The Splendor of This Sword

The Splendor of This Sword

Fu Zhan's bloodline came from an ancient surviving clan, containing a trace of Crimson Dragon blood. This made the Crimson Dragon he condensed from his vital energy thirty percent stronger out of thin air.

"Fu Zhan really shows no mercy, even when hunting a rabbit with a lion!"

High above the valley.

An old man in black robes watched with admiration. "Even when facing a Wheel Sea cultivator, he goes all out. This boy has an excellent temperament. He truly deserves to be one of Northern Azure Grotto-Heaven's inner court geniuses."

The speaker was none other than a powerhouse at the ninth level of Dragon Transformation.

"You flatter him, Nephew Bai."

Another old man in gray shook his head with a smile. "Fu Zhan merely relies on the advantage of his bloodline. Compared to young geniuses like Emperor Sword and Sword Maniac, he is still far inferior. Even Mo Chen has greater talent than him, not to mention those freaks from the Central Plains."

Though he said so, a hint of pride still flashed through his eyes. This man was Canghai Old Man, one of Northern Azure Grotto-Heaven's three Immortal Platforms.

He had once fought three Devouring Abominations alone with an Exquisite Mirror and remained undefeated. Among half-step great powers, he was one of the strongest. He and Bai Yuanshan of the White Family belonged to the same generation, and in Phoenix Cry Three Thousand Li, they had once been known as the peerless twin prodigies.

Yet Bai Yuanshan had long since defied fate and charged forward, stepping onto the second stage of the Immortal Platform and attaining the might of a great power.

Canghai Old Man, however, no longer had the strength to make another push. It was not only his vital energy and cultivation that had declined, but also a cultivator's Dao heart.

"For Mo Chen to receive Uncle's guidance is his good fortune."

Bai Qubo offered a flattering remark. They had little interest in the situation within the valley. Chen Qiye was simply too weak. No matter how heaven-defying a cultivator at the Wheel Sea's Other Shore might be, how heaven-defying could he truly become?

Thus, Canghai Old Man and Bai Qubo both relaxed.

They were not the only ones. Nearly none of the cultivators present thought highly of Chen Qiye. The gap in realms was right there, Fu Zhan held the advantage of his bloodline, and with his magical artifact and divine abilities, he should have been more than capable of easily crushing Chen Qiye.

Yet at the instant the Crimson Dragon exhaled, peerless sword intent burst forth, instantly invading everyone's minds!

They saw Chen Qiye grip his sword and draw it through the air—a simple, utterly uncomplicated sword-drawing motion.

The breath that could melt even Dao Palace powerhouses was instantly split in two by a cold flash of light, vanishing without a trace.

Just as horror began to appear on everyone's faces, the sword intent spread through the air, tearing across the void like ripples on water. Its residual force did not stop, instead slashing directly toward the solidified Crimson Dragon!

"How is that possible?"

Fu Zhan's expression changed instantly, and he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

The divine ability he had activated relied on the vital energy of his five viscera. Even Four Extremities cultivators might not be able to destroy it with a single strike, yet Chen Qiye had wiped it out with one incomparably simple Sword-Drawing Form.

The Crimson Dragon scattered, and the backlash from his Dao Palace made him spew a mouthful of essence blood.

Then the robes on his body suddenly exploded, turning into scraps of powder.

"T-That's too terrifying, isn't it? Even his magical artifact was cut apart?"

"No, it was his sword intent—that sword intent!"

The crowd was utterly shaken. Just as a commotion began, Chen Qiye's voice rang out again, cold as frost. "I told you, I would kill you!"

As his words fell, his second Sword-Drawing Form had already slashed toward Fu Zhan.

"Hmph, it's the same move over and over!"

Fu Zhan did not believe it at all. He snorted coldly. "Do you think the same divine ability will work again?"

He suddenly let out a wild roar, his body growing another three feet taller. Vertical and horizontal markings formed and twisted across his body, and chaotic patterns bloomed with crimson light.

