Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 517 Nine Heavens Flame Shatters the Seal of a Thousand Mountains, Burning Dust Cauldron Establishes the Name of the Sacred Realm (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

The realm of the immortals is vast and boundless, and the human realm is also vast, producing many outstanding talents.

The long-standing Immortal Pool Sword Fighting Tournament is, of course, centered around the nine powerful sects.

With the support of the thirty-six schools with profound foundations, it is by no means a situation where these forty-five schools alone dominate the top spot.

This is a sacred gathering of the human race, a gathering of vital energy. The Sacred Realm of Nuwa has its own scale for measuring the universe.

The sacred site is magnificent, and its heritage may be even more ancient and profound than that of the Nine Sects and Thirty-Six Schools, with unfathomable depth.

Within the human realm, there are also powerful sects and factions that rise like the sun in the east, their fortunes surging. They have endured millions of years of trials and tribulations, with countless generations of talented individuals working tirelessly to accumulate the foundation to shake the old order. This kind of competition is beneficial to the human race as a whole; flowing water never stagnates.

Therefore, to gain a place in this Immortal Pool Sword Battle, one must not belong to any of the Nine Sects and Thirty-Six Schools. Instead, one needs the "Immortal Pool Edict" issued by the Nuwa Sacred Realm. This is a symbol of status and a confirmation of one's own strength.

Those who receive this decree are all prominent figures from various sects, outstanding talents of their generation, and young heroes who have been selected through layers of screening by the Nuwa Sacred Realm, possessing unparalleled fortune and extraordinary talent.

A multitude of heroes vie for supremacy, a hundred boats race against each other.

On the dueling arena, the winds of battle are strong, and only the Daoist arts and supernatural powers can prove who is superior!
Every collision attracts countless eyes and gathers the fortunes of the world.

However, these turbulent undercurrents and shifting dynamics were none of any concern to Lu Cheng Dao Ren, who had just entered the quiet room of the shattered starship.

Previously, a single burst of true fire in the Thousand Caves Netherworld burned away all the demonic and ghostly aura. It also terrified and disgraced the arrogant Yun family's third branch and their henchmen, who regarded their fellow cultivators as mere catalysts. It even attracted the attention of the high-ranking members of the five surnames of the Nuwa Holy Realm and the high-ranking cultivators of various sects.

The name of Lu City has already spread throughout the world in this sacred land of Nuwa, where people from all directions gather.

Furthermore, with the strong support of Master He of the Taiqing Sect, a photo was taken as proof, and any ripples eventually subsided under the general trend.

One against many, true fire blazes across the sky.

Super-level Dao Technique: Returning to Emptiness True Fire!
In the early stages of the Immortal Pool Sword Battle, it was a chaotic challenge within the rules. However, due to the deterrent power of Daoist Lu Cheng and the long-standing reputation of the Taiqing Sect, no cultivator dared to challenge the Taiqing cultivators during this period.

Because you challenged Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue, that Taoist can challenge your fellow disciples. And a ruthless person who can cultivate the Returning Void True Fire is at least among the top in the previous Immortal Pool Sword Battles, or even a strong contender for the top spot.

Aside from fear, the heroes and cultivators from all sides also admired this person for challenging the authority of the five surnames of the Holy Land.

Weak sects wouldn't challenge them, and powerful sects wouldn't risk damaging their own strength and lowering their sect ranking by choosing too many formidable enemies at this time. Therefore, Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue made rapid progress and improved their rankings with ease.

Upon returning to the Shattered Starship, Lu Cheng's first priority was to expel the filth and demonic contamination carried by the demonic arm he had obtained from the Void Returning Giant Demon "Dragon's Lair".

Previously in the Thousand Caves Netherworld, the greatest threat to Lu Cheng was not the evil cultivators inside the cave, nor Yun Mingxuan of the Yun family and his family's retainers and guards, but the demonic arm beside him, especially after his own Samadhi True Fire was greatly depleted.

