326: Wanyingmen

The Myriad Shadow Sect was a reclusive Immortal Sect, its mountain gate hidden deep within the White Rock Mountain Range of the Xuan Continent.

The entire Immortal Sect had only about a hundred people, making it a semi-Family-style Immortal Sect.

The majority of the sect members were from the Ying Family, while the remaining Disciples were those brought back by the Immortal Sect's Elders and Disciples who had traveled outside.

These external Disciples could only cultivate some ordinary Cultivation Techniques; the true Legacy of the Myriad Shadow Sect was only passed down to the Ying Family members.

To put it plainly, these external Disciples were merely servants picked up by the Ying Family.

The dark gold tower ship hovered above a wide white stone platform, which looked as if it had been leveled by a giant axe and embedded halfway up a mountain in the depths of the White Rock Mountain Range.

The platform was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the clear mountain light, and behind it was a bottomless, ink-black, massive mountain cave entrance—this was where the Myriad Shadow Sect's mountain gate was located.

There was no towering plaque, no magnificent gate, only this platform and the deep cave entrance, exuding an air of aloofness and secrecy that kept people at a distance.

On the platform, four or five Disciples dressed in grey short shirts were diligently sweeping the already spotless white stone ground, their movements cautious and meticulous.

The immense shadow of the tower ship loomed, and although its mighty Spiritual Pressure was restrained, it still caused these low-level Disciples to tremble in their hearts, making them hastily stop their actions and look up at the sky in fear.

Xiao Zhuo, accompanied by Wang Xianzhi, who was dressed in a brand new page boy outfit, and Wang Xianyu, who was dressed as a maid and whose complexion had become much rosier, gracefully landed on the platform.

The three had distinct temperaments: Xiao Zhuo was profound and unmoving, Wang Xianzhi possessed a youthful sharpness tempered with steadiness, and Wang Xianyu curiously surveyed this unique white stone world.

"May I ask... Seniors, what brings you to the Myriad Shadow Sect?" An older Disciple, mustering his courage, stepped forward and bowed, his voice tinged with uncontrollable nervousness.

He could sense that these three were extraordinary, especially the leading Xuan-robed Young Master, whose aura was as deep as a cold pond.

Xiao Zhuo's gaze calmly swept over the deep cave entrance, his voice clear and resonant, yet it distinctly reached deep into the Immortal Cave: "Loose Cultivator Xiao Zhuo, accompanied by my page boy and maid, has specially come to the Myriad Shadow Sect to seek the Dao and truth."

"Seek the Dao?" The external Disciples exchanged glances; this term was too distant and unfamiliar to them.

They dared not be negligent, and one of them immediately turned around, trotting into the dark mountain cave entrance to report.

The wait did not last too long.

Soon, the light and shadow at the cave entrance twisted, and several figures emerged in succession.

The leader, dressed in a profound black brocade robe with silver trim, had an arrogant face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He was Ying Bohao, the Senior Brother of this generation of the Ying Family.

Behind him followed several Ying Family Disciples, similarly dressed in luxurious attire and displaying obvious arrogance.

Ying Bohao's Early Stage Nascent Soul Spiritual Pressure was released without reservation, his gaze like lightning, instantly sweeping over Xiao Zhuo and the two others.

He paused briefly on Xiao Zhuo, feeling that the other party's aura was as elusive as a mist. He frowned slightly, but then his gaze fell on Wang Xianzhi, clearly detecting his undisguised Golden Core Stage Cultivation fluctuations, and a flicker of understanding and unconcealed disdain immediately appeared in his eyes.

"Hmph, seek the Dao?" Ying Bohao sneered, his voice filled with mockery, echoing on the empty stone platform. "A mere Loose Cultivator, bringing along a page boy who hasn't even formed a Nascent Soul and a Mortal girl, dares to come to my Myriad Shadow Sect to discuss the Dao? My Myriad Shadow Sect is a reclusive Immortal Sect, and our Old Ancestor is a Golden Immortal. How can it be a place for common Loose Cultivators like you to casually trespass and presumptuously speak of seeking the Dao? You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

The Ying Family Disciples behind him also burst into laughter, looking at Xiao Zhuo and the two others as if they were ants unaware of their impending doom.

Wang Xianzhi's face darkened, and his hand unconsciously tightened. Wang Xianyu, somewhat frightened, shrank behind her brother.

Xiao Zhuo, however, remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard the harsh mockery. He merely looked calmly at Ying Bohao: "Whether one is worthy or not cannot be decided by mere words. Since Fellow Daoist is a prominent figure in your sect, why not offer some guidance, as an appetizer before discussing the Dao?"

