Chapter 54: Curtain Fall!
The surrounding space showed signs of distortion under that golden energy blade.
Faced with such an offensive, even a strong expert who had reached the Eight-Star Dou Zong rank would probably not dare to underestimate it.
The Earth Demon Ancestor's pupils contracted. He sensed a strong crisis from this attack.
"Quickly, if you do not want to die, attack together and break this great array!"
Realizing that this array could not be contended with head-on, the Earth Demon Old Ghost let out a long cry.
"Ice Condensation Sword Art." More and more black ice crystals dissolved into nothing, condensing into massive black swords that floated around him, emitting a heart-palpitating aura.
The sound of sword energy friction against space, a whining sound, rang in everyone's ears, making their scalps tingle.
Each of these swords was extremely terrifying. Even a single one could probably directly kill a Dou Huang strong expert.
Seeing the Earth Demon Old Ghost so cautious, Han Feng and the others also shivered violently. Looking at the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird glaring at them from all sides, their hearts grew cold.
One had to know that so far, only a quarter of this great array had been activated, yet it had already left the Earth Demon Old Ghost struggling to cope. They could not imagine what kind of power it would have when all four were in motion.
At this moment, it was no longer time to fight among themselves. Everyone knew that the moment of life and death had arrived. The Jia Nan Academy had clearly planned meticulously to catch them all in one net.
In that case, they would not sit idly by and wait for death.
A flash of madness passed through everyone's eyes. Now was not the time to hold back. They all looked toward the sky. As their hand seals changed, the energy of heaven and earth around them erupted into violent chaos.
"Sea Heart Illusion Beast." The moment the vast blue sea of fire appeared, it began to churn violently. The flames howled and spiraled, finally faintly condensing into a massive deep-blue beast.
The beast was enormous, shaped like a lion, yet it had a huge scorpion tail. On its head, a deep-blue horn emitted a faint blue glow. Whenever the horn moved, even space showed faint black marks.
"If you want my life, you can all stay and be buried with me." The moment the beast took shape, some color drained from Han Feng's face. At this moment, madness was written on his face.
"Corrosive Demon Poison Hand."
"Thousand Leaf Palm."
"..."
As Han Feng made his move, Mo Tianxing and the others also struck. Dou Techniques rained down on the array like there was no tomorrow.
"Hu Qian, Elder Huo, Commander Wu, attack together. Do not let them break the array. Elder Qing, stay ready to support."
Seeing the group beginning to fight for their lives, Su Qian's expression turned serious. He quickly gave orders. A peak fifth-grade spiritual array was enough to trap and kill a Nine-Star Dou Zong. But they had not been practicing for long. Faced with the group's counterattack, he was still unsure.
"Yes —"
"Vermilion Bird Burns the Heavens."
"Black Tortoise Expands the Sea."
"Azure Dragon Binds."
"..."
The majestic Dou Qi turned the space within the array into a starry sky. The four sacred beasts roared.
Rumble —
A violent energy storm wreaked havoc. The four sacred beasts were pushed back, but the attacks were still steadily received, scattering into countless specks of light.
Pfft —
Several sprays of blood shot out. Both Su Qian's group and the Black-Corner Region group were pale, traces of blood slowly trickling from the corners of their mouths.
Clearly, they had been seriously injured in the collision just now.
"Quick, their Dou Qi cannot last much longer. Attack together and shatter it."
The Earth Demon Old Ghost had the highest cultivation present. His Dou Qi was abundant and he had suffered relatively light damage. Being experienced, he saw through Su Qian and the others' current state at a glance.
It was a good array, but their cultivation was slightly lacking. Three of them had just broken through to Dou Zong. If four Four-Star Dou Zongs had joined forces to set it up, they would have been completely wiped out in the first round.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost's words were like a shot of adrenaline. A strong light burst forth in Han Feng and the others' eyes.
They each forcefully mustered their remaining energy, circulating the little Dou Qi left in their bodies, and struck fiercely toward Su Qian and the others.
"Not good —"
Seeing Han Feng and the others' counterattack, Su Qian and the others' pupils contracted. Their expressions changed drastically. After that last exchange, the Dou Qi in their bodies was not keeping up.
Were they going to fail at the last moment?
"Heh, everyone, are you not celebrating a bit too early?"
Just then, a calm voice slowly entered everyone's ears. The group felt their eyes blur, and a black figure had already fallen into the center of the array.
At this moment, Jiang Yun had entered the Heart Eye state. Invisibly, deep in his heart, something like an eye slowly blinked beneath the ripples, as if opening its eyes.
