[You are now free to manipulate all formations and talismans at will.]
The moment this prompt appeared,
Chen Huai'an's grin turned increasingly sinister.
After all, what was the point of being a pay-to-win player if not to absolutely crush the boss?
"Inferno Thunder Array, no need to hide anymore!"
In the world of Cangyun—
A commanding voice echoed above the little hut:
"Inferno Thunder Array, activate!"
Buzz——!
"What is that!?" From Nightfall Heaven's point of view, glowing purple runes began emerging across the ground for miles around the hut. Thunder and flames burst forth from the formation lines, forming a vast circle that enclosed him and the hut entirely.
A flicker of danger rose in his heart—but it wasn't overwhelming.
Nightfall Heaven was an incredibly cautious man.
How else could he have survived countless pursuits by righteous cultivators, escaping with severe injuries again and again, yet still roam free to commit evil?
In the past, even the slightest hint of danger would make him flee instantly.
But today… today was different.
The prize before him was simply too great.
A supreme-grade dantian.
If he could claim that body, what were bottlenecks or rebuilding cultivation from scratch?
He'd gladly trade it all.
Spiritual energy in Cangyun was becoming increasingly scarce—no treasure alone could help him ascend anymore.
Great risks bring great rewards.
Even if every elder in Qingyun Sect were to arrive, he would still take the gamble!
"Hmph! A mere formation dares try to stop me?"
Hidden in rolling black mist, Nightfall Heaven was only a shadowy voice.
The mist churned, and a blood-red demonic hand shot forth,
hurtling down toward the hut like a collapsing mountain.
Dust rose, grass bent low, and inside the hut, Li Qingran felt an icy chill pierce her bones—she couldn't even breathe.
Boom——!
The demonic palm smashed into the array. The runes flickered…
But didn't shatter.
"Holy moly!"
Chen Huai'an jolted in shock, eyes glued to his phone.
He was still figuring out how to operate the array!
And the boss already launched a surprise attack—dirty move, old man!
"Fine, eat some premium thunderfire talismans first!"
Chen rapidly tapped his screen.
Three talismans pasted on the hut door and wall launched into the air, shooting toward the demonic fog.
Nightfall Heaven paid them no mind—just three talismans.
Still, his heart grew heavy. That array withstood his full-strength strike…
Clearly, it was of incredibly high quality.
And the most mysterious individuals in all of Cangyun? Formation masters.
He would really rather not fight one.
So he prepared his second palm, charging it with all his strength.
His goal: end this quickly.
This was his [Blood Cloud Palm], a mid-tier earth-grade technique—
Unavoidable and corrosive to spiritual energy.
If it landed, his opponent's power would steadily drain, spiritual force devoured by demonic mist.
Effective even against formations.
In a flash, the three talismans reached him, bursting into golden light.
Thunder rumbled.
"Wait—that's not right! These... these are premium-grade talismans!"
Nightfall Heaven's scalp tingled in alarm.
But it was too late to dodge.
BOOM!
The thunderfire talismans exploded mid-air, enveloping his blood mist in roaring fire and lightning.
Meanwhile, on Chen Huai'an's screen,
a virtual keyboard popped up—type the correct combos of English and Chinese to trigger the array's powers.
"Child's play for someone like me."
Chen wouldn't have said that before.
But ever since he mastered acupuncture, his hands had become fast and steady.
If he entered a rhythm game tournament now, he might even break world records.
Tap tap tap!
Chen rapidly fired off answers:
["来 is come, 去 is go~"]
CRACK!
Just recovering from the first wave of talismans, Nightfall Heaven took a direct lightning bolt to the face.
["点头 is yes, 摇头 is no~"]
["Say hello is say 哈喽,哈喽哈喽,哈哈喽~"]
BOOM! BOOM! ZAP ZAP!
As Chen's answer speed increased, so too did the lightning strikes.
The array couldn't kill Nightfall Heaven in one blow—
But the sheer volume overwhelmed him!
The dense demonic fog grew thin, revealing a scorched, ragged figure with white hair blasted into a dandelion puff.
An old man in black, furious and humiliated.
