Demon Seal City.
Just as Yao Ling, dressed in black robes, was about to set out to probe the Dao Sect,
Someone suddenly hurried over and said, "Boss, Ninth Brother sent word. Both jade stones have shattered."
"Both shattered?"
Yao Ling frowned. Had the Dao Sect sent a large force this time?
They had come straight for the place where his men had gathered as soon as they arrived. The two jade stones meant that the Dao Sect's people had launched the attack.
Suddenly, a voice reached Yao Ling's ear. "Someone sent a message through a secret art. Only four words: the Dao Child is alone!"
"Alone?"
Yao Ling froze.
This was someone from the Xun Division. Its people were far better than his Demon Seal Faction at keeping watch on the Dao Sect, and they could even rely on an array created by a Talisman Master to send precise messages.
Putting the information together, did that mean the Dao Sect's Dao Child was coming alone to kill his Demon Seal Faction?
What was he trying to do? Did he intend to wipe out the Demon Seal Faction single-handedly?
He was far too arrogant.
"Tell the men to get ready. That so-called Dao Child is coming. And spread the word.
"Let everyone see the might of our Demon Seal Faction. Let them know that in the Blood Rock Land, even the Dao Sect's name carries no weight!"
Yao Ling's voice was cold. Since that so-called young Dao Child dared to come like this, he would capture the greenhorn.
To hell with probing them. If the Dao Sect still wanted their young sect master's life, they could obediently hand over the Origin mine.
The Yuan Sect had long coveted that vast Nirvana Crystal Mine as well. It was just that the Yuan Sect's forces were weak in this region.
Otherwise, they would have tried to seize it long ago.
Even if he learned nothing from the probe, Yao Ling felt that presenting the Origin mine to the Yuan Sect would achieve the same result.
Fang Yi flew through the air, the scarlet mist unique to the Blood Rock Land sweeping past him, carrying a faint scent of rust.
He was already considering the layout of the Demon Seal Faction's stronghold.
The map Yuan Fang had given him was detailed, with the locations of hidden sentries and arrays marked out in broad strokes.
But Fang Yi knew.
Most of this information had probably been gathered by Dao Sect disciples observing from the outskirts. The true defenses at the heart of the stronghold were likely not so easy to determine.
That did not matter to him, though.
Yao Ling was at eight yuan nirvana, and with a gang of subordinates and an array at his disposal, an ordinary nine yuan nirvana expert would indeed gain no advantage against him.
But was that the same?
To be honest, he felt that if he went all out now, even defeating someone at the Profound Life Stage, Greater Completion would be no problem.
He had concealed the fact that two people in the Dao Sect had mastered the Great Desolation Scripture at the same time only to keep the Dao Sect from drawing attention.
As far as the Yuan Sect was concerned, its opponent had always been the Dao Sect, not any particular person.
To the Yuan Sect, a genius appearing in the Dao Sect and the Dao Sect being able to master the Great Desolation Scripture in batches were two different things.
As long as the Dao Sect's strength did not exceed the Yuan Sect's bottom line by too much, they would simply continue developing in silence, believing time was on their side.
Now I have some confidence to fall back on. I can afford to hold back less.
Fang Yi considered the matter.
With the Great Desolation Tablet protecting the Dao Sect, it was already in an invincible position. It was time for him to show some of his edge.
A moment later,
A city appeared in his sight, shrouded by a great array.
The array frantically devoured billowing baleful Qi. A giant python coiled at its center, its serpentine eyes filled with exceedingly intricate incantations.
Terrifying fluctuations swept out from within, shaking heaven and earth. Before the array,
More than a dozen figures hovered in the air, violent Origin Energy surging endlessly from their bodies. At this moment, their gazes were all deeply sullen.
"The Dao Sect's Dao Child?"
Yao Ling saw Fang Yi approaching alone. He had not expected him to actually dare to come, and he unleashed the full extent of his eight yuan nirvana senses.
