The Benevolent Sage and Xin Ji hurriedly departed, chasing after the Hegemon and the Taiyi Heavenly Demon. Although the siege at Luo City had failed and the internal conflict within the Cult had ceased, making it nearly impossible to locate the Taiyi Heavenly Demon before his transformation, those of their caliber had already solidified their own paths and convictions. No matter how slim the hope, they would never abandon their pursuit. Even if all of humanity stood against them, they would still advance.
Luo City suddenly seemed much quieter, almost desolate. Morning sunlight spilled onto the ground, casting a radiant glow over the twisted, pained face of the Multifaceted King of Heaven.
His Dharmakaya, collapsing from the microstructures, took his last breath. His once-immortal body decayed before the eyes, faster even than mortal flesh, until within moments, only a puddle of mud remained. Within the mud, a pale black sesame-seed ring lay quietly.
Suddenly, the sesame-seed ring moved on its own, as if pulled by an invisible thread. Together with the five-colored Li Xian Sword on the ground, it flew straight into Meng Qi’s palm.
Ren Qi Shui paid no attention to this detail. She gazed blankly at the black mud, her mind filled with the towering golden giant.
“You killed the Multifaceted King of Heaven purely through physical combat?” Ren Qi Shui lifted her head, her eyes fixed on Meng Qi’s face, completely ignoring He Qi standing beside him.
Meng Qi sighed: “Yes.”
Facing a Celestial Immortal, even a severely wounded one, he dared not be careless. He had used his full strength, unleashing the full might of the Eight-Nine Art, merging “No Seeking for Rebirth” into the Reversing Heaven Seal, unable to hold back. As a result, the Multifaceted King of Heaven’s demonic body completely disintegrated, wasting thousands of demonic eyes for naught.
Ren Qi Shui remained silent for a few heartbeats before slowly saying: “Your main cultivation isn’t sword techniques.”
This was a statement, not a question. Even though the Multifaceted King of Heaven had been injured in the prior siege and was gravely wounded, his fundamental nature as a Celestial Immortal remained. To crush him into paste one-on-one within his battlefield manifestation meant the nature of Meng Qi’s primary cultivation method was self-evident. Though its exact identity was unclear, it was certainly not a sword technique.
Meng Qi nodded and admitted frankly, “I only said I cultivated the Seven Swords of Intercepting Heaven and the Sutra of Sword Execution.”
What else he had cultivated was another matter entirely.
Ren Qi Shui’s lips moved a few times, momentarily at a loss for words. She couldn’t be blamed for being “naive.” It was perfectly logical to assume he was most proficient in sword techniques—after all, who wouldn’t prioritize the Intercepting Heaven and Sword Execution techniques if they had them?
Although he had already established his foundation by the time he obtained the Intercepting Heaven Sword Execution, this had nothing to do with external techniques. Naturally, the most logical choice would be to integrate these two supreme martial arts into one’s foundation and focus on swordsmanship.
Unless his main cultivation method was no less formidable than Intercepting Heaven and Sword Execution!
Then what exactly was his primary technique? Could it really rival Intercepting Heaven and Sword Execution?
Judging from the golden giant just now, it seemed like a method of achieving sainthood through physical cultivation. Among physical cultivation techniques, very few could rival Intercepting Heaven and Sword Execution—The Nine Revolutions of the Demon Emperor? The Eight-Nine Art? The Phoenix Rebirth Technique?
She was momentarily speechless, while He Qi beside her was filled with astonishment, unable to stop staring at Meng Qi as if seeing him for the first time.
Back at the Golden Turtle Island, she had witnessed the Sword Execution Formation and knew he was proficient in the Sword Execution Technique, which wasn’t surprising. But when had he learned the Seven Swords of Intercepting Heaven?
What didn’t he know?
As Ren Qi Shui’s thoughts churned, Meng Qi silently reviewed his gains.
Killing the Multifaceted King of Heaven had not brought him strong corrective forces, all of which were neutralized by his characteristics of the Other Shore. According to some ancient records, the Multifaceted King of Heaven had died many years before the Taiyi Heavenly Demon reached the peak of his life. Due to concealing an important inheritance, he had been eliminated by Wu Daoming in a rage.
As for why Wu Daoming had been enraged, Meng Qi suspected it had to do with the Demon Lord.
