Chapter 36

On the first day of battle, Duobao's offensive had been far fiercer than it was now.

Ten thousand streams of sword qi had erupted at once, nearly piercing Lu Tian's defenses!

If this stalemate continued, Lu Tian would surely be the first to exhaust his mana.

His chance at survival was not here...

Lu Tian's thoughts drifted.

Three days and three nights of unrelenting tension had left him utterly exhausted.

No, that wasn't right...

He continued murmuring to himself.

His chance lay right before him, only not in defense.

If he kept defending, defeat would be inevitable!

Attack... only attack...

Lu Tian clenched his teeth and finally saw that faint sliver of hope.

He had to seize this final opportunity before his mana ran dry!

The method was simple enough.

He only needed to drain Duobao's mana, leaving him unable to maintain the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation!

With no way out, this was his only gamble.

The true meaning of the Jie Sect proclaimed: Heaven's Dao never left anyone without a path; all things held variables.

Though Duobao was a Taiyi Golden Immortal, he was ultimately no saint with inexhaustible mana.

No matter how monstrous the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation's might, it still required Immortal Power to sustain it.

Life Burning!

A bloody gleam flashed in Lu Tian's eyes as he ** his origin!

The Severance Secret Method activated, and the Flame of Life blazed into the heavens!

For the first time, the defenses of the Plain Cloud Boundary Banner and Kunyuan Dao Robe were withdrawn—

A flaw suddenly appeared within the formation.

Duobao's pupils constricted sharply as the ten thousand sword beams he had been gathering surged forth in full force!

At Kunlun's summit, swords illuminated the nine heavens!

Crimson light burst from every meridian in Lu Tian's body, and his Five Elements Dao Body melted like wax:

Ten percent... thirty percent... fifty percent!

Crack!

Jieyin and Zhunti knocked over their teacups and sprang to their feet.

Eighty percent!

Crack—

The Houtian Spiritual Treasure in Styx's hand shattered in response, his blood-red eyes widening.

The gazes of the great powers of the primordial world, sharp as torches, all gathered upon him.

Ninety percent!

Lu Tian's physical form had nearly turned transparent, leaving only the wavering phantom of his primordial spirit.

Still not enough...

He stared at the shattered defensive barrier as the flood of ten thousand swords reached his brow—

Ninety-five percent!

Tongtian Daoist changed expression for the first time. Even the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram was trembling!

Clang—!

The final blade of life collided explosively with the torrent of ten thousand swords!

Kunlun's Earth Veins roared, mountains collapsed and rocks split, and heaven and earth overturned!

Blinding white light swallowed heaven and earth, while the deafening roar instantly knocked countless living beings unconscious.

The crisp sound of the Moon Washing Blade hitting the ground was drowned out by the energy shockwaves.

Lu Tian's half-transparent body fell silently. The Power of Creation and Five Elements qi within him intertwined and circulated, struggling desperately to repair his ruined body.

Behind Tongtian Jiaozhu, the tense expressions of several direct disciples of the Jie Sect eased slightly.

The outcome had been decided—

Before that thought could fully form, Daoist Duobao crashed down like a puppet with severed strings. The eerie glow of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation's backlash ravaged his meridians wildly.

Just as Tongtian Jiaozhu moved his sleeve, he saw Lu Tian shakily rise to his feet.

A drop of essence blood lying dormant within a spatial rift shot through the air. Leaning on his blade, the young man completed rebirth through a drop of blood, an unhealthy flush appearing on his deathly pale face.

He dragged the Moon Washing Blade toward Duobao.

The grating sound of its tip scraping across the ground proclaimed the cruelest ** of this duel: on a battlefield of life and death, Duobao, suffering the sword formation's backlash, would already have been separated from head to body.

Tongtian Jiaozhu swept his sleeve, drawing his beloved disciple back. Saintly power transformed into golden chains that ** the rampaging sword qi.

Lu Tian chuckled as he watched, his bloodstained robes snapping in the turbulent energy currents.

Excellent!

Jieyin and Zhunti's cheers pierced the clouds.

More clearly than anyone, they understood what price this young man, who had fought his way up from the lowest ranks of the Jie Sect, had paid to shatter the myth that the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation could not be broken without four saints.

