“A Cultivator of the Core Formation stage dares to call themselves an Ancestor?!”
Just as the giant sword was about to strike Luoyan Manor, a soft laugh echoed. A figure flew out from within the manor, casually throwing out a tripod cauldron that grew rapidly upon contact with the air, soon becoming a massive object covering the top of Luoyan Manor and blocking the giant sword.
Clang!
The giant sword collided with the cauldron. The cauldron retreated step by step under the pressure of the giant sword, but the sword blade also shattered inch by inch in the impact. The massive cauldron ultimately did not crash into Luoyan Manor, and this blow was absorbed.
The shockwave from the collision scattered the surrounding clouds.
At this moment, the sky above Luoyan Manor was clear and cloudless.
The cultivators around the manor withdrew, each finding an open spot on a mountain peak. They took off their shoes, lay down or sat, placing sunflower seeds, peanuts, and mountain spring water on rocks, ready to watch the show.
“Boss monster appeared!” Chen Huaian squinted his eyes.
That last attack cost only 8,888 yuan, and it forced the leader of Danzong, Zhou Xuanzi, out. It was really worth it.
A man stood above Luoyan Manor. He held a folding fan and wore a long robe with dark blue and silver edges. His face was fair with thin lips, his eyebrows and eyes narrow, his expression sinister. He looked toward the flying boat, his eyes filled with anger, spreading the aura of a fully realized Core Formation cultivator, making the air around him thick like glue.
Chen Huaian could see information above the man’s head — <Danzong - Zhou Xuanzi>.
When Zhou Xuanzi came out of Luoyan Manor, his name was still yellow.
After taking that attack, it turned red, clearly indicating he was hit hard.
“The leader of Danzong, Zhou Xuanzi, has appeared!”
“This will be quite a show. The leader of Sword Pavilion, Su Qinian, is at the late Core Formation stage, while Zhou Xuanzi is at the peak of Core Formation. We don’t know what realm the Sword Pavilion Ancestor is in, but if they are also at the peak of Core Formation, today’s fight might not happen.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Danzong has many powerful individuals. Although Zhou Xuanzi is the leader, he is not the strongest. The guest elders of Danzong are the main protective force! Even if we consider the worst-case scenario, look at the treasures Zhou Xuanzi has. Did you see that cauldron? It’s the Spirit Tool, Subduing Dragon Cauldron, a fine item with a spirit!”
The cultivators watching the sky discussed among themselves.
Zhou Xuanzi flew to the same level as the flying boat. After recognizing the person, he sneered and attacked first: “Oh, I wondered who it was. It turns out to be Sword Pavilion’s Leader Su Qinian and the renegade from True Martial Sacred Land, Liu Yuanqing. Considering we are all righteous cultivators, quickly release my disciples from Danzong and apologize to them. Today’s matter, Danzong can overlook.”
“Bullshit! Let go of my people!” Su Qinian had been seething over Li Qingran’s matter and, with Chen Huaian backing him up, he didn’t hesitate to act.
As he spoke, he transformed into a flash of sword light.
The sword light was so fast it cut through the air.
The cultivators felt as if two swords had passed by their ears, causing intense pain.
“I’ve heard that Leader Su’s Xuanwu Sword is unparalleled in its destructive power. Today, I, Zhou, shall test it!”
Zhou Xuanzi laughed heartily, stepping his right foot into the void.
Buzz!
Heaven and earth were divided by yin and yang, turning black and white, and an area of a thousand miles was enclosed within a chessboard.
Zhou Xuanzi activated the Illusionary Heaven and Earth Technique, transforming into an old man with white beard sitting outside the chessboard, holding a chess piece.
Black pieces fell, and killing swords emerged.
Countless sword shadows flew towards Su Qinian’s sword light, instantly filling the entire chessboard with dense sword shadows and fierce sword energy. The cultivators couldn’t make sense of it, intimidated by the killing intent within the chessboard, unable to speak.
Zhou Xuanzi frequently placed pieces, but Su Qinian’s heavy sword shattered every black sword.
His expression serious, he bit his lip and simultaneously placed a white piece.
The white pieces connected and formed a large dragon made of spiritual energy, roaring as it charged at Su Qinian.
