"Switch!"
The Blood-Robed Ancestor responded, his sudden agreement nearly causing True Lord Canglang to stumble and giving True Lord Green Wood an opening to strike.
"Are you serious?"
"Xu Chuan has too many tricks up his sleeve, and his techniques counter my Blood Demon Dao Cultivation Methods. I would be better off fighting True Lord Green Wood. I have the Mid-Grade Defensive Magic Treasure, the Blood Lotus, along with three peak early Tier 3 blood corpses.
I can definitely hold my own against him."
"Excellent! That is exactly what I was hoping for."
The Blood-Robed Ancestor and True Lord Canglang reached an agreement.
The next moment.
The auras of the three blood corpses surged wildly. After forcing back the Flying Sword Magic Treasures, they did not charge toward the Foundation Establishment Stage immortal cultivators, but instead lunged directly at Xu Chuan.
True Lord Canglang also began shifting closer to Xu Chuan and the Blood-Robed Ancestor, seemingly both intentionally and unintentionally.
Xu Chuan noticed the subtle movements and immediately sent a voice transmission to True Lord Green Wood, informing him of his suspicions.
"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, what do you plan to do?"
"Beat them at their own game!" Xu Chuan replied. "Once they switch places, I will pour everything into my defensive Magic Treasure and control my Flying Swords to block the Blood-Robed Ancestor's three blood corpses.
Daoist Friend Green Wood, take that opportunity to shatter the Blood Lotus's defenses with all your might."
Xu Chuan relayed the exact locations of the weak points he had previously inflicted upon the Blood Lotus's defenses.
A few moments later.
The Blood-Robed Ancestor and True Lord Canglang swapped positions.
True Lord Canglang activated his dark green conical Magic Treasure in tandem with his Major Success Divine Ability. A thousand-foot phantom of a heavenly wolf materialized, rippling through the void as it opened its massive jaws to devour Xu Chuan.
The sheer power of this attack caused the complexions of the other Golden Core Stage Cultivators to change drastically.
"Xu Chuan, taste my strongest strike!"
Xu Chuan fully unleashed the power of the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella. The canopy's light screen abruptly expanded to a radius of a hundred feet, clearly intending to take the attack head-on.
On the other side, True Lord Green Wood showed no surprise at the Blood-Robed Ancestor's sudden appearance. The instant the demonic cultivator materialized, he condensed his most powerful strike.
"You knew?!" The Blood-Robed Ancestor's face fell in horror. He threw everything into his defenses while hastily summoning his three blood corpses to protect him.
However, unbeknownst to him, an additional Flying Sword Magic Treasure had appeared beside each blood corpse, completely sealing off their paths.
"Xu Chuan!"
The Blood-Robed Ancestor roared in fury, but True Lord Green Wood's Divine Ability was already upon him. He had no choice but to furiously channel his Mana into the Blood Lotus, pushing its defenses to their absolute limits.
A blood-red lotus, fifty feet wide, bloomed into existence, looking breathtakingly enchanting.
But at that very moment, True Lord Green Wood vanished, reappearing on the left flank. The colossal wooden projection from his Divine Ability slammed directly into the weak point on the Blood Lotus's light screen, right where the Withered Silence Seal had previously struck.
Although the cracks there seemed repaired, the decaying power of the Withered Silence Seal still lingered.
Now struck by True Lord Green Wood's full might, the fractures instantly reappeared and spread like a spiderweb!
Crack-crack-crack-crack!
Seconds later.
The Blood Lotus light screen shattered completely.
Taking the full brunt of the Divine Ability, the Blood-Robed Ancestor vomited blood and was sent flying backward, heavily injured.
"True Lord Canglang, save me!"
Faced with True Lord Green Wood's relentless pursuit, the Blood-Robed Ancestor completely discarded his pride and screamed for help.
True Lord Canglang's all-out attack caused the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella's defensive light screen to tremble violently, even emitting the faint sounds of tearing.
"Useless trash!"
The Blood-Robed Ancestor was a crucial combat asset and absolutely could not be allowed to die!
True Lord Canglang immediately drove his Magic Treasure to shoot toward True Lord Green Wood, forcing him to abandon his pursuit of the Blood-Robed Ancestor.
Instead, Xu Chuan transformed into a streak of azure light and closed the distance. He swung the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella like a club, delivering a devastating blow that instantly smashed the light screen of Canglang's Low-Grade Defensive Magic Treasure.
True Lord Canglang was badly startled. He never expected the umbrella artifact to be Integrating Offense and Defense. He hastily activated a Divine Ability to block the strike.
