A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 434 Illusion
Liao Rushen sent Sai Huatuo flying with a single palm strike, and his right hand swiftly grabbed the Ling Shuang Sword. But at that moment, the Ling Shuang Sword flashed with golden light, and Liao Rushen cried out in pain, hurriedly letting go. He landed with a somersault, and looking at the charred blackness on his palm, his face was extremely ugly. He shouted and swept his feather fan, sending a gust of wind towards the Ling Shuang Sword. At the same time, he swung his left palm, and as the gust of wind enveloped the Ling Shuang Sword, he pulled it in and wrapped it up. Although the golden light still shone through, it was no longer burning through the layer of cloth.

The moment Ru Shen obtained the Ling Shuang Sword, everyone's eyes were focused on him. Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​exchanged a glance, and the two abandoned their attack on Gu Xu. They moved instantly and headed straight for Ru Shen. When Gu Xu saw this, his eyes flashed, and he moved quickly, arriving at Jian Xiong's side in the blink of an eye.

Jianxiong was currently surrounded by seven men in black. Individually, none of them were a match for Jianxiong, but together they managed to suppress him completely. In a short time, Jianxiong was in dire straits, unarmed, and his Dragon Riding Technique was useless against the formation. He could only rely on Tai Chi Cloud Hands to constantly shift the formation's power. However, Jianxiong realized that the space available for him to maneuver was getting smaller and smaller. In desperation, Jianxiong took a risky move, enduring two sword strikes, seizing an opening in one of the men, and instantly snatching his weapon with his palm strike, killing him on the spot. But these seven men were no ordinary people. The moment Jianxiong seized the sword, the remaining six changed their formation. Six long swords gleamed coldly, their sharp points shooting out like cold stars, and the oppressive force was even stronger than before.

Upon seeing this, Jianxiong's expression changed, and she hurriedly swung her sword to block. She wanted to use the Dragon Riding Slash, but the six people's attacks were relentless, giving her no chance to catch her breath. In an instant, three more sword wounds were inflicted on her. Jianxiong's heart sank. This formation was really strange. The power increased greatly even though one person was missing.

What Jianxiong didn't know was that the formation these seven people had set up was called "Seven Demons Refining Yin and Yang," which could only be set up by seven top-tier experts. This formation was very different from ordinary formations. The fewer people there were, the stronger the formation's power became. When the last two people were in the formation, its power would increase threefold. Unless they were top-tier experts, anyone trapped in the formation would be refined to death by the reversed Yin and Yang energy, leaving no trace of their body.

Jianxiong felt immense pressure at this moment, and his hand, which had been constantly swinging the sword, was aching. His already limited true energy was almost depleted. Just as the six longswords thrust straight at him, Jianxiong was already prepared that even if he died, he would take all seven of them with him.

Just as Jianxiong was gathering his remaining true energy in preparation for a desperate fight, a surge of true energy suddenly descended from the sky and landed squarely on him. He immediately felt his true energy rapidly recovering, while the six longswords that had attacked him froze, as if they had come to a standstill. The six men in black were shocked and tried to withdraw their attacks, but their bodies were out of their control.

With a "poof," the six men in black were stunned as Jian Xiong, whose true energy had recovered to 70%, immediately unleashed the Dragon Riding Slash. The sword energy shot out like a bolt of lightning, instantly piercing through the hearts of the six men.

The six men collapsed to the ground with a thud. Jian Xiong, slightly out of breath, turned around and looked at Gu Xu, who was withdrawing his palm behind him, and said with delight, "Thank you, Daoist Master."

"The Frost Sword has fallen into Ru Shen's hands. The city lord has already rushed over. Your injuries are quite serious, so take the Dragon Sword Envoy and the Tiger Sword Envoy to deal with the remaining defeated soldiers. Leave the rest to us. The secrets of heaven are gradually becoming clear, and the matter of the Frost Sword will soon be settled."

After giving the order, Gu Xu's figure disintegrated and disappeared in a flash of light. Jian Xiong was stunned for a moment, but then quickly reacted and rushed towards the Dragon Sword Envoy.

"Liao Rushen, hand over the Ling Shuang Sword to me."

Guan Yutian looked at the divine sword in Ru Shen's hand and reached out to look at Ru Shen. Meanwhile, Helian Ba's eyes flashed with a greedy glint. At the same time, Mu Songzi, the two ghosts of Nanku and Ren Qianxing landed behind Guan Yutian, looking around warily.

"Brother Helian, this..."

Changyangzi and Fu Xiaofei flew to Helian Ba's side and looked at the sword in Ru Shen's hand, feeling somewhat tempted.

