Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 516 I drink, eat meat, kill, and set fires, but I am truly a good Taoist priest, you must believe me!
Refuse!

It was decisive and efficient, without any hesitation or delay.

Yun Mingxuan's warm smile froze instantly, and the eager greed in his eyes was replaced by anger.

When did these filthy and evil cultivators of the Thousand Caves Netherworld dare to refuse the cultivators of the five great families like this?

A white-haired cultivator beside Yun Mingxuan, if he couldn't read the room at this moment, he might as well give up. He immediately snorted angrily and took half a step forward. The pressure of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator swept down like a tangible force, pressing towards Lu Cheng.

Having been worshipped by the Yun family for many years, and having always looked down on the cultivators of the Thousand Caves Netherworld, he naturally acted without any scruples.

"You ungrateful wretch! It's your good fortune that my young master has taken a liking to your things!"

As someone who can become a retainer of the Yun family, his cultivation level is naturally not weak. His magical power is condensed and powerful, and even ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators would feel pressure from it.

However, Lu Cheng stood upright like a pine tree, with an invisible aura flowing around him. The extremely powerful pressure emanating from him was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, without stirring up the slightest ripple.

Lu Cheng's gaze swept over the white-haired elder, and he laughed, "I thought that within the Cloud Ruins' Ten Thousand Spirits Market, there were palace lanterns bearing the character 'Cloud' as proof, signifying a fair and consensual transaction. It turns out that 'face' is more important than any set of rules?"

"You!" The white-haired elder was choked, his face flushed red, and his magical power fluctuated violently. He almost couldn't help but attack.

If it weren't for the cold, chilling light emanating from the cloud-shaped palace lantern above his head, threatening to bring annihilation at any moment, he probably would have already struck with lightning speed, reducing this ignorant heretical cultivator to ashes.

"Heh, well, well said." Yun Mingxuan raised his hand with a forced smile, stopping the enraged Immortal Master, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Lu Cheng already carried a murderous intent:
“Fair trade? Of course it’s fair. However, since you possess such a ferocious demonic molt, although you are bound by the rules of my ‘Cloud Ruins’ and no one dares to forcibly seize it for the time being, once you leave this place, in the vast void and endless star sea outside, there will be no one to guard the rules for you.”

This is a threat that couldn't be clearer!
Upon hearing this, the numerous demon cultivators inside the cave passage exchanged glances, clearly understanding the implied meaning.

They can't harm you in this seemingly safe and secluded place, but once you leave, you'll be surrounded by wolves!

Some of the more cunning individuals had even secretly memorized Lu Cheng's aura and appearance, intending to get a share of the profits.

Lu Cheng remained calm on the surface, though he couldn't say what was on his mind: "Whether it's a calamity or a blessing, it all depends on one's own ability. There's no need for Young Master Yun to worry about that." After saying that, he ignored Yun Mingxuan and his group, whose faces were ashen, and turned to walk towards another passage in the Thousand Caves Netherworld.

"Stop!" Seeing that Lu Cheng was so unyielding, refusing to listen to reason or threats, and even lacking in basic respect, Yun Mingxuan could no longer suppress his anger and shouted sharply.

Lu Cheng paused slightly, turned halfway to the side, and looked at him calmly: "Does Young Master Yun have any further instructions? Could it be... that the rules here have been changed?"

At this moment, the white-haired elder could no longer restrain himself. At Yun Mingxuan's signal, he roared, "Madman, take this!"

After saying that, he stopped arguing and instantly threw a punch.

This punch did not contain magical power, but was purely physical strength. Violent blood and qi condensed at the fist's edge, emitting a muffled, thunderous explosion!
This white-haired elder clearly followed the path of a body-refining cultivator, his physical body being extremely strong. Even without magical power, the force of this punch was enough to seriously injure an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

His choice to engage in pure physical attacks was precisely because he exploited a loophole in the rules of the Thousand Caves Netherworld.

The rules of Yunxu Wanlingwei prohibit cultivators from fighting privately and forcibly taking lives. However, if someone "accidentally" injures another person with their fists and feet under the guise of sparring, the rules become much more ambiguous!

