Chapter 313 - 122: Divine Techniques (Part 2)

Chapter 313: Chapter 122: Divine Techniques (Part 2)

"It’s no wonder. Venerable Taiyuan’s most prized Qilin’Er died prematurely, and they even lost an Upper Grade Spirit Master. The Zhen Family has suffered a truly devastating blow this time."

"Sigh. So what if they find the culprit? Someone capable of such a feat must be from another Half-Immortal Family. This could spark an earth-shattering war!" someone lamented.

"You’re overthinking it, my friend. The Court keeps them in check from above! A Half-Immortal Family that reveals its hand would, at worst, have to make a painful sacrifice—handing over the perpetrator to pay with their life..."

...

Amidst these discussions.

"SCREEE!"

High above the clouds, Zhen Taiyuan arrived aboard the Three-Colored Dragon Carving. His white eyebrows flowed in the wind, and a radiant glow surrounded him, making him appear like an Immortal.

He paid no heed to the clamor below, his expression as placid as a calm lake. With a flick of his wrist, he produced an Approval Document and tossed it downward.

SWISH!

The Approval Document shattered in mid-air, transforming into a stream of light as it descended.

On the high platform, the suspended, simple, and unadorned scroll was unsealed amidst a brilliant radiance. It slowly unfurled, projecting a vast and majestic light that blotted out the sky.

Within the light, one could see great rivers flowing, majestic mountain ranges, countless people farming and weaving, and all manner of insects, fish, birds, and beasts...

It was as if the entirety of Wuzhou’s landscape had been projected here, a truly stunning visual spectacle.

...

"It’s been unsealed! The Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map is unsealed! So this is a Super Grade Secret Treasure in its complete form!"

"What an eye-opener! Today has truly broadened my horizons!"

"Indeed! This trip was worth it!"

"Shh, quiet down! Look, my ancestor is about to act and find the real culprit!"

...

"Let causality be the guide! Go!"

With a flick of his finger, Zhen Taiyuan sent the shattered Life Plates of Zhen Daoji and Zhen Yi flying out to hover in mid-air.

Then, with a turn of his hand, a torrent of substantial Spiritual Power erupted from his palm. It rushed forth like a great river, passing through the shattered Life Plates of the Zhen family’s uncle and nephew before descending below.

HUM! HUM! HUM!

The great river of Spiritual Power flew into the realistic projection of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map, transforming into concentric turquoise ripples that swept rapidly across the scene.

One breath.

Three breaths.

...

Ten breaths.

When the river of Spiritual Power finally ran dry and the turquoise ripples dissipated, there was still no sign of anything unusual.

...

"What’s happening? Did Venerable Taiyuan fail?!"

"What’s the rush? This is just the beginning!"

"Exactly! How could Venerable Taiyuan possibly fail? Do you have any idea what a Demi-Immortal is?! Or what a Super Grade Secret Treasure is?!"

...

’It seems Lord Song’s deduction was correct. That villain really has broken through to the Seed Path Martial Saint Realm, beyond First Grade, and his Destiny Chart is exceptionally unique.’

A glint flashed in Zhen Taiyuan’s eyes. With a sweep of his sleeve, a flawless Small Seal, its body like translucent crystal, flew out.

"ROOOOAR!"

From within the void, a Qi Fortune Golden Dragon emerged from the seal, passing through the shattered Life Plates of the Zhen family’s uncle and nephew. It shook its head and swished its tail as it descended.

HUMMM!

Within the realistic projection of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map, the Qi Fortune Golden Dragon disintegrated, dissolving into concentric golden ripples.

Ten breaths later.

A breeze swept by, but the projection remained unchanged. There was still no sign of anything unusual.

...

"Still no results? Don’t tell me the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map is broken, is it?"

"It can’t be a problem with the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map. So... it must be Venerable Taiyuan?"

The person whispered, "Venerable Taiyuan doesn’t seem to be in good shape. His face looks a bit pale, and I can see beads of sweat on his forehead. He seems... a bit drained!"

"Shh! Quiet! You can’t just say things like that."

"Exactly! My ancestor cultivates the Qianyang True Scripture. Even though he’s over a hundred years old, he could handle ten women in a single night, no problem. How could he possibly be drained?"

...

Hearing the various whispers from below, Zhen Taiyuan struggled to maintain his composure.

’So, that villain is not only beyond First Grade with a unique Destiny Chart, but he also possesses a Supreme Treasure. The opposing Half-Immortal Family has really paid a steep price for this!’

’Hmph. But this old master will have his answer today, no matter the cost.’