And the moment that invisible eye opened, all of heaven and earth appeared in Jiang Yun's heart. Everything seemed extremely mysterious and strange.
With a wave of his hand, spirit seals condensed from his hand. In just a few breaths, light surged. The number of spirit seals around Jiang Yun immediately surpassed one hundred.
Jiang Yun's gaze was profound. With a light wave of his sleeve, the hundred spirit seals shot into the sky. The air rippled as they merged into heaven and earth, falling into the spatial nodes all around.
Hum —
Suddenly, the surrounding space trembled. The energy within the entire array became violent at this moment. The array, which had been somewhat on the verge of collapse, immediately stabilized.
An energy hurricane seemed to sweep across the sky. It converged into a river of light, continuously flowing toward the huge light array.
"Jiang Yun!"
Seeing Jiang Yun make his move, and the stable spirit array, Su Qian and the others were overjoyed. The pressure on them decreased sharply.
They had been so flustered just now that they had forgotten Jiang Yun was still standing by. Their worries had been for nothing.
And Jiang Yun — could he not have come out a little earlier? Did he not know that old people had weak hearts and could not take such shocks?
At some point, whenever they saw Jiang Yun appear, they would inexplicably trust him.
As if there was nothing in the world he could not solve.
For example...
Right now.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost and the others, who were in the center of the array, looked at the stabilized spirit array. Their hearts shook. Shock and confusion surged in their eyes.
Who was this kid?
Had he set up this array? Where did he get such an exquisite array?
Stepping on thin air — a Dou Zong this young?
One question after another appeared in everyone's minds. The Earth Demon Old Ghost was the first to speak. "Kid, who are you?"
"Jiang Yun, of the Jia Nan Academy." His gaze quiet and deep as he looked at the group who were like turtles in a jar, Jiang Yun slowly spoke. But his hands did not slow down.
Jiang Yun slowly formed a complex seal. Immediately, countless rays of light shot out, intertwining to form an even more massive and complex pattern in the sky.
"Jiang Yun?" The name was somewhat unfamiliar. As for the last secret realm expedition, those who had seen Jiang Yun were all dead. To them, Jiang Yun was an unknown variable.
"Questions answered. It is time to send everyone on their way." Looking at the questions in the group's eyes, Jiang Yun's expression was cold. Especially the way he looked at Han Feng — his gaze was like looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"Want this old ancestor's life? Rely on you milk-drinking juniors?" Jiang Yun's contempt made the Earth Demon Old Ghost's expression darken immediately. Since Mang Tianchi had left, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?
He immediately let out an angry roar. "Extreme Cold Evil Palm." The energy of heaven and earth erupted into violent chaos. This was a precursor to an Earth Class Dou Technique. Judging by the fluctuations, it was at least a mid-level Earth Class Dou Technique.
It had to be said, the Earth Demon Ancestor was indeed talented. As an ice-attributed cultivator, he had developed the mid-level Earth Class Dou Technique 'Fire Transformation'. Why would he not have developed a powerful Dou Technique for his own protection?
In the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a black cold cloud over a hundred zhang in size. The cold cloud churned, finally turning into a huge hand seal, striking toward Jiang Yun.
Along the way, tiny ice crystals fell. These were condensed from the moisture in the air that had just come into contact with the Earth Demon Old Ghost's Dou Technique. The power of a high-star Dou Zong was on full display.
"Follow this old ancestor's lead. Right now, this kid is the array's core. Kill him, and the great array will break without being attacked. This old ancestor will tear these people apart."
At the same time he launched his Dou Technique, the Earth Demon Old Ghost spoke in a low voice. A sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. On his withered face, it looked somewhat terrifying.
Hearing the Earth Demon Old Ghost's words, Han Feng and the others' eyes lit up. They each struck out with their most powerful attacks toward Jiang Yun.
Han Feng looked at Jiang Yun with sinister eyes. How dare he look at him like that? Soon, he would make him taste the pain of being burned by ten thousand flames.
"Sea Flame Halberd."
"Fire Transformation · Starry Sky Fire Phoenix."
"Heavenly Net Yin Evil Claw."
"..."
Coldly watching the group launch their Dou Techniques, at the same moment, Jiang Yun's hand seal changed. In an instant...
Boom, boom.
The energy of this heaven and earth erupted into chaos. Energy surged in like beams of light, pouring continuously into the spirit array.
"Four Symbols Starry Sky Seal."