Caught in the shockwave of the High-Grade Magic Treasure's collision, blood abruptly spilled from the corner of True Lord Canglang's mouth.
True Lord Green Wood swatted aside True Lord Canglang's Magic Treasure and charged straight at his true body.
As for the Blood-Robed Ancestor, he had already fled far into the distance.
Cursing under his breath, True Lord Canglang recalled his Magic Treasure and fought a retreating battle. Unable to withstand the combined assault of Xu Chuan and True Lord Green Wood, he too suffered heavy injuries and immediately fled.
"Everyone, retreat for now!"
Before the words had even settled, the Golden Core Demonic Cultivators of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture activated their movement techniques and scattered into the horizon.
"Do not pursue a desperate enemy!" True Lord Green Wood cautioned, immediately cooling the heated blood of the Golden Core Perfected Beings who were eager to give chase.
Xu Chuan did not forcefully detain the three blood corpses, allowing them to retreat as well.
After all, as long as the Blood-Robed Ancestor remained alive, keeping the corpses would only mean having to destroy them completely; there was no way to seize control of them.
Furthermore, if they pushed too hard and the Blood-Robed Ancestor ordered the corpses to self-destruct, the resulting explosion could instantly kill or severely injure multiple Golden Core Stage Cultivators on their side.
"We gained a bountiful harvest in this battle. Array Masters, continue repairing the Formations. Patrol disciples, do not let your guard down."
"Yes, True Lord Green Wood!"
Xu Chuan recalled his Flying Swords and stowed away his Magic Treasures. True Lord Green Wood turned to look at him. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, we owe this success entirely to you."
"It was your tremendous strength, Daoist Friend Green Wood. If it were me going all out, I still would not have been able to shatter the Blood-Robed Ancestor's Blood Lotus defenses in a single blow.
It is just a pity we couldn't make at least one Golden Core Demonic Cultivator stay for good."
"No one who reaches the Golden Core Stage is willing to die easily. The moment they realize they cannot win, they will definitely flee," True Lord Green Wood said. "Canglang is no fool either.
He does not care how many Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators perish, but if a few Golden Core Stage Cultivators die, they will lack the strength to attack this battlefront and will have no choice but to pack up and go home."
Pausing for a moment, True Lord Green Wood patted Xu Chuan on the shoulder. "Brother Withered Glory, head back to your tent and recuperate. You expended a great deal of energy this time. I still need to oversee things out here."
"Then I shall take my leave." Xu Chuan cupped his fists and flew toward his tent.
On the way, the Shangguan Clan Golden Core Cultivator approached to offer his gratitude. "Thank you for your assistance earlier, True Lord. It is a pity my strength was lacking and I could not finish him off."
"We are all at the Golden Core Stage. Naturally, everyone has a few life-saving trump cards. It is normal that they are difficult to kill."
The Shangguan Clan Golden Core Cultivator recalled the day Xu Chuan had achieved Core Formation, slaying two Golden Core Elders from the Greedy Wolf Sect in quick succession. He could not help but sigh inwardly. 'Some people can be called Prodigies during the Foundation Establishment Stage, but may not retain that title upon stepping into the next realm.
Yet, there are those who remain true Prodigies in every single realm!
This is the gap between us!'
Watching Xu Chuan's retreating back, he muttered, "If True Lord Withered Glory had participated in the Prodigy Tournament back then, the top of the Prodigy Roll would have undoubtedly been his!"
Over the next two days.
At the Thousand Stone Forest, the demonic cultivators of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture did not launch any further attacks.
The grand array that had been damaged by their previous assaults was fully repaired.
At both Grand Harmony Lake and Heavenly Gate Pass, the battles remained in a stalemate for those two days. This was largely thanks to the Mo Family's puppets and the late-stage Golden Core lightning cultivator from the Lei Family.
For aristocratic families to climb to the peak of Golden Core factions, they naturally possessed unique capabilities.
The Five Elements Elders of the Heavenly Azure Sect were also renowned, but two had already perished, and another was in secluded cultivation.
Compared to Xu Chuan, Mo Wentian of the Mo Family, and Lei Wuji of the Lei Family, Bai Yan was still somewhat lacking.
"Brother Tianluo, you can depart now."
Having received reports from all three fronts, Qi Tianxiong came to inform Tianluo. "Do you plan to take the Black Wind Mountain Range or the Bewildering Tracks Valley?"
"The Black Wind Mountain Range. With my Tier 3 demonic physique, those bone-corroding phantom winds will not be able to harm me."
"Then set out immediately. Return swiftly. I will be waiting to support you here at the Thousand Stone Forest."
