Chapter 186: Chapter 168: Protect Yourself Until I Return!
The world was emerald green, life sprouting from the wood element, as an ancient vine of mysterious nature quietly emerged in the void, moving to bind the dark-faced man.
The vine, green with a gray tinge, was covered with peculiar Dao Seals, like the tendrils of the Great Dao, exuding an indescribable charm.
This was the secret seal of the Cyan Peak Daoist School, capable of binding dragons and sealing truths, possessing an incredibly powerful force of imprisonment.
The dark-faced man felt as if the heavens and earth around him were immobilized, with the emerald-green vine entwining, locking the heavens and earth in place, making him feel a sense of dilemma despite his mid-stage Foundation Establishment power.
"You brat!"
His eyes showed anger and surprise, observing the young man before him who, despite only utilizing a few Dharma Seals during this magical combat, each was incredibly powerful and exerted considerable pressure on him.
If it weren’t for his higher realm, he would have fallen here today!
"Brat, let me show you what it truly means to overpower someone with sheer force!"
The dark-faced man bellowed with rage, unleashing all his mana to feed into the Four-Not-Like Seal.
"Roar!"
The already towering Figure of the Four-Not-Like surged and grew, transforming seemingly into an ancient fierce beast, becoming corporeal, its four hooves moving, crashing fiercely, not only breaking free from the Dragon-Binding Truth-Sealing Seal’s constraints but also ramming into the Seven-Phase Exquisite Jade Tower, making it shake incessantly.
With that strike, the Four-Not-Like Seal dimmed, losing its qi power.
Yet the dark-faced man, his face twisted in malice, softly muttered, as countless mana rose again, surging into the Four-Not-Like Seal.
"Roar!"
The massive shadow of the Four-Not-Like coalesced again, as if the fierce beast revived, charging once more at Gu Yuan.
The dark-faced man understood now.
While the mystique of techniques couldn’t match Gu Yuan.
His only reliance could be his level surpassing Gu Yuan’s and mana.
No matter your technique’s profundity, I shall break it with brute force!
Admittedly, the dark-faced man showed some magical combat wit, first using the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal to capture Gu Yuan’s strongest magical technique, then focusing on attrition.
As long as you can’t kill me, I’ll win eventually!
"Boom!"
"Swish!"
The Four-Not-Like charged mightily, while the black Jade Hook continuously entrapped spirits, especially the latter, being a high-grade spiritual artifact, each defense against its attack by the Seven-Phase Exquisite Tower consumed vast spiritual light, depleting Gu Yuan’s considerable internal mana.
With things going like this, the finale is evident.
Witnessing this, Gu Yuan hesitated no longer, feigning mana exhaustion, retracting the Seven-Phase Exquisite Jade Tower, standing alone amidst the vast blood-colored ocean.
"Hahaha, brat, no matter how strong your means, how can you contend with my mid-stage Foundation Establishment mana?!"
The dark-faced man rejoiced immediately upon seeing this.
By this calculation, the mana of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator must have dried up by now.
"Bang!"
He maneuvered the Four-Not-Like, flapping its immense eagle wings, rushing straight at Gu Yuan.
Four-Not-Like was astonishingly fast, combining the swiftness of tigers, leopards, spiritual snakes, eagle birds, and wandering dragons, despite its enormous form, it moved like a streak of light, instantly colliding towards Gu Yuan.
The immense power could shatter mountains and rivers, even reducing a Foundation Establishment Power Cultivator to a collapsed chest, broken ribs.
"Splash!"
Yet such swiftness and might met with empty space.
Gu Yuan’s form transformed into a stream of water, vanishing from the spot.
"Where’s he?"
Dark-faced man’s expression shifted dramatically, his Divine Sense expanded, scanning around frantically.
But this escape technique was extraordinarily profound, as if Gu Yuan had genuinely turned into water flow, disappeared from this realm, not leaving a trace of breath.
Even with his mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm, he couldn’t discern any clues.
"Splash!"
Just when he was on high alert, holding the Boundless Sword Seal with black hands, the blood-colored ocean flowed, and a shadow suddenly appeared.
Vast steam accompanied by surging spiritual light emanated from the shadow’s hands, striking into those black hands.
The strike was unexpected, with the brilliance of the Boundless Sword Seal continually unleashing Sword Qi, forcefully striking the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal to a stagger.
"Whizz!"
Seizing this opportunity, the Boundless Sword Seal’s eighteen-strand Sword Light emerged once more, like a wandering dragon, narrowly escaping from under the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal, returning to Gu Yuan’s hand.
"Daring!"
Seeing this, the dark-faced man shouted angrily, the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal gathered again, transforming into black magical hands, directly aiming to clasp Gu Yuan’s head.