Even if Lu Cheng is seriously injured or even dies, he will at most pay some compensation or be lightly punished, which will be enough to get rid of this eyesore in front of him!
The fist ripped through the air and instantly reached Lu Cheng's back!
In the blink of an eye, Lu Cheng seemed to realize what was happening, and did not turn around.

Just as the fist was about to touch the back of his robe—whoosh!

A layer of pale golden energy, almost invisible to the naked eye and incredibly solid, instantly emerged from Lu Cheng's body. It wasn't a shield powered by magic, but rather an automatic protective mechanism refined to an extremely high level by the Xuan Tian Divine Art, deeply ingrained in his very being!

The fist clashed with the air shield!
"clang--!"

A resounding clang, like metal striking stone, echoed throughout the passage. A violent shockwave exploded outwards, causing the clothes of nearby cultivators with weaker cultivation levels to flutter wildly and making them unsteady on their feet.

"What?!" The white-haired elder's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief and horror!

He felt as if his punch had not struck flesh and blood, but rather slammed into an immortal divine golden mountain. An overwhelming and terrifying force surged up his arm!

"Snap... Ah!!"

A sickeningly clear sound of bones cracking rang out, and the white-haired elder let out a groan of pain that was extremely difficult to suppress. His entire arm was twisted at a bizarre angle, like rotten wood being smashed by a giant hammer, with the arm bones piercing through the flesh and blood spurting out.

He was thrown out like a tattered sack by the force of the recoil, crashing heavily onto the moss-covered stone wall before sliding to the ground. For a moment, his fate was unknown.

Inside the Thousand Caves and Netherworld, the scene instantly fell into deathly silence.

All the cultivators' gazes were fixed on Lu Cheng, filled with shock and fear, especially those evil cultivators who had just secretly memorized Lu Cheng's appearance, who felt a chill run down their spines.

How could this Taoist priest cripple the arm of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in a mere close-quarters combat using only slow, deliberate attacks? What terrifying magical power and physical strength does he possess?!
Yun Mingxuan, who had remained relatively calm, suddenly changed his expression. He had thought it was just a troublesome rogue cultivator with some luck, but he did not expect it to be a hidden master of body cultivation!

He knew perfectly well that Master Jiang's body-refining cultivation was no weakling, yet he was instantly and severely injured despite having the upper hand.
"Good! Very good!"

"But the Thousand Caves Cave is not a place for you to run wild! You have no right to break the rules of my Yun family! Make your move! Set up the 'Nine Sons Binding Spirit Array'! Capture this person, dead or alive! I will take full responsibility!"

The other eight guards behind him responded in unison:
"As you command, young master!"

Whoosh! The eight Nascent Soul cultivators instantly dispersed, forming a formation in their respective positions. Yellow light shone from their bodies at the same time, connecting with each other. A subtle yet powerful array force instantly spread out, firmly locking down the space around Lu City.

"Lock!"

"town!"

"Sleepy!"

The eight guarding cultivators shouted in unison, forming hand seals, and eight powerful earth-elemental pressures crashed down on the central city of Lu City like a landslide or tsunami.

Lu Cheng felt the sudden increase in pressure around him. The power of the Xuan Tian Divine Art flowing within his body was also noticeably bound and suppressed, as if the flow of his blood had become sluggish. This "Nine Sons Binding Spirit Array" was indeed extraordinary, utilizing the energy of the earth's veins, making it particularly effective against body-refining cultivators!

Lu Cheng's eyes turned slightly cold. Faced with the attack from the group of cultivators who were clearly violating the rules, the clear light emitted by the cloud-shaped palace lantern above his head remained unchanged, but there was no change in its expression!

Sure enough, rules are rigid, but the Yun family who enforce them are flexible! Yun Mingxuan holds a high position in the Yun family, enough to temporarily invalidate the palace lantern rules!
“Since that’s the case…” Lu Cheng’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, and instead of retreating, he advanced! “Then I, Lu, will have to experience the Yun family’s ‘rules’!”

