Chapter 289: The Strange Bird Ruler of Chaos
"Let's try this spirit array!"
Inside the spatial passage, Xiao Tiance sent the spirit array forward. In an instant, the small palm sized array expanded, growing enormous as it enveloped the black thunder and the crumbling spirit array that had been containing it.
Roar!
A beast like growl emanated from the black thunder. The sound was strange, resembling a mix between a tiger's roar and a leopard's snarl.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The black thunder swelled suddenly, filling the entire array in the blink of an eye.
"What terrifying power!" Xiao Tiance murmured. The overwhelming energy and destructive aura emanating from the spirit array made him marvel at its potency.
Despite its ferocity, Xiao Tiance wasn't overly concerned. Though the spirit array wasn't quite at the grandmaster level, it was close. Only a supreme level existence could shatter it.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
No matter how violently the black thunder raged, the golden array firmly held it in place.
Seeing this, Xiao Tiance allowed himself a slight smile. Turning to Xiao Xuan and the others, he began, "Brother Xuan, I'll need some time to deal with this black thunder, so perhaps you all should "
Before he could finish, Ling'er's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"小先生 (Little Sir), I can already sense the presence of the World Core from the Great Thousand World. We're almost there. At this point, you must not separate from Xiao Xuan and the others. You said before that after reaching the Great Thousand World, everyone might be transported to different locations. If you're not with them, it could lead to serious trouble."
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance nodded. He quickly took out several jade pendants from his storage ring, handing one to each person.
"Brother Xuan, these jade pendants are for tracking each other's locations. Keep them safe. If we get separated during the spatial transfer, we can use them to reunite. Ling'er has already sensed the presence of the World Core, so we're getting close to the Great Thousand World," Xiao Tiance explained.
Xiao Xuan examined the jade pendant before asking, "Tiance, aren't you coming with us?"
Xiao Tiance sighed and glanced at the black thunder, which remained trapped within the spirit array. "This cursed thing refuses to be destroyed. My attempts to weaken or absorb it have all failed. If I leave with you, it'll break free in no time and cause havoc.
"You all should go on ahead. Once it's contained, I'll catch up. Don't worry my speed will let me rejoin you quickly."
Before Xiao Xuan could respond, Huang Min stepped forward. "Teacher, let me try my Nirvana Flame on it. With the spirit array holding the thunder in place, my flames might be effective."
"Uncle Tiance, my Emperor Flame is also potent. If the array weren't restraining the black thunder, we'd stand no chance against it. But with its containment, our flames should be able to weaken it," Gu Xun'er added.
Xiao Tiance pondered briefly before nodding. Huang Min was earnest in her desire to help, and Gu Xun'er, though likely motivated by her concern for Xiao Yan, also seemed sincere.
"Alright, but be quick. I'll hold the array steady while you attack. Make sure to act immediately when I signal."
"Yes, Teacher/Uncle Tiance!"
Both women stood ready, and Xiao Tiance adjusted the array, opening two small gaps in its golden barrier.
"Now!"
On his command, Huang Min and Gu Xun'er unleashed their respective flames into the array. The Nirvana Flame and Emperor Flame shot through the openings, penetrating the black thunder's core.
Roar!
A beastly howl erupted from within as the black thunder convulsed violently.
At first, it seemed effective. But moments later, Xiao Tiance noticed something amiss the array's stability was faltering.
"Stop! Min'er, Xun'er, stop your attacks!" Xiao Tiance shouted urgently.
The two quickly ceased their flames, but before Xiao Tiance could seal the array again, cracks began to spider across its golden barrier.
"No! This thing is absorbing the flames to grow stronger! The array is about to collapse!" Xiao Tiance cursed. "Brother Xuan, take everyone and leave now! There's no time to waste!"
Xiao Xuan understood the urgency. He knew staying would be futile and dangerous. "Tiance, take care of yourself."
"Go! The array is seconds from breaking!" Xiao Tiance urged, his voice sharp.
"Let's move!"
"Uncle Tiance, stay safe!"
"Teacher, we'll wait for you ahead!"
One by one, the group rushed onward, shouting their farewells as they disappeared down the passage.
The Collapse
With the group safely gone, Xiao Tiance refocused on the array. Just as he reinforced it with another formation, the original array shattered with a deafening boom!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Though protected by his secondary array, Xiao Tiance still felt the sheer force of the explosion.
"Damn it! This thing is far more sinister than I thought," Xiao Tiance muttered.
Yet instead of attacking, the black thunder began to coalesce. Xiao Tiance watched in shock as it transformed into a bird like creature.
The strange bird had two pairs of wings, razor sharp talons, and a body as black as night. Only its crest, adorned with two multicolored feathers, stood out in its eerie appearance.
"What in the heavens is this monster?" Xiao Tiance murmured, his expression grim.
"Hahaha! I never imagined that I, the Ruler of Chaos, would have the chance to live again! Hahaha!"
