Chapter 356: Capture (Request Subscription)

"Great True Lord? I only hope he doesn't come!"

Fang Xing responded with overwhelming authority.

"Very well, it seems today there can be no peaceful resolution…"

The Dark River True Lord felt a pang of regret.

He regretted greedily taking on Jiaoyue True Lord's task, regretted his overconfidence in staying permanently on this island, and regretted not fleeing the moment the formation activated.

Now that the Ten Thousand Phenomena Unchanging Formation shrouded the marketplace, he could forcibly break through a path to escape—but he would inevitably be delayed for a moment.

That moment was more than enough for Fang Xing to catch up and hunt him down.

"The Mingkun Island has two True Lords; this one is manageable, but if the other—Fang Yun True Lord, equal to the Peng Demon Island Master—intervenes, that's when true escape becomes impossible."

The Dark River True Lord's eyes narrowed slightly.

In the next instant, black radiance spread around him as eight iron fragments flew from his sleeves.

These eight iron fragments formed a Bagua layout, engraved with countless complex runes—indeed, a talisman array artifact!

"Cloud Iron Eight Array Diagram!"

The Dark River True Lord rapidly formed hand seals; dark light surged from the eight iron talismans like a prison, enclosing Fang Xing within.

Then, without looking back, he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the outer edge of Mingkun Island.

The Dark River True Lord was no fool—fighting a peer inside a fourth-rank formation?

No Nascent Soul True Lord would be so insane.

Not to mention, Mingkun Island held more than one Nascent Soul True Lord; if that "Fang Yun True Lord" intervened, escape would be utterly impossible.

Thus, the Dark River True Lord was willing to sacrifice a precious treasure to briefly trap Fang Xing, then flee at once.

With his Nascent Soul True Lord power and several high-grade breaking-seal talismans in his storage pouch, once he reached the formation's edge, a few breaths of delay would be enough to break free!

Then, the world would be vast, open to his freedom.

The "Cloud Iron Eight Array Diagram" was indeed a treasure that even Nascent Soul cultivators would grieve over—once activated, talismans sealed heaven and earth, filling the surroundings with endless black light like an iron cage, trapping Fang Xing inside.

Moreover, winds and thunder appeared, falling like a torrential rain!

Fang Xing chuckled softly, and the "Green Yang Demon Lamp" appeared in his hand.

He poured his peak Nascent Soul early-stage cultivation energy into it, instantly summoning a green aura—the "Green Yang Shield"!

The Green Yang Demon Lamp, after prior refinement, was already a fourth-rank mid-grade spiritual treasure.

Coupled with his peak Nascent Soul energy, the resulting "Green Yang Shield" could withstand even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator's assault for some time.

A thick green aura enveloped Fang Xing entirely, solid and immovable; no matter how the wind and thunder struck, he remained unharmed.

"Go!"

Fang Xing flicked his finger; the "Purple-Green Divine Flame" atop the lamp flew out, becoming a purple-green fire dragon.

It expanded rapidly, growing to over ten zhang long, each scale vividly detailed, radiating searing heat.

The purple-green fire dragon writhed and lashed out, charging into the Cloud Iron Eight Array Diagram, spewing flames to burn the wind and thunder, then swung its tail hard against the black light!

The black light shuddered violently; faint glimpses of the outside world appeared, and one of the iron talismans cracked—but it held firm.

"A decent treasure."

Fang Xing nodded; his external Nascent Soul emerged, and he flicked his fingers repeatedly.

One after another, purple-green fire dragons appeared—until eight roared together, each charging toward one of the black iron talismans.

Xiong Xiong!

Beneath the engulfing purple-green true flame, the black light finally shattered, striking the iron talismans directly.

In a single instant of refining, the Cloud Iron Eight Array Diagram turned into eight pieces of scrap iron, falling from midair.

Fang Xing let out a long roar, his body transforming into a blade of light; the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the marketplace felt their cultivation energy destabilize at the mere sound.

Then came a golden thread of sword light, moving at an unimaginable speed, catching up to the Dark River True Lord.

"This… this this…"

Iron Sword Gate, high in the sky.

When the Dark River True Lord first appeared, these Foundation Establishment cultivators were startled—they knew a True Lord battle was imminent and dared not neglect their vigilance.

The Fire Dragon True Lord had already ascended into the sky, preparing to observe the battle before deciding his sect's next move.

Unexpectedly, the Dark River True Lord fled without fighting—then the Mingkun Island Master immediately broke free from the formation and unleashed this peerless sword-dashing technique to pursue his enemy.

"This…"

Brother Zhou stared at the golden sword thread, his face changing: "He's condensed his sword light to this unimaginable degree—his sword-dashing speed is unparalleled in the world…"

The Fire Dragon True Lord was even more shocked; his hidden palm trembled with excitement: "No mistake—though disguised, most Nascent Soul True Lords wouldn't recognize it… but I know—it's the 'Great Freedom Mystical Golden Sword Dash'!"

"Does our sect's Golden Sword lineage still have any legacy left?"

"No! I can't be certain—perhaps the Golden Sword lineage has already fallen, its legacy passed to another sect, deliberately revealed as bait?"

"This Island Master's origins… must be investigated thoroughly later, then observed carefully…"

"If he truly is from the Golden Sword lineage, we may have found a powerful ally—perhaps we can join forces…"

…

Fang Xing, of course, knew nothing of the thoughts of any Foundation Establishment cultivator on his own island. As he transformed into sword light and reached the edge of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Unchanging Formation, he saw the Five Chaos Demons forming a Five Element battle array, entangling the Dark River True Lord—and smiled: "True Lord, why leave? Is my hospitality inadequate? Or perhaps you'd better stay!"

