Huang Xin’s heart was filled with emotion, feeling that several precious years had been wasted without ever considering the matter of leaving messages. He wondered how the Elder’s reincarnation was doing now. He hoped it wasn’t too late!
In this mix of guilt and astonishment, his movements were swift—lifting the forbidden spell, dispelling the curse, and prying open the coffin lid.
Suddenly, an eerie and terrifying aura surged from within the coffin, making his Yuan Shen tremble and his physical body stiffen. Within his line of sight, an ancient bronze fist the size of a sand bowl shot rapidly toward him!
It was unbelievably heavy, as if ten ferocious beasts had been compressed into the size of a fist. It shook the void and tore open several pitch-black, terrifying cracks, brimming with an overwhelming sense of annihilation.
Huang Xin lost his composure and was caught off guard. At this moment, watching the fist rushing toward him, he barely had time to think: once struck, his body would surely be torn to pieces!
Just then, he saw a streak of sword light shooting forth. In an instant, it divided into dozens, even hundreds of sword lights, pairing off in twos, yin and yang interweaving, connecting head to tail, forming one vortex after another.
Peng peng peng!
The vortexes were shattered one by one by the fist, but they gradually weakened it, slowing its speed and dissipating most of its power, creating an opportunity for Huang Xin to escape!
“What an excellent sword technique!” Huang Xin inwardly praised. He forcefully pushed off with his half-squatting legs, flipping backward. The spot where his footprints had been was instantly crushed, spreading deep into the earth’s surface.
This sword technique was clear and methodical, seemingly simple in process, but to be able to divide into dozens, even hundreds of sword lights of equal strength was beyond the capability of ordinary people. Moreover, the effortless control of both yin and yang was truly admirable. Even the Elder of the Feitian Clan, who was most skilled in delicate control, had never impressed Huang Xin this much!
Landing with both feet on the ground, Huang Xin threw a punch, causing the earth to roar. He bound the corpse within the coffin, channeling its power into his fist, unleashing a force fierce enough to shatter mountains to meet the fist that had just broken through the vortexes!
Bang!
The air exploded, and the Valley of Immortality became darkened. The earth violently shook, and falling rocks rained down. Huang Xin took several steps back, his right hand, capable of blocking treasure weapons, continuously vibrating.
Then, within his field of vision, a figure appeared—it was the white-clothed swordsman who had spoken rudely earlier.
The corpse within the coffin turned over. It wore a long robe made of coarse cloth, had sparse, snow-white hair, and a face marked with deep wrinkles. Like most corpses of the Outer Scenery, it showed no signs of decay.
It had a towering frame, nearly nine chi tall. Its limbs appeared thin and dry, yet they contained a vigorous and terrifying power, as if it had truly fused inner energy, true essence, and inner scenery with its flesh and blood. Every movement it made could destroy mountains and sever rivers!
“Before death, it was at the peak of the Outer Scenery. Now, it seems its physical strength has not diminished much…” Meng Qi gripped his long sword, roughly judging “Gu’s” strength.
“Again, damn it, it’s pretending to be dead!” Song Bingde was so frightened that he kept retreating. He had only wanted to quietly rob a tomb—how did things escalate to this?
Gu took a step forward, and the earth trembled. His eyes were empty, his lips half-open, as he spoke in a hoarse voice: “This body is truly powerful, sufficient for this old man to kill every killable person under heaven!”
Judging from his tone, it didn’t sound like “Gu.” Was it possessed by another vengeful ghost or malevolent spirit? As soon as this thought arose in Meng Qi’s mind, before he could attack, he heard “Gu” change his tone, now in a middle-aged voice filled with sorrow:
“I want you to die a bad death!”
Eh… Meng Qi, Huang Xin, and Yi Xin were all stunned.
“Gu” glared coldly with hatred at Meng Qi and others, gritting his teeth: “You all must die!”
This time, the voice was rough yet tender, as if it belonged to a growing teenager!
Could it be that “Gu” has split into different stages of himself? Meng Qi felt that he always encountered bizarre situations!