“Dragon King Ananda’s scales, Nine Nether Demon Marrow, venom from a god-level centipede, a damaged Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, the ‘Blood-Replenishing Regeneration Pill’…” Meng Qi silently listed his gains. The Multifaceted Heavenly King’s demonic form had been formidable, relying primarily on supernatural powers, with almost no divine weapons or magical treasures. Most of his possessions were related to body refinement, enhancing supernatural abilities, and pill concoction. The most valuable items were a Blood-Replenishing Regeneration Pill and a counterfeit Nine Nether Geographical Map used to divide the two realms.
Not bad overall—some would be quite useful, while others could be traded with the Middle Ancient Ink Palace to obtain materials for crafting the Multiversal Awareness Sphere.
Ren Qi Shui calmed down, her hands behind her back, her Confucian robe fluttering slightly as she slowly circled Meng Qi, smiling faintly: “Senior Su, possessing the Sutra of Sword Execution and having taken the initiative to engage me, who has mastered the Sword of Absolute Annihilation, surely must have a purpose for coming here?”
As she spoke, the jade sword in her hand emitted a green light, forcibly separating this area from Luo City using the profound techniques of the Sword of Absolute Annihilation, even blocking He Qi outside.
The crucial moment had arrived… Meng Qi carefully chose his words, smiling as he said: “Actually, it was indeed a coincidence. I happened to witness the immortal maiden using the Sword of Absolute Annihilation to clean oil stains from the table, recognized the origin of the sword technique, and, knowing I myself possess the Sutra of Sword Execution, was simply curious about where you had learned it, hence my bold approach.”
He skillfully inquired about the force behind Ren Qi Shui.
Ren Qi Shui seemed to have received instructions. Once the conversation turned to this topic, she appeared composed and calm. With a faint smile, she candidly stated: “My sect is a branch of the Jie Sect, directly inheriting from the Treasure Heaven Venerable. Possessing the Sword of Absolute Annihilation Sutra is perfectly natural.”
Treasure Heaven Venerable? The senior disciple of the Lingbao Heavenly Lord, one of the Nine Daoist Venerables? Meng Qi had harbored similar suspicions about the force behind Ren Qishui, yet even so, hearing it confirmed still sent a shock through him.
In the True World, Daoist “Venerables” weren’t like those in some universes that could be casually conferred or titled. They were extremely rare. From Meng Qi’s experience over the years, only those who had reached the Creation and Other Shore realms could be called Venerables—not even legends sufficed. Altogether, there were only about a dozen Daoist Venerables.
The Daoist Nine Venerables were great figures who had already earned the title of Venerable in the early ancient times, ranking alongside the Five Ancient Emperors. Treasure Heaven Venerable was among them, clearly possessing formidable supernatural abilities.
Among the Daoist Nine Venerables, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Daode Tianzun were the oldest Other Shore experts—the Three Pure Ones of the Daoist Sect, far superior in status to the remaining six Venerables. Among these six, Taiyi Tianzun was the Daoist form of the Green Emperor, while Dangmo Tianzun was the Daoist title of the True Martial Emperor, both being highly likely candidates to ascend to the Other Shore. Treasure Tianzun ranked alongside them, slightly superior to the remaining three Venerables.
Among the remaining three Venerables, Guangcheng Tianzun was Yuanshi Tianzun’s senior disciple and the teacher of two generations of emperors in the Tai Gu and Shang Gu eras. Nan Hua Tianzun was a disciple of Daode Tianzun, the most capable of breaking through illusions and possessing the greatest potential. Guangfa Tianzun was also a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. Meng Qi suspected he might be the Daoist form of the Bodhisattva Manjusri. As for Yang Jian, born later, he was not included in the Nine Venerables’ rankings but was certainly strong enough to qualify, possibly even having stepped onto the Other Shore.
So she had indeed reported to her sect and received instructions… Meng Qi asked: “May I ask who currently leads your sect?”
Was Treasure Heaven Venerable still alive?
After the Middle Ancient period, no one who knew the Sword of Absolute Annihilation had appeared in the world until the Jade Moon Sword Sect emerged. Had the great experts of this lineage perished during the Demon Buddha calamity?
Ren Qi Shui pursed her lips slightly, smiling without speaking.
“I spoke out of turn,” Meng Qi apologized.
Ren Qi Shui nodded and asked: “May I ask where Senior Su learned the Sword Execution Sutra?”
“The elders of my sect occasionally entered the Fengshen World. You know about the Fengshen, right?” Meng Qi asked casually.
Ren Qi Shui’s expression turned solemn: “I know.”
Her words were brief, offering no further explanation, as if she knew some divine secrets and thus harbored profound reservations.
Meng Qi did not press further but continued: “The elders of my sect discovered the Biyou Palace after entering the Conferred Gods World.”
