As Ye Wen's thought formed, the dozen or so flying swords violently erupted with their full sword energy. Though the swords themselves remained unchanged, each one was enveloped in sword qi nearly as tall as a man. To be touched by this qi meant certain death or grievous injury, demonstrating just how overwhelmingly tyrannical its power was.

Suddenly, the more than ten long swords within the formation burst forth with a corresponding number of brilliant lights. Outside the formation, Zhang Jiyu’s expression shifted drastically; he even forgot to continue forming the required hand seals. Startled by this, the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire, which was already over halfway deployed, flickered—not that it would suddenly dissipate, but the momentary pause in Zhang Jiyu’s incantation caused the Glazed Fire to nearly slip out of control.

This formation was no ordinary technique. If the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire lost control, even within the already established Nine Heavens Blazing Fire Array, restrained by the towering pillars from the Jianshu, the resulting destruction would be far beyond Zhang Jiyu’s ability to manage.

To mention nothing else, if Jian Shu could not contain it, and the Glazed Fire broke out of the array to scorch the city beneath his feet, the situation would become unmanageable—likely triggering a world war! And not just any war, but a cataclysmic battle between immensely powerful non-human entities. The ensuing devastation would be far more terrifying than the nuclear warfare currently feared by global powers.

With a single misstep, humanity could face extinction; with another, the Earth itself could be ruined! It was easy to forget that the techniques cultivators currently employed, though seemingly unimpressive, had limited destructive scope because everyone carefully controlled their power. Moreover, in the current environment, the reckless use of one’s spiritual energy might prove irrecoverable.

If they truly fought to the death, a single self-detonation from an Earth Immortal-level cultivator could obliterate a major city, and the resulting clean-up would be more absolute than a nuclear bomb, extinguishing all life. If his Seven-Colored Glazed Fire escaped the formation uncontrolled, the mildest outcome would be the utter vaporization of everything on the land beneath him, leaving nothing behind. At its worst, the consequences were unimaginable!

Considering this, cold sweat streamed down Zhang Jiyu’s brow. He resumed forming his hand seals, but this time not to summon more Seven-Colored Glazed Fire to attack the enemy, but to stabilize the Glazed Fire within the array as much as possible and prevent it from running wild.

This meant he had even less attention to spare for Ye Wen. Ye Wen’s dozen flying swords were each meticulously targeting one pillar, striking relentlessly. The clang of metal against metal echoed ceaselessly from within the formation. What baffled Zhang Jiyu most was that no matter how he shifted the positions of the giant pillars, Ye Wen’s Qi-formed flying swords unerringly located the exact pillar they had been attacking.

“How is this possible?”

If there were only one pillar, he could attribute it to Ye Wen’s astonishing eyesight, managing to track the targeted pillar despite the constant movement. But with over a dozen pillars, each in a different orientation, Ye Wen couldn't possibly perceive everything within a 360-degree radius, above and below him, simultaneously, could he? If so, was Ye Wen even human? Even the legendary third eye of Erlang Shen or the Fiery Eyes of the Victorious Fighting Buddha could not achieve such a feat.

What they did not know was that Ye Wen’s earlier barrage of powerful punches was not a sudden impulse. From the moment he saw Zhang Jiyu’s Jianshu unfurl, and heard he was using it to construct the formation, Ye Wen had already deduced the function of these pillars.

To break the array, he had planned countermeasures from the very beginning, even anticipating that Zhang Jiyu would use the pillars offensively to buy time for his spellcasting. Thus, from the outset, Ye Wen had subtly infused the pillars with Mei Xia Dang true energy, marking them with faint traces. As soon as the opponent’s formation activated, Ye Wen immediately directed his Purple Swords to attack these marked pillars. Destroying even one or two would cause the entire formation to collapse on its own.

It must be said that while formations possessed tremendous power and, once successfully cast, placed far less strain on the caster than conventional spells, they also offered no pressure from enemy attacks; the caster only needed to control the array perfectly to annihilate a stronger opponent.

