Chapter 114: The Arrival of Daofan

Zhou Qi, accompanied by Huang Qianqian, hurried excitedly toward the location of the teleportation array.

"What do you mean we can't teleport to Quan'an City today? Why is that?" Zhou Qi asked, shocked.

"Do you think you can just go wherever you want whenever you please? Do you have any idea how many spirit stones it takes to activate the array? Wait until tomorrow; we need to gather at least fifty people first," the cultivator in charge of the array replied.

"If I cover the cost of the energy required for this activation, can we start it now?" Zhou Qi pressed, unwilling to give up.

"No, that's not how it works. We run it once every three days. Don't you think the array needs maintenance? If an accident happens mid-teleportation and you end up stranded in the void, who would be held responsible?" The cultivator’s tone was firm and unyielding.

Zhou Qi realized he would have to stay the night, but he worried about what might happen. He considered leaving the city to wait, but reasoned that Dao Fan would be even more reckless in a desolate area. It was better to stay in the crowded city where Dao Fan might be forced to exercise some restraint.

Zhou Qi found an inn and rented two rooms. Huang Qianqian had already transformed into her human form; living in the same room felt awkward, and he feared the consequences should her dragon blood erupt.

Huang Qianqian was displeased. If they didn’t stay together, who would talk to her? How would she pass the lonely night, and to whom could she confide her thoughts? After Zhou Qi explained for a long time, she finally understood the dangers of a man and a woman sharing a room. "Even if my dragon blood erupts, you aren't strong enough to defeat me. What are you worried about? If the worst happens, I’ll just cut off the part of you that’s causing trouble," she countered.

Zhou Qi was left speechless, though fortunately, she did not insist further.

That night, Zhou Qi continuously simulated the process of using the Golden Core treatment method. This technique was merely a conjecture by the Medicine Immortal, and he had never tested whether it would succeed. Performing such a major procedure for the first time made him nervous. He had mastered the Hunyuan Protective Technique to the point where he could deploy it at will. The old dragon's brother had failed his breakthrough to the eighth rank—a realm equivalent to the late Golden Core stage of a human—while Huangfu Xiu was only at the early Golden Core stage. He worried about potential rejection reactions during the fusion.

After consulting True Lord Tianxuan, he was told it was simple: he only needed to seal a portion of the power within the dragon pearl. If Huangfu Xiu could cultivate while slowly releasing the power from the pearl, his progress through the Golden Core stage would be incredibly smooth. Reassured by the True Lord's guarantee, Zhou Qi finally relaxed; he had feared the dragon pearl's power might exceed the cultivator's capacity, causing his Golden Core to shatter.

Something felt wrong. Zhou Qi jolted from his meditation. It was too quiet. A moment ago, he could still hear Huang Qianqian muttering to herself, but now there was not a sound. Zhou Qi remained still, his heart pounding in his throat, ready to respond to a sudden attack.

"Boom!" With a thunderous blast, Zhou Qi used the Godly Movement Step to teleport just as his bed was pulverized by a massive palm print. Without hesitation, he attempted to use the Godly Movement Step again to break out of the room; Huang Qianqian was at the Golden Core stage and incredibly fast—if he could reach her, his chances would improve.

He slammed into an invisible barrier and was instantly repelled. The room had been sealed with a restriction.

"Don't bother," a voice echoed. "I have placed the Heaven-Imprisoning Array here. It blocks teleportation and forbids the use of other arrays. You are completely cut off from the outside world. Zhou Qi, you are a turtle in a jar. It would be best to surrender."

"Dao Fan?"

"Exactly. Zhou Qi, let's see what tricks you have to turn the tide today. Don't worry, your Golden Core beast has already been taken care of. I must say, you are quite lucky to have swindled such a rare divine beast. I am truly envious. Fortunately, after tonight, everything will be mine." A figure materialized in the room—it was Dao Fan, his Taoist robes immaculate, a smug smile plastered across his handsome face.

"Friend, how are your eggs doing?" Zhou Qi asked softly.

"You're courting death!" The saintly, immortal air vanished from Dao Fan, his face twisting into a snarl. Zhou Qi’s words had struck a nerve; though he had healed, the mere mention made him feel a phantom ache.

A massive palm print, its intricate lines clearly visible and radiating a terrifying pressure, whistled down toward Zhou Qi, seemingly locking the space around him.

There was no dodging this strike. Zhou Qi abandoned the idea of using the Godly Movement Step or the Profound Thunder Evasion. Instead, he activated the Hunyuan Protective Technique, and a transparent film encased him.

He performed the Mountain-Holding Seal, and a ghostly, illusory mountain rapidly took shape. Zhou Qi spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and the crimson Jade Dragon Mountain became solid, appearing as real as an actual mountain.

Seeing the Mountain-Holding Seal, Dao Fan was reminded of how he had been tricked before. He sneered, "Is this the only trick you have? If so, you can die now."

Zhou Qi said nothing as the crimson mountain in his hands collided with the giant palm. "Boom!" The shockwave from the impact shattered everything in the room.

Zhou Qi’s blood had been infused with the essence blood of the old dragon. With this enhancement, the power of the Mountain-Holding Seal was not to be underestimated.

He had blocked it. Zhou Qi felt a surge of joy. Although the Mountain-Holding Seal grew smaller under the pressure of the palm print, the print itself was slowly dissipating. Eventually, both vanished.

"Hmm?" Dao Fan was genuinely surprised that a second-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator had blocked his strike. However, he didn't dwell on it. He had only used sixty percent of his power; despite his rage, he hadn't forgotten his objective. If he killed Zhou Qi with a single full-power blow, he would gain nothing.

"Not bad. To think you could block my Great Palm Print. Try this one then," Dao Fan shouted.

He formed hand seals and manifested a giant, golden fist. Spiritual energy gathered into the fist, making it increasingly solid and potent. It surged toward Zhou Qi with unparalleled momentum.

Zhou Qi did not dare to be careless. He had only managed to match the Great Palm Print because of the surprise element; this fist clearly possessed far greater power.

Zhou Qi silently activated the Divine Dragon Transformation technique and thrust his own fist toward the opponent’s. Upon contact, he felt a massive force surge through his arm. Even with the Divine Dragon Transformation boosting his attack and defense, he could not block it—the gap in their cultivation levels was simply too vast.

"Boom!" The film formed by the Hunyuan Protective Technique shattered instantly. Zhou Qi was sent flying into the door, only to be bounced back by the array. His internal organs were wounded by the impact, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He silently picked himself up from the floor, his injuries beginning to mend.

Tempered by the Glazed Flame and the dragon's essence blood, his recovery speed was astonishing. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he felt his wounds fully heal.

"Again," Zhou Qi said, drawing the Immortal-Slaying Sword and fixing his gaze on Dao Fan.