Chapter 918 - 642: Final Sublimation
The years flow silently like an invisible river, quietly passing through the ages.
Deep into the Vast Continent.
Divine Demon territories, Locust Realm Sea.
Above an endless azure sea surface, waves crash against a void boundary, imbued with the force to tear the sky.
And above the sea, at the end of time and space.
Two majestic figures stand facing each other across layers of void.
The aura they emit has long surpassed the realm of "living beings," becoming incarnations of the Great Dao of heaven and earth.
One of them has eight pairs of pure white wings, upon which golden light flows, gathering light around him like an abyss, resplendent and sacred beyond compare.
The other figure in white stands with his hands behind his back, robes fluttering, unstained by a trace of dust, lacking any earth-shattering phenomena, yet possessing an undeniable presence — Chen Sheng.
Before them, the endless Locust Realm Sea, nurturing countless Small Realms and bearing the joys and sorrows of endless beings, seems small as dust, silently becoming the most insignificant background of this divine showdown.
Chen Sheng’s eyebrow slightly raised, his voice not loud, yet penetrating through millions of miles of void:
"Light Divine Race, Guan Yucang?"
The sacred figure with eight wings nodded slowly, his voice like heavenly law, each word seemingly carrying the rhythm of the Path of Light:
"It is I."
Chen Sheng smiled indifferently:
"Yucang?"
"Your name indeed has grandeur befitting the identity of a peerless talent of the Light Divine Race."
Guan Yucang, hearing this, gently raised the corner of his mouth, a hint of a smile flitting across his holy face:
"Indeed, with your exceptional talent, you are also a fellow traveler with us."
He paused, his gaze falling on Chen Sheng, carrying a certain camaraderie:
"Human Race Xuanyuan, our meeting today is truly rare. Your cultivation years are shorter than mine, which gives me an advantage."
"But we were born too late, with the Heavenly Dao’s rotation and Great Dao’s contest, leaving us too little time. Only by striving with all our might can we seize a chance for survival in this era of great contention."
With a shift in tone, the aura of light around him became sharp, as if capable of burning the entire void:
"You have abandoned the stability of your Human Race’s battlefield and stepped onto this life-threatening divine battleground, I presume you share my sentiments."
"Let us commence!!"
"Today, not only will we determine victory or defeat, but also life and death. With the blood of the defeated, pave the path of the Emperor."
As Chen Sheng heard this, battle intent erupted within him like a dormant volcano suddenly bursting forth, and the air around him was scorched and distorted by this combat spirit.
The man before him is the peerless talent of the Light Divine Race, with unfathomable cultivation said to be closest to the position of Emperor.
An ideal opponent!!
"Proceed!!"
A word fell, echoing throughout the universe like a peal of thunder, resounding across the Locust Realm Sea.
Guan Yucang spoke no more, slowly reaching out a palm, in which light gathered, transformed into an invisible giant palm, pressing down fiercely.
Boom——
Light and shadow surged wildly, endless golden light boiling like an ocean, sweeping across millions of miles of void, twisting and collapsing space, seemingly reducing everything to nothingness.
One palm encompassing the cosmos, stirring an endless storm of void, disrupting the temporal order.
That almost perfect Path of Light, entirely within this palm.
Chen Sheng’s eyes slightly condensed, he thought:
"This Path of Light, resplendent and deep, purifies all things and obliterates everything, Guan Yucang is truly remarkable, what a Path of Light."
He understood in his heart, in terms of Immortal Dao Realm, the opponent is at the peak of Five-Decays cultivation, only a step away from the Mahayana Realm.
"I have honed my skills in the Divine Demon territories for years, surviving countless life-and-death battles, absorbing divine demon blood, my cultivation also reaches the peak of the Fourth-Decays, only lacking a small opportunity to break through to the Five-Decays Realm."
"A fourth-decay battling fifth-decay, perhaps the opportunity for breakthrough lies today!!"
"Today, using your hand, I shall reach ultimate sublimation, a battle to the death!!"
In an instant, Chen Sheng’s Dao cultivation erupted completely, his blood surged like rivers, radiating endless pressure.
Behind him, a bright Taiyin moon laurel slowly ascends into the sky, cold air permeating, each petal containing the Taiyin essence, forming a stark confrontation with Guan Yucang’s light essence.
