Chapter 0406: Purely an Accident

Beast exorcists inspire fear, while array mages are detested troublemakers by all.
Once, a peerless warrior named Brade was imprisoned in a valley of stone forests, unable to escape for over 20 billion years—thanks to a legendary array mage.
Of course, array mages are just as rare as soul masters.
Soul masters rely on soul mutations to gain spiritual power, whereas array mages need a type of spiritual energy derived from understanding the laws of natural energy.
When Ahieber deployed array restrictions and revealed his identity as an array mage, it caused quite a stir among the gods around him.
By using array restrictions and harnessing natural energy, array mages can sometimes trap or even kill enemies without much effort.
So Ahieber was actually an array mage!
Although soul masters are as rare and noble as array mages, in some ways, array mages inspire even greater awe.
“I never expected Ahieber to be an array mage too!” said Woodlo, the head of the Beikal family, on the Platform of Forgetting, with a hint of astonishment.
Hubert, the head of the Terrence family, smiled and said, “Although Ahieber’s strength isn’t as great as Huang Hai’s, his talent for array magic is extremely high. He’s now close to the level of a high-tier array mage. In another million years, he might break through to that level. Even now, even an ordinary Level 8 Nether King warrior might not be able to break through his array restrictions.”
Hubert was telling the truth. With Ahieber’s strength combined with his array restrictions, even a Level 8 Nether King warrior would have no chance against him.
On the competition stage, Huang Long was also surprised when Ahieber revealed his identity as an array mage. But seeing Ahieber’s smug expression after deploying simple array restrictions, he shook his head in disapproval.
Ahieber noticed Huang Long’s expression. Seeing that Huang Long dared to underestimate his array restrictions, he grew angry. “Huang Hai, let me show you just how powerful my array restrictions are!” With that, he made a gesture with his hands, and the array restrictions on the stage emitted brilliant light, spreading instantly to cover the entire stage and “trapping” Huang Long inside.
Ahieber was delighted that he could trap Huang Long so easily. Smiling, he said, “Huang Hai, I never thought you’d be so arrogant as to not dodge and end up in my array restrictions. Even if you’re a soul master, no matter how strong your attacks are, they’re useless now!” With that, he summoned his divine weapon and swung at Huang Long.
But as his sword’s light headed straight for Huang Long, Huang Long dodged effortlessly with a quick movement, then rushed forward, reaching out with both hands to grab Ahieber’s sword.

Ahieber stared in disbelief at the hands on the other end of his divine weapon, whispering to Huang Long, “You… you can actually see me?!”
Normally, those trapped within his array’s restrictions couldn’t see him at all.
Yet just now, Huang Long not only dodged his attacks but also counterattacked, seizing his divine weapon right out of his hands—seemingly unharmed by the array’s restrictions!
At that moment, a surge of powerful immortal energy erupted from Huang Long’s hands, instantly sending Ahieber flying. Huang Long glanced at the restriction array below and said calmly, “Is this… also considered an array?” Then, a platinum-colored flame appeared in his hands. Under the astonished gazes of Ahieber and the other gods, that top-tier divine weapon gradually disappeared beneath the platinum flame.
“This… this?!” Ahieber stammered.
His divine weapon wasn’t just an ordinary top-tier one—it was an eighth-tier top-tier divine weapon. Even the divine fire of an eighth-level Underworld King would take days or even weeks to melt it down and remelt it, let alone the divine fire of a peer. Yet Huang Long had melted it completely on the spot.
“What kind of divine fire is this?!”
“It doesn’t seem to be a flame formed from divine power!”
“Then what kind of fire is it? Could Huang Hai possess a spiritual flame?”
A spiritual flame was a naturally occurring flame in the divine realm. If one could master and absorb it and fuse it with their own divine body, its power would far exceed that of a flame formed from divine power.
On the Platform of Forgetfulness, Kennedy and the others also watched Huang Long’s platinum-colored flame in “amazement.”
A spiritual flame? They listened to the discussions among the gods in the surrounding mountains. But with their knowledge, they knew it wasn’t a spiritual flame at all. Though powerful, a spiritual flame couldn’t reach such a level.
But if it wasn’t a spiritual flame nor a divine flame, then what kind of flame was it? And why did Huang Hai ignore Ahieber’s array restrictions? Could Huang Hai also…?!
Everyone’s minds were in turmoil.
At that moment, after melting the opponent’s divine weapon, Huang Long pointed into the air, and several sword beams shot forth.
The Mysterious Pure Freedom Sword Energy!
In an instant, they struck the core of the array restrictions beneath the competition platform. Once the core was broken, the entire array restrictions on the platform, which had been glowing brightly moments ago, went out like a snuffed flame. After a series of sizzling explosions, they instantly dimmed.

