Sweeping to Victory, the Plague God Descends
Pfft--!
A soft sound, like a hot knife slicing through butter.
The indestructible, sky-covering purple giant hand, formed from the Principle of three Heavenly Tribulations, was severed at the wrist the instant it came into contact with the Green Lotus Sword Light Judge's Brush Light!
The smooth, even cut left no trace of lightning.
"Ah--!"
From the other end of the rift in the Firmament came the extremely shrill screams of the Grand Elder of the Law Hall.
This giant hand is not merely a projection of Law Power, but rather the essence of his Tribulation Immortal Method, which he had painstakingly refined over a thousand years!
Now that his body has been severed at the root by this sword, not only is his physical body completely destroyed, but the sharp Sword Intent that flowed upstream along the spatial passage has also directly rushed into his physical meridians, turning his internal organs upside down!
Boom!
Large amounts of purplish-gold immortal blood gushed out from the severed wrist like a torrential downpour, scattering across the dilapidated Floating Island.
Immediately afterwards, the remaining power of the Green Lotus Sword Light that had traversed three thousand miles was undiminished, and it crashed headlong into the spatial rift in the Firmament.
Boom--!
The entire interdimensional passage, forcibly torn open by the Tribulation Immortal, shattered and collapsed on the spot under the strangulation of the Sword Light, turning into countless Spatial Turbulence.
Faintly, from a magnificent ancient palace deep within the Heavenly Gate, a deafening crash suddenly resounded. A wretched aura plummeted rapidly from the core area of Heavenly Gate, clearly having suffered irreparable damage!
The blue light slowly dissipated.
Floating Island, the sea of clouds, cut open, could not close for a long time, revealing the clear void behind it.
Chen Changqing stood in the center of the White Bone Battle Platform, reached out and caught a drop of purple-gold Tribulation Immortal Essence Blood falling from the sky, casually tossed it into his mouth, and used the "Primordial Nine-Turn Body Refining Art" to refine and absorb it.
The Qi and Blood that had been somewhat depleted due to the retreat of the "Violence Formula" were instantly restored by more than half under the nourishment of this drop of highly replenishing immortal blood.
Meanwhile, outside, at the Tianque White Jade Plaza.
All thirteen side halls and viewing platforms, with tens of thousands of Ghost Cultivators from all over the Nine Netherworlds, were frozen in place like clay sculptures.
No one spoke; even the sound of swallowing had completely disappeared.
Everyone craned their necks, their mouths agape, staring blankly at the slowly fading blue sword mark on the main Heaven-Scanning Divine Screen.
One sword.
It was merely a Sword Qi of sword energy sealed within the Jade Talisman.
They actually severed one of the original Dharma body giant hands of the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Gate Law Hall, who had been a powerful figure in the Central Domain for Three-Tribulation Ghost Immortal thousands of years!
It even cleaved the Grand Elder's physical body in two, leaving him severely injured, through the spatial passage!
"Gulp."
After an unknown amount of time, a labored swallowing sound came from a corner of the stands.
The one-eyed elder of Blood Baleful Intent City, who had just woken up, looked at Chen Changqing standing with his hands behind his back on the divine screen. He trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind, and a large wet patch seeped out from his crotch.
The Rakshasa Ghost King's eyes glazed over, and he slumped limply into the chair, his mind a complete blank.
This is what you call Rogue Cultivator from the outside world with no foundation?!
With a mere flick of the wrist, one can crush a Jade Talisman and slay Three-Tribulation Ghost Immortal!
What terrifying, peerless sword immortal stands behind this young man from the Yang Realm?!
Floating Island, the sea of clouds, which had been cut apart, was slow to close.
A few drops of residual purplish-gold immortal blood slid down the edge of the void rift, hitting the charred white bone slab and splashing up wisps of green smoke.
Chen Changqing raised his left hand, glanced at the remaining jade powder in his palm, and gently blew it away.
The powder was scattered by the wind.
