Embers of Sword

Chapter 522 The visitor

"week?"

Xie Xuanyi's anger had not subsided. He only glanced at the white-robed martial artist briefly before continuing to stride forward.

The dual realms of birth and death were unleashed.

boom!
Upon seeing Zhou's figure, the Six Desires True Monarch lost his will to fight and hurriedly retreated. He was hit by the Life and Death Dao Realm cultivator, groaned, and flew backward!

The second level of this secret tomb is a labyrinth of stone chambers, winding and circuitous. Each stone chamber is separated by a divine soul restriction, so to hunt each other down... one must lock onto the other with divine sense. Just as Xie Xuanyi was about to continue the pursuit, a powerful divine sense blocked the two.

It was none other than Zhou.

"Why do you insist on stopping me here?"

Xie Xuanyi spoke coldly.

His divine sense emanated outwards, condensing into an undisguised, icy sword intent.

Zhou stood with his hands behind his back, his long hair flowing freely in the wind.

Though no words were spoken.

But the fighting spirit within this warrior had also solidified into a tangible form—

The entire secret mausoleum corridor was filled with the oppressive aura of the two powerful figures!

"……escape!"

Upon seeing this, the Six Desires True Lord did not hesitate at all. He immediately transformed into a streak of light and crashed into the unknown stone chamber of the Secret Tomb!
Of all the Yin spirits under Da Chu, the one he feared the most was Zhou…

Now that Xie Zhen has fought, the Six Desires True Monarch has gained another person he is wary of.

Although Da Chu is currently engaged in internal strife, it would be disastrous if these two suddenly started attacking him!

Even if I unleash my "Lion's Roar," I will have a hard time escaping these two!
"..."

Xie Xuanyi stared in the direction where the Six Desires True Monarch had left, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Several stone chambers were smashed in succession.

This secret tomb seemed to possess a "repairing" function. Thick mist billowed from the broken walls of the stone chamber, and after a few breaths, the divine aura of the Six Desires True Monarch had completely disappeared.

That guy escaped pretty fast.

However... if Zhou hadn't intervened, I would never have let him go so easily.

"Thank you, Zhen!"

Zhou's deep voice echoed at the end of the secret mausoleum corridor.

He walked slowly forward with his hands behind his back, his white-robed martial arts divine body swaying as it emerged, transforming into a majestic divine figure that completely enveloped the narrow corridor between them. The strength Zhou displayed caused Xie Xuanyi to feel a strong pressure... This guy was indeed very strong, far stronger than someone like King Jiangning at the nineteenth level of the Yin God realm!
Ten years ago.

Zhou was already close to achieving the perfection of Yin Spirit.

For a full ten years, I have been asking myself questions and seeking answers.

Zhou was only one step away from becoming a Yang God... or rather, only half a step away.

No wonder the "Six Desires True Lord," who single-handedly suppressed the Qian Tian Palace and the Xu family, had to flee upon seeing Zhou.

boom!
It was a seemingly extremely slow step.

Zhou arrived in front of Xie Xuanyi in an instant. He threw a punch, shattering the void. This punch felt as heavy as a million pounds.

This is the ultimate manifestation of martial arts cultivation!

Xie Xuanyi's expression was solemn as he used his Golden Robe Divine Embryo to parry!
Boom!
The clash between the Dao of Annihilation Realm cultivator and Zhou's Martial Dao Divine Embryo produced a muffled thunderous sound that seemed to reverberate throughout the entire secret tomb. Zhou's expression remained largely unchanged, though he slightly furrowed his brow. Xie Xuanyi, on the other hand, was thrown uncontrollably by the impact. Fortunately, his Divine Embryo pressed down on him, firmly planting his feet on the ground, ultimately creating a dense spiderweb tens of feet long.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath and shook his aching arms.

Ten years have passed.

Zhou has made significant progress.

Xie Xuanyi remembered that the two of them had made a promise to fight ten years ago... Who could have imagined that this long-delayed battle would take place today? It was a pity that his previous "enlightenment" was ruined by the Six Desires True Monarch. If he could stay in the Lotus Peak Dream for a while longer, he might be able to comprehend a new Dao.

