At the very summit of the Golden Stairway, countless bolts of divine thunder surged into a sea of pure gold. Thunderlight blazed like a great sun born amid the clouds.
A speck of violet aura abruptly intruded, cycling and revolving as it stood within the boundless sea of golden thunder like a solitary boat, in danger of capsizing at any moment.
Xu Xuan exhaled softly. Cinnabar Thunder rang without cease, its sword intent unfolding into a perfect circle that steadily cut down the golden lightning surging toward him. He planted himself firmly there, then pointed his longsword straight at the man before him.
The white-robed scholar before him gripped his golden longsword. With that movement, the entire thunder sea churned and trembled. Manifestations of Commanding Ghosts, Golden-Armored Deities, Purple-Gold Heavenly Serpents, and golden thunder suns appeared around him.
"Zhou Shi."
The white-robed scholar still wore a refined, kindly smile as he quietly gave his name. A trace of pure gold gradually tinged his eyes.
His mere presence exerted far greater pressure on Xu Xuan than any previous opponent. Heaven's might rolled vast and boundless, lightning serpents darted about, and heavenly thunder exploded as though angrily rebuking him for overestimating himself.
Xu Xuan activated his marsh dragon body, along with Mist Marsh's innate divine abilities. Profound yin light surged over his reverse scale; the waters lay unruffled, and floods spilled forth. Jade Blood Heart, too, amplified his power to its fullest.
His cultivation surged to late-stage Foundation Establishment in an instant. His dharma body frantically absorbed thunder tribulation origin liquid. The spiritual liquid, uniting creation and destruction, supplied him with an unending torrent of magical power that threatened to burst his Qi Sea.
"Mu Youdu."
"Please."
Both men drew their swords. Within Xu Xuan's Qi Sea, a stick of Golden Incense