The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 202

Part 2 Episode 19 The Dust Settles Chapter 5 Ascension

From the whistling sound, a searing heatwave rapidly spread from west to east, sweeping across a thousand miles of cloud cover in an instant.

Wherever the heat wave passed, the foul-light clouds were like rags burned, instantly riddled with holes. Hundreds of thousands of restless demons were reduced to ash, leaving not even a trace.

Through the rifts in the clouds, people could only see the roaring, surging waves of fire. Occasionally, a crimson tongue of fire would burst forth, twisting the air and causing the already formed vortexes of foul-light clouds to tremble.

The first to react was Qing Yin, abruptly changing her target. Amidst the whirring of the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword, she arced through the void, the swinging blade invisible, only the clear sword light flickering and surging, a chill that transformed the sky into a winter’s chill.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the clouds split, piercing the very top of the sky.

As the sword energy penetrated deep into the clouds, it collided directly with a massive force traversing the clouds, mere miles from the center of the swirling cloud of foul light!

The whistling sound ceased, and the void seemed to be still for a moment. Then, a devastating explosion erupted, vaporizing half an acre of crimson cloud, leaving a vast expanse of empty space that pierced the dome.

From this point, one could just see the “Golden Eye Fire Tribulation” that had been obscured by the crimson clouds for so long. However, the narrow edge of the flames, somehow disrupted, stretched and tangled, losing its shape.

The foul light clouds surged, affecting the cascading pillars of evil energy. Li Xun, within the Sword-Splitting World, could clearly sense that the impact from above had weakened considerably. However, this was not a good thing for Qing Yin!

Before Qing Yin could react, another wave of heat swept through the sky.

The foul-light clouds had just begun to gather, but the heatwave rippled them apart. The clear, bright sky, now shrouded in a hazy haze by the sweltering heat, was now obscured by a shadow.

Atop the azure sky, the golden pupil, already distorted beyond recognition, was obscured by the sudden shadow. The golden rays, once sweeping in all directions, flickered twice before vanishing. Li Douliang,

struggling with the poisonous flames of his inner fire, had barely registered a reaction when he suddenly felt a sense of relief. His surging inner fire, like an illusion, vanished without a trace.

What was happening?

High in the sky, the temperature surged past a certain limit. The air erupted with a roar, and crimson-gold flames swirled. Then, as if drawn together by some force, they parted, revealing the figure of a cultivator within.

The figure retracted her fluttering arm, connecting with the flickering shadow, as if she were tucking the “golden pupil” into her sleeve.

With the might of a single calamity-breaking force, this figure gazed down coldly. Her long red dress, jade-like face, and fiery eyes evoked a commanding aura unparalleled even in the Tongxuan Realm!

A Celestial Demon Phoenix!

This great demon, supposedly thousands of miles away, materialized in a signature spectacle. Oil-spouting flames lined her back like a pair of sky-shattering wings. With a single swing, the already cracked clouds of foul light retreated once more. From a distance of miles, the red-clad figure’s flowing eyes still burned like fire, piercing the very core.

Meanwhile, Gu Yin suddenly withdrew from the battle, frowning as he gazed upward.

Ramash and the others abandoned their entanglement, seizing the moment to regulate their breathing and attend to the internal and external injuries sustained in the recent fierce battle.

Elsewhere, Li Xun remained composed. His gaze fixed on Yao Feng just before she tucked her hands into her sleeves. Unsurprisingly, he caught sight of a sliver of green light, the afterimage of a unique feather. His lips twitched, but he returned his gaze to Qing Yin, remaining silent.

Coincidentally, Yao Feng’s gaze first met Li Xun’s, then swept across Qing Yin and Gu Yin’s faces. Finally, he smiled, “With all this excitement, how could you forget me!”

Before anyone below could react, the sky erupted in an even more powerful tremor.

The repeated attacks on Jie Sha triggered even more unpredictable changes. Hundreds of Chi Yin Lihua divine thunders exploded in the newly formed empty space, ripping the surrounding clouds apart before being filled with even thicker clouds. In the blink of an eye, the demonic wind at the core was completely obliterated.

This wasn’t the end of the matter. Countless demons, both visible and invisible, swarmed towards the epicenter of the explosion, one after another, dense and endless.

At the same time, the blazing cloud created by the explosion rapidly expanded in all directions, reaching dozens of miles away in a blink of an eye. Visibility plummeted, leaving only the Sword-Splitting World relatively clear.

