Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 523 The Ice Soul Cannot Seal the Burning Dust Cauldron, the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda Shocks the Holy Son (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

As the Immortal Pool Sword Battle progressed into its later stages, more and more powerful cultivators focused their attention on it.

These young cultivators, considered geniuses among humans, have a high chance of becoming one of them in the future.

Paying attention at this time, and even offering some guidance and investment, will undoubtedly yield rich returns in the future. Even if it's a rising star from a rival sect, one can prepare for it early.

At the core of the Nuwa Sacred Realm lies a suspended altar constructed from fragments of star ruins enveloped in a vast radiant glow.

Nine-colored clouds form a tapestry, and ever-changing Daoist patterns and runes are imprinted in the void as boundaries.

Countless magnificent viewing platforms floated around, where the nine sects and thirty-six factions of the human race, powerful families, independent cultivators, and even the truly important figures of the five holy clans were all gathered.

Of course, the largest number of people were the low- and middle-level cultivators from various sects and races who were watching the battle. Their gatherings and dispersals would spread the results of this grand event throughout the starry universe.

"Duan Chen has been defeated! Duan Xuan has also been defeated! The two prodigies of Donghua Sword Tomb have been defeated one after another by the 'Purple Mansion Divine Lord' of the Jade Purity Dao Sect, one of the nine sects of the human race!"

"More than that! Feng Qiansha's 'Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs Dao Domain' of the Nine Netherworld Abyss Sect was said to be almost unbeatable in the Nascent Soul Realm, but it was actually blasted apart by the 'Treasure Boy' Yunya Daoist of the Shangqing Sect with a barrage of thirty-six magic treasures!"

"Luo Tieyi of Wuxiang Wuji Mountain, whose 'Wanxiang Wuji Dharma Body' was renowned, was defeated by the 'Daoyun Monk' of Xiji Temple with a single 'Solving Trouble Divine Mantra' which dispelled all his Dharma forms and exposed his Dharma Body... In the end, the Nine Great Sects still possessed boundless resources, far surpassing the Thirty-Six Sects."

Amidst the clamor of voices all around, there was an overwhelming sense of shock and chaotic discussion.

In this sword duel at the Immortal Pool, the nine sects of the human race gradually revealed their unfathomable strength, defeating the top talents of the thirty-six sects who attempted to shake their position one by one with absolute dominance.

Even among the rarest immortal seeds, those that are one in a billion, are not uncommon in the Earthly Immortal Realm.

However, not all challengers were overshadowed.

Qiu Ruoshui, the swordsman of the Xuanxin Sword Sect, with an ordinary face and simple clothes, stood on the altar, a trace of blood still on the corner of his mouth. In front of him, a flying sword flowing with seven kinds of Xuan Soul radiance pierced through the protective magic treasure of a true disciple of the "Wanxiang Senluo Palace", one of the nine sects of the human race.

The gray-robed cultivator was weak and pale. Although he struggled to get up several times, his defeat was inevitable.

That sword, radiating a fierce and murderous aura, forced even the radiant glow of the sacred realm to retreat by three points.

Qiu Ruoshui sheathed her sword and stood there, her eyes still cold and clear, saying only, "Thank you for your concession."

Although he himself suffered great losses, he was able to defeat the core cultivators of the Nine Sects and advance to the next level despite being from the Thirty-Six Sects. His brilliance instantly overshadowed all the losers!
The cultivators of the thirty-six sects seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, bursting into cheers like a tsunami, as if they were celebrating the arrival of an era in which "non-Nine Sect cultivators can also ascend to heaven and seek the Dao," even though such cultivators were an absolute minority.

The Immortal Pool Sword Battle is a grand event that gathers the elites of the human race from all over the world. Every round of fighting captivates the minds and eyes of countless cultivators.

When the cyan jade slip that determined fate flew out of the sacred treasure "Fate Bottle" and hung above the Floating Cloud Platform of the Taiqing Sect, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

"Heavenly Frost Sacred Realm, the Unsharp Divine Lord."

"Taiqing Sect, Jinsha Yu." The voice of the Saint Realm Judgement Envoy resounded through the void above the altar, and murmurs immediately arose among the crowd:
"It's actually the God-King Wufeng! He's probably the only Holy Son in the Heavenly Frost Sacred Realm who has reached this level."

"Well, there aren't many Saint Realm cultivators who can reach this level. After all, they are weaker than the Nine Sects and Thirty-Six Schools. Apart from Jiang Haocang of the Nuwa Saint Realm, who is the host, there is only this person left. It is said that he is the chief true disciple of the current generation of the Heavenly Frost Saint Realm, and his 'Profound Nether Void True Qi' has been deeply inherited by the current God Lord."

"On the other hand, although this Taiqing True Disciple has the power of the Burning Dust Cauldron and has defeated Shi Zheng of the Wanyue Guiyuan Sect and Kuteng Sou of the Wandu Immortal Valley in the previous two times, this Wufeng Divine Lord... his ice-type Daoist techniques are extremely effective against fire techniques."

