111: Chapter 111 Three Steps to Determine the Fate

If the challenge is accepted, two Eighth-Rank Perfection cultivators teaming up against one Ninth-Rank cultivator would have at least a seventy percent chance of winning.

"Good!" Wu Mao was the first to respond, "I accept!"

Tian Ziying also nodded, "Since Instructor Yuan Chen is so confident, I, Tian Ziying, am not one to shy away from trouble either."

Just then, Qiu Long walked into the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the three of you.

He had intended to mediate the dispute, but seeing your resolute expression, he opened his mouth but said nothing.

Soon, the news spread throughout the entire Array Academy.

Everyone had heard that you, the newly arrived guest elder, were going to challenge Wu Mao and Tian Ziying on the dueling platform, one against two.

The wager was that the loser would leave Xingzhi Academy forever.

For a time, the entire academy was in an uproar.

The disciples began placing bets frantically.

However, unexpectedly, most people bet on Wu Mao and Tian Ziying to win.

The reason was simple: two Eighth-Rank Perfection cultivators teaming up were almost unbeatable in an array duel.

No matter how strong you were as an individual, when dealing with array attacks from two directions simultaneously, there would always be moments where you couldn't attend to everything.

You heard these discussions, but you didn't care at all.

For three days, you didn't make any special preparations.

You just continued your cultivation and teaching as usual, as if the duel three days later had nothing to do with you.

Long Batian, however, sent a message again, asking if you needed his help.

You declined his kind offer.

Opponents of this level were not worth invoking Long Batian's connections.

Three days later, on the Array Academy's dueling platform.

The circular stone platform was a hundred zhang in diameter, with protective array patterns carved all around it to prevent the aftermath of the battle from affecting the spectators.

The area below the platform was already packed with people; not only were there disciples from the Array Academy, but disciples from other academies had also come upon hearing the news.

Even a few elders were sitting in high places to watch the battle.

Qiu Long stood in the very center of the dueling platform and announced the rules.

"Array duel, no restrictions on methods, no time limit."

"The side that admits defeat or loses combat capability is defeated."

"The loser fulfills the agreement and leaves Xingzhi Academy forever."

"Begin!"

Wu Mao and Tian Ziying had already discussed their tactics.

Wu Mao would be the main attacker, using an Eighth-Rank Killing Array as the core to suppress you head-on.

Tian Ziying would be the main controller, using an Eighth-Rank Trapping Array and an illusion array to assist and interfere with you from the side.

The two coordinated tacitly, one attacking and one defending, as array patterns unfolded and intertwined on the platform.

The Killing Array, Trapping Array, and illusion array operated simultaneously, creating a massive momentum that left the disciples below the platform dumbstruck.

"So strong! Two Eighth-Rank Perfection cultivators teaming up—this array suppression is simply unsolvable!"

"Yuan Chen is finished, right? How can this be broken?"

However, you just stood in place, motionless.

Your eyes were as calm as if you were watching two children playing with building blocks.

Because in your eyes, their array was full of loopholes.

You raised your right hand and lightly flicked your index finger.

A golden array pattern flew from your fingertip and accurately struck the eye of Wu Mao's Killing Array.

The entire Killing Array instantly stopped operating.

It wasn't that you forcibly broke it; rather, you used the most exquisite technique to disintegrate the structure of the array patterns from within.

Wu Mao's expression changed drastically, "Impossible! How did he see the array eye?"

You didn't give him time to react.

A second flick, and the golden array pattern hit the weak point of Tian Ziying's Trapping Array.

The Trapping Array collapsed with a boom.

With the third flick, the illusion array dissipated.

Three flicks to break three arrays; your strength made all the cultivators in the arena fall silent.

Even Qiu Long's pupils contracted slightly.

Wu Mao and Tian Ziying were now completely panicked.

Their strongest combined array had been dissolved by your three fingers.

This kind of gap... was simply not something they could make up for.

"Do you want to continue?" you asked indifferently.

Wu Mao gritted his teeth and pulled an Formation Plate from his bosom.

He poured all his spiritual power into the Formation Plate, and a Killing Array several times more powerful than before suddenly unfolded.

Tian Ziying was not to be outdone; a purple light flashed in her hand—it was actually a secret technique to disturb the mind.

The purple light shot toward your sea of consciousness, attempting to disintegrate your mental defenses from within.

You sneered.

The secret technique hit you, but it was like a stone sinking into the ocean.

With the strength of your Perfect Great Dao Body's soul, how could such a low-level secret technique shake it?

As for Wu Mao's artifact Killing Array, you finally made a move.

You drew a complete array diagram in front of you with both hands, the array patterns solidifying in the void, shining with brilliant golden light.

This was not an Eighth-Rank array.

This was a Ninth-Rank defensive array you had simplified casually.

All the attacks from the artifact Killing Array slammed into the Ninth-Rank defensive array, but it was like a copper coin falling into a well; it only made a sound.

Wu Mao's artifact Formation Plate began to buckle under the strain, and cracks spread from the center of the disk.

"No... impossible..." Despair was written all over Wu Mao's face.

You retracted the defensive array and finally began your own counterattack.

With every step you took forward, your hand released an array pattern.

Several agile arrays attacked Wu Mao and Tian Ziying directly.

The two, whose arrays had already been broken by you, were already in a bad state; how could they possibly withstand your attacks?

Under your fierce attacks, the two were directly severely injured.

"I said it, your arrays are full of loopholes."

You raised your hand, and two streams of spiritual power pressed onto their respective dantian areas.

"No!"

The two saw through your intention, but you didn't stop at all.

The withered decay power of the third level of the Yaojiu Mysterious Art surged in, precisely destroying the meridians within their dantian.

"Ah—!"

Two shrill screams echoed on the dueling platform.

Wu Mao and Tian Ziying collapsed to the ground simultaneously, their faces as pale as paper.

The entire audience was silent.

Everyone was so shocked by the scene before them that they couldn't speak.

One against two, three fingers to break three arrays, three steps to decide the outcome.

This crushing victory left everyone who had bet on Wu Mao and Tian Ziying dumbfounded.

Qiu Long walked forward slowly and announced the result.

"The winner... is Yuan Chen."

"Wu Mao, Tian Ziying, according to the agreement, leave Xingzhi Academy starting today, and you shall never be allowed to return."

Wu Mao raised his head with difficulty, his eyes full of resentment.

"Yuan Chen... you crippled my cultivation... the Wu Family will not let you off... neither will the Tian Family... you just wait..."

You looked down at the two of them, your face expressionless.

"I'll be waiting."

The two were carried out by the academy guards.

The disciples below the platform had not yet recovered from their shock.

A Ninth-Rank Array Master, one against two, crushing two Eighth-Rank Perfection cultivators.

This was no longer something a Ninth-Rank Array Master could do.

Especially the array setup in the last three steps; it clearly touched the threshold of an Array Master.

You walked off the dueling platform, and the whispers of the disciples followed you.

"Instructor Yuan Chen... could he already be an Array Master?"

You didn't look back.

Qiu Long stood on the dueling platform, gazing deeply at your retreating back.

His lips moved slightly, and he whispered a sentence.

A sentence only he himself could hear.

"Interesting... really interesting."