Chapter 1062: Thunder Sea

The figure swayed, almost losing control and dissipating on the spot.

His remnant soul remained there to find students and pass on his unique knowledge for future generations, not to accept a master! Now, he hadn't found any students, and the other party actually wanted him to become their disciple… The intense frustration made him feel like exploding.

However, he couldn't blame the other party. When they first met, he had said things like, "If you want my legacy, you must enter my lineage; otherwise, how can I teach you my profound skills?" This was necessary to establish a proper relationship. Now, if he wanted the other party to teach him, the same principle applied; otherwise, why should they teach him?

"Alright, I was being too rigid in my thinking…"

Shaking his head, the figure stopped insisting and looked up: "Passing through me means truly entering the ruins. The challenges ahead will be greater. I hope you can go further…"

After speaking, the figure became increasingly faint. It seemed that, based on his previous state, he should have been able to last longer, but now, having taken a blow, he could no longer hold on. As the figure vanished, the stone tablet before Zhang Xuan emitted crisp cracking sounds, developing countless fissures before shattering into pieces in the blink of an eye.

"You haven't told me your name yet…" Zhang Xuan was taken aback, not expecting the figure to disappear so quickly. Actually, his claim that he could correct the flaws in the "Boundless Traveler" technique was just a ploy to make the other party reveal the manual. The cultivation techniques he had previously seen were all low-level and could not be integrated with such a high-level martial art. Therefore, even though he knew the flaws, he couldn't actually provide the correct solutions. The other party sincerely wanted to learn, so out of helplessness, Zhang Xuan had to use the other's own words to counter him. He never expected the figure to disappear right after he finished speaking. He had obtained the "Boundless Traveler" manual, yet he didn't even know the owner's name.

"Thank you for your martial art, Senior. Your junior will certainly carry it forward and live up to your trust and kindness!" Looking at the shattered stone tablet, Zhang Xuan knelt respectfully, his eyes filled with sincerity. Regardless, this cultivation technique alone was worth his sincere bow. It was not just an acknowledgment but also a deep, heartfelt respect.

"Although this 'Boundless Traveler' technique is powerful, I can't cultivate it yet…" After bowing, Zhang Xuan remembered the technique he had just learned and felt helpless. His cultivation energy and physical body already met the requirements, so even if he practiced and used it, he wouldn't deplete his energy or have his body collapse from inability to bear the strain. The only problem was… this technique had too many flaws. This made him reluctant to practice it. After all, the flaws in the first stage could potentially lead to blindness, and he didn't want to become blind just from cultivating a technique. It seemed he would have to wait until he left these ruins, find a higher-level movement technique to integrate with it, and form a perfect cultivation method before attempting to practice. Anyway, the Heavenly Dao Movement Technique was already sufficient for him, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

"I should go back first. With the wind sounds gone, they should have awakened from their special state and will probably be looking for me soon..." No longer agonizing over the "Boundless Traveler" technique, Zhang Xuan's body blurred, and he flew straight back in the direction he came from. Everyone had been bewildered by the demonic sounds, losing control. Now that the sounds had vanished, they should have recovered from that strange state and found their bearings.

As he flew, he retrieved the formation flags he had set up to mark his path. It wasn't long before he returned to the place where he had separated from Teacher Wu and the others. Looking down, he frowned. The place was deserted, yet it was a scene of utter devastation. Numerous large pits scarred the ground, as if a brutal battle had just taken place, and blood was splattered everywhere.

"What happened?" His fist clenched. Teacher Wu and the others were all powerful Saint 4th Realm experts. What kind of danger could have forced them into such an intense battle? They hadn't even had time to leave anything behind. Knowing that they might be in danger, he didn't hesitate. Patterns appeared in his eyes as he scanned his surroundings. Soon, a faint trail appeared before him. "Chase!" Knowing they must have gone in that direction, Zhang Xuan sped up and pursued them.

"Were they Otherworldly Demons?" After traveling for a while, he discovered another battleground. This time, there was not only human blood but also the corpses of two slain Otherworldly Demons.

"This is bad..." He glanced down, his pupils constricting. Others might need a long time to analyze corpses and deduce the strength they possessed in life, but with his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan could easily discern that these two deceased Otherworldly Demons had reached at least Saint 3rd Realm cultivation! Such powerful individuals would be considered formidable even within the so-called Qingtian Imperial Family.

With a thought, King Zi Ye appeared before him. "Do you recognize these two?" He looked at King Zi Ye intently. Based on recent events, not only were they coming to these ruins, but the so-called Qingtian Imperial Family also had their designs on it. The sudden appearance of Otherworldly Demons must be connected.

"Reporting to Young Master, I don't know these two, but... judging by their attire, they should be... King Shiye's subordinates!" King Zi Ye's eyes lit up as he examined them.

"King Shiye?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He was one of the Five Kings, specifically the fourth one, as mentioned by the figure earlier!

"King Shiye is famous for his physical body. When his cultivation technique is active, his entire skin becomes like stone, providing invincible defense! These two have dry, rough skin, lacking normal softness, so they should be his subordinates who also practiced similar techniques!" King Zi Ye analyzed.

