After initially mastering the “Yin-Yang Seal,” Meng Qi’s self-created technique, “Yin-Yang Triple Harmony, Origin and Transformation,” made significant progress. Although many issues remained, he truly began to feel the sensation of spontaneous transformation between Yin and Yang. This meant the seamless flow between Yin and Yang, adapting to external Qi, forces, and circumstances by shifting between Yin and Yang as needed. Applied at this moment, it felt perfectly attuned, like a fish in water.
His long saber lightly vibrated as it sliced into the domain of Yuan Ci (Primordial Magnetism). Meng Qi’s refined spiritual perception sensed the surrounding forces of attraction, pulling, and downward pressure, which were powerful, chaotic, and disordered, making them difficult to judge or counteract actively. Once affected, his trajectory would immediately twist, deviating from Chi Xia Dao Ren (Red Glimmering Immortal), failing to strike accurately.
However, at this moment, “Heaven’s Wound” transformed Yin and Yang in response to external Yuan Ci forces. Upon contact, Yin or Yang manifested accordingly, shaping the pulling and downward forces. Then, in an instant, they transformed—Yin turning to Yang, or Yang to Yin—thereby converting pulling into pushing and lifting into descending. This generated new forces of equal magnitude but opposite direction, canceling out the previous forces. Maintaining the original mystical trajectory, it sliced through the Yuan Ci domain like cutting tofu, swiftly striking toward Chi Xia Dao Ren’s location.
Chi Xia Dao Ren seemed momentarily stunned by this slash or found movement difficult while drawing his bowstring, failing to evade!
As the saber light reached him, a mocking smile suddenly appeared on Chi Xia Dao Ren’s face. His figure shattered like reflections in a mirror or ripples on water, leaving Meng Qi with a hollow sensation, as though he had struck nothing tangible.
Trapped? Something’s wrong! A chill ran through Meng Qi’s heart as he instantly realized.
The Yuan Ci domain not only distorted his attacks but also twisted his vision, hearing, and spiritual perception, leading to a mistaken judgment of Chi Xia Dao Ren’s position. That location was effectively an impeccable illusion, while the real Chi Xia Dao Ren’s whereabouts remained unknown!
The golden light arrows he had shot also curved along their trajectories, misleading Meng Qi’s estimation of the shooter’s position.
Combined, these factors led to a grave mistake!
A sense of danger transformed into a stormy wave. Without time to think, Meng Qi instantly activated numerous changes with Zhan Yu Dao (Saber of Cutting Jade) and Xuan Gui Jian (Sword of Black Tortoise), each movement seemingly depicting the blooming of a lotus flower petal by petal.
The Unmoving Golden Lotus blossomed. Saber and sword lights transformed into radiant beams. The Yongquan acupoints at the soles of his feet opened, connecting him to the earth through invisible forces, merging him with it.
However, before the Unmoving Golden Lotus fully formed, a golden light arrow shot from the front side, closing the distance at an incredible speed!
There, Chi Xia Dao Ren’s figure emerged, identical to before, with the same mocking expression on his face.
Dang!
The golden light arrow, resembling liquid essence, disintegrated into countless beams of light. The earth that bore the impact erupted with countless arcs of electricity, as if a forest of thunder had suddenly grown from nowhere.
Before the defense fully formed, it was swiftly broken through. The golden light arrow lost no speed, bypassing Zhan Yu Dao and deflecting Xuan Gui Jian with two sharp clangs.
With these two collisions, Meng Qi managed a last-second lateral shift.
Boom! The golden light arrow struck Meng Qi’s left arm directly. Faint golden light intertwined with electric arcs, briefly glowing, then exploded violently, rolling out a mushroom cloud composed of arcs of electricity.
Midair, a long sword covered in turtle-shell patterns fell straight down. Unaffected by the wind, it plunged into a rock.
Meng Qi’s newly regenerated left arm completely vanished. Electric arcs still crackled at the shoulder’s stump, charring his blood. For others, internal organs would have been severely damaged, but with the might of the “Eight-Nine” Art, he could survive the loss of a limb, keeping his injuries manageable.
