Chapter 397: Chapter 297: The Millennium Battle of Yujing City (A 10,000-Character Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)

At this moment, all eyes around the Dragon Locking Well were fixated on the dark energy, staring intently.

“Roar!”

The dark energy suddenly condensed, and a piercing roar erupted, echoing across the heavens and earth, deafening to all who heard it.

“Heavens!”

“What on earth is happening!?”

“Is the Earth Vein Spirit within it?”

……

The dark energy vibrated the mountains and rivers, the heavens and earth trembled, and many people’s hearts skipped a beat.

The black energy burst forth like a tidal wave of Yin Evil Qi, spreading outward in all directions.

“Run!”

Many experts reacted quickly, hurriedly moving away to a distance.

But there were still many whose reactions were too slow; they were struck by the surging Yin Evil Qi, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into white bones.

Hiss–!

It was too horrifying!

This scene made even the Grandmasters’ scalps tingle.

Several living Upper Three Grades experts turned into white bones in an instant, a strong visual impact that shocked all the experts present.

Xu Wang said in a grave voice, “Yin Evil Qi!?”

Xi Hafu frowned deeply, watching the rampaging Yin Evil Qi closely.

The Yin Evil Qi continued to strike around, rolling out like waves, forming a colossal beast that seemed set to submerge everything around it, instantly turning any expert unable to dodge into a skeleton.

This caused many to abandon the fight, fleeing swiftly into the distance.

Everyone retreated again and again, even experts in the Grandmaster Realm dared not provoke the Yin Evil Qi lightly.

In a short while, the entire Dragon Locking Well was engulfed by the Yin Evil Qi, which continued to spread into the distance.

Yong’an’s Human Emperor shouted, “Quick, stop the Yin Evil Qi! Otherwise, it will expand endlessly.”

Upon hearing these words, everyone present reacted, directing their inner energies against the Yin Evil Qi.

Boom, boom, boom!

Terrifying True Qi collided with the towering black energy, causing sounds that echoed thunderously throughout the heavens and earth.

But surrounded by tumbling Yin Evil Qi, the towering black energy remained untouched despite the Grandmasters’ best efforts, and continued to surge towards the sky.

Pang Ban’s heart trembled upon seeing the black energy extending into the sky, asking, “Palace Master, what should we do?”

Wo Tu looked at the immovable tower of black energy before him, standing tall as if an eternal presence, his brows deeply furrowed.

He had anticipated the might of the Yin Evil Qi, but never imagined it to be this terrifying, a mere touch turning flesh and bone instantly into white skeletons.

Xu Wang said in a deep voice, “First, we must stop the assault of this Yin Evil Qi.”

After speaking, Xu Wang threw a punch towards the Yin Evil Qi in front of him.

Boom!

Overwhelming Qi force surged forth, which only managed to push back the onslaught of the evil spirits’ Qi momentarily before it continued to crash forward.

Seeing this, Wu Shu unleashed the Life and Death Hall to block the violent advance of the evil spirits’ Qi.

But no matter how the masters present joined forces, the evil spirits’ Qi still spread in all directions, washing over everything with such force that almost nothing was left unscathed where it passed.

Fa Wu said, “Ancestor, is this what you refer to as ‘liberating all living beings’?”

Xi Hafu remained silent, watching the surging evil spirits’ Qi without a word.

In this tide-like surge of evil spirits’ Qi, could there really be an Earth Vein Spirit that could turn everyone into a Buddha?

Upon seeing the relentless attack of the evil spirits’ Qi, the Tianpeng Ancestor quickly shouted, “Your Majesty, please flee first!”

Yong’an, the Human Emperor said, “Flee? Where would I go?”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The heavens erupted with surging evil spirits’ Qi, which dispersed the originally murky sky.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

An extremely dazzling light shone between heaven and earth, and a pressure as immense as a mountain bore down, followed by a huge dragon-like creature that flew out from the robust evil spirits’ Qi.

If any of the masters who had participated in the battle of Yujing City were present, they would have recognized that the dragon-like creature bore an uncanny resemblance to a wisp of the Earth Vein Spirit’s consciousness, only it appeared even more solid and lifelike, its entire body transforming from a pale golden color to pitch black.

This scene signified that the Earth Vein Spirit had been completely corrupted by the evil spirits’ Qi.

The aura emanating from the Earth Vein Spirit underwent a sharp change; the previously dignified and righteous aura it bore was now almost indistinguishable from the aura of the evil spirits’ Qi.

This eerie and terrifying aura sent shivers down everyone’s spine from the depths of their hearts.

Just when all the masters present were stunned, the Earth Vein Spirit shot straight up into the sky.

Someone exclaimed, “The Earth Vein Spirit! That’s the Earth Vein Spirit!”

The hearts of all the masters present shook fiercely, as their purpose for this journey was none other than this very Earth Vein Spirit.

Xu Wang was the quickest to react, stomping his foot and transforming into a streak of light that shot towards the Earth Vein Spirit.

Swish! Swish!

Seeing Wu Shu chase after the Earth Vein Spirit, the Grandmasters present also reacted, chasing after the gradually receding Earth Vein Spirit.

Suddenly, the previously quiet scene turned chaotic again, as everyone, upon seeing the Earth Vein Spirit, seemed to lose all reason and fell into madness.

At this moment, two streaks of light flew in from afar, and many of the Great Yan Martial World’s masters recognized them–the two streaks of light were none other than the Sword God and the Sword Demon.

Unlike the frenzied crowd, these two were much more rational, standing at a distance and observing.

At this moment, the area was converged with heroes from all over the world, with numerous Great Grandmasters and an abundance of Grandmasters present, like carps crossing the river.

Seeing this scene, the heart of Yong’an, the Human Emperor, sank slightly.

The Tianpeng Ancestor, noticing the Emperor’s furrowed brow, quickly advised, “Your Majesty! You must not!”

Yong’an, the Human Emperor, replied indifferently, “Is there any other opportunity now? Those who wish to achieve great things must act decisively at the right moment.”

With that said, her Essence Blood turned into streams of Essence that flowed towards her Dantian Qi Sea.

