Daoist Competition

Luo Qingyu at this moment also entered the Array Diagram, he emerged from the high place amidst the clear wind, and said loudly: "Junior Brother Zhang, within this array, is the ’Qingji Wind and Thunder Array Skill’. I know you possess the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder technique. Today, let’s see whether my cultivated thunder skill is more powerful, or your cultivated Purple Cloud Divine Thunder is mightier."

This Wind and Thunder Array Skill requires the activation of one of the Five Merits, the "Green Spirit Manifestation Yuanwei Technique," and additional aid from array peaks to maintain an unending cycle.

The array peaks within this Array Diagram are not generated by illusions, but refined by Luo Qingyu from the essence of heaven and earth and ten thousand years of primordial wood, with great effort and exhaustion.

In the past century, he has only managed to sacrificially refine thirty-six peaks. Once activated, they can resonate with his cultivation techniques and invoke wind and thunder to harm enemies.

His previous words mentioned producing this diagram at the Sixteen Sects Sword Competition, not baseless talk, but genuine intention. However, at present, this "Green Level Smoke Array Map" is not yet refined to the Perfect Realm, only roughly crafted. If within the array there are three hundred and sixty array peaks, its power could be elevated to an unimaginable realm, overcoming hundreds with ease.

Zhang Yan laughed heartily, responding: "Since Senior Luo is interested, I shall accompany you."

With a gesture, a thunderous roar echoed, a purple glow flashed, dancing wildly like a snake, splitting across the sky, rushing forward.

Luo Qingyu gave a shout, hastily initiated a spell, thirty-six banners vibrated, each gathering a stream of Clear Qi, entwined together. Instantly, the wind and clouds converged, thunder and lightning mingled, transforming into a clear glow that struck down from the sky, meeting the purple lightning. In the blink of an eye, only a deafening boom was heard, causing all the mountains within the array to echo.

Yet, the power of the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder is boundless, worthy of being the Mingcang Sect’s second-ranked divine skill. Even though Zhang Yan has only achieved minor accomplishment, not yet fully adept, it is overwhelmingly fierce. The green wind and thunder groan just met it, and it crumbled immediately.

Luo Qingyu’s eyes showed a slight surprise, secretly musing: "Now Zhang Yan has not yet condensed the True Imprint of Dharma Power, and already the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder is fearsome. If he breaks through to the Third Realm of Hua Dan, would it not be even harder to deal with? No wonder the Master and True Master Zhu want me to come now."

He smiled faintly, continuing to urge the green thunder. On the surface, it seemed Zhang Yan had the upper hand, but the Qingji Wind and Thunder relies on the Array Diagram’s Dharma Treasure for execution, requiring little from Luo Qingyu himself. If no Array Breaking Method is found, under the endless thunder skill, even if Zhang Yan achieves First-class Elixir Formation, his stamina is indefinite, yet it cannot withstand such consumption.

Luo Qingyu was confident, he only needed to patiently operate the array, and over time, he would surely claim victory.

Zhang Yan activated the protective brilliance of his treasure clothes, emitting strands of light, resisting the wind and thunder, slowly examining his surroundings. He saw clearly that the wind and thunder created by Luo Qingyu relied entirely on the banners atop the peaks. If they could all be removed, then this Array Diagram would pose no threat.

After formulating a strategy, he immediately leaped with his sword, transforming into light and flying, cutting through the air, treating the bone-cutting green wind as if it were nothing. In an instant, he reached the top of a peak.

High in the sky, he circled once, where clusters of wind and thunder were guarded, not removable by ordinary means, so he pointed downward, a streak of thunder radiance shot down, with a rumble, destroying the banner. Then the sword light spun again and flew to the next spot.

In less than a moment, he consecutively destroyed over ten banners.

Luo Qingyu remained hidden in the clear wind, expression careless, watching Zhang Yan’s actions without intervening.

To break the array, indeed all banners on the peaks must be removed, but this array is not ordinary. Besides containing sub-arrays, it is suppressed by a Mystical Artifact named "Ding Kun Pearl." Though it cannot harm enemies, it stabilizes the Qi Mechanism, autonomously evolving the array. Defeating one peak will cause another to emerge.

Unless the array breaker can eliminate the entire array in one breath, breaking the array is impossible. Following procedure leads eventually to exhaustion and death.

Swiftly flying and dodging, Zhang Yan broke through all thirty-six peaks within moments.

But at this time, Luo Qingyu gently initiated a spell and in an instant thirty-six banners reappeared atop the peaks, as before.

He chuckled softly, hands folded behind, saying: "Junior Brother Zhang, don’t waste your energy. I advise you, if you agree not to go to the Floating Heavenly Palace to cultivate, I will open the array gate and let you out, ensuring today’s events are unknown to any third party. What do you say?"

He waited a while, only hearing a voice responding within the thunder radiance: "Senior Luo underestimates me too much. What I did earlier was just confirming my suspicions. This mere little array diagram, what’s difficult about breaking it?"

Luo Qingyu shook his head, thinking he was too stubborn, but since Zhang Yan wouldn’t agree to his conditions, there was no reason to relent.

His expression turned cold, continuously urging spells, unleashing wind and thunder, thinking: "Once Junior Brother Zhang is exhausted, I shall take this Array Diagram and place it on Jiquan Peak. After ten days or half a month, I’ll let Zhang Yan out. How can he still have the face to go to the Floating Palace to cultivate!"

This Array Diagram is a self-contained world, easily trapping someone for years. If Zhang Yan falls into it, while Luo Qingyu won’t harm him, once the news spreads, even after escaping, how will he have the face to go to the Floating Heavenly Palace again?

Just as Luo Qingyu felt victory was assured, dozens of red lights suddenly flew out below, varying in size, some small as rice grains, others as large as fish eyes, appearing somewhat familiar. When he realized what it was, he felt startled and shouted: "Red Thunder Beads? Not good!"

He attempted to retract the Array Diagram, but it was too late. A series of rumbling sounds like the collapse of heaven and earth were heard, the scene changed, and he found himself outside the array.

Zhang Yan stood not far away, bowing to him, saying: "Senior Luo, I’ve accepted your gracious defeat."

With that, he waved his sleeve, wrapping up Wei Zihong mother and child, and departed gracefully.

Luo Qingyu stared blankly at his distant figure, then looked at the array diagram missing a corner, inevitably shaking his head with a bitter smile, speechless in silence.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)