Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Array Duel with a True Disciple
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“Array, activate!”
Above the Skull Mountain marketplace, the fully restored Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array rumbled to life, startling Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan into pulling away from each other.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Yuanchun transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot past.
The array patterns outside the grand array parted in response, allowing Lu Yuanchun to pass through before closing again. The movement was so swift that it left no opening for outsiders to exploit.
“Thank you for your help, Brother Lu.”
Landing within the array, the blood-red light dissipated, revealing Lu Yuanchun's sorry state. His deathly pale face was etched with a mix of shock and uncertainty:
“Brother Lu, you're actually an array master?”
If he weren't an array master, how could he have restored the array and resolved what was a certain-death situation?
“I've made a fool of myself in front of Senior Brother. I'm merely a ninth-rank master.” Lu Yang smiled faintly. “After several days of study, I was finally able to unleash a fraction of this grand array's power.”
Lu Yang spoke of it simply, but Lu Yuanchun's face was filled with solemnity.
Of the hundred arts of cultivation, the way of arrays is supreme!
The value of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a late-stage Qi Refining array master could not be compared. The latter could almost be considered equivalent to a Perfected Qi Refining cultivator!
“Speaking of which, Senior Brother Lu seems to have gained quite a bit this time.”
Lu Yang looked at Lu Yuanchun with a half-smile, and under his gaze, Lu Yuanchun's expression gradually stiffened as cold sweat began to trickle down.
However, in the next second, he regained his composure.
“Brother Lu, I've been keeping the 'Profound Feminine Grand Yin Treasure Jade' safe for you for a long time. It's time to return it to its rightful owner!”
After speaking, Lu Yuanchun directly took out a small box. He opened the lid, and inside lay a white jade stone with seven apertures, closely resembling a human figure.
As the saying goes, a wise man submits to the circumstances.
Lu Yuanchun was also an old disciple of the Primal Saint Sect. He naturally understood that if he didn't hand over the treasure jade now, he would soon be sacrificed on the front lines of the righteous-demonic battlefield.
Besides, the Divine Martial Gate had dispatched a Perfected Qi Refining cultivator, making escape impossible. Lu Yuanchun no longer held any illusions. Rather than keeping the treasure, it was better to hand it over publicly. On one hand, it was a way to avert disaster by sacrificing wealth; on the other, it would shift the attention of the Divine Martial Gate and others to Lu Yang.
“The Profound Feminine Grand Yin Treasure Jade.”
Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this. He then put the small box into his storage pouch and turned to look calmly at the figure that had suddenly appeared outside the marketplace.
It was a handsome young man holding a spear.
He wore a martial crown and was clad in scale armor. The long spear in his hand was inscribed with dragon patterns. He looked less like a cultivator and more like a general from the mortal world.
“A ninth-rank array master?”
The young man's gaze was as sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce through the grand array's cover and see Lu Yang, who was controlling it. “I didn't expect such an unforeseen variable.”
Meanwhile, ‘Divine Fist’ Wu Zhichong and ‘Mountain-Moving Daoist’ Duanmu Yuan also approached and bowed respectfully to the spear-wielding youth. “Senior Brother Ouyang, we have failed in our duties and disappointed you.”
“It's fine.”
Ouyang Haoze shook his head, his expression gentle. “The demon sect members are cunning. It's normal for you two junior brothers to be careless. Just atone for your mistakes with meritorious deeds from now on.”
After speaking, he turned his gaze back to the Skull Mountain marketplace, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
“This sect has planned for many years and cannot tolerate any mishaps. If possible, we should first eliminate the nail the Demon Sect has left here to minimize any variables.”
In the next moment, Ouyang Haoze's figure flashed, and the aura of a Perfected Qi Refining cultivator was fully unleashed. Instantly, a pillar of essence qi smoke shot up, manifesting with earth-shaking battle cries. Vaguely, thousands of armored soldiers and generals could be seen arrayed in formation behind Ouyang Haoze, bolstering his spirit, essence, and qi.
“Break for me!”
In an instant, a thunderous roar rolled through the air and blasted into the Skull Mountain marketplace. A few cultivators with lower cultivation levels were instantly shaken so violently by the furious shout that they vomited blood.
“Perfected Qi Refining...”
Lu Yang controlled the array with a grave expression. The pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm—at this level, within the major sects, it symbolized not just cultivation but also status.
Anyone at the Perfected Qi Refining Realm was bound to be a true disciple of their sect!