Her aptitude was not exceptional, which was why she could cultivate the ‘Bridal Gown Technique’ and, even after absorbing the cultivation of two Great Grandmasters’ Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, she remained at the rank of a Five Qi Grandmaster, still one step away from reaching the Great Grandmaster Realm.

Now, the Human Emperor of Yong’an, following in the footsteps of his father Zhao Zhiwu, planned to deplete his Essence Blood to directly break through to the Grandmaster Realm. By doing so, even though he might achieve the strength of a Grandmaster due to the overconsumption of Essence Blood, it would be difficult for him to obtain a lifespan of three hundred years.

If a Grandmaster could not possess a lifespan of three hundred years, then the deterrence he could command would undoubtedly diminish greatly, especially for a Martial Arts Emperor.

Zhao Zhiwu’s deep strategy had paved the way for the Yong’an Human Emperor, who had the potential to reach the Grandmaster Realm amid the great changes in the world, stabilizing the current dynasty’s situation and thus allowing Great Yan to sustain its brilliance for more than three hundred years. However, at this moment, the Yong’an Human Emperor actually chose to consume Essence Blood and forcibly break through to the Grandmaster Realm.

Suddenly, a tremendously strong aura erupted from the body of the Human Emperor of Yong’an.

She was using up a massive amount of Essence Blood in her body to break through to the Grandmaster Realm.

Meanwhile, numerous experts were engaged in intense battles, the surroundings pitch-dark, while beneath their feet lay heaped skeletons, with countless experts fallen in pools of blood. This did not instill fear in the experts present; rather, it aroused their ferocity.

There were also many who were faint of heart, retreating toward the back or even hiding in the distance, preparing to reap the benefits at the end.

Xi Hafu and that Wu Shu crossed paths once again. If Xi Hafu had the upper hand previously, at this moment, with the momentum of the Life and Death Hall, Wu Shu was no weaker than Xi Hafu.

The Qi Force around the two exploded, like mountains and rivers collapsing, and no expert dared to approach them.

As for the King of Xu, he was confronted by Li Fuzhou, Duanmu Xinghua, You Gai, Yi Daoyun, and many other powerful experts.

Extending his palm, the King of Xu said indifferently, “Out of respect for the deceased, if you step aside, I can spare your lives.”

Duanmu Xinghua stepped forward, standing in front of Yi Daoyun, and said, “At my age, I don’t have many years left to live.”

“Sect Master Duanmu…”

Seeing this, Yi Daoyun’s lips parted slightly.

“An insect arm as a cart, overestimating oneself.”

The King of Xu said coldly, “Do you think you can block me for long?”

After speaking, the King of Xu did not waste any more words. His body shot forward like an arrow off its string.

Speaking strictly of cultivation, the King of Xu’s strength ranked above Wu Shu but below Xi Hafu. He pointed with his finger, and a streak of black brilliance pierced through, directly impaling Duanmu Xinghua’s shoulder, after which her body heavily collapsed to the ground.

“Attack together!”

The Five Elements experts quickly joined forces to stop him, their robust True Qi surging like a tide and forming a five-colored light ring that charged towards the King of Xu.

The strength of the Five Elements experts was equivalent to a Five Qi Grandmaster, but after all, they were only ordinary Five Qi Grandmasters. Even the top Five Qi Grandmasters were no match for the King of Xu, let alone the ordinary ones.

The King of Xu stretched out his fingers, waved his sleeve, and his clothes billowed without wind, bulging and rustling. Green Corpse Qi converged toward him.

He moved and flew into midair, then extended his hand and pressed towards several experts from a distance of several Zhang away.

Boom!

Green True Yuan suddenly spread downward, accompanied by the pressing of the King of Xu’s palm, transforming into a Corpse Palm. Within the palm’s center, a ten-thousand-zhang green light suddenly burst forth.

This palm was as if it could suppress mountains and rivers!

Boom!

Boom!

The void vibrated and shattered, clearly showing the King of Xu had exerted more than eighty percent of his strength with this palm.

Li Fuzhou exclaimed in shock, “Is this his full strength?”

Not just Li Fuzhou, but Yi Daoyun and You Gai were also greatly shaken; it turned out that the King of Xu had not yet utilized his full strength until now.

In the blink of an eye, the vast handprint had already descended, and the experts of the Demon Sect and the Royal Family hurriedly circulated their True Qi in an attempt to block the thunderous strike of the King of Xu.

But a Great Grandmaster, after all, is a Great Grandmaster.

As the handprint fell, the earth had already begun to fracture, and the handprint shattered the True Qi of those few people as easily as if it were crushing dry weeds.

“Pfft!” “Pfft!” “Pfft!”

Yi Daoyun, Li Fuzhou, You Gai, Zhong Binru, and other experts all spat out blood, their footsteps hastily retreating backwards.

A single move!

With one move, Wang Chong had defeated several Master Realm experts, his terrifying prestige causing the hidden masters around to tremble in their boots.

Thereafter, Wang Chong no longer paid attention to everyone else; his body shot forward like an arrow released from its bow toward the Earth Vein Spirit, the surrounding verdant Corpse Qi billowing around him. The dense Yin Evil Qi was momentarily pushed aside, seizing this gap, Wang Chong charged directly into the midst of the Yin Evil Qi.

But very quickly, that surging and dense Yin Evil Qi enveloped him once again.

Wang Chong’s figure thus disappeared within the Yin Evil Qi.

Seeing this, the Sovereign of the Southern Barbarians immediately became excited, exclaiming, “Is the Ancestor about to obtain the Earth Vein Spirit?”

At this moment, all the experts were inwardly shaken, staring intently at the center of the Yin Evil Qi.

“Not good! That Wang Chong has seized such a great advantage.”

It was at this moment that Wu Technique finally realized what was happening and, with a palm strike that repelled Xi Hafu, he rushed towards the dense Yin Evil Qi.

Qi surged inside and outside Xi Hafu, and with a leap, he disappeared from his original spot, casting the ‘Invisible Sword’ toward Wu Technique’s retreating figure.

Just then, a red streak of light crossed the sky, as swift as thunder.

Everyone’s hearts jumped, and they looked intently to see that it was none other than Wang Chong, who had just rushed into the midst of the Yin Evil Qi.