However, formations possessed a crucial vulnerability: if the objects used to construct them were attacked and damaged—even slightly, rendering them unusable—a powerful formation could instantly crumble.

From this perspective, formations were formidable, yet inherently fragile! If one found the correct method, even the strongest array could be easily dismantled.

Of course, those well-versed in formations have simpler methods for breaking them, but Ye Wen was entirely ignorant of such lore. Therefore, he chose the most direct and brute-force approach: shattering the formation with sheer power. However, he did not act rashly with brute force; instead, he made targeted arrangements. This allowed him to stand calmly within the formation now, despite the terrifying Seven-Colored Glazed Fire swirling around him. He was enveloped by the sword light erupting from his Zixiao Sword, his eyes closed, channeling all his focus into forcing the dozen flying swords to break the array as quickly as possible.

Since achieving mastery of his spiritual sense, he could channel true energy into the flying swords directly through that sense. Therefore, he had no fear that the swords, emitting powerful sword energy in this harsh environment, would exhaust themselves and fail midway.

Though Ye Wen was enveloped in sword light, faint tendrils of purple energy could be vaguely seen swirling around him, ethereal and steaming—a clear sign that his Innate Purple Qi was being pushed to its absolute limit. Simultaneously, Ye Wen activated his White Cloud Smoke, Mei Xia Dang, and Purple Star River true energies, injecting variation into the force of his flying swords. He understood that relying on sheer brute force alone would make injuring these top-tier magical artifacts of the Huashan Sect immensely difficult. Adding variation would make the task simpler.

Magical artifacts are typically linked intimately to their user’s consciousness and are imbued with the user’s spiritual energy. If Ye Wen continued with pure frontal assault, despite its astounding might, Zhang Jiyu would eventually adapt, making destroying the pillars virtually impossible.

But now, Ye Wen’s flying swords suddenly erupted with pure Yang force, then shifted to the scorching energy of blazing clouds, or perhaps utilized the subtle interplay of Yin and Yang, blending softness and hardness.

What caused Zhang Jiyu the most distress was that Ye Wen even unleashed attacks combining Yin and Yang simultaneously, resembling the energetic flow of Tai Chi: hardness within softness, softness within hardness, oscillating between Yang and Yin, driving him to agony.

With a moment’s lapse, one of Ye Wen’s flying swords managed to pierce the spiritual energy coating on Zhang Jiyu’s artifact, causing a violent jolt to his consciousness, and he violently spat out a mouthful of vital blood.

This action startled Wang Pan beside him, making him realize his companion’s situation was dire. “Daoist friend… is something amiss?”

Waving a hand dismissively, Zhang Jiyu managed a strained smile. “The energy emanating from Ye Wen’s flying swords is profoundly peculiar. When I took that last blow, the sword qi bore a striking resemblance to the Tai Chi techniques of your sect…”

Wang Pan’s expression darkened, as this issue was potentially grave. At best, it meant Ye Wen had also comprehended Tai Chi principles. After all, this theory wasn't exclusive to the Wudang Sect; Daoist texts across all sects contained related records, and many sects had developed their own interpretations of Tai Chi, spawning numerous unique techniques.

For example, Tai Chi boxing was not solely owned by the Wudang Sect; countless variations existed across the land. Some sects even called their fighting style Tai Chi boxing when it was an entirely different set of skills. Thus, Ye Wen understanding the energetic flow of Tai Chi was not unusual.

However, there was the danger of malicious actors exploiting this. In the current situation, if Ye Wen were somehow linked to the Wudang Sect, it would inevitably cause considerable trouble for them. After a moment’s thought, Wang Pan decided immediately: “This person’s power is formidable; he cannot be handled by one alone. This humble Taoist will lend you his strength!”

As he spoke, the Tai Chi Plate revolving around him was about to enter the formation to attack, and Wang Pan called out, “Sir, please open a passage so my artifact may enter!”

Zhang Jiyu understood that if this continued, his formation would be broken, his artifacts severely damaged, and he, weakened by the assault on his mind, would certainly suffer injuries, losing his combat effectiveness. Furthermore, since he had already engaged Ye Wen, it would be considered normal if the latter seized the opportunity to kill him. Under these circumstances, Zhang Jiyu offered no refusal, preparing to open a gap in his array to let the Tai Chi Plate fly in.

