As the Breaking Heaven Sword Technique began to churn wildly, countless strands of Heaven and Earth energy converged furiously in Zhang Yang’s palm, condensing into a silver-white halo of light.
In the blink of an eye, an even larger sphere of energy surged forth before Zhang Yang. As this energy continued to consolidate, it transitioned from silver-white to a brilliant yellow!
Drawing on his previous combat experience against the Ten-Crown Golden-Scaled Python, Zhang Yang knew precisely how to deal with a formidable spirit beast like the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox!
Energy Burst!
This was the true hallmark attack of a Fifth-Layer expert, the ultimate expression of manipulating Heaven and Earth energy. Zhang Yang had unleashed this very technique in the Savage Mountains to defeat the Ten-Crown Golden-Scaled Python!
The golden radiance appeared soothing, yet the sheer power contained within this ball of energy was terrifyingly immense. Though this was his second time employing the Energy Burst, Zhang Yang was significantly more practiced than the first time, but still, it wasn't enough!
Seeing Zhang Yang once again initiating the Energy Burst, Lightning swiftly darted forward during the brief interval Zhang Yang needed to gather the energy, grabbing Wuying and Lightning to pull them away from Zhang Yang’s vicinity. It had witnessed the destructive power of the Energy Burst firsthand; even though the energy Zhang Yang manifested was impure, achieved through a tricky shortcut, avoiding it was still essential to prevent collateral damage.
Having effortlessly evaded the sword light unleashed by Zhang Yang, the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox finally registered the yellow orb of energy coalescing before him. Inevitably, its smug expression froze upon its face, and its movements stiffened slightly, losing their former agility!
Indeed, the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox had finally grasped Zhang Yang’s true terror, sensing the overwhelmingly destructive energy contained within that yellow sphere—energy capable of crushing it to dust.
Faced with such overwhelming might, even the Ten-Crown Golden-Scaled Python would have trembled; how much more so a Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox that had artificially boosted its power to the late Fourth Layer through unconventional means!
Once the Energy Burst began to gather, it could not be stopped. The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox had missed the critical opportunity to interrupt Zhang Yang’s initial charge. Now, it had only two options before it.
The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, having mutated to attain late Fourth-Layer strength, still possessed the physical body of an early Fourth-Layer beast. Struck by the yellow energy halo, its nine long, sweeping tails—as black and wide as winnowing fans—were instantly overloaded. Its fur bristled like needles as it was violently propelled backward by the yellow energy sphere, accompanied by a rapid retreat.
“Roar!!”
With a piercing shriek, the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox finally reacted, but escape or evasion were no longer possible. Confrontation was the only recourse left!
Its nine dark tails instantly wrapped around the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, turning it into a pitch-black steel ball as it was aggressively shoved backward by the yellow energy mass. It unleashed its full potential, but seeking a direct collision now was far too late.
The yellow energy hammered against the small black sphere, shattering the sparse grass, trees, and massive boulders in its path before smashing into the sheer cliff face. For a fleeting moment, the small waterfall cascading down the rocks seemed to flow upward in reverse!
“Boom!!”
A sky-shattering roar erupted in the relatively confined canyon-grotto, causing the ground and cliffs to shudder violently. The colossal sound echoed for five to six kilometers around!
The entire Purple Gold Mountain seemed to experience a minor earthquake, and the resulting tremors even reached Changjing City, propagating for hundreds of miles before finally dissipating.
As for Qiao Yihong and the members of the Spirit Beast Sect near the canyon, the deafening sound, amplified by the valley’s echo, nearly ruptured their eardrums.
Qiao Yihong managed to endure by sheltering beside Zhuifeng, who offered significant aid. The others from the Spirit Beast Sect, however, were overwhelmed by the intensity due to their lower cultivation levels and promptly lost consciousness. Only a few individuals near the Third-Layer Roc were merely left spitting blood and dizzy, protected somewhat by the spirit beast; the Roc itself was struggling due to the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox’s lingering poison. Fortunately, Wuying and Lightning appeared swiftly at its side, helping to absorb some of the shockwave’s residual force, providing some relief.
