The sword light reflected into the deepest part of Meng Qi’s pupils, completely occupying them. The vast space within the mausoleum became illusory, like an unreal dream. His physical body, as tough as a treasure weapon, seemed similarly penetrated by the sword light, with every organ, blood vessel, and bone clearly exposed.
But it did not stop there. Even the smaller components that made up these parts were revealed in minute detail. Meng Qi felt as if his body had vanished, dissolving into countless tiny particles, giving rise to a profound sense of unreality, unable to block the sword light from passing through.
His inner energy, internal landscape, and Dharma form instantly underwent similar transformations. Under the sword light’s illumination, Meng Qi had a premonition that every technique he used would be similarly deconstructed, bypassing Dao and principles entirely and slicing through with an arcane trajectory.
Pure, sharp, and refined—the sword intent was overwhelming. Meng Qi “saw” himself, and the only thing he currently controlled and that remained unchanged was his Yuan Shen (Primordial Spirit). Before the sword light, it wavered precariously, lonely and fragile!
Deservedly known as the Seven Heavens-Scattering Sword!
Deservedly named “Severing Dao to See the Self!”
Within Meng Qi’s Yuanshen, a golden lotus blossomed petal by petal, radiating countless beams of light that intertwined into a chaotic hue, countering the sword’s oppressive force. It mitigated the shock of this strike at the level of cosmic principles, enabling Meng Qi to still think clearly and mobilize his spirit along with the few treasures he possessed.
No wonder the “First Three Seals” of Taiyi Heavenly Venerable were hailed as rivaling even the Seven Heavens-Scattering Sword and the Tathagata! Meng Qi suddenly gained a clear realization—“Taiyi Golden Lotus” could barely mitigate the mental pressure of “Severing Dao to See the Self!”
Otherwise, he would have been mentally paralyzed, perceiving time as abnormally slow, his every movement unbearably sluggish, his inner intent equally stagnant, watching helplessly as the sword light pierced his brow, letting him “see” his “self!”
Jiang Zhiwei’s initial grasp of the “Sword of Selfless Mind” at the Qi-opening stage had brought a similar sensation!
His physical strength was inaccessible, his internal landscape unworkable, the external world disconnected, his Dharma form unsummonable. With the sword light already upon him, Meng Qi had no time to think further. Instinctively, he activated the true intent hidden within his Yuan Shen, while his Yuan Shen alone executed the Heaven-and-Earth-Imitating Transformation!
Suddenly, Meng Qi’s Yuan Shen expanded, transforming into a colossal golden Buddha that filled the heavens and earth. One finger pointed to the sky, the other touched the ground.
“The world may be illusory, but I alone am real!”
The first move of the Tathagata Divine Palms—“Only I Am Supreme!”
As Langya guided Ruan Yushu in comprehending the general principles of the Divine Palms, Meng Qi himself gained new insights, harvesting fresh enlightenment from long-accumulated understanding. He was now closer than ever to superficially grasping the first move. At this moment, with only his Primordial Spirit remaining, he subtly resonated with the artistic conception of “Supremacy Belongs to Me Alone,” barely managing to execute this palm technique at a purely spiritual level!
Since the chaotic era of the Demon Buddha, nothing like this had ever occurred.
The Tathagata against the Heavens-Scattering Sword!
The golden colossal Buddha stood still at the center of heaven and earth, infinitely vast, seemingly the most exalted being. Its mouth opened, emitting a grand and sacred sound: “Above heaven and below heaven, Only I Am Supreme.”
Above heaven and below heaven, Only I Am Supreme!
Outside the mausoleum, Chan Master Buyu trembled, as if a Buddha were preaching before him, voice like thunder, yet he could not fathom the Chan meaning.
The heavens and earth suddenly darkened; blue skies, white clouds, mountains, and flowing water all seemed to be drawn into the mausoleum.
The blue sky flew into the golden Buddha’s body, the white clouds, mountains, and flowing water, even the entire illusory world, “flew” into the golden Buddha’s body. Meng Qi’s illusory internal landscape, Dharma form, inner energy, and physical body followed suit, making the golden Buddha contain heaven and earth, solid and real!