"Oh?" Ying Bohao raised an eyebrow slightly, with disdain: "Since you wish to die, I shall grant your wish!"

With that, he stepped a hundred meters away from Xiao Zhuo and the two others.

Xiao Zhuo ignored his actions, his gaze falling on Wang Xianzhi: "Shortened name, go and learn from this esteemed Disciple of the Myriad Shadow Sect."

"Me?" Wang Xianzhi's heart sank sharply.

The opponent was a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

Golden Core and Nascent Soul, though seemingly only one realm apart, were in fact a chasm. Their magical power, Divine Sense, and control over the power of heaven and earth were incomparable.

Even with his inherited secret techniques, he had no chance of victory.

However, seeing Xiao Zhuo's calm yet undeniably resolute gaze, and remembering the Yin Evil Qi that had vanished without a trace from his sister's body, Wang Xianzhi took a deep breath, suppressing all fear. His eyes instantly became sharp and firm.

He stepped forward, blocking Xiao Zhuo, and cupped his fists towards Ying Bohao, his voice clear: "Junior Wang Xianzhi requests guidance from Senior!"

"Hahaha! You don't know what's good for you!" Ying Bohao laughed in extreme anger. A mere Golden Core Junior actually dared to accept the challenge; in his eyes, this was blatant humiliation. "Since your master wants you to die, this Young Master will fulfill your wish! Let this frog in a well witness what Immortal Sect Dao Arts are!"

He disdained using a weapon. With a flick of his sleeve, he spread his five fingers and made a grabbing motion towards Wang Xianzhi from afar!

"Hundred Shadows Spirit Binding Art!"

In an instant, large swathes of dense, ink-like shadows surged from around Ying Bohao, transforming into dozens of dark, icy chains, like living venomous snakes, tearing through the air with sharp, piercing howls, coiling towards Wang Xianzhi from all directions!

Each chain contained an icy power that could bind magical power and corrode the Divine Soul. Their speed was so great that they almost sealed off all dodging space.

Wang Xianzhi's pupils constricted. The spell pressure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator put him under immense pressure, even making the circulation of magical power within him somewhat sluggish.

Just at this critical moment, Xiao Zhuo's calm, unruffled voice clearly resounded in his Sea of Consciousness:

"Three steps to the Southeast, Wood-element Green Vine Art, seven-tenths power, entangle the Foundation of the three left chains."

"Fire-element Shield, protect the crown, disperse its icy Evil Qi."

"Sink your body to the Southwest, Earth Sinking Art, guide the power of the four right chains into the ground."

"Water-element Mirror, condense it in front of you, reflect its Shadow Evil Qi Origin, disturb its Divine Thought..."

Xiao Zhuo's guidance was incredibly precise, as if he had foreseen every changing node of Ying Bohao's spell.

Wang Xianzhi didn't hesitate for a moment, his entire body's magical power instantly erupted with unprecedented efficiency!

Swoosh!

Several tenacious Wood-element green vines burst out of the stone, precisely entangling the roots of the three most crucial shadow chains on the left. Although most of them were instantly shattered by the shadow chains, they successfully altered their trajectory.

A Fire-element Shield rose above his head, its scorching aura dispersing the bone-chilling cold attached to the chains above.

A small section of the white stone platform beneath his feet silently collapsed. The four chains on the right, pulled by the earth's force, crashed into the stone pit, kicking up a shower of stone dust.

A shimmering water mirror instantly condensed in front of him. A ripple of light flashed across its surface, actually slightly refracting the Shadow Evil Qi wrapped around the chains, reflecting it back towards Ying Bohao. Although it couldn't harm the enemy, it caused his mind to momentarily falter, and a subtly imperceptible delay appeared in the operation of his spell!

Wang Xianzhi's figure was like willow catkins in the wind, narrowly passing through the gaps in the coiling chains at the last possible moment!

His magical power was far inferior, and every block and dodge was done with all his might. His protective spiritual light violently vibrated under the aftershocks of the shadow chains, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, making him appear disheveled.

However, he held on!

Not only did he withstand the first wave of attacks, but under Xiao Zhuo's almost prescient guidance, Wang Xianzhi utilized his Golden Core Stage Cultivation and all the basic and intermediate spells he had learned to their utmost limit.

He sometimes met attacks head-on with Earth Wall Art, sometimes dodged with escape techniques, sometimes condensed water mirrors to refract and interfere, and even seized a tiny flaw Ying Bohao exposed due to underestimation, sending a condensed golden light finger strike directly at his ribs!