Chapter 184: Divine Communion and Manifesting Divinity

On Xuanwu Avenue, Wang Ping stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing with great interest at the distant snow-capped peak that touched the sky. Beside him, the eunuch Huang Longshan was already in a complete panic.

"Heavens above, it's someone of the Great Grandmaster Rank!"

He wailed, as if recalling some unbearable memory, and hastily tugged at Wang Ping. Seeing the young man remain entirely unmoved, the eunuch urged frantically, "Exalted cultivator, we need to enter the Imperial Palace right now."

"There's no need to bicker with these crude martial artists over momentary pride. Chen Long is old. Even if he has reached the Great Grandmaster Rank, he won't be throwing his weight around for much longer."

"Let's avoid his edge for now..."

Hearing this, Wang Ping scoffed. Feigning arrogance, he said, "He's merely a martial artist. Why should I avoid his edge?"

"Exalted cultivator, you don't understand."

Huang Longshan hurriedly explained, "These aren't ordinary martial artists, especially those at the Great Grandmaster Rank... A Loose Immortal is no match for them. You absolutely must not act recklessly."

"What a joke."

Wang Ping shook his head. "A mere martial artist throwing the Capital into turmoil and alarming His Majesty—if we indulge this behavior, where is the law of the royal court? Where is the dignity of the Son of Heaven?"

He spoke with such righteous indignation and utter loyalty that the Old Emperor, observing the scene from within the Imperial Palace, felt as refreshed as if he had just eaten a slice of iced watermelon in the height of summer. After all, the sovereign had long harbored a deep loathing for the Tribute Hall and that damned crazy woman, yet he was completely powerless against her.

He did not even dare curse her in private.

That crazy woman's intuition was simply absurd. If he cursed her under his breath, she would float over the very next second to ask if he had just been insulting her...

Over time, he had learned to simply ignore her.

In any case, she didn't dare show her face in the mortal world for real. Furthermore, after so many years, her lifespan was nearing its end. He just needed to endure a little longer and avoid bickering with her.

Even so, the stifling frustration remained.

Now, having someone to voice his thoughts and viciously curse her on his behalf, the Old Emperor felt quite gratified. At the same time, he saw right through Wang Ping's intentions.

"Witnessing a Great Grandmaster's Divine Communion and Manifesting Divinity, yet still daring to speak so brazenly... It seems this little immortal from the Taoshen Temple is quite extraordinary. Does he truly intend to clash with Chen Long and show off before Us?" The Old Emperor, holding a Jade Ruyi Scepter, tapped it gently against his palm before suddenly speaking.

"Lu Qing, what do you think?"

The Old Emperor chuckled softly.

"The Eight Trigrams Furnace cannot produce cultivators with Divine Powers. They are nothing but a bunch of independent cultivators. Only you, Lu Qing, possess a measure of Divine Powers by borrowing the profundities of the Armament Manual."

"Well? Can you see through this little immortal's background?"

In the next second, a response echoed through the silent Ninghui Hall. It was resounding and forceful, like clashing metal, faintly carrying the ring of a sword.

"Whether he possesses Divine Powers or is a mere independent cultivator matters not."

"Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation. In the face of the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron, no matter how high one's cultivation is, it is merely the moon in the water, flowers in a mirror. If he can be used, use him. If he cannot be used, kill him."

"Everything rests entirely on Your Majesty's judgment."

The flawless answer did not surprise the Old Emperor. He pondered for a moment before saying softly, "Then let us observe this little immortal's capabilities."

"If he proves to be no match for Chen Long, you will step in and save him, Lu Qing."

"I accept the decree."

...

"Boom!"

At that moment, only a deafening roar remained in Wang Ping's ears. In the distance, a figure was hurtling toward him at a terrifying speed.

Looking over, it was none other than Chen Long, clad in Divine Armor. He gripped the Coiling Dragon Formation-Breaking Blade that could sever magical power. Then, as if frames had been skipped, Chen Long—who had been far away just a moment ago—appeared right in front of Wang Ping in the next fraction of a second. The edge of his blade slashed mercilessly toward the space between Wang Ping's eyebrows!

A sub-light speed charge!

Once upon a time, this was a strike that even Kongzhi had failed to block. The terrifying power generated by sub-light speed, combined with a magic-breaking divine weapon, was enough to instantly kill a Loose Immortal with a single slash.

And today's Chen Long had ascended to an even higher level.