Thick black swords and the shadow of the dragon buried Su Qinian’s small figure.
On the flying boat, Yue Qianchi stared intently at the chessboard, holding her breath.
Chen Huaian watched the screen effects calmly, seated comfortably.
He could see Su Qinian and Zhou Xuanzi’s health bars and mana bars.
Don’t be fooled by Zhou Xuanzi’s appearance; his mana bar had dropped by a third, while Su Qinian had only lost a bit of health.
But in contrast, Su Qinian’s mana bar remained untouched.
Instead, his anger bar was gradually filling up.
“Too flashy,” he snorted coldly.
Although Zhou Xuanzi was at the peak of Core Formation, without using a magical artifact, he couldn’t possibly defeat Su Qinian.
The first strike of the sword was no joke.
Black and white pieces alternated, yet they couldn’t stop Su Qinian from getting closer to the edge of the chessboard.
Zhou Xuanzi became enraged and placed pieces with both hands simultaneously.
In the midst of the storm of attacks, a furious roar echoed.
“Open for me—!”
Boom!!!
The gale wind blew, shattering the black swords and breaking the white dragon.
In the pale shockwave, a black figure could be seen wielding a heavy sword, slashing towards the sky.
“Mountain Destruction—!”
Crack! The world was silent for a moment.
Like rays of light, sinking like mountains, growing larger until they split open the entire chessboard, then a sudden downward slash!
The chessboard shattered, black and white pieces scattered and dissipated into spiritual energy.
Zhou Xuanzi’s Illusionary Heaven and Earth Technique split from his forehead to his chest, exploding with a bang.
He himself fell from the sky, spewing blood.
Su Qinian, now relentless, flew out from the shattered chessboard, his right hand dragging the Xuanwu Sword, enveloped in a storm of killing intent, aiming to decapitate the falling Zhou Xuanzi.
“Go—! Die—!!”
At the instant the sword fell.
A white figure suddenly flashed beside Zhou Xuanzi.
He extended a finger, pointing at the sword falling vertically.
When the fingertip touched the tip of the sword, it rippled like water waves, an illusion.
Everything came to a halt.
“Amitabha, Leader Su, if you kill Zhou Zongzhu, it would be excessive.”
The monk wore a moon-white robe and held a staff. With each step, a lotus bloomed, walking to the frozen Su Qinian in mid-air. He smiled, picked up the staff, and pressed it against Su Qinian’s forehead, saying gently, “Leader Su, shall you continue to be stubborn? If so, this humble monk wouldn’t mind replacing the leader of Sword Pavilion~”
“It’s the Smiling Buddha! The Integration Realm Smiling Buddha!!!”
A cultivator exclaimed from the crowd on nearby mountain peaks: “How did this guy end up aligning with Danzong?”
“Who is the Smiling Buddha?” someone asked.
“Ah, you guys don’t even know?” the cultivator sighed. “This person used to be a direct disciple of Cleansing Fire Sacred Land, but due to too many killings and an eccentric personality, he was expelled from Cleansing Fire Sacred Land. Known for his smile during killings and his terrifying cultivation, he is called ‘Smiling Buddha.’”
“If he is an Integration Realm cultivator, Leader Su is likely in grave danger…”
“The Smiling Buddha is a rogue cultivator. Even if Leader Su is killed, there’s nowhere to seek revenge.”
…
“Leader Su, why not answer my question?”
The smile on the Smiling Buddha’s face grew even wider.
The Buddha light on the staff was not soft white but heavy with killing intent, blood-red.
“If you don’t answer, this humble monk will have to resort to violence!”
He didn’t need Su Qinian’s response.
Su Qinian was immobilized by the illusion and couldn’t speak.
He just needed a reason, to create a new sin.
Suddenly.
A pale golden finger stretched out from Su Qinian’s forehead, pressing against the staff.
It was an overwhelming force that pushed the Smiling Buddha back a kilometer.
The illusion shattered.
Spiritual energy surged wildly.
His pupils constricted, reflecting the sight of the old swordsman in front of him, dressed in black robes.
A chilling voice exploded in his ear.
“You dare move?”
…
…
Li Qingran