In his palm, his innate divine weapon ’Xuanyuan Sword’ slowly emerged, neither gold nor iron, adorned with ancient patterns, exuding a domineering aura.
"Slash!"
Chen Sheng moved, Xuanyuan Sword slashing out neither fast nor slow.
Without earth-shattering sword cries, but with the terrifying might of numerous universes being slashed out, aiming directly at Guan Yucang.
Where the Sword Momentum passed, the void was directly torn open into an endless chasm, chaotic qi spewed out, yet was instantly crushed and annihilated by the Sword Momentum.
Boom!
Rumble!
The Sword Light collided fiercely with the Light Giant Palm, this place instantly returned to silence.
All sounds, all light and shadow, were consumed by this terrifying power, chaos collapsing into absolute void.
Within the illumination, that Sword Light remained brilliantly dazzling, like a star in the darkness, never extinguishing, forcibly breaking through the barrier of light.
Guan Yucang, observing this sword, a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, he gently shook his head:
"This sword is good, but unfortunately it’s still lacking."
"It seems only a slight difference, but in truth, a chasm worlds apart."
"However, in the direst situations, a prodigy reveals their true colors, the harder it gets, the more potential can be unleashed. Human Race Xuanyuan, I hope you give me a surprise."
He stood unmoving, with a sleeve beneath which an ancient Light Emperor Stele trembled faintly, exuding the aura to annihilate heavens and earth.
It’s the treasured item of the Light Divine Race, originally intended to strike out but was quietly suppressed by him.
He merely pointed lightly, from his fingertip, light was born, evolving into a miniature world, with the essence of light flowing therein, like a Heavenly Dao grindstone slowly turning, crushing void as it passed, obstructing the Sword Light.
"Impudent!"
Chen Sheng laughed, clearly perceiving the opponent holding back, let out a long whistle, resounding through the void.
"Arrogant!"
The qi and blood around him simultaneously ignited, transforming into endless flames, reaching supreme sublimation.
He took a step forward, in a fraction of a lifetime, his form instantly traversed billions of miles of void.
Xuanyuan Sword expanded billions of miles long, transforming sword into staff, pressing in the void.
This press shattered the firmament, fractured time and space, extinguished ancient light, spanning endless void, carrying the power of destruction from numerous universes, fiercely striking Guan Yucang.
Under the sword staff, the void was as fragile as paper, the grindstone trembled slightly, light essence scattering everywhere.
Guan Yucang’s eyes brightened faintly:
"This sword strike is worth witnessing."
He waved his robe sleeve, and the light once again surged, more fierce and vast than before.
Countless blades of light destroyed realms of time and space, colliding violently with Chen Sheng’s sword staff.
Boom!!
Divine techniques clashed with light seas, nine-colored divine light soared into the sky, piercing endless void and stirring the entire universe.
Light and shadows shifted, time and space distorted, the illusions of past, present, and future interweaving amidst the collisions.
The surrounding void was kneaded, torn, and reshaped like paper, repeatedly faced with annihilation.
Two figures floated with the waves, sometimes stretched by the forces across countless distance, transforming into vast shadows spanning the universe, sometimes compressed into a speck of dust, concealed in the void.
...
The Ancient Realm.
In this world, primordial qi intertwined, martial arts flourished, and strength tiers were strictly hierarchized.
Body tempering, bone forging, vein clearing, gang qi... Golden Body, Human Immortal, Celestial Phenomenon, Hollow Void.
Each breakthrough in realm accompanied an upheaval in strength.
In the extreme east, a towering peak rose steeply into the sky—Broken Halberd Peak.
At this moment.
Beneath Broken Halberd Peak, the crowd was bustling, people gathered from the martial world including sect disciples in sect robes, loose cultivators wielding weapons, and reclusive veterans.
Everyone looked up toward the peak, with complex expressions of awe, anticipation, and concern...
On the mountain lies a city, named Broken Halberd Mountain City, built against the mountain, with walls forged of profound iron, indestructible.
The city houses the martial arts pinnacle of the time—Master of Broken Halberd Mountain Qin Bailu.
This mountain master had defeated legends throughout his life, suppressing the world for two full cycles, truly the number one under the heavens.
