'Excellent. The first step is completed,' thought Huang Yuan calmly. He gazed at Tie Gang and Yan Liling, preparing for the second step. He activated the Life-Death Parade Array he set up to counter Yan Liling's array. The power of life and death alternate, slowly eroding the enemy's formation.
"Damn it," said Tie Gang with a frown. "What should we do now?"
"I can feel he is still alive," said Yan Liling calmly. "So, we only have to wait until he gets out of trouble or deals with Huang Yuan to cancel whatever means he used."
"Do you want to send Wang Ju?"
"The current her is nothing but a clone. Plus, it's too early for her to take action."
"In that case, I'll go," said Tie Gang, who summoned his Proving Dao Artifact; iron-looking gloves encased his hand before flying out of the formation range.
"You? I don't have time to waste on someone like you," said Huang Yuan coldly. "I'm only here for my revenge. So, get out of my way."
"Do you think it makes sense to say these words to me?" said Tie Gang calmly. "Plus, you are the last person I would accept calling me a waste. I earn all my strength and power, but who in this generation does not know you're useless without that book."
Huang Yuan squinted his eyes but did not say anything or react. "In that case, let me get rid of you first."
[Palm of Death]
His attack was simple and direct–he condensed an enormous palm containing an immense amount of the power of Death. Everything in this palm's path became dead–whether it was matter, soul, flesh, or energy.
'Immortal Venerable strength," thought Tie Gang with a grave expression. According to the Fate Shadow Guard information, Huang Yuan had less than a 10% chance of breaking through the Mortal-Immortal Barrier.
Of course, this did not account for using secret techniques or other means. However, based on how easily he used such an attack, he might have succeeded.
A rune appeared on Tie Gang's forehead before punching the palm. A terrifying vibration emanated from his body before exploding the palm, bombing it into nonexistent.
"1-Leaf Strength?" said Huang Yuan with a frown as he observed Tie Gang. Then, he shook his head, "I thought you had some achievement. It turned out to be the result of formation."
Huang Yuan could tell this formation blessed Tie Gang's body, thus temporarily increasing his prowess.
Tie Gang frowned as he felt pressured; his current strength was limited and would not last long. So, a protracted battle would make things difficult for him.
'Damn it, how could this Huang Yuan break the barrier?' He felt frustrated, especially since he failed to do despite the excellent conditions the sect and boss provided for him.
'Calm down,' suddenly said a voice in his mind. 'Huang Yuan is bluffing to weaken your aura and momentum. His strength is the result of sacrificing numerous life span to the book.'
Tie Gang squinted his eyes, but he did not say anything. However, his aura changed as he regained his calm and composed demeanor. Huang Yuan frowned as he sensed the change in his opponent's aura.
Tie Gang opened his mouth, but no sound came out. However, immediately afterward, blood fell out of Huang Yuan's nose.
'A sound released at a vibration even I cannot detect? What's more, this vibration can directly attack the soul.'
The Law of Life nourished his body as he instantly healed the damage–including the one in his soul.
'Want to play sound with me?' thought Huang Yuan with a sneer.
[Sound of Death
His body released an undetectable or subtle vibration, killing everything in its path. He did not move or make any noise, but the surroundings suddenly began to decay and die.
Tie Gang felt an omen of death, but he could not detect how the attack arrived. His intuition and Vibration Dao told him it was a Sound Attack, but he could not understand it.
[Sound of Defense]
[Sound of Healing]
Sounds are vibrations. Simultaneously, sounds have different effects on the mind, spirit, and soul; they can create a certain mood, like joy, anger, and motivation. And in some myths of folklore, sounds can heal. Using these concepts and ideologies, Tie Gang created these techniques for battle.
His defense and healing capabilities drastically increased. However, he could sense his organs failing as the power of death slowly killed him. So, he popped a pill into his mouth, healing his injuries.
At least, this was his attempt. Unfortunately, the pill only delayed the power of that attack.
Tie Gang moved as he used the formation to create an imaginary world of decent size. He clenched his fist before punching.
[Universe's Vibration]
The formation allowed him to turn this imaginary world into a temporary real one. Then, Tie Gang vibrated every atom, molecule, particle, and energy from that universe and directed it at Huang Yuan.
