Chapter 1427: Divine Strategy After Nine Deaths Comes Another Deadly Calamity

Beneath the Array-Breaking Disk.

The hundreds of white-robed figures, serving as the array's core, each suffered backlash from the Saint-level Heavenly Secret Array. Everyone vomited blood as their spiritual essence was quickly drained, consumed, and reproduced by the parasitic "little spiders" that clung to their bones.

Though no longer restrained, Xiang Yaoyao didn't move. A Martial Restriction Order hung on her, rendering her utterly useless. She couldn't even break free from the current "little spider array." Any contact with those eerie woven dao patterns would instantly drain her spiritual essence, leaving her weak and paralyzed.

However, besides the preoccupied white-robed figures, the immobilized Aunt Xiang, and a scattering of corpses, there was one forgotten presence at the scene: Ghost-God Gang's Ghost Face!

As one of the inheritors of ancient martial arts, Ghost Face had previously opened all Eight Gates and Seven Mansions, yet he was nearly killed by Dao Qiongcang's single strike within the array. Dao Qiongcang had spared his life, relying on the Six Departments' needs.

Now, with the Hundred Realms Spirit Severing Array broken and the restraints lifted, Dao Qiongcang had even forgotten to place a Martial Restriction Order on him... Even if he had, it wouldn't have made much difference! Ancient martial artists do not fear the sealing methods of spirit refiners!

Upon seeing Quan Sanqing appear and capture Dao Qiongcang's attention, Ghost Face had already begun to secretly prepare. Sure enough, when the lightning tribulation descended, Dao Qiongcang left him to confront Quan Sanqing.

—An opportunity!

Without hesitation, Ghost Face unveiled his last trump card.

“Animal Path: Ghost Face Eagle!”

Suddenly, a black light emanated from the burly, middle-aged man, and black feathers began to sprout all over his body. With a "whoosh," while still sprawled on the ground, Ghost Face unfolded black wings from his back, propelling himself towards Aunt Xiang. As he darted forward, his mouth transformed into a sharp eagle's beak. His eyes narrowed, and the changing scenery before him seemed to slow down in his mind. His limbs retracted into his body, and sharp talons extended from his fingertips, but they got stuck halfway through the transformation.

Like Wang Dachui, Ghost Face had only mastered half of the Animal Path. The fundamental difference was that Ghost Face's "Animal Path" was personally taught by his elder brother, Shen Yi, and was originally complete, but due to his own aptitude, he couldn't fully master it. Using this incomplete Six Paths technique would essentially cripple him for the rest of his life. But in this place, at this time, if he held back this move, he, Aunt Xiang, and Quan Sanqing would all be finished!

“Screech—!”

As the piercing eagle cry tore through the sky, before the hundreds of white-robed figures could react, the black form had already swept Aunt Xiang away. The lightning tribulation descended with extreme speed. Yet, no matter how fast, it couldn't outpace the Six Paths, even an incomplete one. In Quan Sanqing's moment of despair, a flash of bloody red crossed through the black. He, a hefty man weighing five hundred jin, completely devoid of spiritual essence... took flight!

“Crackle—!”

The lightning tribulation pursued them from behind. The Ghost Face Eagle, grasping Aunt Xiang in one talon and Quan Sanqing in the other, flew erratically, listing to the left. At this moment, his prolonged cry couldn't conceal the excitement in Ghost Face's heart.

“Even the wisest of plans can have a flaw.”

“Even someone as powerful as Hall Master Dao can miscalculate, and I've interfered to disrupt his game!”

His eagle vision had an extremely wide range. As the Ghost Face Eagle broke through the little spider array, endured Quan Sanqing's Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation, and sped forward, he could still glimpse Dao Qiongcang behind him...

“Thump!”

His heart skipped a beat. Ghost Face froze. Because Dao Qiongcang stood rooted to the spot, watching him from afar, his eyes showing no surprise whatsoever, and a faint smile even playing on his lips. He extended his hand from his sleeve, thumb pressing against the second joint of his middle finger, as the golden light gradually faded.

“A miracle is upon him, which indeed disappoints this Hall Master...”

Dao Qiongcang finished murmuring with a smile, “But as expected, you truly master the Six Paths, and you're quite good at hiding it.”

The murmuring ceased.

The Semi-Saint Profound Edict from the Nine Heavens completed its ancient character outlines simultaneously, and a lingering holy sound descended from the sky:

“The Heavenly Dao says delay, all phenomena say retreat.”