Tianluo's lips curled into a smirk. "Brother Qi, you are quite the impatient one!"
"I shall take my leave now!"
Tianluo immediately headed toward the Black Wind Mountain Range.
On the third day.
At the Thousand Stone Forest, True Lord Canglang and his forces returned for a second offensive. But this time, they had brought an additional person.
The number one figure beneath the Nascent Soul stage in the Greedy Wolf Sect.
The Golden Core Perfection cultivator, True Lord Heavenly Wolf!
"We're in trouble!"
True Lord Green Wood's expression turned grim, while the other Golden Core cultivators could not hide the fear in their eyes.
Xu Chuan sized up True Lord Heavenly Wolf. This was his second time seeing the man.
Unlike the last time, True Lord Fierce Sun was nowhere nearby. Heavenly Wolf radiated a razor-sharp aura; even through the grand array's light screen, Xu Chuan and the others could distinctly feel the overwhelming Golden Core Pressure of a Perfection-stage True Lord.
Ximen Xue turned to True Lord Green Wood beside him and asked, "How should we proceed? Do we stay within the grand array or..."
"Although I am not far from Golden Core Perfection, the mid, late, and perfection stages each represent a fundamental transformation in Mana and divine sense.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf alone would require the combined efforts of you, me, and Daoist Friend Withered Glory to engage in a proper battle."
"And what if we only need to stall him?" Xu Chuan asked.
"With proper coordination, two would suffice," True Lord Green Wood replied. "Does Daoist Friend Withered Glory have a plan?"
"Though they have the upper hand, simply hiding behind the grand array without putting up a fight will crush our morale. Furthermore, they will face no attrition, and with True Lord Heavenly Wolf leading them...
Under their all-out assault, the array will definitely not last several days like last time."
True Lord Green Wood fell silent. After mulling it over for a few moments, he gave a slight nod.
"Then Daoist Friend Ximen and Daoist Friend Green Wood will stall True Lord Heavenly Wolf for a short while. Leave the other three late-stage Golden Core cultivators to me. I will try to critically injure one of them as quickly as possible."
Ximen Xue stared at Xu Chuan in utter disbelief. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, you must be joking. Fighting one against three—if they were three early-stage Golden Core cultivators, I might believe you.
But against three late-stage Golden Core cultivators? Even Daoist Friend Green Wood would stand no chance, right?"
True Lord Green Wood shook his head. "Against ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivators, I would have some confidence. But one of them is True Lord Canglang at the eighth layer of the Golden Core Stage. Even I cannot achieve that."
"Daoist Friend Green Wood, during the battle a few days ago, you never utilized a High-Grade Magic Treasure. I refuse to believe you do not have a single one hidden away."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "And Daoist Friend Ximen, your Ximen Family has monopolized Horn Constellation City for hundreds of years. Surely you have amassed at least two or three Mid-Grade Magic Treasures by now?"
"If neither of you is willing to go all out, then I will simply turn around and leave."
"My Xu Family has only been developing here for a little over twenty years anyway. Our roots are shallow, and we can evacuate at any time."
True Lord Green Wood chuckled apologetically. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, there is no need to speak out of spite. I never said I wouldn't fight. Since you are confident you can quickly slay one of them, I will trust you.
If Daoist Friend Ximen and I give it our all, holding off True Lord Heavenly Wolf for fifteen minutes shouldn't be a problem."
Ximen Xue nodded in agreement.
"I won't even need that long. If you two trust me, wait for my signal. The moment I give it, order everyone to retreat back behind the grand array immediately.
We only need to pull this off twice, and the Greedy Wolf Prefecture will be completely crippled. Even with True Lord Heavenly Wolf here, they will accomplish nothing."
Having made their decision, the three led their forces out of the protective grand array.
"Oh?" True Lord Canglang expressed mock surprise. "Green Wood, I thought you were going to turtle up inside your grand array today. I must say, I am seeing you in a new light."
The Blood-Robed Ancestor burst into laughter. "He managed to save his pride, but I'm afraid today's losses will leave him wailing like he lost his parents!"
True Lord Green Wood ignored them and addressed True Lord Heavenly Wolf directly. "Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf, I have long heard of your formidable reputation. Allow me to test whether you truly live up to the rumors."
Flipping his palm, True Lord Green Wood manifested an azure wooden ruler that radiated an astonishing aura.
"A High-Grade Magic Treasure!" True Lord Canglang's pupils constricted.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf smiled faintly, not paying it any mind.
