Three leisurely years passed.
Chen Sheng had already traversed most of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, with only over a hundred thousand miles left to the other side’s edge region.
On this day, Chen Sheng was calmly ditating in a hidden mountain hollow, surrounded by a Tier Three Concealnt Array that blended into the ink-like mountains and forests, with array patterns intertwined with light and shadow, perfectly concealing his aura.
Even if a Late-stage Golden Core Great Demon were to probe from a distance with its Divine Sense, it could only touch a thin ripple of spiritual energy, much like touching a reflection on the water’s surface, unable to penetrate the mysteries within.
Relying on such an array, Chen Sheng had traversed the previous path almost without disturbance for the past three years.
At this mont, within the array, Chen Sheng was focused on operating his cultivation technique, recovering the mana expended from his long journey.
Spiritual energy flowed around him like a trickling stream, circulating repeatedly through his ridians, gathering into a small vortex in his dantian, with each cycle filling the dry mana pool bit by bit.
Within his dantian, the Tingyu Sword was being gently nourished by mana, emitting a comfortable quiver.
Suddenly, the ground sent a severe tremor, as if an ancient beast was rampaging beneath it, causing the loose stones in the mountain hollow to jump up in dance.
Chen Sheng’s heart skipped a beat; this was far from the usual disturbance of a passing demon beast. A chilling premonition crawled up his spine, imdiately overwhelming his mind!
"This isn’t good!"
He had no ti to move the array before the premonition turned into reality in the next mont.
A violent and intense miasma surged forward like a tidal wave, saturated with the scent of blood and decay, breaching the periter in an instant and striking the light screen of the Tier Three Concealnt Array.
"Crack!"
Amidst a crisp sound, the light screen shattered like ice hit by a boulder, cracking into a spiderweb pattern before thoroughly breaking apart, dispersing into countless points of light.
"Roar——"
A deafening roar echoed through the forest, shaking the leaves down like rain.
A towering Unihorn Green Bull Demon King, three zhang in height, appeared at the entrance of the mountain hollow, its massive body almost blocking the entire opening.
Its fur shimred with a greenish luster, and the single horn atop its head was as black and sharp as onyx, wreathed with a thread of black mist that seed capable of tearing through the sky.
Its eyes burned red like flas, and the Mid-stage Golden Core pressure it exuded weighed on Chen Sheng’s heart like a heavy, oppressive cloud, causing his breath to catch.
Further away, the aura of an even more formidable Late-stage Golden Core Great Demon King released a strange howl.
That sound pierced through the forest, carrying an undeniable authority, causing the Unihorn Green Bull Demon King’s body to visibly flinch.
Clearly, this Demon King had been driven here by the more powerful presence behind it and had inadvertently entered Chen Sheng’s periter in its panic, only to discover the hiding array and break through it.
"A human cultivator? Unlucky for you, die now for !"
The Unihorn Green Bull Demon King shouted in a deep, resonant voice, echoing throughout the mountain hollow, leaving Chen Sheng’s eardrums ringing.
Saying this, its thick cow hoof stomped the ground furiously, seeming intent on venting its anger on Chen Sheng.
With a dull "thud," the earth trembled, and cracks spread like a spiderweb.
Imdiately, several massive stone thorns burst from the ground, their edges jagged with uneven blades, each as thick as two people embracing, forming a small stone forest that fiercely stabbed at Chen Sheng.
Wherever they passed, the ground was gouged with deep furrows, flinging dirt everywhere.
Chen Sheng cursed his bad luck; this was indeed an unforeseen disaster. He dared not hesitate for a mont, instantly deploying his Sword Escape Skill beneath his feet.
His entire body turned into a dazzling streak of light, shooting forward like a teor, maneuvering skillfully between the stone thorns, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Boom!"
With a huge explosion, the stone thorns slamd into the ground, sending dust flying everywhere and debris skittering about, leaving a chaotic scene several zhang wide on the ground.
"Think you can run?"