"Where are the disciples of the Martial Sect?!"

Zhou spoke in a low voice.

boom.

As soon as the sound landed, the stone wall on one side of the corridor shattered instantly!

Dozens of martial arts disciples shattered the stone walls of the secret tomb, broke through the thick fog, and stepped into the long corridor!

These Martial Sect disciples were all brimming with vitality, each wielding a precious seal and a bright mirror. Although Martial Sect disciples primarily cultivate their physical strength, it didn't mean they were ignorant of formations. At this moment, the light from their precious seals and bright mirrors surged like a raging sea. This was the "Ming King's Sea-Suppressing Formation," passed down from the Brahma Sound Temple to Da Chu. Ten people formed a single formation, and those who formed it needed to have a strong physique. This formation was renowned for its impregnability; even when facing a violent attack from a realm higher than their own, it could be broken down using the array's magical artifacts. As long as the formation's physique was strong enough, it could advance and crush everything in its path with the force of "suppressing the sea"!

"..."

Xie Xuanyi silently watched the disciples.

Among these martial arts disciples, he spotted a familiar figure.

The one in charge of leading this Mingwang Zhenhai Formation was none other than Wu Yue, the eldest disciple of the Martial Sect. When he set off from the Great Chu Imperial City, this eldest disciple of the Martial Sect was just one step away from becoming a Yin God. At this moment, his entire spirit and energy had changed. Perhaps it was because Wu Zhexian had suffered a calamity, or perhaps it was because the great disaster of the Secret Mausoleum was imminent, and that destruction was necessary for creation. A faint purple Dharma image appeared above Wu Yue's head.

Clearly, Wu Yue has advanced to the Yin God Realm.

If Xie Xuanyi, a figure who shouldn't even be on the list of geniuses, weren't there...

Then he will become the "number one prodigy" of Da Chu's generation!
"Attack!"

A low drink.

The Ming King's Sea-Suppressing Formation began its advance.

The blazing light of the precious seal shone down, and Xie Xuanyi felt as if he were engulfed in a giant wave. He unleashed his Golden Robe Divine Embryo Dao Domain, and with the Dao Realm of Life and Death surrounding him, muffled sounds erupted from all directions. The Martial Sect disciples launched an attack on him with their "weak bodies," but under the connection of the great formation, the pressure of the Dao Realm was greatly dispersed.

Xie Xuanyi began to retreat.

He stepped on the raging waves of the great formation with every step.

These martial arts disciples may not seem to be of high cultivation level, but the real person in charge... is Zhou.

Zhou stood at the rear of the Mingwang Zhenhai Formation, his divine sense locked onto Xie Xuanyi. If Xie Xuanyi showed any sign of making a move, Zhou would strike with lightning speed to complete the suppression with minimal cost.

Xie Xuanyi had no choice but to retreat.

Amidst the raging waves, a young figure emerged and threw a punch at Xie Xuanyi from the crest of the tidal wave.

"boom!"

Xie Xuanyi manipulated the divine embryo and exchanged a punch with it.

"Thank you, Brother Xie..."

Wu Yue took a few steps back and couldn't help but shout.

"No need to show mercy."

Xie Xuanyi recognized the newcomer and said calmly, "It's been a long time. I should congratulate you... It's not easy for a martial artist to advance to the Yin God realm."

"..."

Wu Yue's expression was complicated.

Is it really that difficult for a martial artist to advance to the Yin God realm?

This is his way! This is how he should be!

Xie Zhen is a sword cultivator who has condensed a martial arts divine embryo... This is truly not easy!

"Brother Xie, is the sect leader's death truly related to you?"

Wu Yue gritted his teeth and transmitted his voice: "Isn't there some misunderstanding here?"

Xie Xuanyi smiled, but before he could speak, the wall of the corridor cracked again, and a wisp of sword energy pierced out from the wall, breaking through the Mingwang Zhenhai Formation... However, this wisp of sword energy was not to help Xie Xuanyi out of his predicament, but to pierce straight into Xie Xuanyi's crown!
"laugh!"