Jieyin raised a hand and lightly waved, bringing Lu Tian back to his side.

Just as he was about to use his power to heal him,

Lu Tian's voice transmission suddenly entered his ears—

"Master, please wait. Do not save me yet."

"Having exhausted my vitality this time is instead an opportunity."

Jieyin glanced at him.

Lu Tian's expression was solemn as he nodded gravely to Jieyin and Zhunti.

He was not speaking idly—having his life essence depleted to such an extreme had allowed him to glimpse an unprecedented mystery, one through which he could seize the Creation of Heaven and Earth!

"Since that is so, I will not interfere as your master."

"Yet your breath is as faint as a thread. You must not take risks. Steady progress is the proper path."

"Opportunities in the primordial world are as countless as the sands of the Ganges. You must understand how to weigh and choose among them."

Jieyin's gaze was sharp as he confirmed that ** was not merely forcing himself. Only then did he agree.

Lu Tian lowered his head and accepted the order.

At that moment, deep within his spiritual platform, his origin stirred with ravenous hunger!

When he had previously devoured the placenta Styx had given him, his origin had already broken through its shackles and begun transforming toward the realm of a Chaos Demon God.

At the time, he had believed he had reached his limit,

But now, like a withered tree blooming again in spring, all restraints had shattered!

That origin was like a glutton opening its jaws, urgently awaiting nourishment to help it ascend.

This transformation grew even fiercer just as his life flame was about to burn out, making him wish he could immediately devour heaven and earth.

"** will take his leave."

As soon as the voice transmission ended, Lu Tian's figure vanished.

In his current emaciated state, no one could criticize him even if he left.

"Senior Brother, remain here. I'll take him back."

Zhunti abruptly rose to his feet.

"Good."

With a slight wave of Jieyin's fly whisk, Zhunti secretly activated his divine ability and took Lu Tian into the void.

Within the temporary palace atop Kunlun Mountain,

Zhunti's sleeves billowed, and time and space instantly froze. A hundred zhang around them became a world of its own, completely severed from the outside.

Lu Tian immediately sat cross-legged and brought out the blood-colored placenta.

As the Demon Heart Swallowing Heaven Scripture began to circulate,

The demonic heart that had once shaken heaven and earth now beat with noticeable sluggishness.

The calamity of depleted life essence had indeed left him grievously wounded.

Zhunti formed hand seals and recited an incantation, causing the flow of time around them to accelerate ten thousandfold—

In the outside world, a snap of the fingers passed; within, twenty-seven years had already gone by.

It was not that it could not be made faster,

But that Lu Tian's ruined body might not endure the force of temporal chaos.

The young man closed his eyes and focused, reopening the path of devouring.

The vitality contained within this placenta was astonishingly immense!

As a product of Styx's failed attempt to create a race, the life energy contained within it even surpassed that of an ordinary Grand Unity Realm cultivator!

Yet Lu Tian absorbed it without the slightest obstruction, the entire process flowing as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

It was not merely an increase in vitality.

Looking within himself, Lu Tian discovered that his origin—the Creation-Destruction Bamboo—was also silently transforming.

Dense Power of Creation circulated without end, continuously repairing his damaged foundation.

While Lu Tian was healing his injuries,

The defeated Duobao, with Tongtian's aid, also dispelled the backlash of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and began regulating his breath to recover.

Tongtian had not only opened a space with accelerated time for him, but had also obtained a golden pill from Dao De Tianzun. Only then did he feel slightly reassured.

After turning his attention away from Duobao, Tongtian's gaze suddenly turned cold.

Lu Tian had made the Jie Sect lose all face!

This humiliation had to be repaid!

Wu Dang, go test the Western Teachings.

Tongtian named Wu Dang to fight. Wu Dang Shengmu dared not delay and immediately entered the battlefield.

After a moment's thought, she chose Mahasthamaprapta, ranked second in the Western Teachings, as her opponent.

Their clash did not last long.

Mahasthamaprapta was defeated, though fortunately his injuries were not serious.

Jieyin sighed softly and summoned Mahasthamaprapta back to his side.

** had disappointed Master.

Mahasthamaprapta looked dejected.

Jieyin sent ** a voice transmission of comfort.

He had expected such a result long ago.

Three thousand years ago, when Mahasthamaprapta had still been at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, Wu Dang had already become a Taiyi Golden Immortal!

