Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1073 Heavenly Palace Guest Elder, Chess Master, Shen Yiqiu

The first floor of the Demon Suppression Tower.

The moment Zhang Yuan stepped in, the black iron gate behind him slammed shut.

The devastating sounds of battle from the outside world were completely cut off.

The tower was not as dark as one might imagine.

Instead, it was permeated with an eerie, ghostly blue glow.

It originated from the countless demon-sealing runes engraved on the four walls.

Visible dust particles float in the air.

It was not ordinary dust, but rather the remnants of spiritual energy crushed by the restrictions within the tower.

Inhaling a single breath causes stagnation in the meridians, making it difficult to circulate one's vital energy.

"Such a powerful suppressive force."

Zhang Yuan sensed it briefly and found that the pressure became stronger the higher he went up the tower.

The Demon Suppression Tower was designed to target the cultivation level of those imprisoned, applying pressure layer by layer. Even those who attempt to break through the tower are affected by it.

Without pausing, he moved like lightning, heading straight for the entrance to the second floor.

The first three levels housed prisoners below the Venerable Realm, and the guarding was relatively weak.

Zhang Yuan used the "Chaotic Wind God Escape" technique in conjunction with the power of the Star Gang, making his figure appear like a dream.

The restrictive mechanisms along the way were like guiding lights to him.

However, he still encountered the first group of guards in the second-level corridor.

The six black-armored Zhenyuan Army captains were all at the peak of the Half-Saint realm.

They formed a small trapping formation, completely sealing off the passage.

The captain leading the group saw Zhang Yuan rushing over and shouted sharply, "Halt!"

Six demon-slaying longswords were unleashed simultaneously, their blade light weaving into a net that sealed off all escape routes.

Zhang Yuan didn't stop moving; he reached out with his right hand.

The Zhenyue Decree was flipped in his palm, and the chaotic gray light, like a snake spitting its tongue, precisely struck the weakest point of the blade net.

"break."

With a soft sound, the six longswords trembled violently at the same time, and the demon-repelling runes on the blades shattered inch by inch.

All six captains coughed up blood and flew backward, crashing into the stone walls on either side and losing consciousness.

Zhang Yuan walked through them without stopping.

"The formation is not bad, but it's far inferior to the Four Symbols Stone Golems."

He was silent.

The third and fourth layers are increasingly guarded, with Heavenly Palace stewards from the sacred realm now stationed there.

This place is at the bottom of the abyss, suppressed by the power of demon suppression. Even a Venerable Realm expert wouldn't dare say they can unleash the combat power of a Saint Realm expert.

A team of Holy Realm Guardians can stop the Venerable One.

Unwilling to engage in a prolonged battle, Zhang Yuan used illusion talismans to create several figures that were difficult to distinguish from the real ones.

He passed by silently.

The real test begins on the fifth level.

The moment Zhang Yuan stepped onto the fifth floor, an overwhelming aura of malevolence swept over him.

The space on this floor suddenly opened up, revealing a mountain forest illusion enclosed by a restriction.

Amidst towering ancient trees, a giant python covered in dark red scales coiled up.

The snake's head hung high, its vertical pupils like two blood-red lanterns, its chilling killing intent locking Zhang Yuan in place.

A primordial, exotic species: the Crimson-Scaled Sky-Devouring Python!

"The aura of a Venerable-level being... no, after being suppressed by the restrictions within the tower, it is approximately at the peak of the half-step Venerable level, but the physical strength far surpasses that of others in the same realm."

Zhang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

The Crimson-Scaled Python was clearly tamed by the Heavenly Palace and placed here.

Around its neck was a collar that shimmered with a restrictive light, suppressing its cultivation level within a controllable range.

At the same time, it also limited its range of operations.

It covers the entire fifth floor, the entrance to the sixth floor.

"Hiss—" The Crimson Scale Python showed no intention of communicating and opened its blood-red maw wide.

A crimson poisonous mist poured down like a waterfall!

Wherever it passed, even the air was corroded, producing a hissing sound!

Zhang Yuan was prepared and threw a punch.

"boom!"

The chaotic gray light transformed into a semi-circular barrier, keeping the poisonous mist three feet away.