"RAAAH! Enough! I'll kill you!!!"
Nightfall Heaven had lived over 500 years.
When had he ever been humiliated like this?
Roaring, he abandoned concealment and leapt atop the hut, both hands pressing downward.
Thick demonic energy erupted behind him, forming a monstrous avatar—
Green-faced, fanged, and towering—its gaping maw mirrored his gestures.
BOOM——!
The Inferno Thunder Array fully manifested, runes cracking and disintegrating under immense pressure.
"Whoa, boss just entered phase three?!"
From Chen Huai'an's perspective, Nightfall Heaven's HP bar had one-third left.
Still, he chuckled, admiring the flashy boss effects.
He wasn't worried at all—he had paid for a victory package.
Might as well enjoy the show.
"Physical avatar with synchronized attacks… this guy's definitely a Nascent Soul stage cultivator—maybe even above that."
Inside the hut, Li Qingran clutched her robes, worried.
"Senior, beware! Demonic cultivators are tricky—they might have a hidden trump card!"
She dared not intervene—she'd only get in the way.
All she could do was pray he wouldn't be injured.
Guilt swelled in her chest.
If it weren't for her, that demonic expert wouldn't have come.
If she were stronger, she wouldn't have to cower like a mouse while watching her savior risk everything.
Her parents' deaths had planted the seed of vengeance in her heart.
Years of cold eyes and mockery had forged her will.
Now, for the first time, a desire to become truly powerful took root in her soul.
Heaven is indifferent—only power can protect what you hold dear.
CRASH——!
The Inferno Thunder Array shattered completely.
Floating above the hut, Nightfall Heaven's avatar crushed incoming talismans like toys.
Thunderfire explosions tickled it like an itch.
"Hehehe! What else you got?"
"The Corpse King Avatar of the Heavenly Demon Sect! Five centuries of effort to master Ying Gou—it's unbreakable!
Powerful enough to crush all spells! What use is your formation now?!"
"Is that so?"
A cold voice responded from within the hut.
As Chen released the final talisman,
the dark night sky began to rust.
Black clouds churned like waves.
Purple lightning pierced the heavens like blades.
A storm was brewing.
Above Nightfall Heaven, thunderclouds amassed.
Hovering within them, the legendary [Nine-Sun Violet Thunder Talisman] flickered ominously.
Deep within the clouds, a terrifying force coalesced.
Its might was boundless. Its presence suffocating.
Nightfall Heaven's spine tingled as a sense of dread crept in.
Far away in Qingyun Sect,
cultivators gazed toward the horizon in shock.
In Wanqing Mountain,
the red-furred zombie that had been tearing through disciples abruptly shrieked and fled,
desperately trying to escape the range of the storm.
Even premium-grade thunderfire talismans merely channeled spiritual energy.
But the Nine-Sun Violet Thunder Talisman borrowed power from the world itself.
A sliver of divine lightning, meant to destroy evil.
"Engrave—!"
Chen traced the talisman's strokes on his screen.
The heavens rumbled.
If I don't flee now, I'm finished!
If he could just escape,
someday he'd still claim that supreme-grade dantian…
Nightfall Heaven didn't even glance at Li Qingran.
He turned and soared skyward.
Next second—
BOOOOOOM——!
A thunder dragon crashed down from the heavens, flooding the world with blinding light.
The lightning split in two:
One bolt hunted Nightfall Heaven.
The other struck the eastern edge of Wanqing Mountain.
The ground trembled violently.
On Chen Huai'an's phone, Nightfall Heaven's HP bar dropped to zero instantly.
He blew on his fingertips with a smirk.
"Tsk. All bark and no bite…"
"188 yuan to instantly nuke a big boss—what more can I say?"
···
Qingyun Sect.
Sect Master Wu Duantian stared at the unusual sky.
The clash of spiritual energy was unmistakable.
Someone had triggered divine thunder within Wanqing Mountain…
"Zhao Lingtian."
A glimmer of hope returned to his eyes.
He turned to his pale, bedridden disciple and said seriously:
"This might be our last chance. We're going together.
If that mysterious expert is still there… maybe your dantian can be saved."