Chapter 56: The Frenzied Thunderfall Technique

Zhang Xiao raised his Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff, dispersing the incoming spells with a sweep. Immediately after, Li Peng’s poisonous miasma surged forth. Seeing this, Zhang Xiao could only have his avatar release its full Buddhist power to keep the toxins at bay. Though he managed to stave off the poison, Zhang Xiao helplessly realized that at this rate, all his Buddhist energy would be depleted before a cup of tea could be finished. The Five Venom Sect’s Five Venom Palm truly was not something ordinary people could withstand.

With a thunderous explosion, Zhou Yuan broke through the formation laid by Heavenly Dragon. As soon as he emerged, he saw Zhang Xiao under siege by the three demonic cultivators. Zhou Yuan quickly summoned his golden brush, painting strange talismans across the sky. With a flick, dozens of these talismans shot toward Ouyang Zhongshi and his companions. The techniques of the disciples of the Nine Great Sects were leagues apart from those of ordinary inner disciples—these were the most supreme arts of their respective schools, and their attacks were unique. The talismans Zhou Yuan painted were especially potent; Ouyang Zhongshi’s monster spat out dozens of five-element spells, but the moment they collided with the talismans, they were dissolved into spiritual energy, dispersing in the air. Even Li Peng’s Five Venom Palm was reduced to black mist and vanished. Only Ge Tianming’s baleful aura could cut through the talismans, but it too dissipated afterward.

With Zhou Yuan joining the fray, Zhang Xiao’s burden lightened considerably. He turned his focus on Ge Tianming, brandishing the Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff in a frenzied assault. Atop his head, his avatar sat within the Buddhist Wheel, commanding the Heavenly Sound Bell to unleash waves of sonorous bells toward Ge Tianming. As a true disciple of the Nine Calamities Palace, Ge Tianming was formidable indeed; his massive axe sent forth torrents of baleful energy, blocking all of Zhang Xiao’s attacks. Yet, it wasn’t long before Ge Tianming’s face turned pale, his grip on the axe faltering. With every clash, the Buddhist energy surging from Zhang Xiao’s staff became harder and harder for him to endure. Just as Ge Tianming was fully occupied fending off the staff, Zhang Xiao suddenly unleashed the Heart-Devouring Curse, which shot into Ge Tianming’s body. His face darkened, features beginning to contort. Zhang Xiao then cast the Soul-Shocking Curse; though its damage was slight, the wailing ghosts it summoned shattered Ge Tianming’s focus, making it impossible to suppress the curse festering within. As Ge Tianming teetered on the brink of defeat, Li Peng grew frantic. Without Ge Tianming’s suppressive aura, he and Ouyang Zhongshi alone could not contain Zhang Xiao. But every attempt Li Peng made to aid Ge Tianming was blocked by Zhou Yuan’s talismans, putting him in peril himself and nearly striking him several times.

“What are you all standing there for?” Li Peng shouted furiously at the onlookers. “If we fall, you can forget about the Five-Colored Cloud Banner!” Among them, only Master Yuanzhen from Shaolin was too gravely injured to fight; the rest had strength to spare. No one wanted to exhaust their own secret arts for no reason, but seeing the tide turning, they could hesitate no longer. Zhang Yifan, still reeling from internal injuries dealt earlier by Zhang Xiao, summoned his Glass Ring for protection, forming hand seals as countless bolts of lightning crashed down upon Zhang Xiao, engulfing him in a sea of thunder. Zhang Yifan was overjoyed; his Heavenly Thunder Secret Art was mightier than the tribulation lightning. Ordinary cultivators struck by a single bolt would be reduced to ash, yet Zhang Xiao was struck by dozens—if he didn’t die, he’d surely be gravely wounded. Yet Master Yuanzhen, sitting nearby, cried out in alarm, “Stop! Cease at once!”

In his panic, Master Yuanzhen forgot his own injuries; blood surged and spilled from his nose and mouth as he spoke. Zhang Yifan shouted, “You bald-headed wretch, get out of my way!” With a wave of his sleeve, he sent Yuanzhen flying. Already severely injured, Yuanzhen could not withstand even this light blow; he collapsed unconscious in a corner.

