The Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array was currently the second most powerful array in Qi Ping’s arsenal, surpassed only by the Yin-Yang Heavenly Severance Array. He had captured this array as one of his favorite spoils of war from past battles.
The Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array was built on the fusion of the five elements, combining enemy-killing, entrapment, disruption, defense, amplification, suppression, and healing into one. It was a seamless, well-rounded array with multiple effects.
The array was exceptionally refined and highly versatile—arguably one of the most well-rounded second-tier arrays around. Even taken individually, its effects were on par with many other second-tier arrays. In fact, with the boost from the five elements’ mutual generation, it was far more powerful than ordinary arrays.
It was even far more powerful than five separate single-attribute arrays combined.
The reason Qi Ping had never learned this array before was that it was extremely difficult to set up. Without comprehending the true essence of the five elements—without understanding their fusion, mutual generation, and mutual restraint—it was simply impossible to deploy.
It could be said that at least ninety-five percent of second-tier array masters in the cultivation world weren’t even qualified to set up this array.
“But now that I’ve comprehended the true essence of yin-yang and the five elements, I’m already qualified to learn this array!”
“And then there’s the Yin-Yang Heavenly Severance Array…”
The terror of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Severance Array was even greater than that of the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array!
Unlike the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array, which offered a variety of effects, the Yin-Yang Heavenly Severance Array focused on the word “severance”!
It purely used the power of yin and yang to stir up the vast heavenly might, pushing the destructive force of yin and yang to its absolute limit in order to annihilate all life!
That said, although its effects were simple, it was even harder to set up than the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array, and it demanded an even higher level of comprehension of the yin-yang true essence and the way of arrays!
“If I can fully comprehend these two arrays and set them up as a fusion array, then my arrangements in Starfall City will be half successful… and I’ll have a much better chance of helping Little Stone Spirit break through smoothly…”
“Better hurry—Brother Han and Brother Zhang might not be able to hold out much longer…”
For the past few years, Han Li had been running interference with Zhang Danju between the sect and the black-market bosses of Starfall City—a tightrope walk, to say the least.
Things had gone fairly smoothly at first. Thanks to Han Li’s maneuvering, they had basically reached a tacit understanding with the powers behind Starfall City, buying Qi Ping some temporary peace.
But as the situation gradually stabilized and Qi Ping’s targets began returning to Starfall City one by one, the three major factions that had sent Qi Ping to Starfall City were no longer happy.
We sent you to Starfall City to fight my old rivals to the death so I could profit from the sidelines—and instead you go there to live it up? And I’m still giving you top-tier mission contribution rewards?
And so, a series of incidents targeting Qi Ping began to unfold…
…
Starfall City, Qingxian Manor, inside the most central luxurious hall…
“Senior Brother Ya, you’re finally awake!”
“You were in a deep sleep for almost half a month…”
Seeing that Qi Ping, who had been in deep slumber for half a month, had finally woken up, Han Li let out a breath of relief. If he hadn’t confirmed that Qi Ping’s physical condition was normal, he would have thought something had happened to him.
For the past half month, he and Zhang Danju had taken turns guarding this place without daring to relax for even a moment.
If Qi Ping had run into trouble at this critical juncture, they would have been torn apart by the wolves of Starfall City.
Fortunately, Qi Ping’s fearsome reputation preceded him. Even after half a month of inactivity, no one dared to trespass.
Now that Qi Ping was awake, the people of Starfall City were no longer a concern.
Otherwise, relying on Han Li and Zhang Danju alone—though their combat prowess was impressive among peers—they were still only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage and lacked the strength to hold down Starfall City.
“I entered a state of enlightenment earlier—it happened suddenly. Sorry for worrying you, and thank you for guarding this place all this time!” Qi Ping said with sincere gratitude.
When he had suddenly received heaven and earth’s blessing and entered the state of enlightenment—the unity of heaven and man—his consciousness had fully returned to his true body in the Cloud Mist Mountains.
Even so, Qi Ping could vaguely sense Han Li and Zhang Danju taking turns standing guard outside. But at the time, he was at a critical juncture in comprehending laws and techniques and didn’t dare let his attention waver in the slightest.
Through this experience, though, Qi Ping’s trust in the two of them had grown considerably.
“A state of enlightenment? Then you must have gained enormously, Senior Brother!” Han Li’s face lit up at Qi Ping’s words.
Qi Ping already possessed extraordinary talent and comprehension. Entering that rare state of enlightenment would surely have boosted his strength tremendously.
