Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Fierce Battle

”Demon, do you truly believe a mere seventh-grade grand array grants you free rein?”

Through the shimmering light screen of the array, Ouyang Haize fixed Lü Yang with a cold sneer. ”An array is still a lifeless thing. For cultivators like us, stage is sovereign.”

”In the end, one’s power is revealed only in battle.”

A warning bell tolled in Lü Yang’s heart, yet his expression remained calm and unruffled. ”If you’re so convinced, Daoist, step into the array and fight. Otherwise, turn around and leave while you still can.”

”Seeking death!”

With a chilling grin, Ouyang Haize stepped forward. His chest expanded as he exhaled a thunderous roar—sonic might bursting forth like rolling thunder.

This was a superior technique of the Divine Martial Sect: the ”Thousand-Mile Shattering Sound.” The user breaths in and expels Heaven and Earth Qi with a sect-exclusive third-grade ”Divine Martial Qi”, releasing a single roar that pulverizes all within a thousand miles, friend or foe alike.

The sonic surged into the array like a tidal wave.

The array was blown open, and through the gap, shattered skeleton soldiers came into view.

Immediately after, Ouyang Haize produced a round mirror.

”Requesting your help.”

He performed a Daoist hand seal. The mirror rose, hanging aloft. A beam of majestic mirror-light speared downward, pinning the ruptured gap in place and forcibly preventing the restoration!

The entire market shook violently.

Cultivators stumbled back in panic, unwilling to approach the unstable edge of the array.

Fairy Feixia’s face paled, but her gaze abruptly locked onto the silent Lu Yuanchun. She barked, ”Stay put. Don’t take a single step!”

Having been deceived once, Fairy Feixia no longer extended trust so freely. A feral sharpness darkened her fair features. ”Without Junior Brother Lü, you’d already be a corpse outside the market. If you dare run again in this chaos, I’ll kill you before the enemies can.”

”Junior Sister Feixia, you misunderstand...”

Lu Yuanchun forced a stiff smile, chilled by her predatory glare. Whatever treacherous thoughts he had were swiftly buried.

With two late-phase Qi Refinement experts steadying the crowd, the market’s panic quietened—for now.

All knew the peace was fleeting.

The battle between Lü Yang and Ouyang Haize would decide everything. Fairy Feixia had no choice but to place her faith in Lü Yang—

To believe he could conjure a miracle.

...

”Is that... a sentient artifact?”

Lü Yang stared at the mirror floating above. His expression shifted sharply. ”And not just any treasure—a sentient artifact with Yang Qi, crafted specifically to counter Yin Qi—meant to break the Hundred Bones Grand Array!?”

Ouyang Haize laughed, triumph swelling within him.

”The Hundred Bones Grand Array has stood guard over Skull Mountain for years. If the Divine Martial Sect dared to make a move, did you think we’d come unprepared?”

”With the ’Heaven Mirror’, your death is certain!”

This treasure wasn’t even his—it was refined by a Foundation Establishment cultivator precisely for this purpose. Its power was undeniable.

Up above the market, Lü Yang’s face darkened. Without a word, he turned and flew away.

”Hmph! Running?”

Ouyang Haize leaped instantly after him, another divine roar erupting—skeletal soldiers turned to dust as he pursued.

But the unexpected struck.

The moment Ouyang Haize’s foot crossed the boundary of the array, his expression twisted. He spun to retreat—only to see a crimson array pattern flare before his eyes.

”You actually dared to step inside...”

Lü Yang’s flight halted. He turned back with a shadowed smile, as though his prior panic had been nothing but an act.

”Impossible!”

Ouyang Haize’s eyelid twitched violently. ”The Heaven Mirror clearly sealed the Hundred Bones Grand Array! Why would new array patterns appear—? Is there a second array? When was it set? Why did I detect no signs!?”

”Because I never needed to set one...”

Lü Yang’s grin deepened. The Blood River Sword Array relied entirely on the Blood Sun Sword Pill—an artifact that forms an array by mere will. Naturally, it leaves no trace!

A banner appeared in Lü Yang’s hand—

Primal Qi Myriad-Soul Banner!

The banner fluttered. Ten thousand spirits shot forth, taking their assigned positions within the Blood River Sword Array.

He had planned this from the start.

The world turned blood-red. A torrential blood river surged from south to north, crashing down upon Ouyang Haize!

Ouyang Haize staggered with a muffled groan.

Heavenfiend Lifeblood Offering Radiance!

Vitality drained from him like a dam bursting—his boundless vitality gushing outward uncontrollably.

He roared in desperation, ”Celestial Light Monarch—save me!”

Golden scales unfurled; a radiant armor manifested—sentient artifact: Celestial Armor! Layers of sacred light enveloped him, forcefully halting the devouring radiance.

The treasure bore Demon-Suppressing Light, inherently clashing with the Heavenfiend Lifeblood Offering Radiance—resulting in a stalemate.

Ouyang Haize finally drew a harsh breath.

Despite his preparations—cultivation advantage, the Heaven Mirror, Celestial Armor—he had nearly perished.

”At this point... there’s no escaping.”

Blood filled his eyes—fear burned into murderous resolve.

”...Only slaughter!”

An elite disciple of the Divine Martial Sect—he knew better than to recoil. If he fled, Lü Yang would only grind him down.

To escape, he had to kill Lü Yang. If Lü Yang died, the array would collapse!

Rumble!

Celestial Armor shielding him, he lunged with spear thrusting straight for the banner—

”That banner is the array’s heart. Destroy it, and I might yet live—!”

”Well played.”

Lü Yang raised the banner—summoning a figure from within.

Liu Xin—dazed, confused—barely awake.

Then—

”Explode!”

A deafening blast. Liu Xin screamed ”kill!”—the Life-taking Spell!

To Lü Yang, Liu Xin’s usage of the banner had always been too tame. Since banner spirits revive as long as their consciousness endure—why bother risking them in normal combat?

Let them master mutual-destruction killing arts!

If they can return from death—

Let them die spectacularly.

Spiritual force swept the air clean.

When the haze cleared—Liu Xin had vanished; Ouyang Haize hung frozen midair, face black with fury.

He had exhausted every tool,

yet could not kill a mere late-phase Qi Refinement cultivator.

Meanwhile, his Qi was drained.

”At this rate... I really might die here...”

Ruthlessness ignited in his gaze. He formed a seal—Celestial Armor vibrated with a sorrowful cry.

”This is... bad!”

Lü Yang’s face changed. He darted behind the Blood Sun Sword Pill, summoning its blood shadow as a shield—

BOOM!!!

Celestial Armor self-detonated!

The light washed the heavens—shattering Lü Yang’s sword array map and exposing clear sky.

Lü Yang swiftly reclosed the array—yet Ouyang Haize was faster, slipping free in that fleeting instant. Lü Yang only managed to send one last surge of Heavenfiend Lifeblood Offering Radiance, stripping away thirty percent more vitality—leaving Ouyang Haize gaunt as a skeleton.

”You destroyed my artifact. If I don’t tear you apart, I’ll never rest!”

Feral rage contorting his features, Ouyang Haize poured the remainder of his power into the Heaven Mirror—its mournful hum echoing across the battlefield.

”At worst, I’ll sacrifice every treasure I brought—let’s see if you can conjure a third grand array!”