As the crimson light flowed, it was like a master calligrapher writing with effortless grace. Mark after mark was added, and his figure shot into the air in an instant.

"They're actually Dao patterns!"

Someone cried out in horror. "Without absolutely formidable vital energy to support them, who would dare inscribe Dao patterns onto their body? Every one of them is more terrifying than the last!"

Before those words had even faded, Fu Zhan was already high in the air. Dao patterns formed across his body and burst forth through his hands, fast as lightning, roaring like cannons as they tore through the air.

Explosions boomed deafeningly. Every Dao pattern represented a form of enhancement. After several blasts, Fu Zhan had brought the power of the Dao Palace's five viscera to its fullest expression.

"Thousandfold Waves!" Layer upon layer of scarlet barriers resembling nuclear warheads gathered before Fu Zhan. His entire body immediately transformed into a falling meteor, hurtling straight at Chen Qiye.

"Slash!"

Chen Qiye showed no fear. His three-foot azure blade rose with the motion, and as he drew the sword, it carved a golden arc through its path.

On the surface, this sword strike appeared simple and ordinary. Yet Fu Zhan's eyes widened in terror as if he had seen a ghost. He felt endless horror within the azure blade in Chen Qiye's hand. The golden arc produced by that sword draw carried the might of a great power. It was powerful to the extreme, utterly beyond Fu Zhan's imagination.

"Not good!"

In the distant void, Canghai Old Man's expression suddenly changed. He raised his head and let out a long howl. "Stop!"

The sound waves became layer upon layer of sonic ripples, directly crashing into the valley.

As everyone trembled in shock, the golden arc had already slashed toward Fu Zhan. Before that golden arc, the condensed scarlet barriers no longer possessed any hardness or strength. Like yellow paper and brittle wax, they split apart layer by layer.

"Whoosh!"

It was truly like a shooting star chasing the moon, cutting through the night and tearing apart the heavens and earth in a shocking display!

The remaining force of the sword sweep flashed straight into the sky, the golden arc flying far into the distance.

Many people found their breathing stop. They stood frozen on the spot, dumbfounded, unable to imagine where the limits of such power lay!

Then came a thunderous crash as something hit the ground!

Fu Zhan had actually been cut in half in midair, his two halves smashing two enormous craters into the ground. The entire earth trembled in that instant.

The splendor of this sword!

Left everyone staring in utter disbelief!

Unbelievable! Inconceivable! Impossible to believe!

Even Lu Junchu, the powerful Sword Maniac, and Ye Guxue, Emperor Sword, showed astonishment in their eyes!

"You dare kill my disciple!" As everyone's hearts trembled, that voice seemed to rise from the depths of hell, instantly dropping the temperature throughout the valley by more than ten degrees!

A violent wind immediately howled, sweeping up dust that filled the sky and slicing toward everyone present like blades!

A gray figure appeared out of nowhere. He looked seventy or eighty years old, his entire body withered and thin, his skin dry and shriveled. Dark purple veins protruded across his face, coiling like dragons around a tree.

Yet the light in his eyes was blood-red, and strands of killing intent radiated from his body. In an instant, the entire valley seemed to fall into darkness, and a great terror rose in everyone's hearts!

"I will extract your soul and refine it for a hundred years, to honor my disciple's spirit in heaven! All of you will be buried alongside my disciple!"

Upon hearing those words, everyone present was terrified out of their wits. They looked toward the void with endless dread in their eyes.

"A half-step great power!"

"H-He is Canghai Old Man, one of Northern Azure Grotto-Heaven's three Immortal Platforms!"

Countless cries of alarm and fear rang out sharply.

In an instant, the entire valley seemed to become a realm of death!

"Great Power Canghai, could it be that you intend to kill me as well and have me buried alongside him?" Bai Ningbing put away his frivolous demeanor, his expression turning grave. He stepped forward, raised his head to look at Canghai Old Man, and spoke solemnly.

"Are you not afraid that my great-grandfather will retaliate against all of Northern Azure Grotto-Heaven?"