Chapter 387: Chapter 287: The Earth-Shattering Battle at Ba Mountain Chapter 387: Chapter 287: The Earth-Shattering Battle at Ba Mountain “Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The Dusty Bead shimmered with rays of brilliance, so majestic and weighty as if mountains themselves, managing to block the piercing Sword Qi one after another.

“This bead is strange.”

An Jing could even feel the forceful recoil from the sword hilt vibrating through his arm, causing a numbing soreness.

Compared to Zongzheng Huachun, he possessed the edge of the Sword Dao and the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand, the “Nameless Heart Scripture”, the “Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique” and other significant advantages. Even with Zongzheng Huachun’s profound cultivation, it was quite difficult to withstand his Sword Qi.

Only the Dusty Bead and the intent from the Earth Vein Spirit’s blessing were his sole advantage.

Clearly, there was a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s intent within the bead.

“So that’s how it is.”

Xiao Qianqiu saw the Dusty Bead and revealed a trace of sudden understanding.

Luo Chongyang’s lips parted as he said, “This Holy Master of Houjin is indeed a rare genius.”

Zongzheng Huachun was no nameless individual; even in his youth, he was recognized as a prodigy among the tribes of Houjin, but with the passage of time, many famous experts no longer relied on their natural talent alone.

After all, a genius only has the potential to realize their value, while an expert is a genius who has fulfilled that value.

An expert is one who stands at the pinnacle of the world, while a genius may not necessarily be.

Among many experts of the Demon Sect, Duanmu Xinghua frowned and said, “This Dusty Bead gives me a very peculiar feeling!”

You Gai slowly said, “The Dusty Bead is a national treasure of Houjin, and after Zongzheng Huachun’s refinement, it became even more extraordinary. The Earth Vein Spirit is a being that seizes creation from nature itself; even just a strand of its intent is beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Although Zongzheng Huachun is a pinnacle Five Qi Grandmaster, he couldn’t possibly refine a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s intent in such a short period. In truth, it was the Dusty Bead that absorbed the Earth Vein Spirit, and he merely refined the Dusty Bead to borrow a strand of its intent.”

Hearing You Gai’s words, many nodded in agreement.

The Earth Vein Spirit, a being that seizes the creation of nature, is an origin of the world, releasing an endless stream of nature’s spiritual energy. Even just a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s intent is difficult to refine.

And the reason Zongzheng Huachun was able to refine a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s intent was not just because of the Earth Vein Spirit’s own willingness but also due to the Dusty Bead.

At this moment, Zongzheng Huachun held the Dusty Bead, with a strand of intent from the Earth Vein Spirit within it connecting heaven and earth, and to himself as well. That powerful, weighty, and vast aura came at everyone like a mountainous tsunami’s pressure.

The leader of the Southern Barbarians took a deep breath and said, “Is this Zongzheng Huachun’s trump card? Truly formidable.”

Zongzheng Huachun, with his Heavenly Human Communication, was already a top-tier Five Qi Grandmaster. Now, with a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s intent merged into him, his power was sure to become even more frightening, coming infinitely close to a Great Grandmaster’s cultivation.

However, previously the Ghost Swordsman had slain several Five Qi Grandmasters, obviously also a top-tier Five Qi expert.

Their battle grew increasingly astonishing and also increasingly elusive, as to who would fall, even he could not tell.

An Jing and Zongzheng Huachun stood on opposite sides of Ba Mountain, both looking at the other. The air between them was frigid to the extreme, filled with a deadly intent.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The rocks around them, subjected to the terrifying Qi mechanism, crumbled away as if turned to dust by a powerful impact.

At that moment, Zongzheng Huachun turned his Dusty Bead.

Boom!

Surging True Qi, like a tempest, burst forth from the Dusty Bead, sweeping over everything. Such powerful True Qi made even space itself vibrate.

Feeling that overwhelming True Qi bursting forth from Zongzheng Huachun, An Jing’s brows raised slightly. Though Zongzheng Huachun’s current outburst was incredibly formidable, already one of the strongest opponents An Jing had ever faced,
An Jing had previously encountered the Great Grandmaster Wang Yangsheng at the Dragon Locking Well.