“Gu” took another step forward, the earth trembling once more. He clenched his right hand, seemingly about to strike, and his voice suddenly became sharp and shrill:
“Adulterer and harlot, return my child!”
The void grew heavy, and several lightning-like cracks appeared, exuding an extremely terrifying aura. Meng Qi’s lips twitched, his expression turning serious. He gathered his strength and the power of heaven and earth into the tip of his sword, slowly and heavily thrusting forward!
At the same time, Huang Xin charged forward, his aura vast and mighty, ancient yet formidable. Without any flourish, he threw a punch that tore through the air, shattered rocks, and collapsed the earth.
Boom!
The mountains shook and the earth quaked. At the point where the two fists and the sword met, a black needle-like point faintly appeared. The two red rock walls on either side collapsed, like a crimson flood.
Meng Qi and Huang Xin were forced backward, while Gu paused briefly before charging again, his expression twisted and his voice mournful and fierce:
“You ruined my honor, destroyed my entire family. I can’t go on living, so you shouldn’t either!”
Meng Qi inhaled sharply, feeling that Gu’s state was extremely strange. Could it be that it wasn’t just one malevolent spirit possessing him, but ten, a hundred, a thousand—replacing one after another like a revolving carousel?
This made “Gu” seem extremely sinister and eerie!
But with Huang guarding the tomb, how could resentful spirits even approach? Could it be something strange about the Valley of Immortality itself?
Jin Dao Yi Meng saw another “himself,” while “Gu” saw countless “himselfs”?
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Meng Qi had already made his decision. Regardless of what “Gu” had encountered, at least he had experienced similar symptoms himself!
He raised his long sword, standing it upright before him, pointing toward the heavens!
“Gu” turned his eyes blood-red, tears and snot streaming down his face. He threw a punch that sent Yi Xin flying, crashing into half of a mountain wall. With a shrug of his shoulders, he simultaneously countered and pushed Huang Xin back, causing him to spit blood and slide far away, his feet leaving two deep grooves, an inch deep, on the crimson ground!
Boom!
Massive rocks continued to fall. Song Bingde and the young girl Xiao Ru watched in stunned silence, trembling in fear at “Gu’s” terrifying power. Two top-tier experts at the Sixth Heaven were no match for him in a single round!
Suddenly, there seemed to be a subtle change in the heavens and earth. Instinctively, Xiao Ru looked toward Meng Qi. She saw that the white-clothed swordsman had become towering and majestic, taller than the two crimson rock walls on either side. His aura was vast and mysterious, as if he were the ruler and law of this land.
He looked solemn and majestic, almost like a god or a Buddha. His right hand held the sword upright before his brow, pointing toward the sky, while his left hand formed a sword seal, connecting with the earth.
“Between heaven and earth, I alone am honored!”
For an enemy like this, suspected of being split, this was the most effective move.
The sword of flowing fire pierced forth, without killing intent, not fast enough, like a sharp reprimand from above or an enlightening finger pointing at the brow.
Xiao Ru felt the red glow of the fire spreading like the sun shining everywhere, illuminating every dark corner, including the human heart—limitless light, limitless life!
Her eyes became dazed, her pupils filled with gentle flames. Suddenly, she hugged her head, groaning softly, appearing to be in great pain. Song Bingde also had a dazed expression and twisted face, as if struggling against inner demons.
They both reacted, but “Gu” remained unchanged, his voice turning soft and resentful:
“All I’ve done was for Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Even the first move of the Buddha Palm had no effect! What kind of monster was this? Meng Qi’s hairs stood on end. His body, after using the Dharma and Idol technique, seemed small compared to the nine-chi-tall “Gu.”
Peng!
A strange sound echoed through the void. Gu took a step upward, his right fist absorbing the power of heaven and earth, rapidly growing larger, bringing darkness to the light, howling winds, and silent, terrifying cracks.
Meng Qi took a deep breath, calming his mind once more. He unleashed his sword technique, using sword lights to weave layer upon layer of nets, gradually dissipating the power. Finally, he thrust his sword forward, with dozens of sword lights converging on a single point!
Boom! Crash!
