Chapter 523

Chapter 523: Cold Mountain Mournful Cry Cicada Technique

Witnessing this situation, Fang Lie was greatly shocked. The Energy Cycle Star Array required 108 Seventh-rank formation flags and demanded an immense amount of Magic. Only a Fire Tribulation Immortal could freely control it—something far beyond the current Fang Lie.

The true controller of this Formation was actually the awakened Wonderful Bodhi Tree. Though freshly enlightened with minimal cultivation time, its foundation was incomparably profound. As a spiritual root that had grown for hundreds of millennia in a Spiritual Energy-rich environment, its Magic rivaled that of a Fire Tribulation Immortal the moment it began cultivation.

This represented only a fraction of the Spiritual Energy within its body. Once fully refined, its Magic might even surpass Semi-Immortals by an immeasurable margin.

Yet even the Energy Cycle Star Array powered by such an entity couldn’t suppress Immortal Han Chan, revealing the latter’s terrifying capabilities.

Indeed, Immortal Han Chan was extraordinary. Despite being only at the mid Fire Tribulation stage, his strength matched ordinary Thunder Tribulation Immortals.

He had only revealed one of his life-bound poison Gu insects—an Eighth-rank creature possessing Fire Tribulation-level power. And this was merely one of his many resources.

Recognizing the dire situation, Fang Lie stopped hesitating. He summoned his life-bound treasure altar and activated over a thousand Fire Bird Techniques attached to it.

As Fang Lie channeled his power, fiery birds soared into the sky, radiating blistering heat.

Each Fire Bird contained Magic equivalent to Fang Lie’s full reserves. Individually, they posed no threat—Immortal Han Chan could extinguish them with a breath.

But a thousand together created a qualitative transformation. No Fire Tribulation Immortal could ignore the combined power of a thousand Fang Lies!

The swarm of Fire Birds immediately organized and charged at Immortal Han Chan, tearing a massive breach through the icy barrier formed by the cicadas.

Guided by the Fire Birds, the previously dim star flames surged through the opening, launching a full counterattack.

Even the formidable Eighth-rank poison Gu insect struggled against the combined assault of the Energy Cycle Star Array and a thousand Fire Birds.

Immortal Han Chan initially showed surprise when his defenses were breached, but quickly regained composure. "You’ve got some tricks, brat," he sneered, "but these are mere child’s play to me!"

With a flick of his right sleeve, he released another powerful Mournful Cry Cicada. The two insects emitted excited cries upon meeting, their energies merging to unleash a chill several times stronger than before.

These male and female cicadas produced a yin-yang fusion of cold energy that evolved into Ice Death—a fearsome frost capable of overwhelming both star flames and Fire Birds.

Had Fang Lie not reacted swiftly with his Blazing Dragon Cannon to disrupt the Ice Death, the entire Formation might have collapsed.

Despite this, the Ice Death pressed forward, cornering both the star array and Fire Birds. Total defeat seemed inevitable.

Only now did Fang Lie grasp the vast gap between himself and a Fire Tribulation Immortal. Immortal Han Chan’s two poison Gu insects alone suppressed his strongest attacks with ease.

But Immortal Han Chan’s true menace was just emerging. After repelling Fang Lie’s assault, he located his opponent’s position and declared, "My turn now! Behold the Ice Soul Divine Light!"

He pointed sharply at Fang Lie. Twin beams of white light shot from the cicadas’ eyes, striking Fang Lie before he could react.

Fang Lie froze instantaneously. A gentle breeze scattered his body into sparkling ice fragments.

This was the Ice Soul Divine Light—a supreme ice-element divine skill. Its extreme cold could shatter Seventh-rank treasures, let alone mere flesh and bone.

"Hah! So much for Mo Sect’s rising star!" Immortal Han Chan crowed. "Even your undying nature can’t withstand soul-freezing cold!"

A voice interrupted his triumph: "Celebrating too soon? Your light can’t touch me!"

To Immortal Han Chan’s shock, another Fang Lie appeared on the altar—then another, until nine identical figures stood before him.

"Damnation!" he inwardly cursed. "I kill one and nine appear? Does he multiply with each death?"

While Immortal Han Chan reeled, the Nine Fang Lies acted. "Courtesy demands repayment!" they shouted in unison, launching empty-space divine claws at the cicadas.

Screams erupted as all nine severed their own Arms to prevent icy corruption from spreading. The severed limbs shattered into frost.

Though Fang Lie underestimated the cicadas’ innate cold—capable of killing even experts of his level—his counterattack proved effective. The Gu insects now bore nine gaping wounds oozing silver blood, shrieking in agony.

What followed shocked Immortal Han Chan more: the Nine Fang Lies regenerated their Arms completely within breaths, courtesy of the Healing Art. The cicadas’ sacrifice became meaningless against such restoration.

Fang Lie pressed his advantage ruthlessly. He could afford endless losses; the cicadas couldn’t. Nine wounds per strike would accumulate to fatal damage.

Immortal Han Chan bellowed, "Enough! Witness my ultimate technique—Cold Mountain Mournful Cry Cicada Technique!"

The embroidered mountain on his robe manifested into a thousand-zhang-tall Eighth-rank Treasure—Cold Mountain. The cicadas vanished into its structure.

Inspection with the Twin Eyes of Heaven and Earth revealed the truth: cicadas and mountain reinforced each other. The mountain’s frostpower tripled, threatening Thunder Tribulation Immortals. Damage to either component would be instantly repaired by the other.

This symbiotic defense—where Cold Mountain protected the cicadas while drawing power from them—formed Immortal Han Chan’s ultimate, unsolvable technique.