Baiyazi was caught somewhat off guard.
Chen Fan's strength and reaction speed were proving difficult for him.
Chen Fan had no intention of stopping his sword strike. He felt he couldn't dodge it.
However, as a Kunlun Guide, he was not without ability.
As his body flashed swiftly, he raised his palm, and a jade talisman appeared, exploding suddenly.
Accompanied by a burst of spiritual light, an invisible barrier of air materialized before him, forming a thick obstruction.
Chen Fan's sword strike was suddenly impeded, but the next moment, the sword energy surged and vibrated, breaking through the barrier after several oscillations.
Baiyazi seized the opportunity to retreat over ten meters and quickly drew an object from his waist, hurling it into the air.
The halo shattered and quickly dissipated, its residual energy leaving sword marks on the white jade floor.
Chen Fan strode forward.
Jingling!
The object Baiyazi had thrown floated in mid-air, emitting a clear ringing sound. It was a bell.
As soon as the bell's chime sounded, the expressions of the several Taoist priests changed. They hurriedly covered their ears and retreated.
Yan Chongyu and Kong Qingzi, among others, also stepped back, quickly covering their ears.
The bell rang, growing increasingly urgent, and rapidly reached Chen Fan's ears.
Chen Fan felt his vital energy and blood vibrate under the bell's influence, becoming disordered.
This thing was not simple!
Channeling the mysterious power of the Dragon-Patterned Compass, Chen Fan suppressed the disorderly sensation and struck with his sword.
Baiyazi did not flinch, wielding his jade ruler and smashing it down fiercely.
With a loud bang, Baiyazi stumbled backward.
Chen Fan completely ignored the bell and pressed his attack.
Baiyazi reached out again, and a crystal-clear bead appeared in his hand, floating in the air.
The Taoist priests under Baiyazi's command watched this scene with shock and awe.
In their eyes, Baiyazi was a cultivator of high standing, someone they had always held in great reverence.
Yet, in his fight against Chen Fan, he was at a distinct disadvantage, even forced to resort to his most potent magical artifacts.
Baiyazi's right hand still held the jade ruler, but his left hand, with fingers pointed like a sword, gestured towards the bead.
The bead spun, exuding a peculiar and profound aura, and suddenly emitted a blinding radiance.
Within the radiance, a powerful, ethereal, yet ferocious aura emerged.
A colossal bird, without a physical form but incredibly majestic, flew out with the light, its wings beating against the sky.
The entire valley outside the snow mountain echoed with the bird's cry.
This giant bird, of unknown name, seemed to be an ancient and powerful creature. It pounced on Chen Fan like a demon or god, pressing down with a claw.
Chen Fan felt the pressure.
Under this immense oppressive force, it was as if he could only close his eyes and await death.
This Kunlun Secret Realm indeed had the right to transcend the mundane world. Such strange techniques and divine arts were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
With no room for retreat, Chen Fan struck with his sword.
The sword light surged, and the phantom of the eight-headed serpent appeared.
That was not all; his battle intent soared to the heavens.
It was as if iron cavalry and icy rivers were roaring in, the countless blood and battles, the essence of numerous bloody fights transforming into battle intent that threatened to tear apart the firmament, moving mountains and rivers.
As the sword light intensified, the sword energy swept across the land, as if capable of traversing all nineteen provinces.
Seeing this, Baiyazi's expression changed completely.
With a swish, the giant bird cried out in pain, torn and shredded by the sword light.
Under the invincible battle intent, the mere illusory Dharma image was utterly shattered.
Chen Fan, amidst the fragmented light and shadow, swung his sword.
Baiyazi hastily blocked with his jade ruler, but was sent flying by the sword strike.
The Heavenly Cloud Sword was about to cleave Baiyazi's body. Baiyazi's heart trembled in dread, but he was powerless.
His cultivation was far from the Golden Core stage. Even with all his magical artifacts, he could not overcome Chen Fan, and was now incapable of contending further, with only the option to close his eyes and await death.
