“Human Emperor Sword!” Han Guang’s surrounding purple fire and greenish-blue flames briefly extinguished, but he forgot to advance. This audacious fiend who had brazenly infiltrated Shaolin and become its abbot rarely showed such astonishment.
Had the legendary Human Emperor Sword, long ranked alongside the Time Blade and Heaven’s Wrath Axe, truly appeared?
And had it fallen into Gao Lan’s hands?
He had always found Gao Lan’s confidence somewhat strange, often secretly speculating about the latter’s ultimate techniques. Who would have guessed it would be the Human Emperor Sword, missing for countless eons?
Han Guang’s dark, deep pupils reflected Gao Lan’s current appearance: clad in majestic black robes, imposing and dignified, his face concealed behind an expressionless mask, his right arm outstretched, gripping a pale golden sword. Around him swirled the ethereal shadows of celestial beings, demons, immortals, and yao spirits. Mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon coalesced into a hovering map behind him, lending him the aura of a true emperor.
The violent winds roared around them, scattering the dark clouds that had lingered for a hundred thousand years. The resentment of the true dragons surrounding the “Heavenly Punishment Gate” seemed to be suppressed by an ultimate righteous will, collapsing instantly.
Lightning extinguished, flames died, and chaos illusions vanished. The suppression of dharma principles near the “Heavenly Punishment Gate” gradually disintegrated, except for the overarching “no flight” restriction covering all Nine Heavens, seemingly having no effect anymore.
Everything appeared to be rallying around Gao Lan, praising him and following his lead.
Majestic and overwhelming, his power oppressed the entire universe!
…
This immense, supreme aura dispersed the gloomy clouds, surged into the sky, spread outward, and like a tide reached near the Immortal-Demoting Pond.
The dharma principles that suppressed and connected heaven and earth shattered. After the mist dissipated, a blood-red, ominous peach tumbled out, appearing startled and unable to maintain concealment.
However, Meng Qi had already stopped paying attention to it, because Gu Xiao Sang softly muttered three words:
“Human Emperor Sword!”
Human Emperor Sword? Instantly, Meng Qi’s mind conjured images of the dragon platform fire sea, the Human Emperor Ancient Path, and his older brother Gao Lan with a beard covering his face.
Back then, his “big brother” had searched the fire sea for a long time, only finding an iron rod-like object and an iron lump he used to forge the “Liu Huo” (Flowing Fire). There had been no trace of the Human Emperor Sword. Yet now, within the Celestial Realm, one of the two “Mythical” Law Bodies had wielded the “Human Emperor Sword”?
Gu Xiao Sang knew many secrets and shouldn’t have mistaken its identity!
In the exchange list of the Master of the Six Paths, the “Human Emperor Sword” was labeled as “unavailable.” Even for a Cycle Bearer with assets dozens of times greater than Daoist Chong He and possessing the strength to complete corresponding divine weapon tasks, it was impossible to obtain it through exchange!
According to the former dynasty Han family records, the True Emperor Seal was forged imitating the Human Emperor Sword’s aura. In other words, the Human Emperor Sword had a high probability of being hidden within the Dragon Platform. After the chaos of the Buddha Demon, very few people had entered the Dragon Platform, besides himself and Gao Lan, no one else was known!
Could that iron rod-like object actually be the Human Emperor Sword? Well-read in novels, Meng Qi instantly had this strange thought. Could the Law Body cooperating with Han Guang really be his joking older brother? No, it should be the serious, mad king!
If that were truly the case, where was the extraordinary fortune they had anticipated? Meng Qi increasingly felt this possibility was high!
Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that this Law Body belonged to a powerful figure from a Fengshen-style world in the Western Regions, who had encountered the Human Emperor Sword through some extraordinary fortune and joined “Myth.”
But at this moment, Meng Qi had no time to analyze and speculate about the true identity of the Human Emperor Sword’s master. At least it wasn’t Luo Sect’s Dharma King!
In other words, even if this Law Body could only slightly awaken the Human Emperor Sword, the Dharma King still wouldn’t benefit. Combined with the Demon Sage Han Guang, the time he could endure would definitely be much shorter than expected.