“Mm.”
Just as Qi Ping was about to say something, Zhang Danju’s flustered figure burst in—though his movements were gentle, not daring to make a sound.
“Senior Brother Han—”
But before he could finish, he noticed Qi Ping staring at him with a smile.
“Senior Brother Ya, you’re awake?” Zhang Danju said in delighted surprise.
“Mm,” Qi Ping nodded. “I entered a state of enlightenment earlier, and my strength has risen by another major step! Thank you both for guarding this place all this time!”
“That’s wonderful! I thought you’d run into trouble with your cultivation, Senior Brother—I never expected it was enlightenment! That’s really great!”
Given Qi Ping’s strength, if he dared say his power had risen by a major step, then the increase must be extraordinary.
“I saw you looking panicked—did something happen?” Qi Ping asked.
At those words, Han Li’s and Zhang Danju’s expressions turned grave.
“Senior Brother Ya, the situation lately is very bad. The mastermind behind the Mission Hall has been making moves in the shadows, trying to provoke conflict between us and Starfall City.”
“Not long ago, they even contacted certain people in Starfall City and orchestrated quite a few major cases, hoping to use the sect rules to drag us before the sect’s enforcement platform!”
Han Li explained with a grave expression.
“Staging their own play, huh? Clever tactics!”
“Yes, Senior Brother Ya. I just received word from the sect—the people from the sect’s Enforcement Hall have already set out. They’ll reach Starfall City within two days. The one leading them this time is the Second Elder’s direct disciple, the Hurricane Sword Disciple.”
The Hurricane Sword Disciple! The Second Elder’s only direct disciple! Earth-grade wind-attribute cultivation talent! Hurricane Spirit Body! Peak Foundation Establishment! Comprehended the Sword Intent of Wind!
Rumor had it that his Wind Sword Intent was already approaching the second realm. He was one of the truly top-tier super geniuses of the Qingyuan Sect—even more terrifying in spiritual root talent than Qi Ping’s four supreme-grade cultivation talents!
An ordinary peak Foundation Establishment cultivator might not even last a single move against him!
Hearing this, Han Li’s expression shifted dramatically as well. He hurriedly pulled out his transmission talisman to check—and sure enough, he had received the same message.
Seeing the two men’s extremely grave expressions, Qi Ping understood why they looked that way.
The Hurricane Sword Disciple was a top-tier genius who stood above the rest of the Qingyuan Sect. His battle record was earned through real combat—one strike of his sword could sweep through his entire generation!
Moreover, the Hurricane Sword Disciple was notorious as the “Ghost-Faced Yama.” Once someone broke the rules, no one could escape from his hands.
But facing such a person, Qi Ping felt not the slightest fear. If this had been before his enlightenment, he might have found it troublesome—but now? It was just so-so.
“You don’t need to worry. The Hurricane Sword Disciple is no match for me!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Han Li’s and Zhang Danju’s eyes went wide!
They believed Qi Ping would never lie—which meant what he said was true!
They knew Qi Ping would be strong after his enlightenment, but they never imagined he’d be this strong!
That was the Enforcement Hall’s renowned Hurricane Sword Disciple!
“We may not fear the Hurricane Sword Disciple, but we can’t easily defy the sect rules either. So we must find a way to respond!”
“Senior Brother, what do you plan to do?” Han Li was extremely troubled by this matter as well.
The major cases they’d been framed with had come too suddenly. He and Zhang Danju had no time to respond, and after the incidents, all relevant parties had instantly fled and gone into hiding, giving Han Li and the others no chance to find evidence to defend themselves.
In this situation, the trap was hard to break!
And within two days, the Hurricane Sword Disciple’s enforcement team would arrive—there was no time for investigation either.
But what was a problem for others might not be for Qi Ping. He said coldly:
“The monk may flee, but the temple stays. The major powers of Starfall City must still have people in the know. Come with me now—we’ll fight our way in until they voluntarily hand over the culprits and the evidence. I refuse to believe they know nothing!”
“It seems my compromises and restraint over these past few years have made them think I’m a coward weighed down by chains?”
In Qi Ping’s view, they had tacitly allowed their subordinates to stir up trouble, coordinating with the three major factions from within to eliminate him using the Enforcement Hall. But how could he let them have their way?
The solution to this matter was simple—nothing that fists and soul-searching couldn’t solve!
As for a reason to act… he had a whole storage ring full of evidence!
This was the evidence Han Li and Zhang Danju had gathered on all the key figures in Starfall City!
