Chapter 0157

Chapter 157: Baleful Aura Sweeps the Jade Purity Sect

A tiny crack sounded, shattering Wu Zhan’s last hope. Eyes bulging, he stared at the topmost Jade Token, the one webbed with spreading lines, and he could not help but roar: “Who killed Elder Xuan Yu!”

As his shout fell, the cracks raced across the token and it burst into dust.

That was the final straw. The great formation exploded with a thunderclap and could no longer hold. A terrifying shockwave swept across the Jade Purity Sect. No one could avoid it. Blood sprayed from mouths everywhere.

At the center of the array, the Sect Master took the full backlash. It severed his road to Sainthood on the spot.

He screamed in despair as he cried: “No!” Rage burned with fear in his eyes. He raged that his path had been cut. He feared what he knew would come next, because failure at this level draws down horrors.

Sure enough, the three calamities and four tribulations arrived right on time. The body-destroying calamity and the nightmare-summoning misfortune tribulation struck together, lancing through him.

He tumbled from the sky as black flames burst over his skin. Failing the Saint Tribulation brings not only the three calamities and four tribulations, but an extra punishment: one becomes a fallen thing. Those black flames were Fallen Baleful Aura.

In short, the calamities and tribulations target only the one crossing the Tribulation, but Fallen Baleful Aura spreads outward, turning a hundred miles into a forbidden zone. A cultivator who fails the Saint Tribulation is extremely dangerous; anyone who approaches will be dragged into it.

The black flames detonated with a boom, and the Fallen Baleful Aura rained down like a storm, covering the entire Jade Purity Sect.

Screams rose everywhere. Elder and disciple alike were stricken with fear. The Fallen Baleful Aura did not kill at once, but it burned away life force and cultivation. Once it touched you, it clung like maggots to bone. Unless great methods smothered it directly, the harm would not fade even after you left the zone.

This outburst almost wiped the Jade Purity Sect in one sweep.

There were exceptions. Immortal Maiden White Crane moved as if nothing touched her; the baleful aura skirted away from her. A few disciples also stood unharmed, dazed as they watched the disaster around them. Fate is mysterious. These were the disciples who had escorted Zhou Tong away. Somehow they were protected, the calamity refusing to settle on them, as if they had stepped outside cause and effect.

…

At Red Dust Mountain outside the Joyous Union Sect, Zhou Tong suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Zhang Chu Qiao tilted her head as she asked: “What are you laughing at?”

Zhou Tong shook his head with a faint smile as he said: “Nothing. I just thought of something funny.” He looked toward the direction of the Jade Purity Sect, a mocking curve on his lips. A moment ago, Saintly might had rippled there, then it went out, and after that, Fallen Baleful Aura rose. Anyone could guess what had happened.

[Old dog, you finally got your retribution.]

Ever since he used Soul Search on Xuan Yu, he had learned many secrets he had not known even in his last life. The Sect Master of the Jade Purity Sect wore a kind, gentle face and had showered him with care, but in truth he had been eyeing Zhou Tong’s Calamity-Suppressing Physique. In Wu Zhan’s eyes, Zhou Tong was a living remedy for Tribulations. If he faced a hurdle he could not cross, he would have refined Zhou Tong without hesitation to save himself.

In the last life, Wu Zhan had staggering luck and crossed the Saint Tribulation by his own power. This life is different. After Zhou Tong left, that luck seemed to vanish.

Right now, Wu Zhan must be trapped between life and death. It was like the Sword Saint’s lover: unless someone found Little Deer’s sachet or used the Weiling Senluo Guardian Spell, there would be almost no turning back.

Of course, there was another path.

Zhou Tong’s mouth lifted at one corner as a slender figure rose in his mind. It was his third senior sister, Xuan Shu Yu. She was Elder Xuan Yu’s granddaughter. After Xia Hong Xiu, she had taken Mo Liu Su as her teacher, and she was said to possess the legendary Pseudo Saint Physique.

A Pseudo Saint Physique could absorb and dissolve baleful aura. When Zhou Tong had been around, such dirty work had never reached her. But now Zhou Tong was gone, and her strongest backing had turned to dust. He wondered if she could keep her old calm and lofty air.

While he drifted in thought, the Red Dust ship slid up to the Joyous Union Sect. They were finally home.

Zhou Tong lifted a hand and gave a crisp order as he said: “Mystic Heaven Nine Flowers Grand Array, open for me.” The barrier withdrew at once, and the Red Dust drifted through.

Mu Rong Ya sucked in a breath as she looked around. In only a few days, the Joyous Union Sect had changed completely. It was no longer a field of waist-high weeds and broken walls. Neat caves and tidy homes lined the grounds, carrying a hint of its former grandeur.

“Who did this good work?” someone asked in awe.

“Young Master! Master!” Liu Yan waved from below, grinning like a child.

The Red Dust set down beside her. Everyone disembarked and looked her up and down.

Even the Devil Sovereign’s eyes narrowed with curiosity as he asked: “Did you do all this?”

Liu Yan scratched her cheek and nodded as she said: “Mm… I was bored, so I just worked on it for a bit. Of course, the Array Arts Eldest Master helped me a lot.”

By “Array Arts Eldest Master,” she meant the Mystic Heaven Nine Flowers Grand Array itself, which had awakened a spirit.

Zhou Tong slowly turned, taking it all in as he said: “Even so, it’s a bit beyond common sense.” To reshape the Joyous Union Sect like this in less than a month… was Liu Yan born with some sacred earth-and-wood body?

A low buzz rolled through the air as the Nine Flowers Grand Array sent ripples across the void toward Zhou Tong and the others. Moments later, their expressions turned odd. The grand array was begging Zhou Tong for a gift, just like a child wheedling its parents after they came home.

“Houla!” Little White appeared in a flash and punched the sky. The ripples shattered all at once. Little White looked very pleased with himself, as if saying: I am the rightful heir; you, side branch, behave.

Everyone blinked in surprise. Two awakened spirits fighting for favor was unheard of.

Zhou Tong raised his hands in peace as he soothed the array, saying: “All right, all right. I won’t shortchange you. I didn’t bring you anything this time, but before long I’ll help you dig up a leyline.”

The great formation trembled with joy and shaped a handprint in the air, clearly asking to pinky swear. Zhou Tong could only chuckle helplessly as he said: “Fine, fine,” and he matched the gesture.

“Houla,” Little White rumbled in protest, telling the array not to overdo it.

Zhang Chu Qiao frowned as she warned: “Junior brother, leylines aren’t easy to find. The good ones are probably already taken by the big sects.”

Zhou Tong’s gaze turned toward Primal Heaven Earth Mountain as he said with a small smile: “I know. Then we’ll take one.”