Chapter 656: Combat
Chapter 656: Combat
Swish!
Two inexplicable streaks of light pierced through the void. The next instant,
Limitless thunder dispersed, and Min Hongru, high in the sky, stared blankly as the 'Grand Purity Divine Firmament Sword' in his hand fell.
His aura rapidly dissipated, and his Nascent Soul directly vanished into nothingness. . . He had actually died from the Five Declines of Heavenly Beings!
And somewhere in the void, a demonic body with an ashen face, like a zombie, also appeared, tumbling headfirst to the ground.
It was none other than Gu Laoguai!
Cause of death: Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light!
Fang Xi had now mastered this divine ability, and even when reducing a Return to Void cultivator's lifespan, it could achieve a ten-to-one ratio.
In other words, the newly upgraded Withered Glory Mystic Light only needed to consume one year of his lifespan to cut ten years from a Soul Transformation cultivator's longevity!
Given Fang Xi's lifespan, which was comparable to an Integration stage cultivator, this was undoubtedly a terrifying prospect.
Both of these individuals were late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators, especially Gu Laoguai; a Human World Soul Transformation cultivator's lifespan was only around two thousand years, and his only had a little over two hundred years remaining.
Min Hongru was slightly better off, with about four or five hundred years of lifespan left.
In other words, to kill these two late-stage Soul Transformation grand cultivators with the 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Ability,' Fang Xi consumed less than a hundred years of his lifespan!
It was truly nothing to him. . .
This was also why he had chosen these two from the start – who told them to have the highest cultivation?
To cultivate painstakingly to such a realm in the lower world would inevitably consume vast amounts of time, which also meant. . . their end was not far off!
They were the perfect targets for elimination!
Upon witnessing this scene, the expressions of the remaining three Soul Transformation cultivators drastically changed!
They could never have imagined that with just a single exchange, the two strongest cultivators from both the righteous and demonic factions would fall directly. . .
In a cultivator's battle, where life hung by a thread, Fang Xi wouldn't give these two strongest cultivators the chance to calmly unleash any cultivation arts or secret techniques; he went straight for the killing blow!
Now, however, he could slowly deal with the remaining few Soul Transformation cultivators.
Boom!
At this moment, the treasures and spells of the three Soul Transformation cultivators only now struck the colossal earthen-yellow mountain formed by the Nine Blazing Seal, causing the jade mountain to emit a sky-shaking rumble.
“Go! ”
Fang Xi formed a single-handed incantation, and the Nine Blazing Seal immediately roared, transforming into a massive earthen-yellow tiger that entangled the early-stage Soul Transformation beautiful woman.
This beautiful woman's cultivation art was unknown, but as she attacked, flower petals flew everywhere. Suddenly, she formed incantations with both hands, and a pink mist emerged, within the showering petals, appearing as giant, fist-sized bees.
These giant bees erupted with powerful spell-light, striking the giant tiger one by one, causing the earthen-yellow behemoth to roar repeatedly.
It opened its massive maw and spat out an earthen-yellow beam of light.
Within the beam, countless ancient seal characters shimmered erratically.
As the giant bees in mid-air fell one after another, the beautiful woman gritted her teeth and conjured a pink brocade handkerchief.
At each of the handkerchief's four corners was a Phoenix Seal character. As Soul Transformation-level magic power was infused, these four runes leaped forth, glowing brightly with eight radiating points of light, and streaks of pink radiance appeared, forming a giant shield that blocked the earthen-yellow light beam.
Beside the beautiful woman, the mid-stage Soul Transformation junior brother violently pounded his chest, spitting out a silver flying sword from his mouth.
The flying sword was covered in dense patterns resembling tiny snake scales, and its hilt was carved into the shape of a snake head, with two crimson Blood River Stones embedded in its eyes.
This was the 'Spirit Serpent Sword,' a Numinous Treasure and a legacy artifact of the Grand Purity Sect, wielded by this junior brother.
Seeing Min Hongru's death, he knew he was no match for Yun Jizi; he could only try his best to resist one attack, then seize the opportunity to flee for his life!
At this moment, any thought of achieving great feats had vanished from his mind, replaced only by how to escape with his life.
With this thought, the Soul Transformation cultivator bit the tip of his tongue, spraying a stream of vital blood onto the Spirit Serpent Sword.
Aided by this, the Spirit Serpent Sword roared, transforming into a massive white-scaled snake with crimson eyes, slithering through the void. Each of its scales shimmered with runes as it suddenly opened its bloody maw and lunged to bite Fang Xi!
Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged. With a wave of his hand,
the Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword emerged from his Dantian Qi Sea, traveling along his meridians to his hand, drawing out a hundred-zhang-long, incredibly condensed green sword-light, like a green flood dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it tangled with the white-scaled great snake.
As both sides moved, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth howled, and even the void was twisted. . .
“This person’s great divine ability must have some limitations. . . otherwise, we would have already followed in Senior Brother Min’s footsteps! ”
The mid-stage Soul Transformation junior brother saw this and a hint of joy appeared on his face: “Fellow Daoist Zhan. . . if the three of us join forces, we can surely guarantee our safety. . . ”
But before he could finish his telepathic message, his divine sense saw Zhan Laomo let out a strange cry, transform, and become a thousand-zhang-tall divine demon with three heads and six arms.
This divine demon's six arms simultaneously formed incantations, black demonic flames burned, transforming into various weapons that smashed down.
However, just as this divine demon roared, an extremely faint streak of escape light actually flew out from behind the divine demon, beginning its incredibly low-profile escape!
This effeminate-looking Zhan Laomo had actually just fled directly!
“Where do you think you’re going? ”
Although this old demon had schemed meticulously, how could he hide from Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness?
This person thought he had successfully executed the secret art of 'golden cicada shedding its shell,' unaware that in Fang Xi’s eyes, it was nothing but a joke.
“To be able to separate one’s divine demon body and refine it into a puppet similar to an external avatar. . . Demonic arts are truly incredible, they deserve praise! ”
Fang Xi chuckled. A black shield flew out, from which countless black spheres of light emerged.
Whoosh!
From within these spheres of light, black streams of water materialized, like countless black water dragons, completely entangling the divine demon body with three heads and six arms.
Fang Xi himself transformed into a streak of green light, pursuing relentlessly.
Seeing this, Zhan Laomo let out a strange cry, his body surging with crimson light, about to unleash some blood-escape art to flee for his life.
But with a long whistle from Fang Xi, he spread his five fingers, and streaks of Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light crisscrossed, weaving into a massive green net across the heavens and earth.
Crack!
From within the green net, bolts of Taiyi Divine Thunder crashed down!
As the thunder rang out, Zhan Laomo's face turned grim, and he was forced to reveal himself from the void; his blood-escape art had been broken!
The Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light was a top-tier wood-element divine ability, especially as its power continuously increased with a cultivator's breakthroughs.
After Fang Xi's Longevity Art reached mastery and he cultivated the Eternal Evergreen Body, its might reached an incredible level, even surpassing that of ordinary fifth-rank Numinous Treasures!
Zhan Laomo roared, and a black long banner appeared in his hand. Upon it were countless resentful souls and ghosts, and even dozens of Nascent Soul ghost kings, revealing it to be none other than a 'Ten Thousand Souls Banner'!
Boom!
A bolt of 'Taiyi Divine Thunder' struck. This thunder, being supremely firm and yang, and filled with vitality, was precisely the bane of Yin ghost power!
The azure-green divine thunder fell into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, instantly tearing apart a large expanse of ghostly mist and turning a late-stage Nascent Soul ghost king into ashes!
Crack!
After that first bolt, one divine thunderbolt after another continuously spread out from the green net, resembling a heavenly tribulation.
Countless divine thunderbolts formed a vast net, continuously compressing the Ten Thousand Souls Banner inward.
Crack!
Cracks appeared on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner’s bone flagstaff, finally snapping with a crash.
“No! ”
Deprived of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner’s protection, Zhan Laomo screamed, swallowed by the lightning net formed from Taiyi Divine Thunder.
Sizzle!
His protective demonic light met the Taiyi Divine Thunder and instantly dissolved into white smoke.
Immediately after, countless green thunderbolts flashed, and the old demon's dharma body actually tore into pieces just like that. . .
Whoosh!
A flash of light, and a black Nascent Soul appeared, stumbling and darting towards the outside of the great net.
He teleported to the edge of the green net and then spat out.
A black bead emerged, landing on the great net formed by the Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light, immediately erupting with a dazzling radiance.
When the radiance dispersed, a massive black gap appeared starkly on the green net.
Zhan Laomo’s Nascent Soul was overjoyed at the sight, about to fly out of the opening.
But at the point where the green net had broken, streaks of emerald-green mist suddenly appeared.
This mist, as if alive, directly wrapped around Zhan Laomo’s Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul's small face was utterly grim as it watched its own body.
Crack!
Crack!
Its movements gradually stiffened, and wood-like textures appeared on its limbs.
It was as if this Nascent Soul had transformed from a body of pure energy into a wooden doll.
—Myriad Wood Mother Qi!
