Sword Intent

A sea of clouds surged, and Divine Deer hovered in the air.

The radiance of the three great suns descended from the heavens, illuminating the area around Deer-Sleeping Peak as if it were daytime. On the antlers of the Divine Deer, countless golden rays flowed endlessly as if alive, making the mountain peak appear even more like a fairyland.

Chen Lingxi uttered those two words, "That's fine too," so lightly.

But these two seemingly casual words caused everyone present to pause slightly in surprise.

In the Spirit-Nurturing Hall, Yuan Lingyu's bright eyes suddenly widened.

She opened her mouth, twisting the hem of her clothes, gazing at the tall, slender figure in the clouds, her eyes filled with unconcealed worry.

Shen Xiu'an stood on the clouds, his brows slightly furrowed.

He was about to speak, but seeing the calm and composed look in Chen Lingxi's eyes, he thought for a moment and ultimately said nothing.

Yan Shu, who had remained silent until now, also slightly raised her eyes and glanced at Chen Lingxi.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flickered across her otherwise indifferent eyes.

This junior brother, whom she barely knew, had never shown any talent since joining Deer-Sleeping Peak, yet he dared to accept the challenge from someone ranked high on the Dragon-Transformation Immortal Ranking.

"He has some courage."

Yan Shu thought to himself, but then shook his head slightly.

"But... if we lose, it will put our senior brother in a difficult position."

Higher in the Void, the gazes of the six palace masters of Deer-Sleeping Peak, hidden behind the churning clouds, fell silently, like six invisible eyes watching everything without a sound.

A slight smile appeared on Cheng Shuangtian's face, as if everything was under control.

A hint of joy flashed in Lian Sheng's eyes behind him.

The arrogance in his eyes returned.

He stepped forward, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully to Chen Lingxi from afar. His voice was clear and resonant, imbued with Dao Origin, echoing throughout the Void and the surrounding Void.

"Please enlighten me, Uncle-Master!"

Chen Lingxi stood on the cloud, his expression unchanged.

He lowered his head, his gaze piercing through the layers of clouds, landing on a beautiful figure on the mountaintop who was looking up.

He noticed the worry in Yuan Lingyu's eyes, thought for a moment, and then smiled slightly at Yuan Lingyu.

That smile was serene, as if to say...

No problem, just watch me!

Yuan Lingyu was taken aback, somewhat surprised, but worry still lingered in her eyes.

Chen Lingxi raised her head again and nodded slightly to Shen Xiu'an.

Shen Xiu'an stood amidst the Divine Deer's radiance, his Sword Qi aura surging. Upon seeing this, he remained silent for a moment, ultimately refraining from speaking to stop him.

At that very moment, Lian Sheng's Dao Origin began to circulate rapidly.

"Uncle-Master, please forgive me!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly reached out, and a Mystic Light flashed in his palm, transforming into a jade-colored Seal Art that hovered three zhang above his head.

The Great Divine Ability of the Void-Bright Hall Radiant Dao [Illusory Birth]!

As the Seal Art appeared, an indescribable, profound spiritual energy emanated from the jade-colored Seal Art.

Then the Seal Art suddenly turned, and the Spiritual Qi in the surrounding Void rushed towards the hand Seal Art like rivers flowing into the sea. Under the Seal Art, one after another visible beam of spiritual light condensed out of thin air.

Those spiritual lights condensed and did not dissipate; as they surged, they gradually transformed into majestic figures.

He was like a strongman.

He was like an immortal.

The great Divine Ability [Illusory Birth] shines with formless spiritual light, yet illuminates the tangible mysteries of the Dao, illuminating the Void and manifesting countless forms!

In an instant, seven or eight projections of warriors and immortals, their bodies constructed entirely of mysterious spiritual light, appeared out of thin air within a hundred feet of Lian Sheng.

The projections were surrounded by spiritual light and had a deep, concentrated aura. Although they were not made of flesh and blood, they possessed a formidable power, as if they would pounce on Chen Lingxi at any moment.

