The True Dragon Revealed at Qingfeng Temple
At this moment, all the meridians, all the key points, and all the profound mysteries of annihilation of the Ninth Sword were completely perfect and flawless, without any trace of its immature beginnings.
He shifted his stance, raised his hand, and slashed down with his sword in mid-air!
With a single sword strike, the world loses its color!
The sky over the entire back mountain suddenly darkened, the sun and moon disappeared, and the whole area was shrouded in gloom.
Endless calamity clouds poured down from the heavens, churning and surging, with lightning Lie Dormant beneath the surface, their world-destroying power suppressing the surrounding mountains and rivers for miles.
The nine previously scattered dark gold swords merged completely, coalescing into a massive, incomparably thick, sky-piercing tribulation lightning bolt that stretched across the sky, carrying the ultimate Dao Resonance of all tribulations returning to their origin and all things Return to the Ruins to nothingness, before crashing down into the distance!
The lightning struck the ground, and the void fell silent.
The land where the deep pit had remained was completely flattened, completely wiped clean, and completely returned to nothingness.
Mountains, soil layers, earth veins, and spatial traces have vanished without a trace.
The sky and earth were empty and desolate, as if they had been barren since time immemorial.
Chen Du sheathed his sword and stood still, his eyes clear and cold, his mind fully aware of his own combat strength.
He achieved the perfect cultivation of the Stellar Sixth Transformation, was blessed by the Threefold Calamity Source Dao Domain, and completed the final form of the Heavenly Tribulation Nine Swords.
The true destructive power of this sword strike has already transcended the limitations of its level.
It can crush and forcefully kill any opponent who Stellar Ninth Transformation!
From this day forward, he will have the absolute power to confront top-tier cultivators and confront the undercurrents behind the scenes.
Qingfeng Mountain swept by, dispersing the Calamity Qi that filled the sky.
The young man stood in the courtyard with a sword in hand, his heart filled with enlightenment, his path ahead clear and untroubled, and he had no more fear.
In the stillness of the temple, the king recognized the true dragon.
Time flows by quietly, and several more months have passed.
Life at Qingfeng Temple remained simple and peaceful, with people working at sunrise and resting at sunset, living a life free from worldly strife and noise.
When Chen Du had nothing to do, he would often instruct his junior disciples in the Bamboo Courtyard on breathing exercises to Qi Nourishing and solidify their foundation in Dao.
Occasionally, he would go to the alchemy room to tend to the alchemical fire and harmonize the medicinal properties for Master Xuanwei.
For the rest of his time, he sat quietly under the bamboo, silently deducing the laws of swordsmanship and accumulating his immense cultivation.
The disciples in the temple come and go as they please, their lives rising and falling as usual.
There are always young people who cannot bear the tranquility of the mountains, so they pack their bags and go down the mountain to enter the world, rushing to the hustle and bustle of life.
A year and a half later, someone returned, weathered and worn.
His clothes were no longer simple, and his eyes showed signs of worldliness. He sat by the stone table in the courtyard, telling his fellow disciples about the various aspects of life down the mountain, the turmoil in the martial arts world, and the coldness and warmth of the imperial court. His words revealed a faint sense of vicissitude after experiencing the world.
Chen Du often stood quietly to the side, listening without speaking, asking no questions, and calmly observing the comings and goings of people.
Only Xuanwei was always kind and gentle. Whenever his old disciples returned to the mountain, he would always ask them to stay for a few more days, instructing the kitchen to prepare a few more vegetarian dishes and a pot of warm tea, treating them like travelers returning home.
Qingfeng Temple has always been like this.
The mountains are serene, the people are gentle, and the hearts are broad. People come and go, but the mountains and rivers remain peaceful.
Until this day, the tranquility outside the mountain gate was suddenly shattered by a mighty roar.
The sound of horses' hooves thundering and armor clanging echoed from the foot of the mountain, layer upon layer, growing louder as they approached, breaking the long-standing tranquility.
Chen Du was watering flowers in the bamboo courtyard when he heard the sound and looked up into the distance.
Along the mountain path, the ceremonial guards were solemn, and the ranks were orderly.
A line of elite armored guards led the way, followed by attendants and followers. In the center of the procession, a grand eight-bearer palanquin of extremely high standard was steadily carried. The curtains of the palanquin were embroidered with golden pythons, the patterns majestic and the air luxurious.
This is the ceremonial retinue of King of Nanli.
Chen Du's eyes darkened slightly, but he understood.
He gently put down the kettle, brushed the dust off his palms, turned and strode towards the main hall.
