Embers of Sword

Chapter 599 Clash of the Strongest
The entire Golden Turtle Peak rose from the ground, transforming into a long sword that slashed towards the sky!

boom--

The sea of ​​clouds shattered, and countless golden rays poured down.

This sword pierced through the Holy Empress's outstretched hand, but above the sea of ​​clouds, an even larger and more majestic Dao Domain appeared.

"This is……"

Zhao Tongtian's expression turned ugly.

He stared in disbelief at the scene before him. Above, the void shattered, and golden light mixed with white snow fell down. Directly above the Lotus Peak of the Great Sui Sword Palace, a celestial palace slowly descended from the void. The sound of chanting hymns rang out. Phoenix fire burned around the celestial palace, with red walls and white tiles, and was engraved with the script of the Great Chu royal family.

"This is Renshou Palace?!"

Not just Zhao Tongtian.

Zhou Zhiren, Qi Lie, Huang Su, Si Qi, and all the sword cultivators of the Da Sui Sword Palace changed their expressions at this moment.

Even the participants from the Imperial City faction did not expect that the Empress would move Renshou Palace here!
This sacred palace has been under construction for a thousand years!
The Great Chu Palace is connected to the earth's veins; moving a palace is more difficult than moving a mountain...

"You're crazy."

Zhao Tongtian noticed the snow-white paper scraps flowing down along with the golden light in the void rift. He vaguely guessed the truth and couldn't help but speak sarcastically.

"Today... no matter what, I will take away the Great Dragon Vein."

Saint said expressionlessly, "You can't stop me."

The purpose of moving to Renshou Palace was very simple.

In a true duel between the strongest, there is no room for the slightest mistake.

Having lived in the imperial city for a long time, her natal grotto and Renshou Palace have long been integrated... Today, the battle of Da Sui Sword Palace cannot be lost.

Renshou Palace descends.

Even if Zhao Chunyang has the home advantage at Lotus Peak, the Holy Empress has nothing to fear.

The next step is quite simple!

beat!
As the celestial palace descended and the Dao Domain expanded, in an instant, Jin'ao Peak and Zhao Tongtian were completely encompassed within the Dao Domain.

……

……

A thick fog blanketed the Renshou Immortal Palace.

Zhao Tongtian displayed his Dharma form, holding up Golden Turtle Peak with one hand, his expression icy cold.

"Friend Lu Dao."

The Empress stood with her hands behind her back and spoke softly, "...It's time to show yourself."

The words fell.

The Golden Light Dao Domain was engulfed in a torrent of snow.

A white figure draped in a cloak then appeared.

Lu Yuzhen tucked his hands into his sleeves and smiled, "This is our first meeting, Master Tongtian. I am Lu Yuzhen."

"It's exactly what I expected."

Zhao Tongtian said expressionlessly, "The Demon Queen colluded with evil spirits, bringing disaster to the country and its people, and acting against the natural order."

"..."

The Empress Dowager's expression was indifferent.

After the battle of Moon Shadow ended, Lu Yuzhen offered to help in the next battle.

Facing Zhao Chunyang, the Holy Empress's biggest worry was that without the help of her natal grotto, she would lose her home-field advantage and thus fall into a disadvantageous position.

Lu Yuzhen's ingenious solution was to move Renshou Palace above the Sword Palace, using one's own natal grotto heaven against another's own natal grotto heaven!
Logically speaking.

With the Empress's level of skill and ability, moving a palace would be an easy task, requiring no effort at all.

But this "Renshou Palace" is no ordinary palace... Several years ago, when the Emperor was still alive, he left behind a contingency plan.

Knowing the Empress's methods and fearing future changes, he merged her natal grotto with Renshou Palace. He then left behind an imperial edict, forcing Renshou Palace to take root firmly in the earth and using the power of the dragon vein to suppress it.

After that, the Empress Dowager enjoyed great freedom.

But in a sense... she has long lost her freedom.

The Empress Dowager was surprised to find that this fellow surnamed Lu was truly capable.

He was able to rewrite the array patterns that the Emperor Taihuang had personally inscribed, allowing the Renshou Palace, which weighed ten thousand jin and was firmly rooted in the underground of the imperial city, to be pulled out... It was precisely because of Lu Yuzhen's Dao patterns that the Holy Empress was able to bring this "Renshou Palace" above the Da Sui Sword Palace!
With the help of his natal grotto, the situation in this battle was completely different!
"I'm going to meet Zhao Chunyang."

The Empress Dowager calmly said, "This Zhao Tongtian... I'll leave him to you."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Lu Yuzhen smiled faintly and said, "I'd like to weigh... just how heavy is this Golden Turtle Peak?"

The woman in the imperial robes took a step forward.

next moment.

She arrived at the entrance to the Lotus Forbidden Land, looked at the withered mountain wall covered with vines, adjusted her breathing, and then stretched out her palm, shattering the mountain wall.