The Mountain-moving Spirit Seal’s power was extraordinarily profound, Gu Yuan’s Boundless Sword Seal formed with the middle-grade Spiritual Sword Golden Bamboo Sword was captured by this spirit seal, unable to break free, now at full activation, the internal power is imaginable.
"Splash!"
But this extraordinary strike still met with empty space.
Gu Yuan’s form transformed into a stream of water once more, disappearing into the vast blood-colored ocean, unseen.
The Mountain-moving Spirit Seal hovered, uncertain of where to strike, somewhat bewildered.
The black-faced man seemed to recall something, his face suddenly showing surprise as he swiftly retrieved the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal, letting it hover above his head to protect him.
"Splash!"
But the anticipated attack never came.
The sound of water flowing arose behind him.
The black-faced man turned his head, only to see Gu Yuan’s true form emerging from the vast blood-red expanse, landing before the three Spirit Ores on the Jade Platform.
Not stopping there, Gu Yuan’s mana swept forth, directly enveloping the Spirit Ore on the far right, which emitted a chilling aura, into his palm.
"Die!"
The black-faced man didn’t understand the significance of Gu Yuan seizing the Spirit Ore at this moment, but he could tell that Gu Yuan’s mana was thinning, while his own remained robust. Once that little thief’s escape technique failed, victory would still be his!
With this thought, he uttered a light cry, and the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal once again attacked Gu Yuan.
"Splash!"
But with just a thought, Gu Yuan’s body transformed into water once more, disappearing from sight.
When he reappeared, he was next to Cen Qingqing.
"Brother Dao!"
Cen Qingqing was worn out by the mid-aged Daoist’s mutually injurious fighting style. Just as she was feeling agitated, she was suddenly startled to see Gu Yuan by her side and couldn’t help but call out.
"Protect yourself, don’t let him take advantage, wait for my return!"
Gu Yuan softly whispered these words into her ear.
"Return?"
Cen Qingqing was momentarily taken aback, seemingly a little confused.
But Gu Yuan didn’t explain, he merely glanced skyward toward the Jade Altar.
"Little thief, die for me!"
The black-faced man reacted swiftly, and upon spotting Gu Yuan, he immediately controlled the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal to strike again.
But at that moment, above the Jade Altar, golden light suddenly burst forth, shaking the entire space. A massive suction force emanated from above.
"Is this someone invoking the Dao Alliance, triggering the Spirit-Devouring Heaven-Earth Altar?"
This scene caught everyone by surprise; the black-faced man couldn’t help but look up.
Yet, the dazzling golden light absorbed nothing, only revealing a light screen.
"This is..."
The black-faced man’s face changed dramatically as if remembering something, and he couldn’t help but glance at Gu Yuan while controlling the Mountain-moving Spirit Seal to rapidly capture him.
"Splash!"
But the water flow dispersed violently, and Gu Yuan’s figure vanished from the spot.
This time, it seemed he had truly disappeared.
The black-faced man waited for a long time, but never saw Gu Yuan’s figure again.
"Did he escape the Grand Array?"
"How is that possible? This is an array laid by a Golden Core Ascendant. Even though one segment was severed, its power remains terrifying. Without sacrificing flesh and soul spirit, not even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could break it. How could he escape?"
The black-faced man’s face was full of disbelief, and he couldn’t help but roar at Cen Qingqing.
But Cen Qingqing just shook her head.
She too didn’t know what method Gu Yuan had used.
However, she did finally understand Gu Yuan’s warning before he left.
"He’s gone, but as for you, sacrificing both you and your father, I can still leave this place!"
The black-faced man suddenly turned, looking at Cen Qingqing, his eyes filled with intense killing intent.
"Die!"
Mountain-moving Spirit Seal, Spirit-Catching Jade Hook, Four-Not-Like Seal... many techniques converged toward Cen Qingqing.
Cen Qingqing’s face turned instantly pale, unable to suppress a bitter smile.
Facing her father alone, she was already struggling greatly, and now with Dan Shanhe added, how could she possibly resist?
Even though Gu Yuan had told her to "protect yourself," how could she protect against these two working together?
Or perhaps her life and death were never part of his plan at all?
After all, her father’s whereabouts had been found. For Gu Yuan, the mission was considered complete.
"Boom!"
Dan Shanhe acted ruthlessly and mercilessly. Even as Cen Qingqing summoned a high-grade Spiritual Artifact, it could not hold out for much longer.
Before long, her mana began to falter, her face turning as pale as gold paper.
The outcome seemed already destined.
But just then, a familiar voice seemed to whisper in her ear.
"Calm your mind, gather your mana!"