This arm is extremely ferocious and has remnants of demonic consciousness. Even if it is refined and cleansed day and night with Samadhi True Fire and Xuan Tian Divine Skill, it is like a maggot clinging to the bone. If one is not careful, it may defile oneself and cause great trouble.

Of course, this kind of expulsion and refinement can also be regarded as a kind of cultivation, using the Returning Void Demon Arm to explore the unstable parts of one's own foundation.

Lu Cheng sat cross-legged in the quiet room, his mind sinking into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness. His primordial spirit in the Purple Mansion was as clear as crystal, and the five elements of immortal light around his body flowed and swirled, like a great sun furnace, forcibly refining the demonic filth and malevolent energy that entangled himself, his muscles and even every inch of his skin.

The fire gourd was placed in front of his knees, and the remaining Samadhi True Fire of the Returning to Emptiness Realm flickered slightly, as if responding to its master, burning the most stubborn demonic intent inch by inch into nothingness. This was a painstaking process that consumed a great deal of mental energy and time.

Once one enters a meditative state, countless years pass by.

When Lu Cheng finally achieved perfect enlightenment, his aura flowed smoothly and completely, free from any hindrance of demonic energy. Only when he pushed open the stone door of the meditation room did he realize that time had quietly flowed by like a stream.

"Senior Brother Lu, you've finally come out."

As soon as Lu Cheng stepped out, he encountered An Xiaoyue, who was waiting outside.

"Today is Senior Brother Jin's first round of sword fighting. If Senior Brother Lu is not by his side, Senior Brother Jin will definitely be disappointed."

An Xiaoyue said this with a smile.

The magnificent "Battle Platform" of the Immortal Pool Sword Fighting Tournament, which resonates with the core laws of the Sacred Realm, has been activated for some time.

Lu Cheng's figure flashed and he appeared inside the Taiqing Sect's camp.

Gazing intently, within the light screen of the altar, crimson flames blazed to the heavens, and golden light surged like a tide. The collisions unleashed heart-palpitating energy fluctuations, and even with the suppression of the barrier, thunderous sounds still resounded, shaking the minds of the onlookers.

As expected, it was his junior brother Jin Shayu, who seemed carefree but actually had a solid foundation in Dao and a firm mind.

And his opponent...

Not a member of the Nine Sects and Thirty-Six Schools!
The first round of the Immortal Pool Sword Tournament, a fierce battle for the top spots, is nearing its end. The nine sects and thirty-six factions, supposedly encompassing the essence of humanity, have failed to retain all their places!

The prestige of the Nine Sects has lasted for ten thousand years, and no one dares to question it. However, among the thirty-six sects, which have a long history and are not easy to deal with, several have failed.

Their seats were snatched away by the various holy lands that held the "Empress Nuwa's Decree," as well as several newly emerging powerful sects that had recently enjoyed great fortune and whose disciples had shown remarkable talent.

Jin Shayu's opponent at this moment is an outstanding cultivator who stands above the thirty-six sects and enters this pinnacle stage with an imperial edict.

This person comes from the "Wanyue Guiyuan Sect". This sect is not among the thirty-six sects. Its mountain gate is located in the "Pantian Ancient Realm", which is extremely remote and secluded, but contains immeasurable essence of the earth.

Legend has it that its founding patriarch once witnessed the magnificent sight of an ancient sacred mountain suppressing the earth's veins, from which he comprehended unparalleled profound skills and embarked on a powerful path of "refining the mountain's spirit and divine essence, and using the boundless power of the earth's veins to suppress and kill all things."

Although this sect keeps a low profile and rarely participates in disputes, every time a disciple appears on behalf of the sect, they are always exceptionally talented. Their techniques and supernatural abilities are completely different from the mainstream of the world, and they are filled with an ancient and mysterious sense of oppression.

At this moment, the true disciple of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect was named Shi Zheng. He was nine feet tall, like a walking ancient stone peak, surrounded by a solidified earth-yellow divine radiance.