Seeing this, the Unihorn Green Bull Demon King let out an angry roar, swirling up a black demon wind around itself, carrying its body in pursuit.
It moved like a phantom, and wherever it passed, imnse trees as large as ten n embracing were easily cut down by the demon wind, as fragile as withered straw, snapping with a "crack."
With each pass, the ground was left marked with blackened traces from the demon wind’s corrosion, and the blackish-brown soil was laced with dark green toxic liquid, emitting a pungent odor.
Seeing himself about to be entangled, Chen Sheng could only call forth the Tingyu Sword.
With a flash of green light, the three-foot long blade hovered before him, trembling slightly as it emitted a crisp sword cry. Sharp Sword Qi scattered like cutting air, much like it could slice through space, showcasing the formidable might of a Tier Three Magical Treasure.
Chen Sheng attempted to steady the situation and said:
"Fellow Daoist, my sword is not to be underestimated; even at the cost of my life, I can heavily injure you..."
"Spare your words, et your death!"
"Devouring you would be just the thing to replenish my primordial energy!"
The Unihorn Green Bull Demon King paid no heed, swinging its colossal head, spewing a black Divine Wind from its mouth.
This Divine Wind was entirely distinct from ordinary winds, dark in hue, embedded with countless black granules that glinted with tallic sheen, howling toward Chen Sheng.
Where it passed, the air rippled as if an invisible hand recklessly twisted the space, and any branches or leaves touching the Divine Wind were instantly ground into powder.
Chen Sheng dared not take it head-on, pushing his Sword Escape Skill to its limit, his form sketching out weird arcs in the air, like catkins in the wind, constantly evading the Divine Wind’s attack.
At the sa ti, his fingertips perford spell sequences rapidly, releasing one hundred and eight Wind and Thunder Swords from the Jade Box in a stream, quickly assembling in mid-air to form the Celestial Spirit Wind-Thunder Sword Array.
In an instant, gales howled and thunder roared.
Sword Qi containing the power of wind and thunder, like a dense curtain of rain accompanied by sizzling electrical sounds, enveloped toward the Unihorn Green Bull Demon King.
"Clang clang clang!"
The dense collision sounds were incessant, as the Sword Qi fell upon the Unihorn Green Bull Demon King. A layer of green light glimred on its demon body, and in the end, only left behind streaks of white marks.
This demon king’s physical body was trendously formidable, almost comparable to a Tier Three Middle Grade defensive magical treasure. Ordinary attacks were no more than a scratch on an itch for it.
Chen Sheng’s heart sank, knowing fully well that he had encountered a formidable and challenging adversary.
He dared not linger in battle; this place was fraught with perils. If he inadvertently attracted other Late-stage Golden Core Great Demon Kings, there would be no hope for survival.
Thus, he simultaneously controlled the sword array for defense while retreating toward the edge of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
In the ensuing clashes, Chen Sheng fought seven battles and retreated seven tis, each combat fraught with danger. The slightest misstep could lead to his imdiate demise.
The Unihorn Green Bull Demon King, however, pressed on aggressively, its attacks becoming increasingly fierce. It muttered words in its mouth, and the deep-toned spell echoed throughout the forested mountains.
Soon after, large swaths of black water surged from underground.
These waters were no ordinary liquid, appearing viscous and inky black, exuding a nauseating stench and imbued with a corrupting force.
Wherever the water flowed, vegetation instantly withered, devoid of life. Green leaves turned to charred black powder, and even hard rocks rapidly dissolved into puddles of black sludge.
Even the surrounding air beca thick and oppressive, as if trapped in a swamp, making breathing difficult.
Seeing this, Chen Sheng hurriedly invoked two Tier Three Early-stage talismans he had brought from the Qinghua Sect’s treasure vault in a previous life.
A Ten-sided Golden Light Talisman was instantly activated, forming a layer of golden light around him. The light screen flowed with faint runes, resembling an indestructible fortress, resisting the corrosion of the black water.