Jiang Yun's expression was blank. He suddenly struck out with his palm. The space formed by the array behind him shattered. A huge seal appeared, with Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise swirling around it, carrying an unstoppable power as it fell downward.
"Heaven Class Dou Technique —"
A shrill cry pierced the sky. The moment the great seal took shape, the hair of everyone present stood on end. An extremely dangerous feeling overflowed from the depths of their souls.
Especially those in the center of the array. Driven by the fear of facing death, they nearly turned and ran. But an inexplicable force firmly locked onto them, preventing them from escaping this space.
Han Feng looked at the falling great seal with despair in his eyes. A Heaven Class Dou Technique was a killing move even for a Dou Zun. Let alone for a group of Dou Zongs.
How were they to know that one day they would die under a Heaven Class Dou Technique?
What an honor!!!
"Bastard —"
The Earth Demon Old Ghost's face was ashen. He swore angrily, but his hands did not slow at all. He grabbed Fang Yan and the Gold and Silver Elders and used them as shields.
"Earth Demon Old Ghost —"
Boom —
A thunderous explosion resounded across the sky. A wave of energy surged, mixing together in the sky, finally like churning ocean waves, sweeping in all directions.
Rumble —
Even more terrifying explosion sounds came. The surrounding mountain peaks were directly cracked. The forest within a hundred zhang was also, at this moment, leveled into an endless plain. The ground was flat, without the slightest obstacle.
Gulp.
No one knew who swallowed saliva. And this seemed to be only the beginning. A moment later, the sound of swallowing saliva rang out continuously.
Hu Qian's hand trembled as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. In the face of such terrifying, world-destroying energy, even as a Dou Zong, he felt extremely small and fragile.
He looked around. All he saw were faces of utter shock.
Good, good. He was not the only one terrified.
"Grand Elder, the final form of this array can actually execute a Heaven Class Dou Technique. Could we..."
Coming back to his senses, Hu Qian suddenly became extremely excited. He looked at Su Qian and the others, eager to try.
"Indeed. But we still need to practice hard. A Heaven Class Dou Technique — this old man has never even seen one. I never thought I would one day have the chance to execute one." Wu Tianlang was also extremely excited at this moment. As a cultivator, who did not like high-level Dou Techniques?
"Jiang Yun has truly left the academy a great gift." Listening to the group's discussion, Su Qian looked at the figure floating in the air with a complicated expression.
Who knew that a single casual act back then would lead to today's situation? Truly, nothing in this world is certain.
However, to execute a Dou Technique of such power, they would still need to practice diligently.
He glanced at Hu Qian and the others. Feeling their labored, ox-like breathing, Su Qian sighed with emotion. The power was indeed great, but it consumed too much Dou Qi. That they had been able to execute it this time was largely thanks to Jiang Yun's control.
Feeling the Dou Qi in his body, less than a tenth of what it had been, Su Qian knew that the group still had a long way to go before they could fully unleash the array's power.
At this moment, Jiang Yun looked at the several unrecognizable 'corpses' below. A strange, half-smile hung at the corner of his mouth. "Everyone, are you still going to hide?"
A long time passed. A gentle breeze blew, but no one answered Jiang Yun.
"In that case, I will have no choice but to invite you out myself." Jiang Yun looked at the unresponsive corpses. A vast wave of soul power suddenly exploded.
Bang —
Suddenly, the Earth Demon Old Ghost's 'corpse' abruptly came to life. He gave Jiang Yun a venomous look, then suddenly spat a mouthful of blood from his mouth. The blood wrapped around his body. The space around the Earth Demon Old Ghost quickly distorted.
"I forgot to mention — I am also quite skilled in spatial power." Seeing this, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. He raised his hand and swiped it across the place where the Earth Demon Old Ghost was. The space, as if smoothed over by an invisible giant hand, calmed down.
Then, Jiang Yun's figure flashed. In the blink of an eye, he was beside the Earth Demon Old Ghost. Under the other's terrified gaze, he placed a finger on the center of the other's forehead.
"Urgh —" The other only had time to let out a muffled grunt. The light in his eyes gradually faded.
Swish — Just then, a wave of soul power suddenly shot out from Han Feng's 'corpse' and fled into the forest below. The timing he chose could not be better — while Jiang Yun was making his move, and Su Qian and the others' soul power was inferior to his.
With anyone else, he might have actually escaped. Unfortunately, Jiang Yun had been waiting for him.
"Medicine Emperor Han, why such a hurry? I was hoping to ask you for some advice on alchemy techniques."