Moonlight Sword Shattered

When Elder Hou was hauled back before Venerable Zhihui, his aged eyes were filled with desolation.

Humiliating.

He had never felt so humiliated before.

Before several major factions of the Immortal Realm, as a Golden Immortal, he had been forced into an utterly miserable state time and again by that Mechanical Fiend, who was merely a Heavenly Immortal.

If this had been an uninterrupted fight to the death, he would have killed that bastard three or four times already!

But now, that Nine Spirits Sword Venerable was clearly playing favorites!

He, an elder of the Dark Cult and a Golden Immortal protected by the Heavenly Dao, had become a mere backdrop for the Mechanical Fiend to make a name for himself in the Immortal Realm!

What was even more fatal was...

"Elder Hou, you have truly disappointed me."

Anger lurked beneath the cold beauty of Venerable Zhihui's face.

Elder Hou wanted to explain himself, but the words reached his lips only to turn into a sigh. He lowered his head and gave a Daoist salute.

With a sweep of Venerable Zhihui's sleeve, Elder Hou dejectedly returned to the rear of the Dark Cult Immortals;

The surrounding Heavenly Immortals avoided him as though he were plague-ridden, their gazes filled mostly with disgust and mockery.

Elder Hou found a corner to meditate and heal his wounds. He looked up at the Black Obsidian envoy, who was smiling and nodding at him from not far away, said nothing, and slowly closed his eyes.

Black Obsidian looked toward the summit of the thirty-three-tiered staircase and remarked with his hands behind his back:

"Look. This is why the Heavenly Dao fears this guy. Reviving a deadlocked situation is nothing more than basic work for him."

The old woman behind him said softly, "It is only because the Sword God Palace is here."

"It is not just the Sword God Palace. He must have secretly coordinated with the Spear God Palace and the Thousand Worlds Alliance as well."

Black Obsidian sighed.

"Otherwise, those two factions would not have moved forward in a protective formation.

"Forget it today. Even if the Dark Cult Master appeared in person, Sword Nine should still be able to protect this guy.

"Once he borrows their influence, things will become difficult for us... Our mechanical plan must begin ahead of schedule."

The old man transmitted his voice, "Could there be something wrong with Elder Hou?"

"What do you mean?"

"He is a Golden Immortal. I do not believe he cannot handle a Heavenly Immortal."

"I do," Black Obsidian muttered. "And Wang Jixuan must still have Antimatter Bombs on him. He did not take them out to blast Elder Hou, but doing so could have bought time and drained Elder Hou's immortal power."

"Wouldn't that destroy him too?"

"It would only destroy a clone. His true body has not appeared yet."

Black Obsidian said it casually, leaving the old man and old woman speechless.

Meanwhile, the Strange Soul Puppet came to a steady stop on the thirty-second tier.

Sword intent surged forth from this place. The Strange Soul Puppet once more sat cross-legged, seemingly comprehending the sword intent here.

In reality;

On the last Treasure Ship of the Thousand Worlds Alliance fleet, a fish swiftly darted through the seawater. It soon arrived at the edge of the Divine Wood, beneath the thirty-three-tiered Cloud Ladder.

That fish was naturally Daoist Wang's true body.

He raised his head and gazed toward the Cloud Ladder above.

Immortal figures surrounded the Cloud Ladder on all sides, while countless more figures crowded the distance. It was simply that the vast majority could not get close.

He dispelled his transformation technique and removed the concealment spell.

Wang Jixuan lowered his head and looked over his attire. Naturally, he was still dressed as that middle-aged Daoist.

He rode the clouds upward at an unhurried pace. At first, no one paid him any attention, as the cultivation he displayed was only that of a fifth- or sixth-grade Heavenly Immortal.

Everywhere, people were discussing the 'Mechanical Fiend.'

Although Wang Jixuan's Immortal Sense occasionally caught snippets of their conversations, he paid them no heed, focusing entirely on the important matter ahead.

It was only after he arrived before the Cloud Ladder that one or two gazes fell upon him.

"Eh? Fellow Daoist Xuanji?"

