Chapter 88 The Decisive Battle: The Master and Disciple Return (Part 2)
In the secret realm, darkness fell.
The last person, bleeding from the neck, was teleported away. The moon was now extremely bright, its light flawless.
Somewhere on the field, two weapons clashed, producing a clanging sound. Lin Yuxian made a hand seal, and an earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the sword energy. The opponent, relentless, charged at her with his sword.
The boy stepped back, his left hand forming a talisman while his right hand arranged formations. He used the Gale Talisman to change his position, simultaneously unleashing various formations: a sword formation, a thunder and fire formation, and a immobilization formation. These formations, though seemingly unpredictable, effectively restrained his opponent, gradually depleting his spiritual energy.
Just as the outcome was decided, an arrow pierced the air. Lin Yuxian was startled and dodged it. However, the arrow, imbued with sharp spiritual energy, still grazed her skin, leaving a wound on her arm.
Lin Yuxian summoned the array plate and set up a spirit-gathering array. Spiritual energy immediately surged in, but it couldn't heal the wound on her arm. She immediately realized that this was a kind of ultimate intent, like sword intent, which was the result of a cultivator's unique understanding of their own cultivation path. Therefore, everything could be used as a sword, and the spiritual energy became special, making it difficult to expel in a short time.
She turned around and quickly spotted a young man hidden in the shadows among the treetops not far away.
Off the field, Shen Lixia exclaimed, "Grandmaster Sister...you're amazing. But, two against one, isn't that a bit unfair?"
Qiao Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Not necessarily. If we only look at the result, then winning is enough. Minor competitions are not simply a test of one's strength."
There are also strategies, tactics, and even interpersonal relationships. Although strength ultimately prevails, these are equally important.
Inside the arena, Zu Lan's eyes flickered as she gazed at the young man in black from afar, smiled, and said softly, "I'm sorry."
Immediately, she drew her longbow to its full extent, narrowed her eyes slightly, and a streak of light pierced the night sky, heading straight for Lin Yuxian. At the same time, the cultivator in front of the young man also thrust his sword forward. Attacked from both sides, Lin Yuxian remained calm and composed. The array plate in her hand shone brightly, and the talismans between her fingers turned into silver light.
The boy frowned, turned around and threw out all the talismans. Then a thick fog rolled in, and she disappeared without a trace.
At the same time, the full moon shone brightly in the sky, its light as silvery as if it had covered the ground. Everyone on the field was enveloped in a thick fog, and when they came to their senses, the scenery around them seemed unchanged.
However, someone quickly noticed something was wrong and shouted, "Who's practicing evil magic and draining people's spiritual energy here?!"
"puff......"
Shen Lixia couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Qiao Yanshen raised his hand and gave her a light tap.
She pretended to be in great pain from being hit, rubbing her forehead, "Senior Sister, it hurts so much."
"Learn from this." Qiao Yanshen glanced at her and rubbed his temples. "Li Xia, this isn't funny."
Even so, she still reached out and gently tapped the spot on Shen Lixia's forehead where she had been tapped.
Chi Yueying didn't care about this. Few people studied array formations, let alone outer disciples. Even array cultivators rarely came into contact with the Moonlit Array. Although the Moonlit Hall was named after it, the foundation was more important for these disciples. Chi Yueying's array techniques were too difficult, and rashly learning them would easily disrupt their cultivation.
While things remained calm on their side, the other spectator stands were in an uproar. Several cultivators exclaimed in disbelief, "She's set up the Full Moon Formation!"
Those closely associated with Lin He'an had even more interesting expressions. Rumors circulated that the deaths of Elder Lin and his nephew were inextricably linked to this young man.
Regardless, the deaths of the two Lin brothers, leaving behind only a neglected descendant, certainly raised suspicions. Therefore, some people began to whisper among themselves.
"I'm afraid she really did use someone else to do her dirty work, causing the death of her own family..."
"What are you talking about? Rumors say those two beasts have made things difficult for her, how can that be false? But what you're saying about her using someone else to do her dirty work is true?" One of the students shouted angrily when he heard their whispers. "Even if it's true, they deserved it!"
Interrupted, the group immediately fell silent, feeling guilty. One stubborn member retorted, "So what? Even if they were wronged, they shouldn't have killed their own family!"
Several people seemed to gain confidence and echoed each other. Suddenly, a powerful aura cut off their voices, causing them to break out in a cold sweat.
"Since you know you've been treated unfairly, don't say anything more."
As Shen Lixia cheered, Chi Yueying withdrew her divine sense, turned her gaze back to Lin Yuxian, and ignored them.
