Chapter 45 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

Although this was the core, it wasn't necessarily the array eye. Bai Lian carefully observed the patterns etched into the floor, trying to find a way to break the grand array. Yet, whether in the game or in the current situation, her study of arrays was far from proficient. After all, even in the game, arrays were a highly complex system, let alone in reality. Those who mastered arrays were often the top scholars within the cultivation world. At least in the Taihua Sword Sect, Elder He, the master of the Mingjian Peak, was probably the only one who dared to claim proficiency in array techniques. Though she cultivated the Taihua Sword Canon, she didn't wield her sword like typical sword cultivators. Instead, she preferred forming sword arrays to encircle and obliterate her opponents. Apart from sword arrays, she also developed numerous killing arrays composed of sword cultivators. Sword cultivators were already the most formidable attackers among all cultivators, so one can imagine how terrifying a killing array composed of them would be. Of course, as formidable as killing arrays might be, they're but a small fraction of the grand array system. Elder He was renowned in the cultivation world as someone with a narrow specialty since she knew nothing else about arrays. When it came to top experts in arrays, the Tianxuan Divine Palace was unmatched. Their expertise in arrays was so extraordinary that nearly all disciples could wield them in combat, and their displays were far more dazzling than those of other sects. Thinking of this, Bai Lian couldn't help but recall Mu Xinghe from the Tianxuan Divine Palace. She shivered involuntarily. Among the many heroines she'd won over, Mu Xinghe was certainly one she least wanted to face. Despite her delicate and elegant appearance, underneath lay a truly manipulative heart. She was one of the few heroines in the game who could always seize the initiative, leaving Bai Lian perpetually on the defensive. Most critically, she was one of those nightmares who had violently "cut" her down in dreams—swift, precise, and merciless. Her gaze was as piercing as the blade she wielded, as though desperate to chop Bai Lian into pieces. Thus, during her initial rebirth, Bai Lian even worried that Mu Xinghe might storm the Taihua Sword Sect and execute her publicly. Luckily, Mu Xinghe had yet to appear, perhaps too apathetic to bother with her anymore, or possibly she hadn't been reborn at all. After all, concerning the woman who could always stay one step ahead of Bai Lian, success in winning her over was still uncertain... If Xinghe were here, this array would probably be a trivial challenge for her. It would be challenging, even flipping through nearly a millennium of Tianxuan Divine Palace's history, to find another array genius as talented as Mu Xinghe. In arrays, she truly achieved groundbreaking mastery. Bai Lian quickly shook her head to drive such thoughts away. She wondered if she was out of her mind, considering asking for that woman's help. If she did, Mu Xinghe might deceive her, and she'd count her own loss with a smile. It would be better to seek Uncle Yang at Ganlin Peak about her primordial spirit. Returning to the grand array here at the Taixu Villa, Bai Lian was still troubled. She even contemplated simply slicing the false Xie Cai, the core of the array, to resolve the issue. Though this would certainly alarm the hidden elder of Taixu Villa, she thought she could still escape with Mu Jianli; the elder might not be able to stop her. But the townspeople of Binhe Town... Bai Lian sighed deeply. She was still just an ordinary person, unable to detach herself from emotions and desires. Thus, she wanted to get closer to observe the textures of the array. The moment she stepped onto the array, the false Xie Cai, who had been seated at the center with eyes closed, instantly opened his eyes. “Who dares trespass in the young master's hall of Taixu Villa?!” Bai Lian's face changed drastically. She was clad in night garb soaked in a special potion, using the advanced concealment technique of the Taihua Sword Sect. Even pro-standard Fengchu-level cultivators of her rank wouldn't necessarily notice her presence. The fact that the false Xie Cai could sense her from such a distance indicated that his primordial spirit was at least at the Soaring Cloud level! No wonder Xie Cai hadn't appointed guards at his residence—he was indeed fearlessly secure! In the Soaring Cloud realm, one's spiritual altar opens, and the soul begins to forge. Without special methods, even a cat approaching within ten meters wouldn't evade the false Xie Cai's detection. Yet she managed to reach the heart of the array due to her nightwear and concealment technique, only to be detected as soon as she entered the core markings. Bai Lian felt somewhat regretful. She had underestimated the false Xie Cai, believing a mere Fengchu-level cultivator couldn't possibly detect her presence. She never intended to catch the attention of the hidden elder at Taixu Villa, but now, once the battle with the false Xie Cai commenced, it couldn't help but draw significant attention. Guess she could only take it one step at a time! “Thief, prepare to die!” The false Xie Cai, wielding his sword, lunged forward. Bai Lian had no choice but to grit her teeth, draw her sword, and hastily counter. With the crisp clash of metal, just a single strike sent her flying! By skillfully stepping to dissipate the force, Bai Lian landed gracefully, though her expression was grim. From that brief exchange, she could decisively conclude that despite being at level nine of the Fengchu realm, the false Xie Cai's primordial spirit and physical toughness had reached the Soaring Cloud realm. Tang Chuhuan's rumor about the immortal's disappearance was true, and it was an actual cloud-soaring true immortal! Before Bai Lian could delve deeper, the false Xie Cai resumed his relentless advance, seemingly impervious to exhaustion or pain, relentlessly attempting to exchange injury for injury with Bai Lian. Fully aware of the futility in trading blows with the false Xie Cai in such a setting, Bai Lian recognized that despite his menacing attacks, he was constrained by his realm and couldn't overpower her for the moment. Engaging in a fighting retreat, she continuously observed his movements, seeking any vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, she discerned the false Xie Cai's origins—undoubtedly a disciple of the Tianxuan Divine Palace. The aura of their cultivation techniques, spiritual power, and swordsmanship permeated his every surface, albeit with a certain stiffness to his actions. But, why would a disciple of the Tianxuan Divine Palace be reduced to a mere core of a killing array for Taixu Villa? Try as she might, Bai Lian couldn't unravel this mystery as they continued their relentless battle, neither able to subdue the other. Growingly impatient with the stalemate, the false Xie Cai's spiritual power, capped at the ninth level of Fengchu, hinted at his eventual defeat if the struggle prolonged. Seizing Bai Lian's force to retreat into the array, he ominously remarked, "Impressive moves for a thief. Don't blame me for what comes next!" Barely had he spoken, the array patterns beneath his feet flared crimson, and the suspended victims convulsed painfully, unable to break free, doomed to be drained dry by the array. "You bastard!" Bai Lian couldn't restrain her anger, readying a sword-forming hand seal, intent on unveiling her identity to cast Tai Xuan Heart Sutra. Yet, suddenly, loud explosions erupted outside Taixu Villa! Almost simultaneously, the false Xie Cai's draining halted abruptly, culminating in a spray of blood from his mouth! Furious, he glared outside and roared, "Who dares attack the array? Which fool defies me?!"