Daoist Competition

After crossing the Five Dragon River, Guo Monarch flew continuously for four or five days, finally reaching the foot of Divine House Mountain.

He retracted the sword light, emerged from the cloud, and looked down, seeing the rugged and majestic mountain extending to the clouds, with layers of dense Prohibition Spirit Light rising into the sky, a solemn and imposing sight. Yet, a disdainful smile appeared on his face.

Having reached this point, he no longer needed to maintain human form. With a surge of mana, his true form was revealed instantly.

The sky darkened, a thousand-zhang-long centipede climbed within the Evil Cloud, demon energy soaring to the sky. Its 3,600 pairs of hooked feet moved in a wave, its massive body stirred up a boundless foul wind, violently smashing into the Prohibition without restraint.

Boom!

With an earth-shattering sound, he easily broke through the outermost layer of the Prohibition, diving into Divine House Mountain.

Upon entering the mountain, before he could discern the path ahead, a torrential downpour seemed to pour down. However, upon looking up, he saw it was not rain, but dazzling silver light, cold and piercing, endless knives and weapons.

He glanced at it, without intending to dodge it at all, just shook his body, his joints snapping like whips, like a thunderous explosion, scattering the falling flying sabers into Evil Qi, without leaving a trace on his shell armor.

Though the array could not hold him back, he couldn’t dispel the mist within the array either, and could not see the way forward.

Fortunately, he did not need to see with his eyes. With a slight sense, he pinpointed the location of his Lifebound Primordial Pearl, twisted his body, surrounded by a rolling cloud of dark evil, and charged towards it.

At this time, torrents of water, fire, and weapons surged in from all directions, seemingly endless. But he let them fall on his body, ignoring them, relying on his Heavenly Demon body to crush through. All prohibitions shattered along his path.

Passing through the vast and murky Array Energy for several days, he suddenly saw a large city of jade and gold before him, clouds swirling, colorful lights shimmering, standing across the heavens.

He could sense the Life Pearl was within, and so without a second thought, he raised his body and charged upwards. In an instant, with a sound of mountain collapse, a corner of the enormous immortal city crumbled.

Inside the immortal city at this moment, in Ling Kong Pavilion, Zhang Yan and True Master Tao sat facing each other, observing the situation outside through the array mirror. If that collision were to happen a few more times, the entire immortal city would certainly collapse. Yet, both remained calm, seemingly unconcerned.

True Master Tao raised his hand, a streak of golden light flew out of the city and struck down. However, Guo Monarch, though appearing unconcerned, was still alert, immediately sensing something amiss. The black evil on his body surged up and blocked it, causing the golden light to vanish instantly, though the layer of Evil Qi seemed slightly dissipated compared to before.

Zhang Yan’s eyes flashed, saying in a deep voice, "It appears the rumors are true that the Heavenly Demon’s Lifebound Primordial Pearl can avoid tribulation. When combined with its shell, it has Essence Evil protecting its body. If the Essence Evil is not destroyed, Divine Skills are unaffected, and heavenly tribulation cannot invade. Without a suitable weapon, it can only be subdued with mana."

True Master Tao nodded in agreement.

Neither of them had ever confronted a Heavenly Demon, and the three True Masters from the Southern Continent, out of selfish motives, had not disclosed what happened that day. Thus, they did not engage in direct confrontation immediately but intended to probe first and then strategize.

The sounds outside grew louder, rumbling in their ears. They could also feel the ground shaking beneath them, clearly indicating that the opponent would not take long to break in.

True Master Tao, calm and composed, formed a spell, and a dragon roar sounded from afar. Suddenly, the rolling cloud mist parted, revealing a thousand-zhang-long White Flood Dragon.

Guo Monarch cast a fierce glance, let out a hiss, pounced forward, and immediately entangled the White Flood Dragon. Thousands of hook feet broke through its scales, deeply embedding into its body. Then his head moved forward, seizing the dragon’s neck and severing it, tearing its body apart, dispersing it into Essence Qi.

But just after disposing of this one, another dragon roar sounded, and another White Flood Dragon sprang out, while the Essence Qi from before coalesced, transforming into two White Flood Dragons to entangle him again.

Guo Monarch felt he was only a dozen miles away from the Primordial Pearl, but he was blocked here, as if in a frenzy, his hissing echoed the heavens, the black wind and evil rolling incessantly, the immortal city already damaged, now on the verge of collapse.

True Master Tao watched for a while, then glanced at Zhang Yan, who nodded slightly. He waved the Ruyi gently, saying, "Go."

A wisp of green smoke rose from beneath their feet, and the two vanished from their original spot, reappearing a hundred miles away on a mountaintop.

As long as they were within the Array Diagram, they could be teleportated to another place at any time and Divine House Mountain was vast. Even if the Array Diagram only covered West Divine House, it would still take the Demon Centipede considerable effort to chase them.

Zhang Yan said with a smile, "Guo Monarch is indeed cunning, yet pretends to be reckless, likely wanting to force our hand to reveal our methods. We must not let him have his way."

Even though it is a Heavenly Demon, once its nature is known, it can also be dealt with accordingly. However, Guo Monarch likely had the same thought, and until now, other than his hard shell and tough body, he had not revealed any other methods.

True Master Tao smiled, "No worries, we occupy the favorable position of timing and geography, not afraid of prolonged battle. I’ll initiate the array attack and see how long he can endure."

He raised his hand, Spirit Light gushed out from below like a spring, reaching three feet high. From below emerged a delicately crafted girl, with clear bright eyes, exquisite features, speaking in a crisp voice, "Master, Xiu’er awaits instructions."

True Master Tao said, "This centipede is a Heavenly Demon, you start the thunder and fire arrays as a greeting."

The girl bowed slightly, accepting the command and left.

In no time, the myriad demons in the array felt a banner rise in their hands. Then, unable to control themselves, they waved them together. The Yin Yang in the sky thinned, resounding mightily, thunder and lightning gathered from eight directions in the west, while underground a burning sea of thousands of miles emerged, mixed with innumerable golden blades. The thunder and fire combined above and below, rolling ferociously with the force of tidal thunder and lightning.

Zhang Yan and Tao Zhenhong both watched closely through the array mirror, waiting to see how Guo Monarch would respond this time.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)