The stone chamber was spacious, its floor shrouded in misty cloud Qi. The little Azure Wood boat rested on the ground, and no one dared touch it.
Xu Xuan tightened his grip on Constant Light. Cloud Qi drifted over the floor, while crimson flames leaped along his blade, rising into streaks of sunlight and lightning.
Du He's expression grew grave. He had not expected his opponent to possess a Foundation Establishment artifact as well.
He drew back his saber with his right hand, now nothing but stark white bone, reversed his grip, and pressed the blade against his arm bones. Forming a seal with his left hand, he chanted in a deep, commanding voice:
"Above, reach the azure heavens; below, descend to the Yellow Springs."
The murky yellow talisman above him blazed with treasured light. A towering peak manifested, touching the blue sky above and plunging into the abyss below. Crushing pressure descended over their surroundings, dispersing the Light of the Upper Heavens Xu Xuan had used to impede the treasured talisman.
"What branch of earth virtue does that treasured talisman belong to?"
Xu Xuan was inwardly startled. He was hardly ignorant and knew something of all three earth paths-Wu, Ji, and Yun-but had never seen an effect like this.
His opponent was clearly no ordinary rogue cultivator. His secret arts were formidable, and his artifacts were powerful as well.
Yet Xu Xuan felt no fear. His sword rose with his will, surging against the pressure. Wind and fire collided, conjuring thunder from level ground that shot straight toward his opponent's face.
"Excellent!"
Du He grinned viciously. The flesh on his left arm vanished in an instant as well, leaving white bone. His aura swelled again as he gripped his Dharma Saber and slowly slashed downward.
Layers of black light