But before he could respond, his consciousness jolted again, causing him to vomit several more mouthfuls of vital blood. He appeared even weaker, clutching his chest and gasping heavily. “Too late. Ye Wen has already shattered my Blazing Fire Array…”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Nine Heavens Blazing Fire Array violently collapsed. The Seven-Colored Glazed Fire contained within it surged out of the ruins, clearly heading toward the city below, threatening world-ending catastrophe.

Yet, just as the flames descended, a streak of purple light within them was suddenly eclipsed by an even more intense radiance. Then, images of mountains, rivers, great beasts, and vast landscapes—appearing both real and illusory—materialized high in the sky. Wang Pan and Zhang Jiyu, caught within the spectacle, felt as if they had fallen into a grand illusion, for the sights were not only unfamiliar but breathtakingly beautiful.

“This…”

Wang Pan was about to speak when he noticed his Tai Chi Plate shaking erratically in the air. He hurriedly recalled it. The moment it landed in his hand, the energy of the Tai Chi symbol on the plate vanished completely, revealing the artifact’s dull, black original surface. No matter how Wang Pan channeled his energy, the plate remained completely unresponsive.

Simultaneously, Zhang Jiyu recalled his Jianshu. He found that seven or eight of the pillars were heavily scarred; had the confrontation lasted a moment longer, they might have been utterly destroyed. His heart ached, and his assessment of Ye Wen’s strength grew more cautious. With his magical artifacts severely damaged, this matter was likely beyond his capacity to resolve.

“If I can just keep my life…”

After storing the Jianshu, Zhang Jiyu exchanged a glance with Wang Pan, then gazed at the surrounding wondrous phenomena without speaking. His eyes swept over the scene, finally settling on Ye Wen in the distance.

Ye Wen had already broken free of the array, seemingly unharmed. Although the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire was fiercely potent, it had not been fully unleashed, and the array itself had been hampered by his flying swords. Consequently, the Glazed Fire had no chance to exert its full power before Ye Wen shattered the formation and escaped.

However, he hadn't expected the Glazed Fire to persist after the array dissolved. If left unchecked, it would bring disaster upon the common people below. As he pondered a solution, a thought barely formed before the Kyushu Tripod, kept close to his person, suddenly emitted a dazzling, ten-thousand-foot brilliance, followed by the appearance of all these strange visions.

At the same time, the descending Seven-Colored Glazed Fire abruptly halted its trajectory. Then, as if drawn by some invisible force, it surged back toward Ye Wen.

Frankly, Ye Wen was startled by this turn of events. But he had no control now; the Kyushu Tripod acted like a dragon sucking water, releasing an immense gravitational pull that forcibly drew the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire into the cauldron.

Since the Kyushu Tripod was held close to his body, the Glazed Fire inevitably affected Ye Wen. A significant portion surged directly into his body, forcing him to circulate his Innate Purple Qi intensely to expel the fiery energy. Alas, the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire was overwhelmingly tyrannical, utterly beyond what Ye Wen could currently repel.

Just then, the essence of that crimson fruit, seemingly sensing the situation, suddenly began to spin within Ye Wen’s Dantian. The entire crimson essence transformed into a vortex, emitting a terrifying suction. Rather than helping Ye Wen push the Glazed Fire out, it began drawing the passing Glazed Fire further into his core.

“Damn it! That thing didn't kill me last time, and now it’s trying to burn me alive?”

The crimson fruit essence had resided within Ye Wen’s body. He had planned to slowly cultivate and refine that essence, viewing it as his greatest asset in this world where heavenly and earthly energies were scarce. He never anticipated it would invite such calamity.

Ye Wen felt his body being roasted from the inside out, as if placed in a blazing furnace. He suspected he would soon smell fragrant and turn delightfully crispy! But unlike the perfectly seared exterior and tender interior of roast meat, Ye Wen feared that while his outside might crisp, his insides would turn to ash! In short, he believed he would become nothing more than a charred husk!

