Chapter 56

As the white mist entered Bu Li's nostrils and mouth, two beams of white light shot from the white fox's eyes into Bu Li's eyes. At this moment, Bu Li seemed to be in a daze, and more dense white mist began to emanate from his body. It condensed and did not disperse, layer upon layer, obscuring the array formation's view until both figures were hidden in the white mist, no longer visible.

Du Tianci extended his left hand, the withered palm deeply lined, not smooth, like a piece of dehydrated wood. A wisp of soul power drifted from Du Tianci's fingers into the mirage. It seemed to want to peel away the milky white mist to see what was happening below.

As the black soul power entered the mirage, Du Tianci seemed to bear a tremendous pressure, and a heavy howl echoed through the air. It was as if an ancient fierce beast within the white mist had been stirred by Du Tianci's soul power, triggering a backlash.

Du Tianci's face changed drastically, and a purple light bloomed behind him, the shadow of a fierce dragon faintly visible. He retreated hastily, pressing against the stone wall, only then stabilizing.

Even within the mirage, the powerful and overwhelming force seemed to be truly present before Du Tianci, inspiring awe. Du Tianci's face turned pale, and it took several breaths for him to gradually recover.

Zhang Zhiyan had originally intended to lend Du Tianci a hand, but when the roaring sound appeared in the white mist, Zhang Xitong's soul power began to become chaotic. Perhaps it wasn't chaos, but a new force seemed to be stirred by a call.

Using soul power to gently suppress Zhang Xitong's chaotic aura, it didn't take long for everything to return to normal as Du Tianci withdrew his soul power, as if nothing had happened.

Looking at Du Tianci's solemn expression, Zhang Zhiyan asked, "How strong is it?"

"Top-tier."

These two words were like a bolt of lightning, exploding in Zhang Zhiyan's ears. On the Soul澜 Continent,荒beasts were divided into many levels. Ordinary荒beasts, even the kings among them, were only second or third-grade荒beasts. Only some primitive and rare species could be classified as first-grade荒beasts. For example, Du Tianci's engraved beast, the fierce dragon, was a first-grade荒beast. People who had a first-grade荒beast as their engraved beast were rare in the entire Soul澜 Continent, countable on one hand.

However, above first-grade荒beasts, there was another type of荒beast that few knew about: the top-tier荒beast. This was just a legend; no one had ever seen a top-tier荒beast. What could be seen...

When Du Tianci merely used his soul power to probe the mirage, the faint aura in the mirage's image was already too much for him to bear, forcing him to use the power of his engraving to resolve it.

What else could have such power in just the image of the mirage besides a top-tier荒beast?

Du Tianci's magic was formidable, living up to his reputation as a powerful figure who could briefly traverse time. In that instant, it seemed that Du Tianci only applied his magic to the mirage. But Zhang Zhiyan knew that the soul technique, though not particularly strong, had penetrated time and years, even if only for a moment, returning to the mirage image right before his eyes.

If this matter were not so significant, Du Tianci would not have used this ultimate soul technique. The technique was highly draining, and Du Tianci was reluctant to use it casually.

Du Tianci truly engaged with the powerful existence in the white mist, and just the touch of its aura made him exert all his strength, even retreating and withdrawing his soul technique. Zhang Zhiyan did not know that Du Tianci had been terrified in that instant. Du Tianci felt the powerful existence in the white mist mock him, not that it couldn't pursue him through the flow of time, but that it was simply too lazy to act, too lazy to even glance at him.

Top-tier荒beast? This conclusion might be a bit inaccurate, even a top-tier荒beast wouldn't have such overwhelming power!

Zhang Zhiyan confirmed his suspicions and lowered his head, lost in thought.

"Perhaps it's even stronger than a top-tier荒beast," Du Tianci said, reanalyzing the brief confrontation, his tone certain.

"..." Zhang Zhiyan was once again stunned by Du Tianci's judgment. Stronger than a top-tier荒beast? What kind of existence could that be?! How could a young man named Bu Li have such a powerful existence within him?

"It seems the prophecy was right again," Du Tianci's face, weathered by time, showed no emotion, just a simple statement, not a boast, with countless unspoken words.

"Should we bring this person to the sect? Or should you, Mr. Du, personally teach him?" Zhang Zhiyan asked.

"No." Du Tianci clearly had a plan in mind and immediately rejected the idea. "Let him walk the path in Henshan. This time, the commotion was too great; other sects will surely notice something. Send a capable person to Henshan to teach him soul techniques and engraving. We don't need to do more. Over-encouragement? Such well-intentioned actions might displease that existence. Sometimes, doing nothing is better than doing something."

Zhang Zhiyan weighed the words and nodded. Looking at Zhang Xitong, who was sleeping soundly in his arms but with a hint of委屈 (grievance) on her face, he sighed lightly and said, "What should we do with Xitong, sir?"

"Awaken Xitong and ask her what happened," Du Tianci said, then cast a soul technique to calm and focus Zhang Xitong.

Like a frightened little rabbit, Zhang Xitong curled up in Zhang Zhiyan's arms, timidly looking around, evoking sympathy.

"Xitong, tell us what happened in the Divine Legacy Mountains," Zhang Zhiyan said in the gentlest tone possible.

Hearing the old man's question, Zhang Xitong seemed to remember something, paused, and then burst into tears with a "wah."

Zhang Zhiyan gently stroked Zhang Xitong's head, comforting his granddaughter, who had never known hardship. His son had died young, during a challenge between sects, fighting to the bitter end and becoming a legend on the Soul澜 Continent, but ultimately succumbing to his injuries and passing away.

Because of this, Zhang Zhiyan doted on his only granddaughter even more. Zhang Xitong was indeed gifted, already a fifth-grade cultivator at a young age. Both the Heavenly Dao Sect and other sects knew that the position of sect leader would surely fall to Zhang Xitong in the future. In the Heavenly Dao Sect, Zhang Xitong was the young master, the little ancestor. Even if someone dared to defy the old man's words, no one would dare to provoke or couldn't bear to provoke this young master.

It seemed she had indeed suffered a great injustice in the Divine Legacy Mountains. Zhang Zhiyan felt a slight regret, patted Zhang Xitong's back, and said, "It's okay, no matter what, Grandpa is here for you."

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