Chapter Thirteen: Slaying the Ancient Fiend Karosius

The reason Ziyan was so tense was not without cause. Back when Master Xuan Cang, gravely wounded, fled to this place, he had been pursued by these so-called indigenous experts. Though he ultimately slew every one of his pursuers, the delay aggravated his internal injuries, damaging his very foundation and making ascension forever beyond his reach. This grudge caused Master Xuan Cang to utterly loathe these foreign clans. Before his passing, he specifically instructed Ziyan that if the future young master ever had dealings with these people, they must be trapped and killed within the Xuantian Grotto. This was the root of Ziyan’s unease. Fortunately, Zhang Xiao not only had no connection to those three old monsters but instead harbored deep enmity toward them. Realizing this, Ziyan was overjoyed and quickly said, “The three of them are apart. Apart from a woman, the other two have already entered the outer formation pools and are now trapped—one in the Blood-Melting Array and the other in the Rolling Stones Array.”

Blood-Melting Array! Rolling Stones Array! Zhang Xiao’s brows rose. These two formations were also mentioned in the jade pendant; both were formidable, not top-tier arrays, but exceedingly difficult to break. With the two old monsters ensnared, they could only try to protect themselves by now. Zhang Xiao glanced at Ziyan, a thought flashing in his mind. “Yan’er, can you control the formations outside?”

Without hesitation, Ziyan nodded. “Of course, young master. As long as you carry the command token, none of the outer formations can harm you. You may enter or leave at will. Why, young master, do you intend to—”

A cold light flashed in Zhang Xiao’s eyes as he interrupted, “That’s right. I intend to kill those three old monsters.” He said this with confidence. If the three were together, it would pose a problem, but now that they were separated, Zhang Xiao had no fear. With two treasures in his possession—one for attack, one for defense—and those old monsters’ powers suppressed to a mere fraction, they could hardly muster half their strength. Now deeply trapped in the formations, they likely had no chance to fight back at all. The saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. How could Zhang Xiao let such an opportunity slip by? With this in mind, he summoned the Heavenly Sound Bell, his form transforming into a streak of rainbow light as he carried Ziyan toward the formation pools outside the cave.

“Damn it, what kind of cursed place is this?” At that moment, Carosius’s face was ashen as he stared at the countless falling boulders before him. Barely managing to sustain a magical shield, he fended off the rolling stones. In any other place, Carosius could have made these rocks vanish with a flick of his finger. But now, not only could he not make them disappear, even resisting them was a challenge. Carosius was truly unlucky. If he were another kind of mage, even with sixty percent of his power suppressed, defending against these stones would be easy. But Carosius specialized in space magic, and since entering the labyrinth, his spatial spells had failed him completely. In the maze, he had barely managed a few minor spells, but here he could not cast even the most basic ones. If not for his proficiency in wind magic, which allowed him to conjure a few gusts for defense, he would have been pulverized by the rolling stones already.

Carosius knew that if he remained here, he might truly perish. He had long since tried all means of escape, but to no avail.

As a top space mage, Carosius had already surmised that this place was no longer connected to the original world but was a separate, self-contained realm. Such terrifying power was something only a god could wield. With no other choice, he could only grit his teeth and persevere. Yet, as he struggled on, he failed to notice that two pairs of eyes were locked onto him.

Watching Carosius’s sorry state in the formation, Zhang Xiao felt a surge of satisfaction. “That’s what you get for plotting against me, for threatening me—serves you right, you old bastard!” Zhang Xiao cursed at Carosius, unable to restrain himself. Since the world changed, Zhang Xiao had dealt with sect elders before, but never had he suffered such bullying at the hands of Carosius and his cohorts. Witnessing this scene now was pure catharsis.

“Young master, this man’s power is remarkable. Even with the old master’s restriction suppressing him heavily, he can survive in the Rolling Stones Array for so long. He must have been a formidable figure in the outside world,” Ziyan commented, unaware that the world outside had long since changed beyond recognition. The grand era of sects had vanished; but for the cataclysm, the outside would still be a world of steel and technology. Zhang Xiao did not explain; with the command token in his hand, and Ziyan by his side, there would be plenty of time for explanations in the future.

