Longevity by Grinding Skills

Ye Yuan stepped back three paces across the waves, the water beneath his feet solidifying like iron.

For the first time, his brows truly furrowed. The longsword in his hand emitted a low hum.

’That last strike wasn’t my full power, but it still contained fifty percent of my Sword Intent. And this Array Cultivator from the Primordial Sect blocked it head-on?!’

"I seem to have underestimated you."

Ye Yuan’s voice was as cold and hard as the clash of metal.

He had never expected that a Cultivator known for his mastery of arrays and the arts of causality could unleash such a ferocious and deadly Thunder Sword attack.

Though it lacked Sword Intent, the way it combined a Magic Sword with Magical Techniques and Divine Techniques had truly taken him by surprise.

But in the next moment, a rage born from being provoked by an ant, mixed with the inherent pride of a Sword Cultivator, surged within him.

’He dares to play with swords in front of me?!’

"A pity. You merely have the form, but not the true essence of Sword Intent. Today, you will die and have your Dao extinguished once again."

Platinum Sword Light flared once more, its momentum a full thirty percent stronger than before. The Shimmering Star Trace flickered in the void behind him, as if about to invoke Beidou’s Great Power to utterly crush Xu Yunfan, sword and all.

"Merely the form? Daoist Master Ye, you speak too soon!"

Xu Yunfan let out a hearty laugh, but his eyes overflowed with a cold glint.

He had been waiting for this exact moment of his opponent’s contempt and anger.

In the instant Ye Yuan’s sword momentum reached its peak...

"Stars Pouring from the Sky, All Spirits Return to Their Places!"

Xu Yunfan flipped his palm, revealing a Mysterious Banner.

The staff was neither metal nor wood, its entire body shimmering with a dark silver luster that seemed to devour light. The banner’s surface was like a slice of the deep night sky, upon which 365 stars flickered and flowed. It was none other than the All Heaven Star Spirit Banner.

The banner unfurled in an instant, like a sea of clouds, nearly blotting out the sky and sun. The weather above the East Sea changed abruptly.

RUMBLE.

Three hundred and sixty-five thick beams of starlight fiercely pierced through the heavy clouds, ignoring the daylight to forcibly draw down the Power of the Celestial Stars.

A thousand-mile stretch of the sea was instantly enveloped by the phantom of a deep, starry sky. The waves froze like black ice, and the churning Kui Water Essence Qi was forcibly held in place by an immense, invisible power.

A restraining force that seemed capable of grinding all things to dust descended with a crash.

Seventh Grade Peak, the All Heaven Star Formation was complete!

Ye Yuan’s pupils shrank abruptly.

That brilliant Star Power had actually severed his Origin connection to the star Alkaid of the Big Dipper.

What shook his Heart and Spirit even more were the seven figures that strode forth from the array, walking on the waves.

On the left, a three-headed, six-armed Demon King held the Heaven-Shaking Rod. His red fur blazed like fire, and his rebellious Golden Eyes burned with a battle intent that could set the seas ablaze.

It was the Celestial Realm’s Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sunx Wukong!

On the right stood a majestic Silver Armored Three-Eyed Divine General. As the Celestial Eye on his forehead opened and closed, it pulsed with a golden-red Light of Truth. This was Immortal Master Erlang, Yang Jian.

In the center-front, a youthful Divine General rode the Wind-Fire Wheels. His Fire-tipped Spear whipped up the flames of a Burning Sea, and his killing intent soared to the heavens. It was the Three Altars Sea Assembly Great God, Nezha.

But what made the corner of his eye twitch was the figure Xu Yunfan had deliberately placed in the Array Core position.

The soul-phantom of Wansheng Sword Sect’s Foundation Establishment Daoist Master, Ye Kai, bowed with a bitter smile.

"Clan Uncle... this banner’s name is ’Star Spirit’... You... must be extremely careful."

This Ye Kai was the very same Foundation Establishment Daoist Master from the Wansheng Sword Sect who had ambushed Xu Yunfan in the Celestial Realm’s Alchemy Hall. Unfortunately for him, he had been counter-attacked, refined, and turned into a Star Monarch within the Star Spirit Banner.

"Little Kai..."

Ye Yuan let out a long breath, his Sword Heart trembling as if struck by a Heavy Hammer.

To personally witness a descendant of his own bloodline turned into another’s Banner Spirit sent ripples through even his Rock Sword Heart.

"Elder Ye Yuan... my apologies."

The phantom of Ferren appeared, dressed in the Cloud Pattern Sword Robe of the Wansheng Sword Sect. He was wreathed in the unique, Crisp Sword Gang of the Celestial Sword Seat.

Several more Banner Spirits, former Primordial Sect Disciples, materialized within the starlight, their auras locking firmly onto him.

Ye Yuan merely shot these people a cold glance, saying nothing.

The Wansheng Sword Sect was vast and influential, naturally divided into many factions. Even under the Phecda Star Pivot Sword Soul Profound True Monarch, the Ye Family and two other factions were constantly vying for power.