Amidst the uproar, the young man remained hidden behind the mist, focused on controlling the formation.
Under the soft moonlight, the surroundings were like still water, clear and bright, with mayflies and fireflies dancing, creating a beautiful fairyland.
The female cultivator who had attacked her earlier now had a sharp look in her eyes. Having made up her mind, she used her remaining spiritual energy to unleash a sword strike towards the spot where Lin Yuxian had just been in the fog. This strike used up all her remaining spiritual energy, its momentum immense, and it slashed towards the thick fog.
However, the sword energy did not tear through the mist as she had expected; instead, it was instantly swallowed up and dissipated. The female cultivator bit her lower lip, intending to attack again, when suddenly an attack appeared in the mist, seemingly from nowhere, rushing straight towards her from where the sword energy had disappeared.
Only when it was almost within reach did she realize that it was the sword energy she had unleashed!
A chill ran through her, and when she came to her senses, she was already outside the arena, hearing the cheers erupting around her.
"She combined the Crescent Moon Formation and the Water Moon Formation!"
"Having just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he can already skillfully use more than a dozen array techniques, flexibly changing them, and his hand seals are extremely fast... Now he has combined two complex array techniques to create a new array. My god, was I just competing with someone like this?"
Lin Yuxian took a deep breath, her hands moving rapidly, continuously injecting spiritual energy, and occasionally casting a spirit-gathering array to replenish her depleted spiritual energy. Her talismans were running out, and people within the array were constantly being countered for attempting to forcefully break it. In less than half an incense stick's time, the number of people present had halved, leaving only about twenty.
The Crescent Moon Formation draws spiritual energy, and those who run out of spiritual energy will be eliminated. Another breath passed, and only a few people remained on the field, huddled together warily. At this moment, the tall female cultivator in yellow seemed to notice something amiss and lowered her head slightly to look.
Her gaze fell upon the epiphyllum, blooming beautifully in the moonlight, not far away.
"Oh no, she's found the key to the formation." Shen Lixia clicked her tongue. "It seems Junior Sister Lin will have to face the remaining few people."
Chi Yueying, standing beside her, poured herself another cup of wine, her expression calm and composed. She had already decided that no matter what rank the student held, she would take her under her wing.
"Junior Sister Lin, you give off a distant feeling, which is indeed like a mirage." Zu Lan said softly, looking up at the bright moon in the sky. As a bow cultivator, her eyesight is as sharp as a hawk's, and she can naturally see that there are illusory shadows moving around the edge of the moon that has risen in the secret realm.
Someone heard her whisper and called out, "What's that archer over there yelling about! Come quick and help break the formation!"
Unexpectedly, the next moment, she felt a chill in her heart and before she could react, she was outside the secret realm. At the same time, the people who had been pressed against her also fell off the arena.
After clearing away the extra people, Zu Lan shook her head and sighed. Although she didn't want to do this, firstly, she needed to enter the inner sect and had no choice; secondly, the young cultivator's performance was too outstanding, and she wanted to have a proper competition with him again without interference from others.
She nocked her longbow, the muscles in her arms taut and powerful, their outlines now visible beneath her clothes. She hesitated for a moment, as if reluctant to shatter this beautiful but fleeting sight, but she released her grip, letting the arrow leave the bowstring, decisively shattering the siege.
As the fog dissipated, a figure emerged from behind it. Zu Lan said little, moving nimbly like a ghost, as arrows rained down upon him. Lin Yuqian's expression hardened, and she narrowly dodged the arrows with her longsword.
Both of them had very little spiritual energy left, and now that the decisive battle had begun, they would no longer hold back. The young man quickly formed hand seals and set up several arrays to counterattack.
However, Zu Lan had entered and exited the secret realm many times and had experience in life-or-death battles. At this moment, she was not to be outdone, and every arrow she fired accurately targeted Lin Yuqian. Soon, the situation reversed. She gradually closed in, while Lin Yuqian retreated with difficulty.
"Junior sister, your strength is more than enough to enter the inner sect." The young man wiped away his sweat and laughed heartily. "I didn't expect to have such a good fight today, but it's time to end it."
After saying that, she put away her bow, drew two short swords from her waist, and leaped forward. Lin Yuqian parried with her sword, and upon hearing her words, she suddenly smiled.
"No, Senior Sister, it's not over yet." After blocking the attack, the tip of her sword suddenly turned, and in the blink of an eye, it had cut a deep gash on her wrist. Blood gushed out, and Lin Yuqian used it to draw runes, infusing it with her last bit of spiritual power.
