Chapter 1431 - 38: Showdown, Strongest (2)
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...
"Have you come for me?"
Xie Xuanyi stood in place.
He did not hide.
At this moment, moving with Sword Qi would only make him more visible.
In just a moment.
Numerous thoughts flashed through Xie Xuanyi’s mind.
Did the Heavenly Phoenix Palace use the Divination Technique to locate me?
No.
That’s not right.
If the Heavenly Phoenix Palace had truly confirmed my location, then the figure now appearing above the Heavenly Peak... would likely not be the Great Palace Master alone. This strongest figure of the Demon Country is indeed formidable, but when it comes to wiping me out, the bigger the force, the better. The Great Palace Master is not one to be careless or underestimate, and he would never allow a second Zhao Chunyang to appear. Once my location was confirmed, the Heavenly Phoenix Palace would undoubtedly launch a full-scale attack!
"So... is there something near these Ruins that also interests the Great Palace Master?"
Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.
His thoughts shifted; could it be that the Great Palace Master’s arrival is related to the Primordial Immortal Hall?
In the next moment.
The blazing fire had already passed.
The Great Palace Master unleashed a Dao Domain, and its scale was no less than Xie Xuanyi’s Domain of Harmonization and Destruction, directly covering a range of nearly a hundred miles.
In an instant, the snowy mountain wasteland bordering the Demon Country and the Ruins was swept over by the Great Palace Master’s Divine Thought.
"Hmm?"
The fiery red figure above the Heavenly Peak frowned and let out a muffled hum.
"As expected..."
Xie Xuanyi was somewhat helpless.
Just as he had anticipated.
There was no need to flee.
Because this time, there was no escaping.
"Rumble!"
As the resounding roar echoed.
The enormous Dao Domain released by the Great Palace Master, which enveloped a hundred-mile radius, instantly shrank and shrank again, eventually reduced to a range of about twenty miles.
Even though it had shrunk several times, its scale was still beyond the reach of many Great Cultivators in the Yang God Realm.
This time.
The center of the Dao Domain’s coverage fell upon Xie Xuanyi.
Wind and sand rolled, and black robes fluttered.
The fiery, robed figure above the Heavenly Peak stared indifferently at the young sword-wielder on the ground.
Xie Xuanyi calmly raised his head, having already drawn out Chen Ke, and their gazes met over tens of miles, steadily and powerfully.
"Truly a fateful encounter."
Xie Xuanyi was the first to break the deathly silence, smiled, and said, "You probably didn’t expect to meet me here, did you?"
"..."
The Great Palace Master remained silent.
In terms of cultivation age, he was like the Zen Master, a Great Practitioner who had lived for three hundred years. Since achieving enlightenment was difficult, the lifespan of the Demon Country’s beings was often slightly longer than that of Human Race Cultivators. However, after reaching the Yang God Realm, both sides were entangled by Cause and Effect, and the greatest longevity limit they could live to was not much different.
Three hundred years had passed.
The Zen Master had already "died," but the Great Palace Master was still "alive."
Yet it was evident that his longevity was also nearing its end.
At this moment, the red robe of the Great Palace Master was stirred by the wind, revealing dry skin, and despite the Flowing Fire Dao Intent forming complex and esoteric patterns atop it, it couldn’t hide the marks carved by the years.
Xie Xuanyi could feel the "aging" of this strongest.
With each breath, the Heaven and Earth Dao resonated with him.
But within the Great Acupoint of the demon body, the burning Primordial Fire no longer had the vigorous flames of youth.
This was the symbol of a life approaching its end.
"It is indeed quite a coincidence."
The Great Palace Master slowly descended, landing not far from Xie Xuanyi.
Hiss!
Before the Great Palace Master’s feet touched the ground, a thousand-degree high-temperature Dao Fire erupted on its own, melting the ground directly and corroding it into a huge, round depression. For the strongest who have reached this realm, a mere thought is enough to condense a Dao Domain.
This Dao Domain was formed from Phoenix Fire.
The pressure it brought to Xie Xuanyi already surpassed the Separation Fire Dao Domain of Sun Erosion.
The difference between the Yang God Eighth Layer Heaven and the Ninth Heaven seems like just one word.
But it is essentially like a Heavenly Barrier.
A strongest is called the strongest because the road ahead is sealed.
Years ago.
