Chapter 612 - 47: The New Waves Push the Old, as the Billows Surge and Rush_2
In an instant, a feeling beyond comprehension, indescribable and profound, surged into his heart. His body trembled slightly, and he reached out, tracing the ground with his finger, swiftly inscribing over a hundred characters of Erosion Text in a flowing motion, like dragons and serpents dancing. He stopped precisely at the final stroke as the spiritual sense dissipated.
After sitting silently for a moment, he opened his eyes again and secretly exhaled, sensing how close to ruin he had been.
He hadn’t expected that the deduction of this spell would manifest such drastic changes upon reaching the last step.
In that critical moment, the spiritual mechanism was triggered, giving rise to countless mysterious sensations. They flashed briefly through the Sea of Consciousness but vanished as swiftly as they came. He had wanted to reenact it using the Broken Jade, but no matter what he tried, it was impossible.
If not for his profound foundation in the Erosion Text, enabling him to seize this fleeting spiritual moment to immediately inscribe these hundred-plus characters, all his prior painstaking efforts might have been wasted.
But now, it was finally complete.
He laughed freely, feeling a rare sense of relief. He patted his knee casually and extended his hand. One by one, the hundred-plus Erosion Text characters rose from the ground and floated in the air. Gazing at them, he studied them thoroughly in moments.
During this process, he realized that the spell he had deduced could not fully convey its essence through ordinary writing. Even if translated into conventional text, it would amount to something far inferior. Only through Erosion Text could the underlying principle be carried. This sparked a thought in him, leading him to speculate that the Ancient Great Powers and True Immortals must have perceived mysterious mechanisms, comprehended the profound truths of the cosmos, and recorded them using the Erosion Text in the same manner.
After letting the cultivation technique circulate in his mind once, he quickly became familiar with its nuances. However, determining just how much power he could wield with the Water Element True Light would require practice.
He paused for a moment and said, "Mirror Spirit, where are you?"
The Black-clothed Scholar emerged upon hearing and respectfully replied, "Master, I am here."
Zhang Yan asked gravely, "Is everything inside and outside the cave mansion well?"
The Black-clothed Scholar responded, "Reporting to Master, all matters within the cave mansion are running smoothly, and even Xiao He, who is trapped within the array, shows no unusual movements and remains pacified. However, it’s said that during your seclusion, news has emerged from Mingcang Mountain Gate of a once-prominent Hua Dan Cultivator coming out of seclusion."
Zhang Yan raised his brow slightly in surprise and said, "Oh? Your source of information is quite extensive, capable of catching even the trivial affairs of the mountain gate?"
His cultivation in Zhao You Heavenly Pond had advantages and disadvantages. The abundant spiritual energy in this place made cultivation far more effortless compared to the disciples at the mountain gate. However, any issues arising at the mountain gate were challenging to discern. Major events might be communicated through Flying Sword Transmission, but minor matters were often overlooked. Unexpectedly, the Mirror Spirit could garner and relay such knowledge, which intrigued him.
The Black-clothed Scholar hastily waved off any recognition, saying, "This isn’t due to my ability. It’s the handiwork of Lady Liu. She has a few close relations within the mountain gate who frequently visit the sect. Upon returning, they jot down everything, both significant and trivial, and leave notes for your review."
Zhang Yan recalled Liu Yan Yi, Qiu Hanyue, Qin Nan, and others often being close to Liu Yan Yi, and he couldn’t help but nod internally, thinking, "Yanyi, as a lady, is surprisingly meticulous."
Under the assumption that Liu Yan Yi wouldn’t deliberately mention someone insignificant, Zhang Yan said, "Tell me about this person."
The Black-clothed Scholar bowed and said, "This person’s name is Huang Fuzhou and is a disciple of the master-disciple lineage. It’s said that during the prior sect competition, he defeated Sword Immortal Luo Yuanhua, causing a stir within the sect. However, he was not long after deterred by one of the Top Ten Disciples, Xiao Tang, through words alone. Forty-six years have passed since then, and now he has emerged from seclusion, openly declaring his intent to challenge Xiao Tang in the upcoming competition."
Upon hearing the name, Zhang Yan found it familiar. After some contemplation, he recalled overhearing brief mentions of Huang Fuzhou during casual conversations with Qi Yuntian, Fan Changqing, and others. It was said his Mysterious Skills were extraordinary and that he excelled particularly at countering Dharma Treasure Flying Swords, making him a remarkable figure within the master-disciple lineage.
Zhang Yan smiled lightly. If his assumptions were correct, Huang Fuzhou’s declaration was likely a move to inform others that Xiao Tang was his chosen opponent, barring anyone else from interference.
Though Zhang Yan also aimed to vie for the Top Ten Disciples, his target was not Xiao Tang but someone else entirely. This meant no conflicts of interest existed between him and Huang Fuzhou; in fact, they might even share a tacit alliance under certain circumstances.
After mulling over the matter for a moment, Zhang Yan dismissed the thought and turned his attention to inquiries regarding the progress of his disciples.
The Mirror Spirit, who oversaw affairs inside and outside the cave mansion, detailed the disciples’ status one by one without omission.
Currently, only Liu Yan Yi among Zhang Yan’s disciples was capable of participating in the sect competition. Since her last bout against Xiao He, Liu Yan Yi had begun to recognize many of her shortcomings. Consequently, she made it a practice to seek Xiao He out monthly for sword sparring. Her mastery of the Flying Sword Skill was advancing rapidly.
Meanwhile, Tian Kun, having spent his childhood cultivating within the Water Mansion, had long been accustomed to solitary cultivation. Even without supervision from his master, he remained secluded day and night, focusing solely on rigorous training. In terms of diligence, none could surpass him, leaving Zhang Yan with little need to intervene.
On the other hand, the Wang Sisters, under Liu Yan Yi’s guidance over the past year, had made considerable progress in the way of Erosion Text. Given their age, further delay would be detrimental. It was time to teach them Mysterious Skills.
Zhang Yan nodded and said, "These two sisters have shown commendable diligence. Go summon them before me."
The Black-clothed Scholar bowed and swiftly departed to carry out the order.
The Wang Sisters were studying Erosion Text classics within the cave mansion when they received news of their master’s summons. They hurriedly prepared themselves, tidied up their appearances, and made haste toward the Main Mansion.
Since the day they became his disciples, they hadn’t seen Zhang Yan again. Yet, their reverence for him remained undiminished.
Having spent years living in Zhao You Heavenly Pond, they had come to learn of the sect’s history. Discovering their master’s involvement in numerous awe-inspiring events left them both astonished and deeply admiring. At the thought of meeting him now, anxiety filled their hearts.
Led by the Mirror Spirit, the two sisters were guided through the Array Gate. In an instant, the scenery changed, transporting them to an unfamiliar cave mansion. There, they saw Zhang Yan seated elegantly atop the Jade Couch. Swiftly approaching, they knelt and bowed in unison, declaring, "Disciple greets Master!"
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...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and support the author with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is the greatest motivation for me.)