Wielding the Myriad Wood Ruler, True Lord Green Wood lunged at True Lord Heavenly Wolf, with Ximen Xue following closely behind.
The Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator of the Fiend Demon Dao, who had fought Ximen Xue the day before, moved to intercept him, only to be forced back by Ximen Xue's strike. "I am not your opponent today!"
Just as the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator prepared to attack again, three Flying Sword Magic Treasures shot out to block his path.
Spurred by True Lord Green Wood's offensive, the rest of the forces clashed in a chaotic melee.
Only True Lord Canglang, the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator, the Blood-Robed Ancestor, and Xu Chuan were left hovering in place.
"So this was your grand plan?"
True Lord Canglang threw his head back and laughed uproariously. He glared mockingly at Xu Chuan. "To think that True Lord Withered Glory, a peerless genius the Heavenly Azure Prefecture hasn't seen in centuries, would be reduced to a sacrificial pawn for the Heavenly Azure Sect today."
"Even if it costs me my life, I will stop you today!" Xu Chuan declared with righteous indignation.
"Hahaha!"
"Relying on Ximen Xue, a mere seventh-layer Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and Green Wood? Or are you banking on the High-Grade Magic Treasure in Green Wood's hands?
Do you really think our Greedy Wolf Sect couldn't procure a High-Grade Magic Treasure of our own?"
True Lord Canglang sneered in profound disdain. "Even with you added to the mix, none of you stand a chance against my senior brother!"
"True Lord Canglang, why waste breath on him? He wants to hold the three of us back alone. Let us grant his wish and Cut the Weeds and Dig Up the Roots!"
The Blood-Robed Ancestor continued, "True Lord Withered Glory's potential is far too tremendous. If we let him reach the late Golden Core Stage, I fear there will be scarcely anyone beneath the Nascent Soul realm capable of matching him."
True Lord Canglang stroked his chin, a ruthless glint flashing through his eyes as he gave a slight nod.
Looking like a startled Little Rabbit, Xu Chuan turned tail and fled into the distance.
But within moments, the three men encircled him from all sides.
Clutching the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella in his left hand, Xu Chuan fended off their joint assault. The pale azure light screen cascaded over him, rippling endlessly beneath their blows.
Unbridled greed practically spilled from the eyes of True Lord Canglang, the Blood-Robed Ancestor, and the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator.
High-Grade Defensive Magic Treasures were exceptionally precious. Even among Nascent Soul cultivators, only those from peak sects possessed them.
Even the High-Grade Magic Treasure in True Lord Heavenly Wolf's possession was only bestowed upon him by Qi Tianxiong after he reached Golden Core Perfection.
Deeming the distance sufficient, Xu Chuan slapped his Storage Pouch. Six Formation Flags flew out, shooting into the Six Harmonies before melding into the void and vanishing entirely.
Shortly after, the surrounding several miles were completely enveloped in dense fog and clouds.
True Lord Canglang and his comrades naturally tried to interrupt him, but to their dismay, they could not pierce the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella's defense.
Once the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array was successfully deployed, the mist swirled and distorted. One after another, illusory copies of Xu Chuan holding the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella faded into existence.
It almost drove the three demonic cultivators to mistakenly attack each other.
However, all three were old monsters who had lived for hundreds of years. Boasting extraordinary insight, they instantly discerned the profound mechanics of the grand array and immediately set out to break it.
But this array was highly abstruse—it was no ordinary defensive or trapping formation.
If it were, the combined strength of the three of them could easily tear through this peak Tier 2 grand array in a single strike.
'Although this array is exquisite, it is ultimately only at the peak of Tier 2. It will not hold the three of them for long. I must end this quickly!'
Xu Chuan gently spun the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella in his grasp. One Flying Sword after another shot out from within, totaling exactly twenty-eight blades!
"Azure Dragon Sword Formation, condense!"
The twenty-eight Flying Swords danced endlessly, carving profound trajectories through the air.
In an instant, a seventy-foot Sword of the Azure Dragon successfully materialized!
Although Xu Chuan could not unleash the Azure Dragon Sword Formation's full might at his current realm, he was more than capable of shaping it and invoking a portion of its devastating power.
Furthermore, he deployed the Heaven-Overturning Seal and the Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace. In sync with the array, he used them to periodically harass the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator and True Lord Canglang.
This kept the two constantly on high alert.
Meanwhile, Xu Chuan directly controlled the Azure Dragon Sword Formation to assassinate the Blood-Robed Ancestor.
Among the three of them, the Blood-Robed Ancestor held the highest value!