"Alas, with the Dao power of that Taiqing True Disciple, he has reached his limit. To take another step forward is indeed as difficult as ascending to heaven. I'm afraid this is the end."

The Void Heaven Dharma Platform!

The platform, suspended in mid-air, is estimated to be nearly a thousand feet in circumference. In reality, it is also protected by spatial restrictions. When a cultivator enters it, the space expands ten thousand times, without affecting the escape techniques of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

As Jin Shayu's figure landed on it, enveloped in the force of flowing fire, a chilling, frost-white light simultaneously descended upon the opposite side.

The God of No Edge was tall and thin, with a cold and stern face as if carved from ancient jade. He was not wearing a heavy robe, but only a plain white garment with ice-patterned runes flowing on it.

He didn't say much, raising his hands high in a sacred ritual, his eyes filled with pure coldness and absolute focus.

Even when cultivators of the Heavenly Frost Sacred Realm are still mortals, they must practice their cultivation techniques in the snow and ice for seven days and seven nights. Those who lack perseverance and concentration will not be able to even begin their cultivation. Moreover, after entering the Heavenly Frost Sacred Realm, there is a series of subsequent cultivations.

Therefore, the terrifying nature of the cultivators in this sect is beyond question.

As the battle began, a layer of visible, condensed white cold air instantly spread out from his body.

Centered on the Wufeng Divine Lord, the void emitted a cracking sound as it was quickly covered by thick mysterious ice. Above the ice layer, wisps of "Xuanming Dongxu Zhengang," condensed with profound coldness, spread out silently, twisting the space like invisible serpents.

The Dharma Platform instantly transformed into an extremely cold domain. Even those with slightly weaker cultivation levels on the distant viewing platform felt their own magical power stagnate slightly, and their souls seemed to be frozen by the cold air.

Standing amidst this icy, snowy landscape, Jin Shayu's golden light dimmed slightly, and the spiritual radiance on his fiery robe seemed to have been frozen and lost its luster. Yet, the smile on his face remained unchanged, as if he had been aroused.

"What a chill!" Jin Shayu exclaimed with a hearty laugh, then stomped his right foot forward.

boom!
A powerful and intense pure yang energy erupted from his body, as if a miniature sun was rising from the depths of his body.

That was not driven by magic, but rather by the spontaneous combustion of the Taoist practices combined with the body's own magical power.

A crimson-golden flame shot into the sky, transforming into a ten-zhang-high pillar of fire. At the top of the pillar, a majestic Vermilion Bird, composed of pure true fire, cried out to the heavens, its voice soaring high that it could split rocks and pierce the clouds.

"cry!"

The Vermilion Bird cried out, carrying the majesty of an ancient divine bird, and the power of its supremely yang and intense divine fire erupted instantly!

Chi Chi Chi!
Centered on Jinshayu, the Xuanbing Domain emitted a violent sound of evaporation and melting.

The crimson-gold aura suddenly spread out for several feet, forcing back the bone-corroding and soul-devouring Xuanming Cave Void True Qi.

The realms of ice and fire clashed violently. On either side of the altar, the frosty white of extreme cold and the fiery red gold of the heavens were clearly distinct. At their intersection, energy surged like boiling water, bursting forth with dazzling aurora and billowing pure white high-temperature steam!

The entire altar seemed to be held up by an invisible giant hand, violently trembling between the ice peaks and volcanoes.

This is a contest of wills and intentions between the two sides, and even more so a battle of fundamental principles.

Mystic ice freezes everything, true fire burns the city.

The expression of the God of No Edge was as cold and hard as an ancient glacier that had remained unchanged for ten thousand years, and the icy blue light in his eyes suddenly surged.

"Excellent fire magic, Ice Soul Cold Light Sword!"

His hands moved with lightning speed, forming hand seals, his ten fingers flying like phantoms. In an instant, countless needles, as thin as cow's hair yet imbued with extreme cold, condensed into icy blue light, forming a dense, overwhelming mass, like a raging tide composed of icy stars.

Then these light needles condensed into a sword, tearing through the evaporated water vapor, carrying a sharpness that could freeze space and penetrate everything, and slashed towards Jin Shayu!

This sword is said to be a flying sword, but in reality it is formed by a mixture of powerful and cold icy magic power and flying needle magic treasures. Once it finds an opportunity to get close, it will unleash a burst of thrusts. Each needle contains the magic intent of the Xuanming Cave Void True Qi, which is enough to pierce through a seventh-order protective magic treasure, freeze the bloodline and magic power circulation of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and leave them waiting to die.

"Hahahaha!"

Upon seeing this, Jin Shayu laughed loudly. Instead of retreating, he advanced. Facing the Ice Soul Sword Light and Needle Sea, which were enough to make cultivators of the same level tremble, he actually took the initiative to disperse some of the protective flames around his body.

The golden sand runes on the Fiery Robe suddenly lit up, and countless tiny Vermilion Bird phantoms flew out again, swirling around him and forming a constantly flowing barrier of flames.

Puff puff puff!