As the blade swung, a vigorous surge of Blood Qi True Gang erupted alongside it. Like a cultivator's magical power, it altered reality, concentrating the destructive force brought about by his sub-light movement.

Because of this, Chen Long's charge did not trigger the same earth-shattering landslides that had previously shaken the surroundings for thousands of miles. Instead, he condensed everything into the radiant arc of his slash. It transformed into a dense barrage of blade qi, coiling like dragons and snaking like serpents, completely enveloping the space fifty paces around Wang Ping.

If it had been any other Loose Immortal standing there, they would already be dead.

Let alone a Loose Immortal, even an outer sect disciple of the Immortal Gate would find it incredibly difficult to track this attack with their spiritual sense and defend against Chen Long's god-like speed.

'Thank goodness... I am also at the Martial Dao Grandmaster Rank.'

Accelerated by Divine Intent, Wang Ping's consciousness likewise stepped into the realm of sub-light speed. Although he didn't delve nearly as deep as Chen Long, he could at least keep up with his movements.

'I can't use Martial Dao methods. It's best to counter with spells.'

'Hmm... This shouldn't be a big problem.'

In a split second, Wang Ping already had a countermeasure.

Qi Restriction, Light Generation, Spirit Dispatching!

Three spells. Among them, Light Generation and Spirit Dispatching were directly invoked from Daoist Nun You, used to enhance the invulnerable profundity of Qi Restriction.

In an instant, boundless radiance erupted from the back of his head. The light coalesced into a series of halos that danced around him, interlocking to firmly protect him at their center. They violently collided with Chen Long's blade, exploding with vibrant colors and churning turbulent waves before finally unleashing a torrential flood of blazing white.

It was as if a sun had risen from the flat ground.

At the same time, the independent cultivators scattered elsewhere on Xuanwu Avenue—who had just been knocked down by Chen Long's laughter—were swept into the blast before they could even react.

"Ah! My eyes!"

"Quick, retreat!"

For a time, many people bled from their seven orifices, their expressions filled with shock.

"The Great Grandmaster Rank... Just what is the background of this Loose Immortal from the Taoshen Temple, to be able to fight a Great Grandmaster head-on? It's impossible. Could he be a celestial descended from the heavens?"

The group of Loose Immortals immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

On the other side, Wang Ping narrowed his eyes. He felt the blistering heat washing over his face, as well as the edge of the blade inching closer and closer toward him.

In a daze, he once again saw that snow-capped peak connecting heaven and earth. It was the manifestation of Chen Long's Divine Intent. This was his first time truly clashing with someone of the Great Grandmaster Rank in reality. His spiritual sense felt as if it had been stripped bare and exposed to the blazing sun, bringing about a painful sensation akin to being burned by a raging fire.

'So strong. He's incredibly strong!'

'Looking at it this way, during my last time in the First Seat's Martial Drill Platform, that Guanchao City Lord was far from using his full strength. He was mostly just acting as my sparring partner.'

'But Chen Long, on the other hand...'

Thinking of this, a strange look crossed Wang Ping's eyes.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but Chen Long seemed to be exerting an unusual amount of effort right now, looking as though he couldn't wait to pin Wang Ping to the ground and beat him mercilessly.

Could it be that the First Seat hadn't told him about his true identity?

To avoid letting the fight turn into a true life-and-death struggle, Wang Ping hurriedly used his Divine Intent to send a sound transmission: "Lord, we're on the same side. I'm Yin Hu, the martial genius you value the most."

An explosive shout answered him.

"Damned extraordinary person, you dare try to bewitch me with illusions?"

"Take this blade!"

In the next second, Wang Ping saw a sliver of white light bloom before his eyes. Like the rising of the morning sun as night came to an end, his vision was rapidly filled to the brim with radiance.

Divine Communion and Manifesting Divinity—Heavenly Blade Peerless Slash!

This time, it was no longer an illusion caused by the influence of Divine Intent. Instead, a genuine, snow-covered divine peak appeared right there in the firmament!

Immediately after, a muffled rumble echoed from the base of the mountain. It sounded as though a string pulled taut for ten million years had finally been plucked. The tectonic plates of the rock strata began to shift, and the magma within the mantle surged upward, as if the earth were clenching its dark red hand to draw this starlight blade from its sheath.

Then, the divine peak tilted.

The ten-thousand-year-old solid ice at the summit shattered. An immeasurable avalanche poured down the cliff-like edge, transforming into a vast, majestic expanse of white blade qi.

A blade's hum was born from this motion.

