CHAPTER 684: CHAPTER 83: MOVING MOUNTAINS TO BREAK THE VANGUARD_2

Zhang Yan’s expression remained calm and composed. With a flick of his spell, the water-colored light screen flashed by, and in the blink of an eye, the hundred-plus Magic Artifacts disappeared.

Su Yihong’s gaze immediately hardened, his fists emitting cracking sounds, and a gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes. With a loud voice, he declared, "Good! Now this opponent is interesting."

Zhang Yan stopped ten zhang away from him, standing with hands clasped behind his back, his manner serene and unruffled. His body was surrounded by swirling Cloud Mist, shrouded in light smoke. His Mysterious Robe fluttered, exuding an aura of abundant Dao Qi.

Su Yihong had previously witnessed Zhang Yan battling Xiao Tang and Du De during a grand martial contest, impressing him with a plethora of unpredictable techniques. He knew Zhang Yan to be a formidable adversary. Although confident in his ability to win, he did not dare to be careless, especially noting Zhang Yan’s mastery of sword escape. If he resorted solely to evasive tactics, Su Yihong’s bow and arrows would prove useless against him, leaving him helpless. Thus, for the first time, he adopted a defensive stance and refrained from charging forward aggressively.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan did not hold back and shouted decisively, "Su Daoist, be careful!"

He extended a finger, and stars leapt into the air. The sword light abruptly transformed into Rainbow Light, which split into ten Flying Swords that charged forward.

Su Yihong shook the Cloud Rubbing Stick he held, whirling it around in a display of dexterity, producing an eerie whimpering sound as it spun. The clinking sounds of collision were ceaseless as the sword lights were fully deflected outward. After a brief moment, he grew impatient and said, "Zhang Yan, how could such a thing cause harm—"

Before he could finish speaking, a blue sword light suddenly split away from the previously dancing lights. This new sword light was swifter than the previous Flying Swords.

The move was shockingly abrupt and executed at an incredibly close range. Caught off guard, Su Yihong could only tilt his head, allowing the sword light to graze past his ear. He felt a burning sensation on his cheek, and when he touched it, he realized a significant portion of his ear had been sliced off.

Licking the hot blood dripping to the corner of his mouth, he activated his Mysterious Skill, and in a moment, the missing portion of his ear regrew. Although unafraid of the Flying Sword’s cutting edge, being wounded brought real pain. Su Yihong had always sought to block attacks whenever possible. Now that Zhang Yan had drawn his blood so quickly, he felt humiliated, and killing intent surged within him.

Zhang Yan let out a slight smile and, with a shift in his Cultivation Technique, manifested the Xuanhuang Great Hand above him. Extending its five fingers, it descended with a grasping motion.

Su Yihong let out a thunderous shout and swung his Cloud Rubbing Stick upwards to strike at the Xuanhuang Great Hand. With a resounding explosion, the hand disintegrated into a cloud of yellow mist.

Springing into the air, Su Yihong leapt above Zhang Yan’s head. Roaring furiously, he stirred the wind and clouds into upheaval, whipping them into swirling tides. His forceful gusts blew Zhang Yan’s robes wildly and enveloped him in an inescapable vortex, hindering his movements.

Su Yihong’s eyes burned with brilliance as he gripped the end of his stick tightly. Drawing upon all his strength, he raised it high and then let out a primal shout, sending it crashing downwards.

Zhang Yan stood motionless within the swirling vortex, his garments billowing. A radiant light suddenly emitted from his Treasure Clothes, expanding several feet outward and shielding him within its brilliance.

Veins bulged on Su Yihong’s neck as he hissed and roared, causing the skies to reverberate with roaring sounds. Armed with the Cloud Rubbing Stick, he struck downward with a mountain-cleaving force.

A tremendous explosion echoed overhead as the strike pushed the protective light inward, creating a concave depression. Seeing this, Su Yihong revealed a glimmer of triumph. Yet, just as the Cloud Rubbing Stick neared Zhang Yan’s forehead, a crisp "clang!" erupted, accompanied by a scatter of Star Fire.

