In the Zhou camp, Yang Jian saw Nezha being enchanted and rushed forward, drawing his three-pointed double-edged halberd to help Nezha escape.
Bannuo flicked his hand and produced an object, a small banner of black and white. With a mere wave, black and white energies converged to form a Tai Chi diagram, immobilizing Yang Jian.
Bannuo said faintly, "It would be best if you did not interfere."
Yang Jian's expression turned solemn. The third eye on his brow opened, emitting a divine light of dispelling illusions that pierced through the Tai Chi diagram.
Bannuo gave a slight sound of surprise and waved his banner again. Black and white energies rose and intertwined, forming a world that enveloped himself and Yang Jian, dragging them both into the banner's realm.
Outside, Yun Yao's eyes flickered. Nezha was already bound, his spiritual power sealed, unable to move.
Yun Yao reached out and took Nezha, sending him into the Shang camp.
Jiang Ziya's face turned pale, but he still stepped forward and said, "Several fellow Daoists are disciples of the Saints of All Beings. Why must you involve yourselves? What happened today is all a misunderstanding. Please release Nezha."
Yu Fan shook his head and said, "What we do, all follows the will of Heaven. In Chaoge, an order is carried out as soon as it is given!"
Meanwhile, within the Two Energies Banner, Yang Jian and Bannuo fought for three days and three nights. In the end, Yang Jian's skill proved superior, and Bannuo retreated.
"Senior Brother, I fought with a lack of focus and lost face for our sect."
Yu Fan chuckled, "Junior Sister, you misunderstand. You must know that this Yang Jian is the foremost among the third-generation disciples of Chan Sect. His combat power can rival even a pseudo-Daluo. That you could hold out against him for so long shows your strength is already considerable."
Yun Yao chuckled, "Then Senior Brother, what do you think of me?"
Yu Fan glared at him. "You even used your sect's ultimate divine ability, could you have lost? It's just that this is too much of an exposure of our identities."
Yun Yao shrugged it off. "Senior Brother, it's only a matter of time before our identities are exposed. If Jiang Ziya can't figure it out, can't King Wen of Zhou figure it out? By the way, Senior Brother, what should be done with Nezha?"
Yu Fan said, "Nezha is a disciple of the Wa Huang Palace, so of course, we cannot harm him. Treat him well. If anything happens to him, it will be your responsibility!"
Yun Yao exclaimed, "So I've brought back a pampered lord!"
Bannuo said, "Jokes aside, don't forget what Junior Uncle instructed."
The two nodded. "Naturally."
Back in the Zhou camp, Jiang Ziya was filled with worry. The third-generation disciples of Chan Sect were mostly too young, with most of their cultivation at the Golden Immortal realm. Few had reached the Taiyi realm, and even those who had could not defeat the disciples of Fuyu Mountain.
This move had completely disrupted his plans. He had intended to use the combat strength of Nezha and Yang Jian to force the second-generation disciples of Jie Sect to act first, but unexpectedly, he found himself in a predicament.
While the battlefield appeared to be a free-for-all, there were always rules. Juniors fought juniors, and elders fought elders. Whoever broke the rules was in the wrong. Fortunately, the Saints of Jie Sect restrained their disciples. Most of those in the mortal realm now were third-generation outer disciples and registered disciples, with the core disciples not appearing. This allowed Chan Sect to maintain its position. Otherwise, the renowned Fire Spirit Holy Mother and Yu Hua would have already appeared. The third-generation disciples of Jie Sect far outnumbered those of Chan Sect.
As Jiang Ziya was at his wit's end, several more third-generation disciples arrived from Chan Sect: Jinzha, Muzha, Weihu, and Lei Zhenzi.
Thus, on another day, the Zhou army issued a challenge, and the third-generation disciples went out to battle again.
After Jiang Ziya and Zhang Guifang presented their arguments, they resumed the fight.
Lei Zhenzi spread his wings and soared into the sky. His face was like that of the Thunder God, and he roared, "I am Lei Zhenzi, a disciple of Yunzhongzi, a true immortal of Chan Sect. Who dares to fight me?"
Yun Yao was intrigued. As a Seven-Colored Illusionary Crow, a primordial rare beast, he was naturally curious about creatures with wings. Just as he was about to step forward to accept the challenge, Yu Fan stopped him.
He asked confusedly, "Senior Brother, are you afraid I'll lose? Even without the Luoshen Eye, I can win!"
Yu Fan shook his head. "No need for that. I'll do it."
Yun Yao shivered and quickly said with a smile, "With Senior Brother making a move, of course, no one can resist."
Bannuo, hearing this, also retreated to his side.
Yu Fan stepped forward and announced, "Disciple of Fuyu Mountain, the eldest disciple under Patriarch Hei Xuan, Yu Fan."
Lei Zhenzi, seeing him accept the challenge but not move into the air, asked, "Daoist, since you have accepted the challenge, why do you not move?"
Yu Fan's gaze swept over the Chan Sect disciples. "I still wish for the newly arrived Daoist friends to attack together."
The Chan Sect immortals were all taken aback. Zhang Guifang was startled. The disciples of Chan Sect were known for their group fights, and his generals had all been defeated in this manner.