His divine radiance was incredibly profound, and with each breath, the pulse of endless mountains seemed to resonate beneath his feet. He carried no weapon, or rather, he himself was the strongest weapon!

"What a magnificent 'Earth-based Dharma Body of Ten Thousand Mountains'! It has almost perfected the Great Dao of Earth to the point of 'unity of body and Dharma, pure and refined'!"

Lu Cheng's eyes flashed with a golden light, the light of his Fiery Eyes at their peak.

He could tell at a glance that Shi Zheng was extraordinary—his muscles, bones and flesh had long been fused with the pure and powerful earth elemental energy, and his every move could attract the earth's magnetic pressure, making his defense extremely terrifying and his strength astonishing!

With a wave of the hand comes the "Earth-Covering Seal," which can overturn rivers and seas; with a step, the "Void-Trapping Seal," which can topple mountains and rivers.

His fighting techniques were powerful and forceful, carrying a suffocating savagery and weight, as if he wanted to crush all the blazing fire in front of him with his overwhelming power!
Jin Shayu was in the middle of it all, and was being suppressed by Shi Zheng.

The Pure Yang True Fire Domain derived from his proud "Primordial Chaos Technique," which once burned away Mu Xuechan's Nine Abyss Cold Domain, is now like boiling oil thrown into the deep sea, struggling and boiling with great difficulty. Visible, heavy, dark yellow ripples spread from Shi Zheng's body layer by layer. That is the pressure of the "Thousand Mountains Seal." Countless phantoms of divine mountains and great peaks float in the ripples, carrying endless suppressive power, constantly compressing the blazing space of the Burning Heaven Crimson Domain.

Jin Shayu was also unlucky, as he drew an earth element cultivator who countered his fire magic in the first round of the Jade Bottle lottery.

Fire generates earth, and while earth cannot suppress fire, it is certainly not suppressed by fire either. In addition, Shi Zheng's defensive techniques are already very strong.

"Hmph, you have already lost!" Shi Zheng's voice was like thunder. He took a step down, and the void beneath his feet groaned under the unbearable weight. The invisible gravitational field distorted space, almost tearing apart the escape light beneath his feet.

Shi Zheng Daoist clasped his hands together, and a phantom of the "Prison-Suppressing Divine Peak" formed by countless runes appeared in the air, carrying immense force as it crashed down on Jin Shayu.

Using the false to cultivate the true, and transforming the illusory into the real, if this mountain of earth elemental energy were to fall on one's body, it would probably not be any easier than if a real mountain were to fall on one's body.

Some of the cultivators watching from below the stage couldn't help but let out low gasps. The nine sects and thirty-six factions of the human race were not eternal; the rising power of these new sects was on full display at this moment!
Faced with the overwhelming mountain that seemed to lock down the heavens and earth, Jin Shayu showed no panic. Instead, his eyes ignited an even stronger and purer fighting spirit.

"The earth, thick and fertile, is indeed the foundation of heaven and earth, unchanging since time immemorial... but it will eventually be broken by metal and stone!" Before he finished speaking, a point of pure white suddenly appeared in the core of his "Burning Heaven Crimson Domain," which had been compressed to the extreme.

That white was not the cold, frigid white of ice, but rather the extreme compression of destructive heat and light energy. The next moment, a golden light shot out from his mouth at an incredible speed!

At first it was like a thread, then it transformed into a rainbow, and in the blink of an eye it expanded into a blazing sword rainbow that stretched across half of the altar.

True gold is forged in fire, and the fiery sword flies without warning!
When sword and fire are combined, the fire enhances the sword's power and ferocity, and the sword enhances the fire's sharpness.

Jin Shayu pointed his fingers like a sword and thrust them upwards with a sudden burst of extreme sword light!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a silent trace of annihilation!

Wherever the sword light passed, the floating and sinking phantoms of the mountains, the solidified gravity ripples, and even the magnificent "Suppressing Prison Divine Peak" rune phantoms, all crumbled and pierced silently, like ice and snow encountering an eternal furnace!
"Swoosh!" The Annihilation Mark surged upwards, aiming straight for Shi Zheng's body.

