Chapter Forty-One: Breaking the Formation

"As an inner disciple of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, you are considered among the elite, so why do you need to trouble a girl? Besides, we both belong to the righteous path. Aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed for such behavior? Moreover, inner disciples are not permitted to interfere in disputes among outer disciples—do you not know this?" Zhang Xiao did not answer with his name but instead questioned Gaolu in return. It was not that Zhang Xiao feared Gaolu; rather, since they belonged to righteous sects, killing an inner disciple was no trivial matter. The outer disciples were one thing, but the death of an inner disciple would surely spark a significant incident.

Gaolu’s expression soured at Zhang Xiao’s reproach, but since every word was justified, he could not retort. He could only sneer coldly, "Even if I am breaking the rules, so what? This is a matter between Dragon and Tiger Mountain and Kunlun. You are not of Kunlun—why question me? I hope you will give me some face this time, what do you say?"

Zhang Xiao, seeing Gaolu’s bold tone, laughed coldly, "And what if I refuse?"

Gaolu, although prepared for this, still changed his expression and shouted, "Then let me witness your skills!"

With those words, a set of banners appeared in Gaolu’s hands. With a wave, they merged instantly with the surrounding earth. Zhang Xiao was startled—he hadn’t expected this inner disciple of Dragon and Tiger Mountain to deploy a formation so swiftly. He drew the Yin-Yang Banner, summoned twelve Yin-Yang Ghost Souls, and sent them to attack Gaolu. Meanwhile, his other hand formed a seal and pointed at Gaolu, launching a dark shadow that surged into Gaolu’s body—it was the "Soul Devouring Curse" from the Seven Arts of Maoshan.

Gaolu was shocked by Zhang Xiao’s speed. The Soul Devouring Curse entered him, feeling as if a hundred ants gnawed at his bones, causing excruciating pain. But Gaolu was a rare master among the inner disciples; he suppressed the curse with his cultivation while clapping his hands and shouting, "Golden Lock Formation, activate!"

With a thunderous shout, stone pillars erupted from the earth all around Zhang Xiao, encircling him. Talismans flickered upon them, and despite the twelve Yin-Yang Ghost Souls’ attacks, the pillars remained unbroken. Zhang Xiao was astonished—Dragon and Tiger Mountain's mastery of formations was far beyond his expectations. This formation was superior to his own Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts crafted with seven Yin-Yang Banners.

He recalled hearing that Dragon and Tiger Mountain’s formations were acclaimed as the best among the nine sects—now he saw that reputation was well deserved. However, this formation seemed to be a trapping array, perhaps a half-finished product; otherwise, Gaolu would have already used it to attack him. This realization brought some relief—he was not afraid of the formation, but he could not spare attention for Lan Fang. Thinking of her, his mind became a tangled mess.

"Who are you?" Lan Fang’s gaze was cold as frost. She made no mention of her rescue, but instead asked sharply. Zhang Xiao remained silent, sitting on the ground while she stood; the two exchanged a silent stare.

Recognizing that now was not the time for revelation, Zhang Xiao ignored Lan Fang, turned away, and summoned the Bronze Armored Corpse. Skilled in earth escape techniques, it seemed the formation was linked to the earth’s energy, so Zhang Xiao decided to probe with the Bronze Armored Corpse to locate the formation’s core.

With a soft command, he merged his own body with the corpse through Corpse Armor Technique. The Bronze hands plunged into the soil, sending ripples of spiritual energy surging forth in search of the formation’s core. Zhang Xiao had luck on his side: the Bronze Armored Corpse was innately connected to earth energy and adept at all earth escape arts. Gaolu’s trapping array, which harnessed the mountain’s energy, had met its nemesis. Soon, Zhang Xiao discovered all six array cores.

Yet, frustration followed. Although Gaolu’s personal strength was lacking, his formation skills far surpassed Zhang Xiao’s. Even after locating the six cores, they formed a circle, linked with the mountain itself. Breaking the formation required the power to split the mountain, which Zhang Xiao lacked—even his Vajra Immovable Body could not provide such force. After pondering, Zhang Xiao was struck by inspiration: he thrust his hands into the earth, directing the Bronze Armored Corpse to gather more earth energy.

Meanwhile, Gaolu sat cross-legged, his face alternating between pale and dark, barely able to open his eyes. "Go send word to my senior brother," he said weakly. The nearby disciple, seeing Gaolu’s dire state, hurried off to notify those outside Hundred Herb Valley.

Gaolu, afflicted by the Soul Devouring Curse, was not in mortal danger, but the pain was relentless. He struggled to circulate his spiritual energy to suppress it and could barely move. Fortunately, Zhang Xiao was trapped by the formation—otherwise, the consequences would have been dire. No matter how powerful the silver-masked man was, once trapped, he could not budge; when his senior brothers arrived, they would deal with him.

