"It's you!" Zhangsheng Ancestor's palm was blocked by Xiu Liu, and the sudden sneak attack of the Blood Transformation Divine Saber made it impossible for Zhangsheng Ancestor to dodge. Four fingers were sliced off from his hand.
At this moment, Zhangsheng Ancestor stared intently at Xiu Liu, having already recognized the other party's origin. After all, when Xiu Liu attained enlightenment, the phenomenon covered the Qingcheng Mountain area, making it impossible to hide from the Ancestral Master of Longevity.
"Does the Ancestor recognize me?" Xiu Liu looked at Xuanji Ancestor in surprise, retracting his Blood Transformation Divine Saber and slipping it back into his sleeve.
"I witnessed the weather phenomena of your enlightenment with my own eyes," said Zhangsheng Ancestor.
Xiu Liu, upon hearing this, suddenly understood, "So that's how it is."
But then he heard Xuanji Ancestor say, "Do I have a grudge with you?"
"No grudge!" Xiu Liu shook his head.
Xuanji Ancestor watched as Zhang Chen fled into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, then turned his gaze back to Xiu Liu, "Any resentment?"
"No resentment!" Xiu Liu responded.
"If that's the case, why meddle in these murky waters?" Zhangsheng Ancestor spoke while trying to activate his Divine Techniques to repair the severed fingers. He saw the fingers rise from the ground and reattach perfectly, with the skin growing seamlessly. However, the wound cut by the Blood Transformation Divine Saber instantly reopened, with blood flowing continuously.
Zhangsheng Ancestor's expression changed dramatically, secretly shocked in his heart, "What an evil saber! It specifically breaks indestructible bodies!"
Xiu Liu sighed lightly upon hearing this, "I didn't want to come either, and I certainly didn't want to go against you, but I'm under someone else's control and had no choice!"
"Then there's nothing to discuss?" Zhangsheng Ancestor frowned.
Xiu Liu nodded upon hearing this, "Of course, there's nothing to discuss! Unless you defeat me, otherwise you can go no further today."
Zhangsheng Ancestor took a deep breath upon hearing this, "Fine! Then I'll defeat you, and then capture that boy."
The ginseng fruit is of great importance, involving the matter of transcending tribulation. He had no reason to retreat.
With that, Zhangsheng Ancestor stretched out his palm, and the Ascension Pool soared into the air, transforming into the size of a fist, hovering in front of him. Inside, colorful lights flowed, seemingly in a constant struggle against the suppression of the Ascension Pool.
A drop of Jade Liquid flew out from within the Ascension Pool, landing on the severed palm of Zhangsheng Ancestor, cleansing it of the Blood Transformation Divine Saber's power.
Then a beam of light shot out from the Ascension Pool in the Ancestor's hand, striking towards Xiu Liu. Xiu Liu held the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, shrouded in a blood light, and engaged in battle with Zhangsheng Ancestor.
This battle shook the heavens and the earth, dimming the sun and moon, stripping color from the mountains. Fortunately, this place was the main vein of Qingcheng Mountain, protected by Dragon Qi. As the two exchanged blows, their fists and feet constantly collided, the Power of Law was unleashed, yet not a single grain of the Qingcheng Mountain Range was affected.
Within the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, Zhang Chen set Xu Erniu down, turned to look outside the array, watching the battling Xiu Liu and Zhangsheng Ancestor, and let out a gentle sigh, "Xiu Liu is no match for Zhangsheng Ancestor; the power of the Ascension Pool is truly too strong, surpassing that of the Blood Transformation Divine Saber. Moreover, this is the main ground of Zhangsheng Ancestor, augmented by the Power of the Earth, so it's only a matter of time before Xiu Liu is defeated."
Zhang Chen turned his head to look at Xu Erniu, seeing her immobilized by the Body-Stabilizing Rune. Her eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, and he sighed softly again:
"I know you have countless questions in your heart. I will release the Body-Stabilizing Rune for you, but don't panic and run away, this array is extremely dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt."
As he spoke, Zhang Chen removed the Body-Stabilizing Rune, watching Xu Erniu nervously, fearing any extreme reaction from her. But in reality, Xu Erniu remained very calm, fixing her gaze steadily on Zhang Chen, her eyes seemingly glistening with moisture, "Zhang Chen, why did you betray the Ancestor? Why attack him in secret?"
"If I told you it's all a forced self-preservation, would you believe me?" Zhang Chen replied with a bitter smile.
Xu Erniu stared intently at Zhang Chen, after a moment of silence, she sighed lightly, "I believe you were compelled! But the Ancestor has treated us fairly, now that you betray him, I... I don't know what to do. Is there some misunderstanding between you and the Ancestor? If it can be talked out, that would be great! I'd be willing to mediate for you."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled bitterly, his eyes fixed on Xu Erniu, his mind filled with countless words yet unsure how to explain, only saying: "There is no misunderstanding!"
Hearing this, Xu Erniu fell silent again. She misunderstood Zhang Chen, recalling his tactics at the mountain foot, and looking at Xiu Liu battling the Ancestor outside. She recognized Xiu Liu's techniques, which he used when slaughtering bandits before, leading her to mistakenly believe Zhang Chen and Xiu Liu had deep enmity with the Ancestor for a long time.