Qin Yuntian’s body was shattered, his expression utterly haggard, and after steadying himself, he hurriedly retreated.

Seeing this, Wu Technique said in a low voice, “Brother Wang Chong?”

Hearing Wu Technique’s words, Wang Chong’s body paused slightly, and after he clearly saw it was Wu Technique, he said with a grave face, “A master! A very powerful master!”

Wang Chong’s face was extremely pale, and even his tone had become somewhat urgent.

All the experts present were shaken. Just how terrifying was this to make a Grandmaster Realm expert reveal such fear?

And just when everyone was in doubt, a series of thunderous noises suddenly came from the sky.

Xi Hafu’s figure appeared above, but his body kept retreating step by step, as if he were being pushed back by some powerful force.

“What is that?”

Wu Technique looked in the direction of Xi Hafu only to see a cluster of white Qi Mechanism in front of him, and it was this Qi Mechanism that had repelled him.

Xi Hafu spat out a stream of blood, the golden light of the Buddha behind him intensifying. He then sent a palm strike forward, and that rolling Qi Mechanism immediately dissipated like smoke.

On closer inspection, everyone saw that the direction in which the Qi Mechanism dispersed was precisely where the Earth Vein Spirit was located.

“The Earth Vein Spirit?”

The hidden masters watching silently from their hiding places glimpsed the Earth Vein Spirit in their eyes, showing a hint of light. This Earth Vein Spirit had repelled all the Great Grandmasters present?

“Hahahahaha!”

While everyone was perplexed, a laughter that shook heaven and earth suddenly emanated from within the Earth Vein Spirit.

“There’s someone inside the Earth Vein Spirit?”

This sudden laughter startled all the experts present.

Wu Shu said in a deep voice, “No, he just walked into the Evil Spirits’ Qi…”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Within the Evil Spirits’ Qi, a shimmer of light flickered, followed by a figure appearing above the black dragon formed by the Earth Vein Spirit.

At this moment, the person who appeared stood high above, looking down at everyone below. There was not a trace of emotion on his face, no sadness, and no joy.

“Teacher!”

Seeing that person appear, Qi Xuan Dao’s eyes lit up with a bright light.

This was none other than Qian Qiu the Undying.

The sky remained clear, and the sunlight was just as brilliant.

Qian Qiu the Undying stood in front of the heroes of the world.

He was dressed in black, his gray hair like splashed ink, dazzling in the sunlight. Although his appearance still seemed somewhat aged, his body was now incredibly upright. If he had changed in any way from before, it was that his stature had become more erect, and his gaze had become sharper.

At this moment, he looked at the heroes of the world, and they also looked at him. This was the first time he stood before the people of the world, in the sunshine.

Behind Qian Qiu the Undying, the boundless Evil Spirits’ Qi appeared even more isolated and lonely amidst the vast expanse of Qi and the multitude of heroes.

Wu Shu looked at Qian Qiu the Undying and furrowed his brow into a ‘Chuan ‘ character. Even when facing the Ghost Swordsman and Wang Xiang, he had never felt such an extreme sense of danger. What did this mean? It meant that the strength of this old man was far superior to the two of them.

Thinking this, Wu Shu’s heart sank.

Qian Qiu the Undying glanced around and then at everyone, “It seems most of the masters of the world are here.”

Wu Shu asked calmly, “What do you want to do?”

Wang Xiang also had a chilly look. Without saying, he knew the strength of the person in front of him, a Great Grandmaster capable of killing An Jing must be a top-notch Great Grandmaster.

“Amitabha!”

Xi Hafu placed his palms together in front of his chest, his impassive face taking on a more solemn hue.

Qian Qiu the Undying said indifferently, “The Earth Vein Spirit belongs to no one but me, and only I can possess it. You all may leave.”

After Qian Qiu the Undying spoke, an oppressive aura burst forth from his body.

Wu Shu looked at Qian Qiu the Undying with surprise and asked, “What are you talking about?”

Qian Qiu the Undying said succinctly, “You don’t understand?”

“Hmph!”

Wu Shu said coldly, “You truly are full of big words. The Earth Vein Spirit is an object of seizing the creation of heaven and earth, why should it belong to you?”

Qian Qiu the Undying said mockingly, “Then to whom does it belong?”

Wu Shu said, “To me!”

Having said that, behind Wu Shu surged a tremendous Yin Evil Qi, and a massive Life and Death Hall emerged.

Qi Xuan Dao hurriedly shouted, “Teacher, he is Wu Shu!”

Qian Qiu the Undying laughed and powerful True Yuan surged from his body.

Boom!

If the True Yuan of a Great Grandmaster master is like an ocean, then the True Yuan gushing from Qian Qiu the Undying was like a world-ending storm, an eclipsing presence.

Wang Xiang couldn’t help but say, “What a vigorous True Yuan!”

Xiao Qianqiu was also shaken and said, “Has Qian Qiu the Undying fully recovered his cultivation?!”

Qian Qiu the Undying was an incredibly terrifying existence, after all, he was the supreme expert who had killed several Great Grandmasters. Zhao Zhiwu, the Taiping Martial Emperor, had died by his hand.

Wu Shu extended his hand, and a shocking surge of True Yuan instantly burst forth, clearly reaching the pinnacle of the Grandmaster Realm.

The Life and Death Hall behind him also surged, the Yin Evil Qi rushing forth like a tidal wave.

Qian Qiu the Undying, seeing the Qi approaching like thunder, trembled slightly but did not evade and stood his ground, allowing the Yin Evil Qi to hit him.

However, where the Yin Evil Qi passed, it caused no disturbance, and the figure of Qian Qiu the Undying dissipated bit by bit.

“Afterimage?”

Xi Hafu was somewhat shaken.

To create an afterimage before a Great Grandmaster, one’s speed must have reached the extreme, otherwise, it would not be so.

“Your speed is too slow.”

Qian Qiu the Undying said with a slight smile, pointing his finger forward.

Boom!

A light that pierced heaven and earth flashed, charging directly at Wu Shu.

Wu Shu felt a chill in his heart, and he stretched out his hands, the vast Yin Evil Qi shielding him.

