"The disparity in realm was too great—was this backlash from the Formless Killing Intent?"
Li Fan pondered in his heart for a moment, then reviewed that scene once again.
Amidst the pitch-black heaven and earth, two tempests collided.
A streak of azure light illuminated the world. Li Fan vaguely caught sight of a tiny black sword weaving relentlessly through the storm.
Its baleful aura shook the heavens, its speed astonishingly fast, trailing luminous flames of blue and azure.
Between the vast expanse of sky and water, raging, rampaging energy obliterated everything; even the brimming, pervasive spiritual energy was swept away.
Only pure wind remained.
The two tempests slowly merged, coalescing into one.
Yet it was the smaller tempest that, like a snake swallowing an elephant, took dominion.
Not knowing how much time had passed, the fusion was finally complete.
The instant this new wind calamity took shape, heaven and earth seemed to fall abruptly silent.
An illusory phantom of black sword intent, magnified countless times, towered between heaven and earth.
Azure wind blew down from the tip above into the blade.
Blue water flowed up from the hilt below into the blade.
Azure, blue, and black intermingled as the blade slowly solidified.
Once the phantom of sword intent fully materialized, Zhang Haobo's furious shout echoed across the vault of heaven.
"Slash!"
Then the scene went black, and the stream of information came to an end.
Li Fan reviewed the scene repeatedly several more times, until Zhang Zhiliang noticed him lost in a daze for so long and asked if he needed to rest.
Only then did he stop.
"Using the laws of heaven and earth to temper a Golden Core."
Though he had sustained a minor injury and still did not know precisely how Zhang Haobo had achieved the Golden Core realm, Li Fan could not contain the surge of excitement and joy in his heart at suddenly witnessing the scene of attaining the Golden Core Dao for the first time.
The Great Dao of cultivation was cloaked in layers of thick mist ahead.
Now, by borrowing the power of a chosen paragon, another unknown stretch of the path had been illuminated.
After a good while, the feeling of joy gradually subsided.
Li Fan calmed down once again and resumed studying arrays.
To the side, Zhang Zhiliang, who had watched the entire process of Li Fan studying hard, getting injured, rejoicing, and continuing to study hard, could not help revealing a gratified expression.
"Though this lad's array talent is indeed rather poor, his diligence and temperament suit my tastes well. I only wonder how long he can keep this up.
"It would be best if he doesn't give up halfway like those before him."
***
While Li Fan was engrossed in studying arrays on Wanxian Island, he had no idea that an enormous tornado was rapidly moving toward Wanxian Island.
Naturally, this unusual spectacle caught the attention of the cultivators on Wanxian Island.
Confident in the protection of the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array, even if this tornado were twice as powerful, it would not exert any real impact on Wanxian Island.
However, this tornado storm—the likes of which had never before appeared in the Congyun Sea—carried far too terrifying a momentum.
Moreover, its objective was unmistakable: it was heading straight for Wanxian Island.
This inevitably caused the cultivators of Wanxian Island to harbor all sorts of wild speculations.
Regarding the wind calamities wreaking havoc across the Congyun Sea, there was an unwritten rule among the cultivators of Wanxian Island:
They only mounted defenses and generally did not take the initiative to dispel them.
It was said to be an order from that Soul Formation Immortal Lord on Wanxian Island.
Although the cultivators did not understand why, they could only comply.
After all, while these wind calamities were immense in scale and fury, their lethality seemed quite limited.
At most, they affected the mortals living on the islands.
Even when it came to Qi Condensation stage cultivators, none had ever been heard to lose their lives in a wind calamity.
Thus, the cultivators never paid much mind to the wind calamities.
But now, the situation was different.
This wind calamity was heading straight for Wanxian Island—what were they to do?
One had to know that since Wanxian Island was built, a wind calamity attacking Wanxian Island had never once occurred.
For a time, the cultivators on the island buzzed with discussion.
Yet for some unknown reason, the official leadership of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals maintained an eerie silence, delaying any decision.
And so, the cultivators of Wanxian Island watched helplessly as that colossal azure tornado, seemingly piercing through heaven and earth, drew closer and closer.
From afar, it had not seemed like much, but as the tornado drew near, the cultivators grew increasingly horrified.
Countless volumes of seawater were sucked into the sky by the tornado.
Wherever the tornado passed, the sea was emptied out.
Even the silt and boulders on the seabed were swept up, flying into the sky.
Under this immense wind pressure, the ground of Wanxian Island actually trembled faintly.
Upon the stone statue of the tall-crowned elder, the Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Venerable, a brilliant glow burst forth.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array had automatically activated its defenses.
"Which fellow Daoist comes as a guest to my Wanxian Island?
"Please show yourself!"
As the azure and blue tornado drew closer, Wanxian Island's Soul Formation Immortal Lord finally made his presence known.
Continuous mountain peaks rose in rolling, layered ridges, blocking the tornado's path.
Fierce as the azure wind was, against these towering, unending ranges, it seemed somewhat outmatched.
Yet the tornado showed no intention of changing course.
Offering no reply, it crashed head-on!
The tornado and the mountains collided.
A thunderous roar instantly shook heaven and earth.
An endless barrage of booms rang in the ears of the watching cultivators, their complexions draining of color.
In utter shock, they watched the battleground between wind and mountain.
The wind was like blades, shattered rocks flying everywhere, shearing off many mountain peaks in an instant.
A cold snort sounded, and the peaks instantly restored to their original form.
The sky around the azure tornado suddenly turned pitch-black.
Mountain after mountain appeared in succession without end, surrounding the azure tornado in their midst.
Just at that moment, hearty laughter rang out from within the tornado: "Congyun Sea's Zhang Haobo greets the Soul Formation Immortal Lord!"
The voice carried far and wide, spreading across the entire Wanxian Island in an instant.
Among the cultivators watching this scene, some wore blank dazes on their faces.
Others stood tongue-tied, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
Through word of mouth, before long, every cultivator on the island learned who Zhang Haobo was.
A few years ago, as a Qi Condensation cultivator, he had tested his sword against puppets.
Not long ago, at the Foundation Establishment stage, he had severed the azure wind with his sword.
How could he now be manipulating a storm of such terrifying power, pressing upon Wanxian Island?
Judging by that display, while it might not match Soul Formation, it was definitely above Nascent Soul!
How on earth did he do it?
Wanxian Island erupted in an uproar.
The clamor of voices boiled over the heavens.
Yet once the initial shock passed, quite a few discerning cultivators began to notice the truth.
"This Zhang Haobo's own strength might not actually be all that great! He's borrowing momentum!"
"Indeed. In my estimation, this person has at most a Golden Core cultivation. It's just that his comprehension of the laws of wind is truly astonishing, which is why he can command such a formidable storm!"
"His move is just like deflecting a thousand jin with four ounces. By using his own meager strength to stir the might of heaven and earth, he has done what ordinary Golden Core cultivators could never possibly achieve. How long has he even been cultivating? This man's natural talent is truly frightening and awe-inspiring!"
...
On Wanxian Island, discussion buzzed incessantly.
The unseen Soul Formation Immortal Lord also fell silent for a while.
"For what purpose have you come this time?"
After a moment, he spoke once more.
Amidst the azure tornado, Zhang Haobo's figure slowly emerged.
Looking into the empty void ahead, he smiled faintly. "Pardon the intrusion. I seek an audience with Senior, for I have important matters to discuss!"
Chapter 137