Breaking the Nether Lock, Enemies Congeal Ten Thousand Peaks; The Void Nether Miscalculates, Kneeling Before the Golden Rampart

The sword that had been cutting through all resistance came to a violent halt the moment it struck the thin golden light at Zhao Cheng's back, as though an iron needle had slammed into solid rock.

The blade's spine was forced into a glaring arc by that invisible force. The sword hummed and trembled, yet could no longer advance even half an inch, as if an ordinary Bronze Sword had crashed against an eternal mountain of gold.

Xie Qingmian's expression changed abruptly, and disbelief exploded in his eyes!

Had he noticed long ago?

His heart tightened. He immediately drove all his sword intent forward with force, but not only did that layer of golden light remain unbroken, it suddenly swelled. A warm golden halo engulfed the blade like a tide, and numbing backlash shuddered through his palm.

Xie Qingmian finally realized that the situation could not be salvaged. With a tap of his toe against the ground, he retreated swiftly like the fleeting shadow of a lone swan. It was the Sword Hut movement art, "Lone Swan Treading Snow," and all he sought was to escape this bizarre predicament as quickly as possible.

But Zhao Cheng had gone to great lengths to lure him close. How could he possibly let him escape?

The instant Xie Qingmian unleashed the "Mirror Flower Water Moon Void Sword," Zhao Cheng's Illusion-Breaking divine ability had already seen through that afterimage.

Allowing the sword to approach his back just now had merely been bait deliberately exposed to lure the enemy deeper in. At the same time, he had been preparing to mobilize his True Essence and unleash Ten Thousand Peaks Returning to Void at full power.

"Since you've come, make yourself at home."

Zhao Cheng gave a low laugh and planted his halberd against the ground.