But the light went straight through the Yin Evil Qi and then rushed towards the Life and Death Hall.

Clang!

A violent sound of metal striking rang out, and then Wu Shu’s body, like a kite with a broken string, crashed heavily into the ruins, standing up spitting blood, evidently severely injured.

With just one move!

Just a single move!

The mighty Wu Shu was defeated.

The experts present were dumbstruck, as if turned to stone.

Xi Hafu struggled to control his emotions, keeping them from fluctuating.

The leader of the Southern Barbarians took a sharp intake of breath, “This… This old man is too strong, isn’t he? No wonder he could kill that Ghost Swordsman.”

Although everyone had guessed that this sudden appearance might be extremely powerful, no one had thought he would be powerful to such an extent.

The mighty Wu Shu, who had looked down on the world, was defeated with one move–was there anyone in the world who could be his opponent?

As if he had done a trivial thing, Qian Qiu the Undying said indifferently, “Does anyone still wish to contend with me now?”

The experts present were silent, knowing that in the face of absolute strength, everything else is irrelevant, including your words and your emotions.

Qian Qiu the Undying walked towards the Earth Vein Spirit, and the previously ferocious Earth Vein Spirit now lowered its head, seemingly prepared to let him step upon it.

This scene shocked everyone present to the core.

The Earth Vein Spirit was submitting to the man before them?

“Amitabha!”

Just then, an aged voice arose.

The Immortal Qian Qiu halted his steps, looking towards the source of the voice. Xi Hafu stood in the distance, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful, manifesting an inner calm that had adjusted all emotions.

“Ancestor!” “Uncle Master!”

As the Great Grandmasters Wang He and Wu Shu were both defeated by the Immortal Qian Qiu, Xi Hafu stepped forward.

Neither of them spoke, for everything had already been conveyed in the silence.

All of Xi Hafu’s True Yuan was converging upon him.

Boom!

The next moment, the world around them surged with golden light, and amidst the vast, hazy mist, a shadowy figure seemed to emerge.

A golden, glass-like Buddha stood towering behind Xi Hafu.

And then, it was as if the Buddha merged into one with Xi Hafu.

“Boom!”

Xi Hafu extended his palm, and the Buddha figure behind him did the same, pressing down with the palm.

As the Buddha’s palm descended, it felt as though a mountain was falling with great weight, rendering the Immortal Qian Qiu beneath it a mere ant.

The air itself vibrated with a piercing intensity.

This Buddha, still legendary among the living, didn’t hold back in the slightest, exerting all his power and cultivation to the fullest extent of the Great Grandmaster.

The Immortal Qian Qiu saw only a field of golden light, then pointed his finger forward.

In an instant, countless fingers of light densely covered the sky, creating a black rain that met the golden palm head-on.

Immortal Qian Qiu’s body leaped forward, like a wraith, diving into the rain.

Within him surged a massive wave of Evil Qi.

“Hmm!?”

Xi Hafu observed this, and his expression subtly changed.

Next, the dense fingers of light clashed with the golden palm.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

In an instant, the world erupted with wave after wave of Qi Mechanism, furiously lashing out in every direction.

Xi Hafu felt the oppression of the Immortal Qian Qiu, his entire body tense to the extreme.

Then, all the True Yuan in his body flared up, his Essence Blood also beginning to boil, with his golden Buddha emanating a deafening Zen chant.

But under the invasion of this powerful Evil Qi, all these efforts seemed pale and feeble.

Clang! Clang!

The golden Buddha image was torn apart, while the unchecked Evil Qi rampaged towards Xi Hafu behind the golden wave.

Crash! Crash!

The Evil Qi collided fiercely with the golden Buddha, neither side showing any sign of retreat.

The golden Buddha soon displayed an array of dense cracks which shattered continuously, and to the shock of onlookers, a black Buddha appeared in the world.

Everyone who saw the black Buddha froze in disbelief.

“How dare you!”

Xi Hafu finally showed anger in his eyes, the blood in his body starting to boil and burn rapidly, while flames wildly consumed the black Buddha, as if to completely eradicate the Evil Qi.

Immortal Qian Qiu said impassively, “Do you think your True Yuan can burn away this extraterritorial Qi?”

Extraterritorial Qi!

Wang He’s brow furrowed, beginning to understand.

Originally, the Earth Vein Spirit released Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but it was later corrupted to emit Evil Qi. No one knew where this Evil Qi came from; some named it Evil Qi due to its malign transformations and behavior changes, while others called it Immortal Qi, as it undeniably increased one’s cultivation significantly.

This was why people from all over were converging on Yujing City, vying for the Earth Vein Spirit.

So this Evil Qi was, in fact, extraterritorial Qi.

As Xi Hafu’s Essence Blood burned, the surrounding Evil Qi on the black Buddha began to recede, and the golden light emerged once again.

“Alas!”

Fa Wu sighed deeply upon seeing this scene.

“Amitabha!”

The Buddhist experts, upon witnessing this, brought their hands together in a gesture of respect.

Xi Hafu’s eyes remained calm, as still as an ancient well. Once his Essence Blood was depleted, his death was certain. From the current situation, it seemed all his efforts were in vain.

Immortal Qian Qiu said, “I hold the Earth Vein Spirit in hand, with an endless source of Evil Qi. How long can you hold out?”

Xi Hafu chuckled lightly, his hands joined in prayer.

The next instant, golden flames enveloped his body. His clothes and flesh burned in these flames, yet his expression was serene and smiling.

Immortal Qian Qiu shook his head regretfully, “It’s a pity that your body, born from the Evil Qi, could have ascended even further in cultivation.”

“This monk is willing to descend into Hell!”

After Xi Hafu spoke, flames fiercely consumed his body as if he was engulfed by fire, while the Evil Qi atop the black Buddha began to vanish.

The radiant golden light appeared once more, but it lasted only a moment before the fierce Evil Qi surged back.

Xi Hafu had already disappeared into the Evil Qi, his clothes and flesh erased cleanly, leaving behind a golden Relic gleaming on the ground.

Xi Hafu sacrificed himself to momentarily clear the Evil Qi, burning all traces of his corrupted blood and remains, leaving nothing behind in this world.

