Chapter 183: 183. Chapter 183 Great Battle in the Late Core Formation Stage

183. Chapter 183 Great Battle in the Late Core Formation Stage

The sword aura, like starlight falling, could not be concealed even amid the sky‑filled fire clouds, and even forced a 'vacuum' road through them.

Where the sword aura passed, the fire clouds all dissipated.

The mysterious cultivator disguised as Character: Liyang originally did not take this sword seriously, believing that even his magical shield could not be pierced by it and that it would be intercepted outside.

In fact, his magical shield could not hold even for a moment; in an instant it was sliced by the sword aura, which fell onto him.

Clang! Crack!

After the sword aura's baptism, the fire clouds vanished, revealing the true form inside.

Character: Liyang, looking at his torn robe, still felt lingering dread.

It was truly dangerous just now; he almost capsized in the gutter.

If he did not have a precious third‑tier defensive robe on him, he would have been gravely injured now, even if not dead.

Xiao Zhangqing's sword attacks dealt damage even stronger than Su Wushuang at his peak, and are among the top in the mid Core Formation stage!

But…

It is clearly the weakest mana of the Core Formation realm, like a false core or a cultivator who has just succeeded in forming a core.

The fire clouds were dispersed by Xiao Zhangqing in one move, exposing the true visage inside.

Both in stature and appearance, it was identical to Character: Liyang.

Even using spiritual perception, no trace could be seen, no sign of the disguise technique.

It seemed this person truly was Character: Liyang, not an imposter.

But Xiao Zhangqing and Gu Zongyuan already had answers in mind, so they would not be fooled by this façade.

Being unable to see through and with spiritual perception finding no clue only proves the disguise technique is highly skillful.

Gu Zongyuan, seeing Xiao Zhangqing repeatedly display bizarre body‑dodge techniques and then strike a sword that made his scalp tingle, was both deeply shocked and relieved.

He had truly feared that Xiao Zhangqing might not be a match and could meet misfortune in the hands of this mysterious cultivator.

Suppressing his surprise for the moment, Gu Zongyuan fixed his gaze on the mysterious cultivator: "If you truly are my master, why only employ this ambiguous Character: Liyang True Secret? Better to summon your destined Magic Treasure directly; whatever you intend today, my brother Xiao and I will not stand in your way."

Appearance, mana, even Soul Transformation aura can be mimicked, but a destined Magic Treasure is almost unique in the world; no matter how skillful the disguise, it cannot be replicated.

The mysterious cultivator's expression darkened again.

His plan for today was largely a failure.

Disguising himself as Character: Liyang to deceive others posed no problem; it was nine out of ten accurate.

But using it to fool cultivators familiar with Character: Liyang, especially those of decent cultivation and strong spiritual perception, would easily expose the ruse.

Fortunately, his target had never been Xiao Zhangqing or Gu Zongyuan, nor the Character: Liyang Zhenren City. People assumed he aimed to frame Character: Liyang Zhenren City and slander Character: Liyang, which was entirely mistaken.

Thus the current situation is not the worst; his plan can still proceed.

"I originally didn't intend to kill you two, but you voluntarily begged for death, so I can't be blamed."

Character: Liyang's figure flickered, changing his face into that of a gaunt old man.

Since the disguise was uncovered, he simply abandoned the false identity of Character: Liyang.

Of course, even Su Wushuang, who had seen the most, still found this gaunt old man unfamiliar; among Da Yu Cultivation World's late Core Formation cultivators, no such face could be found.

It is very possible that this current appearance is still a fabricated illusion.

But the others had no time to think much or to question aloud.

The gaunt old man summoned a three‑legged great cauldron; powered by his strong late Core Formation mana, it quickly grew to twenty‑to‑thirty zhang tall, and its mere aura terrified everyone present.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhangqing did not hesitate; he activated Great Roc Riding the Wind and swiftly put distance between them.

In the next instant, the great cauldron rolled over the spot where he had just been.

Boom! When Xiao Zhangqing's form materialized, the great cauldron, like a meteor burning with molten lava, surged after him, but its speed always lagged, unable to threaten Xiao Zhangqing.

"What an amazing body‑dodge technique!"

Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang beside him watched in awe.

At this moment Xiao Zhangqing seemed less a human cultivator and more the king among the highest‑level avian demonic beasts! Not only could his dodge technique perfectly command the gale, but it seemed to grasp strands of space itself! The mysterious cultivator was also terrified.

