84: Chapter 84 The Power of Blazing Sun Binding Fire

At this very moment.

It wasn't just the members of the Xie Family watching.

Countless Loose Cultivators hiding throughout Donglin Fortress looked toward this spot.

Lu Yuanze had deployed a large number of Yin souls to sweep the area outside the fortress, letting no one escape.

Seeing the miserable state of the Cultivators who tried to flee the family fortress,

these Loose Cultivators were terrified, either frozen in place or scurrying about in chaos.

They were like a heap of loose sand.

But at that moment, they witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

"Who is that? He actually dares to resist alone?"

Those who were bolder moved closer.

"Am I seeing things? A mere Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator is confronting Lu Yuanze?"

"Is this a joke? This man is going to his death, why bother with him!"

"While Lu Yuanze's attention is on this fool, we can take the chance to break out!"

Confused, mocking, and pitying voices...

...rang incessantly in Xu Changsheng's ears.

Below, the members of the Xie Family also looked up one after another at the person who had stepped forward.

They recognized him immediately.

"It's Guest Official Xu!"

The leading Elder, tears streaming down his face, fell to his knees with a thud. "Guest Official Xu is truly righteous. Not only did he stay with the Xie Family during our calamity, but he is even standing up for us now."

Though he didn't know where Xu Changsheng's confidence came from, he still pressed his palms together devoutly. "Pray for Guest Official Xu!"

Seeing the Elder like this, the rest of the Xie Family followed suit.

Inside the main hall, Xie Wantang gazed at the figure in mid-air with his back turned to her, two trails of tears streaming down her face.

Crimson Rainbow, not understanding the situation, sent one Divine Sense transmission after another: "Xu Changsheng, have you lost your mind?"

"Have you watched too many stage plays? Why charge in? This lady doesn't need you to cover my retreat."

He ignored her.

The crimson crow feather in his hand had already burned to its limit.

Lu Yuanze's expression was not as calm as the people below perceived it to be.

He looked down at the various expressions of the people.

It seemed this trembling aura was targeted only at him; only he could perceive it.

"It's the power of the third rank!"

His originally arrogant expression finally tightened.

"This shouldn't be. This fellow's Qi Refining cultivation shouldn't be able to hide from my Divine Sense probe. How can he have such a powerful ultimate move?"

"Could this Qi Refining junior be the Reincarnation of some great expert?"

His attitude immediately became friendly, and his unfriendly face forced out a trace of a fawning smile.

"Fellow Daoist, please calm your anger. Let's talk things over nicely, don't be so aggressive right from the start..."

"Hmph!"

Xu Changsheng pinched the crow feather and began to release some of its power.

A Divine Soul attack, as solid as iron, suddenly struck toward Lu Yuanze.

The latter's mind wavered as a sense of danger surged in his heart.

"Ah! Hiss!"

Lu Yuanze turned pale, his figure swaying, nearly falling from mid-air.

A drop of bloody tear flowed from the corner of his eye.

He saw Xu Changsheng slowly rising with the help of the Wind Control Art, reaching a height equal to his own.

Struggling to maintain his balance, he was filled with shock and uncertainty.

The ordinary-looking Qi Refining Cultivator before him had wounded his mind with just a single blow, nearly aggravating his old injuries.

He immediately bowed repeatedly.

"May I ask, which Senior might you be, Fellow Daoist?"

This scene left all the Cultivators in Donglin Fortress slack-jawed with shock.

"What am I seeing?"

"This person clearly only has Qi Refining cultivation, yet Lu Yuanze is actually showing him such great respect?"

"Could it be that he holds some kind of leverage over Lu Yuanze?"

They were unable to figure it out.

Seeing this, the Xie Family members below first looked surprised, then showed the wild joy of having survived a disaster.

"Guest Official Xu has shown his might! We're saved!"

"Eternal glory to Guest Official Xu!"

Voices of praise rang out continuously.

Even Crimson Rainbow was somewhat stunned, and she put away the green flying shuttle talisman treasure in her hand.

