Chapter 612: Contending for Supremacy

Time flew.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the duel had arrived.

Luofu State.

The gates of the Jade Void Sword Sect.

HUMMM.

A white mist, so thick it seemed tangible, enveloped Luofu State.

Any cultivator familiar with the Jade Void Sword Sect knew that this layer of white mist was none other than their Mountain Protection Array—the Tai Xu Nine Heavens Formation!

It used the white mist as its medium, incorporating Void Skills and containing the Taixu Sword Intent. Uniting offense and defense, it was considered a peak fifth-rank array!

A thousand years ago, the predecessors of the Jade Void Sword Sect discovered this fifth-rank array diagram in an ancient ruin. Since then, they had continuously improved and refined it!

In the early days of the Reversed Moon War, the Jade Void Sword Sect had relied on it to defend Luofu State, forcing the Blood Moon Demon Palace to retreat empty-handed after a nine-year siege.

In nearly a thousand years, the Jade Void Sword Sect’s Tai Xu Nine Heavens Formation had never once been breached!

The incredibly dense white mist was a great comfort to the Sword Sect disciples, who had been on edge for days.

“The Tai Xu Nine Heavens Formation! Our sect’s Mountain Protection Array has never been breached!”

“Even if that old demon Yehai dares to attack our Sword Sect, he won’t be leaving alive!”

To outsiders, however, the sect’s actions only proved their lack of confidence.

“Tsk, tsk…”

“Yehai hasn’t even appeared, yet they’ve already rushed to activate the Tai Xu Formation?”

“The Jade Void Sword Sect? Honestly…”

Outside the sect, a languid, elegant figure stood upon a cloud, gazing at the distant Luofu State. She wore a Five-Colored Peach Blossom Feather Robe, her long hair tied up in a loose bun.

With a rosy, jade-like complexion, crimson lips, and teeth like pearls, she was none other than Qixia of Profound Light Cave, who had once crossed paths with Su Ye.

Miss Sanhua had wreaked havoc in Profound Light Cave, slaughtering countless people. Because of this, Qixia had been sent by her sect to request aid from the Jade Void Sword Sect.

However, the Jade Void Sword Sect was already on high alert in preparation for Su Ye. They not only refused Qixia’s request for aid but didn’t even open their gates for her!

Having been turned away at the gates, Qixia was naturally quite displeased with the Sword Sect.

She crossed her arms, accentuating her full chest, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Qixia lingered, not leaving. Other ideas had already begun to form in her mind.

‘If the Jade Void Sword Sect won’t help, I’ll go find Yehai!’

‘If Yehai can really take down the Jade Void Sword Sect and conquer Luofu State, then… with his strength, dealing with Miss Sanhua would be no problem at all!’

Compared to the declining Jade Void Sword Sect and the brutal, bloodthirsty remnants of the Demon Palace, this Yehai could at least be considered lawful evil, seeing as he had taken in the True Treasure Pavilion.

That was something the nine sects of the inner sea could more or less accept.

Cultivators, after all, were known for their flexible moral compasses.

“A change unseen in eight hundred years… It’s time for Profound Light Cave to make some changes as well…” Qixia murmured to herself.

She wasn’t the only one.

At this very moment, a great many Nascent Soul True Monarchs had gathered near Luofu State to watch the battle.

Qixia alone could sense a handful of them. The Star Casting Hall, the Brahma Pure Sect… they had all dispatched Nascent Soul True Monarchs to observe!

—A border as porous as theirs could never stop Nascent Soul True Monarchs from sneaking across!

“I’ve reviewed the records. This Yehai has never known defeat since his debut, nor does he take unnecessary risks.”

“His actions may seem incredibly risky, but he always has victory in hand. Given his style, for him to so boldly challenge Luofu State, he must be quite confident!”

“The Jade Void Sword Sect has been the hegemon for a millennium. Their foundation is profound, they have a whole slew of powerful cultivators, and on top of that, there’s an old monster like the Jade Void Sword Master in seclusion, trying to break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm.”

“But Su Ye is only in the Early-stage Nascent Soul. Even with a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect that makes him invincible among his peers, isn’t it far too arrogant to think he can suppress the entire Jade Void Sword Sect?”

Strands of Divine Sense flickered through the void as they conversed, their thoughts in flux.

Everyone knew that this battle between Su Ye and the Jade Void Sword Sect would decide the future of the Yaoguang Islands!

…

Meanwhile.

Within the Gangfeng Layer.

A proud figure stood poised above countless cyclones.

Miss Sanhua gazed down upon Luofu State, a scarlet glint flashing in her eyes.

Through wanton slaughter and blood sacrifice, her Cultivation Realm had already reached the Mid-stage Nascent Soul!

As the possessor of a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect, her combat prowess was extraordinary. She had easily taken the head of a Nascent Soul cultivator from Profound Light Cave, and not even his Nascent Soul had managed to escape!

“Su Ye…”

‘I’m not any weaker than you now!’

Miss Sanhua licked her lips, a bloodthirsty look on her face.

Unlike Qixia, she had no intention of being a mere spectator!

Was this not a perfect example of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

‘The Jade Void Sword Master, Yehai… both are formidable enemies!’

‘If they cripple each other, it will be the perfect opportunity!’

As Miss Sanhua mulled this over, a fiery excitement surged within her.

When one holds a sharp blade, the urge to kill naturally follows.

The Holy Maiden of the Demon Palace was the antithesis of concepts like “mercy” or “repaying evil with kindness”!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

…

Time passed in silence.

Noon drew near.

Luofu State.

A tense atmosphere began to spread.

“The Celestial Observation Instrument is stable. No void fluctuations detected.”

“The Tai Xu Nine Heavens Formation is functioning normally.”

At the mountainside, in the array’s central hub.

Four Extremes Sword Lu Chen was on standby, using his outstanding expertise in arrays to coordinate and provide support to the one in command, Seventh Peak Master Fu Nanzi.

“Remain vigilant.”

Fu Nanzi, a middle-aged Daoist in a white robe, gave the command from his cross-legged position.

“Yes.”

Lu Chen nodded in acknowledgment. He gazed out from his vantage point on the mountain toward the distant sea, his heart a tangle of emotions.

Back in the Volcanic Grotto Heaven, he and Su Ye had been on fairly good terms. Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly that things had come to this.