Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Chu Yang’s immortal soul avatar expanded in the void. The golden ancient sword hummed before it separated into nine beams of flowing light.
These nine sword radiances flickered like brilliant rivers in the sky as they surged towards the Cangming Swordmaster. The natural laws of heaven and earth were portrayed in between the flashes of light.
Different and numerous eerie scenes were presented upon every sky river. Some presented a searing Sun rising out from the surface of river water, some portrayed a mass of shadows arising and yet some others had an enormous furnace rising from the river.
The nine rivers in the sky suddenly integrated as one entity once more, as if all the concepts of the world returned to the same track. The brilliant sky river radiated with lustrous light that appeared both like reflections from water and the glow of sword radiance.
What bothered the Cangming Swordmaster was the fact that pale blood colors shimmered within the sky river, and white clouds spiraled above it as well.
The white clouds even appeared a tad bit similar to the Mount Shu Sword Sect’s Saintly Celestial Sword Qi.
Luo Qingwu and Zhuge Zhan launched their own attacks against the Cangming Swordmaster at the same time. Outside the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation, the Tiangang Swordmaster’s onslaught was also getting more ferocious.
The Cangming Swordmaster’s decrepit-looking face was all pensive. He grunted heavily, and it sounded like a mine exploding in the ground.
Chu Yang and the Nine Heavens Sword had already escaped from the Primordial Sword Stone. The Cangming Swordmaster decided not to reincarcerate him inside. Instead, he waved his hand and sent the Primordial Sword Stone into the core of the sword formation beside the Saintly Celestial Sword.
The Saintly Celestial Sword was yet to be completed and the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation was not yet whole. However, its key elements were the Saintly Celestial Sword, the Primordial Sword Stone and the combined strength of the nine sword formations from the other sects and all three were not together. The power of the sword formation was channeled to the highest possible under the Cangming Swordmaster’ influence.
A sword was a weapon meant for killing. Even though the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi could also be used defensively, its forte was ultimately in offence.
The Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation retaliated at once. Under the leadership of the Saintly Celestial Sword, the sword formation hit back at the Tiangang Swordmaster.
The light sphere formed by the sword formation dissipated and the white patches of Saintly Celestial Sword Qi broke through dimensions and seemed to gather the entire Greater World into a point, as if heaven and earth were not a large sword and slashed down at the Tiangang Swordmaster.
The Tiangang Swordmaster was expressionless as he sliced the Tiangang Sword through the air and returned the attack with a ferocious strike of his own.
The Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation had completely given up its protective powers and no longer maintained the sword world. It drew upon the sword formations of the other great sword sects and gave its all on its offence against the Tiangang Swordmaster.
The Tiangang Swordmaster raised a finger and flicked his Tiangang Ancient Sword, and the sword immediately echoed deeply.
The sword’s buzzing sound wasn’t crisp or shrill. Instead, it sounded deep and heavy as if a star in the sky had just exploded.
He swung his sword down and the Tiangang Sword Star River curled backwards like quicksilver in the ground. The void in the Greater World around Mount Shu cracked apart continuously and followed the star river that was formed completely from sword radiance downwards. The Tiangang Swordmaster was completely unafraid of the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation’s ferocious aura and fought fire with fire.
The Cangming Swordmaster suddenly heaved a sigh. “I won’t employ such underhanded methods if I had the choice. But, Senior Tiangang, nobody will stop the re-forging of the Saintly Celestial Sword at this point!”
He defended himself while he flipped his palm and a streak of light shot up into the sky.
The radiance wasn’t that brilliant, but it fused with the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation and covered its entire surface with a layer of blurry light. That layer of light was difficult to describe but it was undoubtedly extremely mystical and profound.
The ray of light integrated itself into the sword formation and the sword formation’s power erupted at once. Sword radiance danced around through the air and stopped the Tiangang Swordmaster in his tracks.
The Tiangang Swordmaster’s eyes burst with intense sparkle as he stared at the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation. His gaze seemed to pierce right through the sword formation and landed upon the Cangming Swordmaster himself.
The Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation no longer blocked off space-time. Chu Yang, Luo Qingwu, Zhuge Zhan and the others saw the light of day again, and Zhuge Zhan could channel the Sun’s star’s power much more smoothly than before.
However, neither of them felt more relaxed after the fact. Luo Qingwu watched the sword formation that was flickering in the sky with that layer of unnamed light. She thought to herself, “After the battle of Mount Shu, the Yu Yuan Holy Woman of the Great Void Sect had personally visited Mount Shu before. The Great Void Sect’s swordplay were subsequently infused with some concepts from Mount Shu’s Saintly Celestial Sword after that.”
“It appears that the interaction between both parties were far deeper than we thought. This mysterious light is clearly the Great Void Sect’s Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light, and this technique has only been mastered by a select few from the Great Void Sect. The others, and this includes most of the members of the Supreme Elder Council, are unable to use it.”
“This gift to the Mount Shu Sword Sect must have been difficult to obtain. The Great Void Sect’s cultivators don’t’ seem to be able to store this light for future use. It’s so precious – no wonder they managed to exchange it for the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi,” Luo Qingwu’s eyes sparkled. “However, this ray of light is a little different from the one that Master saw when he crossed paths with the powerful individuals from the Great Void Sect.”
Luo Qingwu’s level of mastery was not high enough after all, and her understanding of the Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light was barely scratching its surface. Even though she knew there was a difference, she couldn’t explain what it was.
She had an inkling that Mount Shu’s situation was different from the Great Void Sect. The Great Void Sect could delve deeper into the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi after obtaining it, and even though they may not be able to completely master it, they would still be able to draw some inspiration and whatnot from it to fuel their own swordplay.