The middle-aged Taoist Shi Zheng's usually calm and collected face finally changed slightly. The annihilating sword light contained not only high temperature, but also a sharp and destructive artistic conception.

Instead of retreating, his massive body advanced, his hands embracing the sun and moon, and his earthy yellow divine light instantly condensed into crystal. He actually used his chest to directly meet the annihilation mark!

"All Mountains Return to the Origin - Immovable Mountain Lord!"

"Boom!"

This time, it was a truly deafening roar! It was a clash of the pure principles of the two sides!
The ultimate defensive Daoist technique, representing "the earth's support and immovability like a mountain," directly confronts the annihilation sword fire, which "burns the heavens and purifies the world, destroying all laws!"

A dazzling light erupted, causing the entire barrier of the Battle Platform to tremble violently. The light was so intense that most of the spectators below the platform had to close their eyes or activate their divine eye spells to barely see anything.

It seemed like a long time, yet also like a fleeting moment, before the light faded away.

Shi Zheng's tall body still stood in the center. His robes were torn, revealing a large area of ​​dark gold skin in a crystalline state on his chest. Wisps of white smoke escaped from it, clearly indicating that it had been severely burned by the annihilation mark.

His breathing became slightly rapid, and his protective divine radiance dimmed somewhat, but his gaze became even more focused and sharp, like a wounded tiger staring at Jin Shayu, whose aura was also fluctuating not far away.

Jin Shayu's crimson flames had subsided, but the fire in his eyes flickered unpredictably, indicating that the attack he had just suffered had also been quite a burden.

At this moment, the Flowing Fire Unfettered Flying Sword spun around him, its red light dimmed, clearly indicating that its spiritual power had been somewhat damaged.

"Good! What a brilliant combination of sword and fire! It actually broke through the magic intent of my 'Immovable Mountain Venerable'!" Shi Zheng's voice was deep and rumbling like thunder. "However, even this is not enough for you to bear the eternal name of the Taiqing Sect!"

As he spoke, Daoist Shi Zheng suddenly took a deep breath.

The void behind him suddenly rippled, and ancient mountain phantoms with different auras and shapes appeared and rotated behind him. Some were majestic and powerful, some were steep and rugged, some were burning with flames, and some were surrounded by frost. They were not the simple earth element power commonly seen in the supernatural powers of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect, but rather it was as if he had integrated the essence of ten thousand mountains and comprehended the different great powers of the mountains!
The name Wanyue Guiyuanzong signifies this meaning!

"Receive my 'Divine Punishment of a Hundred Mountains, Shattering Heaven and Earth'!"

Shi Zheng unleashed a series of hand seals, and the illusory images of a hundred mountains behind him suddenly merged into his powerful magical intent.

One crimson, one dark blue, one black, one shimmering white… fists of completely different attributes, yet all containing the boundless power of mountains, crashed towards Jin Shayu like collapsing pillars of heaven, carrying a chaotic and destructive storm of laws!

With a single spell, a hundred kinds of mountain punishment power were unleashed, covering all evasive space, aiming to completely annihilate Jin Shayu along with the flames!
Regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, the name of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect, a major sect of cultivation, will surely resound throughout the world.

This strike far surpasses the previous "Thousand Mountains Seal" and "Prison Suppressing Divine Peak," and is his ultimate killing move!

This fully demonstrates the core essence of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect's doctrine of "returning to the origin of all things to destroy the world" by borrowing the earth's veins and condensing the spirit of the mountains.
A terrifying pressure instantly locked onto the entire Dou Tian Fa Tai!

The spectators held their breath, and An Xiaoyue frowned slightly. She could feel the terrifying power of the "Hundred Mountains Divine Punishment". She might be able to withstand a single attribute, but the destructive chaotic turbulence formed by the entanglement and resonance of the essence of a hundred mountains could break through any single defense or Dao domain.

