In the late spring, seeing the unfavorable situation, his heart filled with rage. However, consumed by the desire to strike down the evil youngster, he disregarded any restraint and immediately joined his palms, chanting a spell: “Shang Qing Zhen Xuan, Da Dong Ling Xian, Jiu Lao Xian Du, Yin She Dao Tian. Disciple invokes the Jade Seal of Jiulao Tiandu Immortals!”
As Zhuo Wanchun chanted the spell, his hands split apart, fingers forming gestures of extension, flexion, hooking, and interlacing. With each change of his ten fingers, streams of spiritual energy surged into the jade banner suspended high in the air.
The Jade Seal of Jiulao Tiandu Immortals was the first of the four treasures safeguarding the Maoshan Sect, well known to cultivators. Its spiritual transformations and immense power were rarely matched among treasures of other sects. Naturally, Zhuo Wanchun could not carry the real seal, but as a Maoshan disciple, he could draw upon the seal’s essence, refining it into his jade banner. When facing a powerful enemy, by activating his unique technique, he could temporarily summon a phantom of the seal. Though not as powerful as the original, its might was formidable for a brief moment.
As soon as the seal appeared, it absorbed all surrounding spiritual energy, and the jade seal instantly expanded in size.
Nine dragons coiled around the seal’s knob, exhaling colorful clouds that shimmered with ancient, mysterious patterns across its surface. Beneath the seal, the seven ancient seal script characters “Jiu Lao Tian Du Xian Yu Yin” radiated a blood-red glow, like a crimson net casting shadows below.
The seal rotated and trembled, vibrating nine times, surrounded by continuously flashing talismanic symbols, displaying its extraordinary might.
As soon as Mei Qing saw Zhuo Wanchun summon the jade seal, he immediately urged his spirit crane to take flight upward.
Generally, seal-type treasures primarily relied on crushing force, making an aerial advantage crucial for unstoppable impact. Observing Mei Qing’s quick ascent, the crowd acknowledged his sharp mind. However, seeing the surging spiritual energy from Zhuo Wanchun’s jade seal, they realized it was no ordinary seal relying solely on brute force, and altitude alone might not suffice.
Zhuo Wanchun shared the same thought as the onlookers. Seeing Mei Qing soar high, he inwardly smirked, thinking, “This kid immediately flies up upon seeing my seal. Does he really think my seal can only strike from above? Heh, despite his cleverness, he’s still going to suffer from my true artifact!” With this thought, he resumed chanting, his hands forming a final incantation, then shouted, “Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Xin Dao Feng Xing!”
The jade seal expanded further, its massive form now resembling a colossal stone tablet. The nine coiled dragons became even more vivid, roaring and swaying their tails, radiating golden light as it surged upward with a roaring wind, aiming directly at Mei Qing in the sky.
Mei Qing let out a sharp cry, and the black mist suddenly expanded, quickly covering several zhang around him.
Zhuo Wanchun furrowed his brow, fearing Mei Qing might escape using another technique. He hurriedly poured more energy into the jade seal. However, summoning the seal had already drained his strength, and now pushing it further, he felt his inner essence nearly depleted. Knowing he couldn’t last long, he hoped to end the battle in one decisive strike.
The jade seal roared forward like lightning, sucking in all surrounding spiritual energy, casting dark shadows and locking onto Mei Qing’s location. Before even reaching him, the pressure forced Mei Qing’s black mist backward.
Mei Qing struggled to resist. He hadn’t expected the seal’s power to be so overwhelming. Though the seal hadn’t yet struck, the immense pressure nearly suffocated him. He inwardly admitted the old man’s strength and realized that without prior preparation, enduring such a blow would have been unbearable.
The black mist was now compressed back to Mei Qing’s front, revealing his figure. He wasn’t forming hand seals or chanting spells but appeared to be focusing all his energy on controlling something. Just as the massive seal rushed upward with a deafening wind, Mei Qing’s expression eased slightly. He shouted, “Strike!” and a several-meter-wide black shadow suddenly appeared beneath him.
Mei Qing exhaled in relief. With a flick of his hand, he placed a small talisman on the object and shouted, “Go!” He stood atop it, activated a technique, and surged downward, directly toward the jade seal.
Mei Qing’s sudden counterattack startled the other experts present.
Initially, all had focused intently on Zhuo Wanchun’s summoning of the jade seal, feeling its overwhelming aura. Even if they were in Mei Qing’s place, facing such a seal would be daunting. Mei Qing had never directly countered Zhuo Wanchun’s attacks before, so many assumed he was doomed.