To counter this style of fighting that relies on brute force and uses formations to trap opponents, while ordinary Five Elements Thunder Sword techniques are powerful, they struggle to reach their full speed under the constraints of the formation. The best approach is to break through the surface with a single point! To overcome skill with brute force!

"Zhenyue!"

Lu Cheng let out a low shout, clenched his right fist, and the five knuckles of his fingers flashed with golden light. The essence of the Xuan Tian Divine Art surged wildly into his right arm!

His entire right arm seemed to be instantly coated with a layer of flowing dark gold molten lava, his muscles and bones throbbed, and his power was instantly condensed and compressed to the extreme!

At the same time, the magical power of the Mountain-Suppressing God was also bestowed upon Daoist Lu Cheng, who then used it on his behalf.

Ignoring the heavy array force that almost crushed him into the rocks, Lu Cheng twisted his waist and spun around. His right fist, like a dark red meteor falling from the sky, carried immense momentum and fiercely slammed towards the guard leader in front of him who was forming hand seals and fully activating the array force.

Where the fist struck, the air was compressed to the extreme, and then exploded violently! The void in front of them was visibly distorted and rippled by this punch!
"Earthshaking strike!" A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the guard leader. He was not surprised but delighted to see that Lu Cheng dared to come head-on to his main array eye!
He pushed his palms forward rapidly, and a thick, solidified light shield formed in front of him, layer upon layer, in a rich, earthy yellow light.

This is his most proficient defensive divine ability. Combined with the enhancement of the array's power, he is confident that it can withstand a full-force attack from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, boom!!

The golden fist and the thick light shield collided without any fancy moves!
No stalemate! No back-and-forth! Only swift and decisive victory!

The seemingly indestructible, thick light shield, upon contact with the fist imbued with ultimate power, emitted only a chilling "crack" sound! Immediately, countless cracks spread across the entire light shield like a spiderweb! Then—Boom!!!

The earth elemental light, mixed with fragments of defensive runes, shattered like a glass lamp struck by a hammer! The shockwave, accompanied by the horrified gaze of the guard leader, instantly engulfed him!

"Pfft—!" The guard leader didn't even have time to scream before he coughed up blood. His chest armor and sternum caved in, and he flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the stalactite behind him. Stone chips flew everywhere and embedded themselves in the stone wall. He was barely breathing.

The power of the Nine Sons Binding Spirit Formation suddenly froze the moment it was shattered by that punch! The remaining seven guards were all violently shaken, their faces filled with disbelief and horror. Due to the backlash of the formation's power, their blood and qi surged, and blood spilled from the corners of their mouths! The formation had been shattered by a single punch!
Immediately afterward, Lu Cheng stomped his foot hard on the spot, and the dark golden light spread out. The other seven guards could no longer resist and were directly blasted away by the powerful magic, suffering serious injuries.

One Nascent Soul cultivator as a retainer and eight Core Formation cultivators as guards—either of these would normally be enough to contend with a Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, even among cultivators at the same Nascent Soul stage, there are differences between them.

Lu Cheng is a Taiqing Walker who can represent the Taiqing Sect in the Immortal Pool Sword Battle. Although he is only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he is recognized by sect elders such as Xuanzhenzi and is one of the most outstanding Nascent Soul cultivators in the entire Earth Immortal Realm. This is naturally different from ordinary cultivators of the same realm, and can even be said to be worlds apart.

The human race has several sacred lands, independent of the Nine Sects and Thirty-Six Schools, each with a long history and achievements. Yun Mingxuan has grown and cultivated in the Nuwa Sacred Realm for far too long, and is unaware of the vastness of the heavens and the immensity of the earth beyond the Nuwa Sacred Realm.

Having lost his protectors and bodyguards one after another, and facing Lu Cheng Daoist's slow approach, Yun Mingxuan panicked, having never experienced anything like this before.

He shouted sharply to those around him, "Kill! Whoever can subdue this madman will become the master of the Thousand Caves Netherworld! Furthermore, you may take any of the Yun family's elixirs and secret techniques you desire!"