“You… you’re really a spellcaster too?!” On the competition platform, Ahieber was shocked. Earlier, the Yellow Dragon had dodged his attacks, seized his divine artifact, and sent him flying. He thought it was just a coincidence, but now, the Yellow Dragon had personally broken the spell barriers he had set up on the platform—this could no longer be a coincidence.
What surprised him even more was the speed at which the Yellow Dragon broke his spell barriers!
He was now approaching the level of a high-ranking spellcaster. Although the complexity and power of his spells weren’t on par with those of a high-ranking spellcaster, they weren’t far behind either. Yet, the Yellow Dragon had broken his spell barriers so easily—what did that mean?!
A high-ranking spellcaster!
Huang Hai was a high-ranking spellcaster!
Of course, a legendary rank, belonging to the realm of legends, with none appearing in tens of thousands of years—so he hadn’t considered this legendary possibility.
The gods in the surrounding mountains were also shocked to see the Yellow Dragon instantly break Ahieber’s spell barriers, and they began to discuss it fervently once again.
On the Forgotten Platform, the leaders of the six major families were naturally uneasy as well.
“Chieftain Kennedy, I never expected that Huang Hai is not only a high-ranking soul master but also a high-ranking spellcaster. Your Runing family truly has many talented members,” said Hobert, the chieftain of the Terrence family. Yet, his words carried a hint of sarcasm.
In fact, not only Hobert but also the chieftains of other families, like Algier, showed envy, even a trace of jealousy.
A person who combined the skills of a high-ranking soul master and a high-ranking spellcaster—such a person could hardly be found among even hundreds of millions of godly warriors in the Netherworld. Moreover, Huang Hai’s previous performance had been truly “shocking”!
While Hobert and the others were envious and jealous, Kennedy and the rest were equally surprised and incredulous.
Because they knew more than Hobert and the others, and it was precisely because of that deeper knowledge that they were even more shocked.
Huh! Kennedy took a deep breath secretly, trying to keep a calm expression as he said, “It’s a surprise… purely a surprise!”
What he said was true, but to Hobert and the others from the Terrence family, it sounded like an act of pretense. “Keep pretending, what’s there to be so proud about?”
Hobert and the others certainly wouldn’t believe Kennedy’s words. How could a family chieftain not know that his family member was a high-ranking spellcaster? A high-ranking soul master or a high-ranking spellcaster—whenever one appears, wouldn’t every family leader pay close attention? Wouldn’t they treat them like treasures?
“Well, it’s time to end this!” On the competition platform, after breaking the opponent’s spell barriers, the Yellow Dragon didn’t bother to continue the fight. Instead, he immediately drew out his Sword of Cutting Immortals and swung it downward, instantly cutting through Ahieber’s top-tier defensive divine armor.

Ahieber’s prideful top-tier defensive artifact, the outer armor, instantly shattered and scattered in all directions, turning into fragments, while he himself was flung backward and crashed onto the competition platform. After crashing, Ahieber spat blood from the corner of his mouth, staring in disbelief at his own body—how could the armor bestowed by the clan leader have been broken so easily? Hadn’t the leader said it took him hundreds of years to forge it? Then he stared in horror at the dark blue sword in Huang Long’s hand. On the Platform of Forgetfulness, Hobert had a complex expression: “Clan Leader Kennedy truly has great vision—he’s even willing to let his descendants use such an amazing artifact!” Hobert and the others regarded the sword in Huang Long’s hand as a top-tier ninth-grade artifact. Top-tier ninth-grade artifacts, like top-tier flying artifacts in the Netherworld, couldn’t be bought with divine stones and were highly valued even by the elite of the six major clans in the Netherworld. Hearing this, Kennedy’s expression stiffened, and he said nothing. He had originally planned to give Huang Hai a set of top-tier eighth-grade artifacts, but that was only after the competition, if Huang Hai managed to rank among the top three! The competition ended, as expected, with Ahieber’s crushing defeat. After the battle between Huang Long and Ahieber, Huang Long, being a high-level mage, and the mysterious flame that destroyed the top-tier artifact sparked discussions among the gods in the surrounding mountains, filling them with excitement. For a long time, there was still murmuring. Standing atop the mountain peak, Marshall’s smile grew wider: “I never expected Huang Hai to be a high-level mage too!” He then murmured in confusion, “But what about that flame? It seems this kid has quite a few secrets. I wonder if the next match will surprise me again!” After the competition, Huang Long didn’t return immediately to the mountain palace of the Runing clan. Instead, he stood with Chester and Fatty below the competition platform to watch the next match. The next match was between Fei De from the Runing clan and Augus from the Terrence clan! However, to Huang Long’s disappointment, although Fei De had three top-tier ninth-grade artifacts, he still lost to Augus! The sheer strength Augus displayed in the end surprised not only the gods around but also Huang Long. Seeing Fei De lose to Augus, Bishop on the Platform of Forgetfulness looked displeased. Last night, he had given these three top-tier ninth-grade artifacts to his grandson, hoping he would win first place and, most importantly, defeat Huang Hai. But now, before even facing Huang Hai, he had already lost to Augus! “I never thought Augus would be this strong!” Bishop said, his eyes gleaming as he watched Augus on the competition platform.