The “Nameless Heart Scripture” circulated within him, and his vigorous True Qi erupted from within like a volcano. Along with a sudden flash of cold light, the Dulu Sword also appeared in his hand.

An Jing stood silently, yet he was like an ancient weapon from antiquity, exuding a heart-chilling sharpness.

The stakes of their probing began to escalate, and the force that emanated became progressively more ferocious.

Zongzheng Huachun’s heart method also began to circulate, and behind him, his body, previously incompatible in black and white, began to transform anew. Ancient black patterns spread on the surface of his body, each radiating terrifying force from the True Qi.

The Dusty Bead in Zongzheng Huachun’s hand also contained a dense murderous intent, which erupted completely over Ba Mountain at that moment.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dark qi, like a black dragon, coiled around Zongzheng Huachun, and the deep roaring sounds it produced became tangible soundwaves that spread, causing the void to tremble incessantly.

“Hmm!?”

An Jing saw this and immediately noticed something unusual.

The aura on Zongzheng Huachun now had a resemblance to Qi Xuan Dao, yet it also carried the essence of the Great Snow Mountain. Clearly, he had merged two Martial Arts Heart Methods.

Or rather, this might be the original method, only divided into the heart methods for the Black Ice Platform and the Great Snow Mountain. Indeed, there was a connection between Zongzheng Huachun and the Black Ice Platform.

With this thought, An Jing’s heart grew cold.

This undying Qian Qiu had such an intricate plan, it seemed that he was determined to claim the Earth Vein Spirit beneath the Dragon Locking Well.

What Zongzheng Huachun was deploying was the “Ten Directions Technique” he had used in Yujing City; however, at that time, he had deliberately concealed his aura, and some experts had not noticed anything unusual. But even then, An Jing had sensed something odd.

“Who would have thought that Zongzheng Huachun could also perform the Black Ice Platform’s heart method!”

“No, it seems like a fusion of two heart methods.”

“Such a strong aura!”

…

Many experts present at the scene saw this and their expressions changed.

In an instant, Zongzheng Huachun’s aura surged twice.

Boom!

The silhouette behind Zongzheng Huachun was pitch-black, with his feet planted firmly on the ground, he resembled a gigantic stone statue, with an overwhelming momentum.

The next moment, a surge of killing intent erupted in his eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he stomped his foot, shaking the Ba Mountain, and his body mysteriously vanished from sight.

Buzz!

A vast purple light burst forth from An Jing’s body. Facing Zongzheng Huachun’s mysterious disappearance, he remained unperturbed. Clenching his five fingers, he mercilessly swept his sword through the void in front of him.

The cold aura of the Dulu Sword emerged, seeming to cleave through everything in its path, leaving inch by inch of sword marks in the void.

And as the Dulu Sword was swung, a vague black shadow flashed out of thin air and also launched a palm strike, immediately causing black and white True Qi to erupt.

Boom!

The cold sword radiance and the domineering palm imprint collided fiercely, like a meteor streaking across the sky, crashing into each other.

“Bang Bang Bang Bang!”

Visible ripples radiated outward, exploding in the blink of an eye, as the void continuously trembled with the sword radiance and palm imprint distorting the nearby air, and faintly, cracks began to spread.

The terrifying recoil, like a tsunami, surged forth, causing the surrounding rocks to burst apart. Some nearby grandmaster-level experts hurriedly circulated their True Qi to shield against the debris. Two grandmasters from Zhao Country were even hit directly, spitting blood and retreating.

Seeing this, many sucked in a breath of cold air. Just the aftermath of the Qi force had severely injured two grandmaster experts, showing how astonishing the clash between the two was.

Qiu Lun raised his eyebrows and quickly led the Pingyang Guard away to the distance.

Jiren Tai watched Qiu Lun’s retreating figure with furrowed brows. He had been waiting for Ghost Swordsman to fall and capture the Pingyang Guard, only to let Qiu Lun escape.

Swoosh!