The Roc’s gaze toward Wuying and Lightning shifted from initial wariness to genuine gratitude. This small act of assistance was unexpected by Wuying and Lightning, as their impulse to help the injured Roc stemmed purely from sympathy.
The lingering pressure of the Energy Burst gradually subsided, and the dust settled. The aberrant reverse flow of the stream normalized. Only a massive, scorched crater remained on the cliff face, wisps of white smoke still faintly rising from within.
“Ding-dong, Redemption Quest Complete!”
Hearing the long-absent chime of the Sacred Hand System, Zhang Yang could no longer stand; his body went limp, collapsing onto the ground as if utterly drained. Every ounce of internal force in his Dantian had been expended.
Looking around, the canyon-grotto, once resembling a blessed, picturesque sanctuary, was now a desolate wreck. Despite his profound exhaustion, a question surfaced in Zhang Yang’s mind.
Why didn't this mutated Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox attempt to evade even once from beginning to end?
At this moment, Zhang Yang remained unaware that his use of the Energy Burst had once again alerted numerous powerful individuals.
Outside the canyon-grotto, every animal on Purple Gold Mountain simultaneously turned their heads and looked up toward the peak, remaining motionless for a long time, their expressions etched with terror!
In Changjing City, Zhang Pinglu bolted upright. His gaze immediately shot toward Purple Gold Mountain. The energy discharge had occurred too close for comfort, meaning he, a Great Perfection expert, felt the reverberations with extreme intensity.
Without another moment’s hesitation, Zhang Pinglu leaped into motion, his destination unequivocally Purple Gold Mountain!
At the Zhang family villa and a nearby residence, Yan Yefei and Yan Liangfei awoke from their sleep almost simultaneously. Though they did not live together, both were drenched in sweat, their expressions identical—as if they had shared the very same nightmare!
The power of Zhang Yang’s Energy Burst this time was considerably weaker than the last. Those who sensed it, aside from those near Purple Gold Mountain, found that even Great Perfection experts could not perceive the energy fluctuations as clearly as before. Other internal energy cultivators were completely unable to sense anything.
Also in Changjing, within a heavily guarded military zone, a figure cloaked entirely in black robes inside an unknown cave frowned sharply.
Beside him lounged another figure, humming a cheerful tune with his eyes closed, until the surge of energy from Purple Gold Mountain interrupted his melody.
“What’s the fuss? Isn’t that just the little fellow using that impure Energy Burst again? Why are you getting so worked up?”
The figure opened his eyes, glanced dismissively at the robed man beside him, and lazily continued, “He probably ran into trouble again. It’s a good thing the kid kept control of the energy; if it had rippled out to my location, I wouldn’t have spared him… Oh well, he’s an entertaining child nonetheless. Go warn him again for me. Tell him that if he hasn't reached the Fifth Layer, he shouldn't use energy that doesn't belong to him so casually, or he can forget about ever reaching the Fifth Layer in this lifetime.”
“Yes!”
Facing this figure, the Black Robe was deeply respectful, daring not to be the least remiss. He turned to leave.
“Wait!”
The figure called him back, paused, and then added, “Also, tell him not to cause trouble abroad until the time is right. Some grudges aren't forgotten, merely postponed until the moment arrives!”
“Yes.”
The Black Robe immediately bowed his head and retreated slowly. Just as he exited the cave, the figure’s lazy voice echoed once more within the darkness: “Getting old makes one forgetful. One more thing I forgot to instruct: that entertaining kid likely won’t heed your warning. Take your people with you. If necessary, give him some official status—just ensure my existence remains secret.”
The Black Robe broke out in a cold sweat. Upon exiting the cave, several figures clad in silver-white robes stood guard outside. Their attire and features were likewise concealed by their cloaks.
“Master?”
The Silver-Robed figures immediately gathered around when they saw the Black Robe emerging from the cave.
“To Changjing,” the Black Robe sighed faintly, then instructed the Silver-Robed figures beside him, “Find him.” (To be continued.) No Pop-up Novel Network