If not now, when should they escape?
Meng Qi opened all his acupoints, revealing numerous Dharma Forms within his body, connecting heaven and earth as he prepared to charge forward. Simultaneously, his spirit reached out toward Gu Xiaosang, ready to awaken her immediately if she remained emotionally unsettled.
He didn’t know much about the Celestial Realm or how to escape it. Without Gu Xiao Sang’s guidance, the danger would be even greater!
At this moment, the image of Gu Xiaosang in Meng Qi’s mind was no longer that of the “Great Luo Celestial Maiden”—meticulously calculating, unfathomable in thought, wielding near-divine techniques, and seemingly flawless. She could also be startled, caught off guard, and momentarily lose her composure when her carefully laid plans were overturned. In the future, when facing her again, he wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed by her imposing presence and could gradually overcome the psychological shadow she had cast over him!
Of course, when it came to scheming, planning, and intellect against this enchantress, he might still be outmatched, but at least he wouldn’t be restricted at every step anymore!
Last time, it was his teasing elder brother Gao Lan who unsettled the enchantress, and now it appeared to be him once more. Was it truly necessary to act so wildly, defying all conventional norms, just to evade her schemes?
Gu Xiao Sang’s momentary loss of composure was brief. When Meng Qi’s spirit reached her, she had already regained her ethereal, transcendent aura, playfully winking at Meng Qi to signal a quick escape.
Did the enchantress have another trick up her sleeve? Seeing her calm demeanor, Meng Qi felt slightly reassured.
Suddenly, a faint cracking sound reached both their ears.
Without the suppression of dharma principles, Xi, the “Solar Sovereign,” could now fully connect heaven and earth.
Auras of Xuanhuang (mysterious yellow), black and white, and purple successively rose from his body, forming Dharma Forms behind him such as a jade pagoda and a Taiji diagram. These converged into his right hand as he suddenly thrust it forward.
Bang!
The floating ribbons surrounding Gu Xiaosang merged with the void, shattering inch by inch as the “cage” was violently destroyed!
Now, Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang were facing a “truly meaningful” Grandmaster.
Behind them loomed a terrifying Law Body wielding the Human Emperor Sword, while ahead blocked the Solar Sovereign Xi. Without exchanging glances or telepathic communication, both understood what needed to be done.
They couldn’t possibly consider fighting the Law Body. The only and necessary breakthrough point was the “Solar Sovereign” Xi ahead. Their goal was to kill or severely wound him within the shortest possible time, carve out a bloody path, and escape deeper into this Celestial Realm!
As long as there were side paths, and Han Guang’s primary objective remained treasure hunting, he and Gu Xiao Sang still had a chance of survival!
Since they needed the shortest time possible, they naturally had to go all out, never hesitating to use valuable treasures!
However, they couldn’t directly use divine weapon core materials right away. Although the path on both sides featured floating white clouds and the Immortal-Demoting Pond below, which equated to certain death upon falling, the Immortal-Demoting Pond was only a dozen or so zhang in size. Xi wasn’t a corpse; he could retreat beyond the pond’s range to dodge, clearing the path again before entangling them once more, making their escape meaningless.
No matter how powerful the force, if it couldn’t hit the target, it was useless!
Therefore, Meng Qi planned to charge forward, manifesting the Heaven and Earth Imitation Technique, transforming into a two-headed, four-armed giant. Relying on his enhanced sword and saber techniques, he would engage Xi in close combat for a brief period, creating an opening for Gu Xiaosang to deliver a decisive strike.
As the Luo Sect’s Holy Maiden, rumored to be the reincarnation of the Eternal Mother, Meng Qi wouldn’t believe she didn’t possess some divine weapon core materials!
As for who should engage and who should attack, under unfamiliar coordination circumstances, Meng Qi habitually took the frontline, creating opportunities for his “teammate”!
“Break through!”
