Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 168 Tai Chi
When the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer stood up straight from the pile of rubble, the purple divine power around him was not as condensed as before, and the aura that was originally as turbulent as the tide had calmed down.

But as he gazed at Ling Xuan's crimson divine body, his eyes showed no sign of retreat; instead, a fierce determination to gamble everything ignited within him.

He slammed the two hammers together in his palms, and a crisp clang echoed in the void. His purple divine power surged suddenly, forming a swirling vortex around him that even swept up the surrounding rubble, instantly vaporizing it.

Clearly, he was about to unleash his divine power in battle.

"Lord of the Void Blade, don't think that good technique guarantees victory! Today I'll show you the true strength of the Purple Moon Holy Land!"

Before he finished speaking, he kicked off the air with both feet, his body shooting towards Ling Xuan like an arrow released from a bow. His two war hammers, accompanied by a whistling wind, slammed into his opponent from the left and right.

The left hammer swept across Ling Xuan's waist and abdomen, purple divine power condensing into a hammer beam several meters long at the tip, pressing the void downwards wherever it passed; the right hammer smashed straight at Ling Xuan's face, layers of purple ripples swirling around the hammer body, each ripple containing earth-shattering power.

The rubble along the way was whipped up by the hammer wind and shot out in all directions like bullets, but when it touched the purple divine power vortex, it was instantly shredded into dust.

Ling Xuan's eyes sharpened, and crimson divine power flowed rapidly along the patterns on the Heaven-Slaying Blade. The ancient imperial shadow on the blade suddenly became clear, and an imperial might that seemed to originate from ancient times slowly emanated—this pressure was not directed at the divine body, but rather directly at the mind, causing the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer to pause slightly.

"The path comes from within, and skill follows the heart. Your hammer technique, though powerful, lacks a certain agility." Ling Xuan spoke calmly, his Heaven-Slaying Blade drawing a smooth arc in front of him.

The moment the crimson blade light collided with the purple hammer light, he suddenly realized something—he had always felt that his sword intent and movement technique were not quite in sync during close combat. Now, with the pressure of the opponent's hammer wind, the sword intent of breaking through illusion and the sword intent of returning to nothingness began to merge, and a black and white Tai Chi diagram phantom faintly appeared around the blade.

"Clang!" The loud sound of the blade colliding with the hammer exploded in the void. The illusory image of the Taiji diagram suddenly spun, completely deflecting the power of the purple hammer light. At the same time, crimson divine power surged into the blade, causing the left hammer of the Heavenly Hammer Master to deflect slightly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ling Xuan lunged forward, his Heaven-Slaying Blade slicing past the hammer handle, its blade light aimed directly at the Heavenly Hammer Master's wrist—the illusory Taiji diagram moved with the blade, its black and white colors swirling, even causing the surrounding space to rotate, slowing the Heavenly Hammer Master's dodge speed by half a point.

The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was startled and quickly withdrew his left hammer. He then used his right hammer to smash down on Ling Xuan's ankle, and the ripples around the hammer became even denser.

"You actually comprehended the Dao during battle?!" He was both shocked and furious. To be able to comprehend the Dao in the midst of a battle at the level of a universe master was a talent far beyond his imagination.

But he had no time to think. He could only forcefully suppress his mind and swing his two hammers. Purple divine power condensed into countless hammer shadows, which rained down on Ling Xuan, trying to interrupt his enlightenment state with an offensive.

Ling Xuan remained completely unaffected. The illusory image of the Tai Chi diagram became increasingly clear, and the black and white colors not only deflected the hammer's force but also reflected some of the power back.

He gripped the Heaven-Slaying Blade, his movements becoming increasingly graceful. Sometimes he dodged with the agility of a black fish in a Tai Chi diagram, and other times he countered with the speed and ferocity of a white fish. Each strike perfectly avoided the hammer's shadow while precisely hitting the warhammer's weak points.