"Don't act rashly; something's not right about this seemingly divine situation."

Helian Ba ​​was startled by the ever-changing expression on Liao Rushen's face, but Bai Yu'er, who was beside him, was fearless. Before Helian Ba ​​could finish speaking, she attacked with her sword. As soon as they moved, Ren Qianxing also swung his sword at Liao Rushen. Instantly, two sword lights, one red and one white, attacked Liao Rushen from the left and right. However, the sword lights disappeared inexplicably halfway through their flight. Moreover, as everyone was astonished, Liao Rushen, who was holding the Ling Shuang Sword, was covered in golden light, which spread outwards. A destructive and murderous power made everyone's expression change.

"Yu'er, retreat quickly!"

"Qianxing, retreat quickly!"

Helian Ba ​​and Guan Yutian spoke up in unison, and Bai Yu'er and Ren Qianxing also reacted quickly. Before Jin Hui arrived, they hurriedly withdrew and turned around to look back. They saw all the swords inside the stone wall buzzing and clanging, and flying swords shot towards them.

Seeing this, Guan Yutian and the others retreated while blocking the flying swords. Swords flew back and forth in the sword-refining pool, and the sounds of killing were constant. In just a few breaths, the Supreme Alliance had suffered heavy losses. Black Heart Ghost and Mu Songzi were pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords and turned into a rain of blood. Before they could even hit the ground, they were completely wiped out by the scorching air waves and dense sword energy.

Helian Ba's side also suffered heavy losses. In addition to all the junior disciples being killed, Fu Xiao was even more unlucky. He was forced into a dead end by the sword energy and fell into the lava pool without warning. After letting out a miserable cry, he disappeared without a trace after emitting a wisp of black smoke.

"Master!"

Lian Chixue and Bai Yu'er were slightly weaker. Although they had Helian Ba ​​protecting them, the pressure from his murderous aura made it almost impossible for them to breathe. Moreover, as time passed, Helian Ba's protective aura became riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse. The sword energy that seeped in caused Bai Yu'er and Lian Chixue great suffering. Their bodies were covered with fine sword marks, and traces of blood stained their robes. From a distance, they looked like blood-soaked figures.

"This Frost Sword is quite strange. Alliance Leader Guan, the Frost Sword is a treasure of your clan. Is there any secret behind it?"

Helian Ba ​​watched the flying sword grow ever faster and faster. He gathered his inner energy and reinforced his protective aura. Knowing that this would surely lead to his defeat, he sent a telepathic message to Guan Yutian, hoping to find a way to deal with the sword.

"The loss of control of the Frost Sword is unprecedented, and it is very likely due to Ru Shen. This person is cunning and scheming. This divine sword has a spirit, how could it tolerate such a person holding it? To break the current situation, the only way is to get rid of Ru Shen. But now we are suppressed and powerless. If we are not careful, we will be annihilated. Now we can only rely on that person."

Guan Yutian was also in a difficult situation. He was about to get his hands on the Frost Sword, but it had a problem with Ru Shen. Now he was forced to defend it and could no longer make a move.

He Lianba's heart sank upon hearing Guan Yutian's reply, followed by a sigh. He felt extremely frustrated that after paying such a high price, he had only ended up benefiting the Sword Forging City.

At this moment, Liao Rushen, who was holding the Ling Shuang Sword, was trapped in an illusion. In the illusion, Liao Rushen ascended to the supreme position. With a wave of his hand, heroes bowed down. In particular, the arrogant Gu Xu Dao Ren was now kneeling respectfully on the ground, not daring to utter a sound. Huangfu Changhen, whom he hated the most, was bound to a copper pillar with a long steel rope. Under the scorching heat of the fire, he let out screams. After he handed over the secret manual of the Dreamless Limitless, he was completely burned to ashes.

The scene shifted, and Liao Rushen felt a chilling wind emanating from him. Looking up, he saw a black mountain peak, its solidity exuding a heavy aura of yin energy. The moment his palm touched it, a bone-chilling cold made him shudder. He circulated his inner energy to dispel the coldness. Just then, he heard several hoarse bird cries. Looking up, he saw several blood-eyed crows taking flight in the dim sky. After circling a few times, they landed on a black, iron-like, withered tree. Dozens of blood-eyed crows were already on the tree. As Liao Rushen focused his gaze, the blood-eyed crows all looked at him. The latter was suddenly terrified by their gaze. Just as cold sweat poured down his back, a warm current flowed through his body from his right hand, pulling him back from his daze.

