Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2167 Chapter 1017: Underworld (Part 2)

While the disciples grew increasingly uneasy, a cultivator clad in green robes dashed in from the entrance, offered a respectful bow with clasped hands, and declared: "Chief Elder."

Great Elder Zhang cast a quick look his way and inquired, "Where have you been?"

Zhang Lan lowered his hands and replied, "I went to see a... Taoist Friend..."

Great Elder Zhang, lost in his worries, paid it no mind and simply dismissed him with a wave, "Fine, just return sooner next time to prevent any issues."

"Yes." Zhang Lan let out a relieved breath.

Following that, the group scattered and headed back to their quarters for some rest.

Great Elder Zhang made his way to his own chamber, settled into meditation to unwind, yet his thoughts refused to settle, prompting him to rise, take a seat by the desk, ignite a candle, and start sifting through old tomes and fragmented jade slips in search of clues.

Yet, the catastrophe tied to the "Underworld" proves elusive to verify as real or fabricated, with its mentions buried deep in ancient writings, scarce and enigmatic.

Great Elder Zhang pored over the volumes yet uncovered scant insights, failing to trace its roots, let alone discover a way to contain it, which left him sighing and murmuring to himself:

"Let our forebears shield us, and may this trip to Qianxue uncover hints to curb the 'Underworld' and avert Kan State's doom..."

Still, he recognized how slim the chances truly were.

Great Elder Zhang shook his head and pressed on with his reading and reflection. But the deeper he delved, the more his spirit wearied and his thoughts tangled.

In that instant, the day's events from the Sword Discussion Conference flashed unbidden through his mind.

Upon the illusory scroll, that silhouette moved like a startled goose or a coiling serpent, weaving effortlessly amid the unyielding sword glow of the Feng family's prodigy, gliding in and out as smoothly as a stream, untouched by even one blade...

His identity, Great Elder Zhang recalled with perfect clarity:

Mo Hua.

Great Elder Zhang paused briefly, refrained from overanalyzing, but a wave of respect washed over him:

"Indeed a prodigy of Qianxue, this young lad boasts unmatched elegance, his footwork outshining even the Feng clan's elites from the Carefree Sect—truly astonishing..."

His footwork stood out especially.

Great Elder Zhang had reached the Feather Transformation stage, and his clan passed down movement arts through generations.

He discerned more acutely than most the exceptional finesse and seamless rhythm in Mo Hua's aquatic body technique.

A technique so refined demanded rigorous, prolonged practice and immense dedication to master.

Exceptional aptitude, sharp insight, relentless effort, and a peerless movement skill.

"What a youthful talent—if only he were a true heir to my Zhang Family, that would be magnificent..."

Even Great Elder Zhang harbored a sharp longing for such promise, filled with profound jealousy.

Yet after that fleeting envy, he abruptly stilled once more.

Elder Feng's earlier remarks echoed in his thoughts.

Now, under the cover of midnight, Great Elder Zhang steadied his mind and methodically replayed the vision of Mo Hua's footwork again and again within his consciousness.

Each step received his meticulous scrutiny.

Each motion underwent profound contemplation.

In all pursuits, true diligence breeds insight.

All the more so in deep analysis.

Great Elder Zhang examined and dissected it dozens of times over, at last drawing in a sharp breath:

"This boy's footwork appears to echo... my Zhang Family's Water Passing Step?"

Yet he executed it with uncanny mastery.

More polished than the Zhang clan's own practitioners.

And numerous maneuvers, finely tuned by potent Divine Sense, exceeded what typical cultivators could manage.

Furthermore, it blended in elements from various other complex movement arts.

On top of that, hints of ethereal water vapor lingered.

Thus, an initial view concealed its true nature.

However, as Great Elder Zhang broke down the footwork's imagery, fragmented it, and reviewed it tirelessly, he at last spotted orthodox traces of the Water Passing Step embedded within.

"But... this can't be..."

"How could a genius from Taixu Gate, with no close ties to us, have acquired the Zhang Family's closely guarded secret art, the Water Passing Step, never shared beyond our walls?"

Great Elder Zhang furrowed his brow in bewilderment.

"It defies logic..."

"Is it feasible that someone in my Zhang Family has defied the ancestral precepts?"

Great Elder Zhang's eyes slowly sharpened with menace.

...

In the adjacent room.

Zhang Lan, sprawled out in idle repose, suddenly sensed a cold shiver creep up, his pulse racing furiously, nearly leaping to his feet.

"Is danger afoot?"

Zhang Lan's expression shifted in alarm, but surveying the peaceful night indoors and the calm moonlight streaming through the window, with nothing amiss, he gradually relaxed, pondering what might have triggered it.

"That kid Mo Hua carries some peril."

"He's drawing a lot of resentment right now."

"Maybe my daytime chat with Mo Hua, when he drew everyone's ire, has rubbed off on me..."

Zhang Lan nodded, deeming it plausible, then slumped back lazily once more.

But this time, sleep brought him a touch of restlessness.

...

At Taixu Gate.

Elder Master Xun found sleep equally elusive.

During the Sword Discussion Conference at the Qian Learning State Boundary, forebears seldom showed themselves, yet that didn't spare him the toil in the shadows.

Ever since the conference kicked off, swirling tensions had gripped the entire Qian Learning State Boundary, entangling affairs in knots, and he, as the sect's elder patriarch, hadn't enjoyed real respite in ages.

And presently, the thorniest headache for him centered on Mo Hua.

The unfolding drama had veered beyond his predictions.

He never foresaw that Mo Hua, the boy with such a "striking" look, would stir up this level of hostility.

Merely wielding simple beginner Five Elements Spells had incited a horde of sect prodigies to grind their teeth in fury at him.

Across countless editions of the Sword Discussion Conference and myriad sword debates among geniuses, Mo Hua had carved out a singular notoriety.

This twist Elder Master Xun had genuinely never imagined.

Besides, the momentum was veering toward outright chaos.

Elder Master Xun creased his forehead, and after a prolonged silence, he couldn't suppress a sigh:

"Perhaps... this is destiny?"

Long ago, that lad named "Zhuang" shone with dazzling brilliance too, haughtily eclipsing peers and igniting envy across foes, ultimately amassing adversaries on all sides.