Three Talents Immortal Trapping Array and Breakthrough Opportunity

The journey back was exceptionally smooth, as if the ferocious beasts of the Black Mire Mountain Range were actively avoiding their group. Lin Xiaohu cradled the newly acquired "Qi and Blood Condensation Art," frequently asking Chen Fan for guidance on his cultivation questions. Meanwhile, Li Mo led the way, his gaze vigilantly scanning their surroundings—the calmer it was, the more uneasy he felt.

"Mr. Chen, we're approaching Falling Star Valley. Once we pass the entrance, we'll be able to see the Seven Stars Sect's mountain gate," Li Mo said, pointing towards a narrow valley ahead, a hint of relief in his tone.

Chen Fan, however, suddenly stopped, his brow furrowed. The cliffs on either side of Falling Star Valley were sheer, like walls. The valley was so quiet that only the wind could be heard. Faintly, three distinct spiritual energy fluctuations permeated the air, swirling in a peculiar pattern—a sure sign that a formation was about to activate!

"Something's wrong, retreat quickly!" Before Chen Fan could finish speaking, two light barriers suddenly rose from the valley entrance, completely sealing off both their retreat and their path forward. Simultaneously, countless runes appeared on the rock faces of the cliffs. Three golden pillars of light shot out from the runic arrays, converging in the air to form a massive triangular formation diagram. Within the diagram pulsed a dense suppressive force, causing the circulation of everyone's Blood Essence and spiritual energy to become sluggish.

"Three Talents Immortal Trapping Array!" Li Mo's face paled drastically. "It's a trap set by Xianyun Sect in conjunction with Profound Ice Sect and Poison Dragon Cult! This formation specifically counters physical bodies and spiritual energy, suppressing the strength of those trapped by thirty percent!"

Three figures emerged from the formation diagram. Leading them was the acting Sect Master of Xianyun Sect—Zhang Xuan, a cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage! Beside him were the Ice Soul Elder of Profound Ice Sect and the Myriad Poisons Old Freak of Poison Dragon Cult, both top-tier combatants in the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

"Chen Fan, I didn't expect you to survive Dragon Burial Abyss. You've certainly impressed me," Zhang Xuan sneered, his gaze falling on the Dragon Bone Flower in Chen Fan's hand, greed flashing in his eyes. "However, Falling Star Valley will be your burial ground! Hand over the Dragon Bone Flower and the legacy from Dragon Burial Abyss, and I'll grant you a swift death."

"You three think you can stop me?" Chen Fan shielded Lin Xiaohu behind him, circulating both his True Energy and Blood Essence simultaneously. A faint golden True Qi flowed around his body, attempting to resist the formation's suppression. But the formation's power far exceeded his expectations. As soon as his True Qi condensed, it was weakened by the suppressive force within the formation diagram. A punch that could easily shatter rocks now barely maintained its form.

"Hahaha! Within the Three Talents Immortal Trapping Array, your Martial Path strength will be continuously suppressed, while our spiritual energy will be amplified by the formation!" the Myriad Poisons Old Freak cackled, producing a black poison sac. "This is the 'Bone Dissolving Poison Mist' I refined. Just a single whiff will turn your physical body into pus. I'd like to see if your martial body can withstand such potent poison!"

The poison sac was thrown, and black poison mist surged towards Chen Fan like a tide. The corrosive power contained within the mist caused the surrounding rocks to smoke. Chen Fan dared not be careless. He formed hand seals, and following his insights from the Blazing Spear Art, condensed his True Energy and Blood Essence into an invisible "Blood Essence Spear," thrusting it towards the poison mist—"Blazing Spear Art? Array Break!"

The faint golden spear shadow pierced through the poison mist but failed to disperse it entirely. The remaining mist continued to spread towards them. The Ice Soul Elder seized the opportunity, raising a massive ice pillar from the ground to smash down at Chen Fan. The chilling energy contained within the ice pillar caused the air to condense into ice crystals.

"Sky Shattering Fist? Burning River!" Chen Fan unleashed his fists. The fiery fist energy collided with the ice pillar, instantly melting it into water, but it also completely consumed his fiery fist energy. He could clearly feel that under the formation's suppression, his energy was being depleted twice as fast as usual. If this continued, he would soon exhaust his stamina.

"Brother Fan, I'll help you!" Lin Xiaohu suddenly shouted. Following the methods of the Qi and Blood Condensation Art, he gathered his Blood Essence Power at his fingertips and drew a fire rune he had learned in Dragon Burial Abyss. Although his Blood Essence Power was weak, the rune still lit up with a faint red glow, and a small flame shot out from it. While it couldn't harm the enemies, it temporarily halted the spread of the poison mist.

