A tempestuous wind howled as the hundred-zhang-long purple roc unleashed a resounding roar. Unending flames devoured everything in sight. A boundless white fog obscured the sun, rolling and churning through the air.
Within the body of the purple roc, the Great Jin Empire's seven Heavenly Rankers took their respective positions. Jin Ji controlled the central array disk, while the remaining six experts controlled different sections of the array.
"Fang Xia has made his move.”
"He’s courting death.”
"The Septet Ignis Array's main weakness lies in its massive energy consumption. The millions of catties of etherstone we have stockpiled will only sustain the array for a short time."
"Barely any time has passed, yet he’s taking the initiative to attack?"
The Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin felt a fire in their bellies. They had all experienced firsthand the immense power the roc could unleash once they coordinated their efforts. Wielding such power was honestly addictive.
"Kill him," Jin Ji commanded, pressing his foot firmly onto the array disk.
Just like the brain of the roc, he was able to direct all sections of the array. The words his father had said when presenting him with this artifact resounded vividly in his mind: "The Septet Ignis Array is the most prized treasure I obtained from the treasure realm. When seven late-stage Qi Sea cultivators join forces, they can challenge a Golden Core Superior. With all seven of you working in unison, it is entirely possible to slay a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. With this array, unify the Central Plains! When I emerge from the treasure realm, it shall herald the day Great Jin conquers the world."
Jin Ji brimmed with confidence. As an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he did not consider himself any less powerful than the Arctic King and other peak powerhouses. With him leading the array, it was enough to vanquish an entire group of Heavenly Rankers!
He was a little taken aback when he witnessed Cloudhill enveloped in a fog array stretching out for 100 li in every direction. But he felt no fear.
His initial plan was to dismantle the array piece by piece. Yet, Fang Xia dared to launch a direct attack?
Nine-stage Qi Sea phase? If you rely on the array and utilize long-range arcane arts, you might stand a chance of winning. Engaging in close combat is nothing short of courting death. Jin Ji’s icy gaze locked onto his target.
With a resounding boom, the purple roc unfurled its blazing wings, casting a massive shadow over the land as it sped right for Fang Xia.
Over forty Heavenly Rankers from all corners of the world were fixated on the unfolding battle.
"How powerful," remarked Emperor Dong Pan.
"The form of a Golden Core cultivator?" The Arctic King's gaze remained fixed on the battle. "The legendary roc, even in the form of an array, is truly terrifying."
"Great Jin has such a trump card?" The Heavenly Rankers from the Starcom Consortium shivered involuntarily.
One had to understand that ever since the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, the Starcom Consortium had been rallying various powers in a tense standoff against Great Jin.
The display of power exhibited by the purple roc today was undeniably jaw-dropping. Such a level of combat had not been witnessed in the Middle Land for a very long time. Even during the battle that saw the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, Great Jin did not reveal such a powerful array when they assaulted the forbidden zone of Chu-Jiang.
Within a jade chamber underneath Cloudhill, Bu Yu and Huan Jian focused on the projection, which showed Fang Xia amid a roaring inferno. Equipped with spirit battle armor, he appeared tiny in comparison to the majestic purple roc. Yet, he harnessed an incredible golden power, unleashing a terrifying might that defied his small frame. At this moment, he had already clashed with the purple roc!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, golden lights materialized before Fang Xia, resembling numerous flying swords. These lights merged with the surging golden qi streams, brimming with boundless power. Each streak of golden light contained a bone-chilling sharpness as they descended onto the purple roc from all angles. Essentia arcane arts! Domain!
"Old Fang, are we not activating the killing array?" Wu Yuan's consciousness observed the ongoing battle through the monitoring array.
"No rush! I didn’t anticipate that Great Jin would possess such a formidable array. I’ve miscalculated," Fang Xia's voice resonated solemnly in Wu Yuan's mind, "Fortunately, I took the precaution of setting up the killing array in advance. Otherwise, I would have been relentlessly pursued and defeated."