Xie Xuanyi reacted extremely quickly; as the sword energy shattered the barrier, the divine embryo raised its hand and made a grasping motion.

The sharp sword energy finally stopped three inches from his forehead. The constantly trembling and fierce sword intent was stopped by the palm of the Divine Embryo, but the chill it emitted really penetrated the palm of the Divine Embryo and seeped into Xie Xuanyi's heart.

The wall collapsed with a crash, revealing the figures of the cultivators from Hundred Flowers Valley. "Thank you, Zhen!"

Ye Qinglian glanced into the distance, gritted her teeth, and said in a trembling voice, "I really misjudged you back then!"

Amidst the billowing dust, a soft sigh could be heard.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao Xie... things have come to this, do you still wish to resist?"

Jiang Que, holding the precious seal, slowly appeared, blocking Xie Xuanyi's retreat.

The cultivators from the Jiang family also appeared together.

The reason why the corridor was so "quiet" before was because Zhou ordered his men to disperse. This new sect leader of the Martial Sect, who had temporarily taken over, did not care even if he let "Six Desires True Monarch" escape... Under his instructions, his cultivators surrounded Xie Zhen's stone chamber. There were ambushes all around him!

"What a grand display of force."

Xie Xuanyi smiled gently behind the curtain.

This scene seems familiar...

Ten years ago.

I am trapped in Beihai, and this seems to be the case, except that today is different from the past.

This time, those who besieged me were not the evil cultivators from Yinshan.

Instead, he was a fellow disciple of Da Chu.

hum!
A soft popping sound echoed in the void!
The divine embryo behind Xie Xuanyi silently clenched its fist, and with just a slight exertion, crushed the wisp of sword energy that Ye Qinglian had sent out into dust.

"???"

The sword energy shattered, and Ye Qinglian couldn't help but feel horrified.

How can this be?

How many years of cultivation did it take me to advance to the Yin Spirit realm!
This young man surnamed Xie was only at the Cave Heaven Realm when we first met, but in just one year, his strength has become stronger than mine now?
What kind of talent is this for cultivating Taoism?
Even Xie Xuanyi back then couldn't do this!
"Gentlemen, is it truly a matter of life and death today?"

Xie Xuanyi stood in the crowd and spoke softly.

Ahead lies Zhou, a martial artist who has reached the pinnacle of the Dao and attained enlightenment.

On either side are the "Mingwang Zhenhai Formation" formed by the disciples of Wuzong and the "Red Leaf Sword Formation" formed by the disciples of Baihua Valley.

Behind them was the Jiang family's "Soul-Suppressing Mountain Formation".

There were nearly a hundred cultivators, densely packed together.

This was the strongest force among all the factions that Da Chu led south, without exception.

However… Xie Xuanyi showed no fear in the face of these cultivators. With the "Life and Death Dao Realm" at his side, he was unafraid of the siege of lower-level cultivators. Even though he was severely injured, he still had the Undying Spring by his side. However, until now, the figure he cared about most had not yet appeared.

"If you bow your head and confess your sins."

"We can suppress them, but not kill them."

At the end of the crowd, a hoarse, withered voice echoed.

Several female disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley carefully protected a floating red leaf throne, upon which sat an old man in red robes. The old man looked exhausted, his face pale, a long sword lying across his knees, and he seemed to have only a very weak breath left... The battle at the white paper barrier had exhausted too much of his energy, and it was already extremely difficult for him to open his eyes and speak at this moment.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi finally met the person he had been waiting for.

He looked at Ye Zu, who was at the very back of the crowd, and asked with a smile, "Just suppress, not kill?"

"Zhao Chunyang of the Great Eagle Sword Palace mistakenly took in a wicked disciple and committed a heinous crime."

Ye Zu lowered the curtain and said softly, "He and I have been friends for many years... I only suppress you and do not kill you because of our friendship. If you are willing to submit, then I will take you away from the secret tomb and deal with you later."

