Chapter 205: Desperately

At the entrance of Ling Gong, Ye Xiaotian lay sprawled on the ground, coughing up blood.

He couldn't quite believe it. The masked person was one thing, but where had this old man come from, and how was he so incredibly powerful?

A simple carrying pole that could shatter even space—this had to be some kind of joke.

Cen Qiaofu squatted on a tree stump, playing chess with Xiao Qixiu. Every now and then, he tapped the ground with his walking stick, striking the white-haired Daoist boy and scolding with a laugh, "Brat, how many times have you tried this already? Still at it?"

Xiao Qixiu watched with his eyebrows twitching wildly. Chess wasn't his idea of fun, but this old man had threatened him relentlessly.

If he didn't make a move, the three gray-haired figures lying on the ground might never get up again.

Cen Qiaofu glanced at the young man standing at the back, who had been quietly observing the fight like a bystander, and said, "That kid over there, have you got your plan ready yet? Whatever trick you've got, hurry up and use it. My tea's gone cold waiting."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The tea set was homemade, of course.

Qiao Qianzhi was taken aback. He hadn't expected his carefully concealed actions to be noticed.

But activating a great array took time. Even as a Ling Array grandmaster, he could speed it up, but instant activation was impossible.

"Hee hee hee..."

He awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Senior, you've noticed?"

"Pfft!" Cen Qiaofu spat his tea right into Xiao Qixiu's face. That laugh...

He handed over a handkerchief apologetically and said, "To be honest, during my days in seclusion, I dabbled in Ling Array too. I'm barely a Da Zongshi myself."

Everyone was stunned.

Ye Xiaotian, still on the ground, felt as if he'd lost all his strength, his spirit utterly drained.

Their last hoped-for strike hadn't even materialized before it died in the womb.

A heavy silence fell, the air so still it was terrifying.

Cen Qiaofu waved it off casually and said, "It's just something to pass the time. I refine pills too, but my skills don't even match up to some kid in my own family. I'd be embarrassed to admit it."

"As for Ling Array, it should be alright..."

He looked steadily at Qiao Qianzhi and asked, "Ba Qiu Zhu?"

His tone was questioning, but the confidence on his face was unmistakable.

Clatter!

The array disk slipped from Qiao Qianzhi's hand and hit the ground. His face was full of shock.

This old man wasn't joking—he really was a Da Zongshi?

The old man placed his piece on the board and praised, "Not bad at all. I didn't expect that you'd studied Dao Qiong Cang's 'Tianji Shu'. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Qiao Qianzhi's face turned pale. Even "Tianji Shu" had been mentioned, leaving no room for doubt.

All their strategies had been forced out. In this dire situation, who could turn the tide?

Sheng Nu had only sent one old man, yet he had held back the five great thrones of Tian Sang Ling Gong!

Cen Qiaofu turned to Jiang Bianyan and asked directly, "What about you? What's your plan?"

Jiang Bianyan looked troubled and stammered, "Senior, you're joking..."

He regretted coming alone. If this old man decided to kill, he might not make it back alive.

Sheng Nu couldn't be left unchecked any longer.

The news of Cen Qiaofu's involvement with Sheng Nu had to be reported to headquarters immediately. Years of indulgence had led to raising a tiger that would turn on them!

Xiao Qixiu calmly continued playing chess. Of everyone, only this patient sword cultivator had the composure to keep going.

Ever since his last clash with the masked person, he had known that any strong figure from Sheng Nu was to be expected.

Stay steady—nothing to be surprised about.

Clang—

Just then, a clear sword cry echoed through the heavens, and the sword on Xiao Qixiu's back unsheathed itself, pointing as if guided.

"Wan Jian Gui Zong?"

Even Cen Qiaofu was shocked. A Zongshi-level sword intent wasn't something you stumbled upon easily. And here he was, witnessing one in less than a day at Ling Gong?

Xiao Qixiu's pupils dilated in surprise.

Innate sword intents were rare in Ling Gong, and breakthroughs to the Zongshi level were even rarer.

Even Su Qianqian would need more time to settle in, unless...

