In an instant, everyone inside the Landscape Painting was sent out.
Not only that, the Skyland Landscape Painting let out a mournful cry, seeming both furious and sorrowful as it charged toward Laozi. Clearly, after that single sword strike, the Supreme Spiritual Treasure, the Skyland Landscape Painting, had also suffered severe damage.
Everyone also noticed that Yuding and the others were pale-faced, as though they could barely remain standing.
Chen Yang, on the other hand, was covered in cracks, blood flowing endlessly from his body. He looked utterly miserable.
The Slaying Immortals Sword in his hand gave off a humming cry, supporting Chen Yang. Otherwise, he would have long since collapsed onto the ground.
Even so, the light in Chen Yang's eyes was gradually fading.
Seeing this, Yunxiao endured her discomfort. "Martial Nephew Chen Yang... this..."
Duobao also flew over at top speed. "Disciple, disciple..."
"Master... I won, hahaha..." Chen Yang laughed, coughing up blood along with fragments of his internal organs.
"You won, you won... You brat, you were far too reckless! Could a formation in that state be used so casually?" Though delighted, Duobao was also furious.
There was no helping it—the formation had been too powerful. Chen Yang operated the Immortal-Slaying Formation within his body, manifested an Immortal-Slaying Formation outside his body, and fused the two formations. The resulting effect had surpassed all imagination.
Chen Yang himself had been the core of the formation, drawing in endless spiritual energy and converting it into endless Sword Qi to slaughter his enemies alongside the Slaying Immortals Sword.
It looked terrifying, but in truth, it had been incomparably dangerous.
With a body not strong enough, being drowned in so much spiritual energy—it would have been strange if he had not been injured.
Seeing this, Yuding and the others, though pale, carried a trace of admiration. "We lost. We concede wholeheartedly."
Chen Yang could no longer hear those murmurs. He had now completely fallen unconscious.
No one knew how much time had passed before Chen Yang finally awoke.
After waking, Chen Yang discovered that he was inside a cave abode, with a burning furnace in the distance.
Chen Yang faintly shook his head and surveyed the place. "This is?"
"This is your master's cave abode within Yuxu Palace." Duobao spoke as he slowly approached. "You brat were far too reckless. Operating the sword formation within your body alone was already difficult to endure, yet you insisted on operating sword formations both inside and outside your body. How could your fleshly body possibly withstand it?"
Seeing Duobao, Chen Yang could not help but smile. "Master... under those circumstances, I had no choice. Whether it was Martial Uncle Yuding or Martial Uncle Guangchengzi... their cultivation and strength were both greater than mine. If I wanted to win, I could only risk everything on a dangerous move."
"Forget it, forget it... Fortunately, nothing serious happened." Duobao said.
"Master... how long was I unconscious? Also, what was the result of the competition?" Chen Yang asked.
"Don't worry. You were unconscious for only a little over half a year. As for the result of the competition, naturally, you won." Duobao said irritably.
Chen Yang smiled faintly. "That's good, that's good... What about my rewards? The Supreme-Grade Spiritual Root, the Supreme Spiritual Treasure..."
"Don't worry, none of your rewards will be missing. Especially since you brought glory to our Jie Sect in this competition. Your grandmaster was very pleased. He personally treated your injuries, brought out divine medicine, and helped your fleshly body advance even further. Before long, you should be able to enter the fifth turn of the Nine-Turn Profound Art." Duobao said.
Hearing this, Chen Yang froze for a moment and immediately examined the changes in his body. "Hiss... My fleshly body really has grown stronger. I'm already at the peak of the fourth turn of the Nine-Turn Profound Art, only one step away from entering the fifth turn."
Chen Yang said with a trace of gratitude, "Thank you, Master."
"Haha... There is no need for such politeness between master and disciple. Besides, this competition has deepened your foundation even further. It is time to find an opportunity to break through into the Great Unity Realm."
Duobao stroked his beard as he spoke, looked toward Chen Yang, and took out five pearls. "After entering the Great Unity Realm, you must refine the Five Qi. Your master has already prepared a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure for you—the Five Elements Pearl. Though it falls a little short of your master's Supreme Spiritual Treasure, it is enough to surpass many others."