The dense clashing of ice needles created a piercing, sharp sound. The vast majority of the ice needles crashed into the Vermilion Bird Flame Stream, instantly exploding into clusters of extremely cold frost flowers, which were then completely worn away by the continuous pure yang fire.

However, the sea of ​​needles was too dense and vast, and eventually some fish slipped through the gaps in the flames and shot towards Jinsha Yu's physical body. The onlookers held their breath and focused their attention on this.

However, Jin Shayu's body surface was covered with a layer of crystal clear red glass light film with hidden flame patterns. This was the manifestation of the "Miraculous Technique of Primordial Qi" being operated to perfection: the Three Yang True Body Glass Jade Appearance!

This is a body-refining method, but Jin Shayu did not combine it with other body-refining techniques. Instead, he used magic to enhance himself in a short period of time, enabling him to activate the Three Yang True Body Glazed Jade Form.

This technique is extremely taxing on spiritual energy and mana, and very difficult to execute. However, once completed, its defensive power is even stronger than that of someone who has truly mastered this Dharma Body Dao Technique.

Of course, if one cultivates this Dharma Body Dao Technique and then uses this technique, the power will be doubled, far exceeding that of a single technique.

Ding Ding Ding Ding!

The Ice Soul Cold Light Sword and needles struck the glassy jade body, producing a dense, crisp sound like raindrops hitting banana leaves, shattering into countless icy blue stardust fragments, leaving only countless tiny white dots on them, which were then smoothed out by the flowing crimson halo. The body was as if it had been forged from ancient and immortal crimson divine jade, indestructible.

"Break!" Jin Shayu shouted, defying the raging torrent of icy energy. He formed hand seals, unleashing a devastating attack from both sides!
With his right hand forming a sword-like finger, he pointed upwards: "Flowing Fire Without Recklessness, Slash!"

A pillar of pure Yang flame, as thick as a child's arm and condensed to the extreme, burst forth from his fingertips. It was not a simple flame, but a highly compressed sword energy and true fire fused together.

Where the pillar of flame passed, the icy needles instantly vaporized and vanished, leaving a brief scorch mark on the space, which then hurtled straight toward the face of the God of No Edge.

With his left hand, he slapped the air: "The Great Sun Patrols the Sky, the Blazing Sun Holds the Force!"

A giant, fiery, crimson palm, about ten feet in size, appeared out of thin air. Its palm lines were clearly visible, and a vermilion bird seemed to be circling and dancing in its palm. It carried immense heat capable of crushing mountains and rivers and melting gold and iron. It spanned half of the altar and pressed down on Wufeng Divine Lord. With one palm strike, the air was completely ignited, producing a violent explosion, as if it would crush that icy region.

These two magical attacks were as swift as thunder, their momentum overwhelming, instantly sealing off Wufeng Divine Lord's paths to dodge left and right.

This was a sword duel where Jin Shayu had advanced from the top sixty-seven to the thirties. He had given his all, focusing solely on winning this match, with no other thoughts on the matter. This also coincided with the violent and fierce intent of the fire magic.

Faced with the combined attack of two domineering and unparalleled fire-element killing moves, Wufeng Divine Lord's eyes flashed with a cold light, revealing a trace of solemnity for the first time.

He retreated rapidly, holding a dark blue flute-shaped magical artifact in front of his chest, and then pushed it forward with a sudden thrust!
"Mysterious Netherworld Frozen Soul Wall!"

hum!
A massive ice wall, over three feet thick and almost black in color, instantly solidified in front of him.

The wall is crystal clear, but the inside is not solid ice. Instead, it is a vortex of Xuanming Cave Void True Qi that rotates and converges at high speed and freezes everything!

As soon as the ice wall appeared, the temperature of the altar dropped several times. Even the cultivators watching from afar felt a sharp pain in their souls, as if their souls were being forcibly drawn away and frozen by the ice wall.

Boom boom!

The Pure Yang Flame Pillar and the Blazing Yang Palm Force slammed solidly into the Xuanming Frozen Soul Wall.

A deafening roar erupted on the altar, as crimson gold and deep blue light clashed violently, unleashing shockwaves powerful enough to tear eardrums and a torrent of ice and fire that swept everything away.

The fiery sword energy surged forward wildly, constantly vaporizing ice, but the true qi vortex on the azure wall spun endlessly, frantically neutralizing and freezing the invading pure yang true fire power.

The ice wall trembled violently, and countless huge cracks spread, but they were quickly healed by the chilling aura activated by the God of No Edge, barely holding on!

The blazing sun's giant palm slammed into the entire ice wall, creating a huge palm print. The immense force carried by the palm's energy reverberated through the ice wall, forcing the Wufeng Divine Lord to retreat seven steps in quick succession. Each step left a deep pit on the jade platform, which was harder than refined steel, and frost froze at the edge of the pit.

The two sides clashed fiercely, seemingly evenly matched!

Wufeng Divine Lord steadied himself, a trace of icy blue blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes became even purer and colder, like ice crystals polished clean of all impurities.

He took a deep breath, and the surrounding cold air rushed towards him. The melted ice on the altar instantly refreezed, becoming several feet thick.