"Hmm?"

With a bang, Xiao Qixiu jumped to his feet, knocking over the chessboard.

"Su Qianqian?!"

He leaned forward, gripping the tree stump, his eyes wide as he shouted hoarsely, "The masked person went after a famous sword?!"

Cen Qiaofu stared at the scattered chess pieces, puzzled. A sneaky move before losing?

"Isn't that obvious?"

He looked up at the man in front of him, not understanding why he was getting so angry.

Xiao Qixiu was frantic, as if his hair were on fire. He turned and shot off into the distance, infuriating Cen Qiaofu.

"Haven't you forgotten what I said? I don't like freeloaders, and now you won't even sit for tea?"

He slapped the tree stump, sending the black and white pieces flying into the air. With a flick of his finger, several orderly beams of light shot out.

But Xiao Qixiu didn't even glance back. He blocked with his sword, the clang ringing out as blood sprayed from his mouth, yet he kept flying away.

Cen Qiaofu's brows furrowed. He slapped and flicked again.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

More pieces flew after him. Even at a great distance, they pierced Xiao Qixiu's weakening body.

"So desperate?"

"For what?"

Cen Qiaofu was amazed. Those black and white pieces carried the power of the Dao—they weren't easy to endure, and if not dealt with, they could damage his foundation.

But with his mission at hand, he couldn't let the man go. He hoisted his carrying pole and instantly closed the gap, swinging it down.

Xiao Qixiu didn't hesitate or fight back, exposing his back completely.

A hint of surprise finally showed in Cen Qiaofu's eyes, but his strike was unrelenting.

With a explosive crack, shimmering space fragments burst apart as Ye Xiaotian thrust his hand into the sky, tearing open another expanse of the firmament to block the blow for Xiao Qixiu.

Boom, boom, boom...

Eight heavenly pillars descended at that moment, trapping Cen Qiaofu inside.

The two elders reappeared, their eyes burning with fighting spirit. "Old bones or not, let's give it our all!"

In the distance, Jiang Bianyan sighed. He hadn't expected the people of Ling Gong to act so decisively—he was caught now.

"Time to fight!"

At Ye Xiaotian's command, the "Ba Qiu Zhu" erupted with surging dark thunder, shattering the space around it.

Even if Cen Qiaofu was overconfident, he didn't plan to take a full-powered strike from a Ling Array Da Zongshi head-on. But as soon as he thought to move, he realized the space was locked.

Completely caught off guard!

A deafening explosion rocked the night sky, reducing half the mountain range to dust.

The great array of Ling Gong was too close and shattered from the blast, revealing glimpses of the night within.

At the same time, all disciples in the inner and outer courtyards clapped their hands over their ears. Those with weaker cultivation were left with ringing ears.

Fortunately, the array protected everyone, so there weren't many casualties among their own.

Jiang Bianyan stared at Qiao Qianzhi in shock, unable to believe this explosion was his doing. If he had been trapped in it, could he have walked out unharmed?

As the dust clouds dispersed, everyone held their breath in anticipation...

Had it worked?

"Cough, cough!"

The sound of coughing dashed their hopes.

Cen Qiaofu raised an eyebrow, his face covered in blood. His clothes had already been changed, hiding his injuries.

But the blood dripping from his fingertips showed that the strike had taken its toll.

"The younger generation is truly formidable, truly formidable..."

His carrying pole was gone, destroyed in the blast. The old man drew a small iron axe from his waist and looked at Qiao Qianzhi with genuine admiration. "You're impressive!"

He twisted his wrist, popping his dislocated bones back into place, and said seriously, "Looks like I'll have to step up my game!"

Qiao Qianzhi's mouth twitched, feeling a chill run down his spine.

He glanced behind him and clenched his fist tightly.

"Old Xiao, we're holding him off for you. The rest is up to you..."

Would the other side be the masked person?

Swallowing hard, Qiao Qianzhi felt a bitter taste in his throat. Both directions were full of formidable opponents—how could they fight?

But his eyes remained firm, without a hint of retreat, as his will to fight reignited. "If it's my disciple, I'd risk my life for it!"