This scene felt like a response from the heavens’ anger.

The demonic phoenix was completely submerged within it, yet its aura blazing, like a giant beast lurking in the depths, constantly wielding its immense power.

This pressure was intensely targeted, like red-hot iron nails driving into Gu Yin and Qing Yin, ignoring the rest of the group.

Li Douliang coughed. Without the restraint of the Golden Eyes’ Fire Tribulation, he felt a little uncomfortable. Making eye contact with Bancheng Jushi and the others, he suddenly felt a sense of emotion.

In a short period of time, the center of gravity of this world shifted several times, creating a dizzying scene. Now, the demonic phoenix leaped through the air, shifting the center of gravity in front of it. However, precisely because of this complexity, the center of gravity suddenly blurred, blurring out the key points.

Or, more accurately, the events here had reached their final conclusion. Ignoring the causes and consequences, only the final outcome held meaning.

Who would live and who would die?

On some level of the void, complex thoughts from many parties intertwined, yet the true parties involved were free of such distractions. A figure suddenly appeared behind layers of fiery clouds. Demonic Wind somehow broke through the blockade of thunder and fire, leaping across several miles in a single stroke. Close by, the cascading calamity, it slammed directly into the summit of the Sword-Splitting Heaven and Earth.

Half the people here were unaware of the feud between Demonic Wind and Qing Yin, but judging by its momentum, most expected a clash between them.

Unfortunately, events deviated from their expectations once again.

Amidst the splattering flames, Demonic Wind made only a brief contact with the surrounding sword energy before leveraging its momentum and flying sideways. With the force of a sudden, soaring aura, it slammed into Gu Yin, miles away, in a flash!

Gu Yin wasn’t surprised. He simply shifted slightly, shunning the Demonic Phoenix’s sharp edge, then unleashed the Great Sun True Fire, colliding with Demonic Wind.

Though there was a difference between reality and illusion, at that moment, the intertwined energy of the three parties swirled like thousands of sharp blades through the void, generating a massive vortex of vital energy and calamity evil, rivaling the swirling clouds of foul light high in the sky. A

powerful reaction simultaneously affected all three parties. Amidst the deafening explosion, the distance between them shifted, the demon phoenix and ancient sound moving closer, yet their clash moved further away from Qingyin.

The demon phoenix’s voice echoed again, echoing throughout the crowd: “I will repay you for all your previous kindnesses!”

Meanwhile, from high above, another wave of Crimson Sun Transformation Divine Thunder poured down. The thunder and fire clung to a near-integrated mass, rubbing and colliding. The resulting flames coalesced, losing their normal form and transforming into a blood-red column that shot down.

The Crimson Yin thunder and fire coalesced, generating Divine Light of Transformation.

This wave of calamity evil finally transformed, its power reaching a new level.

Under Tianxin’s guidance, the concentrated power of the Divine Light of Irradiation was intense. Its beams occasionally swept across the battlefield between Gu Yin and the Demon Phoenix, but its overwhelming power was concentrated on Qing Yin. The

Flowing Calamity Demon was already shaky from the impact, but when illuminated by the Divine Light of Irradiation, thin wisps of smoke rose, and its diameter instantly shrank, becoming almost transparent, yet stabilizing. From its translucent center, a red light burst outward, instantly piercing through the Flowing Calamity Demon from above and below, spreading in all directions until it made contact with the Sword-Splitting Heaven and Earth, silently and without a trace.

However, the small, previously clear and transparent world was suddenly shrouded in a dark red mist, a color that threatened to seep inward.

Elsewhere, the Demon Phoenix shattered the shattered clouds and locked eyes with Gu Yin. In just a breath or two, the two collided seven or eight times in mid-air.

Yao Feng was the undisputed master of fire control, while Gu Yin condensed his calamity into the true fire of the sun, their momentum unparalleled. Every time the two clashed, they advanced and then retreated, then retreated and advanced again, each shifting dozens of miles. The surrounding void was like oil on fire, and the high temperature distorted the space and also distorted the sound waves transmitted from it.

“Qixia, you always do these meaningless things.” Gu Yin’s voice distorted slightly as she delivered it, but her bearing remained unwavering. “I’m dying soon. Even if you kill me, it would only hasten my death. But what will you do with Qing Yin over there?”