"What on earth is this place?"

After regaining his senses, Liao Rushen looked forward again and saw that the withered trees and blood crows had all disappeared. Moreover, a bright light shone down from the sky and landed directly on a large city. Dark clouds covered the city and red lightning flashed. Liao Rushen's mind raced, and he felt the world spinning. After regaining his balance, he found himself standing under the city gate. Looking up, he saw three ancient seal characters on the city gate: "City of the Wrongfully Dead".

"I've arrived at the Earthly Symbol!"

Liao Rushen was startled. Just as he was in shock, a beam of light shot down from the three seal characters of "City of the Wrongfully Dead" and shone on Liao Rushen. Before he could react, he was pulled into the city by the light. When Liao Rushen came to his senses, he found himself in a solemn hall. The hall seemed to be boundless, with nothing around it except a high platform in front of him. On the platform were several figures, each with a powerful and unfathomable aura that inspired awe.

"I'll see if you're a man or a ghost." Liao Rushen sneered, gripping his Ling Shuang sword tightly, and walked forward with unhurried steps. As Liao Rushen walked forward, ancient bronze mirrors rose in the empty hall. After Liao Rushen passed by, the mirrors flashed with a ghostly light, displaying different scenes: murder and treasure hunting, holding secret manuals with rapt attention; scheming and plotting, slaughtering an entire sect and leaving thousands of corpses; betraying brothers, laughing wildly at the abyss, and so on.

"Heh, so this is the legendary Mirror of Karma? It's a pity I have the Frost Sword in my hand, and I am destined by Heaven. These karmic forces are utterly insignificant."

Liao Rushen watched the scenes flashing across the mirror without any disturbance in his heart, and continued walking forward. Suddenly, a loud bang exploded in his ears, startling Liao Rushen into a daze.

"Liao Ru Shen, your sins are heinous and unforgivable by Heaven and Earth. Today it is your day to die in the underworld. Surrender now!"

As the sound rang out, a bright, eerie light shone from the high platform ahead, followed by the surrounding bronze mirrors emitting their own light. Chains began to wrap around Liao Rushen, who sneered at the sight. He drew his Ling Shuang sword with a clang, and with a flash of golden light, the attacking chains snapped inch by inch. He then swung it again, and with a series of cracking sounds, the bronze mirrors shattered one after another. In just a few breaths, all the bronze mirrors were broken.

"Pretend to be a ghost."

Liao Rushen's figure flashed, and in the blink of an eye, he leaped several feet, soaring and turning, and stood firmly on the high platform. What he saw were three eerie figures. The one in the middle was wearing a robe that made ghosts devour their souls, and a flat-topped crown. His face was blurred, but just sitting there, he exuded a unified aura.

To the left was a scholar-like man with cold eyes and a strong face. He held a black book in his left hand and a dark black brush in his right, the tip of which was as red as blood.

On the right was a middle-aged man with strange makeup, whose body seemed to be split in two, white on the left and black on the right. He held a mourning stick and a soul-hooking lock in his hands. When he saw Ru Shen appear, he didn't say a word. The soul-hooking lock in his hands flashed with a ghostly light and attacked Ru Shen.

"Heh, Black and White Impermanence, how interesting." Seeing the three figures, Liao Rushen felt more at ease. His Ling Shuang Sword flashed with golden light, and he slashed forward. With a clang, the sword light was unstoppable, and the Soul-Hooking Lock shattered. Just as Black and White Impermanence were about to move again, a sword light emerged, flickering for a moment. Black and White Impermanence instantly exploded into a ball of pure Yin energy, which was swept away by the sword light and disappeared in an instant.

"It really was an illusion."

Liao Rushen snorted coldly, raised his sword and brought it down. The other two followed suit. Just after the three perished, Liao Rushen suddenly felt a bright light in the sky. Looking up, he saw the bright light piercing through the dark clouds and falling directly on the high platform, enveloping him. Liao Rushen felt his true energy surging within him. In an instant, he had stepped into the pinnacle of cultivation. And the speed at which his cultivation increased was still unstoppable, pushing all the way to the threshold of the Innate Realm. Liao Rushen had a feeling that as long as he took one more step, he would achieve the Innate Realm.

"wrong!"

Liao Rushen realized that things were going too smoothly, and his heart tightened. He hurriedly suppressed his restless true energy. As he stopped it, his rising cultivation level instantly dropped back to its original level, but the rate of decline did not stop. However, Liao Rushen had already understood the situation. He simply gripped the Ling Shuang Sword tightly in his hand, feeling the temperature emanating from it, guarding his mind, and letting the force pull him down.

