Chapter 279 - 153: Flames Surge in the Forbidden Heaven Sect; A Sword Slays the Saint Child with Ease

Chapter 279: Chapter 153: Flames Surge in the Forbidden Heaven Sect; A Sword Slays the Saint Child with Ease

Therefore, Xuzhuang chose to launch an offensive like a torrential downpour, seeking to force Chi Ming’s hand in the shortest possible time and expose a weakness.

Before Chi Ming could react, the Taiyi Rainbow Sword was already unsheathed. It appeared a hundred zhang away, then shot forward like a thunderclap, slashing across his back in an instant.

A spiritual light flashed across Chi Ming’s fur robes, but it was instantly shattered. Xuzhuang’s Flying Sword tore a gash in the fabric and left a bloody line across his powerful frame. Lingering Sword Qi flickered within the wound, threatening to extinguish his life force.

Chi Ming’s expression flickered. If not for his protective robes, he would be in a much sorrier state, if not already slain.

He hadn’t expected Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship to be so devastatingly sharp. With no time to spare for the wound on his back, he formed a Magic Formula and spat out a strange syllable: "Duo!"

As Chi Ming performed his technique, a golden radiance rose from his feet and enveloped his entire body, as if cloaking him in armor. Outside this light, the image of a majestic, martial deity took form, shining with a brilliant golden luminescence. Despite being a Demon Sect Divine Technique, it possessed an aura even more righteous and awe-inspiring than many Mysterious Sect Taoist Techniques.

This golden deity was the manifestation of the Demon Intent Sect’s most lauded defensive art. But just as Chi Ming manifested it, Xuzhuang’s sword light reappeared a hundred zhang away. It streaked forward like lightning and slashed against the golden figure.

CLANG! The strike rang out with the sound of colliding metal. Without pausing for even a moment, the sword light shot a hundred zhang away, circled once in the air, and then streaked back to attack again. The iridescent trail left by the Sword Rainbow had yet to fade before the next slash slammed into the golden deity.

This was an offensive like a torrential downpour. This was the killing style of a Sword Cultivator!

Xuzhuang’s attacks didn’t just continue; they grew faster and faster. The moment one slash landed, the next arrived. Before the light from one strike faded, another dazzling flash appeared.

A less accomplished cultivator watching would have been utterly bewildered. It seemed as if dozens of Sword Qi were simultaneously slashing at Chi Ming from every direction. The sky filled with rainbow lights, weaving a celestial net. Then, with a series of metallic clangs that blurred into a single, continuous roar, the golden deity shattered!

The Demon Intent Sect’s greatest defensive technique had been broken in moments by Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship!

Chi Ming drew a sharp breath, gaining a new appreciation for Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship. The situation was critical, but as a seasoned veteran of countless battles, he did not panic. Realizing he could no longer afford to be on the defensive, he quickly decided on a new strategy.

’If I can’t play the game, I’ll just flip the board.’ He roused his spirit and let out a great shout. His Gangyun rose above him, and a speck of black light shot out from it. In an instant, it expanded to cover an area thousands of zhang wide, forming an egg-shaped curtain of light.

The moment the light curtain formed, a strange effect took hold. A hundred zhang in front of him, a streaking ray of light was revealed—it was Xuzhuang’s attack, now crawling toward him at an incredibly slow speed.

The Forbidden Heaven Sect!

This artifact was created specifically to trap those skilled in Escape Techniques. Sword Escape, Qi Escape—no matter the method, none could be used within its confines. Its only drawback was that it wasn’t Chi Ming’s own technique, but a secret treasure he had found. Once activated, it trapped him just as surely as it trapped his enemy.

Using this item meant it was time for the decisive confrontation. Chi Ming let out a long roar, the joints all over his body cracking as his frame suddenly shot up in height!

A red and a black stream of light rose from his back, transforming into two demonic figures with distinct forms. One held a fan, the other a bowl-shaped Magical Artifact. Searing fire and a pitch-black hurricane swirled around them. From afar, one could see blazing waves of heat, scattering embers, and howling Gang Winds that gathered and dispersed. The aura was utterly oppressive.

These two were called the Hurricane God and the Fire Spirit Official. Within the Demon Intent Sect, they were not ranked as Venerable Demons, but they were the next best thing. Moreover, when refined together, their wind and fire complemented each other, creating an extraordinary power. They were Chi Ming’s hidden trump card.

Besides, there was a universal truth for both demonic arts and Taoist techniques: a technique’s power ultimately depended on the practitioner’s skill. The most advanced art was useless in the hands of the weak, while even a common one could display divine might when wielded by an expert.

