Zhao Gongming concealed all his aura, appearing no different from an ordinary rogue cultivator as he traveled among the mountains and rivers.
He sank his divine sense into his body, constantly sensing the pulse of the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.
After his breakthrough, Zhao Gongming's connection with this Innate Spirit Treasure had grown even stronger. He could even sense that each pearl seemed to contain a miniature world, though they remained in a state of unopened chaos.
If I can fully refine these Twenty-Four Pearls and evolve them into the Twenty-Four Heavens, I wonder how powerful they would be... He looked forward to the prospect, and his reliance on the Primordial Deduction System had transformed into a desire to grow stronger through his own efforts.
One day, Zhao Gongming reached a vast mountain range. The terrain was steep and jagged, and baleful energy often rose among the peaks, carrying an ominous air. A weathered stone tablet stood before the mountains, bearing three blood-red characters: Fallen Immortal Ridge.
Legend had it that this was where an ancient, mighty being had fallen during the Dragon-Han Tribulation. Resentment and baleful energy had intertwined here, turning it into a perilous place over time. Ordinary immortals would never dare set foot there.
Zhao Gongming studied the three characters, his eyes flickering. The more dangerous a place was, the greater the opportunity it often concealed. He was skilled and bold, and with the Chaos Art protecting him, he had nothing to fear.
Just as he was about to venture deeper and investigate, two streaks of immortal light shot across the distant sky and landed not far in front of him.
As the light faded, two young Daoists appeared. Both wore apricot-yellow robes and jade crowns, their faces full of pride. Their auras revealed the cultivation of Early Golden Immortals, and their immortal magic carried a pure, clear Jade Purity Daoist aura.
Chan Sect Disciples!
Zhao Gongming's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and he immediately grew wary. He did not reveal his identity at once, but stood quietly to one side, intending to let them go first.
One of the Chan Sect Disciples was somewhat taller, with red clouds flickering between his brows. He was Chi Xiazi, one of the Chan Sect's Outer Sect Disciples. It was said that he had attained the Dao from a wisp of innate red cloud energy and had an honorable origin. The other was a little shorter, with a face like white jade and golden light in his eyes. He was called Daoist Mingguang, a spirit formed from innate jade that had gained sentience, a natural treasure nurtured by Heaven and Earth.
Both prided themselves on their distinguished origins and had always looked down on others.
Chi Xiazi glanced at Zhao Gongming. Seeing his green Interception Sect Outer Sect Disciple robe and sensing that his cultivation seemed to be only at the Early Golden Immortal level, Chi Xiazi's eyes immediately flashed with undisguised contempt.
"Heh, I wondered who it was. Turns out you're an Interception Sect Disciple." Chi Xiazi sneered. His voice wasn't loud, but Zhao Gongming heard every word clearly.
Daoist Mingguang chimed in, "Senior Brother, why bother with someone like him? Our master often says that the Interception Sect accepts all comers, and its disciples are mostly feathered and horned beasts, or creatures born of moisture and hatched from eggs—utterly lacking in potential. We're here on our master's orders to gain experience. We should focus on our business and not let the likes of him offend our eyes."
The two spoke without the slightest restraint, as if Zhao Gongming didn't even exist. The contempt and superiority in their words were grating to the extreme.
Zhao Gongming hadn't wanted to intensify his conflict with the Chan Sect before the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods. He drew a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising in his heart. He knew this was the root of the future war between the two sects: a dispute over their doctrines and prejudice between sects.
He turned to leave, unwilling to waste time entangled with such arrogant people.
"Stop!" Chi Xiazi refused to let it go. He blurred forward and blocked Zhao Gongming's path, sneering. "What? Did my fellow disciple and I hit a nerve? Now you're trying to run with your tail between your legs? Someone as lacking in innate potential as you dares to wander the Primordial World? You're an insult to the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth!"
At those words, Zhao Gongming's long-suppressed anger could no longer be contained!