Chen Lingxi stood on the cloud, gazing at the projections of spiritual light, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"This great Divine Ability of Illusory Birth is indeed extraordinary."

He silently recited a phrase in his mind, but showed no fear whatsoever.

At that moment, Lian Sheng made another move. A small jade tiger appeared in his palm. The jade tiger was warm and smooth, with its head held high, its tail like a whip, and a faint spiritual light flowing around it.

It is a fourth-grade Spirit Artifact, named [Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism].

"Go!"

Lian Sheng tossed the jade tiger into the Void.

The jade tiger grew taller in the wind, instantly transforming into a size of over ten feet. Its body shone with a brilliant spiritual light, and it leaped into the projections of seven or eight powerful warriors and immortals, further enhancing the power of those projections.

In an instant, the spiritual light around the numerous projections surged, their imposing aura overwhelming, as if seven or eight true great Divine Ability beings had awakened simultaneously, their oppressive power sweeping across the land.

Chen Lingxi stood there, his black brocade robe fluttering in the wind.

Countless people were watching the battle from Deer-Sleeping Peak.

Many disciples of Deer-Sleeping Peak were worried that if this [Junior Uncle of Spirit Bearer] were to lose, it would bring shame upon Deer-Sleeping Peak.

Some disciples also wanted to see just how strong Lian Sheng, who was on the Immortal Ranking, really was.

But some disciples wanted to know...

Why would the Peak Master accept such a disciple?

At that moment, Chen Lingxi moved!

He simply reached out and gently pressed forward.

In an instant, the world changed!

Suddenly, countless dazzling pale golden lightning bolts erupted from Chen Lingxi's body. The lightning, which was originally as fine as silk, suddenly became intensely bright and then spread across the sky and earth, transforming into a thunderous inferno spanning a hundred feet in diameter!

Thunder-Prison Heaven Divine Ability!

Immortal-Calamity Thunder Pool!

Within that Thunder Pool, bolts of lightning surged and roared, like countless thunder dragons breaking free of their shackles, carrying terrifying power as they swept outwards with a deafening roar!

Where the lightning passed, the seven or eight projected spiritual lights, upon touching the lightning, were instantly burned into nothingness, like ice and snow entering a furnace.

The power of the Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism couldn't even withstand a single breath before being annihilated along with the numerous projections in the face of such pure thunderous slaughter.

Lian Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He never expected that this seemingly ordinary Spirit Bearer Master would unleash such domineering and unparalleled Killing Power Great Art with his first move!

"Thunder-Prison Heaven Divine Ability, a pure Killing Power Great Art!"

Lian Sheng took a deep breath; although the arrogance in his eyes had not completely faded, a touch of solemnity had appeared.

With a flick of his finger, the Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism, imbued with spiritual energy, leaped up once more, its body radiating a surge of spiritual light that condensed into a protective spiritual shield around him, isolating him from the boundless lightning.

"Uncle-Master's Divine Ability are extraordinary; Lian Sheng has underestimated him!"

A glint flashed in Lian Sheng's eyes, and he formed hand seals, unleashing another powerful Divine Ability.

Twelve more immortal warriors manifested in the Void, Lian Sheng's Divine Sense stirred!

[Heavenfrost Spirit Net]!

The twelve Divine Ability warriors simultaneously opened their mouths and exhaled streams of extremely cold white vapor from their throats. These vapors swelled in the wind and instantly transformed into a massive, all-encompassing net of frost, which descended upon Chen Lingxi.

Countless fine ice crystals condensed on the giant net, containing a bone-chilling cold, as if to freeze the entire world.

Immediately afterwards, Lian Sheng let out another low shout and slammed out his right palm.

[Roaring Vermilion Palm Seal]!

The twelve warriors attacked simultaneously!

Twelve crimson palm prints, each ten feet in diameter, materialized out of thin air, carrying towering heat waves. They split into two paths, one on the left and one on the right, and crashed down on Chen Lingxi!

But this is not all of Lian Sheng's trump cards!

Divine Ability [Blazing Cloudfire Qi]!

