"Array—activate!"
Over Skull Mountain Market, the fully restored Hundred Bones Grand Array roared to life. Its thunderous rotation caught Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan off guard, forcing them to retreat.
Seizing the opening, Lu Yuanchun turned into a streak of blood-light and shot across the sky.
The array patterns parted for him alone, then sealed shut again, leaving not even a sliver for outsiders to exploit.
"My thanks, Brother Lü—"
Lu Yuanchun landed within the array. His blood-light dispersed, revealing a disheveled figure, terror still lingering on his face.
"Brother Lü... are you an Array Master?"
Without such skill, how could he have rebuilt the array and saved them from certain death?
"Barely Ninth Grade." Lü Yang replied with a faint smile. "Studied a little. Just enough to get this array running again."
He spoke lightly, yet Lu Yuanchun grew solemn.
A Ninth-Grade Array Master in late Qi Refining was worth more than ordinary cultivators at the same level — even approaching a Final-phase Qi Refiner in value.
Lü Yang’s gaze drifted toward him — calm but unreadable. Lu Yuanchun’s expression stiffened under that gaze, cold sweat collecting at his temples.
A moment later, he composed himself.
"Brother Lü, the Lunar Goddess Jade I’ve kept for you all this time... let it return to its rightful owner."
He took out a small box. Inside lay a white jade stone shaped like a human form, seven apertures faintly visible.
A smart man adapts.
As a seasoned Stain Sect disciple, Lu Yuanchun knew the stakes well. If he clung to the jade, he’d soon die on the righteous-demonic front lines. Divine Martial Sect had Final-phase cultivators in pursuit — fleeing was a fantasy.
Better to hand the treasure over publicly and steer disaster onto someone who could withstand it.
Lü Yang nodded, satisfied, and stored the jade away. Then he looked outward beyond the array —
A handsome young man in a martial crown and scale armor stood with a dragon-etched spear in hand, more like a general than a cultivator.
"A Ninth-Grade Array Master?"
His gaze was sharp enough to cut through the array, landing directly on Lü Yang.
"An unexpected variable."
Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan hurried beside him, bowing respectfully.
"Senior Brother Ouyang, we have failed you."
"It happens," Ouyang Haize said gently. "Demons are cunning. Make up for it later."
But when he looked again at the market, killing intent surged.
"Our sect has arranged for this day for years. No mishaps. Remove the demonic sect pawns first — eliminate every possible risk."
His aura rose violently. Essence surged skyward, manifesting a phantom legion of steel-clad soldiers behind him.
"Break!"
His shout struck like thunder. Several low-rank cultivators inside the market coughed blood on the spot.
"Final-phase Qi Refining..."
Lü Yang’s face darkened. Final-phase cultivators in major sects were never mere elites — they were Direct Disciples, with access to world-shaking Legendary Techniques.
"If he unleashes one, I abandon the array and run."
Still, Lü Yang stepped to the edge of the array and cupped his hands.
"I am Lü Yang. May I have your honored name?"
"You?" Ouyang snorted. "Not worthy."
"Submit now. I may only crush your cultivation. Resist, and none in that market will live."
Lü Yang smiled faintly. "We are simply on different sides. Must this go so far? Why not let me own you a favor?"
Ouyang laughed. "Give you face? A mere Eighth-Layer Qi Refiner? I refuse. What can you do?"
Lü Yang sighed. "Then please—break the array."
"Courting death!"
Ouyang surged forward — a punch that looked almost mundane, yet Lü Yang’s expression tightened. He summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pill, transforming into sword light to intercept.
Fist and blade collided — shockwaves bloomed like steel flowers.
Divine Martial Sect cultivated the body above all. Their close-range killing speed even surpassed sword cultivators.
"Rapid Strike!"
Arms drew back like a war bow — then fist-shadows flew like arrows, drowning Lü Yang in a flurry of blows.
Space distorted. Qi drained.
In a heartbeat, ten thousand blows landed.
Lü Yang was smashed into bone fragments.
Ouyang halted in mid-air, frowning.
Above the market, the Hundred Bones Grand Array shimmered — and Lü Yang walked out whole once more, robes fluttering, calm as before.
"Your fist technique is impressive. I admire it."
Ouyang said nothing — he struck again. Another ten seconds — another pulverized body.
And again, Lü Yang emerged unscathed.
"Care for another round, fellow Daoist?"
Ouyang’s eyes narrowed.
Seventh-Grade Array.
Hundreds of Skeleton Soldiers as substitutes.
Break the puppet bodies, the master remains untouched.
"As long as the array holds," Ouyang thought grimly, "I’m wasting strength."
To break Lü Yang... he would have to step inside.
And once inside — those skeleton soldiers would swarm.
Even a Final-phase Qi Refiner might not walk out whole.