"Your fiery spirit is extraordinary, but it ends here! Take my 'Ice Prison Immortal-Sealing Sword'!" The God-King Wufeng transmitted his thoughts, his intent like the cold wind of the Netherworld blowing through withered bones.

He brought his right index and middle fingers together like a sword, and a grayish-white light gathered at the fingertips. The light was not dazzling, but it exuded an ultimate chill that could extinguish life and freeze all things.

As he pointed forward with a distant finger—

call out!
The ice needles and flying swords that were originally entangled around Jin Shayu merged into a condensed sword energy. Even the cultivators watching from several miles away felt a freezing chill from the depths of their souls. This was the "extinction chill" that had been condensed to the extreme. It was almost impossible for physical objects to withstand it. It was designed to damage the cultivator's foundation and seal off their life force!
The swords repelled each other, making a cracking sound.

Jin Shayu's pupils shrank sharply. Although he was protected by the top-notch spells in the "Primordial Chaos Technique" and the Three Yang True Body Glazed Jade Form, he still felt the terrifying sealing power contained in that gray-white light.

The Three Yang True Body, in its crystal jade form, might be able to slow it down for a moment, but it could never completely withstand this annihilating chill that directly targets the very source of life!
The Heavenly Frost Sacred Realm lineage believes that the universe will eventually fall into eternal freezing and annihilation, and only by cultivating the Heavenly Frost Sacred Method can one transcend it. All Taoist arts and methods are naturally based on this.

"My protective spell won't last long, so let's settle this with one strike!" A fierce glint flashed in Jin Shayu's eyes, and his right hand moved like lightning across the ancient storage bag at his waist!
"Come, Ding!" came a sharp shout, like the angry cry of a Vermilion Bird.

hum!
A powerful and ancient aura, seemingly from the primordial era, capable of dominating the eight directions and suppressing all things, suddenly descended!

A seventh-tier Nascent Soul treasure, if it were in the mortal realm, the description of "its power suppresses the eight wastelands and all things" would be a mere figure of speech, not an exaggeration.

A massive furnace, about three feet tall, made entirely of red copper, seemingly having undergone countless trials by fire, and engraved with numerous mysterious cloud patterns and fiery bird designs, instantly appeared before Jin Shayu.

The rim of the cauldron is tilted slightly.

boom!
The Burning Dust Cauldron burst forth with a blinding crimson-gold light, its body expanding to a height of over ten feet. Ancient cloud patterns seemed to come alive, flowing and dancing across its surface. Three phantom images of divine birds in different forms—the Golden Crow raising its head, the Vermilion Bird flapping its wings, and the Bifang crying—circled and danced around the giant cauldron!
This time, what spewed out was no longer the Vermilion Bird Pure Yang True Fire, but a sea of ​​crimson gold, a blazing flame that condensed the true meaning of the "purification" law!

The sea of ​​fire was not spread out in a flat area, but rather like the waters of a bursting dam, carrying the terrifying power to melt divine iron and burn away the mortal world. It surged towards the half of the altar where the God of No Edge was located, like a tsunami!

Wherever the sea of ​​fire passed, space distorted and rippled. The Xuanbing Domain let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed. The thick Xuanbing instantly liquefied and was then evaporated into nothingness. The Xuanming Cave Void True Qi that had frozen everything melted and disintegrated rapidly like snow under the sun!
Even more terrifying, within that sea of ​​fire, a phantom of a Vermilion Bird, woven from countless chains of divine fire laws, suddenly took shape. Its wings spread out, covering nearly half of the altar. The Vermilion Bird's eyes, with a divine majesty that disregarded all things, locked onto the Wufeng Divine Lord below!

"town!"

Jin Shayu pressed down hard with one hand, and the Vermilion Bird of Law, wrapped in the entire blazing flames, crashed down like a collapsing mountain, carrying a powerful pressure that even Nascent Soul cultivators found suffocating.

This is a great supernatural power activated by the fusion of the Golden Sand Feathered Man and the Burning Dust Cauldron, without regard to the consumption of divine sense and magical power!
The goal is to completely incinerate this icy domain, along with the Unsharp Divine Lord, into ashes.

Wu Feng Shen Jun's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and for the first time in his life, he felt the chill of death clinging to his bones.

The terrifying true fire that surged back from the Burning Dust Cauldron was beyond imagination, and it even carried the power to devour the very essence of the frozen soul. The Ice Prison was shattered, and the Immortal Sealing was rendered useless!
"Roar! Xuanming Frozen Absolute..." In the face of desperation, Wufeng Divine Lord unleashed a roar that was not human, spewing out icy blue blood mist from all seven orifices. He formed the last incomparably complex ancient seal with his hands, and his divine sense and magical power burned recklessly within his body.

hum!
A massive "ice crystal dharma image," three zhang tall and entirely composed of azure ice, flowing Xuanming True Qi, and a core wisp of deep gray annihilation chill, instantly appeared and enveloped his true form.