Fifty years ago, the Grand Ancestor of Zhou led fifty thousand phoenix-blooded armored warriors to challenge at Broken Halberd Peak.
In the end, the rivers ran red with blood, all fifty thousand phoenix-blooded armored warriors were annihilated, not one survived, and the Grand Ancestor of Zhou was slain with a single sword, not a trace of his remains left.
Many peerless warriors subsequently came to challenge, only to fall, turning this place into a taboo existence under heaven.
Today, another undefeated peerless contemporary warrior came to challenge.
This person was the most outstanding Sect Master in the history of the Great Zen Martial Sect, named Wuchen.
He had cultivated the "Great Zen Future Sutra" to the unprecedented eighteenth level, achieving the realm of Hollow Void.
Beside the mountain, people discussed, voices rising and falling, filled with controversy.
"Do you think Wuchen Arhat can defeat the mountain master?"
𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Difficult, very difficult."
"Back then, even fifty thousand phoenix-blooded armored warriors were no match, though Wuchen Arhat is strong, yet..."
An old man with white hair shook his head, his tone full of reverence.
He had once seen Qin Bailu in action, the aura of annihilation still left him trembling to this day.
"It’s hard to say, Wuchen Arhat’s martial cultivation has broken new ground, elevating the ’Great Zen Future Sutra’ to the eighteenth level, surpassing even the founder of the Great Zen Martial Sect."
"Perhaps, he might truly break the mountain master’s unbeaten legend!!"
As the crowd conversed.
Suddenly, atop the peak, a heaven-shaking clash broke out, thunderous booms echoed throughout Broken Halberd Peak.
Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!
The sound of a great bell resonated.
The surrounding hundred-mile mountains crumbled one after another under the force of the collision.
Everyone looked up, seeing the peak shrouded in chaos, where the great bell shattered, leaving Wuchen Arhat’s body without a trace.
While overhead in the sky stood a commanding figure—Master of Broken Halberd Mountain Qin Bailu.
He sighed softly, his voice spreading to the four corners:
"Once again, the martial world is sullied!!"
"Next challenger, if it’s the same type, don’t blame this seat for annihilating sects and temples, bloodwashing the present age..."
The crowd, hearing this, were driven to utmost terror, trembling, none dared to look directly at Qin Bailu.
They knew well, that he meant what he said.
In his life, he slaughtered kin, destroyed masters, shattered sects, killed friends, his character erratic, his methods ruthless, under heaven there was no one he couldn’t kill.
Qin Bailu gazed at the crowd below, his figure flickered, suddenly disappearing.
He returned to the city, meditating on a mat, with a hint of loneliness in his voice:
"Still lacking a bit, still lacking a bit."
For years, he refined himself against countless prodigies, contemplating the Heavenly Dao, step by step reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, yet it’s still a sliver away from shattering the void.
No matter his effort, he could not transcend, becoming increasingly violent, increasingly bloodthirsty.
He looked up at the sky, his sight piercing through the clouds, gazing upon the infinite firmament, his eyes filled with confusion.
He was unaware of where his path lay.
Suddenly, a dazzling sword light broke through the endless void overhead, catching his eye.
Qin Bailu’s eyes shined abruptly, his body trembling violently, confusion in his eyes instantly vanished, replaced by intense ardor and excitement:
"This sword, this sword, is so beautiful!"
He saw the endless mysteries of martial arts, he saw his path ahead.
That sword light, like a beacon in the darkness, illuminated his confused Dao Heart, leading to his instant enlightenment.
The years of shackles seemed at this moment, about to be broken.
He was immersed in this enlightenment, unable to extricate himself, his aura began to soar wildly.
He did not notice the residual waves from that sword light subtly arriving, a terrifying power enveloping this small realm.
In a fleeting moment, the time of a billionth cycle of life and death passed.
The sword light descended without earth-shaking noise, without heart-wrenching wails, only dead silence.
The terrifying force, like a gentle spring breeze yet decisively annihilating all, erased this world in an instant.
Qin Bailu continued contemplating enlightenment.
The martial world below remained immersed in the previous shock.
Countless beings within the world, some diligently cultivating martial arts, others busily toiling, others enjoying family bliss, all unaware.
But all of this, at the instant of the sword light’s descent, turned to void, leaving not a trace.
As if this world had never existed between heaven and earth.