Had Jieyin and Zhunti not aided him, Mahasthamaprapta would not even have been qualified to fight Wu Dang!

Being able to withdraw unscathed now was already tremendous progress.

Afterward...

Seeing Wu Dang win, Tongtian finally let out a breath.

One monster like Lu Tian was already shocking enough. If the Western Teachings produced another, perhaps no one would be able to stop their rise!

Fortunately, the Jie Sect did not lose any further face. Otherwise, as sect leader, he truly would have nowhere to hide his shame!

The Jie Sect began targeting the Western Teachings across the board!

The disciples took turns entering the field, challenging the Western Teachings' **!

Gui Ling Shengmu challenged Maitreya. Gui Ling won!

Golden Spirit Holy Mother faced Moonlight. Jin Ling won!

Yunxiao fought Sunlight. Yunxiao won!

Four consecutive victories finally eased Tongtian Jiaozhu's anger somewhat.

Pharmacist, it is your turn.

Behind Jieyin, the Western Teachings disciples all remained silent. He had no choice but to send Pharmacist out, hoping he could reverse the sect's decline.

He had anticipated such a situation long ago.

The Western Teachings' foundation had originally been weak. Even with Lu Tian, a peerless genius, suddenly emerging and bringing a leap in strength to the sect's **,

Three thousand short years were still insufficient to reverse the overall situation. If the Western Teachings disciples wished to truly rise, they would still need time to mature. After all, not everyone possessed Lu Tian's extraordinary comprehension and profound fortune.

Following orders, Pharmacist entered the battle and fought Bi Xiao fiercely for seven days and seven nights, finally winning by a narrow margin.

At last, they had gained another victory!

Pharmacist returned to Jieyin's side with a rare smile. Had Lu Tian's Enlightenment Tea Leaves not helped him comprehend the secret method, he likely still would not have escaped defeat in this battle. Bi Xiao's strength had far exceeded expectations. Taiyi Zhenren, who had once left him helpless, was absolutely no match for her!

"Not bad. Your cultivation has improved considerably." Jieyin praised him, then looked around at the others. "All of you have improved as well. You have not disgraced the name of our Western Teachings."

At these words, the disciples all raised their heads, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Our gap with Junior Brother... is simply too great!" Mahasthamaprapta said bitterly.

Yes, that gap had long become impossibly distant.

Yet Jieyin slowly shook his head.

"Remember, the Great Dao has countless paths, each with its own way. Your junior brother also lay dormant for tens of thousands of years. Now, after accumulating strength for so long, his rise is unstoppable. He is like a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss—when he encounters wind and clouds, he soars straight into the ninth heavens. From now on, he will only grow stronger."

"As for you—"

"You need only follow your own paths. Lu Tian may move swiftly; you need only proceed at a slower pace."

"Do you know that when the two of us first came to the East, we faced the same circumstances while contending against the great powers?"

Pharmacist, Mahasthamaprapta, Maitreya, Sunlight, and Moonlight all looked at Jieyin together. They had never expected their master to use his own past as a lesson, setting aside his pride to teach them so candidly!

"At that time, when facing the great powers you now knew well, the two of us lost nine out of every ten battles. Back then, in the Purple Heaven Palace, we used extraordinary means to secure seats near the Dao Ancestor, only then becoming registered disciples and hearing the Great Dao."

"Some cursed us **, hated us for our shamelessness, and mocked us for knowing only how to grovel and scheme..."

"Nuwa, when the Three Pure Ones became saints one after another, who would have thought that the two of us could also attain the Dao?"

"But in the end, we made it to this day."

Jieyin's words lit up the eyes of the gathered ** like sparks.

"There is still a long road ahead. Who dares say that you cannot stand at the pinnacle alongside your junior brother?"

"Your master has always guarded you from behind, until you are able to stand on your own."

Those words made the eyes of the Western Teachings' disciples ** burn.

It turned out their master had never abandoned them, nor had he ever favored one over another.

The Jie Teachings ultimately overpowered the Western Teachings.

The results showed: Lu Tian had two victories, Pharmacist had one victory, and the Jie Teachings had four victories in total.

The final score was three to four.

The successive fierce battles completely overturned the watching great powers' contempt for the younger generation's contest.