Han Xiao called out in surprise:

"You came to test Senior Nine Spirits Sword Venerable's Cloud Ladder too?"

Wang Jixuan gave a slight nod. His figure leaped up, landing on the third tier of the Cloud Ladder On Their Own, before lowering his head to give Han Xiao a Daoist salute.

"Brother Han, I had no choice but to conceal my identity before. Please forgive any offense.

"If I survive today, I will prepare fine wine and good food to apologize to you."

Han Xiao's head immediately began to ache.

Daoist Wang straightened up and raised a hand to peel a Nano mask from his face. His beard, sideburns, and the faint marks on his face vanished with the mask.

Han Xiao abruptly pointed at Wang Jixuan. His sword-like brows shot upright as he ground his teeth and cursed:

"You!"

Wang Jixuan narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Sorry, sorry. The Dark Cult truly drove me into a corner."

"Come with me, now!"

Han Xiao said firmly:

"The Thousand Worlds Alliance will protect you with everything we have!"

Wang Jixuan was somewhat puzzled, but he said nothing more and merely declined Han Xiao's goodwill.

Daoist Wang smiled. "Only today, in this place, have I understood what my future Great Dao is. I do not wish to miss such an opportunity. Otherwise, I would not have taken the initiative to reveal myself. The Strange Soul Puppet alone would have been enough to deal with the Dark Cult's provocation."

As he spoke, Daoist Wang's peripheral vision swept over the Dark Cult Immortals in the distance.

Venerable Zhihui's face was icy cold, her body trembling faintly as if she had witnessed something that enraged her beyond measure.

As expected, even if she is not the True Immortal I killed Six Hundred Thousand Years ago, she must be connected to that person. Such hatred cannot be feigned.

A faint cold smile curved Wang Jixuan's lips. Without saying a word, he slowly leaped upward, then descended.

Just like that, empty-handed, he began climbing the Cloud Ladder. Yet the eleven Dark Cult Heavenly Immortals on the ladder did not dare step forward to stop him.

The eleven of them had considered advancing as well, but the sight of Elder Hou being bombarded by Starry Sky Sword Intent, and the scene of his protective immortal light being broken through by a Falling Leaf, made all of them abandon the idea.

They were only here to earn Contribution Points. Why risk their lives...

Daoist Wang easily reached the twenty-sixth tier. Just as he was about to step past it, he suddenly heard a crisp shout.

"Hey!"

He looked up and saw the 'young girl' from the Fire God Palace. She sat cross-legged in a corner of the twenty-sixth tier with her arms folded, her large eyes sparkling.

"Fellow Daoist, do you have some advice?"

"Was that puppet above refined by you? Are you a Mechanical Master?"

Daoist Wang gave a self-deprecating smile. "It is only a little demonic art. Still, I have some knowledge of puppet and mechanism arts."

Having said that, Daoist Wang cupped his fist toward the young girl. With a light tap of his toes, he descended onto the twenty-eighth tier.

He climbed the final few tiers very slowly, with considerably more difficulty than the Strange Soul Puppet had faced.

There was no other reason. The Strange Soul Puppet, blessed by the Divine Wood, was currently stronger than his true body.

Furthermore, Wang Jixuan did so deliberately. He lingered a little on every tier, allowing Peony to gather sufficient data and train models to continue the deductions.

More importantly...

Wang Jixuan did not activate any sword intent to protect himself. He simply endured the powerful sword intent of these tiers before strolling onto the thirty-second tier as though taking a leisurely walk.

Wang Jixuan had gained many insights by now.

Sword intent was, in truth, using the sword to comprehend nature and condense Dao Principles.

The several sword intents on the highest tier were all incomparably pure. It was as though Wang Jixuan were once again conversing with the Great Dao while drifting through the Sea of Dao Principles.

He arrived before the Strange Soul Puppet and opened his left hand. A Glazed Tile Treasure Bead flew out, storing the puppet body that had been thoroughly refined by the Dragon Python Strange Soul, blessed by the Divine Wood, and possessed immortal power comparable to that of a lower-tier Golden Immortal.

