful water carp, it swayed its head and tail and rushed toward Zhang Yan.
Upon seeing this artifact, Zhang Yan’s heart was immediately filled with caution. Judging by its immensely spiritual nature, he instinctively recognized it as no ordinary object.
To ensure his safety, he refrained from recklessly relying on his tough physical body to endure its attack. At the thought, a glimmer of Clear Light emerged from his brow, rushing to intercept the spirit shuttle.
The spirit shuttle seemed to realize that the Clear Light was not to be trifled with and attempted to evade to the side, seeking to avoid confrontation. Yet, the Clear Light relentlessly pursued it, entangling and cornering it like a predator fixated on its prey, determined to bite down. Within mere moments, the two Mystical Artifacts weaved and dodged, soaring and flashing like butterflies dancing among flowers, locked in a fierce stalemate.
The green-clothed youth hadn’t expected Zhang Yan to possess a protective Mystical Artifact. Witnessing his "Five Spirit White Carp Shuttle" failing to achieve results upon being summoned, his face turned slightly grim.
For a Qi Dao Practitioner to kill a Power Cultivator, if they fail to strike a decisive blow, the only option left is to engage in prolonged combat, gradually wearing down the opponent’s Inner Breath and True Essence to exhaust them.
Since his Enlightenment, the green-clothed youth had never engaged in extended duels with others. But within the Great Void Defense Array, where his avatar’s powers were suppressed to their lowest, he had no choice but to adopt such tactics despite his deep displeasure.
Cursing under his breath, he performed a spell, and the mass of green clouds above instantly split into countless cloud blossoms, resembling a sea of bamboo swaying in waves. Radiating thousands of shades of green, the blossoms shuddered and transformed abruptly into innumerable green needles, fine as cow hair, raining down with the sound of hissing whispers.