Chapter 53

At the bottom of the mountains… The smile on Zhang Dongyun’s face froze.

Fortunately, he was facing Hui Tianyu through the projection of Mister Black Cloud, or he would not have been able to control his facial expression.

In Hui Tianyu’s opinion, the old man in black still looked calm and unruffled.

“What’s all the panic about?” Mister Black Cloud said calmly. “Tell me the exact details.”

Under his influence, Hui Tianyu, who was a bit impetuous, calmed down and reported the information he received.

Despite telling him to calm down, Zhang Dongyun was in a hurry to come up with countermeasures.

The area covered by the system right now was six kilometers north-south and four kilometers east-west.

It was not small, but it was in the White Cloud Abyss, in the deep mountains of Dragon Ridge, and the outside of the mountains was still beyond his reach.

The opponents had surrounded the old bloody shadow demon, Chen Jiezhi, and the others outside the mountains, which was outside the influence of the Impenetrable Fortress.

They were surrounded and could not escape into the mountains.

Even if Fortress Lord Zhang himself left the mountains now, he was only a fourth-realm martial artist and could not save anyone.

It was worlds apart inside and outside the scope of the fortress.

Zhang Dongyun rubbed his glabella in distress.

In the most extreme circumstances, he would not lose a piece of flesh even if he just stayed in the fortress and remained silent.

Even though this would arouse the suspicions of the people in the fortress, he would have countless ways to maintain his rule as long as he was in the fortress.

But in that case, outsiders might discover that the Impenetrable Fortress could only guard its own gates.

The clues about the secret cave of Heavenly Wolf and the imprint of the immortal ruins fragment inside would all be lost.

Besides, the old bloody shadow demon, Chen Jiezhi, Guo Zi, and others were all loyal to him and followed his orders. They went to the secret cave of Heavenly Wolf, which led to their current encounter…

But what will it take to solve their crisis? Zhang Dongyun pondered as he listened to Hui Tianyu’s report.

After Hui Tianyu finished his report, Mister Black Cloud still looked as calm as ever.

“The Azure Cloud Temple, the Fortune Celebration Temple, the Mirror Moon Tower?” the old man in black asked.

Hui Tianyu nodded. “The attackers are not from the Forgotten Truth Temple, which I find pretty strange.”

The Azure Cloud Temple and the Fortune Celebration Temple were both Daoist sacred grounds of Eastern Tang. They were known as the ‘Four Daoists Schools’ alongside the Forgotten Truth Temple and the Xuanyi Daoism.

As for the Mirror Moon Tower, it was a famous martial arts sect like the Yellow River Dragon Gate. It was known as part of the ‘Five Martial Arts Sects’ of Eastern Tang.

Zhang Dongyun had ordered the old bloody shadow demon and the others to go to the secret cave in the area of the Forgotten Truth Temple.

They ended up being chased and intercepted by enemies. No one from the Forgotten Truth Temple was seen, but instead, several other famous sects were taking action.

“According to what the disciples at the bottom of the mountains said, the enemies used a Daoist spell to draw heavenly lightning and blast it at Senior Bloody Shadow’s blood sea. The only Daoist sect in Eastern Tang that has such a superior lightning inheritance is…” Hui Tianyu suddenly remembered that Chen Chaoyan cultivated a lightning technique, so he quickly changed his words. “Uh, only Chang’an and the Azure Cloud Temple.”

Among the four major traditions of Daoism in Eastern Tang, the Forgotten Truth Temple was known for cultivating the Mist Illusion Technique, and the Azure Cloud Temple was known for its lightning techniques.

“In addition to that, according to the disciples, they also saw a dark-red flame, much like the rumored Arcane Fortune Li Fire of the Fortune Celebration Temple,” Hui Tianyu added.

The Azure Cloud Temple’s lightning, the Fortune Celebration Temple’s fire, the Fortune Celebration Temple’s cloud, and the Xuanyi Daoism’s sword had always been well known in Eastern Tang.

However, Hui Tianyu had never seen the Arcane Fortune Li Fire of the Fortune Celebration Temple, so he could only speculate. But he believed that it was not far off.

He was 100% sure about the Mirror Moon Tower.

“Those martial artists were all holding round shields and scimitars. Their round shields were like mirrors, and their scimitars were like the moon. They seemed divine using them, unique and mysterious.”

In the Great Ming Palace, Zhang Dongyun pondered before coming to a decision. It’ll be you then…

Upon hearing Hui Tianyu’s words, Mister Black Cloud, whom Zhang Dongyu was projecting, revealed a smile on his face.

“It’s an excellent opportunity.”

His words startled Hui Tianyu. “Opportunity?”

Mister Black Cloud smiled and did not reply. Instead, he gently waved his hand.