No one thought Gu Yin was shifting the blame; she was simply stating the facts. Yao Feng understood this well, and her emotions remained quite stable. “Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt has its creditor. You harmed my child, and I will ensure your death is unsettled. As for Qing Yin…”

“Qing Yin is mine!”

A deep voice echoed with another wave of crimson light. Though all the cultivators had long since grown numb to the crimson glow, at this moment, it was as if someone had taken blood and forcefully smeared it into their eyes. The blood wasn’t bright, but rather dark and gloomy. At this moment, everyone’s heart trembled.

“Blood Tribulation Candle Soul Light.” Venerable Tianzhi, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, her voice low and perhaps only audible to herself.

At that moment, her figure flashed and vanished from her spot. Reappearing, she was close to the Sun Fire controlled by Gu Yin. Five-colored brilliance reappeared, forcing a gap through the distorted space.

The ever-proud Demon Phoenix expressed no dissatisfaction with this substantial alliance. The instant the innate five-colored divine light pierced the Sun Fire’s outer layer, she simultaneously shifted seven different flame configurations, blending and transforming them. Using her ingenious force, she eroded a small opening in the Sun Fire, allowing a surge of mighty power to surge in, echoing Tian Zhi’s attack.

Facing the combined might of the two Grandmasters, Gu Yin lost her focus.

Her line of sight deflected, pointing toward Qing Yin. As Qing Yin swung his sword, a ripple spread across the heavens and earth. However, this dark crimson light possessed a strange agility unmatched by the outer detachment divine light. With a few undulating waves, it dodged the air-cutting sword’s energy and collided directly with Qing Yin’s protective sword energy, hissing.

Qing Yin remained calm, gently flicking his wrist. A sharp sword whistle suddenly erupted, a sharp sound wave like a gust of wind from nowhere. Within the sword-splitting heaven and earth, the ripples suddenly grew violent. The detachment divine light that had been seeping inward was reduced to dust and smoke in this rapidly expanding turbulence. In this turbulence, the world lost its clarity, yet became purer.

In sync with the roaring sword energy, from the higher reaches of the sky, thunderous sounds streamed down.

This lightning wasn’t tribulation thunder, nor was the power contained within it the power of the evil spirit. Instead, it emanated a radiant Jade Purity lightning that pierced through this world, piercing the tainted air. Wherever the lightning struck, foul clouds of light ripped open like boiling water on snow, instantly creating an irreparable hole. Though the divine light of Lihua still lingered within, it was only a thin layer, almost nonexistent.

The lingering pillar of evil spirit began to truly waver, seemingly on the verge of collapse. By this point, it was

practically useless. The mighty power of the higher realms had materialized, manifesting itself in the world to guide them.

Qing Yin didn’t rush to engage the Jade Purity lightning. She held her sword, a snow-like blade sweeping across the air. With each movement of her wrist, the sword’s light emanated, casting layer after layer of pure and direct killing intent, like a vast net, capturing the sharp blood-red light in the void.

Li Xun shifted through the void, not to escape, but to ride the waves, weaving through the web of sword energy and murderous intent.

The sharp edge of the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword swept past him, each ray of sword light imbued with form-shattering, soul-destroying pressure. The mere brush sent a wave of trembling energy through the blazing blood energy that protected his body, dimming the blazing flames.

As the sword light densely filled the sky, the void seemed transformed into a vast ocean. The combined pressure was powerful enough to reduce any human form to shreds.

Even with the power of the Blood Shadow Demon Body, once it had shattered this web, it shrank completely, its sharp edge completely drained. Only the resolve that filled its chest propelled it forward.

Qing Yin’s forearm withdrew slightly, and the swirling sword light froze in an instant. The pressure radiated from the sword light surged by a hundredfold, thousands of times. Driven by Qing Yin, this unparalleled pressure was strategically distributed around Li Xun, practically binding him as he charged towards the flickering, cold sword tip.

At this moment, Li Xun lost control of himself, and the might of the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword was deeply restrained. Combined with the unparalleled external pressure, it was like a temporarily sealed volcano crater, with suffocating energy gathering within the sword, eager to unleash itself the moment Li Xun collided with its tip.

In this world of swords, wielding the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword was like entering a celestial realm beyond the heavens, where life and death, the transformations of yin and yang, were all controlled by Qing Yin. Previously, such tactics had been used against Jie Sha, even against Gu Yin. Now, her sword heart was determined to slay the Demon Jiang. Without hesitation, she poured all her might into the strike, determined to achieve the result in one blow!