But when Mei Qing revealed his object, the experts sensed it and found it was merely an ordinary stone.
Though it bore some traces of cultivation, it lacked any talismanic formations or arrays typical of magical artifacts. Yet, when the experts probed it, they sensed a profound, heavy aura that even the most powerful cultivators instinctively felt awed by.
“What is this thing?” Tao Zhongwen was puzzled but not overly concerned. However, Zhang Yuchong understood immediately, inwardly praising his apprentice’s cunning. At the same time, he subtly moved his hand, five small talismans appearing in his sleeve, his spiritual sense locking onto Tao Zhongwen, ready to intervene.
In fact, the stone Mei Qing had thrown was a relic from the depths of the Minghai Sea.
When Zhang Yuchong had retrieved it from the ocean floor, its weight was astonishing. After examination, Zhang Yuchong determined it was the only remaining piece. Mei Qing had stored it in his spatial pocket, intending to forge it into a powerful artifact.
However, after leaving the Minghai Sea and attempting to refine it, Mei Qing was shocked.
Once removed from the Minghai formation, the stone’s weight had increased tenfold. Despite his utmost effort, he couldn’t budge it an inch.
Further attempts to refine it revealed that no matter what method he used, he couldn’t etch even a single mark on its surface. It had no spiritual energy, only immense weight and hardness, with no other distinguishing features.
Unwilling to give up, Mei Qing sought help from Zhang Yuchong and Master Ku, but both shook their heads in defeat. Zhang Yuchong speculated it was the original Jiushi stone, unyielding to cultivation techniques and immovable, a true burden. He advised Mei Qing to abandon it.
But Mei Qing was reluctant, chuckling, “Master, you don’t understand. Though this treasure can’t be forged into an artifact, it’s perfect for striking enemies. It’s the ultimate heavenly brick!” He begged his masters for help, and though they couldn’t refine it into a magical weapon, they managed to imprint his spiritual essence onto it.
Though not usable as an artifact, it could now be stored in his spatial pocket with ease.
Now, seeing Mei Qing actually using this “heavenly brick,” and with Zhuo Wanchun still unaware, Zhang Yuchong could only silently pity the poor Zhuo Xiaoxian about to be struck by this weight.
Zhuo Wanchun was also puzzled. Upon sensing the ancient aura of the Jiushi stone, he couldn’t detect any special qualities through his spiritual sense. It wasn’t even a proper artifact—why would Mei Qing throw it? But in the heat of battle, there was no time for deep thought, and he had full confidence in his jade seal. Thus, without hesitation, he directed the seal upward, directly colliding with the Jiushi stone.
Mei Qing smiled, applied more force beneath his feet, and simultaneously activated several protective talismans around himself, swiftly ascending.
The Jiushi stone, however, fell like a meteor, tracing a black streak across the sky, directly striking the jade seal head-on.
With a deafening explosion, the stone and seal collided. Violent spiritual energy erupted in all directions, shaking the previously unbreakable barrier spells surrounding the battlefield.
Zhuo Wanchun let out an anguished roar. The imposing Jade Seal of Jiulao Tiandu Immortals shattered upon impact with the unremarkable stone. The nine coiled dragons cried out in unison, the seal’s inscriptions flaring with light. Strange symbols and patterns illuminated the sky, fragments of the seal scattering like shattered clouds, dazzling like nine suns crossing the heavens.
But all this brilliance was merely the seal’s final glow. Moments later, like wind dispersing clouds, the light faded. The battlefield cleared, and the jade seal’s dragons, inscriptions, and divine decorations crumbled into nothingness.
Zhuo Wanchun spat a jet of purple blood, his face pale and lifeless, his body swaying. Even his jade banner cracked twice before falling from his head and vanishing.
The Jiushi stone, having shattered the jade seal, continued its descent without slowing, directly toward Zhuo Wanchun.
“No!” Tao Zhongwen was stunned. He never imagined an ordinary stone could possess such power. Though he had been puzzled by Mei Qing’s move, he never expected Zhuo Wanchun to be so easily defeated. Earlier, when recruiting Zhuo Wanchun, they had tested each other, and Tao had held Zhuo’s cultivation in high regard. Seeing Zhuo summon the jade seal had even made Tao wary, recognizing its potential to threaten him. Yet, he never imagined that a simple stone from Mei Qing would shatter the seal and severely injure Zhuo Wanchun, whose spiritual connection was now shattered.
With Zhuo Wanchun already weakened and the stone descending, Tao Zhongwen knew there was no time to think. Roaring in fury, he prepared to intervene.
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