Flames suddenly erupted from the runes, engulfing Zulan's figure. The youth in the fire tried to stop them, but was ultimately no match for the overwhelming force and was teleported out of the arena as a streak of light.
Inside the secret realm, the young man in black staggered, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the other party had left.
Lin Yuqian steadied herself, her sharp gaze fixed on the sky, as if looking at the many spectators through the secret realm. Then, she slowly raised her left hand, her five fingers clenched tightly.
The ripples subsided, and the secret realm vanished. A lone figure stood on the arena, his wounds completely healed.
The blood array can be used, but it consumes not only blood but also mental energy. Therefore, the boy hadn't been able to stand still for long before he began to sway.
"Oh no!" Shen Lixia stood up. "She's about to faint!"
Someone was faster than her; their figure had already appeared on the stage, catching Lin Yuqian as she fell.
Chi Yueying didn't say much. She picked up the boy and gently channeled her spiritual energy into his meridians, nourishing his damaged consciousness. She didn't care that the scene had suddenly fallen silent, and left on her own.
In the audience, Shen Lixia and Qiao Yanshen heard a voice: "Peach Blossom Wine, if you want more, you can come to Bailu Peak to find me."
Shen Lixia touched the tip of her nose, exchanged a glance with Qiao Yanshen, and smiled knowingly. The competition was over, and they should head back. Perhaps by tomorrow at the latest, Lin Yuxian would be staying at Bailu Peak.
As for Jingzhe Peak, it really needs a thorough cleaning.
Just then, the sound of feathers flapping came from above. Shen Lixia looked up and saw a large, snow-white bird flying over and landing on her shoulder.
Qiao Yanshen reached out and took the letter from between the bird's claws. Its contents were short, and it was in Yan Xueya's handwriting:
"Yan Shen, come to Frostblade Peak immediately after receiving this letter. Li Xia, go to Zhu Ming Peak later; True Monarch Lan Qiu is waiting for you."
Shen Lixia let out a miserable scream.
"The special training is about to begin again!!!"
-
On Bailu Peak, a figure stopped in front of the hall.
Chi Yueying held the boy in her arms and sighed helplessly. She had originally said that no matter what ranking Lin Yuxian achieved, she would take her as her personal disciple. Array cultivation was not an easy path to enlightenment. Throughout history, those who ascended to immortality were not as numerous as sword cultivators, and even among those skilled in sabers and bows, there were many. But array cultivators were few and far between.
Unexpectedly, the boy was stubborn and not only wanted to be in the top three, but also wanted to win the championship.
Cultivators draw their spiritual energy from heaven and earth, which in turn originates from the stars. All weapons are under the supervision of the Military Supervisor God, while formations correspond to the Brightness God.
It is said that the Divine Lord Zhiming possesses the power to separate heaven and earth, using his body to support the celestial canopy and mend the many gaps. He himself is an array of heaven and earth.
The more believers there are in a supreme god, the stronger the god becomes, and the more legends arise. However, there are very few legends about the Divine Lord Zhiming, and the constellations are even more mysterious and unpredictable. This situation has a great influence on cultivators, resulting in a scarcity of array cultivators, making it extremely difficult to comprehend the Dao, and making it difficult to ascend to immortality.
Gradually, fewer and fewer people practiced array formations.
Chi Yueying herself would never utter such nonsense as "array cultivators are doomed," but she didn't hold a particularly optimistic view of the development of array techniques. When she was still an apprentice, she was affiliated with a talisman cultivator. This person was also someone who had established his own school and pioneered the path of talisman cultivation. Before ascending to immortality, he summoned her and earnestly told her that even if the road ahead was barren, she should not lose her determination to try.
She lowered her eyes, looking at the boy in her arms, whose face was weak yet held a resolute expression, as if he had not given up his stubbornness even at this moment, and was still biting his lip tightly.
Finally, she gave a bitter smile, carried Lin Yuxian into the hall, and used her inner cultivation technique to nourish her spirit and regulate her depleted spiritual energy.
Perhaps having someone to accompany her is a good thing. From then on, she would no longer be alone on the path of array formations; and she would also generously teach Lin Yuqian everything she knew, doing her best to guide her forward.
Perhaps one day, they will be able to touch the traces of the Divine Lord Zhiming that have been lost in the long history.
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Author's Note: The following section, up to the end of the inner sect chapters, will be a group portrait of the Taihui sect members.
I like everyone, so I'll still leave room to write about it. If you don't like it, just skip it. The main story will begin after the mini-competition ends.
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