On the other hand, it was a lot more difficult for Mount Shu to understand the profundities of the Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light after obtaining it.
After the battle of Mount Shu all those years ago, Mount Shu was weak, and the Great Void Sect was extremely powerful, so such a disparity was within expectations.
When the Tiangang Swordmaster departed Mount Shu into the Barren Expanses, he didn’t bring the Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light and left it inside Mount Shu, and it ended up in the Cangming Swordmaster’s hands.
At this point, the Cangming Swordmaster didn’t have the time to surmise further into this Celestial Light and he infused it into the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation at once.
He was using the Great Void Sect’s power to fight against his senior, the Tiangang Swordmaster. This made the Cangming Swordmaster a little despondent, but desperate times called for desperate measures and he couldn’t be bothered anymore.
He continued channeling the sword formation’s power against the Tiangang Swordmaster. The Cangming Swordmaster raised his left hand high into the sky, and a streak of sword radiance led the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation to continue the battle while he extended his right hand and opened his palm.
A vast sword radiance descended from the sky like a sky pillar. Its sword Qi and sword mind expanded in all directions, and it loomed over the earth like it was heaven itself.
A green-bronze ancient sword appeared in the Cangming Swordmaster’s hands. He swung it lightly in the sky, and the world all around trembled as if it was being torn apart – the Cangming Ancient Sword.
The Cangming Swordmaster stared at Chu Yang, Luo Qingwu and Zhuge Zhan as he said coldly, “How can I let you ruin Mount Shu’s glorious return?”
As he spoke, he unleashed a Dark Boundary Sword Technique and green sword radiance blanketed the earth as if the heavens had collapsed and covered Chu Yang and the company entirely. At this moment, the space between heaven and earth no longer seemed to exist, and heaven and earth itself was about to collapse together.
The Cangming Swordmaster’s strike was discharged with the Cangming Ancient Sword, and its force was a lot more formidable than before. The world changed along with his swing.
The Cangming Ancient Sword was at a pinnacle Mahayana-level magic treasure, and the sword itself could match a third-level immortal soul stage cultivator. It was in the hands of a Cardinal Tribulations Beginning Stage cultivator as well, and its powers were far greater than usual. Both entities’ concepts of power were complementary, and their combined force seemed unstoppable.
Even though Chu Yang, Luo Qingwu and Zhuge Zhan combined their efforts, they found it difficult to fight back.
Chu Yang grunted as the ancient sword formed by his immortal soul throbbed vigorously, and the shadow of a sword suddenly glimmered within the sword radiance.
The sword shadow appeared extremely virtual. However, just for that moment, it materialized into solid form and clashed against the Cangming Swordmaster’s Dark Boundary Sword Technique during that moment.
Both parties collided, and the collapse of heaven and earth was abruptly paused and the area near the equator contorted as it shattered.
The longsword’s solid form reverted into a shadow after the collision and flew back into Chu Yang’s immortal soul.
This momentary hindrance gave Luo Qingwu and Zhuge Zhan the chance to use the same tactic as before. One went horizontal while the other went vertical and they formed a cross to break the green world that was about to close completely.
Chu Yang gritted his teeth. “The Nine Heavens Sword is not yet complete, and it isn’t very convenient to face off against this old bastard.”
The Cangming Swordmaster’s fingers moved as, under the direction of his sword mind, the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation redirected the power of the Tiangang Swordmaster’s assault to the other great sword sects and their mountain defense formations.
It was only a moment, but a few relatively weaker sword formations were almost crushed into pulp.
The powers of these sword formations were also absorbed by the Saintly Celestial Primordial Sword Formation to feed itself. After the whetting from the Primordial Sword Stone, they shed their original forms of intense flame, rolling thunder, vast oceans and starlight and everything was converted into white patches of Saintly Celestial Sword Qi. The Saintly Celestial Sword directed everything and attacked the Tiangang Swordmaster.
“I will end you guys here before I continue my battle with senior Tiangang,” the Cangming Swordmaster stared at Chu Yang coldly, “Even though you’ve reached the immortal soul stage, you’re just a piece of good meta that has yet to be made into a weapon. You can’t even be considered the embryo of a sword, let alone being a sharp blade.”
“The Nine Heavens Sword’s shadow integrated into your immortal soul. I shall assimilate both your immortal soul and the sword shadow into the Saintly Celestial Sword, and I believe the effects will be a lot better than before.”
He turned towards Luo Qingwu, and his eyes were equally cold. “The Celestial Sect of Wonders is indeed powerful. Besides your master’s Heaven-Destroying Sword, another lineage of swordplay has arisen. However, you are ultimately not your master.”
“You’re the same as the kid with the Nine Heavens Sword. All you are is a piece of raw metal. You’re still far from truly forming the tip of the sword.”
“I had no intention of antagonizing the Celestial Sect of Wonders after re-forging the Saintly Celestial Sword. However, you guys wish to stop the rebirth of the Saintly Celestial Sword and I have no choice but to be cruel and slay all of you right here and now.”
The Cangming Swordmaster’s voice echoed throughout the skies like a thunderbolt. His tiny frame was scrawny and even appeared malnourished, but it contained boundless power.
He slashed out with his sword once more as he spoke and green light covered heaven and earth yet again as he barreled towards Chu Yang, Luo Qingwu and Zhuge Zhan.
“Who did you say you are going to slay?”
At this moment, a sound boomed from the far end of the horizon and a youth wearing a black robe and purple clothes suddenly appeared in front of Luo Qingwu. He watched the Cangming Swordmaster with chilly eyes before he extended a palm.
Red lights flickered in the center of his palm, and a cacophony of howls and wails that didn’t seem like they were made by living beings could be heard from within, shaking the very earth.