Li Xun struggled, unable to free himself, but he was able to open his mouth a fraction, and at the moment his lips and teeth cracked. A surge of pure vitality burst through a special channel, coursing through her entire body. The vital energy that had previously seemed stagnant suddenly erupted with a roar, rising from her dantian, gathering briefly in her chest before bursting out through her throat!

“Sound kill?”

the thought flashed through Qing Yin’s mind, but she quickly realized she had miscalculated.

A shrieking sound pierced her ears, but without causing any harm, the void before her suddenly shifted into a state of disarray. The straight cold blade curved strangely, and further away, Li Xun’s blood-red glow twisted beyond recognition.

From what she saw, the strike that had seemed certain to succeed was now erroneously deflected.

“So it’s an illusion…”

At this moment, in line with what she had seen and heard, the surrounding vital energy also underwent subtle shifts. This subtle shift could not deceive Qing Yin for long, but the consequences were more drastic than anyone had anticipated.

The world created by the Slashing Sky Divine Sword is quintessentially pure. Within this world, all foreign matter and impurities are utterly annihilated. The fate of Yu Sanren’s puppet is a prime example. As for Li Xun, his survival is entirely due to the miraculous power of his Blood Shadow Demon Body.

Li Xun’s keen vision discerned that the foundation of this world rested entirely on the Slashing Sky Divine Sword, so he attacked to imprison it, but the disparity in power prevented him from doing so.

But the world is so strange. His efforts were in vain, but when, with other motives in mind, he displayed the supreme illusion of “transmutation of reality and illusion” through a certain channel, he actually shook the very foundation of the sword’s creation from another perspective.

Illusionists exploit the myriad possibilities of transformation, shifting forms and shifting objects. A superficial one is merely a visual trick, deceiving the senses. A more sophisticated one can control the myriad elements of heaven and earth, confusing their transformations and influencing the human mind. At a higher level, this power can manipulate the forces of heaven and earth, transforming all things, creating a cacophony of reality and illusion, a state of being “close to the Dao,” the pinnacle of illusion.

Li Xun’s illusions exemplify this highest level.

When this illusion affects Qing Yin, it triggers changes in certain elements of the surrounding heaven and earth. Locally, these changes are subtle and negligible, but when integrated, their impact transcends the confines of the Sword-Splitting World, returning it to the true universe and void. After all, the

Sword-Splitting World is not a truly independent cavern. It cannot block the transmission of light from heaven, nor the transmission of sound waves… It cannot block the ubiquitous elements of the vast universe, yet we take them for granted.

Even these minute, ordinary strands of energy, under the spell of the illusion, underwent subtle changes. One existed outside the Sword-Splitting World, the other within the tiny space Li Xun could control. These two shifts, originating from the same source but distinct from each other, echoed each other, like dust scattered from the surface of clear water, causing this world to lose its purity.

Perhaps for a brief moment, a fraction of a millisecond, the Sword-Splitting World slipped from Qing Yin’s control. Li Xun, seizing this opportunity, miraculously dodged the Sky-Slicing Divine Sword’s screen of light and struck directly at Qing Yin’s center.

Qing Yin, undeceived, flipped her wrist again, and the Sword-Slicing Divine Sword’s blade rose, hanging straight down between Qing Yin’s eyebrows, perfectly blocking Li Xun’s outstretched claw.

His palm met the sword’s zinc blade, and sword energy and bloody flames collided. Though only half a foot apart, their forms seemed frozen. Even

though the two were so close, Qing Yin’s gaze passed over Li Xun’s shoulder, darting towards a distant corner of the void. “Husband sings, wife follows?”

Li Xun chuckled, wanting to speak, but finding no strength to do so. In fact, with just two laughs, the Blood Shadow demon’s body was nearly shattered by the surging sword pressure.

Qing Yin was much calmer than him. She shifted her gaze back and lingered between Li Xun’s eyebrows: “I only envy the mandarin ducks and not the immortals… I have thought so too.”

Ken Yin seemed to be sighing about something, but Li Xun, who was almost facing her closely, knew very well that this bitch’s defense was still tight and her sword heart was still clear. Her words were more of a mockery: “The Hundred Illusion Butterfly originally roamed the world at large and was free and easy, but you dragged it into this muddy stream for the sake of that illusory love, but you forgot how that person over there became what he is now!”