As long as he died, Xu Chuan could seize his three blood corpses. After refining them and planting a divine sense Restriction, those corpses would be entirely under his command.
Those were three peak early-stage Golden Core combatants, possessing strength comparable to the Mid-stage Golden Core level.
They would vastly make up for the Xu Family's shortage of manpower.
In critical moments, they could even self-destruct to inflict heavy casualties on his enemies.
Coupled with the corpses of the two early-stage Golden Core Elders from the Greedy Wolf Sect he had slain previously—which were nearly finished being refined—he would have five early Tier 3 blood corpses to form a battle array.
At that point, he would be fully capable of clashing head-on with a late-stage Golden Core True Lord.
"Divine Sense Materialization!"
Eighteen streams of divine sense condensed into transparent needles that viciously pierced the Blood-Robed Ancestor's spiritual sea.
"Argh!"
The Blood-Robed Ancestor immediately unleashed a bloodcurdling scream.
"Horn of the Azure Dragon!"
The Sword of the Azure Dragon breached the mist. Its singular horn—a blade seemingly capable of piercing the heavens—closed the distance like a bolt of lightning and slammed right into the Blood-Robed Ancestor.
With no avenue of escape, the Blood-Robed Ancestor frantically attempted to channel his full power into the Blood Lotus to defend himself.
But how could Xu Chuan allow him to succeed? He launched two more Spiritual Sense Attacks in rapid succession.
Although the gap between their divine sense was negligible, Xu Chuan was utilizing a Divine Sense Secret Method. The attack was relentlessly sharp and targeted the soul directly.
Even an expert on the same level of divine sense would suffer severe trauma to their soul, if not outright destruction.
Xu Chuan could only use this technique three times in quick succession, and he unloaded all three uses entirely upon the Blood-Robed Ancestor, completely depriving him of the focus needed to control the Blood Lotus.
Without Mana to sustain it, the Blood Lotus's defenses were effortlessly torn asunder.
Immediately after, the Blood-Robed Ancestor's Dantian was impaled by the Horn of the Azure Dragon.
Xu Chuan seized the opening and lunged forward. With a swift Withered Silence Seal, he obliterated the last dregs of the man's soul resistance and securely sealed him within a Dharma Tool.
"Prime material for a blood corpse. It would be a crime to waste it."
A faint smile curled the corners of Xu Chuan's pale lips.
From the moment the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array was deployed, a late-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator had perished on the spot in just a matter of minutes.
"Brother Blood Robe!"
Hearing the bloodcurdling scream, the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator and True Lord Canglang threw caution to the wind, blasting away Xu Chuan's two Magic Treasures with a single strike.
They flew toward the source of the sound, but alas, the space within the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array was choked with heavy fog, making it impossible to distinguish illusion from reality.
Xu Chuan exacerbated the situation by projecting illusions, tricking the Gray-Robed Demonic Cultivator and True Lord Canglang into clashing with one another.
Boom!
"True Lord Canglang, it's me, Xiao Zhan!"
Recognizing each other's signature attacks, True Lord Canglang and Xiao Zhan immediately halted their assault.
"This formation weaves together an Illusory Array, a trapping array, and a cloud array. It even has the ability to jam our divine sense. If we cannot locate the array core, I'm afraid we will be picked off one by one."
Xiao Zhan's expression was grave as he continued, "That scream just now... I wonder what state Brother Blood Robe is currently in?"
"Blood Robe's strength is nothing to scoff at, and his life-saving methods are truly staggering. Even if Xu Chuan ambushed him, killing him wouldn't be easy," True Lord Canglang rationalized. "However, to be safe, we should stick together.
Once my senior brother critically injures Green Wood and Ximen Xue, he'll be able to free up his hands and bail us out."
A few moments later.
The clouds and mist abruptly dispersed. Xu Chuan was already hovering right near the grand array's light screen, having sent a silent signal to True Lord Green Wood and the others.
Everyone belonging to the Heavenly Azure Sect's faction swiftly retreated back behind the safety of the grand array.
True Lord Canglang whipped his head around, his heart fraught with doubt and alarm.
Seeing True Lord Green Wood and Ximen Xue flee back into the grand array, True Lord Heavenly Wolf did not pursue. He descended beside True Lord Canglang and asked, "Where is the blood-robed one?"
As if realizing something terrible, Xiao Zhan cast a look of sheer disbelief toward the grand array.
They all watched as Xu Chuan gave a flick of his Sleeve Robe. A corpse materialized, floating motionlessly in midair.
It was none other than the Blood-Robed Ancestor!
