“Take a single slash!”
Upon hearing the word “slash,” Wen Jing witnessed purple lightning filling the sky, crisscrossing blade flashes, and the crackling sounds of energy. A colossal figure, towering like the heavens and earth, moved faster than sound itself. Meng Qi had already launched his attack with blade, light, and qi.
Boom!
A series of purple lightning slashes descended. Meng Qi, with unmatched might, directly crashed into Wen Jing’s blade circle.
Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!
A continuous metallic clanging sound formed from a series of rapid collisions. Both blades attacked and parried at a speed nearly invisible to those who had just entered the external realm. Meng Qi, relying on his overwhelming momentum, forced Wen Jing to retreat step by step. His yang, strong, and righteous thunder dispersed and evaporated the skeleton-shaped greenish Yin demon soul.
Wen Jing felt as if he had returned to his childhood, facing ocean tides at the seaside—wave after wave, endlessly, pressing him nearly to suffocation.
Within the thunderous light and smoke, Meng Qi, embodying the grandeur of heaven and earth, raised his right hand. “Tianzhi Shang” (Heaven’s Wound) slowly descended, as if dragging the entire world, so heavily that Meng Qi’s body trembled slightly.
The sky darkened. The river surface stilled. The gales and thunder converged at the blade’s tip, manifesting a pinprick-sized black void.
Meng Qi’s fighting spirit soared. His Primordial Spirit vibrated the void, emitting thunderous resonance:
“Take another slash from me!”
As the tail of his voice arose, the long blade suddenly accelerated downward. The void seemed to twist, the weight resembling a collapsing sky.
Suddenly, a massive dark green blade of light materialized, blocking “Tianzhi Shang.” Upon the blades’ collision, silence reigned. The immense force vanished instantly!
Wen Jing’s body expanded to about thirty feet tall, employing his ultimate technique. A tangible, ferocious demon shadow emerged behind him, horned and radiating evil, exuding sinister energy. The dark green blade flipped, recreating the oppressive force that crushed the sky—but this time, it rebounded.
Bang!
Meng Qi was flung back, half of his right arm numb. Recognizing Wen Jing’s technique:
Tianyao Tushen Fa (Sky Demon Slaughtering God Art)!
At this moment, the ninth-level altar was nearly completed. Jiang Zhiwei was surrounded by several supreme figures from the court. Though she had bloodied them severely, nearly routing them, she couldn’t join Meng Qi temporarily. Elsewhere, Ruan Yushu’s zither music neutralized hidden Taoist experts. External experts from the upper altar levels rushed down, aiming to surround the two!
No chance to expand his techniques—he must be restrained! Mid-air, the situation crystallized in Meng Qi’s mind, and he made his decision.
Mid-air twist, graceful posture. Using the counterforce from the previous impact, Meng Qi thrust out Liuhuo (Flowing Fire), still employing “Wanwu Fan Xu” (Return to Emptiness), the sword tip piercing space!
This reaction speed left Wen Jing unable to change tactics. The dark green blade blocked the sword again, absorbing the weight and reflecting the force, flinging Meng Qi upward once more.
His blood churned, his left arm numb, yet Meng Qi remained undeterred. Twisting again, he sprouted two more arms, unleashing another “Wanwu Fan Xu”!
“Take another slash from me!”
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Although one form of Tianyao Tushen Fa excelled at absorbing opponents’ force and reflecting attacks, making blade collisions nearly silent, repeated strikes still vibrated the void, emitting sounds like chopping massive trees.
Repeatedly flung upward and downward, Meng Qi resembled a rolling hawk, yet grew heavier.
“Take another slash from me!”
With a roar, Meng Qi inverted again. “Tianzhi Shang” slashed downward, the void seemingly tearing, with black fissures appearing at the blade’s tip!
Wen Jing lost the initiative, forced into passive defense, inwardly furious. If he could use secret treasures on this mission, Meng Qi would have been captured long ago!
Of course, similar thoughts crossed Meng Qi’s mind.
Dang!