His mind tense, he quickly dodged as golden light arrows shot from all sides—front, back, left, and right—whizzing continuously. Though their power was slightly diminished compared to the earlier strike, their speed aimed to exploit any opening, denying Meng Qi space to evade.
Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Saber and sword in motion, Meng Qi dodged, blocked, redirected, and lured, his mind alert but his heart calm. His surroundings were vividly perceived in minute detail. His movements remained composed, fast yet orderly, his techniques similarly precise. Eventually, he escaped the storm of arrows, drenched in sweat.
Looking back, Chi Xia Dao Ren still “stood” at his original position. His right thumb and index finger radiated brilliant red and golden light, stimulating each other. Three golden light arrows took form. His smile had faded, his gaze calm, as he looked at Meng Qi as though watching a dying man.
Only now did Meng Qi feel a sense of relief—just moments ago, he had nearly perished!
Chi Xia Dao Ren was so cunning. In a scenario without a master-level ally or ambush, anyone provoked by his earlier taunt, “By what right,” would likely use their most powerful treasures. Such an attack would strike an illusion distorted by Yuan Ci forces, wasting precious chances for victory or survival.
Chi Xia Dao Ren was no fool. He naturally surmised that his opponent must have some hidden trump cards. Considering the time that had passed since their last encounter and the conventions of the Fengshen era, there was an eighty to ninety percent likelihood that secret treasures were involved.
Fortunately, Meng Qi had resolved to fight a grueling battle!
Darting away from the arrows, Meng Qi unleashed a flurry of saber and sword techniques. Explosions thundered as he continuously used techniques like “Star River’s Demise” and “Supreme Yang Purifying Defilement,” shattering mountains and rocks. Within a radius of several miles, the land was flattened. Beyond that, flames rolled, trees snapped, and the effects spread outward for dozens of miles, attempting to sense the core of the distortion and lock onto Chi Xia Dao Ren’s position.
Yet true masters were no ordinary foes. Chi Xia Dao Ren’s strength surpassed Meng Qi’s. Although the Yuan Ci forces around him were momentarily cleared, the blinding light, scorching flames, energy storms, violet lightning, and azure thunder bent around him simultaneously. Yuan Ci forces regenerated as quickly as they were dispelled. As soon as Meng Qi locked onto him, his perception was distorted again. Techniques like “Heaven-Shattering Earth-Sundering” or “Yin-Yang Triple Harmony” repeatedly missed.
Arrow after arrow came. Meng Qi struggled to block and dodge, his body gradually accumulating injuries. Faint golden light shattered in several places, his skin charred, flesh torn. Most concerning was that “Law of Heaven and Earth” was nearing its limit!
If he couldn’t incapacitate Chi Xia Dao Ren before the duration of “Law of Heaven and Earth” expired, then the “Heavenly Mind and Human Will Technique” would only offer a chance to flee—assuming the opponent didn’t possess counter-space talismans or secret treasures!
Meng Qi’s expression darkened. He slashed his saber at empty space—not to attack, but to simulate the Primordial Void with a needlepoint aperture, returning all things to emptiness.
Everything around, including Yuan Ci forces, surged toward the saber’s tip. Amidst the swirling transformation, Meng Qi once again caught sight of Chi Xia Dao Ren’s true form. However, as Meng Qi attempted to attack, his own weapons were affected by residual suction forces from the returning emptiness, preventing him from striking.
By the time the suction weakened and Yuan Ci regenerated, Meng Qi’s senses were once again distorted. Chi Xia Dao Ren, having shifted position, “disappeared” from sight once more!
Meanwhile, Meng Qi noticed that Chi Xia Dao Ren’s current golden light arrows focused on steadiness, clearly aiming to prevent his escape. Chi Xia Dao Ren seemed to sense that Meng Qi’s “Law of Heaven and Earth” was nearing its limit!
No more delays!