Just as Xiao Tiance prepared to construct another spirit array, the strange black bird suddenly spoke in a human voice words Xiao Tiance could understand perfectly.
"Ruler of Chaos?" Xiao Tiance's expression grew serious. Titles like this were rarely self proclaimed and often signified an individual who had committed extraordinary deeds whether good or evil.
"Oh? A little insect, I see. Are you frozen in fear by my majesty?"
The bird turned its gaze toward Xiao Tiance, its tone dripping with disdain.
Even though the creature lacked a human form, Xiao Tiance could sense the ridicule in its eyes.
That mocking expression immediately irritated Xiao Tiance. The bird's oppressive aura was undeniable, but it didn't instill fear just pressure. It meant the difference in their strength was noticeable but not insurmountable.
If they were in the Great Thousand World, where Xiao Tiance's Dou Qi would have to be converted into spiritual energy, he might have been forced to retreat. But here, where his full power remained intact, he wasn't one to back down.
"Hmph, calling me an insect? You're not so powerful yourself. Mocking me like this don't you think you're a little too arrogant?" Xiao Tiance retorted coldly.
"Oh? A bold little insect, aren't you? Strange, though. I don't sense the energy of the Great Thousand World in you, yet you're able to construct spirit arrays. And not just any this one's nearing the grandmaster level. How peculiar.
"Bah, no matter. Once I capture you, I'll take my time figuring you out."
Before Xiao Tiance could react, the bird flapped its wings, shooting toward him with speed too fast to follow.
Clang!
The bird's sharp claws clashed with Xiao Tiance's forearm, sending him hurtling hundreds of meters backward.
"Hmph, is that all?" Xiao Tiance steadied himself, crouched slightly, and launched himself forward with explosive force, speeding back toward the bird.
"You court death!"
The bird roared in anger. It had expected its attack to shatter Xiao Tiance's arm, yet the human was unharmed and even had the audacity to charge again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a flash, the two clashed over a hundred times. Xiao Tiance alternated between punches and palm strikes, engaging in a brutal melee with the bird.
However, the bird's speed gave it the upper hand. Its claws blocked Xiao Tiance's strikes, and its sharp beak suddenly found an opening, stabbing directly at Xiao Tiance's chest.
Clang!
"What?!"
The bird froze in shock. It had full confidence in the strength of this attack. Even the protective forms of Great Thousand World Supreme Physiques would crumble under it. Yet this human a mere "insect" had emerged unscathed.
"Heh, what's impossible about that?" Xiao Tiance chuckled, his lips curling into a faint smile.
The brief but intense exchange had revealed much. While the bird radiated an intimidating aura, its actual strength was inferior to what Xiao Tiance had initially feared. Perhaps it hadn't fully recovered. Regardless, its physical resilience was weaker than his own.
"Damn you, little insect! You must be some chosen prodigy of a lower world. Out of gratitude for you freeing me from the Nine Heavens Black Demon Thunder, I was willing to tame you as my pet with just a bit of discipline. But you're shamelessly ignorant, spewing such arrogance!
"Fine! If that's how it is, let me show you my true power!"
The bird's taunts faded into a low growl as arcs of black lightning danced across its body. Flames, eerily similar to Huang Min's Nirvana Flame, ignited on its claws.
Seeing this, Xiao Tiance cursed inwardly. He had pieced the situation together.
The bird must have been trapped by the Nine Heavens Black Demon Thunder, its body rendered invisible by its pitch black appearance. Xiao Tiance's initial spirit array had inadvertently alleviated the thunder's grip, allowing the creature to stir.
The beastly roar he had heard earlier was the bird's own cry of revival. His spirit arrays' weakening and devouring effects had targeted the thunder, not the bird itself.
Worse still, Huang Min's Nirvana Flame had provided the bird with restorative energy. Without their intervention, the Nine Heavens Black Demon Thunder might have eventually destroyed it. Instead, they had unwittingly set it free.
"Damn it, we helped this thing escape, and it dares show no gratitude? Truly a beast." Xiao Tiance's eyes grew cold. "Fine. I'll fix our mistake by sending you to oblivion!"
Muttering to himself, Xiao Tiance activated the spirit arrays engraved within his body.
During his ascension to Dou Emperor, he had inscribed two arrays within himself:
Devouring Sky Spirit Array to absorb ambient Dou Qi or spiritual energy, ensuring he would always have energy to draw upon and protecting him from ambushes.
Sky Refinement Array a grandmaster level array designed to temper his physique continuously, as though his body were eternally inside a refining furnace. This made his body resilient enough to clash with even mid tier Supreme Physiques.
As he activated the Sky Refinement Array, his physical durability soared to new heights the very reason the bird's earlier strike had failed.
"You wretched creature! I'll destroy you!"
The bird screeched, its black lightning and fiery aura erupting as it charged again.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1