Chapter 1078: Playing Pretentious Invites Lightning Strikes

In truth, Zhang Xuan was on the verge of collapse.

He had never dreamed that Tianye King would walk in at this very moment.

Now his arm was trapped within the seal, unable to enter or withdraw, and he couldn't escape either... an unspeakable awkwardness.

"Hi?" Hearing his greeting, Tianye King was also stunned for a moment.

Seeing him, the other party not only failed to flee in fear but even spoke a strange language, leaving him somewhat bewildered. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he came to his senses: "You're trapped by the seal? Haha, heaven helps me indeed..."

This fellow had caused him such misery, the dignified foremost king of Qingtian, his face utterly lost. He had always sought revenge, thinking that after arriving here, the other would hole up in that little nest and never come out, making it impossible to catch him. He never expected him to come running over himself.

Truly, there is a road to heaven but you refuse to walk it; the gates of hell are closed but you barge right in!

He had studied these seals for a full two years, knowing that once one touched them, without obtaining the treasure, it was utterly impossible to pull one's hand out. The other's current state clearly showed he was trying to retrieve something, trapped inside, with no way to escape.

"Haha, since you're here, stay put!"

His eyes gleaming, he suddenly raised his palm, about to grab at the fellow before him.

"Hold on..."

Before his true energy could surge forth, he heard the young man's voice ring out.

"What, want to beg for mercy? Too late!"

Knowing this fellow was exceptionally cunning, Tianye King let out a cold laugh, his true energy forming a massive palm print, ready to strike down at any moment.

He was a Saint Domain Fifth Layer Initial Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, with astonishing strength. If the palm print truly fell, not only would Zhang Xuan be unable to withstand it, but even President Han and Master Wu combined would surely be crushed into meat patties on the spot.

"Beg for mercy? Are you joking? Would I beg for mercy from a lowly creature like you? Do you know who I am?"

Showing no fear, Zhang Xuan looked over, exuding an imposing aura of his own.

"Who are you? You're the dean of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy! The only master teacher in Hongyuan Academy recognized by everyone. Once I devour you, my strength will surely break through, allowing me to escape this damned place..."

With a roar, Tianye King's eyes twisted with ferocity.

Otherworldly Demons could enhance their strength by devouring master teachers. Back then, the finger bone of the Cruel One had used the 'Sovereign' of Cloud Mist Mountain to ambush and kill master teachers, seizing their power to regenerate flesh and blood.

The higher the rank of the master teacher, the stronger their talent, and the greater the effect on cultivation after devouring. Tianye King had long wanted to kill this Zhang Xuan, and now that he had walked right into the trap, how could he let him go?

"How dare you!"

His face darkening, Zhang Xuan circulated the Heavenly Dao true energy within him, transforming it into killing qi. In an instant, a vast aura spread out: "I am..."

Crackle!

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a thick surge of electric current rush from the seal where his hand was trapped.

In the blink of an eye, his entire body was charred black, stiff, and his hair stood on end.

If his physical body hadn't reached the Saint artifact level, he would have died on the spot from that strike.

His eyes rolling wildly, Zhang Xuan nearly burst into tears.

He was just putting on an act to bluff the Tianye King in front of him—did it warrant such a severe punishment? And with lightning striking him too...

Full of frustration, he instantly understood what had happened.

He had guessed earlier that these treasures could not be taken by Otherworldly Demons, and now it seemed that was indeed the case!

When he transformed his Heavenly Dao true energy into killing true energy, the formation mistook him for an Otherworldly Demon and directly electrocuted him... Fortunately, he sensed something was wrong and immediately switched the true energy back; otherwise, even with his strong physique, he would have died here.

Not killed by Tianye King, but struck dead by the formation for showing off... If that happened, it would be a huge disgrace.

"You..."

Tianye King, who was about to make a move, froze at the sight of Zhang Xuan's soot-covered face.

The killing aura that had suddenly burst from the other party just now, though weak, was purer than his own. Coupled with being struck by the formation's lightning, could it be that the one before him was not a master teacher but one of their own kind?

"Ahem, you should understand my identity now, right?"

Spitting out a puff of white smoke, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"You're also a spirit race?" Tianye King frowned, then after a moment, his eyes flickered: "No, you're a master teacher, and you've gained recognition from so many master teachers—how could you be a spirit race? I see! You must have killed Redleaf King and the others, used some special method to retain their killing true energy within you, trying to deceive me—dream on!"

Boom!

With his words, the true energy in the air swirled chaotically again, and Tianye King's powerful pressure threatened to descend at any moment.

This fellow, being a Nascent Soul cultivator, was clearly not as easy to fool as the previous kings.

Killing true energy was unique to Otherworldly Demons, but the fellow before him could also have killed other kings and used a special secret technique to gather it within his body, disguising himself as one of their kind.

In the past, a master teacher had done exactly that, causing them great losses.

"Killed Redleaf King? That was just a trick to fool them. Look who this is..."