"KILL!!"

Having been refined into a Banner Spirit, the Demon Monkey Sunx Wukong had accumulated a great deal of anger and frustration. He was the first to attack.

His Purple Gold Rod stirred the celestial stars, smashing toward Ye Yuan’s Celestial Spirit with the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas.

Its might, infused with the Grand Array’s Star Power, far surpassed what he possessed in life.

Ye Yuan’s Iron Sword spun to parry, and the clash of metal shook the East Sea.

But the attacks came like a tide! Yang Jian’s Celestial Eye flared open, and a golden-red beam of the Light of Truth, condensed to its absolute limit, shot out, arriving after but striking first, aimed straight for the space between Ye Yuan’s brows.

Ye Yuan’s Fierce Sword Intent hastily erupted. In the instant he shattered the golden light, scorching flames burned the sky behind him.

Nezha’s Fire-tipped Spear had already struck like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, aimed for his heart from behind.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Ye Yuan’s figure blurred into a Sword Wheel, his longsword parrying, blocking, deflecting, and slashing at a speed that surpassed all limits.

Sword light clashed madly with the rod’s shadow, the golden beam, and the spear’s glint, splashing up a torrent of starry sparks.

Every collision sent ripples through the All-Heaven Star Curtain created by the fluttering Star Spirit Banner.

The attacks from the seven Star Monarchs, standing in the main positions of the All Heaven Star Formation, were like a raging sea, each wave stronger than the last, giving him no chance to breathe.

"Ye Xuan’s bloodline was indeed good bait!"

Xu Yunfan stood at the Array Core, starlight cascading around him like a waterfall. His hands formed seals to maintain the Grand Array’s operation, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Without her as the lure, how could I have tempted you into this Seventh-Grade Immortal Slaying Array?"

’Ye Xuan holds a great secret, perhaps related to Ye Yuan’s chance to seek the Golden Attainment Fruit Position. Otherwise, for a Great Cultivation Clan, a mere uncle-nephew relationship wouldn’t warrant such a relentless, life-or-death pursuit.’

’Given the Fierce Sword Intent Ye Yuan comprehended, it’s impossible for there to be any illicit affair between them.’

’Most likely, the World Heaven that Ye Xuan holds is related to Ye Yuan’s chance to attain the Golden Dao, and that’s why he’s so desperate.’

’After all, severing someone’s path to the Dao is a greater offense than killing their parents.’

Ye Yuan suddenly understood.

The chaotic Spiritual Mechanism of the East Sea, Xu Yunfan’s drawing of Kui Water Essence Qi to form endless Kui Water Yin Thunder—it was all part of a killing ground his opponent had meticulously chosen.

His opponent had long since calculated that he would give chase and had even used the Ye Family’s bloodline connection to lay this death trap.

’Fierce Sword Intent belongs to the path of the Yang Fruit Position among the one hundred and eight Fruit Positions of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends. Attacks transformed from Kui Water Essence Qi are naturally the most effective counter to it.’

"Ten Thousand Transformations True Dragon, rise!"

Ye Yuan’s sharp cry was like thunder from the ninth heaven.

He fiercely stabbed his longsword into the solidified surface of the sea.

A thousand-zhang-long sword dragon, wreathed in the violent Kui Water Essence Qi that had been suppressed by the Grand Array, soared into the sky. Its roar split the air, shaking the All Heaven Star Formation so violently that the starlight flickered erratically!

Xu Yunfan’s gaze sharpened, and he slammed the banner’s staff down.

"Zhen!"

A dark light flashed within the array.

The soul-phantom of Daoist Master Zi Mo from Seven Kills Peak silently appeared. He breathed out immense Earth Vein Evil Qi, which transformed into countless black chains that coiled around the sword dragon.

Ferren seized the opportunity, his Celestial Sword Gang slashing toward Ye Yuan’s left side. At the same time, Ye Kai’s soul-body let out a sorrowful, long cry. Filled with the twisted helplessness and grim resolve of a Banner Spirit, he drew upon the Circulation Star Power to unleash a desperate beam of sword light, aimed straight for the vital point of Ye Yuan’s heart meridian.

As a Banner Spirit, the first rule is to be loyal to the banner’s master and understand your place.

To show his loyalty, Ye Kai’s strike was naturally both swift and ruthless.

"GET LOST!!!"

Ye Yuan’s hair and beard stood on end. Amidst his furious roar, his Fierce Sword Intent erupted like a primordial volcano.

A majestic wave of Sword Gang swept out, forcibly repelling the combined attack of All Star Monarchs.

However, a streak of glaring red finally trickled from the corner of his mouth. The Circulation Star Power, like a cosmic millstone, had silently ground away more than half of his Sword Gang.

The hand he held his sword with trembled—subtly, yet undeniably—for the first time.

For the first time, Ye Yuan was injured.