Chapter 1073: Meeting Heavenly Leaf King Again

Seeing that after practicing for a while, none of them had gotten the hang of it, Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head.

Although he had corrected eighteen flaws in this palm technique, many earlier loopholes remained uncorrected, so cultivating it still required a vast amount of true energy.

Though none of them were weak, compared to his own Sealing Sage Solution, they fell far short.

It was unavoidable that they couldn't master it in a short time.

It was like how he had mastered the Green Dragon Crescent Blade technique, which was astonishingly powerful, and he was willing to teach it selflessly—but if the student couldn't even lift the blade, how could they practice?

Even a clever woman can't cook without rice; even if he was a master teacher, he could do nothing if their true energy reserves and purity were insufficient.

"I'm going to the Sealing Sage Pavilion to find the old dean. Anyone coming with me?"

Knowing that staying any longer was pointless—since he had already taught the palm technique and their future cultivation depended on themselves—Zhang Xuan spoke up.

Earlier, Sage Qiu Wu had said that the old dean and Heavenly Leaf King had gone to the Sealing Sage Pavilion ahead; to rescue them, they had to go there.

"Let's go together!"

Teacher Wu and the others nodded.

Everyone had already memorized the complete formula of the Great Compassion Demon Palm; staying here any longer was meaningless, so they might as well go together to find Zhang Yin Qiu and the others.

"Where did you go just now?"

Walking forward, recalling that Luo Ruoxi had flown in from ahead earlier, Zhang Xuan couldn't help sending a telepathic message.

"Just took a look around..."

The girl smiled lightly.

"Oh..." Seeing that she didn't want to say, Zhang Xuan stopped asking.

Following the markings on the map, the group soon arrived at a pavilion.

Clouds swirled around it, giving a sense of sanctity.

Taking a look, President Han's expression turned grave: "This place has an extremely powerful formation. Once you enter, it may be hard to leave. So, Teacher Wu, Teacher Zhang, and I will go in; the rest of you should stay out for now!"

The pavilion had no name and seemed hidden in the void, clearly covered by a massive formation. Combined with what the ancient sage had said earlier, entering might mean never returning, so there was no need for everyone to risk it.

"We're not afraid..." Feng Xun and the others said solemnly.

"It's not a matter of fear. If we all get trapped, there'll be no hope. You stay outside and scout around. If we don't come out in three days, then consider other options!"

Teacher Wu spoke.

This concerned everyone's safety; they couldn't act impulsively.

Otherwise, if they all got trapped, no one would be able to help.

"Alright!"

After hesitating, everyone finally nodded.

"You wait outside too. I'll be fine..."

Smiling slightly, Zhang Xuan looked at Luo Ruoxi.

He didn't know what they would face inside, but it was bound to be extremely dangerous, and he didn't want the girl to follow.

"Let's go together. We can look out for each other."

The girl looked back at him.

"This..." Seeing her resolute gaze that brooked no argument, Zhang Xuan paused, then had to nod in agreement: "Alright, but once inside, you must be careful!"

Smiling lightly, Luo Ruoxi nodded.

Fearing that the remnant soul of Heavenly Leaf King that had escaped earlier might cause trouble for the group, Zhang Xuan had President Han set up a peak seventh-grade killing formation around them before he, Teacher Wu, and the others walked into the pavilion.

The formation around the pavilion, like the seal in the underground cavern, was one-way: entering was unobstructed, but once inside, a restriction formed, preventing escape.

"Truly a one-way trip..."

After walking for a while, sensing the space behind them sealed off, the group exchanged glances, their faces grim.

Passing through the seal without encountering any danger relieved them. They reached the pavilion, pushed open the door, and entered.

The first floor was vast, lined with rows of stone tablets engraved with dense text.

"These are... insights on breaking through to the Saint Domain?"

Taking a look, Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi exchanged glances, both startled.

They had seen text like this before—on the mountain path of the Sealing Saint Platform—all insights on how to break through to the Saint Domain.

"It seems this Sealing Sage Pavilion is indeed closely connected to the Sealing God Platform..."

With similar names and stone tablets bearing the same content, neither of them believed there was no connection.

Teacher Wu and President Han seemed to have visited the Sealing Saint Platform as well; they too were startled by the content on the tablets, then looked puzzled.

Continuing forward, just as they were about to enter the second floor, their hairs stood on end as a sword beam shot straight from the depths of the pavilion.

Boom!

Teacher Wu and President Han's true energy erupted simultaneously as they stepped forward together, meeting the sword beam head-on.

Their powers merged, producing an effect greater than the sum of two, even without forming a formation.

Bang!

Colliding with the sword energy, they both retreated several steps, their faces pale.

"It's Heavenly Leaf King..."

Zhang Xuan's expression changed.

A sword energy from nowhere that could force two top experts to struggle—only Heavenly Leaf King, trapped here and unable to escape, could do that.