Two ghostly afterimages emerged, clashing sword radiance and palm imprint continuously in midair, emitting terrifying waves of force Qi. Even the grandmaster experts rapidly retreated, not daring to stay or be careless for even a moment.

In just a few hundred breaths of time, An Jing and Zongzheng Huachun had clashed dozens of rounds.

Their moves were decisive, showing no mercy. Each of An Jing’s sword strikes targeted Zongzheng Huachun’s vitals with an exceptionally tricky angle.

One successful hit and even a high-level expert with the cultivation and strength of Zongzheng Huachun would be split in two, indicating the danger and terror involved.

Thus, Zongzheng Huachun’s heart pounded rapidly as if it were about to leap out of his throat.

An Jing’s expression was also somewhat solemn. As Zongzheng Huachun continuously pulled out his trump cards and displayed his full strength, his formidable momentum was faintly about to match Wang Yangsheng’s.

Boom!

At that moment, another ferocious and heart-stopping collision occurred. The Ba Mountain summit exploded directly from the horrifying impact, and dust billowed in all directions.

At this time, while both appeared unfazed, the True Qi in their Dantians was raging like a overturning river.

Their breathing had also become heavier. This level of intense combat meant that neither An Jing nor Zongzheng Huachun could afford to relax even a bit.

After all, the slightest carelessness would result in death and the obliteration of their Dao.

Zongzheng Huachun exhaled a breath of turbid air, his gray-white hair dancing in the wild wind as he said, “It’s a pity.”

An Jing’s lips curled into a cold smile, “A pity for what?”

Zongzheng Huachun, hands behind his back, looked up to the sky and sighed, “It’s a pity that the world has lost a top-tier, unparalleled swordsman.”

An Jing laughed loudly, “Do you really mean what you just said?”

Zongzheng Huachun nodded, “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

His eyes held a trace of sincerity, as if he was speaking his true feelings. That fearless confidence, that self-assured demeanor, made many grandmaster experts furrow their brows, wondering why Zongzheng Huachun suddenly seemed so confident.

“I very much appreciate the expression you have right now.”

An Jing said indifferently, “Come then, please grant me death.”

The Dulu Sword shone with streaks of light, as if it were the most dazzling cold light in the world, making the rest of the world look dim in its brilliance.

“Then I’ll grant your wish.”

Boom!

The moment Zongzheng Huachun’s last word fell, he blasted forward with a fierce palm, as an overwhelming True Qi crazily converged under his palm print, striking towards An Jing.

The palm imprint swirled with True Qi, spreading in all directions. An Jing’s eyes were calm, without a ripple. The Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique started to revolve, and suddenly a torrent of majestic True Qi roared up, forming a several-zhang-large True Qi barrier in front of him, with purple True Qi activating upon it.

Boom!

The ferocious and tyrannical palm imprint heavily slammed against An Jing’s True Qi barrier, which only shook slightly without breaking.

However, An Jing was very clear in his heart that Zongzheng Huachun’s attacks were just the beginning. His attacks to come might be even more domineering.

Boom! Boom!

Just as An Jing’s thoughts grazed by, it seemed as if endless muffled thunderclaps echoed through the void.

Zongzheng Huachun’s dozens of handprints came crashing down, each strike causing dark clouds to gather in the sky and thunder to roar.

Relentless and unceasing, alive and everlasting.

The onslaught was like a flood bursting through its gates, with waves of True Qi surging forward, seemingly determined to obliterate any obstruction in its path completely.

Azure Dragon Claw Eight Forms! Cloud Flipping and Rain Covering!

Each move of the Azure Dragon Claw Eight Forms had its special characteristics, and this move, Cloud Flipping and Rain Covering, attacked like a tide, difficult to withstand.

Bang! Bang!

Falling from above, then enveloping like a blanket, the attacks landed on the immense True Qi Barrier, causing frantic True Qi ripples to burst forth, growing more rapid.

With the Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique deployed at full strength, even the Great Grandmaster Wang Yangsheng could not breach it in a short time. Could Zongzheng Huachun be compared to Great Grandmaster Wang Yangsheng?