However, after a minute passed, he realized that although he was suffering intensely, his body sustained no damage. While the entry of the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire brought immense pain, it was simultaneously refining his body through that suffering.

Ye Wen concentrated and inspected himself. He discovered that the moment the Glazed Fire neared him, it seemed to change. It was no longer violently explosive as he first perceived; instead, it emitted a strange sensation—one of deep affinity, beauty, and an urge to willingly immerse himself within it and dance.

“Have I gone mad from the heat?”

He was unaware that the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire was a Buddhist fire, inherently not a pure flame of slaughter. Besides subduing demons and vanquishing evil, the Glazed Fire possessed the power of purification.

And purification had many applications. It could cleanse impurities, such as vengeful spirits! It could purify toxic miasma and malevolent energies! It could purify wicked thoughts! This effect was quite profound, requiring a true Buddhist master to wield such divine power. It could purify the physical body! This ability was considered one of the most dominant aspects of the Glazed Fire, yet only a great master could activate this effect, and only if they possessed a heart filled with absolute compassion—devoid of any intent to harm. Otherwise, if a master used the Glazed Fire to purify someone’s body, even the slightest killing intent would result in the subject being…

Ye Wen didn't understand these nuances, but he could feel the transformation occurring within his body due to the Glazed Fire. More importantly, he vaguely sensed that the Kyushu Tripod, positioned close to him, was the cause of it all.

“What other secrets does this Kyushu Tripod hold?”

At this moment, Ye Wen was immobile, forced to watch as both he and the Kyushu Tripod were continuously enveloped and incinerated by the massive ball of Glazed Fire. The Kyushu Tripod had ceased drawing in the flames; instead, it allowed the fire to burn over its surface without any reaction.

Although the Kyushu Tripod still radiated its brilliant light, that radiance seemed completely disconnected from the Glazed Fire. Meanwhile, far in the distance, Wang Pan and Zhang Jiyu discovered they were unable to move, forced to witness the spectacle unfolding before them.

“What in the world is happening?”

Wang Pan had initially assumed Zhang Jiyu had employed some maneuver when the Glazed Fire rushed toward Ye Wen. But when he saw Ye Wen unharmed under the burning fire, he realized something was fundamentally wrong.

Zhang Jiyu was dumbfounded, watching the events unfold. Finally, he spoke with a grave expression, “This phenomenon bears a striking resemblance to the 'Glazed Fire Burning the Body for Purification'! However, I have only seen scattered mentions of this situation in ancient texts; I cannot be certain!”

Despite his words, as he watched Ye Wen’s clothes burn away completely while his body remained unscathed, and as the Glazed Fire burned brighter, faint, multi-hued radiance began to shimmer over Ye Wen’s flesh, Zhang Jiyu’s mind confirmed that the legendary event was indeed occurring.

He silently conceded that Ye Wen possessed immense fortune, and then fell silent. Trapped and unable to move, anything he said would be useless. Moreover, since Ye Wen was now gaining such a great boon, he faintly sensed the situation was becoming increasingly intractable.

Not only was Ye Wen sensing constant changes in his physical form, but he was also astonished to find that as the Glazed Fire continued to burn, the Kyushu Tripod seemed to be slowly merging into his body. The bronze cauldron, now the size of a clenched fist, had already sunk halfway into him.

“Holy hell! You’re not planning to merge with me, are you?”

He tried to speak but found himself unable to move or even utter a sound. A mass of Glazed Fire had burned its way into his mouth, scorching his tongue. Any attempt to open his mouth only resulted in a gout of flame erupting outward, making speech impossible. Subsequently, the Glazed Fire flowed upward. In moments, Ye Wen’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth were engulfed in raging flames. He could not speak, see, hear, or smell. Naturally, he remained unaware that the Kyushu Tripod had completely fused into his body, a fact that the two distant observers witnessed clearly.

“The Kyushu Tripod has fused entirely with Ye Wen. What… what should we do?”