Chapter 331 - 9-Deaths Yin Netherworld, All Divine Artifacts Appear

Chen Yuan had never once used the Nine Deaths Nether Slash since obtaining it.

This slash dealt nine deaths with no chance of survival, a fusion of Nether Death Intent and Extreme Killing Intent. Though its Saber Intent was overbearing and tyrannical, the toll it took on its wielder was also immense.

In a cycle of life and death, executing this fatal slash required converting one’s own Qi and Blood into Vitality, then transforming that Vitality into Nether Death Intent.

Chen Yuan’s Qi and Blood were powerful enough that during this conversion, the resulting Nether Death Intent was so strong it made even the ever-unyielding Zhang Xuanzhong tremble with dread.

The blade had yet to strike, but his opponent’s will had already faltered.

But it was too late for him to retreat.

Chen Yuan’s slash condensed boundless Nether Death Intent and Extreme Killing Intent. As he brought his saber down, the black mist of death surrounding him fused into the blade. Wherever the black Saber Aura passed, it brought absolute death, extinguishing all Vitality!

Qi and Blood surged around Zhang Xuanzhong as purple lightning crackled in the air. His eyes even glinted with violet thunder as he channeled immense power into the Purple Sky Demon Slaying Sword, slashing at Chen Yuan once more.

Ying Yuanzhen was utterly horrified. He retreated hastily as the potent Dao Essence around him condensed in an instant, forming the Heaven-Encompassing Array in front of him—not for attack, but purely for defense.

But before Chen Yuan’s overwhelmingly powerful slash, both the Heaven-Encompassing Array and the Purple Sky Demon Slaying Sword were shattered as easily as if they were made of paper.

Boundless deadly silence and killing intent descended. The Heaven-encompassing Array shattered, and the Purple Sky Divine Thunder was extinguished.

Zhang Xuanzhong’s left arm was brutally severed. The wound immediately turned pitch-black as an extreme Death Intent began devouring his Vitality. His face went deathly pale as he crashed heavily to the ground.

Although Ying Yuanzhen wasn’t Chen Yuan’s primary target, his foundation of power was weaker than Zhang Xuanzhong’s. When the Heaven-Encompassing Array shattered, his body was corroded by the force of the Nine Deaths Nether Slash. Death Intent extinguished his Vitality while the killing intent shattered his Meridians. Ying Yuanzhen instantly spat out a mouthful of blood, his hair turning white in a flash.

The heavy killing intent receded. Chen Yuan wasn’t in good shape either.

In the conversion of life and death, the strength of the Death Intent Chen Yuan unleashed was directly proportional to the amount of Vitality he converted.

He wanted to use the power of this single slash to instantly turn the tide of battle, so he had converted ninety percent of his Vitality, leaving his Qi and Blood nearly depleted.

But Chen Yuan didn’t hesitate for a moment. The Nether Blood Fiend swirled around him as a Saber Aura, wrapped in a heaven-storming killing intent, slashed toward Ying Yuanzhen.

With one arm severed and Netherworld Death Qi invading his body, Zhang Xuanzhong was now severely wounded, having lost eighty percent of his combat effectiveness.

Therefore, killing Ying Yuanzhen now was the safer bet.

Seeing Chen Yuan bearing down on him, Ying Yuanzhen gritted his teeth and pulled out the Divine Artifact Incarnation of the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell.

The oppressive aura emanating from Chen Yuan was even more intense than that of the two monsters from before, the Scale Zombie and the Corpse Dissolving Immortal!

At least with those two monsters, everyone had worked together to resist them. Now, he had to face the unbelievably ferocious Chen Yuan all by himself!

The moment the Divine Artifact Incarnation appeared, Chen Yuan considered it. ‘Should I use the Doroduma Barrier-Breaking Curse to instantly subdue Ying Yuanzhen and seize the Divine Artifact Incarnation of the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell?’

But he dismissed the thought as soon as it arose.