This Buddha among men, the living Buddha of the Buddhist Sect, left this world completely.

He departed in profound peace.

The Immortal Qian Qiu looked upon the mighty figures and said, “Next, once I refine the Earth Vein Spirit, this world will produce an unending supply of Evil Qi, turning it into a place indistinguishable from the extraterritorial lands, even allowing you all to easily venture therein.”

Boom!

The moment Immortal Qian Qiu’s declaration was made, it erupted like a volcanic explosion.

“What!? We can also enter the extraterritorial lands!?”

“Does this mean extraterritorial demons could enter our world?”

“What exactly is the extraterritorial world like?”

“Is the Immortal outside the realm?”

…..

Everyone’s hearts quaked tremendously.

However, the State Preceptor of Great Yan, Xiao Qianqiu, coolly said, “Setting aside the fact that this evil qi permeating the world will plunge it into chaos, once the outer realm is opened, it will lead to an endless disaster.”

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians also shouted, “Right, we cannot let him open the outer realm!”

The outer realm was a place as mysterious as the Immortals themselves, rumored to be filled with endless peril that could easily annihilate the world.

A look of surprise flashed in Qi Xuan Dao’s eyes as he only now realized what his teacher’s true goal was.

However, a glint appeared in the eyes of the Undying Qian Qiu, “This world is too lonely, like a prison; I want to leave this place, and no one can stop me.”

Having said that, the Undying Qian Qiu stepped towards the spirit of the Earth Veins.

“Don’t let him succeed!”

Someone roared in a low voice and then charged toward the Undying Qian Qiu, whether to stop him or to become the next Undying Qian Qiu themselves.

Watching that person charge forward, the other experts also rushed into the fray.

At the scene, the crush of people gathered the world’s experts, and even if he wanted to, he would probably become weary from killing–so who would be the last lucky one?

The Undying Qian Qiu’s expression was icy as he disconnected from the world, his power wielded to the utmost, pointing a finger forward.

Boom!

Instantly, a streak of brilliant light penetrated, piercing directly through the bodies of several experts in front.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of martial experts perished tragically. To ordinary people, these martial experts were nothing in front of the Undying Qian Qiu.

Within moments, after two sticks of incense had burned, the ground was littered with corpses and blood flowed in tiny streams.

The Undying Qian Qiu’s demeanor remained indifferent, “Come on then, I can slaughter everyone in this world until none are left!”

“I can slaughter everyone in this world until none are left!”

The cold and sharp words resounded across the world, yet facing him, not a single hero could respond; despite their blood boiling with eagerness to rush out and fight to the death, the bodies of those who had fallen in the past two incense sticks had cooled their ardor.

Those who charged forward did not return alive, their courage frayed and frozen.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd called out loudly, “Yong’an Human Emperor, surely you are not content being a coward!”

Hearing this voice, all the martial experts present stirred, with many echoing the call, “Yong’an Human Emperor, as the strongest expert today, dare you not take action?”

The calls grew louder, and more and more people joined the chorus.

The Undying Qian Qiu before them was overwhelmingly strong, even instilling in them a sense of suffocation, his very presence chilling their blood to the core.

Suddenly, a figure leapt out from a distance, shouting coldly, “The world’s number one expert, Fan Daoji, would like to see your prowess.”

Who was Fan Daoji?

Many in Jianghu had long given up hope, but Bai Mei the eunuch was someone no one could ever forget.

Before the echoes of his words had faded, everyone saw Fan Daoji, adorned in white, charging at the Undying Qian Qiu.

The Undying Qian Qiu eyed the white-browed eunuch coldly, waiting for him to come close before his figure flashed, his claws striking like lightning toward the eunuch’s heart.

That claw was both swift and vicious, piercing directly through the heart of the white-browed eunuch, and then gruesomely extracting it.

“Thud!”

The white-browed eunuch’s pupils dilated before he collapsed heavily to the ground.

Such a brutal, bloody scene terrified the heroes of the world, souls shattered and shaken, some even finding their legs giving way beneath them.

The Undying Qian Qiu looked on coldly at the heroes of the world, “I do not crave killing or power. You fools are but frogs in a well, unable to see the vast sky. Leave now, for today I shall spare you.”

These words struck many as grating to the ear, almost more painful than death itself.

No one spoke again.

The Undying Qian Qiu laughed aloud and continued towards the Earth Veins’ Spirit.

Sighing inwardly, Prince Xu knew that this world had given rise to such a formidable expert; if it weren’t for his emergence, perhaps his own plotting might have succeeded.

No one knew that he too had traveled a lonely path, turning himself into a corpse chaser, losing all memories, and becoming this inhuman, ghostly figure all for the Earth Veins’ Spirit. But he had not anticipated such an ending today.

Despite his own intricate schemes, he was no match for the Undying Qian Qiu.

“Stop right there!”

At that moment, a cold shout rang out.

“It’s the Yong’an Human Emperor!”

“Could it be that she has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm?”

……

All eyes focused on the figure who seemed to step out of a painting, their hearts ignited with fervor.

The Undying Qian Qiu glanced at the Yong’an Human Emperor and said, “And who might this be? It turns out to be just a woman.”

The Yong’an Human Emperor replied coldly, “What of it? A woman can kill, a woman can be an Emperor, a woman can still kill you.”

The Tianpeng Ancestor lamented, “Your Majesty!”

What did it matter if the Yong’an Human Emperor broke through to the Grandmaster Realm? She was destined to not be a match for the person before her.

The Yong’an Human Emperor waved her hand and said, “No need to speak further, as the Emperor, I live and die with the mountains and rivers.”

At this moment, she absolutely couldn’t disappoint them, nor herself.

Even if the outcome was already determined.

In that instant, her mind was flooded with many images, yet what she yearned for the most was still that man.

Li Fuzhou sighed deeply, “This world will no longer be as it was.”

Duanmu Xinghua expressed her grief, “If only the Sect Master were here.”

Ouyang Ping said, “Perhaps it is fortunate that he is not.”

Everyone knew that Yong’an Human Emperor was no match for the Undying Qian Qiu, she held no chance of winning.