Such a promise was like boiling oil poured into the hearts of the demons in the cave.

But this was exactly what Lu Cheng wanted!

"You have all willingly degenerated and harbored filth. Today, let us cleanse this sacred land of Nuwa! And let us not tarnish the name of my human race's holy land."

In a short while, countless figures lurking in the dark caves and behind the stalagmites suddenly moved.

Poisonous fog billowed, and pale green phosphorescent flames lit up the sky; a monster with a beast's head and a human body let out a chilling roar, and its saliva dripped down, corroding the rocks.

Shadowy figures darted through the void, their bone spikes and claws gleaming with a poisoned light; a sinister array of dark light swirled, threatening to utterly shred and devour the figure in the Taoist robe at the center!
Compared to Yun Mingxuan, the evil spirits in this cave found the Taoist priest before them more irritating and less compatible.

The terrifying demonic power caused the surrounding void to groan and distort. Lu Cheng stood alone at the heart of the storm, his Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, but his face remained completely calm.

Just as the first few skeletal claws were about to touch the stray strands of hair at his temples, and the hundred-headed serpent of poisonous mist was about to engulf him—

Suddenly!

A faint light appeared above Lu Cheng's head.

It started as small as a bean, but in the next instant it burst into an unbearable, dazzling divine light!
The Xuanhuang Pagoda, engraved with the mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars of the world, suddenly appeared. Countless strands of Xuanhuang energy, heavy as the breath of the earth, descended and transformed into a perfectly round barrier around him, flowing with ancient and profound runes.

"Pfft!"

Ghostly claws, poisonous glints, demonic light, curses... all sorts of vicious attacks collided with that seemingly gentle Xuanhuang aura, like boiling water poured on snow, vanishing without a trace before not even causing a ripple.

The violent impact was easily neutralized by the incomparably profound Xuanhuang Qi, only stirring up subtle Dao patterns on the surface of the barrier, making it appear even more immovable and as solid as a rock.

"What kind of magical artifact is this? How can it be so powerful!"

"Keep bombarding! Exhaust his magic power! No matter how powerful a magic weapon is, it's useless without magic power!" The attacks from the surrounding evil cultivators and demons grew increasingly frenzied. Various colored lights intertwined and collided, exploding into a chaotic energy storm outside the Xuanhuang Barrier, illuminating every hideous and distorted face. Inside the barrier, Lu Cheng slowly closed his eyes.

Time seems to have stopped at this moment.

One-thousandth of a second.

A tiny, insignificant flame of crimson gold silently drifted from Lu Cheng's slightly parted lips. It was so small and fragile that it seemed any wisp of evil wind in the cave could extinguish it.

Then—buzz!

There was no deafening explosion, only a grand, ancient, and silent "hum" that resonated from the void, as if it were the announcement of the first ray of light at the beginning of the world.

That tiny flame suddenly lengthened, stretched, and burst into bloom!
It is no longer fire, but a flowing, living "Tao"! It is the primordial flame that burns away falsehood, and the pure and true meaning that cleanses away all filth and evil!

Crimson gold flowed, and within the heart of the flame, faint purple energy and a wisp of chaotic, indistinct light flickered.

The flames instantly filled the entire space, but they did not spread wildly. Instead, they flowed out with a mysterious rhythm, as naturally as water flowing through a mountain valley, filling every corner.

There were no towering flames or scorching heatwaves as expected. Where the superior-level Daoist technique, Samadhi True Fire, passed, the scene was eerie and terrifying:
The roaring, turbid, demonic mist was like snowflakes thrown into a furnace; it vanished into nothingness before it could even hiss.

The hundred-headed serpent formed by the condensed poisonous mist seemed to have lost its bones in an instant, limply "melting" in the flowing golden flames, leaving no ashes, only utter emptiness.

The first subterranean fire demon, its lava-like armor suddenly dimmed, its body, harder than steel, peeled away and crumbled inch by inch, like a stone statue weathered by millions of years being brushed away to reveal a dull, weak true soul within. Then, it was gently swept by the pure firelight and returned to great silence.

