C953 Worth It
Outside the forbidden zone.
The floating palace abruptly halted its assault, and the sword beams infused with laws swiftly retracted.
In the void, colossal silhouettes resembling deities of thunder, bound by the Thunder Sect Master's mental command, instantly abandoned their intent to leap down and assault the barrier with their divine thunderous might.
On the Mountain of Flames that had erupted within the Rainier Empire, Fenng Pu and Mo Baichuan were profoundly shaken.
How had the Mountain Lord of Quill Mountain, having pushed the Scorching Sun Spell to its peak, managed to effortlessly shatter the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation and penetrate the forbidden zone?
"Mountain Lord Tang is invincible!"
"Mountain Lord Tang has triumphed over the formation!"
Among the Spirit Void Sect, Thunder Sect, and Taiyuan Sect, there were practitioners unaware of the true circumstances. Witnessing the fiery torrent breach the barrier and enter the forbidden zone, they erupted in jubilant cheers.
"Silence!"
Their seniors sharply reprimanded them, demanding immediate quiet.
Simultaneously.
In the palaces manifested from the Heaven Palace Seal, three Unrestrained Stage cultivators from the Spirit Void Sect, Profound Sky Sect, and Taiyuan Sect cast astonished glances toward the mountain.
"Mountain Lord Feng! Mountain Lord Mo!"
The Quill Mountain disciples, who had followed Tang Zheng, were in disarray, their pleading eyes turning to Fenng Pu and Mo Baichuan for salvation.
In that moment, even the most oblivious among them grasped the truth.
It wasn't the sheer force of Tang Zheng's Scorching Sun Spell that had pierced the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation; rather, someone within the forbidden zone had deliberately crafted a gateway for Tang Zheng, allowing the most impetuous and rash of them all to storm into the forbidden land!
Altered by the death of his grandson, Tang Zheng's temperament had taken a radical turn. Eschewing the use of artifacts and sophisticated Spiritual Spells to batter the green-black barrier, he instead unleashed an immensely potent technique of the Scorching Sun Spell, igniting the essence of divine fire he had collected within himself, transforming it into a surging inferno.
He had ventured into peril and was now truly ensnared in danger.
"Within the forbidden zone, there are several ninth-level adversaries from alien races," intoned Van Heqing of the Sword Sect, his expression grave. "Mountain Lord Tang, alone, will not withstand their might for long."
"I understand," Fenng Pu said gravely. "We can't afford to delay. We must break the formation with all our might! I'll notify Lord Golden Elephant immediately to stop pulling punches and unleash his full power to shatter the formation at top speed! I ask that everyone else align their efforts with ours!"
Cao Jiaze responded with solemn resolve, "It is only right."
Ji Ningshuang nodded in agreement, "We're fully prepared."
...
Within the barrier.
Tang Zheng, the Mountain Lord of Quill Mountain, was ablaze with intense flames. Eight fiery pillars shot up behind him in quick succession.
Before manifesting his Dharma, the somewhat diminutive Tang Zheng radiated a fierce energy, his face flushed with vigor.
Clad in a short jacket, the exposed muscles on his forearms bulged with red veins, resembling fiery pythons at rest.
"Gu Gu!"
It was as if pools of magma were churning within his chest, threatening to erupt with boundless flame energy.
"Young Yu Yuan pays respects to Mountain Lord Tang Zheng!"
At the sound of this call, Tang Zheng, as Mountain Lord, quickly grasped Yu Yuan's tactics. Yu Yuan, recognized by the "Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation" for his overly aggressive assault, had cunningly drawn Tang Zheng into the forbidden zone.
In an instant, Tang Zheng, now fully aware of his predicament, showed no fear.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Flames ignited in both his eyes as his short, stocky frame expanded with each breath.
In mere seconds, Tang Zheng's Dharma Idol emerged, towering like a mythic deity of fire atop the eight surging columns of flame.
His Dharma Idol loomed as tall as a mountain, its crown nearly touching the darkened heavens.
"Quill Mountain's Tang Zheng!"
His voice boomed like a great bell, commanding the attention of all sentient beings within the forbidden area, compelling them to fix their gaze upon him, unable to look away.