"How is this possible?!" True Lord Canglang's face twisted in horror. "In just a matter of minutes... how could you possibly kill Blood Robe?!"
True Lord Green Wood's complexion was slightly pale, clearly indicating substantial exertion. But the sight of the Blood-Robed Ancestor's corpse brought a hearty laugh to his lips as he stroked his beard. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, you truly did not disappoint this old man!"
"All hail True Lord Withered Glory!"
"All hail True Lord Withered Glory!"
"All hail True Lord Withered Glory!"
Deafening cheers erupted from the Thousand Stone Forest, echoing across the wilderness!
The spirits of all the cultivators in the Heavenly Azure faction soared!
Every Golden Core Stage Cultivator wore a bright smile; the gloomy shadow cast by True Lord Heavenly Wolf's arrival had significantly dissipated.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf stared intently at Xu Chuan and spoke in a low, resonant voice, "I initially thought Green Wood was the only one here who could barely exchange blows with me. It seems I underestimated you!"
Xu Chuan stored the Blood-Robed Ancestor's corpse and smiled nonchalantly. "Thank you for the praise, Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf. But how could I dare compare myself to you?"
"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, how about you and I have a match? If you win, I shall make the call to retreat. What do you say?" True Lord Heavenly Wolf proposed.
"I have expended a significant amount of energy. If Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf is willing to wait three days for me to recover, I might consider fighting you."
True Lord Heavenly Wolf naturally saw right through this blatant stalling tactic. He chuckled coldly. "If Daoist Friend Withered Glory is willing to swear a Dao Heart Oath, I can gladly wait three days."
"I have no problem swearing an oath, but I have a condition," Xu Chuan replied, his expression tranquil. "If Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf seals his own cultivation to the early-stage Golden Core level, and swears not to unseal it even in the face of life-threatening danger—lest your Soul Shattered—then I will do it.
So, is True Lord Heavenly Wolf willing to agree?"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf furrowed his brows, finding Xu Chuan exceptionally difficult to deal with.
"Who do you think you are? Why should my senior brother agree to such absurd conditions?!" True Lord Canglang furiously bellowed.
"Indeed. I am merely an early-stage Golden Core cultivator who achieved Core Formation a few short years ago. Yet the great True Lord Heavenly Wolf, at Golden Core Perfection, challenged me to a duel.
Daoist Friend Canglang, do you not find that ridiculous? Fellow Daoist Friends, do you find it ridiculous?"
"Naturally ridiculous! I certainly lack the thick skin required to spout such nonsense."
Green Wood chuckled heartily. "Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf, why don't you wait until Daoist Friend Withered Glory reaches Golden Core Perfection before fighting him? I am certain no one will mock you for bullying the weak then!"
"Exactly!"
"Hahaha!"
The Golden Core Stage Cultivators of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture chimed in with roaring laughter.
It was a total joke. Xu Chuan was already capable of slaughtering late-stage Golden Core cultivators right now. By the time he reached Golden Core Perfection, True Lord Heavenly Wolf probably wouldn't even survive a single backhand from him!
"Daoist Friend Green Wood, I have exhausted myself entirely. I will go rest now. I leave this place in your capable hands for the time being."
"Go rest, True Lord Withered Glory. With us and the grand array here, holding them off for two or three days will be no problem at all!" the Yan Clan Ancestor stroked his beard and smiled.
Xu Chuan really had exhausted all his trump cards this time. The Azure Dragon Sword Formation required him to be at least at the late Golden Core Stage to fully control it; forcing it at his current realm was extremely taxing.
His Mana had poured out like a bottomless river.
In just a matter of minutes, although he had managed to slay the Blood-Robed Ancestor, less than thirty percent of his own Mana remained.
His divine sense reserves were in a similarly dreadful state.
Seeing True Lord Green Wood nod, Xu Chuan retreated to his tent to meditate and recover.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf's face was ashen like cold iron. The veins on his temples throbbed so intensely they looked ready to burst through his skin.
The calm demeanor in his eyes was replaced entirely by vicious malice. The Golden Core Pressure radiating from him grew bone-chillingly cold, like a beast yearning to devour someone alive. The very air around him seemed to freeze solid.
"Attack the grand array with everything you have!"
Since the previous skirmish had only lasted a few minutes, the rest of the defending cultivators had barely expended any energy. By fueling the grand array with their Mana and turning the siege into a battle of attrition, there was absolutely no way the Greedy Wolf Prefecture could break through anytime soon.
Word of this victory swiftly reached the Heavenly Azure Sect, as well as the battlefronts at Grand Harmony Lake and Heavenly Gate Pass.
