Chapter 136: Save Me, Ancestor!

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, people outside all say you are an peerless genius, having reached heights countless others can only dream of at the mere age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight. However, this old man does not think so."

Outside the array, True Monarch Sanmiao, who considered himself to have the victory safely in hand, spoke unhurriedly and eloquently.

"Even a genius like Xing Zi merely stepped on lotuses step by step along the path of cultivation, surpassing all living beings. But you, Fellow Daoist Jiang, go far beyond that. Not only are you preternaturally sophisticated in your worldly dealings and well-versed in all kinds of esoteric secrets, but you also master various cultivation methods and secret arts that have never appeared in the mortal world. This forces this old man to wonder: are you some demonic spirit that has attained the Dao, or some ancient mighty figure reincarnated and possessing another's body? Could Fellow Daoist Jiang relieve the doubts in this old man's heart?"

As soon as this question was asked, the outside fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard, as everyone held their breath and waited for Jiang An's reply.

Indeed, this matter could no longer be kept hidden.

Jiang An did not feel much surprise. Having returned from the immortal world and gradually revealed himself to the world step by step, others would at first merely assume he had encountered some fortuitous encounter and successfully cultivated in some deep mountain. But by this point, discerning individuals would naturally detect the anomalies. Where else could an ordinary person change so drastically within five years? Just as Sanmiao said, progressing somewhat faster in cultivation was acceptable, but such worldliness, erudition, and supernatural powers defied comprehension.

Regarding this, probably not just Sanmiao, but other clever minds as well would harbor suspicions.

"Jiang is simply Jiang, an upright person of flesh and blood. I am neither a demonic spirit that has attained the Dao nor a reincarnated mighty figure. I wonder if Senior is satisfied with this answer?"

Jiang An said in a clear voice, speaking the absolute truth.

Yet the people outside refused to believe it.

"Sigh, it matters not if you are unwilling to speak the truth. Then this old man will have no choice but to capture you, use your corpse as nourishment for the spiritual veins, and interrogate your primordial spirit with secret arts. We shall eventually obtain what we desire."

"Does your esteemed sect have such absolute confidence in being able to devour Jiang?"

"This old man knows that Fellow Daoist Jiang possesses astonishing strength, so we spared no effort in dealing with you. Human wave tactics are useless against you, leaving us no choice but to resort to our trump card. The array entrapping you is no ordinary formation; it is the vital node connected to the entire protective grand array of Mount Divine Medicine. In other words, you are directly opposing our Cold Serpent and Blazing Dragon Grand Array. Combined with our guidance, it can instantly unleash a destructive force equivalent to the full-strength blow of ten third-realm grandmasters! Facing such a terrifying attack, even if you are a supreme grandmaster without the blessing of heaven and earth's primordial Qi, you will still perish on the spot. What do you say? This old man will give you one last opportunity: cripple your own cultivation, and allow me to plant a restriction in your primordial spirit. I will spare your life. That is surely much better than dying like this."

True Monarch Sanmiao seemed quite smug.

"Pardon me, but Jiang has always only trusted his own fists."

Jiang An sat in place, speaking without even raising his head.

"A toast of fine wine you refuse, only to drink a forfeit of fine! Then die in peace!"

Sanmiao let out a cold snort. Immediately afterward, the light barrier blazed with brilliant white light, and an extreme frost erupted from all directions. In an instant, all the tables and chairs were frozen and shattered into dust, and Jiang An himself was frozen into an ice sculpture, completely unable to move.

"Haha, the power of the grand array is indeed extraordinary! No matter how formidable he was outside, wasn't he dealt with in a single encounter?" True Monarch Sanmiao roared with laughter.

"Do not celebrate too early just yet. Through my connection with the array, I can still sense a trace of his primordial spirit fluctuating. To be safe, even if we must discard his physical body, we shall directly refine him with the fire of the blazing dragon!"

"Very well, let's do it!"

Consequently, the frost inside the array receded, replaced by surging red light. Clustered golden flames fell like rain, melting the ice and snow instantly, and the air was warped by the intense heat.