Zhang Xuan grabbed with his other hand, and a figure appeared before him.

This fellow was tall and burly, and upon seeing Tianye King, he immediately smiled: "It's me..."

It was none other than Redleaf King!

"You're not dead?"

Seeing that Redleaf King, who had been trapped in the formation and brutally slain, was still alive and well, Tianye King was dumbfounded.

What is going on?

Back then, his remnant soul was severely injured and did not flee far. He saw with his own eyes that the Red Leaf King was trapped in the formation and executed on the spot. How... could he have come back to life?

"No, the killing true qi inside you is not the Red Leaf King's, and your strength... is also off..."

After a moment of doubt, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

Although the Red Leaf King before him possessed killing true qi, it gave off an ancient and distant feeling, completely different from the cultivation technique that fellow practiced. Moreover, the most crucial point was... there seemed to be a gap in strength. This one was only at the peak of the Saint realm, still a step short of the Saint Domain.

The Red Leaf King was a solid half-step out-of-body realm expert.

"To deceive those masters, I was injured, so naturally my cultivation had to decline. If you think there's something wrong with me, then him—you should recognize him, right!"

The "Red Leaf King" frowned and snorted. Then, before the Celestial Leaf King's eyes could adjust, another figure appeared before him—it was the missing Purple Leaf King.

"Greetings, Celestial Leaf King!"

Seeing him, the Purple Leaf King quickly clasped his fists.

The Celestial Leaf King frowned.

This Purple Leaf King had no issues whatsoever. Both his true qi cultivation and soul aura were exactly the same as before.

Suddenly revealing the Red Leaf King and the Purple Leaf King—could it be... that this Zhang Xuan was truly their clansman, not a master?

Had he openly slain the several kings but actually rescued them?

"No... If you were really a spirit race member, how could you have exposed me..." Recalling something, the Celestial Leaf King frowned again.

He had hidden a thought within Jiang Yuan's body. Logically, no one could detect it, yet this fellow had forcibly dragged him out and caused him such misery!

If he were truly of the spirit race, how could he have done that?

After all, he had hidden himself very deeply. Even Feng Xun, who spent day and night with him, had not discovered it.

"That was to gain the humans' trust and conveniently obtain the map!" Zhang Xuan shook his head, his face full of sincerity.

However, he was now charred black by lightning, and despite his earnest expression, it gave off a bizarre feeling.

"Conveniently obtain the map? Did you get the map?"

The Celestial Leaf King was startled.

"Indeed, it's in my hands!" Zhang Xuan nodded. He moved his hand again, and the map appeared in his palm, slowly floating.

"It really is..."

Seeing that the ancient parchment contained a special aura that resonated with this Qiuwu Palace, the Celestial Leaf King's eyes lit up.

He had obtained the introduction to that relic and knew the true appearance and aura of the map. The one before him was genuine, absolutely real.

"May I have a look?"

Full of excitement, he reached out his hand.

Whoosh!

His palm flickered, and Zhang Xuan put it away into his storage ring, shaking his head: "Now, do you know who I am?"

"This..."

Seeing him put away the map, Tianye King was startled, then frowned: "Who exactly are you?"

Judging by the other's actions and aura, he indeed seemed to be of the Spirit Clan, but... why couldn't he recall anyone from the Qingtian lineage having such pure killing true energy?

"Who I am, I cannot tell you yet. You only need to know that I was sent by the Qingtian Emperor to assist in this mission..."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Sent by the Emperor?" Tianye King looked more closely at the person before him.

The true energy in his body was pure, exuding a faint aura of a master teacher—no matter how he looked, it had nothing to do with their Spirit Clan.

"Indeed. Alright, I need to take this item now. Step back first, and after I retrieve the treasure, I will explain in detail..."

Seeing that he was somewhat convinced, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and continued to speed up with his other hand.

"Retrieve the treasure?"

Startled, Tianye King's eyes flickered, and he sneered coldly: "Trying to fool me? Who exactly are you?"

"Fool you? Why would Tianye King say that?" Zhang Xuan was exasperated that the other still didn't believe him.

If it were any other king, they would have been fooled, but this guy simply wouldn't believe him—too cunning.

"Even if I can't tell who you are, the formation left by Master Kong can! If we Spirit Clan could deceive Master Kong, we wouldn't be so passive..." He sneered again, raising his hand, his true energy boiling as if ready to burst forth at any moment.

This person's hand touched the seal and was only shocked once, proving that he was definitely not of the Spirit Clan at heart—he must be an impostor.

"You..."

Zhang Xuan was filled with anxiety.

"Well, I've seen through you. Since that's the case, stay here..."

With a cold laugh, Tianye King raised his hand to strike, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. "Bang!" It exploded abruptly.

His body flew backward, crashing straight into the wall not far away, like a pile of mud.

"Redleaf King" clapped his hands, his body squirmed, and he transformed into an exact likeness of Zhang Xuan.

"I told you, just kill him with one punch. Why all this nonsense? Asking for trouble..."