Lu Cheng's eyes shone even brighter, already seeing the danger within: "Junior Brother Jin is in grave danger... The power of this move is infinitely close to the limit of the Nascent Soul stage, and its attributes are chaotic and conflicting, forming a natural force that breaks the law. If you try to block it head-on, you will definitely be unable to resist it!"

However, just as the terrifying torrent of chaotic, multicolored mountain punishment was about to engulf Jin Shayu's figure...

Jin Shayu patted the Qiankun bag hanging at his waist, and a crimson fire feather token suddenly flew out and lit up with blazing light.

The next moment, his figure instantly merged with the magic weapon, transforming into a lively, leaping streak of crimson-gold light, like a shooting star engulfed in flames, tracing an elusive trajectory in the air.

Using the fire-escape speed and exquisite turning ability granted by the Fire Feather Token, he narrowly dodged Shi Zheng's devastating "Hundred Mountains Divine Punishment," a strike containing the force of a mountain and impossible to block. He then moved swiftly and mysteriously through the air.

The path of cultivation, the laws of the world, can all be used and can all be discarded. It certainly has its advantages, but in terms of magical treasures, they are mostly used to enhance one's own spells in order to further amplify one's own advantages.

Another aspect is that the foundation of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect can never be compared with that of the Taiqing Sect.

Jin Shayu avoided the peak power of Shi Zheng Daoist's magic by relying on the power of the superior magic weapon, the Fire Feather Token.

When he was suppressed from all sides and had nowhere to escape.

A massive, dark red cauldron phantom, ancient and imposing, enveloped in endless laws of destruction, suddenly rose from the ground in front of Jin Shayu, transforming into a rainbow.

The cauldron was engraved with ancient fire patterns, resembling the rising and setting of the sun and moon, and the collapse of stars. As soon as it appeared, a powerful fire source aura that seemed capable of melting stars and suppressing thousands of years spread out, directly confronting the violent power of Shi Zheng's Hundred Mountains Divine Punishment!
It was obtained from the seventh level of the Taiqing Treasure Vault, another top-grade seventh-rank treasure—the Burning Dust Cauldron!

Jin Shayu's expression suddenly became extremely solemn and devout. He formed hand seals and frantically poured the last remaining crimson flames around him into the illusory giant cauldron. He roared, his voice shattering metal and stone:
"The tripod will stabilize the eight wastelands, purifying the world and burning away the dust!"

"start!"

"boom!"

The flowing light of the Burning Dust Cauldron solidified completely!
Instead of erupting blazing flames, the cauldron suddenly sank downwards!
A terrifying, bottomless, all-consuming, blazing white vortex appeared beneath the mouth of the cauldron.

The torrent of "Hundred Mountains Divine Punishment," which was enough to make even Void Returning cultivators take notice, was like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea. It was irresistibly swallowed and drawn away by the blazing white vortex at the mouth of the Burning Dust Cauldron.

The chaotic mountain punishment power of a hundred attributes, like a mud ox entering the sea, crashed into the small cauldron, only stirring up huge energy ripples that swirled wildly across the cauldron, emitting a muffled hum like the roar of a prehistoric beast!
The Burning Dust Cauldron trembled violently, its fiery patterns reaching their peak, seemingly about to burst open at any moment, yet it held back and eroded the destructive torrent.

Shi Zheng's pupils shrank sharply. He clearly felt that the "Hundred Mountains Divine Punishment" power, which he was so proud of and which was enough to suppress any cultivator of the same level, was being forcibly refined, bound, and burned into the most primitive chaotic spiritual energy by that cauldron.

That cauldron has now transformed into a supreme furnace capable of burning away the laws of nature and refining the extraordinary forces of heaven and earth! It is purifying all the "disharmony" forces in the mortal world!
This is precisely the core power of the Burning Dust Cauldron: to refine all kinds of primordial energy in the world, burn away all dust and impurities, and return to the origin!