He created this technique based on Wang Wei's [World Destroying Punch], where he vibrated every part of his fleshly body. Unfortunately, Tie Gang did not have such powerful flesh and blood, so he had to use something else as a replacement.
Huang Yuan's face changed as he felt the terrifying power behind that attack. He immediately acted.
[Samsara Seal]
After a cultivator enters Samsara, their strength and memories will be sealed to ensure their successful reincarnation. Huang Yuan imitated this ability to seal the power behind this attack before creating a black and white shield to protect him.
With his quick decision-making, he was intact and survived. However, he was not happy.
'I can't believe I'm struggling against the likes of Tie Gang.'
His pride would barely accept Li Jun as his equal, but Tie Gang–a servant from the Lower Realm? He cannot accept it.
Unfortunately, it did not matter whether he accepted it or not; the truth was in front of him. With a calm composure, Tie Gang continued his offense, not giving his opponent a chance to react.
[Myriad Law Fist]
Tie Gang's main Dao is Vibration, but he also cultivated the sub-Dao of Fist. Back in the Warring Kingdom World, he had the title of Iron Fist King. So, he stuck to his roots and cultivated the Dao of Fist.
The [Myriad Law Fist] is the pinnacle of his achievement in both Dao. He used the Law Resonance of the Fist Dao–which is also part of the Martial Dao–and forced the laws between Heaven and Earth to vibrate.
The Heaven Will Battlefield is part of the Myriad Emperor World, so cultivators can still use Law Resonance. Tie Gang took advantage of this fact to create a terrifying attack.
Of course, he could resonate with so many laws mainly because of the formation's boost on his soul or spiritual power.
Bang!
The surrounding hundreds of thousands of galaxies exploded due to the sheer vibrational power of that attack; this attack atomized everything in its path–except for a disheveled Huang Yuan.
Even his Life-Death Parade Array could not withstand the power of this attack, so most of his legions were annihilated. However, Huang Yuan did not care since he could still revive them a few more times.
He looked at Tie Gang with blood-red eyes, "I will make you pay." His voice was hoarse as he tried to contain his overwhelming rage.
In less than a nanosecond, Huang Yuan gathered Death Power inside his body and used the attraction of Life and Death to instantly appear in front of Tie Gang, who contained the Power of Life since he's a living being.
He raised his hand to hold Tie Gang by the throat, and the latter could not react. The only thing on Tie Gang's mind was:
'What a brilliant application of Life and Death Dao to achieve teleportation.'
As his mind wondered why Huang Yuan was this powerful, his body could not move or react and only watched the hand reach out for him.
Bang!
Huang Yuan flew backward as he looked at the cauldron that appeared and blocked him. He gazed at Yan Liling, his eyes full of hatred and annoyance.
"Stop acting," said Yan Liling with a sneer. "If I guess right, your objective is not revenge but to capture Tie Gang."
"Of course, I want to capture him; how dare this ant injure me."
"No, your objective in coming here is for him," she reiterated. "I wonder why." Yan Liling looked at him, trying to figure out his objective.
Huang Yuan's facial expression remained the same, but countless thoughts flashed in his mind. She was correct, as his main objective was to capture Tie Gang from the beginning; that's why he agreed to become Mo Xingyun's cannon fodder and controlled the battle to make it seems he wanted to approach Tie Gang out of anger and pride.
'The plan is not going smoothly.' He had to capture the latter because of his Innate Talent.
Huang Yuan recently had a fortunate encounter in the form of a unique technique that allowed him to completely absorb the Life and Death Book, turning it into his power. Upon success, his strength and potential will drastically increase, and he won't need the book anymore.
Unfortunately, one of the requirements for this technique is to absorb someone else with Life-Death related Innate Talent.
Huang Yuan was excited after he received that technique until he discovered there were only a few people with such Innate Talent–including Wang Wei, Di Tian, Li Jun, and Tie Gang.
He knew it was impossible to capture the first two. He had a minuscule probability of succeeding with Li Jun, so he had his eyes set on Tie Gang–the weakest of the group.
Unfortunately, the latter was surrounded by a bunch of monsters. So, he had to take risks and plan ahead.