Chapter 491: Xu

BOOM!

A tremendous crash resounded.

The golden Palm Seal in Gongsun Jie’s hands hadn’t even descended yet.

Yet the ground beneath Sikong Ao’s feet had already sunk. With a BOOM, it caved in, revealing a massive handprint.

“Sikong the Thief, face my blade!”

Suddenly, several more furious shouts rang out one after another. From within the mountain forest, three or four figures of light shot into the air, tracing graceful arcs across the sky. From all directions, they raised their Magical Treasures and lunged straight for Sikong Ao.

Evidently, Sikong Ao was usually so arrogant that he had made countless enemies. They had seized this opportunity to attack him together.

Furthermore, every one of them was highly skilled—all were early-stage Refining Dust realm masters. There was even one powerhouse at the Fifth Layer of the Refining Dust realm.

However, Sikong Ao didn’t even spare them a glance. The corners of his mouth merely curled into a disdainful smile as he suddenly pressed his palms together.

“Venerable Dharma Body!”

Instantly, Sikong Ao’s entire body erupted in a brilliant golden light. A majestic aura burst forth, making him seem like one of the Immortals and Buddhas, high above and looking down on the ants of the mortal world. He was filled with an unparalleled sacred presence that made one want to kneel at just a single glance.

BANG!

BANG!

…

Gongsun Jie brought down his immense golden Palm Seal.

The Refining Dust realm masters attacking from all four sides also thrust out with their Treasure Swords.

A sound like striking a bronze bell rang out as golden light exploded, radiating in all directions.

Under the combined assault, Sikong Ao’s body was now completely golden. He glittered, resembling one of the Immortals and Buddhas, filled with a holy and divine aura. He stood motionless atop a towering ancient tree.

The attacks from Gongsun Jie and the four Refining Dust realm masters had landed on Sikong Ao without causing a single bit of damage.

Sikong Ao let out a great shout and suddenly thrust both palms toward the sky.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

…

Instead, it was Gongsun Jie and the four Refining Dust realm masters who were sent flying backward, tossed high into the air.

Then, Sikong Ao’s lips split into a mocking grin. With a light tap of his toes on the tree, he appeared before one of the Refining Dust realm masters and slammed his palm down.

BOOM!

The Refining Dust realm master plummeted downward.

HISS!

The spectators watching from the forest all sucked in a cold breath.

‘So this is Sikong Ao’s strength? Even Gongsun Jie and four Refining Dust masters combined are on the losing end. It’s completely one-sided.’

Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. He turned to Qing Luan beside him and asked, “Venerable Dharma Body?”

“That’s right!”

Qing Luan nodded solemnly. “This Sikong Ao possesses the exact same bloodline as the Great Sword Immortal Mo Yuan—the Venerable Bloodline. It is the supreme bloodline, one that hasn’t appeared in tens of millions of years. Every time it has emerged in the history of our world, it has caused an earth-shattering upheaval, ultimately achieving unparalleled, Wushuang might. Just like Great Sword Immortal Mo Yuan ten thousand years ago, who seized this land for our Human Race from the Demon Race and the Ancient Fierce Beasts.”

“Oh, the Venerable Bloodline!”

Shen Daoxing’s eyebrows shot up again. He turned to look at Sikong Ao, somewhat surprised.

‘I never thought that besides me, someone else in this world would also possess the Venerable Bloodline. And that I’d actually run into them here.’

Suddenly, Shen Daoxing found himself becoming interested in this Sikong Ao.

At that moment, however…

The Blood Dragon’s voice, full of contempt, suddenly echoed in Shen Daoxing’s mind. ‘Heheheh, what Venerable Bloodline? It’s just a forgery! He isn’t worthy of wielding the power of a Venerable Supreme!’

“?”

Shen Daoxing froze. “‘A forgery?'”

‘That’s right!’

The Blood Dragon replied, nodding arrogantly.

‘That bloodline in what’s-his-name, Sikong Ao, is absolutely not the Venerable Bloodline. He’s not worthy. No, this is a forged Venerable Bloodline, just a crude imitation. Heheheh, for someone to dare forge the bloodline of a Venerable Supreme… how audacious!

Still, even if it’s crude, forging a Venerable Bloodline is no easy feat. It seems there’s a considerable secret here. Kid, you’d best be careful when you run into people from the Sikong Family in the future.’

The Blood Dragon’s voice slowly faded in Shen Daoxing’s mind.

A forged Venerable Bloodline!

Shen Daoxing was stunned for a moment. He suddenly realized things were becoming far more complicated and mysterious.

Meanwhile, in the center of the forest battlefield…

“Divine Venerable Arm!”

Sikong Ao roared, and his arm suddenly erupted in golden light. It swelled in size, becoming like a colossal pillar holding up the sky. As it carved a graceful arc through the air, the very space around it trembled a few times.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Instantly, the four Refining Dust realm masters cried out, “BLAARGH!” They tilted their heads back and spat out a huge mouthful of blood as they were sent flying high into the air.

Sikong Ao grabbed Gongsun Jie by one arm and then, with a savage jerk, tore it off.

Gongsun Jie screamed as his entire arm was ripped clean off. He was drenched in blood, his face deathly pale.

Then, Sikong Ao raised Gongsun Jie’s severed arm high in the air and roared, “Who else wants some?”

In an instant, everyone in the surrounding forest sucked in a cold breath, feeling as if the temperature of the entire forest had plummeted.

Gongsun Jie was a late-stage Refining Dust realm master, and he had even joined forces with four other Refining Dust masters, yet they were no match for Sikong Ao. They couldn’t even injure him.

‘Isn’t this Sikong Ao’s power a little too terrifying?’

Anyone who had previously harbored ideas about the inheritance of the Li Yuan Great Immortal Sword suddenly lost all ambition.

They couldn’t help but tremble, and they quickly dove back into the forest to hide. If they ever carelessly angered this great demon and he set his sights on them, it would all be over.

Everyone’s hearts pounded in their chests.

Qing Luan and Xuan Ye exchanged a shocked glance before beckoning to Shen Daoxing. They needed to leave this place quickly, lest they get caught in the crossfire.

Shen Daoxing paused for a moment, then hurried after Qing Luan and Xuan Ye.

But just then…

BZZZZ~~

A sinister, terrifying aura suddenly appeared in the sky without any warning. As it descended, everyone felt a chill in their very souls, as if they were about to be frozen solid, their spirits trembling in fear.

「The next moment.」

A long, black figure had appeared in the forest at some unknown point. It stood tall, impassively turning its dark head to look at the crowd.

“It’s a Xu! A Xu has appeared!”

“Quick, run!”

Immediately, people began to panic, shouting loudly and fleeing for their lives.

“Sikong Ao and Gongsun Jie’s battle must have attracted the Xu.”

Qing Luan glanced at the sky, then immediately led the group deeper into the forest. “Don’t make eye contact with the Xu!”

Shen Daoxing nodded silently and hurried to keep up.

From his conversation with Qing Luan the previous night, Shen Daoxing already understood that the Xu were strange, ethereal monsters. No one knew where they came from, and no one knew how they appeared!