Xuanwei was already standing quietly waiting in front of the main hall.
Seeing Chen Du approach, his eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his voice to ask softly:
"This time, you're not going to hide?"
Chen Du continued walking, responding softly, his tone calm and composed:
"After hiding for so many years, it's time to meet them."
Xuanwei nodded slightly, said no more, and stepped forward to lead the way. The master and disciple walked slowly into the main hall, one after the other.
At this moment, in the guest seat of the hall, the King of Nanli was already seated, holding a celadon teacup in his hand, chatting gently with the disciples on duty.
Upon seeing Xuanwei enter, he immediately put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed respectfully with hands clasped in greeting, displaying impeccable manners and utmost deference.
Then, his gaze passed over Xuanwei and naturally fell on the young Daoist behind him.
With just one glance, King of Nanli froze on the spot.
The young man, dressed in a faded, old Daoist robe, was slender and upright, with clear and gentle features and a calm and serene expression. He stood in the ancient hall, pure and untouched by worldly affairs.
But that face is too similar.
With seven parts outline and three parts spirit, it is almost identical to the current emperor who sits on the Purple Dragon Throne and rules over the vast country.
The mysterious story of the prince being replaced by a cat decades ago has long circulated among the court, the common people, and the public.
Most people dismissed these as mere palace gossip or idle chatter, and even he, a member of the royal family, always regarded them as idle speculation and idle chatter, never taking them seriously.
But seeing that face with his own eyes now, the last shred of hope in his heart shattered completely.
The truth is clear, and there is no room for further refutation.
The person before me is none other than the true prince who once wandered among the common people and lived in seclusion in the mortal world.
Amidst the turmoil of his emotions, King of Nanli's fingertips trembled slightly, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.
At this moment, Chen Du lowered his eyes slightly, nodded gently to him, his manner composed, neither humble nor arrogant, his voice clear and steady:
"Your Highness."
King of Nanli's apple bobbed, and he was about to speak.
Suddenly, the world before my eyes changed!
The palace remained ancient and its furnishings unchanged, but suddenly a colossal, illusory figure appeared in his field of vision, obscuring the sky and the sun!
The phantom stood tall, covering the entire area, its body enveloped in a vast and endless dark golden light. Its face was indistinct, except for its pair of eyes, which were clear and penetrating.
Cold, aloof, indifferent.
It seems as if the Heavenly Dao are looking down upon the mortal world, as if Ancient God is scrutinizing even the smallest ant.
In an instant, King of Nanli felt as insignificant as dust and grass.
He was like an ant crawling on the ground, looking up and seeing the dragon of the heavens lower its claws and teeth, its boundless suppressive power penetrating his flesh and reaching his soul.
Every hair on his body stood on end, his limbs were stiff and cold, and his knees were uncontrollably weak and aching, almost causing him to kneel down on the spot under this supreme pressure.
This level of power transcends the mundane and the world, a realm he could not reach even with his wildest imagination.
Fortunately, this terrifying phantom only appeared for a moment before vanishing abruptly, as if it were an illusion.
The scene inside the hall returned to normal.
King of Nanli snapped back to his senses, remaining seated in his original position. The teacup in his hand was still there, but the back of his clothes was already completely soaked with cold sweat, his body was ice-cold, and his mind was trembling uncontrollably.
He looked up at Chen Du again, his gaze now completely different.
It was no longer the same gaze one would give to a junior, a hermit, or a fallen imperial heir.
Instead, he looked up to a supreme master whom he could never reach in this lifetime, or even for the entire Zhao Clan dynasty.
After a long silence, his voice was dry and hoarse, trembling with barely concealed emotion, as he softly asked:
"What level have you reached in your cultivation?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Du merely smiled faintly and did not reply. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and remained calm and composed.
King of Nanli gazed quietly at his calm and composed demeanor, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
He had often secretly imagined what the real crown prince would have been like if he had grown up safely and ascended the throne smoothly.
Gentle? Kind? Wise? Or perhaps patient and reserved?
But he never dared to think about it.
This descendant of the Zhao family, who had wandered into the mountains and lived in seclusion in a Daoist temple, had grown up to such an unprecedented and terrifying level, defying the laws of Heavenly Dao.
After a long while, a sense of relief slowly rose from the depths of King of Nanli's heart.
The Zhao family bloodline, after many twists and turns, has finally produced such a remarkable figure.
With him around, undercurrents can be calmed, crises can be resolved, and the country can be at peace.
In the end, the fortunes of the Great Zhao were not completely extinguished.