The metallic clang reverberated far and wide, shaking many battling combatants and stunning them unconscious!
Wen Jing felt as if a true mountain pressed upon him. Finally unable to absorb the full weight, he retreated several steps.
Meng Qi forced consecutive attacks, spitting blood. Using the counterforce and Wen Jing’s retreat, he twisted his body and rushed toward the upper altar levels, abandoning Wen Jing. He saw Jiang Zhiwei slay her surrounding experts and charge with a sword strike.
He had no time to join forces with Jiang Zhiwei to swiftly kill Wen Jing. Now, he must race against time, as the altar neared completion!
Wen Jing’s towering Tianyao form radiated chaotic demonic energy, disrupting Jiang Zhiwei’s senses. Her sword deviated slightly. Though she quickly corrected with her Celestial Sword Heart, Wen Jing had already evaded. Swinging his blade, surging demonic energy and souls formed a vortex, roaring behind Meng Qi, entangling him like a binding immortal rope!
At that moment, Meng Qi transformed with the wind, and the vortex lost its target, dissipating.
Without hesitation, Meng Qi strode upward toward the altar’s summit.
Facing Wen Jing’s expanded Tianyao form, Jiang Zhiwei’s gap in cultivation widened, as did his strength. Yet she remained fearless. Her eyes displayed the image of the Supreme Sword Monarch, fully unleashing her sword techniques.
Mid-sprint, Meng Qi sensed a shift below.
There, sword qi surged, manifesting a radiant Jiang Zhiwei—open, cheerful, smiling, sorrowful, defeated, dispirited. They seemed to enact a sword of emotions. Simultaneously, there was a Jiang Zhiwei severing all emotional ties, devoted solely to the sword, diligently studying, her mind like a mirror and intent like a blade, resolute and independent—this was the sword of no emotion.
Yet all these Jiang Zhiweis unified in a pair of profound eyes—Dao without emotion, treating all beings as straw dogs; Heaven and Earth with emotion, all beings equal. The Supreme Sword Monarch seemed emotional yet emotionless, with no distinction in strength or weakness among every thought and image!
It seemed countless Jiang Zhiweis wielded swords, each movement manifesting sword techniques in an indescribably profound manner. Without observing or sensing closely, Meng Qi could grasp the true essence.
This was her path, her Dao!
This was Jiang Zhiwei, living not for love, unafraid of death, not existing as someone’s friend, disciple, senior, or beloved. She was herself—Jiang Zhiwei, unique and unparalleled!
In that instant, Wen Jing felt his manipulation of this world’s principles being slashed away, his demonic energy and souls continuously destroyed. His suppression over the enemy weakened to its lowest point. Sword lights came from all directions—emotional and emotionless intertwined, complex transformations connected. He could only muster his spirit, unleashing the Nine Methods of Tianyao Tushen Fa one by one, gradually turning the tide.
Though confident in ultimate victory, in this tense situation, temporary suppression meant losing control of the battle!
Internally, he furiously cursed the Master of the Six Dao Reincarnations. The enemy proved unexpectedly formidable, and secret treasures couldn’t be used. This wasn’t an ordinary faction battle—it was a death-level mission!
Returning like this, he might have to sell everything to avoid annihilation!
With this thought, he activated secret techniques, his aura surging again, demonic energy spreading, veiling the sky. Demon shadows shot like arrows toward Jiang Zhiwei.
Yet Jiang Zhiwei did not retreat a single step, employing Xijian Pavilion’s desperate techniques and Jiuzhuan Xuan Gong, confronting him head-on and maintaining the upper hand temporarily.
Deng! Deng! Deng! Meng Qi strode forward. Two external experts killed his clone and rushed to intercept him.
Suddenly, Meng Qi’s body felt heavy, as if bound by the earth. At that moment, zither music rang out, lightening his body.
He stepped forward, the blade flashed, and Meng Qi charged straight through. The external expert was flung away by Meng Qi’s “Fa Tian Xiang Di” (embodying heaven and earth), unconscious.