Meng Qi’s thoughts raced. Instantly, scenes from the battle moments ago flashed through his mind. Using the Primordial Void or area attacks indeed cleared the Yuan Ci domain, revealing Chi Xia Dao Ren and allowing him to lock on. However, the “power” of these techniques hindered his follow-up attacks unless he stacked area attacks, which wouldn’t fundamentally change the situation. Once the “power” weakened, Yuan Ci forces would regenerate, returning the situation to its prior state.
Was there truly no way to counter this?
At critical moments, people always act according to their most skilled and habitual methods. These thoughts surfaced fastest in Meng Qi’s mind. Martial cultivators tempered their minds, perfecting their inner selves, precisely to maintain calm thinking and clear judgment under pressure, unaffected by attachments, conventions, or habits.
Yet, after a brief consideration, Meng Qi realized there was indeed a plausible chance of success.
Using his most skilled method!
He shifted positions to evade the golden light arrows, his gaze calm, his fighting spirit burning. “Heaven’s Wound” and “Flowing Fire” descended simultaneously. His long saber depicted the Primordial Void, devouring heaven and earth. Flowing Fire pierced forth boundless light, illuminating the ten directions. Then midair, they collided, unleashing a terrifying brilliance brimming with terrifying energy, radiating outward in blinding whiteness.
It was “Star River’s Demise” again!
The light curved outward from a central point. The energy storm remained like an ocean, blocking Meng Qi’s path to that point.
Found you! Meng Qi moved, suddenly surging forward, dragging Zhan Yu Dao, charging into the “Star River’s Demise”!
He actually charged into the Star River’s Demise!
Boom!
The sound finally spread outward. The intense heat melted Meng Qi’s hair, and the energy storm tore at his body. Faint golden light flickered and dimmed. The Kunlun Daoist robe gradually showed signs of tearing.
His eyes burned with pain, his vision obscured. His primordial spirit suffered from deep, searing agony. Meng Qi gritted his teeth, nearly fainting.
Deng! Deng! Deng!
He trod the air, leaving residual images behind, rushing toward that point!
His body was a mess of blood and torn flesh, nearly unrecognizable. At this moment, the energy storm weakened slightly, bending outward in all directions!
Chi Xia Dao Ren stood right before him!
The light and storm curved around his body, making him appear godlike. His right hand had already drawn the bowstring, a golden light arrow poised to fire. His gaze at Meng Qi carried both admiration and cruelty.
Under these circumstances, you’ve locked onto me, but can’t you also evade my arrows?
Farewell, no, never again!
Chi Xia Dao Ren calmly released the bowstring. The golden light arrow shot forth like a colossal dragon formed from thunderous water, disintegrating all in its path toward Meng Qi.
At that moment, Meng Qi’s body suddenly transformed. A blazing sun rose from his position, swirling with radiant light and rolling flames, heavy and oppressive, Yuan Ci forces surging!
The golden light arrow roared toward him but was slightly distorted by Yuan Ci forces, melted by the flames, and deflected by the radiance, veering slightly aside.
Boom!
Part of the sun’s edge was disintegrated, yet it remained.
Transform, the sun!
Using your own techniques against you!
Meng Qi’s figure reappeared, towering above the “dwarf-like” Chi Xia Dao Ren. Half his body was gone, his right arm bearing “Heaven’s Wound” was also missing. His long saber was already falling.
His eyes calm, Meng Qi raised Zhan Yu Dao and Flowing Fire.
Chi Xia Dao Ren finally changed expression. A five-colored stone suddenly flew from his body, aiming straight at Meng Qi’s face, unaffected by external forces.
Peng! Meng Qi’s head exploded, only to regenerate instantly. Zhan Yu Dao cleaved heaven and earth, Flowing Fire harmonized Yin and Yang.
Die!
Radiant saber light, swirling sword qi—one divided Yin and Yang, one indistinguishable between them—breaking through Chi Xia Dao Ren’s final Yuan Ci barrier, about to strike his body.