The ice on Jiang An's body had barely melted when he was enveloped by flames. His clothes instantly vaporized, and his physical body was quickly scorched and blackened, presenting a horrifying sight. Strangely, however, from beginning to time, Jiang An kept his eyes closed, uttering not a single word, leaving the other party to do as they pleased without the slightest reaction.

After a while, Jiang An's physical body had almost turned into a dried corpse, with only a layer of skin clinging to his bones, while his aura had completely vanished, clearly appearing dead.

"Hmph, it seems I overestimated this person. Naturally, who could withstand such tyrannical forces of Yin and Yang? Yet his physical body was not completely refined and dissolved, showing he has unique aspects. Very well, junior martial brothers, you may withdraw your energy and open the array!"

"Understood!" the others chorased in unison.

Soon, a humming sound arose once more, and the array's light barrier gradually faded and vanished. The very instant the array opened, a flash of sword light suddenly erupted!

Even though True Monarch Sanmiao had spoken of assurance, he abruptly unleashed a flying sword, fiercely slashing toward Jiang An's charred, withered corpse in an attempt to sever his head!

Clang!

As the flying sword reached him, Jiang An abruptly opened his eyes and grabbed the flying sword with his bare hand!

"You're not dead after all! Close the array! Continue the refinement!"

Sanmiao's startled and furious voice rang out.

"Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for tempering Jiang's physical body with the power of ice and fire. As repayment, Jiang shall personally send you all to the Blissful Paradise!"

As he spoke, Jiang An's aura soared to the heavens, his blood surging like a tidal wave and his killing intent reaching the skies!

...

"Save me, Ancestor, save me!"

Stepping upon his flying sword, True Monarch Sanmiao sped all the way, rushing past numerous peaks until he finally arrived at the forbidden ground of Mount Divine Medicine—a cave accessible only to past sect masters.

The cave wound and twisted, extending deep down into the mountain body. The cavern walls were laced with numerous formidable restrictions and layer upon layer of traps. However, floating above Sanmiao's head was an exquisite jade Ruyi, radiating red and white light that escorted him safely deep into the cave amidst his ceaseless wails.

Before long, Sanmiao finally reached his destination. Leaping off his flying sword, he immediately began kowtowing and crying for help toward a pitch-black urn covered in colorful talisman papers resting upon an altar ahead.

"What is the meaning of this panic? Where is your dignity?"

A voice that was neither male nor female suddenly echoed from the urn, carrying an indelible gloom.

Sanmiao kowtowed heavily once more and said, "Ancestor, that ultimate vessel for possession that this grandson told you about is simply too powerful. Even the Cold Serpent and Blazing Dragon Grand Array was useless against him. He is currently on a killing spree outside, and the six-hundred-year foundation of Mount Divine Medicine is on the verge of destruction!"

"What? Tell me the process in detail." The voice within the black urn held a trace of slight astonishment.

"It is like this. This grandson first led this person..."

Sanmiao recounted the whole sequence of events from beginning to end, omitting not even a single word of their dialogue.

"If that is the case, this person truly might be, as you judged, some ancient monster reincarnated. To actually think of utilizing the ice and fire forces of the grand array to further temper his physical body—and succeed at that! Haha, Heaven aids me! This old man desires to meet this person even more now! This person will be of immense use to me!" The black urn burst into loud laughter.

"Ah?" Sanmiao was somewhat at a loss.

"Ah, what? Listen well to this old man: shortly, that person will surely pursue you here. This presents the absolute best opportunity for me to strike. No matter what his cultivation realm is, it is obvious he cannot yet project his divine sense outward; thus, his primordial spirit remains his weakness! Back then, this old man possessed the cultivation of the Golden Core stage. Although mostly worn away by the passage of time over these long years, my divine sense still retains at least the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage. He is unaware of my existence. As long as I catch him off guard and launch a sudden attack on his sea of consciousness, everything will fall smoothly into place! Haha, Heaven has mercy! Trapped here in this half-man, half-ghost state for over six hundred years! I can finally see the light of day once again!"

Wild laughter echoed across the altar.