This seemingly slow strike contained the Daoist principle of "overcoming strength with softness." The moment the purple hammer shadow touched the blade's edge, it was drawn to both sides by the rotating force of the Tai Chi diagram, revealing an opening in the chest of the Heavenly Hammer Master.

The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, his purple divine power burning wildly and condensing into a thick shield in front of him.

However, the power of the Taiji Diagram Slash far exceeded his expectations. The blade light easily pierced through the shield. Although he managed to dodge it in time, it still left a deep mark on the hammer handle, and purple divine power leaked out wildly through the gap.

He gritted his teeth and unleashed his divine power once more. Suddenly, the two hammers crossed, and purple divine power condensed at the tips of the hammers into a huge hammer shadow, which smashed towards Ling Xuan like a mountain. This was his trump card move.

Ling Xuan's eyes narrowed, and he raised the Heaven-Slaying Blade high. His imperial might erupted instantly, and the ancient imperial shadow on the blade seemed to come alive, merging with the illusory Taiji diagram to form a black and white extreme blade light.

"This strike is called 'Reincarnation'!" he shouted. The moment the blade struck, an ancient imperial voice echoed in the void. Black and white colors flowed like yin and yang, forcefully splitting the huge purple hammer shadow in two.

At the same time, the aftershocks of the blade's light spread outwards for several light-years, shattering all the surrounding rocks and widening the void rifts.

The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was forced to retreat repeatedly by the residual power of the blade's aura. His hands, gripping the warhammer, trembled slightly. The vortex around him completely disappeared, and he smashed through countless giant rocks along the way.

At this moment, he felt his divine power rapidly declining.

"Stop! Stop now! Lord of the Void Blade, let's cease fire!" The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer finally couldn't hold on any longer, his voice trembling with unprecedented panic.

Ling Xuan's fierce strike just now instantly annihilated a full 3% of his divine power, and that was the result of his all-out defense.

In an instant, a storm of shock surged through his heart. He knew that the opponent's secret technique had definitely reached the fifth level or above, and might even have entered the terrifying realm of the sixth level.

"I surrender! I admit I can't beat you, please stop!" His tone was full of pleading, and his previous arrogance and toughness had long since vanished.

Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan stopped his relentless attack. He pointed the Heaven-Slaying Blade diagonally at the giant rock beneath his feet. Around the blade, the illusory Taiji diagram continued to rotate leisurely, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura, and the imperial might gradually subsided.

"Ceasefire? Who was it that just spoke so arrogantly, saying they wanted to show me the profound strength of the Purple Moon Holy Land?" His tone was icy and piercing, his sarcasm undisguised. "Do you think the battles in this cosmic sea are child's play? You think you can just burn your divine power whenever you want and stop fighting whenever you want? There's no such easy way out! Besides, my secret technique is still in its early stages, and just like you, I'm lacking a good whetstone."

The Lord of Heavenly Hammer's face turned deathly pale. He had originally intended to use the Lord of the Void Blade as a whetstone for his own purposes, but unexpectedly, he had become the whetstone for the other party's newly created secret technique.

But she still stubbornly held onto the last shred of her pride, saying, "Lord of the Void Blade, I admit your strength is extraordinary, but don't be too arrogant! My Purple Moon Holy Land stands tall in the cosmic sea, having survived hundreds of reincarnations. Our foundation is profound; how can you easily provoke us..."

"What a joke!" Ling Xuan sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife. "I may be helpless against the Purple Moon Holy Land, but don't forget how you broke through to the Universe Lord realm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the illusory image of the Taiji diagram instantly merged into the Heaven-Slaying Blade. This supreme imperial weapon seemed to sense its master's surging battle intent, and in an instant, it erupted with unparalleled imperial might. Ling Xuan did not hesitate and raised the blade to slash fiercely at the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer.

Upon seeing this, the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was greatly alarmed. He hurriedly wielded his twin hammers, exerting all his strength to unleash his most powerful secret technique in an attempt to weaken this earth-shattering strike.