The Hurricane God and the Fire Spirit Official might not have been as mighty as the Yin Mountain Venerable, but Chi Ming had personally refined them step by step. He controlled them as easily as his own limbs; they were not to be underestimated.

With Chi Ming acting as their Spirit Binder, the two demons unleashed their power in unison. The Fire Spirit Official tilted its golden bowl, instantly pouring out a raging sea of fire. The Hurricane God raised its fan, waving it like a great banner, and a furious gale swept forth, infinitely amplifying the fire sea’s terrifying might.

The instant his Sword Escape was suppressed, Xuzhuang switched to the Five Elements Escape Skill. He still felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire, and he immediately understood the power of the Forbidden Heaven Sect.

Just as he was about to change his tactics again, he saw Chi Ming summon the wind and fire demons. Seeing that his opponent seemed to want a contest of Divine Techniques, Xuzhuang’s eyebrow arched in amusement.

Xuzhuang hadn’t known that the Forbidden Heaven Sect trapped Chi Ming as well, but seeing this, he instantly had a suspicion.

’The art of battle is all about playing to one’s strengths and exploiting the enemy’s weaknesses. If Chi Ming had been able to restrict my Escape Technique without affecting himself, he would never have chosen a direct contest of Divine Techniques.’

Realizing this, Xuzhuang let out a long laugh. When it came to a contest of Divine Techniques, he had never lost. With a shake of his shoulders, a brilliant torrent of flame shot to the sky. The Fire Divine Light surged forward to meet Chi Ming’s wind-and-fire technique head-on!

Water naturally overcomes fire, so using the Water Divine Light would have been the logical choice. However, Chi Ming’s technique was a fusion of wind and fire, not purely a fire-based art. Besides, in terms of raw power, Xuzhuang’s Fire Divine Light, which had been refined with the Great Sun True Flame, was far superior to his Water Divine Light.

Just as he expected, the two Divine Techniques crashed into each other like waves from opposing directions, throwing up a surge a thousand zhang high. In a mere instant, the Fire Divine Light had already gained the upper hand, showing signs of forcing Chi Ming’s torrent of flames back.

Greatly alarmed, Chi Ming frantically channeled his Magical Power. It surged like a torrent into the Hurricane God and the Fire Spirit Official, bolstering their techniques. But no matter how perfectly he blended wind and fire, he still couldn’t overwhelm the Fire Divine Light.

Chi Ming was shaken to his core. ’He suppressed the Yin Mountain Venerable and still has this much Magical Power? Is he even human?’

But Xuzhuang wasn’t in a hurry to unleash his full power. Even if he overwhelmed Chi Ming’s technique with his Fire Divine Light, it wasn’t guaranteed to finish him in one fell swoop. It was better to take a different approach.

He formed a Magic Formula and released his Gangyun. A wisp of ethereal, smoky qi flew out, turning invisible. Under the cover of the surging waves of flame, it spread silently across the sky. Then, Xuzhuang unleashed its power, and the thousand-zhang light curtain instantly shattered!

The instant the Forbidden Heaven Sect was broken, Chi Ming sensed it. With no time for shock, he tried to activate an Escape Technique, only to discover with horror that he was trapped by an immense, invisible force. His expression changed drastically. He raised his hand, and a ring on his finger came alive, transforming into a golden cicada. It flapped its wings but was completely unable to fly!

Xuzhuang had intended to use the Heaven-locking Earth-locking Method to restrain him before finishing him off with a decisive blow. However, he had held back to avoid tipping his hand and giving Chi Ming a chance to escape with some trick.

However, Chi Ming’s attempt to restrict Xuzhuang’s Sword Escape by using the Forbidden Heaven Sect had also trapped himself. This had essentially given Xuzhuang the perfect opportunity to catch a fish in a barrel. The moment Xuzhuang shattered the artifact’s barrier, Chi Ming had already lost any chance of escape and was caught in Xuzhuang’s trap.

And given the power of Xuzhuang’s Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture, once someone was caught in its grasp, escape was impossible. Unless they possessed a technique on the level of a Primordial Spirit and could activate it in time, no Substitute Escape Method would work.

At that moment, a look of utter despair finally appeared in Chi Ming’s eyes. Before he could try anything else, a dazzling rainbow of light shot out from the sea of fire and sliced through his body. Myriad streams of Sword Qi then erupted like a hurricane, completely engulfing him.

To prevent any last-ditch demonic transformations, Xuzhuang’s strike held nothing back. Not only was his Nascent Soul obliterated, but not even a wisp of his vital energy could escape; everything was annihilated by Xuzhuang’s Sword Qi.

Chi Ming could never have imagined that a single misstep would lead him to his doom. Although it seemed a long battle with many techniques exchanged, he had actually perished under Xuzhuang’s sword within just a few short rounds.