The Dharma Image's features were clear like a celestial being, radiating an inviolable and chilling divine might. It stretched out its enormous icy arms, crossing them to block the Vermilion Bird Dharma Image and the Heaven-Burning Flames that were pressing down upon it!
He intended to use his "Mysterious Netherworld Body," formed from his life's cultivation, to withstand this devastating attack.

The cauldron stabilizes the heavens, and the golden flames settle.

Boom! ! ! ! !

An indescribably violent collision erupted at the core of the Void Heaven Dharma Platform! The Vermilion Bird flapped its wings, incinerating all dust; its Dharma Body held high the sky, freezing all living beings. Crimson gold and azure light exploded and merged, instantly engulfing the entire Dharma Platform!
The terrifying impact, like a tsunami, slammed into the incredibly sturdy spatial barrier surrounding the altar, producing a dull thud like the beating of a heavenly drum.

The restrictive light barrier flickered violently, confining most of the destructive energy within, but a few wisps of violent energy still swept out like a hurricane, causing the clothes of the spectators in the distance to flutter wildly, and those with slightly weaker cultivation were even blown several feet away, their protective spiritual light teetering on the verge of collapse.

At that moment, it seemed as if only pure red and blue remained in the world. The pure yang fire incinerated the deep blue ice crystal divine body, while the Xuanming cold breath frantically froze the crimson gold divine fire law.

Time seemed to stand still. Everyone stared wide-eyed, even An Xiaoyue subconsciously clenched her fists. On the Floating Cloud Platform of the Taiqing Sect, only Lu Cheng and Master He remained calm and composed.

"Actually, Wufeng Divine Lord's cultivation level is higher than Junior Brother Jin's, not to mention he has a certain degree of water and fire restraint. It's just a pity that Junior Brother Jin is now fighting as if every match is his last, while Wufeng Divine Lord is holding back his strength. In addition, he is slightly inferior in terms of magic weapons, so now the situation is too dire to reverse."

'yes. ’

The cultivators participating in the Immortal Pool Sword Battle are all outstanding young talents from the Earth Immortal Realm, around three thousand years old, and at most no more than five thousand years old. If they come from powerful sects, that's fine, but if they come from less prestigious backgrounds, their magical treasures won't be very good either.

The magical treasures on Wufeng Divine Lord's body are no weaker than those of ordinary cultivators, but they are far inferior to Jinsha Yu.

boom! ! !
A crisp, loud cracking sound tore through the ice, shattering the stalemate!

Under the continuous and terrifying impact of the Vermilion Bird Law and the Blazing Flame, spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the entire body of the Wufeng Divine Lord's "Mysterious Netherworld Body," which resembled being forged from ten thousand years of mysterious ice. Starting from his crossed giant arms, the cracks spread throughout his body.

Ice shards flew everywhere, and the true energy dissipated.

"Pfft!" Within the Ice Crystal Dharma Form, the true form of the Unsharp Divine Lord spewed out a mouthful of icy blue blood mist. His body arched violently as if struck by a giant hammer, and his aura rapidly declined at a visible speed.

The indomitable, icy light in his eyes was finally replaced by a trace of disbelief and the weakness that followed.

The outcome is already decided at this moment!

This battle could be described as a small-scale reversal of fortune, a victory of the weak over the strong, which aroused considerable enthusiasm and discussion among the surrounding cultivators.

Just as the crowd was in agitated and the situation was delicate, the Destiny Bottle once again emitted a bright blue light.

Two jade tokens leaped out, their brilliance shining brightly, reflecting two names, clearly imprinted in the void:

Taiqing Sect, Lucheng.

Nuwa Sacred Realm, Jiang Haocang.

After a brief silence, the entire viewing area of ​​the Holy Realm exploded as if boiling water had been poured on oil!

"Jiang Haocang! He's the 'Cangxing Saint Son' from the Jiang family of the Five Clans!"

"Lu Cheng?! That Taiqing Xingxing who caused such a huge disaster in the Thousand Caves Netherworld? He actually went head-to-head with the Holy Son of the Holy Realm?"

"This...this draw is far too coincidental! This Divine Lord Lu has faced tough opponents all the way from Xie Chenxiao to Yuwen Zhuo, each one a renowned figure. Now he has run into the Five Holy Sons? Where is Master He of the Taiqing Sect? How can such an arrangement be allowed!"

A huge uproar and wave of doubts arose, and countless eyes, whether shocked, sympathetic, or gloating, were cast toward the magnificent palace where the Taiqing Sect was located.

Jin Shayu, fresh from his victory, was pale, and An Xiaoyue's brows were furrowed. Even the usually composed and dignified Master He of the Taiqing Sect, seated at the head of the table, narrowed his eyes, and after a moment of contemplation, finally spoke:
"The Nuwa Sacred Realm Fate Bottle, inheriting the original will of the Sacred Realm, naturally makes the selection results valid. I, Lu Cheng, a disciple of Taiqing, should also accept the challenge."

"Hahahaha!" A long laugh containing endless majesty and the power of the stars resounded. The young Taoist Jiang Haocang, dressed in a nine-star moon-surrounding holy robe and wearing a crown, walked leisurely, stepping on starlight and rosy clouds to the center of the altar.