Ever since his Eternal Evergreen Body reached mastery and he obtained this secret art divine ability from Long Qingzi’s memories, Fang Xi had immediately grasped it.
After all, this kind of wood-element primal qi was, in essence, just another application of the 'Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light'.
He clenched his five fingers, and tendrils of Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light fell in clusters, wrapping layer upon layer around this 'wooden doll,' actually capturing Zhan Laomo alive!
After this old demon was captured, the divine demon body with three heads and six arms underwent some unknown change, actually disintegrating inch by inch, turning into waves of pure demonic qi that diffused outwards. . .
‘It seems this demonic body was still controlled by its true self. . . ’
Fang Xi murmured.
In his view, this Zhan Laomo was the stronger among the remaining three Soul Transformation cultivators.
After dealing with this person, the two Grand Purity Sect Soul Transformation cultivators wouldn’t even be able to run away.
With this thought, he waved his hand.
Boom!
Green light particles appeared across the heavens and earth, continuously transforming into Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light, and with power comparable to a Numinous Treasure, they crashed down upon the two Grand Purity Sect Soul Transformation cultivators!
...
Ligou Immortal City.
As several Soul Transformation cultivators clashed, the turbulent spiritual energy of heaven and earth formed a tide, its oppressive might making countless Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators feel as if a great stone weighed on their chests, almost unable to breathe. Their internal magic power was even harder to mobilize, and their faces were pale.
“Amitabha! ”
As a Buddhist chant resonated, Zhui Yue Chan Master, riding a light-escape technique, appeared atop the city gate tower and brought her hands together.
A golden swastika rune flew into the sky, commanding ten thousand zhang of iridescent light, fully activating Ligou Immortal City's mountain-guarding formation, barely managing to preserve the entire city. RAN{0bЕs
Even so, waves of heaven and earth spiritual energy transformed into tides, violently impacting the formation, causing multicolored light to flash brightly.
“Chan Master. . . ”
One by one, Nascent Soul True Monarchs arrived atop the city gate tower, first respectfully bowing to Zhui Yue Chan Master, and then looking towards the battlefield.
“With every move, they command the might of heaven and earth. Is this what a Soul Transformation cultivator is like? ”
The Free and Unfettered Alliance's leader, the purple-robed burly man, sighed, knowing that even though he was a grand late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, facing such Soul Transformation cultivators, he would likely be decapitated within three moves.
Myriad Treasures True Monarch mingled among the Nascent Soul cultivators, appearing utterly inconspicuous.
But the next moment, upon seeing the cultivator in battle, his eyes widened: “It’s actually this. . . Senior. . . ”
Originally, he had seen the opponent as merely Core Formation and addressed him as 'fellow Daoist,' a sign of familiarity.
Now, it seemed he had been far too presumptuous. . .
When he saw Fang Xi unleash the Myriad Wood Mother Qi divine ability, subduing even a Soul Transformation old demon’s Nascent Soul, he had but one thought: ‘My head is still attached to my shoulders, what incredible luck. . . ’
...
Fang Xi couldn’t be bothered with the rogue cultivators of Ligou Immortal City. What they thought had nothing to do with him?
As for Zhui Yue Chan Master, she could at most tie down the early-stage Soul Transformation beautiful woman; her presence was negligible!
Now that he had captured that Soul Transformation old demon, the battlefield situation was abundantly clear.
“I have a sword, I invite both fellow Daoists to appraise it! ”
Fang Xi glanced at the beautiful woman still struggling against the bright yellow giant tiger, curled his lip, and formed a sword incantation.
The Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword, which had been locked in struggle with the white-scaled great snake, suddenly flew out and landed in his hand.
Fang Xi held the sword in his right hand, gently stroking its blade with his left.
Though it was merely the Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword, it had accompanied him through years of battles, defeating countless 'formidable foes'!
The battle today would likely be its final moment of glory. . .
“Go! ”
He slashed with the sword, and the Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword erupted with an incomparably clear sword cry, then exploded with a bang, transforming into 1.296 billion Green Grain Needles!
A single Green Grain Needle exploded again, transforming into a million Green Grain Invisible Needles!
This kind of femtometer-level magic treasure was almost unsolvable for Nascent Soul cultivators, aside from barely resisting with void-based divine abilities!
But for Soul Transformation cultivators, their spiritual sense, solidified from the void, could still capture a few traces of the Green Grain Invisible Needles!
The mid-stage Soul Transformation junior brother then sensed that a sudden, intense killing intent had surged between heaven and earth!
Countless Green Grain Invisible Needles seemed to form an invisible sword array, continuously contracting inward!
