Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1317 In the blink of an eye

The imperial throne in the heavens and earth is infinitely high, reaching the sky. At the top of the palace, light descends from the sky, and this light is like beams of bright white swords, filling the entire palace and slicing through the long, fluttering ropes.

The long rope, painted with golden patterns depicting undulating mountains and rivers, was faintly hidden among the clouds and mist, yet it was tightly gripped by that large hand, struggling head and tail like a lifelike venomous snake, unable to escape no matter what.

【The mountain darkens and the mountain ropes move】.

The flowing mountain and river patterns reflected in the golden eyes seemed to evoke some extremely unpleasant memories. Seeing the elegant white-robed man who quickly left the hall again intensified the murderous intent in the king's eyes.

'Little uncle...'

During the thirteen years that Li Ximing was in seclusion to break through his cultivation, his uncle, who wielded the power of thunder, was the only person Li Zhouwei could trust to stand guard in the north. To put it bluntly, at that time, apart from Li Zhouwei, Li Cheng was the only pillar of the Li family.

And he perished amidst Changxiao's scheme, falling beneath the [Mountain Darkening and Mountain Shaking Rope]!
This caused the King of Wei to clench his fists tightly, making the treasure emit a faint mournful sound. His heart was filled with boiling murderous intent, which he had to suppress until the hall doors slammed shut.
"Boom!"

This sound was like the first thunderclap that cleaved through the fog between heaven and earth, and also like a long lament. The king on the main seat gripped the long rope with one hand, and with the other hand, palm down, he suddenly tightened his grip on the crimson spirit sword stained with gold blood, without the slightest distraction or hesitation.

He is gone.

【Tianjing】.

Blood rained down in the hall, and an invisible force of confinement spread out. Su Yan's raised hand froze in mid-air, feeling an overwhelming chill rush to his mind:

'Great Master!'

'The Great Master Mingyang!'

If one were to choose one of the various Daoist traditions to suppress and eliminate the fastest cultivators, Mingyang would undoubtedly be at the forefront—the first emperor of the Celestial Dynasty imbued Mingyang with too many symbolic meanings through his own achievements, and the Wei royal family repaired it time and time again over the long years…

The figure standing in the light gave him a momentary illusion…

Back then, the Jianghuai region was in turmoil and chaos. He had never had to bow down or bend his knees. With his own abilities, he stirred up the entire Zifu Dao lineage and made the immortal path restless. He stood in the light, full of vigor and ambition.

Until that person appeared, standing on the horizon atop flames, it was just as suffocating, just as powerless, separated by an insurmountable chasm, pale and revealing despair.

His strength wasn't just a fraction, nor was it based on true essence, magical power, or Daoist cultivation; it was a strength that left people powerless and filled with shame and indignation.

'Fellow Daoist Lin...'

In his short Foundation Establishment career, he only suffered one defeat.

The boy, standing in the wind and sand, with an unbelievable arrogance and self-confidence, laughed loudly, uttering only one sentence:

"I think you are a hero, so I will not kill you."

Still a young boy, Su Yan had lost face badly, but he was still unwilling to accept it and asked in a disheveled manner:
"If you let me go like this, won't I harbor resentment and seek revenge in the future?"

The boy simply pulled him up to drink, saying:

"You are merely a talented individual; human effort cannot overcome the will of Heaven. Given time, if you were to become my enemy, it would be as simple as snapping your fingers."

He was also a genius with extremely high aspirations, but that encounter became a darkness that could never be erased from his heart. Having seen so many geniuses and so many powerful beings in the Golden Dao Sect, he never felt inferior and even had endless fantasies. He thought he had already said goodbye to his short and narrow Foundation Establishment career.

But everything before him was only slightly similar. This dark fear seemed to awaken and devour him. Before the feeling of despair could spread, a white light was reflected in his eyes. That sharp point rapidly magnified in his eyes. The crescent-shaped halberd swayed like the horn of a unicorn undulating as it ran.

In this limited time, he could only silently raise his longsword, move his thumb upwards, and try to cover the gem embedded in the hilt.

Too late.

It was too late.

The halberd seemed to appear right before his eyes, piercing towards his brow without the slightest hesitation or mercy. Jin Yi's advice and the power of the Great Dao had no effect on this King Wei.

"Boom!"

In the next instant, a light as bright as pure gold surged from his Sheng Yang Palace, transforming into a shimmering halo that enveloped his Dharma body in light from above.

Tian Huo spoke with absolute certainty, claiming that he could last ten rounds against the Great Master, but he was deeply dented before this halberd. The bright white halberd tip seemed ready to pierce through the transparent color at any moment and take his life!