His face was handsome and almost perfect, with a starlight between his brows that seemed to flow like a living thing, and his aura was as deep as the ocean, faintly showing a tendency to resonate with the spiritual energy of the entire Holy Realm.

He looked at Lu Cheng, who had just arrived on his sword, his eyes indifferent, carrying a hint of disdainful condescension:

"Lord Lu, the Taiqing Traveler? I've heard that you burned away all the demonic energy with your Samadhi True Fire in the Thousand Caves Netherworld, and defeated Xie Chenxiao and Yuwen Zhuo in succession, enjoying unparalleled fame. However, after meeting this Holy Son today, that luck will come to an end."

"Whether you believe it or not, the Fate Bottle was made in accordance with Heaven's will, and our five clans have not tampered with it in the slightest. How can the will of the Holy Realm be defiled? It can only be said that your luck... ha, it just so happens that I, the Holy Son, will help you fall down, so that you will understand sooner rather than later what it means that the Holy Realm cannot be easily insulted!"

The sword duel had just begun when Jiang Haocang's figure transformed into a star trail tearing through the void!

Without any probing or idle talk, the first move was earth-shattering!
"Starfall - Falling Heaven Technique!"

He pointed one finger to the sky, as if summoning the Milky Way.

Above the altar, the endless starlight suddenly dimmed, replaced by countless blazing white star shadows compressed from pure star power and burning with the flames of the Dao. Like true world-destroying meteors, they carried an overwhelming pressure that could annihilate everything and a scorching heat that could burn all things. They were densely packed, locked onto Lu City, and crashed down.

Along with this, Jiang Haocang himself also joined in, his magical body moving in unison, pointing at the stars, his magical intent compelling people.

The entire altar shook violently, emitting a mournful cry as if it could no longer bear the weight. On the viewing platform, countless low-level cultivators were deathly pale, as if they were witnessing the end of the world.

Jiang Haocang himself is at the peak of the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage. He has been exceptionally talented since childhood, has unlimited resources, and is willing to endure hardship to cultivate the most solid foundation of his Dao. Such a person is naturally powerful and is even one of the strong contenders to win the title of champion of this Holy Realm.

Faced with this terrifying attack that could cause stars to fall, Lu Cheng simply raised his head, his eyes clear and calm, without the slightest ripple.

Just as the destructive star was about to reach him, boundless Xuanhuang Qi appeared out of thin air above Lu Cheng's head, cascading down like a waterfall from the heavens!

An ancient, majestic nine-story pagoda, seemingly imbued with the weight of ten thousand years, emerges majestically, bathed in the vast and mysterious aura!

A seventh-grade superior defensive magic weapon, the Xuanhuang Pagoda!
As soon as the pagoda appeared, countless streams of primordial yellow energy flowed down from it, like a curtain hanging from the sky, completely enveloping Lu Cheng's figure.

boom! boom! boom! boom!
The dense, rain-like falling stars, accompanied by Jiang Haocang's full-force fist energy and intent, crashed fiercely against the seemingly thin, ever-flowing Xuanhuang Qi screen.

In an instant, the light and flames exploded like an ancient volcanic eruption, and the terrifying high temperature and shockwaves, enough to evaporate a vast ocean, swept in all directions, causing even the protective Dao patterns blessed by the Holy Realm to flicker!

However, a moment later, a scene unfolded that left everyone speechless:

At the center of the devastating meteor storm, the thin, dark yellow aura was like the surface of the sea being struck by a boulder, rippling out in layers of waves containing the rhythm of the Great Dao, yet... it remained completely unharmed!
Lu Cheng, standing beneath the pagoda, remained perfectly still in his Taoist robe, his figure as steady as a mountain, without even the slightest tremor!

He simply and calmly summoned his flying sword and then unleashed his attack.

"Wha...what?!"

"Blocked! Such a technique? A combined attack of magical bodies? What's with that magical artifact?!"

"What kind of magical artifact is that? It can actually withstand the destructive spells formed from the power of stars that Saint Jiang summoned?!"

At this moment, it wasn't just the audience below who were exclaiming in surprise; many powerful figures in the surrounding magnificent buildings couldn't help but lean forward slightly from their seats, their eyes fixed on the Xuanhuang Pagoda, for only they knew what this meant.

On the Floating Cloud Platform of the Taiqing Sect, Master He paused slightly while stroking his beard, a look of joy flashing in his eyes. He had just sent a telepathic message to Lu Cheng and received a reply that he was certain of victory. But even he had not expected that it would be such a treasure!

Inside a jade pavilion beside Mr. He, an old Taoist priest dressed in a Shangqing Taoist robe couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:
"The Heavenly Dao's Profound Yellow Qi! The First Merit of the Acquired Realm! This... this Lu Cheng actually possesses such profound fortune. Did he save a realm in the mortal world? Only by merging with the Heavenly Dao's fortune can he, with his Nascent Soul cultivation, activate this treasure to such an extent!"