But the poisonous fog had the power to erode the barrier, causing it to hiss and thin rapidly.

"Such potent poison."

Zhang Yuan stopped resisting and, with a swift movement, unleashed the Chaos Wind God Escape Technique, like an invisible wind piercing through the gaps in the poisonous mist, heading straight for the Crimson Scale Python's vital spot!

The Crimson-Scaled Python was clearly quite intelligent; its massive tail swept across the ground like a crimson mountain range pressing down.

The force of this sweep is enough to destroy mountains and shatter peaks!

Zhang Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he activated the thirteen layers of the "Heavenly Gang Refining Form Technique" within his body at full power. His bones erupted with popping sounds like popping beans, and the power of the stars condensed on his body surface into a semi-transparent starlight armor.

He neither dodged nor avoided, but pushed forward with both palms!

"boom--!"

The giant tail collided with the two palms, unleashing a deafening sound like metal clashing!

Zhang Yuan retreated more than ten feet, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ground.

The Crimson-Scaled Python was also in bad shape; several scales on its massive tail had shattered, and dark red blood was seeping out.

"You beast!"

Excitement gleamed in Zhang Yuan's eyes.

In the instant of their clash, he clearly sensed the flow of the opponent's demonic power.

The neck collar that was on was the Crimson Scale Python's weak point!

"Again!"

Zhang Yuan took the initiative to attack, and the Zhenyue Decree flew out, turning into a gray meteor that went straight for the python's head.

The Crimson Scale Python opened its mouth and spat out a streak of blood-red light, knocking the Zhenyue Decree off course.

But in that instant, Zhang Yuan's figure had already closed in to within seven inches of him!

"Roar!"

The crimson-scaled python was enraged. It suddenly twisted its neck, and its fangs, like two curved blades, thrust straight at the python.

This attack was unavoidable!

Because of the restrictive collar, it cannot use its true Venerable-level techniques, but the Venomous Fang's physical damage is still a full-force attack from a Venerable-level Primordial Aberration!

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He didn't hide.

Just a fraction of a second before the venomous fangs were about to strike, he joined his right fingers like a sword, condensing an extremely pure wisp of chaotic true essence at his fingertips, and pierced a rune node on the Crimson Scale Python's collar with perfect precision!

This is a technique he learned during his battle with the Four Symbols Stone Golem.

Break through the surface with a single point, break through the restrictions with chaos!

The restrictive runes on the collar flickered on and off.

The Crimson Scale Python froze, and its demonic power suddenly lost its restraint, unleashing a torrent of Venerable-level power!

However, it didn't even have time to be happy—

"Roar--!!!"

The red-scaled python let out a painful hiss.

That collar was not just a way to suppress demonic power, but also a means for the Heavenly Palace to control it.

The moment the restriction was disrupted by the power of chaos, the enslavement restriction within the collar suddenly backfired, like thousands of steel needles piercing its soul!

The crimson python's massive body writhed wildly, the ground cracked, ancient trees snapped, and the entire illusion trembled.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Yuan retreated, his figure as swift as lightning, rushing towards the entrance to the sixth floor without the slightest hesitation.

He could slay this ancient, monstrous creature, but he didn't need to.

Behind them came the angry and unwilling roar of the Crimson Scale Python, and the heavy breathing of the barrier after it stabilized.

The fifth floor is open.

The sixth floor.

Unlike the illusory mountain forest on the fifth floor, the sixth floor is a tranquil stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber, there was a blue stone chessboard.

Across the chessboard sat a person.

The man was dressed in a white robe from the Heavenly Palace, with a slender face, three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest, and eyes as deep as an ancient well, showing no sign of hostility.

A pot of tea and two teacups sat before him, as if he were entertaining guests in his own backyard rather than guarding a forbidden area.

Shen Yiqiu, a guest minister of the Heavenly Palace and the Chess Master.

Although he was a Venerable in his early years, his status in the Heavenly Palace was unique due to his extraordinary mastery of chess.

"I've been waiting for you for a while." Shen Yiqiu smiled slightly and gestured to the stone bench opposite him. "Sit." (End of Chapter)