An old demon, skilled in using filthy magical artifacts, screamed shrilly. A Ten Thousand Souls Banner, which he had meticulously refined for hundreds of years, rose up in thick black smoke to resist, but it was like ice hitting boiling water. The black smoke and the banner surface instantly turned into the purest spiritual energy particles, and were completely "purified" from the source!
True death silence.

Where the Samadhi True Fire passes, the physical bodies of demons dissipate like dew exposed to the scorching sun. The spirituality of magical treasures and artifacts is stripped away, their structure is disintegrated by the Dao Fire and restored to their original spiritual energy. Their souls are burned away without even being able to utter a wail, thus eliminating the concept of "existence".

Deep within the myriad caverns, the cloud-veiled palace lanterns that maintained the surface order of this sinful marketplace were the first to let out a mournful cry, overwhelmed by the burden.

The old lamp trembled violently under the pure golden light, and the seemingly tenacious light inside, like a candle flickering in the wind, lasted only a moment before being completely extinguished with a "poof".

The glass lampshade melted and sublimated silently, completely disappearing into nothingness, leaving only an ugly tear on the dome.

"Run—!" A broken scream rang out from somewhere.

The accumulated filth and malevolent energy, the despair and resentment of countless years, seemed to have met their nemesis, melting away like ice and snow under the silent flow of crimson fire. The entire dark cave, like filth thrown into an invisible furnace, emitted a silent lament.

Countless demons and monsters were annihilated at the source level by the scorching power of absolute purification, leaving not even ashes behind, but only a wisp of the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth rising gently.

The firelight flowed past Yun Mingxuan and the others in front of Lu Cheng.

"No! You can't—!" Yun Mingxuan screamed inhumanly. The priceless jade flute "Azure Tide" in his hand was melted away in an instant, and layer after layer of hastily activated protective light—spirit pendant, pearl, magic robe... lit up and went out, like fragile soap bubbles.

"I am from the Yun family... Uh ah!" The golden flames gently licked his protective aura, seemingly gentle yet irresistibly dissolving and eroding it.

A piercing pain swept through his entire body. He could clearly feel the terrifying process of his Dao Foundation being burned and disintegrated in the raging flames; every inch of his skin and blood vessels screamed and crumbled. In despair, he watched helplessly as his limbs turned into scattered spiritual dust in the golden light, the terrifying purifying power about to incinerate his very existence…

"Young Master!" The white-haired elder's eyes were bloodshot. He used all his cultivation to condense a giant demonic claw to try to pull Yun Mingxuan back. However, before the demonic claw could even touch the young master, it "melted" inch by inch. The white-haired elder's entire arm also began to turn into nothingness. The disappearance was not physical destruction, but more like being directly erased from "existence" by some supreme law!

Just as Yun Mingxuan was on the verge of death and his consciousness was about to fall into eternal nothingness, in the core depths of the Thousand Caves Netherworld, no, in the entire Nuwa Sacred Realm, a terrifying will that had been dormant for countless millennia suddenly awakened!

boom--!
The magnificent bell tolls not from the material world, but resounds directly from the depths of the soul, piercing through the heavens and earth, and cleansing the universe!
In an instant, the sky above the Nuwa Sacred Realm changed color.

All the pervasive clouds were instantly scattered and reassembled by an invisible force, transforming into thousands of enormous array symbols flowing with seven-colored immortal light!
Each array rune was as massive as a mountain range, interwoven with complex and profound chains of divine laws beyond comprehension. Its immense power stirred up a storm of spiritual energy throughout the entire plane. Crimson, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple radiant light filled the heavens and earth, forming a massive divine protective shield that covered the sacred realm's sky.

Beneath that light shield lay a power of creation and sealing that would make even Void Returning and Integration Realm experts tremble—the aura of the Supreme Nuwa!

Almost simultaneously, the moment the bells rang out, dozens of incredibly powerful divine thoughts soared into the sky from the core areas of various parts of the Holy Realm!

Like a dragon awakened from its trance, every divine thought carried awe-inspiring divine might and fury.

