Novel Bin Chapter 290: Ultimate Queen, Flying Sword Intent
Chapter 290: Ultimate Queen, Flying Sword Intent
The massive silver palm came closer and closer.
Nothing could stop this palm. Anything in its way was instantly smashed.
Qi Shaoxuan could only watch as that hand covered him. He felt the powerful pressure.
Splat!
It was like squashing a cockroach—no lingering regrets.
The Purple Mansion Saint was defeated.
...
In just a few seconds, Qi Shaoxuan’s figure once again formed on the platform.
He was completely dazed. Still, in a stupefied trance.
What the hell? Did I just get killed in less than a second?
Didn’t the first two times go pretty well? I was doing pretty well against the Divine Firmament Saint.
If not for the fact that I wasn’t able to unleash my full potential, I would have won those first two times!
Why, during this third time, when I was at my peak form, did the Divine Firmament Saint manage to kill me instantly?
Qi Shaoxuan wasn’t the only one shocked. Those spectators were all completely dumbstruck too.
After all, everyone in the Eastern Wilderness knew just how powerful Qi Shaoxuan was.
It could be said that Qi Shaoxuan was without a doubt the most powerful prodigy of the younger generation. He reigned over all, invincible and indomitable.
Even Bodhisattva Kuduo ranked second on the Golden Core List, had been defeated by him in 12 moves.
And the third ranked Fang Chang had to join forces with Zhang Yunxi and Zhang Yunting to battle him.
Given this kind of power, he definitely stood out even amongst all the prodigies in Eastern Wilderness over the past 10,000 years.
Perhaps only Chu Longhe from 1,000 years ago, as well as some of those exemplary prodigies from even further back, could stand toe-to-toe with Qi Shaoxuan.
On the God Of War List, even Chu Longhe had been pushed down below Qi Shaoxuan.
That might have been debatable, but results were results.
The Divine Firmament Saint killed this kind of prodigy in less than a second?
This scene was mind-blowing!
“What just happened? Did my eyes deceive me? Did I just see the Purple Mansion Saint killed in less than a second?”
“Trust me, you were not the only one.”
“Are you insulting me? Where’s my knife?”
“Your eyes didn’t deceive you. I also saw it. The Divine Firmament Saint’s slap was too ridiculous.”
“I thought the Divine Firmament Saint’s battle prowess was about the same as the Purple Mansion Saint’s. But it seems like they are on completely different levels!”
“Too scary! Don’t tell me this is the Divine Firmament Saint’s true battle prowess? He wasn’t even fighting seriously during those first two battles?”
“But isn’t this the Divine Firmament Saint’s projection? Why would a projection hold back? Shouldn’t it just execute its true powers?”
“Haha, who told you a projection wouldn’t conceal its true powers? Don’t forget that this projection is smarter than the Purple Mansion Saint.”
“This is just too hilarious. Where is that Zi Shujing from the Purple Mansion Sacred Ground? Why is she not speaking now?”
[Thank you, Sonic Thunder Sacred Ground Bodhisattva Kuduo, for gifting the Divine Firmament Saint Projection with 666 Spirit Stones.]
[Thank you, Sonic Thunder Sacred Ground Bodhisattva Kuduo, for gifting the Divine Firmament Saint Projection with 666 Spirit Stones.]
...
The livestream was suspended again.
Qi Shaoxuan’s face turned pallid as he read the comments on the bullet screen.
Humiliating!
An utter humiliation!
Since the day I was born, I have never been so humiliated!
In fact, no Purple Mansion Saint over the past few thousand years had ever been so humiliated!
Even when Zhang Longyuan and Chu Longhe had suppressed the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader, he had just been hung up and beaten. He had not been killed in a second by just a single move.
After news of this spread, how was he going to hold up his head again? He would now bear the title of the most pitiful Purple Mansion Saint!
“Pagoda Spirit, I want you to give me an explanation! Did you secretly adjust the settings and increase the Divine Firmament Saint’s battle prowess?”
While Qi Shaoxuan was holding his Heaven’s Halberd in hand, his face turned extremely dark. “Why was this Shen Tian so exceptionally powerful?”