Meanwhile, on the far side of Feixia Island, True Man Yuxu watched the events unfold in the Jade Mirror, stomping his foot and cursing, “Fool! Stop! You idiot!” Even Baiyu Zhenren and Daoist Mingqing, watching beside him, wore grim expressions. “Hmph! Daoist Yuxu, you’ve raised a fine disciple indeed!” Baiyu Zhenren scoffed, turning away to sit sullenly. Kongxuan laughed heartily. All knew the Buddhist masters trained with thunder to temper their bodies, refining lightning to replenish themselves. Though their cultivation speed lagged behind the demonic sects, passing tribulation was far easier for them; thunder was a great tonic. Zhang Xiao, already depleted, surely had little Buddhist or spiritual energy left. If everyone pressed harder, defeat was certain. Who could have guessed that Zhang Yifan’s bombardment would instead replenish Zhang Xiao’s power? Master Jueyuan of Shaolin merely remarked, “He who brings disaster upon himself cannot survive.”

While the five righteous sect leaders watched the mirror grimly as Zhang Yifan continued his crazed thunderstorm, the four demonic overlords nearby ground their teeth in hatred. “Hmph, at this rate, that brat’s Buddhist power will be fully restored. I’d love to see Old Yuxu’s face when he realizes what’s happened,” sneered Wanmozi.

Within the Jade Mirror, Zhang Yifan had lost all composure, fixated on the blow that had injured him—never had even his master, True Man Yuxu, struck him so. Humiliated by Zhang Xiao’s strength, jealousy consumed him. Now, seizing the chance, he vented his rage, casting seal after seal, laughing madly: “So you hit me? See how I kill you… I’ll teach you to act superior… I’ll strike you down!” His frenzy infuriated the remaining eight contestants. They all tried to stop him, but Zhang Yifan, lost in his madness, only thought they envied him.

As he summoned yet another bolt, a cold gleam flashed—a white jade sword pierced his heart. Blood spurted from his lips as he stared at the blade, then looked up at Song Qing, true disciple of Mount Shu, a strange smile spreading across his face. “So… you’re jealous too…” he rasped. With those broken words, Zhang Yifan closed his eyes for the last time, becoming the first true disciple to perish in the Feixia Golden Pagoda. Song Qing’s expression was icy as he retrieved his flying sword from Zhang Yifan’s chest, sneering, “Hmph! I don’t know why True Man Yuxu chose such a useless disciple, but I’m glad—at least the leader of Kunlun will be a fool.” With a sweep of his sword, the scattered spiritual energy converged, forming a massive sword shadow that struck toward Zhang Xiao’s location. Thunder exploded and scattered. Zhang Xiao emerged from the sea of lightning, Buddhist radiance blazing, the wheel atop his head shining brilliantly—showing no sign of injury. Glancing at Zhang Yifan’s corpse, Zhang Xiao smiled, “Thank you.”

High above on the Jade Platform, True Man Yuxu’s face was dark as he watched these events unfold. If the demon lords saw his expression now, they might think he’d started cultivating their own arts. Little wonder he was so displeased; Kunlun had been eliminated first in this grand competition, and by the rules, their sect would receive no share of the spoils. With a cold tone, Yuxu announced, “Fellow Daoists, since Kunlun has been disqualified, I’ve no face to remain. Farewell.” He swept his sleeve, boarded the Kunlun warship, and swiftly departed the Jade Platform.

Apart from Master Jueyuan and Daoist Mingqing of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, the rest watched his retreat with sneers. Meanwhile, inside the Feixia Golden Pagoda, the atmosphere was more tense than ever. From the look of Zhang Xiao, not only had his Buddhist energy been fully restored, but his cultivation seemed to have advanced as well. In truth, as many suspected, Zhang Xiao had used the Buddha’s Golden Wheel and Zhang Yifan’s thunderbolts to push his avatar’s Prajna Sutra to the fifth level, and more importantly, had found a new path of cultivation. This alone was a gain equal to the Five-Colored Cloud Banner.

Zhang Xiao strode forward radiating a terrifying aura. The others’ faces shifted as they began cursing Zhang Yifan and his ancestors, furious that at such a critical moment he had allowed Zhang Xiao’s strength to soar. If Zhang Xiao were to be ranked now, he’d be in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm—above all the rest. How could they not be shocked, or not resent this fool?

“Hmph! I’ll keep him busy, you all kill Zhou Yuan at once!” Heavenly Dragon knew that no one else could restrain Zhang Xiao now. Forced to act, he unleashed his most secret technique. Four beams of black light instantly shot into the ground around Zhang Xiao. Seeing this, Zhang Xiao raised an eyebrow: “A formation!” But he felt no fear—after breaking through to the fifth level of the Prajna Sutra, his avatar’s Divine Foot Power had also reached the intermediate stage. Now he could traverse any formation with ease, no matter how profound Heavenly Dragon’s array was—it could no longer confine him.