Without giving Yu Yuan, seated at the Soul Transformation Pool, a second glance, Tang Zheng surveyed the scattered leaders of various races at the realm's gateway—some familiar, others strangers.
Then, he set his sights directly ahead, on the three Demon Gods of the Devaputra Race, amidst the roiling demonic clouds.
"Mountain Lord of Quill Mountain, your valor in being the first to breach the barrier and set foot here will surely earn you the admiration of many," Yu Yuan said with a radiant smile, unfazed by Tang Zheng's deliberate display of disdain and disregard. "Should you survive, the mention of your name will inspire even greater awe."
"You conniving scoundrel, aligning yourself with the Outland Evil Demon to plot against our own cultivators! Your treachery will be infamous across the Outland Star River and the Boundless Land! Once this formation shatters, you'll be the first to fall! Go on, keep laughing—I'm curious to see how long your amusement will last!" Tang Zheng bellowed with fury.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Eight pillars of fire, entwined with strands of crimson lightning, soared like the embrace of celestial deities towards Yu Yuan's Soul Transformation Pool.
The pillars were etched with flame patterns that unfurled like blossoming flowers, each containing the profound mysteries of fire. Any practitioner of fire spells could decipher the profound truths of the Great Dao within these patterns, refining their Yin God and paving the way to ascend to the Yang God.
The Primordial Yang Sect, a notch above the Red Devil Sect, wielded immense influence. As a Mountain Lord, Tang Zheng had access to all the sect's secret texts and techniques, allowing him to grasp any arcane knowledge and Great Dao principles related to fire.
His every thought, word, gesture, and glance could manifest the full splendor of fire's magic. Take this moment, for instance...
The soul flames, meant to infiltrate Yu Yuan's Consciousness Little World and incinerate his Yin God, Heavenly Soul, and primary soul, were intercepted by the dark soul energy at the brink of the Soul Transformation Pool. The ink-like energy, dense as a demon in the dark, morphed into numerous small fists, snuffing out the secret soul flames one by one.
Yu Yuan chuckled lowly, "Mountain Lord Tang, spare me your petty tricks on my turf. Now that you've come, don't expect to leave with your life."
Realizing his stealth attack had failed, Tang Zheng no longer dallied. He prepared to command the eight pillars of flame to obliterate Yu Yuan and the Soul Transformation Pool in one fell swoop.
"Take down Tang Zheng first," Yu Yuan commanded, his voice brooking no argument as he addressed Tianzang.
After a brief three-second contemplation, Tianzang cast aside any hesitation. He glanced toward the tumultuous demon clouds, where three elite Demon Gods of their race loomed, and declared, "The battle begins."
"By your command, my Lord!"
Sidla, in her Nine-Headed Hydra form, had her serpent heads crowned with nine diadems, each shining like a star. They unleashed powers that seduced the heart, stirred inner demons, spread vile plagues, assailed the spirit, and sapped the will—all converging in an assault on Tang Zheng.
"Mountain Lord Tang, it's been ages since we last met."
Mitts of the Internal Demon Clan materialized from the swirling Demon Clouds, stepping on a pile of thick, ornate books. Ribbons of color fluttered around her, giving her the ethereal grace of a celestial nymph poised to ascend to the heavens, her smile brimming with mischief.
With a flourish of her sleeves, Tang Zheng's sea of consciousness was suddenly swarmed by millions of witches, conjuring an infinite array of illusions.
"I've held you in high regard for many years, Mountain Lord Tang. We were destined for a fair fight, but alas, the timing is not in our favor. I ask for your understanding, Mountain Lord."
Adler of the Elemental Devil Clan, towering like a mountain, was an amalgamation of countless colorful armors. With a casual swing of his golden halberd, it seemed as though he had drawn forth an Outland Star River, revealing thousands of little devils within that unleashed a chorus of demonic howls, sending shivers down one's spine.
As the three Demon Gods launched their assault on Tang Zheng's soul, Sidla held the line, sapping and unraveling his myriad strengths, tearing through his dharma. The formidable and battle-scarred Adler, wielding his golden halberd, had already shattered a column of fire and was now locked in fierce combat with Tang Zheng's dharma.
Trapped within the forbidden zone, Tang Zheng's fate was sealed—if he couldn't break free, death was certain!