“Senior Brother. . . save me! ”
The early-stage Soul Transformation beautiful woman’s expression changed, her face tinged with black qi—she had actually been poisoned!
Not just any poison, but the 'Thousand Ultimate Poison' capable of killing Soul Transformation cultivators!
Fang Xi’s Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword could still be used against Soul Transformation cultivators precisely because it had been poisoned. . .
Of course, the 'Thousand Ultimate Poison' he bought back then wasn’t much, and it was almost used up now.
This Fourth-Generation Green Grain Sword could also completely retire. . .
Roar!
The giant tiger formed by the Nine Blazing Seal suddenly roared, tearing apart the pink brocade handkerchief, and its enormous tiger claw slammed down.
Rip!
The sound of cloth tearing immediately echoed, and the early-stage Soul Transformation beautiful woman's protective aura shattered, her body torn apart by the giant tiger's claw.
Whoosh!
Amidst a flash of blood, a Nascent Soul resembling the beautiful woman appeared, her face full of solemnity as she conjured a snow-white jade talisman.
Upon the jade talisman, Phoenix Seal characters shimmered erratically, extending countless white marks that formed a temporary teleportation array in the void!
“Hmph! ”
Fang Xi snorted coldly, activating the Heavenly Demon Chant.
The beautiful woman’s Nascent Soul immediately shrieked, clutching its head, delaying its entry into the teleportation array.
At the same time, he swiftly unleashed a 'Spatial Lock Talisman'!
A series of silver Phoenix Seal characters merged into the void-formed array, becoming one with its other runes.
Crash!
The teleportation array instantly collapsed!
Fang Xi flicked a finger, and a bolt of Taiyi Divine Thunder struck the female Nascent Soul, causing its eyes to roll back as it fainted, whereupon it was collected into the Soul Suppressing Pagoda.
And at this moment, in the void, the omnipresent 'Green Grain Invisible Needles' abruptly converged inward!
A sharp, desperate sword cry was heard!
The mid-stage Soul Transformation junior brother’s physical body disintegrated, and even his Nascent Soul turned to dust. . .
With a mere flick of his wrist, Fang Xi had annihilated five great Soul Transformation cultivators!
He landed on the ground, collected the corpses of Gu Laoguai and Min Hongru, then glanced back at the numerous cultivators on the city wall.
Zhui Yue Chan Master remained relatively composed, but the other Nascent Soul cultivators all shrank their heads back, and Myriad Treasures True Monarch nearly fainted.
Fortunately, Fang Xi merely swept his gaze over them before transforming into a streak of light and vanishing into the horizon. . .
...
Several hours later.
Inside the Mountain Sea Pearl cave-heaven.
The Little Black Tortoise lay listlessly beside Fang Xi's pant leg, curiously prodding the silver 'Spirit Serpent Sword'.
Demonic light faintly shimmered around Fang Xi, indicating he was using the Three-Phase Annihilation Art, transforming into a demonic cultivator, and then employing a soul-searching secret art.
With a casual flick of his hand, Zhan Laomo’s wood-transformed Nascent Soul was ensnared by a branch of the Demonic Tree, shrinking into its crown and quickly disappearing.
Next, he dealt with the beautiful woman’s Nascent Soul in the same manner. . .
A long while later, Fang Xi opened his eyes: “As expected, it’s an Upper Realm Edict. . . ”
He now understood the full story of why these five Soul Transformation cultivators had foolishly sought death.
First, the patriarchs of these two sects had sent messages, ordering them to monitor him, ideally to capture him alive, or failing that, at least to obtain his whereabouts and report to the Upper Realm envoys.
However, the 'Realm-breaking Incense' had limited message length, and the Upper Realm seemed to have reservations, not explicitly stating the divine ability of the 'Withered Glory Chant,' only cautioning them to monitor him from a distance.
As a result, they hadn't expected his Divine Consciousness to reach so far, and he had found their traces, killing his way here.
“Strictly speaking, Min Hongru and Gu Laoguai were the most tragic ones. . . they clearly possessed powerful divine abilities and magic, and could have fought me for a long time if I hadn't used my killing moves, yet they died on first contact. . . ”
This was Fang Xi's consistent approach: when facing enemies, he would naturally unleash his ultimate trump card from the very beginning, fighting to the death!
But against Return to Void enemies, such as this time's Realm Descent envoy, he could simply walk away.
After all, he was merely a Soul Transformation cultivator; why bother fighting beyond his realm against a Return to Void cultivator?
It wouldn't be too late to settle scores once he reached the Return to Void or even Integration stages!
