Chapter 103 - 70: Tearing the Sky and Rending the Earth (Part 2)

Chapter 103: Chapter 70: Tearing the Sky and Rending the Earth (Part 2)

Xuzhuang reacted with lightning speed. He summoned his sword light and shot into the sky. True enough, he wasn’t blocked by any restrictive formations. He saw the glows of various treasures scattering in all directions and hadn’t yet decided on a target when, whether by a stroke of luck or a move by True Master Xu Chen, a Magic Formula suddenly flowed through his mind.

A realization struck Xuzhuang. He formed a hand seal and began to chant the Magic Formula. As he recited the formula, his Magical Power invisibly reached out. Looking up, he saw a dim, murky light pause mid-flight. It seemed to hesitate for a moment before resuming its escape.

"That’s the one." A glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes. Without further delay, he spurred his sword light on, shooting directly after the unremarkable glow.

As everyone chased after their own treasures, the scene dissolved into chaos, leaving no one with the time to deal with Tantai Jing or Si Xuan. Tantai Jing himself was inwardly pleased as he pursued a beam of treasure light. Suddenly, he saw Xuzhuang’s sword light flash, ripping through the air and rocketing toward him with a thunderous BOOM. Tantai Jing’s face went white. He quickly formed a Magic Formula, manifesting four or five White Bone Dharma Bodies that scattered and fled in all directions.

Xuzhuang had no time to deal with him. His sword light soared right past as he continued his pursuit, chanting the Magic Formula all the while. However, the dim light remained completely unmoved. Xuzhuang frowned. ’Is the Magic Formula wrong?’ he wondered. ’Why won’t it submit?’

He couldn’t puzzle it out, so he had no choice but to continue the chase, chanting the Magic Formula nonstop.

But then, unexpectedly—perhaps annoyed by Xuzhuang’s constant chanting—a childish voice called out from ahead. "Hey, kid, stop chanting! Who taught you that formula? Your incessant droning is disturbing my peace!"

"What?" Xuzhuang shuddered, a name instantly leaping into his mind. ’A True Form Treasure!’

Illusory-form treasures that undergo long periods of refinement would face a heavenly tribulation once their internal restrictions were perfected. If they survived the ordeal, they could condense a True Form.

The spiritual consciousness of a True Form Treasure was advanced enough to be called a treasure spirit. It could leave its vessel to travel, and it could increase its own power autonomously. Over time, the treasure spirit would evolve from its initial, naive state, gaining experience and wisdom. It, too, would face tribulations. Besides its reliance on its physical form for its abilities, it was virtually identical to a Primordial Spirit True Man of a Daoist Sect.

This treasure before him could actually speak, communicating as easily as a normal person. It was clearly a Supreme Treasure that had birthed a treasure spirit and condensed a True Form!

In other words, what Xuzhuang faced was, for all intents and purposes, a Zhenren of a Daoist Sect!

Xuzhuang was already thinking of retreating, but the voice shouted again. "Hey, kid! I asked you a question! Are you deaf or something?"

The next moment, the voice resounded directly in Xuzhuang’s mind. "Kid! Who taught you that formula? Answer me now!"

Xuzhuang’s expression shifted. He quickly replied, "This junior was unaware of your presence, Zhenren, and has repeatedly caused offense. I beg your forgiveness. This retrieval Magic Formula was taught to me by True Master Xu Chen."

"Oh? Zhenren... I like that title." The voice seemed to have ignored Xuzhuang’s answer, delighted instead by the form of address. Xuzhuang watched as the dim light swirled and transformed, revealing a chubby, soft-skinned child in a Daoist Robe who looked to be only three or four years old. A single braid stuck up from his head, perhaps grown too long, as the end fanned out like a tiny umbrella.

The child in the Daoist Robe grinned. "Hey, kid, what’s your name?"

Xuzhuang replied, "This junior is Xuzhuang. My Daoist name is Daomiao."

"Oh, Daomiao... Does the Dharma Origin Sect have a generation with that name?" The child seemed puzzled for a moment, then grinned. "Xuzhuang, call me Zhenren again. I want to hear it."

Xuzhuang dared not disobey and respectfully called out, "Zhenren."

Extremely satisfied, the child nodded. Only then did he seem to recall the original topic. He asked dazedly, "Who did you say taught you that formula just now?"

Xuzhuang replied, "It was True Master Xu Chen..."

"Oh! Xuchenzi!" the child exclaimed happily. "He’s still around? Where is he now? Quick, take this master to see him."

Xuzhuang respectfully complied. He formed another hand seal and recited a different Magic Formula. Specks of spiritual light shot out in front of him, orienting themselves in the air before immediately flying east. Xuzhuang and the child in the Daoist Robe followed the light, and after flying for a little over ten li, they saw the iceberg where True Master Xu Chen resided appear amidst the mountain range.