An Jing stood calmly beneath the True Qi Barrier, his gaze tranquil as he looked at Zongzheng Huachun, almost mockingly as if conversing.

Zongzheng Huachun took a deep breath, and the interweaving black and white lines on his arms became more pronounced. At the same time, a dangerous aura emanated from within him.

Feeling that dangerous aura, An Jing’s gaze also slightly condensed. Was it finally time to use his trump card?

Wuu wuu!

Zongzheng Huachun stood in mid-air, and as more black and white lines appeared on his arms, it was as if the entire world was filled with howling winds. As Zongzheng Huachun’s momentum reached its peak, a brilliant light burst from his eyes.

He slowly raised his hand, and as it lifted, his palm visibly swelled at a speed noticeable to the naked eye, swiftly transforming into a massive hand that blocked out the sun.

On that gigantic hand, countless intertwining black and white lines were engraved, gathering an overwhelming will to fight. In that moment, the hand was as if a divine palm had descended from the heavens.

The True Qi of the whole world boiled over at that moment.

Ten Directions Technique! Plucking Stars and Seizing the Moon!

Zongzheng Huachun watched An Jing with an indifferent gaze, then his giant hand suddenly smacked down, carrying a terrifying intent to kill that echoed between heaven and earth.

And just before Zongzheng Huachun’s giant hand enveloped the area, the surrounding space burst with voices of shock.

Xiao Qianqiu slowly said, “Zongzheng Huachun is no longer just testing. It seems the Ghost Swordsman is still superior.”

Experts always test each other because after a strong move, there is no room for retreat. So when their strengths are nearly equal, they test each other to gauge the full extent of their opponent’s power.

Luo Chongyang nodded and said, “Now, the real fight begins.”

Countless experts looked at the barrier of light with shocked faces. Facing Zongzheng Huachun’s offensive, even Five Qi Grandmasters felt their scalps tingle.

In the sky above, Zongzheng Huachun’s expression was indifferent, his eyes gathered cold light, and without a word, his massive palm descended from the heavens and smashed mercilessly toward where An Jing stood.

Boom!

When the giant hand fell, the earth itself collapsed under its weight.

As a vast shadow loomed, the sky turned black. An Jing looked up at the hand covering the heavens and earth, exhaled deeply, and his Dulu Sword burst forth with a mighty radiance.

Hum!

Whirll! Whirll!

The terrifying Force Qi spewed out from the blade of the Dulu Sword held by An Jing, thundering towards Zongzheng Huachun’s handprint.

Boomboom! Boomboom!

Their Force Qi clashed, and the skies rolled with a tide of shock.

An Jing’s footsteps touched in mid-air as he quickly retreated.

“This is more like it,”
Zongzheng Huachun laughed heartily, his hand moving.

An Jing’s heart suddenly turned cold with a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Spurtch!

A gleam flashed in An Jing’s eyes. He bent his waist, and an invisible cold Sword Radiance brushed by his neck, leaving nearly a dozen zhang long crack along the mountainous terrain.

Sword Light!

This was the invisible Sword Light!

If not for An Jing’s premonition of danger, he might have been struck by this sword on the neck and died on the spot.

“Invisible Sword, huh?”

An Jing’s brows were tightly furrowed, surprised that Zongzheng Huachun had been hiding a sword up his sleeve, executing his secret technique.

“Truly worthy of being the Ghost Swordsman,”
Zongzheng Huachun couldn’t help but sigh to himself upon seeing this.

“Now, take my sword.”

Whether or not the other understood him, An Jing flicked his wrist, and the Dulu Sword rotated with his action, slashing upward with an intense sword light.

“So fast!”

Zongzheng Huachun hadn’t underestimated An Jing, but at this moment, he still underestimated his sword speed which was unexpectedly swift. Left with no time to dodge, he had to set up an indestructible True Qi barrier in front of him, hoping to withstand the sharp Sword Light.

The scene was strikingly similar to the one before when An Jing had used a True Qi barrier to fend off Zongzheng Huachun. Now, the roles were reversed, with An Jing attacking and Zongzheng Huachun defending against An Jing’s Sword Light.