In the southeastern sky closest to the Thousand Caves Netherworld, clouds churned, and a long golden bridge formed from pure Gengjin sword energy tore through the void and stretched across the sky!
Three stern-faced Taoist priests in green robes, carrying long swords, stood at the bridgehead. Even before their sword energy arrived, the chilling sword intent that could cleave everything in two forced the golden Taoist fire to pause.

From the southwest, a loud chant, like the sound of a morning bell and evening drum, emanated from the "Om" syllable, radiating boundless golden light and illuminating half the sky.

Several dignified and virtuous monks, dressed in robes, arrived in an instant on golden lotus platforms, their Buddhist light and spiritual fire subtly clashing and harmonizing.

In the north, a vast expanse of icy aura froze the sky. Fairies dressed in pure white robes rode on the shadow of ice phoenixes; they were envoys from the Heavenly Snow Palace. Their eyes, as cold as ice, pierced straight into the heart of the sea of ​​fire.

High in the distant sky, a magnificent, fiery dragon-shaped chariot tore through the clouds. From within, a majestic gaze seemed to tangibly emerge, carrying the domineering dragon's might that reigns over all living beings...

Within moments, figures from prestigious sects and holy families appeared on the outer horizon of the Thousand Caves Netherworld. Some rode swords, some rode clouds, some rode divine beasts... each one possessed a profound aura, with the lowest being the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, and many were Void Return realm experts. They formed a star-like array, completely surrounding this area engulfed in a golden sea of ​​fire.

Countless gazes, some astonished, some angry, some scrutinizing, mixed with overwhelming pressure, focused on the lone figure standing alone in the center of the sea of ​​fire.

The air solidified, with only the low hum of flames burning through the void and the grand celestial music of the core restrictions of the sacred realm echoing.

"Who dares to spread such monstrous flames in the Nuwa Immortal Market?!" A furious roar, carrying overwhelming pressure, swept across the sky like rolling thunder. The speaker, residing in the center of the divine forbidden glow, was none other than the Venerable Xuji, a powerful cultivator at the Integration Realm of the "Taiyuan Pavilion," who guarded the Immortal Pool Sword Fighting Saint Realm. His gaze beneath his purple-gold crown was like two sharp blades piercing the center of the sea of ​​fire.

At the center of the golden sea of ​​fire, the ever-floating Xuanhuang Pagoda slowly shrank, transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into Lu Cheng's sleeve.

He stood at the center of the pure flames, his body surrounded by the ever-flowing Samadhi Fire, his Taoist robes fluttering without wind. Although he faced the overwhelming pressure of powerful beings all alone, his expression remained calm, composed, and neither arrogant nor humble.

Faced with the rebuke from Master Xuji, Lu Cheng did not argue, and did not even linger his gaze on the furious Nascent Soul cultivator.

He slightly raised his hand, and a memory stone with a faint watery glow at his fingertip, like a Bodhi leaf thrown into the center of a lake, floated lightly towards the direction of the Taiqing Sect's Shattered Star Ship, locked by countless divine thoughts.

There, the seventh-tier superior spirit ship "Shattered Star" at the bow resembled a crouching galactic behemoth, its hull shrouded in powerful protective spiritual light. Mr. He's slender and upright figure stood at the very front, like a javelin cutting through the wind.

"This junior disciple of the Taiqing Sect, Lu Cheng," Lu Cheng's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the layers of flames and pressure, carrying an unquestionable frankness, and rang in everyone's ears, "I will burn this den of evil spirits, cleanse the demonic atmosphere, and purify the sacred realm. Right and wrong are all contained in this shadow stone. I beg Uncle He to judge for himself."

His actions were utterly natural, as if he were merely returning a trivial object. Trust had completely bound their positions at that moment, requiring no further explanation.

With a flick of his wrist, Mr. He swiftly captured the small, reflective stone, which then nestled into his wide robe sleeve.