“The situation is uncertain, the Heavenly Secret must return.”

The ancient characters, catalyzed by the power of the Semi-Saint Profound Edict, ultimately condensed into a single word:

“Return!”

The Ghost Face Eagle, carrying Aunt Xiang and Quan Sanqing, had by now broken through the South City Gate and was flying towards the sky outside. Suddenly, spiritual energy surged through heaven and earth, and starlight poured down. Those Heavenly Secret Dao principles gathered and materialized, restraining the Ghost Face Eagle's neck like reins, yanking it back forcefully.

“Screech!”

The Ghost Face Eagle let out a painful shriek, feeling the surrounding world recede, as if even time itself was flowing backward... He had clearly left the city. When he suddenly awoke, he was still in the same spot, with no one beneath his talons. He lay sprawled on the ground, transformed into the Ghost Face Eagle, staring blankly. In the distance, Aunt Xiang stood in stunned surprise, waiting, while Quan Sanqing faced his third Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation...

“Me?”

Ghost Face, with little sanity left but still some, was completely bewildered by what he was seeing. The searing pain in his back made him realize he had indeed endured a Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation just moments ago. But everything reality presented... He hadn't moved! And he hadn't saved anyone! What kind of power was this single word "Return" from the Semi-Saint Profound Edict?

“Run!”

“Why are you standing there stunned? Hurry and run... damn it, run forward, not backward!”

Quan Sanqing's frustrated roar suddenly came from below him. Ghost Face froze for a moment, then looked down... Wait! Below him? The scene before his eyes shifted. Ghost Face was startled to realize that people were still beneath his talons: Aunt Xiang and Quan Sanqing. Behind him, hundreds of white-robed figures were still suffering from the backlash of the Hundred Realms Spirit Severing Array at the South City Gate of Kyoto. He had clearly left the city, but due to the Semi-Saint Profound Edict, he was frozen in place, even moving backward, seemingly trying to re-enter the city...

“Animal Path?”

From behind him, Hall Master Dao's teasing voice drifted:

“Compared to Shen Yi, it's a world of difference.”

“Your combat philosophy is still stuck decades ago. Have you never encountered Heavenly Secret Arts?”

“This Hall Master is different. I know all too well how to deal with you ancient martial artists—each of you reckless and foolish, unable to even see through the simplest Heavenly Secret Illusions.”

He paused, then Dao Qiongcang flashed from behind the Ghost Face Eagle to stand before it, twirling the star-spoon on his Heavenly Secret Compass.

“Great Teleportation Art!”

The eagle, the aunt, and the hefty man, who had just flashed out of the city gate, were instantly teleported back inside.

At the same time, the spirit refiners in Jade Capital City who witnessed the Semi-Saint Profound Edict all had their thoughts suddenly stall.

“Hmm? What are we doing gathered here?”

“Wasn't I on my way back to the clan? How did I get here?”

“How strange, why am I in the sky? My wife will drain me dry if she finds out... I should hurry home!”

The group of spirit refiners, who had intended to rush to the battlefield, scattered like birds and beasts, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

Outside Jade Capital City, within the Forest Mountains.

Zhu Yike saw the power of the Semi-Saint Profound Edict and immediately felt a bad premonition. Just as he was about to turn his head to avoid looking, a black Ghost Face Human-Eagle flew out from the South City Gate, forcefully entering his line of sight. Beneath what seemed to be a hand or a talon, one of the people it carried was precisely his target...

“Aunt Xiang!”

Zhu Yike rejoiced, and starlight surged from his body. He inserted his left hand into a Dao Principle, tossed a small stone upwards with his right hand, and then took a step forward. Then... He took a step backward instead.

“Huh, what am I doing here...”

“I haven't even finished studying the Art Ancestor's legacy restrictions yet. Wasn't I in the Southern Domain?”

He subconsciously wanted to leave the Forest Mountains, return to the Southern Domain, and crawl back into his old den. Just then, the faint aura of the Art Ancestor's power on his body vibrated, and when Zhu Yike regained his senses, a forceful thought from Li Fugui invaded his mind:

“You are to wait outside the city, prepared to rendezvous with Aunt Xiang.”