‘Activating the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell requires the Heaven-Encompassing Great Transformation Scripture from the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect. Besides, the bell itself is a Divine Artifact Incarnation for both offense and defense. Once a blood pact rune has been branded on it using the scripture, it gains a protective effect that activates automatically.’

‘So, even if I could stop Ying Yuanzhen from actively using the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell, it would still passively activate some of its power to ward off a fatal blow.’

‘I only have one chance to use the Doroduma Barrier-Breaking Curse. I don’t want to waste it like this.’

‘The right time to use this Secret Technique will be when I face Zhang Xuanzhong later.’

‘Right now, I’ve already burned through ninety percent of my Vitality, so trying to withstand the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell head-on is impossible. The safest method is to use the Divine Artifact Incarnation of the Nine Nether Demon Sword. Fight a Divine Artifact with a Divine Artifact.’

Ying Yuanzhen had been pushed into a corner. The last of his Dao Essence condensed, pouring into the Small Bronze Bell in his hand.

In an instant, the Small Bronze Bell swelled into a hundred-zhang-tall behemoth. A deafening toll, carrying an ancient and desolate aura, reverberated through the heavens and the earth. It caused the Qi and Blood of everyone present to boil, as if it would burst from their bodies!

The next moment, an utterly immense and majestic power erupted from the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell. Like the heavens themselves were collapsing, it came crashing down on Chen Yuan!

In that instant, Chen Yuan felt as if he were locked in place. The surrounding space was completely sealed, leaving him with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide!

A grave expression appeared in Chen Yuan’s eyes.

‘In terms of pure power among Divine Artifact Demon Soldiers, the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell, with its integrated offense and defense, is extremely formidable.’

‘Its defensive power rivaled Star Shifting, and its attack power was on par with the Sun-piercing Sword.’

‘The Divine Artifact Incarnations of each of the Four Daoist Courts are all incredibly powerful.’

Just as Chen Yuan prepared to pull out the Divine Artifact Incarnation of the Nine Nether Demon Sword to counter the attack, Yue Ling’er, who was fighting Fang Zhibai alongside Gu Lichuan, suddenly produced a small, seven-colored ball.

Yue Ling’er slit her palm, and her Qi and Blood surged into the ball. In an instant, the seven-colored orb transformed into a rainbow-hued net that shot out and enveloped the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell.

The Mist Rain Alliance’s Divine Artifact, the Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net!

Among all the Divine Artifact Incarnations, the one from the Mist Rain Alliance was exceptionally unique.

Song Yanluo’s Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net had no offensive power at all, but its defensive and binding capabilities were top-tier.

The Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net could block the power of even the strongest Divine Artifact Demon Soldiers, trapping and holding them in place, but it possessed absolutely no offensive capability.

The power of the Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net was a major reason why Song Yanluo, a woman, was able to make a name for herself in the Jianghu and stand against the Lu Family of Celestial Water City in Lan Province.

Of course, a Divine Artifact that could only be used for defense and support had significant limitations. This was why the Mist Rain Alliance had all but reached the peak of its development; Song Yanluo had more than enough power to protect what she had, but expansion was another matter entirely.

Chen Yuan hadn’t expected Yue Ling’er to use her Divine Artifact Incarnation here.

In truth, ever since entering the Heaven-Reaching Tower, Yue Ling’er had been feeling pent-up.

While she didn’t have a “strong woman” personality like her master, she wasn’t some delicate damsel either and hated being treated like a burden.

But unfortunately, her strength was limited, so she was usually the one being protected.

Now that she finally had a chance to help Chen Yuan, Yue Ling’er certainly wasn’t going to be precious about using her Divine Artifact Incarnation.

‘Besides, Master said she didn’t expect me to gain anything in the Heaven-Reaching Tower. As long as I get some experience, it’s not a loss.’

The Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net had the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell tightly bound, the powers of the two Divine Artifact Incarnations canceling each other out. A look of utter despair crossed Ying Yuanzhen’s face.

But Chen Yuan wasted no time.

The pressure pinning him down vanished, and Chen Yuan immediately charged Ying Yuanzhen, saber raised to kill.

