Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 395 A mirage, a free and unfettered gold

"Release the beast within you!"

Roar!
With a wild roar that sounded like both a dragon and a tiger, all the ice and snow around Zhang Han shattered, and a giant purple wolf rushed out.

This wolf was several meters tall. When it charged out, its shoulders touched the ceiling of the central hall. Its whole body shone with purple light, drawing the image of a flowing starry river. Its eyes, however, flickered with an eerie blood-red glow.

Aizen immediately swung his sword in an attempt to stop him.

The wolf opened its blood-red maw, a swirling ball of starlight within, and bit directly at the sword energy.

The sword energy was ethereal, but it seemed real in its mouth. With a crunching sound, it actually crushed the sword energy and swallowed it.

What's even more terrifying is that, due to the characteristics of the Purple Cloud Sword, the released power dissipates extremely slowly.

Previously, Zhang Han had used the power of the Purple Star River several times to bind the purple clouds, but not a single cloud dissipated.

When Aizen broke through it, the purple mist was released, but it became Aizen's power.

This ultimately led to Zhang Han being trapped by the ice and snow.

If he hadn't revered Master Yoda's teachings and ignited the anger in his heart at this moment, transforming all the other emotions among the seven emotions and six desires into anger, thereby temporarily enhancing his willpower, he would probably have been frozen by the ice and snow until his willpower was exhausted.

However, at this moment, the giant wolf that evolved from his body swallowed all the sword energy into its belly!

Aizen frowned slightly and attacked again. Amidst the swirling clouds, several sword energies were unleashed once more.

But the giant wolf opened its bloody maw wide and swallowed all the sword energy.

"Today, no one can escape!"

Zhang Han's voice was low and deep, as if filled with endless anger.

The next instant, the giant wave transformed back into purple light, swirling around Zhang Han.

The purple light was so dazzling that even experts at the innate level felt it was blinding.

Amidst the radiance, a deep and ancient voice resounded.

【Purple Star River: Passionate State】

The purple light receded in the next instant, and Zhang Han's figure was once again revealed to the people.

His armor had undergone a significant change. While it remained predominantly purple, it incorporated many wolf-related elements, with the chest area resembling a hungry wolf.

The eyes on the mask turned blood red.

The purple longsword in his hand also transformed into the image of a wolf's head devouring the sky.

With a swift movement, he seemed to transform into a purple streak of light, crashing directly into Aizen.

Aizen brandished the Purple Cloud Sword, and wisps of purple mist condensed into a large net, blocking his path.

With a slash of his longsword, Zhang Han created a black hole that absorbed all the purple clouds, adding several cloud patterns to the sword.

The cloud patterns then transferred from his palm to his arm armor.

With a wave of his hand, another sword slashed down.

Aizen parried the attack head-on with his sword, only to feel an immense force coming from the other side, forcing him to retreat several steps before finally stopping.

"Such strength... But how long can you maintain this state?"

"Killing you is enough!"

Zhang Han gritted his teeth and said angrily.

This state of extreme anger may temporarily enhance his willpower, but at the cost of weakening other aspects of his emotions.

However, not all of the seven emotions and six desires of human beings are negative emotions; there are also many positive emotions, which are in balance with each other.

Zhang Han's current state has weakened his other emotions, including his positive ones.

Therefore, compared to before, he seemed to have become less rational and more impulsive.

However, the power gained in return is indeed formidable!
Zhang Han brandished his long sword.

The swordsmanship he used in the military was originally simple and straightforward, with the purpose of killing. Combined with his current state of anger, it actually complemented him well, and there was no disorder in his sword path.

Every sword strike was powerful and heavy.

Aizen, a mere scholar, used a sword technique that combined feints and real attacks, rather than focusing on brute force. Aizen was forced to retreat repeatedly, and in the blink of an eye, he had already retreated to the outside of the Ink Core Chamber.

Upon seeing this, Gao Jianli, Fan Zeng, Xue Nu, Gai Nie, and others all stepped forward to help.

In an instant, it became a five-on-one situation.

However, Zhang Han's strength was clearly a level above theirs; he could take them down with a single sword strike.

Especially since he was wearing the Purple Star River Armor, his defensive capabilities were incredibly strong, and he could often completely ignore the attacks from these people.

Gao Jianli gritted his teeth and used Yi Shui Han's ultimate technique again, which made Zhang Han take it a little more seriously. He gripped his sword with both hands and with one slash, a purple wolf head flew out and swallowed most of the ice that Yi Shui Han had unleashed.

