Chapter 623 1/2)

He wore a serene expression, as if appreciating the scenery within the clouds. Decades of grueling cultivation had completely disconnected his inner emotions from his outward expressions. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the small mountain peak that was slowly appearing before him.

He looked at Tang Shedou with a smile and said softly,

"Brother, why not we go down and take a look?"

On the mountain peak, two people were confronting each other. One of them held a copper bowl, unleashing numerous bolts of thunder and lightning, with purple light flashing as he bore a ferocious expression, wearing robes that were quite unfamiliar.

The other, wielding a pair of knives, was enveloped in black and crimson smoke and flames, also rather impatient, his suppressed rage evident as he said coldly,

"Miao Ye... you truly can't get along with me anywhere!"

Miao Ye held those two large copper bowls in his hands, his expression vicious as the two stood facing each other. In the center of the mountain peak lay a golden long halberd, its curved branch resembling a crescent moon and standing taller than an average person, quietly erect on the peak.

"There's no one here, and there's not much time left before the Cave Heaven closes... We might as well have a good fight!"

Yu Muxian stood amidst the clouds, looking down from his lofty position, with Tang Shedou by his side cradling the long halberd, exhibiting a scornful attitude. His gaze at the halberd showed a flicker of interest as he said softly,

"That's Situ Chen... the current Young Master of the Situ Family... The Tang Jin Sect has been in turmoil for so many years, many young masters have died, and finally, there is one who has come of age."

Yu Muxian's eyes emitted a white light, also using the Pupil Technique to observe the magic artifact on the peak. His Immortal Foundation was at work; he was now at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and this foundation was much more mystical than before, instantly gaining various insights.

He said softly,

"It indeed is an ancient Foundation Establishment magic artifact... It must have belonged to some general from the Wei Country of old, imbued with the essence of Mingyang's imperial command. The Wei Country liked to display its might and took particular pleasure in forging halberds and spears."

Tang Shedou paused for a moment, then laughed,

"In the past, Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao melted down all the armaments of Wei Country to forge the Heavenly Martial Hall, hence such weapons have vanished without a trace, preserved only within this Cave Heaven."

"Are you tempted, Brother?"

Yu Muxian chuckled, while Tang Shedou stood with his hands behind his back and whispered,

"Even though it doesn't align perfectly with the cultivation technique I practice, it is, after all, an ancient artifact. To study and understand it would be of much benefit."

"As for these two, let the Miao Family's man be killed! As for those from the Situ Family... Situ Tang had an old connection with our master, so we should give him some face."

Tang Shedou picked up the long halberd in his hands, tapped his belt lightly, and immediately, streaks of golden light emerged, converging upon him to form a majestic suit of spirit armor.

Yu Muxian shook his feather clothing, not proficient in artifact techniques, as his practice was focused on spells, and the feather clothing suited him better. He laughed and said,

"I wonder how your cultivation is faring, Brother – perhaps we should go down and give it a try."

"Good!"

Tang Shedou laughed heartily, holding the long halberd as he flew toward that mountain peak.

Miao Ye and Situ Chen were fiercely fighting when Tang Shedou arrived upon the breeze, causing both of them to hesitate slightly and nearly cease their struggle. But to their surprise, Tang Shedou, with a cold expression, thrust and hooked his halberd, unleashing a long-charged strike towards Miao Ye.

In the span of a breath, a white light rose from the halberd, and six sharp branches materialized out of the void, all aimed at his neck, the white radiance flowing and sweeping away all the circling thunderbolts.

Miao Ye could never have anticipated that Tang Shedou would emerge out of nowhere and strike at him so furiously. Silently cursing his bad luck, he lightly tossed his bronze bowl into the air where it spun to block the strikes. His other hand formed a fist with the thumb pressed against the spot below his neck, while the remaining fingers flicked lightly.

This move instantly showcased the depth of the Zifu Immortal Clan's disciples' repertoire; by drawing on the closest acupoint to his body, he mobilized the mana within and, in a flash, unleashed four rays of thunder light. This barely deflected the long branches, and he retreated with an incantation.

However, the bronze bowl emitted a dull sound as it was forced to retreat even more clumsily than when it had arrived. The gathered thunder dissipated into a scatter of purple light, and the unfaltering momentum of Tang Shedou's halberd, with its intricately engraved bracers causing him intense pain in his eyes, broke through the air, aiming straight for his forehead.

'Damn it! Such a powerful halberd technique, and he's gotten close too.'

Unable to continue with his incantations, he had no choice but to cover himself with the two bronze bowls. Biting the tip of his tongue, he sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood that transformed into a blood thunderbolt in midair, striking towards the halberd.

The halberd, with its blade shorter than that of a spear but much broader, closed the distance in almost a blink, colliding with the blood thunderbolt.

"Boom!"

The blood thunderbolt only lasted a moment before dissipating into light, gone without a trace. The two bronze bowls returned, just in time to block the halberd, creating an invisible wave in the air as thunder and dharma light flowed, pushing the surrounding clouds far away.

"Quite decisive."

Tang Shedou gave him a cold glance, retracting his halberd with ease and standing mid-air. Situ Chen, witnessing this, exclaimed in disbelief:

"Tang Shedou of the [Heavenly Halberd]!"

The man before them was a notorious killer and an old master well-known for a long time. Situ Chen clapped his hands together and instantly transformed into a blood-red meteor that darted away, leaving a long tail as he vanished into the sea of clouds.

Tang Shedou glanced at him with disdain, thinking little of him. Meanwhile, Miao Ye formed incantations with one hand and retreated rapidly, his heart pounding with terror.

He certainly knew who he was facing; when Tang Shedou had been wreaking havoc in the world, Miao Ye was just a small Qi Cultivator, but he had heard of his notorious reputation. Back then, only a few people like Yang Tianya and Yu Yuxie could compete with him.

"If this man hadn't reached the peak of his Cultivation Technique... he might be breaking through to the Zifu right now... Damn it! How did I get involved with someone like him!"

Fear filled his heart, and after a brief exchange, he realized he was no match, knowing that using all of his tricks would only delay the inevitable for so long, and soon he would fall here. Desperate, he said:

"Senior... I have no desire for the treasures, and I'm willing to divulge everything I gained within the Cave Heaven... I only ask that you spare my life!"

Tang Shedou looked amused and laughed:

"I've killed many people before. Back then, when the Heaven and Earth Thunder Technique wasn't prominent, I had never killed someone from the Immortal Foundation with a thunder attribute. Killing you now would fill in that gap."

Tang Shedou's strike had sent Situ Chen fleeing in panic, and as Miao Ye pleaded pitifully, Yu Muxian watched from Cloud Peak, nodding to himself internally:

'Although those two aren't bad, the power of my senior brother is ultimately superior. Having built up energy for a long time and striking so unexpectedly, it's natural that they'd be frightened. If it really came down to a life and death fight, it would probably take a hundred and eighty rounds before they could kill this person.'

He guessed to himself if Tang Shedou could finish off Miao Ye within a hundred rounds when suddenly a piercing pain filled his ears and a ringing sound ensued, coupled with a premonition of doom.

"Hmm?"

As a panic began to rise in Yu Muxian's heart, it was quickly suppressed by a force, bringing him back to calmness as he thought to himself:

"It seems... someone is coming here seeking death!"