It took me an entire yuan hui to create my own Void Swordsmanship, fusing the void with sword dao and perfecting Sword Twenty-Three. I was just about to emerge from seclusion for a decisive battle with Xumi, to cut off his dog head, yet I was told that scoundrel had already perished. Tell me, is that not infuriating?
We fought all our lives, I lost battle after battle, endured humiliation, secluded myself in bitter cultivation, and forgot the mortal world. He became a monk, turning me, a great demon who never refused a woman, into a sword maniac who abstained for hundreds of thousands of years, then he went and died, denying me even the chance for revenge. Where is the justice in heaven? Where is the fairness?
Zhang Ruochen pondered inwardly whether this old fellow truly cared nothing for his reputation, or whether the death of the Xumi Saint Monk had driven him mad with rage.
Even the Tribulation Venerable would at least have some sense of shame and try to justify his actions.
Who proclaims himself a great demon obsessed with lust?
Reputation means nothing. I say what I want and do what I want. Who can do anything to me? Xu Tian glared at him.
Terrifying.
He had seen straight through Zhang Ruochen’s thoughts with a single glance.
Xu Tian continued, These past years I have finally awakened and seen many things clearly. That dog Xumi led me astray. With my unparalleled talent, had I devoted myself to cultivating the way of the void, I would long ago have been invincible. The position of Heavenly Venerable would never have gone to Fengdu.
The void fears nothing more than leaving traces. Yet cultivating sword dao exposes traces of the void.
Damn him, truly damn him. He was scheming against me from the very beginning.
He cultivated sword dao and created the Swordsmanship of Time precisely because he knew I would one day become a Heavenly Venerable and become a great calamity for the world. That is why he schemed against me so ruthlessly.
Hearing him curse the Xumi Saint Monk in this way, Zhang Ruochen showed displeasure and said, Senior, you chose to cultivate sword dao yourself. How can you blame the Saint Monk? Besides, with your current cultivation, are you not still ranked among the heavens?
What do you know? Only the first in the universe is a true powerhouse. Now, I have begun to deduce Sword Twenty-Four. If I can find the Sword Origin in the Sword Realm and refine it, then who in Heaven or Hell could stand against me?
Xu Tian stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes flashing with sharp light. Who knew what he was imagining, for his smile alternated between vicious and manic.
Watching Xu Tian’s manner, Zhang Ruochen felt that he did not truly harbour hatred for the Xumi Saint Monk. Today, he might pass safely.
No hatred?
Xu Tian’s voice turned icy and piercing. I would dig up every ancestral grave of your Zhang family if I could. But seeing you gives me hope of revenge. When you reach the realm Xumi once held, I will come with my sword and cut you down. That will be satisfying. It will be no different from cutting down Xumi himself.
Zhang Ruochen could feel the terrifying killing intent radiating from Xu Tian, yet he remained neither humble nor arrogant. This is unfair, is it not? Your last battle with the Saint Monk was an entire yuan hui ago. By now, you have cultivated for…
Before Zhang Ruochen could finish, Xu Tian said, Fairness? I merely want to vent my anger. Who is talking to you about fairness?
Zhang Ruochen could not comprehend Xu Tian’s thinking at all. He was simply a mad old man. What if this junior is killed before reaching the realm the Saint Monk once held?
Xu Tian replied, Do you think I would stand up for you? Trying to use me? If you are killed, that would be fine too. I would be delighted. It would mean Xumi’s judgement was poor, that he chose a useless successor. Ha ha!
Zhang Ruochen said, Senior’s obsession is so deep. Unless another Xumi appears for you to kill and achieve mental clarity, I fear you will never perfect Sword Twenty-Four.
Xu Tian stared fixedly at Zhang Ruochen, his face turning completely serious.
The terrifying atmosphere made Que and the Nether King feel as though space had frozen, their bodies seemingly about to shatter in an instant.
Yet Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed. This junior means no offence. I only hope Senior will not speak of my restoration of martial cultivation. That is all.
Xu Tian gave a cold snort. You think you are worth my mention? Only that coward Qing Cang would strike at a junior who has only just become a god.
After a moment’s thought, Xu Tian slowly raised his left hand. Supreme dao rhyme flowed, and billions of sword qi instantly appeared between heaven and earth.
Que, the Nether King, and Zhang Ruochen all felt the sword dao rules within their bodies grow unstable, as if they were about to burst forth.
Swish!
Xu Tian pointed his left forefinger at the blade of the Qingping Sword. In that instant, billions of sword qi surged into the sword body and sank into the green lotus.
He tossed the Qingping Sword to Zhang Ruochen. I lend you one sword. In a moment of crisis, it can slay enemies. Do not think this is to protect you. I merely wish to use you to find the Sword Realm. I do not want you to die too soon.
Zhang Ruochen caught the Qingping Sword and felt the terrifying power of sword dao within it. With this sword in hand, he felt he could cleave heaven and earth.
His emotions quickly calmed. He put away the Qingping Sword and said, Even Senior Xu Tian cannot find the Sword Realm. How could this junior possibly do so?
As if he had not heard, the Void God Venerable smiled and looked towards a point in the darkness. Ha ha, that girl from the Temple of Darkness has a fine figure and impressive attainments in mental strength. She is exactly my type. She would make a good Heavenly Concubine.