The Pagoda Spirit’s gentle voice rang out. “Young Saint, please don’t be angry. Anger hurts your health. Please, take a seat and calm down. The God of War Pagoda has acted in good faith.”
The corners of Qi Shaoxuan’s mouth twitched.
I was killed in less than a second during a livestream. I have been completely humiliated. And you want me to keep calm!?
Do you know I have lost 160,000 God of War points!?
Is this how the God of War Pagoda treats its customers?
The Pagoda Spirit’s voice rang out again. “Dear, Purple Mansion Saint. You must have read through the pagoda’s rules before entering.
“All our prodigy projections were created when they were fighting inside the pagoda. The moves they execute during the fights are also random.
“That is to say all of the Divine Firmament Saint’s moves have an equal chance of being executed against you. Some of those moves are weaker, some of them are more powerful.”
The corners of Qi Shaoxuan’s lips twitched. “Do you mean that in the first two rounds, the Divine Firmament Saint was just using normal attacks against me? The last round was the only time when he executed his full prowess?”
The Pagoda Spirit said in a soft voice, “Yes. The Purple Mansion Saint has seen a lot in this world and should be able to tell that the Divine Firmament Saint’s move in the first round was the Peacock race’s Rainbow Divine Light.
“In the second round, it was the Feather Immortal Metal’s fast-paced attack. They were not the type of moves best suited to the Divine Firmament Saint.
“And his move in the third round was a one-strike-one-kill technique. He learned this legacy technique from the pagoda itself. It’s the Sky-Smashing Palm.
“Every prodigy who is able to successfully win a battle in the pagoda can choose a Legacy Technique.
“You defeated two Five-Star Prodigies previously and one Six-Star Prodigy. According to the rules, you can also choose two Five-Star and one Six-Star Legacy Techniques.”
Qi Shaoxuan’s eyes shone. “Shen Tian’s Sky-Smashing Palm—how many stars is that?”
The Pagoda Spirit kept silent for a moment before answering, “The Sky-Smashing Palm is a Seven-Star Legacy Technique.”
Seven-Star Legacy Technique?
No wonder it was so powerful!
‘Wait a minute, aren’t we both Six-Star Prodigies? Why does he have a seven-star legacy technique?
Qi Shaoxuan was stunned. “God of War Pagoda, how many stars is the Divine Firmament Saint?”
The Pagoda Spirit replied slowly, “Divine Firmament Saint Shen Tian chose to hide his name on the God Of War Lists. We have the right to protect all contestants’ privacy. I cannot comment on that.”
The corners of Qi Shaoxuan’s lips twitched slightly. “Is it true that one can only receive a seven-star legacy technique after defeating a Seven-Star Prodigy?”
The Pagoda Spirit replied, “Yes.”
Qi Shaoxuan took a deep breath. “The Sky-Smashing Palm is a seven-star legacy technique. Did Shen Tian learn this technique from the God of War Pagoda?”
The Pagoda Spirit kept silent for a moment as if hesitating. “Well... yes.”
Qi Shaoxuan snorted. “Since Shen Tian beat a Seven-Star Prodigy, he must be a Seven-Star Prodigy then?”
The Pagoda Spirit sighed. “You arrived at this conclusion on your own. I did not divulge anything. You are a rather smart Saint.
“The God of War Pagoda must stress that the grading of every challenger is not fixed forever.
“Some prodigies were just Five-Star Prodigies when they first attempted the battles. But after receiving the Legacy Techniques, they became even more powerful and might ascend to become Six- or even Seven-Star Prodigies.”
So Shen Tian’s projection in the first two rounds did not even execute his full powers?
Or was Shen Tian’s projection in the first two rounds from the times when he first challenged the God of War Pagoda?
Qi Shaoxuan’s eyes sparkled. “Shen Tian’s powers in the first two rounds were on par with me. But his powers in the third round were beyond ridiculous.
“Don’t tell me that his powers were on par with me when he first entered the God of War Pagoda?
“It was only after he received the Six-Star Legacy Techniques and successfully cultivated them. Thereafter he managed to successfully defeat a Seven-Star Prodigy and obtain the Sky-Smashing Palm technique?”