Zhu Yike was shocked into realization, recalling everything, and quickly lowered his head, daring not to look again. Sure enough, the shadowy image conjured on the ground through the art of 'Shifting Shapes and Changing Shadows' revealed the black silhouette that should have been at the core of the situation inside the city. Dao Qiongcang had left the city! His Semi-Saint Profound Edict actually contained guiding power—how was that possible?

Zhu Yike fell into prolonged shock. He felt as though he had discovered some earth-shattering secret. Soon, he shook his head to himself:

“Impossible, that couldn't have been his Semi-Saint Profound Edict. It must have come from the Saint Emperor...”

His thoughts froze. Zhu Yike was not foolish. He easily thought of another contradictory question: If it borrowed the power of the Saint Emperor, it should have been a 'Saint Emperor's Golden Edict,' so why was it a 'Semi-Saint Profound Edict'?

“It's ruined!”

At the South City Gate, on the Osmanthus Carriage.

Li Fugui still maintained the appearance of old man Li, the carriage driver, dozing against the carriage. In his palm, he clutched a small, peculiar blackboard. From time to time, special worm-like symbols jumped out on the board:

“Quan Sanqing failed. Under the Great Confinement Art, he cannot use his spiritual essence...”

“Ghost Face unexpectedly erupted, activating half of his Animal Path, taking Aunt Xiang and Quan Sanqing out of the city...”

“Hall Master Dao used the Semi-Saint Profound Edict, and all three were returned to the city...”

One piece of information after another popped up, and Li Fugui grew increasingly silent as he read. As an intelligence officer, it was naturally impossible for him to personally enter the battlefield. His value in remaining alive and hidden far outweighed the outcome of participating in this battle, even if Aunt Xiang were rescued, as it would reveal his identity. Because Aunt Xiang had already surfaced, while Li Fugui remained hidden in the deep sea. He was “Lord Li”! Doggo was his personal bodyguard!

Since he didn't even easily step onto the battlefield, it was naturally impossible for Li Fugui to observe the battle with his physical eyes or even his spiritual sense. He knew full well how terrifying the counter-scrying arts of Heavenly Secret cultivators were, which was why he had warned Zhu Yike. Therefore, he naturally had to use other means to observe the battle. The 'Communication Board' in his hand solved this problem. It relayed battlefield information promptly through 'Carriage Driver' members stationed throughout the streets, using encrypted text. Even if the Carriage Drivers were caught and the Holy Divine Palace deciphered the encrypted text, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to Li Fugui. Because ostensibly, the 'Communication Board' connected to 'Horse Face.' And 'Horse Face,' the leader of the 'Carriage Drivers,' was Doggo, who was currently in the battle. In the end, all clues would lead back into the situation itself, leaving no trace for outsiders. Li Fugui was extremely cunning; otherwise, he wouldn't have survived so many years in intelligence work. Even if Dao Qiongcang could decipher all the information, he would be briefly confused, then discover that he had gained nothing.

“It's ruined, truly ruined. I didn't underestimate that flashy old Daoist, but I overestimated all of you...”

The 'it's ruined' wasn't spoken by Li Fugui, but rather by Jin Ren, who transmitted his exasperated thoughts through spiritual telepathy, complaining about the deciphered encrypted text.

“Master Shou, are you worried they'll fail?” Li Fugui was still feigning sleep.

“That flashy old Daoist is too formidable. He has an endless supply of plans, adapting to every move. Your Doggo, even with Ghost Face, is no match... unless Aunt Xiang's Martial Restriction Order is lifted to summon Shen Yi... but that's clearly impossible. That old Daoist has already blocked all their escape routes...”

Jin Ren was so anxious he wanted to intervene himself. Among the Ten Honored Ones, only the Ten Honored Ones and himself could fight! Reading those texts, he felt that Li Fugui's subordinates lacked everything. They needed Heavenly Secret Arts, but couldn't use them; they needed ancient martial arts, but only learned half; they needed spirit refinement, but even a tribulation crossing could be sealed... This made him, with his half-developed obsessive-compulsive tendencies, extremely uncomfortable to watch. He almost wanted to take over his main body, awaken from the Apricot Realm, and forcefully suppress Dao Qiongcang!

“Small characters have their own ways of living.” Li Fugui was quite calm, as he was accustomed to hardships. “Master Shou, do you not trust Doggo and the others?”

“I don't trust any of them.”

“Then does Master Shou trust Fugui?”

Jin Ren pondered for a moment, then chose to speak frankly: “Li Fugui, someone once told this Lord a saying: 'Don't trust anyone.'”