But then, Lian Sheng Sheng's Dao Origin surged wildly, and a surging crimson cloud rose from beneath his feet. The cloud was incredibly hot, as if it had ignited the surrounding air, turning into a prairie fire that swept towards Chen Lingxi!

Ice and fire in the same furnace!

Three Divine Ability, interlocked and overwhelming!

Lian Sheng made his move, he unleashed his full power and Divine Ability abilities.

Yuan Lingyu stood atop the mountain, gazing at the frost, crimson flames, and clouds filling the sky, and couldn't help but feel worried.

Above the Void, the gazes of the Six Palace Masters remained hidden behind the clouds, unmoved.

Chen Lingxi stood in the center of the overwhelming attack, but her expression remained calm and composed.

A thin crack suddenly appeared between his eyebrows.

Within that narrow crevice, an extremely dazzling and domineering bolt of lightning was rapidly gathering, instantly transforming into a vertical eye!

Thunder-Prison Heaven's Divine Ability: The Mysterious Tree's Mystery Mechanism...

[Thunder-Prison Immortal Eye]!

The moment those immortal eyes opened, a dazzling silver-white light shot out from them, shining directly into the vast net of frost.

Where the gaze passed, the overwhelming Heavenfrost Spirit Net was frozen in mid-air, unable to move an inch!

At that very moment, Chen Lingxi extended his right hand, and the Abyssal Heaven Spirit Sword was already unsheathed!

The sword was crystal clear, and the remaining patterns of a hundred restrictions on its blade lit up simultaneously, unleashing an incomparably sharp sword intent that soared into the sky!

Chen Lingxi stood with his sword in hand, surrounded by lightning, like a god emerging from Thunder Pool. With a flick of his wrist, the Abyssal Heaven Spirit Sword suddenly slashed out!

The Twelve Heavenly Drum Peals!

Twelve earth-shattering thunderous sounds suddenly exploded in the Void.

The thunderous sounds were like a god beating a heavenly drum, each one stronger and faster than the last. The twelve thunderous sounds overlapped and transformed into a sound wave powerful enough to tear apart the soul, carrying the sword light of the Abyssal Heaven Spirit Sword, and slashed towards the Roaring Vermilion Palm Seal!

Boom!

The crimson palm print, which was ten feet in diameter, was cleaved in two like paper by Chen Lingxi's sword!

The towering heatwave scattered and splashed, transforming into a sky full of radiant light that fell down in abundance.

Chen Lingxi shattered the Roaring Vermilion Palm Seal with a single sword strike. Without stopping, the Longevity Bridge suddenly materialized, lifting his figure into the sky and soaring over the surging, Blazing Cloudfire Qi, heading straight towards Lian Sheng!

Lian Sheng's expression changed drastically.

"Hmm? This Dao Origin is so abundant?"

Only now did he truly realize just how terrifying this Spirit Bearer Uncle's Killing Power was!

The Thunder-Prison Immortal Eye fixed on the Heavenfrost Spirit Net; that sword shattered the Roaring Vermilion Palm Seal; that Longevity Bridge tore through the Blazing Cloudfire Qi...

Such profound knowledge and experience, such ruthlessness...

I underestimated you.

Lian Sheng gritted his teeth, but his eyes still burned with an unyielding fighting spirit.

His Dao Origin surged wildly, and the Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism leaped up again, its body radiating a burst of spiritual light, ready to unleash his killing move.

At that moment, Chen Lingxi's body suddenly swelled up!

That originally slender figure, under the watchful eyes of everyone, transformed into a towering figure over three zhang tall, with muscles bulging like dragons all over its body. Its robes were stretched inch by inch by the swollen body, revealing a body as if cast in bronze and iron underneath!

The Great Sage Treasure Form!

The Precious Appearance tall and imposing, its vital energy surging like a tidal wave, like a great sun descending to earth. Its magnificent aura even caused the surrounding clouds to tremble!

Lian Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He watched as the three-zhang-tall divine Precious Appearance stretched out his right hand, extended his index finger, and gently touched him.