In that case, I also have the right to choose one six-star and two five-star legacy techniques.
So after I successfully practice those three techniques, I will also have the chance to become a Seven-Star Prodigy?
Qi Shaoxuan’s eyes burned at this thought.
He took a deep breath. “God of War Pagoda, I want to choose my legacy techniques!”
...
Night had fallen. The moon was hanging high in the sky.
Just as Qi Shaoxuan was in the God of War Pagoda, trying to pass the challenges and choosing legacy techniques, Shen Tian had returned to the peak of Saint Mountain.
A five- or six-year-old wicked-looking lolita was following behind him. She was glaring at him begrudgingly.
This despicable human boy. How dare he do such things to me!
If not for the fact that he is handsome, I would break his limbs.
Yeah, it’s only because he is handsome. Not because I can’t beat him!
Ao Bing licked her lips and asked, “Kid, is there any wine on Saint Mountain? Good wine.”
This kid on the chariot suppressed me. So humiliating. I need wine to drown my sorrows!
Wine?
Shen Tian stared at Ao Bing in astonishment. “You want to drink wine?”
Ao Bing rolled her eyes. “What, can’t I? I have been cooped up in the Primordial Battlefield for 10,000 years. Now that I have finally been released and reborn, can’t I have a few glasses to celebrate?”
Shen Tian finally snapped out of it. Not his fault. Ao Bing’s little lolita appearance now was really too jarring.
A five-year-old lolita asking you if you have any wine? It just felt strange.
At the mention of that, Shen Tian recalled that he couldn’t find any wine when he was at the Spirit Fog Mountain Valley.
Mother Vine Lu Ji had used her own vine juice just to brew some Divine Juice Wine. It was pretty good!
At this thought, Shen Tian hurriedly took a jar of Divine Juice Wine out of his Archeon Sea Ring. What do you think about this wine?”
Aiyo, this kid actually has wine with him?
Ao Bing’s eyes brightened. She snatched the wine jar away from him and opened it.
The thick fragrance of wine drifted out from the jar. Wonderful and aromatic.
“Not bad! A premium wine that has been preserved for several hundred years!”
Ao Bing wrinkled her little nose, a blissful expression on her face. “Not bad. This is good stuff.”
Shen Tian was amused. “If Sister Bing wants to drink, I will go prepare some cups and also some food to go with the wine.”
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!
Before Shen Tian could finish his words, Ao Bing was already chugging wine straight from that jar.
The thick fragrance of wine permeated the area, covering nearly half of Saint Mountain.
Burp!
Ao Bing happily downed half the jar of Divine Juice Wine before giving a loud burp.
A reddish-black dragon’s breath puffed out of her nostrils. The wicked breath of a dragon!
“That felt great!”
Ao Bing stuck one hand on her hip. “I am the Eldest Princess of the Black Dragon Island and have tasted countless premium wines. But this wine is truly something.
“Just half a jar, and I can already feel its effects.”
Shen Tian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Sister Bing, slow down. Don’t get drunk.”
Ao Bing glared at Shen Tian. “How dare you! I have been drinking for so many years. I have even drunk with that Phoenix woman under the table. Will I get drunk?”
Shen Tian said in exasperation, “But Sister Bing, you have just been reborn! This is a high-grade Divine Juice Wine. It is very potent!”
Ao Bing snorted. “You might be handsome, but you are too soft. Can you be tougher?
“Wine is good for you. I have loved drinking since a young age. I can down 1,000 cups without getting drunk. I am not boasting!”
Yeap, 1,000 cups without getting drunk. Her little face was already as red as a monkey’s buttocks.
Looking at the swaying Ao Bing, Shen Tian picked her up in resignation and headed into the Saint Temple.
Although there was only one building in the Saint Temple, there were many rooms in it.
Carrying Ao Bing, Shen Tian quickly arrived at an empty room.
Ao Bing was still hugging that half-empty jar of Divine Juice Wine. She refused to let go.
She was still spouting all sorts of nonsense. “I am not drunk. I am indomitable across all five regions and eight wildernesses.
“I reign over all in the North Sea. You are just a demon from the outer regions. How dare you carry me? Kneel down before me! Dragon Claw!”
