"Fall back, you are no match for him!"
Zhang Fan stood before Xue Jing, gazing at the approaching White Jade Sacred Elephant, and said calmly.
Although unwilling, Xue Jing had to admit that he was indeed no match for Austen now. Continuing to fight would only result in more severe injuries, so he could only obediently retreat behind Zhang Fan.
The White Jade Sacred Elephant contained the might of a spirit treasure, fully unleashed by Austen. Its formidable power was something even Zhang Fan dared not underestimate!
"Collapse!"
Zhang Fan immediately unleashed his Collapse Domain, suppressing Austen's 'Holy Light Illumination' domain. The White Jade Sacred Elephant, streaking through the air, also slowed down slightly under the influence of the domain's collapsing force. As it moved, traces of holy light flickered around its body, gradually being devoured by the collapsing power.
From the beginning, Austen had completely disregarded Zhang Fan, as he couldn't sense any Golden Core aura from him. To a cultivator at the second-tier Golden Core realm, anyone below that was like an ant, not worth his attention.
However, at this moment, as Zhang Fan stood before Xue Jing and could hold his own against him with his domain, Austen realized that this young man was not simple.
"Horn of Heaven Rend!"
Since Zhang Fan's cultivation realm had advanced to the Condensing Core stage and he had cultivated the Taotie Record, the divine ability 'Horn of Heaven Rend' had finally reached the minor accomplishment stage.
It was important to note that 'Horn of Heaven Rend' was a divine ability recorded in the Ten Absolute Heavenly God Record, a terrifying technique capable of rivaling divine-grade divine abilities. Even at minor accomplishment, its power was immeasurable.
If Austen hadn't activated the artifact spirit to unleash his ultimate move, Zhang Fan would not have used this divine ability.
A ferocious beast, resembling a rhinoceros with a single horn on its head, hovered above Zhang Fan. As torrents of mana were poured into it, the beast's form gradually solidified, emanating an ancient, primordial aura.
The beast roared downwards, its head lowered, its single horn curving at a peculiar angle, carrying an aura of extreme sharpness. It seemed as though with a single upward glance, it could pierce the sky.
"Is this the legendary chaotic fierce beast, the Heaven Rend Si?"
Xue Jing, standing behind Zhang Fan, was still frightened by the aura of the Heaven Rend Si, even though it wasn't directed at him, when he felt it so close.
"What cultivation technique is my master practicing?" Xue Jing was inwardly terrified. The more he interacted with Zhang Fan, the less he understood him. Not long ago, seeing the phantom of a Taotie in the Ancestral Castle had filled him with questions, and now a chaotic fierce beast appeared before him, making it impossible for him to remain calm. After all, in their blood clan, he had never heard of anyone cultivating a technique that could manifest a chaotic fierce beast. Furthermore, with its intelligent eyes and ancient, ferocious aura, if cultivated to a certain level, could this phantom transform into a physical entity?
Although Austen, lacking Xue Jing's knowledge, couldn't identify the beast hovering above Zhang Fan, it didn't prevent him from sensing its terrifying nature. Just standing there, it exuded an endless aura of ferocity, sending a chill down Austen's spine.
"I don't believe this mere beast can withstand my 'Sacred Elephant Skyward Charge'!" Austen gritted his teeth, controlling the White Jade Sacred Elephant and charging fiercely towards Zhang Fan!
"Break!"
Despite the imposing momentum of the White Jade Sacred Elephant, Zhang Fan was confident in his abilities. The Heaven Rend Si stepped forward, raising its horn and colliding with the massive White Jade Sacred Elephant.
A deafening clash echoed, accompanied by a piteous elephant roar. In the collision, the White Jade Sacred Elephant was completely crushed. A large gash was torn across its jade-white face by the Heaven Rend Si. The artifact spirit, injured, transformed into a beam of light and returned to the White Jade Sacred Spear. Austen, who was controlling the White Jade Sacred Spear from afar, was also heavily wounded, spitting out a mouthful of silver blood.
"How is this possible! Who are you?" Austen's eyes, filled with dazzling holy light, stared intently at Zhang Fan, as if his gaze could penetrate him.
"Who I am is not for you to know. If I'm not mistaken, you've found the fortunate encounter left by Zi Wu, and obtained something, haven't you?" Zhang Fan's eyes, deep as the sea, fixed on Austen as he spoke calmly.
Upon hearing Zhang Fan's words, Austen and Xue Jing's expressions changed. Xue Jing looked at Austen with a complex gaze, trying to ascertain if Zhang Fan's words were true.
"Hah, so what if you guessed it? The fortunate encounter left by the Heavenly Immortal Zi Wu is only worthy of me, Austen, to obtain. You will never find it."
"Today's humiliation, I, Austen, shall repay tenfold, a hundredfold!"
As Austen spoke, he didn't hesitate. Sacred white light erupted from his body, and he fled into the distance. When Zhang Fan had effortlessly torn apart the White Jade Sacred Elephant and injured him with a single move, Austen understood that he was not yet a match for this mysterious young man.
However, he was not despairing, because he had found the fortunate encounter left by the Heavenly Immortal Zi Wu a step ahead of Xue Jing. The place of fortune had not yet fully opened, and he had not yet obtained the 'Zi Wu Yuan Fruit'. As long as he escaped this time, and waited for the fortunate place to fully open and obtain the 'Zi Wu Yuan Fruit', he was confident that he could elevate his Golden Core level to the first-tier. By then, even this mysterious young man would no longer be his opponent.
Austen cultivated the path of light, and those who practiced the path of light were masters of speed. Even if this mysterious young man was stronger than him, he was fully confident in his ability to escape. As for the arbitrators who were currently battling with the Unfettered Sword Immortal, he had never paid them any mind. The only thing he cared about upon arriving on this planet was the fortunate encounter left by the Heavenly Immortal Zi Wu.
"Trying to escape?"
The moment Austen turned, Zhang Fan reacted. His Gravity Domain instantly enveloped Austen. Despite Austen's desperate resistance with his 'Holy Light Illumination' domain, his speed was reduced by about two layers.
"He possesses a dual domain?" Austen felt the immense gravity pressing down on him, entirely different from the collapsing force before. He was shocked. Dual domains, he had heard of them, but never witnessed one.
"The Gravity Domain's effect on him is so small? Truly worthy of a Golden Core cultivator of the path of light!" Zhang Fan felt a hint of envy. He had only recently condensed his Nascent Core and had not yet etched his Golden Core Dao patterns. In terms of speed, he was indeed a notch slower than Austen.
Seeing that Austen was about to escape, Xue Jing stood by, not showing any anxiety. He knew that his master's abilities were far from over, and escaping from his grasp was still quite some way off for Austen.
Zhang Fan made a beckoning gesture, and a square seal, the size of his palm, appeared in his hand. It was the advanced spirit treasure, the Mountain River Seal!
"Suppress!"
Zhang Fan tossed the Mountain River Seal into the air. The seal, originally palm-sized, rapidly grew, like a towering mountain, suspended in the sky.
...