Chapter 271 - 258: Star Fighting Technique
[Northern Defense Array]
In an instant!
This patch of space seemed as if it had been forcefully "cut out" from the chaotic background of the Valley of No Life, transforming into an independent and forbidding "small world"!
Between Heaven and Earth, a phantom of dark gold Earth Veins pulsed slowly in the depths of the ground like a hibernating dragon.
Nine dark gold "Mountain Seals," each the size of a human head yet weighing more than mountains and exuding an aura that could suppress the eight wildernesses, floated above and around Qi Yun’s head, slowly rotating.
With each rotation, the spatial structure of this "small world" grew more stable and heavy.
Qi Yun stood at the absolute center of this "small world," like a "Daoist Master" who reigned over everything within it.
His gaze was calm as he looked at the three Righteous Dao Masters, whose Hearts and Spirits were violently shaken and whose Escape Lights had faltered due to the sudden transformation of the world around them.
"Since you’ve come, you may as well stay."
He didn’t use any specific Talismans or Magic.
It was merely a slight turn of his Heart Thought, like a monarch marshaling the power of the mountains and rivers within his domain.
"Suppress."
He uttered a single word, like golden words from an emperor, a decree of the Celestial Constitution.
BOOM!
Three of the nine rotating, dark gold "Mountain Seals" responded to his word, sinking slightly.
An indescribably terrifying gravitational field, mixed with a pure "suppressive" Daoist Intent, instantly descended upon Xuan Hengzi, the Woodcutter Guest, and Fairy Shuyu!
Xuan Hengzi was about to activate his Seven-Star Crown to draw upon Star Power again, but he felt the space around him turn to solid amber. The Star Power was completely cut off, and the flow of Magical Power in his body grew sluggish by more than tenfold!
He let out a stifled grunt. Seven points of starlight had just begun to shine before they rapidly dimmed, and his body began to fall involuntarily.
The momentum of the Heart Sword unleashed by the Woodcutter Guest was forcefully interrupted by this sudden suppressive power of Heaven and Earth.
The formless Sword Intent, which could sever the threads of causality, seemed to have smashed into a colossal wall formed from the very will of Heaven and Earth.
Not only did the attack fail, but the backlash struck him instead, sending a sharp pain through his Divine Soul and turning his face pale.
The three phantom Spirit Flowers around Fairy Shuyu swayed violently. The pink "Drunken God Flower" disintegrated before it could fully materialize, the surface of the azure Ice Flower became covered in cracks, and the pure white Spirit Silks snapped one by one.
This was no attack aimed at individuals, but an indiscriminate suppression using the might of an entire "world."
To be trapped within this "Northern" formation was like carrying ten thousand mountains on one’s back.
They were fighting against the rejection and immense pressure of the entire "small world"!
"What kind of Array is this?!" Fairy Shuyu’s beautiful face paled, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
She had never felt such a tyrannical, magnificent suppressive force. It was as if she were a tiny ant facing the crushing weight of Heaven and Earth.
Xuan Hengzi’s eyes were filled with shock. He frantically channeled his remaining Magical Power, trying to connect with the sealed-off stars, only to find that even the dust motes above had formed a solid barrier, preventing even a sliver of starlight from penetrating.
’This array... it can actually form its own domain. A Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven? No, this fiend is clearly only in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!’
The Woodcutter Guest was the most silent, and also the most resilient.
He closed his eyes and focused, pouring his entire Heart and Spirit into the Unsheathed Wooden Sword. The blade emitted a low, unyielding hum as he tried to shatter the formless shackles of Heaven and Earth with the purest "Sword Heart."
However, the suppressive force was omnipresent, originating from all directions, from the "earth" beneath his feet and the "sky" above his head.
No matter how pure his Sword Heart, at this moment it was as if it had sunk into a boundless mire, making any progress a desperate struggle.
Qi Yun stood in the center of the Array Hub, observing the three as they struggled desperately under the pressure of the "Northern" formation.