Zhang Xuan nodded. When he had observed them with his Eye of Insight just now, he had noticed their cracked, grayish-blue skin, which resembled stone. He had initially thought it was due to the poor living conditions of the Otherworldly Demons causing skin aging, but it turned out they had cultivated a special technique.

"King Shiye possesses an invincible physical body, and his cultivation has reached the peak of the Saint 4th Realm. Even if I encountered him, I would run as far as possible... Teacher Wu and the others would likely be in great danger if they faced him!" Having understood the situation, King Zi Ye said.

Filled with worry, Zhang Xuan said no more and continued to follow the trail.

Rumble!

After traveling for a while, he heard a roar ahead. Looking up, he saw dark clouds gathering and thunder rolling in the distance. This formation space was extremely similar to the outside world, experiencing the seasonal changes of warmth and cold, and naturally, also the rumble of spring thunder.

"They've entered here..." Seeing the trail lead straight into the lightning-filled area, Zhang Xuan frowned. This kind of spring thunder was terrifying. Even he would try to avoid it as much as possible. Entering this area, one could be struck dead on the spot with the slightest carelessness. The fact that everyone had entered here suggested the danger they faced was more formidable than he had imagined.

"I should have left the Golden Origin Cauldron behind..." Self-reproach appeared in his eyes. He had taken back the Golden Origin Cauldron, thinking there was no danger, never dreaming that they would encounter Otherworldly Demons.

"Young Master, this lightning is terrifying. Are we just going to enter like this?" Seeing the sea of lightning before them, King Zi Ye recoiled slightly.

"You go into the Thousand Ant Hive first!" Knowing that an extra person meant an extra target, Zhang Xuan thought for a moment and put King Zi Ye back into his storage ring. Just as he was about to enter, his heart stirred, and he stopped. He found a hidden spot, sat down cross-legged, and after making preparations, his True Soul lightly flickered and leaped out from between his eyebrows. It was unclear whether the others were inside the lightning area or if Otherworldly Demons were still pursuing them. Entering with his physical body would make him easily trapped by the lightning, incredibly troublesome, and too slow—far inferior to his True Soul. His True Soul was of the Yang attribute and intangible, making it difficult for lightning to detect unless he actively drew its attention.

He put his physical body into his storage ring, and his True Soul grasped the ring. In a flash, he darted into the lightning-filled region, his Eye of Insight shimmering as he swiftly followed the faint traces left on the ground. The traces left by the lightning were very faint, almost invisible. Only with his extraordinary eyesight could he follow them. Anyone else, even a 7-star high-tier master teacher like Teacher Wu, would have been helpless.

After flying for a while, he felt a surge of spiritual energy ahead, and the sounds of battle, mixed with thunder, reached him. Looking forward, he saw an ancient-looking town amidst the lightning. The lightning here seemed considerably weaker, far less fierce than the outer regions. Two groups were locked in a fierce battle. Seven or eight Otherworldly Demons surrounded them, while Teacher Wu and the others sat cross-legged on the ground, all pale-faced and severely wounded.

"King Zi Ye, which one of them is the King Shiye you mentioned?" Since the opponents could wound Teacher Wu and the others so severely, they were certainly not simple. Zhang Xuan didn't rush in but instead communicated with the Thousand Ant Hive.

"Young Master, King Shiye isn't here. These should all be his subordinates, fearless and ignoring attacks..." King Zi Ye's telepathic message came after a quick glance.

"He's not here?" Relieved to hear that the invincibly defensive King Shiye wasn't present, Zhang Xuan's True Soul flickered, entered the hive, returned to his physical body, and quietly reappeared in his original spot. He was the only fresh combatant among them. To rescue them, he had to ensure a decisive strike; otherwise, if he was surrounded, even he would be helpless.

"Ding Ding, in a moment, we'll attack together, striking simultaneously..." Releasing the Golden Origin Cauldron, Zhang Xuan secretly instructed it.

"Don't worry, Young Master, I'll burn these guys into cinders..." The Golden Origin Cauldron was full of excitement. It had always been eager for battle; how could it miss such a good opportunity?

"Alright, let's move!" Seizing the moment, Zhang Xuan let out a low cry and charged forward first. His Heavenly Dao Movement Technique activated, and without any hesitation, he charged straight into one of the Otherworldly Demons. His current physical body was comparable to a Saint artifact. A direct collision would be more powerful than using any weapon. The Otherworldly Demon he struck was instantly killed. Just as he was about to continue his assault, he heard a howl behind him. The Golden Origin Cauldron had already charged forward, its body swelling to an enormous size. With a mighty downward smash, it instantly flattened six or seven Otherworldly Demons into meat paste. They didn't even know what had happened until their dying breath.

"That's too fierce..." Zhang Xuan was stunned, his mouth agape. He had thought his own forceful charge was impressive, but he never dreamed that the Golden Origin Cauldron would be even more formidable, on a completely different level.