"What is this?"
The two looked at the talisman in Zhang Chen’s palm, their eyes showing a trace of curiosity.
Zhang Chen didn’t respond to their curiosity. Instead, he casually flicked his wrist, and the talisman flew into the air, instantly transforming into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, enveloping the entire coffin.
With the coffin as the center, an area of 1,200 meters was entirely covered by the Nine Bends Yellow River Array. As the array was set, an invasive Yin Qi spread throughout the array, a mysterious black mist circulating in the heavens and earth, its Qi mechanism drifting indistinctly, and a chilling aura soaring skyward while gloom enveloped the entire array.
Both men were people blessed with great destiny; at this moment, within the array, they both felt an indescribable murderous intent shrouding their bodies, and should the talisman act even slightly, they would surely perish without a burial place.
Even Hu Li the Immortal, being an Eleventh Tier expert, felt a chilling sensation sweep over him, sweat trickling down his back.
"What sort of terrifying method is this? I feel as if the Qi mechanism before me turns, I would have no resistance, directly dying on the spot," Hu Li the Immortal turned his head to look at Zhang Chen, knowing that Zhang Chen wouldn’t lay a hand on him; otherwise, his legs would have buckled from fear.
Upon hearing Hu Li the Immortal’s words and seeing Tushan Qing’s pale, frightened face, Zhang Chen spoke calmly, "This is my trump card, not to be spoken of to outsiders."
"With means like this, Prince Pingbian Zhang Shicheng’s two failed attempts at Walking Flood Dragon and Dragon Transformation, losing to you is no injustice at all," Hu Li the Immortal’s eyes showed a trace of fear, "If you can use this method to trap Zhang Xiaohua, he would surely die; with such disaster, his divine skills wouldn’t allow him to escape."
"Unfortunately, my array setup takes time, and Zhang Xiaohua isn’t a stone statue; he won’t just stand there while I set up the array. At any sign of my actions, Zhang Xiaohua detects a crisis and would immediately choose to flee," Zhang Chen didn’t hide the shortcomings of his Nine Bends Yellow River Array.
"Then find a reason Zhang Xiaohua has to enter the array," Tushan Qing suggested from the side.
Zhang Chen didn’t heed their chatter; instead, he turned his gaze to the coffin, his eyes cautious, "With this array suppressing, even if the Innate Divine Spirit within the coffin is alive, we have nothing to fear."
As the Nine Bends Yellow River Array enveloped the coffin, Zhang Chen’s array temporarily severed its connection with the Innate Water God Array within the coffin. However, Zhang Chen could feel the repulsion between the arrays; the Innate Water God Array was rejecting his array, which would crumble within a day.
But a day’s time is already enough; so many things can be done in a day, enough for Zhang Chen to accomplish a lot.
"This is the Innate Water God’s coffin; I don’t know if I can take the chance to acquire the Innate Authority of Water Element. If I can acquire it, this scheme has half a chance of succeeding," Zhang Chen prayed silently in his heart, as he slowly reached out his hand to touch the coffin.
As Zhang Chen’s finger approached the coffin, a trace of True God Golden Light swirled at his fingertip, then, under the shocked gaze of Tushan Qing and Hu Li the Immortal, he touched the coffin.
"Be careful, this Innate Water God is not good-hearted; be careful of its retaliation," Hu Li the Immortal advised Zhang Chen, his words filled with worry. Now, everyone was tied together by fate; should Zhang Chen face misfortune, they would suffer together. They couldn’t cross the endless Weak Water, and would eventually starve to death here.
Upon hearing Hu Li the Immortal’s words, Zhang Chen made a reassuring gesture, then gently touched the coffin with his finger. Sure enough, as Zhang Chen’s fingertip touched the coffin, a water-blue light screen flickered, and a powerful Qi mechanism erupted from the coffin, invading Zhang Chen’s body along his finger.
"Zhang Chen!" Hu Li the Immortal sensed the terrifying Qi mechanism erupting from the coffin and was instantly shocked, instinctively using his divine power to leap forward to suppress the harm. But before Hu Li the Immortal could approach Zhang Chen, he was already pushed back several meters by that force; meanwhile, Tushan Qing’s eyes rolled back, directly fainting, and somehow a tail had appeared on the ground.
Tushan Qing was directly shocked dead, dropping a tail, and Zhang Chen, who bore the brunt, shattered into snowflakes, fluttering within a space of roughly a meter.
"Zhang Chen!!!" Hu Li the Immortal’s eyes instantly turned blood red, his Qi blood surged around him, he cried out in disbelief; he couldn’t accept Zhang Chen dying just like that, couldn’t believe that cunning lad perished within the Water God Tomb.
As Hu Li the Immortal cried out, the swirling snowflakes quickly reversed and recomposed, forming Zhang Chen’s body within moments, then Zhang Chen’s voice rang out, "What’s with the shouting? It’s just an Innate Water God; trying to kill me is truly underestimating me."
"What kind of technique is that? You shattered but didn’t die?" Hu Li the Immortal stared at Zhang Chen, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Upon hearing Hu Li the Immortal’s words, Zhang Chen sneered, "Being in the Martial World, how can one not have a few life-saving skills?"