He could endure them looking down on him, but he could not tolerate their insulting the entire Interception Sect! Nor could he tolerate their insulting the Great Dao of his master, Sect Master Tongtian, who accepted all comers!
"Fellow Daoist, that goes too far." Zhao Gongming turned around slowly. His eyes, once as still as a deep well, were now ice-cold, chaos seeming to roil within them. "What my Interception Sect is like is no business of you Chan Sect Disciples. Keep your tongues to yourselves!"
"How dare you!" Daoist Mingguang flew into a rage. "You're nothing but an Outer Sect Disciple, yet you dare talk back to us? Today, I'll teach you, you insolent wretch, a lesson on behalf of Martial Uncle Tongtian!"
Before he had even finished speaking, he attacked! He formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation. A celestial sword shimmering with Jade Purity Immortal Light appeared out of thin air, its Sword Qi cold and fierce, carrying the chilling intent of slaying demons and vanquishing evil as it stabbed straight toward Zhao Gongming's chest! The sword was called the Splitting Light Sword. Daoist Mingguang had forged it from innate metal and stone, and it was made to break defensive auras.
"Senior Brother is right. He deserves a beating!" Chi Xiazi sneered as well. He flicked a finger, sending out a golden talisman that transformed in midair into a golden net. It dropped toward Zhao Gongming, aiming to pin him in place.
The net was called the Spirit Binding Golden Net. It contained innate red cloud energy and was designed to bind magical power and the Nascent Soul.
The two worked together with practiced ease, clearly having done this sort of thing before. Their first attacks were deadly moves, and they showed no intention of holding back.
They were confident in their orthodox origins and profound immortal arts. To them, dealing with an Interception Sect Disciple they considered "lacking in potential" was a simple matter.
Yet the Zhao Gongming they faced was no longer someone who needed to hold back!
"Good! Come at me!"
Rather than retreat, Zhao Gongming advanced. Facing the fierce Sword Light and the net descending upon him, he didn't even summon a magic treasure!
Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art!
He gave a low shout in his heart, and the Chaos Magical Power within him surged into motion. A profound, ancient Daoist aura flowed across his skin. In that instant, his body seemed to become divine iron born of chaos, indestructible!
Clang!
The Splitting Light Sword, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stone, struck Zhao Gongming's chest with a thunderous clang of metal on metal. Sparks flew everywhere!
The immortal sword let out a mournful cry and was sent flying backward by the force of the rebound. Even the light on its blade dimmed.
At the same time, the Spirit Binding Golden Net fell over Zhao Gongming, yet it couldn't restrain him in the slightest. Instead, it was struck by the domineering Chaos Qi surging from his body and shattered into countless specks of light!
"What?!"
"He took a magic treasure head-on with his body?!"
The arrogance and contempt on Chi Xiazi and Daoist Mingguang's faces froze, replaced by utter shock and disbelief!
Was this really a cultivator at the Early Golden Immortal level? Even a powerful Witch Clan warrior who focused on tempering the body wouldn't dare be this careless against someone of the same cultivation level!
In the instant their minds reeled, Zhao Gongming launched his counterattack!
A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes, but he didn't strike to kill. He merely snorted and willed the attack into motion.
Buzz—
Twenty-four deep-blue divine pearls flew from his sleeve, like twenty-four stars plummeting from beyond the heavens. In an instant, they filled the sky around them. A vast and crushing pressure descended, as if it could weigh down the eternal blue firmament!
Chi Xiazi and Daoist Mingguang felt their bodies sink, as though they were being crushed beneath a divine mountain weighing millions of jun. The flow of magical power within them grew incredibly sluggish, and even their breathing stopped!
"The Sea-Calming Divine Pearls?! Are you Zhao Gongming?!" Chi Xiazi finally recognized the infamous treasure. His voice brimmed with fear and despair.
But it was already too late!
Zhao Gongming flicked a finger.
Two of the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls trembled slightly, then transformed into streaks of blue light. Ignoring the distance between them, they overtook the attack in an instant and slammed into the two men's chests.
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