“Boom! Boom! Boom!” Continuous thunder echoed through the center of the forbidden zone.
Inside the restricted area, Jing Zhan stood upright with a pale face, forcefully enduring the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Formation with all his power. One bolt after another struck his body; bound by the Locking Divine Chains, he had no way to evade and could only rely on his formidable cultivation to withstand each impact.
As the thunder continued to fall, Jing Zhan’s complexion grew increasingly pale, his earlier overwhelming aura already gone.
Leng Qin watched him with a faint smile, savoring Jing Zhan’s weakened state. A strange, indescribable pleasure rose in his heart. So what if he couldn’t defeat Jing Zhan? As long as this continued a few more strikes, he refused to believe Jing Zhan could still endure. Earlier, when he fought Jing Zhan, he had been unable to force the Creation Pearl out from his body, which was why he had no choice but to borrow the power of the Thunder Sword Formation. He simply did not believe Jing Zhan’s body could hold out much longer.
Seeing Jing Zhan withstand yet another strike of thunder, Leng Qin spoke softly, “How pitiful. The Jing Zhan who once ruled the ancient era—how did he end up like this?”
Jing Zhan paid him no attention at all, focusing entirely on the thunder formation above, not even sparing him a glance.
Leng Qin’s smile gradually stiffened. He stared at Jing Zhan coldly, then said maliciously, “Let’s see how much longer you can last.”
This time, Jing Zhan finally glanced at him directly, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his lips.
Seeing the deep disdain in Jing Zhan’s eyes, Leng Qin felt a voice inside him screaming, Kill him. Kill him! Only by killing Jing Zhan can you become the true Jing Zhan!
But Jing Zhan still did not spare him much attention. Another wave of thunder crashed down like rain. Forcing himself to endure it, Jing Zhan sensed the approaching aura of human cultivators. A knowing look flashed in his eyes. The barrier had been disturbed for so long—it was only natural that they would come.
After enduring another round of lightning strikes, Jing Zhan calmly compared the strength of each wave. As time passed, and with Yuntian Sect having long lost control over the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Formation, its power had gradually weakened over the years. At this rate, in another thousand years, he would be able to break free.
However, thinking back to the divination from three thousand years ago, he vaguely sensed the aura of Qingming and had foreseen that their fates would intersect again in the future. All his calculations only pointed vaguely to that moment three thousand years from now. He could only convince himself that Qingming had perhaps, like him, survived the great destruction. If he could break free, perhaps he would meet Qingming again.
With this thought, he had split off Leng Qin.
He had believed that after three thousand years, Leng Qin would help him escape—but he had never expected Leng Qin to develop ambitions of his own.
Thinking of this, a faintly amused expression appeared on Jing Zhan’s face.
At that moment, Jing Zhan shifted part of his attention toward the approaching cultivators, while Leng Qin was fully consumed by his violent obsession. Killing Jing Zhan was the only thought left in his mind.
Leng Qin’s eyes turned blood-red as he glared fiercely at Jing Zhan. With a flick of his sleeve, a dark staff flew out and shot straight toward him.
In an instant, the staff transformed into a massive python, baring its fangs as it swallowed toward Jing Zhan. Jing Zhan lightly tapped the flames beside him, and the fire immediately transformed into another giant python to meet it head-on. The two serpents clashed violently.
At that moment, Ling Xiaozi and Chu Mingwei arrived and saw the scene of the battle.
Sensing their presence, Leng Qin recalled his staff with a flick of his hand. The staff circled back to him as he looked coldly at the newcomers, recognizing Ling Xiaozi, the sect master of Yuntian Sect, and Chu Mingwei. A trace of caution flashed through him, and for the moment he did not act rashly, forming a three-way standoff.
At that moment, the thunder above ceased again. Jing Zhan stood tall, calmly looking at Ling Xiaozi and Chu Mingwei. When his gaze landed on Chu Mingwei, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes. He actually sensed a thread of his own “life opportunity” from this human cultivator. Carefully observing him, Jing Zhan grew increasingly certain of it, though he could not determine its exact meaning.
Ling Xiaozi quickly glanced at Jing Zhan. Good—no sign of escape yet.
When his gaze shifted to Leng Qin, who looked exactly like Leng Hanran, Ling Xiaozi thoughtfully glanced at Leng Hanran as well.
Chu Mingwei, standing behind Ling Xiaozi, briefly scanned the situation before his attention was drawn entirely to the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Formation. As the seven giant swords slowly rotated in the sky, he felt his spiritual energy strangely resonating with them. Thinking of the sect master’s words that this was an ancient immortal artifact, Chu Mingwei felt a surge of excitement, though he could only regret that its method of control had been lost.
At that moment, a cold voice rang out—Leng Hanran had awakened.