A deafening boom shook the very void. Ling Xuan's mastery of this secret technique had grown increasingly proficient. The giant hammer phantom conjured by the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer proved utterly vulnerable under this strike, instantly shattering into pieces. The remaining power of the blade's edge, carrying boundless momentum, surged towards the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer like a raging tide. Gazing at the approaching, chilling blade of light that instilled despair, the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer's thoughts drifted away. He suddenly remembered that his status as a Universe Lord was solely due to the recent murder of a Universe Lord from the Purple Moon Holy Land who had offended the Rampaging Demon God, thus giving him the opportunity to fill the vacancy.

Looking at the Purple Moon Holy Land, although it usually stands high above others, it rarely engages in direct conflict with the many powerful forces in the cosmic sea, and acts with extreme caution.

"Don't kill me, I'll offer you the most precious treasure!" In this life-or-death situation, the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer could no longer care about his dignity and begged for mercy.

"Hmph, if I kill you, all your treasures will naturally be mine!" Ling Xuan remained unmoved, his eyes flashing with a cold light, bursting out with a chillingly fierce glint.

This guy has provoked me time and time again. Now he thinks he can escape easily? He's dreaming. Does he really think I, Ling, am a benevolent and charitable person?
With this in mind, Ling Xuan lightly touched the void with his feet, his figure chasing after the fleeing Lord of the Heavenly Hammer like a ghost. Every swing of his sword carried an endless sense of oppression, the sword light tearing through the void, leaving behind shocking cracks.

The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was terrified and desperately burned his remaining divine power in an attempt to widen the distance between himself and Ling Xuan.

However, he was just a newly promoted universe master. Secret techniques could be made up for with time, but precious treasures were not so easy to obtain. Ling Xuan's Flame Beast Heaven Domain was specially prepared for him by the Giant Axe Founder and belonged to the highest quality among top-tier treasures.

With the addition of the ultimate domain emanating from the Heaven-Slaying Blade, an ultimate imperial weapon, the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer could not increase his speed at all.

That's why he begged for mercy; he couldn't beat them in a fight, and he couldn't escape them either.

Just as the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer was feeling desperate, five completely different and powerful auras suddenly came from afar, rapidly approaching like five moving mountains.

In the blink of an eye, five figures blocked the path of the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer—the leader, clad in dark purple scale armor with a sinister face, held a long whip covered in spikes; he was none other than the "Lord of the Thorn Whip" of the Purple Moon Holy Land. To his left was a short, stout man surrounded by heavy, earth-yellow divine power; he was the "Lord of the Rock Fortress," skilled in defense. To his right was a man in a light purple robe, agile and wielding two short blades; he was the "Lord of the Purple Shadow," known for his speed. Behind them stood two figures side by side, one manipulating purple flames and the other manipulating void fluctuations; they were the "Lord of the Burning Flame" and the "Lord of the Void Trace," respectively.

"Lord of the Void Blade, your relentless pursuit is a bit too aggressive, isn't it?" The Lord of the Thorn Whip spoke first, flicking his whip lightly in the void, making a crisp "snap" sound, with a hint of threat. "Although the Heavenly Hammer was wrong first, he is still a member of my Purple Moon Holy Land. If you are willing to let bygones be bygones today, my Purple Moon Holy Land can forgive and forget about it."

Ling Xuan frowned slightly, stopped in his tracks, and glanced at the five people. Crimson divine power slowly circulated around his body, and the Heaven-Slaying Blade trembled slightly: "Are you five going to join forces to interfere in my personal feud with the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer?"

"Personal grudge?" Lord of Rock Fortress spoke in a deep voice, his earth-yellow divine power growing even thicker. "The Heavenly Hammer represents the Purple Moon Holy Land. You have injured and insulted him, which is to slap the face of my Holy Land! If you do not release him today, do not blame us for being impolite!"