Zhang Ruochen, Que, and the Nether King followed his gaze.
In the darkness, a moon darker than the darkness itself rapidly approached. Wuyue’s figure hovered at the centre of the dark moon.
She stared at Zhang Ruochen, her voice filled with coldness. Naughty grandson, you are too mischievous. You actually used the Heavenly Venerable’s treasure gauze to frighten your grandmother. If I had not realised in time, you would have escaped today.
Zhang Ruochen said in surprise, Grandmother, what do you mean?
Hmph! Do you dare say that the person in that carriage was truly Tianmu? Wuyue asked.
Zhang Ruochen said sadly, Alas! Grandmother is wise. You saw through it.
Wuyue said, Then if I kill you today, will you accept it?
Grandmother cannot kill me. In the world today, I am the one with a chance of finding the Sword Realm. Does Grandmother not wish to find the Sword Realm? Zhang Ruochen said.
Wuyue’s silvery laughter rang through the darkness. So you have that ability. Very well. After you help Grandmother find the Sword Realm, Grandmother will kill you then.
No, that will not do. Another senior also wants this junior to help him find the Sword Realm. Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
You really are naughty, and cheeky too!
From within Wuyue’s black robe, two jade-white fingers extended and pointed forward.
Instantly, space warped violently under the influence of mental strength, enveloping Zhang Ruochen from all directions.
Bang!
Space shattered. The dark moon behind Wuyue was torn apart by an invisible force.
Just as Wuyue was startled, Xu Tian laughed loudly. The Nine-Death Heterodox Heavenly Emperor certainly has leisure, taking disciples every yuan hui. This disciple of yours is not bad. I like her. She can become the mistress of the Great Tribulation Palace in future.
Before Wuyue could flee, her body sank, and she landed beside Xu Tian.
Earlier, filled with anger and intent only on settling accounts with Zhang Ruochen, she had feared Tianmu. Otherwise, how could she have been afraid of Yuling God and Amuer? Because of this, she had paid no attention to the Nether King or Que, and naturally ignored the completely unassuming Xu Tian.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. I told you, another senior wants me to help him find the Sword Realm. Why did you not believe me?
Wuyue quickly calmed herself from the shock, deduced the old man’s identity, and immediately knelt on one knee. Raising her black sleeves, she clasped her fists and saluted. Third disciple of the Nine-Death Heterodox Heavenly Emperor, Wuyue, pays respects to Senior Xu Tian.
No need for formalities. I do not like this kneeling posture of yours. I will teach you better in future. Xu Tian spoke without restraint, smiling broadly.
Wuyue’s expression could not be seen.
She said, To be favoured by Senior Xu Tian is Wuyue’s honour, but I am afraid I must first seek my master’s permission.
Seek permission? Do you think the Nine-Death Heterodox Heavenly Emperor can decide for you? You think too much.
Xu Tian reached out, intending to caress Wuyue’s face beneath the black robe, but his expression suddenly froze. He turned and looked outward. So lively today?
Swish!
Xu Tian’s figure vanished silently.
When he reappeared, he was already a million li away.
He looked at the Lord of the Island of the Fallen God standing opposite him, gave a sinister smile, and stepped forward. Their mental strengths instantly collided, forming a storm of nine-coloured, ten-hued nebulae. Not to mention space-time, even the rules of heaven and earth were instantly erased.
Boom!
No matter how the periphery shook heaven and earth, the centre where the two stood contained only void, eerily calm.
The Lord of the Island of the Fallen God, clad in grey robes, sat astride a house-sized white goose and smiled. Matters between children should be settled by the children themselves. Why must you interfere?
Hua Ying old man, how many years do you have left? You dare challenge me? Xu Tian said.
The Lord of the Island of the Fallen God replied, What meaning is there in living so long? The Nine-Death Heterodox Heavenly Emperor has lived long enough, has he not? Yet what of it? Neither human nor ghost, eternally confined to darkness.
Xu Tian laughed loudly. In the old days of the Kunlun Realm, powerhouses emerged in endless succession. Terrifying indeed. Now only you remain worth watching. When you die, I will personally destroy the Kunlun Realm. Where did you get this goose? At least you are a Supreme. This is too undignified, riding a goose. You are a laughing stock! Wait and see. Next time I will ride a phoenix with colourful wings to show you.
I just visited Xinghuan Heaven. That drunkard was raising two and insisted on giving me one, so I accepted. The Lord of the Island of the Fallen God said.
I was badly tricked by Xumi. These years I immersed myself in sword comprehension. Only recently have I grown restless and decided to recapture the spirit of my youth. Since you have come, I cannot let you go.
Xu Tian’s gaze suddenly sharpened, like a divine sword unsheathed.
His hands formed seals, and chaotic qi was born from the void, evolving into thousands upon thousands of stars. In an instant, this region of the Dark Triangle Star Domain became a sea of stars, engulfing the Lord of the Island of the Fallen God.
The Lord of the Island of the Fallen God raised his right hand. A great formation appeared in his palm, containing the real starry sky Xu Tian had created. He turned his hand and pressed it outward.
Xu Tian’s eyes narrowed. Using his hand as a sword, he slashed forward.
Boom!
Two powerhouses standing at the pinnacle of the world clashed. Every collision of mental strength was like the explosion of a universe.
With one thought, a sea of stars is born. With one thought, heaven and earth are transformed.
