After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 24

The smile was faint, yet those with keen eyes noticed it immediately. To an outsider, this was the very picture of mutual affection.

Once they met, Chu Lanci whispered, “Master, I am so nervous.”

Xie Zhuo could not help but soften his voice. “Do not be nervous. I am here.”

Chu Lanci gave a shallow nod upon hearing those words. He extended his hand to Xie Zhuo and said with a smile, “From now on, we shall walk this path together.”

Of course, to him, “walking together” was merely a literal expression and held no deeper meaning. Whether as master and disciple, father and son, companions, or friends, they could share many roles, but love was not among them. To him, love was something ethereal and dispensable.

In Chu Lanci’s nineteen years of life, the most important thing had simply been survival. Struggling to stay alive had exhausted all his strength, and in such a narrow, desperate existence, there was no room for anything else to grow. Moreover, he was naturally a person of extreme purity.

Xie Zhuo looked back at Chu Lanci, grasped his hand, and gave a slight nod. “Rest assured. No matter how great the trouble, I will handle it.”

To Chu Lanci, these words seemed perfectly normal. “Is that a promise?”

Xie Zhuo laughed. “It is a promise.”

The two walked onto the Concentric Array. The edges of the formation emitted a faint blue light. The moment they stepped on, Xie Zhuo expected Chu Lanci to be overwhelmed, but to his surprise, the youth remained entirely unaffected.

In truth, Xie Zhuo had always been curious about how Chu Lanci had entered the forbidden grounds in the first place. Why him? Why was he the only one who could resolve the Frost-Cold Art? This question surfaced once more. Usually, only those with similar cultivation levels could withstand the Concentric Array. He had intended to bolster Chu Lanci with protective spells, but he realized the youth did not need them at all.

Once inside the array, the ceremony proceeded like a routine procedure. It was a matter of following the script, which was not particularly interesting in itself. Xie Zhuo had expected to be impatient, yet he followed Chu Lanci and completed every step with genuine focus.

Just like that, the two successfully formed their bond.

However, Xie Zhuo knew that his union would not be entirely smooth; someone was bound to come and cause trouble. Today was the opportunity he had granted them.

Once the Concentric Array was complete, Xie Zhuo casually raised his palm, his fingertips glowing with a sinister green light. Suddenly, the sound of an overburdened groan echoed from every corner of Qianshan.

Then came a sharp metallic ring. High above the Great Hall, thousands of circulating runes gathered and fused. The golden barrier crumpled like a piece of silk crushed by an invisible hand, collapsing layer by layer with an ear-piercing rip before finally disintegrating. He had deactivated the Qianshan Sect’s Great Protective Array.

While the crowd wondered what was happening, a sharp surge of power suddenly tore through the void as a purple and green halo of light lunged toward them. The quick-witted cultivators immediately deployed their protective qi, creating a pale blue shield to block the aftershocks. Those who were slower were thrown back several yards by the force of the blast.

Only Xie Zhuo remained motionless, holding Chu Lanci close and repelling the attack with a flash of sword light.

As soon as the array was down, the challengers arrived.

The one leading the provocation was none other than Li Shuchen, the chief disciple of Xie Zhuo’s senior brother, Lord Xuantian. Lord Xuantian, Yan Linfeng, had long since left Qianshan to establish his own sect, the Yuheng Sect. Since Xie Zhuo had allegedly killed their Sect Leader, the people of the Yuheng Sect had naturally come to settle the score.

Everyone looked at Xie Zhuo’s expression, which showed utter indifference. It seemed he had intentionally chosen today to accept the challenge.

Li Shuchen pointed at Xie Zhuo. “Sect Leader Xie, you murdered my Master. This enmity is irreconcilable! If we do not pay blood with blood, will the world not think our Yuheng Sect is at your mercy?”

Xie Zhuo gathered all the force of the previous attack into his sleeve, ignoring Li Shuchen’s questioning entirely. Instead, he turned to Chu Lanci. “I will send you back first.”

Chu Lanci was surprised. “But now is not a good time, is it?” Someone was challenging him. “I am fine. Master, you should attend to your business first.”

Xie Zhuo said no more. He turned to face Li Shuchen and the rest of the group. “Today is the day I form my bond. If you have come to share a cup of wedding wine, sit down and we shall remain friends. I did not set the array for Qianshan today out of a sense of hospitality; all who come from near or far are guests. However, if you are dissatisfied and insist on competing with me, I will accommodate you. But I have one rule: I shall not kill today; I will only cripple your cultivation. Furthermore, if you attempt to strike me on any other day, I will not be so easy to talk to. Consider your options carefully. Once you have made your choice, bring it on. I am waiting.”

With that, he unsheathed his Frost-Frost Sword. The blade spun rapidly in the air, instantly condensing into thirty-six sword shadows. The cold light wove together into a dense, air-tight cage, forming an invisible circle of spiritual energy that surrounded him and Chu Lanci.

Once the sword dance was complete, the Frost-Frost Sword descended from the sky and returned to Xie Zhuo’s side. Not only that, but the moment the sword hit the ground, the spiritual energy around Xie Zhuo surged. With a sudden shift, his red wedding robes split apart and dissolved into a shower of crimson sparks. In an instant, he had changed into a set of deep black martial robes. His long hair was tied up into a high ponytail.