Another Daoist nun from the Jade Purity Sect, with a sharp aura, slowly said, "This treasure could not have been created without great karma, great opportunity, and great merit. With this treasure standing above one's head, all laws cannot penetrate it, and all evils will be warded off. Although its essence is still within the realm of the Nascent Soul stage, the 'Dao' and 'power' it contains, due to the blessing of fortune, have acquired some of the divine charm of a supreme treasure of the Returning to Emptiness, which is indestructible and impervious to all laws!"

Inside the star-gazing pavilion reserved for the Jiang family, an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a Bagua Taoist robe, suddenly darkened his expression and exclaimed:
"Blessed by Heaven, a chosen one of destiny?! Favored by Heaven and Earth, impervious to all laws! From which realm below did this child originate? Who has performed the merit of saving the world, yet we know nothing of it?"

On the altar, surprise flashed in Jiang Haocang's eyes for the first time, then turned into an even colder killing intent: "Hmph! It's just an external object! This Holy Son will see how many meteor showers your disguised tortoise shell can withstand! Star Luo Return to the Void Seal!"

He rapidly formed hand seals in front of his chest, and an ancient, sacred, and seemingly immense starlight seal, carrying the true meaning of the creation of the primordial universe, condensed in the void.

At the center of the Dharma Seal, a terrifying scene of a starry river returning to nothingness faintly appeared. A pressure several times stronger than before descended with a roar, causing the light of the entire Holy Realm Dharma Platform to collapse towards it!
Jiang Haocang's cultivation, temperament, and experiences are all quite remarkable, but in terms of insight, he is ultimately inferior to those old monsters who have lived for countless millennia.

If he truly understood the meaning behind this treasure of merit, he would have stopped immediately and found an excuse to leave.

However, he could only see that this treasure was extraordinary, but he only thought it was a powerful defensive magic weapon.

"go."

The Returning Void Seal transformed into a beam of annihilation light, ignoring spatial distance, and instantly struck the Xuanhuang Qi Barrier!

*Sizzle!*
An ear-piercing, tearing sound of friction echoed throughout the universe. This time, the Xuanhuang Qi curtain finally began to vibrate violently, its light flickering erratically, and the ripples on its surface surging like a tsunami. The pagoda itself also emitted a low hum, and the Xuanhuang Qi became slightly thinner.

"Effective!" someone roared from inside the Jiang family's Star Gazing Pavilion.

"After all, he is the Holy Son of Haocang!" Many cultivators who supported the five clans of the Holy Realm were invigorated.

However, as the dust settled, the air barrier, though turbulent, remained resilient and unbreakable, with strands of energy continuing to descend. Lu Cheng's figure still stood steadily beneath the tower.

What made Jiang Haocang's pupils shrink even more was that Lu Cheng, standing below the tower, actually... closed his eyes in the face of such an earth-shattering battle!

Jiang Haocang didn't understand, but Lu Cheng did. This Xuanhuang Pagoda had merged with the Heavenly Dao's fortune that he had saved the Tongxuan Dharma Realm. If he were in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, everything he did would go smoothly and he would be invincible. However, if he were in the Earth Immortal Realm, he would not have such Heavenly Fortune. Even if he had some fortune, its effect would be weakened many times over, but it would be converted into defensive power and the power to protect the Dao.

Such a magical artifact is not something that is absolutely impossible to break even for a Nascent Soul cultivator in the Earthly Immortal Realm, after all, the Earthly Immortal Realm has countless extraordinary skills and techniques. However, Lu Cheng was certain that even if Jiang Haocang exhausted all his knowledge and risked his life when he first encountered it, he would not be able to break it.

All was silent except for the ear-piercing roar of the starlight returning to the void as it continued to impact the Xuanhuang Qi barrier, echoing above the Star Void Dharma Platform.

The violent energy turbulence raged like a galactic storm, causing ripples to spread across the Dao patterns at the edge of the altar.

But at the eye of the storm, beneath the Xuanhuang Pagoda, lies a strange "pure land".

Lu Cheng stood with his eyes closed, his Taoist robe fluttering even without wind. What seemed like a shocking attack to outsiders was completely ignored by him!
No, to be more precise, the terrifying attack power that was enough to easily destroy an ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was completely isolated by the Xuanhuang Pagoda, and not even the slightest threat could reach him!
Lu Cheng seemed detached from the world, his heart as still as water. He simply manipulated the Five Elements Flying Swords he had already summoned, unleashing the Thunder Sword Technique, slaying the opposing cultivators one sword at a time.

As time went on, Jiang Haocang's expression grew increasingly grim, with anger and a hint of anxiety that he himself was unwilling to admit churning within him.

As the current Holy Son of the Five Families of the Holy Realm, bearing the name of the Azure Star, he enjoys the offerings of resources, cultivates both body and magic, and can control the stars with one hand. He has never encountered such a situation among his peers!
His pride and joy, his dual cultivation of cultivation, magic, and physical body, were now being "ignored" by the other party, which was an utter disgrace!
"Star Vortex Annihilation!"

"Annihilation Finger of Ten Thousand Stars!"

"Starfall and Divine Punishment!"