Everyone was utterly astounded by Xu Chuan's strength and bottomless repertoire.
They had all heard of how troublesome the Blood-Robed Ancestor was. Even a late-stage Golden Core True Lord would find it incredibly difficult to truly kill him.
Countless people buzzed with speculation on how exactly Xu Chuan had pulled it off.
Meanwhile, True Lord Heavenly Wolf was meticulously interrogating True Lord Canglang and Xiao Zhan about the specific details of the battle.
"Array Tools comparable to Tier 3, clouds to obscure your vision, and illusions to bewilder you. He initiated an attack to put you on edge, making you afraid to act recklessly.
Yet his true target was Blood Robe all along. Just a single scream, and moments later, Blood Robe was completely silenced?"
"Exactly, senior brother. I cannot wrap my head around it either. How on earth was Blood Robe killed so quickly?" True Lord Canglang admitted.
"If we could get our hands on Blood Robe's corpse, we might be able to figure it out. But that man Xu Chuan is far too meticulous; he didn't leave a single trace behind.
Aside from that fleeting, terrifying burst of pressure, there were no other signs at all," Xiao Zhan added.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf remained silent for a while before speaking. "If my guess is correct, that burst of pressure came from the High-Grade Magic Treasure in his hands."
"Senior brother, that's impossible. That terrifying pressure was borderline identical to a Top-Tier Magic Treasure."
"Some Magic Treasures are unique and naturally possess power that exceeds their tier. The ribs of his umbrella likely consist entirely of Flying Sword Magic Treasures, capable of forming some sort of Sword Formation.
Twenty-eight Flying Sword Magic Treasures—even just launching them simultaneously would be devastating. And if they actually formed a Sword Formation..."
"But why didn't he just use it directly, rather than weaving so many feints and illusions?" Xiao Zhan asked, visibly confused.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf glanced at him. "He probably can't fully control it yet. Moreover, under normal circumstances, if the three of you joined forces, you would definitely be able to block it.
Only an ambush could ensure a one-hit kill on Blood Robe, denying him even the chance to deploy his Blood Lotus!"
"You are absolutely right, senior brother. Blood Robe had the Blood Lotus, a Mid-Grade Defensive Magic Treasure. If he fueled it with everything he had, he could have weathered even the attack of a Golden Core Perfection cultivator for a short time. He shouldn't have been annihilated so fast."
Yet, Xiao Zhan still harbored doubts.
He had interacted with Blood Robe many times. The man was not careless. He definitely would have released the Blood Lotus the absolute instant danger presented itself.
Natal Magic Treasures could be summoned from the Dantian in the blink of an eye. They were far more convenient than ordinary Magic Treasures.
'Unless Xu Chuan found a way to render Blood Robe completely incapable of channeling his power into the Blood Lotus. Otherwise, even that astonishing pressure we felt wouldn't have been enough to effortlessly slice through its defenses.'
Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly. 'Brother Blood Robe, you fell in what was meant to be a simple probing clash. Your luck was truly rotten.
Although your Yan Family still has two Golden Core cultivators, the number of aristocratic families you oppressed over the years is far, far greater.'
Xiao Zhan was a Rogue Cultivator; to this day, he traveled alone.
He knew full well that demonic cultivators like himself were much better off without attachments, lest they be dragged down by familial burdens—at least until they possessed absolute, tyrannical strength.
'True Lord Withered Glory... Xu Chuan. This man is immensely dangerous. I had better avoid ever clashing with him head-on in the future!'
More than a day passed.
Xu Chuan had recovered roughly eighty percent of his strength.
At the same time, outside Sieve Constellation City, a middle-aged man with purple hair, dressed in dark golden robes, arrived.
He glanced at the faintly glowing, translucent light screen hovering above Sieve Constellation City and muttered nonchalantly, "A mid-grade Tier 3 array. It will have to do."
Under normal circumstances, the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities only maintained low-grade Tier 3 defensive arrays.
However, with the Greedy Wolf Prefecture on the offensive, they had all pushed their formations to the absolute limit.
Tianluo stepped through the air until he floated right above the grand array. With a flip of his wrist, a Giant Axe materialized in his grasp.
The axe was an abyssal, bloody red, its massive blade covered in grotesque demonic runes. Black mist curled between the grooves, oozing sinister demonic energy.
Gripping the axe with both hands, Tianluo's frame suddenly swelled, growing a full head taller. The muscles in his arms bulged like cast iron, veins throbbing like coiled demonic pythons. Demonic Flames erupted around him, shooting toward the sky and causing the very air to distort from the heat.
