Chapter 554 564: Slaying the Black-Robed Man

"Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you. Since this is your own wish, then I'll grant it for you."

As Qing Ruo'ai spoke, the One Thought Sword seemed to emit a wisp of white airflow, which shot from its tip directly toward the space between Wen Qingye's eyebrows.

The moment the white energy stream entered his body, all of Wen Qingye's meridians grew scalding hot. His aura instantly began to surge as his two Qi Seas collided once more. This time, however, the process was stable and orderly, lacking the violence of his previous breakthroughs.

The Qi Seas continuously connected and fused until they finally formed a single sea. This Qi Sea seemed boundless and infinite, vast and profound, exuding a resonant, ethereal aura.

This was the mark of a Life and Death Realm expert: the Sea of Life and Death.

But Wen Qingye's aura didn't stop there. It continued to skyrocket, climbing ever higher.

Life and Death Realm First Layer Heaven!

...

Life and Death Realm Second Layer!

...

Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven!

Seeing Wen Qingye standing ramrod straight with his eyes tightly shut, the black-robed man couldn't help but sneer. 'Have you given up the struggle? Well then, I won't torture you to death. I'll give you a quick end.'

The moment he finished speaking, his eyes once again turned ferocious and cruel. He took a single step, and in the next instant, his phantom-like figure appeared before Wen Qingye.

He chuckled, and the incomparably sharp red blade flared with a brilliant light, tearing a visible rift in the void as it slashed directly for Wen Qingye's heart.

Not far away, the members of the four sects couldn't bear to watch and looked away. 'Who could possibly save Wen Qingye this time?'

'After I get back, I can finally claim the Myriad Manifestations Technique.'

The corner of the black-robed man's mouth curled into a vicious smile. Gripping the red saber hilt with both hands, he brought it down heavily upon Wen Qingye.

The whistling of the blade was enough to shake one's Heart Spirit. The sharp blade glow, swift as the wind, appeared to strike Wen Qingye's heart directly.

SHNK!

A subtle sound abruptly rang out. The gazes of those watching the fight intently suddenly narrowed.

The black-robed man's vicious expression twisted in shock. He looked up in utter disbelief. He saw that Wen Qingye had extended two fingers and gently pinched them together, catching his exceptionally fierce blade perfectly between them. The seemingly fragile grip had brought his attack to a dead halt, unable to advance even a single inch.

'How is that possible?'

Everyone staring intently at the battle gasped in utter shock.

The black-robed man's Heart Spirit reeled. He stared in disbelief at the somewhat battered Wen Qingye before him.

Wen Qingye slowly raised his head. Within his dark eyes, a faint golden light now flickered, radiating a supreme, oppressive aura.

"Your pride ends here."

Wen Qingye's lips parted, and a hoarse voice suddenly rang out. The next moment, he lifted his sword. A boundless golden radiance flared, dazzling the Heart Spirits of all who watched. A terrifying, imperial might spilled forth from his body, spreading without end and rampaging wildly through the surroundings.

Terror filled the black-robed man's face, and he stumbled backward several steps. A moment later, however, he regained his composure.

The saber in his hand flared with an even greater brilliance, pulsing with a blinding light. A sea of fire once again materialized around him, and he stood within it like the sovereign of this fiery domain.

"Luo Fire Dao! Illusion Transformation!"

The boundless sea of fire surged toward the saber in his hand. As more flames poured into its red blade, it expanded once more, finally transforming into a colossal saber roughly ten zhang long. The black-robed man gripped the massive blade and slashed it toward Wen Qingye.

"Cleave!"

The colossal Fire Saber carried the force to sunder mountains and rivers. Everywhere its blade passed, it stirred up roiling waves of scorching heat.

Wen Qingye's eyes were as placid as still water. He stood proudly against the wind, his sword shimmering with brilliant golden light.

"Sixth Form of the Sword Emperor Technique! Only I am the Emperor!"

As Wen Qingye raised his arm, everyone present felt an imperial might that seemed to suppress the very heavens. Their hearts trembled, and they felt an immense weight on their knees, compelling them to kneel.

A golden Sword Aura erupted from the blade of the One Thought Sword, surging forth as if to rip the heavens asunder. Wherever the Sword Aura passed, the thick, heavy clouds parted, revealing a clear, boundless sky that shone down, illuminating everyone's hearts.

BOOM!

The golden Sword Aura and the colossal, fiery red saber finally collided. In that instant, the entire sky seemed to shudder.

The giant saber was instantly pulverized, dissipating into the sky. The Sword Aura, however, continued to surge onward, swift as a bolt of lightning, its speed sending a chill down the spine.

"No!"

The golden light reflected in the black-robed man's pupils as he let out a final, desperate roar.

BANG!

As the black-robed man's piercing shriek faded, everyone saw a deep trench, hundreds of zhang long, gouged into the earth. Along its path, massive boulders had been blasted into fine powder.

As for the man himself, he had been utterly annihilated, leaving not even a trace behind.

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Countless people stared, their mouths agape, looking on in a near-stupor at the scene before them.

Ouyang, Luu Jing, Zhou Kongkong, and the others who were about to make a move were also stunned. They stared in bewilderment at Wen Qingye, who stood with his sword, and at the hundreds-of-zhang-long Jian Henx on the ground. This sudden turn of events had left them unable to process what had happened.

...

「At the same time, on Taiyi Pavilion's Cyan Cloud Mountain.」

The old man guarding the Cyan Cloud List was leisurely basking in the sun, feeling quite smug. Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind blew past, making the old man shudder involuntarily.

The old man muttered to himself, 'What a strange wind. It actually sent a chill right through me.'

The moment he finished speaking, the Cyan Cloud List erupted in a brilliant flash of light.

The old man smiled faintly. 'Let's see what new genius has emerged. I wonder if this one will manage to impress me.'

The old man's gaze drifted upward toward the Cyan Cloud List. He saw a name appear in the very last place: Zhao Yang.

'Isn't that the little unaffiliated genius? To think he actually made it onto the list. I wonder who he knocked off,' the old man chuckled disdainfully, shaking his head. He then turned his attention back to the list.

He had guarded the Cyan Cloud List year-round and was naturally quite familiar with everyone on it. A quick scan showed no changes in the ranks from three hundred down to two hundred, which made him pause. 'What's going on? Did a genius from one of the major powers fall?'

The old man continued scanning up the list. Suddenly, his gaze froze on the eighth position. He gasped in shock, "How can this be? Zhang Xiaoyun... Zhuo Xiangqun...? Our sect's Zhuo Xiangqun!"

Zhuo Xiangqun was one of the Seven Venerables of Taiyi Pavilion. An orphan from a young age, he was adopted by the Pavilion Master of Taiyi Pavilion and was the Little Demon Venerable's senior brother. His innate talent was simply monstrous, terrifyingly so. No matter how many other prodigies ran rampant through Taiyi Pavilion, he always maintained his unassailable position and had never once been pushed down the ranks. This alone was enough to prove his heaven-sent genius and Wushuang aptitude.

But now, he was gone—vanished from the Cyan Cloud List. What could that possibly mean?

'This won't do. I must go to the Silent Origin Tower and check Zhuo Xiangqun's Primordial Spirit Jade Scroll!' Having said this, the old man's figure shot into the distance, vanishing from Cyan Cloud Mountain in the blink of an eye.