The Lord of Purple Shadows flickered, leaving several afterimages in the void, his tone tinged with mockery: "Lord of Void Blade, you are strong, but with the five of us joining forces, do you think you have a chance of winning? If you know what's good for you, retreat, lest you lose face and gain nothing in the end."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan's eyes flashed even colder, and the imperial might on his Heaven-Slaying Blade suddenly erupted, its crimson blade light instantly surging: "So what if we join forces? If I want to kill him today, even if all five of you are here, you might not be able to stop me!"

Having said that, he stomped his foot into the void, and crimson divine power erupted like a volcano. The phantom of the Tai Chi diagram reappeared on the blade, giving the impression that he was ready to fight five against one at the slightest provocation.

Seeing this, the Lord of Blazing Flames knew that even if they joined forces, they might not be able to defeat a Universe Ruler who was likely at the sixth rank. He said in a deep voice, "Lord of the Void Blade, why be so stubborn? Your grudge with the Heavenly Hammer was just a conflict arising from a friendly spar. There's no need to fight to the death. My Purple Moon Holy Land is willing to offer three top-tier treasures to settle this matter. What do you say?"

The Lord of Void Scars also spoke, with void fluctuations swirling around him: "These treasures will greatly benefit your cultivation and exploration of the universe. Moreover, being an enemy of my Purple Moon Holy Land will not be good for your future actions."

Ling Xuan weighed the situation in his mind: the five of them working together would indeed be troublesome, especially with the control of the Thorn Whip Lord, the defense of the Rock Fortress Lord, and the speed interference of the Purple Shadow Lord. If they really fought, he might not lose, but it would be impossible for him to kill the Heavenly Hammer Lord. Instead, he would waste a lot of divine power and delay the important matter of finding the remains of the Xuan Gu Lord.

Most importantly, the Purple Moon Holy Land does have a large population. Although the strongest in the universe is not powerful enough, there are still several sixth-order universe masters. Continuing the standoff will not do us any good.

Furthermore, having already dampened the arrogance of the Lord of Heavenly Hammer and avenged the entanglement, there's no need to engage in a direct confrontation with the five powerful figures from the Purple Moon Holy Land.

After a moment's thought, Ling Xuan slowly withdrew some of his divine power, his blade aura receding, but his gaze remained fixed on the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer: "The three top-tier treasures, plus the treasure promised by the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer today, let this matter rest."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the five people, his tone unwavering and firm, "But let me make this clear: I'm letting him off today for your sake, but if he dares to provoke me again in the future, even with the backing of your Purple Moon Holy Land, I will take his life!"

The Lord of the Thorn Whip and the other four exchanged glances. Seeing that Ling Xuan was willing to compromise, they nodded and said, "Alright! We will present these treasures immediately."

After saying that, he gestured for the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer to take out the treasure he had promised, and then had the Lord of the Burning Flame take out a top-tier treasure from each of them and hand it over to Ling Xuan.

These treasures are precious, but they are only temporarily provided to the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer. Everyone has a long lifespan, so there is no fear that a Lord of the Universe will not be able to repay three top-tier treasures.

Ling Xuan took the treasure box and the treasures from the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer, and after a brief inspection, he put them into his storage space.

He gave the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer, who was slumped to the side, one last cold glance, then turned and said, "Farewell!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crimson figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the void.

After Ling Xuan left, the Lord of the Heavenly Hammer collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

The Lord of the Thorns looked at him, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Heavenly Hammer, if we hadn't arrived in time, you would have been dead long ago! In the future, you must restrain your arrogance and never provoke such a tough opponent again!"

The Lord of the Heavenly Hammer hung his head, his voice filled with shame: "I was just following the clan's trial requirements, looking for a Universe Lord with decent strength and reputation to spar with, I didn't expect..."

The Lord of Blazing Flames interrupted him, his tone stern: "Fool! When we first leave the Holy Land, we all seek out powerful Universe Lords from the Primitive Universe Era who have ties to our races to spar with. But you, you go and fight a special life form with no ties to your race. Isn't that just courting death?"

"Even if you were to spar with the Lord of Chaos City, it would be better than sparring with some special being. I think you're really courting death?"

(End of this chapter)