It would need a makeover later;

After all, it was merely an oversized Xing Tian.

The Moonlight Sword let out a faint trembling cry and landed in Wang Jixuan's palm. A pale red radiance rippled out around him, while the Glazed Tile Treasure Bead also settled into his hand.

A black dragon coiled around him, condensing into a tattoo upon his left shoulder to protect it.

Carrying a trace of righteous energy and accompanied by a light breeze, dressed in snow-white robes with long hair flowing freely, Wang Jixuan held his sword and landed upon the final tier of the Cloud Ladder.

In an instant, thunder rumbled, as if countless swords were crying out.

Wang Jixuan converged his aura, took out the lines Peony had prepared, and deeply bowed to Nine Spirits Sword Venerable.

To become his disciple;

To challenge him;

Above the clouds and beneath the sea, within heaven and earth, countless gazes carried a measure of surprise.

If it was becoming a disciple, most Immortals could understand.

After all, Wang Jixuan had already displayed astonishing talent in the Way of the Sword, and Elder Hou had used his own reputation and prestige to establish the initial fame of this rising swordsmanship prodigy.

But a challenge?

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable even revealed a faint smile as he stared at Wang Jixuan, wanting to see whether Wang Jixuan was merely putting on a show to win favor.

Daoist Wang was sweating inwardly as well.

This was effectively wagering his own life on Nine Spirits Sword Venerable showing mercy beneath his sword.

"Good."

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable slowly rose to his feet. His right hand closed slightly around empty air, and the spiritual sword Cloud Ink landed in his palm.

He said slowly, "Since you wish to fulfill your sense of righteousness, why would This Seat not grant it? Take up your sword and exchange attacks with This Seat. If even a remnant soul of yours remains, This Seat will help you reincarnate and accept you as a personal disciple."

Wang Jixuan:...

Something was wrong. This script seemed rather different from what he had envisioned!

But Things Have Come to This, and Wang Jixuan had no reason or excuse to retreat.

He smiled and nodded, directly pressing the Glazed Tile Treasure Bead into the center of his left palm, continuously drawing the spiritual power within it.

In his perception, Nine Spirits Sword Venerable was like a towering mountain, and beneath that mountain lay endless sword intent.

Pure sword intent, without any natural Dao Principles, needing no additional power.

Wang Jixuan understood.

Xiao Sang had said Sword Person, not a cheap bastard.

For a swordsman like this, if I can receive even one strike from him, I will have no regrets at my current stage.

Thus, Wang Jixuan silently took out several immortal treasures to guard himself, then retrieved a tiny Annihilation Bomb that could be used as a grenade.

His right hand slowly grasped the Moonlight Sword. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, as if communicating with the Divine Wood below. The Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth suddenly increased, while specks of starlight danced around him like fireflies.

Wang Jixuan only had one chance to strike. He planned to use the Starry Sky Sword Intent he had obtained through his previous advantage.

Azure Reed Sword Intent as the foundation, Starry Sky Sword Intent as the spear;

This was the limit of what he could currently bring forth.

Wang Jixuan gently drew a breath.

"Senior, please."

A magnificent sword momentum answered!

Peony lay leisurely in the command room of the Second Base.

Little Hua Ting paced back and forth beside her.

"Oh," Peony said with a grin, "do not worry. Nothing will happen. If I got even such a basic personality profile wrong, the boss would have been Defeated countless times already."

Little Hua Ting asked worriedly, "Didn't this Sword Venerable say he would strike with full force?"

"He will strike with full force, but he will not harm the boss's life."

Peony explained simply:

"This is a form of intimidation. Nine Spirits Sword Venerable likely wants to see where the boss's limits lie, while also intimidating the Dark Cult.

"The boss is entangled in immense karma. Nine Spirits Sword Venerable should have his doubts as well.

"Next, only two outcomes await our boss.

"The worse outcome is that Nine Spirits Sword Venerable does not wish to accept a disciple. He will most likely leave the boss with some guidance, after which the boss will need to seek refuge with the Thousand Worlds Alliance or the Spear God Palace.