"What?" Lei Zhenzi was also taken aback and became enraged. "How arrogant! Ask if you can withstand the Heavenly Thunder Rod in my hand!"
With that, he wielded the Heavenly Thunder Rod, drawing upon the divine thunder from the nine heavens. Lei Zhenzi spread his wings, looking down from above, holding the thunder rod like the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens descending divine punishment from the firmament.
Yu Fan narrowed his eyes. His burly physique remained still. Just as the thunder rod descended before him, he slowly extended his slightly plump, round hand.
"Humph~"
There was no earth-shattering roar as expected, only a light hum, the lament of the Heavenly Thunder Rod. All the thunderbolts were crushed by Yu Fan's single hand. Even the Heavenly Thunder Rod, a supreme post-celestial spiritual treasure, could not withstand the pressure.
Lei Zhenzi was stunned for a moment and quickly tried to pull back the Heavenly Thunder Rod. However, despite his efforts, he could not move it even an inch. His magical treasure was held firmly in someone's grasp.
Nearby, Yun Yao whispered telepathically, "Junior Sister, do you think Senior Brother is about to start?"
Bannuo, whose usually cold face now showed surprise, whispered back, "I suspect we still have to wait a while. After all, he hasn't used his divine abilities yet."
Yun Yao sighed, "Having a monstrous senior brother like Jiu Tuo is already rare, and then to have another senior brother like Yu Fan. Our sect is truly unfortunate."
Bannuo glared at him. "Talking about Senior Brother Yu Fan, why are you bringing up Senior Brother Jiu Tuo? He is a Daluo Golden Immortal with insight into everything. Be careful he doesn't hear you and take you to test his sword!"
Yun Yao immediately shivered and shut his mouth, daring not to speak further.
Meanwhile, in the Zhou camp, Jiang Ziya's expression was grave. "Jinzha, Muzha, Weihu, the three of you attack together. It seems this person's strength is terrifying."
The three obeyed and stepped forward, each wielding their treasures. Jinzha and Muzha used the Xuan Yuan Jin Gan Sword and the Wu Gou Twin Swords respectively, while Weihu unleashed the Demon Subduing Pestle. The three swords and the pestle, carrying the might of Taiyi, tore through the sky, causing the void to tremble and the heavens and earth to change color.
Yu Fan merely grinned and struck out with a palm, from above downwards, descending slowly.
"Humph~"
A light hum echoed through the void again, as if an invisible pressure had suddenly descended, immobilizing the treasures. No matter how the three urged them, they did not move.
The three were greatly alarmed. Muzha shouted, "Demon! What dark arts have you used?"
"Dark arts?" Yu Fan asked in surprise. "This is not dark arts. You'll know if you try."
Saying this, Yu Fan extended both hands and slowly made a grasping motion in the air. Instantly, the three felt the surrounding void compress. They found themselves gradually unable to move, with a terrifying crushing force grinding against their physical bodies. The void itself caused them to feel a terrifying sense of suffocation, as if their life force were draining away bit by bit, yet they were completely immobile, awaiting death.
Jinzha, Muzha, and Weihu were filled with terror. The fear in their eyes reached its peak. Their spiritual power was useless at this moment; they were like mortals.
Seeing this scene, the immortals in the Zhou army were all filled with dread.
At this moment, Yang Jian roared, "Stop your arrogance!"
With that, the divine third eye on his brow emitted a beam of dispelling illusion light, which struck the void and tore open a gap. It was like a drowning person in an oxygen-deprived space suddenly gasping for air. The three were greatly energized and no longer dared to hold back.
Jinzha quickly took out the Dragon Subduing Stakes to cover the three of them and fled back to the Zhou camp in a golden light, casting a terrified glance at the burly man with a smile on his lips.
Yu Fan smiled. "Daoist Yang Jian indeed possesses extraordinary strength!"
Yang Jian said coldly, "Even if you have comprehended the Great Dao of the Void, you need not act so mysteriously."
"Great Dao of the Void?"
Everyone exclaimed in shock. The Great Dao of Space was undoubtedly a supreme Dao, but true practitioners of this path were extremely rare. As for Daluo practitioners of the Great Dao of Space, or even mighty beings, there were almost none. This path was too difficult; one might not comprehend even a trace after thousands of reincarnations. However, the divine abilities of this path were absolutely powerful and terrifying, enough to be proud of one's peers. This person's Great Dao of Space was even more bizarre, the Great Dao of the Void, truly chilling.
However, few could have imagined that his true form was a Golden-Striped Bear with innate spatial talent, one that should have perished before birth, but by chance, he was accepted as a disciple by the Saint of All Beings. Protected by the Saint's destiny, he was able to grow to his current state. Yet, even so, Yu Fan's growth was extremely arduous, because the spatial nature and the physical body were in mutual opposition, which could not be avoided. As long as he walked the Great Dao of Space, he was destined to die on the Great Dao, unless he possessed the body of an Ancestral Wu, which was unafraid of the power of time and space. But the ancient and peerless Ancestral Wus were long dead, where could one find them? Yet, by chance, Fuyu Mountain contained the essence blood of an Ancestral Wu, that is, the blood of Pangu! It was precisely because he was under the tutelage of a Saint that such a heaven-defying talent, one that was rejected by the world, could grow to this extent!