Each strike was dazzling, containing the terrifying intent of manipulating stellar power to destroy all things, and the entire altar seemed to transform into a boiling starry inferno.

Countless starlight blades slashed and cut across the landscape, billions of annihilation beams swept across the area, and giant star debris meteorites, like spears thrown by gods, crashed down with an aura of judgment!

Rumble!
The Xuanhuang Qi curtain was like a seawall encountering a prehistoric storm, enduring the endless, ceaseless impact of the waves!

The light flashed intensely, and each collision stirred up a ring of giant energy waves that spread in all directions, causing the protective light shield blessed by the Holy Realm to rise and fall violently like the surface of water, with ripples spreading to the boundaries of the entire viewing area.

"This is terrifying! Each of these strikes possesses power exceeding that of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator!"

"Gathering the power of the stars in the heavens and possessing the skill of cultivating both body and spirit, is this the foundation of the five holy sons of the Holy Realm?"

The cultivators around the Dharma platform did not have the same high level of vision as the high-level cultivators in the Jade Pavilion.

In their eyes, it was Jiang Haocang who was focusing on offense, while the magic weapon used by the Taiqing cultivator, although powerful, had its limits.

Unbeknownst to these cultivators, at this very moment, within the Jade Pavilion, several high-level cultivators were exchanging divine senses and arguing fiercely.

"We protest! Using such a magical artifact renders this Immortal Pool Sword Battle meaningless for the other cultivators. With this tower covering the top, it is impervious to all magic. What's the point of talking about a sword battle then?"

"What? Is this a Void Returning Treasure? Or is it something that violates the rules of the Immortal Pool Sword Battle? It's in harmony with the Heavenly Dao's fortune, a great merit that saved the Heavenly Dao of an entire realm. If we cultivators ignore such merit and instead suppress it, wouldn't that be tantamount to making enemies of the Heavenly Dao?"

The protest put forward by the five clans of the Holy Realm cultivators is simply impossible to pass. Cultivators cultivate the Dao, cultivate their own Dao, cultivate the Heavenly Dao, and cultivate the Great Dao. Unless there is a major fundamental conflict, cultivators will never easily go against the operation of the Heavenly Dao. Lu City is in harmony with the Heavenly Dao's fortune. This is something that brings glory to the Taiqing Sect and even the three sects of the Dao lineage. How can we tolerate the interference of the five clans of the Holy Realm?

At this moment, Lu Cheng, who had been meditating with his eyes closed beneath the Xuanhuang Pagoda, slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were calm and serene, yet they pointed directly to the flaws.

"Have you had enough?" Lu Cheng's voice was soft, yet it clearly pierced through countless roars, resounding in Jiang Haocang's ears like a thunderclap!
The moment the words fell, the Xuanhuang Pagoda above Lu Cheng's head suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling divine light!
The light that appeared thin from the previous attacks was not actually a loss, but rather the result of being tempered by star tribulations during the endless bombardment. Now it erupts, thicker and more refined than before, and faint phantoms of mountains, rivers, and all living things appear on the tower.

The "Deadly Ancient Star," which contained all of Jiang Haocang's mental and magical power, crashed heavily into the radiant Xuanhuang Qi curtain, and the massive explosion instantly engulfed the entire core of the field of vision!

But this time, the result was completely different!

There was no violent tremor, no raging energy storm.

The Xuanhuang Qi curtain was like an abyss that devoured everything, completely enveloping, absorbing, and digesting the "dead and silent ancient star" that was capable of destroying everything, only causing a few more condensed ripples before returning to silence.

"What?!" Jiang Haocang lost his composure, his pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints, and his mental state was momentarily compromised because his strongest attack was so easily neutralized.

It’s this moment!

Lu Cheng made a move!

He held his right hand together like a sword, his fingertips gathering a point of extremely restrained, seemingly compressing all sharpness and power to the limit—a Geng metal white light!
There was no earth-shattering display, no fancy or mysterious spells. Just a simple finger, pointed at Jiang Haocang's heart!
"Pfft!"

A sound, not loud, yet so clear that it made the hearts of all the spectators stop.

A splash of bright red spread rapidly across the chest area of ​​Jiang Haocang's magnificent nine-star holy robe.

"Ugh!"

A painful, angry, and incredulous roar escaped Jiang Haocang's throat. His body shuddered violently, as if struck by a giant hammer, and he was thrown backward uncontrollably, spitting out blood as if he were about to expel all the blood from his body.

"Your Taoist arts are quite exquisite and have given me some inspiration, so I will spare your life and not destroy your foundation."

If you are ever dissatisfied, you are welcome to come and challenge me. I, Taiqing Lucheng, will be waiting at any time.

The two locked eyes. Jiang Haocang stared intently at the Taoist in front of him, but in the other's eyes, he saw a galaxy of stars, the laws of star orbit, and his own Taoist methods.

'This person…this person actually took me as his master and comprehended my Stellar Dao Technique in such a short time?! Ahhh…pfft.'

This sudden realization made Jiang Haocang feel as if his chest was on fire, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

(End of this chapter)