With a thunderous shout, Meng Qi’s body expanded, reaching several zhang in size. Two heads loomed over Xi, four arms wielding Liu Huo, Heaven’s Sorrow, Purple Lightning Thunder Saber, and Xuan Gui Sword, connecting with heaven and earth, launching an attack.
Meanwhile, Gu Xiao Sang formed hand seals, countless invisible forces converging in her palms, transforming into a magnificent, exquisite divine statue. Ethereal, vast, neither born nor dying, the statue flew into her forehead. Instantly, her demeanor changed dramatically, adding an aura of sacred majesty and compassionate mercy to her previously ethereal and transcendent presence. Divine murmurs echoed through the surrounding void:
“Eternal Mother, Pure Land of Emptiness!”
Just then, before Meng Qi had actually engaged Xi in combat, he saw the latter holding a dark feather with hints of golden-red, flames on the surface concealing intense heat. Just seeing it made Meng Qi feel like his entire body was melting, extremely similar to his own “Supreme Solar Flame Core”!
What the hell! Divine weapon core material!
A shock surged through Meng Qi’s heart, raising an extreme sense of danger. Xi actually possessed a divine weapon core material and was directly using it against him!
If struck head-on by the power enhanced by a divine weapon core material, he would surely be reduced to dust!
Without hesitation, following his instincts, Meng Qi dove sideways to evade the attack.
Boom!
Purple and cyan fire streams swept past Meng Qi, burning his robe and charring the pale gold. Before his eyes, the Immortal-Demoting Pond bubbled violently, while he had already leapt halfway into the air, with no foothold below!
Pain seared his back, but suddenly Meng Qi realized the truth. The divine weapon core material in Xi’s hands hadn’t locked onto him at all. Its purpose was merely to force him to voluntarily plunge into the Immortal-Demoting Pond. The power released still targeted Gu Xiao Sang!
The Celestial Realm forbade flight without permission. Below was the Immortal-Demoting Pond, contact with which would revert one to an ordinary mortal. In his ears echoed “Eternal Mother, Pure Land of Emptiness,” while a lotus fragrance filled his nose. Meng Qi felt no anxiety at all. He slightly shrunk his body, transforming into a bird with a plop, flapping his wings to glide toward the pondside path.
Gotcha! Grandpa can fly!
Even with the sky forbidding flight, with wings and body shape, he could still glide back. At worst, he still had the “Floating Wind Technique”!
Gurgle! The previously silent Immortal-Demoting Pond suddenly produced a large bubble. A white figure floated up, hair cascading to cover its face, body swollen and decayed from years of rot.
Its eyes suddenly snapped open, completely white!
Instantly, Meng Qi felt a powerful suction force from below. Voices of substitution curses drilled into his mind. His bird form plummeted like a thrown stone.
In this critical moment, Meng Qi remained the calmest. Transforming back into human form midair, he subtly shifted his qi, altering his trajectory to dive toward the shore.
At this moment, Gu Xiao Sang and Xi had already become entangled in fierce combat.
The suction intensified. Meng Qi’s body suddenly felt heavier, his right hand reaching forward. The shore was within arm’s reach, yet he fell just short.
The water below boiled with gurgling sounds!
Just when it seemed all hope was lost, Meng Qi’s plummeting descent suddenly stopped—a white silk ribbon from his waist had securely wrapped around him.
Was it Gu Xiao Sang rescuing him?
Meng Qi looked up in astonishment, seeing Gu Xiao Sang in a disadvantageous position, evading in a disheveled manner. However, her deep, dark eyes revealed neither joy nor anger, nor any hint of her true intentions.
Pah!
The peculiar peach shot out, hitting the corpse brimming with resentment, driving it back beneath the water.
Meng Qi had no time to ponder. Using the belt’s pull, he horizontally soared, landing on the shore. In his hand already appeared the Ice Eye Crystal Core. Now it was Meng Qi’s turn to engage while Gu Xiao Sang provided support!
Witnessing this, Xi suddenly sprouted two wings from his back, both composed of auspicious purple qi. Seizing the advantage of his elevated position, he actively leaped into the drifting white clouds and glided away without a trace.
The path was cleared!
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