The corners of Shen Tian’s lips twitched as he watched those little pink fists hammer down on his chest. This 10,000-year-old female dragon was trying to act cute. Ridiculous!
Come on, is that wine really that potent? It can even get a Dragon drunk?
After putting Ao Bing to bed, Shen Tian gazed at the half-filled jar of Divine Juice Wine.
“It really does smell very good.”
Since it’s already open, should I have a taste?
Shen Tian licked his lips and took a small cup out of his Archeon Sea Ring.
After filling it to the brim, Shen Tian took a small sip.
“Sweet and spicy. Not bad at all.”
Since the day he had acquired this Divine Juice Wine, Shen Tian had never tried it. He never expected it to taste so wonderful.
As that first mouthful of Divine Juice Wine flowed into his belly, Shen Tian could clearly feel the thick Spirit Qi cleansing his entire body.
The Divine Devouring Vine power source in his liver area became more vibrant.
Shen Tian could even feel his cultivation level increase by just a tad.
“Darn, I would have drunk this wine sooner if I knew that it is useful to my cultivation.”
Shen Tian downed his entire cup. As the wine flowed down his throat, a pleasantly warm feeling spread across his entire body.
Following that, there was also a mild sense of intoxication. But as Shen Tian’s body refined the Divine Juice Wine’s energy, that drunk feeling faded away.
No wonder Li Changge loves to drink and practice swordplay. Good wine is indeed addictive.
Carrying the jar of Divine Juice Wine, Shen Tian slowly walked out of the Saint Temple.
Outside the Saint Temple, on the Enlightenment Stone...
Gazing at the pristine moon, Shen Tian continued drinking on his own.
Cup after cup, wave after wave of mild intoxication, but which were all quickly dispelled.
The final bit of green in the big red halo on top of Shen Tian’s head had faded. It then spun and radiated with an expansive light.
With this pleasant, cozy feeling, Shen Tian couldn’t resist singing to the moon, “I am just a commoner. I’m so happy tonight.”
But he didn’t get truly drunk. If he did and someone recorded it down, his reputation as the Divine Firmament Saint would be destroyed.
As a public figure in the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground, Shen Tian had to be very careful about how he acted in public!
On second thought, Shen Tian took out an Image Recording Crystal and tossed it into the air.
He then posed with his glass raised in a toast, and his face lifted toward the moon.
Shen Tian then recited an ancient poem.
“When will the bright moon appear again?
Raise a glass of wine and ask the sky.
I wonder up in the heavenly palaces, what season is it tonight?
I would like to ride the wind home.
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are too high and cold for me.
Dancing with my moon-lit shadow.
Am I still in the human world?”
Right after he finished his recitation, Shen Tian spread open his golden wings, which dripped with golden feathers.
He gazed up at the night sky at a 45-degree angle. His glorious wings gradually turned darker.
At this moment, he felt somewhat melancholic.
If this world had a Qzone, this scene could be made into a background and sold for a large amount of Spirit Stones.
“The moon goes around the scarlet mansion. Slips through the silk windows. Shines upon the sleepless. There should be no resentment. Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?
“People may have experienced sorrow and joy, togetherness and separation. The moon may be dark, bright, wax, or wane. This has been going on since the beginning of time. But may we all be blessed with longevity. Though we are far apart, we can share the beauty of the moon together.”
After finishing his recitation, Shen Tian kept his Image Recording Crystal.
After forming some hand seals, he activated the Image Recording Crystal and watched his own recording.
Looking at that beautiful, sad, and lonely youth, Shen Tian couldn’t help sighing.
“As if crafted by the gods themselves. So handsome...”
...
Shen Tian’s God of War Token floated up.
Ye Qingcang’s image appeared before Shen Tian. He looked at Shen Tian with a strange expression. “What are you doing?”
Shen Tian, “???”
Damn, why does this old man keep popping up without a sound? Can he give me some privacy? It’s embarrassing to be caught out like this!
Shen Tian felt very annoyed, and the corners of his lips twitched.
“Old Man Ye, in the future, can you please give me some signal before suddenly appearing?”
