Chapter 112: Witness of the Era (9) |
Two monsters who had each forged their own path clashed.
Every move, every technique distilled the essence of hundreds of martial arts. Though both remained at the Profound Connection realm, the power they unleashed far exceeded the limits of that boundary. For prodigies of their caliber, fighting above their realm was as natural as breathing.
The watching prodigies stared without blinking, frozen like statues, afraid to miss even the smallest detail… even though most of what unfolded before them felt like heavenly script—impossible to comprehend.
"Two young monsters who have both stepped into the realm of true dao… such a sight is rare indeed. If even a fraction of their exchange can be grasped by these juniors, it will benefit their martial paths immeasurably."
The elders of the various major powers sighed inwardly with emotion. This was the true golden age of martial dao—prodigies and monsters abounded, and even divine and sacred physiques were reduced to mere supporting roles.
As the battle with Ling Wuya deepened, Su Chen's understanding of the martial path grew ever clearer. He set aside the Dustreturn Sword and brought two fingers together in a point.
This single move fused every martial art he had ever mastered across lifetimes—ever-changing, profound, like a supreme deity cleansing the mortal dust.
Ling Wuya felt the pressure mount. He shouted:
"What a brilliant move! I, Ling Wuya, was born in the final dharma age after the Great Emperor's ascension—when all life fell silent. I stood invincible across the Eastern Wasteland, Central Continent, and all nine heavenly domains. Thus, I sealed myself away, awaiting the arrival of a new great era. I never expected my first true battle would be against an opponent like you. My blood is truly boiling! This is what a true age of contention should be!"
Facing the divine, world-cleansing power, Ling Wuya threw back his head and laughed wildly, utterly unrestrained. Between his brows, a golden heavenly eye slowly opened, brimming with supreme laws. A beam of divine light descended like heavenly punishment.
Their strongest strikes collided. The protective barrier around the battlefield creaked under the strain.
"Who… won?"
The audience could see nothing clearly, yet everyone knew—one of them must have prevailed in that clash.
After a long moment, two figures stepped down from the martial stage.
"This battle—I lost."
Su Chen spoke with complete sincerity. Ling Wuya was genuinely terrifying. Possessing a peerless divine physique and having stepped into the realm of true Dao so early, even his mental fortitude was monstrous. Unless he died prematurely, reaching the pinnacle of sainthood was inevitable.
Ling Wuya shook his head.
"I merely relied on the advantage of my divine physique. If Brother Wang also possessed one, the outcome might have been different."
His tone was earnest. He was not making excuses for Su Chen. To step into the realm of true dao at such a young age was already a rarity throughout history—even surpassing Ling Wuya in terms of comprehension. Unfortunately, such a genius bore only an ordinary spirit physique rather than a divine one. Otherwise, he would surely be no weaker than Ling Wuya himself.
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Facing Ling Wuya's modesty, Su Chen gave a wry smile. He understood that his achievement stemmed purely from nine lifetimes of accumulated experience, allowing him to forge his own path. Compared to a monster like Ling Wuya—who had once stood supreme in his era—there was still no comparison.
He sighed softly.
"A loss is a loss. On the martial path, defeat is not shameful. What is shameful is failing to grow from defeat—or collapsing entirely after a single setback."
Hearing these words, Ling Wuya fell into thought for a moment. Then he laughed freely.
"Brother Wang, your state of mind is truly admirable. I, Ling Wuya, consider you a friend. If you ever have the time, come visit my Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land. We can discuss the Dao together—each illuminating the other."
Su Chen's heart stirred. To discuss the Dao with a monster like Ling Wuya would be an immense opportunity—perfect for refining and perfecting his own path.
He nodded.
"I had the same thought. Since Brother Wuya extends the invitation, I will gladly impose."
The crowd watched in stunned silence as the two who had just fought life-and-death moments ago now spoke warmly, laughing and praising one another.
Was this the true bearing of geniuses?
Su Chen set off toward the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land with his white horse and Hu Miaomiao in tow. He had originally planned to visit the Northern Desert during the remaining time, but he realized that whatever gains he might find there would pale in comparison to discussing the Dao with Ling Wuya. So he abandoned the idea.
He had once intended to track down Yu Shukuang's whereabouts, but after stepping into the realm of true dao, his state of mind had subtly shifted. Now he wanted to witness for himself just how dazzling the creator of that alternate immortality method—still alive and enduring through the ages—truly was!
This was a grand era.
Within a single millennium, monsters with Great Emperor qualifications like Wang Yunfei had appeared. Ahead still loomed Zhou Hanchan, Lin Zhan, Fang Bubai, Li Shenhua—and the shadowy existence who had schemed against the entire Western Regions, treating all living beings as chess pieces.
Some carried immense destiny. Others were peerless prodigies of unmatched brilliance. And this was merely within the Heavenly Profound Domain. Beyond the domain lay countless races in the extraterritorial void. Geniuses were as numerous as stars in the night sky.
A grand era never lacked for talent. To be born in such an age was fortunate—countless geniuses shone brightly, rivals abounded, and loneliness was impossible.
Yet to be born in a grand era was also tragic. Any one of these monsters, placed in another millennium or ten thousand years, would have left an indelible mark in the annals of history, revered by all generations.
In this era, however, their light would be eclipsed by too many others, rendering them seemingly ordinary. In the end, only one person could be remembered by the world, covering all others in shadow.
Su Chen arrived at Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land. As the foremost sacred land of the Eastern Wasteland, its foundation was unfathomably deep.
Su Chen and Ling Wuya discussed the Dao together. Strange phenomena appeared ceaselessly between heaven and earth—golden lotuses of the Dao bloomed from time to time, natural laws flowed freely, and boundless Dao rhythms scattered outward.
Gradually, more and more disciples of Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land came to listen respectfully. They gathered outside the mountain, quietly receiving the lingering echoes of the two men's dao voices. Even those faint remnants were enough to bring them immense benefit.
Over time, more and more disciples began to regard Su Chen as "Teacher."
On the mountain, Hu Miaomiao lay draped across the white horse's back, watching the two figures in the bamboo pavilion below. For several years now they had not moved a single step. To her, it felt unbearably boring. Every day, she could only amuse herself by listening to the "immortal music" that sounded so pleasant to her ears.
Yet as time passed, something astonishing happened to Hu Miaomiao. Her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds without her even realizing it. She was on the verge of breaking through to the Void Refining realm. This little creature was about to become a legendary Demon Sovereign.
What she did not know was that if the disciples of Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land—who listened with utmost reverence—learned of her situation, their eyes would turn red with envy. To receive the dao insights of two true dao realm martial monsters—even the echoes alone—represented an unimaginable fortune. If it were them, they would not waste a single second, let alone treat it as mere background music!
"Huh?"
Hu Miaomiao's sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide.
The lush flowers and trees on the ground had abruptly withered. Just as she thought she had imagined it, new sprouts pushed through the dead soil once more—slowly growing stronger.
After so long without movement, the bamboo pavilion finally stirred.
Su Chen and Ling Wuya opened their eyes at the same moment.
In that instant, terrifying auras erupted from both of them, transforming into twin pillars of light that shot straight into the heavens.