Seeing Ling Xiaozi and Chu Mingwei, Leng Hanran froze slightly, then looked at Leng Qin beside him, his expression becoming complicated.
Ling Xiaozi snorted coldly. “Trespassing into the forbidden area is a grave sect crime. Leng Hanran, do you have anything to say?”
Leng Hanran frowned and instinctively looked toward Jing Zhan.
Leng Qin suddenly moved and appeared beside him. Leng Hanran immediately dodged, but Leng Qin sneered and pointed at him—instantly, Leng Hanran’s body stiffened and he could not move.
“You are my descendant,” Leng Qin said coldly. “From today onward, you are no longer a disciple of Yuntian Sect.”
Ling Xiaozi said indifferently, “If you wish to leave the sect, fine. But you must first abolish your spiritual root, disperse your cultivation, and be expelled.”
Leng Qin’s expression darkened. “Dream on!”
With that, he sent out his staff once more, transforming it into countless giant pythons that surged toward Ling Xiaozi and Chu Mingwei.
Ling Xiaozi formed a seal, conjuring a massive hand in the air that struck the serpents down repeatedly. At the same time, Chu Mingwei activated the Lei Han Mirror, summoning thunder to bombard the snake群.
Seeing both of them occupied, Leng Qin suddenly turned and rushed toward Jing Zhan.
Jing Zhan lowered his eyes, hiding his calculations. After enduring another thunder strike, he pretended to be weakened and spat out a dark pearl the size of a human fist—the Creation Pearl.
Leng Qin’s eyes lit up instantly. This was his chance.
Without hesitation, he turned into black smoke and rushed forward. But a wall of fire rose in front of him. He overpowered it with demonic energy, and his black tendrils seized the pearl.
“Hahaha! I finally got the Creation Pearl!”
At that moment, Chu Mingwei struck with his sword. Leng Qin casually unleashed black energy that swallowed the attack. At the same time, he swallowed the Creation Pearl whole.
In an instant, his body erupted with black mist. His form expanded wildly until he became a three-zhang-tall armored giant.
Looking down at the group, he sneered. “Mere humans. Offer your pitiful lives to me.”
Jing Zhan watched coldly, then shifted his attention away entirely.
At that moment, Chu Mingwei tried to activate the sword formation—but it still refused to target Leng Qin, continuing instead to strike Jing Zhan.
Confusion spread across the battlefield.
Then, suddenly, a spatial rift opened.
Inside it, Xiao Lingyu was floating with Old Ghost Head cursing nonstop.
“Are you even sensing anything?! I told you to move a little further—if I hadn’t reacted fast, we’d have been crushed!”
“Stop arguing! This is exactly the spot!” Old Ghost Head snapped.
Xiao Lingyu stepped out—and appeared directly in the battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Chu Mingwei reacted instantly, appearing in front of him. “Lingyu!”
But Leng Qin seized the opening and attacked.
Xiao Lingyu calmly raised a finger. “Void.”
The black attack vanished into a spatial tear.
He turned and smiled at Chu Mingwei.
Chu Mingwei softened immediately and pulled him back.
Jing Zhan’s gaze locked onto Xiao Lingyu. His expression shifted slightly—this person’s fate line was entangled with Qingming.
Then he sensed a familiar, irritating aura.
His eyes sharpened.
“Chu Qingyi?”
Old Ghost Head went silent immediately.
Xiao Lingyu feigned ignorance.
Jing Zhan suddenly laughed. “Qingming… still alive. Chu Qingyi, you must be very happy.”
Leng Qin’s reaction was even more intense. “What did you say?!”
But Jing Zhan ignored him completely, only staring at Xiao Lingyu.
“Chu Qingyi… you truly are ruthless.”
…
Moments later, Leng Qin, enraged and realizing things were slipping out of control, swept up Leng Hanran and Xu Xuan and fled.
Ling Xiaozi led Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu out of the formation.
Outside, Ling Xiaozi looked at Xiao Lingyu with a faint smile. “Lingyu… would you mind showing me that method of entering the forbidden area?”
Xiao Lingyu paused, then reluctantly opened a Void passage again and led them out.
When they reached the outer boundary, Ling Xiaozi gave him a long look and said meaningfully:
“Better to feign ignorance.”
Chu Mingwei relaxed slightly.
Meanwhile, deep within the forbidden zone, Jing Zhan coughed up essence blood and formed three words in the air:
“Chu Qingyi.”
Then he watched them slowly fade, a faint smile forming.
Far away, someone slowly woke from deep sleep.
On Qinglin Sword, Old Ghost Head suddenly trembled.
Xiao Lingyu frowned. “What is it?”
Old Ghost Head’s expression darkened.
“I feel… I’m about to have trouble.”