Ying Yuanzhen’s Qi and Blood were almost depleted, and his True Qi was nearly exhausted. He frantically pulled an Array Plate from his Qiankun Bag, hoping to activate its Array Power to stop Chen Yuan.

But to his despair, he discovered that what little True Qi he had left wasn’t even enough to activate the Array Plate!

The next moment, a crimson Saber Aura flashed before his eyes, and Ying Yuanzhen’s head tumbled to the floor.

Chen Yuan turned to see that Zhang Xuanzhong had already fled to the hall’s exit.

Having had his left arm severed by Chen Yuan’s blade, this arrogant prodigy of the Daoist Sects was finally afraid. He no longer dared to face Chen Yuan.

The instant Ying Yuanzhen had deployed the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell, he had chosen to flee.

But would Chen Yuan give him that chance?

He drew his bow, and in an instant, a Mulan Continuous Jail-Piercing Arrow shot forth.

Although Chen Yuan was severely depleted, and the arrow was not as powerful as before, it still struck the heavily injured Zhang Xuanzhong, sending him staggering and coughing up blood.

Meanwhile, Fang Zhibai had also been beaten to the point of coughing up blood by Gu Lichuan and Yue Ling’er.

He was no match for Gu Lichuan to begin with, and with Yue Ling’er providing support, he was overwhelmed after only a few exchanges.

With Ying Yuanzhen dead and Zhang Xuanzhong fleeing, Fang Zhibai sank even deeper into despair.

The three of them… Two were from the Four Daoist Courts. And while his Lifting Heaven Sword Pavilion had a slightly weaker foundation, it was still a Sword Dao Major Sect in this era.

Yet Gu Lichuan was a Loose Cultivator, while Chen Yuan and Yue Ling’er came from the less-regarded Seven Alliances of the World. A three-on-three, and they had lost so miserably. To this moment, Fang Zhibai found it hard to believe.

But no matter how hard it was to believe, he had to face reality.

So, the moment Zhang Xuanzhong fled, Fang Zhibai made a snap decision. He pulled out a silver-white Long Sword that radiated with astonishing Sword Qi.

The Divine Soldier of Lifting Heaven Sword Pavilion, the Jingyun Lingxiao Sword!

His Qi and Blood and Sword Qi surged madly into the Jingyun Lingxiao Sword. Fang Zhibai slashed out. In that instant, a world-shaking wave of majestic Sword Qi, seeming to tear the very sky apart, came crashing down on Gu Lichuan and Yue Ling’er!

Chen Yuan spun around, preparing to use the Nine Nether Demon Sword to help Gu Lichuan and Yue Ling’er withstand the blow.

‘Originally, my plan was to use the Nine Nether Demon Sword against the Heaven-Encompassing Mixed Element Bell. Then, if Fang Zhibai used his Divine Artifact Incarnation, Ling’Er could use the Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net for defense.’

‘Since the Smoke and Mist Heaven-Mending Net is already used, I’ll have to use the Nine Nether Demon Sword to block Fang Zhibai’s attack.’

But just as Chen Yuan was about to act, Gu Lichuan shouted, “Brother Chen! Don’t worry about me! Go after Zhang Xuanzhong! I’m confident I can block this!”

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, but he did as Gu Lichuan said and continued his pursuit of Zhang Xuanzhong.

Gu Lichuan wasn’t the type to make empty boasts. If he said he was confident, he truly was.

The next moment, Gu Lichuan formed a Seal Technique and tapped the center of his own brow.

A glint of extreme Sword Intent appeared at the center of his brow. The sharpness of this glint, the edge of this Sword Intent, was actually a cut above even the Jingyun Lingxiao Sword that Fang Zhibai wielded!

With a thunderous shout, Gu Lichuan drew out the supremely potent Sword Intent from his brow. The Five Swords behind him left their sheaths, the five Celestial Soldier Longswords merging into one. This single blade fused with the incredibly powerful Sword Intent. As he thrust forward, a peerless edge burst forth, tearing the Divine Artifact Incarnation of the Jingyun Lingxiao Sword apart!