The "Primordial Nine-Turn Body Refining Art" circulated throughout the body for one cycle. The drop of Three-Tribulation Ghost Immortal Essence Blood that had just been swallowed had been completely refined and transformed into pure Pure Yang Origin, filling the void left by the retreat of the "Violence Formula".
His Divine Sense spread out in all directions for five thousand miles.
Within the entire Primordial Ancestral Land Minor World, apart from Han Jue and Sun Ce, who were seriously injured and unconscious at the edge, and Zhao Feiyan and Zhong Cheng, who had long since left the scene, there was not a single opponent standing.
Wang Long, Wang Hu, and Nangong Tian, three top geniuses of the Central Domain, were all killed.
At the top of the main Heaven-Scanning Divine Screen, the list that originally had ten people on it has been completely emptied of nine positions.
Only the six large purple-gold characters "[Dark Moon City, Chen Changqing]" hung at the highest point, and the terrifying Points of 55,600 points far surpassed the records of previous competitions.
Outside, at the Heavenly Jade Plaza.
The entire square was so quiet that even the rustling of the flags in the wind sounded unusually harsh.
On the main platform, the Dark Moon Ghost Lord was the first to regain his senses.
She dusted off her purple dress, stepped to the edge of the platform, and looked at the Black Armor Ghost Immortal sitting in the center with a half-smile.
"Lord Xuanjia, the Battle Platform has been decided. Young Master Nangong has already gone down to report to King Yama."
"I wonder who will win the title of Champion in this Ancestral Land competition?"
A clear, crisp voice echoed across the square, startling the group of distraught elders from various cities back to reality.
Everyone's heads turned mechanically, all looking towards the high jade platform.
The Black Armor Ghost Immortal sat on the Obsidian throne, his large mask covering most of his face, revealing only his iron-blue chin.
The nine Principle binding him emitted soft, clattering sounds.
The Green Lotus Sword Light that had severed the Dharma body of Three-Tribulation Ghost Immortal from afar still lingered with a stinging sensation in his Sea of Consciousness.
If it were up to the usual practices of the Nangong Aristocratic Clan, they would have activated the Heavenly Gate Immortal Execution Grand Array today no matter what, to keep that Yang Realm who dared to kill a descendant of the Emperor's bloodline here.
But the rumbling sound of the Dharma Hall collapsing deep within the Heavenly Gate Palace still echoed in my ears.
Grand Elder Nangong had survived three life-or-death Heavenly Tribulations, was severely injured by a single sword strike and hid in his lair, not daring to show his face again. If a Two-Tribulation Ghost Immortal dared to jump out and cause trouble at this time, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.
Who can guarantee that that young man from the Yang Realm doesn't possess a second identical life-saving sword talisman?
Black Armor Ghost Immortal's chest heaved violently a few times, his iron hands on his knees clenched tightly, knuckles turning white.
After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth.
"Ancestral Land Trial, Round Two Completed."
"In the fierce battle among the top ten, Chen Changqing, a guest elder of Dark Moon City, emerged victorious."
"The Champion this Outer Domain Grand Competition belongs to Chen Changqing of Dark Moon City!"
Every word uttered was like swallowing a red-hot iron.
As the Black Armor Ghost Immortal raised his hand and cast a Method Formula, the crimson barrier surrounding the main viewing platform vanished with a whoosh.
Immediately afterwards, the nine Obsidian pillars in the center of the square simultaneously lit up with a dark light, and a spatial teleportation portal ten zhang wide slowly opened in mid-air.
Step, step, step.
The sound of steady footsteps came from inside the portal.
Under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes, Chen Changqing, dressed in a white robe, stepped out of the gate with his hands behind his back and landed steadily on the ground of the White Jade Plaza.
The robes were clean and tidy, without a single bloodstain or dust.
There was no trace of the old hand who had just slaughtered the number one genius of the Central Domain and casually severed a Tribulation Immortal.
"Guest Chen!"