Above heaven and below heaven, Only I Am Supreme!
Before the golden great Buddha formed from Meng Qi’s Yuan Shen, the sword light was but a thin thread, seeming insignificant.
But it grew along with the “self,” becoming larger, purer, and sharper, as if time itself had slowed.
The vast yet refined sword light, the golden Buddha with one finger to the sky and one to the ground, collided with a thunderous boom!
Light—only boundless light. Meng Qi was flung backward, crashing through the wall of the tomb that had suppressed evil thoughts, leaving a human-shaped hole. His chest was sunken, his internal landscape shaken, a thin wound stretching from his brow to his mouth.
After countless millennia of suppression, and having paid a great price to partially break free, the Evil Thought of Zhenwu still retained the strength of a Grandmaster, along with the insight, vision, and experience of an ancient cultivator.
Without the Tathagata Divine Palms, without the Heaven-and-Earth-Imitating Transformation, and without allies to distract, Meng Qi would have surely perished or suffered grave injuries under that sword strike, not merely sustaining serious wounds!
The Evil Thought of Zhenwu wore a cold expression, his eyes filled with majesty. As his left hand retracted, the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag flew toward him even faster.
Absolutely cannot let him obtain the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag! At this moment, Meng Qi’s mind held only this thought. If the Evil Thought of Zhenwu controlled the flag, Meng Qi would either have to retreat immediately or face certain death!
With a thought, Meng Qi activated the imprint he had left within the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag. The small black banner trembled violently, spewing red mist, resisting the Evil Thought’s grasp.
As for the Evil Thought’s claim of not fearing his own innate treasure, Meng Qi believed not a word. If that were true, why would he have waited until shaking Meng Qi’s mind before striking?
His influence over the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag was unquestionable, but the flag’s current master was Meng Qi himself!
From the beginning, Meng Qi had remained extremely cautious toward the Evil Thought’s recounting of ancient secrets. He could feel surprise, he could feel doubt, but he must never let his mind falter and give the Evil Thought an opening. Unexpectedly, when the Evil Thought revealed the secret of the Six Realms’ identity, Meng Qi’s heart had surged, failing to control his Divine Weapon in time, allowing the Evil Thought to seize the initiative.
“Hmph.” The Evil Thought exerted force, black mist churned, water roared, and the swaying small flag finally leaned toward him, slowly flying back. Meng Qi, struck by the sword, lacked the strength to resist.
At the same time, the Evil Thought swung his sword again. The space around Meng Qi seemed cut and isolated, forming a self-contained prison to prevent interference.
Outmatched in strength, technique, and cultivation, if the Evil Thought reclaimed the Divine Weapon, Meng Qi saw no chance of reversal—only a humiliating retreat awaited.
Suddenly, Meng Qi “transformed with the wind,” his Yuan Shen escaping, fleeing before the space was fully sealed, dodging the “suppression!”
He inhaled deeply, his fighting spirit surging. His body expanded again, two heads and four arms, towering and mighty. One hand held a saber, the other a sword, poised and ready, awaiting the Evil Thought’s attack.
His other two hands jointly held a bead the size of a thumb, within which lay chaotic darkness, swirling and rising, depicting various scenes, as if capable of manifesting an entire world.
Meng Qi’s hands trembled slightly, as if exerting his utmost strength. He suddenly hurled the bead forward.
The bead emitted five-colored rays of light. The Evil Thought instinctively narrowed his eyes. The water sounds ceased, the rolling black mist stilled, and the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag, radiating invisible waves, halted midair. All water-related phenomena seemed momentarily suppressed by an immense force, unable to move even slightly.
The Calming Sea Pearl!
As the name suggests, the pearl that calms the “sea!”
It was precisely because of this unformed treasure that Meng Qi dared to come alone.
With the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag momentarily halted, Meng Qi swallowed an Eastern Longevity Pill, rapidly restoring his strength and healing his wounds. He strode forward—not attempting to reclaim the flag, but launching an attack!