With this brief respite, he finally managed to twirl the longsword.

A deep blue light burst forth, and supernatural powers that did not belong to him surged forth. At that moment, a crisp sound rang in his ears, and a golden ring vaguely struck the light and walked away sullenly.

Only now can we hear the belated, calm voice.

"excuse me."

These three words seemed to be golden, crashing heavily to the ground. Everything around him suddenly changed. Without realizing it, he was standing beneath the shimmering Heavenly Gate, surrounded by a scorching and terrifying pressure.

"Visiting the Heavenly Gate".

There was no falling process, nor a thunderous force; it was as if it was born to press down on his back, bright and shining, with the majesty of heaven.

The ability of "Di Guan Yuan" to connect with the Mingyang Divine Power is actually a process that requires the cultivation of divine powers. Li Zhouwei sensed this early on, and with his cultivation, even a newly mastered divine power is perfectly harmonious.

The vast, boiling sea arrived late, and even with the blessing of a serene radiance, it was momentarily short of breath and could only be trapped within this supernatural power, repeatedly trying to overturn it.

The black-clad man high in the sky had his Qilin pattern on his face fully illuminated, and his golden eyes had turned into pure white light. In his other hand, he held a long axe, its gold color dark and thick, with dense patterns that climbed up his palm and onto the axe, seemingly forming a single, seamless whole.

Huayang Wang Yue.

When Li Ximing obtained this treasure, he had an involuntary and mysterious power that he secretly valued highly; this power was the [Jieyue]!
'The strong are arrogant and domineering, the weak invite disaster; only those capable of wielding the weight of a great empire can sweep away all difficulties.'

The more Mingyang Divine Powers the holder possesses, the greater the power of this treasure. It is precisely because of this wondrous power that Li Zhouwei values ​​this item and has used it from the first Divine Power to the present day.

Now, he has become a Great Master!
The power of the Huayang King's Axe has increased once again, now possessing a ferocious might. With a single strike, it will be no weaker than a spiritual treasure skilled in offense—not to mention it is also enhanced by various supernatural abilities!
The traditionally cumbersome nature of the weapon was greatly mitigated. While it wasn't exactly fast, it was certainly not a weakness either. The moment the "Heavenly Gate" descended, pure light from the axe shone forth!

Spectroscopy!
"Boom!"

The entire world trembled violently. All the colors of the 'Emperor's Observation' sank inward along with this beam of light, like a shattered painting. Golden light fell everywhere. The majestic and imposing pressure and the powerful and awe-inspiring presence of the strong were combined at the same time. The terrifying power almost drained all of the Wei King's supernatural abilities and magical power!
Leave no stone unturned!

"Om..."

The golden light that pierced the entire world filled his pupils, and that familiar darkness surged into his heart, as if the young man's last shred of will to survive had been severed.

The brilliance that claimed to withstand ten moves from a Grandmaster shattered before King Wei's third attack. Golden cracks appeared on the blue-clad youth's forehead, and King Wei Jing's sword pierced through his rising sun. Yet, the same laughing remark from years ago still echoed in his mind:

'It's just a snap of the fingers!'

A vast array of iridescent colors surged forth from his body, like wind and rain, like a babbling brook, converging into a sea. The water-like light swept across the face of this King of Wei, and along with it, the darkness and light of heaven and earth retreated.

The vast expanse of water finally came into view.

All sorts of supernatural powers lingered in the heavens and earth, watching the vast water vapor soaring into the sky, and the waterfall cascading down like a lake's outlet, pouring into the boundless water surface, carrying seven colors and faintly displaying rainbow light.

The supernatural power has fallen.

'They've fallen...'

'That's how he broke.'

All of this happened in less than ten breaths.

All eyes turned toward them, some filled with fear, some with shock, and most with disbelief. Even Chi Guang, who was snatching treasures in the sky, looked up with a complex expression.

Amidst the black and white undulations beneath his feet, the elegant figure of the real man had long since vanished, while the distant flames flickered slightly, seemingly speaking.

The man in gold didn't show much surprise, but rather regret.

The moment Li Zhouwei appeared and Chang Xiao cautiously retreated, Tian Que knew this would be the outcome.

No matter what, Su Yan was just a beginner in the Purple Mansion realm with only one supernatural power. He was facing Mingyang Qilinzi, who was stronger with each passing year. The huge gap in supernatural powers and cultivation between the two of them was helping Mingyang.