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord beamed with joy, disregarding his dignity as a city lord, and led his First Ghost General and dozens of personal guards to quickly greet him.
"Good lad, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord looked Chen Changqing up and down, and finding his breathing steady, he finally felt relieved.
The First Ghost General charged forward, clasping his hands in a fist salute, his armor clanging loudly, his voice booming.
"My esteemed guest, your divine might is unparalleled! I, Old Hei, have lived for eight hundred lifetimes and have never seen True Lord as powerful as you!"
"You alone have suppressed the entire Central Domain to the point of being unable to raise your head. From now on, you are my dear father!"
The soldiers of Dark Moon City behind him were also filled with fervor, kneeling on one knee in unison and shouting loudly, their morale soaring to its peak.
Chen Changqing nodded slightly and offered a helping hand.
"You're too kind, City Lord. I'm just doing my job, accepting their money."
After speaking calmly, Chen Changqing turned around and glanced at the thirteen side halls and viewing platforms around him.
Whoosh--!
The thousands of Ghost Cultivators from various cities who were originally crowding at the edge of the stands to watch the excitement, the moment they came into his view, they all took a dozen steps back in unison, like cats whose tails had been stepped on!
Several Spirit Transformation Realm deacons in the front row retreated too hastily, tripped, and tumbled into a heap, knocking over a large number of tables, chairs, and wine bottles.
In the blink of an eye, a large area in the front row of the huge stands was cleared.
No one dared to utter a sound.
When everyone present looked at the white-robed figure, it was no different than seeing the Primordial Plague God at the very bottom of the Nine Netherworlds.
This is a wicked star who dares to smash even the White Impermanence and Zhong Kui Faxiang head-on, and even grinds the bones of the Tribulation Immortal's own grandson to dust right in front of him!
Chen Changqing's gaze swept across the crowd and stopped in the direction of the Black Mountain City stands.
The deputy city lord of Black Mountain City, who had been the loudest and kept calling people "miscellaneous cultivators of the Yang Realm," was now cowering behind a thick stone pillar.
Noticing Chen Changqing's gaze, the deputy city lord of Black Mountain City shuddered violently, his face turned deathly pale, and he covered his mouth tightly with both hands, not daring to let out even the slightest breath.
He was terrified that if he took even a single breath, the immortal Immortal Sword capable of severing the hand of Tribulation Immortal would fly over and slice off his head.
"Tsk, Fellow Daoist Heishan, weren't you speaking quite loudly just now?"
The First Ghost General followed Chen Changqing's gaze and immediately put his hands on his hips, loudly mocking him.
"What's wrong? You've lost your temper? Come on, call out to Grandpa a couple more times!"
The deputy city lord of Black Mountain City, behind the stone pillar, lowered his head even further, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground, and dared not utter a sound.
The high-ranking officials of several cities that were originally on good terms with Black Mountain City quickly moved away, keeping a distance of at least eight zhang, for fear of being mistaken for allies by the people of Dark Moon City.
Looking at the completely silent stands around him, the Dark Moon Ghost Lord was extremely pleased.
For thousands of years, Dark Moon City has been ostracized and suppressed among the Thirteen Cities of the Outer Domain, always coming in last place in every major competition.
Today, I finally managed to vent my anger, with interest, by taking advantage of Chen Changqing's sword.
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord turned around, took light steps, and walked back to the foot of the main ceremonial platform, looking up at the Black Armor Ghost Immortal with a gloomy expression.
"Lord Xuanjia, now that the Champion of the competition has been revealed, shouldn't we settle the accounts on the betting odds?"
These words immediately created a subtle atmosphere in the square.
Many Rogue Cultivators and patriarchs of small Lineage pricked up their ears and looked at the huge Obsidian gambling table in the center of the high platform.
Black Armor Ghost Immortal's eyelids twitched, his tone stiff.
"Heavenly Gate will not renege on its betting obligations."