Xiao Qianqiu and Luo Chongyang glanced at each other but remained silent.

A sense of despair spread through everyone’s hearts.

To willingly go to her death in the face of inevitable defeat against the Undying Qian Qiu?

Of course, the Yong’an Human Emperor would not seek death; she was waiting for the arrival of that two hundred thousand-strong army into the city.

In the world, there were countless heroes who chose to sacrifice themselves at the last moment for justice, dying a noble death. No one knew why they had to do this; their hearts simply told them it was the only way.

The Yong’an Human Emperor was different, she wasn’t a heroic figure; she was an emperor, and she did not allow herself to do that.

Under everyone’s gaze, the Yong’an Human Emperor slowly stepped forward, moving at a snail’s pace.

At that moment, the world became extraordinarily tranquil.

Xiao Qianqiu and Luo Chongyang’s gazes sharpened, and the Five Elements also revealed a hint of resolve. The moment the Yong’an Human Emperor’s blood splattered on site would be the moment they took action, even if it meant having no grave to call their own in death.

The Yong’an Human Emperor looked at the undying Qian Qiu. No one understood the immense pressure one faced when confronting such a master alone, the suffocating feeling of certain death, yet it also brought about an exhilarating thrill.

As the Yin Evil Qi stabilized, a ray of sunshine pierced through the sky, illuminating the astonishingly beautiful cheeks of the Yong’an Human Emperor.

It was then that a voice emerged from the crowd.

“Nobody can kill him because he is mine.”

Who would speak at a time like this?

Who dared to speak at a time like this?

A tremor ran through the heart of the Yong’an Human Emperor, and the Demon Sect’s experts were also startled.

Immediately, everyone followed the voice and looked over.

A figure floated from afar, finally landing on the blood-drenched ground.

“Ghost Swordsman! Ghost Swordsman!”

In the world, no other sound could be heard apart from these three words.

The person who suddenly appeared was beyond everyone’s imaginations, for his face shocked everyone present to their core.

Ghost Swordsman!

The Yong’an Human Emperor gazed at the figure that appeared, overjoyed. If not for the vivid pain of essence blood draining, she would have doubted she was dreaming.

The Demon Sect’s experts, Li Fuzhou, Duanmu Xinghua, You Gai, and others, all had looks of intense excitement.

After a while, the murmur of discussion surged like a tidal wave.

“The Ghost Swordsman isn’t dead! He’s actually still alive!”

“He’s still alive; I wonder if he has broken through and reestablished his power.”

“It’s just unknown if he’s a match for this Old Man of the Ten Directions now.”

……

Everyone was ecstatic at the sudden appearance of the Ghost Swordsman. After all, there had been rumors that the Ghost Swordsman had perished and vanished from the Dao, and now he was unexpectedly still alive and well.

Still, some were filled with worry. Was the Ghost Swordsman truly a match for the one in front of them now?

Keep in mind, there were rumors that the Ghost Swordsman had died at his hands.

The King Xu was also slightly astonished before looking at the familiar yet foreign silhouette.

Perhaps he should have known better; how could he die so easily?

Xiao Qian Qiu let out a deep breath, “Truly unpredictable.”

Luo Chongyang said seriously, “Perhaps he’s a person who could change the future.”

Xiao Qianqiu spoke softly, “I also hope he is.”

“This is indeed interesting.”

Facing the youth before him, Qian Qiu the Undying sensed that his entire body seemed to be emitting light, making it impossible for anyone to clearly see his face.

The moment he saw An Jing, his heart was initially filled with immense surprise, but he quickly regained his composure and even a hint of a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

An Jing gently drew the Dulu Sword, and a streak of cold light shone between heaven and earth, “Today, I will surely kill you!”

The grace of The World’s First Sword once again appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Qian Qiu the Undying said indifferently, “You’ve become very confident this time, but do you know that last time I was seriously injured?”

An Jing confidently said, “Because I feel that I can, I will definitely be able to.”

Qian Qiu the Undying’s tone suddenly turned icy cold, “Then let me see where your carefulness comes from. If you are defeated again this time, I think you will die, and many people will die because of you.”

An Jing no longer spoke, simply saying, “Please!”

Qian Qiu the Undying stretched out his palm and said, “Please!”

This moment was soul-stirring and earth-shattering, just like a world shrouded in gloom suddenly bursting with brightness.

An Jing, who had reached the Grandmaster Realm, had now crossed into a completely new realm. Upon reaching this realm, True Yuan transformed into True Yuan. Especially since the mysteries of the Nameless Heart Scripture were completely unraveled, a powerful and domineering force surged into his body. It was an indescribable feeling.

Hum! Hum!

An Jing gripped the Dulu Sword tightly, and an unparalleled chill surged, almost piercing through the sky.

Invisible Sword!

An Jing, in the Grandmaster Realm, seemed to have an extremely concentrated aura, and the transformation of his True Yuan into True Yuan had undergone tremendous changes.

Hiss! Hiss!

A sword radiance that tore through the void shot forward, slashing towards Qian Qiu the Undying.

As the sword radiance passed by, the void itself showed fissures dozens of feet long, and a star river appeared before everyone’s eyes.

“Even in the Grandmaster Realm, you are no match for me.”

Qian Qiu the Undying suppressed the shock in his heart. With an outstretched hand, a terrifying evil spirit Qi spread out, causing the world to lose its color.

This was the first time An Jing truly felt the full strength of Qian Qiu the Undying. Such fluctuations were so strong that they even weakened one’s courage to resist.

Qian Qiu the Undying watched the approaching sword radiance, but his eyes held not a trace of humor, only endless indifference. The next moment, he pointed out into the air.

Boom!

Behind him, the vast ocean of evil spirit Qi surged up at that moment, transforming into a gigantic evil spirit dozens of feet tall, eerily monstrous. The evil spirit raised its head to the heavens and howled, its breath of evil spirit Qi enveloping and darkening the sky.

As the evil spirit Qi surged, the evil spirit lunged forward, and under its impact, the void fractured dozens of feet in all directions.

“Rumble!”

Above the horizon, True Yuan roiled furiously. The sword radiance, with its supreme sharpness and earth-shattering momentum, poured down and finally struck the evil spirit’s phantom fiercely.