A blue line appeared on his longsword.

He turned and slashed at Aizen.

The blue pattern then slashed out, transforming into extremely cold sword energy.

"I see!"

Aizen dodged the sword strike, looking slightly disheveled, but a look of joy appeared in his eyes.

This one sword strike exposed Zhang Han's true nature!
The power of the Purple Star River lies in the flow of stars.

Through this circulation, those who cultivate the Purple Star River can receive and return enemy attacks.

Previously, Zhang Han had withstood Aizen's sword aura attack head-on, then transformed it into his own power before turning around and attacking Aizen again.

However, after entering the passionate state, in addition to being able to draw out more Heavenly Crystal power, Zhang Han's use of the Purple Star River power was also elevated by half a level.

This half-level allows him to temporarily store the enemy's power in his armor after absorbing it, and then choose when to release it.

This is equivalent to turning the enemy's attacks into your own mana bar.

However, there should be an upper limit to this kind of storage!
Aizen quickly proved this point.

After absorbing Gai Nie's attack, Zhang Han immediately unleashed the same sword strike at Gao Jianli.

However, when faced with Aizen's attack, it completely absorbed it and stopped releasing it.

And this precisely proves Aizen's idea.

Because the power of the Purple Cloud Sword has the characteristic of being consumed very slowly.

Once Zhang Han releases the power of the Purple Cloud Sword, this power will not dissipate but will remain around, becoming a power that Aizen can control.

That's why he absorbed and stored all of Aizen's attacks.

However, when faced with attacks from others, it immediately absorbs and releases them.

Because his storage capacity is limited, he must use all of it on the Purple Cloud Sword.

Other powers are consumed instantly to avoid taking up storage space!

"In that case..."

Aizen's heart stirred, and he brandished his Purple Cloud Sword, instantly unleashing countless clouds that spread in all directions. Although Zhang Han's rationality was suppressed at the moment, he could still discern the intention behind this move.

The purpose is to disperse the clouds and mist in all directions, accumulate strength, and prepare for the future.

Anyone with eyes can see that his condition cannot last.

If he can hold out until then, the clouds and mist that are currently dispersing will become a mountain that crushes him.

Even if it doesn't work, these clouds that haven't been swallowed up could become swords aimed at him at any time.

It must be said that Zhang Han's wisdom in becoming the leader of the Shadow Guard is commendable. Even when he was in a state of extreme anger and his rationality was suppressed, he was still able to consider so much in an instant.

However, Aizen's purpose in doing this was not what he imagined.

All around, clouds and mist rose and transformed into figures, each wielding a purple longsword.

He chanted: "A flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, an illusion born of nothingness, reality and illusion intertwine, controlled by the mind!"

In an instant, the figures went from blurry to clear, and their faces were clearly Aizen's.

A figure wielding a sword charged forward.

Zhang Han slashed out with his sword, and the figure vanished instantly, leaving only an illusion.

At this moment, another figure attacked, and Zhang Han attacked again, but this figure was also an illusion.

In an instant, one figure after another charged out.

Zhang Han was quite experienced in combat, so he naturally knew that the battle tactic he was currently facing was a combination of feints and real attacks.

The figures may appear to be illusions, but there must be a real one hidden among them. Therefore, he must not overlook these figures because of this.

Once a flaw is revealed, that's when the true form will make its move.

However, there is an even better way: to directly counter this tactic!
Zhang Han's eyes flashed with a purplish-red light as he extracted more power from the Heavenly Crystal. Suddenly, he turned and transformed into wolf heads, which then blasted in all directions.

Each wolf head opened its gaping maw, and as the galaxy swirled within, a powerful force drew in all the surrounding clouds and mist.

Countless phantoms vanished in an instant.

Aizen stood in a corner, his face full of astonishment.

At this moment, Zhang Han suddenly noticed that Gai Nie was standing next to Lan Ran.

He held the Azure Light Sword upright with one hand, while the other hand's two fingers stroked the blade. His eyes were closed, and his true energy surged, creating quite a stir.

"So that's how it is. That move just now was to cover for others!"

The move that Gai Nie is preparing at this moment is clearly extraordinary.

In fact, the move that Gai Nie was about to use was the ultimate sword technique of the Qingguang Swordplay.

The essence of the Seven Swords Technique generally requires some preparation time, especially since Gai Nie has only recently received the inheritance of the Azure Light Sword Technique and this is the first time he has used its essence, so naturally he needs more preparation time.