What if I refuse to bow my head?

Xie Xuanyi looked at Ye Zu and spoke again.

"..."

The old man sitting on the red-leaf throne silently looked at the black-clad youth before him, not surprised by the answer.

He murmured, "Zhou."

The white-clad warrior nodded.

The next instant, the white-robed martial artist threw a punch from a distance, shattering layers of sound waves. This punch crossed dozens of feet of void and landed directly on Xie Xuanyi's chest. Even with the Martial Arts Divine Embryo's stacked palms to parry, he could only barely block it.

Xie Xuanyi let out a muffled groan.

He looked up, and what greeted him were countless precious seals and flashing swords...

The Bright King's Sea-Suppressing Formation, the Red Leaf Sword Formation, and the Soul-Suppressing Mountain Formation!

Three grand formations, targeting the divine embryo, the Dao domain, and the soul—

Press them down together!

In an instant, the secret mausoleum corridor shattered, and a thick fog surged out like a tsunami!
Zhou joins the battle, personally confronting the martial arts divine embryo that controls "birth and death".

It turned out that the old man sitting on the red leaf throne at the very back was the leader who was directing the formation.

Ye Zu sat motionless, looking down at the battlefield from his high vantage point.

Divine senses spread out rapidly, and the swordsmanship of the Hundred Flowers Valley disciples, whose cultivation levels were mediocre, suddenly became incredibly refined. The number of Martial Grandmasters and members of the Jiang family remained unchanged, but the pressure of their combined attack increased several times over. Only those within the great formation could truly feel the oppressive force of a "Yang God"...

It turns out that even if Yang Shen doesn't join the battlefield, he is still an existence standing atop the mountain.

Streaks of sword energy, like chains, bound the golden-robed divine embryo.

The Dao Realm of Birth and Death is stripped away layer by layer.

Not long after.

The thick fog that shrouded the secret tomb then emitted a faint blood-red hue.

……

……

"It's so scary."

Hundreds of feet away.

In a secluded stone chamber, the Six Desires True Lord sat cross-legged, his face pale, one arm throbbing from a sword wound.

That was the arm that Xie Zhen had struck with his Dao of Annihilation technique.

The Six Desires True Lord took out several sacred herbs to heal his wounds, but none of them had any effect... Once this Dao Realm invaded his bone marrow, it was like a maggot clinging to his bone, impossible to get rid of, and he could only forcefully endure the excruciating pain.

A snow-white pearl hangs on the lap of the Six Desires True Lord, emitting a faint glow.

This precious pearl is not large, but it reflects the scene of the secret tomb hundreds of feet away!
This was the "treasure" that the Six Desires True Monarch obtained after entering the second level of the Secret Tomb. This treasure could cross the great formation and spy on the scene inside the Secret Tomb... It was this treasure that led him to discover Xie Zhen, who was in seclusion. What he thought would be an extremely easy "killing and stealing treasure" turned out to be so dangerous.

All around Xie Zhen were layers of arrays that had long been laid in ambush!
Looking at the golden divine embryo that was locked in the great formation, struggling left and right, and powerless to save itself, the Six Desires True Lord felt a wave of fear.

What would have happened to me if I hadn't escaped?

With Ye Zu in charge and Zhou in command!
I'm afraid I can only last for half an incense stick's time before I'm refined by this great formation!
"I wonder how long Xie Zhen can hold on..."

The Six Desires True Lord wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned the precious pearl to shine in other directions.

Under this photo.

The back of the Six Desires True Lord was soaked with cold sweat.

The light of the precious pearl suddenly fell at the end of the secret tomb.

That's the entrance to the second level of the secret tomb.

At this moment, the void twisted, and countless powerful demonic energies seeped out from the Thunder Pool. Three dark figures slowly stepped into the Thunder Pool from the void.

"...Master!"

The Six Desires True Monarch's pupils contracted, his mind filled with horror: "Master and the others arrived so quickly!"

(End of this chapter)