With a decisive and swift move, Yu Ci cut down the Sky Demon, a gesture that seemed to others as a form of venting, yet it was merely a minor episode in the chaos that had erupted.
The wave of Outer Realm Sky Demons was generally of low rank, with the most common being the Lifeless Thought Demons, and very few Gathering Yin Sha Demons, whose strength was not particularly outstanding. Of course, if an Outer Sky Calamity Demon of True Immortal equivalence had come, the group would have been in dire straits.
The more precarious the situation, the more vigilant the leaders of the sect became.
The Mountain Gate of the Lichen Sect, soaring high into the heavens, often attracted visits from Outer Realm Sky Demons. The sect was well aware that these demons excelled in deception and sudden, unexpected attacks. Shan Chu, the Vacuum Walking Cultivator in charge, had already made his appearance. He was busy communicating with other areas, requesting the aid of Fellow Sect Members specialized in such matters, while also organizing several elite disciples to defend the gate with utmost caution.
The scene, initially chaotic, soon stabilized. However, most of the cultivators here practiced Qi cultivation and swordplay. Although there were methods like "Sword aura shattering evil and falsehood," only a few could truly master Sword aura. When it came to dealing with Outer Realm Sky Demons, Talisman Curse techniques were more suitable.
Therefore, some thought of Yu Ci. Among the Fourth Generation Disciples, he was the most proficient in talismanic arts. Looking across the entire Sect's Mountain Gate, it might be debatable, but in the Empirical Department, who held more authority than Yu Ci, who had even formed his personal life talisman during the Forming the Golden Elixir stage?
Just as they were considering this, four streams of talismanic Divine Light flew out from a building, landing at the four corners of the battlefield. It was unclear what type of talismanic art was used, but it carried a chilling aura and had a strong restraining effect on the Outer Realm Sky Demons. The Demon Shadows, which had been between tangible and intangible, were forced by the cold to reveal their forms, their movements becoming sluggish. This allowed Li Jin and the others to strike them down with ease.
In an instant, the situation was under control.
"At least there's a bit of conscience left," Li Hong murmured to himself. However, his expression soon turned solemn.
At that moment, on the distant Ancestral Master's Hall, the projection of the scrolls was fading, and the tadpole-like characters were converging in the center, forming a slender beam of crimson-gold light that pierced the sky. Below the canopy of heaven, the scattering lightning had thinned, but it did not mean that the Thunderbolt Tribulation was over. High above, the crimson-purple lightning was gathering its final strength. According to some obscure principle within the Thunderbolt Tribulation, it twisted and coiled, eventually transforming into a millstone-sized flaming meteor that fell from the sky.
This strike was not aimed at the Star Plucking Tower but towards the Ancestral Master's Hall.
This was the turning of the heavenly heart, striking the false to uproot the true, shifting its target to destroy the newly received content of the "Nine Degrees Refining Physique Chapter" in one fell swoop. Although Grandmaster Fang on the Star Plucking Tower would surely have memorized the newly deduced techniques, the destruction of the original would not affect the grand scheme. Yet, if this resulted in the loss of a heaven-sent treasure, the future could hold unforeseen consequences.
Above the Ancestral Master's Hall, a protective eight-layered Rune Array was activated, bending the previously straight river of blood that connected the peaks and valleys at an angle to encircle the surroundings. This catalyzed the Rune Array, causing it to emit a faint blood-red glow.
Everyone held their breath in anticipation.
At that moment, Wang Jiu approached Li Jin and whispered, "Something's not right."
"Hmm?" Li Jin's entire Heart-Mind was focused on the Ancestral Master's Hall, and his reaction was more than a beat slow.
Wang Jiu furrowed his brows, about to speak again, when Li Hong suddenly came to a realization, exclaiming, "Something's not right!"
Now, cultivators familiar with Yu Ci, like Zhang Yan and Li You, began to react. The fact that Yu Ci was sulking indoors during the Outer Realm Sky Demon's attack was out of character for him, and even more troubling was the grandeur with which he acted without showing his face.