However, at this moment, he did not feel his body being torn apart. Instead, he felt a weight on his shoulder, a colossal force pressing down.
Crunch... His shoulder blade was crushed by the immense force, and searing pain struck him. He was forced to his knees by a mountain-like strength.
This was Chen Fan, holding the Heavenly Cloud Sword horizontally, pressing the blade down, not intending to take his life.
Baiyazi reacted, his eyes wide as he stared at the close-up Chen Fan, his voice hoarse, "You dare to do this, the Dao Academy elders will not spare you!"
Chen Fan retracted his sword and, with lightning speed, unleashed several palm strikes, all landing on Baiyazi.
Bang, bang, bang...
Baiyazi's body trembled violently, blood gushing from the corners of his mouth. He was severely wounded by Chen Fan, and his true spirit energy dissipated.
The still vibrating bell lost its control, falling to the ground and rolling aside.
"That will be for later."
Chen Fan said indifferently, "Baiyazi, is it? Tell me, who will be the Dao Academy elders who are coming, and what are their cultivation realms?"
Baiyazi straightened himself. Although he felt his bones were about to shatter, he refused to kneel before Chen Fan. He sneered, "As Dao Academy elders, they are naturally in the Golden Core realm."
"In your eyes, those of you who are not even martial artists, that would be true immortals on earth!"
"As for who is coming, it could be Elder Qu, it could be Elder Mo, or perhaps several of them!"
Blood trickled from his lips as he sneered, "In over two thousand years, no one has dared to run amok here at the Kunlun entrance. Unless a deity comes, they can save you!"
Chen Fan's expression was indifferent. "Are they stronger than Huangfu Xi?"
Hearing Huangfu Xi's name, Baiyazi paused.
In the distance, whether it was Kong Qingzi or Yan Chongyu, they looked at Chen Fan and the defeated Baiyazi with immense shock, unable to believe their eyes.
Yun Yaizi's face twitched fiercely.
Recalling his earlier provocation towards Chen Fan, he felt a lingering fear.
This person had so thoroughly thrashed even Baiyazi, the Guide. If he had killed him just now, it probably wouldn't have mattered much.
As for Baiyazi's subordinates, their faces had turned pale, and they swallowed hard.
"Naturally stronger than Huangfu Xi!"
Baiyazi replied.
"Your expression tells me the true answer."
Chen Fan said indifferently, "Don't worry, I won't kill you, but I need to ensure you can't interfere later, hence this severe injury."
Baiyazi snorted coldly, "You are no match for the Dao Academy elders."
"What kind of existence is the Dao Academy? Does it gather the most elite experts from the Kunlun Secret Realm?" Chen Fan asked.
"Naturally."
Baiyazi said coldly, "When the Three Incense Sticks of Two Realms are lit, it signifies an emergency. I saw it in the Reception Hall and immediately sent word to the Dao Academy. The Dao Academy elders will arrive soon!"
"That would be for the best."
"You are courting your own destruction," Baiyazi said.
Chen Fan said faintly, "You don't need to worry about that. I want to enter the Kunlun Secret Realm. Tell me, how do I do it?"
Baiyazi thought he had misheard.
Having caused such a disturbance, he didn't even know how he would die, and still he wanted to enter the secret realm? He truly had no fear of death.
He sneered and said, "I have a secret technique that can open the void of the secret realm. If you want to enter, you can do so anytime!"
Chen Fan, however, was not in a hurry. "Where is the Dao Academy located? Is Xue Qingzi at the Dao Academy?"
"I can take you there."
Baiyazi actually started to laugh. "But you will surely die."
"That would be for the best!"
Chen Fan grabbed Baiyazi, preparing to take him to the incense burner to open the void and enter the secret realm.
But just then, the space above the incense burner rippled, and a beam of light appeared.
Much faster than Baiyazi's appearance, three figures materialized almost simultaneously, hovering in the void.
A terrifying oppressive aura descended, enveloping the entire white jade platform.
Chen Fan was immediately noticed, feeling an extreme tremor in his heart, sensing a great and terrible danger descending.