There was no doubt that she was referring to the demon phoenix. Li Xun slightly adapted to the strong sword pressure and finally squeezed out a few words. He grinned, but a cold laugh came out of his mouth: “You are so vicious… Yes, and you, right!”

As soon as these words came out, Qing Yin also laughed, but the smile was vague and could not be distinguished: “Yes! And me.” As soon as

the words fell, the sword energy became more violent than a hundred times!

The sharp sword energy seemed to move in and out through a thin layer of paper. Each time it stretched and retracted, it brought forth a large amount of misty blood, splattering the sky. The sharp edge that penetrated directly into the mind was more like a saw, slicing back and forth through Li Xun’s soul!

Li Xun screamed fiercely, thrusting his palm forward and closing his palms to clasp the blade of the Sky-Cutting Divine Sword. The bone-piercing sword energy instantly shredded the flesh of his palm into a cloud of bloody mist. However, his remaining flesh remained solid, resisting the unparalleled edge head -on.

The sword let out a cold low hum. The magical power of the sword had an overwhelming advantage. The hurricane-like sword energy chopped Li Xun to the point where he could only defend himself. However, Li Xun’s hands still clasped the blade tightly, his body seemed to be nailed into the void, frozen in place.

The Sky-Cutting Divine Sword could not advance an inch!

Outside, another deafening roar echoed. Demon Phoenix and Gu Yin, sworn enemies, had seemingly burst into the foul cloud of light, transforming into red and white streaks of fire that ripped the thousand-mile blood cloud apart. Master Tianzhi, commanding his blood-shadow demon body, couldn’t keep pace with the two and was pulled further and further away.

Just as the Jade Purity Lightning was stagnating, the two streaks of fire suddenly turned, entwining and darting downward, circling and colliding fiercely around the drooping Pillar of Calamity.

The incoming heatwave spawned a hurricane, roaring like thunder. The wind ripped across the sky like a cold, sharp blade, cleaving all obstacles, even those blocked by Calamity Lightning and Fire.

This was truly a death by the thousand cuts!

The pillar of Jiesha energy that flowed for miles was instantly ripped to shreds by the razor-like hurricane. Even with the continuous blasts of Lihua Divine Light, it had no apparent effect on the two Xiao flames. However, below, Qing Yin had to bear the consequences of the Jiesha’s pressure being cut off.

“Ha… ha…” Li Xun’s laughter was distorted, but he couldn’t resist the urge to speak. “Sure enough, he spared no one… Gu Yin is also a wonderful person!”

Yes, the Jiesha had completed its mission of interacting with the sword energy, breaking the boundary and attracting the Jade Purity Lightning. It could have retired, having accomplished its mission. However, the interesting thing was that Qing Yin did not immediately engage the Jade Purity Lightning. Instead, he was distracted, trying to kill Li Xun, the demonic obstacle.

At this moment, the flowing Jiesha was the pillar that maintained this brief gap, the only buffer between Qing Yin and the Jade Purity Lightning. But now, this pillar was shattered by the combined efforts of the Demon Phoenix and Gu Yin!

Li Xun chuckled coldly. Qing Yin glanced at him, speechless. The previously locked Sky-Slashing Divine Sword suddenly thrust forward a fraction, breaking the stalemate with a resounding roar.

The overwhelming pressure enveloped him, and a bloody mist erupted from Li Xun’s body with a thud. His hands, locked with the sword, cracked like tofu, and sword energy seeped through the cracks, pouring down on him without a drop of water.

Perhaps in the next moment, Li Xun would be shattered, but he held on. His blood-shadow demonic body displayed unprecedented resilience. Amidst the whirring sword energy, the front shattered, only to be met by the bloody light behind. Despite being riddled with wounds, he maintained his human form. His two remaining thumbs held the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword firmly in place, reeling but not collapsing.

Qing Yin pursed her lips.

The next moment arrived, but instead of Li Xun being shattered again, two intertwining beams of fire clashed in the sky, crashing almost instantly against the outer layer of the Sword-Splitting Heaven and Earth.

The already turbid, independent world inevitably began to tremble, causing the two individuals wrestling in its center to warp and deform with the light.

At that moment, Jade Purity Lightning ripped through the barrier, revealing itself to the world.

