Chapter 110: The Battle of the Primordial Spirit
In the endless darkness, Xu Cheng was unaware of Zhang Huamao’s reprimand of Zhang Taiping.
His entire life flashed before his eyes as his consciousness gradually faded, much like the final moments replayed before death.
This situation truly felt like a reckless gamble.
If he were to completely sink into oblivion now, no one could save him unless some extraordinary method plucked him from the endless river of history.
“Who am I? Where am I?”
At this moment, Xu Cheng had completely lost his memory; he couldn’t even remember who he was. The situation was dire.
As memories streamed by, he had no idea what they were and even thought they might be something edible.
Just then, he saw the massive figure of a golden-armored beast.
“Yan... Mengdie!”
Unexpectedly, Xu Cheng, who didn’t recognize himself, actually recognized Yan Mengdie.
In an instant, his spirit suddenly awakened, murmuring, “I... am Xu Cheng!”
“I am Xu Cheng!”
With a loud roar, the flowing memories in the air suddenly surged into Xu Cheng’s body, reconstructing his memory.
“Boundless light, perfect enlightenment!”
Muttering to himself, he, who had been trapped in darkness, felt his entire being enveloped in golden light.
A rumbling sound echoed as a golden lotus appeared, followed by numerous colorful spheres of light emerging from the void, converging upon the lotus, gradually forming a human shape, and finally restoring Xu Cheng’s appearance.
“Close call!”
In his spiritual form, he whispered softly. If he hadn’t recalled who he was, his consciousness would have dissipated and completely merged into the boundless darkness.
Soon, Xu Cheng’s body opened its eyes. At this moment, Zhang Huamao no longer scolded Zhang Taiping; the two were intently watching Xu Cheng.
Zhang Taiping forced a smile and quickly said, “So it’s the envoy! Recovered so quickly, truly impressive!”
“Not at all, not at all. Thankfully, the ancestor showed mercy! I shall take my leave now!”
Xu Cheng said humbly, still nervous inside, fearing they might discover his secret mastery of the great boundless luminous enlightenment technique.
“Leaving so soon? Won’t the envoy stay a few more days?”
Zhang Taiping eagerly tried to persuade him.
“No!”
The more they urged, the more Xu Cheng felt they suspected something.
“Very well, Taiping, see the envoy off!”
Zhang Huamao then said.
---
“I understand, ancestor!” Zhang Taiping replied promptly. “If the envoy insists on leaving, I shall escort you down the mountain!”
“Thank you very much!”
Xu Cheng bowed respectfully.
Waving his duster, Zhang Taiping embraced him gently and led the way.
Though it was the same mountain, Xu Cheng, whose spiritual cultivation had greatly advanced, felt as if a formidable formation was hidden within the Five Finger Mountain of the Taoist Master Sect—indescribable and mysterious.
But halfway down the path, a man suddenly appeared, wearing the Taoist Master Sect’s robe, with a bagua symbol on his chest and a crescent moon crown adorned with a lightning emblem.
He spoke with a pleading tone, “Master, please allow me to descend the mountain! It’s been so long since I last went down to see the world!”
“Why leave the mountain? Is it not better up here?”
Zhang Taiping’s face hardened as he responded.
“Up here is endless bitter cultivation. I wish to exorcise demons and eliminate evil spirits!”
The young Taoist clutched his fists tightly and said earnestly.
“Defeat me first, then we’ll talk!”
Zhang Taiping exuded a formidable aura.
“I’m only at the Transforming Spirit level. Fighting you would be asking for trouble. But my Transforming Spirit power is no less strong once I’m down the mountain!”
The young Taoist hurriedly explained.
Xu Cheng, hearing that the other was at the Transforming Spirit level, felt a surge of competitive spirit and wondered how his own strength compared within the same realm.
“That’s just your self-assessment.” Zhang Taiping snorted coldly, then noticed Xu Cheng’s unusual expression and guessed he might also be itching for a fight.
He looked at Xu Cheng and said, “Envoy, would you like to spar with my apprentice?”
“Just what I was thinking!”
Xu Cheng’s eyes gleamed brightly as he nodded.
“Yang Shuo, this is the Yellow Springs Envoy, also at the Transforming Spirit level—a match for you. If you can defeat him, I will allow you to leave the mountain. If you lose, you will stay here quietly in the Thunder Prison for three years. Let us all bear witness!”
Zhang Taiping introduced Xu Cheng and laid out the terms.
“Really at the Transforming Spirit level?”
Yang Shuo, the young Taoist, circled Xu Cheng once, then asked.
“That’s right!”
Zhang Taiping nodded firmly.
“Fine, I agree!”
Yang Shuo responded quickly.
“Set up the duel platform!”
Zhang Taiping’s voice rang out, and soon the entire mountain gate of the Taoist Master Sect buzzed with excitement.
Many practitioners meditating nearby woke from their cultivation.
Under the elder’s guidance, the three proceeded to the so-called duel platform.
---
A massive high platform descended from the sky, resembling a sports stadium from Xu Cheng’s past life, though somewhat smaller in scale.
All the Taoist practitioners took their seats in the stands, which quickly filled to capacity.
Even the Taoist masters, renowned across the sect, enjoyed watching such spectacles.
“The Transforming Spirit level practitioner, Yellow Springs Envoy, versus apprentice Zhang Yangshuo! If Yangshuo wins, he may leave the mountain. If he loses, he must remain in the Thunder Prison for three years! Please bear witness, everyone!”
Zhang Taiping’s voice echoed throughout the platform.
The Taoists in the audience began to whisper among themselves:
“I didn’t expect Senior Brother Yang Shuo to face such an unremarkable-looking opponent!”
“Who says unremarkable? He’s also at the Transforming Spirit level!”
“Senior Brother Yang Shuo, show him your Five Thunder Righteous Law and Purple Cloud Divine Thunder!”
...
The crowd’s support for Zhang Yangshuo was loud, as he was their fellow disciple.
Ignoring the spectators, Zhang Taiping flew to the top of the stands and asked the two below, “Are you ready?”
Both Xu Cheng and Zhang Yangshuo nodded simultaneously.
“Touch lightly, then stop. Begin!”
With Zhang Taiping’s shout, the duel officially commenced.
“Five Directions Divine Thunder, heed my command, exterminate all evil!”
Zhang Yangshuo chanted.
Xu Cheng did not rush to counter. As the first bolt of thunder struck, he transformed into a shadowy wraith and evaded the terrifying blow, which left a large crater where he had just been.
Indeed, this was the famed Five Thunder Righteous Law of the Taoist Master Sect; bolts of lightning came in relentless succession, giving Xu Cheng no chance to catch his breath.
The attacks seemed to have tracking abilities.
After dodging five strikes in a row, Xu Cheng was just beginning to feel relieved when he sensed something was wrong—too late, he had already fallen into the opponent’s trap.
Five purple thunder halos appeared on his body, binding his limbs and rendering him immobile.
“Heaven sends the Purple Cloud, divine thunder appears!”
Zhang Yangshuo roared as a massive purple lightning bolt, over ten feet thick, descended from the sky above Xu Cheng.
With a thunderous crash, the purple lightning surged over Xu Cheng’s entire body, assaulting both his physical form and his spirit.