"Heh heh, not bad! Zhang Xuan, if you hadn't come in, so be it, but since you have, you'll only find death..."

With a cold shout, Heavenly Leaf King's voice rang out, and then a tall figure slowly walked over from the depths of the hall.

Unlike the primordial spirit he had seen before, this Heavenly Leaf King had a solid physical body, tall and imposing, even taller than Red Leaf King and Jade Leaf King.

"You know me? That remnant soul... entered here and merged with you?"

Hearing him call out his name, Zhang Xuan was startled.

It seemed the remnant soul that had escaped earlier had also entered here; otherwise, trapped for over two years, he couldn't have recognized him and harbored such hatred.

"You harmed my primordial spirit. If you hadn't come in, I could do nothing to you. But since you're here, don't think of leaving!"

With a cold laugh, Heavenly Leaf King raised his finger and pointed sharply.

Teacher Wu and President Han stepped forward again, their true energy boiling.

Bang! Bang!

With two dull thuds, they were sent flying backward.

Though both were strong, compared to Heavenly Leaf King, they were far inferior.

"Teacher Zhang, run..."

Twisting his body, forcing himself to land, Teacher Wu spat out a mouthful of blood and shouted loudly.

Even before the other's primordial spirit had left its body, the two of them together couldn't withstand him; if he went all out, they would be no match!

"Run? Do you think you can?"

Heavenly Leaf King sneered, his hand suddenly grasping.

Whoosh!

The entire hall seemed to be enveloped, a powerful force sealing off the area around them.

"Damn..."

Having just entered and already encountering Heavenly Leaf King at his peak, Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

The other was now on guard against him; trying to deceive him was impossible, and in a direct fight, he was no match. Was he just supposed to wait here to die?

"Break for me!"

Raising his palm, he executed the newly learned Great Compassion Demon Palm and struck at the seal before him.

Hum!

The seal rippled like water but didn't crack; instead, a counterforce surged back, forcing him to retreat several steps as if he had struck a spring.

"This is a technique I developed while trapped here for two years. Even a Saint Domain fifth-level expert can't break it. What can a mere Half-Saint do?"

Seeing his attempt, Heavenly Leaf King smiled faintly.

President Han and Teacher Wu also stood up, each unleashing their strongest attacks on the seal, only to find, like Zhang Xuan, that it had no effect.

"I still need to study what Kong Master left behind. I have no time to waste on you..."

Shaking his head, Heavenly Leaf King pointed his finger, and a sword beam shot forth again.

This time, it was even more powerful, heading straight for Zhang Xuan. If it hit, even a god would find it hard to save him.

"It's over..."

His pupils contracted, and Zhang Xuan's body went rigid.

He couldn't even withstand a remnant soul of the other; at his peak, having trained here for two years, he was naturally even more unstoppable.

Just as he was about to release his clone to meet the sword beam head-on, a flash of light shot over, followed by a huge roar, and his vision was filled with dense fog.

"It's a peak seven-star formation plate..."

Only a peak seven-star formation plate could unleash such thick fog in an instant.

Such items were extremely rare; even President Han didn't have one. How did it appear here?

"Everyone, follow me quickly..."

As they wondered, they heard a telepathic message in their ears, and then an old man's figure appeared before them.

"It's... Vice Dean Ji Yan?"

Recognizing the figure's face, Teacher Wu couldn't help saying.

"Indeed. Teacher Wu, follow me..."

The old man nodded and said.

"Alright!"

Agreeing, Teacher Wu beckoned the others to follow closely.

"Vice Dean Ji Yan?"

Hearing their exchange, Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

This hall master, like Vice Dean Mu Renxu he had met earlier, was a vice dean of the Master Teacher Academy. He had entered here with the old dean Zhang Yin Qiu and, it seemed, hadn't died.

"Such strong strength..."

Following behind him, Zhang Xuan secretly observed and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

Two years ago, Vice Dean Ji Yan should have been only at Saint Domain first level, like Vice Dean Mu Renxu and the others, but now he had actually reached Saint Domain fourth level, no less than Teacher Wu.

In just over two years, he had advanced three full major levels—and in the Saint Domain at that—which was too astonishing.

"Your strength..."

Teacher Wu also noticed and couldn't help asking.

"The spiritual energy here is dense, and Kong Master left many treasures. Plus, in the battle of wits and courage with Heavenly Leaf King and the others, if one's cultivation were slightly weaker, they'd probably be dead by now..."

Vice Dean Ji Yan shook his head with a bitter smile.

The spiritual energy here was many times that of the outside world, and with various treasures and the pressure from Heavenly Leaf King, without Saint Domain fourth-level strength, one probably couldn't have survived until now.

"How many of you... are left?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

The old dean had taken about thirty people with him; they had seen over a dozen corpses outside, so there should be over a dozen survivors.

"Less than three remain..."

Vice Dean Ji Yan sighed.

"Less than three?" Everyone was stunned.

Either three or two—what did 'less than three' mean?

Could there be two and a half?