"Insolent brat!" the Myriad Poisons Old Freak snorted, shooting a poison needle towards Lin Xiaohu. Chen Fan reacted swiftly, shoving Lin Xiaohu aside. The poison needle grazed his arm, leaving a small black hole on his sleeve, the fabric instantly corroding into ash.

"Xiaohu, stay behind me and don't move!" Chen Fan said sternly. A sharp stinging sensation spread from where his arm was grazed by the poison needle's residual energy, the poison slowly seeping into his body through his pores. He circulated his True Energy to suppress the poison but found that the formation's suppression made his True Energy circulation sluggish, and the poison was actually spreading slowly.

Seeing Chen Fan suppressed by both poison and the formation, Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed with killing intent. "Attack! Kill Chen Fan first, then annihilate the Seven Stars Sect disciples!"

Three attacks struck simultaneously: Zhang Xuan's "Xianyun Palm" carried a heavy spiritual energy, pressing down on Chen Fan like dark clouds; the Ice Soul Elder's "Ten Thousand Miles of Ice" caused the surrounding temperature to plummet, with countless ice spikes shooting towards Chen Fan; the Myriad Poisons Old Freak's "Poison Dragon Drill" condensed into a black drill, aiming for Chen Fan's chest.

Chen Fan knew this was a life-or-death moment. He took a deep breath, crushed the Dragon Bone Flower in his hand, and its pure medicinal power instantly merged into his body, resonating with the Martial Saint Realm insights from Zhao Lie's legacy—the loosening of the "Mortal Body Shackles" reached its peak. The True Energy and Blood Essence within him churned like boiling lava, frantically impacting the shackles!

"Ah—!"

Chen Fan let out a long roar, and an aura far exceeding his usual power erupted from him. The faint golden True Qi intertwined with the faint red Blood Essence, forming a massive cocoon of light. Within the cocoon, his bones emitted crisp cracking sounds. His physical body's strength rapidly increased, amplified by the Dragon Bone Flower's medicinal power. The formation's suppressive force was temporarily pushed back by this breakthrough aura!

"He's breaking through to the Martial Saint Realm! Stop him quickly!" Zhang Xuan's face changed drastically. If Chen Fan succeeded, facing the power of the Martial Saint Realm, the suppression of the Three Talents Immortal Trapping Array would become a mere formality. The three of them might not even be a match for him!

The three attacks intensified, striking towards the cocoon of light. Just as the attacks were about to hit, the cocoon suddenly cracked open, and a faint golden spear shadow shot out from within—this spear contained the opportunity of his Martial Saint Realm breakthrough and the array-breaking power of the Blazing Spear Art. Wherever the spear shadow passed, the spiritual energy attacks, ice spikes, and poison drill were instantly shattered!

"Pfft!"

The three—Zhang Xuan, Ice Soul Elder, and Myriad Poisons Old Freak—were sent staggering back by the spear shadow's residual force, spitting blood from their mouths, their eyes filled with disbelief. They hadn't expected Chen Fan to forcibly trigger a breakthrough to the Martial Saint Realm during combat and even use the power of his breakthrough to counterattack!

The cocoon of light completely dissipated, revealing Chen Fan's figure within. A faint golden True Qi surrounded him, mixed with a trace of red Blood Essence. His eyes became sharper, and the aura emanating from him was several times stronger than his previous Martial Venerable Realm—although he hadn't fully broken through to the Martial Saint Realm, he had, with the help of the Dragon Bone Flower and his legacy, touched the threshold of the Martial Saint Realm!

"Now, it's my turn." Chen Fan slowly raised his right hand, Blood Essence and True Energy once again condensing into a "Blood Essence Spear." The tip of the spear pointed at the three of them, cold killing intent flashing in his eyes. "You set a trap to kill me. Today, I will make you pay for Xianyun Sect's previous actions!"

The three exchanged glances, seeing fear in each other's eyes. They knew that Chen Fan, in his current state, was no longer someone they could contend with. Continuing the fight would only lead to their deaths. Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "Retreat! We'll find another opportunity for revenge later!"

The three turned to activate the formation and retreat, only to find Chen Fan already blocking the formation's core. The "Blood Essence Spear" in his hand thrust out again—"Blazing Spear Art? Cloud Piercer!" The spear shadow, like a meteor, instantly pierced through the formation's light barrier, shattering the formation's core.

The Three Talents Immortal Trapping Array collapsed with a roar, and the suppressive force vanished. Chen Fan's aura became even more ferocious. He walked towards the three, each step shaking the ground, the killing intent in his eyes palpable. "Trying to leave? Too late!"

A battle for survival erupted once more in Falling Star Valley. This time, Chen Fan was no longer the one being suppressed. Having touched the threshold of the Martial Saint Realm, he would, with the might of his martial path, launch the most ferocious counterattack against the top powers of the cultivation world!