He didn't check immediately. His eyes, which had seen through the vicissitudes of life and possessed a sharp edge, slowly swept across the core area of ​​divine light in the sky that represented the highest power of the Nuwa Holy Realm—there, several illusory figures with auras as deep as the abyss floated, representing the will of the five powerful clans who were in charge of this realm.

"Hmph!" A cold sneer burst from Mr. He's nostrils. He flicked the smooth surface of the reflection stone with his slender knuckles.

"Om..."

A surge of magical power was unleashed, and a huge, clear light screen was instantly projected above the Reflection Stone, firmly capturing the gaze of all the powerful beings present.

The scene on the light screen changes rapidly, revealing every detail:

Yun Mingxuan of the Yun family, wielding the malevolent "Seven Souls Nourishing Essence Pill," brazenly proclaimed a vicious method requiring a "pill drawer" to filter its medicinal properties; the pill's cold, sinister luster was clearly visible. After being rejected, a sinister malice and resentment flashed in Yun Mingxuan's eyes. The white-haired elder, relying on his cultivation aura, aggressively pressured Lu Cheng, attempting to subdue him with intimidation. Lu Cheng calmly questioned him, citing the fair trade rules of Yunxu, neither humble nor arrogant. The white-haired elder launched a sneak attack, only to be blasted away by the protective aura, coughing up blood mid-air. Enraged, Yun Mingxuan decisively ordered, "Form an array! Kill him!" Eight Nascent Soul guards formed the "Nine Sons Binding Spirit Array," its energy surging, trapping Lu Cheng's blood and qi. Lu Cheng broke the array, his Zhenyue Divine Fist shattering the shield with a thunderous strike, severely injuring the guard leader… The final image freezes on Yun Mingxuan's contorted face, hysterically roaring as he summons the demons to attack!
The photo shoot is now complete.

The silent image was more powerful than any roar or howl. The scene of demons running rampant and killing intent filling the air was vividly imprinted in the eyes of every cultivator present.

The light curtain dissipated, and a deathly silence once again enveloped the sky.

Only in the ruins of the thousand caves below, wisps of golden Daoist fire still flowed, silently burning away the last vestiges of filth and evil.

Master He slowly withdrew his fingers, straightened his back, and pierced the illusory figures representing the five powerful clans deep within the core of the Divine Forbidden Zone with eyes like swords: "Fellow Daoist Xuji, and the esteemed envoys of the five clans of the Holy Realm! Have you seen clearly?"

His voice suddenly rose, clear and resonant with a hint of sword clang, shaking the surroundings: "We, the true disciples of the Taiqing Sect, act on behalf of Heaven to punish evil, cleanse the universe, and purify the sacred realm! Our actions are in accordance with the Way of Heaven and rectify the hearts of the people! So what if we burn down the place where such people gather filth, condone evil, and even intend to harm our sect?!"

He took a sudden step forward, his thin body seemingly capable of splitting the heavens and earth: "You... do you intend to force my Taiqing Sect members to stay because of this?!"

"He Changqing! How dare you be so presumptuous!" A furious roar, ancient yet imbued with immense power, echoed from the core of the divine restriction. It was none other than the Yun Clan's representative in the Holy Realm, Ancestor Yun Ye, whose voice resounded like muffled thunder. "Even if the junior has committed a transgression, this is the Holy Realm of Nuwa! How dare you, a disciple of Taiqing, recklessly destroy it with your Dao Fire? Furthermore, you dare to use such a powerful Dao technique that shakes the Holy Realm's restrictions, triggering the restrictions and disturbing all directions! How can the words 'innocent' be easily dismissed? You must come with us to the Taiyuan Pavilion to clarify the matter and give an explanation to the entire Holy Realm!"

Several powerful divine thoughts intertwined instantly, vaguely forming an invisible giant net that descended upon Lu Cheng, who was at the center of the sea of ​​fire.

The will of the Li and Wang families also subtly agreed to exert pressure. The phantom figures of the Nangong and Jiang families, however, remained somewhat silent.

"Explain?" Master He, also known as He Changqing, had an even fiercer look in his eyes. "What a joke! I only have one question for the five surnames! Are you turning a blind eye to the rules established by the Thousand Caves Netherworld, which stand with lanterns and use the Yun Clan's 'Cloud Silk Palace Lantern' as evidence, or are you tacitly condoning them?!"