Fang Xing laughed heartily, flicking his sleeve to send out eight more purple-green fire dragons, surrounding the Dark River True Lord.

Since learning of the Divine Sword Sect's information, he had deliberately concealed his true foundation.

The sword arts from the "Great Freedom Mystical Golden Sword Scripture" were to be avoided entirely if possible—even when used, they were masked.

Thus, unless encountering a cultivator intimately familiar with this scripture, most would assume he merely practiced a metal-affinity sword art, unable to discern deeper truths.

"Still, even if they did recognize it… who's really defeating whom isn't certain yet."

"Should I deliberately reveal my identity, then summon my true body to lure in a big fish? The Nascent Soul True Lords attracted could likely let my second Nascent Soul surge straight to late-stage Nascent Soul."

A constructive thought surfaced in Fang Xing's mind.

"But doing so might turn me into a demon everyone hunts—and possibly attract Divine Transformation Elders, even Divine Transformation Heavenly Elders…"

"Better to proceed steadily—for now, I must first clarify the situation with the Divine Sword Sect…"

The Divine Sword Sect's mountain gate has sunk for so many years, and not even Divine Transformation Elders have succeeded in exploring it—clearly, it holds extraordinary secrets.

Currently, in the entire cultivation world, only the Divine Transformation legacy could truly attract Fang Xing.

Of course, abundant heavenly treasures to boost Nascent Soul energy—or even other cultivators' Nascent Souls—would also suffice.

Facing the assault of the purple-green fire dragons, the Dark River True Lord dared not delay; he released his core spiritual treasure—a strangely shaped black hook—the Dark River Hook!

He activated it, instantly summoning a black river that surrounded him impenetrably; with his spiritual sense, he unleashed a sword art.

The flying hook resembled a sword but was far more treacherous and vicious—its attacks were impossible to anticipate!

"Go!"

Under the Dark River True Lord's control, the Dark River Hook writhed like a venomous dragon, entangling one fire dragon and even manifesting the Sword Intent Heart technique, aiming to destroy the fire dragon's spirit.

"This one isn't a pure sword cultivator—he's forged a Nascent Soul spirit-body, not a sword Nascent Soul… to reach the third stage of sword art is already impressive."

Fang Xing, seeing this, smirked coldly: "You want to destroy the fire dragon's spirit? First, see if your flying hook can withstand the purple-green divine flame…"

The five stages of sword cultivation are Qi, Gang, Intent, Momentum… and the fifth: Sword Breaks All Methods.

For a half-trained sword cultivator, reaching the Intent stage is already exceptional.

Under the Dark River True Lord's control, the flying hook moved with uncanny agility, darting like a star, teasing seven fire dragons, then finally piercing the eighth.

"Success!"

The Dark River True Lord's face lit up with joy—then suddenly paled.

He felt terrifying heat surge from his core spiritual treasure; the Dark River Hook shrieked, showing signs of imminent destruction.

Worse, flames traveled along the bond to his spiritual sense, burning his soul!

"Such terrifying demonic fire!"

He frantically formed a sword seal and recalled the Dark River Hook, staring at its damage—his face twisted with agony.

Hǒu hǒu!

In the next instant, the eight fire dragons followed like shadows, spewing purple-green divine flame, vaporizing the black river entirely.

Moreover, the Five Chaos Demons formed their battle array, striking from the sidelines.

And the Ten Thousand Phenomena Unchanging Formation suppressed him…

The Dark River True Lord's face flushed red as he forcibly suppressed his injuries and shouted: "I am the younger brother of Great True Lord Anyun! Mingkun Island Master, don't make a fatal mistake!"

"Too many words."

Fang Xing frowned slightly; the eight fire dragons merged into one purple-green fire dragon, radiating majestic authority as its claw came down.

The Dark River True Lord had no choice—he hurled out an iron shield spiritual treasure and retreated leftward.

At that moment, the Five Chaos Demons roared in unison; a five-colored giant wheel appeared in the heavens and crashed down upon the Dark River True Lord.

Bang!

The Dark River True Lord braced against the Five Element Grinding Wheel, his body stalling—then a beam of light from the Ten Thousand Phenomena Unchanging Formation shattered his protective aura, causing him to choke on a mouthful of reversed blood.

To make matters worse, the purple-green fire dragon flung aside the iron shield and unleashed a torrent of purple-green divine flame.

"Ahh!"

The Dark River True Lord screamed as his physical body instantly turned to ash.

Hundreds of zhang away, in the void, a flash of light revealed a tiny Nascent Soul spirit-body.

Dressed in black robes, shrouded in black mist, its small hand reached out.

The Dark River Hook became a black lightning bolt, flying into the Nascent Soul's grasp.

—Nascent Soul Outflow!

"Lord of the Mingkun Island... you destroyed my dantian! I will avenge this grievance!"

After uttering his threat, the Dark River True Lord prepared to send his Nascent Soul into the Grand Void, fleeing entirely beyond the range of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Unpredictable Array.

But at that moment, the Grand Void seemed to solidify, causing the Dark River True Lord's Nascent Soul to freeze as if trapped in empty space.

A golden palm appeared out of thin air, radiating the sensation of frozen void, crashing down and seizing the Dark River True Lord's Nascent Soul in its palm.

It was the Immortal Martial One Qi Great Palm Seal!

(End of Chapter)