Within several li, there really was only this one young figure. There were no ambushes or backup plans, and even the Dao Sect disciples who kept watch on the outskirts of the Blood Rock Land year-round had not moved.
"You really did come alone." Yao Ling spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Dao Child of the Dao Sect, have you lost your mind, or do you think the Blood Rock Land is like the mountain behind your Dao Sect, where you can come and go as you please?"
Fang Yi was surprised by the Demon Seal Faction's intelligence-gathering abilities. After reaching the Blood Rock Land, he had made a trip to the Dao Sect's place and then come straight here.
Yet they had still made their preparations.
But that was all.
"I reckon the Dao Sect praised him so much that he started believing it himself."
Another man, tall and thin, snickered.
"Some young Dao Child. Looks to me like he's just a greenhorn who doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is."
Fang Yi turned a deaf ear to their words and looked at Yao Ling. "So you must be Yao Ling."
"What, the Dao Sect's Dao Child dared to come alone without even knowing what I look like?"
Yao Ling sneered and turned his palm over. A spear appeared in his hand, its tip pointed straight at Fang Yi.
"I advise you to get on your knees and kowtow three times, write a confession, and have the Dao Sect bring the Origin mine in exchange for you. Then I might spare your life."
Fang Yi did not get angry. He simply shook his head, his tone calm. "I was just making sure I didn't kill the wrong person."
At those words, the group behind Yao Ling erupted.
A burly, bald man stepped forward, Origin Energy bursting forth, and shouted, "Arrogant brat! Big Brother, let me tear his mouth apart first!"
"No need. Since this brat wants to kill me, let him come!"
Yao Ling sneered. He had spent so long in the Blood Rock Land, and no one had ever dared to look down on him like this.
Did a greenhorn really think that, after throwing his weight around in the Dao Sect for so long, everyone outside would defer to him too?
As soon as he finished speaking,
The spear in his hand shook violently, a hum ringing out. A spear beam dozens of zhang long pierced straight through the void and blasted toward Fang Yi as fast as lightning.
Wherever the spear beam passed, it tore a pitch-black trail through the air. Dark baleful Qi curled around it, its might astonishing.
The independent cultivators watching from inside the city sucked in a breath. An ordinary nine yuan nirvana expert would probably not dare to take a spear strike that powerful head-on.
Fang Yi raised one hand, palm forward and fingers spread.
The power of the five elements gathered before his palm, forming a five-colored wheel. It turned slowly, its cycle continuing without end.
The spear beam slammed into the wheel with a muffled boom. Dark baleful Qi scattered in every direction, blasting pits into the city wall below, but Fang Yi stood where he was, unmoved.
"That's it?"
Yao Ling's pupils contracted. He had put eighty percent of his strength into that strike; even a nirvana expert of the same level would have had to take it seriously.
Yet Fang Yi had blocked it far too easily, without even moving his feet.
The mocking expressions on the faces of the group behind Yao Ling froze as well. The burly, bald man looked horrified and could not speak.
"Big Brother, there's something strange about this brat!" the tall, thin man could not help saying in a low voice.
"Shut up!"
Yao Ling roared and thrust his spear again.
This time, he held nothing back. All the Origin Energy in his body poured madly into the spear. Black light gathered at its tip, taking the form of a black serpent phantom dozens of zhang long, which lunged at Fang Yi with a piercing hiss.
Fang Yi still did not dodge. He simply turned his palm over, and the five-colored wheel became a great seal that smashed down at the black serpent.
The seal struck the black serpent, shattering it inch by inch before it could even struggle. It turned into black Qi that filled the sky and dissipated.
Fang Yi followed through with a push. Without losing momentum, the great seal blasted straight toward Yao Ling, who held his spear crosswise to block it.
"Bang!"
Yao Ling was sent staggering back dozens of zhang. He raised his head, his face full of disbelief.
"Impossible... How could you possibly have such power?!"