Old Daoist Xin indifferently said, "The Zhou Family has a disciple who lost his life at Zhang Yan’s hands. If we speak of enmity, it was established long ago. Moreover, for a renowned sect like Yuxiao, would they really care about such a matter?"

The middle-aged cultivator snorted and said, "When the three great tribulations arrive, if our luck is bad, even we might not avoid them. It’s better to be cautious."

Zhang Yan used the Earth Escape Technique, heading deep underground. His intention was to use it to increase the distance between them. As long as he could break free from the binding of the opponent’s mana, it would then be much easier to go elsewhere.

Yet after going several thousand feet deep, he still felt that mana tightly enveloping him without weakening in the slightest. He thought to himself, "The Cave Heaven True Master’s method is truly beyond imagination. This mana binding technique is so seamless it is not restricted by the mountain or terrain. It seems this method won’t work!"

His Five Elements Escape Technique was also a Divine Skill, and the deeper he went, the greater the mana required. If he stubbornly persisted, he might exhaust his mana before he could escape. So after advancing two to three thousand feet, he ceased and reversed his course, fleeing outwards. In an instant, he had covered over ten miles. Still feeling insecure, he repeatedly activated a spell, and after three breaths, he was over forty miles away.

At this moment, as he wished to advance further, he sensed that in front of him seemed to be blocked by a barrier wall, unable to break through. He already anticipated this, but fortunately, he had opened up some distance with the woman. In the time it took her to catch up, it was enough for him to use his methods.

He lifted his body upwards, emerging above ground, activated a spell in his hand, and a Clear Qi rose from behind him. From within, seventy-two "Ten Thousand Beasts Sleeping Moon Banners" flew out. With a slight shake, they shot out like lightning in various directions.

The "Six Reversal Earth Coffin Formation" was laid out, and within a radius of several dozen miles, it immediately sank into a heavy and bleak atmosphere, with demonic flames blazing and roaring echoing toward the heavens.

Zhang Yan ascended the Dharma Platform, and seeing Lu Changsu anxiously urging the array without waiting for his instruction, having evidently realized the menace of the incoming foe, he nodded slightly and, without saying much, pointed with his hand. The Mountain and River Map flew out from his sleeve, immediately suppressing the principal position. If this array could stall this person for a moment, he could then safely leave.

Zhou Ruying, following her previous sensations, was chasing towards Zhang Yan’s position when suddenly the surrounding environment changed dramatically. She merely glanced casually, and her tunneling light did not pause for even a moment, continuing forward as if she didn’t care at all.

It was not that she was careless but relied on her strong mana, and as long as it was not a Mountain Gate Formation, there was no need to worry about the method—she would just force her way through.

Faced with such a formidable enemy, Lu Changsu, standing on the Dharma Platform, was terrified, desperately waving the Array Flag. The Array Energy instantaneously transformed into countless Fierce Fire Golden Winds, stones from the mountains, and rocks, falling in chaos. Yet before they reached Zhou Ruying, they were dispersed by a layer of starlight radiating around her.

Zhang Yan was slightly surprised. He had long expected this great array wouldn’t trap this person for long, but he still underestimated her. Even with the Mountain and River Map suppressing the array, it merely barely delayed her. If this continued, his plan to escape would be difficult to proceed with.

He pondered for a moment, reaching into his sleeve to take out a cluster of Junyang Essence Qi, unhesitatingly casting it into the Mountain and River Map. Once the Qi entered, bars of brilliance erupted violently from the painting, as if it were bathed in a shower of rainbow light.

At this moment, there was a flash of spirit light, and the Mountain and River Child appeared, bowing and saying, "Thank you, master, for granting the treasure."

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "This portion of Essence Qi was meant for you anyway, but with a great enemy before us, now is not the time for words. Tell me, how long can you stall this person?"

The Mountain and River Child pondered for a moment and said, "Although I have the help of Junyang Essence Qi, I can only refine a few in such haste, and at most, I can only delay this person for half a moment."

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "That’s enough." Without further hesitation, he reached into his sleeve and took out the token of Da Wei Cloud Palace.

This Magic Artifact had inner and outer prohibitions. Although more than ninety percent of the outer prohibition had been broken, as long as the inner prohibition remained undamaged, it could still be sacrificially refined and restored. But at this moment, he did not use it for defense but to rely on its power to forcefully break through this domain.

He tapped his foot, flew into the hall, sat down, and waved the token, urging the Cloud Palace to slowly move outward.

Though it flew slowly, it was already not far from the Mountain Gate. Once outside, he could use the Escape Technique to quickly return to the Mountain Gate.

Before long, he heard a thunderous boom in his ear, feeling invigorated, and upon looking up, he saw azure above and white clouds drifting, realizing he had broken through that layer of mana web. He shook the token, retracted the Da Wei Cloud Palace, then cast it to the ground, whereupon his body suddenly vanished as he employed the Earth Escape Technique.

This Divine Skill, though it consumed mana, as long as he could timely enter the Mingcang Sect’s territory, no matter how skilled the opponent, would find themselves helpless against him.

After a hundred breaths, seeing there were still one or two miles to go, he could enter the forbidden array of Zhao You Heavenly Pond. Just then, behind him came an earth-shattering explosion, a beam of starlight surged up like a bolt, ferociously pursuing after him.

Zhang Yan leaped out from underground, glanced back, and faintly smiled as he stepped forward, flitting a thousand feet in an instant, entering the forbidden array.

Zhou Ruying was furious, never expecting that a mere Nascent Soul cultivator could escape from her grasp. With a shout, and who knew what Daoist Skill she employed, she managed to catch up in the blink of an eye. Just as she stepped into the prohibition, an astonished, enraged expression appeared on her face. From outside the heavens came a flash of thunder light, which, with a crack, shattered her entirely.

Inside Long View Cave Heaven, Master Sun, clad in a golden robe and high crown, sat atop a Jade Platform, coldly speaking to a Water Mirror, "Disgraced before a younger generation and still relentlessly pursuing them, such shamelessness, do they really think my Mingcang Sect is easy to bully?"

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)