He didn’t strike a killing blow immediately. Instead, he observed, savoring this new experience of "Array Transformation, taking control of a domain."
To him, these three Masters were also the perfect "touchstones" to test the might of this array.
’In terms of power, it’s already approaching a [Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven] that only those in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage can control. It’s just lacking a great deal in profundity,’ Qi Yun thought to himself.
After a moment of terror, Xuan Hengzi had a sudden realization.
’Breaking the array in a short time is likely impossible. If we delay, the three of us will surely die!’
A look of grim determination flashed in his eyes. He bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood, mixed with the origin of his life-bound star, onto the "Xuan Guang Ruler" on his chest, whose Spiritual Light had already dimmed.
At the same time, his hands formed an ancient and complex Star Seal as he rapidly chanted True Words:
"Beidou brings life, Nan Dou brings death!
With my star-fated life, I light the lamp to clear the path—Starfall Escape!"
BUZZ!
The Xuan Guang Ruler erupted with an unprecedentedly brilliant starlight, and fine cracks even appeared on the body of the ruler.
All of it was converted into a beam of utterly pure "Breaking Forbidden Starlight"!
It forcefully "chiseled" open an extremely fine "Star Road Gap" in this land isolated by the Grand Array, briefly connecting to the outside world!
The gap vanished in a flash, but it brought with it a slight aura from the outside world and... a minuscule, yet crucial, "loosening."
"Go!!!"
Xuan Hengzi roared, using the last of his strength to thrust his hands forward!
The cracked Xuan Guang Ruler transformed into two gentle beams of starlight, wrapping around the Woodcutter Guest and Fairy Shuyu, who were close by and still struggling.
Using the slight loosening brought by the "Star Road Gap," he hurled them toward the edge of the "Northern" formation like stones from a catapult!
At the same time, Xuan Hengzi’s own aura faded rapidly like a candle in the wind. His body swayed on the verge of collapse, but his face wore a look of calm, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Caught off guard, the Woodcutter Guest and Fairy Shuyu were enveloped by the starlight and involuntarily flung toward the edge of the Grand Array.
The suppressive force at the edge was momentarily disrupted by the sliver of starlight Xuan Hengzi had bought with his life.
Their figures actually blurred and managed to pass through the invisible boundary, vanishing deep within the Mist Dust Barrier.
After doing all this, Xuan Hengzi could hold on no longer. He fell limply from mid-air, his aura weakened to an extreme.
Only his eyes, which remained fixed on the direction his companions had disappeared, were calm and tranquil.
Qi Yun did not try to intercept the two who fled, nor did he immediately deliver a final blow to the falling Xuan Hengzi.
He just quietly watched Xuan Hengzi’s falling figure and his calm acceptance of death. The indifference and scrutiny in his own eyes were stirred by a faint, almost imperceptible ripple.
He whispered to himself, his voice so soft only he could hear:
"Sacrificing one’s life to save a comrade, lighting the path home with a burning lamp..."
His tone held no mockery, no admiration, only a hint of faint, almost detached surprise.
The scene inexplicably reminded him of a figure who had passed away long ago.
Qi Yun walked over to Xuan Hengzi and looked down at him.
Xuan Hengzi struggled to lift his eyelids, looking at this unfathomable enemy whose methods were beyond comprehension. His eyes held no resentment, only acceptance.
"Through the eternal eons, the Righteous Dao will endure.
Demons like you will be defeated!"
Qi Yun was silent for a moment before slowly asking, "Was it worth it?"
"Worth it!"
Hearing this, Xuan Hengzi answered resolutely. He seemed to want to smile but lacked the strength to form the expression.
"Good!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Qi Yun swept Xuan Hengzi into the Human Emperor Banner. The "Northern" formation at his feet slowly converged, carrying his figure as it sank into the ground.
In just a few breaths, the ground returned to normal.
All that remained was the chaotic Spiritual Mechanism left after the battle and some Primordial Magnetic Dust.
Dozens of miles underground, in a silent space about a dozen feet across, temporarily propped open by the [Northern] formation.