Li Fugui nodded in agreement, but inwardly, he couldn't entirely concur. Doggo and the others were still fighting for their lives. Jin Ren knew Li Fugui's thoughts didn't align with his words, but there was nothing more he could say. If emotions could sway the situation, what good was sobriety?

On the Osmanthus Carriage, the Communication Board continued to pop up new information, but silence spread.

In the Apricot Realm, a sleeping Xu Xiaoshou suddenly opened his eyes and said to Greed God:

“Refine me!”

“Use any holy medicine you want!”

Greed God was startled for a moment, then his eyes burst with light.

“Meow!”

South City Gate, battlefield.

The best opportunity was in Ghost Face's grasp. And the one who released this opportunity, then concluded it with a Semi-Saint Profound Edict, was Dao Qiongcang, who was particularly adept at dealing with ancient martial artists. When the Ghost Face Eagle, carrying Aunt Xiang and Quan Sanqing, returned inside the South City Gate, the morale of the Holy Slaves plummeted to rock bottom. Meanwhile, inside the original Hundred Realms Spirit Severing Array, the white-robed figures who had escaped the 'spider array' with the help of the 'Great Stripping Art' and recovered their spiritual essence were ecstatic. Hall Master Dao is omnipotent!

“Rumble...”

Amidst the thunderous roar, the Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation arrived as promised.

“Kyoto Grand Array, activate.”

Dao Qiongcang's eyes gleamed as he suddenly roared and twirled the Heavenly Secret Compass in his hand.

“Damn it, quickly break my ring!”

Quan Sanqing had no time to deal with the lightning tribulation. His spiritual essence was confined, making it difficult even to activate his spatial ring, so he could only extend his hand beneath the Ghost Face Eagle's sharp talons. Ghost Face didn't understand why, but he quickly pressed it. Instantly, the spatial ring shattered, releasing countless treasures. Quan Sanqing's left hand delved into the folds of his belly fat, pulled out an array disk, and tossed it into the air. His right hand, however, grabbed a dark, unassuming pill that had burst from the ring.

“Heh.”

Dao Qiongcang smiled. The Kyoto Grand Array had not activated at all. What he had activated was the 'Great Teleportation Art'! Since the array disk was likely made by Xu Xiaoshou, it was probable that he had considered not only the Hundred Realms Spirit Severing Array but also the Kyoto Grand Array. Thus, Quan Sanqing should have a second array disk on him. The first one shattered, making it impossible to study. This second one, of course, couldn't be allowed to activate; it had to be obtained for thorough study.

The array disk flew through the air. Dao Qiongcang merely glanced at it, and from the special Heavenly Secret Dao principles on it, which had a slightly 'squirming' quality, he confirmed that it was made by the same person as the previous one. Quan Sanqing hadn't bluffed; he had thrown out the array disk. Dao Qiongcang decisively seized it, teleporting it into his hand, and immediately sealed it, awaiting study after the battle.

Dao Qiongcang smiled. Quan Sanqing also smiled. With such a deliberate exclamation of 'Kyoto Grand Array,' Quan Sanqing easily understood its meaning, knowing that Hall Master Dao was already prepared for an array disk that could disrupt the Kyoto Grand Array. Both were astute individuals who knew what the other wanted. Quan Sanqing made a crucial choice... He wanted to save people! A trade of items!

“This Hall Master is very curious: what is this pill you're willing to abandon an array disk for?” Dao Qiongcang watched the hefty man swallow the black pill without intervening. If Quan Sanqing had wanted to, he could have destroyed the array disk. Since he didn't destroy it but chose to exchange it, Dao Qiongcang was willing to act like a gentleman this time. He didn't dislike 'variables'; they allowed him to grow. Of course, what he liked most was to understand and then crush these so-called 'variables,' truly allowing himself to grow.

“Boom!”

Another lightning tribulation was endured by the Ghost Face Eagle, which shrieked wildly in pain, nearly losing its grip on the hefty man. Quan Sanqing swallowed the pill. The lightning tribulation in the sky suddenly mutated. Above the Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation, another layer of tribulation clouds subtly gathered. Raising his eyes, Quan Sanqing took a deep breath, madness flashing in his eyes. He looked at Hall Master Dao, who controlled everything like clouds and rain, and enunciated each word:

“Violent Saint-Breaking Pill!”