Their reaction would not have been so sluggish normally, but they were all distracted by the critical moment at the Ancestral Master's Hall. Now, looking back at the house, they felt the silence within had stretched on for too long.
Had he finally lost patience?
Li Hong shouted, "Yu Ci, come out!"
Before his words fell, Wang Jiu was more decisive, sweeping his sword to lift half of the building, scattering it in an instant. Through this action, people vaguely saw that there seemed to be no one inside the house.
In the moment of shock, a sharp, prolonged sound pierced their ears. As the dust from the collapsed building had yet to settle, three figures burst out, one soaring into the sky, another burrowing into the ground, and the third flying straight ahead, each in different directions at incredible speeds, forcefully breaking through the cultivators' defenses.
Li You uttered a low cry, "Don't be foolish!"
"Don't move, it's the Taiyi Star Pivot's Separate Consciousness and Thoughts!"
Li Hong had done his homework and wouldn't be fooled by such tricks. Without even glancing at the three figures, he strode forward with his hefty body and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Yu, the situation is already decided. Even if you go now, what can you achieve..."
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As he spoke, the usually silent Immortal Teacher Shan Chu in the sky had already drawn his sword, cutting down two of the figures, while the outer disciples blocked the third one. With a single strike, the third figure dissipated into nothingness, confirming they were indeed the Taiyi Star Pivot's Separate Consciousness and Thoughts. At this moment, the reinforcements that had been called during the Sky Demon's attack had also arrived nearby. Sword Light was already above their heads, and soon another Vacuum Walking cultivator, along with two Golden Elixir cultivators, would join them here.
It was clear to any discerning person that Yu Ci no longer had a chance.
Zhang Yan felt that if Li Hong continued speaking, Yu Ci would be caught in a dilemma, and it would be unseemly for his face. He shook his head at Li Hong, but just as he was distracted, a light flared up at his feet.
"The talismans from earlier?"
During the Sky Demon's attack, the four Talismans released by Yu Ci had gone unidentified by anyone, and no one had cared to recognize them. With countless talismanic techniques in the world, who could afford the leisure to identify each one? As long as they served their purpose, it was enough. But at this moment, many regretted their oversight.
How could I have not thought of this?
Around the half-collapsed house, the ground burst open with a thunderous roar, dust and smoke billowing into the air, obscuring everyone's vision. Most crucially, the aura here was deliberately disrupted by the spell's divine light, causing a dozen or so light figures to dart out from the ruins—some soaring into the sky, some burrowing into the earth, some gliding straight ahead, coming from all directions and creating a dizzying spectacle.
"Another deployment of the Taiyi Star Pivot's Separate Consciousness and Thoughts—just how many has he prepared?" someone exclaimed.
Had their formation been stable, the chaos could have been manageable. These people, collaborating with concerted effort, would not normally lose control of the situation. But, frustratingly, this moment coincided with the arrival of several cultivators descending from the sky to provide aid. With no prior communication between the two parties, the lack of coordination became immediately apparent amidst the unexpected turn of events. Seeing the dust rising and figures tumbling below, they instinctively drew their swords to assist, inadvertently throwing Li Hong and his group's formation into disarray.
In an instant, two or three figures broke through the encirclement and disappeared into the darkness.
"It's the Separate Consciousness and Thoughts!"
Li Hong's lips curled into a sneer, his stout frame still standing firm. Even now, he believed that Yu Ci was hiding within the house—a judgment based on his intuition. Although he did not object when Shan Chu dispatched people to pursue and confirm, he felt a tinge of disappointment:
That young man, who could have been the brightest new star of the Empirical Department, was resorting to these unreasonable moves in the face of inevitable facts. How was this any different from throwing a tantrum?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Shan Chu let out a low shout, followed by the resonating sound of swords in midair, like the tearing of silk. Li Hong was startled, and Wang Jiu reacted even more directly, his sword control propelling him skyward.
As a third-generation disciple and a powerhouse who had achieved the breakthrough of Vacuum Walking, Shan Chu maintained his position high above, facing south—the shortest route to the Star Plucking Tower. His presence there held symbolic significance, as no one truly believed that Yu Ci would be foolish enough to forcefully break through his defense.