The black water fell onto the light screen, making sizzling corrosion sounds, emitting wisps of black smoke.
anwhile, the Nine Heavens Fire Sea Talisman transford into raging flas, as Chen Sheng infused all his mana, bolstered by the power of the Wind and Thunder Sword Array.
An expanse of unending red-hot sea of fire, with scorching energy, surged toward the black water, attempting to repel this bizarre liquid.
With the help of the talismans, Chen Sheng, in tandem with the sword array, managed to temporarily fend off the demon king’s attacks.
...
Along the way, Chen Sheng relied entirely on the Tier Three Elixir Pills he carried with him for support.
He continuously consud Healing Pills and Replenishing Essence Pills, which dissolved upon entrance, transforming into warm currents that rged throughout his body, barely sustaining his mana and injuries.
For other ordinary Fake Pill Cultivators, under such intense battle intensity and consumption, they would likely have already perished from exhaustion.
Finally, in a chase and escape ga, they reached the edge of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
This place wasn’t far from human territories, which gave Chen Sheng so peace of mind.
Seeing the black wind approaching again, he sharpened his gaze, altered his hand spell abruptly, infused his whole body’s mana, and the Celestial Spirit Wind-Thunder Sword Array exploded with incredible power instantly.
One hundred and eight flying swords spun rapidly in the air, forming a giant vortex of thunder and fire, with lightning flickering at its center and the wind howling.
Countless strands of Sword Qi, imbued with the power of wind and thunder, poured down onto the Unihorn Green Bull Demon King like a torrential downpour.
At the sa ti, the Qinghua Sword emitted a bright green light, its blade flickering with runes, condensing Sword Gang into silk, emitting the sound of thunder, carrying a majestic force to stab directly at the demon king’s brow.
Do not think that techniques like Sword Refining into Gang, Sword Qi Thunder Sound, and Sword Refining into Silk, learned during the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishnt Stage, lose effectiveness later on.
In fact, as cultivation improves, the power of these sword techniques grows too, becoming ever more versatile, with no end!
The Unihorn Green Bull Demon King’s horn instantly emitted a black light that enveloped its body, fending off the countless Sword Qi, producing a "swish swish" sound.
Yet, the Qinghua Sword, resonating with thunder, broke through the black light with indomitable sharpness and landed a deep sword scar on the demon king’s brow, blood gushing forth.
Seizing the success, Chen Sheng ford a hand seal, and the sword array imdiately divided, producing countless Sword Qi, condensing Sword Gang, initiating a new round of attacks!
"Roar!"
The Unihorn Green Bull Demon King was thoroughly enraged, its fur standing on end like steel needles, each strand upright.
Once again, it spewed large amounts of black water, which rapidly condensed in the air, forming a massive black water curtain, blocking most of the Sword Qi outside.
Simultaneously, taking advantage of a gust of demon wind, it leaped high, its two massive cow hooves glowing with intense green light, accompanied by a tearing whistling sound in the air, fiercely stamping toward the Qinghua Sword.
"Clang!"
A deafening clash resounded, the sound of tal clashing echoed throughout the sky, seemingly scattering even a part of the clouds.
The Qinghua Sword, overwheld by strong force, was blasted backward.
Chen Sheng was also affected, his vital energy and blood surging, a mouthful of blood rose to his throat, but he forcefully swallowed it back down, feeling a burst of tallic taste in his throat.
He was just about to set up a grand array again and properly fight this demon king!
However, in that instant, a wondrous sensation surged in his heart.
A massive change occurred in Chen Sheng’s perception; everything before him seed "slower," "larger," and "clearer."
At that mont, the bottleneck that had prevented Chen Sheng’s breakthrough for years, the thin veil obstructing Sword Heart Clarity, was finally shattered completely.
Nourished by Tier Three Magical Power, a shiny, translucent sword heart emitted a gentle yet resolute glow, granting him an opportunity to understand the world from a different perspective.
A strand of peerlessly sharp Sword Intent hovered at his heart, resembling a peerless legendary sword, ready to unsheathe and slay the enemy at any mont.
User Comments
0 comments from readers