As Gaolu was secretly pleased with the effectiveness of his formation, suddenly the ground beneath him trembled. The whole mountain began to shake, and Gaolu panicked, employing earth observation techniques. What he saw nearly made him bite off his tongue: earth energy was pouring into the formation’s core. In a panic, he ordered two outer disciples to carry him down the mountain.

Gaolu knew his own formation well. With so much earth energy flooding in, the six spiritual treasures anchoring the array would surely be crushed. When the formation broke and the earth energy exploded, the entire mountain would collapse. He had to escape now or never.

With a thunderous roar, stone walls burst apart, causing landslides all around. Zhang Xiao, seeing the formation about to explode, swiftly released the Corpse Armor Technique and swept Lan Fang into his arms. Lan Fang, initially resistant, fell silent when the stone pillars began exploding around them.

With another roar, the formation was thrown into chaos; pillars shattered, and the trapping array dissolved instantly. As the formation broke, the gathered earth energy erupted, shaking the mountain and causing widespread collapse. Zhang Xiao recalled the Bronze Armored Corpse and used Divine Foot Technique to run downhill. As he passed, the ground caved in, burying beasts that failed to escape.

Lan Fang’s face turned pale; although she prided herself on her ruthless resolve, she had never witnessed such peril—especially as she too was caught in it. How could she not be terrified?

Zhang Xiao’s Divine Foot Technique covered ten miles with each stride; after dozens of steps, he finally escaped the mountain. Looking back, he saw the once intact peak collapse in an instant. The tremors alone plunged Hundred Herb Valley into chaos, with birds and beasts fleeing their dens in panic. Teams of disciples gathering herbs felt the ground quake and were scattered by the stampede, but fortunately the beasts meant no harm, merely startled by the mountain’s collapse. Otherwise, a bloodbath would have ensued.

Holding Lan Fang, Zhang Xiao fled east until he was sure of their safety, then set her down. Lan Fang, seeing her rescuer’s face softened, but her words remained cold as ice. "Thank you for saving me. If given the chance, I will repay you doubly."

With that, Lan Fang prepared to leave. Zhang Xiao would not let her go so easily. With a sudden motion, he collapsed to the ground. Lan Fang, startled, hurried to him, supporting him, "Are you hurt?"

Zhang Xiao nodded, "That formation was formidable. Breaking it caused backlash, and forcing my way out with you drained me further. I fear I can hardly move now."

Lan Fang, having witnessed Zhang Xiao’s abilities, did not doubt him. She quickly helped him to a shaded spot, saying, "You needn’t have saved me. Why meddle?"

Noticing Zhang Xiao’s mask, Lan Fang grew curious. "Why do you wear a mask?"

Zhang Xiao smiled bitterly inwardly, thinking, "Why else, if not for you?" But aloud he said, "My appearance is hideous, unfit to be seen, so I wear this mask."

Lan Fang scoffed, "What use is beauty? If someone lacks a conscience, it’s all the same." Zhang Xiao was puzzled by her words, yet felt they were somehow directed at him.

He did not know how to respond, and the two sat in silence. After a long while, Zhang Xiao asked, "Why were you pursued by the inner disciples of Dragon and Tiger Mountain?"

Lan Fang replied coolly, "Nothing much. I killed one of them and took something from them."

Zhang Xiao, already familiar with Lan Fang’s profile, knew she had killed the younger brother of a Dragon and Tiger Mountain inner disciple, but was curious about what she had stolen. "What did you take? May I see it?"

Lan Fang took a square box from her storage bag and opened it, revealing a jade pendant. Though damaged, the ancient script on it was clearly visible. Zhang Xiao did not recognize the script and paid it little heed. Lan Fang then took out a water flask, "You’re injured, drink some water."

Zhang Xiao shook his head, refusing. Lan Fang said, "Are you afraid I’ll see your face?" She set the flask down and turned away.

With no choice, Zhang Xiao picked up the flask, lifted a corner of his mask, and feigned drinking. Then he smiled, "You’re not unkind at heart, so why are you so cold?"

Lan Fang cast a cold glance at him, "Men are all liars. Why should I show you any warmth?"

Her words struck Zhang Xiao, recalling what he had told Lan Fang before the upheaval, "Go, Xiao Fang. There are things I cannot tell you. If you truly care for me, wait half a year—I will give you a proper explanation then."

A year had passed now, and he had only just appeared before her. No wonder she had become like this. Regret filled his heart for his excessive actions.

Lan Fang had expected Zhang Xiao to object, but he remained silent. She smiled, "What, did I hit a nerve?"

Zhang Xiao shuddered, the emotionless voice behind the mask replying, "What if that person came looking for you?"

Lan Fang was startled, sensing something unspoken lingering between them.