Ye Qingcang rolled his eyes. “I did! Didn’t you feel the token vibrate just now?”
Well!
Perhaps I was too engrossed in taking selfies and intoxicated by my own good looks!
Shen Tian calmly stored his Image Recording Crystal.
“Ahem. Old Man Ye, what can I do for you?”
Ye Qingcang smiled. “That Qi Shaoxuan really holds a deep grudge against you! In order to challenge you, he has pawned off quite a bit of good stuff to the God of War Pagoda.”
Shen Tian’s eyes brightened. “Oh? What kind of good stuff?”
Qi Shaoxuan had the strongest providence amongst all the people Shen Tian had seen.
His halo was dark gold with deep purple patterns. It looked regal and majestic.
It must be pointed out that the Southern Border prodigy Kong Meng’s halo was also starting to become golden with purple patterns.
She had gotten the Rainbow Divine Light power source and the Rainbow Divine Light Fan with Shen Tian’s help. From then on, the purple light on her halo had started to thicken.
But for Qi Shaoxuan, his halo was already golden with purple patterns from the very first day Shen Tian met him. He was definitely a key character blessed by the heavens.
Of all the people Shen Tian had met, only the providence of that little black dragon sleeping on his bed was higher than Qi Shaoxuan’s.
Yes, after Ao Bing had successfully been reborn, Shen Tian also saw the halo on top of her head.
It was purple with faint golden spots, even more powerful than Qi Shaoxuan’s.
As for why she ended up being sealed off in the Primordial Battlefield for over 10,000 years, despite having such a powerful providence halo?
Only the heavens knew.
But looking at it from another angle, Ao Bing didn’t die despite being stabbed in the head and sealed off for 10,000 years in the Primordial Battlefield.
And after being sealed off for so long, she had the good fortuitous opportunity to meet Shen Tian and be rescued by him.
This was already considered pretty lucky!
Well... That’s stretching things a little.
Although Qi Shaoxuan’s providence was just slightly below that of Ao Bing’s, it must be pointed out that Ao Bing was the top prodigy of the Dragon race.
Among the human race, Shen Tian had not seen anyone who had a better providence than Qi Shaoxuan.
Thus, he was very interested in the items which Qi Shaoxuan had pawned off.
...
Ye Qingcang smiled mysteriously. He formed some hand seals and opened up a portal.
A crystal-clear jade talisman and an ancient bronze ring appeared before Shen Tian.
Ye Qingcang smiled. “According to our agreement, we will split the profits from the God of War Pagoda’s battles. Everything else, I am keeping.
“These two treasures are the best in Qi Shaoxuan’s collection. I am giving them to you. See how nice I am to you?”
Shen Tian gazed at the jade talisman and ring. “What are these? What can they be used for?”
Ye Qingcang looked very smug. “You can’t recognize a treasure even if it’s right in front of you! This jade talisman is a supreme-grade protection treasure. Even in the Celestial World, it is a rare item.
“And I don’t know which clumsy cultivator managed to do such a terrible job refining such a premium item.
“But Tian’er, don’t worry. I will refine it again for you. Its effects would be enhanced by 10 times!”
Shen Tian felt resigned. “Old Man Ye, you still haven’t told me how it is used.”
Ye Qingcang replied, “Don’t be so anxious. I will go back and refine it again before handing it over to you. Then, you can drip some blood on it and get it to acknowledge you.
“This jade talisman was forged in a very crude method. At the very most, it can only revive a Soul Formation cultivator killed in battle once.
“After I refine it again, it can revive a killed-in-action Celestial cultivator at least three times.
“How about that? Giving you such a great treasure. I am good to you, right?”
Revive a killed-in-action Celestial cultivator three times?
Shen Tian was stunned. This was even more valuable than a supreme-grade Divine artifact!
After all, compared to life itself, no artifact, technique, or herb could match up to it.
Ye Qingcang appeared to be very pleased with Shen Tian’s reaction. He introduced the second item with a smile. “As for this ring, I am not too sure of its history.”
His gaze darkened slightly. “The cultivation levels of the creator of this ring far surpasses mine. But from the way it was forged, this ring must be a Legacy artifact.”