He wore a dark green set of armor, ripples of black light flowing smoothly across its surface.
In the next heartbeat.
The Giant Axe, now bloated to ten feet in size, burst with monstrous demonic light as he viciously brought it crashing down onto Sieve Constellation City's City Protection Great Formation.
A pitch-black axe crescent, seventy feet wide, tore through the sky, carrying the momentum to pulverize mountains as it brutally cleaved into the light screen.
Boom!
The thunderous detonation caused Sieve Constellation City to quake violently. The light screen trembled frantically as the golden runic lines instantly dimmed by more than half. Astonishingly, three bone-deep fissures were ripped right through the barrier from that single swing.
It was a mid-grade Tier 3 defensive grand array. Even a Golden Core Perfection cultivator would need several hours of relentless bombardment to carve out a single crack.
Yet Tianluo had accomplished it in a single strike.
Countless people in the city looked up, only to find that an entire corner of the sky had unknowingly been swallowed by the suffocating black clouds conjured by Tianluo's demonic aura.
Wisps of terrifying demonic pressure seeped through the cracks in the grand array, invading the city.
"Someone is attacking the City Protection Great Formation?!"
"What a terrifying aura! I can barely even breathe!"
"The City Protection Great Formation is a mid-grade Tier 3 array! One person acting alone, even a Golden Core Perfection expert, couldn't possibly break through so easily!"
Panic-stricken murmurs spread like wildfire throughout the streets.
The instant the grand array came under attack, the City Lord of Sieve Constellation City sensed the disturbance and immediately exited his secluded cultivation.
"Hurry! Send word to the Heavenly Azure Sect's resident deacons in the city! Tell them to transmit an urgent message back to their sect!
Sieve Constellation City is under siege by an unimaginably powerful foe! The attacker split our City Protection Great Formation with a single strike!"
"Yes, City Lord!"
Having issued his orders, the City Lord soared toward the sky where Tianluo hovered.
By then, Tianluo had already brought down his second axe.
Deafening, beast-like roars seemed to erupt from within the massive blade. Demonic Flames surged from Tianluo's body, swiftly wrapping around the descending edge of the axe.
Boom!
Witnessing this apocalyptic sight, the City Lord's eyes went wide with sheer terror. Struck with bone-deep dread, he didn't waste a single breath and turned tail, fleeing in the complete opposite direction!
He flew faster than he ever had in his entire life!
'This man is horrifying! He could probably butcher me in a single move!'
Endless cracking sounds resounded through the air.
The fissures along the light screen raced outward like spiderwebs, the pale golden glow rapidly dimming into oblivion.
Tianluo tracked the streak of light speeding away from him. A cruel sneer tugged at the corners of his lips, like a cat watching a mouse scurry.
And so, with a casual flick of his wrist, he swung his axe a third time.
Sieve Constellation City's City Protection Great Formation instantly shattered inch by inch, dissolving into a shower of golden dust that faded into the wind.
Stomping into the void, Tianluo vanished completely, as if skipping through space itself. When he reappeared, he was standing directly in the City Lord's path.
Slamming to a halt, the City Lord stared at the horrifying figure before him. His jaw dropped, sheer dread consuming his face.
"Y-You..."
His voice trembled so violently he could barely squeeze out a word.
"It seems you are the only Golden Core cultivator in the entire city. It just wouldn't do to let you run away!"
Tianluo's silhouette flickered. In the very next split second, he was directly in front of the City Lord, his face practically pressed against the man's.
Then, his hand shot out. It effortlessly pierced through the City Lord's Mana shield and plunged deep into his Dantian.
A radiant Golden Core was violently ripped out. Right in front of the dying man's eyes, Tianluo opened his gaping maw and swallowed it whole.
"How can there be... a Golden Core Stage Cultivator as monstrous as you...!"
The light rapidly faded from the City Lord's eyes.
Tianluo casually squeezed the empty air. The City Lord's body violently exploded into a mist of blood. Accompanied by his pulverized soul, the torrent of crimson flowed directly into Tianluo's mouth.
"Golden Core immortal cultivators truly are the most delicious. What a pity there was only one."
Tianluo licked his lips. He then shifted his abyssal gaze downward, viewing the chaotic, panicking populace below as nothing more than lambs to the slaughter.
The City Protection Great Formation had been broken. The City Lord was dead.
Sieve Constellation City devolved into absolute pandemonium. Everyone scrambled wildly, fleeing toward the city gates in a desperate bid for survival!
After urgently transmitting three consecutive distress signals back to his sect, the Heavenly Azure Sect's resident deacon immediately joined the fleeing masses.