His spiritual perception was pushed to its limit, barely catching Xiao Zhangqing's movement, but the speed at which he could drive his Magic Treasure lagged, always a fraction behind.

Dodge techniques of this caliber are few in the Da Yu Cultivation World, only the two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors, and even among late Core Formation or Core Formation Perfection cultivators, very few can achieve it.

After several successive attacks missed, the mysterious cultivator grew impatient.

Today's turn of events made him eager to slay Xiao Zhangqing outright, but with most of his power already exposed, he found he had little way to deal with Xiao Zhangqing, forcing him to alter his plan again.

There was no way; although he still had killing techniques that could probably curb Xiao Zhangqing's dodge, leaving him no escape and forcing him to submit to death.

But doing so would directly expose his identity.

Not only would the plan fail, it would also ruin his reputation.

After another failed pursuit of Xiao Zhangqing, the gaunt old man suddenly, without any sign, reversed direction and slammed the great cauldron Magic Treasure toward Gu Zongyuan beside him! Gu Zongyuan lacked Xiao Zhangqing's bizarre dodge.

Moreover, most critically, behind Gu Zongyuan stood a battle formation of eighteen Character: Liyang Guards, suited only for static warfare, forcing him to meet the gaunt old man's attack head‑on.

"I'm doomed!"

Seeing the three‑legged great cauldron Magic Treasure bearing down like a volcano, Gu Zongyuan was startled, instantly feeling a shroud of death envelop him.

Who is this demonic outsider, first impersonating my master to frame him, and now, unable to deal with Brother Xiao, comes to squeeze this soft target of mine, huh?

His heart raced with fear; the gaunt old man's sudden shift left Gu Zongyuan no time to think, forcing him to push all his mana to the limit and fully draw the formation's power, nearly exceeding his body's capacity, feeling as if his flesh's meridians would burst.

He swung his spear with all his might, sweeping across.

Boom! The spear and the great cauldron collided like two meteors from the heavens.

Gu Zongyuan's spear instantly emitted a roar that was both a howl and a whimper; the great cauldron pressed down forcefully, and the spear tried to fling it away, but was brutally crushed, bending the Magic Treasure's body! If it weren't of extremely high quality—a top third‑tier material—it would have shattered outright at this moment.

Nevertheless, the Magic Treasure itself already bore slight cracks, its fiery glow dimmed a few degrees, showing damage.

Gu Zongyuan instantly spat a mouthful of refined blood onto his spear, then poured in mana furiously, restoring the spear's vigor and most of its radiance; with a roar he forced the three‑legged great cauldron to be flung away.

The result was that Gu Zongyuan, as a Golden Core cultivator, could barely hold on, but the Character: Liyang Battle Formation behind him collapsed. Of the eighteen cultivators in the late Foundation Establishment stage, fully mature, more than half fell into a coma, their lives uncertain; the others all looked listless, almost completely losing combat ability.

The gaunt old man, upon seeing this, showed no surprise; instead, his eyes displayed an expression of what was proper and expected.

As one of the top late Golden Core cultivators, even without using killing moves, he should easily crush mid Golden Core cultivators, leaving no doubt. As for early Golden Core or even pseudo‑Core cultivators, it is like chopping vegetables; no amount of tricks could hinder him.

It is normal for someone like Gu Zongyuan to be gravely wounded by a single strike from him.

Xiao Zhangqing truly was beyond his imagination, somewhat over the top.

"Are you still hiding?"

The gaunt old man's murderous aura was cold and treacherous as he cast a glance at Xiao Zhangqing in the distance.

Once he dealt with these two, Su Wushuang would become a bird in her jar, with nowhere to flee, and would ultimately be easily controlled by him.

"This treacherous old thing…"

Seeing this, Xiao Zhangqing could no longer keep dodging continuously.

If he had no pact with Character: Liyang, he could easily escape now.

But with the pact, and having not yet given his all, fleeing would break his promise.

"What a loss. It's only been a short while, and now I have to risk my life for Character: Liyang Zhenren City!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt somewhat shortchanged.

But at this moment he could not bother to calculate these.

The gaunt old man's killing was decisive, without any dithering.

If Xiao Zhangqing could not stop him, he would surely strike Gu Zongyuan down.

And the only method Xiao Zhangqing currently has to truly threaten a late Golden Core cultivator is the Dragon Roar Technique.

