The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 550: Chapter 550: Growing More Intense_1

Wu Gong, burning with rage, was about to step out and seek an explanation from Sect Master Yuan Qingshi and the others.

He could tolerate some unwarranted grievances, but with Yuan Shengcai continuously harassing Zhao Lingyin, he truly wanted to ask Yuan Qingshi if he could control his own clansmen and maintain the sect’s rules and regulations.

Just then, he suddenly sensed a change in the ambient energy around him.

”Master, someone has set up a Formation and Prohibition nearby!” Zhao Lingyin exclaimed, her face etched with surprise and alarm.

By the time the master and disciple rushed out of the small courtyard, they discovered that an area spanning over ten li was enveloped by an intricate Formation.

Countless black and white chess pieces dotted the sky in all directions. Their energies intertwined, forming a prison that even blocked their spiritual senses, preventing them from penetrating it.

At the same time, they also noticed that the Mana and True Yuan within their bodies were rapidly draining at an extremely unusual rate.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Zhao Lingyin retrieved her emerald jade sword, Colorful Phoenix Fan, and other magic treasures, launching several fierce attacks in succession and destroying a large number of the black and white chess pieces.

But in the blink of an eye, other chess pieces filled the gaps. Their black and white spirit light flickered, maintaining the Formation as solid as a fortress.

Her Master, Wu Gong, fared no better. Despite trying various methods, he failed to destroy the Formation, needlessly draining much of his Mana in the process.

Seeing this, the master and disciple ceased their futile attacks. They took out Elixirs to replenish their Mana, but they couldn’t keep up with the rate of its loss. In a short time, the True Yuan in their bodies had sharply decreased by several tenths!

Only then did two figures slowly approach: Yuan Shengcai and Tian Zhiyu.

Yuan Shengcai held a jade chessboard that emitted a faint radiance, shrouding them and protecting them from the Formation’s effects.

”Acting so recklessly, aren’t you two afraid of severe punishment from the Enforcement Hall?” Wu Gong demanded, his face as grim as still water, suppressing the shock and anger in his heart.

Never mind what Yuan Shengcai and Tian Zhiyu planned to do next; merely setting up a Formation and Prohibition within the sect grounds and ambushing guest elders and Elders was a flagrant violation of the sect’s rules. In the past, such actions would have incurred severe punishment from the Enforcement Hall—if not death, they would at least have been flayed!

Moreover, the Chessboard Array Yuan Shengcai was using was supposed to be sent to the Dungeon entrance to deal with the Flying Snake Monsters. His unauthorized deployment of it was also a serious crime!

”Don’t be angry, Alien Minister Wu. I, Yuan, have long admired Junior Sister Lingyin, and I won’t harm you or your disciple,” Yuan Shengcai said, his face all smiles.

But his eyes betrayed his true thoughts: reckless and filled with burning desire!

He blatantly surveyed Zhao Lingyin and chuckled. ”Unfortunately, Junior Sister Lingyin always avoids me. I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, just to exchange a few words with her and become more intimate.”

”In that case, remove the Formation first, and then we can talk. It won’t be too late,” Zhao Lingyin said calmly to Yuan Shengcai, secretly channeling her True Yuan into the Colorful Phoenix Fan in her hand, her expression feigning indifference.

Having been trapped in the Mountain River Realm for these past few years, she had matured considerably. She knew the current situation was dire, and the crux of it was this incredibly powerful Chessboard Array!

”No rush, no rush! Let’s wait a little longer, wait...” Before Yuan Shengcai could finish, a ferocious seven-colored flame erupted from the Colorful Phoenix Fan, surging towards him like a fiery tide.

In the next instant, a multitude of black and white chess pieces materialized before him. Their faint radiance intensified, blocking most of the spirit flame.

The remaining flames were extinguished by Yuan Shengcai and Tian Zhiyu’s combined efforts, vanishing without a trace.

”Hmph! Truly shameless!” Tian Zhiyu snorted coldly, immediately summoning his ochre mace and charging towards Zhao Lingyin and her Master, Wu Gong.

BANG!

RUMBLE!

Shockwaves of energy erupted, razing the entire small courtyard to the ground in no time.

Tian Zhiyu’s strength needed no elaboration.

When he first confronted Shen Mo, he was already a Layer IV cultivator of the Spirit Sea Realm. After several years of cultivation, he had advanced to Layer V.

Although he later lost to Shen Mo and was stripped of his core disciple status, his combat power was by no means weak; otherwise, he would never have been able to join the ranks of core disciples in the first place!

Although Zhao Lingyin possessed a Green Wood Spirit Body, she had only recently opened her Spirit Sea and was still at Layer II of the Spirit Sea Realm.

Coupled with her inherent lack of combat prowess, she quickly fell into a disadvantageous position. Furthermore, under the suppression of the Chessboard Array, her internal Mana and True Yuan were being consumed at an alarming rate. The situation grew increasingly perilous. If not for the numerous top-tier magic artifacts she possessed—including the Colorful Phoenix Fan and the clam pearl bracelet Shen Mo had specially prepared for her—she would likely have been defeated within two or three exchanges!

As for her Master, Wu Gong, his situation was even worse; Tian Zhiyu injured him in merely ten breaths, forcing him to withdraw from the battle.

WHOOSH!

Zhao Lingyin waved her fair hand, and Spiritual Fire surged from the Colorful Phoenix Fan, coalescing into a fire dragon that charged at Tian Zhiyu.

However, Tian Zhiyu scattered it with a swing of his great mace.

The great mace whizzed through the air, its sound like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves.

Tian Zhiyu unleashed several formidable mace phantoms in succession. They shattered the twelve-layered water shield Zhao Lingyin had manifested with her clam pearl bracelet, slamming her to the ground!

”Junior Brother Tian, that’s enough!” Yuan Shengcai called out.

Hearing this, Tian Zhiyu retracted his one-handed mace and, with a flash, landed beside Yuan Shengcai. ”Senior Brother Yuan,” he said, ”after this Magic Duel, her internal Mana and True Yuan must be nearly depleted. It’s time to use those methods you painstakingly acquired on her.”

Having lost to Shen Mo and been stripped of his core disciple status years ago, Tian Zhiyu had harbored a deep grudge ever since.

After his transfer to become an Elder of Rising Sun Peak, he had constantly sought an opportunity for revenge. However, Shen Mo was too powerful and influential back then, forcing Tian Zhiyu to bide his time.

Tian Zhiyu finally saw his chance only after the world underwent drastic changes and the entire sect relocated to the Mountain River Realm.

As for Yuan Shengcai, the Elder of the Affairs Hall, he was inherently a man whose judgment was clouded by lust. Furthermore, being from the Yuan Immortal Family and egged on by Tian Zhiyu, he developed inappropriate designs.

Their audacity was not without foundation.

Besides the formidable Chessboard Array, Yuan Shengcai had also painstakingly acquired two other methods: one was a peculiar Gu insect, and the other was a Grade V talisman capable of erasing soul memories.

At Tian Zhiyu’s urging, a knowing smile spread across Yuan Shengcai’s face as he retrieved a jade box from his Universe Bag.

Inside the jade box, two strangely shaped, entirely crimson small insects rested quietly.

”Junior Sister Lingyin, I’ve gone to great lengths for you.”

”These two Love Gu Insects are male and female. The male is naturally for me. Once you consume the female, your heart will be bound to mine.”

Saying this, Yuan Shengcai picked up one of the small insects, swallowed it whole, and then slowly walked towards Zhao Lingyin.

”By then, you won’t even care about today’s little misunderstanding!”