Chapter 1043: The Sea of Thunder

"……"

The figure flickered, nearly losing control and dissipating on the spot.

He had left his remnant soul here to take on disciples and pass down his unique skills to future generations—not to become someone's disciple!

Now, not only had he failed to take on a disciple, but the other party actually wanted him to become a disciple... Intense frustration nearly made him explode.

However, he couldn't blame the other party.

Upon first meeting, he had said things like, "To receive my legacy, you must enter my sect; otherwise, how can I teach you my unique skills..."—otherwise, it would lack proper justification.

Now that he wanted the other party to teach him, naturally the same principle applied; otherwise, why would the other party impart knowledge to him?

"Alright, I was too attached..."

Shaking his head, the figure no longer insisted but looked up and said, "Passing through me is the true entry into the ruins. The difficulty ahead is greater; I hope you can go further..."

With that, his figure grew fainter.

It seemed that, under normal circumstances, he could have lasted a while longer, but now, struck by this blow, he could no longer hold on.

Whoosh!

The figure vanished, and the stone tablet before him emitted a crisp "crack, crack!" sound, covered in countless fissures, shattering into pieces in the blink of an eye.

"You haven't told me your name yet..."

Not expecting him to disappear so quickly, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be stunned.

In truth, claiming he could correct the flaws of Traveler Without Bounds was merely a tactic to lure the other party into producing the manual. The techniques he had seen before were all of very low level and could not be integrated with such high-level martial arts.

Thus, although he knew the flaws, he was still unable to articulate the correct corrections.

The other party earnestly sought to learn, so in desperation, he used the other's own words to refute him. Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the other vanished...

He had obtained the other's Traveler Without Bounds manual, yet didn't even know his name.

"Thank you for the technique, senior. I will surely carry it forward and live up to your trust and kindness!"

Looking at the shattered stone tablet, Zhang Xuan knelt and bowed, his expression sincere.

Regardless, the other's technique alone was worth his wholehearted bow—not just out of understanding, but also out of genuine respect.

"Although this Traveler Without Bounds is very powerful, I still can't cultivate it now..."

After bowing, recalling the newly learned technique, Zhang Xuan was filled with helplessness.

His true energy and physical body had already met the conditions; even if he practiced and executed it, he wouldn't exhaust his true energy or cause his body to collapse. The only crux was... this technique had far too many flaws.

He was reluctant to practice it.

After all, the first level's flaw could potentially lead to blindness, and he didn't want to become blind from practicing a technique.

It seemed he would have to wait until after leaving this ruin to find a higher-level movement technique to merge with it, creating a perfect technique!

After all, the Heaven's Path Movement Technique was sufficient for him; there was no need to take risks.

"Let's go back first. Without the wind chime sounds, they should have awakened from their special state and will soon find their way here..."

No longer dwelling on the cultivation method of Traveler Without Bounds, Zhang Xuan's body flickered, and he flew straight back the way he came.

The group had been bewitched by the demonic sound, unable to control themselves. With the sound gone, they should have awakened from the special state and found their bearings.

Flying along, he retrieved the formation flags he had placed earlier to mark directions. Before long, he returned to where he had parted ways with Wu Shi and the others. Looking down, he frowned.

The place was devoid of people, instead in a state of disarray, with numerous large craters dotting the ground, as if a fierce battle had just taken place, blood everywhere.

"What happened?"

His fists clenched.

Wu Shi and the others were all Saint Realm Level 4 experts, formidable in strength. What danger had they encountered that made them fight so fiercely, leaving nothing behind?

"Eye of Insight!"

Knowing that the group might be in danger, he didn't hesitate. Patterns emerged in his eyes as he looked around, quickly spotting a faint trace.

"Chase!"

Certain that the group had headed in this direction, Zhang Xuan accelerated and gave chase.

"Alien spirit clansmen?"

After advancing for a while, he found another battleground. This time, besides human blood, there were also two slain alien spirit clan corpses.

"Damn..."

Looking down, Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

Others might need a long time to deduce the strength of a corpse before death, but with his Eye of Insight, he could easily discern that these two dead alien spirit clansmen were at least at Saint Realm Level 3!

Such experts would be considered formidable even in the so-called Qingtian Royal Family.

Whoosh!

With a thought, Purple Leaf King appeared before him.

"Do you recognize these two?"

He looked over sharply.

Based on recent experiences, not only were they coming to this ruin, but the so-called Qingtian Royal Family also had designs on it. The sudden appearance of alien spirit clansmen must be related.

"Reporting to young master, I don't recognize these two, but... judging by their attire, they should be subordinates of Stone Leaf King!" His eyes lit up as he examined them, then Purple Leaf King said.

"Stone Leaf King?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He was the one the other had mentioned, one of the Upper Five Kings, ranked fourth!