He pointed his halberd at the still-burning depths of the Netherworld below: "Tell me, how has this place of fair trade, under the lamp, become a lawless zone where demons fawn over the powerful, disregard the rules, and bully the weak?! First, they used evil pills to buy lives, then Nascent Soul cultivators attacked, and finally they commanded demons to annihilate my sect's disciples! How do you intend to settle this score with my senior brother Xuanjizi?!"

The moment the three words "Xuanjizi" were uttered, it was like an invisible incantation, and the sky instantly fell silent.

Even if they come from another realm, the formidable reputation and ruthless methods of the current leaders of the Taiqing Sect are enough to make any force tremble.

He Changqing's thin figure stood there, seemingly supporting the towering backbone of the Taiqing Sect for ten thousand years.

"Enough." A more majestic female voice, seemingly coming from beyond the heavens, carrying a hint of imperceptible weariness and helplessness, interrupted the silent contest.

She hailed from the very heart of that forbidden realm, her voice piercing through the clash of divine thoughts: "The truth is clear. The Yun family disciples, neglecting their duties, violated the rules of the Sacred Realm, causing this calamity. They will be severely punished according to their family regulations. Lu Cheng, a disciple of the Taiqing Sect, fought back within the framework of the rules, which is understandable. However, igniting the Samadhi True Fire and burning the cave has ultimately had far-reaching consequences, touching upon the Sacred Realm's restrictions. Thus, the matter is settled, and neither side shall entangle themselves further. You shall all retreat immediately!"

This was the conclusion representing the will of Nuwa. Deep within the divine forbidden zone, the illusory figure belonging to Ancestor Yun Ye fluctuated violently before finally subsiding, offering no further objections. The wills of the other clans also slowly withdrew their divine pressure.

He Changqing's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, his tense aura instantly relaxed, and he turned and nodded in Lu Cheng's direction.

A pure and gentle magical force traveled through the air and gently supported Lu Cheng behind him.

Lu Cheng understood immediately. The Samadhi True Fire that had been circulating around him continued to purify the surrounding air before suddenly receding like a dragon returning to the sea, disappearing into his body without any further leakage of energy.

He straightened the front of his Taoist robe, which had been slightly disheveled by the invisible pressure, with a calm and natural movement, as if he had merely brushed away a little dust.

Under the gazes of a crowd filled with varying expressions of admiration, complexity, and resentment, he turned and gave a slight bow to the Taiqing Sect members. Then, as if treading on invisible jade steps, he stepped into the void, heading towards the Shattered Star Ship.

There was no wild abandon, only a leisurely stroll. With each step, an invisible ripple of tranquility spread beneath his feet, dispersing the chaotic spiritual energy that had not yet fully subsided. His figure was as upright as bamboo, walking beneath the magnificent sky where the will of the gods still resonated and the divine thoughts of the supreme beings intertwined. Alone, he possessed an overwhelming and irresistible aura of purity, as if the entire world, its impurities burned away, was paving the way for his steps.

The last demonic flames deep within the Thousand Caves subsided with a low roar, leaving only the pure, ash-like aura of the earth's veins quietly growing.

Lu Cheng Daoist's figure eventually merged into the massive shadow of the Shattered Starship.

All the cultivators who witnessed this scene were left with an unmistakable impression: the faces of the five major clans of the Nuwa Sacred Realm were slapped hard and loudly by a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Taiqing Sect named Lu Cheng, who used a Samadhi True Fire that burned away all filth!

Before the Immortal Pool Sword Battle even began, the name of Taiqing Xinglu City had already resounded like thunder throughout the entire Nuwa Sacred Realm!
Lu Cheng's avatar cannot condense the Samadhi True Fire, the innate divine power of his main body, but both have the Nine Li Cauldron within their bodies. Therefore, the cross-realm use of some of his innate flying swords and innate Taoist techniques is easy and not difficult.

(End of this chapter)