“What?” Ren Qi Shui exclaimed in surprise.
Had the Biyou Palace reappeared in the world?
His elders had actually entered the Biyou Palace—the residence of Lingbao Tianzun!
In that instant, she felt as if the mythological era had never ended, as if they were still living in the age of myths.
“Yes, the Biyou Palace with its self-contained realm, the Biyou Palace of Lingbao Tianzun.” Meng Qi was unsurprised by Ren Qi Shui’s reaction.
“Biyou Palace, Biyou Palace…” Ren Qi Shui’s thoughts drifted as she murmured, disregarding the taboos, instinctively asking, “Senior Su, what did your sect’s elders discover in the Biyou Palace?”
“Many techniques, including the Sutra of Sword Execution, the Sutra of Absolute Annihilation, the Sutra of the Trapped Immortal, the Sutra of the Slaughtered Immortal, and the Diagram of the Sword Execution Formation.” Meng Qi spoke the last four words slowly and deliberately.
“Sword Execution Formation! Sword Execution Formation!” Ren Qi Shui’s beautiful eyes were filled with shock and blazing light, as if she longed to witness it immediately. They had actually obtained the most formidable killing formation of the Tai Gu era!
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. For a Dharmakaya expert, this did nothing to soothe her emotions—it was merely a habit.
“Regrettably, only the first chapter beyond the Dharmakaya was acquired for each of the four sword scriptures, which pales in comparison to your sect’s legacy.” Meng Qi candidly acknowledged the limitations of their findings, aiming to convey room for negotiation and exchange, thereby preventing reckless actions driven by greed. While he trusted Ren Qishui’s character based on ancient records, those texts remained silent about the qualities of the formidable experts backing her.
Moreover, the four sword scriptures that only contained the initial Dharmakaya chapter indeed required supplementation. Otherwise, the power of the Sword Execution Formation would remain stagnant at its current level. Even if he, Master Lu, and the others enhanced their strength, there wouldn’t be any significant breakthroughs—at most, the four swords might achieve better balance and smoother transitions, enabling them to hold off more Celestial Immortals.
Ren Qi Shui calmed down, feeling overwhelmed by the shocks of the day, and couldn’t help but exclaim: “Entering the Biyou Palace and acquiring so many techniques—including the Diagram of the Sword Execution Formation and the four sword sutras up to the first chapter of the Dharma Body—is already exceedingly generous.”
The most generous part was taking away the Biyou Palace itself… Meng Qi silently added, though he couldn’t say it aloud. If he did, Ren Qi Shui would likely go mad.
Ren Qi Shui curiously looked at Meng Qi: “Senior Su, may I ask which great expert from your sect is it?”
Meng Qi answered seriously:
“Yuanshi Tianzun.”
Indeed, he was a senior of his sect and had indeed entered the Biyou Palace. You don’t have to believe it…
Ah? Ren Qi Shui was momentarily bewildered before quickly realizing. When mentioning great experts from her own sect, she had smiled without speaking. In response to his impolite question, he had chosen a humorous approach.
“This time, I was indeed impulsive,” Ren Qi Shui said, then fell silent. After a long pause, she added, “I’ll come looking for Senior Su tomorrow.”
Meng Qi nodded: “Looking forward to it, Miss Ren.”
After exchanging basic information, the next step would be weighing pros and cons, testing each other’s intentions. Ren Qi Shui certainly couldn’t make decisions on her own and would have to report again, hoping for a successful exchange in the end.
Ren Qi Shui dissipated the green light, nodded slightly to He Qi, and turned to leave.
“Do you think Gourdo and the others will choose which treasure location?” Meng Qi suddenly transmitted his voice to He Qi.
He Qi frowned: “It could be any of them. We can only rely on divination techniques.”
“Or we can leave imprints at each treasure location. Once triggered, the younger generation can use the karmic connection to teleport others away.” Meng Qi was also contemplating solutions. “At the same time, we must find Master Lu and the others as soon as possible to avoid insufficient manpower.”
“Finding them might not be as effective as letting them find you. In the Middle Ancient era, communication is convenient, and your reputation will spread quickly.” He Qi suggested.
…
As Meng Qi was thinking about how to spread his reputation, he received an invitation in the afternoon.
Before him stood a slightly arrogant man, his hair tied in a high crown, his nose sharp, reading the invitation:
“The Moon-Inviting Sword Sect, the Yao Guang Sword Sect, the Falling Star Sword Sect, the Tianhai Sword Sect, and the Great Wisdom Sword Sect jointly invite Mr. Su Meng to ‘critique’ sword techniques!”
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