AZI Volume 2 Chapter 48

"This is…? Heaven Manifestation realm divine art?"

*Kakaka!* as soon as Bai Wen mutters this, the Formation Eye's cracks grow to cover 70 percent of its body.

Heaven Manifestation realm refers to six of the seven most powerful practitioners of the Everlasting Spirit Realm.

When he was alive, the Ling Yuan Ancestor, the founding patriarch of Bai Wen's household—had been one of these practitioners.

The first six practitioners are jointly hailed as Immortal Kings by the denizens of the Everlasting Spirit Realm, while the seventh individual is indisputably respected by all as the Immortal Emperor—for their cultivation base is well above the former six.

"Heaven Manifestation realm…"

Sensing the same sort of archaic power as Bai Wen coming from the direction of the greenery pavilion, Zhen Huai narrows his eyes, as he looks intently at the projection.

Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Zhen Rong frowns, and asks—

"Is this really a Heaven Manifestation realm divine art?"

She doesn't feel like the archaic power—that comes from the dark rifts, is any different from the pressure that she would experience when she faced the elders of her household.

"This is all just a product of your village's magic array. It can't possibly hope to replicate a practitioner of this strength fully."

"Then-?"

Just as Zhen Rong is about to ask Bai Wen how he had guessed the fog-shrouded figure's attack to be a Heaven Manifestation realm divine art, her brother answers—

"Simply put, you're still too young. Just a child, who has yet to experience what it's like to stand in front of the high winds and high tides."

"Muu…"

Despite being unhappy with being called a child, Zhen Rong has no choice but to keep her lips sealed.

"…"

Nodding to Zhen Huai's words, Bai Wen's gaze towards the projection turns heated.

(A practitioner in possession of a Heaven Manifestation realm divine art, and to be able to use it so easily. This person's strength should be comparable to the Ling Yuan Ancestor. Lao Long was his disciple. He should have plenty of Spirit Assimilation realm techniques locked away in his memories.)

A similar thought as Bai Wen crosses Zhen Huai's mind, and with it—

(Investing in him for the clan chief selection event might not be such a bad idea; however, there is still a hurdle that must be dealt with—prior to finalizing my decision.)

...…

Looking to the five dark rifts, the name of this divine art appears in Long Hua's mind, being—

(This should be… Immortal Suppression Palm?)

As if to answer Long Hua's uncertainty, dark hands—covered in golden runes, emerge from within the five rifts.

Simultaneously, these hands push downwards with their trajectory of movement converging upon Long Hua.

In the same instance, a knife attached to a thin wire flies pass Long Hua.

Just as the knife's handle is about to escape from his reach, Long Hua manages to grasp it.

Holding the knife firmly, Long Hua is dragged towards the ground by Tian Cheng, and without looking at the descending five hands, they immediately attempt to distance themselves from them.

"I would hope that master has a plan to deal with this opponent."

"You're expecting a bit too much out of me then."

The opponent is an illusory replica of his shizun, and under normal circumstances—it shouldn't be difficult to defeat them.

However, having witnessed the strength that this replica is able to exert, Long Hua has zero confidence towards victory.

Towards Long Hua's reply, Tian Cheng thought—

(Figured as much… How is it that a mere replica is able to exert this much strength? Whatever the core of this magic array is, it should have exploded by now.)

(The Immortal Suppression Palm isn't something that I can use with my current cultivation base without draining myself dry of spirit Qi. …No, I'm overestimating myself. Even if I used up all my spirit Qi, I couldn't even hope to conjure a single finger.)

Just as Long Hua comes to this realization, the first Immortal Suppression Palm descends onto the earth, and with it—

*Boom!* a devastating shockwave capable of reducing ordinary mortals into a haze of blood goes off, while throwing both Long Hua and Tian Cheng off their feet!

(Dammit!)

As sword Qi shrouds his entire body, Long Hua immediately forms his Sword Armor.

Following this—

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* three additional palms fall, and with each shockwave that passes through his body, the more distorted Long Hua's Sword Armor becomes.

*Boom!* upon the final shockwave's passing, the Sword Armor shatters completely, and with it, Long Hua spews out a mouthful of blood, while the force of this shockwave also throws him higher into the air!

*Thud! Thud!* bouncing off the ground twice, Long Hua struggles to push himself to a stand, whereas Tian Cheng had sparks of electricity emanating from the location of her joints, as a result of the damage that she had sustained.

"Tch…"

Wiping the blood from his lips, Long Hua pushes down on his knee to straighten his stance—before tossing his storage pouch to Tian Cheng.

"In."

Replying with a nod, Tian Cheng opens the storage pouch, and enters it.

Picking up the storage pouch, and with Bai Zhe in hand, Long Hua looks towards the direction of the settling dust cloud.

"…"

Emerging from within the dust clouds, the fog-shrouded figure approaches Long Hua's direction.