The Great Palace Master had already become a "strongest," like Zhao Chunyang, with only the last threshold to break through in his life, which was the ethereal, Heaven- and Earth-unallowed "Heavenly Human Realm." The Ninth Heaven was the last great hurdle for the Yang God, but it wasn’t beyond the Great Palace Master’s limit.
It’s very likely that over the long years, the Great Palace Master had already become a "Tenth Layer Heaven" like Zhao Chunyang.
Half-step Heavenly Human.
"The entire Heavenly Phoenix Palace searched for you in the Demon Country for a year."
The Great Palace Master gazed at the young man before him and spoke warmly, "Many people thought you had returned to Great Chu... but I knew you still remained in the Demon Country."
This was the first meeting between the two.
Yet the atmosphere was not as tense as one might imagine, at least not with swords drawn right from the outset.
The Great Palace Master seemed like a "kind and amiable" elder, his gaze at Xie Xuanyi even carried a hint of appreciation.
"Was it because of the Power of the Sky Vault’s alert?"
Xie Xuanyi smiled.
This seemingly peaceful atmosphere hid countless killing intents.
He could already sense that the surrounding void was being gradually sealed by the Great Palace Master’s Taoist Intent.
With every word said, the oppressive feeling from all directions strengthened a bit.
"You are a unique Great Destiny Carrier."
The Great Palace Master also smiled, "For some reason, the Power of the Sky Vault isn’t very accurate in sensing you... However, I understand you wish to become a ’strongest,’ you will definitely choose to stay in the Demon Country."
"Oh?"
Xie Xuanyi seemed surprised.
He hadn’t expected that the Great Palace Master, based on pure conjecture, was convinced he would stay in the Demon Country.
"Now the world is at peace, being the Sword Palace Master is merely a title. Returning to Great Chu just like that—what’s the point?"
The Great Palace Master maintained his smile, speaking calmly, "Why not stay in the Demon Country and join forces with Cui Zhen... perhaps find some opportunities to stir up trouble, killing a few Great Demons along the way. Sun Erosion died this way, didn’t he? Am I not correct, Xie Xuanyi?"
This statement initially sounded gentle.
The slower the pace as it continued, the more the Killing Intent became apparent.
The final three words were uttered.
The Great Palace Master then acted directly.
Without seeing how the fiery figure suspended above the depression moved.
In just an instant.
Billions of Phoenix Fires spewed out from the void!
Xie Xuanyi’s black robes were instantly engulfed by the overwhelming Phoenix Fire!
"!!!"
Ao Ying, hidden underground, in a slumberous state with his true body, witnessed this scene through Divine Thought and was terrified.
This is the strongest?
The power of this casual strike seemingly could already slay a Great Cultivator in the Initial Stage of Yang God...
The Great Palace Master’s overwhelming power was far beyond what the Primordial Saint could compare to.
Below the Yang God Third Heaven, it was difficult to withstand even a single move before him!
"Rumble——"
Within a ten-mile radius, inside the Dao Domain, countless Phoenix Fires collided and roared.
It was as if hundreds of ancient bells and hundreds of great drums were all beating and roaring together.
The Great Palace Master watched this scene with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.
"..."
He did not speak, his gaze focused on the center of the Fire Domain.
That was where the Phoenix Fires were most concentrated.
It revealed.
Amidst the Phoenix Fire, a slender figure gradually emerged in the center of the fiery domain rendered crimson. Countless Flying Swords hummed within the Phoenix Fire, interweaving black and white colors, mingling, ultimately forming a similarly round three-foot sword domain.
"Indeed."
"That’s exactly what I’m thinking."
Though small, the sword domain isolated billions of Phoenix Fires outside.
At this moment.
Within the Life and Death Dao Domain.
Undying Spring Water Vapor mixed with Phoenix Fire, steaming over the sword domain.
The young Sword Cultivator in black reached out and dusted off the everlasting Dao Fire on his shoulder.
Xie Xuanyi smiled and spoke, "As you said, returning to Great Chu just like that—what’s the point? You want to kill me, and I want to kill you. Why not stay in the Demon Country, and we’ll see who ultimately wins... We’ve now met openly today, so you don’t mind hearing some truths, do you?"
"Speak."
The Great Palace Master was not angered and maintained his composure.
"After all, we’re both old men with one foot in the grave... Having lived for three hundred years, what meaning is there to living further?"
Xie Xuanyi paused, sincerely asking, "Shall I see you off on this last journey?"
"Sure."
The Great Palace Master laughed aloud, his eyes narrowing with a grin, "Let’s see if... you have what it takes."