Now, it was time for vengeance and gratitude to be repaid. Zhang Xiao’s figure flickered as he darted into the Rolling Stones Array. Countless stones fell like rain, but upon touching him, they dissolved into spiritual energy and passed harmlessly through. Carosius had sensed Zhang Xiao’s arrival the moment he entered the array, thanks to a spiritual marker he had secretly left on Zhang Xiao’s clothing. Though Zhang Xiao’s power had recovered, he had not noticed this marker, but now it alerted Carosius.

Sensing Zhang Xiao, Carosius was delighted. Though his own strength was suppressed, Zhang Xiao must also be gravely wounded after surviving here so long. If he could capture Zhang Xiao, he could find a way out. With that in mind, Carosius rushed toward Zhang Xiao’s position, unaware that Zhang Xiao had already regained his full strength and was unaffected by the formation. Carosius was about to crash headlong into a steel wall.

Seeing Carosius racing toward him, Zhang Xiao was not alarmed but delighted. He activated his divine footwork, speeding toward Carosius. “Something’s wrong! How is he so fast?” Feeling Zhang Xiao’s rapid approach, Carosius’s heart sank and a chill spread through him.

“Old monster, you dared plot against me—let’s see you try now!” But by the time Carosius realized the situation, it was too late. Zhang Xiao had already summoned the Heavenly Sound Bell, its pealing waves of sound crashing down. Carosius never imagined the tables would turn so swiftly. Seeing the bell descending, his face blanched; he hastily pointed a finger, condensing the air before him into a shield—his strongest remaining defense.

Crack! Even before the bell struck, its rolling resonance shattered and warped the air shield. Though his strength was suppressed, Carosius’s judgment remained sharp; he instantly realized he was no match for Zhang Xiao.

If that jade bell landed, he would be lucky to escape with his life. In desperation, Carosius cried out, “Wait! Though I may have treated you poorly, I never meant to take your life! That brute Han Meng urged me many times to kill you, but I always refused. Please, show mercy!”

Tears welled in Carosius’s eyes, and with his aged appearance, even Ziyan began to feel sympathy. If it were anyone else, perhaps Carosius could have moved them to let him go. But Zhang Xiao was unmoved; instead, with a flip of his hand, he summoned the Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff, following the Heavenly Sound Bell as he attacked.

Zhang Xiao was not a bloodthirsty killer, but neither was he merciful. Once he made a move, he never looked back. It was kill or be killed.

Carosius was both furious and terrified. As Zhang Xiao closed in, Carosius’s face twisted; from his space ring, he produced a crossbow, its body wreathed in flame, radiating powerful spiritual energy. But Zhang Xiao ignored him, pushing the Heavenly Sound Bell down with all his might. The bell crashed into the air shield, shattering it like paper and continuing inexorably toward Carosius.

With a dull thud, Carosius was sent flying. At the same instant, the crossbow in his hand, the Dragon’s Fury, unleashed a streak of red light with a dragon’s roar, shooting toward Zhang Xiao at blinding speed.

Boom! The red light exploded, and the forceful shockwave ravaged every corner of the Rolling Stones Array. Dust billowed, and the falling stones were smashed to powder, filling the air with debris.

“Hahaha! Brat, now you know my power—cough, cough!” Carosius struggled to his feet, spitting out bloody fragments as he laughed toward where Zhang Xiao stood. Dragon’s Fury was a top-tier artifact, its power enough to shatter mountains and rivers. Carosius could not believe Zhang Xiao could survive it. Though he himself was gravely wounded by the Heavenly Sound Bell, as long as he could finish off Zhang Xiao, he would endure anything to find a way out.

Focusing his mind to seek the spiritual marker on Zhang Xiao, Carosius’s expression suddenly changed; terror seized him as he looked behind. Lifting Dragon’s Fury again, he had no time to react as a golden Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff burst through the dust and smashed into his skull. Blood splattered; the mighty Carosius, once a formidable force, had his head shattered to pieces.