Wu Yuan was taken aback. Did this mean that even Fang Xia, someone at the Domain stage, couldn't withstand this array?
"Young Master, remember, the difference that an artifact can make in a battle increases the lower a cultivator's level," Fang Xia explained, "Their array is at least a fifth-grade array disk, perhaps even a fourth-grade array disk."
"We have only one opportunity to use Soulquake. We must time it correctly." Fang Xia spoke with a grave tone, "Wait for my signal."
"Very well," Wu Yuan responded solemnly.
Night fell. White fog blanketed the land, golden light streaked, and flames danced!
It was the great battle between the Cloudstride Sect and the Great Jin Empire!
On one side, Fang Xia, an eldritch mage at the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase, showcased the might of the Domain stage! Standing against him were seven Heavenly Rankers wielding a coordination array.
The very moment they clashed, a battle of inconceivable magnitude ensued!
Boom! Boom! The purple roc's speed left the ground trembling. Its incandescent form, from body to wings, beak to talons, metamorphosed into a lethal arsenal, each strike imbued with unparalleled might. One could argue that its power transcended the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase.
Whoosh! Whoosh! A sea of golden radiance extended for hundreds of meters, shielding Fang Xia entirely. It resembled a swarm of countless swords, warding off the relentless assault of the purple roc.
In terms of sheer strength, the purple roc surpassed Fang Xia by far. However, Fang Xia's sudden bursts of speed and battle instincts were nothing short of astounding. He repeatedly unleashed attacks, gracefully evading the flames, claws, and sweeping wings like a gust of wind, as though dancing on the edge of a knife.
Three functions of the killing array. The first function is Void Suppression! Any foe within the array will find themselves suppressed by heaven and earth's power. Fang Xia's gaze turned frigid. On the contrary, as long as I remain in the array, I will receive a power boost.
The second function, Golden Sword Art!
The array and his arcane arts intertwined. Although Fang Xia possessed a firm foundation, he only established sixth-degree eldritch tattoos. His mana hardly deviated from that of an ordinary ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Why, then, were his arcane arts so powerful? It was all thanks to the array!
The Golden Sword Art, the strongest offensive arcane art that Fang Xia wielded, was etched into the core of the array.
Array, essentia, Domain stage. The combined might of these three elements gave him the courage to engage in a frontal battle with the fearsome purple roc.
No rush! An eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator leading a group of mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators, is capable of activating such a formidable array? Fang Xia's gaze turned icy. It must have a weakness.
Within portable arrays, the array disk remains fixed. The roc is generated by consuming etherstone within the array disk and has a fixed amount of essentia. To dismantle this array, I just have to find its vulnerability.
Just as combat techniques had weaknesses, so did arrays.
Attack! To seek opportunity amidst danger, I must engage in close combat, employing the True Eye Art in conjunction with my Domain to perceive movements with greater clarity. Fang Xia's eyes turned frosty.
Reaching the Domain stage meant his skill level far surpassed those of these Heavenly Rankers, giving him the courage and capability to take risks.
"Such frenzied attacks."
"What exactly are those layers of golden light surrounding Fang Xia? A treasure? An arcane art? Or the power of the array?" The Heavenly Rankers were left dumbfounded.
The purple roc unleashed hair-raising power, with speed, strength, and flame arcane arts that surpassed all expectations. But Fang Xia managed to withstand it all.
The outburst of power from the two sides was enough to leave everyone gaping in astonishment. Even Emperor Dong Pan, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, and the Arctic King admitted their inferiority.
"Yet another array base has been destroyed. The white fog has dissipated significantly."
"Fang Xia was hit by the claw, yet he didn’t die?”
"He was sent crashing into the ground."
“The purple roc is hot on his heels.” The Arctic King, Emperor Dong Pan, Meng Cai, and the others kept their eyes peeled on the battle.