The sword radiance burst forth with countless lights, illuminating the surroundings of the evil spirit, almost lighting up the entire world.

As the sharp sword radiance approached the evil spirit, the light gradually dissipated, as if it were assimilated by the evil spirit Qi. Moreover, the evil spirit opened its huge mouth wide.

The void was swallowed into the belly of the evil spirit, and countless streams of evil spirit Qi rushed towards An Jing like a raging river.

Qian Qiu the Undying, giving it his all, displayed astonishingly formidable strength, having reached the pinnacle of the Grandmaster Realm.

An Jing gazed at the malevolent evil spirit charging frenziedly towards him, his eyes flashing with brilliance, as he raised the Dulu Sword high, and it seemed as if a rift suddenly appeared in heaven and earth.

Boom! Boom!

The terrifying roar reverberated in all directions, like the ancient divine sound echoing throughout the universe.

An Jing, holding the Dulu Sword, the next moment his figure shot out like lightning, and he directly charged into the massive maw of the evil spirit.

The purple True Yuan surged mightily, violently erupting within the maw of the evil spirit, which let out a skyward shriek. The purple True Yuan, like thousands of arrows launched simultaneously, pierced straight through its colossal body.

Bang!

With a bang, the evil spirit exploded at that moment, its Yin Evil Qi scattering in all directions. A stream of True Yuan burst forth, and An Jing, enveloped by the purple True Yuan, descended like an Immortal, untouched by dust.

An Jing extended his palm and executed the Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique, reaching forward to tear the sky apart and abruptly grabbed towards the distant Qian Qiu Undying Being in the void.

The True Yuan scattered, and the space around the latter instantly collapsed.

However, facing An Jing’s onslaught, the Qian Qiu Undying Being just laughed, and then a towering evil aura burst forth from within him like a shockwave.

Thud, thud, thud!

The evil aura surged forth, shattering the descending claw in an instant.

Ten Directions Technique! Earth Splitting Sky Star!

The Qian Qiu Undying Being fiercely grasped with his palm, and suddenly a massive void crack appeared in the universe, through which one could vaguely see the Star River, as if it was from outside the realm.

A giant hand that seemed to penetrate from beyond the stars condensed and loomed over, pressing down menacingly on the area below, enveloping An Jing in its terrifying might.

The immense handprint slammed down, and An Jing’s gaze became intensely tranquil, as if it were a black Abyss.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As he lifted his palm, formidable True Yuan converged above his head, forming a massive vortex that met the Qian Qiu Undying Being’s palm.

The vortex, like a bottomless pit, directly devoured the Undying Being’s handprint.

Bang, bang, bang!

Following that, explosions erupted from within the vortex, and it became distorted, eventually bursting apart with a bang.

An Jing stood tall in mid-air, his eyes glittering with extreme coldness.

The Qian Qiu Undying Being smiled and said, “Reaching the Grandmaster Realm is not as simple as you think.”

Watching such a thrilling duel, the heroes of the world felt their chests constricted, as if they were about to burst open.

Previously, King Xu and Wuzu, Xi Hafu, and other Great Grandmaster experts were no match for this Qian Qiu Undying Being, with only the Ghost Swordsman able to exchange blows on equal footing.

An Jing’s entire body pulsed with True Yuan as he once again unleashed a sword strike, the Sword Light cutting through the void wherever it passed.

“Bang!”

Despite facing An Jing’s fierce attack, the Qian Qiu Undying Being didn’t retreat in the slightest. The vast Yin Evil Qi coiled around his arm before he too hurled a punch, clashing brutally with An Jing.

After the two struck each other, the surrounding void for several meters fractured inch by inch, like a spider’s web.

Thud, thud, thud!

Both men staggered, with cold light flickering in their eyes, and then the shadow of the sword howled, as they bombarded the sky with their blows.

The dazzling purple True Yuan and the evil spirit’s aura surged wildly.

Rumbling!

The sounds of the void shattering echoed incessantly, violent winds arose, hurricanes spiraled, and such terrifying offensive power laid waste to the area surrounding Dragon Locking Well for miles, leveling it in an instant.

“A battle between Grandmasters is truly astonishing!”

“This is not just a battle between Grandmasters, but a battle of the ages.”

“The Ghost Swordsman is too powerful, to be able to fight so indistinguishably against this undying Qian Qiu.”

……..

The bodies of all the heroes of the world began to tremble, trembling incessantly. Those high-ranking masters who could still breathe all looked up at the sky to witness the battle between the two.

King Xu sighed, “This is the battle between the strongest masters of history.”

Wu Zhu stated, “Today’s duel will become an epic song.”

It was originally thought that possessing the Life and Death Hall could dominate this era; now, it seems somewhat laughable.

Qian Qiu, the undying man, opened his mouth, and a ceaseless stream of Evil Spirits Qi spewed out. Around him, the Evil Spirits Qi converged, so thick it resembled an ocean of Evil Spirits Qi.

“To be able to control the Evil Spirits Qi so exquisitely, it seems you are the incarnation of evil spirits yourself!”

An Jing’s eyes suddenly widened, and from that raging tide of Evil Spirits Qi, he sensed a dangerous aura.

The Evil Spirits Qi surged as the undying Qian Qiu stepped into the void, his body already enveloped by the surging Evil Spirits Qi. At this moment, a sense of bloodthirsty and murderous intent spread from him.

This terrifying oppressive sensation made people’s heartbeats seem to quicken.

“Bang!”

An Jing’s figure burst forth once again, his Dulu Sword transforming into a towering giant sword, slashing towards the front.

Rumbling! Rumbling!

The void fractured, and a massive sword light came from the depths of the void.

However, facing An Jing’s ferocious onslaught, the undying Qian Qiu stretched out his hands, and the Evil Spirits Qi around him, like a tidal wave, rushed forward, forming a solid barrier of Evil Spirits Qi.

Clang! Clang!

The clear sound of metal clashing burst forth as the barrier of Evil Spirits Qi in front of Qian Qiu suddenly shattered.