'Li Zhouwei's speed in killing him won't be slower than a fully powered attack from someone at the peak of their supernatural abilities!'

Moreover, whether it's ten breaths or twenty breaths, it's meaningless at this moment.

'Changxiao is a cautious person; once he takes a step back, he will leave without hesitation!'

If Li Zhouwei still possessed only three supernatural powers, at least Wu Xun could suppress him, and Chang Xiao could hold off Han Yang and the other two, ensuring Su Yan's safety would be no problem. But Li Zhouwei possessed four supernatural powers…

It came too fast.

The moment Li Zhouwei left Su Yan behind, this Grand Master had already used his trump card to escape. Han Yang and the other two were eager for him to leave, so they naturally didn't linger!

With Changxiao gone, Wu Rong could at most hold off Yang Ruiyi. Even if Su Yan could hold out for a few more moves, what he would get was not a rescue, but the menacing Han Ling.

The fatal conflict in the lineage was enough to make this Grand Master want to kill, let alone offending a promising young Purple Mansion cultivator. Han Ling's killing intent was even stronger than Li Zhouwei's. Even if he thought it was a fantasy, that this Prince Wei came to protect Su Yan, Han Ling would still draw his sword against him!
Even if he managed to stall for ten more breaths, it would be like a drop in the ocean.

The ideal outcome would naturally be to drag it out until Xiao Chuting defeats Master Qu with his gradually increasing supernatural powers. However, with the radiance flowing down from the [Qianxi], neither Xiao Chuting nor Su Yan has gained much benefit. They haven't even been able to get the relic out. In fact, Xiao Chuting is at a significant disadvantage!
'Since that's the case.'

A mix of emotions flashed through Tian Que's mind. His gaze did not linger on the falling phenomena that appeared in the sky and earth, but slowly turned to one of anticipation.

'Let us witness...your final glory...'

Then all was silent, except for the shimmering light in the sky and earth. The radiance of the [Qianxi] cascaded down like a torrent, and after a long while, the things below finally burst forth.

Right in front of you is that relic, shimmering with colorful light, like glass!

The light in the sky did not move, but remained in a stalemate until the relic was summoned by something and flew swiftly northward, leaving the area where the two great cultivators were fighting. In an instant, golden bodies appeared!

A great battle among the ministers!

On the other side of the world, the strong feedback replenished the Wei King's depleted supernatural powers, and he stood suspended in the sky like a god, raising his eyebrows and gazing into the distance.

His golden eyes gazed intently, a cloud of unease appearing on them.

'Still no movement... When will that guy from Cangzhou make his move...?'

He suppressed his unease and gazed at the changing horizon. Finally, he saw the white jade-like building leap out, its colors hazy, like several small curtains hanging, radiating a captivating glow.

【White Curtain Old Dream Tower】.

Li Zhouwei's gaze finally shifted slightly. He temporarily shifted his focus away from the overall situation, and his figure transformed into a beam of light, like a tiger eyeing its prey, rushing away.

"Boom!"

Their supernatural powers clashed, releasing their light. Leaving aside the various forms of combat, they remained locked in a stalemate in the sky, yet they seemed to have a tacit understanding. As time passed, they moved further and further away from the two combatants in the center.

The entire world trembled and shook.

The stream in the sky lost its branching, and all colors converged on one person. Under the endless flames, Xiao Chuting's downward trend suddenly stopped, as if he had achieved a qualitative leap. The terrifying light of the Kan River exploded!

The clouds at the very center began to churn, sometimes resembling a winding stream with clear water, and sometimes a raging storm, causing great calamity to the immortal cultivators. Water and fire, in a fierce struggle, dispersed one by one, like thousands of jade beads rolling in the sky, transforming into a magnificent ocean.

As the vast ocean light descended from the distance, it raised the swollen water level even higher, and a massive amount of deep blue light began to pour down, breaking through that critical line.

The surging water immediately turned against and suppressed the profound energy!
The powerful beings battling in the sky began to retreat one by one, leaving a larger and larger blank space in the sky, seemingly reserved for the battle in the very center, or perhaps—reserved for that Jin Zhengjin.

"Boom!"

Thunder roared in, accompanied by heavy, gray clouds. The sky seemed to be filled only with churning water, and the frail old man was like a lone sail on a vast ocean, swaying precariously in the water.

"Master Xiao, let's fight this final move!"

Qu Wo's face showed no regret or unease, only a crystal-clear serenity. His body began to melt into an overwhelming aura of calamity, leaving only laughter that resounded through the heavens:
"What a pity! I can't witness your gold!"