Upon seeing the iceberg, the child in the Daoist Robe cried out in surprise, "A Profoundly Refined Tribulation-Avoiding Ice Soul?"

’Profoundly Refined Tribulation-Avoiding Ice Soul?’ Xuzhuang’s heart skipped a beat as he silently committed the name to memory. At that moment, an opening suddenly appeared on the iceberg. Xuzhuang led the child in the Daoist Robe down into it, arriving directly inside the ice cavern.

"Xuchenzi!" the child in the Daoist Robe called out as soon as they entered the ice cavern.

"Primordial Treasure... ah, Mixed Element Child." True Master Xu Chen’s astonished voice rang out. "You actually survived your heavenly tribulation and condensed a True Form."

The Mixed Element Child replied with dissatisfaction, "Address this master as Hunyuan Zhenren!"

Xuchenzi gave a bitter smile. "Yes, Hunyuan Zhenren. Since you have already condensed a True Form, why are you still here in the sect..."

After that, Xuzhuang watched as the Mixed Element Child’s mouth moved, but no sound emerged. The two were clearly communicating via spiritual transmission.

Xuzhuang was naturally curious, but with a Primordial Spirit True Man involved in the transmission, he had no way of spying on them. He could only wait patiently to one side.

Just then, the ice cavern suddenly began to shake. The tremors grew increasingly violent, a ceaseless, powerful shaking.

True Master Xu Chen heaved a long sigh. "Alas... it seems the time has come. I must trouble you, Child, to protect this humble Daoist as I leave the Grotto Heaven."

The Mixed Element Child first emphasized with displeasure, "Address this master as Zhenren!" Then he added indignantly, "What thieves dare attack the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven? I’ll go teach them a lesson."

True Master Xu Chen placated him. "Zhenren, calm your anger. Of the entire Dharma Source Orthodox Sect, I’m afraid only you and I are left. We should retreat first and make a long-term plan."

The Mixed Element Child was conflicted for a moment before saying, "Even with my protection, once we leave the sanctuary of this Grotto Heaven, I won’t be able to delay the onset of your Fire Calamity for long..."

True Master Xu Chen said resolutely, "This humble Daoist has his own plan. Please, Zhenren, protect me."

Only then did the Mixed Element Child nod in agreement. He immediately turned his head, glanced at Xuzhuang, and snorted. "So, you’re not a Dharma Origin Disciple, kid."

Xuzhuang’s heart jumped. He managed to reply, "That is correct. This junior is a disciple of the Tai Su Sect."

The Mixed Element Child pouted. Suddenly, he raised a chubby palm and pointed at Xuzhuang. A profound talisman flashed and entered Xuzhuang’s body.

He then said, "That’s the reward Xuchenzi asked me to give you. You can activate it three times."

Overjoyed, Xuzhuang said respectfully, "My thanks to both of you Zhenren."

True Master Xu Chen said, "There is no need for thanks, young friend. It is only what you are due. Let us meet again if fate allows."

The moment his voice faded, the ground beneath Xuzhuang’s feet disappeared. In the span of a single, unblinking moment, the iceberg, the Zhenren, and the child all vanished without a trace, disappearing into the ether. True Master Xu Chen’s parting voice echoed in his ears instead: "Young friend, do not linger long in this Grotto Heaven. This old Daoist takes his leave."

Before Xuzhuang could even steady himself in the air, he suddenly sensed something and looked up. The entire dome of the sky was trembling, seemingly at its breaking point. A tooth-grinding whine echoed from an unknown source, and then the sky abruptly tore open! A single, mountain-sized claw stabbed through the fissure into the Celestial Vault.

The sky shattered like an eggshell, breaking apart piece by piece. Then another claw, and another. Mountain-sized claws stabbed into the Grotto Heaven one after another. A quick count revealed a total of nine fingers.

"An Yinji Primordial Spirit..." Xuzhuang’s face turned grim, and disbelief surged in his heart. ’The Yinji Sect... are they really this arrogant? This insane?’

The next instant, the nine fingers curled violently, as if gripping the very fabric of the sky, and tore it apart!

A huge chunk of the blue sky was torn away, revealing the void beyond—dark, desolate, and profound. In the unfathomable distance, faint specks of light glimmered.

’Is this the cosmic void? The Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven... could it exist outside of the Profound Yellow world?’ Xuzhuang managed to stabilize his footing in the air, staring intently at the scar-like tear in the sky.

Suddenly, the cosmic vista was blotted out by an inky darkness as the nine-fingered demonic claw reached back into the Grotto Heaven. The nine fingers splayed open, and a thick, eerie fog poured in through the rupture. It stirred up a boundless yin wind that instantly began to howl across the entire realm.

RUMBLE! As far as he could see, the entire Dharma Source Mountain Gate was horrifically torn asunder. One after another, celestial peaks and Spirit Mountains were ripped from the very earth. Countless Spirit Veins and the glows of innumerable treasures were swept up by the yin wind, ascending toward the void outside!