Watching from behind, Chu Lanci’s admiration for Xie Zhuo was boundless. How can he be so strong and so incredible? His reverence for Xie Zhuo was heartfelt, no different from the awe others felt for him.

While Xie Zhuo waited for a response from the challengers, he heard Chu Lanci praise him sincerely from the side, “Master, you are so handsome.”

Xie Zhuo replied, “I know.” If he says he likes me, I already know it.

As for the provocative disciples of the Yuheng Sect, they had been overbearing a moment ago, but they immediately wilted. Some of the more cowardly members chose to retreat quietly. Only a small group, led by Li Shuchen, intended to fight to the end.

Xie Zhuo turned back to Chu Lanci. “Wait for me here.”

Chu Lanci nodded obediently. “Be careful, Master!”

When the Frost-Frost Sword appeared, none could compete. Those who were fearless and those who were desperate charged toward Xie Zhuo. This was the first time Chu Lanci had seen Xie Zhuo fight. He was already handsome enough in his black robes with narrow sleeves, looking like a cold pine covered in snow, but the display that followed was even more impressive.

In the blink of an eye, Xie Zhuo had defeated everyone. His speed was like that of a ghost. Endless spiritual energy and countless artifacts clashed. The air surged with power, and robes fluttered in the wind. One moment he was like cold lightning piercing the sky, leaving splashes of blood wherever he passed while remaining untouched himself. The next, he was like a silver snake weaving through the crowd, his sword light dense and free-flowing, leaving no room for retreat.

It did not look like he was fighting; it looked like he was painting with a brush. Watching Xie Zhuo fight gave one a sense of ease, a feeling that he would certainly win and defeat them all. For a man to reach Xie Zhuo’s level was enough. Chu Lanci thought that if he were a woman, he would certainly choose him. Unfortunately, he was not a woman.

In a few moves, Xie Zhuo had cleared the field. He could not avoid striking back, especially since Li Shuchen and the others were fighting with their lives on the line. Over the past hundred years, their strength had not changed much, but they had developed many new tricks.

“Form the array!” Li Shuchen shouted. Several cultivators from the Yuheng Sect simultaneously performed hand signs. Blood-red array patterns suddenly lit up the ground, coiling like venomous snakes to trap Xie Zhuo in the center. The formation tightened further, and the spiritual energy became like blades, causing the skin of those nearby to sting.

This was the unique formation of Lord Xuantian: the Spirit-Devouring Array. Once formed, it could drain the spiritual power of those trapped inside until their meridians shattered and they died. The onlookers held their breath as they watched the array close in, almost touching the hem of Xie Zhuo’s robes.

Clang!

A bright sword light suddenly exploded. The crowd saw Xie Zhuo make a casual, light stroke, carving a path to safety. The back-flowing spiritual power surged back like a massive wave. Li Shuchen, who was at the front, was thrown back several yards by the powerful sword qi, hitting the ground heavily and vomiting blood.

At this, the onlookers could not help but cheer loudly. Xie Zhuo’s move had been beautiful. Breaking the array was not difficult; what was difficult was breaking it with such effortless grace. The power of the Mahayana stage was truly terrifying.

“The people of the Yuheng Sect are nothing special. Only Lord Xuantian was worth watching, but I heard even he was defeated by Xie Zhuo. He was a loser before, and he still is. His disciples are just as weak.”

“What a waste. Just go back!”

The spectators were now leaning toward Xie Zhuo. He was simply too powerful. Some even began to mock the cultivators from the Yuheng Sect.

The battle had lasted less than fifteen minutes, and those who had attempted to sneak attack had already been defeated. Some who were still capable of fighting no longer dared to step forward. Xie Zhuo appeared as though he had exerted no effort at all. His face remained handsome, and every movement was composed, as if the previous strike had not shattered a Spirit-Devouring Array but had merely brushed away a fallen leaf.

Unfortunately, he had still been touched by dust; there was bright red blood on his face and hands. Though his hands were covered in blood, he still appeared as an upright gentleman. Xie Zhuo stepped across the mess on the ground, his black robes brushing past the crippled and limp cultivators. He walked straight toward Chu Lanci, his new wedding partner.

Chu Lanci looked up and saw the tall man covered in blood, walking toward him like an ancient god. He still held the Frost-Frost divine sword, and his presence was overwhelming. However, because of his noble and elegant air, it did not feel uncomfortable.

Before he could think further, he saw Li Shuchen attempt a sneak attack from behind, charging toward Xie Zhuo. Xie Zhuo stood still, not even bothering to turn around. He simply made a backhanded strike, and a sword of energy pierced Li Shuchen’s dantian.

Chu Lanci saw Xie Zhuo’s hand, the veins on the back of it bulging. He was like a king of the dark night, killing according to his own will, cold and heartless. He did not even need to pull the sword out; it returned to his hand automatically.

When it was over, Xie Zhuo returned to his side and took his hand.

“Come,” he said. “Let us go to our wedding chamber.”

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