This sword strike was not only as fast as lightning but also carried an overwhelmingly powerful force.

His True Qi barrier collided with An Jing’s Sword Radiance, causing the ground to collapse and crack, the surrounding mountains and rocks to shatter into dust. Caught off-guard, Zongzheng Huachun staggered back more than a dozen steps before finally neutralizing the impact of the Sword Radiance.

With a sweep of his hand, Zongzheng Huachun glanced at his left shoulder where a piece of his garment had been sliced off, tiny pieces of brocade fluttering in front of him, causing his brow to furrow slightly.

The Ghost Swordsman’s seemingly casual strike contained extremely cold Sword Qi that had actually broken through his Protective True Qi.

Zongzheng Huachun waved his robe, immediately clearing the air in front of him as the powerful artifact in his hand, the artifact, surged forward.

Boom!

The powerful artifact came with the weight of a thousand pounds, creating waves of Qi as it collided.

Clang clang!

The sound of metal ringing erupted as An Jing’s sword struck the artifact repeatedly, igniting brilliant, dazzling sparks.

At that moment when countless Sword Radiance surged out, the hairs on the scalp of numerous experts around stood on end.

From the artifact came an oppressive force. Zongzheng Huachun, as if struck heavily, retreated step by step towards the rear while funneling True Qi into the artifact.

Suddenly, the artifact radiated an extreme brilliance, like a blinding sun, erupting with a burst of Supreme Yang Qi, then this magnificent Supreme Yang Qi violently stabbed toward An Jing.

An Jing held the Dulu Sword and then unleashed his most fierce Sword Skill. As he swung his sword, it was as if the heavens and earth were torn apart.

“Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique! Wind Unstoppable!”

Whoosh!

A storm of Sword Radiance clashed head-on with the Dulu Sword, creating surging waves of Qi that rolled outwards relentlessly.

Zongzheng Huachun channeled his True Qi, with the artifact floating before him, his Qi Mechanism merging with that of the artifact, and he also connected with the Earth Vein Spirit within.

In that moment, it felt as if the mountains were about to collapse and the earth was about to crack.

Xiao Qianqiu said nothing, his expression extremely grave as he watched the artifact in Zongzheng Huachun’s hand.

Luo Chongyang also narrowed his eyes, sensing something, as he crazily propelled True Qi in front of him.

“Be careful!”

You Gai, who was in the distance, said in a low voice upon seeing this.

The experts of the Demon Sect around were all on high alert like they were facing a formidable enemy, watching the surging Qi Force cautiously.

“Quick! Retreat now!”

Jiren Tai’s heart thumped wildly, and he shouted loudly.

Suddenly, the Houjin cavalry charged into the distance, but the momentum had already formed, causing chaos with people tumbling down.

“Run!”

“If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”

…..

The experts in Jianghu scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing desperately into the distance.

Zongzheng Huachun’s True Qi continued to pour into the artifact, fully arousing its power, which then transformed into a strange glow.

When this strange glow appeared, the ground under Ba Mountain began to shake.

Heaven and earth shattering! Like the roar of the sea!

This force of nature made one feel utterly insignificant.

If Heavenly Human Communication was about receiving the power of heaven and earth, the artifact was now part of that heavenly and earthly force.

Boom! Boom!

The strange glow transformed into a golden Long River, surging forward mightily. The space in its path shattered into pieces, and finally, it ferociously slashed towards An Jing.

The golden Long River in the sky kept changing, resembling a golden avalanche falling from the sky, with endless golden torrents rushing towards one’s face.

This was Zongzheng Huachun’s strongest move, utilizing the artifact and the Earth Vein Spirit within it, while his body’s True Qi also poured into it frantically.

The sky full of golden torrents almost enveloped the pitch-black sky, and in everyone’s pupils remained only that golden light.

Within a few hundred zhang, only masters above the rank of Four Qi Grandmaster remained, but upon witnessing this scene, they all inhaled sharply.

Is this the true strength of the Holy Master of Houjin?

Could a Five Qi Grandmaster really reach such a terrifying extent?

…..