The other expert lost his right arm at the shoulder, his treasure weapon falling. Fear crept into his heart.
Without looking back, Meng Qi continued charging forward. The zither music and Taoist techniques clashed and neutralized each other.
Ahead appeared a supreme expert wielding an unusual weapon, attacking from afar.
Meng Qi dodged sideways, avoiding the attack while continuing forward. After two steps, the blade flashed.
Plop! The expert’s body was severed at the waist, collapsing in pain but still alive due to his formidable vitality.
Several more experts blocked his path. Meng Qi lowered his head, charging wildly, the blade flashing again.
Limbs fell, blood spurted, and the external experts stood stunned.
…
Above the Nu River, Ruan Yushu’s forehead glistened with sweat. Continuously employing the “Killing at a Thousand Miles with Sound” technique, she countered the Taoist expert with zither music. Though one cultivation level lower, her superior musical scores and innate zither talent allowed her to barely neutralize him.
Around her, phoenixes circled, hundred birds sang, immortals ascended, ancient bells rang, creating a dreamlike scene.
The remaining imperial warships, disrupted by the divine weapon strike, noticed the anomaly and steered their vessels toward her, attacking defensively.
Zhao Heng stepped forward, his body seemingly transforming into a gale as he followed the sword’s trajectory. A hurricane formed over the river, surging towering waves that capsized a damaged warship. Hu Zhigao, Hou Yue, and other righteous army experts and vessels joined the fray, preventing enemy interference.
Du Huaishang had sufficient self-defense but lacked offensive capability. He simply cast floating wood and retreated to a safer area, fully concentrating on communicating with “Chengtian Sword”!
…
Slash after slash. At this moment, Meng Qi especially thanked Jiang Zhiwei for suggesting he acquire “Zhan Yu Dao” (Severing Jade Blade), which synergized marvelously with “Kai Tian Pi Di” (Splitting Heaven and Earth). No external expert could withstand a single strike!
The ninth level was within sight. Meng Qi’s “Fa Tian Xiang Di” was nearing its end, his figure irregularly advancing in a zigzag pattern to avoid being locked onto by divine weapons or overwhelmed by area attacks.
The resulting time loss had to be endured!
Suddenly, a crisp sound reached his ears, his pupils sharply contracting:
The altar was completed!
Several Blood Sea Sect external experts left the ninth level. Prince Shen Yunqing began sacrificing treasures and previously deceased experts.
“There’s still a chance! Before full activation, there’s still an opportunity to destroy it!” Meng Qi, never giving up until seeing the coffin, clenched his teeth, reducing his zigzag movements, rapidly approaching the ninth level.
Once entering the reduced attack range disturbed by divine and demonic energy, he would immediately use “Zhan Yin Guo” (Seizing Karma)!
He had saved this final “Zhan Yin Guo” instead of using it on Wen Jing, specifically for Shen Yunqing, who wielded the divine weapon!
Suddenly, an extreme sense of danger surged in Meng Qi’s heart. His right blade instinctively swung heavily sideways, while his left hand erupted in sword light, splitting one into two, two into four, layer upon layer, attempting to neutralize the attack.
Only then did he spot the shadow—a golden spear, nearly breaking the void, slamming toward him with its butt end!
Du Gu Shi had switched to a horse-chopping saber, widely swinging, suppressing Master Wanshi and Qi Zhengyan.
Truly living up to the title of unparalleled in blades, spears, fists, and feet!
Though Qi Zhengyan’s experience, insight, and techniques far surpassed his, he was still momentarily suppressed.
The golden spear, brimming with terrifying momentum, crashed toward Meng Qi at a speed allowing only hasty defense. In his ears rang Wen Jing’s voice, vibrating the air:
“The altar is completed. You are doomed to die!”
“Save the zither girl, waste time—you cannot stop us!”
“Don’t save the zither girl, Taoist interference—you still cannot stop us!”
“In short, you are doomed to die!”
He had gradually regained the advantage against Jiang Zhiwei, his shouts sounding like curses and judgments!
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