She stepped into Lotus Peak.

……

……

Lotus Forbidden Land, in front of the Water Curtain Cave.

The woman stood before a prayer mat bathed in sunlight.

"I thought you were dead."

The Empress looked at the empty prayer mat and spoke with a hint of regret.

Reaching this level of spiritual cultivation.

The illusions of the outside world can no longer blind us.

She could tell at a glance that a human figure remained on the futon. Although it was not breathing and had no vital energy, it still "existed".

This is the legendary state of being in a trance.

During a spiritual journey, the soul leaves the body, while the physical body returns to the void.

In a sense.

A cultivator in a state of spiritual travel is not in this realm.

As soon as the words were spoken, the light distorted where it shone, and the space underwent a subtle change. A tall figure slowly emerged from the futon.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you... I'm still alive."

Zhao Chunyang slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at the woman in front of him and said calmly, "It is said that good people do not live long, while evil people live for thousands of years. I, Zhao, am not a good person."

When the Emperor was young, he once held a grand northern hunt.

In his youth, Zhao Chunyang participated in that northern hunt—

It was during that northern hunt.

To make Zhao Chunyang a world-renowned sword immortal.

He hunted down a phoenix, a purebred phoenix!

The phoenix was taken into the palace by the Emperor...

after that.

No one knows the exact whereabouts of the phoenix. But if you investigate carefully, you will find that not long after the northern hunt, a beautiful woman with a capricious temper appeared in the palace, but who was deeply favored by the emperor.

"You should be regretting not killing me back then."

Saint stared expressionlessly at the old man before him.

Hundreds of years passed.

She still retained her youthful appearance, but Zhao Chunyang never used any methods to preserve her youth, letting himself age naturally...

"regret?"

Zhao Chunyang raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Why regret it?"

Reaching this level of spiritual cultivation.

Many things can be seen to be true at a glance.

Ten years ago, the imperial city was in chaos.

And the current turmoil in Dasui is entirely of our own making.

If we trace the cause and effect... perhaps all of this was caused by the mistake of not killing the Northern Hunters back then!

"Most things in this world have already been settled under the gaze of cause and effect."

Zhao Chunyang said softly, "If you feel sorry for a flower and don't want it to wither, and try to intervene, you will only make it die faster... Do you understand this principle?"

"I don't understand, and I don't want to understand."

The Empress Dowager sneered, "It seems you've gained quite a bit from this spiritual journey; you've seen the future?"

“I saw some,” Zhao Chunyang said sincerely.

"Did you see how you would die?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke.

Without warning, she raised her hand, and a clear phoenix cry rang out in the lotus forbidden area. A raging inferno surged out from her sleeve! This powerful flame, imbued with the Holy Empress's full killing intent, pierced through, but unfortunately failed to penetrate Zhao Chunyang's head.

"Chucky!"

The old man, sitting upright on the futon, showed no change in expression.

Zhao Chunyang extended a palm.

This raging fire line was grasped and held in his palm with his bare hands, unable to advance an inch, and the scorching light it emitted was forcibly extinguished.

"The Great Perfection Martial Arts Saint Body..."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, her expression solemn.

Several years ago, she had fought against Zhao Chunyang.

In his youth, Zhao Chunyang was an extremely pure sword cultivator, with unparalleled mastery of flying sword techniques.

But as he got older, Zhao Chunyang stopped using flying swords; at least, she had never heard of him using them again.

This guy seems to have forgotten that he is a sword cultivator, and has turned his attention to cultivating his physical body.

Later.

Zhao Chunyang was more like a martial artist.

Not long ago, he fought against Qin Zu, and the two clashed physically! Qin Zu even seemed to be at a slight disadvantage!
But Zhao Chunyang is completely different from those martial artists... that is, every punch he throws contains an extremely powerful and perfect sword intent!
He has mastered the art of "sword" to its fullest extent.

My current focus on physical training is simply to continue climbing to the top on the second path of "martial arts".

"I'm actually very curious."

"Yuanhuang..."

Zhao Chunyang gently gripped the Phoenix Fire Thread, uttered the Empress's name, and asked earnestly, "You've always wanted me dead...why?"

"There aren't that many whys in this world."

Saint remained expressionless: "You wanted to kill me back then, so naturally I wanted to kill you. Your disciple hunted a phoenix in the north; didn't that phoenix want to kill him?"

Fate is indeed a great cycle.

I'm afraid no one could have imagined it.

Years later, almost the exact same scene will reappear.

Both are northern hunts, both are the Great Jade Palace...

Back then, Zhao Chunyang defeated Yuan Huang and brought her back to the palace.

Centuries later, Xie Xuanyi brought back Jiang Huang.

"..."

Zhao Chunyang shook his head and said, "It's different."