"Stone Leaf King is famous for his physical body. When his technique is activated, his skin becomes like stone, making his defense invincible! These two have dry, rough skin without normal softness; they should be his subordinates, having also learned similar techniques!"

Purple Leaf King analyzed.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had noticed earlier with his Eye of Insight that these two had cracked, grayish-blue skin like stone. He had thought it was due to the poor living environment of the alien spirit clansmen causing skin aging, but it turned out they had practiced special techniques.

"Stone Leaf King, with his invincible body and cultivation at the peak of Saint Realm Level 4, even I would flee as far as possible if I encountered him... Wu Shi and the others are in great danger if they meet him!"

Knowing the situation, Purple Leaf King said.

Zhang Xuan was filled with worry. Without further words, he continued following the trail of clues.

Rumble!

After advancing for a while, he heard a roar ahead. Looking up, he saw dark clouds gathering and thunder rolling in the distance.

This formation space was very similar to the outside world, with warm and cold seasonal changes, naturally including spring thunder.

"They entered here..."

Seeing the trail leading straight into the thunder region, Zhang Xuan frowned.

This spring thunder was extremely terrifying; even he would avoid it as much as possible. Entering here, one could easily be struck dead with the slightest carelessness.

The group had entered here, indicating the danger they faced was more dreadful than imagined.

"I should have left the Golden Origin Cauldron behind..."

A look of self-reproach appeared in his eyes.

He had thought there was no danger, so he took away the Golden Origin Cauldron, never dreaming he would encounter alien spirit clansmen.

"Young master, this thunder is extremely terrifying. Are we going in like this?"

Seeing the sea of thunder before him, Purple Leaf King shrank his neck.

"You go into the Thousand Ant Beehive first!"

Knowing that more people meant more targets, Zhang Xuan, with a thought, put Purple Leaf King into his storage ring. Just as he was about to enter, he had an idea and stopped.

Finding a hidden spot, he sat cross-legged. After preparing properly, his soul gently shook and leaped out from between his brows.

It was unclear whether the group was inside the thunder or if alien spirit clansmen were chasing them. Entering with his physical body would easily get him trapped by the thunder, causing endless trouble, and it was too slow, far inferior to his soul.

His soul was of a yang attribute and formless; as long as he didn't actively attract it, the thunder would find it hard to detect.

Storing his physical body in the storage ring, his soul held the ring and, in a flash, darted into the thunder-filled region. His Eye of Insight flickered as he quickly advanced along the traces left on the ground.

The traces swept by the thunder were very faint, almost indistinguishable. Only his exceptional eyesight allowed him to follow; anyone else, even a high-level master teacher like Wu Shi, would have no way.

After flying for a while, he sensed turbulent spiritual energy ahead, with the sounds of battle mixed with thunder.

Looking forward, he saw an ancient-looking town in the middle of the thunder, where the thunder seemed weaker, far less fierce than the periphery.

Two groups were fighting fiercely. Seven or eight alien spirit clansmen surrounded them, while Wu Shi and the others sat cross-legged on the ground, all pale-faced and severely injured.

"Purple Leaf King, which one among them is the Stone Leaf King you mentioned?"

Since the other side had managed to reduce Wu Shi and the others to such a state, they were certainly not simple. Zhang Xuan didn't rush in but communicated with the Thousand Ant Beehive.

"Young master, Stone Leaf King isn't here. These should all be his subordinates, fearless of death and ignoring attacks..." After looking, Purple Leaf King transmitted.

"Not here?"

Hearing that the invincible Stone Leaf King wasn't present, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. His soul flickered, entered the beehive, returned to his physical body, and appeared silently on the spot.

He was the only fresh force among the group. To rescue them, he had to strike with a single, decisive blow; otherwise, if surrounded, even he would be helpless.

"Dingding, in a moment, you and I will attack together, simultaneously..."

He also released the Golden Origin Cauldron and instructed quietly.

"Don't worry, young master. I'll burn these guys to cinders..."

The Golden Origin Cauldron was full of excitement.

He had always been warlike; such a good opportunity was not to be missed.

"Alright, move!"

Seizing the right moment, with a low shout, Zhang Xuan charged forward first.

Activating the Heaven's Path Movement Technique without any pause, he rammed straight into one of the alien spirit clansmen.

His physical body was now comparable to a saint artifact; a direct collision was more effective than using any weapon.

Bang!

The alien spirit clansman he struck was killed on the spot. Just as he was about to continue attacking, he heard a "howl!" behind him. The Golden Origin Cauldron had already reached him, its body enormous, and it slammed down heavily, crushing six or seven alien spirit clansmen into meat patties.

Until their deaths, they didn't know what had hit them.

"Too fierce..."

Zhang Xuan was stunned, his mouth agape.

He thought his own head-on charge was impressive, but he never dreamed that the Golden Origin Cauldron was even fiercer, not even on the same level.