Steeling himself, he once again activated the Glazed Small Seal. A massive torrent of Qi Fortune transformed into the phantoms of a dragon and phoenix and flew out, passing through the shattered Life Plates of the Zhen uncle and nephew one more time.

—Perhaps the strain was too great, for this time, their already shattered Life Plates were instantly pulverized into nothingness.

HUM! HUM! HUM!

The Qi Fortune dragon and phoenix circled, crying out unceasingly as concentric cyan ripples spread out. The ripples swept across the projection of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map and suddenly hitched in one particular spot. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

...

"We’ve got a result!"

Everyone present held their breath in unison. With wide eyes and clenched fists, they all stared intently. A few of the more excited spectators even leaped to their feet.

"Huh?!"

Lord Song felt his right eyelid twitching violently, and his heart skipped a beat. ’If I were to suggest that something unexpected might happen right now, would they beat me up?’

...

’Hm? Someone is using Divination on me? Is it the Zhen Family’s ancestor?!’

Fang Rui glanced at the faintly flickering Divine Technique, ’Outside the Calculation,’ on his panel. Far from being nervous, he felt a flicker of excitement. Without hesitation, he mobilized his Gang Essence, Spiritual Power, and a mass of Chaos Dragon Pearl Origin, simultaneously clearing out the dozens of remaining Tribulation Points on his panel.

「In that instant.」

He felt his consciousness ascend, arriving in a dark space where his entire being was shrouded in an ethereal mist as fine as gauze.

In the distance, a scroll manifested, displaying scenes of sunrises and sunsets over majestic landscapes. A hazy figure stood upon it, accompanied by phantoms of a dragon and phoenix formed from Qi Fortune.

’This ethereal mist... is it the external manifestation of my ’Outside the Calculation’ Divine Technique? Is that the person performing Divination on me? In this place, am I invisible to him?’

A realization dawned on Fang Rui. ’The power I’ve invested is more than enough to completely block his Divination. In fact, there’s so much surplus, I can even cause a backlash.’

’Tsk, tsk. Interesting. In the real world, my Realm might be inferior to his, but in here, the tables have turned.’

"Go!"

At his thought, the boundless ethereal mist surged at his command, pouring into his hands. He brought them together and then pushed, transforming the mist into a blade from beyond the heavens.

In a flash of light.

SLASH!

The space itself seemed unable to bear the attack. The blade, powerful enough to shatter mountains and cleave rivers, shot straight toward the hazy figure opposite him.

...

Zhen Taiyuan felt his spirit become like a fish, swimming freely and uninhibitedly through the virtual landscape created by the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map.

Such an experience was extremely rare, even for him, and of great benefit to his Cultivation. In fact, besides finding the killer, this had been his other objective.

But just then—

SWISH!

From beyond the landscape of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map, a streak of light shot forth. It tore through the heavens and shattered the earth as it pierced straight through Zhen Taiyuan’s Divine Soul.

And in the real world...

"PTOO!"

Zhen Taiyuan’s eyes snapped open, and he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Below, the pupils of the entire crowd contracted in unison.

"What are you panicking for?!"

The Zhen Family Patriarch was the most composed. After a brief moment of shock, he seemed to understand. "The ancestor is using his own blood essence as a price for the Divination..."

He hadn’t even finished his sentence.

BANG!

In mid-air, atop the Three-Colored Dragon Carving, Zhen Taiyuan—his face ashen as golden paper after coughing up blood—pitched forward and collapsed.

「At the same time.」

BOOM!

The projection from the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map flashed violently and large sections of it shattered. Even the map’s physical scroll snapped shut, returning to its sealed state.

...

After three to five breaths of stunned silence, the entire crowd erupted into chaos.

"Gods above, the ancestor..."

"Quickly, save him!"

"T-t-this... The projection of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map shattered, the artifact itself was forced back into its seal, and Venerable Taiyuan suffered a backlash... Who on earth has such power?!"

...

’Something unexpected really did happen?’

Lord Song froze for a moment, then couldn’t help but slap his thigh. "How delight—Ahem!"

He barely managed to swallow the word "ful," then rubbed his face and put on a sorrowful expression. "How painful!"

"Venerable Taiyuan, you’re d—you’re injured so terribly! Sob, sob!"

...

"What a Divine Technique! That feeling of being able to cleave the heavens, shatter the earth... of being omnipotent... It’s truly addicting... Huh?!"

Fang Rui’s consciousness returned to his body. As he was muttering to himself, he suddenly noticed the Tribulation Points on his panel. They had been at zero, but now the number was suddenly jumping, climbing higher and higher as if it had gone mad.

...