As the saying goes: secrecy leads to success. That Xu Erniu is too young to control her emotions. If I reveal the truth to Xu Erniu and she is noticed by the Ancestral Master of Longevity, it could spell disaster.
Xu Erniu dragged Zhang Chen to the front courtyard. By then, all the disciples were already lined up in formation, preparing a welcoming spectacle at the mountain gate.
From afar, one could see colorful lights floating and figures surrounded by divine light descending from the horizon, prompting the Ancestral Master to hastily go forth to greet them.
"Who are those people?" Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu were at the back of the queue, their eyes scanning the figures conversing jovially with the Longevity Ancestor. Zhang Chen asked Xu Erniu quietly.
Xu Erniu shook her head, her face puzzled, and tugged at the sleeve of a fellow disciple beside her: "Senior brother, do you know who those people are?"
The disciple remained focused, his lips moving slightly as he whispered:
"That's East Profound Ancestor, the Three Immortals from Overseas, Xuanji Ancestor, Fairy Dongqian, Moonlight Fairy, Monk Hai Chan, Ancestor Fu Lu from Fulu Island. They are the master's close friends, invited by the Ancestral Master to break the array."
Zhang Chen, standing beside, was startled. Anyone referred to as 'friends' with the Longevity Thief Dao must have cultivation not inferior to his.
What's more, there were nine such formidable figures in total. Is it true that experts from the Second Heaven of the Spiritual World are so undervalued that they appear in large numbers?
At this moment, Zhang Chen still did not know where he was and thought he was still within the Second Heaven of the Spiritual World.
"Trouble! I only intended to deal with the Longevity Thief Dao, but unexpectedly, I have attracted his allies. One Longevity Ancestor is already incredibly daunting, and now a dozen more top experts have arrived..." Zhang Chen felt a chill run down his spine.
"I wonder if these people have heard of the Princess. Since the Princess ascended from the Second Heaven to the First Heaven, she shouldn't be an unknown figure. Normally, such experts should have made a big name for themselves upon emerging. If I could contact the Princess and have her take action to slay the Longevity Thief Dao, it might save me a lot of trouble," Zhang Chen pondered to himself, believing that the Longevity Thief Dao was no match for the Princess. After all, the Princess once slew the Ancient Gods, blood flowed profusely, and countless Divine Spirits perished by her hand. Her power was unparalleled, so how could she possibly take these few individuals seriously?
They aren't even on the same level of expertise!
"Zhang Chen, my plan has changed. I no longer wish to possess an ordinary disciple. I want the body of that Monk Hai Chan. You will help me acquire Monk Hai Chan's body," said the voice of the Innate Peacock in Zhang Chen's ear.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at one of the bald-headed, Buddhist-clad middle-aged monks, noticing his open chest and slightly Maitreya-like appearance, surrounded by a sense of Zen—a formidable figure with profound cultivation.
"Didn't you only want the body of an ordinary disciple within the Five Villages Temple? Monk Hai Chan's strength is unfathomable. Asking me to help you possess Monk Hai Chan is akin to asking me to die. How am I supposed to contend with Monk Hai Chan?" Zhang Chen hurriedly shook his head in refusal.
This is a joke. The individuals invited here are all at least at the Twelfth Tier. My mere cultivation is such that even a breath could kill me.
"I know you have extraordinary means. If you can help me accomplish this, I will teach you another Supreme Technique. Although you've acquired my Five-Colored Divine Light, you can only harness its basic power and can't exhibit its subtlety. I have a Technique called: Five Elements Escape Technique. If you assist me in possessing Monk Hai Chan, I will teach you the Five Elements Escape Technique," the Innate Peacock spoke with great allure.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen glanced at Monk Hai Chan, a hint of greed in his eyes: "Five Elements Escape Technique? What kind of Divine Technique is that?"
"If you master this Divine Technique, you can freely enter and move among the Five Elements, and by then, there will be very few places in this world that can restrain you," explained the Innate Peacock.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen remained silent, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
He had to contend with the Longevity Ancestor, and Monk Hai Chan was also his target. If he could deceive a Cultivation Technique while dealing with Monk Hai Chan...not to mention that he was doing so for the Innate Peacock, it would be fair for the Innate Peacock to lend some assistance to himself, wouldn't it? Besides, he would have to confront them sooner or later, so why not take advantage of the Innate Peacock's power?
If he wanted to help the Innate Peacock succeed in possession, the only resource he could currently utilize was probably the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, to trap Monk Hai Chan and possibly subdue him.
If he could trick Monk Hai Chan into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, it would be easier to handle him. But Monk Hai Chan is no fool—how could he be tricked into the array?
To be honest, he really wanted that Five Elements Escape Technique. After all, the technique is very profound; if he could successfully master it, wouldn't he be as fish in water back in the Material Realm?
But after thinking it through, Zhang Chen couldn't devise a way to lure Monk Hai Chan into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, so he placed his hopes on the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, inquiring in his heart: "Do you have any way to lure Monk Hai Chan into the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array?"
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon replied: "That Monk Hai Chan has cultivated the Buddhist Relic Skill, even if you diminish his Three Flowers and Five Qi within the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, the relic he mainly forged through Spiritual Power still holds immense Divine Power, beyond your ability to contend with. I advise you to behave yourself and not act recklessly."