"The Spear God Palace's earlier behavior was clearly intended to befriend the boss. They most likely value the Moon God Palace Master behind him.

"The better outcome is that Nine Spirits Sword Venerable accepts him directly as a disciple. Our boss joins the Sword God Palace, the Dark Cult can only retreat, and the Dark Cult's Heavenly Dao—the Consciousness Entity named Brahma—will definitely go mad for a while and cause all sorts of trouble."

Little Hua Ting frowned, pressing her lips together as she stared at the image on the Big Screen.

The image had been filmed by a long-range detector. It had been magnified dozens of times and was somewhat blurry.

Countless stars appeared around Wang Jixuan;

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable took half a step forward. The entire image dimmed somewhat, while vast patches of starlight around Wang Jixuan went out.

Wang Jixuan's body trembled faintly, as if he were suppressing something.

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable stepped forward again. The image grew even dimmer, and the entire screen began shaking irregularly.

It was heaven and earth trembling, and the aftershocks of that tremor had already affected the distant detector.

Little Hua Ting nervously clenched her small hands.

Peony sat upright as well, frowning as she stared at Nine Spirits Sword Venerable and rapidly analyzed the probability that he might kill Wang Jixuan.

No matter how she analyzed it, that probability was infinitely close to zero.

Moreover, Senior Bai Gu could see many possible futures. If Wang Jixuan encountered trouble here, Senior Bai Gu would have warned them in advance...

He struck!

At the instant Nine Spirits Sword Venerable took his third small step, Wang Jixuan suddenly raised his sword and shot forward. He thrust out in what appeared to be a completely unadorned strike, yet the Moonlight Sword seemed to contain an entire sky of stars.

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable struck at the same time!

This sword stroke cut through the mortal world and erased heaven and earth. All thirty-three tiers of the Cloud Ladder trembled at once, and above the arena, sun and moon became indistinguishable.

Clang!

The two swords collided!

The Moonlight Sword in Wang Jixuan's hand lasted only an instant before shattering outright, breaking apart like a smashed glazed cup. Countless stars bloomed from within the Moonlight Sword, and the entire East Sea seemed to accept that starlight.

A Shockwave flashed across the ripples of heaven and earth.

The screen before Peony and Little Hua Ting instantly went dark, then rapidly began flickering with images transmitted by other detectors.

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable's sword stopped before Wang Jixuan's chest.

Wang Jixuan lowered his head and stared blankly at the Moonlight Sword in his hand, dazed and confused, as though his Way of the Sword had shattered along with the Moonlight Sword.

Yet Nine Spirits Sword Venerable rarely revealed such a smile.

The top-tier Golden Immortal flicked a finger, and a wisp of immortal light bored into the back of Wang Jixuan's hand. A delicate little sword phantom appeared there.

"Your Way of the Sword is disorderly, muddled, and impure. It will be difficult for you to become a Grand Beginning Golden Immortal. I have removed it for you. From this day onward, forget all the sword techniques and sword formations you have learned.

"They were all merely third-rate Ways of the Sword.

"Since I destroyed your sword, I should naturally give you one. Consider it your gift for becoming my disciple."

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable raised a hand slightly, and a Greatsword a foot wide fell from midair, smashing onto the ground before Wang Jixuan.

And then Nine Spirits Sword Venerable grabbed downward. Xiao Sang, the Spirit of the Divine Wood, had no power to resist. Bound by the sword intent released by Nine Spirits Sword Venerable, she was dragged in front of Wang Jixuan and stuffed into the Greatsword before his eyes.

The Greatsword trembled faintly.

Nine Spirits Sword Venerable said calmly, "Without a vessel to reside in, the Spirit of the Divine Wood cannot survive for long. Whether you wish to become this sword's spirit or not, negotiate it yourselves."

With that, Nine Spirits Sword Venerable walked past Wang Jixuan. Alone, sword in hand, he looked toward Venerable Zhihui.

"Was it you who hunted my disciple?"