Chapter 129 - 83: Proof of Gains, Thunder World

Chapter 129: Chapter 83: Proof of Gains, Thunder World

With a sudden kick, he sent the White Jade Floating Platform drifting toward the shore. He formed a Dao Technique with his left hand and gave a slight bow.

Xuzhuang formed a Dharma Seal and returned the gesture coolly. The two locked eyes for a moment, then Xuzhuang moved. A rainbow light erupted from his body, flashing with an ephemeral, dreamlike hue under the sun and amidst the water vapor. Then, with a deafening boom, it tore through the vast mist, shooting forward with lethal intent.

’A Magical Treasure Flying Sword?’ A hint of surprise flickered in Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes. The Magic Formula in his hand shifted, and he casually summoned a Dao Technique, releasing a cluster of clear light that coalesced into a mass of emerald clouds to meet the attack.

Xuzhuang’s expression remained unchanged. This was the first time he had unleashed the Taiyi Rainbow Sword since refining it, and he held nothing back. It streaked through the air like lightning. Upon contact with the clear light, a tearing sound seemed to rip through the void. In the blink of an eye, the mass of clear light was split in two. Before it could even transform, the Taiyi Rainbow Sword continued onward, its momentum unbroken, arriving before Zhong Shenxiu in an instant.

Zhong Shenxiu raised an eyebrow. Although the Clear Spirit Miao Method Qi was not one of his most trusted Dao Techniques, he had still cultivated it to the Sixth Realm. It had even proven effective when he fought Yue Junlan in the past. To think that against Xuzhuang’s sword, it couldn’t even resist for a single moment.

’It seems Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship is not the least bit inferior to Yue Junlan’s. In fact, with a Magical Treasure Flying Sword in hand, his speed and killing power might even be a cut above.’

But a failed probe was hardly enough to make Zhong Shenxiu panic. Seeing the sword light right before him, he calmly flicked his sleeve, sending a golden light upward to strike at Xuzhuang’s blade.

Xuzhuang’s expression was calm, but his spiritual sense felt a faint premonition of danger from the Taiyi Rainbow Sword’s own spirit. So, to Zhong Shenxiu’s surprise, the blade’s light swerved, avoiding the golden beam.

As it turned out, this golden light was also something Zhong Shenxiu had obtained in the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven. In fact, it was the very cause of his clash with Yue Junlan: a Magical Treasure called the Kanli Treasure Falling Coins, which specialized in disabling others’ Magical Artifacts and treasures. Had Xuzhuang relied on the sharpness of his Swordsmanship and tried to slash it apart, he would have fallen for Zhong Shenxiu’s little trap.

’As expected, it’s not that easy.’ Zhong Shenxiu smiled. Though the Treasure Falling Coins hadn’t hit its mark, it had at least forced the Taiyi Rainbow Sword back for an instant.

Seizing the opening, Zhong Shenxiu’s figure blurred. He transformed into a streak of light and retreated dozens of yards. Turning back, he pointed a Sword Technique, and a shimmering blade of light shot forth. In a flash, it split into thirty-two swords and surged forward to attack.

’Is he trying to challenge my Swordsmanship?’

Xuzhuang’s gaze flickered. He saw Zhong Shenxiu’s blades of light move as one. It was as if Zhong Shenxiu was splitting his focus, simultaneously executing dozens of different styles of Swordsmanship.

The marks of Swordsmanship he had seen in the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven that day were indeed Zhong Shenxiu’s. And now, he had clearly taken it a step further. The Flying Swords coordinated seamlessly, faintly linking together to form a kind of Sword Array as they pressed forward.

But he had not yet reached the realm where all techniques return to their source. His self-realized Sword Array, while not crude, was far from flawless. Xuzhuang’s dharma-eyes flashed, and he spotted a weak opening. With a flick of his sword-finger...

...the Taiyi Rainbow Sword suddenly elongated, transforming into a gossamer thread. It bored into Zhong Shenxiu’s Sword Array, spun once, and unleashed boundless Sword Qi, instantly shattering the formation. The Taiyi Rainbow Sword then flickered, splitting into thirty-two beams of light. It flickered again, splitting into another thirty-two, for a total of sixty-four beams. They shot forward, radiating pulsing Sword Qi in all directions.

’Sixty-four beams of light from a single breath?’ Zhong Shenxiu’s brow furrowed in mild surprise. After a few exchanges, he perceived that some were real and others illusory. Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship was already a cut above his own; now with thirty-two extra beams of light that could shift between real and illusory at will, they became even more difficult to parry.

After a few more exchanges, Xuzhuang had beaten Zhong Shenxiu’s sword lights into disarray, establishing his suppressive advantage. Instantly, his sword lights split again; sixteen beams carved an arc through the air, shooting toward Zhong Shenxiu.

’It seems I’ve fallen behind in this contest of Swordsmanship,’ Zhong Shenxiu thought, a flicker of regret on his face. In the next instant, he vanished without a trace. As if teleporting, he leaped across the battlefield of clashing Flying Swords and reappeared dozens of yards in front of Xuzhuang. He pointed a finger and barked, "Freeze!"