He then glanced at the fainted Tushan Qing and the tail that fell, saying to Hu Li the Immortal, "Is this kid done for?"
"He has life-preserving means, you need not worry about him," Hu Li the Immortal replied, "He’ll wake up shortly and revive again; this is his way of deceiving enemies and self-protection."
Ignoring Tushan Qing, Zhang Chen turned his gaze towards the edge of the Water God’s coffin, where indeed a brilliant blue ray flickered on the ground.
"Not a waste of my risk, I’ve gained something," Zhang Chen murmured to himself.
He had gambled correctly, and sure enough, another skill dropped from the coffin.
At that moment, the Golden Finger Interface refreshed as expected:
[New skill detected, would you like to acquire it?]
Zhang Chen was about to respond when Hu Li the Immortal drew close and interrupted Zhang Chen’s thoughts:
"The coffin is so perilous, what should we do? Not to mention opening the coffin, we can’t even touch it. That force, if I came into contact, I would be blasted back; opening the coffin is impossible, that force at least ranks at the Twelfth Tier!"
At this point, seeing Zhang Chen unharmed, Hu Li the Immortal suggested, "Unless you die a few more times to exhaust the coffin’s force."
"Stop spouting nonsense, let me think about whether there’s a way to open the coffin," Zhang Chen retorted angrily at Hu Li the Immortal, "Why don’t you try dying a few more times!"
After muttering to himself, Zhang Chen gazed at the Golden Finger Interface, then issued a command in his mind: "Acquire!"
With his command, the Golden Finger Interface twisted, its information refreshing before Zhang Chen’s eyes:
[New Skill (First Tier): Authority of Water Element (0/100000000)]
[Note 1: You can master all Water Power]
[Note 2: Range is fifty meters in radius.]
"Indeed, it came through hard work!" Zhang Chen looked at the flashing Golden Finger interface, and couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. The next moment, a surge of heat flowed out, washing through Zhang Chen’s entire body, continuously cleansing every inch of his meridians, flushing through his soul.
But this change was not over yet:
[Skill duplication detected, only one can exist.]
[Skills can be synthesized and evolved]
[Authority of Water Element (0/100000000) + Water Control Technique + Weak Water (0/50000000) = Third Tier Authority of Water Element]
[Do you wish to evolve? If not, only one of the skills can be retained.]
[Please make a quick decision]
Zhang Chen looked at the refreshed information on the Golden Finger interface and couldn’t help but freeze. The functions of the Water Control Technique and the Authority of Water Element actually overlapped?
More accurately, their development directions overlapped.
One is a First Tier Authority of Water Element, the other is a Sixth Tier Water Control Technique. After a brief contemplation, Zhang Chen decisively chose the Authority of Water Element.
Why?
The Water Control Technique has limitations, whereas the Authority of Water Element does not. As long as it continues to upgrade and expand its range, the Authority of Water Element can control everything within its domain.
Moreover, after upgrading, Zhang Chen’s Authority of Water Element increases to the Third Tier, which is something to look forward to.
"Upgrade!" Zhang Chen’s heart moved.
[New Skill (Third Tier): Authority of Water Element (0/10000000000)]
[Note 1: You can master all the Authority of Water within a radius of one thousand meters, you are the master of the Rule of Water]
[Note 2: You can transform all controlled ordinary water flows within your domain into any Innate Divine Water you have ever seen]
[Note 3: Your body can condense and disperse at will]
Zhang Chen looked at the new skill, eyes revealing a contemplative look. The upgrade of the new skill brought both pros and cons. The good part is that he gained two more Divine Techniques derived from the Authority of Water Element, especially being able to transform all water flows into the Innate Divine Water he has seen before, which is somewhat against the natural order.
If he were to come in contact with the Three Lights Divine Water that can resurrect the dead and regrow flesh, wouldn’t he amass great wealth?
The Three Lights Divine Water refers to divine water formed from the convergence of the sun, moon, and stars.
But this change was not over yet; the Golden Finger interface refreshed once again:
[Skill overlap detected, authority can be consolidated]
"There’s still room for skill consolidation?" Zhang Chen showed an expression of surprise upon seeing this.
At this moment, the Golden Finger interface information refreshed once more:
[10 Skill (Sixth Tier): Penetration Transformation * Piercing Stone * Dripping Water * Transfer (0/40000000)]
[Can be integrated into Authority of Water Element]
Before Zhang Chen could issue a command, the Golden Finger interface had already started to react. Then, the Golden Finger interface twisted and refreshed, causing Zhang Chen’s new skill, Authority of Water Element, to change:
[New Skill (Third Tier): Authority of Water Element (0/10000000000)]
[Note 1: Master all the Rule of Water within a thousand meters]
[Note 2: You can transform all controlled ordinary water flows within your domain into any Innate Divine Water you have ever seen]
[Note 3: You can condense and disperse at will]
[Note 4: Penetration Transformation * Piercing Stone * Dripping Water * Transfer]