Boom! A massive explosion erupted, neutralizing the saber and sword lights. Chi Xia Dao Ren suddenly appeared high in the sky, his hair disheveled, his body wounded. He had detonated the surrounding Yuan Ci forces, injuring himself while eliminating the sword light and most of the saber force. Though heavily wounded, it wasn’t fatal.
He intended to activate a secret treasure and escape, waiting for Meng Qi’s “Law of Heaven and Earth” to expire before returning to crush this ant!
At that moment, something on his body rose, transformed into a streak of light, and dove into his nostrils, causing his breath to catch and his activation to lag slightly.
From the undulating light and shadow below, a saber light flew upward, cutting through darkness, cleaving Yin and Yang, piercing through Chi Xia Dao Ren’s body.
Chi Xia Dao Ren stood motionless midair, his vision gradually darkening.
That strand of hair, the sudden lock used for targeting, suddenly gained sentience!
A saber mark appeared on his forehead, splitting his body in two. He fell from the clouds, crashing onto a collapsed mountain peak, dying with eyes wide in disbelief.
The saber light dissipated. Meng Qi slowly descended, his body half-crippled, his spirit weary, his right hand gone.
Plop, he landed on the ground, sprawled out, feeling a profound peace, an indescribable serenity, like the calm after enlightenment.
Finally seizing an opening, yet unable to kill Chi Xia Dao Ren outright, Meng Qi relied on his original trap setup to prevent escape. True masters were simply too tenacious, too formidable!
Still, this was partly because he had chosen to hone himself without using divine weapon core materials. Otherwise, with treasures like the “Dharma-Sealing Pearl” or “Sunfire Core” enhancing the Primordial Void, he would have already drawn in Yuan Ci forces and Chi Xia Dao Ren himself, engaging in close combat.
The saber light receded. Meng Qi slowly descended, his body half-crippled, his spirit weary, his right hand gone.
Plop, he landed on the ground, sprawling out, feeling a profound peace, an indescribable serenity, like the calm after enlightenment.
Finally seizing an opening, yet unable to kill Chi Xia Dao Ren outright, Meng Qi relied on his original trap setup to prevent escape. True masters were simply too tenacious, too formidable!
Still, this was partly because he had chosen to hone himself without using divine weapon core materials. Otherwise, with treasures like the “Dharma-Sealing Pearl” or “Sunfire Core” enhancing the Primordial Void, he would have already drawn in Yuan Ci forces and Chi Xia Dao Ren himself, engaging in close combat.
Meng Qi’s heart felt a sense of joy and self-mockery as he muttered, “Indeed, if I didn’t seek death recklessly, I wouldn’t have nearly died just now.”
Call me the Master of Reckless Survival!
In this battle, Meng Qi’s mastery and application of the “Indestructible Primordial Phase” deepened, and his “Microscopic Perception” reached a new level. Though he hadn’t yet broken through to Master-level, his gains were substantial.
His heart remained tranquil, his primordial spirit pure, his consciousness endlessly expanding and ascending.
Suddenly, Meng Qi felt a stirring in his heart. Somewhere infinitely high above, mysteriously distant, there seemed to be a palace.
It shared a mysterious connection with him!
Yuxu Palace?
The sensation vanished instantly, and he could no longer find it. His flesh rippled as a new arm grew. He furrowed his brows—was this connection a result of his recent breakthrough in applying the “Indestructible Primordial Phase,” or had it surfaced only in his near-death state?
He surveyed the surroundings, planning to collect Chi Xia Dao Ren’s belongings first.
From the coup, Meng Qi had taken nothing, leaving the spoils for Chen Kingdom’s development and the local Mohists. Therefore, Chi Xia Dao Ren’s possessions were his rightful spoils of war!
…
In Golden Light Cave, rage surged into the clouds, as if tangible.
A master had perished!
King Chu Zhuang calculated the situation with his fingers but found everything obscured, unable to pinpoint the opponent!
…
Meng Qi held the Juzi Ring, collected the longbow, and smiled. Though gravely wounded, he remained composed and unperturbed, departing leisurely.
The “Inverted Da Yan Talisman” given by Senior Chong He still had nearly a year before its deadline expired!
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