It was a pure light source, seemingly imperceptible to the eye, but upon its appearance, the night sky brightened as bright as day. The wind and clouds in the sky instantly dissipated, and the foul light and mist, unable to withstand the pure power of the upper realm, retreated endlessly to the surrounding areas. Even the millions of demons and the Divine Light of Transformation followed suit. Within a hundred miles, the cacophony suddenly vanished, leaving only the clashing of the demonic phoenix, the ancient sound, and the Sword-Splitting World, resonating in all directions.

“Shh!”

A sudden shout erupted, a near-shrill tone accompanied by the clanging of swords, piercing everyone’s ears.

Where the sound waves arose, the Sword-Splitting World suddenly shattered. All resistance vanished, replaced by a raging wave of sword energy. Waves crested one after another, rising steadily, roaring back and forth, crushing everything around them in a near-apocalyptic scene of heaven and earth collapsing.

In an instant, the blazing blood light ahead, along with the demonic wind and ancient sounds crashing down like streams of fire, were engulfed by the waves of sword energy.

The sky suddenly darkened, and the light from the Jade Clear Lightning atop the towers seemed to be swallowed by the sword energy as well. The night sky was divided into two layers: soft waves of light rippling above, and endless darkness below.

But soon, the flames representing the demonic wind and ancient sound transformed into ferocious flaming dragons, soaring and vying against the wave of sword energy. However, the distance between them and Qing Yin, far from closing, rapidly widened.

At that moment, Qing Yin released her grip, and the Sky-Cutting Divine Sword hummed and resonated. The sword’s true spirit, previously merely assisting, suddenly took over, its force directed upward, no longer downward. The stark contrast caught Li Xun off guard. With a flick of his finger, he could no longer restrain the sword. In a flash, the Sky-Cutting Divine Sword reached its limit, soaring upward amidst a thunderous roar.

The blinding sword light trailed a long, piercing tail through the air, cleaving the darkness created by the earlier wave of sword energy.

Qing Yin didn’t fly the sword; instead, it pulled her, soaring toward the nearest point to the upper realm. As she flew, her body faded.

Shifting energy and body, the sword channeled thunderous sounds.

High in the sky, the Jade Purity Lightning swelled again. The pure energy from the lower realms, drawn by the Qi, resonated with the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword. A pure beam of light shone down, merging perfectly with the sword’s edge. In an instant, pure radiance overwhelmed all directions, eclipsing even the blazing red and white fire dragons.

Compared to the sword light and the fire dragons, a fainter glow lingered in the void, burning stubbornly.

Though faint, it nonetheless persisted.

Li Xun, now devoid of physical form, had melted into a ball of bloody flame, yet he stubbornly maintained his human form. The half-solidified blood light was dispelled by the unparalleled sword energy, but he struggled to cling to it, attempting to seize Tianzhi’s divine sword, where it had connected with the Jade Purity Lightning.

Qing Yin’s brows relaxed, his expression calm, and his figure faded further and further, until the flowing True Qi around him was barely visible.

The pure power of the upper realm, channeled through Jade Purity Lightning and then the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword, reached Qing Yin, gradually replacing her mortal form. When this process was complete, she would ascend, protected by the divine sword, to the upper realms, where all worries and obstacles would cease to matter.

Li Xun’s blood-shadowed demonic form could be annihilated at any moment by the pure power of the lower realm, purifying evil. That would be a contest on a completely different level, yet he continued to smile, his laughter distorted and piercing from the internal and external pressures. “Aren’t you going to kill me? Why aren’t you? Are you too busy to split your forces? Are you lacking the strength? Haven’t you been using your skills well these past two days? By the way, that Qin Wanru sign—the freehand landscape painting on it looks familiar. I wonder who painted it?”

Li Xun spoke rapidly, but Qing Yin didn’t even bother to glance at him.

Even as he spoke, Li Xun continued to attack Qing Yin, but the ferocious and overbearing Blood-Burning Essence he summoned was now completely ineffective.

An invisible shield seemed to separate him and Qing Yin, emanating from it the Jade Purity Lightning that had just been transmitted. The impact of the Burning Blood Essence was like a tiny flame flung into a sea of people, extinguished silently. The two were not on the same level, just as Li Xun and Qing Yin were now in two completely different time and space.

Furthermore, during the Burning Blood Essence’s attack, the Jade Purity Lightning lacked the condensed power of the Sky-Slicing Divine Sword. Instead, it gathered ever more powerful energy, towering like a mountain ten thousand feet high. A single opportunity was all it took to crush and crush any insect that dared to challenge its might.