But reality proved to be much more absurd than anyone could have imagined.
By the time Wang Jiu arrived, all he saw was the fleeting sword mist, slipping through Shan Chu's sword energy and then, without warning, plummeting to the ground and vanishing in a flash. Below, Li Hong's furious roar echoed as his sword energy howled, tearing through the ground, yet still a step too late.
If they had taken action, it meant it was real, yet how had the target escaped the trap set by three people?
At that moment, no one pondered how Yu Ci had managed it. Driven by the pull of aura, all three were in hot pursuit, their frustration mingled with concern. Judging by the sword movements ahead, it was possible that the audacious Yu Ci might even dare to crash directly into the Sky-Supporting Mountain Pillar, causing an even more irreparable situation.
The chase spanned hundreds of miles, with the target shifting between tangible and intangible, visible and invisible, yet maintaining a considerable distance. As the Sky-Supporting Mountain Pillar neared, Li Hong's chubby face could no longer muster a smile, and a myriad of doubts began to surface:
"This is simply too formidable; it's far beyond the Initial Stage of Golden Elixir in terms of Cultivation Level. Could he have used some method to stimulate his potential? Or perhaps..." Li Hong shook his head, his own speculations ensnaring and bewildering him. Shan Chu, with a stern face, was solely focused on flying and did not respond. Regardless, being overpowered by a cultivator at the Initial Stage of Golden Elixir was a severe blow to his pride, and from start to finish, he hadn't even discerned the opponent's sword technique. As he grappled with his thoughts, the target's aura suddenly ceased ahead.
************
Yu Ci's unexpected breakthrough had left the surrounding cultivators speechless and greatly embarrassed.
The three leaders had all given chase, leaving the rest to send the news to the Sky-Supporting Mountain Pillar via a Communication Flying Sword, as per the agreed procedure. Unsure of what to do next, they stayed put, waiting for orders while also observing the changes happening at the Ancestral Master's Hall.
Zhang Yan, however, found it all quite uninteresting. Since he had already promised not to pursue that particular practice in the future, he saw no point in watching. After greeting Li You, he casually walked away.
Even as he distanced himself from the area, his thoughts lingered on the events there. Yu Ci's escape undoubtedly meant he was heading for the Star Plucking Tower, where he was sure to meet with disaster.
With a decision made, his chaotic emotions began to settle, his Spirit Platform cleared, and a sudden premonition arose in his heart.
As he drew his sword and turned, he saw a familiar face smiling at him from close by. Startled, he exclaimed, "You're still here? Then who was that just now..."
"A friend," Yu Ci replied calmly in a low voice.
"A friend? A disciple from the Sect's Mountain Gate, or an outsider? Who would come to our aid at such a time, and with such a Cultivation Level..."
Zhang Yan was still puzzled when he saw Yu Ci's eyes suddenly narrow, shooting out golden light, containing a Mind-Snatching, Soul-Shaking power. Even if Zhang Yan had been on full alert, let alone in his current state of mental disarray, he could not have resisted. His body stiffened, and with a single touch from Yu Ci, he collapsed.
"Senior Brother Zhang, I shall apologize to you in the future, if, of course, we ever meet again, and not under such circumstances."
As Zhang Yan's consciousness faded, he faintly heard distant calls. In the sky, the projection of the book vanished, the thunder dissipated, the river of blood receded, and the sky turned pitch black, making it impossible to discern the outcome. But soon, a faint light appeared in the direction of the Ancestral Master's Hall, propping up the darkened sky. It was subtle and elusive, like a ray of sunlight reflecting upwards, growing fainter as it ascended, almost like a wisp of smoke.
"Returning to purity, resonating with the heavenly heart, has it succeeded... Wait, fool, if it was a folly before, to repeat it now would be the height of folly!"
Zhang Yan realized the gravity of the situation but was utterly unable to speak. Struggling to shift his gaze, he saw Yu Ci's silhouette gradually merge into the shadows of the houses amidst the spreading cheers, blending with the darkness until he disappeared from sight.