This incident alone does indeed have many coincidences, exactly the same as back then.

But Xuan Yi is different from himself.

Jiang Huang and Yuan Huang are not the same.

When different people come together, the results will inevitably be different.

"I personally orchestrated the chaos in the capital ten years ago."

The Empress said calmly, "I personally released that phoenix from the capital... But fate is truly interesting. I know that the Great Eagle Sword Palace took in that phoenix. I also know that you helped her lift the 'Nine Deaths Forbidden', but so what? When she grows up, she will understand my pain... One day, she will become a second me."

She will not become the second you.

Zhao Chunyang said calmly, "She is different from you."

"What's the difference?"

The Empress Dowager sneered, "If you don't believe me... we'll see what happens next."

Speaking of which.

She paused, then said coldly, "Sorry, I forgot, you don't have that chance."

The phoenix's blazing flames suddenly spread.

The Renshou Palace, which was suspended above the Da Sui Jian Palace, suddenly trembled, and countless blazing red flames poured down, enveloping Lotus Peak.

In an instant, the Lotus Forbidden Land was transformed into a sea of ​​fire.

The two embraced in the sweltering heat.

The Holy Empress has descended upon the "Great Phoenix Grotto Heaven," which is now integrated with Renshou Palace.

However, Zhao Chunyang does not seem to have any intention of using his natal grotto.

The sect leader, draped in a lotus-patterned robe, slowly stood up. Bathed in the sea of ​​fire, he stretched his body, neither spreading out his great path nor releasing his grotto-heaven. He simply endured the scorching heat of the Great Phoenix Grotto-heaven with his unadorned physical body.

"During the war of drinking poison, I ventured deep into the demon kingdom to hunt down traitors of the Daoist sect... The Eclipse Swamp somehow learned of my actions."

Zhao Chunyang lowered his eyes, recalling the events of that year.

Headed by the Eclipse God.

Several powerful figures surrounded him.

After that battle.

The Eclipse Grandmaster was nearly killed and fell into a deep slumber. However, Zhao Chunyang also paid a heavy price, returning to Da Chu to begin a long period of recuperation.

"it's me."

The Holy Queen said frankly, "I am a demon... How can you expect me to be loyal to the Great Chu? It's just a pity that you didn't die in the Demon Kingdom."

"I got it."

Zhao Chunyang smiled: "Therefore, the dismissal of the garrison commander of Da Chu Beijun, and the retreat of the northern Great Wall front..."

"Of course, it was on my own initiative."

The Empress continued her sarcasm: "I've already said it, I'm a demon."

"But you enjoy being revered as the 'Holy Queen' among the human race, don't you?"

Zhao Chunyang's words immediately froze the smile on the Empress's face.

"You keep saying you're a demon."

"But you gained 'freedom,' yet you did not return to the demon kingdom."

"Because... you prefer it here to over there."

Zhao Chunyang said calmly, "Being in the highest position, above all others, receiving endless respect and worship. So even if you are a demon, you will never allow the demon kingdom to touch all that you have obtained."

This is why... even after retreating from the northern front, the demon kingdom still dared not invade.

In a sense.

The Holy Empress, who holds sole imperial power, has already merged with the Great Chu.

She is indeed a demon.

But it is different from the demons of the North.

"good."

The Holy Empress chuckled lightly, saying with undisguised pride, "Everything here is mine now... When the dragon vein of the Great Sui Sword Palace returns to its rightful place, I will be the first person in this thousand years! Great Chu, Great Li, and the Demon Kingdom, all living beings will have to submit to me!"

"This was the Emperor's wish back then."

Zhao Chunyang looked on with a sigh of regret: "You must hate him more than I do, right? But in the end, you were still influenced by him and became the person he wanted you to be."

"..."

The Empress paused briefly, then her eyes flashed with coldness again, trying to conceal her earlier loss of composure.

The two people she hated most in the world were Zhao Chunyang and the Emperor Taihuang.

One took her back to Da Chu, while the other imprisoned her in the palace.

As for the degree of hatred...

The latter... is indeed deeper than the former.

"So what...?"

The Holy Empress took a deep breath and said with murderous intent, "That guy is already dead, and soon you will follow in his footsteps! Before I kill you, I will make you watch as the thousand-year foundation of the Great Sui Sword Palace collapses and as your most prized disciple perishes!"

All that could be seen was the center of the Great Phoenix Cave Heaven, shrouded in a raging sea of ​​fire.

A colossal shadow slowly descended and hovered above the Empress's head.

It was a giant tree that should have withered long ago, but because it was nourished by three dragon veins, it sprouted new branches, buds, and pale leaves.

"The immortal tree of Moon-Hidden Cave is still alive..."

Zhao Chunyang looked up at the giant tree, sighed softly, and then asked with a smile, "Is this your source of confidence?"

(End of this chapter)