"Today, the Ancestor and I will have a battle, we must determine a winner and a loser, life and death. By then, who will you help?" Zhang Chen asked.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, the girl sighed softly, "I will never let the Ancestor kill you! Even if I die, I will never let the Ancestor harm you in the slightest."
Xu Erniu's words carried many meanings, and Zhang Chen understood them, feeling inevitably touched in his heart. He didn't regret giving everything for this little girl.
"What grudge do you have with the Ancestral Master?" Xu Erniu asked softly, the young girl twisting her sleeves with tension in her eyes.
Zhang Chen glanced at Xu Erniu, then turned his gaze toward the battlefield outside the Nine Bends Yellow River Array: "I can't say! I have my reasons! In any case, the Longevity Ancestor must die!"
"Can't you even tell me?" Xu Erniu asked in a low voice.
Hearing Xu Erniu's words, Zhang Chen patted her little head. He feared that if he spoke, Xu Erniu's Dao heart might collapse, and she would surely die in the disaster, or be troubled by a heart demon, thus wasting years delaying her cultivation.
The two looked at each other, Zhang Chen just patting the girl's head. Although the little girl was now as tall as Zhang Chen, in his eyes, Xu Erniu was still the young girl who once wet herself.
"That Xiu Liu is no match for the Ancestral Master, you might as well run away early," Xu Erniu voiced her concern to Zhang Chen in a soft tone.
Hearing Xu Erniu's words, Zhang Chen gave a bitter smile: "Run? Where to? Where can I possibly go? With my current cultivation, running down the mountain is as good as seeking death. If I rely on the strategic array, perhaps I could negotiate with the Ancestral Master for a while."
At this, Zhang Chen withdrew his hand from patting the young girl: "Erniu, if I survive, that's one thing. But if I die, you must find a chance to escape when the Ancestral Master is not at the Five Villages Temple, never consider the Ancestral Master as your teacher again, and never believe a word he says."
Xu Erniu was stunned: "Why?"
"Do you trust me?" Zhang Chen asked again.
"Of course, I trust you!" Xu Erniu replied, "But why don't you want me to trust the Ancestral Master?"
Hearing this, Zhang Chen did not explain, but solemnly said: "Just listen to me, just remember, I would never hurt you!"
He then turned his head very solemnly to Xu Erniu: "You must always believe, I will never harm you! No matter what I do, it's for your own good!"
Listening to Zhang Chen's solemn words, Xu Erniu was slightly startled, then said earnestly: "Alright! I believe you!"
Zhang Chen smiled upon hearing that, he appreciated Xu Erniu's trust, this kind of trust is rare.
Above, the two fought fiercely as the Earthquake and Mountain Collapse raged, the sky-shattering and earth-shattering battle raged on, with blood and earth-yellow light clashing, the Blood Transformation Divine Saber evolved into a blood-red river, where countless blood sea monsters roared at the sky, leaping out of the water towards the Ascension Pool.
The Ascension Pool was surrounded by blue light, emitting a majestic and vast sound, the sound waves distorted and fluctuated in the void, and all blood sea monsters disintegrated before reaching the Ascension Pool.
"Brother, your helper doesn't seem to be doing well? That big watering pool is really too powerful, your helper doesn't seem to have the slightest upper hand." Even in Xu Erniu's perspective, she could vaguely see that Xiu Liu's situation seemed somewhat dire.
"My lord, do you have any other means? If you don't have any tricks left, I'm afraid it's over for me here." Xiu Liu, unable to hold on, shouted to Zhang Chen, his voice filled with urgency.
"Retreat into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, and we'll look for another opportunity to break through," Zhang Chen instructed Xiu Liu.
Upon hearing this, Xiu Liu's figure flashed, the vast Blood River retracted, transforming into the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, then was struck directly by the Ascension Pool, sending him flying.
Taking the opportunity, Xiu Liu transformed into blood light, and after several flashes, he arrived at the front of the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, and without hesitation, dived into the rolling yellow sand.
As soon as Xiu Liu entered the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, he felt an indescribable great terror Qi Mechanism surge up, rolling toward him with massive pressure. This great terror flooded his mind, and even with his heart proven with Dao Fruit, he found it hard to keep his composure.
He had a feeling that once the array activated, he would surely die.
"What are you standing there doing?" Zhang Chen saw Xiu Liu intimidated by the array, with an urge to turn and run, he couldn't help but secretly criticize: "Xiu Liu's mental state is far inferior, this guy's strength is all gained through devouring others prematurely, his mental state doesn't match his strength."
"My lord, this array is so terrifying! How could such a terrifying thing exist in the world?" Xiu Liu asked with a panicked expression. Then he took a step forward, and his figure twisted several times, quickly staying beside Zhang Chen, with a look of horror in his eyes.
In response, Zhang Chen smiled calmly: "What a fuss over a trivial matter! It's just an array, and it scares you like this? Xiu Liu, you still need to practice more, this is too embarrassing for me."
Hearing Zhang Chen's words, Xiu Liu gave an awkward smile: "It's not that I'm incompetent, but this array is truly terrifying. Only a figure like you would be able to face such an array calmly, how could I possibly compare to you?"