Daoist Competition-Chapter 1028 - 254: Da Wei Cloud Palace

The copper pillars were set up in unison, instantly activating the Qi Mechanism of the Earth Veins, launching an array that trapped Zhang Yan within. The Daoist boy saw this and suddenly let out a miserable cry, saying, "Oh no, I’ve caused trouble!"

This array was originally used for confining demon birds and spiritual beasts, and it also had defensive effects. The child had recently learned it and was still familiarizing himself with it in the past few days.

However, due to over-exertion during practice, he had laid down for a short nap. When he first saw Zhang Yan, he was startled by the stranger and, without thinking, activated the array.

The child realized he had made a grave mistake. Trembling, he took out a token from his sleeve, hoping to stop the array.

But he only learned how to activate, not how to dismantle the array, grasping at it with sweat pouring down his forehead without making any progress, and the copper pillars grew louder.

He couldn’t help but panic; though only a short moment had passed, he felt as if a long time had elapsed, thinking, "It’s been so long already; he won’t be dead, will he?"

At first, he didn’t want to alert the Dean to avoid punishment, but when considering the accusation of accidentally killing a fellow disciple, he couldn’t bear it and began shouting loudly.

Before long, a white-bearded Old Daoist rushed out, glanced up, and knew someone was trapped in the array. After understanding the situation, he couldn’t help but be upset, reprimanding, "Child, how could you be so reckless?"

The child lowered his head and said, "Apprentice knows the error."

The Old Daoist sighed and frowned, then snatched the token from the child and pinched a spell, trying to retract the great array. However, as soon as he held the token, it made a "crack" sound, breaking into fragments, prompting him to utter a "Hm?"

The breaking of the token indicated that the person inside had triggered the heart mechanism of the array gate, at least destroying one part of the array gate. With the mana required for such a feat, the intruder was at least a Hua Dan Cultivator. There was no need to worry overly much.

At this time, all that was needed was to wait for the person to exit the array, but not knowing their identity made him uneasy, so he said, "Child, take my talisman and go block the spirit vein at the mountain’s base."

The child was about to speak, but the Old Daoist sighed and said, "I’ll do it myself; you keep watch here."

The child nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The Old Daoist stamped his foot, enveloped in Gang Wind, lifting himself to fly towards the mountain’s base. The spiritual mechanism of the great array relied entirely on the spirit vein within the mountain; if severed, the array would collapse without assault. However, doing this would undoubtedly damage the Earth Veins, something he wouldn’t do if not for his apprentice’s prior mistake.

Earlier, at the instant the array was activated, Zhang Yan had already ridden his sword to fly into the void. However, this array had strange properties, immediately locking down this stretch of sky, especially with its ability to reposition the void—no matter where he flew, he always came back into the array.

After flying twice without success, he no longer acted rashly but carefully sought out the array gate’s location.

Once the copper pillars had fully extended, sharp Golden Wind began to gust within the array, and at the same time, the copper pillars vanished, completely hidden from view. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhang Yan grunted, the Gang Cloud above his head spun, casting a Treasure Light, enveloping him and effortlessly blocking the approaching Golden Wind externally.

Then he observed his surroundings. Though his comprehension of array formations was basic, he concluded this array’s core was the eight copper pillars, and destroying them would break the array.

However, even knowing this, it proved difficult, for the eight copper pillars were clearly crafted with Secret Techniques, intentionally baiting those trapped within to attack, consuming their mana and spiritual energy. If prolonged without dismantling, they’d eventually be trapped and perish within the Dead Array.

Zhang Yan chuckled; if someone were presiding over this array, it’d require considerable effort, but presently, there was no need to worry.

At that moment, he focused his mind, sacrificing the Star Sword Ball, transforming it into a sword light, further infusing it with his entire body’s mana. The brilliance and intensity suddenly surged, turning into an unmatched sharp Sword Qi, dazzlingly cold and illuminating everything.

He lightly took a breath, gave a shout, raised the sword light, and slashed towards a copper pillar stored in his memory.

After a hissing sound, the great array suddenly trembled, then half of a copper pillar emerged from the gray mist, toppled on the ground, its cut smooth and clean. Inside the pillar was embedded a Jade Core, looking yellowish-white, delicate and slippery, causing a slight raise of his brow.

With one copper pillar gone, the array seemed missing a piece, and the Golden Wind weakened slightly.

Zhang Yan knew he had acted correctly, and with a thought, the sword light circled around and returned to his hand.