Li Xun, undeterred by his precarious situation, continued his relentless attack, squinting his eyes and gazing upwards. The Jade Purity Lightning continued like the sun, illuminating all directions. Its pure, flawless light pierced his eyes, seemingly illuminating every corner of his heart. But after staring for a long time, he felt a shadow slowly spreading from the core of the light, gradually becoming as dark as ink. Beyond it, a seemingly infinite void stretched beyond, its depths unfathomable.

“It’s like the Nine Netherworld.” Li Xun, having experienced numerous encounters with the Nine Netherworld, immediately grasped the key.

It was then that he suddenly realized: the harmony of yin and yang, the coexistence of light and darkness. The Jade Purity Lightning possessed a guiding power, a supreme brightness. At its peak, the yang reached its extreme, giving rise to yin, which in turn gave rise to this gloomy aspect. This, he believed, must be the entrance to the upper realm.

Simply put, Qing Yin and the Slashing Sky Divine Sword flew upward, intending to, after bathing in the Jade Purity Lightning, force their way into this shadow, severing their ties with the Tongxuan Realm and achieving the supreme immortality.

For tens of thousands of years, no one in the Tongxuan Realm had used the “Sword Breaking the Void” technique to forcibly cross the realm. Qingyin’s move truly broadened the horizons of everyone present, revealing something marvelous about the connection between heaven and man. If Li Xun could survive today, the benefits to his future cultivation would be unparalleled.

More importantly, Li Xun now saw something more realistic, and so he smiled.

Li Xun began to raise a blood-red rainbow light, quickly surpassing Qingyin’s height. Qingyin raised her head and quietly observed Li Xun’s gradual ascent. Her eyes remained emotionless, but the movement itself reflected her deepest feelings.

Li Xun continued to rise, blood-red flames flowing around him, but it was as if an invisible shield was drawn, suppressing the flames to a thin layer.

At this moment, only Li Xun knew the pressure he endured. A cultivator’s ascension represents the highest level of intertwined celestial and mortal connection. The aura of an ascended cultivator collides with the mighty power of the Heavenly Dao, blending seamlessly. At a certain level, this is the grandeur of the unity of heaven and man. It can be interfered with, attacked, and forced apart, but it forbids contempt or transgression.

To tower over an ascended cultivator is the simplest and most direct challenge. How could the heavens tolerate this?

Even so, Li Xun continued to rise. Within ten feet of Qing Yin, the surrounding world froze like stone. The mighty might of the Nine Heavens responded with a warning growl. This roar, coinciding with the current situation, became the most violent roar since the Jade Purity Lightning appeared.

The thunderous sound exploded directly above Li Xun’s head. The might of heaven crushed over him, and Li Xun’s spirit was the first to sense it, trembling slightly, causing his body, fused with it, to tremble as well.

In a trance, Li Xun seemed to have endured another “Bamboo-Destroying Thunder Sound.” He felt his immortal, indestructible blood magic body suddenly become vulnerable. The echoing sound of fire from the heavens seeped through it, threatening to disintegrate his indestructible body from within.

This wasn’t a thunder tribulation, but rather the sheer force of heaven’s will. The power of the Jade Purity Flute and the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword blended perfectly into it. It wasn’t a tribulation, but it was more than one. It wasn’t ascension, but it was more difficult than ascension. The dangers and dangers involved were immeasurable.

Yet, what did it matter?

Li Xun chuckled coldly. The tribulation had nothing to do with him, and heaven’s will was of little concern to him. In his heart, he focused only on the gradually fading figure below him. The raging, burning hatred in his chest and face, far from being suppressed, burned ever more fiercely, like a divine weapon in the hands of a master craftsman, clanging and radiating under the hammer.

He continued ascending, until he was level with the snow-white blade of the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword. Here, he saw the Jade-Clear Lightning and the sword energy collide, their supreme might concentrated on the tiny point of the sword’s tip. There, the void barrier had become as thin as a cicada’s wing. The forces from the two realms, in different configurations, resonated through this membrane.

Li Xun’s brow remained unmoved. He decisively struck with a palm strike. The Burning Blood Essence burst into flames with a hissing sound, instantly draining all the vital energy of heaven and earth within a radius of several miles. It even shook the overwhelming pressure of the Heavenly Will’s killing. With this might, he struck hard at the intersection of the sword energy and the lightning.