Therefore, Aizen used the ultimate technique of the Purple Cloud Swordplay, 'Mirror Flower Water Moon True Technique,' to confuse Zhang Han and buy time.

The Mirror Flower Water Moon True Technique is the only ultimate sword move among the Seven Swords Techniques that requires no preparation.

The Purple Cloud Sword Technique is less lethal compared to other sword techniques.

Don't be fooled by Aizen's near-freezing of Zhang Han earlier; that was because he took advantage of the fact that the power released by the Purple Cloud Sword is extremely difficult to dissipate, allowing him to continuously accumulate power and unleash it in a single burst.

That's a characteristic of the Purple Cloud Sword, not a characteristic of the Purple Cloud Sword Technique.

The Purple Cloud Sword Technique is exquisite, combining illusion and reality, but it excels more in defense and support. In terms of offensive power, it is indeed slightly inferior to other sword techniques.

Even the profound essence of swordsmanship is an illusionary technique that has absolutely no destructive power.

Aizen unleashed it to delay Zhang Han and allow Gai Nie to complete the profound meaning of the Azure Light Sword Technique as soon as possible.

At this moment, purple light condensed on Zhang Han's body, and then a sword aura burst forth, naturally aimed at Gai Nie, wanting to interrupt his preparations.

But wherever the sword energy passed, the two figures vanished in an instant.

Suddenly, figure after figure appeared in the central hall.

The combination of Aizen and Gai Nie instantly filled the entire central hall!
Zhang Han was startled, only then realizing that he had not broken the opponent's move at all.

Although the essence of the Purple Cloud Sword Technique has no lethality, in terms of illusion, there are few moves in the world that can compare with it. How could it be broken so easily?

Once Zhang Han realized this, his eyes, glowing with a purplish-red light, instantly fixed their gaze on the direction of the entrance to the Ink Core Chamber.

He knew very well that the two men were at the gate before the other party used their swordsmanship.

Even though the two have switched places, there can't be no one guarding the entrance to the Mohe Secret Chamber.

After all, Tianming and Gongshu Chou were also in the secret room.

Thinking of this, Zhang Han moved, transforming into a purple streak of light and rushing straight towards the gate.

Then a loud boom was heard.

Zhang Han felt dizzy and suddenly realized that the place he was rushing towards was not the door of the Ink Core Chamber, but a wall!
He deliberately ran headfirst into the wall!

"Hehe, since the figures you see are all fake, then why is the door to this Ink Core Chamber real?"

Aizen's teasing voice rang out from behind.

Along with it appeared a chillingly sharp edge.

Zhang Han turned around and saw that the blue sword in Gai Nie's hand was already radiating a dazzling light.

The entire sword transformed into a beam of light, obscuring its original shape.

At this moment, Gai Nie was holding this sword light!
Just as Zhang Han turned around, Gai Nie was also ready to finish.

He opened his eyes and chanted, "Mysterious gold takes form, its sharpness is unrestrained, it breaks through the void, free and at will!"

Azure Light Profound Truth - Great Freedom Profound Gold Sword Technique!

The sword in his hand suddenly soared into the air, growing longer with the wind. From its original three feet long, it transformed into a gigantic ten feet long, and even its width increased to three or four feet, making it look incredibly terrifying.

"go with!"

Gai Nie let out a low shout.

The sword light flashed and appeared in front of Zhang Han.

Since it is the essence of the Azure Light Sword Technique, its extreme speed is naturally manifested to the fullest in this move.

However, in this small central hall, neither the speed of the Azure Light Sword's sword energy nor the speed of the ultimate technique could be fully utilized.

From this perspective, it arrives in an instant, with no time difference whatsoever.

it's the same!
But the power is completely different!
Because it was so fast, before Zhang Han could even react, the sword light had already struck his face.

The terrifying force instantly cleaved a crack in the mask.

Fortunately, the armor he was wearing was indeed very sturdy. Although there were cracks, they were limited to that. It was impossible to break through it completely.

Zhang Han remained steadfast in his resolve, continuously extracting the power of the Heavenly Crystal. At the same time, he also mobilized the power of the Purple Cloud Sword he had previously absorbed, condensing it all in front of him to form a protective barrier.

Instantly, purple light flashed on the armor, and although the sword light was sharp and terrifying, it was actually blocked by him.

(End of this chapter)