Palace-Knocking Finger!

When that finger fell, it was as if the sky had collapsed!

The protective spiritual shield formed by the Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism around Lian Sheng shattered under this finger strike!

The jade tiger let out a mournful cry, its spiritual light dimmed, and it rolled into the dust.

The force of that finger strike remained undiminished, carrying the thunder from the Immortal-Calamity Thunder Pool and the essence of the Great Sage Treasure Form, and landed straight on Lian Sheng's chest!

Lian Sheng grunted, his body sent flying backward by the impact of that finger, his figure plummeting like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the sea of clouds below the mountain peak, stirring up a cloud of mist.

The sea of clouds surged and churned, never ceasing.

The Void was utterly silent.

Yuan Lingyu stared wide-eyed at Lian Sheng falling from the sea of clouds, and then at Chen Lingxi, whose three-zhang-tall divine Precious Appearance slowly receded from the clouds and returned to his slender figure. For a moment, she was somewhat incredulous.

"Where did Spirit Bearer get such Divine Ability?"

Shen Xiu'an stood on the cloud, watching this scene, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

The gaze of the Sixth Palace Master, hidden behind the clouds, seemed to be moved as well.

The smile on Cheng Shuangtian's face had long since vanished.

At that moment, the sea of clouds suddenly exploded!

Lian Sheng soared into the sky from the depths of the sea of clouds. Although his aura was somewhat disordered, he was ultimately not seriously injured.

He stood in the Void, his face ashen, his eyes fixed on Chen Lingxi, filled with resentment and defiance.

He became a disciple of Crane-Clumsy Peak, cultivating the Void-Bright Hall Radiant Dao Illusory Birth Divine Ability Emptiness. At the young age of twenty-four, he had already ascended to the top of the Dragon-Transformation Immortal Ranking One-Mystic Ranking.

Among those in the same region, he ranked among the top.

But today, on this Deer-Sleeping Peak, in front of so many people, he was so humiliated by this unheard-of Spirit Bearer Master Uncle with a single sword and a single finger!

How could he possibly accept this?

Lian Sheng gritted his teeth, and his Dao Origin surged wildly once more. The Jade Tiger of Hidden Mechanism, which had been rolling in the dust, suddenly leaped up, and the spiritual light on its body rekindled, resonating with Lian Sheng's Dao Origin. It was about to activate its trump card, the killing Spirit Artifact!

At that moment...

"Snort!"

A cold snort escaped from Shen Xiu'an's throat.

That cold snort, imbued with sword intent, struck Lian Sheng's heart like a heavy hammer.

Shen Xiu'an stood atop the clouds, his body radiating a deep, concentrated Sword Qi. His calm eyes fell upon Lian Sheng, and he slowly spoke:

"A fellow disciple sparring, yet he had to resort to such a life-saving technique?"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Lian Sheng's head.

Lian Sheng froze, and the surging Dao Origin suddenly stopped.

He looked up, meeting Shen Xiu'an's calm and deep eyes, and then looked at Chen Lingxi was standing not far away, her body still surrounded by lightning.

For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

Just then...

Chen Lingxi's expression was cold, and the Abyssal Heaven Spirit Sword was already hanging in front of him.

A beam of sword light slowly emanated from the blade.

The sword light appeared...

Shen Xiu'an, skilled in swordsmanship, paused slightly in his breathing.

Cheng Shuangtian's expression also changed slightly!

Lian Sheng felt an indescribable sharpness rushing towards him!

The sword intent was too pure and too domineering, like an invisible sword pressed against his brow. With just a thought from Chen Lingxi, it would pierce through his Consciousness Sea!

Lian Sheng stood frozen in place, the surging Dao Origin around him completely halting at that moment.

He gazed at the sword light, at the cold-faced figure in black robes standing atop the clouds, for a long, long time...

After a long while, Lian Sheng lowered his eyes, looking somewhat lost and dejected.

"So, my martial uncle hadn't used his full strength yet... I've lost this battle."