Jin Shayu used this as his trump card, intending to use this innate power of burning the world, which could restrain all other techniques, to launch a decisive attack at the crucial moment when the opponent had exhausted all their strength and could not change their moves!
"Come in here!" Having exhausted his magical power, Jin Shayu's face was as pale as paper, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Forcibly driving the Burning Dust Cauldron to refine such an intense attack placed an extremely heavy burden on his soul and magical power. However, at this moment, his eyes were crimson gold, like burning stars, and he was desperately supporting the magic seal!

The Burning Dust Cauldron roared like thunder, and the vortex at its mouth suddenly collapsed inward!
"Crack...crack!"

A clear cracking sound rang out, revealing that the thick Dao Domain shield formed by Shi Zheng's proud "Ten Thousand Mountains Suppressing the World Body" was finally beginning to crack inch by inch under the dual impact of the core pull of the power devoured by the Burning Dust Cauldron and the backlash of the mountain punishment power being refined within.

Shi Zheng's massive body was uncontrollably pulled forward by that terrifying gravitational force. His arms, which gathered the power of a hundred mountains, were like fuel, frantically absorbing the pure earth elemental energy.

"Ah!" Shi Zheng roared in unwilling anger, his blood and qi boiling, desperately unleashing all his cultivation to stabilize his body and escape the devouring.

But once the Burning Dust Cauldron activates its power to cleanse the world and burn dust, how can it be easily broken?

As the tide receded, his feet carved two deep furrows into the solid jade platform, and his entire body slid little by little toward the blazing white, terrifying mouth of the cauldron!

Outside the Battle Platform, the air was so still you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was completely captivated by this incredibly dangerous yet magnificent duel.

The elders of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect had a drastic change in expression and almost stood up; on the Taiqing Sect side, a hint of barely perceptible joy also flashed in Mr. He's eyes.

It seemed that Shi Zheng was about to be completely swallowed into the Burning Dust Cauldron, suffering severe damage and possibly even having his foundation destroyed...

"stop!"

A grand, indifferent, and undeniably authoritative Daoist voice seemed to descend from the heavens, and also seemed to resonate directly within the primordial spirit of every cultivator present.

hum!
An invisible yet overwhelming force descended upon the Battle Platform in an instant!
The raging torrent of divine punishment from the Hundred Mountains, the all-consuming scorching white vortex of the Burning Dust Cauldron, the cracking Earth Element Dao Domain, and even the golden sand feathers forming hand seals and Shi Zheng's desperate struggle, all suddenly froze.
Because the will of the Nuwa Sacred Realm was acting on its behalf, or rather, the Sacred Realm messenger who controlled this Dou Tian Fa Tai made a move.

The majestic Daoist voice resounded once more:
"The outcome is decided. Wan Yue Gui Yuan Zong Shi Zheng, do you concede defeat?"

Stillness lifted.

The ravine beneath Shi Zheng's feet was several feet deep, and dark red bruises were also spilling from the corners of his mouth. His arms were trembling slightly, clearly indicating that the previous confrontation had damaged his very essence.

He looked at the Burning Dust Cauldron, which, though no longer in operation, still exuded the oppressive power of burning the world, and then at Jin Shayu, whose aura was weak but whose gaze was still as sharp as an eagle's. Finally, he sighed in despair.

He knew that if the Holy Realm envoy hadn't intervened in time, he would have been pulled in if he had struggled for even a few more breaths, and his Dao foundation would have suffered irreparable damage. That magic cauldron... was far too effective against him!

He slowly straightened his body, which was as straight as a mountain ridge, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the Holy Realm envoy and the direction of the Taiqing Sect, and spoke in a hoarse but clear voice:
"Shi Zheng of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect concedes defeat. The Taiqing Daoist arts are indeed profound; Shi Zheng is completely convinced!"

boom!
After a brief silence, a tidal wave of discussion erupted instantly!
Jin Shayu of the Taiqing Sect, the leader of the Nine Sects, wins!
(End of this chapter)