Hearing this, Chen Yang was deeply moved.
It had to be said that Duobao was absolutely a qualified master.
In the blink of an eye, several hundred years passed.
Over those hundreds of years, aside from cultivating, Chen Yang spent his time visiting the Exposition Sect's scripture repository to comprehend its teachings, and he gained greatly from it.
That day, Chen Yang followed Duobao as they traveled across Kunlun Mountain.
"Master... will there be any issue with us seeking Immortal Zhenyuan this time?" Chen Yang asked.
"Haha... Rest assured, disciple. Your master has friends throughout the world and shares a good relationship with Immortal Zhenyuan. Asking for some Ginseng Fruit to help you complete the Five Elements should not be a problem. Furthermore, your grandmaster also intended for me to seek Immortal Zhenyuan this time. So, set your heart at ease." Duobao said seriously.
"Grandmaster's intention?" Chen Yang was puzzled.
"Yes. Matters discussed among the older generation are not for you to ask too much about." Duobao said.
Chen Yang was sensible and did not continue asking.
However, not long after the master and disciple began flying, Chen Yang sensed an unbearable heat.
Looking toward the heavens, he saw the blazing sun overhead.
"Hiss... Master, this sun..." Chen Yang could not help saying.
Duobao also looked toward the sky, flicking his whisk. "Ten Suns Across the Sky, scorching the earth and killing countless living beings. The crown princes of the Demon Court are committing evil."
Seeing this scene, Chen Yang immediately understood that this was the Ten Suns Across the Sky from the myths. Before long, a Houyi shooting down the suns would likely emerge.
He had once known it only as mythology, but now that it had appeared before his very eyes, it was still somewhat shocking.
Yet beneath the Ten Suns Across the Sky, blazing flames baked the land, and countless lives perished. Flowers, grass, and trees ignited; rivers dried up; innumerable wild beasts died.
After watching for a long time, Chen Yang could not help asking, "Master... the ten crown princes of the Demon Court are acting so recklessly. Does Dijun of the Demon Court not restrain them?"
"It is not that he does not restrain them. Dijun probably does not know at all. After all, the Primordial World is immeasurably vast. The Demon Court is located above the Heavenly Dipper Layer and beneath the stars. It is not close to the Primordial Wilderness, and with the Heavenly Dipper Layer separating them, how could he easily see what was happening on the Primordial Wilderness?" Duobao said.
Chen Yang nodded and said nothing more.
Very soon, Duobao led Chen Yang as he employed a special escape technique.
It seemed to involve some sort of spatial art. In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed, and they did not know where they were.
Perhaps several hundred years later, Duobao finally brought Chen Yang to Longevity Mountain.
Longevity Mountain was also a blessed land of the Primordial World. Spiritual energy gathered there, clouds and mist coiled around it, and immortal birds and spiritual herbs could be seen everywhere. It was absolutely a treasured land.
Standing upon an auspicious cloud, Duobao slowly descended. "Martial Uncle Zhenyuanzi... Duobao has come to request an audience..."
"Haha... A distinguished guest has arrived at our door. Fellow Daoist, why not open the mountain gates and welcome him?" A hearty laugh rang out.
The clouds and mist around Longevity Mountain then dispersed, revealing a Daoist temple that flickered with divine light, countless formation patterns interwoven across it.
Two Daoists now stood before the temple gates. One wore an earth-yellow Daoist robe and held a whisk, appearing somewhat kindly. The other wore a red robe and held a crimson gourd, his fiery-red hair strikingly unusual.
When Duobao saw the two Daoists, he smiled. "I did not expect Martial Uncle Hongyun to be here as well."
"Haha... Little Duobao, there is nothing strange about my being in Five Villages Temple. Rather, how did you find the time to come here? Could it be that you have come to steal fruit again?" Hongyun said.
Duobao's face immediately reddened. "Martial Uncle Hongyun... Do not speak nonsense. My disciple is here."
"Disciple? Little Duobao has taken a disciple now. You've grown up, grown up..." Hongyun said, his gaze falling upon Chen Yang.
Zhenyuanzi also looked toward Chen Yang and said, "All right, stop standing at the entrance. Come in with me."
Before you continue