Su Yihong’s gaze froze in disbelief. His heart sank as he saw Zhang Yan standing deathly still, completely unfazed by the impact.

That single strike had been launched with the belief it would either kill or gravely injure Zhang Yan. Yet it failed to so much as scratch him. Immobilized by shock and mounting uncertainty, Su Yihong hesitated.

Zhang Yan bellowed, "To strike without reciprocation would be discourteous. Su Daoist, allow me to show you my techniques."

He activated his spell, and a sound like crashing tides reverberated. From behind him surged a stream of water-colored radiance, sweeping away the surrounding winds and clouds and rushing forward in waves.

Recognizing this as the Daoist Skill Zhang Yan had deployed during the martial contest, Su Yihong, unfamiliar with its nature, refrained from attempting to meet it head-on. Hastily, he utilized the Shrinking Earth Divine Power in an attempt to escape the combat zone.

However, the water-like light waves surged forward relentlessly, akin to a great flood. With the two standing so close, Su Yihong could not possibly flee in time. Just as he took his first step, the torrent engulfed him, making him feel as though he’d plunged into a raging maelstrom. The currents violently surged back and forth, leaving him struggling to maintain his footing.

Seeing that he had restrained Su Yihong’s Shrinking Earth Divine Power, Zhang Yan’s eyes glinted. With a wave of his sleeve, a thunderous noise erupted like countless tumbling logs and boulders. A robust and weighty wave of yellow light emerged in midair, spreading across a hundred zhang and dominating the azure skies. It descended like a veil, obscuring the sun and approaching the earth.

Su Yihong eyed the descending yellow radiance with a sense of suffocation, as though a mountain were about to crush him. Its sheer weight induced shortness of breath and tightness in his chest, making its hostile intent evident. Resolute, he horizontalized his stick, channeling his Divine Power through both arms, and shouted forcefully, striking upward to intercept.

Upon collision, an ear-splitting blast echoed across the heavens. Su Yihong felt a sweetness at his throat, followed by the taste of blood as a metallic tang invaded his mouth. His palms tore apart, his arms fractured, and he staggered back helplessly.

Zhang Yan stood atop the clouds, emitting a cold laugh. "This Earth Element True Light carries the weight of mountains. Were it not for Su Yihong’s practice in Power Dao, a mere typical Cultivator foolish enough to intercept it would already be reduced to dust." He once more activated his spell, lifting the yellow radiance dozens of zhang upward before unleashing its binding power and pressing downward again.

Entrapped by the Water Element True Light, Su Yihong found it impossible to free himself. Desperate, he hastily activated his Mysterious Skill to partially heal his injuries. Grimacing, he raised his Cloud Rubbing Stick once more, his bloodshot eyes blazing red. Once again, he exerted tremendous effort to brace against the descending yellow radiance. Only darkness enveloped his vision as he sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood, barely managing to keep hold of his Divine Weapon.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhang Yan laughed heartily and jeered, "Su Yihong, let’s see how many rounds you can endure!"

He split the Earth Element True Light, fragmenting it into dozens of beams that aligned vertically and plummeted in sequence, pounding downward one after another.

For a moment, the arena resembled a relentless round of earth-pounding stakes. Booming echoed continuously, blow after blow landing. After enduring several dozen strikes, Su Yihong

spat blood repeatedly, ultimately unable to hold on. His Cloud Rubbing Stick slipped from his grasp and flew away.

Zhang Yan’s eyes gleamed as the Water Element True Light surged forward. With a single flash, Su Yihong vanished from sight.

Among the thousand-plus disciples present, all were struck dumb, watching as Zhang Yan effortlessly overcame Su Yihong. The scene left them staring in disbelief, as if trapped in a dream. Even Senior Brother Fang Hong and his fellow disciples were too stunned to utter a word.

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