His expression turned to shock, not expecting An Jing’s force to be so powerful. He staggered backwards and then fiercely pointed towards the front.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A beam of Evil Spirits Light shot out from his fingertip, penetrating in an instant through the True Yuan sword light.

Utterly dark, like the starry sky, the blackness was terrifying.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black light struck the sword light, blasting it apart instantly. The frightening True Yuan tide spread outwards, devastatingly, to the distance.

An Jing waved the Dulu Sword in his hand, a splendid Sword Radiance burst forth, instantly dispelling the approaching aftermath, and he leapt forward.

The violent shockwaves surged forward repeatedly. Although they did not harm the undying Qian Qiu, the fractured void around him concealed great danger, causing Qian Qiu to feel apprehensive.

Before he could steady his stance, another sword radiance, splitting the heaven and earth, came slashing down once more.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Behind An Jing’s figure seemed to be a bright sun, and as the Dulu Sword was swung, that sun also charged towards the immortal Qian Qiu.

The weak void simply couldn’t block the cold sword radiance; after shattering, it scattered across the heaven and earth like snowflakes.

A hint of shock flashed through the eyes of the immortal Qian Qiu, as for the first time he felt danger, an awareness of death he had never sensed before.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The vast Yin Evil Qi around him, reinforced by this blood, reached an extreme density, and then an enormous eye seemed to open within this rolling Yin Evil Qi.

Shh! Shh!

As the gigantic eye of Yin Evil Qi opened, heaven and earth darkened.

Hundreds of black rays shot out from the eye of Yin Evil Qi, like thousands of arrows being loosed simultaneously.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish!

The countless black rays collided with the sun-like sword radiance, and instantly heaven and earth trembled, the sun-like radiance shattered directly, and the boundless Yin Evil Qi was pulverized by the tremendous force.

The sky was filled with strange phenomena, bizarre and variable, clearly visible for a hundred miles around Yujing City.

Billowing shockwaves surged outwards in all directions, with a might like mountains shifting and seas overturning, prompting the surrounding experts to hastily retreat to the distance.

An Jing held his sword and looked at the immortal Qian Qiu in front of him, who was now looking back at An Jing.

The two men gazed at each other.

The hearts of the world had shattered into pieces, and it was as if even breathing had stopped–the confrontation had suddenly become quiet, a silence that oddly felt eerie.

It was now early winter, and the slowly blowing wind brought an intense chill.

The sunlight was obscured by the thick Yin Evil Qi, darkening and compressing the world, making it oppressive.

Fallen leaves fluttered sorrowfully.

The long streets were desolate.

The eyes of the immortal Qian Qiu blazed like fire.

He seemed not to be looking at a person, but more like looking at a sword.

This sword, the greatest of all time!

When a swordsman reaches the pinnacle, he forgets himself and becomes the sword.

But he knew that the swordsman before him was even more formidable; this young man had surpassed all the opponents he had ever faced, including that Seventh Realm swordsman who cultivated the Heavenly Dao Sword.

Because the swordsman before him had not only forgotten himself but also had forgotten that he was a sword.

That was truly the Seventh Realm, the pinnacle.

Yet, the immortal Qian Qiu was filled with confidence; he believed that the swordsman before him, like all those before, couldn’t be his match.

So the immortal Qian Qiu shifted his gaze away; he looked toward An Jing.

But to his disappointment, those eyes were no different from the sword, cold and lifeless.

Moreover, from him, he could see a unique sword radiance, which it seemed only he could see.

His confidence began to melt like ice; the pride of a thousand years seemed to collapse in that instant, and when a master’s confidence begins to collapse, that is the most terrifying thing.

Next, the immortal Qian Qiu wanted to shift his gaze again because he dared not look into those eyes any longer; and when he no longer gazed into those eyes,

his confidence disappeared, his fear disappeared, the Ghost Swordsman disappeared, the Dulu Sword also disappeared, and likewise, everything before his eyes vanished.

All in the world turned black.

Doubtless, darkness is the most terrifying thing in the world; nobody is fearless in the face of darkness, even after living for a thousand years, perhaps, he was the one who feared darkness the most.

Because darkness represents the unknown.

Darkness means anything is possible.

And when the Ghost Swordsman became the sword, and the sword became the Ghost Swordsman, they became this everything to each other, and he, having forgotten all this, became darkness itself.

The darkness, like a tide, swallowed him whole.

How long had passed, perhaps a moment, or maybe a year.

The immortal Qian Qiu heard the sound of a throat being slit.

In that instant, the darkness seemed to vanish.

All returned to normal.

Suddenly, from utter darkness, there shone a light, and it wasn’t him who broke through–it was a streak of sword light.

He saw the Dulu Sword again, he saw the Ghost Swordsman again.

No one could comprehend his feelings at that moment.

Even he did not know what he felt.

All emotions vanished in that instant.

He felt no sadness, nor joy.

There was only an inexplicable sensation; if one word could describe it, it was emptiness.

He had lived for thousands of years, it turned out he had lived for thousands of years.

Those who once knew him were dead, meaning he had long since died.

Who in this world still remembered his name?

Following the emptiness, there were no emotions left.

Not just emotions, at that moment, he discovered he had nothing left, not even the life he had prided himself on.

The immortal Qian Qiu’s body swayed like a leaf in the wind and suddenly he burst out laughing, looking up at the sky: “The World’s First Swordsman, such a marvelous sword!”

Amidst his laughter, he fell backwards.

Pure white clouds appeared, and sunlight fell upon the land, yet all around was a chilling silence.

No one knew why, but seeing this master, who seemed would never fall, finally topple to the ground, the powerful figures of the world did not cheer out loud; instead, they suddenly felt an overwhelming heaviness.

The immortal Qian Qiu lay quietly on the ground, like a dying beast; everyone watched quietly, then suddenly he looked toward An Jing, “Thank you.”

An Jing asked, “Why thank me?”

An Jing didn’t understand; he had killed him and destroyed the Earth Vein Spirit, shattering all of the immortal Qian Qiu’s dreams, so why was Qian Qiu thanking him.

Gazing into the dazzling sunlight, the immortal Qian Qiu spoke weakly, “You’ll never know, living in this world, how lonely it is for someone like us….”

……..