A formation disk that even dozens of Golden Core cultivators couldn't break through—yet a Qi Refining stage person was expected to break it? What a joke.
Everyone knew that Zhao Long wanted Xu Yang dead.
All eyes were on Xu Yang, wondering if he would be so scared he'd wet himself, or if he'd die right there.
"Heh, a mere Qi Refining stage, talking big here, doesn't know how to respect death."
"Ha, those arrogant words he just said? He's about to eat them."
"I don't know which family's young master this is, but it doesn't matter which family he's from—just kill him, I'll support it with both hands."
"Exactly, I don't believe any family has the guts to go against us, the dozens of Golden Core cultivators!"
For the first time in ages, the usually divided and conflicted Golden Core cultivators seemed to all agree—they wanted Xu Yang dead.
Ling Qingshu felt a bit guilty. Although her ancestor was powerful, could he really handle so many Golden Core cultivators?
"This formation disk, I don't need to take action. He can handle it." Xu Yang pointed to Fang Yan. "He can break it with a single finger."
Fang Yan froze, then turned and glared at Xu Yang.
Was Xu Yang pushing him into the fire?
Fang Yan had money, so he was proud, but he wasn't stupid. He knew his limits.
How could he possibly break a formation disk that dozens of Golden Core cultivators couldn't, with just a finger?
If he thought he could, then he wasn't proud, he was a fool.
"I've spent money twice to save your life, why are you trying to harm me?" Fang Yan said, frustrated. "Do you think if you get me killed, I'll take the fall for you so you can live?"
Fang Yan shook his head, clenching his fists, trembling with rage.
He had misjudged Xu Yang. They'd gotten along fine before, but now, seeing this, Xu Yang was nothing but an ungrateful fool!
"Hahaha, this is really interesting," Zhao Long sneered. "Looks like you two can both break the formation disk with a single finger. Who's going to demonstrate for us first?"
"Yeah, come on, show us!" The onlookers chimed in, egging them on.
"I…" With dozens of Golden Core cultivators exuding overwhelming power, Fang Yan instantly wilted.
"I can't do it." Fang Yan said.
"No, you can. Didn't you just say you could break it with a single finger?" Xu Yang responded, giving a slightly amused, yet nonchalant smile. He wasn't going to hurt Fang Yan; he considered him a real friend now.
Breaking the formation disk was easy for Xu Yang. With a blink of his eyes, the disk would shatter.
He'd already figured out that Fang Yan was someone who liked attention, so he'd give him an opportunity to show off. That way, he could boost Fang Yan's influence.
"Hehe, since Xu Yang says you can, just go ahead and demonstrate," Zhao Long said coldly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
At this moment, Fang Yan felt like crying.
Dozens of Golden Core cultivators were threatening him.
Reluctantly, Fang Yan walked up to the formation disk.
The formation disk had just endured the full brunt of dozens of Golden Core cultivators' attacks, yet it still gleamed as brightly as ever.
Not even a single scratch.
Fang Yan was already in despair.
At that moment, a stream of pure white spiritual energy emerged from Xu Yang's mouth and floated over to Fang Yan's side.
The white spiritual energy shimmered with golden runes, swirling around it, mysterious and profound. After wrapping around Fang Yan a few times, it entered his ears.
Fang Yan then heard a soft whisper.
"Don't be afraid. I know how to break the formation disk. You just need to poke it with a single finger."
Fang Yan was startled. Was that Xu Yang speaking to him? But why, even though Xu Yang was far away, did it sound as though he was whispering directly in his ear?
Looking up, he saw Xu Yang's lips moving, and the words he heard matched the lip movements perfectly.
Without a doubt, it was Xu Yang speaking to him.
However, the people around them clearly hadn't heard anything.
"What is going on?" Fang Yan thought, puzzled.
Suddenly, as if possessed, Fang Yan, without thinking, instinctively poked the formation disk with a finger.
A moment of silence...
The formation disk remained intact, not a single crack in sight.
The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.
After a while, Zhao Long suddenly laughed, "Seems like you can't do it. You poked it with a single finger, and yet it didn't break."
"Yeah, how come it's still like this?" The other onlookers also laughed heartily.
Fang Yan's face turned pale, his body trembling.
He couldn't explain why he had done that earlier.
And now, the formation disk hadn't shattered; it remained perfectly intact.
He was finished.
As he thought this, suddenly, there was a loud boom.
The formation disk, which had seemed indestructible moments ago, suddenly exploded with a bright white light. Under the white light, the disk shattered into countless pieces, falling to the ground like stars.
The formation disk had broken!
Everyone stood in stunned silence, staring at the scene, unable to comprehend why the formation disk, which had just been so strong, suddenly shattered into pieces.
Cough, cough, cough, "Did you see that? He broke the formation disk with a single finger."
Xu Yang pointed at Fang Yan.
Everyone's gaze shifted to Fang Yan, as if looking at a monster.
"What just happened? How did the formation disk shatter?"
"Oh my god, we've been attacking it for so long, and it didn't break. Could it be that he really shattered it with a single finger?"
"Impossible, impossible. It must be that the formation disk was already weakened, and it was just waiting to break. It's just coincidence that Fang Yan happened to poke it at the right moment."
A group of people chattered among themselves, and none of them believed it was true.
Fang Yan stared at the shattered pieces on the ground, his mind in chaos. For a moment, he couldn't even understand what had just happened.
How could the formation disk, which had been fine moments ago, suddenly shatter?
Could it really be that he broke it with just a single finger?
Of course, that was impossible.
Suddenly, as if he realized something, he looked at Xu Yang with a complex expression.
Zhao Long wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
He looked at the shattered formation disk on the ground and then at Fang Yan.
He couldn't tell whether Fang Yan had truly broken it.
If Fang Yan really had, then what kind of power did Fang Yan possess?
Maybe? The formation disk had already been heavily damaged by them, and it was just that it hadn't shattered before.
Maybe it was just that Fang Yan poked it at the right moment?
But regardless of what had happened, since the formation disk was destroyed and the entrance to the Absolute Ice Mountain was now open, there was no need to dwell on it.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for helping me break the formation disk. Our spirit treasure auction house expresses its gratitude. You can leave your name, and when I return, I will have a great reward for you."
Zhao Long said with a smile.
Other Golden Core cultivators also came forward to compliment him.
Fang Yan, forgetting the earlier unpleasantness and unconcerned with the truth, accepted the flattery with ease and even boasted a bit himself.
Xu Yang stood to the side, watching indifferently, his expression unreadable.
"Ancestor, the formation disk shattering... was it intentional?" Ling Qingshu asked.