Chapter 552 562: Yuqing

Seeing the dire situation on the battlefield, Elder Li hesitated no longer and charged directly into the fray.

From behind the main group, Wen Qingye scanned the battlefield, his brow furrowing. Xia Qianhe, Hua Lie, Bai Xu, and the others were all being thoroughly suppressed. 'Though they haven't shown signs of collapsing yet,' he thought, 'if this drags on, they'll definitely be killed.' The only one who didn't seem to be losing was Tangg Guanzhong.

However, Zhang Bubai's cultivation was astonishingly high. Wen Qingye could vaguely deduce the man's strength. 'His cultivation is likely at the Peak of the Seventh Heaven of the Life and Death Realm, a sliver higher than Xia Qianhe, Ouyang, Ghost Child, and the others at the peak of the Sixth Heaven of the Life and Death Realm. He's probably the one with the highest cultivation here. And since Tangg Guanzhong isn't losing, his own cultivation must be at least at the Seventh Heaven of the Life and Death Realm.'

These individuals could all be considered top experts in the Eastern Profound Domain, especially Tangg Guanzhong and Zhang Bubai.

Suddenly, Wen Qingye noticed something strange about Situ Yun, the Peak Master of Purple Bamboo Peak. Although she was fighting three experts from the Asura Sect, she seemed to be holding back at every turn. It was as if both sides were deliberately avoiding any real, bloody clashes.

'This Situ Yun is strange. Why would she be so afraid of dying?' Wen Qingye thought to himself.

"Wen Qingye, I told you, this place will be your grave! No one can save you!"

A sharp cry, like a clap of thunder, shot from the distance. The black-robed man from Taiyi Pavilion moved as fast as lightning, charging straight for Wen Qingye.

Immense Primordial Qi surged forth. The black-robed man's fist glinted with a jade-like luster, and his punch was packed with immense power.

However, the black-robed man's sure-hit punch had no effect. It sliced through the empty air with a whoosh, finding no target. Wen Qingye's figure was not where he expected it to be.

After his punch missed, the black-robed man suddenly heard a piercing sonic boom from behind him.

SWOOSH!

The moment he turned, all he could see was a massive scroll. Painted on the scroll was a vast landscape of mountains and rivers. It was the Ancient Magical Artifact Wen Qingye had obtained: the Mountain River Atlas.

"Aargh!"

The black-robed man let out a bloodcurdling scream and stumbled backward.

This was the moment!

A cold glint flashed in Wen Qingye's eyes. With a flick of his wrist, the Still Water Sword in his hand let out a soft hum that sliced through the air as he thrust it toward the black-robed man's throat.

"Taiyi Profound Gate Sword Technique, Second Form! Yuqing!"

The shimmering Sword Auras were like stars in the sky—boundless and vast, radiating in all directions with a profound depth. These thousands of Sword Auras moved with dense, agile precision, all converging on the black-robed man. Such was the power of the Spiritual Softness Law. In the blink of an eye, they reached his throat.

The black-robed man seemed to feel the encroaching aura of death. He instinctively twisted his body and lunged to the side.

PSHHK!

Countless Sword Auras burst forth. Among them, one shimmering Sword Aura was exceptionally dazzling and distinct—it was the Still Water Sword itself. The Still Water Sword was unbelievably fast. Although the black-robed man was quick, the blade still pierced his shoulder.

Blood spurted from the black-robed man's shoulder. His body trembled violently, and he retreated backward at a frantic pace.

'I can't believe I failed to kill him, even with the Mountain River Atlas and my Soft Sword, the Assassination Sword.' Wen Qingye knew he had just lost his only chance to finish the man, so he immediately fell back.

Seeing that he had been wounded by Wen Qingye's sword, the black-robed man's heart filled with rage. He roared, "Wen Qingye, I will kill you today to vent this fury!"

The black-robed man leaped, continuing his charge toward Wen Qingye. But Wen Qingye's feet seemed to ride the wind; he pushed the Swift Wind Law to its limit and began to engage in a running battle with him.

Across the battlefield, the sound of Qi Bursts shook the land for dozens of miles. Searing heatwaves rolled out continuously as blood sprayed and figures fell. The heaven-shaking roar could be felt by everyone for hundreds of miles around.

Just then, Ouyang's palm strike, as unstoppable as a furious dragon emerging from the sea, landed squarely on Xia Qianhe's shoulder. Xia Qianhe stumbled back several steps, a sweet taste filling his mouth before he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Of all the combatants, Xia Qianhe, who was facing the formidable Great Elder of the Heaven-Burying Sect, was the first to fall.

BOOM!

A world-shaking explosion resounded through the sky, echoing to the highest heavens.

In midair, as the smoke and dust cleared, the figures of Tangg Guanzhong and Zhang Bubai became visible. Both had been pushed back four or five steps.

Seven sharp Flying Swords danced around Zhang Bubai. He looked at his opponent and said, "Tangg Guanzhong, you truly live up to your name as one of the Celestial Profound Dual Pride. You should be proud for blocking my seven swords."

"But can you withstand my eight, or even nine, Flying Swords?"

With a cold shout, another Flying Sword shot out from behind Zhang Bubai. Like a bolt of white silk, it merged with the seven swords before him.

"Eight Swords Soar, Scorning All Creation!"

The eight Flying Swords slowly merged, forming a thin red line that shot forward in a single file.

The thin red line pulsed with an incomparably sharp aura and let out a piercing whistle that resonated far into the distance.

"Not good! Junior Brother Tangg, get out of the way!" Hua Lie shouted in alarm, catching the scene from the corner of his eye.

Everyone nearby felt their Heart Spirits shudder, and expressions of horror appeared on their faces.

It was known that this "Eight Swords Take Flight" technique had once killed an expert at the Peak of the Seventh Heaven of the Life and Death Realm.

Tangg Guanzhong watched the rapidly approaching red line, his eyes narrowing slightly as a divine light flashed within them.

"Hmph. Zhang Bubai, you think you can kill me with just eight Flying Swords? How laughable."

As Tangg Guanzhong spoke, he flipped his palm. A terrifying fluctuation of power erupted from beneath it, sweeping out to wreak havoc upon the heavens and earth.

In midair, massive purple petals began to dance about. They were exceptionally beautiful, shimmering with a translucent, divine light. Then, the petals slowly converged, seeming to form a giant purple flower.

"Purple Mandala! Annihilation!"

Tangg Guanzhong yelled, enunciating each word as he slammed his palm toward the flying red line.

Zhang Bubai's brow furrowed slightly. He said coldly, "The Mandala, the forbidden flower?"

All across the battlefield, countless people froze. They stared at the giant purple flower in the sky, their faces slack with shock, a look of sheer terror in their eyes.

BOOM!

The purple Mandala surged toward the red line. Instantly, the red line was forced back, retreating in a chaotic frenzy.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The red line was formed by the Flying Swords arranged in a row. Now, under the pressure of the purple Mandala, they instantly collided with each other, then seemed to lose their spiritual essence and fell to the ground.

THUD!

Immediately after, Zhang Bubai's body was sent flying as if struck by a heavy hammer.

"The Invincible Nine Swords was defeated? How is that possible?"

"The Peak Master of Chaotian Peak, Tangg Guanzhong... he's too powerful."

"The Celestial Profound Dual Pride... truly a well-deserved title."

...

Countless onlookers stared in stunned silence at Tangg Guanzhong, who stood in the sky with his hands clasped behind his back, and began to mutter among themselves.