The Star Plucking Sword Form, the Nine Autumn Divine Insight Secret Art, as well as Body Cultivation and the Three‑stage Puppet are either one tier weaker in power, or merely for survival.

Buzz~!

As Xiao Zhangqing activated the Dragon Roar Technique, his Soul Transformation instantly felt as if it had taken a drug; already at the mid Golden Core limit, his soul, beginning its 'qualitative change', suddenly extended another segment.

Moreover, this time it was not an outward expansion of coverage, but a more 'condensed' state, as if entering a deeper layer, making his perception of heaven and earth clearer! The feeling was like the difference between a mortal and a cultivator.

A mortal looking at this world cannot perceive any spiritual energy.

They can only rely on ordinary martial arts and food to cultivate internal force and true Qi, whereas a cultivator can directly absorb spiritual qi from heaven and earth and convert it into their own magical power.

If one cultivates the Soul Transformation to its limit, continuously undergoing qualitative change and condensation, Xiao Zhangqing sensed that perhaps he would gain a new insight into this world.

This insight may be the fundamental difference between a Nascent Soul True Monarch and a Golden Core cultivator.

It is also why a Nascent Soul True Monarch stands atop the cloud‑capped peak, regarding all below as ants.

This feeling of Soul Transformation's qualitative change fascinated and intrigued Xiao Zhangqing.

Unfortunately, he has not yet reached that step; he is merely forcing an upgrade through the side effect of the Dragon Roar Technique, a forbidden Soul Insight art.

And even after the boost, there is no true breakthrough or leap.

It still remains within the Golden Core realm.

Soon, Xiao Zhangqing's Soul Transformation power was completely drained by the Dragon Roar Technique.

In its place, an invisible Jiaolong Illusory Dragon materialized in the air.

There was no material substance nor any magical fluctuation, yet the gaunt old man, about to activate the Three‑legged Great Cauldron artifact to subdue Gu Zongyuan, seemed suddenly stared at by a peerless ferocious beast.

A strong sense of danger rose in his heart.

It was a feeling he had not experienced since breaking through to the late Golden Core stage.

He abruptly turned his head and saw the Jiaolong Illusory Dragon formed by Soul Transformation secret art, its lantern‑like eyes fixed on him.

Then his Soul Transformation was involuntarily drawn in, as if locked.

"A late Golden Core level Soul Insight attack?"

The gaunt old man's face changed dramatically; although he understood what had happened, at that instant he felt an inescapable binding, forcibly fixed.

The seriously wounded Gu Zongyuan had already felt mournful, sensing his doom, fearing he would perish here. Yet sensing Xiao Zhangqing's Soul Insight art, the gaunt old man's startled and stalled actions, he reacted swiftly, without thought, instantly brandishing his spear to counterattack.

After all, this scene was familiar to him!

Back then, when he and Xiao Zhangqing 'jointly' slayed the Blood Crow True Person, he cooperated in exactly this way.

Although his contribution was only one percent.

But with experience, he instinctively knew what to do.

Seeing Gu Zongyuan move, the Baihua Valley master Su Wushuang, who has sharp eyes and is a fast‑reacting, opportunistic doer, immediately without hesitation also activated Snow Lotus to strike at the gaunt old man.

The situation before them was now clear.

The gaunt old man was impersonating Character: Liyang, his motives unclear. Yet it was indeed murderous toward her.

If she does not seize this chance to eliminate him, she and Baihua Valley will face endless trouble.

"Damn, damn, damn!"

Sensing Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang's opportunistic ambush, he finally felt as if standing on a cliff's edge, shrouded by death.

He knew what was happening, but if he could not break free from the Soul Transformation secret art's influence, he would have to watch himself be killed!

He could no longer hide his identity, so he employed a secret technique to mask his own aura.

He roared fiercely, unleashing his full true power; after his Soul Transformation paid a price and endured discomfort, he finally broke free from the Dragon Roar Technique's suppressive bind, then summoned the Three‑legged Great Cauldron to envelop himself, blocking all of Su Wushuang's and Gu Zongyuan's killing moves.

Immediately, without the slightest hesitation, like a thief about to be caught, he turned guilty, transforming into a fire cloud that surged skyward and vanished swiftly at the horizon.

The sudden departure was like his sudden arrival onto the battlefield.

For a moment, Xiao Zhangqing and Gu Zongyuan were both taken aback.

Only Su Wushuang's cold eyes showed bewilderment and uncertain shock… (Chapter End)