The Divine Martial Gate was located in the Northern Frontier. Although its scale was far inferior to the Primal Saint Sect, it possessed several world-shaking great divine abilities that only true disciples could cultivate.
“If he has mastered a great divine ability, I'll abandon the array and run immediately.”
While preparing to escape, Lu Yang moved to the edge of the array to face Ouyang Haoze from across the barrier. “I am Lu Yang. May I know this fellow Daoist's name?”
“You are not worthy of knowing my name.” Ouyang Haoze sneered. “If you know what's good for you, surrender at once. In that case, I might show mercy, merely crippling your demonic arts without taking your lives. But if you choose to resist stubbornly, the day this array is broken will be the day not even a chicken or dog is left alive!”
“When will the cycle of revenge ever end?”
Lu Yang's smile remained unchanged, his tone gentle. “Although our two sides are righteous and demonic, we have always minded our own business. How about you give me some face?”
“Give you face?”
Ouyang Haoze burst out laughing, mocking, “What arrogance! A mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator. What can you do if I choose not to give you face today?”
“Is that really necessary...”
Lu Yang shook his head. “If that's the case, then please, fellow Daoist, come and break the array.”
“Courting death!”
A murderous glint flashed in Ouyang Haoze's eyes. The pillar of smoke formed from his qi and blood completely retracted as he threw a punch. At first glance, it looked like a mere mortal's martial art.
However, Lu Yang's expression tightened at the sight, not daring to be the slightest bit careless. He immediately summoned the Blood Sun Sword Pellet, then merged with the sword light and slashed at Ouyang Haoze. In that instant, fist and sword clashed. Unparalleled sharp energy and fist force exploded outwards, like blossoms of fire blooming in mid-air.
Ouyang Haoze's figure moved like lightning, throwing hundreds of punches in the blink of an eye.
The Divine Martial Gate was different from other cultivation sects. Body cultivators reigned supreme, and most of their divine abilities were based on fists and kicks. In close-quarters combat, their speed could even surpass that of sword cultivators!
“Volley of Arrows!”
Ouyang Haoze stretched out his arms as if drawing a great bow. Then, fist shadows shot out like arrows, submerging Lu Yang's position in the blink of an eye.
Rumble!
Amidst the explosive sounds, Lu Yang felt as if all the spiritual energy around him had been drained, replaced by an endless barrage of fist shadows that threatened to grind him into dust!
A thousand strikes in an instant, leaving no room for a counterattack. It was clearly a superior divine ability!
Although Ouyang Haoze spoke arrogantly and looked down on Lu Yang, when he truly made his move, he showed no carelessness at all, attacking with his full strength.
Instantly, explosive waves of qi roiled and churned.
Under his fist shadows, Lu Yang lasted less than ten seconds before being pounded to pieces. The sword light shattered, and in a flash, he turned into a sky full of withered bones and remains.
The flurry of punches stopped abruptly. Ouyang Haoze stood in the air, his brow slightly furrowed.
Meanwhile, above the marketplace, the Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array was operating. A figure materialized from thin air and strolled out—it was an unscathed Lu Yang.
“Fellow Daoist's fist might is unparalleled. I am impressed.”
Ouyang Haoze didn't respond and punched out again, still using Volley of Arrows. Lu Yang still resisted stubbornly and was still shattered to pieces after holding on for more than ten seconds.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, Ouyang Haoze saw Lu Yang's corpse turn into withered bones and remains, while an uninjured Lu Yang strolled out of the array again. His wide sleeves fluttered, his elegant demeanor unchanged. He hadn't even lost a shred of true qi or magical power. He cupped his fists in a salute and asked, “Fellow Daoist, do you wish to fight again?”
“...The Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array truly lives up to its reputation.”
Ouyang Haoze's expression was grave.
According to his knowledge, this was a seventh-rank array containing a hundred skeleton soldiers. A cultivator within the array could use the bodies of these skeleton soldiers to manifest an avatar with one hundred percent of their own combat power.
In this way, it was equivalent to the skeleton soldiers fighting in place of the actual person.
If they won, everyone was happy. If they died, it had no effect on the main body. Moreover, as long as the array continued to operate, the skeleton soldiers could be quickly restored even if they were destroyed.
Thus, no matter how fiercely he attacked, it was all in vain, a useless effort. This was only because he was outside the array and hadn't rashly entered. Otherwise, once inside, Lu Yang could summon all the skeleton soldiers and swarm him. At that point, even a Perfected Qi Refining cultivator would be in for a world of hurt