The sword was like holding a blazing sun, the saber like grasping a primordial void. Meng Qi, in his Heaven-and-Earth-Imitating Transformation, caused them to collide midair.
Boom!
A blinding white light engulfed the mausoleum. Except for the outer suppression formation, everything was melted and destroyed.
Brilliant and tumultuous—burying stars and rivers!
The Evil Thought twirled his sword, manifesting a black-and-white Taiji, transforming into the Black Tortoise and Azure Snake, coalescing into the image of Xuanwu (Black Warrior), its shell protruding to cover the surroundings. Whether it was the storm splitting the sky, the terrifying high temperature, or the light melting all things, everything was steadily blocked outside.
After obtaining the “Dao Perishes, Dao Reborn” and partial Zhenwu cultivation techniques, even the Zhenwu Sect could create one of the world’s strongest defensive techniques. How much more so for the Evil Thought, who possessed most of Zhenwu’s techniques and experience!
Meanwhile, Meng Qi’s other two arms held a scabbard in one hand and a saber in the other, the blade within the sheath.
His right hand pressed inward, the saber seeming to freeze momentarily, then leaping forth like a tiger into the mountains or a dragon into the sea!
Clang!
Stillness and motion formed a sharp contrast. Brilliant saber light illuminated the mausoleum, cutting through darkness, making the void itself seem to shift. A thin crack appeared on the “Xuanwu shell,” threatening to spread further.
The Evil Thought’s expression remained unchanged. Suddenly, the Xuanwu shell self-destructed, and everything around him collapsed together, even the laws maintaining operation breaking down, as if the end of heaven and earth had arrived, consuming even himself.
Meng Qi’s “Creation of Heaven and Earth” was like truly carving open the heavens and earth, struggling to carve out yin and yang within this great destruction, maintaining a thread of survival.
As destruction slowed slightly, yang turned to yin, rigidity softened into flexibility, endless transformations unfolded. His saber techniques desperately generated myriad changes, using rebirth to resist annihilation.
At that moment, a figure suddenly emerged near the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag. Clad in flowing water-like robes, wearing a fan-shaped cloud crown, silk sash around the waist, straw sandals on his feet—it was another Meng Qi.
Abandoning the flag, Meng Qi attacked instead of defending, creating an opportunity for his clone to reclaim the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag!
A faint smile appeared on his face. His right hand reached forward, about to grasp the flagpole, when a wisp of black qi erupted from the void, forming a giant hand that lightly flicked him away.
Zhenwu’s Evil Thought?
Or a clone of Zhenwu’s Evil Thought?
Black qi took form, wearing a flat-topped crown and a black imperial robe, exactly mimicking the Evil Thought, swiftly reaching for the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag.
Turns out he had also secretly used a clone, attempting to feint east and attack west, deceiving the heavens!
Meng Qi and the Evil Thought were now playing a small game of wits!
Their clones soon clashed fiercely. The Evil Thought was powerful, while Meng Qi was slippery; neither gained the upper hand.
Indeed, neither was any less clever than the other! Just as this thought arose in Meng Qi’s mind, he sensed a surge of new vitality deep within the great destruction. A streak of sword light shot forth, separating yin and yang, generating the Five Elements, restoring order to heaven and earth, rapidly enveloping Meng Qi, seemingly about to destroy him again.
Dao Perishes, Dao Reborn!
Unwilling to be trapped, Meng Qi stepped back, using Somersault Steps to retreat rapidly.
But destruction did not strike yet. The sword light pursued relentlessly. Meng Qi barely managed a single downward punch. Purple qi, golden light, and black-and-white radiance entwined, piercing through obstacles, striking the sword body!
Puh!
Meng Qi was sent flying backward once more, blood gushing from his mouth. His body shrank, no longer able to sustain the Heaven-and-Earth-Imitating Transformation. The arm he had used for the Three-Treasure Ruyi Fist hung limp and lifeless.
Seizing the opportunity, the Evil Thought soared forward, eagerly approaching the Blackwater Subduing Devil Flag, not even bothering to assist his clone!
His strength was insufficient, but his insight remained. He had comprehensively suppressed Meng Qi!
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