After an unknown amount of time, Liao Rushen opened his eyes and found himself standing in the Sword Refining Pool. Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​were fighting with Gu Xu Daoist. The aftershocks of their battle had destroyed almost 70% of the Sword Refining Pool, with only the lava pool in the middle remaining undamaged.

"good chance."

Seeing the three people competing in internal strength, Liao Rushen's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He flew over with his sword and slashed down, striking Gu Xu and the other two directly. But before Liao Rushen could even smile, the three of them instantly transformed into three wisps of energy. They paused slightly, then merged into one, shooting out like lightning and piercing into Liao Rushen's brow in the blink of an eye. The latter's body trembled, and his face showed an expression of unbearable pain. Then, a variety of expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness appeared in turn. After a moment, Liao Rushen finally calmed down, and his already sinister face became even more sinister and ruthless.

external
Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​joined forces to fight against the flying swords. Fortunately, with the help of the Sword Master, some of the swords were destroyed; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"What exactly happened to Liao Rushen?" The Green Corpse Ghost looked at Liao Rushen, who was shrouded in golden light, with lingering fear. He sensed that the aura emanating from Liao Rushen was growing stronger and stronger, and he was secretly alarmed.

"Alliance Leader Guan, the changes in Liao Rushen's aura are quite significant, it must be related to the Ling Shuang Sword!"

Helian Ba ​​looked greedily at Liao Rushen, who was enveloped in golden light. In just a moment, a top-tier expert had been elevated to the pinnacle, which was truly enviable. He wished he could immediately take it into his hands, hoping that he could use this sword to reach that level and become the number one person in the world.

Guan Yutian remained silent upon hearing Helian Ba's words. Although the Ling Shuang Sword had the effect of bewitching people, he had never heard of it being able to enhance the cultivation of others. What changes had occurred? Could it be the work of Daoist Gu Xu?

Thinking of this, Guan Yutian felt a chill in his heart. Now that he thought back, he realized that he and the others had been tricked by Daoist Gu Xu. They had joined forces with Helian Ba ​​to attack, but they were always just a little short and could not break through no matter what. Now he understood that it was not that they had not tried their best, but that their opponent was too strong and controlled the battle at all times.

"Now it depends on how Daoist Gu Xu handles it. With the Ling Shuang Sword in hand, you are like a god. Under heaven, there is no one else who can rival you."

A few moments later, the golden light that had enveloped them like gods began to flicker erratically, and wave after wave of flying swords shot towards them. The protective barrier that Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​had jointly erected began to thin under the slashing of the flying swords. Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​both groaned, cold sweat pouring down their backs. Ren Qianxing, Lian Chixue, and the others who were inside also felt a tremendous force crashing down on them, their blood surging. Unable to withstand the attack, Lian Chixue and Bai Yu'er, whose power was slightly weaker, vomited blood and fainted one after another.

Ren Qianxing, Changyangzi, and the Green Corpse Ghost were still struggling to hold on, but the fine sweat on their foreheads and the white steam rising from their heads indicated that they had reached the end of their rope.

With a loud bang, the protective barrier finally gave way and was shattered by the flying sword. Guan Yutian coughed up blood and retreated. He flipped his hand and unleashed a powerful Dragon Palm. At the same time, he channeled his true energy with his left hand, grabbed Ren Qianxing, and rushed towards the corner.

At the same time, Helian Ba ​​also used his Distraction Palm to save Lian Chixue and Bai Yuer with his clone. As for the remaining Changyangzi and Qingshigui, they were not so lucky. After a few screams, they were directly cut into pieces by the flying sword.

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Xu unleashed a cyan aura around Sword Master and the others, blocking the flying sword attacks. He then clenched his fist, and the sword snapped in two. With another flick of his sleeve, he moved Sword Master and the others aside. The broken blades coalesced, and with a thought, he guided them toward Ru Shen. Upon reaching Ru Shen, the broken blades did not directly attack but instead swirled and rotated like a tornado, forming a barrier that trapped Ru Shen.

"Daoist Gu Xu, do you think you can still trap me now?"

Just as Gu Xu made his move, Liao Rushen opened his eyes, looking at Gu Xu floating in mid-air and the swirling shattered blades around him. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he flicked his finger along the Ling Shuang sword. A golden light shot outward and passed through the shattered blade barrier with a soft "poof." However, the sword light did not go far before it was attracted and merged into the shattered blade tornado. As soon as the light entered, the power of the shattered blade tornado increased by three points, continuously compressing inward.

"what!"

(End of this chapter)