Jiang Yun operated the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Stars Formation with all his might. Moments later, each of his acupoints seemed to sense the origin aura of its corresponding star. Then, from the star-infused spiritual energy he had drawn over, clusters of light flew out and scattered into the 365 acupoints of his Star Dharma Form.
Those specks of light that had come with the spiritual energy were condensed projections cast down by the 365 Primordial Stars in the Primordial Desolation Starry Sky.
After the specks formed from the projections entered the acupoints of the Dharma Form, the acupoints in the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Star Formation began forming a grand array according to the positions of the stars, unleashing an attack.
The Eastern Seven Mansions—Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket—flashed with azure-blue light. The radiance connected and transformed into a gigantic phantom Azure Dragon. Its scales and claws whipped through the air as it spewed a continuous torrent of star power, surging forward like a raging tide. Wherever it passed, space was torn into shreds, forming vortexes of darkness that seemed ready to devour everything.
The Southern Seven Mansions—Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wings, and Connecting Bar—flared with crimson light. Star power like flames gathered into the shape of a Vermilion Bird. The Vermilion Bird spread its enormous wings, every feather condensed from star power. With a shriek, it beat its wings, sending a vast sea of fiery star power surging forth. This was no ordinary flame, but Star Flame capable of burning away souls and laws. Its searing heat twisted and warped the surrounding space, like a canvas being kneaded.
The Western Seven Mansions—Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak, and Three Stars—bloomed with snowy-white light. The radiance gathered into the form of a White Tiger. Roaring furiously, it radiated a biting aura of slaughter. It shook its body, and strands of white fur formed from star power shot forward. These hairs were like tiny grains of Star Sand. Once gathered together, they formed a waterfall of flowing sand that rushed downward.
The Northern Seven Mansions—Dipper, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Encampment, and Wall—radiated a deep blue light. Star power transformed into the image of a Black Tortoise. The Black Tortoise slowly moved its massive body, while runes flashed across the tortoiseshell on its back. Shield after shield of star power shot from the shell. They were like the strongest fortresses in the universe, resisting attacks from outside. At the same time, the Black Tortoise spewed a frigid tide of star power from its mouth. Wherever the cold tide reached, everything froze. Whether tangible objects or intangible energy, all were sealed within the crystalline tide of star power.
The other stars within the formation were unwilling to fall behind. The Southern Dipper governed life, the Northern Dipper governed death, and the Three Enclosures—Purple Forbidden, Supreme Palace, and Tianshi—along with countless other stellar manifestations, all shot out beams of star power. These beams were like a dense rain of arrows. They converged and finally interwove with the power of the four divine beasts formed from the Twenty-Eight Mansions, creating a gray pillar of energy capable of destroying heaven and earth. It blasted toward the Five-Colored Radiance Minor World formed from the fusion of the Five-Colored Divine Light.
At the instant the two forces collided, heaven and earth fell utterly silent. The gray pillar of energy and the Five-Colored Minor World continuously struggled against each other, while World Power and Destruction Energy interwove and annihilated one another all around them. As the gray energy gradually poured into the Five-Colored Minor World, the minor world began to collapse, then collapsed faster and faster. In the end, after forming a singularity, it erupted into a violent explosion.
At the moment of the explosion, Jiang Yun and Kong Xuan simultaneously felt a fierce stabbing sensation rise in their spiritual awareness.
Before either of them could react, an immense shockwave struck them head-on. The defenses they had just raised were scattered before they could even unfold. Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light Defense was shattered by the shockwave, and he was knocked back several miles before managing to steady himself. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
As for Jiang Yun, the explosion caused the star power to flow back. The returning star power severed the connections between the acupoints of his Star Dharma Form. The resulting imbalance caused the Dharma Form to collapse. The Twelve-grade White Lotus within his primordial spirit had no time to unfold its defenses either, and his body suffered some of the impact. At that moment, the Black Tortoise moved, using its own shell to block the remaining shockwave for him. As a result, only his internal organs were somewhat battered, and his blood and qi continued to roil.
The shockwave from the explosion tore up several layers of earth across hundreds of thousands of miles. At the center, it blasted out a deep valley tens of thousands of miles deep. Even the Great Roc, watching from ten thousand miles away, was knocked head over heels by the impact, leaving it in a rather sorry state.
After meditating and regulating his breathing for a while, Jiang Yun finally suppressed his surging blood and qi and gathered the strength to look over the battlefield.
After being injured by the shockwave, Kong Xuan steadied himself and began circulating his cultivation to heal. At that moment, he had no attention to spare for anything else.
After the Great Roc watching from the outskirts got back to its feet, it spread its wings and immediately flew to Kong Xuan's side. It now wore a worried expression as it wanted to step forward and inspect Kong Xuan's injuries, yet feared disturbing its elder brother.
At that moment, Jiang Yun used a divine ability to arrive near Kong Xuan. Seeing this, the Great Roc immediately moved in front of Kong Xuan and stared at Jiang Yun warily with its eagle eyes. Kong Xuan, behind it, sensed this, forcibly suppressed his injuries, rose to his feet, and patted the Great Roc blocking his way, signaling for it to stand behind him.
Kong Xuan looked calmly at Jiang Yun and gave a slight cough before speaking frankly. "In the final round of our contest, I was severely wounded while you suffered virtually no injuries. You won. The karma between us has now been settled."
"Otherwise, in that final exchange, we were still evenly matched, with neither of us victorious. If not for the help of an elder, I would have been injured in that final explosion as well. So, our battle should be considered a draw." Jiang Yun turned his head and glanced at the Black Tortoise on his shoulder as he spoke, making his meaning clear.
Following his gaze, Kong Xuan looked at the little turtle on Jiang Yun's shoulder, and a flicker of understanding appeared in his eyes.
"You are a rare good opponent, and also one worthy of respect." Jiang Yun's expression was solemn, and his words were sincere. He then took out a drop of Three Lights Divine Water and sent it before Kong Xuan with a wave of his hand.
"This is a small token of my goodwill. Please accept it. It can help heal your injuries."
Kong Xuan gave Jiang Yun a deep look, then flipped his hand and accepted the drop of Three Lights Divine Water before him. He replied in a slightly aloof tone, "Thank you."
The Phoenix Clan did not lack treasures, but Three Lights Divine Water was still a rare healing treasure to them, and Kong Xuan had heard of it before.
Jiang Yun had expressed his recognition of Kong Xuan's strength and character. Likewise, Kong Xuan acknowledged Jiang Yun as an opponent. The two could be said to cherish one another as worthy rivals. Otherwise, he would not have so readily accepted the goodwill of a stranger, even if it was a treasure like Three Lights Divine Water. This was the pride of the Son of the Phoenix.
"My Dao Field is at Spirit Bamboo Mountain in the Western World. If you have time, come find me in the Western World. Then we can determine the victor once more." As Jiang Yun spoke, he engraved the location of his Dao Field onto a Jade Token and tossed it to Kong Xuan.
"Good." Kong Xuan caught the Jade Token in one motion, then turned and left with the Great Roc, returning to their cave dwellings.
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