“As for the treasuries of these two sects. . . they can’t be wasted. ”
Fang Xi picked up a Numinous Treasure flying sword; it was none other than the 'Grand Purity Divine Firmament Sword,' which even among fifth-rank treasures, was considered one of the most excellent.
Besides that, he also found a 'Grand Purity Divine Thunder Warship' in Min Hongru’s personal cave-dwelling, along with numerous rare materials and spirit herbs.
Gu Laoguai’s storage treasure was no less impressive, allowing Fang Xi to make a huge fortune.
At the very least, all the Spirit Stones he spent at the grand auction were not only recouped but he gained many extra besides. . .
“The more Spirit Stones I spend, the more I gain; it’s quite a predicament. . . ”
Fang Xi sighed with emotion, took out a handful of superior-grade Spirit Stones, and tossed them to the Little Black Tortoise at his feet.
The Little Black Tortoise opened its mouth, chewed a few times, and completely devoured the superior-grade Spirit Stones, finally shaking its head and commenting: “. . . They’re not as tasty as True Blood Pills, Master. . . ”
“Hm, next time I’ll let you eat your fill! ”
He mumbled a few perfunctory words and then stepped out of the Mountain Sea Pearl cave-heaven.
...
Not long after, a deeply shocking piece of news spread throughout the Minghuan World.
Three Soul Transformation Old Ancestors of the Grand Purity Sect had actually fallen on the same day!
Not only that, but it was said that on that very night, countless divine thunderbolts also assaulted the Grand Purity Sect’s mountain-guarding formation.
According to survivor accounts, that night, three hundred and sixty-five bolts of 'Grand Purity Divine Thunder' fired simultaneously, forcibly blasting a gap in the Grand Purity Sect’s foundational formation, causing heavy casualties among its disciples. Immediately after, the sect’s treasury and spirit herb gardens were plundered. . .
Although the intruder did not kill many cultivators, merely turning all who obstructed him into ashes, the Grand Purity Sect was still inevitably falling into decline, with rumors even suggesting an impending division of the sect. . .
The Primordial Demon Sect.
A malevolent qi-filled formation was fully activated, and from within the dense black mist, one could see ghost kings and divine demons. . . continuously patrolling within the formation.
When the news of the Grand Purity Sect’s near-annihilation arrived, the most anxious was naturally its arch-nemesis, the Primordial Demon Sect.
Fortunately, the Primordial Demon Sect still had a Soul Transformation-level Grand Elder handling affairs, preventing them from scattering completely.
That day.
A green spirit vessel, with an aura that seemed to suppress all living beings, descended with a crash upon the Primordial Demon Sect!
“The Primordial Demon Sect is a bit more sensible than the Grand Purity Sect; at least they know to leave a Soul Transformation cultivator to guard the home. . . ”
Fang Xi stood on the deck of the Grand Purity Divine Thunder Warship, arms crossed, his expression indifferent.
At this moment, within the Primordial Demon Sect, there was utter chaos.
“Where is the Grand Elder? ”
“The True Demon Hall! The Grand Elder went to the True Demon Hall! ”
“Are they going to release that great demon? Isn’t that a bit risky? ”
“What’s risky about it? Legend has it that great demon was once one of our ancestors! ”
...
Numerous Nascent Soul demonic cultivators discussed animatedly, finally gathering before an ancient stone hall.
The stone hall was ashen gray, with ancient seal characters carved deep into its rock, collectively forming countless talismans that seemed to seal the entire hall.
This was one of the Primordial Demon Sect’s forbidden grounds—the True Demon Hall.
At this moment, the True Demon Hall’s massive doors were wide open, and hoarse, obscure incantations continuously emanated from within.
The many old demons' noses twitched slightly, and they immediately caught a whiff of a rich, bloody scent.
Those more experienced could even immediately discern how much cultivators' essence blood had been used, perhaps even from a few rare spiritual bodies among them. . .
Boom!
Suddenly, the dome of the True Demon Hall shattered, and a dark demonic light shot straight into the sky.
"Let's start with a greeting. . ."
Aboard the Taiqing Divine Thunder Warship, Fang Xi subtly raised his hand.
This war treasure, now fully under his command, immediately roared, as streaks of jade-colored Taiqing Divine Thunder intertwined, forming a colossal net of lightning that crashed down upon the grand array with a thunderous roar!
Within the grand array, a black shadow abruptly appeared.
With a shake of its body, it transformed into a purple-infused divine demon form, roaring as it devoured all the Taiqing Divine Thunder.
"Hmm?"
Fang Xi raised an eyebrow: "So it's actually the Myriad Transformation Divine Demon Body. . . To think that this world also has a demonic cultivator giant practicing the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'!"
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