Her mind was full of questions: "Brother Xu, do you... really have some tricks up your sleeve?"

In mid-air, Xu Changsheng smiled calmly. "Since you have asked so sincerely, I shall show mercy and tell you!"

Everyone within earshot stood on their tiptoes, waiting expectantly.

Lu Yuanze also craned his neck, looking like he was all ears.

“This old man is Chu Nanguī! A Nascent Soul Great Cultivator who does not belong to this era!”

Xu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, his green robes fluttering in the wind, looking every bit like an immortal sage.

"Pfft."

Crimson Rainbow immediately couldn't hold it in, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

She quickly covered her mouth, thinking to herself, "Brother Xu, you're really laying it on thick."

Afterward, besides the Xie Family, the other Loose Cultivators who heard this also began to whisper among themselves.

"Chu Nanguī?"

"Isn't that the famous great Cultivator from the ancient era of the Chu Country's cultivation world? How could it be this Xu Changsheng before us?"

"I was right, wasn't I? This guy is just here for laughs, wanting to leave a name for himself before he dies."

"Sigh, I don't know if I can survive. If I can't, I might as well go up there and put on a show like him."

Hearing the comments from below,

how could Lu Yuanze not know he had been played? He instantly flew into a rage.

"You brat, you dare toy with me!"

He slapped the Storage Pouch at his waist.

In the next moment,

several Spiritual Artifacts in the form of various spears and halberds were released.

Amidst the flashing spiritual light, their powerful might caused ripples to vibrate through the air.

"Try the power of my 'Thousand Army Breaker'!"

The spears and halberds whistled toward Xu Changsheng; though they hadn't arrived yet, their pressure already had.

*Whoosh!*

The latter's protective spiritual light was completely unable to resist.

His hair was blown backward, and his Daoist robe flapped loudly.

He couldn't even keep his eyes open.

Below, Xie Wantang's face was ashen, the Qi vortex above her head in disarray as she cried out, "No!"

However, at that very moment,

a sudden change occurred.

Just as the Thousand Army Breaker was less than ten feet from Xu Changsheng,

a blazing curtain of fire rose abruptly from the ground!

In almost an instant, it covered the sky and the earth.

Blazing flames swept through.

They enveloped the spears and halberds, then forcibly melted them down!

The entire field fell silent!

The fire curtain was so massive that it drew the attention of every Cultivator inside Donglin Fortress!

The rolling heatwaves surged like ocean waves; wherever they went, all Yin souls were annihilated, yet the Cultivators remained completely unharmed.

At the same time,

the crimson flame stones that had been gathering dust throughout Donglin Fortress for untold millennia began to emit a golden-red glow.

They slowly floated up.

Shaking off the dust and smoke, they tore away the old tree roots clinging to them.

Like the rising sun,

or like ascending sky lanterns.

"Aren't those the stones I usually take my child to play with? How can they fly?"

"I even used those stones as sandbags for Body Refining!"

Before the words had finished, the outer layers of nine stones peeled away,

revealing their crimson stone cores!

They circled on their own in mid-air, forming a perfect Nine Palaces Star Chart!

Top, bottom, left, right, the four corners, and the center.

In this moment,

the winds of heaven and earth seemed to bypass this area, and a steady, majestic aura emanated from the stone formation.

Bearing the brunt of it, Lu Yuanze's figure retreated violently.

The fire curtain that connected heaven and earth,

and the strange crimson stones...

...all sent signals of extreme danger to him.

Within a few breaths, he had retreated dozens of yards away.

Yet, Xu Changsheng's cold words reached his ears.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you were just boasting so loudly; don't you think it's a bit late to want to leave now!"

In the next instant,

the fire curtain swirled up.

The light of the crimson flame stones dimmed.

All the power condensed into a giant fire-red crow.

It gave a startling roar.

With the speed of a thunderclap, it struck toward Lu Yuanze, who was already nearing the high wall!