A young girl appeared from the black mist that surged before the two of them.

The young girl was sitting cross-legged while inspiring and refining her spiritual energy.

She was suddenly brought before Mister Black Cloud and Hui Tianyu, and she could not help but feel a little confused. “Senior…”

“You’ve been cultivating for some time now. You just have to refrain from taking any blows from any cultivators,” Mister Black Cloud casually instructed her. “Right now, there just happens to be a chance for you to put yourself to the test and really polish yourself.”

Chen Chaoyan stood up. “Please instruct me.”

“You’ve seen a lot of Forgotten Truth Temple Dharma spells. And today, the Azure Cloud Temple and the Fortune Celebration Temple are here. They have surrounded Bloody Shadow and your uncle at the bottom of the mountains, so go bring them back,” Mister Black Cloud said.

Chen Chaoyan was surprised. “Senior, I don’t mean to shirk this, but my third uncle is a sixth-realm martial artist, and I’ve heard that Senior Bloody Shadow is even stronger. They can’t even deal with the enemies, let alone me, who is only at the third realm…”

Hui Tianyu was also deeply worried.

Mister Black Cloud looked as usual. “I have my own arrangements.”

Then he waved his hand.

A cloud appeared in front of the three of them before swirling and expanding, finally turning into a giant umbrella.

“It’s the Forgotten Truth Temple’s Cloud Net Canopy!” Chen Chaoyan exclaimed.

Mister Black Cloud shot her a glance.

The young girl shrunk her neck and smiled. “It’s Chang’an’s Cloud Net Canopy.”

Mister Black Cloud nodded in satisfaction and handed her the giant umbrella in his hand.

Chen Chaoyan took it with great joy.

At the side, Hui Tianyu did not say anything.

But he was worried all the same.

The Cloud Net Canopy was one of the top three Dharma artifacts of the Forgotten Truth Temple.

Chen Chaoyan was a talented Daoist cultivator.

Both the person and weapon complemented each other well.

But the problem was that Chen Chaoyan’s cultivation realm was still too low.

The power that the Cloud Net Canopy could exert in her hands at the third realm was completely different from the power that it could exert in Tang Chi’s hands at the sixth realm.

Just as he was thinking this, the one-eyed young man suddenly saw Mister Black Cloud raise his hand.

His finger landed on the surface of the Cloud Net Canopy, and he wrote something.

Talismans formed and condensed one after another, turning into streams of light and disappearing on top of the umbrella.

Chen Chaoyan’s eyes lit up. “Senior, are you adding Dao spells and Dharmic powers to this Dharma artifact?”

Mister Black Cloud said calmly, “I let you cultivate not to let you throw your life away. I will naturally give you some ways to protect yourself, but…”

He examined the young girl indifferently. “Don’t think that you can be lazy and rely on these Dao spells and Dharmic powers that I have added. They will disappear after a while.

“If you are careless and dilly-dally, you will get yourself and Chen Jiezhi killed.

“This is a test for you. I will not interfere even if you cry, shout, or plead. Do you understand?”

Chen Chaoyan’s expression became serious, but her gaze was firm as she held the Cloud Net Canopy tightly. “I understand!”

“Very good.” Mister Black Cloud nodded slightly. “You don’t need to be afraid. Bloody Shadow and your uncle Chen Jiezhi are still there, so you just help them break out.”

He turned to look at Hui Tianyu and waved his hand casually. “You go with her.”

Hui Tianyu agreed. “Yes, Senior.”

A black mist wrapped around the two of them and sent them out of the fortress.

After landing on the ground, they did not dare to delay and rushed down the mountain.

Zhang Dongyun watched their backs and let out a long sigh.

According to his previous experiments, he could provide power to items in the fortress.

However, after the items left the fortress, the powers sealed in them would rapidly weaken and disappear.

For a high-quality Dharma artifact like the Cloud Net Canopy, it would barely last a bit longer.

Despite the fast weakening and loss, it had a high starting point, and the power was still considerable for a short period.

Success depends on fate… Zhang Dongyun stood at the top of the fortress and looked down at the mountain.

Chen Chaoyan and Hui Tianyu went down the mountain as fast as they could.

Before they were completely out of the forest, they heard a boom in the distance that shook the heavens.

They left the mountain ridge and went over two low hills.

From a distance, they saw a crowd of people gathered on the plain.

A blood sea was floating above them.

Black clouds covered the sky above the blood sea.

Streaks of lightning kept flowing in the black clouds.

Suddenly, a puff of dark-red flame rose into the sky and attacked the blood sea!

Chen Chaoyan took a deep breath and shook the giant umbrella in her hand.

The Cloud Net Canopy turned into a cloud and lifted her toward the blood sea.