Shen Tian was taken aback. “Legacy artifact. What is that?”
Ye Qingcang explained. “A Legacy artifact is specially forged to help one find an heir.
“Those great beings would infuse their criteria for an heir into the artifact and then send it over to the mortal world to circulate.
“It’s all down to destiny. If one is fated to pick up a Legacy artifact and satisfy the criteria, they will be able to inherit the legacy and ascend to the top of the league.”
Legacy artifact? Powers that surpass even Old Man Ye’s?
Shen Tian’s eyes darkened slightly. He had no idea just how powerful Ye Qingcang was when he was alive.
However, even when the God of War Pagoda was in tatters, he could still easily kill off a Perfected Immortal. Ye Qingcang’s battle prowess during his time must have been earth-shattering!
Shen Tian asked curiously, “Why didn’t you take the legacy then?”
Ye Qingcang huffed. “I am already so old. You want me to acknowledge another as my Master? Do you think I have no shame?”
Shen Tian stared at Ye Qingcang. He smiled but remained silent.
Ye Qingcang said in resignation, “Alright, alright! This bronze ring needs blood to acknowledge its owner. I am only the remnants of a consciousness now. I have no blood! You lucked out, you punk.”
Although he said that Shen Tian had “lucked out”, there was a faint glint of worry in Ye Qingcang’s eyes.
After all, Legacy artifacts were used by the great honchos of the Celestial World to select their heirs.
There was no doubt it would be very difficult to fulfill the criteria.
He had no idea if Shen Tian could succeed.
...
The bronze ring landed in Shen Tian’s hand.
His eyes darkened as he forced out a drop of blood and dripped it on the ring.
After the blood seeped in, the bronze ring started to glow.
Ye Qingcang looked surprised. “You punk. Don’t tell me you really gained the acknowledgment of this ring?”
But then, Ye Qingcang’s smile froze. This was because the glow on the bronze ring gradually faded in nothingness.
It clearly absorbed Tian’er’s blood. Why did the glow fade off?
So was Tian’er successful or not?
Ye Qingcang was extremely flustered. Meanwhile, Shen Tian was in an even more unstable state.
This was because after his blood was absorbed into the bronze ring, his entire consciousness had also been sucked in.
He found that he was no longer on Saint Mountain, no longer in the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground. He wasn’t even in the Eastern Wilderness or within the five regions anymore.
He had appeared in a star-strewn space. All he could see were endless galaxies. They spun upon their own axis, creating beautiful images.
Shen Tian’s eyes suddenly hardened.
He had seen a figure. A white figure.
She was standing alone in the endless star clusters. Her body looked like an illusion, spanning across the galaxy.
Her back was facing Shen Tian, her jet-black hair flowing naturally down her back. She was dressed in a snow-white dress.
This figure was enshrouded in pure divine energy. The slender figure was silent and unmoving as if she had been standing this way since the beginning of time.
The moment she appeared, even the tens of thousands of galaxies seemed to have lost their luster.
The figure suddenly turned. Shen Tian felt like a beam of light was shining upon him.
At that moment, Shen Tian felt like he was being completely exposed.
He suddenly felt extremely embarrassed!
Shen Tian suspected that this person would shirk all responsibility even after looking at him all over in this manner!
After a long time, the beam of light faded. A sigh echoed through space.
The galaxies started to crumble, and the stars turned into falling stars. It was a spectacular sight!
As the stars fell in a scene akin to Armageddon, the figure morphed into a beam of divine light and shot out straight into the shattered galaxies, slicing it apart.
Suddenly, Shen Tian felt like he had seen the ultimate divine sword.
A flying divine sword. The milky way was collapsing!
...
At the base of the Saint Mountain, Qi Shaoxuan clenched his fists.
He had already chosen his five- and six-star legacy techniques in the God of War Pagoda.
However, he still felt very aggrieved. He felt that there was something wrong with the God of War Pagoda’s battles.
He had clearly been on par with Shen Tian during their first two rounds.
Why was he killed in less than a second during the third round?
Even if Shen Tian really knew some seven-star legacy technique, Qi Shaoxuan felt that it was not the key reason.