Qi Yun sat cross-legged. With a slight turn of his Heart Thought, the figure of Xuan Ping Master emerged from the Human Emperor Banner. She stood silently in a corner, her aura merging with the surrounding earth and stone, acting as the most faithful guardian.
He did not rush to deal with Xuan Hengzi’s Dao Foundation, instead looking first toward the Human Emperor Banner.
Within the banner’s space, the phantom of Xuan Hengzi’s Divine Soul, now separated from his body, floated quietly. It looked slightly dazed but still maintained its calm and magnanimous air.
Qi Yun’s hands formed a Sealing Technique, and he began to chant an obscure and ancient Soul Refining Spell.
His fingertips drew upon the vast Soul Power within the banner and a wisp of his own Venerable Dao Foundation’s origin, transforming them into countless fine, dark, runic chains that slowly coiled around Xuan Hengzi’s Divine Soul.
A dark light grew, completely enveloping the phantom of the serene Divine Soul.
A moment later, the light receded. Xuan Hengzi’s Divine Soul reappeared. His features were the same, but his eyes were completely different.
The former calm and magnanimity had not vanished; instead, they had been wholly transformed into absolute faith and deference toward the banner’s master.
He slowly bowed in Qi Yun’s direction, his posture identical to that of Zhe Cheng Master before him.
"Greetings, my Lord," Xuan Hengzi’s voice was steady, without a trace of emotion.
Qi Yun nodded slightly and said directly:
"Recount, in detail, all the Magic and Divine Techniques you have cultivated from the Star Fighting lineage."
"I will obey my Lord’s command."
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xuan Hengzi began to narrate the Secret Skills of the Celestial Star Sect that he had learned over his lifetime, his tone clear and rhythmic.
From the foundational "Stargazing and Positioning Technique," to the "Seven Luminaries Spirit-Invoking Chapter" for drawing upon Star Power and regulating one’s qi, to the advanced "Beidou Evil-Slaying Sword Seal" and "Nan Dou Life-Extending Light Spell," and even the forbidden technique he used to sacrifice himself for his companions by burning his life essence, the "Starfall Burning Lamp Void Escape Secret Technique"...
He recounted every Spell, every key insight, every piece of knowledge, and every personal comprehension, down to the smallest detail and with no reservations.
The Celestial Star Sect was also a renowned Magic Cultivation Sect within the Righteous Dao.
Although in terms of scale, the Sect could not compare to a behemoth of the Righteous Dao like the Vast Sacred Land.
But its attainments in the path of Star Fighting could rival those of Major Sects like Nine Kings Mountain.
Most of these Star Fighting Techniques required one to draw upon the Power of the Stars, borrow the power of celestial phenomena, and harmonize Yin and Yang; they were exceptionally profound.
Moreover, they also embodied the unique characteristics of the Star Fighting path.
Their power was immense!
Qi Yun listened with rapt attention as his [Daluo Heaven] slowly activated, categorizing the information and deconstructing the fundamental Daoist Intent behind it.
He was not versed in this path. If he were to directly perform Refinement on Xuan Hengzi’s [Celestial Star Foundation], he might gain some of his insights into Star Power and the foundation of his Cultivation, which could nourish his [Daluo Heaven].
But it would be difficult to trigger the "update" mechanism of his Magic Technique Panel.
It would be a complete waste of an update opportunity.
As he listened to Xuan Hengzi’s explanation, Qi Yun constantly deduced and compared the techniques in his mind.
Although the magic of the Celestial Star Sect was wondrous, most of it relied on external celestial phenomena and stars. Its power was great, but so were its limitations.
This continued until Xuan Hengzi recited a secret Magic technique that could only be practiced at the True Realm. In the Celestial Star Sect, however, it was considered quite useless; many Cultivators knew it, but few ever used it.
Qi Yun suddenly raised his hand.
"Wait."
A strange light flashed in his eyes as he interrupted Xuan Hengzi’s narration.
"This is the one. Recite the complete scripture and all of your comprehensions on it again, in detail."
...