The sound started incredibly low and deep, like two continents grinding against one another. Then, it abruptly pitched upward, rising so high that the human ear could only perceive it as a piercing, bone-deep pain.

During this process, the sea of clouds in the sky was sliced open by the edge of this starlight blade. The shockwaves triggered by the heaven-rending, earth-shattering force pressed down toward the ground.

It was as if even the sky itself had bowed down in submission.

Such a magnificent sight, such a spectacular scene, allowed Wang Ping to experience for the first time what the Martial Dao Great Grandmaster Rank truly was, and what Divine Communion and Manifesting Divinity entailed.

If this wasn't Manifesting Divinity, what was?

'I originally thought human nukes like those at the Grandmaster Rank were exaggerated enough. I didn't expect a Great Grandmaster Rank to go even further... This is indeed the level of a cultivator with Divine Powers!'

Wang Ping looked up at the sky.

The snow peak viciously smashed down. Even before it drew close, merely the momentum of its slashing descent sent blade-like gales violently rushing against his face.

If it had been before, Wang Ping would never have been able to withstand this strike.

For example, back on the Martial Drill Platform, he could normally exchange a couple of blows with someone at the Great Grandmaster Rank. But the moment his opponent unleashed Divine Communion and Manifesting Divinity, he would die instantly.

However... things were different now.

In the next second, Wang Ping's mind sank into his sea of consciousness. Connecting with the Void Joy Non-Dual Guardian Consort Talisman, he ruthlessly siphoned power from Daoist Nun You, who was far away in the Immortal Gate.

"Ah!"

Almost simultaneously, Daoist Nun You in her Cave Abode at the Immortal Gate let out a piteous cry. She felt her originally sated body instantly become completely hollow.

Her Matchmaking magical power was drained in a flash.

Deep within her sea of consciousness, the character "Zheng" that Wang Ping had personally carved shone brightly. It didn't even spare her spiritual sense, instantly draining You Xuexin until she was drenched in sweat.

Meanwhile, Wang Ping raised a single finger. All the magical power he had siphoned from You Xuexin was injected into his fingertip at this moment. At the same time, he pieced together the spell, igniting a flash of sword light in front of his chest. This was exactly You Xuexin's killing move, bearing a level of precision that could even rival a Minor Divine Ability.

Taiyi Light-Splitting Parting-Joining Sword Qi!

As soon as the sword light appeared, it shot into the sky in the blink of an eye, stirring the winds and clouds. Without the slightest deviation, it clashed head-on against the starlight blade that was slashing down from the heavens!

"Clang—!"

Deep within the Imperial Palace, inside the Ninghui Hall, a sword's hum also rang out behind the Old Emperor. Though it was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, the Old Emperor still noticed it.

"What, you can't suppress it?" The Old Emperor cast a sidelong glance.

"To answer Your Majesty, this subject is dull-witted."

The person inside the hall replied in a low voice, yet a hint of disappointment bled through his tone. "This person also understands the Sword Art. In terms of attainment, I am afraid I am far inferior."

"Oh?" The Old Emperor frowned. "You can't defeat this little immortal?"

"It wouldn't go that far."

At this point, the person in the hall finally regained a measure of composure. "Even though this person's Sword Art is peerless, and the precision of his sword qi is second to none compared to a Minor Divine Ability..."

"...he is ultimately not skilled in the Martial Dao. He is a cultivator, not a martial artist, let alone at the Grandmaster Rank. Moreover, unlike this subject, he does not have numerous divine weapons and magical treasures on his person. Not to mention, his cultivation base is evident—with the magical power of the Tribulation Transcending First Layer, I estimate he can only unleash this single strike. Once it is used, his strength will be exhausted."

"If we truly fought, I would have an eighty percent chance of winning."

Hearing this, the Old Emperor nodded in satisfaction. "You still put Us at ease, Lu Qing. It wasn't in vain that We placed you at the number one spot on the Armament Manual."

"I am indebted to Your Majesty's grace."

The person in the hall offered a flattering remark and said no more. Only the Old Emperor remained seated in place, stroking the Jade Ruyi Scepter in his hand with a somewhat inexplicable expression.

"However... something still isn't quite right."

"The Taoshen Temple has no inheritance for the Sword Art. Could the old temple master have specifically gone to the Immortal Gate to trade for it? But with this level of strength, calling him a true transmission wouldn't be an exaggeration."

"A furnace attendant serving as Human Firewood, possessing true transmission combat strength?"