During the third round, he could feel that Shen Tian’s projection possessed a power that was far beyond that of the first two rounds.
Yes, Qi Shaoxuan suspected that the God of War Pagoda had purposely adjusted the battle prowess of Shen Tian’s projection upwards in order to cheat him of his 80,000 God of War points!
Otherwise, no way could I have lost!
No matter what, I must fight the real Divine Firmament Saint today. To see who is the more powerful cultivator!
Qi Shaoxuan took a deep breath before quietly putting on the mask that could conceal his aura.
He was going to ascend the Saint Mountain at night and sneak up on Shen Tian. They would battle it out then.
As for why didn’t he just go straight up and announce himself? There was a very simple reason. He didn’t want to call him Little Grand-Uncle.
Sneaking up on the Divine Firmament Saint... If I win, I will immediately go back to expose the God of War Pagoda.
If I lose... No need to think so much. At the very most, I will just endure a beating!
I am the Purple Mansion Saint. Even if I lose, there’s no way I will be killed!
At this thought, Qi Shaoxuan hurriedly made his way up to Saint Mountain.
The protective array around Saint Mountain was usually not activated. After all, Shen Tian was a transmigrator, and he possessed the good values of thriftiness and frugality.
On top of that, Qi Shaoxuan was a Golden Core 10th Refinement Stage cultivator. His true battle prowess had already surpassed that of a normal Nascent Soul practitioner.
Moreover, the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground’s true upper management usually couldn’t be bothered with such things. Qi Shaoxuan soon ascended the Saint Mountain.
He saw Shen Tian.
Shen Tian was sitting cross-legged on the Enlightenment Stone, totally engrossed in absorbing Spirit Qi.
All the Spirit Qi around Saint Mountain was surging madly into Shen Tian. One could vaguely see the waves of intense Spirit Qi.
“Is he some kind of monster? How is he able to absorb so much Spirit Qi in one seating?”
Qi Shaoxuan’s eyes widened in shock. To be honest, he was starting to have doubts about his own life. After all, they were both Golden Core practitioners. But Shen Tian was like a system loophole.
...
“No problem. He is just able to consume large amounts of Spirit Qi. It doesn’t mean he is powerful.”
Qi Shaoxuan tried to console himself. He then quietly crept toward Shen Tian.
A thousand steps away...
Five hundred steps away...
A hundred steps away...
Qi Shaoxuan had already kept his Heaven’s Halberd and exchanged it for a spear.
He was prepared to attack and let this Divine Firmament Saint instinctively reveal his true powers!
However, Qi Shaoxuan suddenly found that Shen Tian had disappeared before his eyes.
That’s not right. He didn’t actually physically disappear before his eyes. It was more like his consciousness had disappeared from this world.
Cultivators usually used their divine consciousness to hone in on their targets before attacking.
But Qi Shaoxuan realized that his divine consciousness was completely unable to zero in on Shen Tian’s anymore. It was like Shen Tian had entered another dimension.
He was clearly still physically at Saint Mountain, but his consciousness was in an entirely different space. A space that felt holy and pristine.
“What happened? Could I have been discovered?”
Qi Shaoxuan’s face hardened. His energy surged around him.
Just as Qi Shaoxuan was prepared to take the first strike, Shen Tian moved.
His eyes were gently closed as if he had no worldly cares in this world.
A blood-red sword appeared in his hand, glinting with a boundless killing aura. But all that aura was contained tightly within the sword.
Shen Tian was performing swordplay. His moves were elegant and graceful as if he was a sword deity who had descended onto earth.
His sword technique was extraordinary, and he looked like he was freestyling. Regardless, it was amazing beyond imagination.
His sword did not cause the slightest vibrations in the air—no sword aura or even the soft swishing sound of the wind.
This kind of sword technique was like the drifting sand, seemingly harmless but encompassing a million hidden possibilities and transformations.
Qi Shaoxuan could not understand it at all.
Not only did he fail to understand it, but he couldn’t even remember a single move.
It was like as Shen Tian performed his swordplay, he was also erasing Qi Shaoxuan’s memory of it.