At the same time, Zhong Shenxiu formed the Primordial Seal with one hand. A murky light rose from behind his shoulder, transforming into the Primordial Qi Refining Hand. It instantly swelled to hundreds of yards in size and reached down to grab Xuzhuang.

Zhong Shenxiu struck with thunderous speed, giving Xuzhuang no time to react. The Primordial Qi Refining Hand was already overhead, but Xuzhuang was trapped by the Immobility Technique.

Just as the Primordial Qi Refining Hand closed its five fingers, about to envelop Xuzhuang completely within its grasp, Xuzhuang’s mind grew preternaturally calm.

He circulated his Boundless Pill Power. A smoky mist spilled from his mouth and nose as a mountain-shattering might erupted from his body, causing the wild currents in Celestial Water Gorge to churn and the waterfalls to flow in reverse. Finally, at the last possible second, his body managed a slight movement.

The almost-clenched fist of the Primordial Qi Refining Hand trembled slightly, and a thunderous shout boomed from within: "Break!"

The Mixed Element Qi Refining Great Capture abruptly exploded, dissolving into a tangled mess of energy. A streak of white qi shot skyward, dispersed the Chaos Primordial Qi with a single sweep, and then fell back down, rolling toward Zhong Shenxiu.

Zhong Shenxiu frowned. Within Celestial Water Gorge, another immense wave of Pill Power surged, causing the recently calmed river surface to roil once more and spawn countless whirlpools. But Zhong Shenxiu simply formed a magic formula with his fingers and shouted, "Reversing Wind and Returning Fire!"

Just as the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture was about to take shape, it suddenly recoiled, reverting to white qi and flowing backward.

Xuzhuang’s gaze shifted. This was not the first time he had witnessed this peculiar Dao Technique, and he still found it marvelous that it could suppress his Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture. After a moment’s thought, he abandoned the idea of pouring in more Pill Power to break the spell.

While it wouldn’t be difficult for him to break the spell by exerting more Pill Power and reforming his Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture, he would have already lost the opportune moment. He wouldn’t be able to catch Zhong Shenxiu, so it was better to save his strength.

Now that he had achieved the state of refined Golden Mercury, he wasn’t exactly concerned about his reserves. But in a battle of techniques, the slightest difference in Pill Power could decide the final outcome. For Zhong Shenxiu to cast a Dao Technique capable of suppressing his Divine Technique, the cost must have been substantial. In that respect, he considered this exchange a minor victory.

Xuzhuang withdrew his Divine Technique. Zhong Shenxiu was just a short distance away, yet Xuzhuang suddenly flicked his sleeves, rose up as a streak of rainbow light, and shot straight toward the Celestial Vault.

Zhong Shenxiu frowned, not understanding his opponent’s intention. After a moment’s thought, he was about to give chase in a streak of light when he suddenly stopped.

He saw Xuzhuang fly to the base of the clouds, then abruptly turn around. He stood suspended in mid-air, his wide sleeves fluttering ceaselessly in the wind, carving wide arcs. He pointed one hand to the sky and formed a seal with the other. In that instant, his entire aura transformed. Above him, his Pill Power turned into a vapor that surged into the clouds like a column of smoke.

BOOM! The Pill Power seemed to ignite into a sky-scorching conflagration within the clouds, instantly burning them fiery red. As the cloud-qi rumbled and churned, countless bolts of thunder and fire began to coalesce within.

For several years, Xuzhuang had never neglected his cultivation of thunder arts. He had finally succeeded in refining Profound Fire True Thunder, a profound thunder art derived from Red Fire Gang Thunder. Now, as he channeled it with all his might, it revealed a world-destroying power.

Zhong Shenxiu’s expression turned solemn. He halted his ascent and began to form a Magic Formula. A purple light shone from above his celestial gate, accompanied by a deafening crackle. It flickered and contracted, and with each cycle, a bolt of Purple Sky Divine Thunder was refined and accumulated. The process repeated again and again.

After a moment, Xuzhuang’s voice drifted down from the Celestial Vault. "I witnessed the might of your thunder arts in the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven, Fellow Daoist. Today, I finally have the chance to experience it for myself."

Zhong Shenxiu shouted back, his voice clear, "Then by all means, Fellow Daoist, do not hold back!"

"Good!" As Xuzhuang’s deep voice boomed, the Celestial Vault exploded! Like Duke Lei and Yu Bo joining forces to unleash a deluge, a boundless storm of thunder and fire poured down, its crimson light dyeing the world scarlet.

But amidst that sea of crimson, a point of purple light began to flicker. Immediately after, bolts of Purple Sky Divine Thunder streaked forth one after another, fearlessly meeting the sky-filling barrage of Profound Fire True Thunder!

RUMBLE! Mid-air transformed into a Thunder World woven from crimson and purple. Every collision unleashed an earth-shattering explosion, like Celestial Gods beating war drums while demons danced to the infernal music—a scene straight out of the primordial age.