"Someone come here and settle the winnings!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two eunuch officials in charge of the gambling table stepped forward with trepidation, checked the Jade Slips, and their fingers trembled.
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord crossed his arms, a cold smile playing on his lips, his voice carrying clearly throughout the entire arena.
"No need for such complicated calculations, I, the city lord, have kept track of it for you."
"Before the first round of betting, I, the city lord, bet three million top-grade Ghost Coins on Chen Keqing to win the championship; just before the final round closed, I added three more Netherworld Spirit Stone mines, at a discount of ten million top-grade Ghost Coins."
"The total initial investment was thirteen million top-grade Ghost Coins."
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord paused, then extended a slender finger, pointing to a line of small characters in the corner of the Obsidian Water Mirror.
"Based on the 1 to 20 odds that Heavenly Gate set early on, this 13 million principal will multiply twentyfold..."
"Lord Xuanjia, that's a full 260 million top-grade Ghost Coins!"
Boom!
Two hundred and sixty million!
When this enormous number was announced, tens of thousands of Cultivators in the square felt their heads buzzing and their breathing became heavy.
The highest grade Ghost Coins are the hard currency of the Nine Netherworlds, containing the purest Taiyin Origin.
The annual tax revenue of a typical medium-sized city is only around a million to a hundred thousand top-grade Ghost Coins.
Two hundred and sixty million—that's practically emptied out most of the Outer Domain's coffers!
The two ceremonial ghost officials were sweating profusely, looking at the Black Armor Ghost Immortal for help.
Heavenly Gate was the dealer, and he originally thought Chen Changqing was doomed. The odds of 1 to 20 were purely a way to humiliate Dark Moon City.
Who would have thought that this kid would sweep through the crowd and drag down the bookmakers and all the city lords who had bet on Nangong Tian!
What are you looking at me for?
The Black Armor Ghost Immortal's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he slammed his hand on the armrest.
"All winnings from bets on Nangong Tian will be transferred to Dark Moon City. Any shortfall will be made up by drawing funds from the Heavenly Gate's outer treasury!"
Heavenly Gate values face above all else; in front of tens of thousands of Cultivators, they have to accept this money even if it means cutting off their own flesh.
Splash--!
As the Ghost Official of Ceremonies crushed the core of the formation, the mountain of treasures and Ghost Coins above the gambling table crashed down, transforming into a torrent of precious light that stretched for hundreds of feet, and flew majestically toward the stands of Dark Moon City.
With a flick of his sleeve, the Dark Moon Ghost Lord collected most of the Ghost Coins, leaving only a few of the most conspicuous items suspended in mid-air.
They were two top-tier Quasi-Immortal Artifact, several storage pouches filled with Ghost Coins, and an ancient contract drawn on the hide of a ten-thousand-year-old beast.
"Hey, isn't this the personal armor of the Black Mountain Deputy City Lord, and the land deed for the Taiyin Black Iron Vein of the Rakshasa Ghost King?"
The Dark Moon Ghost Lord picked up the animal skin contract, deliberately shaking it loudly in his hand, and shouted towards the high platform diagonally opposite.
"Fellow Daoist Rakshasa, Fellow Daoist Black Mountain, thank you both for your generosity!"
"This Taiyin Black Iron Vein produces a million catties of divine iron annually. This city lord has coveted it for hundreds of years. I never expected that you two would deliver it to my doorstep today, even losing your underwear in the process. This city lord truly feels unworthy of such generosity!"
The scathing jeers echoed across the square, and many Cultivators from Outer Domain could no longer contain themselves, lowering their heads and bursting into laughter.
Behind the stone pillar, the deputy city lord of Black Mountain City watched as his Quasi-Immortal Artifact armor, which he had nurtured for thousands of years, fell into the other party's hands. His heart ached so much that his internal organs convulsed, and two lines of tears streamed down his cheeks.
That was all the wealth he had accumulated in his entire life. If he went back now, the city lord would definitely skin him alive!