In the explosion, the two rock walls collapsed again, nearly completely destroyed, almost burying the Valley of Immortality entirely. If it weren’t for Yi Xin, Huang Xin, and the others being Outer Scenery experts, they might have been buried alive.
Half of Meng Qi’s body was buried under rocks. He took several steps back, pulling himself free. Gu, carrying rocks, pursued relentlessly without pause.
Meng Qi remained composed, effortlessly executing his swordplay. He adeptly employed knife techniques, sword techniques, palm techniques, and fist techniques as the situation demanded, seamlessly integrating them with the power of the Dharma and Heavenly Manifestation. Though he was gradually forced to retreat, causing sections of the rock walls to crumble, he ultimately showed no signs of defeat.
In the midst of the fierce battle, Meng Qi suddenly sensed something unusual. Although the martial arts of the Southern Barbarian tribes were renowned for their straightforward and brute-force approach, lacking much variation, one would expect “Gu,” an experienced Outer Scenery expert, to exhibit more sophistication in combat. Yet, he continued charging forward and throwing punches relentlessly, as if determined to demolish the Valley of Immortality.
Could it be that the consciousness within him lacked the corresponding martial arts cultivation? Relying solely on physical strength?
No sooner had this thought crossed Meng Qi’s mind than he abruptly altered his combat approach, prematurely terminating the Heaven-Earth Manifestation technique. His figure flickered as he darted with lightning speed, sword strikes flashing in rapid succession. His movements were so swift that even Song Debin, a master of the Outer Scenery realm, could only perceive fleeting afterimages!
Appearing in front one moment, then behind the next, “Gu” alternated between furious roars and soft, mournful cries, swinging his fists continuously but never reaching Meng Qi. Instead, he exposed many openings, allowing Meng Qi to close in and strike.
However, as soon as Meng Qi landed a blow, he immediately retreated, showing no greed for further attacks. Gradually, Gu’s body was covered in blood, and his aura began to weaken.
With the correct approach, Meng Qi’s heart grew increasingly calm. Combining his evasive tactics with experiences from battles against opponents like He Jiu, he performed even more outstandingly.
Suddenly, “Gu’s” aura vanished entirely. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his flesh and blood still powerful, seemingly reverting to a corpse!
This sudden change stunned Meng Qi, who instinctively thought, “I haven’t even struck yet, and you’ve already fallen…”
The Buddha Palm’s interrogation of the true self was ineffective, but he gradually dissipated his consciousness on his own. Could it be that only some simple lingering attachments had possessed him, unrelated to his true self or Yuan Shen?
Huang, supporting his wounded body, rushed forward, helped Gu’s corpse up, and nodded to Meng Qi: “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“It’s nothing. Saving you is also saving myself.” Meng Qi still maintained his cold and ruthless swordsman demeanor.
Huang couldn’t help but look at him: “You resemble a swordsman I met many years ago, but he wasn’t as indifferent or formidable as you.”
“Who?” Meng Qi felt a bit curious.
“He didn’t introduce himself, but judging by his strength, he must be a prominent figure in your Central Plains. Nearly ten years ago, I encountered him when I first became a guardian of the tomb…” Huang briefly described the swordsman’s appearance and aura.
Instantly, an image flashed through Meng Qi’s mind—lonely, aloof, and merciless as a blade.
Su Wuming!
“The Divine Sword from Beyond the Heavens”—Su Wuming!
He had actually come to the Valley of Immortality?
This discovery shocked Meng Qi greatly!
“Why did he come here?” Meng Qi asked solemnly.
“I didn’t pay much attention. It felt like he just walked around and left.” Huang casually replied, holding Gu’s body and returning to the original location, continuously throwing punches to dig. Finally, he saw the coffin again, slightly damaged.
Inside the coffin were inscribed several Southern Dynasty characters.
“Who are they? Who am I…”
A strange feeling once again crept into Meng Qi’s heart. At that moment, he heard Song Bingde’s concerned voice from beside him: “Xiao Ru, Xiao Ru, are you alright?”
Turning his head, Meng Qi saw the young girl Xiao Ru clutching her head, rolling amidst the rock debris, appearing extremely pained.
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