Chapter 28: Really Pierced Through

An array disk that dozens of Golden Core cultivators couldn't break was now expected to be shattered by someone in the Qi Condensation realm. What kind of joke was this?

Everyone knew that Zhao Long wanted Xu Yang dead.

All eyes were on Xu Yang, as people wondered if he would be scared stiff, or simply drop dead from fright.

"Hmph, a mere Qi Condensation cultivator daring to utter such wild words here! He clearly doesn't know his place."

"Heh heh, he's going to have to eat those wild words he just uttered."

"Who knows which family's young master he is, but no matter, I fully support killing him!"

"Exactly! I don't believe any family would dare to openly defy dozens of Golden Core cultivators like us!"

The Golden Core cultivators, usually rife with disagreements and tangled grudges, were a rare sight to behold, all in agreement: they wanted Xu Yang dead.

Ling Qingshu felt a pang of unease. While her ancestor was indeed formidable, could he truly handle dozens of Golden Core cultivators?

"For this array disk, I don't even need to make a move; he can do it." Xu Yang pointed at Fang Yan. "He can shatter that array disk with a single finger."

Fang Yan stiffened, then turned, glaring furiously at Xu Yang.

Wasn't Xu Yang just throwing him into the fire?

He was wealthy and proud, but not a fool; he knew his own limits.

An array disk that dozens of Golden Core cultivators failed to shatter—could he break it with just one finger?

If he truly believed that, he wouldn't be arrogant; he'd be an imbecile.

"I saved your life twice by spending my wealth, so why are you trying to harm me?" Fang Yan asked, his voice filled with indignation. "Do you think killing me and making me take the fall will save your own life?"

Fang Yan shook his head, clenching his fists so tightly that his entire body trembled.

He had completely misjudged Xu Yang. He used to enjoy Xu Yang's company, but now he saw him as nothing more than an ungrateful fool!

"Hahahahaha, how amusing." Zhao Long sneered. "It appears both of you claim you can shatter the array disk with a single finger. So, who will come forward to demonstrate for us first?"

"Yeah, come on, hurry up and show us!" The other onlookers also began to jeer.

"I..." Faced with dozens of Golden Core cultivators radiating immense pressure, Fang Yan instantly wilted.

"I can't," Fang Yan stated.

"No, you can. Weren't you just telling me that you could shatter it with a single touch?"

Xu Yang said, a knowing half-smile playing on his lips. He certainly wouldn't harm Fang Yan; he considered him a true friend.

Shattering the array disk was incredibly easy for Xu Yang; a mere blink of an eye would be enough to destroy it.

He had already discerned that Fang Yan enjoyed being in the spotlight, so he might as well give him an opportunity to shine.

This would also enhance Fang Yan's prestige.

"Heh heh, even Xu Yang says you can do it. Go on, demonstrate for us," Zhao Long chuckled coldly, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

At that moment, Fang Yan wanted to cry.

Dozens of Golden Core cultivators loomed over Fang Yan, their presence a silent threat.

With no other choice, Fang Yan reluctantly walked to the array disk.

The array disk, having just withstood the fierce bombardment of dozens of Golden Core cultivators, still gleamed as if brand new.

It didn't even have a single scratch.

Fang Yan was utterly despairing.

Just then, a wisp of white spiritual energy emerged from Xu Yang's mouth and drifted towards Fang Yan.

The white spiritual energy shimmered with golden runes, imbued with profound mysteries. After encircling Fang Yan a few times, it entered his ear.

Fang Yan then heard a faint whisper.

"Don't be afraid, I know how to shatter the array disk. Just poke it with one finger."

Fang Yan was startled. Judging by the content, was Xu Yang speaking to him? But why, if Xu Yang was far away, did his voice sound as if he were whispering directly into Fang Yan's ear?

He looked up and saw Xu Yang's mouth opening and closing, his lip movements perfectly matching the words Fang Yan heard.

There was no doubt that Xu Yang was speaking to him.

Yet, none of the surrounding people seemed to have heard anything.

"What in the world is happening?" Fang Yan's mind was filled with confusion.

Suddenly, as if possessed or guided by an unseen force, Fang Yan inexplicably poked the array disk with a single finger.

A profound silence descended...

The array disk remained perfectly intact.

The atmosphere instantly became incredibly awkward.

After a moment, Zhao Long suddenly chuckled. "It seems you couldn't do it after all. You poked it with one finger, but why didn't it shatter?"

"Yeah, why is it still the same?" The other onlookers also burst into laughter.

Fang Yan's face was ashen, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

He didn't know why, but he had actually gone through with it.

And the array disk hadn't shattered; it was still perfectly intact.

He was doomed.

Just as he was thinking this, the array disk suddenly emitted a colossal boom.

The array disk, which had been indestructible moments before, suddenly burst forth with dazzling white light. Beneath the radiance, the array disk disintegrated into countless sparkling fragments that filled the air before scattering across the ground.

The array disk had shattered!

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the scene, utterly baffled as to why the supposedly indestructible array disk had suddenly crumbled into dust.

"Ahem, ahem, you all saw that, right? He shattered the array disk with a single finger," Xu Yang said, pointing at Fang Yan.

All eyes turned to Fang Yan, as if he were some kind of monster.

"What just happened? How did the array disk shatter?"

"My goodness, we fought for so long and couldn't break it! He couldn't have actually shattered it with just one finger, could he?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! It must be that the array disk was already on the verge of breaking and just happened to shatter now."

The crowd buzzed with chatter, none of them willing to believe what they had just witnessed.

Fang Yan stared at the shattered fragments on the ground, his mind a jumble of confusion. For a moment, he couldn't process what had just happened.

How could an array disk that was perfectly fine moments ago suddenly shatter?

Could it truly be that he shattered it with just one finger?

That, of course, was impossible.

Suddenly, as if a thought struck him, he looked at Xu Yang with a complex expression.

Zhao Long, at this point, didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He looked at the array disk fragments on the ground, then back at Fang Yan.

He wasn't sure if Fang Yan had truly shattered it.

If Fang Yan truly shattered it, then what incredible strength must he possess?

Perhaps the array disk was already on the verge of crumbling from their earlier attacks, only waiting for a final touch to break apart?

And Fang Yan's single finger just happened to be that final touch?

However, regardless of how it happened, since the array disk was shattered and the entrance to Glacial Mountain was now open, there was no need to dwell on the specifics.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for assisting me in breaking the array disk. My Spirit Treasure Auction House expresses its deepest gratitude. Please leave your name, and upon our return, I shall personally ensure you receive a significant treasure as a token of our appreciation."

Zhao Long said with a jovial smile.

The other Golden Core cultivators also chimed in, offering their compliments.

Fang Yan quickly forgot his earlier unpleasantness. Regardless of the actual truth, he comfortably accepted the praise, even boasting a few times himself.

Xu Yang observed from the side, his expression unreadable.

"Ancestor, that array disk shattering, that was your doing, wasn't it?" Ling Qingshu asked.