He watched Shen Tian perform several hundred moves but could not recall a single one of them. He only remembered thinking that those moves were extremely exquisite and marvelous.
...
Shen Tian’s swordplay increased in speed.
As his speed increased, those several hundred moves seemed to gradually filter down.
Several hundred moves...
One hundred moves...
Several dozen moves...
Over a dozen moves...
As the number of moves decreased, the swordplay grew in speed and agility. It was like a heavenly deity performing a sword dance.
That blood-red sword was also engulfed in a faint divine glow. There was no hint of killing aura at all.
Even so, Qi Shaoxuan felt a growing sense of fear.
As he watched that remarkable swordplay, it seemed to harbor an indescribable terror.
Shen Tian had been performing his swordplay in an aloof, detached manner the whole time, but he suddenly turned around.
His gaze landed on Qi Shaoxuan just as all his sword moves meshed into one.
Swoosh!
At that moment, Shen Tian completely disappeared from Qi Shaoxuan’s sight. It was replaced by a sword light shrouded in divine aura.
Its ancient glow was like the light of the moon flowing down the long river of time, crossing over centuries and centuries.
It was also like a piece of destiny, cut off at a certain point in time.
Qi Shaoxuan raised his head.
He felt like the moon hanging in the sky had cracked open.
It was not just the moon. Even the galaxy had been sliced in half.
For a moment there, Qi Shaoxuan thought that he saw the figure of a celestial being, dazzling and mighty beyond this world.
Qi Shaoxuan had lost all will to fight in front of this sword. He felt that to struggle would be blasphemy to this celestial being!
Coming closer and closer!
All Qi Shaoxuan could now see was that divine light. Apart from that, nothing else existed.
Only one final notion was left in his mind—Am I about to die?
...
That moment felt as long as 10 years.
The divine light faded to nothing. Qi Shaoxuan found himself completely unharmed.
A man clad in purple was now standing before him. His right arm had been sliced off at the shoulder, and he was bleeding profusely.
“Uncle-Master Zi Xuan!”
Qi Shaoxuan’s pupils contracted. The one standing in front of him was a Heavenly Venerable from the Purple Mansion Sacred Ground and one of Qi Shaoxuan’s protectors.
As one of the Purple Mansion Sacred Ground leaders, Heavenly Venerable Zi Xuan was a Soul Formation cultivator and one of the top practitioners in Eastern Wilderness.
But Heavenly Venerable Zi Xuan’s arm had been hacked off. One could imagine just how shocked Qi Shaoxuan was.
“Shen Tian actually cut off Uncle-Master’s right arm!”
Qi Shaoxuan stared at Shen Tian in a daze. He felt an extreme sense of helplessness.
His thirst for battle had completely vanished. This was because there was no hope at all.
If Qi Shaoxuan gave his all, he had a 50% chance of escaping from a Soul Formation Heavenly Venerable.
This was something which he was already very proud of. But Shen Tian’s earlier move had instantly sheared off Heavenly Venerable Zi Xuan’s arm.
The difference between the two practitioners was like heaven and earth.
Qi Shaoxuan fell to his knees in helplessness. He took off his mask and muttered to himself, “I... have been defeated.
“I have been truly defeated.”
Heavenly Venerable Zi Xuan appeared just as shocked as Qi Shaoxuan. This was because no one knew better than him, just how terrifying that sword was.
That sword was definitely not your usual Divine artifact. It was at least a pseudo-Immortal artifact. It possessed the most terrifying killing aura on earth.
But when compared to the magnificence of that sword technique, even this ultimate killer sword paled in comparison.
Luckily, Shen Tian had shifted the direction of his blade at the last minute, as if he had suddenly detected something.
Otherwise, it would have been Heavenly Venerable Zi Xuan’s head that was sliced off, not just his arm.
Even though the move had been completed, the wounded area still felt like it was infested with sword intent. It would take much longer for Zi Xuan to heal.
It would be even more difficult for his arm to be reattached!
He sighed. “The Divine Firmament Saint is indeed a remarkable genius. With that one move, all the sword masters in the world pale in comparison.”
...
Shen Tian finally opened his eyes.
His consciousness returned, and he felt like he had just woken from a great dream.