The Sky-Slashing Divine Sword rang again.

Bathed in the Jade-Clear Lightning and bearing the heavy palm of Li Xun, the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword was undergoing unpredictable changes.

Within the flawless light, a sword beam emanated like a dragon. Essence and calamity surged from all directions like clouds and mist, encircling the surroundings. Transformed by the heart of the heavens, the illusion intertwined reality and illusion, a scene of profound mystery. Within this ethereal scene, a sword intent lurked within. This sword intent possessed the power of soaring might, yet its momentum remained unresolved. It hummed softly within the blade, radiating a profound pressure that pierced through it.

Li Xun, clinging to the surroundings, felt it most clearly. This sword intent was no longer the pure, agile energy typical of a divine sword. Instead, it possessed a profound energy, its aura stirring and harmonious, echoing the might of the higher realms.

Simultaneously, the sword swayed, and a discordant shift in its clear melody emerged. Perhaps this sword intent had surpassed the divine sword’s inherent limits, experiencing a distinction between the upper and lower realms, preventing its outward expression from resonating harmoniously. Or perhaps his train of thought had rapidly shifted, for he felt a faint sense of familiarity within this sword.

“Pah! A lingering thing.”

Only that person could conceal his sword intent within the Sky-Slashing Divine Sword, allowing it to manifest and protect Qing Yin during the moment of transcendental ascension. But for Li Xun, this was par for the course. Unsurprised, he simply grinned, “Qing Yin! You can’t escape!” With blazing hatred

, Li Xun spoke with a demeanor that backed his words. He was determined Qing Yin couldn’t escape, so he used his unwavering resolve to harness his Qi, disrupting the now-self-contained sword intent and lightning. Such surging malevolence, backed by his profound cultivation, would ignite and impact even the lofty Heavenly Heart and its unified soul. Not long ago

, Li Xun, leveraging the power of the Water Butterfly Orchid, had unleashed an illusion that, starting from the smallest detail, had shaken the very foundations of the Sword-Splitting Heaven and Earth. Now, drawing on his understanding of “Sword Breaking the Void,” he was tainting the Heavenly Heart with malevolent intent, operating in the same way.

But at that moment, his heart tightened. Just as the heart of heaven shifted, the unwavering might of sword energy and lightning suddenly stirred.

The sky was collapsing!

It was like a pillar supporting the heavens suddenly crumbling. Though his vision remained bright, Li Xun felt a boundless shadow bearing down upon him. The shattering of mountains and rocks couldn’t describe its ferocity, nor could the reversed flow of rivers and seas convey its magnitude. It was a vision of apocalyptic collapse, a scene that pierced his very being.

Though in the void, Li Xun felt as if he were being slammed into the earth a thousand feet below. It was more like being grabbed by a giant divine hand, from swift flight to being pinned down, unable to move. The forced shift between movement and stillness was too much for even his Blood Shadow demonic body to withstand. The surge of energy and blood nearly caused his Dharma body to disintegrate.

At the same moment, his vision darkened as a dark storm, the shattering of heaven and earth, swept over him, obliterating the last ray of light.

“This is how Qing Yin will kill me!”

This was the only thought that remained in Li Xun’s mind. The overwhelming pressure pouring down from above not only imprisoned his Dharma body, but most devastatingly, in his Blood Shadow Demonic Body state, his physical body and spirit were one. Suppressed by this immense force, even his spiritual thoughts were paralyzed.

His innate spirit was restrained, and his acquired consciousness was also muddled. He instinctively sensed that the mighty force bearing down on him, though immense, was meticulously controlled, each and every bit of it directed towards his Blood Shadow Demonic Body. Under

the impact, his body and spirit were restrained, unable to escape. Behind this immense force, the freezing sword intent of the Slashing Sky Divine Sword gradually emerged, like a guillotine blade, rising to its highest point before clanging down.

Li Xun roared frantically, trying to shake the broken pillar that was pressing down on him, but how could he do so in such a short time? Just a few moments later, he felt the soul-severing edge of the sword again. Though it was only a tiny wisp, it was a force that held the heavens in its grasp. Its power was probably even greater than the sword strike Qing Yin had used to draw upon the forbidden power. Despair

?

Endless darkness descended, nearly drowning the last vestiges of Li Xun’s spiritual clarity. But at that moment, within this boundless darkness, two suns suddenly rose!