Chapter 128: The Archmage Who Wields Dark Sorcery

In the midst of a dire moment, a sudden white shadow dashed forward, positioning itself precisely between Xiang Nan and the Grand Mage.

With a swift motion, the shadow brandished a massive Vajra Umbrella, spinning it to block the Grand Mage’s torrent of crimson rain.

Surprised to see someone come to his aid, Xiang Nan blinked and fixed his gaze on the newcomer.

As the red rain was caught, the figure slowed, revealing a man with a stubbled chin, a buzz cut, clad in a Taoist robe.

In his hands, the Vajra Umbrella was wielded with masterful finesse.

At the sight of this robed man, the Grand Mage’s face darkened completely.

“San Tong Daoist! I never expected you to come out of seclusion! Seems this treasure truly has a powerful allure!”

“San Tong Daoist?” Xiang Nan murmured to himself. “Could this be the legendary recluse who sought immortality and enlightenment?”

Though he had transmigrated into this world, Xiang Nan had heard numerous tales of its legends.

San Tong Daoist was among the most remarkable.

It was said that in his first ancestral return, San Tong Daoist was a pure Taoist, with no martial skills whatsoever. Many would have abandoned the martial path then.

But he was a martial fanatic, unwilling to remain mediocre. He sought out renowned masters everywhere and trained diligently.

After several extraordinary encounters, he reversed his fate and rose to become a fifth-rank transcendent martial artist.

Thereafter, he devoted himself entirely to pursuing immortality and enlightenment, scarcely appearing in society.

By all rights, he was a man indifferent to fame and fortune. How then did he come to be embroiled in Lingxu?

No doubt, it must have something to do with the Taiji Diagram Xiang Nan possessed.

Meanwhile, San Tong Daoist retracted his all-steel Vajra Umbrella and calmly regarded the Grand Mage.

“What I despise most are people like you—dark-hearted and superstitious. I cannot allow such a precious treasure to fall into your hands.”

“Hmph! Don’t play the saint! You want the treasure for yourself just as much! When it comes to personal gain, no one can resist temptation!” the Grand Mage sneered, eyes narrowing contemptuously.

“I am renowned for my indifference to fame and fortune. No temptation can shake me. Xiang Nan, you need not fear. With me here, this venomous witch cannot harm you! I’ll send him back to the Southern Frontier mountains!”

With that, San Tong Daoist raised his hand. The Vajra Umbrella unfolded midair, spinning rapidly.

Hidden within each rib of the umbrella were several sharp arrows, which instantly shot forth toward the Grand Mage.

The Grand Mage waved his robe sleeves, conjuring several cursed black smoke blasts to block the arrows.

Yet these were no ordinary projectiles—they radiated spiritual light, piercing through the cursed smoke at lightning speed, closing in on the Grand Mage.

The cursed smoke was pierced and dispersed midair.

The Grand Mage twitched at the corner of his eye, hastily summoning his scepter. The scarlet ruby emitted a strange, monstrous glow, finally halting the arrows.

However, San Tong Daoist had already sheathed the Vajra Umbrella. With a hand gesture, he channeled his power, and the umbrella instantly transformed into a steel spear, flying straight at the Grand Mage.

Having just blocked several arrows, the Grand Mage instinctively raised his scepter to meet the spear, which was powered by spiritual energy and flew like a cannonball.

“Bang!”

Powerful shockwaves rippled through the air.

The scarlet bloodstone on the scepter dimmed considerably. The spear, transformed from the Vajra Umbrella, shuddered slightly but pressed onward.

Within two exchanges, the Grand Mage was suppressed by San Tong Daoist.

Helpless, the Grand Mage cursed loudly, seized a moment to teleport away.

It was Xiang Nan’s first time witnessing a duel between two fifth-rank experts, each wielding spiritual weapons.

He couldn’t help but watch intently.

But don’t misunderstand—he was not awed by their strength but was objectively analyzing the situation.

Such fifth-rank experts, even if ten more appeared, would all be crushed once he unleashed the Taiji Diagram.

Yet Xiang Nan’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

Especially regarding the Grand Mage—when fighting him earlier, he hadn’t seemed so weak. Yet upon facing the Vajra Umbrella, he collapsed as though his resolve shattered.

The whole scene seemed staged.

Fortunately, Xiang Nan was no naive spectator; these two were likely performing a double act—one playing the villain, the other the hero.

These masters probably realized that, given Xiang Nan’s awakening potential, it was impossible to forcibly seize the treasure from him. Thus, they resorted to this lowly ruse.

If Xiang Nan’s guess was correct, this San Tong Daoist would now cling shamelessly to his side.

Sure enough, after the Grand Mage’s escape, San Tong Daoist did not pursue.

Sheathing the Vajra Umbrella, he strode forward with a broad smile toward Xiang Nan.

“Xiang Nan, are you alright?” San Tong Daoist asked warmly.

“With a master like you here, what harm could come to me? Thanks,” Xiang Nan replied, deliberately flattering him to see how the act would unfold.

San Tong nodded slightly, looking pleased. “We’re all young people; no need for formality. That dark old witch is truly sinister. Luckily, I happened to be passing by. Had you fallen into his hands, you’d have suffered greatly.”

Xiang Nan’s eyes flickered with mild astonishment.

“All young people? Where does this confidence come from?”

San Tong Daoist was already a renowned cultivator. Though Xiang Nan hadn’t looked up his age, he seemed at least approaching his forties.

Yet he claimed they were both young. This fake Taoist had quite the nerve.

Noticing Xiang Nan’s odd expression, San Tong thought he might be intimidated by his words. After all, the dark old witch had a terrible reputation, and Xiang Nan was just an inexperienced novice. It was only natural to feel fear.

San Tong clapped Xiang Nan on the shoulder like an elder brother. “But don’t worry. Since I happened upon this matter, I can’t just leave you be...”

“Leave me be? How exactly do you plan to do that?” Xiang Nan asked.

“Of course, to protect you. Brother, you must have obtained that unusual treasure by some stroke of luck. You’re young and probably unaware how many eyes across the country are fixed on it. If someone wise and powerful guarded it, that would be better. But you’re only second-rank. How could those people not make a move on you?”

San Tong paused and studied Xiang Nan’s reaction carefully.

Xiang Nan forced an expression of innocence and fear. “You make a good point. What should I do then?”

“Don’t you have a spatial pocket? Keep it there. Never take it out. At your current cultivation, you can’t even wield such a treasure. Just protect it well. It’s yours—no reason to let others snatch it, right?”

“Damn! You’re absolutely right! That’s exactly where I keep it. Don’t worry, no one but me can retrieve it,” Xiang Nan said with earnest sincerity.

“That’s good. But those people have all sorts of tricks. They’ll do everything to make you reveal the treasure. Since fate brought us together, how about this: I’ll follow your group and protect you. Sounds good, right?”

“Perfect! I was just wondering what to do. It’s rare for someone like you, who’s interrupted your pursuit of immortality, to come all the way to Lingxu to guard me and my treasure. Truly touching! I’m almost moved to tears!” Xiang Nan pretended to wipe away a tear.

San Tong Daoist’s face darkened, but then he chuckled, “It’s my duty, it’s my duty.”